Fairy Tail: Collapsing Stars

Chapter 414: What Igneel Mainly Does Is Righteous Extermination of His Own Kin

”Eight Dragons...”

As eight dragons soared into the sky, the ceiling of the Fairy Tail guild instantly shattered. The people competing alongside Serena for the Fairy Tail guildʼs X781 S-Class Mage qualification instantly collapsed onto the ground.

”Damn it, I failed again...”

Kaguraʼs eyes carried some helplessness. It was not that she did not work hard, but Serenaʼs strength was truly too powerful.

”Next year. Next year, I will definitely pass the trial...”

However, Kagura did not lose heart. She lay on the floor of the Fairy Tail guild, looking up at the sky, her eyes carrying the determination she had secretly made.

”Now I hereby announce that the one who passed Fairy Tail guildʼs X781 S-Class Mage Promotion Trial is Serena of the Eight Dragons!”

August looked at the candidates around Serena who had all fallen and could not get up, those who had participated in the trial in the same period as Serena, and spoke softly.

”Oh!”

”This is GOD Serena. I have not failed Masterʼs expectations and have obtained this yearʼs S-Class Mage qualification in the guild!”

”GOD super strong!”

At the same time, after Serena heard August announce that he had passed the guildʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial, he immediately raised his arm and cheered.

”Serena really won!”

”Once again, the dark horse who joined Fairy Tail this year took the victory!”

”As expected, this curse regarding the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial still hasnʼt been broken even now~”

Macao, Wakaba, and the others looked at Serena cheering with his arm raised, their expressions carrying some helplessness. Regarding Serenaʼs victory, it was as though everything was outside their expectations, yet also within reason.

After all, ever since Evan joined the guild, Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial had been held so many times, and basically there had rarely been any year where it was not a dark horse newly joining the guild who passed the trial...

After the Mages of Fairy Tail heard August announce the end of this yearʼs Fairy Tail S-Class Mage Promotion Trial, everyone dispersed as they should and went to do whatever they needed to do.

As for the Mages who were defeated and failed to pass the trial, some licked their wounds alone, while some apologized to those who had high hopes for them.

”Sorry, Laxus. I lost...”

At this moment, Freed walked up to Laxus, his expression carrying some sadness and apology...

Yes, Freed was the one apologizing.

”Itʼs only one loss. Itʼs nothing!”

Regarding Freedʼs apology, Laxus merely shrugged lightly, looking completely unconcerned.

”Laxus! I will work hard!”

In response, Freedʼs eyes lit up. He secretly thought that Laxus, whom he worshiped, was indeed worthy of admiration. After Freed finished speaking, he turned and left, his figure disappearing without a trace.

”Damn it...”

At the same time, Gajeel cursed inwardly. He climbed up from the ground alone and walked toward outside the guild by himself.

And Gajeel was the one licking his wounds alone.

”Gajeel!”

Levy looked at Gajeel as he left and felt that Gajeel was so cool.

Yes, there was still someone in the guild who cared about the lone-wolf-like Gajeel...

This person was precisely...

”Gajeel, donʼt worry! I will continue accompanying you in training until you grow into an even more outstanding weapon than Serena...”

A scarlet figure had appeared at the entrance of the Fairy Tail guild at some point. That scarlet figure was none other than Erza.

Yes, even though Gajeel was like a lone wolf, there was still someone in the guild who cared about him. And the person who cared about this lone wolf Gajeel was none other than Erza!

”Donʼt come over here!”

Unfortunately, after Gajeel saw Erza, his expression did not relax in the slightest. While his expression changed greatly, he shouted loudly at Erza.

”Donʼt be shy, Gajeel...”

”Helping you train is what I, an active S-Class Mage in the guild, should do!”

After hearing Gajeelʼs words, Erza revealed a bright smile.

Perhaps it was because Erzaʼs magical equipment was always related to metal, while Gajeelʼs Dragon Slayer Magic could help Gajeel devour all iron. Theoretically speaking, many of Erzaʼs equipment could be devoured by Gajeel, so Erza especially liked to ”care for” Gajeel. Of course, there was also the reason that Erzaʼs Dragon Slayer Magic was magnetism, while Gajeelʼs Dragon Slayer Magic was iron. Their attributes themselves countered each other, so they were naturally at odds...

Aside from the two types of representative Fairy Tail guild members, the lone wolf and those who ran in front of other guild members to seek comfort...

There was still one type, also the most special type...

”I refuse to accept this! Serena, fight me one-on-one! Iʼm already fired up~”

Natsu leaped up from the ground, then punched toward Serena.

”So annoying, Natsu! If you want to defeat me, go cultivate for another hundred years~”

Serena looked at Natsu attacking him, his expression carrying some dissatisfaction. He punched out, directly ignoring Natsuʼs flames and striking Natsuʼs face.

”Sea King Dragonʼs Water Formation Square...”

Serena shouted softly. Accompanied by seawater like a lake, surging toward Natsu, in a short instant, Natsuʼs flames were extinguished...

At the same time, Serenaʼs fist also landed on Natsuʼs face...

”Bang~”

With a light sound, Natsu was directly sent flying by Serenaʼs punch, smashing through the ceiling above everyoneʼs heads in the Fairy Tail guild.

”Natsu~”

Happy looked at the flying Natsu, spread his white wings, and chased after him through the huge hole in the ceiling.

”Hey, hey, hey~”

”You guys restrain yourselves a little!”

”Do you know how long it takes me to repair this guild every time?”

Ultear looked at the guild she had just repaired being torn open again, and her expression became speechless.

Her powerful magic power had been trained like this, by constantly repairing the guild every day and constantly running all over the Kingdom of Fiore to clean up after the members of the Fairy Tail guild...

With Ultearʼs current magic power, she could even repair a village the size of Magnolia Town in under one minute! There was no other reason, only that practice made perfect!

However, as Ultear constantly ran all over the Kingdom of Fiore to clean up after the Mages of Fairy Tail, many construction teams in the Kingdom of Fiore had lost their jobs. Thus, Ultear had already been wanted by the Kingdom of Fioreʼs Construction Association...

Regarding this matter, Ultear had even been depressed for several days. She had clearly done it out of goodwill...

As Fairy Tail guildʼs X781 S-Class Mage Promotion Trial ended! The end of the year was approaching...

In the blink of an eye, one year passed...

Time flew by and arrived at March of X782, the season when spring was warm and flowers bloomed!

On this day, Evan summoned all the higher-ups and powerhouses of the Fairy Tail guild to gather in the newly built seventh-floor meeting room of the Fairy Tail guild!

Inside the dark room, endless pressure spread out...

Evan, Irene, Selene, August, and Igneel possessing Natsu, the five giants of the Fairy Tail guild, gathered inside this dark, lightless space. Behind the five of them stood the two bodyguards Animus and Kurnugi, guarding the door of the meeting room and not allowing others to enter casually...

”Evan, may I ask what matter you called us here for?”

August sat in the meeting room, looked at Evan sitting opposite him, and asked.

”No hurry. Weʼll talk when everyone is here...”

Evan shook his head lightly. He sat in the meeting room as though waiting for someone to arrive.

”When everyone is here? Aside from the five of us, could there still be some top-tier powerhouse in our guild?”

Igneel crossed his arms in front of him. After hearing Evanʼs words, he asked in confusion.

”Of course...”

”If you know the history of our Fairy Tail guild, then you should know that above Fairy Tailʼs four founders, Mavis, Yuri, Precht, and Warrod, there is actually a great senior!”

”Although this great senior does not have our guildʼs emblem printed on him, he is the magic teacher of Fairy Tailʼs four founders. It can be said that without this great senior, there would be no current Fairy Tail guild...”

Evan looked at Igneel seriously and spoke in a very proper manner.

”Oh? I didnʼt expect our guild to have such a person?”

Igneel froze. He knew absolutely nothing about Fairy Tailʼs history, so he looked toward Irene and Selene around him.

”I have absolutely no idea...”

Irene shook her head, looking completely indifferent to Fairy Tailʼs history.

”Same here...”

Selene chose to agree. Like Irene, she did not care about Fairy Tailʼs history at all.

”Uh...”

Hearing this, Igneel froze for a moment, then felt somewhat speechless. Could it be that all of their dragons were illiterate?

”Irene, didnʼt you inherit Belserionʼs Wise Dragon title?”

Igneel silently complained in his heart, but he did not dare say it aloud.

”The magic teacher of Fairy Tailʼs four founders? Donʼt tell me...”

Augustʼs expression changed. He seemed to have thought of something.

Yes, among everyone in the entire meeting room right now, only August knew who the person Evan was talking about was. However, precisely because August clearly knew who Evan was talking about, his expression changed wildly, and cold sweat continuously flowed down his forehead.

”Oh? August, it seems you know who Evan is talking about...”

”Why donʼt you tell us?”

Igneel looked at August, whose expression changed wildly, and the corner of his mouth rose. He found it a little interesting. Because he had always stayed inside Natsuʼs body, he often used Natsuʼs body to observe this world, so he had some understanding of August. He knew that this old fellow August was usually someone whose emotions did not show on his face.

However, at this moment, August suddenly changed expression. Clearly, the magic teacher of Fairy Tailʼs founders that Evan mentioned, meaning the great senior among Fairy Tailʼs seniors, must have an extraordinary identity. This made Igneel, who rarely had any interest in human matters, feel a tiny bit of interest.

Although strictly speaking, aside from August, everyone in the room right now was a dragon, so the matter he cared about was also related to dragons...

”This...”

A trace of hesitation flashed across Augustʼs face.

”Heʼs here!”

Just as August hesitated, Evan seemed to sense something. He narrowed his eyes and spoke softly.

”Buzz!”

Suddenly, accompanied by a wave of magic, a portal opened inside the Fairy Tail guildʼs meeting room.

”No way, right?”

August felt this magic fluctuation that was familiar to him, and his expression changed slightly.

”Someone has arrived...”

At the same time, Selene, who was incomparably sensitive to spatial magic, slightly narrowed her eyes. She looked toward the corner of the room and spoke softly.

”Huh?! Why is the room pitch-black?”

”Did no one turn on the lights?”

Just as everyone followed Seleneʼs line of sight and looked toward the corner of the wall, a voice sounded from the corner of the meeting room. Immediately afterward, the lights in the meeting room were gently turned on.

As the meeting room became bright, the figure in the corner also entered everyoneʼs eyes. The newcomer had pitch-black hair, deep eyes, and a youthful face. However, the people inside the room did not underestimate the youth because he looked extremely young, only because around that youth lingered abyss-like magic power that emitted endless ominousness...

”Your Majesty Zeref...”

August looked at the newcomer and thought, as expected. Originally, he had not intended to lay his cards on the table with his father Zeref this early, but now there was no room for him to think. At present, Zeref had already arrived inside this meeting room. Even if he did not say it, Zeref presumably knew his identity...

Simply put, August was forced to lay his cards on the table~

”Yo, August, you came too~”

However, what August did not expect was that after Zeref saw him, there was no trace of surprise in his eyes. Zeref only smiled lightly at August and nodded slightly.

”Hm?”

This made August freeze. He did not understand why his father, the great emperor of the Alvarez Empire, Black Wizard Zeref, showed not a trace of surprise after seeing that he, who should have been serving as regent in the Alvarez Empire, was not staying on the Western Continent, but was instead in the meeting room of Fairy Tail, and also had the mark of the Fairy Tail guild branded on his body.

”Evan already told me before that you joined the Fairy Tail guild~”

”Donʼt worry, August! I wonʼt be angry because of this~”

Zeref looked at August and smiled gently.

In Zerefʼs eyes, the entire Alvarez Empire was merely a tool that could be abandoned at any time. As long as these tools could display their functions and help his cause, then it did not matter where these tools were.

Of course, this did not mean Zeref was cruel. On the contrary, Zeref was incomparably gentle, because once he did not treat everything in the Alvarez Empire as tools, but treated them as his subordinates or companions, then he would develop feelings for the Alvarez Empire. Once feelings appeared, Ankhsaramʼs curse would silently take effect.

”Igneel, long time no see! Are you using Natsuʼs body? Natsu has also grown up~”

”Queen Irene, similarly, we have not met for some years. You are still as unfathomable as ever...”

”You must be Moon Dragon God Selene, correct? You are indeed as beautiful as the rumors say...”

After Zeref greeted August, he smiled and greeted Irene, Igneel, and Selene in the meeting room.

”It really has been a long time, Zeref. Around four hundred years, I suppose?”

Hearing this, Igneel nodded lightly. He had wondered who Fairy Tailʼs great senior would be. In the end, it was also an old acquaintance of his...

”It has indeed been some years since we last met. It seems you still have not escaped the trouble of your curse~”

Irene nodded lightly at Zeref. Toward Zeref, Irene still had some respect.

”Oh my~ So you are that rumored Black Wizard? You really know how to speak~”

After hearing Zerefʼs words, Selene suddenly chuckled lightly. Of course, she had heard rumors of Black Wizard Zeref. After all, Zeref could be considered famous. Like her, he had once gone to several worlds.

”Evan...”

However, just as Zeref exchanged greetings with Igneel, Irene, and Selene...

August looked at Evan sitting opposite him. His gaze was incomparably resentful, as though asking Evan: for such a huge matter, why did you not tell me in advance or ask for my opinion?!

”Everyone, since everyone has arrived! Then I will make a long story short. I believe it is time to take action against Black Dragon Acnologia.”

Evan acted as though he had not seen Augustʼs resentful gaze. Or rather, Evan directly ignored Augustʼs gaze and spoke silently to everyone in the guild meeting room.

Evanʼs short sentence went straight to the point, making everyoneʼs spirits shake. For a moment, everyone, including Zeref, widened their eyes.

”Evan, who did you say you want to take action against?”

Zeref looked at Evan and asked softly.

”Black Dragon King Acnologia...”

After hearing Zerefʼs words, Evan spoke with a smile.

”...”

For a moment, the air in the entire meeting room went silent.

”Acnologia...”

After Evan spoke, Irene and Seleneʼs expressions both revealed a trace of complexity.

Among them, Ireneʼs expression was especially complex. She did not know what kind of feelings she had toward Acnologia...

Hatred? Acnologia had indeed ended the war between dragons and humans. He was a hero of humanity...

Not hatred? Acnologiaʼs hands were not only stained with the blood of those dragons who hated humans, but also stained with the blood of those dragons who intended to coexist peacefully with humans, as well as the blood of countless Dragon Slayer Mages...

It was still that sentence. The victor of the war four hundred years ago was neither the dragon race nor the human coalition, but the victory of Black Dragon King Acnologia alone...

As for Selene, Seleneʼs feelings were roughly the same as Ireneʼs. Her feelings toward Black Dragon King Acnologia were similarly complex. As a dragon of the faction friendly to humans, Selene was naturally enemies with those dragons who opposed humans...

But the problem was that Acnologiaʼs hands were not only stained with the blood of enemies, but also with the blood of countless companions of hers.

As for the feelings of the others, they were not that complicated.

Augustʼs expression was calm. He had never even seen Acnologia. The reason he was hostile toward Acnologia was entirely because his father Zeref was hostile toward Acnologia! Because Acnologia was his father Zerefʼs enemy, Acnologia was also his enemy.

”Haha...”

As for Igneel, his feelings were the purest. He merely wanted to fight Acnologia. Winning or losing did not matter, life or death did not matter. What he wanted was only a Dragon King-level battle.

”Is that so? Has it finally come to this time?”

As for Zeref, after confirming Evanʼs words, he slowly breathed a sigh of relief, then sat down on a chair in the meeting room, his eyes incomparably solemn.

”Evan, do we have a chance of winning?”

After thinking for a while, Zeref looked at Evan and asked.

”Me, Irene, Selene, and Igneel, four Dragon King-level dragons, plus August and you, two Mages standing at the peak of humanity and the summit of the world. If this lineup cannot take down Acnologia, then Iʼm afraid no one in this world can defeat him anymore...”

Evan shrugged. The combat strength of their current lineup could directly clash with the Five Dragon Gods head-on. Although one of the Five Dragon Gods had already become their teammate.

”Four Dragon King-level dragons, plus me and August, two Mages standing at the summit of the world...”

Zerefʼs brows furrowed tightly, as though he were thinking about something.

”In truth, my and Augustʼs magic has very little effect on Acnologia! If you want to eliminate a dragon, you can only use Dragon Slayer Magic! Although four Dragon King-level existences are already powerful enough, I still believe it is not safe enough. What I mean is, can we find one more Dragon King-level combat force? According to my calculations, as long as there are five Dragon King-level existences, we can match Acnologia...”

Zeref was incomparably cautious. Although his strength was extremely powerful and he had an immortal body, he was abnormally steady.

In truth, Zeref had just probed Acnologia a few days ago. He was shocked to discover that even though the magic power of Earth-land had recovered, their magic was still unable to harm Acnologia and would still become food for this Demon Dragon!

Zeref was confident that since his magic was ineffective against little Black, then other peopleʼs magic was probably also ineffective, including Dragon King-level dragons or other fully dragonized Dragon Slayer Mages. It would also be difficult for them to harm little Black! The only way to defeat little Black was hand-to-hand combat!

But Zeref knew very clearly that little Black not only had the powerful ability to devour magic power, his body was also abnormally hard. Even if a Dragon King-level dragon acted, they could at most cripple one of little Blackʼs arms! Calculating it this way, two arms, two legs, and finally one torso! Perfect. As long as five Dragon Kings came, they could definitely kill little Black...

Of course, Zerefʼs calculations were somewhat rough, but roughly speaking, there was no major problem!

”What if Boss Zeref or August learned Dragon Slayer Magic?”

Evan sat in his seat and thought for a while before looking at Zeref and asking.

”If you donʼt mind two dragons comparable to Acnologia, or perhaps even more dangerous than Acnologia, appearing in this world, then I donʼt mind.”

Zeref smiled. It was not that he did not want to learn Dragon Slayer Magic, but that he could not learn it. He did not know when he would go mad. If, when he went mad, he happened to dragonize and become a pitch-black cursed dragon, what would happen?

Even if they defeated little Black, so what? This world would merely welcome an even greater disaster...

Imagine a Dragon King-level dragon that was undying, indestructible, and wanted to destroy the world. What would everyone else use to stop it?

Yes, Zeref was too kind. Even if he acted himself, he did not want to become a crisis that endangered this world!

However, this child August was different. He probably would not fall into madness because of the side effects of Dragon Slayer Magic...

But for some reason, Zeref did not wish to see August cursed by the power of dragons. Perhaps even Zeref himself had not discovered that he actually wanted to protect August from the bottom of his heart...

”Then forget it! I donʼt want to have other work to do after educating little Black!”

”But if the plan for Boss Zeref to learn Dragon Slayer Magic does not work, then where exactly should we go to gather this fifth Dragon King?”

Evan fell into deep thought, only his gaze occasionally drifting toward Igneel. That gaze seemed to be hinting something to Igneel.

”I actually have a son named Ignia. According to this girl Selene, that brat Ignia is called the Fire Dragon God in Guiltina, and his reputation is so loud, even greater than mine! I think no matter how bad that brat is, he should not be much weaker than Selene~”

”Hehe, and I also heard that brat always tells others that he is number one under heaven and that his strength far surpasses Black Dragon King Acnologia. The reason he does not go deal with Acnologia is because he wants to leave Acnologia to me! Hehe, since this brat claims he can defeat Acnologia, why donʼt I bring him here? This way, we will have five Dragon Kings~”

Igneel seemed to think of something after sensing Evanʼs gaze and suddenly spoke.

”Hehe, heʼs exactly who I was waiting for.”

In response, Evan smiled faintly. Yes, all of this was within Evanʼs plan. If there were no issues, then Fairy Tail would soon joyfully obtain another Dragon King-level powerhouse. When that time came, in the entire Earth-land, there would probably no longer be anything that could stop Fairy Tail! Even a god would not do...

After they finished dealing with little Black, they would go deal with the God Dragons entrenched in Guiltina. Not a single one of those guys would be able to run.

Second update, six thousand eight hundred words. Also, let me say something about Kagura. Kagura will become an S-Class Mage, but it will be later. Poor Kagura, she still has to suffer for another year~