"Is that so? Even you couldn't do it?"
Upon hearing Gildarts' words, Makarov let out a sigh, unsure whether it was of relief or disappointment.
"Sorry for bringing shame to the guild."
"How could it be? As long as you've returned safely, that's all that matters." Makarov perked up and smiled at Gildarts. "As far as I know, you're the first person to come back from that mission."
Gildarts chuckled, then turned toward the guild's wall as he spoke. "I want to rest for a bit, heading home now—I'm exhausted, absolutely exhausted! Oh, right, Noel, Natsu, you two come to my place later. I've got gifts for you. Well then, I'll take my leave."
With a loud bang, under everyone's watchful eyes, Gildarts ignored the nearby door and instead walked straight through the wall, leaving a massive hole as he exited.
"Ara, ara..." Mira chuckled wryly.
"Use the door, will you?!"
"I wonder what the gift will be. I'm really looking forward to it!" Natsu said excitedly.
Mimicking Gildarts' actions, he punched the wall with his flame-covered fist, creating a large hole before walking through it. "Noel, Happy, let's go quickly!"
Noel sighed with a helpless smile, shaking his head before following through the hole Natsu had made.
..............
"Yo, Gildarts!" Natsu was the first to step into Gildarts' house, greeting him naturally.
"Sorry for intruding." Noel followed, greeting as well while unconsciously scanning the room.
Gildarts' house had always been simple, without too many belongings.
Of course, this was also because he would often unintentionally crush things around him.
Rather than carefully avoiding breaking things, it was simply more convenient for him to not buy unnecessary items in the first place.
"You guys are here." Gildarts smiled upon seeing Noel and Natsu.
"It's been a long time since I last came here."
"Three years, to be exact."
Both Natsu and Happy showed nostalgic expressions.
"By the way, what's the gift?"
"Before we get to that—how have things been with you and Lisanna since I left? No need to be shy! Hahaha." Gildarts looked at Natsu playfully.
Having left the guild three years ago, he naturally had no idea about what had happened to Lisanna.
"...About that... Lisanna passed away two years ago in an accident, Gildarts." Noel said softly.
"Ah..." Gildarts' expression froze in shock. "R-Really? I see... No wonder Mira... I'm sorry, Natsu."
"If we're going to talk about this, I'm leaving." Natsu's expression darkened.
Lisanna's passing had always been a deep scar in his heart, and even if it was Gildarts, he had no intention of discussing it further.
"Natsu... I saw a dragon where I was working..."
Just as Natsu was about to turn and leave, Gildarts suddenly spoke.
His words made Natsu freeze in place before he quickly turned around.
"I don't think it's the red one you're looking for. It was a black dragon."
"Where... where was it?"
"It was at the Sacred Peak Zonia. Because of what happened there, I failed my mission... Damn it... Where are you going?" Gildarts asked when he saw Natsu looking like he was about to rush out.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to find out where Igneel is!" Natsu said with a determined look.
"It's no longer there. That black dragon is flying across the continent—no, across the entire world..."
"Even so, there might still be some clues left behind!" Natsu shouted excitedly.
"Natsu..."
Noel, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke.
His clear eyes carried a sharp and severe gaze as he looked directly at Natsu.
"And then what? Even if you find it, what will you do? If Gildarts didn't see wrong, then that dragon should be the one recorded in the Apocalypse—the Black Dragon of the End, Acnologia. Do you really think that dragon, which sees humans as mere ants, will tell you where Igneel is?"
Natsu's face stiffened, but he stubbornly retorted, "Then... then I'll just defeat it! I'm a real Dragon Slayer! With my magic... that black dragon is nothing to worry about!"
"If you're really that confident, then I won't stop you," Gildarts said as he looked at Natsu.
"Damn it!" Natsu gritted his teeth and turned to run out.
"Natsu!"
"Happy..." Noel called out to the anxious blue Exceed and said softly, "Make sure to help Natsu properly. That guy still has a long way to go... but one day, he will become a true dragon."
After Happy left as well, Noel turned to Gildarts. "You called Natsu here to tell him about the dragon. Then, why did you call me, Gildarts?"
Gildarts smiled slightly, then his expression gradually became serious. "Actually, there's something I haven't mentioned yet. When I was at the Sacred Peak Zonia, I saw the black dragon... It was in the middle of a battle—with a black-haired girl. And on that girl's body, there was a guild emblem..."
"Could it be...?" Noel's eyes widened slightly, and he immediately understood.
There was only one guild that had a mage strong enough for this in his knowledge.
"Yeah, it looks like you figured it out too. That girl was one of the Seven Thrones of Demon God's Soul. That battle was truly terrifying. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed that a human could be that strong. Even the Black Dragon was completely suppressed by her and suffered serious injuries. In the end, it had no choice but to flee. And I... was discovered by her shortly after."
"Are you alright?" Noel asked.
Gildarts gave a bitter smile and opened his cloak, revealing his body wrapped in bandages.
Even the areas not covered were covered in black scorch marks.
"It happened in just an instant. To this day, I still don't know how she attacked or what exactly happened in that moment... By the time I realized it, I had already suffered severe injuries. In my daze, I vaguely heard her say, 'This emblem... belongs to Lord Nord's guild...' I thought about it, and in our guild, the only name that fits is yours."
Noel's pupils shrank slightly. "With your strength, you were heavily injured in an instant?"
"Yeah..." Gildarts sighed.
"It was terrifying... That black-haired girl—her power is truly monstrous. If she had gone all out, I believe she could have easily killed me in less than five moves. If it really came down to a fight, I have no confidence that I could even slow her down..."
Gildarts looked at Noel seriously. "You need to be careful. I don't know what the Demon God's Soul is after, but their attitude toward you seems... strange. And whatever they're plotting, it's definitely not small."
Noel's expression grew heavy.
If Gildarts wasn't exaggerating, then the power of the Seven Thrones of the Demon God's Soul was even more terrifying than he had imagined.
If even Acnologia—a dragon considered a forbidden existence among its kind—was completely suppressed by her, then the Seven Thrones Gildarts encountered must have reached the absolute limit of human capability.
--------------
Exclusive access : All novel on paetron
Genshin impact Complete novel, Naruto birdcage Complete novel, Overlord Complete novel
From the apocalypse 100+ch, Fairy tail Destiny 200+ch, Genshin Impact Eerie Teyvat 100+ch
Join now : patreon*com/DeCakraWnloverz