When we last left the Fairy Tail crew, they had ventured into the Great Labyrinth, home to Elefseria’s heart and the remains of the Earth Dragon God. Their mission, already challenging, becomes a race when Selene pits team Fairy Tail against members of Diabolos to reach the heart first. Just when things couldn’t get more chaotic, Ignia, the Fire Dragon God, makes an appearance, throwing the entire plan into disarray.
As we dive into Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest Volumes 13 and 14, let’s explore what’s in store for Natsu and the gang.
Facing Dogramag
Volume 13 picks up with Natsu and Suzaku teaming up to take on the revived Earth Dragon God, Dogramag. Despite their best efforts, nothing they do leaves a mark on this formidable foe. Fortunately, Selene gathers the members of Fairy Tail and offers a solution: to defeat Dogramag, they must locate and destroy over seventy hidden Dogra Cores scattered throughout the Great Labyrinth.
Of course, it’s not just the cores they have to worry about. Team Fairy Tail must fend off the Diabolos guild members, who are determined to prevent the Earth Dragon God’s defeat. Luxus faces off against Kirin, a man who ate the Lightning Dragon King Elexion, and for the first time, Luxus finds himself taking damage from electricity-based attacks. Meanwhile, Gray encounters Sai, a member of the alchemist guild Gold Owl, who infiltrates the labyrinth to steal a core for alchemical purposes. Underestimating Sai’s skills, Gray ends up transformed into the likeness of Juvia, leaving him powerless to use his ice magic.
Volume 14: Wrapping Up the Arc
In contrast to the action-heavy Volume 13, Volume 14 wraps up the Dogramag arc and transitions into preparations for Fairy Tail’s next adventure. With two Dragon Gods still out there, the team will need more information before they set out on their next quest. There’s also the lingering question of Selene’s allegiance—could she and Diabolos be potential allies, rather than enemies?
As the plot moves forward, Volume 14 takes a more subdued approach, focusing on tying up loose ends and setting up the next phase of the story.
Balancing Action and Story Progression
One of the advantages of reading two volumes of Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest back-to-back is getting the best of both worlds. Volume 13 delivers exciting battles, with characters like Gray, Lucy, and Luxus stepping into the spotlight while Natsu takes a backseat. By contrast, Volume 14 focuses on exposition and story progression, which might feel less exciting on its own, but serves as a necessary bridge to the next arc.
That said, the pacing remains a long-standing issue in Hiro Mashima’s work. While the series is generally well-balanced between action and narrative, there are moments where volumes like #14 risk feeling slow, especially when read individually. For long-term fans of the series, this ebb and flow is par for the course, and it’s difficult to critique too harshly when the overall story remains engaging.
What’s Next for Fairy Tail?
Perhaps the most exciting takeaway from these volumes is the sense that the overarching plot is building towards a conclusion. While no one wants 100 Years Quest to wrap up too soon, the series has managed to avoid the pitfalls of over-padding, a common issue in long-running shonen series. This gives reassurance that Mashima’s storytelling is progressing at a steady pace, and fans can expect a satisfying conclusion to the Dragon God arc.
Translation and Release Notes
Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest Volumes 13 and 14 come to the West through Kodansha, with Kevin Steinbach handling the translation and Phil Christie managing the lettering. As usual, both volumes read smoothly, with no major issues to note. There are also a few pages of translation notes at the back, which provide helpful insights into certain terms and concepts.
As of this review, the Japanese releases are up to Volume 16, while the English release schedule has slowed, with Volume 15 set to release in April and Volume 16 following in September. For those interested, Kodansha is also re-releasing the original Fairy Tail series in 3-volume omnibuses, which may be an attractive option for collectors.
Final Thoughts
Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest continues to offer an entertaining experience for fans of the franchise. While the pacing may not always be perfect, the series remains compelling with its combination of high-stakes battles, lovable characters, and intriguing twists. If you’ve stuck with the series this long, there’s no better time to catch up before the next arc kicks off!
