"WHAT!?"
"HOW!?"
"NO WAY!"
The sights of the previously invincible Black Dragon being systematically pummeled by the giant simian form of Goku sent shockwaves through everyone present.
The Fairy Tail wizards, Zeref (who was mid-departure), and the Underworld King Mard Geer (shivering in the shadows) all felt their jaws hit the floor.
Only Dumbledore remained relatively composed, though he let out a quiet sigh of relief and slipped the Portkey back into his robes.
"I don't care what you are... I will kill you!"
Acnologia let out a hysterical roar. From the day he first became a dragon, he had never experienced such humiliation.
He was being pinned to the ground and beaten senseless, his legendary hide and scales torn away by raw strength.
Dragon blood sprayed across the battlefield like rain, and every fiber of his being screamed in agony. He knew if this continued, the Great Ape would literally beat him to death.
Mustering every drop of magic power within his body, he waited for the moment the Ape lunged over him. He aimed directly at Goku's head and unleashed his most powerful Black Dragon's Roar to date.
This blast was far superior to his previous attacks. Even during his ancient slaughter of the Dragon Kings, he had never expended this much magic on a single breath. He was certain that at this range, it would vaporize the giant's skull instantly.
However, sensing the imminent danger, the Great Ape's instincts took over. Goku opened his massive maw wide.
The signature Mouth Blast of the Saiyan Great Ape erupted forth.
The Dragon's Roar and the Great Ape's energy pillar slammed into each other with a world-shaking impact.
One black, one white—the two beams of catastrophic energy held a stalemate for five agonizing seconds. Then, Goku's Ki surged. The mouth blast swelled, overwhelming the roar and surging toward Acnologia's head.
"I have Devouring Magic! Your attack is useless against me!"
Acnologia felt a flicker of panic, but he relied on his innate ability to deconstruct the energy. He channeled his Devouring Magic to dissolve the oncoming blast.
"Oh no!"
It was only then that he realized the energy was too dense, too alien. It didn't follow the logic of standard magic. His Devouring Magic managed to strip away only a third of the power; the remaining two-thirds of the raw energy slammed squarely into his face.
His consciousness was instantly plunged into eternal darkness.
Looking down at the headless corpse of the dragon, the Great Ape's body went limp. Goku's mind cleared, and he subconsciously scratched the back of his head.
"Sorry about that... you were so strong, I couldn't hold back."
The Animagus-enhanced transformation allowed him to retain his reason and prevented him from becoming a mindless engine of destruction, but the Saiyan blood still influenced him.
It made him more prone to rage, more feral in combat, and far less likely to show mercy. He hadn't actually intended to kill the dragon—Acnologia was a rare "Master" and a good opponent.
Still, he didn't feel much guilt. The dragon had come to kill them, after all.
Goku deactivated his Giant Magic, and the hundred-meter ape shrank to a dozen meters. Then, he canceled the Animagus form, reverting to his normal boyish self. But before he could say a word, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed.
Transforming into the Great Ape was an immense drain on his stamina, especially following a day of non-stop combat. The moment the transformations vanished, a mountain of fatigue crashed over him, knocking him unconscious.
"Goku!"
The Fairy Tail wizards cried out, rushing forward to catch him. But before he could hit the dirt, Goku vanished in a flash of light. Dumbledore, knowing the boy had likely been pulled back to his "private training space" or simply recovered by a summon, stepped forward to calm them.
"Do not worry. He is merely exhausted. He will be back after a good sleep."
On the other side of the clearing, Zeref stood before the headless carcass of the Black Dragon, his shoulders trembling. He wasn't mourning; he was ecstatic.
He was now absolutely certain: the boy named Son Goku could kill him. If he could slay the Apocalypse Dragon, ending an immortal's curse would be well within his reach.
"Hoo... it seems my previous plans won't be necessary."
Zeref's face glowed with a rare happiness. He turned his gaze toward the shadows where Mard Geer was hiding.
"I suppose I'll use you as a 'meeting gift' to ask this friend to relieve me of my pain."
"Crap!"
Realizing he was exposed, Mard Geer didn't hesitate. He entered his Etherious Form and attempted to flee Tenrou Island at top speed. He had stayed hidden only to avoid the dragon's and Zeref's attention, but now that he'd been spotted, he had to move.
"It's Mard Geer!"
The Fairy Tail wizards braced themselves. With Goku unconscious and their magic drained, they were in no condition to fight a demon of the Underworld King's caliber. Only Dumbledore looked relatively fresh.
Zeref, standing by the dragon's corpse, lightly snapped his fingers.
With that simple click, Mard Geer's body froze mid-air. With a look of pure terror, he dissolved into a trail of smoke and was sucked into the book Zeref held in his hand. A moment later, the book erupted into flames and vanished.
"Do not be alarmed. I am not your enemy," Zeref said, appearing before the guild. "When the little one wakes up, please tell him to find me at Mavis's grave. I will wait for him there. I wish to ask him for a favor."
He paused, looking at the exhausted group. "In exchange, I will tell you the truth of everything. For instance, Natsu's true origin, the whereabouts of the Dragon Kings you seek, and I will grant the boy any wish within my power."
With those words, his silhouette gradually faded away.
Natsu and Gajeel were instantly electrified with excitement.
"Warrod! Can we trust him?" Makarov asked, turning to his old friend.
Warrod watched the space where the Black Wizard had stood and sighed with a touch of nostalgia.
"He... is actually a very kind, very good person."
Makarov and the wizards stared at him, eyes wide.
The legendary, cruel Black Wizard Zeref—the creator of nightmares and the idol of every dark cult—was a "kind person"?
They knew Warrod loved a good joke, but this was pushing it.
"I'm not joking this time," Warrod said, spreading his hands helplessly.
"At least, that's the man I remember.