Watching Erza and Natsu clash left Rowan deep in thought.
Natsu had still lost, but the way Dragon Slayer magic reinforced his body was impossible to ignore. Erza's strength came from her own skill paired with magical armor, but Natsu's power came from something fundamentally different. Dragon Slayer magic didn't just enhance spells. It transformed the user.
Rowan noticed something else as well. Even Erza's Flame Emperor Armor, which halved the power of ordinary fire magic, failed to fully suppress Natsu's flames. Where normal fire spells were cut down to half, Dragon Slayer fire still retained most of its force.
That mattered.
In other worlds, there were no magic armors or enchanted weapons to rely on. Dragon Slayer magic, with its ability to absorb and convert elemental energy, was far more adaptable. Rowan even entertained a dangerous thought. If it could devour elemental energy, then in theory, even something as extreme as a nuclear blast might be consumed and redirected.
After repairing the damaged streets, Rowan returned to the guild with the others.
Three days later, during lunch in the guild hall, Rowan casually brought it up.
"Master, I heard Laxus became a Dragon Slayer by implanting a Dragon Crystal. Is that true?"
Makarov looked surprised. "You're interested in Dragon Crystals?"
Rowan nodded openly. "If I could get one, I'd like to become a Dragon Slayer myself."
Happy immediately chimed in. "Then wouldn't you turn into a dragon-cat, nya?"
Rowan paused, then laughed. "That doesn't sound wrong."
Makarov sighed and drained his drink before answering.
"Dragon Crystals are made from a dragon's heart. They're unimaginably rare. Back then, Ivan searched the entire Ishgar continent and found nothing. In the end, he bought a Lightning Dragon Crystal from a mage who came from the northern continent, Guiltina. Don't get your hopes too high."
Dragons were legends now. Even if one still existed, finding and killing it was another matter entirely.
"A mage from Guiltina…" Rowan murmured.
He recalled the geography texts he'd read. The world, known as Earth Land, had four known continents. Ishgar to the east, where Fairy Tail and Fiore were located. Alakitasia to the west, ruled by a single empire and largely cut off from Ishgar. The southern continent remained a mystery, barely more than a rumor. And to the north lay Guiltina, tied to something called the Hundred Years Quest, though even the books offered few details.
Rowan changed the subject instead.
"Who is Serena?"
Makarov's expression turned distant. "God Serena. One of the strongest mages ever. The pinnacle of the Ten Wizard Saints. He fused eight Dragon Crystals into his body and could use eight different Dragon Slayer magics. He vanished years ago. No one knows where he went."
Rowan's eyes widened.
"Eight Dragon Crystals?"
The realization hit hard. If eight were possible, why not more? If someone fused every elemental Dragon Crystal, wouldn't every spell they cast become Dragon Slayer magic?
The thought sent a quiet thrill through him.
Then his eyelids suddenly felt heavy.
"What…?"
Rowan's mind reacted instantly. His mental defenses surged, dispersing the unnatural drowsiness. When he looked around, his expression changed.
Guild members were collapsing one by one. Even Erza had fallen unconscious.
"Sleep magic?" Rowan's wings snapped open as he drew his wand. "An attack?"
He aimed at Erza immediately. Makarov was still standing, resisting the spell through sheer will, so freeing Erza came first.
"Finite—"
"Relax," Makarov interrupted. "It's not an enemy. That's Mystogan. He doesn't like dealing with people. This is how he makes an entrance."
Rowan froze.
Mystogan.
An S-Class mage.
He'd heard the guild's endless debates. Erza was acknowledged as the strongest woman in Fairy Tail, but the strongest man was always contested. Some said Laxus. Others said Mystogan. And then there was Gildarts, the undisputed strongest of all, absent for years on a legendary mission.
Natsu and Gray had grown strong enough to be mentioned in the same conversations now, but they weren't quite there yet.
Rowan slowly lowered his wand, eyes sharp with interest.
So this was Mystogan's way of arriving.