"That thing in his hand... There's no mistake..."
"It's the legendary Dark Magic, Lullaby!"
"I can't be wrong! That newcomer is from a Dark Mage Guild!"
"Erza, what should we do?!"
Lucy immediately noticed the flute in the hands of the mage cosplaying as Shikamaru. The moment she saw it, she understood everything. She turned to Erza behind her and asked.
"I understand..."
After hearing Lucy's words, Erza drew the knight's sword at her waist.
"A member of Eisenwald?"
At the same time, Jellal, who was facing Erza, narrowed his eyes. Behind him, the mages wearing blue robes immediately prepared to attack the Shikamaru-cosplaying mage.
They only needed a single command from Jellal before launching their assault on the Dark Mage Guild member.
"Damn it! I was so close! Just a little more and I would've succeeded!"
"But why? Why did I have to run into Fairy Tail mages and people from the Magic Council here?!"
"Why are they on the very train I'm supposed to take?! Is heaven refusing to let those of us who walk in darkness fulfill our long-cherished wish?!"
A devoted Shikamaru cosplayer, a user of Shadow Magic, and the man known as Kageyama, the "Shadow Without Strength," stared at the scene before him in despair.
He simply couldn't understand why fate had placed Fairy Tail and the Magic Council's Anti-Dark Guild Task Force directly in his path.
His mission had been simple: deliver the flute in his hands—the Dark Magic Lullaby, created by the legendary Black Wizard Zeref and only recently unsealed after tremendous effort—to Erigor, the Guild Master of the Dark Mage Guild Eisenwald.
Erigor, the "Death God," would then carry Lullaby to the gathering of the Light Mage Guild Masters, play its cursed melody, and use the immense power sealed within it to wipe out every Guild Master present—including Fairy Tail's.
But now, everything was about to become nothing more than a dream.
Because he had encountered the two people he absolutely should never have met...
Erza Belserion, the merciless Fairy Queen.
And one of the Ten Wizard Saints, the Magic Council's hound—Jellal Fernandes.
Facing those two monsters, Kageyama knew he had absolutely no chance of victory.
"Why... Is there really no place left in this world for us Dark Mage Guilds to survive?"
As he spoke, tears of helplessness and regret streamed down his face.
The truth was, because Evan had successively destroyed Grimoire Heart, Tartaros, and even wiped out the Oración Seis before they could fully rise...
The remaining Dark Mage Guilds were living even more miserably than in the original story. They were nothing more than rats struggling to survive in filthy gutters.
As a result, the hatred the Dark Mage Guilds now harbored toward the Light Mage Guilds and the Magic Council far exceeded anything seen in the original timeline.
"Kageyama... Are you giving up already?"
Just as despair completely overtook him...
Erza's powerful voice rang beside his ear.
"Huh?!"
Kageyama's body trembled.
He slowly raised his head toward Erza, confusion filling his face.
Not only him—even Lucy, Jellal, Macbeth, Sawyer, Richard, and Sorano were equally stunned.
"Erza! What are you trying to do?!"
Jellal glared at her angrily.
"How... do you know my name?!"
At the same time, Kageyama stared blankly at Erza.
He simply couldn't understand why the famous Fairy Queen knew the name of an insignificant nobody like him.
In his own eyes, whether in strength or reputation, he was completely unworthy of standing before the proud Fairy Queen.
After all, Erza wasn't just anyone.
She stood at the pinnacle of Fairy Tail, the strongest Mage Guild on Ishgar, an S-Class Mage who had personally passed Fairy Tail's S-Class Promotion Exam.
To nobodies like him, she was practically a legendary figure.
Yet that very legend had called him by name.
It stirred a ripple within his despairing heart.
"Heh..."
Erza merely smiled gently without answering.
The reason was simple.
As Fairy Tail's S-Class Mage, thoroughly investigating the enemy before accepting a mission was simply basic professionalism.
"Kageyama... Since you've already decided to do something...
Whether it's right or wrong...
Once you've made your decision, then carry your resolve through to the very end!
Even if your body is destroyed, your soul remains.
Even if your soul disappears, your will remains.
As long as your body can still move...
As long as your soul can still roar...
As long as your will continues to burn...
As long as the deepest part of your heart still longs to move forward...
Then grit your teeth and never stop!"
Erza turned sideways and shouted at him.
"...!!"
Kageyama's pupils trembled.
For the first time, his heart of despair let out a cry.
"If the body breaks, the soul remains...
If the soul disappears, the will remains...
Even if the will collapses, you still scream with everything you have from the depths of your heart...
Is this... the Mage's Way that Fairy Tail follows?
I think I finally understand why our guild could never compare to yours..."
Kageyama had reached enlightenment.
Holding Lullaby tightly, he smiled bitterly.
He had always complained that the Light Mage Guilds—especially Fairy Tail—occupied too many of the continent's resources.
Only today did he finally understand why.
Because of conviction.
Because the mages of Eisenwald truly were inferior to Fairy Tail—in both determination and strength.
The answer was cruel.
And painfully simple.
"No."
"This isn't Fairy Tail's Mage's Way alone."
"This is the Mage's Way every mage across Ishgar should uphold!"
"So, Kageyama...
Before you die...
Run with everything you've got!
Don't forget...
Your companions are waiting for you!"
Erza interrupted him in a deep voice.
"..."
Kageyama's eyes suddenly lit up.
He was utterly shaken.
"As for those scum from the Magic Council..."
"We'll stop them for you."
As she spoke, Erza pointed her knight's sword directly at Jellal.
"Erza... You're a Fairy Tail mage..."
"As a mage of a Light Guild...
Why are you helping me?
Aren't we enemies?"
Kageyama gripped Lullaby tightly.
Instead of leaving immediately, he stared at Erza, determined to understand.
She should have been his enemy.
Yet she was helping him.
It was too abnormal.
He had to know whether this was some elaborate trap—a joint scheme between Fairy Tail and the Magic Council to eliminate Eisenwald.
"Idiot!"
"When facing the evil Magic Council...
Shouldn't mages all over the world unite together?!"
Erza glared at him and scolded him.
Internally, she cursed Kageyama for being so dense.
True, she could have destroyed Kageyama and Lullaby right then and there.
But she chose not to.
As she'd said before...
The greatest obstacle preventing Fairy Tail from completing missions had never been insignificant Dark Mage Guilds...
Nor a third-rate demon created by the young Zeref.
Fairy Tail's greatest enemy...
Was Fairy Tail itself.
The only thing capable of defeating Fairy Tail...
Was Fairy Tail.
And since the current Magic Council ERA shared the same origin as Fairy Tail...
It undoubtedly possessed the ability to interfere with Fairy Tail's missions.
Compared to the harmless Eisenwald...
The Magic Council was unquestionably Fairy Tail's greatest enemy.
Thus, Erza made her decision.
She would temporarily spare Kageyama, monopolize the credit for destroying Eisenwald and sealing Lullaby, receive all of Evan's praise for herself...
Or at the very least, prevent Evan from praising Jellal.
She decided to defeat her greatest rival, Jellal, first...
Then later eliminate Kageyama and the entire Eisenwald Guild herself.
Of course...
Whether it was Evan...
Or Fairy Tail's current Guild Master August, who was attending the Guild Masters' conference...
Neither actually needed protection.
Even if Lullaby's cursed song reached their ears...
It wouldn't affect either of them in the slightest.
Both Evan and August would merely think:
"Is that all?"
Naturally, Kageyama knew none of this.
He simply held Lullaby tightly, deeply moved.
"I knew it!"
"So the rumors were true!"
His once lifeless eyes filled with tears.
He remembered an old rumor.
Although Fairy Tail had supposedly destroyed Grimoire Heart and Tartaros...
The truth was that they had secretly absorbed both guilds.
Because Fairy Tail itself...
Was actually Ishgar's strongest Dark Mage Guild.
Its identity as a Light Guild was merely a disguise.
The darkest place is beneath the lamp.
Kageyama had once laughed at such nonsense.
How could the legendary Fairy Tail possibly be a Dark Guild?
But now...
He believed it completely.
Because if Fairy Tail truly weren't a Dark Guild...
Then why would its mages, after meeting him for the first time, immediately choose to oppose the Magic Council for Eisenwald's sake?
Could he simply be misunderstanding everything?
Could Fairy Tail really be a Light Guild, with everything merely an unbelievable coincidence?
Impossible.
As a Dark Mage himself...
Kageyama understood better than anyone the unimaginable price a guild paid for standing against the Magic Council.
"I see now..."
"So Fairy Tail has been bearing this burden all along!"
"I, Kageyama of Eisenwald...
Owe Fairy Tail a great debt!"
"Once everything is over...
Our guild will repay your kindness!"
Inspired by Erza's speech, Kageyama regained his fighting spirit.
If Fairy Tail had already sacrificed so much...
Then he, too, had to complete his mission.
He had to deliver Lullaby to Erigor.
Only then could he live up to Fairy Tail's expectations.
Only then could the long-cherished dream of all Dark Mage Guilds be fulfilled.
Everything...
For the common interests of every Dark Mage Guild across Ishgar.
Everything...
For a brighter future for the world of magic.
With that thought, Kageyama turned around, preparing to leave.
He would carry Lullaby...
He would carry hope...
To his fellow members of the Dark Guilds.
"...This story has completely gone off the rails."
Watching Erza encourage Kageyama until he completely regarded Fairy Tail as allies, Lucy found herself unable to stop complaining internally.
There were simply too many things to complain about.
"So what exactly is happening?!
Why did we suddenly go from suppressing Dark Mage Guilds...
To collaborating with them?!
What kind of plot twist is this?!
Even novels and TV dramas wouldn't dare write something this ridiculous!"
As a novelist who regularly wrote fiction, Lucy couldn't stop herself from mentally screaming.
Reality was often far more absurd than fiction.
Stories needed logic.
Reality rarely did.
Sometimes the most unbelievable stories...
Began with nothing more than an adult completely losing their mind.
"And you, Dark Guild mage!
Don't get moved so easily!
What if this is all a trap?!"
"And everyone from the Magic Council...
Couldn't you just compromise for a few minutes?!
Let Fairy Tail finish dealing with the Dark Guild and Lullaby first before showing up?!
Isn't your mission simply to eliminate the Dark Guild members and seal Lullaby?!
Does it really matter who does it?!"
"I don't understand anymore...
I seriously don't understand...
Is there not a single normal person here?!"
Lucy continued screaming inside her heart.
"Attack!"
"Do not let the Dark Guild escape!"
Jellal had lost all patience.
He immediately ordered Richard, Sorano, and the others to attack.
"Yes, sir!"
Sorano, Richard, and the others instantly threw off their long robes, revealing tight-fitting combat outfits beneath.
"Stop them."
Erza calmly issued her own command to Gray and the others.
"Boom!"
Gray, Lyon, and the others immediately released enormous magical power.
The moment Gray and Lyon activated their magic...
The air instantly turned freezing cold.
The biting chill awakened the Dragon Slayers who had previously been lying unconscious.
"So...
What's going on?"
Natsu stood up, staring seriously at the scene.
"Natsu! You're awake!"
Lucy looked delighted.
"Natsu.
Those are Magic Council people."
Erza reminded him while holding her sword.
"Got it."
"I have no idea what's happening...
But beating up the Magic Council definitely can't be wrong!"
Natsu immediately grinned confidently.
"No, no, no!!
You completely misunderstood!"
Lucy couldn't help shouting.
"Beating up the Magic Council is exactly what'll cause problems!"
"Fairy Tail..."
Kageyama trusted Fairy Tail even more now.
Because Natsu's desire to beat up the Magic Council looked completely genuine.
"Richard.
Move!"
Jellal frowned.
Although Erik had also awakened...
Fairy Tail still held a numerical advantage.
They had to strike first.
"Sand World!"
Richard immediately activated his magic.
In an instant, the train floor transformed into endless sand, swallowing everyone's ankles.
"This is bad..."
Lucy watched the sand engulf her legs, her face changing.
None of Fairy Tail's mages could move freely anymore.
Worse still...
Richard's magic spread to the train wheels.
The entire train was now unable to continue moving.
That wasn't all.
The train walls also turned into sand before forming a gigantic hand over a meter wide.
It reached straight toward Kageyama.
"Ah!"
Unable to resist Richard's overwhelming power, Kageyama was instantly seized.
"Haha!
Got him!"
Richard smiled triumphantly.
"Nicely done."
Jellal praised him without hesitation.
"What?!"
Erza frowned and burst free from the sand around her feet, preparing to intervene.
"Where do you think you're going, Erza?"
"Your opponent is me."
Jellal had already anticipated her move.
He transformed into golden light and blocked her path.
"Damn you, Jellal!"
Erza cursed.
Against the all-around powerhouse Jellal, she simply couldn't break free.
As for Natsu, Wendy, and Gajeel...
They stood motionless with vacant expressions.
Looking carefully...
Macbeth had quietly opened his dark eyes.
The strange glow within them trapped the three Dragon Slayers inside an illusion.
Macbeth stood still.
Natsu, Wendy, and Gajeel stood equally motionless.
"This is bad!
It's illusion magic!"
Seeing the situation deteriorate, Lyon and Juvia immediately rushed forward.
"If possible...
Why don't you two stay right where you are?
That'll be better for everyone."
Unfortunately...
The awakened Erik stepped in front of them.
Truthfully, he didn't want to fight Fairy Tail either.
Silently...
He apologized to Cubellios in his heart.
"Natsu...
Damn it..."
Seeing Natsu trapped inside an illusion, Lucy reached for her Celestial Spirit Keys.
"Lucy...
I'd advise you not to move.
Otherwise...
I can't guarantee what might happen~"
A seductive voice suddenly whispered into Lucy's ear.
Standing before her was the voluptuous Sorano, already drawing a bow aimed directly at Lucy.
"You are...
Senior Sorano?!"
Lucy froze.
Then she reluctantly raised both hands.
"My~
You finally recognized me, Lucy."
"It wasn't easy~"
Holding the bow transformed from the Sagittarius Celestial Spirit, Sorano smiled charmingly.
Yes.
Sorano and Lucy had known each other for years.
Ever since Evan introduced Layla to Sorano as her Celestial Spirit Magic teacher...
Sorano often visited Layla.
As a result, she had practically watched Lucy grow up.
Or more accurately...
She had spent years bullying Lucy.
With Natsu, Wendy, and Gajeel trapped inside illusions...
Lucy restrained by Sorano...
Erza occupied by Jellal...
Lyon and Juvia blocked by Erik...
And Richard controlling the battlefield...
The entire situation had become overwhelmingly unfavorable for Fairy Tail.
"Absolute Zero: Silver!"
Fortunately...
Gray had already prepared for this.
He unleashed his Devil Slayer Magic directly at Richard.
Boom!!
Terrifying freezing energy instantly engulfed the entire train.
Every grain of sand froze solid.
The chilling cold also shattered Macbeth's illusion, awakening Natsu, Wendy, and Gajeel.
But it didn't stop there.
Everyone's legs—including Jellal, Erik, Sorano, and the others—were frozen in place.
Now...
Neither Fairy Tail nor the Magic Council could move.
"Nice work, Gray!"
Erza smiled.
"Tch."
Jellal merely clicked his tongue.
"Don't celebrate too early, Erza.
This isn't over."
The moment he finished speaking...
Jellal shattered the ice and transformed into golden light once again, shooting straight toward Kageyama.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Erza had already foreseen his movements with Observation Haki.
Her sword intercepted his path before he arrived.
"Tch."
Jellal stopped.
Just as Erza couldn't shake him...
He couldn't shake Erza either.
"Leave it to me."
Lisanna sighed helplessly.
With a flash, he escaped Gray's ice, appearing directly beside Kageyama.
"Damn!
Space Magic..."
Gray's expression changed.
He immediately raised his hand to attack.
Boom!!
A wall of sand suddenly rose between them.
Looking over...
Gray saw Richard smiling at him.
Soon...
Ice and sand began fighting over control of the battlefield.
"Thanks, Richard."
Lisanna first thanked his companion before extending a hand toward Kageyama.
"Now...
Hand it over.
Give me that item, and I'll spare your life.
Otherwise...
I can't guarantee what happens next."
"Lackey of the Magic Council!
I'll never hand it over!"
Kageyama's eyes burned red.
As a Dark Guild mage...
He would never surrender.
"Then don't blame me."
Lisanna raised his hand.
"Heh...
People have to do something meaningful with their lives."
"As long as we still breathe...
You Council dogs will never succeed!"
"I'll show you the determination of an insignificant man!"
Kageyama's magical power erupted violently.
"What?!"
Lisanna's forehead instantly filled with sweat.
There was no mistaking this feeling.
"You're...
Planning to self-destruct?!
Is it really worth it?!"
He couldn't understand.
"You'll never understand!"
Kageyama compressed all his magical power into a single point.
"This is bad!"
Not wanting to suffer unnecessary injuries over a salary-paying job, Lisanna immediately retreated.
"Heh...
Just as I thought."
Kageyama sneered.
Although Richard still restrained his lower body...
His upper body remained free.
He already knew he couldn't deliver Lullaby himself.
So...
He threw the flute toward Natsu.
"Fairy Tail...
The rest is up to you!"
"Damn it!"
Lisanna realized too late he'd been tricked.
He immediately teleported toward Lullaby.
Boom!!
Natsu appeared before him in a flash.
Wrapped in blazing flames, one punch forced Lisanna backward.
"Hmph."
Lisanna dodged without injury.
True...
Fairy Tail's strength had far surpassed the original story.
But the former Oración Seis, personally trained by Warrod and Precht, had grown just as much.
With their Second Origin unlocked...
Lisanna's magical power alone already rivaled Natsu, who stood at the threshold of the Ten Wizard Saints.
"We got Lullaby!"
Natsu winked at Erza.
"I know."
Erza nodded lightly.
Everything was proceeding exactly according to plan.
"Damn it..."
Jellal frowned as Lullaby fell into Fairy Tail's hands.
"Leave it to me!"
Feeling Jellal's anger, Richard immediately sent more sand toward Natsu.
"Where are you looking, Richard?!"
Gray instantly froze half of Richard's body.
"..."
Richard could only grimace bitterly.
He had been careless.
"Jellal.
Surrender."
"Lullaby belongs to Fairy Tail now.
According to the rules...
This mission belongs exclusively to Fairy Tail."
Erza declared coldly.
"Don't celebrate too early, Erza."
"Lullaby may be yours...
But the Magic Council hasn't lost yet!"
Jellal snorted.
Even if his opponent was Evan's younger sister...
So what?
The one who would earn Evan's praise...
Would be Jellal!
Boom!!
Terrifying magical power erupted from every member of the Magic Council's Anti-Dark Guild Task Force.
Having unlocked their Second Origin under Jellal's inhuman training...
Every one of them now possessed magical power approaching the Ten Wizard Saints threshold.
"So strong..."
Lucy stared at Sorano in shock.
She had never imagined the senior disciple who studied Celestial Spirit Magic under her mother could become this powerful.
If Sorano had become so strong...
Then just how powerful was Layla, who also taught Yukino?
For the first time...
Lucy realized her mother was full of mysteries.
"Hmph."
The Magic Council members all smiled proudly.
Meanwhile...
Fairy Tail's side only had Erza, Natsu, and Gray at that level.
The others weren't weak...
But they were clearly inferior overall.
The greatest problem remained Jellal himself.
His Celestial Spirit Magic had already reached an inhuman realm.
Even though Fairy Tail possessed Lullaby...
They were still at a disadvantage.
Boom!!
Just then—
With a deafening explosion...
A figure descended from the sky.
"Kageyama.
Looks like you've gotten yourself into trouble."
A hoarse voice echoed.
A silver-haired middle-aged man carrying an enormous scythe landed before Kageyama.
"Guild Master Erigor!"
Kageyama's face lit up.
The newcomer was none other than Eisenwald's Guild Master—
The "Death God," Erigor.
His magical power surged tremendously.
Without question...
He had already reached the peak of Level Five and stood on the verge of entering Level Six.
Within Fiore, he was unquestionably considered a powerful mage.
Across the kingdom...
Very few could truly challenge him.
Of course...
Compared to Fairy Tail and the Magic Council members present...
His strength was somewhat lacking.
"Guild Master Erigor!
I've already explained everything!"
"Fairy Tail saved us!"
"The rumors are true!
Fairy Tail really is a Dark Guild infiltrating the Light Guild world!"
"Boss Erigor!
The enemy is too powerful!
We can't complete the mission ourselves anymore!
Only Fairy Tail can finish it in our place!"
Kageyama shouted anxiously.
"I know."
Erigor nodded.
"I've already watched everything...
Through your Lacrima."
"Fairy Tail..."
"Go."
"Go fulfill the wish of all Dark Mages."
"You are the future of the Dark Guilds.
Eisenwald cannot compare to you."
"As for these Magic Council bastards..."
"Leave them to us."
"The story just keeps getting weirder..."
Lucy watched the passionate Erigor completely speechless.
"Erigor...
I'll leave this place to you."
Erza looked deeply at him before nodding.
"Fairy Tail!
Everyone, follow me!"
She jumped off the train first.
Boom!!
Natsu's flaming punch shattered the earth.
The sand and ice restraining everyone exploded apart.
"Let's go!"
Gray, Lyon, Wendy, Gajeel, and Juvia immediately followed.
"W-Wait for me!"
Lucy hurried after them.
Throughout the entire process...
Jellal never moved.
He simply watched Fairy Tail leave.
"Erigor..."
"Do you really think you people can stop the Magic Council's elites?"
Jellal cracked his neck calmly.
"Heh..."
Erigor merely sneered.
"This isn't just Eisenwald."
"They've all arrived."
"Every Dark Mage Guild has come."
"As long as we complete this final mission...
Every sacrifice will have been worthwhile."
The moment he finished speaking...
Thousands of mages bearing the insignias of countless guilds surrounded the train.
Though each wore different guild marks...
They all shared one identity.
Dark Mage Guild members.
Scum rejected by society.
Today...
Would become the final glorious moment of those outcasts.
"Fools."
Jellal looked around expressionlessly.
Dark clouds gathered overhead.
"I'll show you...
What true Celestial Body Magic really is."
He assumed the stance.
Boom!!
A meteor descended from the heavens.
Meanwhile...
Inside the Magic Four-Wheel Drive vehicle...
"..."
The instant Natsu, Wendy, and Gajeel boarded...
They all fainted from motion sickness.
Erza drove.
The others sat in the back.
"Erza...
Shouldn't we help those Dark Guild mages?"
Lucy asked nervously.
She had seen the meteor falling from the sky.
That wasn't something humans could withstand.
"What nonsense are you talking about, Lucy?"
"They're Dark Guild mages."
"We're members of a Light Guild."
"Why would we help our enemies?"
Erza replied matter-of-factly.
"...Huh?"
"But they helped us escape.
They even helped us obtain Lullaby.
We're really just abandoning them?"
"No...
Wait...
Fairy Tail has already become the biggest beneficiary of the conflict between the Dark Guilds and the Magic Council..."
"So...
Was everything part of Erza's plan from the beginning?
Did she deliberately manipulate the Dark Guilds?"
"Using them and then immediately throwing them away...
Isn't that the kind of thing villains do?!
So who's actually the Dark Guild here?!"
Lucy screamed inside her heart.