Bonus Chapters every 100 Power Stones
"Normal Dialogue"
'Inner thoughts'
[Year X788]
~ With Shisui ~
The room fell silent once more as his words sank in. Macao, who had been unusually quiet during the exchange, finally sighed heavily from his position at the front of the hall. All eyes turned to him.
"He's right," the guild master admitted. "What Shisui is saying makes sense."
Macao walked down from his position, moving to stand in the center of the hall where everyone could see him.
"If Shisui single-handedly elevated us into the top ranks of the Grand Magic Games, what would the other guilds say? They'd mock us. They'd say Fairy Tail couldn't do it themselves. That we needed outside help."
He ran a hand through his hair. "We might feel good about the victory at first. But over time, knowing we didn't truly earn it... that would eat away at us. We'd feel guilty, indebted to Shisui rather than proud of our own accomplishment."
Whispers of reluctant agreement passed through the guild. Wakaba nodded sourly from his seat, his expression suggesting he'd already reached the same conclusion but had not wanted to be the one to say it.
"Let's be honest with ourselves," Macao continued, his voice taking on a more vulnerable tone than most had ever heard from their guild master. "Wakaba and I are getting older. Our magic isn't what it used to be."
Wakaba grunted in acknowledgment, though he didn't look happy about it.
"Jet and Droy," Macao said, turning toward the pair, "you haven't been the same since Shadow Gear lost its third member."
Both men looked down, embarrassment and sadness clear on their faces.
"Romeo is still a child, however talented." Macao's voice softened as he looked at his son. "That leaves Max, Alzack, and Bisca as our only reliable combat mages. The rest of our members specialize in non-combat magic."
The brutal assessment hung in the air, uncomfortable but impossible to deny. This was the reality of Fairy Tail's current state, a truth they all knew but rarely acknowledged so directly.
"Shisui is right," Macao concluded. "If we went far in the Games, it would be solely because of his abilities. Not because Fairy Tail had regained its strength."
The silence that followed was different from before. Neither shocked nor angry, but thoughtful. In the faces around the room, Shisui could see the painful process of accepting a hard truth. It wasn't what they wanted to hear, but deep down, they recognized its validity.
Max was the first to speak up, his voice carrying a resignation that matched his slumped posture. "So what then? We just give up on the Games altogether? Accept being a joke?"
It was an honest question. With Shisui's refusal and Macao's harsh assessment, the brief flicker of hope that had ignited earlier was in danger of being extinguished completely.
The guild members looked to Shisui and Macao, waiting for an answer that could either resurrect their hope or confirm their fears about Fairy Tail's future.
Macao's gaze swept across the guild members, taking in their disappointed expressions. He understood their feelings all too well. For years, they'd clung to whatever small victories they could find, each setback chipping away at their collective spirit. This latest disappointment felt especially bitter because, for a brief moment, they had allowed themselves to believe.
"The truth is... we've been fighting just to keep our doors open. The Grand Magic Games require resources we barely have and showcase strengths we've largely lost."
Shisui watched their faces fall one by one. This wasn't what he'd intended. He hadn't joined Fairy Tail to crush what little hope they had left. If anything, these past months had shown him how resilient they were despite everything they'd endured.
"I will participate in the Grand Magic Games," Shisui said suddenly.
Heads snapped up, eyes widening in surprise at his apparent reversal.
"But not this year," he continued before their hopes could rise too high. "Nor the next."
Confusion replaced surprise on most faces. Romeo frowned, clearly trying to work out where Shisui was going with this.
"I'll compete in the Games once two years have passed," Shisui clarified. "And in that time, I will train six of you to represent Fairy Tail next year."
The proposal hung in the air for a moment as the guild processed his words. It wasn't an outright rejection anymore, but a delayed acceptance with conditions attached.
"Romeo, Jet, Droy, Max, Bisca, and Alzack," Shisui continued, pointing to each person as he named them. "I'll train all of you specifically for next year's competition, though Romeo will serve as a substitute rather than a primary competitor."
Romeo immediately opened his mouth to protest, but Shisui raised a hand.
"You're talented, Romeo, but also young. The Games pit mages against each other in direct combat. Most competitors will be fully-grown adults with years more experience."
His tone softened slightly. "There's no shame in building your foundation properly before testing it against Fiore's strongest."
Romeo looked disappointed but nodded his acceptance, a testament to how much their relationship had developed over the past months.
"During this next year," Shisui continued, addressing the whole guild again, "I'll help these six improve their magical abilities, combat techniques, and teamwork. My goal is to prepare a team that can represent Fairy Tail with pride."
Macao's expression had shifted from resignation to thoughtful consideration. "What exactly are you hoping they'll achieve next year?"
"At minimum, they should qualify for the main tournament," Shisui answered. "And ideally, they'll place high enough to demonstrate that Fairy Tail is recovering its strength."
"How high is 'high enough'?" Max asked, already sounding invested in the idea.
Shisui met his gaze directly. "If you can break into the top fifteen guilds, I'll consider that sufficient proof of progress. At that point, I'll join the team for the following year's Games."
Murmurs broke out around the hall as guild members discussed this proposal. It wasn't the immediate triumph they'd hoped for when Macao first announced the Games, but it offered something potentially more valuable, a path forward that was built on their own strengths rather than depending solely on Shisui's.
"I understand what you're doing," Macao said after a moment. "If they can reach the top fifteen on their own, then adding you the following year isn't just bringing in outside help. It's building on a foundation they've already established."
Shisui nodded. "Exactly. No one could claim that Fairy Tail needed me to succeed, because you would have already proven your capability. And more importantly, you wouldn't feel that way yourselves."
"Which means," Macao continued, thinking it through, "that any victories after that would truly belong to Fairy Tail as a guild, not just to an individual member."
The wisdom of the approach was becoming clear to everyone. Rather than a quick fix that might leave them vulnerable when Shisui eventually departed, this plan would strengthen the guild as a whole.
Alzack was the first to openly support the idea, rising from his seat with newfound determination.
"I'm in," he declared firmly. "Next year, we'll show everyone that Fairy Tail is making its comeback."
Asuka cheered from her perch on Bisca's lap, clapping her small hands excitedly. "Papa's gonna win!"
Bisca smiled at her daughter's enthusiasm. "You bet he is, sweetie."
She looked up at Shisui, her expression resolute. "Count me in too. I was getting tired of being underestimated anyway."
The couple's support seemed to break the dam of hesitation among the others. Max stood next, adjusting his collar with a casual flick that couldn't quite hide his anticipation.
"Breaking into the top fifteen sounds doable. I wouldn't mind reminding people why they should respect Fairy Tail."
Jet and Droy exchanged a long look, years of shared disappointment and struggle passing between them in that silent communication. Then they both stood.
"We won't let you down," Jet promised, his usual hyperactivity tempered by earnestness.
"We won't let Levy down," Droy added quietly, the name of their missing teammate giving weight to his commitment.
All eyes turned to Romeo, who had been unusually quiet. The boy's face was scrunched in thought, clearly wrestling with some internal conflict. Finally, he looked up at Shisui, his expression a mix of frustration and determination.
"Why do I have to be the substitute?" he demanded, though there was less heat in the question than there might have been months ago. "I've been training just as hard as everyone else..."
His complaint broke the solemnity that had settled over the guild, drawing chuckles from several members. The sound of genuine, unforced laughter, filled the hall.
"Because someone needs to step in if one of us old-timers throws out a back," Wakaba called out, earning more laughter and a mock-offended "Hey!" from Macao.
The mood in the guild had transformed entirely. Where minutes ago there had been disappointment and resignation, now there was energy and purpose. Guild members who weren't part of the training group were already discussing how they could support the team. Either through researching opponents, handling logistics, or simply being there to cheer them on.
Macao walked to the center of the hall, raising his mug high.
"It's decided then! For the next year, our focus will be preparing for the X789 Grand Magic Games. And make no mistake," his voice took on a fierce pride, "this is the beginning of Fairy Tail's return to glory!"
The guild erupted in cheers, mugs clinking together in celebration.
~ End of Chapter 42 ~
You can read advanced chapter on p@treon.com/The_Editor982