Chapter 1: A New Life in Fairy Tail
The Fiore Kingdom.
The town of Magnolia was bustling, just as he remembered it. Sunlight streamed down the cobblestone streets, illuminating the vibrant market stalls and the cheerful chatter of its citizens. In the distance, the bells of Kardia Cathedral chimed, a peaceful sound that seemed to define the town.
For Ren, it was all still surreal.
He walked through the streets in a daze, his simple clothes a stark contrast to the colorful outfits of the locals. He still wasn't sure how he'd gotten here. One moment, he was on Earth, living a mundane life; the next, he woke up in a forest clearing in a new, 18-year-old body, possessing only fragmented memories and a name: Ren.
But it didn't take him long to recognize the world. The language, the architecture, the ambient magic in the air... and the town name of Magnolia.
He had crossed over into the world of Fairy Tail.
He'd spent the last few days just surviving and confirming his reality, his heart pounding with a mix of terror and wild excitement. Now, he stood before his destination. It was a large, boisterous building, unmistakable and iconic.
The Fairy Tail Guild Hall.
Ren took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly. This was it. This was the first step to starting his new life, to not just surviving but living. He pushed open the massive wooden doors.
The chaos that greeted him was instantaneous and overwhelming.
"YOU ICE-STRIPPING PERVERT!"
"WHAT'D YOU SAY, DROOPY-EYES?!"
A chair splintered against the wall, narrowly missing Ren's head. A half-naked Gray Fullbuster was locked in combat with a fire-breathing Natsu Dragneel. Tables were overturned, mugs of ale were sent flying, and the entire guild hall was a cacophony of shouting, laughter, and explosions.
Cana Alberona sat at a nearby table, chugging an entire barrel of booze, completely unbothered. Macao and Wakaba were chatting at the bar, dodging the occasional projectile.
This... this was definitely Fairy Tail.
A smile split Ren's face. It was perfect. He carefully navigated the brawl, weaving past a flying Elfman and an exasperated Lucy, and made his way to the bar.
There, cleaning a glass with a serene smile, as if she weren't in the middle of a warzone, was a beautiful woman with long, white hair.
Mirajane Strauss.
Ren's heart skipped a beat. She was even more beautiful in person. He cleared his throat, trying to be heard over the din. "E-Excuse me?"
Mirajane looked up, her bright blue eyes landing on him. Her smile, if possible, became even warmer. "Oh, hello! Welcome to Fairy Tail. Can I get you something to eat? Or perhaps you're looking for a job?"
"Ah, actually," Ren said, trying to keep his composure. "I... I'd like to join the guild."
His words seemed to cut through the noise for just a second. The brawl paused. Natsu, mid-punch, turned to look. Gray, caught freezing his shirt back on, glanced over.
Then, Mirajane's smile widened into a beam. "A new member? That's wonderful! We always love having new family!"
The brawl instantly resumed as if nothing had happened. Mirajane giggled, pulling out a registration form from under the counter.
"May I have your name?"
"Ren."
"Your age?"
"Eighteen."
"And what kind of magic are you proficient in, Ren-kun?"
Ren hesitated for a second. This was the truth, but it felt... underwhelming, given who she was. "Take Over Magic."
Mirajane's eyes widened slightly in genuine surprise. "Take Over Magic?!" she repeated, a hint of excitement in her voice. "Oh, my goodness! That's the same magic my brother and sister use! Is it Animal Soul? Beast Soul?"
"I'm... not entirely sure yet," Ren replied honestly. He only knew the name, a piece of information that seemed to be ingrained in him when he arrived. "I just know the basics. I haven't been able to... manifest it fully."
"Well, everyone starts somewhere!" Mira said kindly, her expression understanding. "And you've come to the right place to learn. We have a few experts here, after all."
She finished scribbling on the form. "Alright, registration complete. Now for the most important part! Ren-kun, where would you like your Guild mark?"
Ren didn't even have to think. He placed his right hand flat on the wooden counter. "On the back of this hand."
"And what color?"
"Red."
Mira adjusted the magic stamp, the guild's crest glowing faintly. "This will just feel a little warm," she said.
She pressed the stamp onto the back of his hand. Ren felt a pleasant, warm sensation spread through his skin, a feeling of... acceptance. Of connection. When she pulled it away, a crimson Fairy Tail emblem remained.
"Welcome to Fairy Tail," Mirajane said, her smile softer now, more genuine. "You are now an official member of our family."
"Thank you... Mira-san," Ren said, his voice thick with emotion.
He stared at the mark on his hand, a subtle excitement building into a tidal wave. A member of Fairy Tail. He had actually joined Fairy Tail. He knew that if a dream was cheap enough, it was likely to come true, but he had never heard of a fantasy, a literal fantasy, coming true. And yet, this mark was real. This chaotic guild was real.
This was his life now.
As that thought solidified in his mind, a sound chimed, audible only to him.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for joining the Fairy Tail Guild.]
[System binding initiated... Target: Fairy Tail Guild.]
[Do you wish to bind this Guild?]
'It's finally active!' Ren thought, trying to keep his expression neutral. He'd been waiting for this. A transmigrator without a 'cheat' or 'system' was just a lost tourist.
"Bind!" he commanded in his mind.
[Ding! Binding successful! Host's fate is now intertwined with the Fairy Tail Guild. Guild prosperity will grant benefits. Guild destruction will result in Host's termination.]
'No pressure, then,' Ren thought wryly.
[New member gift detected: 10-Pull Gacha Ticket!]
[Do you wish to draw?]
A panel, visible only to him, popped up, displaying a 'Draw x10' button.
'A gacha system? Of course.' Ren was about to tap it, but then he looked up at the goddess-like woman in front of him. An idea struck.
"Uh, Mira-san?"
"Yes, Ren-kun? Are you ready for a tour?"
"In a moment. This might sound... really strange," Ren said, scratching his cheek. "But... can you wish me good luck?"
Mira tilted her head, confused but amused. "Good luck? For what, your first request?"
"Just... for my first day. I want it to start off right."
Mira giggled, a sound like silver bells. "Ara? How cute. Of course." She clasped her hands together and gave Ren a smile that could melt glaciers. "Ren-kun, I wish you the very best of luck!"
'Yes! A blessing from the goddess!' Ren thought, feeling a rush of confidence. 'She's so cute. I really want to marry her and take her home as my wife... Focus, Ren! Gacha!'
With the goddess's blessing fresh in his mind, Ren mentally tapped the screen.
"Ten-pull!"
The screen flashed with ten streaks of starlight, just like playing Genshin Impact. Nine of them were purple, but one... one streak was a dazzling, blinding, golden meteor.
"A GOLD HAS APPEARED!!"
Ren's heart hammered in his chest. He couldn't believe it. A 5-star! A golden legend on his very first ten-pull! His luck was insane!
Soon, ten character cards appeared on the panel. Ren ignored the nine purple '4-Star' cards; his eyes were locked on the golden one at the very front. He had to know who he got.
As the image resolved, Ren's breath caught in his throat. He recognized the character instantly, even without reading the name.
Short, spiky black hair. Pale, almost porcelain skin. Haunting green eyes, etched with deep green tear marks that ran down his cheeks. He wore a white horned helmet fragment on the left side of his head and a high-collared white uniform with a black sash. A sword was tucked at his waist, and his entire demeanor screamed cold, elegant emptiness.
Ulquiorra Cifer.
[Akarin's Note: Ulquiorra Cifer is a character from the anime/manga Bleach. He is a primary antagonist and the No. 4 Espada (the "Ten Blades," the strongest warriors in the Arrancar army).]
The No. 4 of the Espada, Aizen's powerful Arrancar army.
Bleach was one of Ren's favorite anime, and Ulquiorra was a character who had fascinated him.
Even though his ranking was only No. 4, Ren knew that was a lie. That ranking only accounted for his first Resurrección. Ulquiorra was the only Espada to possess a second release, his Resurrección: Segunda Etapa, a form that boosted his power to terrifying, unknown heights. In the eyes of many fans, Ulquiorra was arguably the strongest of them all.
He was ultimately defeated by Hollow Ichigo, but that version of Ichigo was a monster of instinct and power, arguably one of the strongest forces in the entire series.
This did not diminish Ulquiorra's power in the slightest.
'This isn't just amazing... this is world-changing!' Ren thought, his mind racing. 'My magic is Take Over... does this mean... I can Take Over him?!'
He focused on the card. [Character Card: Ulquiorra Cifer (Take Over)]. [Grants access to Arrancar abilities: Sonído (High-Speed Movement), Cero (Magic Blast), Hierro (Steel Skin), and Resurrección (Release)].
This was... this was a cheat. A massive, game-breaking cheat. With this, he wasn't just a newb. He had the potential to stand at the top.
"This is amazing!!"
Ren couldn't help but exclaim his delight aloud, clenching his fists.
The guild hall fell silent again. Everyone turned to look at the newcomer.
"Hmm? What's amazing?" Natsu asked, a chicken leg halfway to his mouth.
Mirajane looked at Ren with gentle confusion. This newcomer seemed a bit strange, shouting to himself. "Is... everything alright, Ren-kun?"
Ren flushed, realizing he had spoken aloud. "Uh... I mean... joining Fairy Tail!" he ad-libbed, plastering a wide, enthusiastic grin on his face. "It's truly amazing! I'm just so happy!"
Mira's confusion melted back into her warm smile. "Oh, I see." She giggled. Mages who admired Fairy Tail often showed great joy when they finally joined. She always had a soft spot for those who genuinely loved the guild.
"In that case, let me give you a proper tour," she said, stepping out from behind the bar.
"Okay, thank you, Mira-san." Ren mentally stored his new power, forcing himself to focus.
Mira first brought Ren to the large request board dominating one wall. "This is the request board. All tasks posted by clients are displayed here." Ren leaned in, scanning the various jobs. They ranged from simple errands like 'Find my lost cat: 5,000 Jewel' to 'Exterminate Vulcan colony: 70,000 Jewel.'
"Guild members can choose suitable requests based on their content and magic. After completing a request, you receive a commission. This is the main source of income for Guild Mages."
She then pointed toward a staircase leading down. "The basement is the storage room, mainly used for stacking guild sundries and... well, more ale," she said with a wink.
"What about the second floor?" Ren asked, looking up at the other staircase, the one that led to a railed balcony overlooking the main hall. The atmosphere up there felt... different. Heavier.
Mira's expression turned slightly more serious. "The second floor is the S-Class floor. It's also where our infirmary is, so guild members who are injured and need treatment can go up. But under normal circumstances, ordinary members are not allowed on the second floor; only S-Class Mages are permitted."
"Why?"
"Because the tasks posted up there are all S-Class or higher," she explained, her voice quiet but firm. "Each one is almost a life-or-death mission, far too dangerous for a regular mage. But... relatively speaking, the rewards are also much more generous. Only by becoming an S-Class Mage are you qualified to accept them."
"S-Class Mage, huh?"
Ren, of course, knew about S-Class Mages. They were the aces of a Mage Guild, titans of magic who were much stronger than ordinary Mages. They were the pillars of a Guild.
He looked at the smiling, gentle girl in front of him. This delicate-looking woman, who had just been happily explaining guild functions, was Mirajane Strauss. "The Demon." One of Fairy Tail's most powerful S-Class Mages.
He had a long way to go. But now, with the power of Ulquiorra sleeping in his soul, he had a path.
Ren looked up at the staircase, his eyes filled with a new, burning determination. He clenched his right hand, the red guild mark feeling warm on his skin.
"I will definitely become an S-Class Mage," Ren said softly, but his tone was firm, an unbreakable promise to himself.
Mira's smile returned, this time with a hint of nostalgia. "I wish you early success!" she said brightly.
She used to be just like Ren, full of fire and ambition. Seeing him was like seeing her past self... and her siblings. Becoming an S-Class Mage wasn't easy. It was a path of hardship, pain, and sacrifice.
But, she thought, that fire is what makes a Fairy Tail Mage.
"I hope you can achieve it, Ren-kun. The more strong S-Class Mages a guild has, the stronger our family will be."
[Akarin Note:
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