Year X773, End of the Year.
The biting winds of winter howled outside, but inside the Fairy Tail guild hall, the atmosphere was as warm and rowdy as ever.
However, for Raizel, the warmth was a welcome change after the freezing altitude of his last mission.
He pushed open the guild doors, dusting off the remnants of frost from his shoulder.
He had just returned from a subjugation mission.
His target had been a Wyvern that had gone berserk, descending from the high mountains to ravage local livestock.
It was a beast of considerable power, possessing a thick hide that repelled most standard magic and the ability to fly at high speeds.
For an ordinary Mage, it would have been a death sentence.
For Raizel, it was merely a test.
Makarov sat at the bar while nursing a mug of ale.
He looked up as Raizel approached, his eyes gleaming with a mix of pride and scrutiny.
"Mission accomplished?" Makarov asked, though he already knew the answer.
"It's done," Raizel replied, tossing the mission completion paperwork onto the counter.
"The Wyvern won't be bothering anyone anymore. It was a bit tougher than I expected, though. Had to use a bit more force than usual."
Makarov chuckled, picking up the papers. "I heard. You volunteered for this despite my initial hesitation. But after our sparring session... well, I suppose I couldn't stop you."
He remembered the spar vividly.
To test if Raizel was ready for an S-Class threat, Makarov had challenged him.
The old master had been forced to use his Three Pillar's defense spell to withstand Raizel's assault.
That moment had sealed his decision.
Raizel's attack power and speed were already far beyond the norm for his age.
"By my estimate, Gildarts should be back soon," Makarov said, taking a sip of his drink.
"You can start preparing for the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial."
Raizel sat down on a stool, resting his chin on his hand. "The S-Class exam, huh?"
At this point in time, Fairy Tail wasn't yet the guild overflowing with the monstrous geniuses of the future generation.
Macao and Wakaba were reliable veterans, but they lacked the raw power required for S-Class status.
Laxus was strong—stronger than those two—but he was still young and still refining his Dragon Slayer magic.
Raizel estimated that the current Laxus was powerful, perhaps even stronger than his original timeline counterpart due to their constant sparring, but he wasn't quite there yet.
"You're making decisions for me now?" Raizel teased. "Wait a minute, how am I supposed to take the exam alone? Usually, there are other candidates."
"It's simple," Makarov grinned, his face flushing slightly from the alcohol. "You just have to fight Gildarts directly. If he says you pass, then you pass. Although our guild's S-Class exam is traditionally done in teams, it's not set in stone. Exceptions can be made for exceptional circumstances."
Makarov leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"If you become S-Class this year, I can finally show off to Bob and Yajima! A thirteen-year-old S-Class Mage! Hahaha! Oh, and Jose from Phantom Lord too. I'll laugh right in his ugly face!"
"Hey, old man, you're drooling," Raizel deadpanned, watching the master dissolve into a fit of gleeful laughter.
"By the way," Raizel said, his tone turning serious. "If I pass the S-Class exam this time, I want to head to the Northern Frontier."
Makarov stopped laughing instantly.
The shift in his demeanor was abrupt; the goofy old man vanished, replaced by the imposing Guild Master.
"The Northern Frontier? What's there? Is that why you've been so obsessed with improving your strength lately?"
"Two things," Raizel held up two fingers. "The Bureau of Magical Development and a demon named Deliora."
"Deliora..." Makarov tested the name on his tongue, his brow furrowing. "One of the demons from the Book of Zeref. That is not a creature to be trifled with, Raizel. Even for an S-Class Mage, it is incredibly dangerous."
"I know," Raizel nodded. "That's why I wouldn't be confident without reaching S-Class first. As for the Bureau... there's a matter involving a child there I need to resolve. The current director, Brain, is dangerous."
"If you're not confident, ask Gildarts for help," Makarov advised softly. "That guy is incredibly strong. He's returned from missions that would kill lesser men a dozen times over. And if you need my assistance, I'm not too old to lend a hand, you know."
Raizel smiled warmly. "So you're assuming I'll pass, huh? But you're right, Grandpa. I hadn't thought of asking Gildarts. With him around, it should be manageable."
"Fool," Makarov tapped Raizel's head with his staff. "Parents are meant to help their children. What kind of parent would stand by and watch when their child is walking into danger?"
Suddenly, the ground began to tremble.
Rumble... Rumble...
The vibration grew more intense, shaking the dust from the rafters.
A magical alarm began to blare throughout Magnolia.
"Magnolia will now switch to Gildarts Shift. All citizens, please move to designated areas immediately."
Dozens of winged magical loudspeakers broadcasted the message over the town.
The townspeople, accustomed to this routine, began to scramble, though there was an air of excitement rather than fear.
"An earthquake? No..." Raizel stood up, looking towards the entrance. "Gildarts is back!"
BOOM!
The wall next to the guild's entrance exploded inward.
Debris flew across the hall, and several guild members who had been sitting nearby were sent flying with yelps of surprise.
Sunlight streamed in through the gaping hole, silhouetting a tall, muscular figure.
"Damn it! Why break the wall when there's a perfectly good door?!" the flung members screamed, shaking their fists.
"I'm back," a deep voice rumbled.
Standing there was a man with slicked-back orange-brown hair and a bit of stubble.
He wore a worn dark green cloak over a dark vest, his presence radiating an overwhelming, wild magical power.
It was Gildarts Clive, the Ace of Fairy Tail.
He walked straight to the bar, ignoring the destruction he had just caused.
"Hey, Master. I'm back."
"Did the job go smoothly?" Makarov asked, unfazed.
"Finished. I was resting when I got your message, so I hurried back." Gildarts scratched the back of his head, laughing sheepishly.
"Is Raizel the one taking the S-Class exam? Isnt he too young?."
"Gildarts," Raizel stepped forward.
Gildarts turned, his eyes widening as he looked Raizel up and down.
"Whoa! You've grown so tall! Last time I saw you, you were just a little tyke!"
Raizel stood at about 175cm now, roughly the same height as Laxus.
"Hehe, please go easy on me, Gildarts."
...
Seven Days Later, Tenrou Island.
The sacred ground of Fairy Tail, Tenrou Island, was quiet, save for the rustling of leaves and the distant crash of waves.
High up in a massive tree, a translucent figure sat on a branch, swinging her bare feet.
Mavis Vermillion, the First Master of Fairy tail, watched the two figures below with keen interest.
"Their presence is remarkable," she whispered, her eyes sparkling.
In the clearing below, the air was thick with tension.
"Come on," Gildarts stood casually, his cloak fluttering in the magical wind. "Show me what you've got."
"Don't regret this," Raizel warned.
"Take Over: Gankoomon!"
A massive surge of magical power erupted from Raizel.
His hair turned a fiery red, and shining white alloy armor materialized over his body.
Behind him, a spectral, dragon-like aura manifested—Hinukamuy, the Fire God Might.
Synchronization Rate: 52%
"Gildarts, after we fight, I have a few things I want to say to you," Raizel shouted over the roar of energy.
"Save it for later!" Gildarts grinned, bending his knees slightly.
Raizel didn't hesitate.
He stepped forward, the ground cracking beneath his feet. "Iron Fist Judgment!"
The Fire God Might mimicked his movement, clenching its massive spectral claws and throwing a punch alongside Raizel.
"Break Evil, Reveal Justice!" Gildarts gathered white crushing magic in his fist and met the attack head-on.
BOOM—!
The collision created a shockwave that flattened the surrounding vegetation.
The ground beneath them caved in, forming a crater. For a moment, they were deadlocked.
Then, Raizel was forced back, his feet carving deep trenches into the earth as he slid ten meters away.
"So strong!" Raizel shook his numbed hand. "That's what makes it fun."
"Enough," Gildarts straightened up, dusting off his hands.
"You pass."
"The hell?" Raizel blinked, the tension vanishing instantly.
"Thateasy?"
"Since you exchanged blows with me and came out unharmed, I'll count it as a pass," Gildarts laughed heartily.
"I don't want to bother with the hassle of a long exam. From now on, you can handle these exams for me. Wouldn't it be better for me to go out and have fun instead of beating up kids?"
"So I'm just your tool now?!" Raizel shouted, exasperated. "And I'm not a kid!"
But Raizel wasn't done.
He wanted to measure his true limits!
"Take Over: Omegamon!"
He switched forms instantly.
The white knight descended, the Grey Sword extending from his left arm and the Garuru Cannon from his right.
"Oh?" Gildarts raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
Raizel fired a volley of absolute zero freezing bullets.
Gildarts raised his hand, shattering them with his Crush magic before they could make contact.
Raizel lunged with the sword, but Gildarts sidestepped with the ease of a veteran.
"Take Over: Jesmon!"
Raizel shifted again, faster this time.
The three data spirits—Ado, Rene, and Poru—circled him as he unleashed a flurry of attacks with his arm blades.
Gildarts parried, blocked, and dodged, clearly surprised by the versatility and speed of the transformations.
"Alright, that's enough fighting," Raizel finally canceled his transformation, breathing heavily.
He had verified what he needed to know.
The uninjured Gildarts before him was a monster—likely stronger than the one who would return broken by Acnologia in the original timeline.
Then, Makarov walked into the clearing.
"Well done. After we submit the documents to the Council, you'll officially be an S-Class Mage."