Kana's assessment location.
The passage completely collapsed under their attacks, and the bright sunlight shone on the dilapidated ground.
"This…" Lucy, standing by the giant pit, opened her mouth wide, staring blankly at the two people in the pit who were currently confronting each other in silence.
She hadn't expected Kana to be able to fight Gildarts to such an extent; although Kana was already staggering and about to collapse, Gildarts' cloak had disappeared, and he had several injuries on his body.
Just based on this, Kana's strength was evident.
"Damn it, am I really unable to… get his approval?! I've been so serious…"
Kana was panting heavily, her physical strength greatly depleted.
But looking at Gildarts, who was serious, had torn clothes, and a few injuries, she felt extremely low, her desire for recognition deeply troubling her.
What she didn't know was that Gildarts was looking at Kana so seriously because it was his first time seeing such a violent physical combat style, and the strong wind brought by her punches was incredibly stimulating.
It successfully reminded him of the oppressive wind brought by the Black Dragon's flapping wings; although it was still far off, this small bit was enough for him to acknowledge Kana's strength, not to mention the flawless card magic assisting from the side.
Thinking of this, Gildarts grinned, showing his pearly white teeth, and said, "A very good fighting style! Indeed, each generation surpasses the last, each wave stronger than the one before. You've passed this round!"
As soon as he finished speaking.
Kana's body stiffened, her head slightly lowered, her shoulders shrugging, and tears kept falling. She had waited for this sentence for a long time.
"Hey, hey, hey~ Why are you crying? Did I say something wrong?" Instantly, Gildarts became flustered, feeling an inexplicable heartache. He fumbled, trying to comfort Kana, but didn't know where to put his hands.
"Kana, don't you have something important to tell Uncle Gildarts? Now's the time!" Lucy stood in the giant pit, watching the crying Kana and the flustered uncle. She cupped her hands around her mouth and loudly reminded Kana, finally giving her a thumbs-up and smiling, encouraging Kana.
"Something important? To tell me?" Gildarts looked back and forth between the two girls, then finally looked at Kana with confusion.
Kana stopped trembling, and a shy expression appeared on her face, which turned bright red.
Although she had prepared what to say long ago, at this crucial moment, she didn't know how to speak.
"Ac…actually, the real reason I came to this guild… was to find my father."
"And that person… is… is… you—Gildarts!"
Kana's words were intermittent, pausing for a few seconds when she got to who that person was, finally taking a deep breath, closing her eyes tightly, clenching her fists, and shouting it out.
For a moment, the entire forest was silent.
Gildarts stood frozen on the spot, staring blankly at Kana.
Lucy, hearing Kana finally say it, kept nodding.
"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Gildarts exclaimed.
"Wait… wait a minute, whose… whose daughter are you?" He frantically tried to match her with many women in his mind.
"Is it hard to believe! I… I am…" Kana was just about to say her mother's name when—
"Silly, Naomi, Claire, Fina, Mary… No, no, the hair color is wrong…"
"Emma, Leia, Sherry…" As Gildarts was sprawled on the ground, matching them one by one, he didn't notice the darkening expression on Kana's face.
"Seriously, I didn't expect my father to be such a philanderer!" Kana's magic power surged again, gathering in her right fist, covered by high-level Armament Haki, and she walked step by step towards Gildarts.
By the time Gildarts reacted, he just looked up and nervously said, "I… I know, it's Shiloh. You two are just…" Before he could finish, a fist slammed into the ground directly in front of Gildarts.
"You infuriate me!" Kana roared, punching the ground.
The already shattered ground further disintegrated, and Gildarts was directly sent flying by the shockwave, crashing into a pile of rubble.
Kana had originally intended to hit Gildarts with that punch, but at the last moment, she couldn't bring herself to do it, so she could only slightly punish Gildarts this way.
"Anyway, that's how it is. I'm done talking. Let's just be as we usually are. That's it, Lucy, let's go!"
Kana turned, her voice slightly tinged with sadness, and finally waved at Lucy, preparing to take Lucy to the final gathering point.
Unexpectedly, Gildarts quickly pushed aside the rubble, rushed forward, and tenderly embraced Kana, pulling her into his arms: "You're Cornelia's child, there's no mistake! I'm sorry! I didn't recognize you immediately!"
"Let me go~" Feeling her father's care and apology, Kana's previously firm attitude instantly softened, and her voice became gentle.
"Cornelia was the only woman I ever deeply loved in my life, and the only woman I ever married. I'm sorry, if only I had spent more time at home back then."
"She wouldn't have left me, and I wouldn't have heard of her passing at some point. I… I just didn't expect us to have a daughter… I'm sorry I didn't realize sooner that you are my daughter."
As Gildarts spoke, his body trembled deeply, and he held Kana even more tightly in his embrace.
Tears streamed uncontrollably down his face.
They dripped onto Kana's head.
"It's okay, I also deliberately didn't let you find out. I'm already so happy to have your approval!"
"But, let me say it one last time, it's truly wonderful to have acknowledged you, Dad!"
Kana looked up, smiling very happily as she called out to Gildarts.
Gildarts felt as if an arrow had struck his heart, a bittersweet sensation, overflowing with happiness. His already streaming tears now seemed to have burst their dam.
He hugged Kana tightly again, saying guiltily, "Please, please give me a chance. From now on, no matter what we do, I will be by your side!"
"Mhm~" Kana nodded happily in Gildarts' embrace, responding softly.
Lucy, watching from the side, was also happily wiping away tears from her eyes.
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