Meredy was the child Ultear had adopted, yet her origins traced back to a village once destroyed by Grimoire Heart.
She was a child adopted by her enemy.
It was only during today's battle that Meredy accidentally learned this horrible truth from that big-mouth Zancrow.
Upon hearing this news, Meredy's inner world nearly collapsed.
Naturally, she felt intense anger and deep hatred toward Ultear, who was one of the culprits.
But when she saw Ultear nestling so desperately in Ur's embrace, Meredy once again recalled those long days when Ultear had raised her.
She was only thirteen years old, just one year older than Wendy.
Though her combat strength was comparable to Fairy Tail's quasi-S-Class Mages, her emotional sensitivity was even greater than Wendy's.
This young girl deeply loved Ultear, who was like both an older sister and a mother to her, yet she was utterly devastated that this person she loved was also the one who violently destroyed her hometown.
Meredy withdrew her body back into the shadows of the ship, wiping her tears as she crouched pitifully on the ground, crying silently.
She had already lost her hometown—she couldn't lose Ultear too.
This choice was undoubtedly heartbreaking for a child, yet she couldn't go against her true feelings. She genuinely loved Ultear...
The pink-haired girl crouched on the ground sobbing, then a large warm hand slowly rested on her head.
Meredy looked up and immediately recognized the person she had been thinking about before—the one Ultear cared about.
Ankh patted Meredy's head and speak with a gentle smile, "I remember you, you are Meredy, right?"
Meredy immediately sniffled, desperately holding back her tears as she said, "That's me. Are you going to send me to the Magic Council for punishment?"
Ankh curled his lips and snorted. "They don't contribute at all but act all high and mighty. Why should I bother currying favor with them?"
"Besides, you are Ultear's child. I don't want her to hate me."
When Meredy heard Ultear's name, tears began streaming down her face again.
Ankh chuckled somewhat amusedly and comforted her.
"Alright, alright. Do you still want to stay with Ultear in the future? She wants to properly atone for her past sins, so she plans to officially join my company. What about you?"
Hearing this, Meredy was stunned for a moment before nodding rapidly. "I want to stay with Ul!"
'Hmm... just like Wendy, she's quite easy to persuade.'
Meredy understood the pain and deep darkness Ultear had experienced in her heart while trying to see her mother, so she understood even more clearly that Ultear had saved her because she saw her former self in Meredy.
No matter what, Meredy still wanted to stay by Ultear's side.
Ankh watched Meredy hanging her head and sniffing, silently stroking her pink hair.
'I should still discuss this matter with Ultear later.'
'If we truly want to resolve the darkness in Meredy's heart, it can't be solved by her keeping everything bottled up alone.'
Laxus suddenly appeared behind Ankh like a towering ghost and quietly remarked, "You still have such a massive kinks for younger sister-type girls..."
Ankh rolled his eyes in sheer annoyance. "What kind of nonsense is that?"
Then Laxus actually started counting seriously on his fingers.
"Lisanna, whom you dote on the most, Wendy you care about deeply, Erza goes without saying and now this one right here."
Ankh was momentarily speechless before immediately retorting, "Obviously! At our age, among our generation in the guild, where would we find any older sister types? Should I go show concern for Porlyusica every single day instead?!"
Laxus curled his lip. "That could work too..."
Makarov suddenly popped over sneakily and asked, "What are you two talking about?"
"Nothing... nothing at all."
Ankh and Laxus turned away in perfect unison.
"Master! Ankh! Laxus!"
Freed came running over hurriedly from the ship's bow and reported urgently, "The Alvarez Empire fleet is directly ahead!"
The three immediately became serious and hurried toward the bow to look out over the sea.
The airship had already left Tenrou Island.
Once they passed through this area, they would be completely out of Tenrou Island's coastal waters.
Yet ahead on the open sea, numerous massive warships were densely arranged, completely blockading the passage.
...
"Your Majesty, the enemy is approaching. Shall we open fire immediately?"
Invel bowed to the black-haired young man seated before him and asked respectfully.
Zeref watched the approaching airship and sighed. "Maintain radio silence. Open fire only when the airship enters artillery range."
"Yes." Invel responded with utmost deference.
Ajeel sat cross-legged on the deck nearby, sulking and muttering with his arms crossed, "I could have completely destroyed their ship back on the island."
"Give it up, Ajeel. I heard you were completely suppressed by a Mage from Ishgar. How embarrassing."
Jacob elegantly adjusted his leather gloves while looking at his junior with disappointment.
Ajeel grew irritated under his gaze, then noticed the silent Brandish and raised an eyebrow.
"What about her? Why does she look like she was completely defeated?"
Jacob shook his head. "Not sure. She has been acting strange ever since she saw that Celestial Spirit Mage on the island."
Just then, Irene emerged from her room without her witch hat.
Ajeel and Jacob immediately straightened up and stopped their casual chatter.
Zeref looked at Irene as she came out and asked, "How is Dimaria's condition?"
"Her life is no longer in danger." Irene adjusted her gloves, then said somewhat hesitantly, "But there are some lingering aftereffects. The pain left by the Divine Power cannot completely dissipate, and... her mental state seems to have become even more unstable."
...
"It hurts... so much... So this is what it feels like..."
Dimaria lay on the bed, her hands clutching tightly at her left chest—the wound where Ankh's sword had pierced through.
The pain that seemed to melt into her organs and bone marrow continuously eroded her will.
Then, within her rapidly collapsing consciousness, a strange new awareness seemed to be emerging.
Dimaria slowly began to laugh.
The pain in her chest brought an unusual, twisted sensation.
Her expression carried a hint of frenzied flush as she chuckled and growled under her breath.
"Death God... I will definitely make you taste this feeling too..."
...
'She's gone mad?'
Zeref gasped sharply.
How did a spriggan turn into a total masochist after just one trip out?
From one extreme perversion to another extreme perversion?
Ankh is truly befitting of a God.
Even the lessons left behind are so... refreshingly unconventional.
Irene frowned as she watched the approaching airship and asked, "Shall I take care of them...?"
Zeref suddenly raised his hand, and Irene fell perfectly silent.
Simultaneously, everyone on the battleship turned their gaze toward the thick, swirling clouds in the distance.
There, emerging slowly from the dark clouds like an apocalyptic beast, was the pitch-black entity representing the end of all things—the evil existence known across the world as the Black Dragon, Acnologia!
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