"Ugh..."
"It hurts... so much..."
Not knowing how long he had been unconscious, an aching Ankh supported his body and emerged from the ground, pushing through thick layers of soil.
'That's right, I remember... Acnologia suddenly transformed into a strange form and came back to kill us...'
'Everyone gave me all their magic power to save me, and then, we encountered that God of Illusion and Reality, Vierte...'
Ankh's consciousness swam hazily before he snapped back to reality, abruptly standing up to search for his companions.
It seemed Vierte had neutralized the backlash of the Death God Power.
Although the imbalance between life and death energies within Ankh remained severe, it no longer hindered his normal movements.
"Mira! Erza! Natsu! Gray!"
"Where is everyone?"
Stumbling, Ankh climbed out of the sandpit.
The shockwave from the Black Dragon's roar had scattered the unconscious guild members.
Unable to spot his companions, a flicker of panic rose in Ankh's heart as he prepared to search further afield.
Suddenly, a petite figure materialized silently before him.
Startled by this ghostly girl, Ankh quickly observed her and hesitantly asked.
"Are you... the First Guild Master, Mavis?"
In his spiritual consciousness, he had witnessed the First Master protecting the guild members.
Mavis seemed pleased to see her junior awake and nodded gently. "It's alright. I should be thanking you for saving everyone."
"If not for you, Fairy Sphere likely wouldn't have withstood Acnologia's roar."
A shadow of regret crossed Ankh's eyes as he smiled bitterly. "But I still failed to change the outcome, dragging everyone into danger..."
"Now, now... what's so bad about that?"
Mavis spoke with the playful lightness of an ordinary girl, her voice ethereal and gentle:
"Precisely because one person cannot bear everything alone do we need companions. You blame yourself for failing to protect everyone, but surely they're blaming themselves for failing to protect you too."
"You have let others rely on you for so long—why not rely on them occasionally? Everyone's happiness must be fought for together."
Watching this petite senior lecture him so earnestly, the gloom in Ankh's heart lightened slightly.
He smiled, "Thank you for your comfort."
Then he hesitated before asking, "First Master... do you know about my identity...?"
Mavis blinked but didn't directly answer, instead smiling warmly. "All I see is a young man lost in confusion."
So the First Master indeed knew—and held no reservations about it.
Somewhat reassured, Ankh was about to inquire about the others' whereabouts when Mavis suddenly said, "If anything, I should apologize for trapping you all in the Fairy Sphere... for a full seven years."
Seven years?!
The revelation struck Ankh like a physical blow.
So seven years had passed in the outside world while we remained frozen in time?
Wait!
What about everyone outside?!
"And now, the spell can finally be lifted. Your companions are currently waiting for you on a ship at sea," Mavis added with concern, watching the stunned Ankh.
Tenrou Island erupted with light once more as a massive sphere enveloped the island, its shimmering golden surface engraved with Fairy Tail's emblem.
The brilliant golden sphere rose from the sea amidst violently churning waves—Tenrou Island, lost to the ocean for seven years, had finally resurfaced!
...
On the turbulent seas, a ship battled through the swells in the distance. Its crew stared in stunned silence at the suddenly reappearing island.
This was Fairy Tail's search and rescue team.
Alzack, now with practical short hair after cutting away the strands that once covered his eyes—having become a husband and father over the past seven years—gripped his telescope.
His jaw went slack as he gaped at Tenrou Island materializing before them.
"Ten... Tenrou Island! It suddenly appeared!"
Bisca grabbed her husband's arm, unable to contain her pure excitement. "That means we can find everyone now!"
Jet and Droy, the two extremely optimistic fellows, were already embracing each other and crying tears of joy.
"We found it! We found it! Levy-chan!"
Warren wanted to shout at everyone not to get their hopes up too soon to avoid disappointment, but when he saw Tenrou Island, he was similarly choked up and couldn't even speak.
Just then, Max suddenly widened his eyes, pointing toward the shore of Tenrou Island and shouting loudly.
"Look! Isn't that Ankh?!"
"What?!"
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately gathered at the bow of the ship, squeezing together and squinting nervously as they looked ahead.
Ankh also spotted the ship approaching him and immediately recognized it as his companions.
Only... Ankh's nose tingled slightly with emotion—'everyone had really changed so much...'
"Max! Alzack and Bisca! We're over here!"
Just from their appearances, Ankh could tell his companions had suffered greatly, so he immediately began waving anxiously and shouting toward them.
Then Ankh saw the crowd that had been gathered at the bow staring out suddenly scatter...
"Ankh! Ankh! It's Ankh!"
"Waaah... Row! Row faster!"
"I don't need you to tell me! This is a magic-powered boat! It's already at maximum speed!"
The originally sluggish boat suddenly accelerated to nearly double its speed, cutting through the waves rapidly.
Just as it was about to reach the shore, the group jumped into the water with perfect coordination.
Everyone leaped into the water, creating huge splashes, then waded through the shallows crying and howling as they rushed toward Ankh.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Ankh spread his arms wide.
He couldn't even clearly see everyone's expressions, only feeling himself being enveloped in layer after layer of impact-like hugs.
Jet and Droy clung to Ankh's arms, crying so hard they could barely breathe, wailing.
"Ankh! We thought you were dead!"
"I kept saying, you're so strong, there's no way the Black Dragon could have taken you down!"
Bisca and Alzack clung to Ankh's legs, crying until snot bubbles were about to form, continuously chattering about their worries and suffering over the long years.
Max and Warren clung to him from front and back like octopuses, equally sorrowful like two young brides.
Surrounded by everyone and covered in human attachments, Ankh showed no impatience.
Looking at how much everyone had changed and listening to their tearful accounts, he concealed the ache and guilt in his heart, gently embracing everyone as he said.
"I am sorry..."
"What are you talking about, Ankh?! As long as you're alive, there's nothing to be sorry about! Is everyone else on the island too? Are you all okay?"
Droy covered his face, crying quite unattractively. His body having grown stout, he gasped for breath as he spoke.
In their subconscious minds, if Ankh was safe, it meant everyone must be safe too.
Mavis watched Ankh and the others hugging in a cluster, a slow smile spreading across her lips.
This scene is just like when everyone hugged you seven years ago...
Ankh, your companions' trust and longing for you have never changed.
Don't panic—together, we'll always find a way.
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