The sails, filled with the winds of the return journey, plowed through the blue sea, steering a steady course toward Fairy Tail.
This time, the tension from their departure was gone, replaced by the exhaustion and relief that followed a fierce battle.
On deck, some were busy tending to their wounds and recovering their magic, while others were still pounding the ship's railing in frustration for not being able to last until the end.
Ace leaned against the railing alone, watching the silhouette of Tenrou Island gradually shrink in the distance, his heart was full of turbulent emotions.
Lisanna stood quietly beside him, not asking any questions, only occasionally handing him fresh water or a clean handkerchief.
The moment the ship docked, before the gangplank was even fully lowered, a fiery red figure impatiently rushed off first.
Following closely behind, the others disembarked one by one.
Elfman supported a still-weak Gray (who was mostly mentally exhausted and constrained by his clothes), Cana let out a drunken hiccup, and Ace and Lisanna walked a little behind.
The group marched in a grand procession through the familiar streets, heading toward that warm, home-like building—the Fairy Tail guild.
The closer they got, the more they could feel that familiar, warm atmosphere, a mixture of the scent of alcohol, the aroma of food, and a wave of boisterous noise.
When Master Makarov pushed open the heavy doors, a deafening wave of sound almost drowned them.
"I'm back! Fairy Tail!" Natsu stood at the entrance, hands on his hips, roaring at the sky as if to let out all the pent-up frustration from Tenrou Island in one breath.
Though his face was still a bit pale, his spirits had mostly recovered.
"Oh! They're back, they're back!"
"Natsu! You're still alive, you brat!"
"Erza! Mirajane! Ace!"
"Master! Where are Laxus and Gildarts?"
The guild hall instantly erupted in clamor as everyone swarmed forward, bombarding them with questions all at once.
Master Makarov waved his hand, signaling for everyone to be quiet.
"We'll talk later! The injured need to be settled!"
"Welcome back!"
The guild members who had stayed behind had already prepared a grand welcome (or rather, celebration/gossip) party.
The long tables were laden with delicious food and ale, colorful ribbons fluttered, and music—played by who-knows-who—filled the air.
"Quick, tell us! How was the trial?"
"Was Tenrou Island scary?"
"Who became an S-Class Mage?"
"Where's that brat Laxus? And Gildarts?"
"Ace! I heard you took down Mystogan? Is that true?!"
The scene became somewhat chaotic.
Master Makarov had to jump onto the bar and tap his glass forcefully to get the noise to settle down.
"Quiet! Listen to this old man!" The Master cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping over the eager faces below. "First of all, this S-Class trial has concluded successfully! Although the process... ahem, had a few twists and turns."
"In the end, those who successfully passed the trial and were promoted to S-Class Mages are—" The Master raised his voice.
"Erza Scarlet! Mirajane Strauss! And—Ace!"
"Whoa—!!"
The guild instantly boiled over.
Cheers, whistles, and the clinking of mugs resounded in a chaotic symphony.
"That's great! Erza! It's well-deserved!"
"Mirajane! Congratulations!"
"Ace! The Rookie King! That's amazing!"
"I knew he'd make it!"
However, mixed in with the cheers were gasps of disbelief and murmurs of discussion.
"Wait! Ace defeated Mystogan? That elusive masked man?"
"I heard Laxus lost to him too? For real?!"
"But Laxus is one of the strongest S-Class Mages in our guild!"
"Didn't Gildarts make a move?"
"Where is Laxus? Why didn't he come back with you?"
Master Makarov's expression darkened slightly as he motioned for quiet. "Laxus... was injured during the trial and is currently receiving treatment. He needs to rest for a while. Gildarts had another mission and has already left. Mystogan... has also left for the time being."
This vague explanation only sparked greater curiosity.
Laxus was injured? Was he really "defeated" by a rookie like Ace?
This news was even more shocking than Ace becoming an S-Class Mage himself.
Just then, perhaps sensing the noisy environment outside, or perhaps having recovered some of its strength—or maybe it was simply woken up by the noise—Ace felt a slight vibration from the Digivice at his waist, a cold, powerful, and impatient consciousness was transmitted to him.
Before he could react, a dark gray Magic Circle abruptly materialized in the air beside him.
From within the Magic Circle, a pitch-black figure, covered in cold, metallic armor and exuding an aura of endless majesty and darkness, slowly stepped out.
BlackWarGreymon had arrived in the boisterous hall of the Fairy Tail guild!
In an instant, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over everyone's heads, all the clamor, laughter, and discussion came to an abrupt halt.
The entire guild hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone's eyes widened, their mouths agape, as if they had been turned to stone.
They stared blankly at this black dragon warrior that had suddenly appeared, radiating a terrifying pressure.
Its mere presence seemed to absorb the surrounding light, clashing with the warm, noisy atmosphere of the guild and bringing with it a suffocating coldness and silence.
"What... what is that thing?!"
"What... what a terrifying aura..."
"Is it Ace's Summoned Beast? No... it feels completely different..."
A member who had been present at the time pointed at it, trembling.
"I just heard the Master say that thing was... evolved from that skeleton monster dragon?!"
"NANIIII?!" Everyone was horrified.
The previous skeletal dragon was terrifying enough, but how did it become this darkness monstrosity before them now?
BlackWarGreymon seemed to hold the surroundings in total disdain.
Its emotionless eyes, like a king surveying his domain, slowly swept across the terrified, stunned, or wary faces in the hall.
Everywhere its gaze fell, a chill ran up people's spines.
Then, it spoke.
Its voice was deep and raspy, with a metallic, grating quality.
Every word entered everyone's ears with perfect clarity, filled with undisguised arrogance and contempt.
"What a bunch of... weaklings."
"..." The guild hall fell into an even deeper silence.
That personality... that condescending attitude... that sharp tongue... why did it feel... strangely familiar?
Everyone subconsciously glanced toward a usually empty spot on the second floor, then looked back at the proud BlackWarGreymon standing in the middle of the hall.
The same thought surfaced in all their minds.
'This vile personality is cut from the exact same cloth as a certain blond bastard!'