Natsu Dragneel.
Yajima stared in astonishment at the quiet, restrained young man before him. No matter how he looked, he couldn't reconcile this person with the fiery, reckless mage from half a year ago.
Back then, Natsu had caused chaos in the Council—disguising himself as Erza and nearly shattering the Council's last veneer of dignity.
"Reckless, arrogant, rude" wasn't enough to describe that Natsu. He had been nothing but a brainless fool charging headlong without a shred of restraint—certainly not the least bit endearing.
At that time, Paipai had not yet been remembered.
But that wasn't the point. What mattered now was the young man's transformation. What had he gone through to become like this?
"Just call me Natsu. Leave out the surname."
"Mm! Eh?" Yajima froze, eyes widening.
"A lot has happened. It also ties into where Fairy Tail has been recently. I can't explain it to you—but just pretend you don't know." Natsu smiled, carrying a warmth that washed over like a spring breeze.
Yajima rubbed the back of his head. He never imagined he'd be taught how to play ignorant by a junior. Smooth as a seasoned politician's son.
In the shadows, the other Council members who were secretly observing exchanged glances. The change in the Fire Dragon was truly startling.
But the surprise didn't last long. When Natsu spoke again, terror swept the chamber, silencing all thought:
"I came this time to borrow Etherion (周率)."
The entire room: "…"
Dead silence. Every expression froze. Was this some sort of hidden threat?
The silence stretched endlessly. Natsu could hear every Councillor's heartbeat clearly. From those beats and the faint sounds of movement, he could reconstruct the room's three-dimensional layout in his mind.
Hiding was pointless.
"…Is this Paipai's will?" Yajima asked heavily. It wasn't unreasonable—the Etherion Array had always belonged to Paipai. The Council merely kept it in safekeeping.
Natsu didn't answer directly. Instead, he revealed something else.
Seven glowing halos appeared behind him, each a different color. Arranged in a heptagon, they hung inverted like a crown over his back.
Each corner was, in fact, a faint circle, representing seven different abilities.
This was the Seven Domains (七领域)—a construct once built by Paipai himself. They were:
Manifestation of Inner Voice
Personality Distortion
World of Illusion
Sage's Domain
Multiple Selves
Lost Domain
Ring Domain
Each domain had a distinct function.
They were magical tools forged by Paipai, merging his abilities with the rules of the magical world. Like Etherion, the Seven Domains were among his greatest masterpieces.
But whereas Etherion focused on exploring the material world—from the microscopic to the cosmic—the Seven Domains delved into the realm of the mind. Their names reflected their basic functions. Yet when combined, their potential was far beyond the sum of their parts.
In theory, the Seven Domains could reshape any person—or even beast—into another.
They could turn a brutish Vulcan into a hulking man with a maiden's heart.
They could make a newborn child carry the four hundred years of experience of Zeref.
They could reduce a lofty god into a gluttonous swine.
And if a proper template was provided, even the powers could be replicated and bestowed.
The transformations were continuous and could be mass-produced.
In other words, in the hands of someone with imagination—or perversion—this weapon could either spawn endless armies to crush the world… or usher in a golden age where everyone was as strong as dragons.
Its horror and strangeness even surpassed Etherion.
But Paipai was missing, and with no one to control it, the artifact was powerless. After returning to Earthland, Natsu immediately took the Seven Domains apart and secured them himself. He remembered the vow he once made:
To change himself and the world.
The moment he revealed this proof, the Councillors went numb.
Even without knowing the Seven Domains' full potential, their basic functions alone were dangerous enough to destroy countless lives. And this lunatic had just brought it into their chamber.
"Fairy Tail is becoming harder and harder to control… perhaps it's time to…"
One Councillor's thought slipped free as a manifested voice, and his face went pale with despair. Thankfully, Natsu quickly dispelled the Seven Domains, cutting off the effect.
"Does anyone still have objections?" Natsu's gaze lingered on a corner of the chamber—where a lacrima had been set up to monitor his conversation with Yajima.
Through the lacrima, it was as though he truly looked upon the hidden Councillors.
"Ahem, of course not. It was that gentleman's possession to begin with. The Council merely held it in trust." Second Seat Org emerged from the chamber with the others, moving to the reception hall where Yajima and Natsu stood.
"May we ask… what does that gentleman intend to do with Etherion?"
"It isn't him. It's me who will be taking Etherion. As for purpose—how about we start by eradicating the Balam Alliance?"
Crack!
"You mean it? Paipai truly intends to eliminate the Balam Alliance?!" Org's hand clenched his staff so tightly that wood splinters flew. His eyes burned into Natsu. If this were true, it was tremendous news.
But the next moment, Natsu doused his hope with cold water.
"No. This is my will. I will wipe out every Dark Guild in the world—beginning with the Balam Alliance. As for the Council? Focus on maintaining order and proper governance. Make sure there are no more prison breaks."
"…If that's the case, then we cannot agree. Without overwhelming force, a rash strike at the Balam Alliance would destabilize everything. Countless innocents could die." A voice rose firmly from among the Councillors.
It was the Chairman of the Council, Crawford Seem.
His bloated form pushed past the others. While Org often played mediator, Crawford as Speaker frequently took the harsher role, saying unpleasant things and doing dirty work. The irony of that balance was worth pondering.
"Destroy the Alliance's core, and the dependent Dark Guilds will scatter like beasts. Like a flood, they'll pour across the world, committing atrocities everywhere. That risk is too great." Crawford's tone carried the weight of a defender of order.
His presence was bold, righteous.
"I know. That's why I came to borrow Etherion. Only Etherion can help me track their positions, contain the chaos, and suppress the unrest."
Natsu stepped forward. His once-restrained aura erupted in full.
Vast. Heavy. Like the abyss—like the sea.
The pressure crushed Crawford in an instant. Overwhelmed, he stumbled backward, defeated without a fight.
That sheer force weighed on every Councillor present. Crawford's heart cried silently—monster… is this what he is?
Natsu's eyes swept across the chamber like a dragon surveying its domain. The oppressive dragon's aura shook them all to their cores. Just as they felt they must kneel, the dragon's might vanished.
The dragon walked closer, gentle as a man, soothing their pounding hearts.
"I will handle everything. If anything goes wrong, I'll find someone to shoulder the consequences. You need not worry. And if you cannot rest easy, you are welcome to participate in the crusade yourselves.
You are most welcome."
Satisfied with his reassurance, the dragon turned to claim his prize.
Behind him, the stunned assembly watched the dragon stride toward his weapon—then seat himself calmly in their hall—too afraid to step forward.