章節 9: Chapter 9: Sparring
Happy New Year, guys! May you become rich, buy a house and car, marry a beautiful and loyal woman, and make her pregnant. And for women, may you find men worth your time and effort, and also all the best in your career. Finally, may I become successful this year, and don't forget to vote for me.
...
Returning to her room, Gwen sighed again. Although she didn't tell them the truth, she at least made them realize something was wrong.
Seeing their reaction, they probably wouldn't press her, but would wait for her to tell the truth when she was ready.
And who knows, maybe by then she would be strong enough or have some capital to retrieve Gwen's soul from Lady Death. Maybe she could resurrect her through the Infinity Stones?
Again, all she lacked was strength. With enough strength, one could really do anything they wanted, especially in this world.
Having a little bit of a clear goal, Gwen changed into her running clothes. She was returning to Fairy Tail, and running clothes were better than pajamas, right?
She was going to take a mission. If it was sightseeing, she might dress differently, but right now, she needed to test her strength.
She already had a clear understanding of how the time flow between the two worlds worked.
She could let herself go without worry, and besides, tomorrow was Sunday. She would just return home in the morning, eat breakfast, and then return.
She opened the portal leading to the Room Dimension, and the moment she entered, the little bit of mental tiredness she had today was swept away. It was as if she had a good sleep and woke up in good condition.
Every time she was in, she felt safe and far from any eyes or danger. Nonetheless, she opened a portal leading to Fairy Tail, right where she left off last time.
She wasn't dizzy or anything like that from traveling to a different world; it felt more like just crossing a room with no side effects.
Just like yesterday, the place was as lively as usual, but this time, they didn't stop their activity when she arrived.
Anyway, although they were interested in her ability, they weren't the type to pry into secrets, especially one that might make someone uncomfortable.
If she was willing to show them her power and abilities, great. If not, they wouldn't force her. Of course, this was another story if Natsu were there—he would have already asked her for a fight.
Gwen greeted Makarov, who was drinking, and said, "Master Makarov, I want to grab a new mission."
She didn't truly know how things worked. Did she just go to the mission blackboard and take one, or did she need to pass some kind of requirement?
The old man nodded to her and said, "Follow me."
He walked outside the guild, and Gwen followed him. They didn't walk in Magnolia but at the back of the guild, where the lake Natsu evaporated later was.
As they reached the edge of the lake, Makarov stopped and turned to Gwen. His usual jovial demeanor was replaced with a serious expression.
The reflection of the moon could be seen across the still waters. The view was really beautiful, to the point that Gwen would take a picture if she had a camera.
"You wish to take on a mission," Makarov began, his voice steady, "but first, I need to understand your capabilities, if it doesn't bother you. The guild protects its members, and sending someone out unprepared is the same as sending them to their death."
Gwen nodded, understanding his concern. "I understand, Master Makarov. What do you need me to do?"
Makarov grinned, the seriousness giving way to a playful glint in his eyes as he waved his hand. "Don't be so formal. We are a family here. As for your test, it's simple—show me what you can do. I'll judge if you're ready."
Gwen took a fighting stance. As for worrying about hurting the old man, well, if she could do it, there would be no need for her to be here or be secretive.
Makarov, who was observing her, nodded. Just from her fighting stance, he knew she was trained and not a beginner. He had already been suspicious because of her way of walking—it was similar to that of a trained knight.
Makarov stood still, his hands behind his back, waiting for Gwen to make her move. Sure enough, despite his short stature and hands behind his back, the pressure he was giving her was something she had never felt.
If she had to compare it, it could only be compared to when Mikasa faced the Rumbling. Gwen quickly shook these thoughts away and jumped at the old man, punching with all her strength.
Sure, she might be better with a sword, thanks to Mikasa, but in this kind of fight, a sword would only be a drag, since it wouldn't hurt Makarov.
Due to Gwen's strength, she left a deep mark on the earth, and maybe her sneakers were done for after this fight, but she didn't let herself be distracted by this. Her fist even carried wind, showing that it must be heavy.
Despite her speed, Makarov just sidestepped easily, avoiding the punch. But then something surprised him—he saw that Gwen had already made a turn and kicked, as if she knew he would avoid her punch.
Makarov didn't dodge but chose to take the kick, and because he wasn't using Magic Power, it forced him to slide back a little.
In truth, he had already approved of her strength just because of the two actions and was satisfied. Now, he just wanted to see her limit, as it seemed that Gwen hadn't fully adapted to her strength, which seemed strange.
Despite seeing Makarov handle her so effortlessly, Gwen wasn't desperate or anything like one might think. She was smiling, a smile that came from the bottom of her heart.
As dark as it may seem, humans are creatures attracted to violence, especially those who are pressured by life.
Even in her last life, where her troubles came from being attracted to women and a little financial problem, Gwen would be thrilled by things like watching anime fights or doing sports.
She was an excitement seeker, as she often found life too boring. Only after seeing a truck coming toward her did she realize that, even if it was boring, life was indeed precious, no matter the pressure to bear.
Now that she was in this life, where she could release the beast side inside her, she, of course, wouldn't let it go. But, well, she also knew that she needed to control herself, or she might go down a path from which there was no return.
Makarov, who was watching Gwen's genuine smile because of the fight, couldn't help but sigh internally. This girl was really made for Fairy Tail, it seemed.
In a fight where you could punch and kick to your heart's content, Gwen wasn't polite, especially since Makarov didn't attack but was just defending himself.
At some point, some guild members who heard the commotion outside came out and saw Gwen fighting. They were impressed.
Sure, some of them would be able to beat her due to their magic, but when it came to physical strength and fighting skill, there were probably no more than five people who could match her, with Gildarts and Makarov taking two spots.
As the fight went on, Gwen pushed herself further, testing the limits of her physical strength and agility. Her punches became faster, her kicks sharper, and her movements more fluid.
However, despite her best efforts, Makarov deflected each strike with ease, his movements calculated and deliberate, though he used Magic Power to form some kind of armor at some point.
Of course, he only used Magic Power as a form of armor and didn't put pressure on Gwen with it. Since she didn't seem to have Magic Power, he wanted to see how she would react when coming in contact with it.
It was his last test of her, as if she couldn't come in contact with Magic, he could only say sorry to her and wouldn't let her go on a mission where the objective was to come in contact with magic.
Lucky for her, she just seemed not to have Ethernano in her body. This couldn't help but make him think of Porlyusica. Maybe Gwen was a little like the old woman?
"Okay, that's enough. I've seen what you can do."
Gwen stopped at Makarov's instructions. She was also starting to get bored since Makarov hadn't even retaliated once. Who knows, maybe she was a little bit of a masochist?
She shook her head, dismissing these thoughts. There was nothing wrong with her; it was just that no one could enjoy a one-sided fight.
END OF THE CHAPTER
By now, I'm pretty sure that most of you have a little bit of understanding concerning Gwen's personality. She is a bold person, forced by society to be cold and a little timid sometimes.
Also, something interesting happened concerning Gwen's way of using her ability in the next chapter. If you've already guessed it or are rereading, don't spoil it for the others. See you tomorrow!
Also, there are now two advanced chapters on my Patreon. Here's the link:
patreon.com/Gloryhunter
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