Chapter 46 - Arthur's Preparation

We returned to the guild right after Ulquiorra left, I had to forcefully keep myself calm as to not alert anyone that something was wrong.

That failed.

"Are you okay, Arthur?" Erza asked.

"Y-Yeah… Just thinking things over. The job I got now is kinda complicated, I need to think things through and… Find a way to do it." I replied truthfully.

I really did need to find a way to do this so called 'job'.

Looking at it positively, I don't have to actually kill Madara… Just impress him and make sure he goes through with the deal he made with Zeref.

Would he go through with it though? Perhaps he'd scheme behind Zeref's back if he did join…

Either way that's not the crux of my problems right now.

…

The day proceeded normally.

Well, aside from Erza obviously worrying about my current state of mind, I did reassure her everything was fine however we both knew I was lying.

…

Night time arrived, the moon shined over head as the stars twinkled all over the darkened sky.

I sat on the roof of the guild hall, still thinking about what to do.

"Simply training won't cut it… I need to make new spells, a plan, I also need gear…" I mumbled to myself.

If I want to have any shot at this, I need to go all out in my preparations…

Then again, it might get hard to move in and I don't have the time to get used to it…

Armor can be quite uncomfortable, even if it's weightless it still impedes my movements.

Perhaps I could make some clothes? I could create a piece of metal, perhaps Adamantium or Vibranium and then turn it into a sheet, remodel it into clothes and wear those for protection.

Yeah I think I'll do that… Should be near invincible protection, though getting hit would probably still hurt it's definitely better to have it on.

My mobility won't suffer either, so this is for the best…

Aside from that I need a new spell… One that I can use multiple times during the fight but also stronger than the Rasenshuriken and Cruel Sun…

True Sun is impossible to balance and takes time to create, albeit it does have power it's useless if I can't cast it immediately…

"…" I stood in silence for a while, contemplating my options.

What if…

I could perhaps mimic Naruto's flaming Rasenshuriken thing he used against Madara originally…

That would definitely shock him, I could use that to take the lead in the fight…

Okay, the clothes are easy and I'll make them tomorrow… The spell shouldn't be too hard, I think I can manage it in… three weeks? Considering I have experience already with creating a Rasenshuriken, it's safe to say it will work out faster that before…

I could try only combining my copy of the Rasengan with a Cruel Sun at first, then using the wind attribute to create the actual spell once I'm more comfortable with the combination process…

"…" I thought it over again.

"Damn it, it's not enough…" I said, biting my finger nail in frustration.

Well, for now I'll start doing that and then I'll figure out something else while creating the spell.

"I should try to sleep…" I mumbled, returning to my home by walking.

It's been a long day…

The next day after I informed Erza that she should train by herself for a while, as I would be busy with the job request, she frowned and asked.

"Isn't there something I can help you with? We are a team after all. Even if it was specific to you alone, I want to help." She said.

"Yeah, I know. It's just that the guy wants it to be kept confidential, and my magic is specifically what allows me to complete the job. Sorry Erza…" I replied, half lying.

"Alright then, if you do end up needing help however… Just know I'm always around, okay?" Erza replied with a smile, before we parted ways.

I waved her goodbye, teleporting myself to the Hakobe mountain range.

It was a cold snowy place, similar to the battle ground I'm supposed to go to in a month.

"Alright, to start with… {Creation Magic: Adamantine}. {Creation Magic: Vibranium}" I said, making two cubes of the two metals.

"{Flatten}, {Soften}, {Weightless}, {Reshape}, {Change Color: White}." I said, creating a near indestructible white combat suit.

Considering the land will be white, I might as well blend in.

Sharingan and what not…

Anyway, I'd better get on with my other preparation now.

"{Ether Spiral Sphere}, {Cruel Sun}!" I said, creating both a Rasengan and Cruel Sun like spell.

"{Combine}" I said, getting a feel for the process as the two spell merged.

It was similar to the usual wind and Rasengan combination, just with a very powerful flame spell instead.

I could in fact control it, though it was quite different to the normal Rasenshuriken and it was hard to stabilize it.

"{Equilibrium}." I said, gaining the knowledge of how it's supposed to be when balanced.

"All right, this seems doable… Now then, to test it out…" I said, having the spiraling flaming sphere of mass destruction hover above my hand.

Without further ado, I flung the flaming Rasengan towards one of the giant rock formations.

Once the Spiraling Flaming Rasengan reached its destination, it detonated in a blazing inferno!

The explosion was so big that the entire formation of rocks got blasted away, leaving only a crater behind.

"Not bad, but I can do better." I mumbled, preparing my next spell.

"{Ether Spiral Sphere}, {Wind Vortex}, {Cruel Sun}, {Combine}, {Equilibrium}." I said, creating the spell I intend to use against Madara.

It was about four meters in diameter, just like a Rasenshuriken it was spiraling with four sword like wind blades on its sides. The center however, had the visage of fire and magma.

"Based on what I see here, it's about half of a normal True Sun's power…" I said, looking towards the small mountain in front of me.

"Well, let's test this bad boy out… Hopefully you take the whole thing out now!" With that having been said, I wound up my hand and threw the blazing Rasenshuriken!

It accelerated at a visible pace, as the blades went faster and faster until they began cutting the air itself, sending shockwaves as the shuriken moved.

Once it reached the mountain, another grand inferno exploded. However this time it was supported by the spiraling dome that the Rasenshuriken is known for.

It didn't take long for more than half the top side of the mountain to be engulfed and obliterated completely…

"Nice! Although it wasn't as big a boom as I had hoped this is great! Now I only need to learn how to create it with the three words instead of five… Should be doable in a couple of weeks…" I thought, beginning my training of learning how to combine a Rasengan and a Cruel Sun by themselves.

"As for… this mountain…" I looked to the destruction I had caused.

"Perhaps I'll fix it later? Haha…" I said, scratching the back of my head.

…

Days passed, my mastery of the first spell became near perfect and I had already began training for the flaming Rasenshuriken!

It was going mostly smoothly, and I had actually thought of a new way to use True Sun better!

I was at my now usual spot in the Hakobe mountains, creating my new sort of trump card.

"{Creation Magic: Adamantium Ring}." I said making a near indestructible ring.

"Good, this should do. {Enchant: Storage}" I said, engraving a rune on the ring that would allow me to open up a dimensional storage inside of it.

I repeated this process nine more times, placing a ring on all my fingers.

"Now then… {Cruel Sun}, {Nuclear Fusion}, {Equilibrium}" I said, creating the two spells one over the other.

"{True Sun}" I had made a True Sun spell, having done that I looked to one of my ten rings.

"{Store}" Saying that, I stored the unstable spell into one of my rings.

Because time does not pass inside the storage spell, the spell albeit still unstable will remain in the same state I had placed it in.

Over the course of that day, I managed to place a True sun in each of my rings.

I also made it a habit to create one such True Sun ring at the end of each day, placing it inside my actual Storage spell.

This way, I could have a seemingly unlimited number of times I can shoot the spell, with no magic power cost, albeit that is as long as I have more rings.

The whole idea of using True Sun like this, did give me an even better idea of how I could use my strongest spell!

That idea, shall become my trump card.

Things are looking up now!

…

It took me two weeks, but finally on January 18th I managed to master the Flaming Rasenshuriken spell.

Currently while using Ether Zone I can control up to ten of those, while I can control even more with Equilibrium.

Perhaps twenty at a time would be my limit?

Good enough.

I currently have twenty True Sun rings in all. I should be able to make twenty more if I keep going as I have, however I no longer need training for the spell so I must prepare in a different way…

My birthday passed uncelebrated, as I had not been present at the guild the entire day.

I spent January 19th, my thirteenth birthday, by only making True Sun rings.

I ended up with forty in all, having made an additional twenty had spent me completely.

January twentieth. I thought over new ways to strengthen myself further…

My overall destructive capability is quite high, my defense is also very good and so is my mobility…

What I lack is actual strength.

I thought it over, how would I get physically stronger in a short time span?

Looking at the calendar.

The answer seemingly became simple!

"Mirajane!" I exclaimed.

"This is the year Mirajane joins the guild… The one who has Demonic take over magic…" I mumbled in thought.

What if…

I demonized myself?

Yes, that is certainly a possibility…

If I could hunt down some demons, kill them and take whatever is left… Perhaps their essence?

I could use a sort of incubator to mix them with my own body…

I have a little over two weeks, if I can find a few demons, I believe I'll be able to do it within that time frame…

"Better check the quest board… {Teleport}." I said, teleporting to the second floor of the guild hall.

The S rank jobs were few in number, only nine in fact. However, there were actually two demon related jobs.

..................

A Demon in the mine!

Job Location: North-western Fiore, Ixia Town.

Description: A demon from the books of Zeref has invaded our mine, which is the only source of income our town has! Please, to anyone of the S rank caliber, come rid us of this threat! An appropriate award has been gathered for one of great stature such as yourselves, so please come as fast as you can!

Job Rank: S

Reward: 10,000,000 Jewels

Taken/Untaken: UNTAKEN

..................

That, as well as…

..................

Vanquish the duo of demons!

Job Location: Western Fiore, Lunaria city.

Job Description: Two Demons have hidden themselves in the sewers! Our mages are incapable of finding them and we require ȧssistance! To any S rank mages, please if you are skilled in tracking come to our aid! The demons use many cunning spells to hide themselves and devour our citizens at night! We need you to come as soon as possible!

Job Rank: S

Reward: 13,550,000 Jewels

Taken/Untaken: UNTAKEN

..................

I of course, took them both.

This should be a good opportunity to test out my new spells, perhaps even a ring or two!

…

Having gone to the northern-western part of Fiore, I spoke with a few people.

The ones that had issued the request.

"Hello there, I am Arthur Wulf of Fairy Tail." I greeted the men.

"Ah! Good, good! We've been expecting you!" The man said, cupping his hands.

He had purple hair, as well as an exquisite mustache of the same color! I guess I can call it that at least?

He also wore a yellow suit. So there's that too.

"Where's this demon of yours then?" I asked

"Ah! You see, we here at Ixia town make a living from our mine. However that had become impossible with the recent Demon that has made the mine its base, it doesn't seem to be intelligent but it has already killed several miners! Their bodies had shriveled up as if drained of all they had! It was… Gruesome…" The man said, triggering my Truth Perception.

"Hmm? I see… So then, let me ask… Do any of you know anything about the demon?" I asked, curious as of right now.

"No." One of them said.

"Nothing other than the fact it's terrifying!" Another said.

"I have no knowledge of the demon in question." The purple haired man said, triggering my Truth Perception once more.

"Oh, I see! It's that cliché huh? So anyway, are you the demon?" I asked the man.

"W-What?! That is preposterous! Of course I am not the demo-" He began explaining himself, however I cut him off short by extending my hand and unleashing a True Sun at point black range.

The man got slammed head on by the spell, which I controlled to go upwards towards the sky.

Once it was around a hundred meters up, I detonated it creating a blast so powerful that everyone on the ground fell over and winds with enough force to blow the leaves off of trees kilometers away ran past us.

"Not quite enough to kill him ey? Demons are quite sturdy I guess…" I said, watching a black dot fall from the sky.

"A-ARE YOU NUTS KID?! YOU JUST KILLED AN INNOCENT MAN!" One of the other people accused.

"Innocent? You call that innocent?" I replied, pointing to the ground on my side.

A moment later, a demonic creature fell from the sky. It was burnt up really badly and was missing five of its six wings, a leg and three of its four arms.

"WHA!-" The people exclaimed.

"Your friend here seems to have been the demon all along." I said, walking up to the damaged creature.

"D-Damn… It… I never… Expected this… Outcome…" The demon spoke.

"Why the hell would you issue your own bounty?" I asked it.

"I… I… Was supposed to devour you… And your powers!" It said, glaring at me with its cold purple eyes.

"Cool, lemme do that instead." I replied.

"Wha-" It began to question, yet I already slammed my foot over its head.

"{Thunder Strike}" I said, and a strike of thunder fell from the heavens over the two of us.

I of course was well protected, the demon however died instantly.

"{Storage}" I said, placing the demon's now soulless body into my storage.

"So… As for payment?" I asked, turning to the still shocked people.

"Ah! Y-Yes! We apologize sir mage, let us atone for the misconduct! Thank you for ridding us of the demon so swiftly!" The man replied, handing me the reward money they had already prepared.

Ten million jewels in all! Sweet!

…

After having finished the first job, I moved to the other city where the demons were supposedly at.

The job was even easier, as these two demons were not of the combatant type.

They were more like ȧssassins, one might say. However I simply found them with clairvoyance after having searched for a few minutes.

I didn't even show up to the person who issued the job before I killed both demons.

Having found them, I teleported behind the demonic duo and encased the three of us in a cubic barrier spell, afterwards I left one of my Infernal Rasenshurikens with them and teleported right outside the barrier. Not a moment after the inside of said barrier became an inferno of mass destruction!

They did not survive in the slightest.

I confirmed the kills with my patron, took my payment and went back to the Hakobe mountains.

"That was a lot easier than before… Though I guess Deliora and Gifernes were more on the higher end in terms of demons. Speaking of which, I'd better check if I can find anything left of them! {Teleport}!" I thought out loud.

Having searched both Crego Island and the city where Deliora died, I could return happily!

I did in fact find some of their remaining essence while using {Search} and used {Collect} to fish it all out from the area.

Now I had 3 low level demon bodies, and the essence of one mid-tier and one high-tier demon.

Hopefully this works out the way I want it to. Else I'd have wasted an entire day's time of preparation!

Back at the Hakobe mountains, I made myself an evil underground lair where I began the process of my own demonification!

"{Merging Incubator Machine}!" I said, creating two linked glass tanks.

One for myself, one for the demons.

I placed the three demon bodies, as well as all the essence I had from Gifernes and Deliora in one of the tanks and closed up said tank, filling it with liquid Ethernano that I managed to create via my Ether Zone and a few words that liquefied the surrounding ether I had gathered.

I then took of my clothes, entering the other tank and filling it with liquid Ethernano as well.

Now using telekinesis, I activated the machine and began the merging process…

My consciousness faded slowly, as the demons disappeared within the liquid ether in the other tank.

The process of becoming a demonified human, took five days…

…