"Let me be your comrade!!! Makarov—"
His resolute cry echoed endlessly across the vast Wolf Island, lingering long after it had pierced and etched itself into everyone's minds.
For a moment, everyone present wore shifting expressions, each reacting differently.
"Achill." An indescribable light shone in Mira's eyes.
"Master... big brother..." At a loss, Wendy clasped both hands tightly against her chest.
"So that's how it is." Behind her glasses, Le Qi's eyes turned thoughtful, as though she had guessed something.
"That guy..." Laxus's mouth fell open in astonishment before his brows knitted tightly. Involuntarily, he turned to glance at Makarov beside him.
"Big brother Nameless..." Erza murmured, her eyes filled with complicated emotions.
Only the simpleminded Natsu, after a brief moment of astonishment, immediately began cheering excitedly. Everyone else, including Laxus and Wendy, turned toward Makarov in unspoken accord, shocked, bewildered, and startled—
At the front of the crowd, Makarov had already returned to his normal size. He stood silently with his eyes shut and his arms folded, his brows furrowed as though pondering something deeply.
"Standing there shamelessly saying you want to become our comrade... Hmph! Don't make me laugh, Achill..."
Everyone's hearts tightened at his words. Their hands unconsciously clenched as they stared at the muttering Makarov, their hearts rising into their throats.
Achill alone remained unchanged, watching Makarov calmly.
"And you keep going on about wanting to become this old man's comrade? Heh, that's why I'm saying..." After another few muttered chuckles, a smile suddenly curled his lips. He lifted his head and slowly opened his eyes, sending his smiling gaze straight toward Achill in the distance! Their eyes met across the air! Makarov opened his mouth, mustered his magic, and roared with equally overwhelming force, "I told you to stop joking around!!! Achill—"
"What do you