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Flames erupted on the crimson dragon's spine, rapidly spreading to his massive wings. Even in Natsu's mental space, Noah could feel the waves of heat washing over him.
Those giant dragon eyes, much taller than a human, stared at the intruder with no emotion.
Igneel did not respond to Noah.
Or rather, his silence was his answer.
Seeing his old friend like this, Atlas Flame, the Purgatory Dragon, helplessly smoothed things over. "Don't mind him, Noah. Igneel always has that sour look on his face for everyone, even for the Black Wizard."
"Only his human son, whom he cherishes more than his own, can make him smile."
Noah, of course, didn't mind Igneel's cold attitude; he had already witnessed it the first time he entered Natsu's mental space.
But the Fire Dragon King actually has a biological son.
Hearing the Purgatory Dragon's words, Igneel and his adopted son Natsu have a closer relationship. He is indeed a precious godfather.
Noah looked at the Purgatory Dragon. Compared to his state last time in Sun Village, the Purgatory Dragon's form was much more solidified now. He had recovered this much in just a few months.
The Soul Dragon Technique truly lives up to its reputation as a unique secret art of the Dragon race.
Seeing the Purgatory Dragon steadily recovering, Noah was very relieved.
After all, this is an exceptionally good dragon who, even with only a wisp of flame left, would willingly use it to protect humans. This alone was enough to earn Noah's respect.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with the Purgatory Dragon, Noah turned his gaze to the silent Fire Dragon King Igneel, but before he could speak, he heard the Purgatory Dragon's voice.
"Noah, Igneel will not agree to you joining the plan to eliminate the Black Dragon, because you are Natsu's friend. He will not let you face that despair-bringing Black Dragon."
He's still a cold-faced but warm-hearted fellow.
Noah's perception of the Fire Dragon King changed slightly in his heart. Refusing to let him face the Black Dragon because he was Natsu's companion, it seemed the Fire Dragon King's heart was as warm as the flames he burned.
"Igneel, thank you for your concern."
"But is there a possibility that I, whose strength surpasses yours, am the best candidate to eliminate the Black Dragon?"
Noah's calm voice finally broke the Fire Dragon King's silence. Igneel took his confident words, which implied strength superior to his own, merely as youthful arrogance.
"Noah, you are indeed very strong, but don't be too arrogant. The Black Dragon's terror far exceeds what your later generations have recorded."
Listening to Igneel's majestic yet somewhat admonishing voice, Noah chuckled softly. "I'm sorry, but this era's records of the Black Dragon are already very vague. Except for a few high-ranking individuals, most people don't even know of its existence."
"As for arrogance? That requires capability, and I just happen to have it."
Noah's words left Igneel speechless.
The Fire Dragon King Igneel, once the strongest of the "Three Dragon Kings," the last glimmer of the Dragon race, residing within Natsu to accumulate power, now possessed unfathomable strength.
But even so, Igneel had less than a ten percent chance of defeating the Black Dragon, and that was only if his, Zeref's, and Anna's plan went smoothly.
How could this young man, not yet twenty, be so confident about something that even he, the mighty Fire Dragon King, and the Black Wizard lacked the confidence to accomplish?
The Purgatory Dragon couldn't help but interject. "Noah, you might not know this, but the Black Dragon is immune to magic. Only dragons and Dragon Slayer Magic have a slight chance of harming him."
"I know that. I'll just fight him without magic."
Noah's matter-of-fact tone made the Purgatory Dragon stunned for a moment, and then he and Igneel both showed helpless expressions.
Without magic, would he just go and fight the Black Dragon in close combat?
Do you think you're a dragon?
Noah didn't explain that he possessed Magnetic Field Power, and he slightly raised his chin toward the two dragons. "Igneel, you should be able to sense external changes through Natsu, right?"
"I'm going to see the Black Wizard next, but I don't think that melancholic and stubborn fellow will honestly let me 'cure' him."
"So, let's make a bet."
"If I can defeat Zeref within ten minutes, you tell Natsu where his Dragon Dad is hiding. If I fail, I will not bother you again."
...
The next afternoon.
At Hargeon Port, a magic-powered sailboat flying the "Dancing Fairy" flag slowly sailed out, heading toward the southern seas.
Under the giant parasol, Noah and Makarov leisurely reclined on lounge chairs, enjoying the sea breeze and Gray's chilled drinks, utterly content.
However, a series of shouts somewhat broke this tranquility.
"Natsu! Don't die! Cheer up!"
Happy was sprawled on Natsu, who was weak from motion sickness, crying his eyes out. It was truly tear-inducing... but that's impossible.
Erza came onto the deck from the kitchen, carrying two plates of food. "Happy, Natsu is just seasick. Come and eat some snacks. Mira made fish-shaped dorayaki."
"Aye! I'm coming!"
Hearing there was good food, Happy immediately abandoned Natsu, causing the trembling, miserable Natsu to roll his eyes.
Their friendship was not even as strong as a dorayaki...
Happy didn't care about Natsu's resentful gaze. After all, Natsu getting sick on transportation was common, but these freshly baked dorayaki, especially the fish-shaped ones, couldn't be missed!
Erza delivered two snacks to August, who was standing at the bow, cosplaying as a "father-gazing stone," then turned and squeezed onto Noah's lounge chair.
Leaning against Erza, feeling the softness of the girl's body, Noah asked, "Why haven't I seen mother-in-law?"
Hearing Noah mention Irene, Erza's face clearly showed more smiles. "Mom is learning to make snacks with Mira, and also watching those two drunkard father and daughter to prevent them from getting too drunk."
"Speaking of which, Noah, what were you thinking? You knew the Black Wizard was on Tenrou Island, yet you still brought Natsu."
Noah bit his straw, his tone full of helplessness. "Actually, I already regret it. How was I to know so many people would end up coming..."
It only takes about three hours to reach Tenrou Island by boat from Hargeon, which sounds short.
But with Noah's strength, three hours would be enough for him to travel back and forth across the eastern and western continents ten times over; he didn't need a "boat" as a mode of transport at all.
Originally, Noah planned for just himself, August, Makarov, and Gildarts, plus Natsu, with August using magic to directly teleport them to the vicinity of Tenrou Island.
Who knew that Natsu, the bigmouth, would let it slip to Gray? So, not wanting to be left behind, Gray shamelessly begged Noah to take him too.
Since Natsu and Gray were going, Erza, as the bane of the ice-fire duo, stated that she also had to come along to prevent them from causing trouble for Noah.
Since Erza was going, Mira naturally wouldn't let her be alone with Noah; they had agreed to share him fifty-fifty.
Then came Irene, who was worried about her daughter, and Cana, who was tagging along with her dad... So, in the end, Noah simply decided it was better to take a boat.
After all, magic-powered boats don't need oars and run entirely on magic crystal power, making them the top choice for lazy people going out to sea.