The Grand Magic Games, seven years later, came with a more refined set of rules. If Ivan wanted to accomplish his goal, he'd at least need to keep his identity concealed.
And yet, there he was now, standing boldly before Charles with his subordinates.
Ivan looked at Charles and smiled in a way that could only be described as revolting. "This is our first time meeting, isn't it? Allow me to introduce myself—my name is Ivan Dreyar.
Yes, Makarov is my father. Although, I doubt he's ever mentioned me to you."
Charles, unfazed, replied flatly, "Don't try to get chummy. Since you were expelled from Fairy Tail by Master Makarov, you're irrelevant now.
So, tell me—what's the point of this pathetic stunt?"
Ivan's grin didn't waver. "I can't say I dislike your straightforward personality.
Lumen Histoire—that's my goal, and always has been. As the only survivor of the Tenrou Island incident, the old man must've entrusted that secret to you!"
Lumen Histoire—a forbidden magic that stood above Fairy Sphere, Fairy Law, and Fairy Glitter, the Three Great Fairy Magics.
In fact, the Three Great Fairy Magics didn't even compare. Lumen Histoire was so secretive, even its true name was hidden. Only each generation's Fairy Tail Guild Master knew of its existence.
Its real name was Fairy Heart, the true body of the first Guild Master, Mavis, who had been cursed with immortality, yet lost her life to that very curse.
That body, containing infinite magical power, was sealed beneath the Fairy Tail guild hall.
Charles suspected the real reason Ivan had been expelled was because he tried to meddle with Fairy Heart. And the "dangerous intel" Makarov claimed Ivan possessed was most likely its existence.
Charles mulled this over, but outwardly, he said, "Even if I did know something, why would I ever tell you?"
Ivan smirked confidently. "Makarov and Fairy Tail's entire elite squad have vanished. You don't want to see Fairy Tail fall into decline, do you?
The best way to restore it is to win the Grand Magic Games. Hand over information on Lumen Histoire, and I'll make sure you win the championship."
Charles grinned with amusement. "And if I refuse?"
Ivan's face darkened like a shadow falling over him. "Then we'll crush you right here and now."
Charles scoffed. "With this bunch of nobodies?"
Ivan raised a hand to stop his subordinates and said, "I'll admit, you're stronger than I expected. But how much magic do you have left?
And let me clue you in—Raven Tail was built as an anti-Fairy Tail guild. Every one of our members specializes in magic your guildmates are weakest against.
Behind me stand the strongest elites. Not even you can take us all on."
Charles responded with a carefree smile. "Let's set aside whether your guild is as great as you claim—did you forget I'm not fighting alone?"
Ivan sneered, "It's useless. Right now, you're trapped in an illusion we created. Your comrades have no idea what's going on."
Charles shook his head. "Don't underestimate my teammates."
Ivan stepped forward. "Then that's too bad… Let's finish this."
But just then, a wave of flame crashed down from the sky, blasting every member of Raven Tail away.
It was a flame Charles knew intimately—the Skyburning Dragon King's Flame. The inferno obliterated the dark magic fueling Ivan's illusion.
Descending like a fire-born angel, Stella landed beside Charles, her presence fierce and overwhelming. "I knew something felt off. So there was a problem."
Though her magical sensing wasn't as refined as Charles's, Stella had still noticed the oddities on the field.
Sting and the others also came marching in, fists clenched and eager. Though they hadn't realized what was going on earlier, they were now ready to make up for it.
Charles stepped back and said, "You really helped me out. I'll leave these guys to you—once we finish with them, the championship is ours."
All four nodded and charged toward the five Raven Tail members.
"…So brutal," Charles muttered, shaking his head. He felt a bit of regret for not keeping some sunflower seeds or snacks in his ring—watching Stella and the others lay down a beating really called for something to munch on.
Though Ivan claimed Raven Tail had been trained specifically to counter Fairy Tail, it clearly didn't matter.
In the original timeline, Laxus had soloed them—so facing Stella's squad now, they didn't stand a chance.
But midway through the fight, Charles moved.
He stepped in and pushed Sting aside to block an attack from Obra, the masked man in the tall hat.
Sting frowned. "Charles, why'd you jump in? I was just about to finish him off!"
Charles replied, "Go fight someone else—this guy's too dangerous for you right now."
Sting didn't quite understand why, but he trusted Charles and went to find another opponent.
Charles had good reason. Just while speaking, he'd felt his magic power draining rapidly, like a dam's floodgates had opened.
But then it suddenly stopped. The "gates" closed again. Obra tilted his head as if he didn't understand what had just happened.
Charles spoke up, "Obra… nah, that's not your real name. Go back and give Zeref a message from me… never mind. I've got nothing to say to him."
Yes—Obra wasn't a real mage at all, but a puppet.
His true form was a tiny black creature resembling a monkey—not human, but a demon from the Book of Zeref.
His special ability: erasing magic power from his opponents.
In the original timeline, he ambushed Wendy and Carla before the Games began.
He also assisted Raven Tail in cheating during the first day's battle by secretly nullifying Lucy's magic, causing her Stellar Spirit summoning to fail.
But this time—Charles wouldn't let him get away.
Obra burst into a fireball, collapsing to the ground without resistance.
Charles wasn't fooled—he could still sense the demon's magic.
A shadow darted out of the fireball, trying to flee the arena—but it didn't get far before being engulfed in flame.
Though not as specialized as Anti-Demon Magic, Charles's fire had purification properties—the Sacred Flame.
In the blazing fire, the grotesque little demon screamed, but could do nothing to stop its body from turning to ash.
Its remains resembled burnt pages—apt, considering demons from Zeref's books had magical tomes as their true forms.
The sight reminded Charles of something.
"END." He needed to start searching for that book ahead of time—after all, it involved Natsu's fate.
(End of Chapter)
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