Chapter 144

Chapter 144

The morning after the parade was quiet.

Magnolia still bore the decorations from the festival, but the frenetic energy had faded. Shop owners swept their storefronts. Vendors packed away unsold goods. Children played in the streets with newfound Pokemon toys and treats.

At the guild hall, the atmosphere was equally subdued.

"I'm so tired," Lucy groaned, face-down on a table. 

"Lightweight," Cana said from the bar, though she looked equally exhausted.

"Some of us actually participated in the royal rumble," Lucy shot back. "What's your excuse?"

"I also participated. And won several rounds before losing to Erza." Cana raised her mug. "Plus, I was drinking. That's exhausting work."

Gray sat nearby with his Snorunt, both of them looking half-asleep. Natsu was already snoring at another table, his Charmeleon curled up beside him like a scaly pillow.

The guild was running on fumes.

Mirajane moved between tables, collecting empty mugs and plates with practiced efficiency. Her Galarian Linoone helped, carrying small items in its mouth.

"Everyone's worn out," she observed with a gentle smile.

"Three days of chaos will do that," Erza replied. She sat at her usual table, methodically cleaning her armor pieces. Her Lucario sat across from her, mimicking her careful, deliberate movements as it groomed its fur.

"It was worth it though," Levy said, looking up from her book. Her Clefable was practicing small magical effects nearby, creating dancing lights that drew appreciative coos from the few guild members paying attention. "The festival was incredible."

"Master Aiden's speech was perfect," Lisanna added. She was helping Mira clean, her movements careful and precise. Even after two years, there were moments when she still seemed surprised to be back, to be home.

At the bar, Makarov sat nursing a drink, looking more relaxed than he had in years.

"You know," he said to no one in particular, "retirement isn't so bad."

"You retired like two months ago," Wakaba pointed out.

"And it's been wonderful." Makarov sighed contentedly. "No paperwork. No Magic Council meetings. No budget reports. Just drinking and watching you all make the same mistakes I did."

"That's depressing," Macao said.

"That's life."

Upstairs in the guild master's office, Aiden sat at his desk reviewing mission requests. Irene stood by the window, looking out over Magnolia's recovering streets.

"Quiet today," she observed.

"Everyone's exhausted." Aiden signed off on a simple escort mission—something easy for the guild's younger members. "We pushed them hard with the festival."

"They needed it." Irene turned to face him, one hand resting on her stomach. "Growth requires pressure."

"Spoken like a true Enchantress." Aiden set down his pen and leaned back. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired. But good." She moved to sit in the chair across from him. "The baby's been active this morning."

Aiden's expression softened. "Yeah?"

"Kicking. Or punching. Hard to tell." Irene's smile was warm. "Strong, though. Takes after you."

"Or takes after their dragon-blooded mother who could probably arm-wrestle a mountain."

"Fair point."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the distant sounds of the guild hall drifting up through the floorboards.

"We should start preparing," Irene said eventually. "The nursery, supplies, all of it."

"I've been thinking about that." Aiden opened a drawer and pulled out a list—already half-filled with notes in his precise handwriting. "The fortress has plenty of space. We can set up a room near ours."

Irene studied him for a long moment. "You've been thinking about this a lot."

"Every day since you told me." He met her eyes. "This is important. We're bringing a life into this world—into this insane, magical, chaotic world. I want to do it right."

"You will." Irene reached across the desk to take his hand. "We will."

Another moment of silence, warmer this time.

Downstairs, the guild's recovery continued at its own lazy pace.

Simon and Jellal sat together near the back, their Pokemon partners resting nearby. Simon's Doublade floated in their dormant state, while Jellal's Metang had powered down into something resembling sleep mode.

"That fight yesterday," Simon said quietly. "Against Laxus."

"We lost." Jellal's tone was matter-of-fact, but there was frustration underneath.

"We lasted longer than most would have." Simon leaned back in his chair. "Four against one, and he still had to use everything."

They both fell silent, thinking about the gap between where they were and where Laxus stood.

"We'll get stronger," Simon said eventually.

"Yeah. We will.”

Nearby, Kagura sat alone at a table, Enko resting across her lap. The Zanpakuto was in its sealed state, but she could feel its presence in her mind—a constant companion, a source of strength.

Her Flabébé floated beside her, occasionally dipping down to rest on the table before floating up again.

"I need to get stronger," Kagura murmured to her blade. "Laxus showed me how far I still have to go."

Enko pulsed once in response. Not disagreement, but acknowledgment.

She'd released Shikai during the fight. Felt the surge of spiritual pressure, the weight of the blade's true power. And it still hadn't been enough.

Next time would be different.

Erza joined her, carrying two cups of tea. "Mind if I sit?"

"Go ahead."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, both lost in their own thoughts about yesterday's battle.

"You did well," Erza said eventually. "Your Shikai release was impressive."

"Not impressive enough."

"Nothing would have been enough. Not against Laxus at full power." Erza sipped her tea. "But that's not the point. The point is we learned where we stand. What we need to work on."

Kagura's grip on Enko tightened. "The sealed armors in your collection. The ones you couldn't access."

"They have conditions." Erza's expression was thoughtful. "Requirements I haven't met yet. Master Aiden gave them to me knowing I'd have to grow into them."

"Like training wheels in reverse."

"Exactly." Erza smiled slightly. "The power is there, waiting. I just need to become worthy of it."

"How do you plan to do that?"

"Training. Experience. Growth." Erza set down her cup. "The same way we always have. One step at a time."

Kagura nodded slowly. It made sense. Rushing would only lead to failure.

Still, the frustration remained.

Back at the guild hall, Laxus climbed the stairs to Aiden's office. His Pikachu remained on his shoulder, unusually quiet—sensing its trainer's anticipation.

He knocked once.

"Come in," Aiden's voice called.

Laxus entered to find his mentor—his brother—standing by the window, backlit by the setting sun. Irene sat in a nearby chair, her expression warm and knowing.

"Close the door," Aiden said.

Laxus did.

"So," Laxus said, crossing his arms to hide his anticipation. "This gift. What is it?"

Aiden turned, and his grin was sharp and dangerous and full of promise.

"Something that's going to change everything, little brother." He reached into his Celestial Inventory, and the air in the room seemed to shimmer with potential. "You proved yesterday that you're ready for the next level. So let's talk about what it means to become a true Thunder God."

He pulled out a small, ornate box.

And inside...

Laxus stared at the ornate box in Aiden's hands.

It was smaller than he'd expected—barely larger than a book. The wood was dark, almost black, with intricate carvings that seemed to shift in the light. Lightning bolts intertwined with dragon scales, forming patterns that hurt to look at directly.

"Before I show you what's inside," Aiden said, his tone serious now, "I need you to understand something."

Laxus met his mentor's eyes. "I'm listening."

"You're strong. Incredibly strong. The Rumble Rumble Fruit gave you control over lightning itself. The Lightning Dragon God Lacrima made you a God Slayer. My training gave you the foundation to use both effectively." Aiden set the box on his desk. "But you're not complete yet."

"What do you mean?"

"You have the power of a Dragon God Slayer, but you don't have the techniques." Aiden's expression was thoughtful. "You've been improvising, using the raw power in creative ways. That's worked so far. But against true gods? Against beings that have existed for millennia? Raw power won't be enough."

Laxus's jaw tightened. "So what's in the box?"

Aiden opened it.

Inside, resting on black silk, was a scroll. But not just any scroll—the paper seemed to shimmer with contained lightning, and the characters written on it glowed faintly with divine light.

"This," Aiden said carefully, "is the Advanced Dragon God Slayer Techniques Scroll. It contains the complete fighting style of the Thunder Dragon God—Keraunos."

The name sent a shiver through the room. Even Pikachu's ears flattened against its head.

"Keraunos," Laxus repeated. "I've never heard of that god."

"Most haven't. He was one of the original Dragon Gods, before the current generation." Aiden lifted the scroll reverently. "He was the embodiment of divine lightning—not just electricity, but the concept of judgment, of heavenly wrath made manifest."

Irene spoke up from her chair. "The Dragon Gods are ancient beings, Laxus. Older than most civilizations. They existed before humans learned magic, before the world was shaped into what it is now."

"And this scroll contains his techniques," Laxus said, his eyes fixed on the shimmering paper.

"Everything he knew about manipulating lightning at a divine level." Aiden's voice was serious. "Forms, stances, applications of power that go beyond what you currently know. This isn't just about hitting harder—it's about precision, efficiency, and understanding lightning not as a tool, but as an extension of will itself."

Laxus reached for the scroll, then hesitated. "What's the catch?"

Aiden smiled grimly. "Smart question. The catch is that learning these techniques will be the hardest thing you've ever done."

"Harder than integrating the Rumble Rumble Fruit?"

"Much harder." Aiden set the scroll back in the box. "The fruit changed your body. The lacrima enhanced your magic. Those were external changes—painful, yes, but ultimately passive. This?" He tapped the box. "This requires you to fundamentally change how you think about and use power."

"I can handle it," Laxus said immediately.

"I know you can. That's why I'm giving it to you."

"Thank you," he said quietly. "I won't let you down."

"I know you won't."

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Author's Note:

Sorry for the late update — I got sick and was bedridden for a while. I’m feeling a bit better now though. Thanks so much for waiting!