Two days passed in a flash; Acnologia and Irene finally returned. Seeing the dilapidated guild, they used Time-Space Magic to restore it to its original state.
Acnologia and Irene sat in the empty guild, pouring themselves drinks.
Irene lay lazily on the sofa: "The scent of demons... it seems our comrades have been through a fierce battle."
She had already sensed that their friends were at Eclair's small shop, so she wasn't in a hurry.
Acnologia smiled: "The boss on the other side is one of our own, so it can hardly be called a fierce battle. They just encountered a bit of trouble."
"That's true."
Irene knew Acnologia would never let their comrades fall into real danger; even if he wasn't there himself, he would have arranged backup.
Now that he controlled the power of time and space, there was even less to worry about.
At that moment, Zera and Warren sensed Acnologia and Irene's location and brought the group over. When they found the guild completely restored, they immediately showed expressions of pleasant surprise.
Erza pushed open the door and saw the two people lounging on the sofa, her face lighting up with joy: "Dad! Mom!"
Acnologia and Irene waved and smiled: "Welcome back!"
"We should be the ones saying that!"
"Where did you two go? You've been gone for over half a year, and even Warren and Zera couldn't sense you."
"Yeah, you have no idea what we've been through lately."
Everyone was overjoyed, crowding around and chattering incessantly.
Acnologia looked at the familiar faces of his comrades, feeling heartfelt happiness. He explained things one by one; having not seen them for so long, he really did miss them.
"Lord Acnologia, Queen Irene!"
Number One and the other two were also overjoyed, kneeling respectfully on the ground. It had been a long time since they saw the two lords, and they immediately began asking after their well-being.
Irene felt a bit helpless and said, "Stand up. You're already a king; don't keep kneeling every time."
"Yes, Queen!"
The three of them had figured out Irene's personality; they agreed verbally, but would do the same thing next time.
Erza hugged Acnologia and complained incessantly. Tartaros had bullied them too much; the Magical Barrier Particles had almost wiped them out, and she hadn't had a peaceful night's sleep in days.
Lucy and Happy hurriedly chimed in. Natsu had also been taken away, and there was no telling what kind of inhumane torture he was enduring now.
"You're overthinking it,"
Acnologia laughed. How could that guy possibly be tortured? As the Guild Master of Tartaros, he was probably living quite comfortably right now.
Seeing her father's indifferent expression, Erza shook his arm hard and pouted dissatisfiedly: "How is it overthinking? Those guys are demons; they're capable of anything."
If those Magical Barrier Particles hadn't been swallowed by their Fairy Tail members, who knows how many people they would have harmed.
Number One agreed, saying: "Her Highness is right. Tartaros is definitely nothing good. Lord Acnologia, as long as you agree, our army will find Tartaros even if we have to turn the Kingdom of Fiore upside down."
He really didn't think much of the Kingdom of Fiore. Even their supposedly strongest Grovellers Knights could be wiped out by just two generals sent from the Dragnof Kingdom.
Acnologia shook his head and said, "There's no need for you to act. This is merely a trial."
"A trial?"
Everyone was surprised. What did that mean?
Meeting everyone's confused gazes, Acnologia explained: "Zeref and I made an agreement. He would lead Tartaros to give Fairy Tail a trial. As for the reason, I will explain it to you later."
Mavis was slightly surprised: "Zeref?"
What exactly happened between them?
Erza suddenly said, "So that's why Tartaros showed us mercy?"
Under normal circumstances, there was no need for that Jackal to produce the real antidote.
Acnologia said with a smile, "Don't think too much about it. Just treat them as enemies; there's no need to show mercy."
Those demons can be resurrected, so it doesn't matter if they really die. They've committed plenty of evil anyway. As for Zeref, he cares even less whether the demons live or die.
"Is that so?"
"Is Tartaros not the enemy? They're demons..."
"But why did they capture Natsu then?"
Everyone was baffled, feeling there were too many unexplained points.
Laxus crossed his arms and said irritably, "You're still being secretive. What exactly is the other side trying to do?"
Lucy asked urgently, "So you mean Natsu will be fine, right?"
Happy said worriedly, "Acnologia, just tell us!"
Seeing everyone's nervous state, Acnologia felt a bit helpless. They were all so impatient and couldn't wait at all.
He explained: "Actually, Zeref is Natsu's older brother."
"What?"
"How is that possible? Zeref is the most evil Black Wizard in history, while Natsu is so kind!"
Before he could finish, it caused a wave of shock. Both Makarov and Mavis widened their eyes.
"Let me finish, okay?"
Acnologia was helpless; these guys were far too impatient.
Makarov coughed twice to quiet everyone down: "Go on, speak!"
Acnologia continued: "Erza told you before about the identities of Natsu and the other four. They are all children from four hundred years ago."
"Actually, Wendy, Gajeel, Sting, and Rogue are orphans, but Natsu is not."
Acnologia reached out and condensed a projection of the past time and space, showing a scene of Zeref as a child.
The Black Wizard's full name is Zeref Dragneel. Four hundred years ago, when he was just a child, his parents and younger brother Natsu were killed by dragons...
Everyone watched the screen as countless Evil Dragons soared across the sky, destroying the world with a single breath. They saw Zeref's family engulfed by dragon flames, and their hearts were shaken.
Mavis said in disbelief, "Is this an illusion you created?"
Acnologia shook his head: "These are fragments of past time and space. There is no falsehood; everything you see is real."
The scene flickered. To resurrect his brother Natsu, Zeref began researching Life-and-Death Magic and successfully constructed a demon from the Books of Zeref—a life named Etherious Natsu Dragneel, which is E.N.D.!
Everyone's pupils constricted as they watched the child in the screen being nurtured in a device, filled with disbelief.
That cherry-blossom colored hair and those features—even as a child, they could recognize Natsu at a glance.
E.N.D. founded Tartaros and led all the demons. Natsu has always been in the Fairy Tail Guild, so how could he be...?
And Natsu said Igneel didn't defeat E.N.D. either... Acnologia explained: "The one who founded Tartaros was Plue Mard Geer, using the name of E.N.D. E.N.D. is the nominal Guild Master, while Mard Geer is the true leader."
The screen showed the meeting between Zeref and the Fire Dragon King Igneel. Later, Natsu was entrusted to him to learn Dragon Slaying Magic... "As for Igneel not defeating E.N.D., it wasn't a physical defeat. It was because Igneel loved Natsu; even knowing he was a demon, he couldn't bring himself to do it."
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