Makarov watched the radiant smile on First Master Mavis's face, stroking his chin with a thoughtful expression. He then shouted toward Zeref with a booming voice:
"Zeref-san! Would you be interested in joining our guild as an ordinary Mage and living among us?"
Having learned the tragic tale of Mavis and Zeref's star-crossed love, Makarov wanted to do whatever he could for the First Master.
If Zeref joined Fairy Tail and donned the guild mark, he would be able to see Mavis's spectral form.
It was a way to ensure that, at long last, these two souls could truly be together.
Makarov then shot a playful wink at Warrod Sequen.
"How about you? Why don't you come back to the guild? It's a pretty lively place these days."
Both Zeref and Warrod understood Makarov's kindness, and neither refused the gesture.
Zeref had long known that Mavis's soul resided on this island; though he couldn't see her with his eyes, he could sense her presence through his immense spiritual power.
With his unparalleled magical knowledge, he knew that taking the Fairy Tail mark would bridge the gap, allowing him to see her clearly.
Moreover, now that his curse was suppressed, he yearned to live for a while as a normal wizard in the guild Mavis had built.
Warrod, who had originally left the guild due to ideological differences with the Second Master, Precht, was more than happy to return now that Makarov was in charge—especially since it meant reuniting with his oldest friend.
And so, the group departed in a grand fashion, boarding the magical airship captured from Grimoire Heart to return to Magnolia Town. This included Mavis in her ghost state, hovering happily alongside them.
After a day of rest, Goku officially began his training in Gravity Magic under Zeref's tutelage in the East Forest.
Meanwhile, the news that Fairy Tail had been besieged by the three great Dark Guilds and had subsequently annihilated them sent shockwaves through the magical world.
The number of requests flooding into Fairy Tail skyrocketed. The guild's Mages no longer had to worry about a lack of work or empty pockets.
Natsu and Gajeel also followed clues provided by Mystogan and the whispers of the Dragon Kings awakening within them.
They located the other three Dragon Slayers sent from the past: Wendy, Sting, and Rogue. They invited them all to join Fairy Tail and even found Anna Heartfilia, Lucy's ancestor, who had been searching for a way to slay the Black Dragon for centuries.
Dumbledore began a formal exchange of knowledge with the guild. He truly delved into the various magics of this world while teaching the curriculum of Hogwarts in return.
Gradually, the guild began to see an influx of specialized roles: Repair Mages, Healer Mages, Petrification Mages, and Alchemist Mages. Items like Portkeys, boxes enchanted with Undetectable Extension Charms, and Broomsticks became common sights.
Four months later, in the East Forest.
Goku stood beneath a glowing magical array, maintaining a concentrated field of force while performing the foundational physical training of the Turtle School. Because he was incredibly diligent and had the world's top Mage as his mentor, his progress was staggering.
In just four months, his mastery over Gravity Magic had reached a respectable level. He could now subject himself to a 5x Gravity suppression. Training under five times the weight of the world, he felt his strength surging forward with every passing day.
He calculated that if he continued at this pace, by the time the next World Martial Arts Tournament began in a year, he might be able to match the power he used against the Black Dragon—even without relying on Breathing Styles, Giant Magic, or his Great Ape transformation.
"It's about time to leave. I should go say goodbye to Grandpa Makarov and the others."
A full year had passed since the Dragon Balls were last used. It was time to set out, collect them once more, and fulfill Grandpa Dumbledore's wish. Goku didn't find this a chore; in fact, he had planned to leave anyway. Now that he could cast Gravity Magic on himself, he could train anytime, anywhere.
Rather than staying in the East Forest, he wanted to continue his adventure through other worlds.
Seeking out powerful opponents while training was far more efficient than solitary practice. Once Dumbledore's wish was granted, he would head into a new world.
He had to get stronger. He wanted to defeat masters like "Jackie Chun," honor Grandpa Gohan's legacy, and finally become the champion of the World Martial Arts Tournament.
"Grandpa Makarov, I'm heading out!" Goku announced, finding the Guild Master sitting at the bar having a drink.
"Go on then. Work hard," Makarov said, not at all surprised.
"Come back and visit when you can. If you ever need help, you know where to find us. Just remember: you'll always be a member of this guild. You're our comrade and our family!"
Over the past few months, Dumbledore had come to trust Makarov deeply and had allowed Goku to stop hiding his origins.
Makarov knew they were from different worlds. While he found it surprising, he didn't mind. Ancient magic books recorded that many worlds existed beyond their own.
As long as Goku was a Mage of the guild, his origin was irrelevant.
Besides, Mages often left for long periods on missions. Some, like Gildarts, hadn't been seen in years.
The guild never forced anyone to take jobs; one could stay and drink all day if they wished. As a Master, Makarov would never dream of stopping a member from seeking greater strength in other worlds. He only offered encouragement.
"I will! Thanks, Grandpa Makarov! I'll work my hardest!" Goku bowed respectfully.
"Goku, don't slack off!" Natsu laughed, hands on his hips.
"Or else next time you're here, I'll have surpassed you and become the guild's number one!"
Gray, standing nearby, scoffed.
"Try beating Erza or Laxus first before you talk big."
"What was that? You want to go, Ice-boy?"
"Bring it on, Flame-brain!"
Natsu and Gray slammed their foreheads together and immediately devolved into a brawl, dragging the surrounding Mages into the fray.
Soon, the entire guild was locked in a massive free-for-all—just like the very first day Goku had arrived.
"The guild really has grown," Goku noted, watching the chaos. He saw many new faces he didn't recognize.
A lot had happened in four months. Most notably, Natsu's team had ventured to the Western Continent, where they encountered the Spriggan 12, the elite guard of the Alvarez Empire.
They discovered that one of the strongest among them, the "Scarlet Despair," was actually Erza's mother, Irene Belserion—the creator of Dragon Slayer Magic.
Irene's story was tragic; she had saved her country only to turn into a dragon, resulting in her being abandoned and tortured by her own people.
She had spent centuries in a state of mental collapse before Zeref helped her regain human form, though she had lost her sense of taste and the ability to sleep.
Recently, by combining the magical knowledge of Zeref and Dumbledore—using the Animagus transformation as a core—they had finally found a way to help Irene return to being a "true" human.
Furthermore, it was revealed that August, the "Magic King" and another of the Spriggan 12, was actually the child of Zeref and Mavis.
Upon learning Zeref was with Fairy Tail, August joined the guild as well, eventually revealing his secret to his parents. Even Serena, the former rank one of the Ten Wizard Saints, had been accounted for.
"Goodbye, everyone!"
Seeing the hall erupt into its usual joyful violence, Goku waved one last time and leaned against the bar, closing his eyes. A moment later, his silhouette flickered and vanished from the guild hall.