Chapter 15: Challenge Gildarts!
"Hahaha! Moen, you rascal! You've gotten taller again!"
Gildarts, now fully aware of his surroundings, strode over to Moen and gave him a hearty slap on the shoulder. The older man beamed with his signature wide grin, flashing a row of pristine white teeth. Clearly, seeing Moen the moment he returned filled him with joy. After all, he'd watched the boy grow up.
"You've been gone half a year. Of course I've grown taller."
Moen smiled brightly in return. Truth be told, he was genuinely happy to see Gildarts again. Compared to his biological father, Ivan Dreyar, it was Gildarts who felt more like family.
For the orphans in the guild, Gildarts held a special place in their hearts. He treated Fairy Tail like his home, and each member like kin. To the children, he had always tried his best to play the role of a caring father figure.
"It's great," Gildarts said warmly. "You're all growing up so fast. Before long, you'll be able to stand on your own. It means the guild's future is in good hands."
Watching Fairy Tail thrive, seeing the younger generation grow strong and capable—it filled him with pride. It was the same joy a father might feel watching his children succeed.
"How long will you stay this time?"
Moen asked curiously, reaching out to help carry Gildarts' travel bag. But the older man quickly waved him off.
"Nah, I got it. This bag's filled withtreasures—not for kids' eyes!"
He wiggled his eyebrows and let out a sly chuckle. From Gildarts's tone and expression, Moen could already guess what was in there.
Gildarts, much like Grandpa Makarov, had one very specific flaw:
He was a bit of a lecher.
But honestly, Moen couldn't even call it a flaw. Admiring beauty was human nature—"A gentleman seeks fair maidens," as the saying goes. Despite their immense strength, neither of them ever crossed a line. Really, it'd be more concerning if men like them weren't a little interested in women.
Once inside the guild hall, the two sat down in the main lounge. Gildarts tossed his bag onto the table. The zipper shifted slightly open, and Moen caught a glimpse inside—yep, just as he suspected. A pile of risqué magazines, all featuring scantily clad women.
Possibly the entire bag was full of them.
"..."
Moen fell silent.
What kind of decent human being uses swimsuit magazines as travel essentials?!
"I'll be staying a bit longer this time," Gildarts said, noticing Moen's odd look. As he spoke, he subtly kicked the bag down to his feet like it was a sensitive secret.
"Even if I leave again, I won't be gone for long."
As he spoke, he subtly slid the bag down by his feet to hide it from view.
"Not yet, Moen. You're still too young to look at stuff like that."
His tone suddenly turned serious. Gildarts might be a wild man, but he knew his limits—he wasn't the type to recklessly expose a kid to adult material.
"I wasn't even trying to look!!"
Moen protested loudly, flustered.
"Forget it, old man. I challenge you!"
He changed the subject with a spark in his eyes.
"I want to show you how far I've come! And while we're at it, teach me a bit about your Crush Magic too!"
He'd been about to argue further, but dropped it in favor of something way more exciting: a one-on-one challenge.
"Oh? So you've picked up something new, huh?"
Gildarts grinned at the proposal. Seeing the fire in Moen's eyes, he didn't hesitate at all—he was more than happy to give the younger generation a bit of training.
The two of them headed to the guild's backyard.
The open space behind the Fairy Tail guild hall stretched out wide—perfect for a proper duel. Beyond that, a large shimmering lake spread out, its surface dancing with ripples under the sun. A few boats drifted lazily across the water, adding to the serene beauty of the place.
But neither of them had time for sightseeing.
They stood face to face.
Gildarts stood casually, arms still hidden beneath his large cloak. To the untrained eye, his stance was riddled with openings—he looked completely defenseless.
"Go ahead. Start whenever you're ready."
He smiled calmly as he spoke.
Moen didn't rush in. His expression turned serious, his mind focused.
He centered his breath.
Deep within him, his magical core began to stir like a swirling galaxy.
'Requip! Equuleus Bronze Cloth!'
A burst of blue light erupted from his magic circle as a new set of armor flew toward him and snapped into place—sleek, sharp, and battle-ready.
The Equuleus Bronze Cloth—midnight blue and snug-fitting—wrapped around his frame, giving him the look of a young warrior ready for war.
Magic surged through him.
In that razor-sharp moment of focus, he could faintly feel it—the armor was tugging at something beyond this world.
The constellation of Equuleus, hidden behind the more dominant Pegasus, shimmered faintly in the night sky above.
"Oh? So it's Requip Magic now, huh?"
Gildarts raised an eyebrow.
He was clearly impressed—the armor wasn't just for show.
"Vroom!"
Moen lunged with explosive force, shattering the ground beneath his feet as he charged like a sword straight toward Gildarts.
He wasn't worried about holding back.
His past battles had made one thing very clear—there was still a huge gap between them.
"Haaah!"
With a shout, he threw a heavy punch straight toward Gildarts's left cheek.
It came fast and hard, slicing through the air with a sharp gust of wind.
"Thud!"
Gildarts raised his left arm and took the punch head-on, a muffled bang echoing through the courtyard.
Then, as if in retaliation, he made a sudden motion—his right leg began to lift.
"!"
Moen's eyes flew wide.
He instantly pulled back—his body reacting before he even had time to think.
With a powerful backward leap followed by two mid-air flips, he quickly put distance between them.
The agility granted by the Equuleus Bronze Cloth made him feel like a thoroughbred stallion—fast, responsive, and precise.
"Nice reflexes."
Gildarts smiled again.
In truth, he hadn't moved his leg at all. He still stood perfectly still.
"Gildarts's pressure is insane…"
Moen kept a calm face, but inwardly he was shaken.
That tiny fake movement had triggered his instincts into full-blown panic.
In that one moment, it really felt like he would die if he didn't dodge.
Is this… killing intent?
Gildarts wasn't some harmless uncle—he had clearly seen battle.
He'd definitely taken lives.
"But that's what makes it exciting!"
Instead of being discouraged, Moen's fighting spirit burned brighter.
The stronger Gildarts was, the more fired up he felt.
This wasn't like his fight with Natsu.
This time, he was laser-focused—his mind and body honed like a blade.
And in that intense concentration…
He felt something.
A subtle connection between his magic core, his Cloth, and the stars in the sky.
But the connection was faint—flickering, unstable.
Instead of helping him, it was distracting.
He quickly cleared his mind and let go of the feeling.
"Hoooh..."
Taking a deep breath, he moved into position.
His hands began tracing lines in the air—magical paths that mirrored the constellations.
"Buzz!"
A star chart burst into life in front of him—shining blue light forming the image of a Pegasus with wings spread wide.
Somewhere above, the constellation Pegasus responded.
And behind it, hidden in its shadow, Equuleus flickered faintly.
"Hmm?"
Gildarts's eyes narrowed.
He'd felt something—an unusual fluctuation in the magic around Moen.