The church bells were still ringing, each toll striking at everyone's heart.
Maglonia seemed to come alive in an instant.
Pedestrians hurried to the sides of the street, and shops rushed to close their doors, as if fleeing some terrible disaster.
Then the tremors beneath their feet grew stronger and stronger.
"Rumble—"
To everyone's shock, the entire street began to split apart and rearrange itself! Buildings shifted, and the ground rose. A broad, straight road with no obstacles stretched from the city gates all the way to the entrance of the Fairy Tail guild.
This was Maglonia's unique "Gildarts Mode"!
To stop a man who was always lost in thought from accidentally destroying buildings and bringing ruin to the town, the mayor had spent a fortune remodeling the entire city. Whenever Gildarts returned, the city would automatically transform and clear a path for him.
"No matter how many times I see it, this is still over the top."
Lu Chongwei stood at the guild entrance, gazing at the road stretching into the distance, and couldn't help remarking.
A moment later.
A tall figure in a dark green cloak, carrying a battered pack, appeared slowly at the far end of the road. He walked at an unhurried pace, each step steady and powerful. He looked travel-worn and scruffy, his face covered in stubble, but none of that diminished the mountainlike presence he exuded.
Gildarts. The man who stood at the pinnacle of Fairy Tail had returned!
"Yo! Everyone! I'm back!"
Gildarts pushed open the guild doors, flashing his trademark, hearty grin. His pearly white teeth sparkled in the sunlight.
"Gildarts!!!" A cheer erupted through the guild.
"Uncle! You're finally back!"
"How was the mission? Anything fun happen?"
"Come on, tell us about the Century Quest!"
Everyone crowded around Gildarts, bombarding him with questions.
Just then, a flash of red suddenly darted out of the crowd.
"Gildarts! I challenge you!"
It was Natsu! He'd just woken up in the infirmary, and when he heard Gildarts had returned, he'd rushed out without even stopping to think about his injuries.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!!!"
Natsu leaped high into the air, his fist wreathed in flames as he charged straight for Gildarts's face.
Gildarts paused, looking at the kid who had suddenly appeared. "Hm? New face?" He smiled and didn't even raise a hand. The instant before Natsu's fist struck him, Gildarts released just a trace of magic power.
"Boom!"
Natsu hit an invisible wall and was sent flying even faster than he'd come.
"Crash!"
With a thunderous impact, Natsu punched straight through the guild's ceiling, turned into a star, and vanished into the distance.
"Ah... I think I used a little too much force." Gildarts scratched his head awkwardly. "Who's that kid? He's got a lot of spirit."
Lu Chongwei stepped forward and handed Gildarts a cup of wine. "His name's Natsu. He's a Dragon Slayer and a hot-blooded idiot. He only joined recently."
"Oh? A Dragon Slayer?" Gildarts accepted the wine and downed it in one gulp, surprise flashing in his eyes. "Sounds like quite a few interesting newcomers have joined the guild while I was away."
Just then, Makarov called from the bar, "Gildarts, come over here." His expression was serious.
Gildarts shrugged and went over. Watching the two of them, Lu Chongwei grew thoughtful. He knew the moment had finally arrived—the annual S-Class Mage Promotion Trial.
Upstairs.
Makarov looked at Gildarts and got straight to the point. "Now that you're back, we should make up for last year's S-Class Exam. This time, I want you to be the chief examiner."
Gildarts's face fell. "Give me a break, old man. I just got back from a mission, and I'm exhausted. All I want is to get some rest, have a few drinks, and chase some girls..."
"No way!" Makarov rapped Gildarts on the head with his cane. "You're the only S-Class Mage in the guild right now. If you won't do it, who will? Besides, there are a few promising candidates on this year's list." Makarov gave Gildarts a meaningful look. "Lu Chongwei, for one, and Laxus."
At those two names, Gildarts's eyes lit up. "That kid Lu Chongwei is taking part too?" He rubbed his chin, a sly grin spreading across his face. "In that case... I might be willing to consider it. I can't even get a proper read on how strong he is now. This'll be a perfect chance to test his mettle. All right, I'm in. But I'll make one thing clear: I won't go easy on anyone."
Makarov nodded with satisfaction. "That's the spirit. This exam is no small matter. There are only two candidates: Lu Chongwei and Laxus."
"That kid Laxus is strong, but he's too arrogant. He's been getting more and more extreme lately. As for Lu Chongwei..." Gildarts turned to look at Lu Chongwei nearby, a glint flashing in his eyes. "He's a mystery. I want to see how far those two kids have come."
Now that Gildarts had agreed, Makarov nodded. "I've nearly finished making the arrangements. We can discuss the details later."
"Sure. I'm going back to get some sleep. I'm dead tired." Gildarts stood up, stretched, waved, and turned to leave.
Makarov watched the direction Gildarts was heading. His eyelid twitched, and he started to call out a warning. "Um... Gildarts, the door's over there..."
But it was too late.
Gildarts seemed completely lost in his own world—or maybe the idea of "going around" simply didn't exist in his mind. He walked straight toward a wall on the side of the guildhall.
"Hm? Why's it so cramped here?" Gildarts frowned and reflexively cast his magic.
"Crush."
"Rumble!!!"
With a thunderous boom, the wall—which had only recently been repaired—crumbled instantly, scattering into countless tiny fragments across the floor. A perfect human-shaped hole appeared in its place. Sunlight poured through, illuminating the swirling dust.
Gildarts strode out as if nothing had happened, leaving behind a carefree silhouette and a few words drifting on the breeze. "See you all tomorrow!"
The guild fell silent. Everyone stood there with their mouths open, staring at the gaping hole.
Makarov clutched his chest and looked at the rubble scattered across the floor. A tear slid down his cheek. "My wall... That was the finest marble... Gildarts! You idiot! I'm docking ten times the repair cost from your pay!!!"
Makarov's roar echoed through the hall for a long time.
Watching all this, Lu Chongwei couldn't help laughing. "Well, I guess there's a reason for Gildarts Mode."
That uncle really was as unreliable as ever.
"But..."
Lu Chongwei clenched his fists, his eyes burning with determination.
The S-Class Mage Promotion Trial, huh?
This time, I'm determined to claim that spot!
Before you continue