Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, seven years had passed.
Seven years ago, after learning about the Tenrou Island incident from Kenichi and Erza, Romeo had been waiting all these years for the seal on Tenrou Island to break, waiting for Natsu, Gray, and the others to return.
Finally, on this day, the news Romeo had been waiting for arrived.
"Everyone! Blue Pegasus sent word! They've spotted Tenrou Island at sea!"
Wakaba rushed into the guild, shouting excitedly.
"Great!"
"Has the seal finally been lifted?"
"We'll get to see Natsu and the others again soon!"
As soon as Wakaba finished speaking, the guild erupted in excitement and everyone was incredibly thrilled.
"Let's not waste any time! We need to go to Tenrou Island and bring everyone back!"
"But Kenichi and Erza haven't returned yet!"
"With Kenichi-nii and Erza's strength, there's absolutely no problem. They were probably delayed by something and will be back later. Let's go get Natsu-nii and the others first!"
Romeo said, unable to contain his eagerness.
Soon after, Romeo, Wakaba, and several other Fairy Tail's members set out to sea by ship.
Mavis had a special sense for Fairy Tail's members bearing the Fairy Tail's symbol.
Before Romeo and the others even got close to Tenrou Island, Mavis proactively appeared and guided them to the unsealed island.
Finally, Romeo and the others found their companions, including Natsu, who had been asleep on Tenrou Island for seven long years.
Although seven years had passed for people in the outside world like Romeo, for Natsu and the others inside the Fairy Sphere, it had only been a few short days.
"Romeo, how did you suddenly get so big?"
Natsu looked at the noticeably grown Romeo in astonishment.
Praise from Natsu made Romeo a bit embarrassed… he scratched his head and said, "It's not that I suddenly grew up. You guys have been asleep on the island for seven years, Natsu-nii."
"Asleep for seven years?"
Before Romeo could answer, a voice came from another part of the forest: "That's right, you've been asleep for seven years!"
Hearing this sudden voice, Natsu immediately looked towards the source and saw Wakaba standing there.
"Wakaba, you haven't changed much!"
Natsu wasn't one to overthink things.
Since both Romeo and Wakaba said he'd been asleep for seven years, he accepted this fact in his heart.
When Natsu, Gray, and the others gathered and prepared to leave by ship, Natsu suddenly felt like something was missing.
"Where's Erza?"
"I couldn't find Mira-nee either!"
"Or Wendy!"
Just as everyone was about to go back and search for Kenichi, Erza, and the others, Romeo stopped them: "Kenichi-nii, Erza, and the others came out seven years ago. They didn't fall asleep!"
Kenichi!
When Romeo mentioned that name, the memories of Natsu, Gray, and the others were instantly triggered.
Kenichi had lured away the Black Dragon Acnologia by himself, but later Acnologia returned, and Kenichi hadn't.
Although seven years had passed, for Natsu, Gray, and the others, it felt like it had just happened.
Originally, Natsu and the others, like Erza, thought something terrible had happened to Kenichi.
But now, hearing Romeo's words, Natsu and the others were overjoyed.
"So that means Kenichi is alive?"
"As expected of Kenichi, to escape safely from Acnologia!"
"But why didn't Kenichi and Erza come with you?"
Natsu asked Romeo again.
"Kenichi-nii, Erza, and the others went to undertake the 100-Year Quest!"
"What?"
As soon as Romeo finished speaking, Makarov's and Gildarts's expressions changed dramatically.
In contrast, Natsu, Gray, and the others looked envious and jealous.
"The 100-Year Quest!"
"Darn it, I wanted to go too! I can't believe they beat us to it!"
Hearing Natsu's dangerous talk, Makarov, whose expression was already grim, immediately scolded Natsu and Gray: "You fools! Do you have any idea what the 100-Year Quest even means?"
"That's a quest even Gildarts couldn't complete!"
Gildarts himself had undertaken the 100-Year Quest, so he naturally knew its content was to seal the Five Dragon Gods.
Although Gildarts knew that Kenichi, Erza, and the others were strong, they were still far inferior compared to dragons.
"Kenichi, Erza, and the others are really being reckless, taking on that quest!"
Gildarts seemed to recall terrifying memories and spoke with some emotion.
Natsu also knew that Gildarts had been severely injured during the 100-Year Quest.
Seeing Gildarts with this expression now, he couldn't help but ask curiously: "Gildarts, what exactly is this 100-Year Quest like?"
Hearing Natsu's question, Gray and the others also turned their attention to Gildarts, seemingly concerned about this issue as well.
"I can't say. But I can tell you it's a quest of despair."
Gildarts said with a serious expression.
Even Gildarts found it despairing. Gray, Lucy, and the others began to feel somewhat worried about Kenichi, Erza, and the others who had gone to undertake the 100-Year Quest.
"However, since Kenichi managed to escape from Acnologia unscathed, they probably won't be in too much danger."
Seeing everyone looking downcast, Gildarts added a comforting word.
Natsu was more optimistic. Hearing Gildarts, he was the first to grin and say: "That's true. It's Kenichi and Erza we're talking about. With them, there definitely won't be any problems!"
After everyone's spirits lifted a bit, they boarded the ship again, leaving Tenrou Island and heading back towards Magnolia Town.
"Mira-nee, Kenichi, Erza, Wendy... please be safe!"
As the ship sailed, Lisanna looked up at the sky and prayed in her heart.
Perhaps hearing Lisanna's prayer, at that very moment, a dark magic airship was flying over the sea, heading towards the Ishgar Continent.