A/N: Re-edited on September 17, 2021

Chapter 3: Resolve

"I'm telling you we won't get involved with it!"

"I'm sick and tired of waiting for something to happen, dad!"

"Even if we join and let our returning members participate, we still won't win!"

In the current base of operations for Fairy Tail (which was more of a barn than a proper headquarters), former Fourth Guildmaster Macao Conbolt was arguing with his son Romeo. Upset with the state of the guild, the young fire mage suggested that the guild should participate in the upcoming Grand Magic Games held in the capital, Crocus. By joining the competition and winning, it would boost the guild's current reputation.

"I'm telling you, even if our powerhouses participated, we'd still lose. They missed seven years-worth of training for being stuck in Tenrō Island!" the old fire mage told his son.

"Still, we should do something to make this guild better!" Romeo countered.

"I know. We all know! But with our current level, it's best if we sit this one out for now."

While the father and son fire mages were listening in, he pondered at the prospect of joining in the competition. Fairy Tail has declined in its seven-year absence. Despite having Gildarts present and Laxus getting reinstated into the guild, the rest of their powerful mages are weak compared to other contenders like the new guild Sabretooth. Speaking of powerful mages, it was time that Team Natsu returns from their quest in Aldebaran.

"Mira," the old master climbed up to the bar counter, "…today's the day Natsu and his team return from that job in West Fiore, right?"

"I believe so, master," answered the oldest Strauss sibling. "If I recall correctly, the job was to exterminate some weak monsters."

"I see," Makarov nodded. "Well, they better get here quick. I want their opinion on the Grand Magi– What the!?"

Makarov stopped midsentence and looked to the entrance of the guildhall. He felt a massive flux of energy entering Magnolia. He looked to his barmaid and found that she was sweating heavily.

"You felt it, didn't you?"

"I did."

"What do you make of this energy?"

Mirajane gulped, a sense of uncertainty washing over her. The only person she ever felt having this kind of power was Gildarts. That said, the barmaid can only feel this amount of power if the mentioned S-class wizard was nearby. Whoever possessed this massive energy, that person was carrying so much that she can feel it from far away.

"I've never felt anything so potent," was all the older Take-Over mage could say.

Suddenly, the air around the guildhall became heavy. The arguments that were thrown left and right by the two fire mages ceased as the unknown pressure dropped them to their knees. They weren't the only ones, though. The weaker members of the guild all collapsed under the massive weight pouring on them that they were gasping for air.

"What…the…hell!?"

"Why…is…the…air…so…heavy?"

"Can't…breathe."

Makarov and Mira were doing their best to resist the overwhelming force weighing them down. They both looked to the other guild members and saw that they weren't faring well either. The weaker members have already passed out from being overwhelmed. The stronger ones were able to resist, but it was clear that they were having difficulty.

"Big…sister…"

Mira looked to the other side of the bar counter and saw her younger sister Lisanna hanging on its edges.

"I…can't…breathe."

"Gramps!" Laxus was able to call out his grandfather. Even if he was the strongest wizard at the moment, the Lightning Dragon Slayer admitted that whoever was the source of this intense power was way above him by a long shot.

Just as the pressure came in so suddenly, it also disappeared just as quickly. All the downed members in the guildhall managed to regain their composure. They wondered what kind of force of nature could unleash such a feeling upon them.

"It vanished?" Lisanna questioned.

"I know, my child," Makarov reassured the younger Take-Over mage. "I'm just as curious as to what or who was the origin of that power."

"Whoever it was, it was unlike anything we've felt before," Freed remarked.

"No shit," Bixlow exclaimed. "That kind of power would even give Hades or Acnologia a run for their money."

"For once, Bixlow, I agree with you," Evergreen told the Doll Magic-user.

The doors of the guildhall opened wide, revealing Natsu, Gray, Lucy, Wendy, Erza, Carla, and Happy. They all bore smiles that could brighten up the entire guildhall if someone converted it to light energy. That said, they weren't the only ones the people in the guild noticed. Behind the returning members were five individuals. Three of them were wearing black samurai robes, one was wearing an elegant white dress, while the last one was wearing a white tunic with cross motifs.

Everyone directed all attention to the new faces. These newcomers followed Team Natsu to the bar counter where Makarov was situated.

"Welcome back Natsu!" Lisanna welcomed her childhood friend.

"Hey Lis!" the fire-breather greeted her back with an unnoticeable blush before directing his attention to the old man. "We're back gramps!" Natsu yelled in excitement as he made his way to the guildmaster.

"Glad to have you back, you brats," Makarov said to the returning team. He didn't miss, however, the new faces that came along with them. "By the way, Natsu. Who might these people be behind you?"

"Oh! They're here to join the guild!"

That caught every mage, save those who came from the mission, in surprise. Makarov, above all else, was taken aback by this news. From the looks of it, these people don't look like mages. Still, that's not what concerns the old Dreyar. What concerns him is the adult male leading the five. That strange overwhelming force they felt earlier…it came from this man.

"Welcome to the guild!" Makarov greeted the five. "Might you introduce yourselves?"

"Sure," the orange-haired man agreed. "I'm Ichigo Kurosaki."

"I'm his wife, Orihime Kurosaki," the woman wearing blue hairpins said while placing her hands on the orange-haired boy's shoulders. "This is our son, Kazui."

"Hey there!" Kazui greeted with a bright smile.

"We're Ichigo's sisters," the black-haired woman in samurai garb said. "I'm Karin Kurosaki."

"I'm her twin sister, Yuzu. It's nice to meet you all."

"Well met," Makarov exclaimed. "I'm Makarov Dreyar, the current guildmaster of Fairy Tail. Welcome to the guild!"

"Thank you for having us, Master Makarov," the five new prospects said.

"Mira, kindly get the guild stamp," he requested the white-haired woman behind to counter before returning his attention to the newly inducted members. "Where do you want to put your guild marks?"

"We've already decided that we want it on our right hands."

"Any preferred color?"

"I'll have mine in black with red outlines. Kazui wants red with gold outlines. Orihime decided to have white with gold outlines. Yuzu will have white while Karin wants black."

"Well, it's been a while since someone requested some color customizations to their guild marks. It wouldn't be too hard though."

After a few adjustments, Ichigo and his family finally received their guild marks, making them official Fairy Tail members.

"We're guildmates now, Wendy!" Kazui exclaimed while approaching the Dragon Slayer.

"Yes, Kazui. Isn't it amazing!"

"To think we'd be part of something again, Ichigo," Orihime said to her husband.

"I know," the adult soul reaper replied. "It feels nice, right Yuzu? Karin?"

"This is a welcome change," Yuzu answered.

"Things are going to get interesting from here," Karin remarked.

The master of the guild then called the attention of everyone, including the Kurosaki family. "With that done, let's move on to the main issue at hand. As of right now, the guild's current standing is at its all-time lowest. That said, there is a way for us to regain our former reputation."

"And what would this be, master?" Erza asked.

"Three months from now, in the capital city of Crocus, the Grand Magic Games will be held."

"Grand Magic Games?" Natsu asked in confusion.

"It's a yearly tournament where all the guilds in Fiore compete for the title of 'strongest guild'."

At the mere mention of "strongest guild," Natsu immediately went into a frenzy. "We should join gramps! It's time we take back our place as Fiore's strongest."

"Aye, sir!" Happy exclaimed

"I agree with Natsu!" Gray added. "We can kick the asses of whoever it is at the top."

"I don't know. Even with our heavy hitters back, we missed a lot of time that would have been used for training."

"If I remember correctly," Wakaba jived in, "…the prize money for winning the tournament was 300,000,000 Jewels."

With a 180-degree turn, Makarov made an instantaneous decision. "We're joining the competition!"

"Just like that!?" Macao cried incredulously.

"ALRIGHT!" Natsu yelled as he raised a fist into the air. The rest of the guild followed suit and joined in the declaration.

While all this was going, Ichigo was processing the sudden turn of events. He can't help but chuckle at the unpredictable outcome that followed their joining of the guild. He stole a glance at his wife and found her giggling as well.

"Well, this was certainly unexpected," Karin commented regarding the situation.

"Yeah," Yuzu agreed. "It certainly came out of nowhere."

"It certainly did," Ichigo added. "How about you, Kazui?"

"This is going to be so much fun!"

"Typical, Kazui. You did get that boundless positivity from your mom. Master Makarov!" the adult soul reaper called the aged wizard.

"Yes, Ichigo?"

"Are there any open areas near here?"

"What for?"

"My family and I are going out for some training. It'd be nice to find an area far away from the guild so we can go all out."

"Just north of here is a clearing that's a good distance away. It will serve you well if you intend to train heavily."

"Thanks, old man."

With that, Ichigo and his family left the guildhall to train. As Makarov watch their forms exit the guild, he wondered what would happen if those five, even Kazui, would join the upcoming tournament. The old mage could feel the power flowing from the family, especially Ichigo. There was no mistaking it. He was the source of that otherworldly force.

"Mira. Laxus. Erza," he called out to her three current strongest mages.

"You called, master?" Erza approached the wizened mage and asked.

"What do you make of that family? I want an honest opinion from the three of you."

"If you ask me, every member of that family is strong," Laxus remarked. "Even the kid is packing some serious power inside him. But if you want my opinion, then that Ichigo guy is someone to watch out for."

"Agreed," Mira concurred. "The moment he stepped into Magnolia, it felt like I was near Gildarts. The only difference was that he was still far away from the guildhall. I mean, it's hard to imagine someone having more power than our ace."

"I see," Makarov nodded. He then turned to the scarlet-haired knight. "How about you, Erza?"

"He is powerful, master. I truly believe that even if we never got trapped in Tenrō Island, we'd still be no match for him."

"Even if Gildarts were to assist us?"

"Yes. He uses a different source of power that is more potent and destructive compared to magic. They all do. They possess a set of skills never before seen here in Earthland. And if you were to take my words seriously, I could say that they are the closest thing to gods."

"Those are heavy words, Erza. Are you sure you're not just exaggerating this?"

"No, Master. I witnessed it myself. When we were in the mission, we encountered a creature known as a hollow."

"Hollow?" Mira repeated the word with curiosity. "What's that?"

"They are corrupted souls that become hideous creatures of despair and emptiness. They possess great power that could outmatch any demon. Their most notable feature is the holes in their body and the white mask."

"Did you defeat it?" Laxus questioned.

"No," Erza answer with frustration in her voice. "We were completely outmatched by its raw power and unique abilities."

"Then, how did you complete the mission?"

"We didn't. They did."

"The Kurosaki family?" Makarov inquired.

"Yes. First came the boy Kazui. He saved Wendy just in time before she was hit by an energy attack know as a Cero. After that, he fought the hollow and demonstrated expert swordsmanship for his young age. Wendy gave him some enchantments that improved his fighting. Kazui was winning, but the hollow shot another energy attack known as a Bala at Wendy. Kazui managed to take the hit for her, and together they struck the hollow with their most powerful attacks. Wendy used a breath attack while Kazui used his variation of the Cero. Their combined effort managed to wound the creature severely.

"That, however, was still not enough though. The hollow was still standing after the combined blast. Both Kazui and Wendy were drained of energy and were unable to keep fighting. The rest of us were too injured to be in fighting condition. Just when we thought we were finished, Ichigo and Orihime came in and rescued us. The woman demonstrated special abilities that come in the form of her hairpins. She can conjure impenetrable shields and heal injuries at an alarming rate. She was able to restore us to peak condition. Even our clothes were fixed. Ichigo, on the other hand, finished the hollow by barely moving a muscle. He simply made a small slicing motion in the air and launched a powerful energy arc that finally killed the creature for good."

The three mages listened to Erza's story and can't help but be amazed and weary. Amazed at the feats demonstrated by the Kurosakis, and weary that someone this powerful existed without anyone's knowledge. Makarov had to admit it. He was glad that they decided to join Fairy Tail. That said, there are still things about the family worth knowing.

"Did he give any information about himself?" the aged wizard questioned Erza.

"He did, but I think it's best if we ask Loke about it."

Makarov, Mira, and Laxus bore curious expressions after that suggestion.

"Why Loke?" Mira questioned.

"That's because the Spirit World may offer some information about who or what they are. They harness what's called spiritual energy, which was the energy I was referring to from earlier."

"I see," Makarov replied. "You think that spiritual energy may be connected to the Spirit Realm, somehow?"

"I believe so."

"Well, please summon Lucy for me. We are still pretty much in the dark regarding our new members."

"Of course, master."

As the redheaded knight left to fetch her Celestial wizard teammate, the master of the guild contemplated the prospect of enlisting the help of the Kurosakis for the upcoming tournament.

"You called for me, Master Makarov?"

Erza arrived with the blonde spirit mage in tow. When the blonde asked why she was being summoned, she already had an idea of what the master might need from her. When she arrived, Mira and Laxus were already beside the wizened mage.

"Yes, my child," the old man replied. "I'd like for you to call Loke for a moment."

"Is this about Ichigo and his family?"

"Yes. How'd you know about that?"

"I already planned to ask Loke about them, or at least regarding Soul Reapers, Quincies, and Fullbringers."

"Soul Reapers? Quincies? Fullbringers? What are those?" Laxus asked the blonde mage.

"Soul Reapers are what Ichigo, Kazui, and his sister Karin are. Yuzu, the twin sister of Karin, is a Quincy. His wife Orihime is a Fullbringer."

"I think it's best if you summon Loke, my dear," Makarov advised. "We'll get more answers if he were here."

"Right," Lucy agreed. She took out the lion spirit's golden key and summoned him. With a bright flash of light, Loke materialized in front of them.

"I've heard your discussion from the Spirit Realm," the spirit wasted no time and voiced what he heard. "I've heard of the Quincies and the Soul Reapers, as well as spiritual energy."

"Can you tell us what you know?" Lucy requested her partner.

"Of course," the lion spirit replied before looking to the three S-class mages and the master. "Spiritual energy is the essence of life. It is what makes up the soul of all beings. Compared to ethernano, it is more potent and destructive. This energy is abundant in the Spirit Realm and is the reason why we Celestial spirits can recover from even the gravest of injuries. That said, only a few can harness this power."

"You need to have a strong soul, right?" the blonde spirit mage asked.

"Right. Individuals who have strong souls can have varying abilities. The most common is seeing wayward spirits or ghosts. Those with truly strong souls exhibit far more impressive skills. This is where we get into Soul Reapers and Quincies."

"First off, what are Quincies?" Laxus inquired.

"Quincies, otherwise known as Monks of Destruction, are humans who possess extremely powerful souls. Their most unique ability is absorbing spiritual energy from outside sources and use it to form spirit weapons such as bows and arrows. They are spiritually aware, meaning they can sense spiritual energy from any spiritual being regardless of distance and direction."

"How about Soul Reapers?" This time, it was Mira who asked.

"They are the opposites of Quincies. They exist in a realm mirroring the Spirit World known as Soul Society. Unlike Quincies who are living humans, Soul Reapers are spirits like us who can't be seen by normal people unless they possess a strong soul."

"Wait, hold on!" Lucy cut in. "If Soul Reapers are supposed to be invisible, then how come we can see Ichigo, Karin, and Kazui?"

"Who are those?" Loke queried.

"They're new members of the guild," Lucy answered. "Those three are the Soul Reapers while Orihime, Ichigo's wife, is a Fullbringer, and his other sister, Yuzu, is a Quincy."

"You have three Soul Reapers, a Quincy, and a Fullbringer in the guild!?" The four mages nodded to his question. "How is that even possible? They're not supposed to be here. They're supposed to be extinct. Please don't tell me there are hollows like the ones we fought back in Aldebaran."

"There were," Lucy responded. "They managed to kill it, though."

"That's good to hear."

"Extinct?" That word caught Makarov's attention. "What do you mean extinct, my boy?"

Loke sighed. The story he was going to tell was tragic, to say the least. "Around fifteen years ago, Soul Society was attacked by an army of Quincies. That initial attack sparked a war that was supposed to have concluded around one thousand years ago."

"Did this conflict have a name?"

"Yes. It was called the Blood Wars."

"The Blood Wars, huh."

"This war revolved around the Great Keystone."

"The Great Keystone?" The term got the four mages confused, none more so than Lucy.

"A being that eclipses the Spirit King in terms of raw power. In a way, the Great Keystone is the reason why all of existence is still intact."

"This is the first time I've heard this, Loke," the blonde Celestial mage remarked.

"That's because the Great Keystone is dead."

"WHAT!?" was the unified response of the mages.

"He's dead," Loke clarified. "The Blood Wars was declared in a bid to kill the Keystone. The sad part here is that his very own son was leading the Quincies in that battle."

"That's terrible," Lucy muttered.

"Did this son have a name?" Mira asked, becoming more invested in the story.

"Yes. God-King Yhwach, the Father of Quincies and Kaiser of the Vandenreich."

"So, he was the progenitor of Quincies?" Laxus asked.

"Yes. It is said that all Quincy bloodlines came from him."

"That would make Ichigo's younger sister Yuzu a descendant of this Yhwach character. Right?"

"That's right. With him leading the charge, the forces of Soul Society comprised of Soul Reapers and its generals known as the Court Guard 13 all rose to fight the invasion. Sadly, they failed, and Soul Society was destroyed. The Great Keystone was killed and subsequently absorbed by Yhwach, becoming the new lynchpin of existence."

Mira, Laxus, Makarov, Erza, and Lucy all stood in their place in silence. They all contemplated the outcome had this war happen in Earthland. They thought of different scenarios, but only one conclusion is apparent: the destruction of their world. In a way, they were glad that it didn't happen in their world, but they are also saddened that billions of people perished in that other realm.

Something, however, came to Erza's attention. "Loke."

"Yeah, Erza?"

"If Yuzu is a Quincy, then how is it Ichigo, Kazui, and Karin are Soul Reapers?"

"That is something Ichigo himself can answer."

The redhead nodded in understanding. "We're going to ask Ichigo about himself and his family sooner or later."

"I agree, Erza," Makarov nodded. "But for now, let us deal with our preparations for the Grand Magic Games. We'll let Ichigo and his family get comfortable around the guild before we inquire about his history. Before I forget, whatever we discussed will remain only among us. Understood?"

"Crystal," was the unanimous answer of the mages in the guildmaster's presence.

A full week has passed since the arrival of the Kurosakis into Fairy Tail. At first, they were hesitant to interact with the rest of the guild. They would rarely visit the guildhall; only when they would take a quest would they try to visit. However, with some convincing from Orihime and some pleading from Kazui, Ichigo finally relented and began hanging out with the rest of their guildmates along with his wife, son, and sisters. Kazui mostly spent time with Romeo and Wendy, seeing as they're the only ones his age. Orihime and Yuzu found company in Lisanna and Mirajane. The motherly demeanor of both pairs led them to become friends quickly. Karin and Ichigo prefer to have the company of the team they helped back in Aldebaran. Although, whenever a brawl would break out, the oldest Kurosaki sibling would always tell his youngest sibling to fire arrows at those involved. The result would always be bruised people needing medical attention. Since brawls were frequent, she became the guild's resident crowd control much to her chagrin.

Now, Wendy, along with Carla, was heading towards the training ground where Kazui practiced. Ever since the Grand Magic Games announcement a week before, every guild member was busy improving themselves. They'll undoubtedly face different guilds vying for the top spot in Fiore, so they will need all kinds of effort. That said, the young Sky Maiden was curious about the kind of training the young Soul Reaper was undergoing. If the power Kazui demonstrated back in Aldebaran was any indication, then it's worth assuming that his training will be intense.

"Hey, Wendy! Carla!"

The voice caught the young Dragon Slayer's attention and made her turn around. She saw Lisanna running towards her with Happy flying right behind. "Oh. Lisanna. Happy. What're you guys doing here?"

The youngest Strauss sibling managed to catch up to the blue-haired child. "I'm going to visit Yuzu and ask her if she's going to join the tournament. How about you?"

"I'm going to see Kazui."

From behind Lisanna, Happy was giggling. Wendy wasn't able to notice the blue cat, but the youngest Strauss did. Curious, she called the flying feline and asked, "Why are laughing, Happy?"

Happy flew closer to Lisanna's ear and whispered, "Wendy has a crush on Kazui. That's why she's going to visit him. Hehehe."

Fortunately, or in this case, unfortunately for the young Sky Maiden, her sensitive hearing caught everything the mischievous cat said to the Take-Over mage. It caused her to blush up a storm, and she began flailing her arms out in denial. "It's not like that!"

"I'd appreciate it if you stop teasing her, Happy," the white feline reprimanded her fellow Exceed.

"I've never seen Wendy get so flustered before," Lisanna remarked while stifling a giggle. "I guess there is some truth to what Happy said."

"Not you too, Lisanna!"

Wendy was now so red that steam was coming out of her ears. The white-haired mage and the blue cat burst out laughing at the young girl's expense. Carla was trying her best to douse the situation for the young mage's sake, but her efforts didn't amount to anything.

BOOM!

"What was that!?"

A powerful explosion snapped the Fairy Tail wizards from their bickering. They can see a massive blue arc shooting up to the sky at a distance while a shower of energy arrows was raining down. After that, streams of water blasted through a portion of the forest as a small streak of light managed to split the raging current right down the middle.

Feeling something was wrong, Wendy, Lisanna, Happy, and Carla all raced to the source of the powerful attacks. They made their way to the clearing, where the newly joined members saw a sight that made their eyes bulge out. The family practically destroyed the area. Multiple craters about ten feet wide were scattered everywhere. The trees surrounding the clearing were either cut down, burned, punctured or hollowed out by a strong water current.

"Hadō #4: Pale Lightning!"

A stream of blue lightning surged from the sky. It crackled violently as it plummeted to the ground. The four mages watching followed the trajectory of the attack and saw a black figure holding a sword. Upon closer inspection, the figure was none other than Kazui. The boy focused his gaze on the incoming lightning strike. The carrot-top boy raised his sword, horizontally aiming the blade at the approaching attack. A spark of yellow energy flickered to life in the middle of his sword that eventually coated the entire blade.

"Hadō #32: Yellow Fire Flash!"

A burst of yellow fire shot from the sword and met the lightning attack in the middle. A large explosion covered the sky as bolts of electricity and yellow embers scattered. The two powerful attacks collide from the cloud. Another black figure appeared and sped like a bullet towards Kazui. It was his aunt Karin holding her sword for a strike. Kazui leaped towards his relative with his sword drawn. Blades clashed as the sound of metal hitting metal rang aloud. They exchanged blows only for the other to parry or block them.

On the other side was a two-on-one battle between Orihime and Yuzu against Ichigo. The youngest Kurosaki sibling was phasing through the air while firing multiple shots of her spirit arrows. Ichigo dodged the incoming projectiles with relative ease below, that is until a small streak of light suddenly blitzes him from behind. That came from the white-dressed woman who had her shield raised. Ichigo was able to escape the speeding projectile. He drew out his short sword and threw it at his younger sister. The dark weapon was tied with white cloth at the hilt's base, so the adult Kurosaki can pull on the blade if needed. Yuzu saw the obsidian blade coming and quickly pulled out a metallic artifact, then immediately produced a blade-like projection that deflected the approaching weapon. Orihime appeared behind her husband and engaged in hand-to-hand combat.

The mock battle reached an impasse. The five combatants all jumped away from each other and prepared for one final attack. The air in the immediate vicinity became increasingly unbearable, and the spiritual pressure of the five fighters suddenly skyrocketed. Ichigo held his short blade back with one hand, readying for a powerful swing. Karin raised her sword for an overhead slash. Kazui pointed his weapon forward, the tip facing his opponents. Yuzu used the artifact she produced earlier as her ammunition for her spirit weapon. She pulled the string of the spirit bow back and was now ready to fire. Orihime erected a strong shield before summoning a small golden orb that grew into a massive spear-like figure.

With their attacks primed for release, they all screamed in unison.

"Getsuga Tenshō!" the three Soul Reapers yelled in unison.

"Geist Pfiel!" Yuzu roared with conviction as she released her arrow.

"Koten Zanshun!" Orihime fired her attack at her adversaries.

The attacks tore through their immediate path as they converged at the center. When the powerful energies collided, a dazzling display of colors ensued, followed by a massive explosion that shook that area they were fighting in. The blast was so strong that shockwaves tore through the vicinity, followed by dust and debris sent everywhere.

The spectating mages raised their arms to cover themselves from the blast. The air ripped through them as the gusts caused their clothes to flap violently. Even Happy and Carla was having difficulty maintaining themselves. Eventually, the winds caused by the massive collision of attacks died down. The massive dust cloud at the blast zone finally subsided and revealed a sight to behold that the mages watching were left speeches and their skin drained of all color. In the middle was a crater spanning at least 100 ft wide and 20 ft deep. The fighters all stood at the edges of the massive hole they made and looked unexhausted by their "practice" intensity.

"This…is…unreal."

"What are they?"

"So…much…power."

"Unbelievable."

Wendy, Lisanna, Happy, and Carla were frozen in place, unable to comprehend the sight before them. How in the hell do these people have so much power. Not only that, their movements and battle sense was above any experienced fighter, and they delivered their attacks with such ferocity that it could kill. It's as if their mere practice was a life-and-death battle!

"Well," Ichigo exclaimed before resting his sword over his shoulder, "…let's take a break before resuming our practice session."

"They're not done!?" were the collective thoughts of the spectating wizards.

"Also, we have guests."

Kazui turned around and saw his blue-haired friend. "Hey, Wendy!" The young Soul Reaper then disappeared from where he was standing and instantly appeared in front of Wendy. It made the poor girl jump in fright while the color of red quickly covered her face.

"Hey, Kazui!" Karin called from behind. "Don't Flash Step too close or you might accidentally kiss her!"

Now, it was the orange-haired boy's turn to get flustered. "I'm not like that!" he yelled at his aunt in denial, leaving an already blushing Wendy turning even redder.

"I wouldn't mind having Wendy in the family," Orihime commented with a slight giggle. "She's a nice girl."

"Mom! Not you too!?"

"Orihime. Sis. Stop teasing him," Yuzu reprimanded the two women.

"Ok," Ichigo butted in as he approached the four guests, "...no need to take it that far, dear. What're you guys doing here, anyway?"

"We came to pay you guys a visit," Lisanna answered, "That's when we saw your practice that looked more like a deathmatch. Seriously, it looked like you were trying to kill each other!"

"This is common for us, Lisanna," the youngest Kurosaki sibling answered. "We always treat our practice match like it's the fight of our lives."

"Talk about overboard," Happy commented.

"For once, I agree with you," Carla added.

"You can join in, if you want," Ichigo suggested, which caught the attention of the Take-Over wizard and the Sky Dragon Slayer.

"Are you sure about that?" Wendy asked.

"Won't we just get in your way?" Lisanna added.

"No, of course not."

The two looked at each other, still hesitant to take the offer.

"If you want to get stronger, then you should take a leap fate."

Wendy and Lisanna looked to the adult soul reaper in confusion.

"I know the state of the guild and that deep down, I know that you want to make things better. You want to get stronger so you can participate in the upcoming games.

They let his words sink in. What he said was true. They missed so much that the world practically left them behind. The guild that they treasured was the laughingstock of the magic world, and the only way to bring Fairy Tail back to the way it used to be was to get stronger and win the tournament. With determined expressions, they faced the orange-haired Soul Reaper and agreed.

Ichigo smirked at their hardened looks. "Great. Prepare yourselves. We'll begin in a few minutes, and be sure not to hesitate…," he walked to his wife before turning back to face the two with a steely gaze, "…because I won't hold back."

Those words sent shivers down their spine. Wendy and Lisanna began to doubt whether this was a good decision in the first place.

A gentle breeze blew past the clearing as the leaves flutter in the air. At first, it may seem quiet, but in the middle stood Ichigo Kurosaki facing against Wendy Marvel and Lisanna Strauss. This was simply a practice match, but the two Fairy Tail wizards were tense as they stared at the reaper. The wind suddenly stopped. The atmosphere became thick, and a feeling of dread suddenly washed over the two mages.

"What is this feeling?"

They both asked themselves as the cold sensation kept on becoming stronger.

"Don't tell me you're already overwhelmed by my spiritual pressure?"

Lisanna and Wendy snapped out of their thoughts and looked at Ichigo.

"This is barely the amount I usually release. If you can't overcome this pressure, then how can you get stronger?" Ichigo suddenly raised his spiritual pressure, severely increasing the weight the two wizards were feeling. The force was so strong that it froze them in place.

"Can we win against him?"

"How can I beat him?"

They both uttered at the same time. The pressure slowly rescinded. The two haven't realized, though, that Ichigo has already disappeared from view.

"Where is he?"

"WENDY, LOOK OUT!"

Wendy turned around and saw a dark figure tower above her. She was suddenly tackled to the ground by the white-haired mage before something crashed where she was standing. They both turned to see a deep gash on the ground, and standing over it was Ichigo holding his Khyber knife-like sword.

"What's the matter?" the Soul Reaper asked. "I thought I told you to not hold back."

Taking that as a cue, the two wizards stood up, prepared to fight.

"Take-Over: Cat Soul!" Lisanna transformed into her cat form and quickly pounced at the standing Soul Reaper.

Ichigo simply blocked the incoming attack by raising his sword. Lisanna pushed the oversized weapon back and used the momentum to do a backflip, eventually landing just a few feet from the Soul Reaper. From behind, Wendy raised her arms as magical energy slowly covered her body.

"Vernier! Arms! Armor!"

The Take-Over mage's body began to glow silvery-white as the magical power infused into her enhanced her abilities. With newfound confidence, she again leaped towards the orange-haired swordsman to deliver an overhead kick. Said Soul Reaper raised his right arm and casually blocked the attack. He then tried to swing his massive sword at the woman, but it missed due to her improved agility.

"I'll help too!" Wendy yelled as she prepared a breath attack. "Sky Dragon Roar!"

A gust of pressurized air blasted its way to the sword wielder. With a swing of his sword, Ichigo sliced the approaching attack, dissipating it.

"Wha-?"

"Is that it, Wendy?" Ichigo taunted. He then grabbed the cloth strapped to his sword and twirled the massive weapon above him. The young Strauss and Sky Maiden were confused at this action until he suddenly flung the weapon in their direction. They both dodged the incoming projectile; however, they were surprised that Ichigo pulled on the cloth and changed its trajectory. Now the black blade was heading right towards Lisanna. The white-haired woman quickly avoided the sword, but it still managed to leave a laceration on her arm. "I thought you could do better, Lisanna, being one of the famous 'Take-Over Siblings'. Surely the two of you can do better than this."

"Stop taunting us," Lisanna growled in frustration. In a fit of rage, she jumped at the Soul Reaper and began clawing at him. With each strike with her claws, Ichigo simply parried each attack delivered. Try as she might, none of her attempts were breaking his defenses. She jumped back and took on a different form. "Take-Over: Harpy!" A bright glow enveloped her body, and once it disappeared, Lisanna took on the form of a harpy. "Take this!" She swooped down to the Soul Reaper, who simply stared at her with a blank expression. She then twisted her body to reveal sharp talons aimed at her intended target.

CLANG!

To the young Strauss' surprise, however, her attack didn't draw any blood. She felt like she just struck metal. "H-How?" That's when she noticed streaks of luminescent blue lines appearing on his opponent's body.

"Blut Vene," Ichigo casually said before grabbing the harpy's legs and threw her across the field.

"Sky Dragon Wing Attack!"

Ichigo saw Wendy charging him with two raging tornadoes swirling around her arms. She directed one arm at the death god and launched the tornado on it. The Soul Reaper merely swung his sword and dissipated the attack, but the Wendy wasn't finished. She made it right above the carrot-top and swung her arm down, slamming the tornado onto the reaper. Dust scattered everywhere as the attack made an impact on its target. The Sky Maiden eventually leaped back and landed next to a recovering Lisanna.

"Did you get him?" the white-haired mage asked.

"I'm not sure," Wendy responded.

Their question was answered when the dust surrounding Ichigo was blown away by a pulse of spiritual energy. The two mages were stunned to see that the attacks they dealt didn't damage him.

"Not a scratch…on him," Lisanna uttered in disbelief.

"B-But w-we…h-hit…him," Wendy said in confusion.

Ichigo sighed before looking back at the two mages. "I'm disappointed in the two of you," he remarked, getting the mages' attention. "I was mostly on the defensive because I was trying to feel your intentions through your attacks, and I must say I am very disappointed. Sadly, your magic only exhibits fear. You lack the intent to kill!"

The two Exceeds was shocked at the words that came out of Ichigo's mouth. They both knew Lisanna and Wendy very well and were two of the most caring individuals in the guild. One was a healer, while the other loved all life. To force them to do something that goes against who they are is just wrong.

"What does he think he's saying!?" Carla yelled at the other Kurosaki members. "Wendy's just a child. She'll be scarred if she killed someone!"

"Carla's right!" Happy agreed with the white cat. "Lisanna cares for all life. To take a life goes against her beliefs!"

"When you counter, it's because you fear getting killed. When you attack, you fear killing. And when you try to protect someone, you fear you could let them die. As of right now, the only thing your magic speaks of is senseless fright! And that's not good." Ichigo closed his eyes and sighed before looking back at the two. "What is it that's holding you back?" Ichigo continued to question the two shocked mages. "From Wendy, I felt hesitation. Lisanna, on the other hand, has self-doubt. What are you two so afraid of?" He looked at Wendy, "Is it the thought that you might not be competent enough?" The Soul Reaper then looked at Lisanna. "Is it because you might not be worthy of someone?"

"How did he know?" Lisanna and Wendy asked in surprise how this man they've barely got to know understood the inner turmoil raging within them.

Ichigo continued to lecture the two. "When you counter, you don't let them cut you. When you protect someone, you don't let them die. And when you attack, you kill." He raised his sword above his head, and it began to glow. Unlike the bright blue hue of his smaller sword, this one emitted a black aura laced with red streaks. Suddenly, a massive amount of dark spiritual energy engulfed the Soul Reaper. His eyes glowed a dark crimson hue as the spiritual energy burst through his body, swirling in his immediate vicinity. The energies made the ground tremble and crack while the air became saturated with his power. "What you do not need in battle is fear. Nothing will come of it. Can't you see? My sheer resolve to kill you is reflected in my sword."

"He's…g-going to…kill us," Lisanna and Wendy can only stammer in hopelessness as the intense energies overwhelm them. All color faded from their skin and their eyes wide open, fixated on the man about to end their lives. How can they hope to defeat someone like him? How could they defeat a god of death?

"WENDY!" All eyes turned to Kazui. The boy knew exactly what his father was instilling in the two women. "Don't let fear rule you. Don't be afraid! Believe in yourself because I believe in you!"

"Don't hesitate Wendy!" Carla added. "You can do this! Don't give up!"

"Kazui. Carla," Wendy uttered with joy. A pool of tears forming in the corner of her eyes.

"Lisanna," Happy called to the white-haired woman. "You're amazing, Lisanna. Don't let this pull you down! I know you can do it, MAMA!"

"Happy," Lisanna smiled at the blue cat whom she considered her son.

"Abandon your fears," Ichigo told the two mages. "Look forward. Move forward and never stop. Retreat and you will age. Hesitate and you will die."

Then it finally hit them. Those words. It was never about having to kill. It was about to resolve. It was about the will to do what's necessary, be it for yourself or the sake of others. That moment of epiphany changed them. Their once fearful looks were replaced by determination. They began to emanate magic power. Wendy glowing in bright blue while Lisanna was silvery white. At that instant, bursts of magical energy engulfed them. Their powers swirled and raged against that of Ichigo's, defiantly fighting his already massive power.

Their display of power made Ichigo smile. Finally, they realized the lesson he was teaching them. "Excellent," he said with a hint of pride. With a roar, he finally declared, "SHOW ME YOUR RESOLVE!"

"TAKE-OVER: NINE-TAILED FOX!"

"SKY DRAGON CRUSHING FANG!"

The two mages charged at Ichigo, mustering the most magic they can gather to attack him with all their might. Ichigo, meanwhile, finished charging his attack. With a quick slice in the air, he finally threw his attack at the two brave wizards.

"Getsuga Tenshō."

A huge arc made of spiritual energy blasted its way to the approaching wizards. It didn't faze Wendy and Lisanna, however. They were determined to see this through, so they charged head-on. Finally, the powerful arc of energy met the mages, and the whole area exploded in a flash of blinding light. Everyone watching the clash covered their eyes to shield them from its intensity.

As the light finally died down, the mages were finally seen. They were lying down with bruises and cuts while panting, trying to gain their breaths.

"We lost…," Wendy muttered.

"We gave it our all, but it still wasn't enough," Lisanna added.

Ichigo slowly walked to the downed mages and smiled at them. "That may be so, but with that loss, you proved yourselves wrong. You showed me that you had the resolve, and with that comes the first step to becoming stronger." After that speech, the adult reaper turned away from the two and walked to his family.

"Ichigo…"

He turned around to the one who called him. It was none other than Wendy.

"Thank you…"

"You're welcome."

A/N: I finished this story just three days after posting the previous chapter. If you noticed, I put Kisuke Urahara's quote when training Ichigo and that of Old Man Zangetsu. It just struck me that those two speeches were so similar in a way, and putting them in this story side by side to complement each other worked for me.

I wanted to demonstrate the weakness of both Wendy and Lisanna here. Wendy, by nature, is like Orihime. She's a healer and is unwilling to kill. Lisanna cares for life, especially animals. If you put them in a situation where their belief of not killing is challenged, it creates a scenario wherein they realize that if you are willing to protect, then you must have the resolve to do what's necessary to protect what it is you are protecting. Urahara and Zangetsu's speeches serve this purpose. The next chapter will deal with the whole Second Origin debacle and the preparations for the Grand Magic Games. You might have a good idea of who will participate. Until then, leave a comment if you like the story. Any suggestion is always welcome.

Stay tuned.