The magical weapon carrying everyone broke through the clouds and disappeared into the starry night sky, gradually being enveloped by the approaching darkness.
Just before they safely arrived at Magnolia, Ultear declined Makarov's invitation to stay and left on her own.
She wanted to return to the Magic Council as soon as possible to provide the chairman and councilors with information about Acnologia, as well as details of her undercover operation within Grimoire Heart.
That's right. With Makarov's persuasion, Ultear had decided to return to the Magic Council, a place where she could help more people and maintain the stability of the magical world.
Given the Jellal incident, her sudden disappearance for over a month would certainly arouse suspicion upon her reappearance.
Combined with the traces of her time in Grimoire Heart, her "return" to the Magic Council would undoubtedly be difficult, even carrying unpredictable dangers.
But Ultear did not back down because of this. Because—
This was the path of atonement she had chosen!
"W-why now of all times... BLARGH!!!"
Just as the Nirvana was about to fully land on the lake behind the guild, Natsu immediately threw up.
The guy leaned over the railing, a rainbow continuously spewing from his mouth down onto the lake below, attracting a swarm of aggressive fish fighting over it.
Before departing for Grimoire Heart's headquarters, Wendy had cast a spell on him to resist motion sickness. He had thought it would last through the return trip, but in the end, he still suffered at the final moment.
His pathetic state drew merciless laughter from Macao and the others nearby.
"It's expected that Natsu gets sick, but why is that guy throwing up too?" Lucy looked at Gajeel, also leaning on the railing and vomiting non-stop, muttering quietly. "Could it be that all Dragon Slayers eventually get motion sickness?"
Although she had never been on a team with Gajeel, she was certain he hadn't had this problem before. Otherwise, it would have shown up back when Phantom Lord attacked Fairy Tail in their Six-Legged Walker.
"Gajeel... he's also trying really hard," Levy said beside her, her expression complex as she sighed.
After this all-out war against Grimoire Heart, she could clearly feel Gajeel's desire to make amends for his past mistakes, to prove himself, and to protect his guildmates—even though that tsundere kept insisting he just wanted to cause chaos.
"Oh my, Levy-chan seems quite concerned about Gajeel, doesn't she~" Lucy immediately caught the scent of gossip, leaning close to Levy's ear with an ambiguous expression.
Although she was as dense as a wooden block when it came to her own romantic issues, her intuition was frighteningly sharp when it came to her friends.
"N-no, I'm not! I-it's just that... he's still a comrade we fought alongside!" Levy stammered, quickly averting her gaze. "Who would care about an idiot like that?"
"Really?"
"Really!"
Just as the two were whispering, Natsu and Gajeel over there were already at each other's throats.
"Ha, haha! Congratulations, you scrap-metal bastard. You've finally become a bleargh real Dragon Slayer!" Natsu said between vomiting.
"D-damn you, idiot Fire Dragon! I'm bleargh nothing like you! I'll overcome this motion sickness in no time!"
With that, Gajeel's eyes widened. He actually forced himself to swallow back whatever was rising in his throat!
But just then, the Nirvana completed its final movement.
The strong vibration completely shattered his stubbornness. The rainbow shot out like a fountain.
Such a disgusting sight thoroughly revolted the watching Fairy Tail members. They all moved away in disgust, afraid of being caught in the "Vomit Dragon's Roar."
"Ahaha! That's what you call overcoming it? Bleargh How impressive!" Natsu ignored his own dry heaving and laughed even harder.
"Hmph! Can't you see the gap? I threw up bleeding much farther than you!"
Gajeel pointed a trembling finger at the lake.
"What did you say?!"
Natsu's strange competitive spirit immediately flared up. After a brief buildup, he sprayed a rainbow even farther.
Not to be outdone, Gajeel naturally wouldn't let it go. And so, an unwatchable vomiting contest began.
"Can you guys not be so disgusting?!" Lucy couldn't take it anymore, transforming into a jagged-toothed, fierce image as she fiercely complained.
"I think both Natsu and Gajeel are quite cute, actually~" Mira said with a smile.
Lisanna nodded in agreement, her beautiful eyes shimmering. "Natsu is still the same Natsu as before, isn't he?"
"You... are you serious?" The corner of Lucy's mouth twitched wildly.
"A man! Settle this fair and square, you two!" Elfman raised his arms and shouted with excitement.
Lucy: "..."
How exactly am I supposed to complain about that?
"Aye~ Lucy, if you want to join their fight so badly," Happy flew over and landed on Mira's shoulder, raising his paw in a mischievous manner, "I could reluctantly help you gag yourself~"
"Go die, right now, immediately!"
"Wait, Chase-nii! Why are you suddenly pulling out a recording card?!"
After the commotion subsided, led by Makarov, everyone descended from the Nirvana and returned to the guild.
Having notified in advance the comrades left behind at headquarters of the good news, the guild, which should have been closed, was instead brightly lit, with quite a few people gathered.
Gildarts, Gray, Wendy, and the others, who had resolved the crisis at Sabertooth, were also among them.
According to Makarov's original plan, a grand victory banquet was to be held upon their return. But upon learning of Precht's death, he simply didn't have the heart for it.
After all, Precht was Fairy Tail's second-generation master and his own mentor.
Moreover, the existence of Acnologia hung like a sword over his heart, impossible to ignore.
So, after glaring the protesting hotheads like Natsu back into silence with his sharp gaze, Makarov quickly dismissed everyone, telling them to go back and rest, ready to return to normal work tomorrow.
Chase, Mira, Erza, and Gildarts—these S-Class mages—he kept behind.
"Let's go. To the cemetery behind the cathedral. Let's erect a headstone for our second-generation master."
Makarov sighed and walked out of the guild with heavy steps.
A desolate wind blew through the quiet streets, bringing with it a chill, while also lifting the old man's Ten Wizard Saints cloak, hiding his expression.
Chase followed silently.
The words he had said during the battle—"Find a nice plot of land for you in Magnolia"—had actually become reality...
But Hades, who had not revealed any information about the Destruction Dragon to Acnologia even at the end of his life, had at least barely preserved the last shred of dignity befitting a second-generation master.
Mira and Erza, walking alongside him, were also silent.
Too many things had happened today. Even an entire night wouldn't be enough to process them all.
Gildarts, walking a bit behind, had a serious expression, deep in thought.
After watching the video footage recorded by Dark Magician, he confirmed that Acnologia was indeed the terrifying black dragon he had encountered before.
As they walked, the old wounds left from that time ached faintly.
Arriving at the cemetery, purchasing a plot, burying one of Hades's magical books—the entire process was carried out in silence.
Finally, when the headstone engraved with "Precht, Second Generation Master of Fairy Tail" was erected, the era of Hades came to a definitive end.
Returning to the guild, it was already late at night.
"Since everyone's here, let me lay out the next guild arrangements."
At the bar, Makarov put away his heavy emotions and looked at Chase and the others standing before him.
"The location for this year's S-Class Mage Trial will be our guild's sacred ground, Tenrou Island. Tell me, who do you think are qualified to participate?"
***
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