"The feedback got stronger? Did our bond deepen?"

Rayne glanced at Kanna, still fast asleep beside him, unsure what exactly had changed the night before.

Well, if he had to guess…

It was probably because they'd slept in the same bed.

But that wasn't anything unusual. Back in the Eastern Forest, they'd often slept side by side.

After turning it over in his mind, Rayne still couldn't figure it out, so he simply shrugged it off.

"My mana recovery speed has improved. No wonder Kanna can stay here so easily now."

The realization hit him as he sensed the subtle shifts in his energy.

Maintaining her human form didn't require much mana from Kanna.

And with the Dragon's Essence feedback constantly nourishing him, Rayne's mana quality and regeneration had always been absurdly fast.

Now, it was veering into outright inhuman territory.

Kanna's consumption was practically negligible in comparison.

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Having pieced things together, Rayne gently ruffled Kanna's hair as she slept.

The feedback had grown stronger. Their bond had deepened.

Two happy things overlapping.

A satisfied grin tugged at his lips.

Not wanting to disturb her rest, he quietly got up and headed to the bathroom to wash up.

Even with his accelerated growth, he couldn't afford to slack on training.

Today's agenda included physical conditioning, mana control exercises, and—

A trip to the weapons shop.

Until his next summoning, he'd need a proper weapon to wield.

Tap. Tap.

As he mentally mapped out his schedule, soft footsteps approached.

Toothbrush still in his mouth, Rayne turned to see Kanna rubbing her eyes sleepily in the doorway.

"Rayne, good morning."

Her voice was soft and drowsy as she dragged a small stool over, climbing up to stand beside him at the sink.

"Here."

Rayne handed her the toothbrush she'd claimed for herself after seeing him use one.

Mimicking his movements, the little dragon girl scrubbed her teeth with a blank expression.

The room fell silent save for the rhythmic brushing.

After breakfast, the two stepped outside, fully energized.

Exchanging a quick greeting with their tsundere landlady, Rayne set off toward the weapon shop.

Early autumn mornings carried a crisp chill, even as the sun rose.

Passersby hunched their shoulders against the breeze, some already bundling up in light jackets.

"Rayne, this isn't the way to the city gates?"

Kanna blinked, scanning the unfamiliar streets.

She'd memorized the routes to the guild and the exit, but this path didn't match either.

"We're hitting the weapon shop first. Need to find something that suits me."

Tilting his face toward the golden sunlight, Rayne exhaled in satisfaction.

The temperature was perfect—warm but not scorching, cool but not biting.

"What kind of weapon does Rayne want?"

Kanna's curiosity piqued as she looked up at him.

"Hmm… something with power."

He flexed his fist, feeling the energy coursing through it, answering in a cryptic way.

"Don't get it."

She shook her head.

"You'll see soon. Just hope they have it in stock."

Given how specific his requirements were, Rayne wasn't entirely confident.

But Magnolia was a bustling town. Surely they'd have something, right?

With that hope, he led Kanna through the winding streets until they arrived at a weapon store.

The shop had just opened, the usual clang of metalwork yet to begin.

"Welcome! How can I help you?"

A burly man in a brown tunic wiped his hands on a cloth, offering a polite smile.

To his credit, he didn't dismiss them as kids messing around.

"Do you carry greatswords?"

Rayne cut straight to the point.

Not a katana, not a longsword, not a spear.

After wielding Bog's greataxe, he'd realized how well heavy weapons suited him.

And with Dragon's Essence continuously enhancing his physique, normal weapons would soon feel too light.

So a greatsword it was.

As for why he didn't go for another axe?

…Well, aesthetics mattered.

"A greatsword? For you?"

The blacksmith's eyebrows shot up as he sized up the boy.

But then his gaze landed on the black Fairy Tail emblem.

His skepticism faded slightly.

For that guild, even a kid wielding a massive blade wasn't too strange.

"Got 'em! Right this way—I'm the best smith in Magnolia. You'll find what you need!"

He thumped his chest proudly.

While his weapons weren't enchanted, he boasted their craftsmanship could rival low-tier magic arms.

"Hm."

Rayne remained noncommittal as he stepped inside.

Heat from the forge washed over them instantly.

The walls gleamed with an array of blades—rapiers, shortswords, daggers—all catching the light menacingly.

Kanna's eyes sparkled as she stared, a dragon's instinctive urge to hoard shiny things flickering in her gaze.

"Greatswords are over here."

The smith led them to a corner where several massive blades leaned against the wall.

Rayne's eyes narrowed, analyzing the wear marks and placement.

Only five or six greatswords were present.

The narrowest was four fingers wide.

The widest? Nearly the span of his hand.

Ignoring the smaller options, Rayne's focus locked onto the largest one.

The blade alone stood as tall as him. With the hilt, it towered over his head.

Probably around 160 cm.

No intricate engravings adorned its surface.

Its edge lacked the razor sharpness of the longswords nearby—but that was expected.

A weapon this size couldn't prioritize finesse.

White cloth wrapped around the grip, the excess trailing loosely.

Just looking at it evoked a primal, brutal aura.