The train car was silent until the attendant brought food. Kagura picked up a piece of cake and broke the quiet with a soft voice.
"Um, mister, how'd you know Roger was a B-rank wizard just by looking at him?"
Her question snapped Gildarts out of his thoughts. He steadied his breathing, took a bite of a rice ball, and answered, "It's all about sensing magic fluctuations."
"A wizard's rank is based on the size and strength of their magic power—D, C, B, A, and S ranks, from lowest to highest. Above that is the 'Ten Wizard Saints' level."
"But 'Ten Wizard Saints' is just a term for strength. To be officially recognized by the Magic Council, you need to make some serious contributions."
Roger frowned, puzzled. "So how do I know if my magic power—or someone else's—is B-rank?"
Gildarts tapped his chest. "You feel it."
"Most wizards start at D-rank and grow stronger bit by bit. Each time you get stronger, you can sense it."
"Sharp ones can tell when they've jumped to a new rank. It's obvious."
"Less perceptive folks might only notice after casting a spell and seeing it's more powerful than before."
"But there's no exact way to measure it. Only experienced wizards can size up someone's magic power at a glance and figure out their rank."
"Everyone else can only tell if someone's stronger or weaker than them."
"Once you've been S-rank for a while, though, your magic sense sharpens. Then you can clearly pick out the exact strength of anyone below S-rank."
The group nodded thoughtfully. The only sounds in the spacious train car were soft chewing and the rhythmic clack-clack of the wheels on the tracks.
The train glided smoothly into Magnolia's station and came to a gentle stop.
With a hiss, the door slid open. Gildarts' towering figure stepped out first, the other three close behind, onto the platform.
Before Kagura could take in the new surroundings, a lazy-looking attendant leaning against the wall at the station entrance spotted Gildarts. His eyes bulged in shock.
"G-G-Gildarts?!" he shrieked, his voice cracking. He sprang forward like a coiled spring, darting to the wall and yanking a bright red rope with all his might.
A piercing alarm bell shattered the station's calm!
Woo-woo! Woo-woo!
"Gildarts is back!! Quick! Activate Gildarts Mode! Top priority!!" the attendant roared into a magic communicator, sweat beading on his forehead.
Kagura jumped at the sudden chaos, her mouth agape, her head full of question marks.
What just happened? Is this guy's name that scary?
Before she could voice her confusion, an even louder, more urgent bell rang out from the distance, drowning her thoughts.
Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong!
The rapid tolls hit like war drums, pounding in everyone's chests.
On the platform, people's faces shifted from surprise to outright panic.
"It's Gildarts Mode!"
"Get to the safe zones!"
"Move it, don't block the way!"
Shouts erupted as the crowd surged like a flock of startled birds, scrambling toward the station exit in a chaotic rush.
Then, a buzzing hum filled the air.
Dozens of metallic, winged devices shaped like megaphones zoomed in from across the town, hovering in midair.
Their cold, synthetic voices echoed repeatedly over Magnolia:
[Warning! Magnolia is now switching to Gildarts Mode! Repeat! Switching to Gildarts Mode!]
[All residents, follow instructions and proceed to designated safe zones immediately!]
[Repeat! Proceed to safe zones immediately!]
Rumble!
A deafening roar shook the ground, making it tremble violently. Kagura stumbled, nearly falling, but Erza caught her just in time.
The two stared in shock as the earth split apart! The smooth streets cracked open with a sickening crunch, as if torn by an invisible giant hand.
Buildings and shops on either side groaned with the sound of grinding gears and mechanical whirs, rising, rotating, and shifting like building blocks.
Dust filled the air, and the shadows of massive structures blotted out the sky.
In just a few breaths, a wide, straight avenue appeared before them, paved with sturdy metal plates and flanked by towering, smooth white alloy walls with no windows or doors.
At the end of the road, through the lingering dust, a rustic, weathered wooden-and-stone building came into view.
Kagura's jaw practically hit the ground. She clung to Erza's arm, her face pale, her voice high-pitched with shock. "The-the town split open!!!"
Gildarts scratched his head awkwardly, flashing a sheepish grin. "Uh… welcome to Magnolia."
"Don't worry, this is just… a local quirk."
He turned and strode down the overly wide, empty metal avenue, the others hurrying to keep up as they headed toward the end of the road.
Just a dozen steps from the guild's entrance, the clinking of glasses and raucous laughter spilled out.
The moment they stepped inside, a deafening uproar enveloped them, loud enough to shake the roof.
"To celebrate another mission done! Cheers!!"
"Hey, Carol! Your sense of direction is hopeless! You got lost doing a mushroom-picking job and ended up in the next town?!"
"Miss Aero, another round over here! Make it the strong stuff!"
Men and women in all kinds of outfits raised their glasses, their faces glowing with carefree, radiant smiles. They slapped each other's shoulders, loudly teasing their friends about their latest mishaps.
A young woman with tanned skin and a flower crown balanced two trays piled high with food and drinks, weaving through the crowd with ease.
Spotting Gildarts, she paused, her smile bright. "Welcome back! How'd the mission go?"
Gildarts scratched his head, giving a wry grin. "Bit complicated."
"Oh! And you brought three kids!" Macao, with his distinctive purple spiky hair, caught sight of the trio behind Gildarts. He raised his glass, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Bet you were shocked when you saw Gildarts Mode in action, huh?"
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