Chapter 87 - Human mage

Gildarts was curious to see the power of one of their founders who was known to be the strongest mages for he is an emperor that unify human and dragon creating a powerful empire under his feet yet never use this power to conquer other places. Though Caelum had thought about it, he decided not to for now since he didn't want to be a tyrannical ruler. He concentrated his time in developing his empire rather than expanding it since his knowledge in sciences and magic helped further the advancement of his empire rather than waste their resources in fighting other countries. 

They are powerful and won't take much loss but a loss is still a loss even with the power to revive them would result in disaster. His entire empire was both technologically advanced and magically stronger than they were capable of conquering other countries with little effort but decided not to. When peace war seems unnecessary. 

Unless Caelum finds himself in a world where it is full of conflict and war then he might step in to join the fray. For now he is enjoying life with his wives and children before continuing his training. He sat down preparing some popcorn while the others joined him and Mavis took his lap watching the two children fight. 

Erza stood on top of the water that remained still where the ripple seemed to have been canceled from the pressure release from their body. They were still children around ten years old yet displayed power more than an S class mage. She took a glaces with her two swords while staring intently to Mirajane who merely smiled seductively with her Satan form bursting in demonic magical energy. 

In a flash, everything seemed to slow down as the droplet floated while the two moved at lightning speed where Mirajane appeared trying to claw Erza who quickly evaded and ready her sword that was immediately parried by Mirajane. Their Clash shook the whole ocean pushing everything with each strike sending a ripple of forces. 

Erza changed her style getting Mirjane off guard who did the same with her Satan form continuing to fight her showing unwavering determination to defeat the other. Meanwhile, Gildarts jaw dropped watching the children upon seeing what they're capable of. He was definitely a lot stronger than the two but they were only 10 years old while he had years of experience compared to the two! 

Seeing his daughter already made him wonder how strong he truly is. It was definitely no exaggeration that two children could easily be a wizard saint candidate from their potential and talent alone. 

"I'm truly dumbfounded watching these two fights. They are easily an S class mage but how can they be this strong when there are only 10!?"

He couldn't help asking not just himself but Caelum who was closed by observing the two. Caelum felt proud how far they became since their training was agonizing that only few could even last the first session. He merely smiled upon hearing Gildarts remarks. 

"They're just a bunch of geniuses and hardworking kids."

Caelum gave a simple answer and continued to observe the fight where it ended in a draw as the two were in a deadlock. The two were all scattered and exhausted feeling a bit disappointed that they weren't able to defeat the other. 

"It…ha…seems you're lost, Erza."

"H-Hey…it's….you who lost…"

The two bicker cocking their fist preparing to strike each other only to be stopped by Caelum who immediately appeared between the two canceling the force of their attack. 

"It's a tie, both of you lost."

"But father, I lasted longer than her!"

"*Sigh* you two are already exhausted that it might do more harm than good. If you two insisted on fighting then continue it when you two are in perfect condition, got it?"

Caelum glanced at each of them releasing a bit of pressure to stop the two from continuing before restoring their energy and healing their wounds before taking the two with him. Even though he said that even if they are killed they won't die doesn't mean he would let it happen. Caelum gave them rigorous training but it pains him every time when he does so. He just kept that feeling to refine his mentality and emotion without losing this aspect of his. Most of the time people would abandon them rather than overcoming and turning those things to temper their mind and soul which is directly connected to the emotion. 

They were disappointed but didn't refute and returned where Mavis was waiting to scold them. She saw everything and didn't like how the two were pushing themselves far too hard. In the past, Mavis wouldn't act this way but spending decades with Caelum had made her more mature both mentality and physically. 

"Now, you two stay here. Gildarts, still wanna spar?"

He turned his attention to Gildarts who felt reluctant to fight him but was eager to see what kind of power he wields and if he can learn a thing or two. 

"Yes, I just want to see what all the fuss is about."

Caelum nodded, taking themselves far in the mountain ranges while making barriers for their audience. One of the few things he remembers was Gildarts having the crush magic that literally crushed anything that he comes into contact with if he is not careful. He was curious how strong it is compared to just using his fleshly body to contend with his power. Caelum will not lose but having his flesh broken down and repaired itself might help him grow.

He prepared himself stretching a bit looking at Gildarts taking deep breaths where his mind, body and spirit were slowly unifying with adding any energy only his thoughts concentrating on getting stronger and learning from his opponent. Weaker or stronger there are always things to learn from them.

"Are you ready?"

"Ready I'll ever be."

"Then in the count of 3..2…1!"

In that moment, Caelum planted his feet into the ground propelling himself forward towards Gildarts who held out his hand catching his fist that shocked him as he watched Caelum body deconstruct by his crush magic then reconstruct itself but this only fueled his motivation to fight on. He cocked his fist once again and struck once again gathering more magical energy than before that Caelum cancelled out with his fist. Gildarts felt the force from the shockwave before a small crater was formed from the sheer force of their attack while behind Caelum created a ravine from Gildarts' attack. 

Caelum smiled, feeling that every time his body was crushed and breakdowns were slowly repairing itself similar to how Zenkai boost works. His [ Primal Genesis Ki ] seem to churn and refine that began to thicken itself rather than increase in quantity as before. He twist his body and did a roundhouse kick at the side of Gildart's face but he block it then grabbed his leg throwing him to the side where he flow several feet's slamming into a boulder as he quickly stood where he caught Gildarts attack and redirecting it to the side that caught him by surprise as he was strike in the face by Caelum.

"You're magic is extremely strong but in terms of combat skill you lack quite a bit. I heard that you hardly have any control over your crush magic that you need to avoid touching anything. You concentrated on quantity rather than quality."

Caelum shared his criticism since he was strong for humans but he lacked the proper way in utilizing his magic to its fullest. He didn't train on how to properly control his Crush magic that it just became a destructive power where it could have innocent people dying from the aftermath. 

Gildarts staggered trying to maintain standing feeling nauseous from the strike but he heard everything he said and couldn't deny his words. His eyes went wide as Caelum appeared in front of him where his fist inches away from his face, however, he was able to coat his whole body with his magic that upon contact crush the force from Caelum attack only sending several feet before start countering with each clash of their fist created a massive after shock rippling through the mountain range pushing dust and debris.

Caelum's mind concentrated in each passing moment turning his strike that once power into a flowing dance. He hardly considers himself a master in hand to hand since it has been too long that he always relied on magic to train even letting his clone do the work for him but it is completely different when he's the one doing the work. 

Gildarts on the other hand was doing his hardest to push through every moment trying to improve himself since there was hardly anyone that could challenge him ever since he grew this powerful. He followed his instruction, improving himself until the two fist deadlocked striking plants, each pushing the dust and clearing the whole place where the two stood still. 

"I'll be damn….you didn't even use a single magic."

He said before passing out from exhaustion while Caelum just took deep breath flaring his power even further than before having it's quality improve by several folds. After the fight, his children ran up to him and remarked how cool he was.

"To think even Gildarts would lose to you, Godfather."

"Don't think too hard, he was in great advantage since I have a few hundred years of training, even if most of that time is relaxing, it still took my time to improve myself. He is at least potentially the strongest Human Mage I've seen."

Indeed the most powerful mages would normally be a god slayer or dragon slayer but Gildarts showcase what a human is capable of off. Though he is not that talented and hardly a genius, there is no denying that he is a strong opponent. 

"Hearing from you then it must be true."

Makarov said feeling proud looking at one of his children from the guild to survive fighting Caelum. Though, if he was any serious then it would be over in an instance. To be fair there aren't many people that could hope for his strength. Caelum proceeded to heal Gildarts who quickly woke up.

"How do you feel, Gildarts?"

"I'm fine, master. Just a bit of nausea , that's all. I see you're really strong."

Gildarts accepted his defeat since he knows when to accept his flaws and understand them. Only few are able to do the same as him. Caelum gave him a nod of acknowledgement.

"Take a few years then maybe we can have another rematch."

"I'm looking forward to that!"

The two fist bump before heading back to their guild where they celebrated without any proper reason. Fairy tail always does whatever it wants and no one can stop them. This is why Caelum loved the place giving a toast to Gildarts as the two enjoyed their time. He watched as Erza and Mirajane bicker while being stopped by Ajest. 

Caelum waited until everyone finished the celebration and spent the other day in Fiore taking his children around the place as they headed back to their empire that had appeared a mixture of sci-fi and medieval architecture. There were some statues of him erected being worshiped by both dragons and humans. He didn't mind but it would be difficult to explain to his parents. 

"Mother, we're back!"