This world is being forged into one.
Natsu tilted his head, listening. The voice of the world echoed endlessly in his ears.
Within the Seven-Point Divine Wheel, the thoughts of all living beings rose and fell like tides.
Through it, Natsu knew the plans of both Zerefs; he knew the schemes of the Magic Council; he knew Fairy Tail's deployment; he even glimpsed the shadow of the dragon named Acnologia.
"The Five Dragon Gods, Acnologia, and Face must be brought under control." Exhaling deeply, Natsu steeled his resolve.
"Our battle begins now!"
He turned, and behind him, a vast host of a million figures gradually came into focus.
They were made up of tens of thousands of death-row prisoners once held by dark guilds, political elites abducted from kingdoms, and unstable elements who had sought to sow chaos in the transitional era.
All together, their number surpassed a million—filling sky and earth, a swarm as dense as locusts. The massed magic power roiled, ripping the clouds apart.
Less than one percent of them had been reforged into beings like Azuma and Seira, and fewer still—barely a ten-thousandth—into figures like Precht or Mard Geer.
The rest served as a standing army, indoctrinated with ideology. Divided into squads of a hundred, they were dispatched across the land to maintain order—power was secondary to purpose.
"Please, Lord Natsu—transform as many of us as possible. This war demands absolute power."
Dozens of Mard Geers stepped forward together, bowing deeply.
"…Thank you. All of you." Natsu's gaze lingered on them, his voice soft with conflicted emotion.
To outsiders, Azuma, Seira, Precht—even Mard Geer—were nothing but tools, "disposable materials" remade by Natsu. Lifeless puppets, bereft of feeling.
But Natsu saw them differently. The refuse of their former selves had died long ago. What stood before him were entirely new beings. They inherited fragments of memory and power, nothing more.
Given time, they too would grow into unique individuals—capable of love, of valuing life, of cherishing order and beauty.
And… though forged by force, at least now they all acted under a shared ideal. They were comrades in spirit.
"May our dream come true soon…" Those closest to Natsu sat quietly, followed by those behind them, who understood his choice. One by one, they too sat, the ripple spreading outward from Natsu as its center.
From the day they entered this world, they had known this moment would come. They simply hadn't expected it so soon.
Once all had chosen, Natsu no longer hesitated. The Seven-Point Divine Wheel flared with light, and Natsu himself contracted into a single point, merging with it.
At once, a new template appeared within the Wheel—marked "Natsu."
With Natsu fused, the Wheel soared higher and higher, nearly breaching into space.
Its radiance burst forth—worldly magic froze in an instant, as though a river abruptly reversed course. The current of magical atmosphere shifted, surging downward, drawn earthward.
The torrent became a vast pillar of light that pierced sky and land, dazzling beyond all compare.
Under its flood, the ground crystallized into Etherion crystals.
Those within found themselves in a dreamlike world: the earth glittered like crystal, light wrapped every movement, the sun invisible, yet the land bright as day.
Their bodies and auras rapidly changed—hair shortening, black turning to cherry hues, magic power climbing higher and higher, all aligning toward Natsu.
Even their senses and vision began to overlap and merge.
The strange tide of magic was swiftly detected by Oración Seis' Lacrima Surveillance, images relayed to the Magic Council.
Nearly all were left dumbstruck.
"He's… duplicating himself?!" Yajima shook violently, eyes bulging in disbelief. In all his years, he had never witnessed madness like this. This was beyond reckless—it was insanity.
"Councilman Org's proposal is suspended. Send this information to Giltena immediately—urge them to deploy troops. Also, begin breaking the seal on Face and prepare it for activation," ordered Crawford Seam decisively.
Still, the Speaker of Ishgar's Council—ironically strengthened now that most kingdoms were crippled—he wielded authority with renewed stability.
"Speaker, must we go so far?" gasped Belno.
"We have no choice."
Ten days passed in a flash.
Natsu's attempt to fully replicate himself had failed—there remained a power within him that resisted duplication. Forced to compromise, he instead altered his plan, linking everyone into one collective network.
It barely satisfied his aim.
Meanwhile, the sheer terror of his actions finally stirred Giltena to seriousness.
Now, all three continents—Ishgar, the Western Continent, and Giltena—had resolved to unite against Natsu.
And yet Fairy Tail, the Five Dragon Gods, and Acnologia lurked at the edges, any of them ready to intervene.
The stage was set for an unprecedented confrontation in Aslant.
Fiore, Magnolia—Fairy Tail Guild.
Here, Zeref, commander of the Western Continent's forces, came face to face with his long-estranged lover—Mavis Vermillion.
Because of Natsu's rising threat, Makarov had descended from the moon, traveling to Tenrou Island to retrieve both Fairy Glitter and Mavis. Through the method of the original timeline, Mavis had been successfully revived.
Now she stood before Zeref, her expression impossibly complex.
But none looked more conflicted than August, whose lips trembled as though to speak, only to fall silent, retreating into the margins.
"Mavis. It has been a long time."
"Emperor Spriggan, this is no time for reminiscence. You must face the problem before us." Mavis steadied her emotions, her face calm, her tone resolute.
"Natsu Dragneel has now pulled back his battle lines, leaving only skeleton forces to hold occupied territories. Nearly eight hundred thousand combatants have been concentrated into one force, each at least above S-Class strength, and still growing stronger.
To destroy this threat, I require detailed intelligence on Alvarez's army to coordinate deployment. Do not withhold anything."
"Your Majesty, I object!" Invel interjected sharply. "Natsu's forces are tied down by their occupied towns. I advise striking those territories with raids, forcing him to split his strength. We cannot charge head-on! And Alvarez's military intelligence is absolute state secrecy—never to be—"
"It's fine."
Zeref raised his hand, cutting Invel short.
"I entrust Alvarez's army to you, Mavis. From this moment, you are the Supreme Commander of Alvarez's forces."
"Your Majesty!!!" cried the Eleven Shields in unison.
They were stunned. Had their Emperor gone mad? Forsaking empire for love?
"That is final. From now on, Mavis's orders are my orders. She is my wife."
"…Yes." The Shields—August aside—forced the word through clenched teeth, their frustration palpable.
Mavis's cheeks flushed, but she did not refuse. "…Thank you."
Good. That is all. I have other matters—I must go.
As if giving final instructions, Zeref opened a dimensional gate and stepped through.
Father—I'll go with you! cried Larcade, reaching out. He managed only to clutch a corner of Zeref's robe before he vanished.
Mavis froze, utterly stunned.