Fairy Tail: Collapsing Stars

Chapter 427: Seeing Mavisʼs Family of Three Looking Happy, Someone Broke Down

”Fairy Tail really has fallen into a Dark Guild...”

Prechtʼs expression was gloomy as he looked at the short black-haired young man, constantly shaking his head and sighing.

Originally, Precht had thought that by founding the Mage Guild Grimoire Heart and using the power of light to influence the world, he would one day be able to guide Fairy Tail away from its evil path and back onto the right path!

However, the instant Precht saw that black-haired young man, he gave up! Because that black-haired young man was Prechtʼs guide on the path of magic. At the same time, he was the teacher who had taught him all of his Black Magic, the legendary Black Wizard Zeref. Yes, the instant Precht saw Zeref, he achieved enlightenment!

All of this was Zerefʼs scheme. Zeref was playing a grand game!

Zeref appeared to be placing his pieces on the Western Continent, but in reality, he was merely gathering the power of the entire Western Continent to cultivate excellent Mages for himself! Zerefʼs true target was Fairy Tail. He intended to control Fairy Tail and use it to conquer the world!

”Hehe, in the end, itʼs all for world conquest!”

Precht glanced at Makarov with disdain in his heart. Now that Black Wizard Zeref himself had come, did this brat Makarov still dare claim Fairy Tail was a light Mage Guild? Still dare say Fairy Tail fought for justice? Still dare say Fairy Tail gathering so much combat power wasnʼt for world conquest?

Donʼt joke around. Did they really think he didnʼt know what the Alvarez Empire, which Zeref founded on the Western Continent, had been doing all these years? Yes, the Alvarez Empire swept across all directions and unified the continent. Wasnʼt its goal world conquest?!

”...”

However, Makarovʼs current shock was no less than Prechtʼs. His eyes were wide open as he looked at the black-haired young man in astonishment, constantly thinking in his heart.

”Heʼs acting pretty convincingly!”

Unfortunately, the wise Precht had already seen through everything. He faced Makarov and smiled coldly.

”Act! Makarov, keep acting! Iʼll see how long you plan to keep this up!”

Precht gently shook his head. Since Zeref himself had now become a member of Fairy Tail, everything he had done before seemed somewhat laughable.

But this was fine too. At least Mavis was safe...

What was the ultimate ideology of a simp? The ultimate ideology of a simp was that everything was for her happiness!

”Mavis, this is wonderful. Your husband Zeref and your child August are both still alive. You will definitely be happy~”

Prechtʼs gaze moved back and forth between Mavis, August, and Zeref. He gently touched his heart and felt a pain inside. Precht himself did not know why his heart hurt so much...

If eighty years ago, he had not abandoned August in the wilderness, perhaps the person standing beside August and Mavis now would have been Precht, right? As Precht thought this, he gently shook his head and let out a helpless sigh.

”Then everyone, let us begin this yearʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial~”

Zeref smiled as he looked at the Fairy Tail Mages standing in the same row as him inside the Guild. His expression was gentle and refined. Zeref did not look like a Mage; he looked more like a nobleman, an elegant artist. Zeref was a master constantly advancing in the art known as Black Magic, the man standing at the pinnacle of Black Magic in Earth-land...

However, this top-class Black Magic artist currently kept all of his magic restrained, making it impossible for others to see any power contained within him...

”Youʼre also surnamed Dragneel? Why?”

Natsu stared fiercely at Zeref. Ever since August had spoken Zerefʼs name, he had felt confused. Why did this black-haired young man have the same surname as him?

”Because Iʼm your real older brother, Natsu~”

Zeref smiled slightly. With his hands behind his back, he directly revealed the truth to Natsu.

”Huh?!”

”Natsuʼs real older brother?”

After hearing Zerefʼs words, the Mages inside Fairy Tail all let out shocked voices. Their eyes fixed tightly on Natsu and Zeref, looking back and forth between them.

”Hm? I donʼt remember having an older brother like you...”

After hearing Zerefʼs words, Natsuʼs pupils trembled. He subconsciously looked toward the Guild bar counter, where Ignia was sitting like some old lord.

”Stupid little brother, why are you looking at me?”

”Your sense of smell hasnʼt stopped working, right?”

”If it hasnʼt, then you should be able to tell that black-haired bastard really is your real older brother, shouldnʼt you?”

Ignia leaned against the bar and spoke to Natsu impatiently.

As dragons, or Dragon Slayer Mages, their noses were far sharper than hunting dogs. They had practically reached the point where they could determine whether two people were blood-related by scent alone!

”Huh? This black-haired young man with the same name as Black Wizard Zeref is actually Natsuʼs brother? What shocking gossip...”

After Ignia finished speaking, the Mages inside Fairy Tail were all stunned. With Ignia confirming it, Zeref and Natsuʼs relationship was basically confirmed.

”Natsu and that Black Wizard Zeref... actually have that kind of relationship?”

Mirajane looked as though she had just eaten an enormous piece of gossip. After all, she had already learned from Seilahʼs expression beside her that this Zeref was indeed the legendary Black Wizard.

”If thatʼs the case, doesnʼt that make Natsu Augustʼs uncle?”

Precht knew even more than Mirajane. He knew August was Zeref and Mavisʼs son, and now that he knew Natsuʼs relationship with Zeref, he was immediately shocked. His expression was full of astonishment.

”...”

August felt Prechtʼs shocked gaze. He knew that what he had hidden for many years could no longer be hidden. Yes, Natsu, this guy who looked like he had a missing screw in his head, was his dear uncle~

”I donʼt care whether youʼre my real older brother or anything else!”

”As long as youʼre my opponent, then Iʼll knock all of you flying!”

Feeling everyoneʼs gazes in the Guild, Natsu showed no hesitation at all. Even though he already knew that this black-haired young man might truly be his real older brother, so what?! His fist absolutely would not hesitate in the slightest...

In this world, anyone who hindered him from becoming Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mage, whether it was his older brother, Black Wizard Zeref, or anything else, he would knock them all flying!

”Haha, is that so? Natsu, seeing you this energetic satisfies me as your older brother!”

”But I absolutely wonʼt let go of Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial this year~”

”So...”

After hearing Natsuʼs words, Zeref smiled faintly. He was not angry because of Natsuʼs words.

On the contrary...

Natsuʼs words actually reassured Zeref as an older brother!

”Natsu, and everyone participating in Fairy Tailʼs X783 S-Class Mage Promotion Trial!”

”Although I donʼt really want to attack any of you! Iʼm sorry, but this year, I am determined to win Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial! So could all of you give me some face and withdraw here? That way, no one has to get hurt, I can get what I want, and everyone can be happy...”

Zeref stood inside Fairy Tail with his hands behind his back. Looking at the exceptionally talented Fairy Tail Mages before him, he smiled faintly.

”Huh? What kind of joke is that?”

”Yeah! Yeah!”

”Who do you think you are?”

”Even if you really are the legendary Black Wizard Zeref, we wonʼt hand over Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mage qualification to you...”

After Zeref finished speaking, Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mage candidates, the Mages selected by August to participate in the trial, all roared at Zeref.

However, among the S-Class candidate Mages, including Natsu, Gray, Lyon, and the others...

Only one person was now looking at Zeref with terror! That person was none other than Bickslow, who possessed the Figure Eyes and could directly see human souls.

”What kind of joke is this? Is this really a soul a human can possess?”

Bickslowʼs magic-glowing eyes kept flickering. He could not believe what he was seeing.

A normal human soul was roughly the size of a soccer ball. As for Dragon King-level powerhouses like Evan, their souls took the form of their dragonized state, filled with overwhelming dragon might! Once Bickslow used Figure Eyes to interfere with Evan and the others, he would be intimidated by endless dragon might.

However, Zerefʼs situation was different from both ordinary people and dragons!

In Bickslowʼs eyes, Zerefʼs soul was a mass of pitch-black mist. It made it impossible to see the direction ahead, leaving one lost, confused, puzzled, and terrified...

”Hey! Bickslow, what did you see?”

As a member of the Thunder God Tribe and Bickslowʼs teammate, Evergreen had never seen Bickslow reveal such a horrified expression before, so she asked him.

”Evergreen, listen to me...”

”This guy in front of us isnʼt human! Heʼs a demon from the abyss. He is absolutely not someone ordinary people like us can handle! Listen to me. Letʼs forfeit this yearʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial together! Next time, weʼll try to win the trial next time!”

After hearing Evergreenʼs question, Bickslow spoke to her earnestly in a trembling voice.

”Bickslow, I never thought you were such a coward! As Mages, the most important thing is to move forward bravely!”

”If we retreat now, how are we supposed to catch up to Laxus?”

After hearing Bickslowʼs words, Evergreen shouted angrily.

”No! This isnʼt a matter of whether we can catch up to Laxus or not...”

Bickslow shook his head, his expression carrying some helplessness.

The one standing before them was not human! He was the abyss of magic!

”Then let me offer everyone one final piece of advice! Give up this yearʼs trial! The magic I have learned is far too powerful, and Iʼm afraid I wonʼt be able to hold back! I donʼt want to hurt you...”

Zeref was too kind. Even now, he continued persuading the young people in the Guild.

”Impossible!”

”We will definitely defeat you!”

”No one can convince us to surrender!”

Unfortunately, the candidates led by Gray, Lyon, and Natsu did not appreciate it at all. They shouted that they would rely on their own strength to defeat Zeref.

”I forfeit...”

Unfortunately, a traitor appeared among them. Bickslow chose to tactically forfeit without the slightest hesitation. He was not surrendering; he merely intended to spare Zeref this time and fight again next year!

”What?!”

Natsu and the others looked at Bickslow with disbelief in their eyes. In their impression, Bickslow was not someone who would give up so easily.

”A wise decision!”

Zeref looked at Bickslow, who had chosen to give up, and nodded lightly.

He affirmed Bickslowʼs surrender...

”Then next, everyone who did not choose to surrender, I will define you as people who intend to fight me to the end.”

Zeref looked at Bickslow and the others, the corners of his mouth rising as he spoke.

”Hm?!”

At the same time, Natsu and the others, who had originally still planned to persuade Bickslow to return and fight Zeref with them, suddenly froze. For a moment, they felt that Zeref before them seemed very wrong...

How should it be put? Compared to the gentle and refined Zeref from before, the current Zeref seemed like an entirely different person.

”Then everyone! Watch closely. Iʼm about to make my move!”

Zeref still smiled. Before attacking Natsu and the others, he still did not forget to remind them.

Immediately afterward, pitch-black and eerie airflow suddenly erupted from Zerefʼs body! His terrifying magic power caused the atmosphere over all of Magnolia Town, and even the Kingdom of Fiore, to sink...

For a time, the sky above the Kingdom of Fiore, which was about the same size as Australia from Evanʼs previous life, was covered in dark clouds! Dark magic power was everywhere, as if the entire world had fallen into a silent, deserted abyss...

”The nature of his magic power changed!”

Natsu and the others stared at Zeref, who was wrapped in pitch-black magic power, with crimson eyes like a demon from hell. They were all stunned. They could not believe that this demon and the polite Zeref from before were actually the same person.

”Could this guy really be that Black Wizard Zeref?”

Cold sweat hung on Natsu and the othersʼ faces as they looked at Zeref and asked aloud.

”If thatʼs the case, wouldnʼt Natsu be Black Wizard Zerefʼs younger brother?”

Lisanna seemed to think of something and asked Natsu.

”I donʼt know...”

At that moment, even Natsu himself was completely thrown into chaos by the endless magic power Zeref released.

”Donʼt be afraid! This guy is only one person. As long as we unite, there will always be hope of victory!”

Mystogan fixed both eyes on Zeref. With his intelligence and judgment, there was only one way to defeat Zeref now, and that was to unite every force they could unite...

”Youʼre a traveler from Edolas, arenʼt you?”

After hearing Mystoganʼs words, Zeref softly asked him.

”...”

Mystogan seemed not to expect Zeref to see through his identity at a glance. He hesitated for a moment, then nodded lightly.

”Traveler from Edolas, and Natsu, perhaps you have misunderstood something...”

”You were never the side with greater numbers...”

”Although I donʼt know when you developed the illusion that you held the numerical advantage, I still have to tell you that I am the one with the numerical advantage! And I possess an absolute numerical advantage...”

The dark airflow around Zeref continued to surge. He softly spoke to Natsu and the others as magic power kept flowing from his body.

”Precht, you should watch closely too! This is different from the magic you have always imitated from me!”

”This is the true magic flowing through the legendary Black Wizard Zeref... in other words, magic created by me!”

As Zeref spoke, darkness from his body enveloped all of Fairy Tail.

The next second, countless Magic Barrier Particles gathered toward Zeref. Then...

Those countless Magic Barrier Particles transformed before Natsu and the others into towering demons! Every single one of these demons possessed strength comparable to Deliora, or even far beyond Deliora...

”Is this Heavenʼs Executioner, Tenbatsu?! But can the demons created by Tenbatsu really be this powerful?”

Precht widened his eyes as he looked at the demons Zeref had created.

”No! This isnʼt Tenbatsu. This is demon creation!”

As a demon personally created by Zeref, Seilah looked at the pitch-black evils born into the world in response to Zerefʼs call. Her pupils trembled slightly. She could sense that every one of those demons possessed the same essence as her!

Simply put, Zeref had created demons right in front of Fairy Tailʼs Mages!

”Go, my servants~”

With his hands behind his back, Zeref looked at the countless demons he had created and softly gave his command.

”ROAR!!”

Accompanied by a burst of furious roars, the demons rapidly charged toward Natsu and the others.

”What kind of joke is this?”

”Can great demons of this level really be created so easily?”

Silver crossed his arms and frowned as he looked at the great demons resurrected under Zerefʼs magic.

If these so-called great demons were merely servants Zeref could create at will, then what meaning did the Devil Slayer Magic he had worked so hard to train in have?

”Donʼt misunderstand.”

”The reason Devil Slayer Magic was born in this world was originally to help me clean up the unnecessary trash I left behind in this world!”

Zeref seemed to see through Silverʼs doubts. With one glance, he pierced through Silverʼs condition.

In response, Zeref merely smiled gently and comforted Silver in his own style.

”...”

Hearing this, Silver immediately fell silent for a while.

”BOOM!!”

One hour later.

Accompanied by repeated roars, Natsu and the others collapsed to the ground.

”Too strong!”

Freed, Gray, Lyon, Elfman, and the others looked helplessly at the roaring demons, unable to do anything.

”August~”

Zeref looked at Freed and the others lying on the ground, then gently tilted his head and smiled slightly at August.

”Yes, Your Majesty~”

After spending so many years with Zeref, August naturally understood his emperorʼs thoughts very well.

He smiled and nodded gently to Zeref.

”Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial is officially over! The winner is... Zeref Dragneel~”

August happily announced the result of Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial this year.

”Sorry, Natsu.”

Zeref looked at his fallen younger brother and gently shook his head. He walked straight to the Guild stage, then fixed his eyes on the beautiful girl in ghost form.

”Then, please allow me to say it once again! Long time no see, Mavis!”

Looking at the beautiful girl before him, Zeref revealed a sincere smile.

Only Mavis, now in ghost form, could sense just how much restraint lay behind Zerefʼs smile!

The fact that Zeref could keep controlling himself and avoid triggering Ankhseramʼs curse clearly meant he had put in tremendous effort...

”Phew...”

In response, Mavis merely patted her pretty cheeks, then also put on a bright smile.

”Welcome home, Zeref~”

Mavis looked at Zeref before her, her eyes gentle as water, like a newlywed wife.

”Although itʼs only temporary, being able to see that you are still well already satisfies me!”

”Mavis, both of us still need to wait a little longer. Before long, everything will end...”

Zerefʼs eyes were filled entirely with the girl before him. He knew very well that he did not have much time left to meet Mavis. Looking at the girl before him, how could Zeref possibly restrain his emotions? He could feel that Ankhseramʼs gaze was about to fall upon him.

”...”

August said nothing. He merely knew clearly in his heart that in this world, the people tortured by Ankhseramʼs curse while patiently waiting were not only Mavis and Zeref! He was looking forward to the day he could acknowledge his father and mother.

”Although disturbing everyone right now isnʼt very good...”

”I still hope everyone will look this way~”

”One, two, three, smile~”

Just as Zeref and Mavis were gazing affectionately at each other, a voice attracted their attention.

For a moment, Zeref, Mavis, and August all looked toward the direction of the voice.

”Click~”

With a light sound, Evan pressed the shutter, leaving behind a group photo of Zeref, August, and Mavis.

”Consider this my gift to all of you~”

After using magic to directly develop the photo, Evan looked at Zeref, Mavis, and August in the picture, all showing the same cute blank expression, and smiled gently. Then he held the photo and walked over to them.

”What is this?”

Zeref, Mavis, and August looked at the photo Evan handed them. Their eyes flickered, as if some emotion was bursting deep inside their hearts.

”Hehe, it seems I still couldnʼt restrain myself!”

Zeref tightly gripped the photo in his hand. He seemed to sense something. He thought of the first time he met Mavis, and the first time he met August. Then he seemed to understand something. The emotions in his heart erupted like a fountain, and Ankhseramʼs gaze seemed to have completely fallen upon him.

Thus, the strongest Black Wizard in Earth-land laughed self-mockingly. He had already made his decision.

”Thank you, Evan...”

”And then, let us look forward to meeting again, Mavis, and August...”

As Zeref spoke, the pitch-black portal like an abyss opened beside him once more.

Zeref walked away without hesitation. At that moment, there was no confusion in his heart! Because Zeref clearly understood deep in his heart that todayʼs parting was only for the reunion in the future!

August and Mavis looked at Zerefʼs back. They said nothing. Everything was understood without words.

However, just as August, Mavis, and Zerefʼs family of three reunited, someone in the Guild broke down!

As for who it was, Evan would not say...