In ancient times, this being with unparalleled power completely subdued both dragons and humans alike.
Referred to by the dark mage Zeref as the "Source of All Evil."
In the Book of Zeref, it symbolizes the end of an era.
This is the Dragon King that destroys everything, bringing nothing but despair and suffering—the Black Dragon of apocalypse, Acnologia!
"It's a dragon!"
The Fairy Tail members noticed the situation behind the ship and leaned out to look.
Natsu, Gajeel, and Wendy felt both profound shock and confusion upon seeing the Black Dragon's appearance.
This dragon's aura was vastly different from that of the dragons who had raised them!
Not only was there absolutely no sense of gentleness, but beneath its terrifying Magic Power pressure, the entire dragon appeared incredibly brutal and ferocious.
"Acnologia..."
Gildarts stared at the Black Dragon emanating dense, destructive energy.
His eyes instantly began trembling as cold sweat broke out across his face.
At Mount Zonia, while carrying out the Century Quest, Gildarts had unexpectedly encountered this death-filled evil dragon.
In just one brief encounter, one of Gildarts's arms and legs were completely destroyed.
Seeing this Black Dragon again made his old phantom wounds seem to ache faintly.
Ankh's expression turned incredibly grim.
'Those Alvarez bastards were indeed stalling for time!'
"Everyone prepare to break through the encirclement! We need to escape quickly!"
Hearing this, everyone grew incredibly tense again.
Natsu shouted unwillingly at Ankh, "Why?! Ankh, we are Dragon Slayer Mages, even if..."
"NATSU!"
Gildarts grabbed Natsu's shoulder, his expression unprecedentedly serious.
He spoke to the stunned Natsu word by word.
"Don't provoke that thing. We are completely out of our league against him. Have you forgotten my injuries?!"
Natsu clenched his teeth without speaking.
Behind them, the Black Dragon spread its massive black wings that seemed to cover the sky.
A Dragon's Roar instantly erupted across the vast ocean.
The sea shook violently from the massive airflow stirred by the roar.
Colossal waves surged, transforming the entire ocean into a world-ending disaster that rushed toward their airship all at once.
The Alvarez Empire's fleet was instantly scattered by the impact, and the flying airship nearly got dragged underwater by the sheer force of the tsunami.
Inside the airship, people were thrown into total disarray.
Makarov looked back at the sea in terror, where the massive tsunami had just begun to recede.
"Just a roar... actually caused a tsunami..." Makarov swallowed hard, then immediately shouted to everyone, "Full speed ahead! We need to escape quickly!"
Jellal gritted his teeth, desperately channeling his Magic Power into the airship's engines, and growled, "This is already maximum output!"
"Can we... really escape?"
Lucy stared at the increasingly menacing Black Dragon in the distance, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it would leap out of her throat as she murmured under her breath.
"This is no longer about escaping."
Gildarts shielded Cana, his expression incredibly tense as he solemnly stated, "We need to consider how many of us will survive..."
Gray gritted his teeth in disbelief, muttering, "How is this possible..."
The oppressive aura of death gradually spread across the sea.
The Black Dragon behind the airship finally began to move.
Its massive black wings beat, the enormous dragon head raised proudly, its muscular body and black Dragon Scales appearing mysteriously sinister.
The Black Dragon assumed a charging posture, and with a thunderous flap of its wings, its dark, malevolent form shot directly toward the airship like a bolt of lightning.
BOOM—!
The airship groaned heavily under the strain, immediately emitting the terrifying sounds of severe structural damage.
Panicked screams erupted from the crew inside.
As the ship lurched violently, Carla nearly flew out like a fuzzy ball, but Wendy quickly grabbed her.
"Wendy, can you communicate with dragons? Can you figure out its intentions?"
Hearing Carla's desperate question, Wendy frowned and whispered, "It's not that we can communicate with dragons—they inherently possess high intelligence..."
"But this Black Dragon completely scorns communicating with us."
Ankh's eyes flickered, completing what Wendy meant to say.
"Arrogant bastard!"
Natsu angrily slammed the ground, then swiftly leaped overboard, charging straight toward the Black Dragon.
Acnologia's two Dragon Claws gripped the hull of the airship, on the verge of dismantling it like fragile building blocks, when a faint "mosquito-like" buzz suddenly reached its ears.
"Don't touch our ship, you bastard!"
Natsu gathered his flames activating Dragon Force mode and roared as he threw a massive punch directly at Acnologia's massive head.
Ripples of fire scattered harmlessly through the air.
Acnologia shook its head indifferently, instantly sending Natsu flying backward, but Happy caught him just in time.
Immediately after, Panther Lily charged toward Acnologia with Gajeel.
Simultaneously, almost everyone on the ship followed their bold lead and launched an attack.
All members capable of flight rushed out of the ship, fearlessly surrounding the Black Dragon to launch combined assaults.
Those unable to fly collectively began casting Magic from the deck, and colorful magical lights once again illuminated the dark sky.
Heavenly Body Magic, Triple Ice-Make, raging thunderbolts, flaming arrows, distorted gravity, Celestial Spirit sandstorms, Crash Magic's white light...
Everyone poured all their remaining Magic Power into their attacks.
The desperate desire to survive and the longing to protect stimulated their hearts, unleashing even greater power.
Surrounded by her disciples and daughter, tears streaming through the air, Ur unleashed a Black Ice Garden across the sky, roaring with all her might.
"I can't lose them again!"
"I still have to take the S-Class Exam! I just advanced to the next round!" Cana, ignoring Gildarts's protection, tearfully cast Crash Magic once more.
"Cobra and Sorano are right behind me—I cannot run away this time!" Racer, supporting Midnight, wore a disheveled expression yet radiated unwavering resolve.
Makarov, dragging his severely wounded body, suddenly lunged forward and clung to the Black Dragon's colossal form as his own bulk began to swell violently.
"Bastard, don't you dare harm my children!!"
The Giant Makarov tightly constricted the Black Dragon's neck, hanging his entire body directly onto Acnologia, exerting his utmost physical strength to restrain him.
...
At this moment, everyone's thoughts seemed to connect as one—they would return home alive!
Together!
Lucy desperately maintained the Magic Power for her double gate summon, fighting to suppress the absolute despair welling up uncontrollably in her heart.
No one had given up.
Even without Magic Power, she couldn't...
"Lucy."
A voice suddenly sounded from right behind her.
Lucy turned wearily and saw Ankh standing there. He wasn't using any Magic, his expression was incredibly calm as he gazed intently at her.
Lucy froze for a moment.
Ankh shifted his gaze toward the Black Dragon outside and slowly spoke.
"There is something I need to ask of you."