### Chapter 7: The Challenge
[Magnolia is shifting to Gildarts Mode!]
[Attention citizens!! Please proceed quickly to the designated positions!!]
[Repeating once more!]
Broadcast announcements rang out all over Magnolia City. Many citizens screamed and scattered in all directions, making the corner of Riku's mouth twitch uncontrollably.
Soon, RUMBLE——!!
The earth began to shake, and the main street of the city started to slowly sink, forming a straight path. It looked as if the entire city had split open.
"Isn't this a bit too exaggerated?!"
Recalling the scene of Gildarts' first appearance in the anime was one thing, but witnessing it in reality was a completely different feeling.
Gildarts also felt somewhat helpless. He had only accidentally crashed through a few residential houses while walking in a daze; was it really necessary to make such a big fanfare every time he came back?
"Let's go!"
Gildarts led Riku forward. The path was completely unobstructed, and at the end of the road lay the Fairy Tail guild.
At this moment, everyone from the Fairy Tail guild was gathered at the main entrance.
Seeing Gildarts' figure, they were all excited.
"He's here——!!"
"He seems to have brought someone back?"
Riku looked at the guild in front of him, feeling incredibly excited: "I'm really at Fairy Tail..."
Although he had known for a while that he had transmigrated to the world of *Fairy Tail*, the world was one thing, but the Fairy Tail guild in front of him was the real deal.
That feeling was completely different.
Gildarts looked at Riku and smiled: "Welcome to Fairy Tail."
Just then, a voice rang out.
"Gildarts!!! Fight meeeeee———!!!"
Riku looked up and saw a boy around fourteen or fifteen years old, with salmon-pink hair and a scale-patterned scarf around his neck, shouting at Gildarts from the guild entrance.
Riku instantly recognized him as the male protagonist of the *Fairy Tail* anime, Natsu Dragneel.
"Oh! Natsu! Long time no see! You've grown taller again!"
Suddenly, a hand pushed Natsu aside: "Move! If anyone's challenging him, it's me! Old man! Fight me! Today I'm going to take the title of the guild's strongest!"
The person speaking had long white hair, fair skin, and a cute face, but was dressed somewhat rebelliously and looked a bit fierce.
Although there were some differences from the anime, Riku recognized her as the Fairy Tail guild's poster girl, Mirajane Strauss.
"Uncle, I also wish to ask for your guidance."
A beautiful girl with long scarlet hair and wearing armor also stepped out from the crowd and said.
Erza!
Riku immediately recognized her identity; she was his favorite female character in *Fairy Tail*.
The current Erza was obviously a bit younger, but girls develop earlier, and she was already a very beautiful young lady.
Seeing these characters he originally liked in the manga and anime appearing in reality, Riku felt extremely excited; this was much more real than any cosplay.
If only he had his phone, he would definitely take a photo to commemorate this.
"Get lost! Erza! I was first!"
"So what if you were first? The decision on who to fight lies with Uncle."
"You want to fight?"
"Let's fight then, who's afraid of whom!"
Mira and Erza were about to start fighting.
Gildarts instantly felt a headache coming on. These brats in the guild all wanted to defeat him and become the guild's strongest.
Normally, he wouldn't mind sparring with these kids.
But guiding Riku along the way had tired him out enough, and he really didn't want to continue catering to these little ancestors.
Suddenly, Gildarts saw Riku, and his eyes lit up. An idea instantly formed in his mind.
"Alright! Stop arguing. I understand your desire to challenge me, but there's an order to everything. If you want to challenge me, you first have to pass my disciple's test. Only by defeating my disciple, Riku, can you challenge me."
As Gildarts spoke, he placed his hands on Riku's shoulders.
Swish————!
The gazes of everyone in the guild fell upon Riku.
"Disciple?!"
"For real? Gildarts actually took a disciple?!"
"How could it be fake? Gildarts said it himself!"...
Everyone in the guild was extremely shocked to hear this. Gildarts was the strongest mage in the Fairy Tail guild, a veritable monster. Naturally, they were very curious about what kind of person could catch Gildarts' eye and become his disciple.
Riku looked bewildered upon hearing this. What was going on? He had just arrived at the Fairy Tail guild; was he going to fight already?
Gildarts whispered in Riku's ear: "Riku, this is a perfect opportunity for actual combat. It will also let everyone in the guild see your strength."
Riku's heart stirred. Which boy doesn't want to show off? Although he had experienced quite a few battles in recent days, he hadn't encountered any truly formidable opponents.
Now having the chance to fight the anime protagonists, he also wanted to know how his strength compared to theirs.
Riku nodded, then stepped forward, looking at the Fairy Tail guild members, and said: "Hello everyone, my name is Riku, Teacher Gildarts' disciple. If you want to challenge Teacher, you must first get past me."