Chapter 3: Fairy Tail's Strongest
Nine Months Later…
Nine months had passed since Kael arrived to Fairy Tail.
Under his guidance, Natsu, Gajeel, and Wendy had grown tremendously.
Natsu's flames had become hotter and more controlled.
Gajeel fought with far greater discipline, combining offense and defense with precision.
Wendy's support magic had become exceptional, allowing her to strengthen her allies without wasting magic.
To the three Dragon Slayers, Kael wasn't just their teacher.
He was the older brother who had raised them.
One afternoon, the ground beneath Magnolia suddenly began to rumble.
Rumble…
Lucy looked around in confusion.
"W-What's going on?"
The streets began moving.
Buildings slowly slid away from one another.
Roads widened and shifted into entirely new positions.
Bridges rotated, and entire blocks of the city rearranged themselves.
Wendy stared in amazement.
"The town… it's moving!"
Lucy grabbed Happy.
"W-WHY IS THE WHOLE CITY CHANGING?!"
Happy laughed.
"Aye!"
Kael calmly watched the city transform.
"So this is Magnolia's Shift…"
Mirajane smiled.
"Looks like someone's coming home."
Lucy blinked.
"What do you mean?"
Erza answered.
"Magnolia has a defense system called Shift."
"The city rearranges itself whenever Gildarts returns."
Lucy's eyes widened.
"The whole city… just for one person?"
Erza nodded.
"His Crash Magic is so destructive that if the streets remained normal, he'd accidentally destroy buildings simply by walking through town."
Wendy's jaw dropped.
"He's that powerful?"
Just then, a booming laugh echoed down the widened street.
"Hahahaha!"
A tall man carrying an enormous pack walked toward Fairy Tail.
"GILDARTS!"
The guild erupted into cheers.
The doors swung open.
"I'm back!"
Makarov smiled warmly.
"Welcome home, Gildarts."
Gildarts laughed as guild members greeted him.
Then…
He stopped.
His instincts sharpened.
Someone powerful was inside the guild.
His gaze shifted toward the bar.
A silver-haired young man calmly sipped his coffee.
The two locked eyes.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Gray swallowed.
"…They noticed each other."
Erza nodded.
"They're evaluating one another."
Gildarts walked over.
"I don't recognize you."
Kael stood.
"I joined Fairy Tail while you were away."
Gildarts extended his hand.
"Gildarts Clive."
"Kael."
The moment they shook hands, both immediately sensed the other's strength.
Gildarts grinned.
"You're strong."
Kael smiled.
"So are you."
Before either could say another word—
Natsu rushed between them.
"Gildarts!"
"You gotta fight Big Bro!"
The guild immediately began cheering.
"Yeah!"
"We wanna see it!"
Gildarts laughed.
"So you're the one who trained Natsu?"
"And Gajeel and Wendy," Kael replied.
Gajeel folded his arms.
"He taught us everything."
That was all Gildarts needed to hear.
"Let's have some fun."
The battle took place outside Magnolia.
With Shift still active, the roads remained widened behind them.
Makarov stepped forward.
"This is only a spar."
"No serious injuries."
Both nodded.
"Begin!"
They vanished instantly.
BOOOM!!
Their fists collided with enough force to shake the earth.
Lucy shielded her face.
"I can't even see them!"
Crash Magic tore apart massive boulders.
Kael countered with Elemental Dragon Slayer Magic.
Earth rose to block destructive shockwaves.
Wind redirected attacks.
Fire enhanced his speed.
Iron strengthened his body.
Neither man gained the advantage.
For nearly an hour, Fairy Tail watched two monsters exchange blows.
Finally…
Both landed several meters apart.
Silence filled the battlefield.
Then Gildarts burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"I haven't enjoyed a fight like that in years!"
Kael smiled.
"The feeling's mutual."
The two shook hands.
"You're incredible," Gildarts admitted.
"So are you."
The guild erupted into applause.
Natsu's eyes burned with determination.
"One day…"
"I'll be that strong."
As everyone returned to the guild, Makarov climbed onto the second-floor balcony.
He struck the railing once with his staff.
Tap.
The guild gradually quieted.
Everyone looked up.
Makarov smiled proudly.
"My children…"
"It is time."
A hush fell over Fairy Tail.
"To begin the annual event that determines Fairy Tail's next S-Class Wizard."
The guild exploded.
"THE S-CLASS TRIAL?!"
"No way!"
"It's finally happening!"
Natsu pumped his fist into the air.
"ALRIGHT!!"
Gray smirked.
"Heh… this is my year."
Elfman grinned.
"I'M FIRED UP!"
Lucy looked around in confusion.
"S-Class Trial?"
Mirajane smiled.
"It's the examination to become an S-Class Wizard."
"Only Fairy Tail's finest are allowed to participate."
Lucy's eyes widened.
Makarov raised his hand, and silence returned.
"The trial will take place on Fairy Tail's sacred island…"
"Tenrou Island."
Every guild member became serious.
Even Natsu's grin faded into determined focus.
"The participants are as follows…"
Everyone held their breath.
Makarov unrolled a scroll.
"Natsu Dragneel."
Natsu jumped into the air.
"YES!"
"Gray Fullbuster."
Gray smiled confidently.
"About time."
"Cana Alberona."
Cana took another drink.
"Heh…"
"Elfman Strauss."
Elfman clenched his fists.
"I'll become a man worthy of S-Class!"
"Freed Justine."
Freed adjusted his glasses.
"I won't disappoint."
"Levy McGarden."
Levy froze.
"M-Me?!"
"Gajeel?" Gajeel smirked proudly.
"I knew you'd make it."
"The final participant…"
Makarov smiled.
"Juvia Lockser."
Juvia gasped.
"Juvia will do her best!"
The guild erupted into applause.
Makarov continued.
"Each participant will choose one partner to accompany them."
"Tomorrow morning…"
"We depart for Tenrou Island."
The excitement throughout Fairy Tail was overwhelming.
Everyone immediately began discussing possible partners.
Kael quietly watched from the back of the guild hall.
He smiled proudly at Natsu, Wendy, and Gajeel.
Then…
His eyes drifted toward the western horizon.
For reasons he couldn't explain…
An uneasy feeling settled in his heart.
Something was coming.
And Tenrou Island would soon become the center of it all.