Ezreal, Ikaruga, and Elfman stepped into the portal one after another.
Before entering, Elfman turned back and waved vigorously at Gray, Juvia, and Ur: "Man! Get some good rest! I'll be waiting for you at the Guild!"
The portal's light slowly receded, eventually disappearing.
Galuna Island seemed to have returned to its former tranquility, but some things had quietly changed... Fairy Tail Guild.
A portal of light appeared in the center of the Guild hall, and Ezreal, Ikaruga, and Elfman stepped out of it.
The Guild was still a bit quiet in the afternoon, with only a few members scattered about.
Seeing the three return, especially Elfman with bloodstains and injuries, everyone looked at them with surprise and inquiry.
"Ez, Ikaruga, Elfman? You're back? Where are Gray and Juvia?" Sister Mira immediately came over from behind the bar, her face filled with worry.
"Sister Mira!" Elfman's voice was loud and his eyes firm when he saw his sister, seeming a bit different from usual.
"Is the Master here?" Ezreal asked directly.
"Upstairs in his office." Sister Mira pointed upstairs.
The three walked straight up to the second floor and knocked on the Master's office door.
"Come in." Makarov's voice came from behind the door.
Ezreal pushed the door open, Ikaruga silently followed behind, and Elfman entered last, gently closing the door.
Makarov was sitting behind his desk; seeing the three, especially Elfman's appearance, he put down his pen.
His expression was serious with a hint of imperceptible anticipation and tension: "You're back? It seems this 'mission' wasn't as peaceful as expected. What's the result? And that child, Gray...?"
Ezreal stepped forward, a relaxed smile on his face: "Master. As we hoped, the 'demon' of Galuna Island has been completely dealt with."
"Gray met the person he wanted to see, and he defeated the 'enemy' he had to defeat. His inner turmoil has been resolved."
Upon hearing this, Makarov's eyes instantly gleamed with immense relief and joy; his small body seemed to relax as he leaned back in his chair, letting out a long sigh: "Good... good! That's wonderful!"
Regarding a mission involving a demon, Gray wouldn't have received the request so smoothly without the Master's approval.
The truth behind it, Ezreal had already discussed with the old man earlier.
Ezreal nodded affirmatively, but then his tone turned grave, "Master, the plan had a major unexpected turn that none of us foresaw."
Makarov's heart, which had just settled, rose again, his brow furrowed: "Unexpected? What unexpected turn? Looking at Elfman... did Lyon and their 'performance' go too far?"
He first thought of deviations within the plan.
"No, it wasn't Lyon and them." Ezreal shook his head, his expression extremely serious, "It was the forceful intervention of an external power. They encountered an active attack from Grimoire Heart."
"Grimoire Heart?!" Makarov slowly rose from his chair, the relaxed expression on his face gone, "Those guys hiding in the gutters?"
"Oración Seis was just eliminated, and the Council is in the midst of a full-scale purge; how dare they show their faces at this critical juncture! What are they trying to do?!"
"The attacker was Kawarazu Seeker, one of the Seven Kin of Purgatory," Ezreal continued to report, "The target seemed to be the rumored Deliora on the island, or demon power related to it."
"Seeker was extremely powerful. Gray, Juvia, and Elfman endured an incredibly brutal and arduous battle, almost dying, before finally working together to kill him."
At this point, Ezreal looked at Elfman, his eyes filled with approval: "Especially at the last moment, to protect his dying companions, Elfman broke through his limits, shattered his long-standing inner turmoil, and successfully received the complete 'Beast Soul,' delivering a fatal blow to Seeker."
"Beast Soul?!" Makarov looked at Elfman in shock, his small eyes wide and round, filled with disbelief and immense surprise, "Elfman, you... you finally... finally overcame that..."
He quickly walked around the desk, came in front of Elfman, and looked up at this tall, burly child, whose eyes were now incredibly firm, his voice trembling with emotion: "Good! Good child! That's wonderful! Lisanna... if Lisanna knew that her brother, whom she sacrificed herself to awaken, had finally truly stood up, she would be very... very happy!"
The old man's eyes seemed a little moist.
Elfman nodded vigorously, a faint blush appearing on his tanned face. He clenched his fists, his voice strong and clear: "Master! Sister Mira! Man! From now on, I will no longer be lost, no longer afraid! I will use this power to protect the Guild, to protect every single companion! This is my promise to Lisanna!"
"Good! Well said! This is the man of our Fairy Tail!" Makarov was so excited that he repeatedly patted Elfman's arm, almost jumping up, his face beaming with immense pride and satisfaction.
After a while, when the old man's emotions had somewhat calmed, Ezreal cleared his throat at the opportune moment, bringing the conversation back on track: "Ahem, Master, regarding Grimoire Heart..."
At the mention of that name, the joy on Makarov's face was quickly replaced by gravity.
He took a deep breath, walked back to his seat, and his small stature exuded the Master's authority: "Grimoire Heart... Seven Kin of Purgatory..."
He pondered for a moment, tapping his fingers on the desk, and made a decision:
"This matter is no small thing! This is no longer just an action against Galuna Island or a specific member; this is an extremely dangerous signal! I must immediately contact the Council personally and report this matter in detail!"
"We must urge them to intensify their investigation of Dark Guilds, especially the tracking of Grimoire Heart!"
His gaze swept over the three, finally landing on Ezreal: "Ez, the information you provided is very crucial. You've worked hard; go down and get some good rest. Elfman, especially you, go let Porlyusica take another look, don't leave any hidden injuries."
"Yes! Master!" Elfman responded loudly.
Ezreal and Ikaruga also nodded slightly.
The three left the Master's office, leaving Makarov alone, his face grim as he picked up the special communication lacrima.
Outside the window, the sun was still bright, but the Master of Fairy Tail knew that beneath the calm surface of the sea, new undercurrents had already begun to stir...
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