X780, January 1st
Time flowed swiftly, like water through open hands. Before anyone realized it, a new year had arrived.
At the banquet that night, everyone in Fairy Tail had been full of joy. Laughter, chatter, and the clinking of mugs filled the air as guild members exchanged thoughtful gifts—items they believed their friends could truly use.
Even Macao brought his family along to join the celebration. His young son, Romeo, curiously wandered about the room, eyes wide and sparkling. His innocent excitement instantly won everyone's hearts, with guild members eagerly lining up for a turn to hold the adorable boy.
A new year, a new morning.
Deep in the eastern forest, Kael stood in quiet focus, training to adapt to the full extent of his power. When he woke that morning—the first day of X780—he realized that he had finally unlocked the complete power of an admiral. His affinity with the element of light had reached a perfect 100%.
So, together with Cana, he came to the training grounds to test and hone his abilities.
Kael hovered in midair, eyes closed, focusing his senses outward. He could feel the light elements all around him—warm, pure, and powerful—flowing through every fiber of his being.
A serene glow radiated from his body, illuminating the field in gentle brilliance. The grass beneath him shimmered with vitality, growing greener and fuller. Flowers bloomed brighter, and the entire training ground seemed to breathe with new life.
Cana watched in awe, her hands clasped over her mouth. She could hardly believe what she was seeing. Never had she witnessed a magic that could bring such life and warmth into the world.
Slowly, the radiant aura around Kael folded back into his body. His form shimmered, blurring at the edges as he merged with the light. In the next instant, he vanished—only to reappear far away, stepping from between the dappled shadows of distant trees as though he'd always been there.
He repeated the movement several times, testing and refining. Soon, Kael realized something astonishing—his Observation Haki had evolved. The light expanded his perception so greatly that he could now sense every living presence across the entire town. And anywhere his awareness could reach, he could instantly teleport using light itself.
Curious, Kael extended his hand, channeling pure magic. Threads of light gathered around him, coalescing into several glowing swords suspended in the air. Each radiated immense power, humming with restrained energy.
He flicked his finger, and one blade shot forward. The sword blazed through the air, releasing a violent burst of force. The shockwave followed its path, tearing through the clearing. Just before it struck a nearby tree, Kael waved his hand again—the swords vanished.
But the explosion didn't stop. The energy still detonated, twisting into a roaring vortex. Trees were torn apart, the ground cracked open, and smoke rose from a cratered landscape.
Kael stared at the destruction in silence. That was just a test. He hadn't even used full power. If he had unleashed all those swords together… the devastation would have been unimaginable.
"So this is… a true evolution," he murmured to himself.
Before he could say more, Cana suddenly threw herself into his arms, cheering and laughing with joy for him. Kael smiled and held her close.
Now that his strength had reached this level, it was time to take on some S-Class missions again. Their savings were running low—it was time to earn a proper reward.
With determination in his eyes, Kael took Cana's hand, and the two headed for the guild.
The moment they stepped through the guild doors, everyone fell silent in confusion.
"Wait… what's going on? I can't feel Kael's magic power anymore."
They all looked toward him. Normally, his aura radiated a strong yet gentle warmth. But now, all they could sense was a faint comfort—no magic at all.
Laxus and Master Makarov exchanged a knowing look. Something was definitely unusual. Laxus narrowed his eyes, studying Kael's form. A soft halo of light shimmered faintly around him—barely visible, but enough to confirm his suspicion.
To test his theory, Laxus raised his hand, lightning crackling in his palm. Without warning, he thrust it forward, his lightning-covered arm piercing straight through Kael's chest.
"Che… thought so," Laxus muttered with a satisfied grin, pulling his arm back. "You've gotten even stronger."
The hole in Kael's chest glowed with light, healing instantly until not even a trace remained.
"Hahaha, of course I have," Kael said confidently with a grin.
The guild members were stunned. No one could comprehend what they'd just witnessed. But one thing was clear—Kael's strength had surpassed all understanding.
Their shock quickly turned to cheers and celebration. The entire guild erupted in excitement, clapping and hollering as Kael walked up the stairs toward the S-Class request board.
Cana, meanwhile, was pulled aside by Erza and Mirajane, both eager to pry into Kael's current situation. With the S-Class Promotion Exam coming up, any insight into the examiner's power could prove invaluable.
Natsu and Gray were out on missions, or they'd surely have challenged Kael again by now.
Laxus followed Kael upstairs, while Makarov leaned back at the bar, smiling broadly as he raised his drink. The guild was thriving with talented new blood. His heart swelled with pride. Maybe… just maybe, once he passed on the guild's ultimate magic to Kael and Laxus, he could finally consider retirement.
"What kind of missions are you thinking of?" Laxus asked casually, leaning on the railing of the second floor.
"Something simple. A few S-Class jobs that aren't too dangerous. I want to bring Cana with me," Kael replied without turning, scanning the task board.
"Hmm… this one looks good. Nice scenery around the area.""Oh, and this one's near a food city—lots of restaurants!""And this one… looks fun too!"
He flipped through the requests like a tourist picking vacation spots rather than dangerous missions.
Laxus nearly laughed out loud, shaking his head in disbelief. "Unbelievable. You're turning S-Class work into a honeymoon trip."
Still, he couldn't help smiling as he rested his chin on his hand, watching the lively guild below.
"Alright, I've decided!" Kael grabbed a few request forms and turned to wave. "I'm heading out, Laxus!"
He bounded downstairs and handed the papers to Makarov with a grin. "Master, these are the ones I'm taking! I'll be back before the end of the year, promise!"
"Oh? With Cana too, I presume?" Makarov raised an eyebrow, pretending to check the forms—each one was easily within Kael's ability, but the time frame? Nearly a year. That said enough.
Glancing up, he caught Kael's faint blush and couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.
"Very well," Makarov said, clearing his throat. "Er—travel safe… ahem, I mean, good luck on your missions!"
"Haha! Thanks, Master! Let's go, Cana!" Kael darted over, grabbed Cana from where she was chatting with the girls, and ran out of the guild before anyone could tease them further.
Behind them, the guild burst into laughter.
"I've got to work harder too," Erza said firmly, looking up toward the second floor. "This year, I will pass the S-Class exam."
"In your dreams, Knight Girl," Mirajane smirked."Demon Queen, we'll see about that."
Erza drew her sword, coating it in Armament Haki, while Mirajane transformed, her demonic aura flaring. They stood face-to-face, tension crackling in the air.
Then, in a blur, Mirajane lunged forward—not to attack, but to snatch a few of the hardest mission forms before darting toward the door.
"Hahaha! Too slow, Redhead!" she called teasingly, kicking off into the sky with Moon Step.
"Don't you dare run!" Erza shouted, equipping her flight armor and taking off in pursuit.
The two clashed in midair, their battle echoing across the sky as the guild below erupted into laughter once again.
Fairy Tail—lively as ever, full of chaos, warmth, and life.