When Did the Fairy Tail 100 Year Quest Manga?

Fairy Tail is one of those manga series that left a huge mark on fans around the world. When Hiro Mashima ended the original Fairy Tail in 2017 after 545 chapters, it felt like we were saying goodbye to Natsu, Lucy, Erza, Gray, Wendy, and the rest of the guild forever. But as it turns out, that wasn’t the case. Not long after, Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest came along as a direct sequel, continuing the story we thought had ended.

That leads us to the big question: when exactly did the Fairy Tail 100 Year Quest manga start, and what has happened with it since? Let’s walk through the timeline, why it was created, and what fans need to know about its place in the Fairy Tail universe.

The Beginning of the Sequel

Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest officially launched on July 25, 2018, in Kodansha’s digital platform Pocket Magazine. This was just about a year after the main Fairy Tail series concluded. The timing made it feel like Mashima had planned the continuation carefully, giving fans only a short break before diving back into the world we love.

The story picks up right after the final chapter of Fairy Tail. At the end of the original series, Natsu and his team accepted the legendary 100 Years Quest, a job so difficult that no wizard in history had ever completed it. The sequel wastes no time continuing that thread, making it feel like an unbroken continuation of the same story.

Why the Sequel Was Created

Many manga end cleanly and never return, so why did Fairy Tail get a direct sequel? The answer lies in the world Mashima built. Even after 545 chapters, there were still countless questions about dragons, the history of magic, and unexplored regions of Earth Land.

The 100 Years Quest allowed Mashima to answer those questions and expand the universe without restarting from scratch. Instead of creating a spin-off or alternate storyline, this sequel lets fans stay connected with the same characters while seeing them face challenges bigger than ever before.

Mashima’s Role and Atsuo Ueda’s Art

One detail that made fans curious at the start was who would actually draw the manga. While Hiro Mashima created the storyboards and oversees the plot, the artwork is done by Atsuo Ueda. Some worried it wouldn’t feel the same, but Ueda’s art style stays very close to Mashima’s, keeping the spirit of Fairy Tail alive.

Most importantly, the fact that Mashima provides the storyboards means everything is canon. Unlike filler arcs in the anime, 100 Years Quest is the official continuation of the Fairy Tail timeline.

Early Reception

When the first chapters were released in 2018, the response from fans was overwhelmingly positive. Many readers were just relieved that Fairy Tail wasn’t really over. Seeing Natsu, Lucy, and the guild back in action, taking on the legendary mission, brought back the same excitement that made the original series so popular.

The introduction of the Dragon Gods, especially Mercphobia, instantly set the tone. This wasn’t going to be a light side story. It was a serious, large-scale continuation that put the guild up against enemies on the same level, or even beyond, Acnologia.

The Timeline Since Launch

From its debut in 2018 to now in 2025, Fairy Tail 100 Years Quest has been running steadily. New chapters are released digitally before being collected into volumes. On average, the series puts out 20 to 25 chapters a year, which means we’ve already seen more than 170 chapters since launch.

That makes 100 Years Quest a significant series in its own right. While not as long as the original Fairy Tail yet, it has already given us multiple arcs, intense battles, and major revelations about the history of dragons and magic.

Key Story Arcs

Since it began, the sequel has tackled several big arcs that fans will always remember:

• The Water Dragon God Arc: Introducing Mercphobia, a powerful being unlike anything Fairy Tail had faced before.

• The Wood Dragon God Arc: One of the longest arcs so far, centered on Aldoron, a dragon so huge he carried entire cities on his body.

• The Moon Dragon God Arc: Featuring Selene, a mysterious and manipulative figure who shook the guild to its core.

• The Fire Dragon God Arc: Bringing Ignia, Natsu’s personal rival, into the spotlight with massive implications for the future.

These arcs make it clear that from its very first chapters in 2018, 100 Years Quest was never meant to be a short add-on. It’s a fully fleshed continuation.

The Anime Announcement

Another key moment after the manga’s launch was the announcement of the anime adaptation. Fans were thrilled when it was revealed that 100 Years Quest would be animated, making it feel even more official. Just as the original Fairy Tail anime brought Mashima’s manga to life, the sequel’s adaptation has helped bring in new fans while reigniting excitement for longtime readers.

The anime also ensures that the manga will continue for a while, since adaptations need a steady supply of chapters to work with.

Why the Start Date Matters to Fans

The fact that Fairy Tail 100 Years Quest started in 2018 is important because it shows how carefully the sequel was planned. There was no long gap where the story faded out of memory. Instead, Mashima and his team kept the momentum going, giving us a direct continuation while interest in Fairy Tail was still at its peak.

For fans, this meant we never had to fully say goodbye. The story simply shifted into its next phase, allowing us to follow the guild into uncharted territory.

Where to Keep Up Today

If you’re catching up or just curious about where the series has gone since that launch date, fan communities and dedicated resources are the best way to stay updated. One reliable place to follow along is the Fairy Tail 100 Year Quest manga, where news, chapter updates, and discussions are shared regularly.

Being part of the fan community makes reliving the 2018 launch and following the current story even more fun.

So, when did the Fairy Tail 100 Year Quest manga begin? The answer is July 25, 2018. From that moment until today, the series has continued to grow, adding new arcs, new villains, and deeper lore to the world Hiro Mashima created.

For fans, it means we got exactly what we wanted: a true sequel that keeps the spirit of Fairy Tail alive. Looking back, the launch date in 2018 marked not the end of Fairy Tail, but the start of a whole new journey. And with the manga still ongoing in 2025, it’s safe to say that the adventure is far from over.