After the Exceeds leave, Alex & co return to Magnolia. They look around and are glad that everything seems to have returned to normal. The town people also seem to not realize what has happened to them these last few days and it might be for the best.
Their Guild Mates also don't know anything, so they tell them what happened. They also need to report to Makarov that Mystogan has returned to his world and quit the Guild, after all. So they need to explain everything too.
Of course, the ones explaining to Makarov are Alex and Laxus. The others like Natsu and Gajeel are already busy telling their exaggerated stories to the other Guild Members, after all, and they prefer telling silly stuff like how their Edolas selves' behave.
"I see, he finally goes home, huh? Well, I knew this would happen eventually and I'm really glad that everything goes well for him. He has been working hard for years, after all."
"As I thought, you knew about him and what he has been doing all this time." Laxus looks at his grandfather seriously.
"Of course. It would be strange if I don't know anything. Anyway, do you really want to join?" Makarov changes the topic and asks Lily.
"That's right. I want to join the same Guild as the Prince. Although I must say this place is very different from what I imagined." Lily looks at the chaos that suddenly happens for an unknown reason.
"Hahaha, you'll get used to it. This is our way of deepening our friendship." Alex says it before finishing his orange juice.
Makarov then puts Fairy Tail mark on Lily's back, officially registering him as a Fairy Tail member. The Guild then holds a party to celebrate Mystogan's success, their safe return, and also welcoming the new member.
The next day, Makarov calls the S-Class Mages to discuss about the incoming S-Class exam. It's almost the end of the year, so this annual event is finally coming again. This is also the most concerning event for Alex because it will be a really big turning point for Fairy Tail.
"We still have no news about Gildarts returning anytime soon. So we'd probably do this year's exam without him again."
Cana feels sad when Makarov says that because it's been 2 years since her father left. Even after they return from Edolas, Gildarts still hasn't returned from the 100 Years Quest. But Alex believes if Gildarts isn't killed by Acnologia, then he should return before the exam.
"But I think we should still make plans just in case he returns before the exam as usual. It'll be a waste to not make him an examiner because he is the most experienced S-Class here."
The others agree with Alex because for the previous 2 exams, they did make plans in the cases if Gildarts can participate and if he can't. Well, they just needs to think of who will be replaced by Gildarts at what trial, so it's nothing difficult.
After agreeing on that, they discuss the trials that will be used this year. Makarov has thought of them, but he needs some opinions from the S-Classes about the details. So the discussion takes quite a while.
They are still worrying about Gildarts, but 4 days after that discussion, the man in question finally returns. Gildarts finally returns from his 100 Years Quest after 2 long years.
Of course, the Guild becomes excited just like in the series. Lucy and some others like the former Phantom Lord members who never met Gildarts before are confused by everyone's excitement, until they are told that Gildarts is the strongest Fairy Tail Mage.
"What?! There's someone stronger than Big Brother Alex?!" Lucy is stunned because she knows how strong Alex is. Yet there is someone stronger than him.
"Alex has never won against him before he left for the 100 Years Quest. In fact, none of us could defeat him, even if we fought him together." Mira explains to Lucy.
"But that was 2 years ago, Mira. It might be different now, especially in Alex's case." Laxus who is just about to go for an S-Class job with his team joins in the talk.
"Hmm, you might be right. We never actually see Alex's current full power. His growth is terrifying after he got his 9-Tailed Fox form. Who knows how strong he really is now. He might be close, equal, or even stronger than Gildarts." Mira agrees with Laxus.
"I won't be surprised if that's the case. Instead, I'm more surprised to hear you admit that only Alex can rival my dad now, Laxus. The old you would be too prideful to say that." Cana says while smirking.
"Tsk! I was not that arrogant."
"You were." Everyone says it together, even his teammates nod at it, making him annoyed.
"Well, we can only know the answer when both of them meet and fight. But it won't happen anytime soon." Erza says it because Alex has just gone to do an SS-Class job in another country. He only goes with Meteor Destroyer and it will take a while before he returns.
Anyway, right now, the new members are still more surprised by the Gildarts Shift than that conversation. They can't believe that the whole town is modified just because a certain someone is too stupid to follow the streets and rather destroy anything in his path with his magic.
When Gildarts finally arrive at the Guild, he has the same confused reaction at first while looking around because the Guild building looks different from when he left. But his confusion disappears as soon as his daughter welcomes him home.
"CANA-CHAN! YOU'VE GROWN UP BEAUTIFULLY LIKE YOUR MAMA!" Gildarts instantly turns into his doting father mode and hugs Cana who feels annoyed by the way he hugs him like a child.
"AGH! STOP BEING CREEPY, STINKY OLD MAN!" Cana tries to push him away, making him shocked.
"N-no way! D-do you hate your Papa now, Cana-chan? I-is it puberty? Or maybe A MAN?! WHO IS IT, DAMMIT! I'LL KILL HIM!" Gildarts becomes unreasonable.
"STOP IT!" Cana hits his head, making him stop whining.
Gildarts then checks on everyone who has changed since his departure. He is surprised to see their changes, but he is very shocked by Mira's change. After all, she was still a mad tomboy girl when he left, but now she is an elegant lady.
Natsu tries to pick a fight with him too just like in the series and gets defeated easily. He looks around for his old student, Alex, so everyone tells him that Alex is on a job now. Then, Makarov calls him, so he walks to the bar.
"How's the job?" Makarov asks straight to the point.
"HAHAHAHA! No good, it's impossible for me."
Just like in the series, everyone is shocked that even Gildarts can't do the job. They always thought that it would be possible if it was Gildarts, after all.
"Sigh, no good, huh. Well, at least you return alive, so I'm really glad. From what I heard, no one has ever returned alive from this Quest, so this is an achievement in itself. Get some rest. You must be tired."
"Alright, I'll meet you again tomorrow. Natsu, Wendy, follow me, I have something for you." Gildarts leaves by destroying the wall just like in the series and Natsu follows what he does.
"Ah! Wait, stinky old man! Don't destroy the house that I've renovated!" Cana just remembers that she lives in the same house with Gildarts.
She left the dormitory to live with her father after revealing the truth a few years ago. Then when Gildarts did the 100 Years Quest, she renovated their house. He has a lot of money from all his difficult Quests, but he never took care of his house because all his spending goes to drinks and women.
But he is also a workaholic which became the reason his wife left him. Gildarts still has a lot of money saved in the bank because he couldn't spend all his reward money. So Cana decided to use his money to renovate their house while her dad wasn't there to destroy anything.
She has stayed there alone for 2 years and she forgot he will also live there now. So she quickly chases him to prevent him from destroying their already good house. Natsu coming after him will make things worse too.
Wendy laughs before following them and Carla can only sigh as she walks after Wendy. They joined the Guild before Gildarts left for the 100 Years Quest, thanks to Alex destroying Nirvana early, so Gildarts already knows them.
Gildarts is surprised by his house that looks very nice now. It's surrounded by ornamental plants and flowers too, like a small villa. Then to prevent her dad from destroying their house, Cana puts a necklace made of Magic Sealing Stone to weaken his magic, so he won't destroy anything, and it works well.
Then, inside the house, Gildarts finally reveals why he failed and why he called Natsu and Wendy. They are very surprised to see him losing an arm and leg. It's more surprising that the one causing this was a Dragon.
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Ch. 177. Laxus vs Orga