The Dare and the Disbelief
"What?!" Makarov's eyes bulged, his surprise turning to genuine frustration. "Kid, you're a new guy! You've got too much guts taking on that mission. No. Pick a different one!"
Qi Yan didn't flinch under the Master's glare. He held the Phantom Bandit Gang request scroll tighter. "Master," he said, his voice level and firm, "I am confident I can complete this mission."
Confidence means nothing here, Makarov's expression seemed to say. "This isn't a matter of belief; it's a matter of raw strength."
"And I have the strength to complete it," Qi Yan insisted.
"You stubborn brat! Why are you so pig-headed?!" Makarov slammed his tiny fist onto the counter, the sound booming throughout the hall.
The fighting, drinking, and chatting stopped. The entire guild turned their attention to the counter.
"What's going on?" "The new guy made the Master mad!" "He wants to take the mission to eliminate the Phantom Bandit Gang."
A collective gasp swept through the hall. Everyone knew that request. The Phantom Bandit Gang wasn't just common thugs; they were thirteen ruthless Mages who preyed on civilians, committing acts so vile even Dark Guilds distanced themselves. The scale of the fight was equivalent to assaulting a small, hostile guild.
To handle that solo required an S-Class Mage, like Erza, or at least a team of two of the guild's elite. For Qi Yan, a fresh recruit whose name they barely knew, to challenge it was suicidal.
"Master, I'm not being stubborn. I truly have the power for this job," Qi Yan reiterated. He needed the B-Rank reward, and he had the ultimate ace in the hole.
Makarov saw the uncompromising fire in the boy's eyes. He sighed. "Fine. If you can prove you have that kind of strength, I'll allow you to go."
"How do I prove it?" Qi Yan asked immediately.
Makarov's gaze swept across the crowd. "I'll find someone in the Guild. If you can defeat him in a duel, you take the job. Deal?"
"Deal!" Qi Yan agreed without hesitation.
The Stakes and the Spectacle
Makarov initially wanted Erza to step up, but she was out on a job. He settled on the next best—or perhaps, the most explosive—option.
"Natsu!"
Natsu, who had been excitedly bouncing on the balls of his feet, erupted. "Here!" He backflipped onto a table, his hands already sparking with nascent flame.
The crowd went wild. The Master was pitting the newcomer against the guild's resident disaster and protagonist! Qi Yan watched the pink-haired Dragon Slayer with a sharp focus. He knew Natsu's power was terrifying when he went all out—easily S-Class level, even if his recklessness usually held him back.
Perfect, Qi Yan thought, a thrill running down his spine. Let's see whose power is stronger: the protagonist's fire or the Espada's void.
A blur of motion beside the counter. Cana, ever the opportunist, had already scribbled names on a large sign: Qi Yan VS Natsu!
"Place your bets! Place your bets!" she roared. "New guy Qi Yan to win, one to two odds! Natsu to win, one to one!"
A mob rushed the counter, throwing jewels at Cana. "Natsu! 2000J!" "3000J on Natsu, safe money!"
Cana started to panic. If Natsu won, she'd lose her entire drinking fund! "Hey! Don't only bet on Natsu! Bet on the new guy! Double your money, people!"
"Haha! Why would we bet on the new guy?" Macao scoffed, while Wakaba chimed in with laughter.
"I'll bet on the new guy to win! 3000J!"
A voice cut through the chaos. It was Laki, the purple-haired girl with glasses.
Droy gaped. "Hey, Laki! Your opponent is Natsu!"
Laki pushed up her spectacles. "It's fine. It's just a day's worth of food money. It's too pitiful for the new guy to have no one supporting him."
Qi Yan gave a slight nod to Laki, remembering her loyalty in the darkest days of the guild.
"I'll also bet on the new guy to win!"
Mira. Her eyes were alight with curiosity and faint admiration for his guts. "Since the new guy dared to take such a risky mission, his strength must be considerable. He might even surprise Natsu."
Mira's confidence swayed a few more bettors, but the scales were still heavily weighted towards the Dragon Slayer.
Full Take Over: Ulquiorra Cifer
The entire guild relocated to the large, worn training yard behind the hall, an open space that met the endless lake. This was the arena where personal disputes were always settled.
The crowd cheered, the bets placed, and the two opponents faced each other.
"Hello, I'm Natsu. Please take care of me," Natsu said, his grin wide and expectant.
"I'm Qi Yan. Please take care of me," Qi Yan replied, a calm, cool mask settling over his features.
"What kind of Magic do you use?" Natsu asked, practically vibrating with excitement.
"I use Take Over Magic."
"Ooh, ooh! Take Over!" Natsu's eyes sparkled, thinking of Mira and Elfman.
Makarov raised his hand, ready to begin. "Both sides, prepare!"
Qi Yan took a slow, deep breath. He didn't just need to win; he needed to win convincingly to ensure he got the mission. He needed to show power the Master couldn't deny.
He activated his magic.
"Full Take Over: Ulquiorra Cifer!"
In a rush of dark energy and brilliant, blinding white light, Qi Yan's body began to reshape. His mundane clothing vanished, replaced by the striking uniform of a Hollow: a white-faced, black-backed, high-collared coat and white hakama skirt, cinched with a black sash.
His skin paled to an unnatural white. His eyes burned with an intense, predatory green. Below his eyes, the signature green tear marks appeared. Finally, a jagged, broken section of a horned helmet materialized over his left temple. A sleek, unsheathed Zanpakutō hung at his hip.
As the transformation completed, a lifetime of cold, emotionless combat expertise flooded Qi Yan's mind—Ulquiorra's entire existence, from his birth in the void to his final, tragic moments against Hollow Ichigo. The two lives merged, making Qi Yan and the Espada one.
The immense, crushing pressure of a high-ranking Arrancar—Reiatsu that felt like ice-cold, palpable fear—slammed into the excited crowd, silencing their cheers instantly.
Natsu, the carefree Dragon Slayer, went wide-eyed. He wasn't just looking at a new mage; he was looking at a predator that had suddenly materialized in his home.
The duel was about to begin.