Chapter 17
The next morning, Leon woke early. The city outside his window was still quiet, the streets empty except for a few early risers. He stretched slowly, the familiar ache in his muscles reminding him of the power that had been growing within him.
He had no particular reason to rush today, no missions or urgent tasks, but something inside him stirred—a quiet need to improve. The power of the Shadow Monarch had already begun to reshape his body, but Leon wasn't satisfied. He had no intention of relying solely on that power. He needed to get stronger, more capable.
I need to push myself
He thought as he stood up.
With that in mind, he started. Leon dropped to the floor and began his push-ups, one after another, his arms burning as he pushed through the first set. No shortcuts. No excuses. He counted in his head, blocking out the discomfort. When the first 100 were done, he moved on to the sit-ups, his abs aching almost instantly as he cranked out another set. By the time he hit 100, his muscles were screaming for mercy. But Leon didn't stop.
Keep going. I can do this!
And with every grind, Laxus' arrogant smirk flashed in his mind, a constant reminder of the gap he had to close. The image of that cocky bastard, thinking he was above it all, fueled the fire in his chest, driving him to push harder, deeper into the set.
Finally, Leon stood up, sweat pouring down his face. His body was sore, but he didn't pause for long. He had one more part of the routine to tackle: the 10-kilometer run. It wasn't easy.
The path around the city was uneven, full of small obstacles, but it didn't matter. He ran, each step feeling heavier than the last, his lungs burning, legs protesting, but his mind focused on the goal.
I can do this, he told himself.
About halfway through, Leon spotted someone ahead of him—someone running with the same quiet focus he had, only with a much smoother rhythm. The figure in front of him slowed for a moment, and Leon's eyes widened in recognition. Erza Scarlet.
She glanced back at him, her expression unreadable for a split second, then a small, knowing smile appeared on her face. "You're up early," she said, her voice light but still carrying the undertone of someone who was well used to hard work.
Leon adjusted his pace, falling into step behind her. "Yeah,," he replied, his breath coming in sharp bursts. "Thought I'd get some exercise in."
Erza shot him a look over her shoulder. "Exercise, huh? You sure you're not trying to keep up?"
Leon chuckled, the sound muffled by his exertion. "I'm just running. No competition."
Her smile widened, though she didn't slow down. "Is that so? I was thinking the same thing." She increased her pace slightly, clearly testing him.
Leon grinned despite the challenge. She's fast, he thought, but he wasn't backing down. "Nice try," he muttered, pushing himself to match her speed.
They ran in silence for a while, the only sounds their steady footfalls and the occasional puff of breath. Leon could feel the competitive energy between them, but there was no bitterness in it—just a shared drive to push forward. As they neared the final stretch, Erza looked over her shoulder again, this time her smile a little wider.
"Not bad," she said, her voice teasing. "You're actually keeping up."
Leon grinned, his legs burning, but his mind sharp. "You're not bad yourself."
Erza slowed down a bit as they crossed the finish line, breathing hard but still standing tall. Leon wasn't far behind, but his legs were trembling, the fatigue starting to set in. He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, letting out a quiet laugh.
"Guess I'm not completely out of shape after all," he said, his voice hoarse from the run.
Erza turned to face him, crossing her arms. "You've got potential," she said seriously, though there was still that playful glint in her eyes. "Keep training, and maybe you'll catch up."
Leon raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I'll be waiting for that day."
With that, Erza nodded and jogged off, her pace smooth and effortless. Leon stood for a moment, letting the cool morning air settle around him. He was exhausted, but there was something about the challenge, something about pushing himself alongside someone like Erza, that made him feel alive in a way he hadn't in a long time.
He wasn't just training his body. He was training his mind. And that, more than anything, felt like progress.
After stretching one last time, he made his way toward the café, ready for a much-needed break. He figured he'd pick up something to eat before heading back to his apartment. He was definitely going to need more than water to recover from that run.
As he approached the door, he pulled it open, the soft chime of the bell above it marking his entrance. A barista behind the counter gave him a friendly smile. "Morning! What can I get you?"
Leon thought for a moment, his usual preference for something quick and simple in mind. "A coffee, black. And whatever breakfast you've got. I'm starving."
The barista chuckled. "Got you covered." She turned and began preparing his order, and Leon took a seat at one of the small tables near the window.
After finishing his breakfast, Leon stepped out of the café, the warmth of the morning sun making the cool air a little more bearable.
His stomach was full, his energy restored, but his mind was already drifting toward the next task. He had some spare time now, and after that intense workout, he figured it was time to look for another job.
His last mission had been easy enough, but Leon wasn't the type to settle. He wanted to test himself, face something more challenging this time. A quick job wouldn't cut it anymore. The power growing within him was urging him to push further, to see just how far he could go.
Leon made his way to the guild hall, scanning the job board, most of the requests seemed routine—fetch quests, bandit hunting, escorting merchants. Not exactly what he was looking for.
Then he spotted it.
A job request pinned to the top, its description written in bold, red letters: "Wanted: Mage for Monster Extermination Mission—Dangerous Area. Pay: 150,000 jewels."
His eyes narrowed slightly as he studied the details. It seemed like the kind of mission that would actually push him. Not the usual run-of-the-mill stuff. He was about to step forward to pull it down when a familiar voice interrupted him.
"Looking for something a bit more exciting, huh?" Mirajane appeared next to him, a playful glint in her eye as she leaned in to see what he was eyeing.
Leon glanced over at her, giving a small nod. "Seems like it. This one caught my attention."
Mirajane studied the job request for a moment, then let out a soft laugh. "Yeah, that one's a bit more... dangerous. A retrieval mission in a place where most people wouldn't even dare step foot. Not exactly your average delivery, huh?"
Leon raised an eyebrow, his gaze returning to the request. "I can handle it."
She chuckled softly, tapping her chin as she looked at the job Leon was eyeing. "You sure about this? It's a dangerous mission, even for strong mages. You don't want to go in blind."
Leon met her gaze, his tone calm but firm. "Wouldn't be the first time I've faced danger."
Mirajane stepped closer, her expression turning serious. "I get that, but this one's different. The area has a bad reputation. Are you sure you want to take it on? It might be more than you can handle alone."
Leon hesitated, looking at the request. He'd need to work alone. "I work better on my own," he replied, a quiet edge to his voice.
He needed the challenge. With everything that was coming, Leon couldn't afford to avoid being carefree.
This mission, dangerous as it was, was exactly what he needed to grow stronger.
Mirajane sighed softly, her tone gentle. "You don't have to do everything by yourself. We've got each other's backs here in Fairy Tail. Even the strongest mages have limits. Just don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it."
Leon looked at her, his expression unreadable. After a pause, he nodded slightly. "I'll be fine. Thanks, though."
Mirajane smiled, but her eyes were still filled with concern. "Just be careful, okay? Don't push yourself too hard."
He gave her a small nod, then turned toward the exit. "I will. Thanks again."
As Leon walked away, Mirajane watched him for a moment, hoping he'd be careful, even if she didn't say it.
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For clarification: This is not an AI-generated story. English is not my first language, so I use Grammarly and other software to improve my grammar and writing. The idea and story are completely mine.