Fairy Tail: Collapsing Stars

Chapter 444: Fairy Tail, a Den of Demons

”Uh...”

”What... what an overwhelming power?!”

The ʼDesert Kingʼ Ajeel collapsed to his knees atop the tall conference table.

His eyes were fixed on Evan, Irene, Selene, Igneel, Ignia, and August, opened so wide they nearly popped out.

Although Ajeel believed his strength fully deserved the title of a Spriggan 12...

Even so, when confronted by the terrifying magical power released by Evan and the others, he felt only a single emotion.

Despair.

Within the great Alvarez Empire, there was a legend...

It was said that August had read every single book stored in the Imperial Central Grand Library, mastering every magic ever recorded upon the Western Continent.

In other words, August was a man who had mastered nearly every magic in existence.

That was why he had been granted the title of Magic King.

Across the vast Western Continent and the Alvarez Empire, only their great Emperor, the legendary Black Wizard Zeref, was believed capable of defeating August.

Thus, August was known throughout the Western Continent as ”Calamity” and ”Despair,” an existence said to be impossible to overcome.

This was no mere rumor.

As one of the Spriggan 12, Ajeel had always believed it to be true...

Until he arrived at Fairy Tail and met Ignia, Irene, and Selene.

At this very moment, every single person within Fairy Tail releasing overwhelming magical power possessed strength equal to Augustʼs...

Or perhaps even greater.

In other words...

If any one of them were placed within the Alvarez Empire, they would each be classified as a Calamity or Despair-level existence.

”The world is so vast... and we are so insignificant...”

Feeling the violent waves of magical power, Ajeel knelt upon the ground like a devout believer.

The proud Desert King had finally lowered his arrogant head.

”So many powerful people have appeared...”

”As expected of Fairy Tail!”

”As expected of His Majesty Zerefʼs chosen arm~”

Compared to Ajeel—who had met the very pinnacle among Fairy Tailʼs monsters the moment he encountered the guild, and had been so overwhelmed by Evan and the other beings standing at the summit of Earth-land, Edolas, and Elentear that he collapsed to his knees—the Winter General Invel Yura remained much calmer.

With his hands clasped behind his back and his brows tightly furrowed, his heart was filled only with endless admiration for his great Emperor.

After all...

When the Alvarez Empire had launched its invasion of Ishgar, Ignia had not yet joined Fairy Tail.

Yet now...

Fairy Tail had become even stronger than before.

The Alvarez Empire had continued growing stronger...

But so had Fairy Tail.

And Fairy Tailʼs rate of growth was clearly even faster.

At that moment, the lingering dissatisfaction Invel once felt over Zeref choosing Fairy Tail instead of the Alvarez Empire completely vanished.

Only reverence remained.

And heartfelt admiration for Zeref.

”S-So powerful!”

”Even time itself has become distorted!”

”It wonʼt stop... It simply wonʼt stop...”

The War Queen Dimaria stared at Evan and the others.

Merely by releasing their magical power, they caused the heavens and earth to change color, disrupted the flow of time and space throughout Elentear, and sent every particle of magic in the air into violent turmoil.

As a descendant of the God of Time, Dimaria dared claim that no one understood time better than she did.

Precisely because she was so sensitive to time...

She could clearly sense just how immense a burden these overwhelmingly powerful beings had placed upon the flow of time across Earth-land.

The current torrent of time was far too violent.

Far too chaotic.

Forget stopping time with the power inherited from the God of Time...

She couldnʼt even accelerate her own personal time anymore.

In other words...

The moment Irene and the others released their magical power...

All Dimaria could do was stand there trembling in fear.

Before absolute power...

Her authority over time meant absolutely nothing.

”...”

Standing beside Dimaria, Brandish merely glanced at the trembling woman without saying a word.

In truth...

Since Brandishʼs mother, Grammi, had never died, Brandish had spent most of her childhood on the continent of Ishgar with the Heartfilia family, together with Lucy and Michelle.

Because of that, she had never been particularly close to Dimaria.

The only reason Dimaria treated her well was because among the Spriggan 12...

They were the only two women.

Just as the Spriggan 12 were still reeling from Fairy Tailʼs monstrous upper echelon...

The monsters releasing that terrifying magical power finally moved.

”My fate is mine—not Heavenʼs!”

Ignia inhaled deeply and let out a deafening roar.

The tremendous magical power within him naturally enveloped his entire body.

Facing Evan and the others...

Holding back would not only disrespect them.

It would disrespect himself.

Thus, after that thunderous roar...

His appearance changed dramatically.

His wild long hair vanished.

His skin turned crimson-red, as though molten lava flowed through the veins beneath it.

His eyes glowed with blazing golden light.

A pair of wings erupted from his back.

Sharp horns sprouted from his head.

A long tail extended behind him.

This reptilian creature with enormous wings...

Had a name known throughout this world of magic.

Dragon.

”ROAR!!”

In the blink of an eye...

The delinquent-like Ignia vanished.

In his place stood a gigantic dragon over thirty meters long.

His wingspan stretched nearly one hundred meters, blotting out the sky.

”H-Hey...”

”No way... Heʼs transforming into a dragon inside the guild?”

”I suddenly have a really bad feeling about this...”

Having spent several weeks inside Fairy Tail, Lucy was no longer surprised by dragons.

Ironically...

Although this guild was called Fairy Tail, it had practically been occupied by another mythical species.

And there were so many dragons that it completely contradicted every history book claiming dragons were nearly extinct.

Just as Lucyʼs heart began pounding wildly...

Igniaʼs massive tail hanging in the air suddenly swung unconsciously.

The tail, over ten meters long, swept directly toward the guild members...

Including Lucy.

”I knew this would happen!”

Watching the gigantic tail hurtling toward her, Lucyʼs eyelids twitched violently.

She had already guessed it.

Whenever a dragon revealed its true form inside Fairy Tail...

The entire guild was destined for disaster.

And in the end...

Everyone would inevitably end up getting flattened.

”Lucy, donʼt be afraid!”

”Iʼll protect you...”

Just as Lucy stared at Igniaʼs gigantic tail in panic...

A pitch-black figure suddenly appeared beside her.

Scooping her effortlessly into his arms, he spoke in a warm, magnetic voice beside her ear.

The sound of that voice made Lucyʼs heart skip a beat.

She even felt as though someone were gently caressing her ears, giving them a luxurious massage.

Blushing slightly, Lucy turned around...

Then froze.

The man holding her wore a black suit.

His face was swollen beyond recognition.

Half blue.

Half purple.

Bloated like a pigʼs head.

”Who the hell are you?!”

Lucy shouted with twitching eyelids.

”Itʼs me, Lucy!”

”Iʼm Leo!”

”Leo, the Lion Spirit!”

The swollen-faced man cried painfully.

”Leo?”

”Youʼre Leo?”

”How did you end up looking like this?!”

Only after hearing his voice and recognizing his orange hair did Lucy finally identify him.

”Itʼs a long story...”

”It all started the last time I heroically left the Spirit World on my own authority as the leader of the Zodiac Spirits...”

Leo said, tears welling up in his eyes.

”So if itʼs a long story... donʼt tell it!”

Lucy snapped.

In truth...

She already remembered exactly what had happened.

She also remembered how Leo had abandoned her afterward.

All she had to say was...

Serves you right.

You brought this upon yourself.

”Lucy, thatʼs not important!”

”The important thing is...”

”Iʼll never be distracted by another womanʼs beauty again!”

”Believe me!”

”I belong to you alone!”

”Please let us start over...”

Leo tightly grasped Lucyʼs delicate hands and spoke with complete sincerity.

Although...

If one looked carefully...

His eyes were still rather impure.

”Uh...”

”Letʼs wait until your face recovers first.”

Lucy replied awkwardly.

Right now...

Leo wasnʼt handsome in the slightest.

”Lucy!”

”My sincerity is as true as Heaven and Earth!”

”I—”

Leo dropped to one knee before Lucy and continued swearing his devotion.

But as he lifted his head...

His eyes accidentally drifted toward Selene in the distance.

What did it mean to fall in love at first sight?

This.

At that instant...

Leo swore he had never seen such an unbelievably beautiful woman.

She was as pure and radiant as the full moon.

A celestial maiden who seemed far too perfect to exist in the mortal world.

The moment Leo laid eyes on Selene...

He casually tossed Lucy aside.

Thud!

The instant Lucy left Leoʼs arms...

Igniaʼs gigantic tail smashed into her.

”Iʼll remember this, Leo!”

”Iʼll remember this forever!”

”Forget it!”

”Iʼll never trust you again!”

”You cheating jerk!”

Lucy screamed as she crashed through the second-floor windows and flew straight toward Magnoliaʼs river.

Buzz!

Leo gazed passionately at Selene.

First, he used the power of the Celestial Spirits to restore his face to its original appearance.

Changing oneʼs appearance was among the most basic abilities of Celestial Spirits.

The greatest master of that art was naturally the Virgo Spirit, Virgo.

Although Leo believed his flirting skills were unmatched even while looking hideous...

A handsome face was still the best key to opening a maidenʼs heart.

Outside...

Just as Lucy splashed into the river...

A young woman in a maid outfit with short pink hair lifted the soaking-wet Lucy in a princess carry and emerged from the water.

”Thank you, Virgo~”

Lucy gratefully said.

”My Princess...”

”Was that sarcasm?”

Virgo bowed politely, asking in her usual emotionless tone.

”Itʼs a compliment!”

”A compliment!”

Lucy hurriedly explained.

”Oh, right, Princess.”

”These are the keys you dropped earlier.”

”Please protect them carefully.”

”Otherwise Lady Aquarius will twist your head off.”

Virgo returned Lucyʼs bundle of Celestial Spirit Keys.

”Ah...”

Looking at her keys, Lucy couldnʼt help imagining Aquarius discovering sheʼd lost them again...

And immediately crushing her skull in fury.

”Anyway... thank you again, Virgo.”

”No need to thank me.”

Virgo gently shook her head before shyly asking,

”Princess...”

”Would you like to play XX play with me next?”

”No!”

Lucy rejected the suggestion instantly, her face bright red.

”Then I shall take my leave...”

A trace of disappointment flashed through Virgoʼs eyes before she bowed once more and disappeared.

Sigh...

After Virgo left, Lucy let out a long sigh.

Virgo, one of the few Celestial Spirits alongside Leo capable of freely traveling between the Human World and the Spirit World without needing her key...

Was perfect in every way.

Except...

She had a few issues with her personality.

”I wonder how that idiot Leo is doing...”

Although Lucy insisted she no longer cared about him...

He was still her Celestial Spirit.

She couldnʼt help worrying.

Meanwhile...

”My beautiful lady...”

”I wonder if you might have time to accompany me tonight~”

A red rose between his lips, Leo knelt before Selene with a charming smile.

”Oh my~”

”Is this for me?”

”Thank you.”

Selene blinked in surprise before smiling brightly.

”Hehe~”

”Only someone as beautiful as you deserves this flower.”

”In fact, this isnʼt an ordinary rose.”

”Itʼs a Star Spirit Rose cultivated within the Spirit World.”

”As long as the stars continue shining...”

”It will never wither.”

”Just like you...”

”Your beauty shall shine forever, eternal as the stars themselves...”

Leo launched into a passionate speech.

”Is that so?”

”How thoughtful.”

”You know...”

”Iʼve already tasted dragons.”

”And demons.”

”But in all these hundreds of years...”

”Iʼve never tasted a Celestial Spirit before.”

”You seem to have plenty of spiritual energy.”

”How about spending tonight playing with your big sister~?”

The pure, moon-like goddess Leo admired...

Uttered words that completely shattered his worldview.

”Huh?”

”I... donʼt quite understand what youʼre saying...”

Leo asked blankly.

”Just wait a little.”

”Once I finish beating that arrogant brat...”

”Iʼll play with you.”

The instant Selene finished speaking...

Her body became covered in white fur.

Nine long, fluffy tails spread out behind her.

An ocean-like wave of magical power erupted from her body.

In the blink of an eye...

The moonlike beauty vanished.

In her place stood a gigantic divine fox the same size as Ignia.

Powerful.

Violent.

Holy.

Three contradictory qualities perfectly united within a single existence.

This magnificent divine fox possessed a name that echoed throughout the world.

Dragon.

”Huh?!”

The instant Leo saw the dragon before him...

He chickened out.

He liked beautiful women.

Not dragons.

”Um...”

”Sorry!”

”Itʼs all been a misunderstanding!”

Leo immediately attempted to return to the Spirit World using his authority as leader of the Zodiac Spirits.

”And where exactly do you think youʼre going?”

Selene merely curled one of her massive tails around him.

At the same time...

Her golden eyes locked down the surrounding space.

As the Moon Dragon God, Selene ruled over space itself.

She possessed the power to freely travel between worlds.

Leoʼs understanding of spatial magic couldnʼt even compare.

The moment he tried escaping...

Selene severed his connection to the Spirit World.

”Iʼm doomed...”

Leoʼs face immediately turned pale.

Normally...

Even if a Celestial Spirit exhausted all their magic, they would automatically return to the Spirit World.

As leader of the Zodiac Spirits, however, Leo could remain in the Human World indefinitely if he wished.

Unfortunately...

Now he no longer had a choice.

”Lucy!”

”Save me!”

”I knew you were my one true love!”

Leo laughed bitterly.

Even after being beaten until his face was swollen beyond recognition...

His flirting skills had remained unmatched.

Yet this time...

He had finally met his match.

Still...

He wasnʼt afraid.

He had one final trump card.

As long as his contractor Lucy forcibly closed his gate with his key...

He would still be returned to the Spirit World.

Everything now rested on his adorable master.

”Drop dead.”

”You cheating jerk!”

Just then...

Lucy, soaked from falling into the river and practically enjoying a full wet play, pushed open the guild doors.

Hearing Leoʼs plea for help...

She smiled sweetly.

Raised her thumb.

Then slowly turned it downward.

”Ah...”

”Iʼm really dead this time.”

Seeing Lucyʼs drenched appearance, Leo smiled bitterly.

BOOM!!

Before he could think further...

Selene and Ignia collided.

The impact between the two mountain-sized dragons created a deafening sonic boom.

The shockwave launched the entire Fairy Tail guild building into the sky.

”ROAR!!”

With furious roars...

The two dragons soared into the heavens.

RUMBLE!!

Dark clouds gathered.

Lightning flashed.

At some point...

Evan had also completed his Dragonification.

He transformed into an enormous azure dragon.

His eyes alone were larger than millstones...

Comparable to two two-story buildings.

His head alone rivaled the size of the other dragons.

His body stretched over a thousand meters.

This was the tremendous transformation brought about by pushing his Dragon Power to an unprecedented level.

”ROAR!!”

With a thunderous roar...

The azure dragon lunged directly toward Ignia.

Seeing the colossal dragon rushing toward him...

Ignia attempted to dodge.

But Seleneʼs tails wrapped tightly around him.

Unable to move...

Ignia had no choice but to coat his entire body in Dragon Flames.

”ROAR!!”

Feeling the terrifying heat...

Selene cried out and immediately released him.

Her beautiful white tails had already begun to singe.

”ROAR!”

Ignia proudly roared at Selene, showing off his strength.

He was telling her...

He possessed the power to seriously injure...

Or even kill her.

”ROAR!”

Before Ignia could continue boasting...

Evanʼs enormous jaws snapped shut around him.

”ROAR!!”

The overwhelming pain made Igniaʼs eyes roll back instantly.

Still...

He retaliated by blasting Evan with Dragon Flames.

Unlike Selene...

Evan, who also possessed the power of fire, swallowed every last bit of Igniaʼs Dragon Flames...

Converting them directly into his own magical power.

Crackle...

Then...

Evan unleashed a torrent of lightning from his mouth.

The terrifying thunder pierced straight through Igniaʼs body.

Turning into a streak of white light...

It blasted Ignia across the ocean.

In an instant...

He arrived on the opposite side of the world.

The Western Continent.

BOOM!!

Countless villagers living near the coast looked up in shock.

The clear sky suddenly echoed with thunder.

”Everyone!”

”Go home!”

”Bring in your laundry!”

Someone immediately shouted.

People rushed home to collect their drying clothes.

Unfortunately...

Only thunder echoed overhead.

Not a single drop of rain fell.

Their efforts were wasted.

”ROAR!!”

Having taken Evanʼs attack head-on...

Ignia had already lost consciousness.

His eyes rolled back as lightning coursed through his body.

The gigantic dragon plummeted helplessly toward the ground.

”H-Hey!”

”What do we do now?!”

Watching Igniaʼs mountain-sized body fall directly toward the former site of Fairy Tail...

Lucy widened her eyes.

That familiar bad feeling returned once again.

Buzz!

Standing beside Lucy...

Brandish slowly raised both hands.

Her target...

A random double bed that had fallen from somewhere nearby.

BOOM!!

As Brandish activated her magic...

The bed expanded instantly.

From a normal 1.8-by-2-meter bed...

It became 180-by-200 meters.

It could no longer even be called a bed.

Even a battleship looked tiny beside it.

Its surface area exceeded three hectares.

Compared to this gigantic bed...

Even Ignia didnʼt seem that large anymore.

BOOM!!

The instant the bed finished expanding...

Ignia crashed onto its enormous mattress.

”Weʼre saved...”

”But isnʼt this a little ridiculous?!”

”You actually made a bed that huge!”

”I bet Fairy Tailʼs making tomorrowʼs headlines again!”

Lucy finally sighed in relief before loudly complaining.

”Tch.”

Brandish merely clicked her tongue dismissively.

She only cared about saving people.

How she saved them...

Or what consequences followed...

Had nothing to do with her.

Indeed...

Brandish was practically born to be a Fairy Tail wizard.

She fit Fairy Tail perfectly.

BOOM!!

Immediately afterward...

August cast a spell upon both the gigantic bed and Ignia lying atop it.

In an instant...

Brandishʼs enormous bed vanished.

And Ignia reverted to human form.

His eyes rolled back as he lay unconscious.

Ignoring Ignia completely...

August turned his magic toward Fairy Tail itself.

He cast Arc of Time.

Instantly...

The Fairy Tail guild hall, which had just been blasted into the sky by the dragons...

Rewound like a videotape.

Within moments...

Everything returned to exactly how it had been before.

It was as though nothing had happened.

If not for the Fairy Tail members still lying sprawled all over the guild...

No one would have imagined that, only moments earlier, an earth-shattering battle between the strongest beings on the continent had taken place here.

After witnessing Ultear cast Arc of Time...

The spell had naturally become one of the countless magics mastered by August.

Moreover...

Because of his immense magical power...

The Arc of Time cast by August far surpassed even Ultearʼs own.

Such was the terrifying strength of Augustʼs Copy Magic.

The instant he understood the essence of anotherʼs spell...

He could reproduce it perfectly.

And then use it even better than the original.

”Well then...”

”It is time for all of you...”

”To make your choice~”

”Any objections…”

”To joining Fairy Tail?”

August, Evan, Irene, Selene, Igneel, and the others stood together as they looked toward Ajeel the Desert King and the rest.

”Heh…”

The Spriggan 12 merely let out cold laughs.

As those who stood at the very peak of the Alvarez Empire, they still possessed their own pride.

The instant Evan and the others finished speaking, Ajeel dropped to one knee before them, wearing a carefree grin as he declared coldly,

”Iʼm convinced!”

Thus, Fairy Tail and the Alvarez Empire were officially merged, with the guild retaining the name Fairy Tail.

”Everyone, line up. Iʼll stamp your guild marks~”

”From now on, weʼre all family~”

Mirajane smiled as she took out Fairy Tailʼs guild stamp and branded the guild mark onto Desert King Ajeel, Assassin Jacob Lessio, Winter General Invel Yura, Judge Wahl Icht, War Maiden Dimaria, and Death God Bloodman.

Adding Brandish and Neinhart, who had long since borne Fairy Tailʼs guild mark…

Larcade Dragneel, who had been abducted by Selene and turned into her RBQ…

God Serena, who had defected to Evan and become his little brother…

As well as Magic King August and Scarlet Heavenly Maiden Irene Belserion, who had long since become Fairy Tail members…

In that moment, the Spriggan 12 of the Alvarez Empire were reborn within Fairy Tail!

”Um…”

”Youʼre a demon, arenʼt you?”

After stamping everyoneʼs guild marks, Mirajane narrowed her eyes and softly asked Bloodman, who was the last in line.

”N-No! Youʼve got the wrong person…”

Bloodmanʼs expression changed as he immediately turned his head away, refusing to admit it.

”Just admit it~”

”Iʼm not going to do anything to you…”

”Donʼt be scared…”

Mirajane smiled brightly at Bloodman.

”Heh…”

Bloodman merely sneered without answering.

He knew full well that Mirajane was a Take Over Mage.

At the same time, he could also sense the powerful soul of his fellow Tartaros demon, the Underworld King Mard Geer, flowing within her body.

In truth, Bloodman feared Mirajane a little because the compatibility between them was simply terrible.

Bloodmanʼs three Curses were all designed to deal with humans.

His First Seal, Bane Particles, destroyed enemies by releasing bane particles into the air.

Against someone like Mirajane, who was naturally resistant to bane particles, had strengthened that resistance through training, and had transformed her body into a demon composed of bane particles through Take Over, its effectiveness was pitifully weak.

As for Bloodmanʼs Second Seal, Fields of Corpses, which allowed him to use every Curse possessed by the demons of Tartaros…

It was equally ineffective against Mirajane.

Thanks to Evanʼs help, Mirajane had absorbed the souls of nearly every demon in Tartaros.

As a result, she could use almost every Curse from Tartaros just like Bloodman himself.

Most importantly…

Once Mirajane entered her Mard Geer Take Over form, every Curse from Tartaros except Mard Geerʼs own became virtually useless before her.

As for Bloodmanʼs Third Seal, Skull Burial…

The ability to transform into a black ghost and convert an opponentʼs body into bane particles through touch was completely meaningless against Mirajane, whose body was already composed of bane particles after taking over demon souls.

Even worse…

If Bloodman touched Mirajane while in ghost form, there was even a chance she would forcibly Take Over him.

That was why Bloodman remained extremely cautious whenever he spoke to Mirajane.

”Hmph! Whether you admit it or not…”

”One day Iʼll Take Over you.”

Mirajane looked at Bloodmanʼs cautious expression and sneered inwardly, silently swearing to make his power her own someday.

”This is bad…”

Cold sweat covered Bloodmanʼs forehead.

The pressure he felt was immense.

”Lucy, Iʼm taking this guy with me~”

”Any objections?”

Meanwhile, after the invincible Ignia had been knocked unconscious once again, Selene also returned to her human form.

Holding Leo by the neck with one hand, she looked at Lucy and asked softly.

”N-None at all!”

”Itʼs Leoʼs honor to serve you~”

Lucy immediately sold out her own Celestial Spirit with a bright smile.

”My~”

”Youʼre quite perceptive.”

”Take this~”

”If you ever run into someone you canʼt beat, use this key.”

As Selene spoke, she created a key out of thin air and handed it to Lucy.

”This is…?”

Lucy stared blankly at the key.

”This is the key to Black Night Mountain.”

Selene answered softly.

The key she gave Lucy was engraved with Seleneʼs Moonlight Wings Magic and led directly to the hot spring where Selene lived on Black Night Mountain.

”Thank you very much for your gift, Lady Selene!”

Lucy instantly understood.

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the key.

Trading one useless scumbag for the ability to summon Selene whenever her life was in danger…

No matter how she looked at it, it was an incredible bargain.

At that moment, the business instincts inherited from Jude Heartfilia finally seemed to awaken inside her.

”You earned it yourself~”

Selene spoke before disappearing from the guild with Leo.

”I got Seleneʼs key!”

After Selene left, Lucy proudly raised the key high above her head and shouted.

Holding Seleneʼs key made Lucy feel a little inflated.

For a moment, she even felt like she had become one of Fairy Tailʼs top combatants.

”Oh, right…”

”I donʼt need this guy anymore~”

Just as Lucy was celebrating, a faint feminine voice echoed through the guild.

A blue portal suddenly opened.

A thin, emaciated young man with pale blond hair was tossed out of the portal like garbage.

”Uh…”

The sickly-looking youth was none other than Larcade Dragneel, whom Selene had abducted.

”Uh…”

Lucy looked at Larcade and twitched.

She suddenly found herself sympathizing with Leoʼs future.

”Leo…”

”May you rest in peace.”

”Iʼll explain everything to that bearded old man.”

Lucy silently offered her farewell.

With Larcadeʼs return…

The entire Spriggan 12 had finally gathered within Fairy Tail.

Meanwhile…

On the second floor of Fairy Tail…

The newly joined Spriggan members stood in confrontation with Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mages.

”Hey!”

”What do we have to do to become S-Class Mages?”

With his arms crossed, Ajeel looked at Mirajane, who was blocking the staircase and preventing the Spriggans from going upstairs to accept S-Class jobs.

”Once everyone passes this yearʼs S-Class Promotion Trial, youʼll naturally become Fairy Tail S-Class Mages and gain access to the second floor.”

”But until then…”

”No matter how strong you are, please follow the guild rules.”

”For now, take ordinary jobs.”

Mirajane replied with a smile.

”What if I insist on taking an S-Class job right now?”

After joining the guild, Ajeel had wanted to show off his strength by taking on a mission.

But ordinary jobs were far too boring.

So he had gone straight for the S-Class requests…

Only to be stopped by Mirajane.

”Then Iʼll stop you by force, you uncivilized brat.”

Mirajane slowly opened her smiling eyes.

A dangerous light shone within them.

”Heh…”

”So youʼre an S-Class Mage, right?”

”In other words…”

”If I defeat you S-Class Mages, that proves I have S-Class strength too.”

”So…”

”How about testing which of us is stronger, little girl?”

Ajeel provocatively smiled at Mirajane.

”Brat…”

”Donʼt think youʼve already beaten me!”

The instant Mirajane finished speaking…

A terrifying wave of Magic Power erupted from her body.

In an instant…

Her appearance changed dramatically.

Her snow-white hair turned black.

Her sapphire-blue eyes glowed crimson.

Her elegant dress transformed into a jet-black coat.

A sinister, ominous aura continuously poured from her body.

”So she really absorbed Mard Geerʼs soul…”

Bloodman looked at Mirajane without surprise.

”Youʼre pretty strong.”

Feeling the immense Magic Power inside Mirajane, Ajeel became even more eager to fight.

Boom!

A bolt of lightning flashed.

Laxus, who had been watching from the second floor, landed beside Mirajane with his arms folded.

”I heard someone wants to challenge Fairy Tailʼs rules?”

”If you want a fight…”

”Iʼll gladly oblige.”

Laxus looked at Ajeel arrogantly.

He intended to give these newcomers a proper welcome.

”Oh?”

”So itʼs going to be two against one?”

Ajeel raised an eyebrow.

”Of course not.”

”There are six of you.”

”So weʼll send six people as well.”

”Weʼll show you through our strength exactly why weʼre Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mages.”

Already tired of Ajeelʼs attitude, Erza stepped forward and established the rules.

”I see…”

”An interesting game.”

”But since this is a battle between S-Class Mages…”

”I think the dragons should stay out of it.”

”Otherwise, the match would be meaningless.”

Winter General Invel Yura stepped before Erza with his hands behind his back.

In truth…

He also wanted to measure Fairy Tailʼs strength apart from the dragons.

If the dragons participated…

There would be no point.

Even if all of them fought together, they still wouldnʼt stand a chance against Irene, Evan, or the other Dragon Kings.

”Agreed.”

Erza accepted immediately.

”Iʼm a Dragon Slayer Mage, not a dragon.”

”So Iʼm allowed, right?”

Laxus asked Invel.

”No problem.”

Invel nodded.

Dragons were forbidden.

Dragon Slayers were acceptable.

”Oho!”

”This just got interesting…”

The Fairy Tail members watching from the sidelines immediately became excited.

After all…

August himself had said every member of the Spriggan 12 possessed strength comparable to Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mages.

Many Fairy Tail members had believed only half of that statement.

After all…

No one understood the strength of Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mages better than Fairy Tail itself.

Now…

They finally had the chance to see whether August had exaggerated.

”Then our side will consist of…”

”Myself…”

”Bloodman…”

”Ajeel…”

”Jacob Lessio…”

”Dimaria…”

”And Wahl Icht.”

Invel looked at Erza.

”And who will your six S-Class Mages be?”

This was no longer simply a conflict between Ajeel and Mirajane.

It had become a showdown between the Spriggan 12 and Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mages.

”The three of us are definitely participating.”

Erza first confirmed herself, Mirajane, and Laxus.

As for the remaining three slots…

Even she hesitated.

”Oh-ho~”

”With an opportunity like this…”

”Of course itʼs my turn!”

”Iʼm the unbelievably awesome GOD SERENA!!”

At that moment…

The twin-tailed, slightly unhinged Serena leaped down from the second floor with a grin.

”Good!”

Erza knew exactly how strong Serena was.

With him participating, she felt much more at ease.

”If Serenaʼs joining…”

”Then Iʼll fight too~”

After Serena volunteered, Neinhart, wearing crimson armor bearing Fairy Tailʼs emblem, also stepped forward.

”Neinhart!”

Invel narrowed his eyes.

”Itʼs been a long time…”

”My dear friends~”

”Allow me to show you…”

”How much stronger Iʼve become since joining Fairy Tail.”

Neinhart smiled gently.

Although he had once been one of the Spriggan 12, he still referred to them as friends.

After awakening his Second Origin, he believed he had already widened the gap between himself and the others.

”Traitor!”

Ajeel glared at Neinhart.

”Not at all~”

”Whether itʼs Fairy Tail or the Alvarez Empire…”

”Weʼre all working for His Majesty Zeref.”

”I merely transferred to another department.”

”How does that make me a traitor?”

”Besides…”

”Havenʼt all of you joined Fairy Tail now as well?”

”What makes you any different from me?”

Neinhart smiled.

”You…”

Ajeelʼs anger immediately flared.

Just as he was about to explode…

Invel placed a hand on his shoulder and stopped him.

”Youʼve gathered five people.”

”So…”

”Whoʼs the sixth?”

Invel continued.

”The sixth has arrived…”

The moment Invel finished speaking…

A deep, magnetic voice echoed through the guild.

A middle-aged man with short orange-red hair and a tattered cloak slowly walked toward them.

”Gildarts?!”

”Haha…”

”If Gildarts joins…”

”Isnʼt that kind of cheating?”

The Fairy Tail members gasped in shock.

None of them had expected such an ordinary internal dispute to draw Gildarts himself into the fight.

The game had suddenly become much more interesting.

”Brandish…”

”Arenʼt you going to help your companions?”

Lucy looked curiously at Brandish, who acted as though none of this concerned her.

”I donʼt even want to take S-Class jobs.”

”Iʼm perfectly happy like this.”

Brandish yawned lazily.

”I-I see…”

Lucy had nothing else to say.

”Lucy…”

”Youʼve learned how to stir things up too~”

”You really have become a Fairy Tail Mage.”

Happy flapped his wings in the air and laughed.

In Happyʼs eyes…

Lucy had grown once again.

”No way…”

”Underworld King Mard Geer…”

”Death God Bloodman…”

”Saint Larcade…”

”And the ultimate demon E.N.D…”

”This place is literally a demonʼs den!”

Lullaby floated above the guild bar.

As his gaze swept across Mirajane and the others, he suddenly realized a horrifying truth.

Deep inside…

He was utterly shocked.