So, it's effective even against him? No wonder the system imposed limitations on my power. I muttered, my gaze drifting across the vast expanse of the emerald forest. I wasn't observing the trees—my eyes were fixed on Gildarts, his body lying motionless before me. Well, even with those limitations, countering this magic would still be difficult.
Heh… How amusing… But—I chuckled, a quiet laugh laced with peculiar satisfaction. If I can kill powerful mages this easily, then perhaps this life isn't worth much after all. With those words, I turned and silently made my way south.
I don't know how I died in my previous life, but I do know how I was born into this world. It was so ridiculous that it was almost impossible to believe. Before I could even emerge—or rather, the moment I was about to leave my mother's womb—I was suddenly teleported somewhere else.
[Fairy Tail—December 5, Year X766]
Ding~!
A light chime rang inside my head the moment I regained consciousness.
A familiar yet unfamiliar feeling washed over me at the same time, and I immediately realized what was happening. I was no stranger to the system—it was a blessing bestowed upon reincarnators.
I couldn't open my eyes yet. However, the interface existed and was accessible in my mind, so I didn't have to worry about it.
On the other hand, my golden finger was quite different.
This kind of thing instantly grants a power-up to its host while also keeping interaction to a minimum—or rather, zero. If I were to use an analogy, it's like a one-night stand.
I don't know about others, but a good system should be systematic—in fact, its simplicity is its strength. However, I have no complaints; after all, this is better. Knowing it's a one-time function means I don't have to worry about sacrificing the fun of discovering new things. In that respect, it's perfect.
That said, although I don't have to work hard to complete quests in order to acquire abilities, this advantage comes with a significant disadvantage. Without quests, my abilities remain limited, and lacking systematic training risks squandering my potential and hindering my growth.
I couldn't help but ponder these things. Every decision seems to boil down to two possible outcomes: you either end up liking it or regretting it. There's no such thing as a perfect outcome—you have to make the best of what you have. No matter which option I choose, I'm bound to regret not taking the alternative, even as I find solace in the choice I made.
On the other hand, I believe that power is power. Even a small amount of magical power, if it gives me an advantage, sets me apart from ordinary humans. Ultimately, everything depends on how effectively I can harness that power and what I choose to do with it in the future.
It's up to me whether I achieve the best outcome or not—and that involves my cheats. The system has given me the freedom to choose three magical abilities from Fairy Tail and one character template from any anime I've watched. Although it grants freedom, I'm still bound by restrictions. They're unknown at the moment, but I have several ideas in mind.
How many anime did I watch in my previous life? A hundred? Maybe even a thousand?
Having multiple options doesn't necessarily mean it's a good thing—it can become a dilemma. I completely suppressed my emotions and began to focus on what truly matters.
First, what is my goal in this life? My goal is simple: to become a legendary figure—to be admired by many and serve as an inspiration. However, I am neither a hero nor a villain.
Since I've specified my goal, the next step is to identify which magic I should choose. There are so many powerful magics in the world of Fairy Tail, but I don't know them all. Even if I'm aware of some, that doesn't necessarily mean I have a high affinity or compatibility with them.
This is going to be a huge gamble.
If I choose a magic I can't use, not only will I waste my opportunity, but I'll also suffer from poor compatibility. I should be grateful to Togashi for creating Hunter x Hunter—I can use his masterpiece as a source of knowledge.
First, I need to identify my personality and choose an ability that aligns with it. Although there's a difference between Nen and magic, I'm aiming for a general category. I've only watched the first season of Fairy Tail and read a few posts about its characters—just trivia, really.
According to Hisoka:
Enhancers: Simple and determined.
Transmuters: Whimsical, prone to deceit, and fickle.
Emitters: Impatient, not detail-oriented, short-tempered, and quick to react in a volatile manner.
Conjurers: Typically high-strung or overly serious, stoic, and nervous.
Manipulators: Argumentative and logical.
Specialists: Independent and charismatic.
Based on this, I should be an emitter—100% in emission and 80% in both enhancement and manipulation. That means I have the option to choose elements.
But should I opt for dragon-slaying or god-slaying magic? Although those abilities are powerful, they don't appeal to me. In fact, I often find myself admiring teleportation abilities.
I draw inspiration from Naruto's Obito Uchiha's Kamui and Tobirama Senju's Flying Thunder God technique. In Hunter x Hunter, I admired Knov's Hide and Seek and Luini's abilities.
And it doesn't stop there; in the world of Fairy Tail, there's a character I really like—Marin Hollow. Ever since I learned about his abilities, I've been eager to rewatch Fairy Tail from the beginning just to see how he dealt with Erza, though I never got the chance to do so.
Well, since I have options from the Fairy Tail world, there's a strong chance that I'm indeed in that world. If so, I can hardly wait to face him and his magic, the so-called "Rules of the Area."
I smirk inwardly as a thought crosses my mind. The more I dwell on it, the more terrified I become. What's up with this level of accuracy? From Nen personalities to abilities, everything seems to align perfectly. Still, I'm grateful that this knowledge will help me during critical times.
I have already chosen my list of magical abilities, so now it's time to select a character. Choosing an anime character is the hardest part—I'm not sure whether I will inherit the character's personality or just their abilities. Either way, I'm uncertain how much I'll inherit, which could become problematic, so compatibility is key.
First, how much do I actually remember? The more I think about it, the more everything fades into blankness.
When it comes to balance, Hunter x Hunter is the best choice, yet I don't have any character in mind except Kurapika—even though his ability is anti-spider, and there are no spiders in this world. Then there's Chrollo; while I might be able to steal his magic, the conditions are so strict that it seems impossible to achieve. And what about Ging? His abilities remain unknown, making him an unlikely option. Choosing Knov is also out of the question: although I like his abilities, our personalities differ so much that compatibility might be an issue, even if I could replicate his powers.
How about the legendary anime Fist of the North Star? I ponder. I can picture myself using Hokuto Shinken, precisely targeting my opponent's meridian points like Kenshiro. My opponent will probably think I'm just fooling around and mock me, saying something like, "Your punch hurts as much as a mosquito bite."
Then, I'll either strike a cool pose or simply walk past him casually before declaring,
Omae wa mou shindeiru...
NANI!?
I nodded in satisfaction, letting my imagination run wild. While that idea is admirable, it doesn't align with my goal. Then, how about characters from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure?
I could also choose my favorite, Dio Brando—chanting the famous line, "Za Warudo! Toki wo tomare!"—and even put myself in a situation similar to what he did to Polnareff.
Although it began as merely a meme, isn't that essentially what he did?
In the Fairy Tail world, Dimaria—a descendant of Chronos—is also capable of stopping time. She could be a troublesome opponent, but I've already taken that into consideration.
Now isn't the time to fool around... I dismissed my wandering thoughts and grew serious once again. Dark guilds are everywhere, and their nefarious activities are infamous worldwide. I want to instill terror in them at the mere mention of my name—to be known for my unyielding brutality.
I aim to kill dark guild members without discrimination. Therefore, I must distinguish between what I need and what I merely desire. Sometimes I want something simply because I need it—and in this case, the two are one and the same.
What I want—and what I need—is something truly bloody. I could twist their necks or tear them to pieces like Jones, but I can't do that in public; if there were hostages, I'd be labeled a lunatic, and that would ruin my reputation. Although I don't mind brutality, reputation is crucial for earning recognition—and that includes merits. So, if I were to show them such a brutal spectacle... Wait a minute... Show? That's it!
I pounded my palm as the bulb in my head suddenly shone bright. It felt as though my brain were covered in cobwebs and dust—evidence of disuse. A series of ideas flowed in one after another until one notion finally settled: I will choose this character, as he aligns perfectly with my goal and complements my third magic.
I filled in the blanks with satisfaction almost immediately after thinking about that character, and I unconsciously smirked.
Confirming my choices, the list is as follows:
[Choose 3 Magic Abilities and 1 Character Template]
Magic:
— Space
— Time
— Enhancement
Character Template:
— Sōsuke Aizen
Would you like to proceed?
[Yes]
Before clicking "Yes," I glance at his name one more time.
Sōsuke Aizen.
Although he didn't always plan everything, everything always unfolded according to his plan.
With an extremely versatile ability, combined with Irene's enhancement magic and the powers of time and space, I have more than enough to forge my tale.
Just the thought of showcasing my sword and saying, "Would you take a look at my Kyōka Suigetsu?" was exhilarating.
I confirmed my choices and pressed the button. A notification appeared:
[The host has chosen too many powerful abilities at once; a repercussion will occur.]
...Repercussion? I murmured.
Before I could even process the words, my vision darkened—everything around me began to fade. I couldn't see anything; it was as if the entire space was dissolving into nothingness.
What?
I found myself completely isolated from the real world. My eyes darted around, trying to analyze my surroundings and understand the situation, but all I saw was a hazy, blurred expanse of gradient black and gray.
This has to be expected... I muttered. My eyesight hasn't developed yet, so everything outside my narrow field of vision appears translucent.
What can I do? I'm just a newborn baby, I thought, setting aside irrelevant concerns to focus on more important matters. That's not worth thinking about. Anyway, repercussion...
The word made me ponder. Repercussions should be the result of taking a specific action... I murmured, gently rubbing my chin with my little, cold finger. I'm aware that nothing in this world comes for free—everything has a price. But I can't seem to figure out why; something about it just doesn't add up.
Am I not allowed to choose an overpowered character template? I wondered, then quickly shook my head. No. That's unlikely. Perhaps I accidentally triggered a bug—that's the only explanation... After hypothesizing the possible outcomes, I immediately dismissed the situation with a weary sigh. Whatever... Regardless of the reason, it's already happened. Overthinking it will only add to my stress.
Accepting my fate, I began to contemplate my next steps. Just then, an ear-piercing alert tone rang in my head, drawing my attention.
[The synchronization was complete...]
Synchronization? I murmured. Suddenly, a torrent of data impaled my brain at the speed of light. Within five minutes, I found myself marked as the target. This is...
Shockingly, despite the massive influx of data, the transplant wasn't painful—rather, it was overwhelming. It felt as if my brain had entered a state of enlightenment.
Staring into the void, I let my eyes rest while I tried to comprehend the data. I see... So that's what's going on... I barely got lucky, huh?
What exactly is happening?
Originally, I had no magic—and I would never have been able to awaken it. But everything changed when I received the system's blessing. Not only did I unlock my magic, but my potential soared to the pinnacle of what a human can achieve. However, my body isn't compatible...
The magic in Earth Land is potent; countless Ethernano are scattered everywhere. Meanwhile, the container system inside me has no openings. Therefore, I cannot absorb the magic; instead, it heats up the container, building pressure. Like an egg in a microwave, my body will explode in less than a minute. Once I awaken, I'm supposed to develop it gradually until I reach the appropriate age—around nine years old.
By sheer coincidence, I chose space magic. As a result, I was transported to my own dimension before I could even leave my mother's womb.
So, this place becomes my new womb now, eh? I said jokingly. Nevertheless, I don't know how long I'll be staying here. I let my body drift aimlessly, lost in thought. So, until I develop my body and my magic power becomes sufficient to wield space magic, I'll be staying here?
At first, I was worried about dying of old age or from starvation. However, I soon discovered that time in this dimension is asynchronous with Earth Land. This place is akin to a hyperbolic time chamber—the time will automatically adjust once I turn nine (at which point I'll likely leave this place), and the flow here will synchronize with Earth Land.
Repercussions? Far from being harmful, they're beneficial. I thought. Initially, I planned to delay my growth to enhance my control over my magic and improve my physique. However, the advancement of my magic is inexorable.
Regardless of what I do, I'm bound to be kicked out of this place over time. Therefore, in order not to waste this opportunity, I decided to train—improving my control over magic and deepening my understanding of my abilities.
That reminds me... I had chosen the Sōsuke Aizen template, but I haven't fully inherited his abilities. I can blame my compatibility for that—meaning I cannot use Hado, Kido, or Bakudo. So, regardless of my choice, if the magic isn't suitable, will the system make some adjustments?
Despite everything, I'm neither discouraged nor disappointed. After all, I have what I truly desired—his zanpakuto, Kyoka Suigetsu. Additionally, I've gained some basic knowledge on how to activate these abilities, even though the process is complex, as well as some fundamental swordsmanship skills. But the biggest catch is the Hogyoku.
Compatibility is essential. I remind myself.
On the other hand, by a stroke of luck, the version of Aizen I received has merged with the Hogyoku; as a result, I will become immortal and possess an infinite supply of magic. However, I can only unlock it once I reach the limits of human capability.
I'm unstoppable in the late game, yeah! I nodded at myself in satisfaction. It's good to have insurance for the long run.
My findings aren't limited to Aizen. In addition, I have control over time magic and another type of magic. With the exception of space magic—where I have 100% affinity—both time magic and this additional magic have their limitations.
Not only do I require an enormous amount of total magic power, but my capabilities are also restricted. When it comes to the additional magic, I can only enhance my physique, which is beneficial for swordsmanship and martial arts. Meanwhile, the use of time magic is confined to fast-forwarding and reversing time.
Still, it's overpowered—I can use it on both living and non-living things without penalty. Although this is only possible because of the Hogyoku, when the time comes, I'll specialize in close, mid-range, and long-range combat, making me extremely versatile.
Speeding up time + muzzle + teleportation + gun fu + swordsmanship?
That's a terrifying ability... Let's see who's the fastest gun in the West, the slipperiest, and the deadliest.
I can picture myself firing from a distance, with my target remaining completely unaware that I shot him. And if he somehow figures it out and engages in close- to mid-range combat, I won't be too concerned. But that's just my imagination running wild. I drop the finger-gun gesture and dismiss the thought.
Considering the restrictions, this might consume a lot of magic power. With so many unknowns, why am I counting my chickens before they hatch?
Before receiving this gift, I had zero magic. Now, I possess a total of 50,000 magic power—equivalent to half a star—but out of that, I can only use about 1,500, roughly 3%. To wield space magic and escape this place, I need half a million (5 stars). To reach the human limitations and unlock infinite magic and immortality, I must accumulate one million (10 stars).
That's a long time... Perhaps a cosmic eternity—but I'm not in a rush. I muse. Setting aside these thoughts, I start to consider training. To increase my magic, I can either meditate or expend it. However, the magic here is scarce—in fact, it's nearly depleted—so recovery might take a long time.
While I was deep in thought, I suddenly felt a powerful jolt—as if a hammer had struck a nail, really hard.
Wait a minute—this surrounding magic... It's mine! I quickly realized as I probed my surroundings. Then, I could simply release it and reclaim it. Not only could I increase my magic, but I could also raise my proficiency in controlling it. I smirked at myself, excitement building inside me. I attempted to release it, but it turned out to be more difficult than I had imagined. To use an analogy, it's like trying to defy gravity.
It took me thousands of attempts just to open the holes. And even then, I hadn't yet trained myself to reclaim the magic. I spent another thousand attempts, and I finally succeeded.
Now I can both release and absorb magic—let's begin the official training... I clenched my fist with determination. And this isn't limited to magic; I also plan to hone my swordsmanship and physique.
-[Beneath the Hammer of Fate]