Whiteout Village—
The High White Priestess was explaining the situation to her people.
"In the distant past, there was a monster in this world known as a calamity. It could generate Magic Power and amplify it without limit. Its name was Alta Face."
"Alta Face?!"
The High White Priestess continued,
"That is correct. With its immense Magic Power, Alta Face destroyed cities, devastated the land, and swallowed the seas. It is said that the ancestors of Whiteout Village repeatedly rose to challenge it, and after several years of fighting, they finally managed to seal Alta Face underground."
"The world found peace afterward, but before long, the familiar 'hands' began to appear. The villagers immediately realized they were parts of Alta Face and cut them down whenever they emerged."
"Several centuries passed, and we eventually discovered that the hands showed no hostility. They would occasionally give birth to Binding Hand monsters, but even that was rare. Little by little, we forgot the threat Alta Face posed."
The High White Priestess lowered her head in shame and let out a long sigh.
Faris asked, "High White Priestess, is Alta Face also the reason Elentear is overflowing with Magic Power?"
The High White Priestess nodded.
"Indeed. However, as long as it remained sealed, the power of Whiteout was enough to maintain the balance."
One of the villagers asked, "Does the current rampage of the hands mean Alta Face has awakened?"
"Even now, with matters having reached this point, I choose to place my faith in the young people who stepped forward to fight..."
...
"The twisted Magic Power of the Moon Dragon gave me consciousness. I shall destroy this world overflowing with Magic."
Alta Face had just explained why it was capable of speech.
Every single person present immediately turned to stare at Selene.
"..."
Selene explained with a blank expression,
"Those were my thoughts at the time. My malice contaminated Alta Face. Even I never expected this result."
[Take Over: Gankoomon X.]
Irene shook her head.
"Things have already reached this stage. There is no point dwelling on how it happened."
After Taking Over Gankoomon X, Raizel slammed his fists together.
"It doesn't matter. Let's smash it! Everyone ready?"
At the same time, Alta Face began radiating dazzling light.
An impossibly dense concentration of Ethernano flooded the underground world.
"..."
The only answer Raizel received was silence.
Aside from Raizel, Selene, and Irene, everyone suddenly discovered that they could no longer control the Magic Power inside their bodies.
"I can't move!"
"I can't Requip!"
"The concentration of Ethernano is way too high!"
"There's so much Magic Power that we can't use Magic?"
"How does that make any sense?!"
Everyone began shouting over one another.
Raizel had no idea what was happening either. Only he, Irene, and Selene could still use Magic.
Irene remained perfectly composed as she explained,
"It is an excess of Magic Power. Your power has risen beyond its normal limit, creating a false sensation that makes you believe your Magic Power has fallen to zero."
Perhaps because Irene was so calm, Erza, Lucy, and the others gradually settled down as well.
Irene had a way of inspiring that kind of trust.
"Eh?!!"
They still did not fully understand what she said.
Irene thought for a moment before trying another explanation.
"Imagine something whose display can only reach ninety-nine. Once the value rises to one hundred, what would appear?"
"Zero-zero?!!"
Wendy, Lucy, and the others immediately understood.
"???"
Only Natsu still looked completely lost.
'Did all of you just speaking another languange?'
Irene's lips curved into a faint smile as she nodded.
"Exactly. The extremely high concentration of Ethernano is sending false information to your bodies, making them believe your Magic Power has become zero. In reality, the opposite has happened. The Magic produced by that creature has strengthened your power beyond its limits."
"Close your eyes."
The moment Irene spoke, Ultear, Mira, and the others obeyed.
Irene's voice seemed to carry Magic of its own, gently guiding them.
"Remember all the training you have endured. Think of every obstacle and hardship your bodies and Magic Power have overcome."
Ultear remembered spending months on Tenrou Island to master Arc of Time. Developing its Second Origin had taken her years.
Erza and Kagura remembered training against Jesmon's three sword spirits and Raizel since childhood, losing again and again, yet always rising to challenge them once more.
Mira remembered the demons she had once refused to Take Over, her helplessness against the Beast Soul, and how she had finally accepted demon souls during the war against Tartaros.
Natsu remembered the first time he entered Dragon Force, along with the ten grueling months he spent training to wield the lingering power Igneel had left behind.
Lucy remembered opening two Celestial Spirit Gates simultaneously for the first time after her training, casting Urano Metria together with Gemini, and successfully Requipping a Star Dress for the first time.
Wendy remembered the joy she felt after seeking guidance from Natsu, Laxus, and Levy, then finally mastering her Dragon Slayer Secret Art.
...
As everyone's Magic Power began to surge, Irene watched them with a warm smile.
"Good. All you needed was to recognize it."
The moment she finished speaking, Wendy's Magic Power erupted around her like a towering pillar.
Even her body grew slightly taller.
"Wendy?!"
Raizel's eyes widened like saucers.
"You suddenly grew up?!" Natsu stared with his mouth hanging open.
Wendy looked embarrassed.
"It's only temporary!"
It was similar to how Laxus's body grew much larger when he entered Lightning Flame Dragon Mode.
Erza clenched her fist, thrust it into the air, and shouted,
"Everyone, trust your bodies! Remember everything you have fought through to reach this point!"
One after another, Ultear, Mira, and the others regained their awareness of their Magic Power.
Natsu was the last to finally feel it.
Irene transformed into her dragon form.
"Now! This state will not last long!"
"Kyūkyoku Senki Tengyōken!"
Raizel compressed every ounce of energy into his right fist. It was an unavoidable, defense-shattering uppercut meant to crush anything it struck!
"Fire Dragon King's Demolition Fist!"
Natsu instantly gathered all his Magic Power into his right fist as well.
"Moonlight Butterfly!"
Selene transformed into a nine-tailed dragon.
She turned the power of moonlight into countless butterflies, while a pale golden pillar of light rose from below and enveloped Alta Face.
"Sage Dragon's Roar!"
Irene drew in a deep breath before unleashing a massive roar.
"Sky Dragon's Roar!"
"Aqua Historia!"
After Requipping her Aquarius Star Dress, Lucy fired a spiraling torrent of water from her mouth, merging it with Wendy's Sky Dragon's Roar.
"Benizakura: Flash!"
"Archenemy: Azure Phoenix Form—and Astron: Azure Dragon Form!"
"Soul Ripper!"
"Eight Dragons' Crushing Fang!"
Everyone flashed past Alta Face and landed in crouched positions.
A deafening explosion followed.
Alta Face shattered into countless pieces.
"Did we get it?"
Wendy closed her eyes and sensed the area.
"But the Magic Power here is still incredibly high."
Erza frowned deeply.
"What's going on? We already destroyed Alta Face."
"Then I'll eat all this Magic Power!!!"
Natsu opened his mouth, preparing to inhale the surrounding Magic.
Raizel grabbed him by the scarf and immediately ran.
"We've got something more important to do! Time to get out of here!"
Because the underground cavern around them was collapsing.