Fairy Tail: Picked up Erza At The Start

At the same time, Gray couldn't help but admire Darius even more.

In the recent battle, Darius had handled Natsu with such ease and understatement.

A brighter admiration glowed in Gray's eyes.

"It's incredible. I still have a long way to go," Gray muttered, his excitement palpable.

Having witnessed Darius's overwhelming power, Gray resolved to train harder, determined to one day reach Darius's level.

With that, he turned and headed back into the guild.

Nearby, Cana, who had been drinking, glanced at Natsu lying unconscious on the ground. Her cheeks flushed as she followed Gray into the guild.

A thought crossed her mind: if Darius could help her train, she might quickly rise to become an S-class mage. Then, she could finally reveal her true identity to *that man*!

The idea filled her with excitement.

Erza, too, couldn't help but admire Darius as she watched him walk toward the guild.

Strong men were undeniably captivating.

Makarov approached Natsu and checked his injuries. "This kid… it's nothing serious," he muttered, shaking his head.

At the same time, he couldn't help but marvel at Darius's growing strength.

Darius was undoubtedly one of the guild's top fighters now.

Makarov decided to start the assessment in two days, hoping to teach his grandson, Laxus, a lesson about underestimating others.

---

Inside the guild, Erza sat beside Darius, her eyes filled with curiosity.

Darius took a sip of juice, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and asked, "Something on your mind?"

Erza nodded, choosing her words carefully. "You haven't been training much, yet your strength keeps growing. Is there some secret to it?"

She found it hard to believe. Training was grueling, yet Darius's power had only increased over the past year, leaving her feeling the gap between them widen.

Even though she wasn't obsessed with being the strongest among her peers, Darius's rapid growth was staggering.

"I—" Darius began, but before he could finish, Natsu burst into the guild, shouting, "I challenge you to a rematch!"

Darius's eye twitched in annoyance. "You just don't know when to quit, do you?"

Natsu, who should have been unconscious, was already back on his feet, full of energy.

Gray sighed, watching the scene unfold. "He's relentless."

He couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency. If even Natsu couldn't land a hit on Darius, what chance did he have?

The other guild members quietly observed Natsu's antics.

No matter how much he ranted, everyone knew Natsu stood no chance against Darius.

Annoyed by the noise, Darius stood up and walked toward the job board, intending to pick a mission and leave the guild for a while.

"Looking for a job?" Makarov greeted him.

Darius nodded. "I need a break from Natsu's pestering. A mission sounds like a good idea."

Makarov glanced at the board and offered some advice. "These missions vary in difficulty. If you're going alone, stick to the simpler ones. If you have a partner, you could take on something more challenging."

He had a good sense of Darius's strength. Most of the missions on the first floor were well within his capabilities. Still, given Darius's age, Makarov thought it might be better for him to have some company.

"Mind if I join you?" Erza approached, her tone calm but firm.

The guild members paused their activities, their eyes shifting curiously between Erza and Darius.

"Erza's completed every mission she's taken so far. She's one of the fastest-rising members in the guild."

"Darius is incredibly strong, and Erza's no slouch either. Can you imagine what they'd be like together?"

"Even the toughest missions would be a breeze for them, right?"

The chatter grew louder.

Even Makarov was intrigued. Aside from the S-class mages, Darius and Erza were among the guild's most powerful members. If they teamed up, they could likely handle missions from the second floor.

"Sure," Darius agreed. He grabbed a mission request and handed it to Erza for her to review.

The guild members leaned in, curious about the mission the two had chosen.

"A demon extermination quest?" Macao's eyes widened in surprise.

"What?!" Wakaba exclaimed, rushing over to read the details. His expression turned serious. "This mission is extremely dangerous!"

Macao nodded in agreement. "It's the most difficult mission on the first floor. It's been posted for three months, and no one's dared to take it. It's practically S-class difficulty."

"I heard it involves destroying demons sealed in a village church. It's no joke," Gray added, his voice tinged with unease.

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Let me know of any changes needed.