The Blue Pegasus airship pierced through the morning clouds like a holy spear, casting its shadow across the rooftops of Magnolia Town. With a soft mechanical hiss, it descended gently—landing atop the stone landing pad of the Fairy Tail Guild.
Makarov, arms behind his back, turned to his eccentric guest with a grateful nod.
"Bob, thank you. Truly."
The flamboyant Master of Blue Pegasus giggled, striking a pose with sparkling eyes.
"Maaa~karov, don't be a stranger. Bring your little sunshine Escanor over to my guild sometime~ I'd love to entertain him~ 💖"
Escanor, whose posture had faced armies and demons without flinching, suddenly felt a full-body shiver.
Note to self… avoid Blue Pegasus HQ forever.
As the ship took off, vanishing into the distance, Makarov turned and led his two companions—Escanor and the newly joined Gray Fullbuster—into the Guild.
The moment the door opened—
"Escanor's back!!"
"Yo, how's the hero of the Deliora incident!?"
"Gray, right? Welcome to the wildest Guild in Fiore!"
"Escanor-kun~ Sit by big sis and have a drink~~!"
"...…"
The entire Guild burst into a storm of cheers, voices, laughter, and unfiltered chaos.
Gray froze. Having spent most of his life in the quiet, snowy north… he had never seen such noise. He didn't even know where to stand.
Escanor placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "This is home."
Makarov climbed atop a nearby table and waved.
"You rowdy brats, quiet down! With my return, a new member joins our family! This here's Gray Fullbuster, and he's one of us now!"
Gray stepped forward, gulped, and gave a slight bow.
"M-my name's Gray Fullbuster… I use Ice Make magic."
"Yo, kid! Show us what you've got!"
"Yeah! Make something cool—literally!"
Gray held out his hands. "Ice Make…"
A delicate sculpture formed—a crystal-clear Fairy Tail emblem, shimmering with magical light. It wasn't powerful, but it was beautiful.
The crowd gasped.
"It's art!""Incredible!""That's some serious potential!"
Gray's chest swelled with pride for the first time since Ur's death.
Makarov raised a mug. "Let's feast! Welcome the new brat with a proper Fairy Tail banquet!"
The room erupted with laughter and clinking mugs.
Gray, unable to drink like the adults, raised a glass of juice high above his head and clinked it proudly. For the first time in days, he smiled—genuinely.
"Ur… this Guild… really is amazing."
Meanwhile, Escanor sat quietly at the bar, conversing with Makarov.
"Grandpa… Gray's here. That's half of what I promised her."
Makarov took a long swig of beer, then nodded. "That kid'll grow. I'll see to it."
He frowned.
"By the way, the Council only classified that job as A-Class. Said it wasn't upgraded until after you took it. Buncha crusty old fossils…"
Escanor chuckled softly. "It's fine. I didn't finish that mission alone. If it weren't for Ur…"
He looked at his palm, curling it into a fist.
"…I wouldn't be here."
"Grandpa, I want to ask you something."
"Oh? What is it?"
"Is there a material that's extremely heavy, but not large in size?"
Makarov blinked. "You mean like… Heavy Metal?"
"That's it! Can you help me get some? I want to forge equipment—vests, wrist guards. Something dense."
Makarov tilted his head. "Why? Most people can't even lift that kind of gear. You want to wear it?"
Escanor stood.
"My body can't yet keep up with my magic. I need to build a vessel strong enough to carry it. I need… resistance."
Makarov's eyes gleamed with pride.
"You've grown, boy."
Three days later, Escanor was fully healed. Ur's magic, which had fused with his own, had dramatically increased the regenerative abilities of "Sunshine."
On the seventh day, Makarov rolled into the Guild pushing a large cart.
"Escanor! Your equipment's here!"
Guild members gathered, curious.
When Makarov unveiled the cart, everyone was stunned: a plain black vest and four modest wristguards.
"…That's it?"
"Wait… why the cart then?"
A brawny mage stepped forward to test it—his knees buckled the moment he tried to lift a wristguard.
"What the—this thing's insanely heavy!!"
"Are you sure you can walk with this, Escanor!?"
Escanor stepped forward calmly, and one by one, fastened each piece of the Heavy Metal gear to his body.
When he stepped off the cart—
Thud.Crack.
His feet sank several inches into the stone floor.
With quiet determination, he pulled himself free and began walking forward—step by step.
"I'll get used to it."
The Guild was speechless.
From that day forward, Escanor began a brutal self-discipline regimen.
He wore the heavy gear constantly.
He only removed it to sleep. Even during his missions, he never took them off. And although at first he returned battered, bruised, and breathless—slowly, his body adapted.
His injuries became fewer.
His missions were completed faster.
And eventually, he began taking multiple assignments at once—clearing out monsters, bandits, and dark guilds across Fiore alone.
The people of Magnolia had only one name on their lips.
"The Monster Slayer.""The Living Furnace.""The King of the Sun.""Escanor."
The Council, stunned by his efficiency, granted Fairy Tail a hefty reward.
But more shocking was the gift given to Escanor himself:
The title of Royal Minister of Fiore.Ownership of Magnolia as autonomous territory.Full sovereignty—even the Council could not intervene in his land.
Makarov was moved to tears.
"My child… you're the first Guild member in history who doesn't burn money like toilet paper."
Escanor, of course, paid it no mind.
He simply continued his missions.
Until one day…
The time had come.
The Guild's most sacred rite.
The S-Class Promotion Exam.
Participants: Escanor, age 10.Only one name.
Only one warrior.
Only one path left to climb.