Fairy Tail: Strongest Creature

Under the gloomy, rain-laden sky, Natsu and Happy gazed in shock at the countless scars covering Gildarts' body.

Among them were multiple grave wounds—he was missing part of his left arm and left leg, replaced by rudimentary prosthetics.

Seeing the usually indomitable Gildarts in such a state left them speechless.

"It all happened in an instant," Gildarts said, voice low. "My left arm and leg were mangled, my organs punctured. I'm not sure about your Igneel, but that black dragon is undoubtedly humanity's enemy… We can't beat it."

Natsu insisted, "Th-That's exactly what Dragon Slayers are for! I've got my own magic—if I ever run into that black dragon, I'll—"

"I won't stop you," Gildarts cut in, "if that's truly your resolve."

Despite his bravado, Natsu's hands trembled. They'd finally gotten word of a dragon—maybe a clue to Igneel—but Gildarts' harrowing account dashed his hopes of charging in recklessly.

"Damn it—!" With an anguished shout, Natsu bolted out of the house.

"Natsu!" Happy cried, chasing after him.

Gildarts sighed, turning to Happy. "Stay by him, okay? If he persists in chasing the dragons, he needs you. And from what I've learned, only a real dragon might stand a chance against that black one."

Happy blinked. "A d-dragon? You mean Su Yan?"

"Su Yan? Why him?"

Happy fluttered up. "Because Su Yan can transform into a dragon—a huge one, nearly half as big as a town."

Gildarts' eyes widened. "What?! Tell me more…"

Next day, in Fairy Tail

Wendy and Lucy chatted inside the guild, unwittingly drifting to the topic of dragons:

"So…your Sky Dragon, and Natsu's Fire Dragon…both disappeared July 7, 777?" Lucy repeated.

Wendy nodded. "Yes. Mine, and also Natsu's Igneel—both gone the same day."

Lucy recalled something. "Natsu mentioned Gajeel's dragon too. That one apparently vanished on July 7. Weird coincidence…"

Carla tilted her head. "What in the world were those dragons doing?"

Lucy attempted a half-joke: "Maybe they went on a group outing?"

Wendy giggled. "Lucy…that's a strange idea."

Nearby, Happy was tying a little bow to a fish he'd caught, then proudly brought it to Carla: "Look, I caught this fish for you!"

Carla turned away. "I can't stand fish."

Happy's face fell. "Then what do you like? I-I'll try to…"

"Stop pestering me." Carla hopped down from the table and strode off.

"Carla, wait, that's too cruel to Happy!" Wendy scolded lightly, hurrying after them.

Outside, Carla stopped. "Why do you keep following me, cat?"

"Did I do something wrong?" Happy drooped, thinking he'd messed up.

Carla sighed. "That's not it… You can't protect Natsu. How can you protect anything when you don't even know who you really are?"

"But Natsu's my friend, and I will protect him!" Happy insisted, eyes resolute.

Carla fell silent for a moment. "Tch… In any case, leave me be."

In another corner of the guild, Gildarts was giving Master Makarov a detailed report of his hundred-year mission. He'd been too fatigued the night before to say much, but now he explained everything.

Hearing it, Gildarts turned to Su Yan and joked, "Didn't know you'd been hiding so deeply, kid—turning into a dragon? No wonder your body's beyond normal human limits."

Su Yan heaved a long sigh. "I've told everyone—I'm still human. It's just a transformation ability I only awakened recently."

"Heh. At first, I thought you were just a sly brat… Now you're basically the strongest mage in Fairy Tail."

"Don't start that. You only want me to do the hundred-year mission," Su Yan retorted.

Gildarts grinned sheepishly. "Heh, too obvious?"

"Not happening. I'll stay right here, maybe get married someday."

Outside, the sky darkened, heavy rain drenching Magnolia. Cana lugged a barrel of beer across the hall: "A rainy day like this just screams for a drink!"

"Cana, we also need some for the clients!" Mira chided, slipping on thicker clothes.

"Where are you heading in this weather?" Lucy asked.

Mira smiled softly. "Just off to the church."

Then she called out to Elfman, who was lecturing Jet and Droy: "Elfman, time to go."

Elfman huffed. "They failed their last job. How can they call themselves men if they can't protect Levy? She's the one who had to clean up after them!"

"Aww, that's harsh!"

"It's embarrassing!"

Mira patted Elfman's shoulder. "Take it easy. I think Jet and Droy tried their best."

"Mira-saaaan!" The pair felt renewed, as though forgiven.

Lucy turned back to Levy. "So, why the church? I wonder if it's tied to something?"

Levy sighed. "It's Lisanna's death anniversary soon."

"Lisanna?" Lucy repeated, unfamiliar with the name.

"Mirajane and Elfman's little sister… She died two years ago on a job. So they go to church when the date nears," Levy explained gently.

Lucy fell silent, understanding their solemn expressions. And as the rain continued, the old sorrow of Lisanna's loss hung quietly over Fairy Tail once more.