This is the assessment location for Cana.
The passage collapsed completely under their attack, and the bright sunlight shone on the ravaged land.
"This..." Lucy, standing beside the sinkhole, gaped, staring blankly at the two people who were now standing in a static confrontation on either side of the sinkhole.
She hadn't expected that Cana could fight Gildarts to this extent. Although Cana was already staggering and about to give up, Gildarts' cloak had disappeared, and he had several wounds on his body.
Based on this alone, Cana's strength is already quite evident.
"Damn it, am I really incapable of... gaining his approval?! I've been so serious about it..."
Cana was panting heavily; her physical strength was almost completely depleted.
But looking at Gildarts, who was standing before her with tattered clothes and several wounds, her expression serious, she felt very down. The longing for recognition was constantly troubling her.
What she didn't know was that Gildarts was looking at Cana with such seriousness because this was the first time he had ever seen such a violent Physical Arts combat style. The gale-force wind generated by the punches was incredibly exciting.
It allowed him to successfully recall the oppressive force of the gale brought by the Black Dragon's flapping wings. Although it was still far from being the same, even this small amount was enough for him to acknowledge Cana's strength, not to mention the tight and flawless Card Magic that supported her from the side.
Thinking this, Gildarts grinned, revealing his pearly white teeth, and said, "Very good fighting style. It's true that each generation has its own strengths and weaknesses, and each wave is stronger than the last. You've passed this test!"
As soon as he finished speaking...
Cana paused, her head drooped slightly, her shoulders trembled, and tears streamed down her face. She had been waiting for these words for so long.
"Hey, hey~ Why are you crying? Did I say something wrong?" Gildarts suddenly panicked, feeling a pang of heartache. He frantically tried to comfort Cana, but didn't know where to put his hands.
"Cana, didn't you have something important to say to Uncle Gildarts? Now's the perfect time!" Lucy stood in the sinkhole, looking at the crying Cana and the panicked uncle. She put her hands to her mouth and loudly reminded Cana, finally giving her a thumbs up and encouraging Cana with a smile.
"Important thing? Tell me?" Gildarts and the other girl looked back and forth, puzzled, before finally staring at Cana with a questioning look.
Cana stopped trembling, and a look of embarrassment appeared on her face, her cheeks flushed.
Although I had prepared my speech in my mind long ago, I still didn't know what to say at this crucial moment.
"Actually, the real reason I came to this Fairy Tail is... to find my father."
"And this person... is... is... you— Gildarts."
Cana spoke haltingly, pausing for a few seconds when she mentioned who the last person was. Finally, she took a deep breath, closed her eyes, clenched her fists, and shouted.
For a moment, the entire forest fell silent.
Gildarts stood there dumbfounded, staring blankly at Cana.
Lucy nodded repeatedly when she heard Cana finally speak.
"Oh! Oh! Oh!" Gildarts exclaimed in surprise.
"Wait... wait a minute, you... whose daughter are you?" He frantically searched his mind for numerous women.
"Isn't it hard to believe! I... I am..." Cana was just about to say her mother's name when...
"Silly, Naomi, Claire, Fina, Mary... No, no, the hair color is wrong..."
"Emma, Leia, Shirley..." Gildarts was lying on the ground, matching players one by one, but he didn't notice the darkening look on Cana's face.
"Really, I never expected my father to be such a womanizer!" Magic Power surged from Cana's body again, gathering in her right fist, covered by a high level of Armament Haki, as she walked step by step towards Gildarts.
By the time Gildarts reacted and raised his head nervously, he said, "I... I know, it's Sylvia, you guys are simply..." Before he could finish speaking, a fist slammed into the ground directly in front of Gildarts.
"I'm so angry!" Cana roared, slamming her fist on the ground.
The already shattered ground crumbled even more, and Gildarts was blasted away by the aftershocks, crashing into a pile of rubble.
Cana originally intended to punch Gildarts, but at the last moment, she couldn't bring herself to do it and could only punish Gildarts slightly in this way.
"Anyway, that's how it is. I've said my piece. Let's just act like usual, that's all, Lucy, let's go!"
Cana turned around, her tone slightly downcast, and waved to Lucy heading towards the final meeting point.
Unexpectedly, Gildarts quickly pushed aside the rubble, rushed forward, and pulled Cana into a tender embrace. "You are Cornelia's child, there's no mistake~ I'm so sorry! I didn't recognize you right away!"
"Let me go~" Feeling her father's care and apology, Cana's originally tough attitude softened instantly, and her voice became gentle.
"Cornelia is the only woman I've ever truly loved in my life, and the only woman I've ever married. I'm sorry, if only I had spent more time at home back then."
"She wouldn't have left me then, and I wouldn't have heard of her passing at some point. It's just... I never imagined we had a daughter... I'm sorry I didn't realize sooner, you're my daughter."
As Gildarts spoke, his body trembled deeply, and he held Cana even tighter in his arms.
Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
It dripped onto Cana's head.
"It's alright, I deliberately didn't let you find out. I'm already very happy to have your approval!"
"But let me say it one last time, it's so wonderful to be able to have a serious relationship with you, Dad!"
Cana looked up, smiling happily as she called out to Gildarts.
Gildarts felt as if an arrow had struck his heart, a bittersweet mix of emotions overwhelmed him with happiness. The tears that had already been streaming down his face now flowed like a burst dam.
He hugged Cana tightly again, saying guiltily, "Please, please give me another chance. No matter what we do in the future, I will always be by your side!"
"Mmm~" Cana nodded happily in Gildarts's arms and responded softly.
Lucy, watching from the side, happily wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.