It was very lively early this morning, with everyone gathered in the mission area, looking at the hundreds of newly issued missions.
Immediately afterwards, a scramble ensued, with everyone vying for an easy and lucrative job.
Suddenly, someone exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? This is an SS-rank mission?"
"SS-rank?"
"Quick, let me see it!"
Everyone's curiosity was immediately piqued, and they squeezed through the crowd. S-rank missions were rare, let alone SS-rank ones, so what kind of mission was it?
Harpy spread his wings and flew to the top to look. When he saw what was on it, he exclaimed in surprise, "It's a quest about dragons!"
"Natsu, Natsu, come quick!"
Upon hearing this, Natsu squeezed through the crowd and shouted, "Happy, hurry up and steal the mission!"
He had been searching for Igneel, so how could he let go of the quest about dragons?
Seeing the chaos, Makarov shouted angrily, "Stop messing around! This SS mission is special; it's not for you!"
Natsu didn't listen to him at all. He had already received the mission and his attention was entirely on it. He read it aloud: "A kingdom attacked by an evil dragon? A hero slays the dragon!"
He shouted excitedly, "There really is a dragon!"
Upon hearing this, Gajeel and Wendy exclaimed in unison, "We want to take it!"
They also hope to get news about Iron Dragon Medalicana and Sky Dragon Grandini.
Since a kingdom can send out a mission, it can't possibly be fake news. They must go; they can't miss this opportunity.
Makarov shook his head: "You can't do it. This mission has been assigned to Erza, and only Erza has the right to choose whether to accept it or not."
Erza was greatly surprised and pointed to herself: "Me?"
She's not a dragon slayer mage, so why would she be assigned to slay dragons?
Natsu protested, "I am the Dragon Slayer Mage! Let me go with Erza!"
Makarov shook his head: "They said that only Erza can complete this mission, but they didn't explain why. I don't want you to take the risk given this unknown situation."
Missions involving dragons are at least ten-year missions. Although I don't understand why they insist on calling them SS-level missions, their danger level is definitely high.
"But!"
Before Natsu could say anything more, Makarov sternly stopped him: "Even Gildarts is no match for a dragon. Do you really think you can fight a dragon? You'll be going down there and never come back. I don't want to be collecting your corpses!"
Throughout history, dragons have always been at the pinnacle of the world. Even the most ordinary dragon requires the strongest human to challenge it.
Although dragons are now just legends, their power is undeniable!
Gildarts, drinking at the front desk, agreed, saying, "I don't recommend you go either. Perhaps you will have the power to slay dragons in the future, but definitely not now."
The red dragon he encountered earlier still haunts him. If he hadn't escaped quickly enough, he wouldn't be sitting here leisurely drinking right now.
Wearing a casual dress, Eileen stepped into the guild: "Let Erza pick her up. Of course, anyone else who wants to go can come along."
These words shocked everyone present. Makarov was filled with doubt: "But...why?"
He didn't understand. Erza was Erin's own daughter. Why send her to face the dragon? Wasn't that sending her to her death?
"Yes, Eileen, this mission is too dangerous."
"The president is right, we absolutely must not act impulsively!"
"We can't let Erza go!"
Everyone looked at Eileen and tried to dissuade her, saying that it was an incredibly terrifying dragon, and Erza could never be a match for it.
Even if their entire guild went together, they might not be able to defeat them.
Irene looked at Erza and said seriously, "Others may be in danger, but Erza is absolutely safe."
"As for the reason, Erza will find out when she gets there."
Erza looked at Erin, their eyes met, and she saw the complex emotions and longing deep in her mother's eyes.
She suddenly said, "President, I'll take it!"
Makarov was silent for a moment, then sighed and said, "I'm not going to worry about you anymore. You and your daughter should think it over."
The next day, Erza had already packed her bags and was ready to leave when Acnologia and Irene came to see her off.
Acnologia suddenly remembered something and took out a tightly wrapped package: "Oh, right, I have a gift for you!"
"Gift?"
Erza took the package, opened it, and found a miniature machine inside. She asked in confusion, "What is this? A dragon rider toy? I'm not a child anymore."
Acnologia smiled and said, "This is Edolas' original dragon knight. Your mother modified it, adding the ability to grow bigger and smaller."
"A modified dragon knight?"
Erza was shocked. She remembered that this dragon knight was a force to be reckoned with, and even Gildarts couldn't harm him. How could her father have brought him back?
"you mean?"
"Don't you know how to change clothes?"
Acnologia said matter-of-factly, "Just throw this dragon knight into your spatial storage and use it as a kind of armor!"
"Dragon Knights have gained the ability to change size. As long as you activate the inscribed magic, they will revert to their original size."
"Then I'll give it a try..."
Erza pondered for a moment and decided it was feasible. If she could really do it, it would be her strongest armor.
A magic circle unfolded in her palm, and spatial power enveloped it, causing the dragon knight to vanish instantly.
Dragon knights have the ability to be immune to magic, but they can teleport along with space.
Erza closed her eyes and sensed it for a moment, then quickly revealed an excited expression: "It really works!"
Does that mean that from today onwards, she will possess power on par with the Four Heavenly Kings of Ishgar?
Erza jumped up and hugged Acnologia and Irene, her face beaming with joy: "Thank you, Mom and Dad! I love you so much!"
Acnologia patted her little head and smiled, "Seeing you happy makes us happy. Consider this our first gift to you."
Eileen laughed and said, "Now you know that Mom and Dad are the best, right?"
Seeing Erza happy made her genuinely happy too. Although her daughter sometimes argued with her, she was still her favorite daughter.
"knew!"
Erza nodded vigorously. Just then, the magic train arrived, and she hurriedly said, "Then I'm off!"
"Go ahead, and come back soon!"
"Okay, you guys should go back now!"
The two watched silently as Erza boarded the train with a suitcase, waving goodbye one last time. Erza waved back through the glass until the train rumbled away and disappeared completely.
Eileen said slowly, "When Erza returns, she'll know who we are."
Acnologia stretched and said nonchalantly, "I should have told her a long time ago."
After all, she is his most beloved daughter, and it's not good to keep it from her forever; she'll find out sooner or later.