Bonus Chapters every 100 Power Stones
"Normal Dialogue"
'Inner thoughts'
[Year X788]
~ With Roo ~
"A spar?" Roo repeated incredulously.
The idea was ridiculous. Shisui was an S-class mage, soone who had probably completed missions that would likely kill Roo on the spot. The gap between was just that huge.
"I'd handicap myself, of course," Shisui clarified, seeming to read Roo's thoughts. "I won't fight back or dodge. All you have to do is make move from my spot."
Roo narrowed his eyes, considering this. The condition changed things significantly for him. If Shisui wouldn't fight back or dodge, then the question beca: could Roo hit hard enough to force an S-class mage to lose his footing?
Still, as good as it sounded, Roo wasn't naive. "What's in it for ?"
"If you win, if you make move from my spot, I'll stop bothering you from now on," Shisui said. "And I'll do any one thing you ask of . Anything within reason. I won't harm others or steal."
That was a tempting offer. Roo could simply ask Shisui to leave the guild imdiately, couldn't he? Send him back to wherever he ca from and let Fairy Tail return to... to what? Struggling to pay rent? Taking on minor jobs that barely kept food on the table?
Before Roo could respond, Shisui added, "But if I stay in place until you give up or pass out, then you have to listen to one request from . Sa rules apply."
Roo was about to agree when a thought struck him.
"The request can't be for to accept you as a Fairy Tail mage," he said quickly. "Or anything like that."
Shisui nodded. "Agreed."
Roo considered his options. Realistically, he knew he couldn't beat soone of Shisui's calibre in a fair fight. But with these limitations... maybe he had a chance. Not to win, but to make Shisui move. And if he won, he could be rid of the constant reminder that Fairy Tail needed outside help to survive.
"Fine, let's do it."
~ With Shisui ~
Shisui followed Roo out of the training room, maintaining a respectful distance as they walked. The boy's shoulders were still tense, his movents stiff with perhaps a hint of nervousness he was trying hard to conceal.
As they entered the main hall, conversations gradually ceased. Heads turned toward the unlikely pair, curious eyes taking in Roo's determined stride and Shisui's calm presence behind him. The guild's usual background noise, clinking glasses and idle chatter, faded to near silence.
"What's going on?" soone whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear in the sudden quiet.
Roo didn't slow his pace, walking purposefully toward the back door that led to the outdoor yard. Shisui caught Macao's confused gaze as they passed the bar where he sat with Wakaba.
"Shisui?" Macao called, setting down his drink. "What's happening?"
Shisui paused while Roo continued ahead. "Your son and I have agreed to a friendly spar."
The statent sent a wave of surprised chatter through the guild. Several mbers exchanged glances of disbelief. It had been over a year since anyone had used the training yard for friendly sparring, a practice that had once been common in Fairy Tail's livelier days.
"A spar?" Macao repeated, his brow furrowing with concern as he looked between Shisui and his son's retreating back. "But you're S-class, and Roo is—"
"There are conditions," Shisui clarified quickly. "I won't fight back or dodge. The challenge is simply for Roo to make move from my position."
Macao didn't look reassured. "And if he can't?"
"Then he agrees to hear out one request from ." Shisui gave a small smile. "Nothing harmful, I promise."
By now, the other guild mbers were openly interested, several already rising from their seats. Wakaba squashed his cigarette against an ashtray.
"An actual spar," he mused, a grin spreading across his face. "It's been too long since we've had one of those."
The mood in the guild shifted suddenly, as if soone had thrown open windows in a stuffy room. mbers who had been listlessly nursing drinks or halfheartedly reviewing job requests were now alert and engaged.
"I'm betting on Roo," called out a man with a large hat. "Kid's got fire magic!"
"Against an S-class mage?" countered another. "Even with handicaps, my money's on the new guy."
The friendly banter spread as guild mbers began making their way toward the yard, energized by the prospect of sothing breaking their routine. Macao, however, remained concerned. He stepped closer to Shisui, lowering his voice.
"I know about Roo's frustration with you," he said quietly. "But this... are you sure this is a good idea?"
Shisui nodded. "Sotis words aren't enough. So things can only be understood through action."
Macao studied him for a mont, then sighed. "Just... be careful with him. He pushes himself too hard sotis. Doesn't know when to stop."
"I'll watch out for him," Shisui promised.
This seed to satisfy Macao, who finally allowed himself a small smile.
"Well, it has been a while since anything interesting happened around here," he admitted. "Let's see what my son can do."
The yard behind the guild hall was simple but functional. A flat, open space of packed earth surrounded by a low wooden fence. Years ago, it had been the site of countless practice matches between guild mbers, a place where friendly competition helped sharpen skills and build bonds.
Now it felt almost hallowed. Guild mbers arranged themselves along the fence, an impromptu audience for what had unexpectedly beco the day's main event.
Roo already stood in the center of the yard, bouncing lightly on his feet, nervous energy visible in every movent. When Shisui stepped through the gate, the boy's eyes locked onto him with intense focus.
Macao moved to the center, naturally assuming the role of referee. As guild master, it was his place to oversee the match, though Shisui suspected his presence was as much about watching over his son as maintaining order.
"The rules are simple," Macao announced, looking between Shisui and Roo. "Shisui will remain stationary. He won't attack or dodge. Roo's objective is to make him move from his position."
He glanced at Shisui. "Any additional rules I should know about?"
"No magic that could harm bystanders," Shisui said. "Otherwise, Roo is free to use whatever ans he can."
Macao nodded, then looked to his son. "Roo? Are you ready?"
Roo's jaw set with determination as he nodded once, sharply.
"Take your positions," Macao instructed.
Shisui walked to the center of the yard, placing his feet exactly shoulder-width apart. He relaxed his posture, arms hanging loosely at his sides. Across from him, about twenty yards away, Roo assud a fighting stance, legs bent and hands raised in preparation.
Macao stepped back, raising his hand. "On my count of three, the match begins."
"One." Macao's voice cut through the expectant silence.
Roo's muscles tensed as he clenched his fists.
"Two."
Roo leaned forward slightly, weight on his front foot, ready to spring.
"Three!"
Before the word fully left Macao's mouth, Roo was already moving. Purple flas erupted around his hands as he charged forward, closing half the distance before launching his first attack directly at Shisui's chest.
Purple Flare Shot!
Roo shouted, sending a compressed blast of purple fire shooting toward his opponent.
The attack struck Shisui squarely, engulfing him in violet flas for a brief mont. When the fire dispersed, Roo's eyes widened in disbelief. Shisui stood exactly as before, not a hair out of place, his expression calm and unchanged. Even his clothes appeared unmarked by the flas.
"Good opening move," Shisui comnted. "I'd rate that attack at low to mid C-rank power. Impressive for soone your age."
The casual assessnt only fueled Roo's determination. He quickly shifted strategies, circling to Shisui's left while preparing his next spell.
Yellow Fire!
He called, summoning flas that crackled with a different energy. These burned a bright gold, sending small sparks into the air around his hands. "This one's going to sting!"
He launched the attack directly at Shisui's face, hoping the bright flash and acrid smoke would force him to at least flinch or step back. But again, Shisui remained perfectly still, accepting the hit without reaction.
For fifteen relentless minutes, Roo continued his assault. He cycled through his Rainbow Fire variations, red flas that burned hotter than normal, blue flas that carried intense cold, green flas that released choking smoke. Each attack landed squarely on target, and each ti, Shisui remained unmoved, occasionally offering technical feedback as if they were in a training session rather than a match.
The guild mbers watched in growing amazent, both at Roo's versatility and determination and at Shisui's seemingly impossible defense. Even Macao looked stunned by how easily the new guild mber was withstanding his son's magic, despite knowing of Shisui's background with Warrod Sequen.
Frustration mounting, Roo switched to physical attacks. He leapt high, bringing his heel down in an axe kick aid at Shisui's shoulder. The impact sent a jarring shock up Roo's leg, like kicking a steel beam. He stumbled back, wincing.
"You're hurting yourself," Shisui observed calmly. "Your physical attacks aren't reinforced with enough magic to protect your own body."
Roo ignored the advice, launching a flurry of punches at Shisui's midsection. Each strike sent pain shooting through his knuckles, yet Shisui didn't so much as sway.
Breathing heavily now, Roo backed away. His magic reserves were dwindling, and his hands throbbed from the failed physical assault. He needed sothing stronger.
His ultimate technique, the one he'd been developing in secret for months.
"I'm not done yet," Roo declared, his voice carrying a determined edge despite his obvious fatigue.
~ End of Chapter 38 ~
You can read advanced chapter on [email protected]/The_Editor982
As you can see, I'm hyping up Roo alot because I personally feel like it was a wasted opportunity that he remained so useless throughout despite the potential with his "Rainbow Fire" .-.
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