"Freed, do your best. As the captain of the Thunder God Tribe, uphold its name and don't bring shame to Laxus."
Marco encouraged Freed, knowing this tactic was incredibly effective on him—even more so than a shot of adrenaline.
By bestowing upon him the title of "Laxus's Proxy," Marco instantly revitalized Freed, as if he had just consumed a miracle elixir!
"I will never tarnish the Thunder God's prestige!"
Freed straightened his back and made a solemn vow.
He wasn't just saying it for show, he was genuinely determined to live up to the name "Thunder God Tribe" and ensure everyone remembered the "Thunder God"—remembered Laxus.
'Rumble... rumble... rumble!!!'
Just as Marco and Freed finished speaking, a tremor ran through the ground beneath them.
Everyone's first instinct was that an enemy had cast a magic on them.
"No, that's not it!"
But Marco quickly realized it wasn't just the Fairy Tail Guild Hall shaking.
The entire city of Magnolia had suddenly begun to tremble!
The familiar sensation made everyone in the guild realize what was happening.
"Gildarts! Gildarts is back!"
Natsu immediately shouted with joy and rushed out.
"So Gildarts Mode has been activated. It hasn't been used in over three years, so it was pretty sudden. I didn't even realize what was happening at first."
Gray remarked with a sigh, a look of joy spreading across his face.
After all, the activation of "Gildarts Mode" meant that Gildarts had truly returned.
He had been on this mission for three years—so long that everyone had been constantly worried about him.
'Does this mean Gildarts actually completed the Hundred-Year Quest?'
Marco's expression turned to genuine astonishment.
He had always assumed the Hundred-Year Quest was a major side plot, a crucial storyline that had to be resolved by Natsu and the "main protagonist group."
'Did Gildarts really manage to complete it? Did my words back then actually come true?'
Marco's mouth hung open, desperate for an answer.
When Gildarts first set out, Marco had been genuinely worried.
He feared Gildarts would become a sacrificial "plot device"—a character sacrificed to advance the story.
But because he believed in Gildarts' strength, Marco had also considered the possibility that Gildarts could actually complete the quest.
As time passed, however, that idea seemed increasingly unrealistic, and Marco never mentioned it again.
Yet now, it seemed to have actually come true.
Like everyone else, Marco headed outside the Guild Hall to welcome Gildarts, whom he hadn't seen in three years.
"What's going on?"
"Who's coming back?"
"Is this Gildarts Mode?!"
As Marco walked, he overheard questions from many of his guildmates.
The ones asking were, of course, the new members who had joined the guild within the last three years.
They had never met Gildarts or experienced "Gildarts Mode," so they were naturally full of questions.
After all, the commotion caused by "Gildarts Mode" was immense.
The more enthusiastic guild members eagerly explained "Gildarts Mode" to them.
Of course, not everyone was clueless—Gildarts had been famous even before he left.
*RUMBLE!*
The entire city of Magnolia shifted like a mechanical maze, swiftly carving out a direct path for Gildarts to the Fairy Tail Guild Hall.
This allowed the dazed "Crusher" to pass safely without causing any destruction.
Soon, Gildarts arrived at the Guild Hall entrance, where he was met by a crowd of his waiting comrades.
"Gildarts! You're finally back!" Natsu shouted happily, running toward the disheveled older man.
The shout snapped Gildarts back to reality.
His gaze fell upon everyone, and after an initial look of surprise, a relaxed smile spread across his face—a smile of clear relief.
"I'm home," Gildarts murmured with emotion.
He then grinned and clapped Natsu on the shoulder as he ran up.
He had important news for Natsu this time!
"Let's get inside the guild. We can talk in there," Marco said, stepping forward to pull back Natsu, who was bursting with questions.
He smiled and urged Gildarts to hurry into the Guild Hall.
Gildarts took a deep breath, calming himself. He nodded at Marco and followed everyone back into the Guild Hall.
"So, old man, did you complete the quest?" Marco asked impatiently as soon as Gildarts settled into a seat at the bar.
He was incredibly curious.
"No..."
Gildarts's negative reply stunned everyone into silence.
"You didn't complete it?!"
"Even Gildarts couldn't finish it?!" someone exclaimed, clearly shocked by the quest's difficulty.
"But... Gildarts is the first one to come back alive!"
Even though the quest was incomplete, it didn't stop everyone from being in awe of Gildarts.
After all, he was the first challenger to return alive, the others hadn't even made it back at all.
"What exactly happened?" Marco frowned.
'So it was impossible after all? Even Gildarts couldn't complete this quest and only manage to survive it?'
"There are some things I can't disclose."
Gildarts shook his head at Marco's persistent questions, refusing to answer his question.
His professional ethics forbade him from discussing the details of a quest in public, even though he hadn't actually delved very far into it yet.
"Alright, everyone, give him some space," Marco said, understanding Gildarts's position.
He gestured for the crowd to disperse and stop focusing on the matter.
"Natsu, stay."
As everyone obediently moved away, no longer crowding the bar three layers deep, Gildarts looked slightly surprised.
But he hadn't forgotten the important matter at hand and quickly called out to Natsu.
"Huh? Me?" Natsu pointed at himself in surprise.
He had assumed only the S-Class Mages—Marco, Erza, and Mirajane—along with Master Makarov would be allowed to stay.
But him too?!
'Am I finally becoming an S-Class Mage?!'
The thought instantly thrilled Natsu, and he practically vibrated with excitement!
"It's not about that," Gildarts said with a chuckle, shaking his head.
"You all, follow me. I have something to tell you." He didn't want to announce this publicly and cause a panic.
"Right! Coming!"
Seeing Gildarts's serious expression, Natsu immediately followed.
Happy perched on his head, tagging along without anyone telling him to stay behind.
Marco exchanged serious glances with Erza, Mirajane, and the old man.
They all followed Gildarts into a private, soundproofed room.