When Gildarts, Natsu, and Zack, along with half of the guild were about to leave the Fairy Building, and head to the outside training ground that lies behind the Fairy Building.
Someone happened to stood in their way out of the Fairy Building, and that person who halted this awaiting duel, were no other than Makarov, who appeared before the crowd with his hands behind his back.
Makarov looked at these brats, especially those ones behind the trio with a sigh, seriously what he going to do with them?
How dare they not invite this old… no, how dare they use this reason to drink and bet on trivial things, are they trying to bring down the image of this guild further down… wait, what image does this Guild even have?
With a loud cough, to shake away those unnecessary thoughts away.
Makarov turned towards Gildarts, who did not look as shocked as everyone else, seeing small old man blocking their way.
"As much as I want everyone to enjoy the show, but I still need to borrow Gildarts for something." Makarov went, as he looked at Gildarts.
"What the deal grumps! We about to fight it out as men!" Natsu went with an annoyed pout, clearly not happy being interfered with his promised fight with Gild.
As for Zack, even though he did not say a thing, but there is a slight worried look on his face, after all, to this clueless teenager, this was the best chance to overcome his Supreme King Haki problem.
And yet again, Zack also knew, the old man wouldn't interfere unless there is a reason he has to do. Which is why he remain quiet, unlike Natsu who did not.
"Hahaha, sorry guys, looks like I had to postpone the duel a little bit." Gildarts went, as he not only roughed Natsu's head, but also Zack's.
It will be a lie, to say Zack wasn't not shocked by this sudden action by Gildarts, who roughed the heads of Natsu and Zack, just like an uncle will do, showing his affection towards his nephews.
"I am sorry Natsu, Zack, to be honest, I was actually waiting for master himself. Head to the training grounds before me, I won't be too long." Gildarts went, removing his hands away from both Natsu and Zack's heads.
"Fine, I get it… but you better show up!" Natsu went annoyed, clearly showing he wanted to complained more, but the young Dragon Slayer held it in, knowing very well, Gild is not one to break his words, no matter what.
As for Zack, he remained quiet, and only nodded at both Gildarts and Makarov, before he followed after Natsu.
While the duo left to the training ground, the crowd that followed them, showed different expressions on their faces.
Some has the same understanding expressions, like Zack has. While some even shared the same annoyed expressions as Natsu, and there also who did not seem bothered or interested in the matter.
In the end, the crowd split into two groups, those that followed behind Natsu and Zack, heading towards the training ground as well, or those that returned back to the guild hall, choosing to either lose interest in this awaiting duel, or to wait for it within the main hall of the guild.
After all, to them, this duel itself, weren't even a duel, no matter how much potential Zack or Natsu has, they no while near Gildarts' level.
And yet, even if the duel will be one sided, you think these guys would not watch something so entertaining, especially when they can bet and drink on it?
As Zack left alongside Natsu and the others, Gildarts followed Makarov to his office.
When Gildarts entered the office, his eyes noticed the piles of paperwork scattered everywhere.
There is always paperwork in the Guild Master office, and yet, it is more than usual, and yet, Gildarts is not surprised, knowing half of these paperwork and documents truly are.
"It is the time for the S-Class Trails, master? You must be busy and all, seeing how your office is messier than normal." Gildarts commented as soon he saw the overwhelming mountains of paperwork on Makarov's desk.
"Hahaha… you have no idea. There are only few kind-hearted brats that will help little old me these days, not to mention, I cannot trust most of those drunken fools, with their damned loose mouths. Ahh… I am getting older by the moment you know… if only someone were to take my place.
Who knows, maybe someone younger than me, strong and powerful, and also famous in both and outside the guild, who knows, maybe the very one before me?" When Makarov said this, a faint blush came on the old man's cheeks.
Upon seeing this, Gildarts felt a shiver down his spine and even took few steps backwards.
"Master… what are you doing? Don't look at me like that, it's very creepy." Gildarts went with a disgusted expression.
"Than if you don't want to be creep out, why not let me retire and take over my stand as the next Guild Master?" Makarov's creepy expression soon faded like a lie, replaced by sly smirk, as he looked at Gildarts.
"You know what, now I think of it, it's not creepy at all… it's just very unique in a way, yes, I think it will grow on me!" Gildarts went with a forced, and yet shameless smile, causing Makarov's expression to turned into a deadpan one, before he sighs with irritation, at this shameless side of Gildarts.
"I don't know if I should be creeped out by your taste or not… seriously, I have no one put you, Gild, to take over my seat…" Makarov went with a tried expression.
"I am sorry master, but you know, I am no Guild Master material… and I am sure there are others out there. What about that grandson of yours? Or maybe even Erza?" Gildarts went with a faint smile.
"Laxus is out of question, maybe you had not seen him in a long time, but that boy had changed, becoming more like Ivan each passing day… there is no way I will hand over the Guild to either of them… especially what Ivan did.
And Erza is too young, yes, she might have potential behind her serious and bold nature, she too understands the nature of what makes our guild different compared to others. However, she too inexperience and young to take this damned role of me… so, why don't you just let me retire!!"
Makarov shouted, as he slammed his fist onto his wooden desk, causing the paperwork on the desk to fly everywhere. But the old Guild Master did not show any worry or care about this and began to cry instead.
Gildarts just watched as the old man cried like that that, causing this middle-aged Wizard to sighed, it not like Gildarts does not understand the old man.
But for someone him who has an adventurous soul blazing within them, this kind of life, is nothing but hell for someone like Gildarts.
"I am sure you had not just call me here, to only offer me guild master seat, once again, right?" Gildarts said, getting right to the point why they are here for.
Gildarts knew why he is here for.
This was not to just report back on the Job he just done, but to report on the side missions that Makarov has assigned him personally while he travels around Ishgar.
Makarov who heard Gildarts saying this, soon sighed before he became serious, as he sat by his desk, and Gildarts took the seat across him.
"Aye, that is right, so… did you find him, or that cult?" Makarov askes.
"Neither… do you have any clue how many cult based Dark Guilds are out there, master? A lot, a damned load of them, with their so-called god or sometimes gods. Speaking of which, there even some lunatics tried to make me their new god, as soon I destroy their former so-called gods… of course, I refuse with a fist of Crush Magic…
But it is not a funny sight, master, having a group of lunatics looking at me like some kind of god… And no… among those I crushed, none of them used, or even heard of this Haki thing, nor they have that kind of vibration magic you told me about.
To be honest, I found that very strange, that no matter how many Dark Guilds I crushed, no none of them heard of either of them. After all, Quake-Quake Magic, was it? What I had heard, it very similar to Crush Magic I use master, that kind of Magic that excels at large areas of destruction, is not the kind of Magic system you can keep hidden.
That also applies with this Haki thing as well, the ability to interfere with other people Magics, is something that should be more known then that vibration magic… and yet, neither of them had anything on them." Gildarts went with a long sigh.
From what Gildarts was told, this Quake-Quake Magic, no matter how quirky its name is, it seems very similar to his Crush Magic, as they are both magic systems that are capable of basically destroying anything in their paths.
Only difference is, Crush Magic can mend what it has destroyed, and from Gildarts has heard so far about this Quake-Quake, it cannot mend or fixed what it destroys.
Besides that, both Crush Magic and Quake-Quake Magic are destructive magic systems, those kind of magic systems are usually well-known, and yet, no one knew such a Magic existed, that was before Zack appeared along with it over a year ago.
"Putting this Quake-Quake Magic aside, the closest thing I got with this Haki Spiritual Art thing, was this rumoured freelancer Wizard, who can turn their whole body into a metal like state, and but that's not all.
From the rumours I had heard about this freelancer, he is… like Natsu. Rumours says they can empower themselves by eating metal, like Natsu can if he were to eat flames. If that wasn't all, there also a rumour they can formed a breath attack, similar how Natsu also can do the same thing.
But besides that, I heard nothing about this freelancer can block or mess with Magic attack, like Zack does with this Haki thing, of course, I did tried to track down this mental user, but no luck, since he never remain in one place for too long, making it hard to find him." Gildarts went.
(AN: You can guess whose that is, right? I don't know when he joins Raven Tails, but I do remember (Not sure to be honest) that he was a freelancer before joining Raven Tails.)
"Dragon Slayer huh… not surprising, because if one appears, there are bound to be others. Never mind about that. No luck huh… like you said, be it his Magic systems, or even the Six Style thingy, they all stand out, and yet… are they truly not known?" Makarov went with a long sighed.
Finding leads to this God person, that given Zack all his abilities, and even placed him next to the former Guild Master's hut, is becoming more and more complicated.
To be honest, it just giving Makarov a massive headache, when they are no word or rumours of any of Zack's abilities within any place of Ishgar.
This made Makarov believed, these abilities that Zack has, may belong outside of the Ishgar Continent.
This explains why they cannot find any leads in the whole of Ishgar.
And yet, if that is true… it also made no sense as well.
Why would another force outside of Ishgar will leave Zack in another continent?
Was it truly by chance Zack ended at the cabin used by the former Guild Master?
And yet, why did this God know of them?
It is no wonder why all of this ordeal is causing one headache after the other to this old man.
"Six what now??" Gildarts' voice snapped Makarov out of his thoughts of this mysterious group and their leader, that called himself God. And turned to the curious Gildarts.
"It is one of his other abilities the boy has, martial arts, but not the kind of the Martial Artists we knew of use, that combined Magic Power and traditional martial arts. It is called the Six Styles, or so the boy told everyone.
Never mind that, how was the Job you want on? What was it again? Ten Year Quest, or was it a SS-Class one?" Makarov askes.
"S-Class, it is none of the two. I just wanted to revisit Sin, so I took on some Monster Subjugation Job located in Sin. Speaking of which, the Monster I dealt with, was no S-Class Monster, I had it written in the report about it, but its strength was greater then any SS-Class Wizard can handle, but still short behind a Saint Wizard, like yourself, even way, it was a joyful fight." Gildarts went with a smile, recalling about that Job.
"Monster higher than SS-Class, but lower then Saints like me… if you had to rank it regarding to the Job system, what ranks it will be?" Makarov askes.
"10 Year Quest, I will say." Gildarts honestly went in his own option.
"I see, good thing you the one who took this quest, if not… some Guild will be losing a S-Class or two, either way, I will put that in the feedback to the client, the reward money will be the same, but knowing the client, they will give a bonus, but as you know, it cannot be higher then SS-Class." Makarov went.
"I know, it doesn't bother me master, it does not like I am short on money to begin with. And I know, even if I rate it as 10 Year Quest, it wouldn't be one, since that's not how it works." Gildarts simply went.
When it comes to Jobs, they are five rankings, from Normal Jobs, S-Class Jobs, SS-Class Jobs, and the final two Job ranks, are 10 Years and 100 Years.
When it comes to either 10 Years Quests or 100 Years Quests, their ranks based on how long they had been unsolved for, not their actual level.
"Anyway, if that is all, I got two youngsters that want to pick on me Master, so I have to go." Gildarts said this, as he sat up from the chair he been on.
"Oh yeah, before I go, and get bullied those two, I also wanted to tell you, this time around, the Job I want next, is not a S, nor a SS, or even a 10 Years Quest, but 100 Years Quest this time around." Gildarts went with a grin, while Makarov himself, has his expression frozen, before he looked at Gildarts with both shocked and seriousness.
"I don't doubt your strength or ability Gild… but 100 Years Quests are way different then you think they are, not even us Saint Wizards take them lightly… you sure about this?" Makarov went with a serious tone.
"I am. I already done several Ten Year Quests, master, the last few were too easy, so I think it is time for me to take on something more challenging, otherwise, how can I call myself a Wizard who lives to adventure?" Gildarts only said, as he walked out of the guild master office.
Makarov did not call back Gildarts and only watched… as Gildarts simply walked through the wall with his Crush Magic, Makarov looked at the wall crushed into cubes and floated onto the ground.
Makarov just gives a deadpan look on his face… the door was over there… you know?
However, while Makarov wished the cubes that made from the wall, that Gildarts smashed through to leave the guild master office will fix themselves, so he does not have to pay for the damages of this hole in his office's wall.
None of them could imagine, the very 100 Year Quests that Gildarts will pick on at randomly at that, would lead to a fate, that meant to come.
But not all fateful encounters are always a good thing. After all, fate is what meant to be, and destiny is the path that lays out, that only the true Gods and outsiders can reshape.
And yet, the outsider of this world, might walked on a different path compared to others, but not even the outsider can prevent what meant to be.
They cannot prevent the encounter fate that Gildarts will face on this very random Job, the fate when Gildarts will face someone… not someone who known as a natural disaster in the world of magic, can even hope to face.
After all, no matter how powerful Gildarts is within this world, the being he will face, will change his whole life forever, when he is faced with something that could be called a true catastrophe.
A relic of hatred.
A walking calamity, that feared by many.
A being that fated to be tangled with Fairy Tail.
Not as a friend.
Not even as a simple enemy.
But as a force a nature, a fate that bounded to happened, no matter what.