Fairy Tail: Becoming stronger by spending money.

"Boom!"

A huge explosion rocked the area, and with the force of it, Erza landed steadily.

But the next moment, Caesar appeared beside her, striking her hard with a rasengan.

"Sonic Gun!"

The Ten Rings Spear shifted forms and accelerated instantly, its tip clashing with the rasengan.

Erza was blasted back, only to see Caesar suddenly appear at her left with a sword in hand.

"Damn! Sealed Spear!"

Erza's combat instincts kicked in.

As Hyorinmaru unleashed a blast of icy power, Erza countered with the demon-breaking nature of her Sealed Spear, lunging toward Caesar.

"Is that all Aslant has to offer?"

Erza roared and pressed her attack.

Caesar quickly retreated, dodging her assault.

Hearing her words, he chuckled.

"Your personality really is like the Erza I know. But in my world, we're friends. Now we're enemies."

He vanished in an instant.

Erza swept her spear in front of her instinctively.

It clashed with Caesar's kunai.

"Boom!"

A burst of energy exploded from the contact, sending Caesar backward.

"If this is all you've got, then stay down!"

Erza pointed her spear at Caesar, eyes cold.

"Alright, alright…"

Caesar sighed.

"I was just playing around, but if you insist—guess I'll get serious now."

His expression hardened.

A tsunami of magic power surged from him, causing Erza to shield herself with her spear.

Then Caesar vanished again.

"The same trick?!"

Erza swept her spear once more, but this time—missed.

"Rasengan!"

Caesar slammed a rasengan into her side.

She was sent flying, pain tearing through her like a blade.

She struggled, but eventually stood up.

"Sonic Gun!"

Suppressing the pain, Erza turned into a streak of light and shot toward Caesar.

Caesar blocked with his sword.

The spear tip collided with the blade, and no matter how much force Erza used, she couldn't break through.

"Ahh!"

She roared, trying to overpower him.

But then, she noticed the faint amusement in Caesar's eyes.

"Sit upon the frosty heavens… Hyorinmaru!"

A massive eruption of frost followed.

The temperature dropped instantly, biting through Erza's entire body.

Her limbs grew heavy, her vision blurred, and finally—darkness consumed her.

…

After who knows how long, Erza slowly opened her eyes.

She found herself in a strange room, surrounded by a faint medicinal scent.

She tried to move but felt a sharp pain and realized she was on a hospital bed.

The equipment and medicine around her confirmed she was in a medical facility.

Her memory was fragmented.

As she tried to gather her thoughts, the door opened.

Hughes and Shugboy entered, eyes serious.

"Erza, who did you fight with?"

Erza sat up slowly and saw the Ten Rings Gun beside her bed.

"Is this… some kind of mockery?"

She gritted her teeth in silence.

They didn't even take such a powerful weapon from her.

What did that mean?

Even with the Ten Rings Gun, she still wasn't a threat to him?!

"You Aslant bastard… I'll remember this!"

…

"Erza of Edolas is strong, but limited by magic props. She's not as fearsome as the one in my world."

Caesar muttered while flying toward the southwest.

"If she were in Aslant, she'd probably be on par with my Erza."

In the distance, he spotted a lone guild building in the desert.

Caesar sped up and landed outside.

The guild door opened, and Lisanna rushed out to hug him.

"Brother Caesar! Are you okay?"

Caesar hugged her back and patted her shoulder.

"Don't worry. I defeated Erza. She won't bother you for a while."

"But when she recovers, she'll probably come again."

Lucy, now a rebellious-looking girl, crossed her arms and glared.

"And you're taking Lisanna away, which is pretty annoying."

"Did you tell them?"

Caesar looked at Lisanna.

She nodded and turned to the guild behind her.

"Thank you all for everything you've done for me during this time."

"Well, go on, Lisanna."

Mirajane and Elfman smiled gently.

"Say hi to our other selves for us."

Caesar gave Mirajane a slightly awkward look, then nodded.

Lisanna leaned over and whispered something to Edolas' Mirajane.

Mirajane turned bright red.

"Bonk!"

Caesar flicked Lisanna on the head.

"Oww!"

Lisanna rubbed her head and looked at him pitifully.

Caesar rolled his eyes and turned to Mirajane.

"I'm with Mirajane in our world. Don't worry. I might be a bit of a scumbag here, already with a bunch of girls. So… please don't look for him."

He bowed slightly.

"Thanks again for taking care of Lisanna. We'll visit again someday."

He pulled out the magic crystal fragment Mystogan had given him.

Taking a breath, he held Lisanna's hand and crushed the crystal.

A brilliant light engulfed them both.

In the eyes of the stunned guild members, Caesar and Lisanna ascended like two shooting stars—vanishing into the sky.

…

Aslant.

Caesar and Lisanna landed on a grassy hill.

Looking around, Caesar realized they weren't far from Magnolia.

A quick flight would get them there in no time.

"Come on, Lisanna. Time to go home. Mira, Elfman, everyone—they're waiting."

Lisanna nodded, then looked at Caesar curiously.

"Brother Caesar… are you really with Sister Mira? Are you really my brother-in-law?"

Caesar scratched his head awkwardly.

"Let Mira tell you herself."

Then, before Lisanna could react, Caesar scooped her up and flew toward Fairy Tail.

…

At the guild, Master stood outside, watching the sky.

He sighed.

"Looks like he won't make it back today…"

"Grandpa President!"

Just as Makarov turned, a voice rang out, followed by another voice he hadn't heard in years.

He looked up.

Sure enough—Caesar and a familiar girl were descending from the sky.

The noise drew everyone outside—Mirajane, Elfman, and the rest.

When they saw Lisanna…

Gasps, wide eyes, disbelief—then tears flowed freely.

"Sister Mira! Brother Elfman!"

Lisanna called out, tears shining in her eyes.

She raced into their arms.

"Lisanna!"

Mirajane and Elfman could barely speak.

Lisanna clung to Mirajane.

"I'm home, Sister Mira…"

Her voice trembled, thick with emotion.

Mirajane gently rubbed her back, overwhelmed with tears.

Elfman bawled, holding both of them in a tight hug.

He sobbed loudly, crying like a child.

Mirajane cried silently, wiping her tears as she forced a smile.

"Welcome home, Lisanna."

A simple phrase—but it carried all the years of pain, longing, and love.

Lisanna held her family, sobbing and smiling.

She closed her eyes.

At long last… she was home.