Fairy Tail: Collapsing Stars

Chapter 488: Future Rogue: This Isnʼt the Fairy Tail I Know!

”Somethingʼs wrong! Everything has been completely wrong ever since I entered the town of Magnolia…”

Rogue stared at the towering building before him, falling into deep thought. If he hadnʼt personally seen the words FAIRY TAIL printed above the doorway, he would have thought that this building was some kind of Tower of Babel built by someone!

”No! Itʼs not just the town of Magnolia, or the fact that the building in front of me clearly doesnʼt look like a Mage Guild building!”

”To be precise, ever since I used the Eclipse Gate to travel through time and arrived in this past that is incredibly similar to, yet completely different from, the timeline I came from, the entire world has been giving off a strange feeling…”

”No wonder the old Chancellor of the Kingdom of Fiore wouldnʼt let us use the Eclipse Gate to travel into the past. I never expected something like this to happen. Itʼs truly astonishing.”

Rogue stared at the towering building before him with tightly furrowed brows. He carefully pondered the situation, having no intention of entering the Guild before him right away.

”Forget it. Since Iʼve already come here, I have to see this through! Whether I live or die, I have to give it a try. Whether the Fairy Tail before me is a den of dragons or a tigerʼs lair, it canʼt possibly be more dangerous than the world I came from…”

Future Rogue frowned as he thought for a while. Eventually, he figured things out.

The corners of his lips curled upward, and the confident light in his eyes returned once again.

Rogue was confident that after experiencing the disasters of the world he came from, no matter what else he encountered, he would be able to deal with it with ease!

After all, he was the only Dragon Slayer Mage on the continent of Ishgar who had escaped from the Black Dragon King Acnologia…

”Tsk~”

When Rogue thought of this, veins immediately bulged on his forehead.

He looked at the town before him and at the gate bearing the words FAIRY TAIL.

He knew very well that before long, everything here would become ruins!

Simply because, several years from now, the Black Dragon King Acnologia would descend into complete madness and launch a war that would engulf the entire continent of Ishgar.

And then… he would destroy everything on the continent of Ishgar!

Yes, even after gathering the strength of the entire continent, they would still be no match for Acnologia.

In fact, aside from Natsuʼs adoptive father, the Fire Dragon King Igneel, no one else—not even the dragons—would possess the ability to inflict any damage upon Acnologia!

Acnologia…

He was an invincible monster!

”Letʼs go to Fairy Tail and see whatʼs going on first!”

Thinking of this, Rogue shook his head.

No matter how brutal the future war would be or how powerful Acnologia was, none of it had happened yet.

There was still time.

As long as he confirmed the differences between this timeline and the one he came from, he could fight with everything he had and safely carry out his plan!

”Bang!”

Thinking this, Rogue pushed open the gate bearing the words FAIRY TAIL and walked into the Fairy Tail Guild.

”Hahaha! Drink up, brothers!”

”Hahaha…”

”By the way, did you guys watch the broadcast of the Grand Magic Games?! That kid Jellal is really impressive! He actually took out an entire Mage Guild by himself! That kid has really grown up!”

”Yeah, I watched it! Just as expected of Jellal! At a glance, you can tell that he learned quite a few good things from Senior Warrod and Guild Master Precht…”

”But if weʼre talking about the strongest person in this yearʼs Grand Magic Games, then it has to be Guild Master Precht, right?! Heʼs truly worthy of being the second Guild Master!”

Inside the Fairy Tail Guild Hall, Macao, Wakaba, and the other members of Fairy Tail who had already married and had children and chosen to remain in the town of Magnolia while waiting for Evan and the others to return were holding wine glasses and chatting about the Grand Magic Games.

After all, the Grand Magic Games was currently the hottest topic in the entire Kingdom of Fiore, if not the entire continent of Ishgar!

Even Fairy Tail couldnʼt escape discussing something this popular.

After all, it was a trend…

”As expected, itʼs just as I thought. The main forces of Fairy Tail arenʼt in the Guild right now. All thatʼs left are the remnants who arenʼt qualified to participate in the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial…”

Future Rogue stood at the entrance of Fairy Tail and looked at the old, weak, and injured Mages inside the Guild Hall, the corners of his lips curling upward.

Although Fairy Tail in this world wasnʼt quite the same as the one in his memories, and even the first Grand Magic Games of the Kingdom of Fiore differed in many ways from what he remembered, at least the overall direction of history was still the same as he remembered…

”Hehe, the Mages of Fairy Tail are still as optimistic as I remember!”

”Even though their main forces are still missing and their lives and deaths are unknown, they actually still have the mood to drink, chat, and discuss the Grand Magic Games. Seriously, do these guys even know what despair is?!”

Future Rogue looked at the people chatting inside Fairy Tail, and a smile suddenly appeared on his face.

He seemed to have thought of something.

He thought of those two foolish Dragon Slayer Mages who, at his most desperate moment, had refused to give up and had taken him and Sting into battle against Acnologia.

”Who are you?!”

It was precisely while Future Rogue stood there grinning foolishly that the Mages inside Fairy Tail seemed to notice him.

Although most of them merely glanced at Rogue before returning to whatever they had been doing, Macao, the branch master of Fairy Tailʼs Magnolia branch, still stood up from his seat and walked toward Future Rogue.

Macao believed that distinguishing the intentions of every Mage who entered Fairy Tail, determining whether they were good or bad, and figuring out whether they might pose a threat to Fairy Tail or its companions was the responsibility of a branch master.

Although, technically speaking, he had appointed himself to the position…

”My name is Rogue. Iʼm a Dragon Slayer Mage!”

Future Rogue looked at Macao approaching him, smiled slightly, and openly revealed his identity.

Perhaps, in Future Rogueʼs eyes, Macao was merely a minor character. Even if Macao learned his identity, it wouldnʼt have any impact on his plans, right?!

”Youʼre a Dragon Slayer Mage?!”

Macao, who had originally looked listless, immediately brightened upon hearing Rogueʼs words.

He seemed extremely shocked by Rogueʼs identity.

”Yes…”

Rogue looked at Macaoʼs astonished expression with a smile on his lips.

”As expected, he was intimidated by my identity as a Dragon Slayer Mage? That makes sense. After all, Dragon Slayer Mages are incredibly rare…”

Rogue silently thought this as he looked at Macao.

”I see! Youʼre here to join Fairy Tail, right?! Itʼs rare for another Dragon Slayer Mage to join our Fairy Tail!”

Just as Future Rogueʼs lips curled upward and he was secretly feeling pleased with himself, Macao returned to his usual expression and pulled out the Fairy Tail Guild stamp he carried with him.

He immediately pressed the stamp onto the back of Rogueʼs hand and laughed.

”Hahaha! There! From now on, youʼre a member of our Fairy Tail Guild!”

”Hm? Huh?!”

”No, wait! What are you doing?!”

Future Rogue, who had still been feeling smug a moment ago, only realized what was happening after Macao stamped the Fairy Tail Guild emblem onto the back of his hand.

For a moment, Rogue stared at the symbol of the Fairy Tail Mage Guild on the back of his hand, completely flustered.

This was nothing like what he had imagined!

”Huh? What are you talking about?”

”Of course Iʼm putting on the emblem representing our Fairy Tail Guild!”

”Whatʼs wrong with you? Or are you saying you didnʼt even know that after joining a Mage Guild, youʼd receive that Guildʼs emblem, yet you came here to apply for membership anyway?”

Macao looked completely impatient after hearing Rogueʼs words.

He felt that the Rogue before him was acting rather strangely.

”No! When did I ever say I wanted to join Fairy Tail?!”

Rogue angrily questioned Macao after hearing his words.

”What is wrong with you?”

”Didnʼt you say youʼre a Dragon Slayer Mage?”

”As a Dragon Slayer Mage, you came to Fairy Tail. If youʼre not here to eventually join our Guild, then what else could you possibly be here for?”

Macao shouted righteously at Rogue, as though he were completely in the right.

In fact, Macao couldnʼt really be blamed.

After all, the number of Dragon Slayer Mages in Fairy Tail alone was greater than the number of Mages from all other types of magic combined.

Furthermore, Irene Belserion, the mother of Dragon Slayer Mages and the worldʼs first Dragon Slayer Mage; Acnologia, the former strongest Dragon Slayer Mage; and Evan Belserion, the current strongest Dragon Slayer Mage, were all members of Fairy Tail.

And that wasnʼt even counting the three Dragon Slayer Mages whose strength was so absurd that they could hardly be considered human.

There were also several powerful dragons, such as Moon Dragon God Selene, Fire God Dragon Ignia, Fire Dragon King Igneel, and so on, along with Natsu and the other little dragon brats…

If the Guildʼs name hadnʼt been chosen by its first Guild Master, Mavis, and had instead been based on the current proportion of Dragon Slayer Mages within the Guild, there would definitely be people who believed that this Mage Guild should be called the Dragonʼs Tail.

Therefore, in Macaoʼs eyes, as long as a Dragon Slayer Mage came to Fairy Tail, they were absolutely here to join the Guild sooner or later.

Moreover, Macao had already grown accustomed to stray, wild Dragon Slayer Mages finding their way to Fairy Tail and applying to join.

After all, ever since Irene and Evan joined Fairy Tail, every year there would be lost Dragon Slayer Mages—or even wild dragons—joining Fairy Tail.

In Macaoʼs eyes, Fairy Tail was practically like home to Dragon Slayer Mages.

”What a joke?!”

”Do you think every Dragon Slayer Mage wants to join your Fairy Tail?!”

Future Rogue nearly exploded with anger after hearing Macaoʼs words.

He pointed at Macaoʼs nose and argued furiously.

”Then what else?!”

Macao was stunned by Future Rogueʼs words before asking with a frown.

”Ah? Youʼre serious?”

Rogue stared at Macaoʼs confused expression and sincere eyes.

He was stunned because he realized that Macao wasnʼt messing with him.

The man genuinely thought this way.

”Everyone, judge this for me! A wild Dragon Slayer Mage comes to our Fairy Tail Guild. What else could he possibly be here for?!”

Macao felt that Rogue was insulting his intelligence.

He immediately raised his arm and shouted toward the Mages inside the Guild.

”What?! You said a wild Dragon Slayer Mage?! Then he must have come to join our Fairy Tail Guild!”

As Macaoʼs voice fell, the various members inside Fairy Tail confidently declared.

”See? Thatʼs exactly how it is…”

Macao nodded in satisfaction and spoke to Rogue.

”Uh…”

Future Rogueʼs eye twitched slightly.

He finally understood.

It wasnʼt just Macao whose brain was messed up.

Every Mage in the entire Fairy Tail Guild had something wrong with their heads.

”Phew…”

Thinking of this, Future Rogue let out a long breath.

”Looks like I need to quickly ask about everything I came here to investigate and leave this place as soon as possible.”

Rogue thought this and decided that once he obtained enough information from Macao, he would leave Fairy Tail.

Preferably, he would never have anything to do with Fairy Tail again.

The Mages of Fairy Tail in this world seemed to have something seriously wrong with their heads.

Deep down, Rogue had already decided to draw a clear line between himself and Fairy Tail.

It seemed he had completely forgotten that Macao had just stamped the Fairy Tail Guild emblem onto the back of his hand.

”Hehe, actually, I came to Fairy Tail because I have something important to tell you!”

”Actually, you might not believe me, but I can see certain events in the future. I possess the ability to foresee the future!”

”I can tell you something that Fairy Tail desperately needs to know right now. This matter may even directly determine the rise and fall of Fairy Tail, or even whether the Guild survives or perishes!”

”Of course, after telling you this information, I will also need you to provide me with some assistance…”

Rogue knew very well that if he wanted to obtain the information he was looking for, he first needed to demonstrate enough sincerity.

Therefore, he planned to provide Macao and the other Mages of Fairy Tail with information they absolutely couldnʼt refuse.

At the same time, Rogue only told Macao that he could see events in the future rather than revealing that he had actually returned from the future.

Rogue knew that his identity was far too strange and had to remain hidden.

He absolutely couldnʼt casually reveal it to anyone!

Furthermore, for the sake of his grand plan, even with the members of Sabertooth he trusted the most, he had to remain extremely secretive.

Let alone Fairy Tail!

”Oh?!”

Sure enough, after hearing Rogue say this, Macao became interested.

”You possess the ability to foresee the future! And you say you want to help me…”

”Could it be that matter…”

Macao furrowed his brows and looked at Rogue as he asked.

”Thatʼs right! That very matter! Surely Fairy Tail has already wasted a great deal of effort because of it, right?!”

Rogue was initially stunned.

He hadnʼt expected Macao to catch on so quickly.

He immediately nodded.

”Sir, please tell me!”

Macao hadnʼt expected Rogue to have come because of that matter.

He immediately became serious, and even his gaze toward Rogue became increasingly respectful.

”Hehe…”

Future Rogue seemed to enjoy being looked at this way.

He appeared to enjoy the feeling of being treated like a prophet.

”Actually, Tenrou Island wasnʼt destroyed by Acnologia!”

Future Rogue stood with his hands behind his back, carrying himself like an unfathomable master.

Rogue decided to firmly establish his image as a prophet before Macao.

”Huh?!”

However, after Rogue finished speaking, Macao, who had originally been listening attentively, immediately lost interest.

His eyes became dull as he looked at Rogue with an expression that seemed to say, ”Are you kidding me?”

”What do you mean, Tenrou Island wasnʼt destroyed by Acnologia? Did you really need to tell me that? Isnʼt that obvious?”

”I thought you were going to tell me who would win this yearʼs Grand Magic Games so I could hurry up and place my bet! Tch… I might as well go ask Cana!”

As Macao spoke, he gave Future Rogue a disdainful look before turning around to leave.

”Wait! You know that Tenrou Island wasnʼt destroyed?!”

Future Rogue was stunned when he saw Macao turn around and leave.

He immediately grabbed Macaoʼs arm and asked anxiously.

”Isnʼt that obvious? If you came all this way just to deliberately mess with me about something like this, then congratulations! You succeeded!”

”Anyway, donʼt bother me if thereʼs nothing else. I need to think about who I should bet on when the Grand Magic Games starts later…”

”This is a major matter concerning whether Iʼll be able to survive next year!”

Macao couldnʼt be bothered to deal with Future Rogue.

Rogue had made his story sound so grand and mysterious, especially when he mentioned that it concerned the rise, fall, survival, or destruction of Fairy Tail.

Macao had thought Rogue had somehow seen through the fact that he had just lost another bet and didnʼt have much money left.

And then Rogue ended up telling him this useless nonsense?!

This was too cruel!

Wasnʼt this just bullying an honest man?!

”What?! Are your companions really less important than money in your eyes?”

Future Rogue was utterly shocked after hearing Macaoʼs words.

He had originally thought that Fairy Tail was an incredibly united Guild.

Now, he was deeply disappointed.

”Isnʼt that obvious?”

Macao revealed a helpless expression after hearing Rogueʼs question.

”How could there possibly be anything more important than money in this world?!”

Then, right in front of Rogue, Macao delivered a profound truth.

Besides, what did Tenrou Island not being destroyed by Acnologia have to do with their companions in Fairy Tail?!

Deep down, Macao simply couldnʼt understand Future Rogueʼs words.

”Uh…”

Future Rogue took several steps backward after hearing this.

He stared at Macao in disbelief.

Just like that, the hearts of Future Rogue and Macao—two people who werenʼt even operating on the same wavelength—were both wounded to some degree…

One had become utterly disappointed in Fairy Tail, believing that Fairy Tail was beyond saving and could only wait for its demise.

The other believed that Rogue clearly knew Macao was broke yet had deliberately toyed with him anyway, which was simply inhuman!

”Could it be that Fairy Tail in this timeline underwent enormous changes because of my actions?!”

”As a result, Fairy Tail in this world doesnʼt care about its companions at all?!”

”Wait! If thatʼs the case, then after Natsu and Gajeel encountered Acnologia on Tenrou Island, could they still have survived?!”

Suddenly, Future Rogue seemed to think of something.

Countless beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

He thought of a possibility.

Perhaps the Fairy Tail Tenrou team in this timeline had already been completely wiped out by Acnologia.

Of course, because of certain things in his future, Rogue would no longer feel pessimistic simply because someone had died or sacrificed themselves.

What truly concerned him was…

If Fairy Tailʼs Tenrou team had already died on Tenrou Island, would Acnologia perhaps no longer follow the same course of events as in his timeline?

Would he no longer wait nearly ten years before launching his assault on the continent of Ishgar, but instead attack the continent at any moment?!

When Rogue thought of this, despair appeared on his face, and countless beads of cold sweat formed on his forehead.

”No! Donʼt panic, Rogue. Donʼt panic! Donʼt be afraid! Everything isnʼt too late. Thereʼs still time…”

Deep inside, Rogue repeatedly comforted himself.

Then he slowly exhaled.

”Inhale… exhale…”

After taking a deep breath, Rogue looked toward Macao, who was walking away.

He had already made his decision.

The most important thing now was to determine whether Natsu and the others were alive or dead, and to find a way to ensure that everything in this timeline could proceed according to the timeline he originally came from.

Because only then could he use the Eclipse Gate seven years later to collect enough magic power through the Grand Magic Games, pierce through the four hundred years between the past and present, and summon the army of dragons that had disappeared during the Dragon King Festival four hundred years ago to defeat Acnologia…

”Thatʼs right. Iʼve already traveled into the past. As long as I want to do something, thereʼs nothing I, Rogue, canʼt accomplish!”

Thinking of this, Rogue once again restored the smile on his face.

Even Rogue himself couldnʼt remember how many times he had encouraged himself and restored his confidence like this…

Having regained his confidence, Rogue walked toward Macao and lightly patted him on the shoulder with a smile.

”Senior Macao, thereʼs something Iʼd like to ask you!”

”Hm? What is it? Go ahead and ask!”

”Inhale~ exhale~”

”But let me make this clear first. Iʼm rather busy. Youʼve only got the time it takes me to smoke one cigarette.”

Macao had originally intended to continue discussing with his fellow gambling addicts who would ultimately win this yearʼs Grand Magic Games.

But when he saw Rogue behind him, his face first showed a hint of helplessness.

Then he took out a cigarette, puffing away at it with repeated ”puff, puff” sounds as he spoke to Rogue.

”Senior Macao, may I ask… have you confirmed whether Natsu and Gajeel are alive or dead?”

Rogueʼs brows were tightly furrowed as he seriously asked Macao.

”Huh?”

Macao was stunned after hearing Rogueʼs question.

He couldnʼt understand why Rogue would ask him something like this at all.

”Those two have strong lives. They should still be alive, right?”

Macao had originally refused to answer Rogue.

But when he saw the seriousness in Rogueʼs eyes, he suddenly realized that the man before him was genuinely asking him this question.

He wasnʼt joking around or trying to kill time.

Therefore, Macao still answered Rogueʼs question.

At the same time, after answering, Macao added:

”What, do you have some grudge against Natsu and Gajeel?”

”Those two really are a little crazy when theyʼre out on missions. But if you spend enough time with them, youʼll discover that theyʼre just as crazy in their everyday lives!”

”Anyone who wants to kill those two can probably form a line all the way from the town of Magnolia to the Flower Capital, Crocus.”

”But… those two brats are blessed with incredibly good luck. Theyʼre always jumping around full of life.”

”No! Youʼve misunderstood me. I donʼt have any grudge against Natsu or Gajeel…”

”I genuinely want to make sure that Natsu and Gajeel are safe!”

Rogue knew that Macao had misunderstood him.

He first shook his head before looking extremely seriously at Macao.

”Really? Is that what this is about?”

”You really are a good person!”

”Forget it, how about this? Iʼll help you ask about Natsu and Gajeelʼs safety.”

Macao looked at Rogueʼs serious expression and suddenly seemed to understand something.

He smiled lightly before shaking his head and thinking:

”I was being foolish! This young man is obviously a huge fan of Natsu and Gajeel! Right, this young man is also a Dragon Slayer Mage. He must be an admirer of Natsu and Gajeel…”

”Hehe, those two troublesome brats actually have admirers now. The world really is unpredictable!”

After feeling sentimental for a moment, Macao took out a remote communication Magic Crystal.

”Hm? Youʼre going to ask about Natsu and Gajeel? Wait, whatʼs going on?”

When Future Rogue heard Macaoʼs words, his entire body froze.

He suddenly felt as though he had misunderstood something.

At the same time, an ominous premonition suddenly rose from the depths of Future Rogueʼs heart…

”Buzz!”

Just as Future Rogue was lost in his thoughts, the remote communication Magic Crystal in Macaoʼs hand suddenly lit up.

An image of a handsome young man with short reddish-brown hair suddenly appeared on the crystal.

”Evan, someone wants to ask you about something…”

Macao looked at the handsome young man with short reddish-brown hair inside the communication crystal and spoke.

Yes.

That young man was Evan…

At this moment, Evan was lying on a beach chair, drinking fruit juice while communicating with Macao through the remote communication Magic Crystal.

”Evan? This is the Evan Belserion who ranks first among the Ten Wizard Saints?!”

After hearing Macaoʼs words, Future Rogue was stunned before locking his gaze onto the red-haired young man inside the crystal ball.

Honestly, simply by looking through the crystal ball, aside from thinking that Evan was somewhat more handsome than ordinary people, Rogue couldnʼt see anything particularly special about him.

It was difficult to imagine that such an ordinary-looking person was actually the most powerful Mage on the continent of Ishgar in this timeline…

”Actually, our Guild has a little fanboy of Natsu and Gajeel who also happens to be a Dragon Slayer Mage. He wants me to ask you about Natsu and Gajeelʼs performance during their training, as well as whether theyʼre safe!”

Macao embellished Future Rogueʼs words somewhat, mainly adding some of his own interpretation.

”Okay…”

Evan, inside the remote communication Magic Crystal, nodded lightly after hearing Macaoʼs words.

He didnʼt ask any further questions.

Mainly because he couldnʼt be bothered.

He casually switched the crystalʼs display to footage of Natsu and Gajeelʼs excellent performances inside the Dracula Grand Labyrinth.

First was Natsu…

”Follow me, little ones! Donʼt let that girl get away! Wahahaha!”

Natsu was covered in flames, his entire body resembling a man made of fire as he closely chased the blonde girl running ahead of him.

”Stop chasing me, Natsu!!”

The blonde girl was none other than Lucy!

At this moment, Lucy was running desperately across the ground with tears in her eyes, her fair little feet pounding against the floor!

As for the leather boots Lucy had originally been wearing, they had long since been lost during her desperate escape…

”Natsu is chasing a girl right now~”

Evan gave a perfectly reasonable summary of Natsuʼs current behavior.

Then the scene suddenly changed, switching to Gajeelʼs perspective.

”Donʼt come any closer!”

”Iʼve decided! From today onward, Iʼm never making weapons again!”

From Gajeelʼs perspective, he was sprinting through an underground passage at high speed.

Behind him was a beautiful woman with a head of fiery scarlet hair and an incredibly spirited presence.

At this moment, the beautiful woman held a katana in her hand and was rapidly chasing after Gajeel.

As she ran, she muttered softly:

”Damn it! The magnetic field throughout the entire labyrinth has been chaotic ever since earlier, and even the properties of magnetism have been completely eliminated!”

”Is this the strength of the strongest mineral dragon? No wonder heʼs the legendary Earth God Dragon!”

”But if I turned the Earth God Dragon into a weapon, just how powerful would it become?!”

A trace of anticipation for the future suddenly appeared in the womanʼs eyes.

”Erza, Iʼm begging you! Please show some mercy and let me go! Go chase someone else!”

Gajeel continued sprinting desperately.

No matter how exhausted he was, he absolutely refused to stop.

”Donʼt worry! Since youʼre my weapon, none of you will escape! As a family, the most important thing is, of course, to be together in the end~”

Yes, the beautiful woman with long scarlet hair was none other than Erza…

At this moment, Erza looked at the constantly fleeing Gajeel with a radiant smile and softly reassured him.

In fact, Erza could have caught Gajeel long ago, but she hadnʼt done so.

She was like an adorable cat chasing its prey.

Compared to enjoying the prey itself, Erza preferred the process of hunting it~

”Gajeel is being chased by his master right now!”

”That guy Gajeel has such a beautiful master, yet he still wants to run away. Heʼs really ungrateful~”

On the other side, Evan gave a fair assessment of Gajeelʼs situation.

”Damn sis-con…”

Macao secretly muttered this on the other side of the crystal ball after hearing Evanʼs words.

As for why Macao didnʼt say it directly to Evanʼs face…

He was scared.

He didnʼt dare.

”Alright, youʼve seen Natsu and Gajeelʼs current situation~”

”As you can see, theyʼre both alive and kicking. Theyʼre full of energy!”

”Then… goodbye!”

As Evan spoke, he directly ended the remote communication.

Of course, it wasnʼt that Evan hadnʼt noticed Future Rogue beside Macao.

It was simply that, with Future Rogueʼs current strength, Evan regarded him as nothing more than a minor underling.

He simply couldnʼt be bothered to pay attention to him…

”As you can see, whether itʼs Natsu or Gajeel, theyʼre both still alive. At least, theyʼre still breathing!”

Macao saw Evan end the communication, so he put away the remote communication Magic Crystal and smiled at Future Rogue.

As for whether Natsu and Gajeel would still be alive in the future, Macao couldnʼt guarantee that.

No one could say whether Natsu and Gajeel would still be alive in the future.

And Gajeelʼs future in particular was something Macao was least able to guarantee…

Even Macao couldnʼt determine whether Gajeel, who was still a human when he went to the Northern Continent, might return from the Northern Continent as a weapon.

”Ah…”

On the other side, Future Rogue had already widened his eyes as he watched everything before him.

At this moment, he couldnʼt describe his feelings with words.

”What is going on? Natsu and Gajeel arenʼt dead? Theyʼre actually still alive and kicking?”

”No, thatʼs not right. Even if Natsu and Gajeel werenʼt killed by Acnologia on Tenrou Island, they should have fallen into a deep sleep because of the side effects of Fairy Sphere, the Super Magic used by Fairy Tailʼs first Guild Master, Mavis!”

”So how are they still awake and running around in this world?”

”In other words, Natsu and Gajeel never fell asleep?”

”But is that possible? They encountered Acnologia and still managed to walk away completely unharmed?”

”This isnʼt the Fairy Tail I know!”

Rogue was on the verge of breaking down.

He could no longer remain calm.

”I understand! This world simply doesnʼt have Acnologia!”

After thinking for a long time, Rogue finally understood something.

At this moment, he had figured it out!

The only reason Natsu and Gajeel hadnʼt fallen asleep was because there was only one possible explanation:

He had traveled to a world without Acnologia!

”Acnologia? Heʼs here!”

Macao immediately shattered Rogueʼs frantic fantasy.