Just as Ankh was feeling eager inside about the lore drop, the Sky Dragon Grandeeney, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke up.
Her voice was gentle, like a breeze.
"Ankh-san, I wonder... what else do you wish to obtain after going through such great trouble to enter here? Surely not just to listen to old stories?"
Ankh cleared his throat, adjusting his stance in the mental landscape.
"Ahem... First, I indeed want to convey Natsu and the others' feelings."
Ankh paused, then flashed a merchant's smile.
"And also... since I'm here, I'd like to borrow a bit of your blood... or Magic Power, scales, or feathers would work too. Just a small sample. This would be very helpful for my research into life forms."
Grandeeney nodded her massive dragon head.
Without hesitation, she plucked a shimmering white feather from her wing.
Metalicana and Igneel were equally generous.
They decisively peeled off a loose Dragon Scale from their bodies and handed it to Ankh.
"Take it," Igneel rumbled. "If it helps Natsu, it is yours."
Ankh accepted the items, storing them away in his storage.
Then, he produced a leather bag from somewhere, smiling as he said.
"Fair trade. These are Dragon Gems I made, I noticed you all still have injuries from the past."
He looked at them critically.
Saying they were injured was putting it mildly.
Aside from Igneel being slightly better off, the other two were practically half-dead. Especially Metalicana—his soul form was flickering and almost transparent.
"These can serve as snacks for you," Ankh offered, tossing the bag to Igneel. "They contain concentrated life force and dragon magic. They might help speed up your recovery. Consider them meeting gifts."
The three dragons didn't stand on ceremony. They accepted the bag filled with gems, sensing the nourishing power within.
Grandeeney hesitated for a moment before continuing, her eyes soft. "Could I ask you to deliver a specific message to Wendy for me, Ankh-san?"
Ankh was naturally willing. "No need to be polite. What would you like to say?"
Grandeeney said: "You must know Porlyusica, right?"
Ankh nodded, then immediately understood what Grandeeney wanted to entrust to him.
"I previously entrusted Porlyusica that if she ever met Wendy, she should teach her the Dragon Slayer Secret Arts. I cannot teach her myself in this state. Now that you've come here, I'll trouble you to inform Wendy about this."
"So it's just about taking Wendy to meet Lady Porlyusica to learn her ultimate moves. I understand." Ankh readily agreed—this was practically a trivial matter for him.
Igneel and Metalicana exchanged glances.
A mischievous glint appeared in their eyes.
Then, they spoke up in unison.
"In that case... we also have some things we'd like to trouble you to convey to our sons."
...
Meanwhile, in the outside world.
Natsu was anxiously tapping his wheelchair armrest.
It was irritating Gajeel beside him so much that the Iron Dragon Slayer shouted.
"Thats so damn annoying! Can't you stay still for a moment, Salamander?!"
Natsu of course refused to back down verbally. "Shut up! I'm worried about Igneel!"
"You wanna go?!"
The two engaged in another round of "friendly" head-butting exchange, their foreheads clashing with a hollow thud.
Wendy worriedly furrowed her brows while looking at the floor, clutching her skirt.
She murmured to herself, "Ankh-san still hasn't come out yet... I hope he's okay..."
Mirajane watched over them with a gentle smile, refilling their tea.
Just as Wendy was speaking, silver light emerged from the three Dragon Slayers.
It swirled in the center of the room, immediately coalescing back into Ankh's human form.
"Ankh! You're back!" Natsu shouted excitedly.
He tried to jump up but fell back into his wheelchair. "So? Are Igneel and the others inside my stomach?! Did you see them?!"
"That's the Magic Source world, not your stomach... you idiot."
Ankh straightened his clothes, dusting off invisible magical particles.
Then he looked at them and informed the three of this undoubtedly good news.
"It's confirmed. Igneel, Grandeeney, and Metalicana are each residing within you."
The room fell silent.
"Is he... is that rusty guy doing alright?"
Gajeel ultimately couldn't hold back and asked, looking away to hide his concern.
Ankh hesitated slightly. "They've all sustained some injuries from the past, but fortunately they're fine for now."
Natsu instantly flared up, smoke rising from his bandages.
He shouted: "Who hurt them, Ankh?! Tell me! I'll get revenge for Igneel and the others!"
Ankh smiled politely but firmly. "No. For your own good, it's better you don't know about this matter for now. This is also their wish since y'all are too weak right now."
Though Natsu and Gajeel wanted to press further, Ankh ignored their aggressive pleading and turned to the trembling girl instead.
"Wendy."
"Y-Yes?"
Ankh softened his voice. "Grandeeney wants to tell you: 'Don't miss me, for I am always by your side.'"
He paused.
"Also, she said that Porlyusica has the training method for the Dragon Slayer Secret Arts. Grandeeney left them with her for you. I'll have Natsu take you to her tomorrow morning."
Tears welled up in Wendy's large eyes. S
he barely registered Ankh's subsequent words about training.
She nodded with a choked sob, covering her mouth.
"She's... really here..."
Being the youngest among the Dragon Slayer Mages and the first to lose her dragon's care, her dependence and longing for her dragon were the strongest.
"Porlyusica?" Natsu blinked, confused. "That old hag who hates humans? Why would she have Grandeeney's Dragon Slayer Secret Arts?"
"She is Grandeeney from another world," Ankh explained simply. "But in human form. She accidentally arrived in this world years ago, met the Guild Master, and never returned."
After Ankh briefly explained the parallel world concept, Natsu was astonished.
"Another world?!"
Seeing this, Gajeel immediately chimed in, wanting to join them.
"I'm going too! I need to ask that old woman if she knows where Metalicana's other self is!"
Having just received the wonderful news that their dragons were nearby, the two eagerly pestered Ankh for more information.
Upon learning Porlyusica's identity, Wendy felt increasingly excited about tomorrow's meeting.
It felt like meeting a relative.
"Oh, right," Ankh interrupted the commotion.
He looked at the two boys. "Gajeel, Natsu—Igneel and Metalicana have entrusted me with something to handle with you two."
Natsu and Gajeel's eyes immediately lit up.
"A gift?" Natsu asked.
"A secret technique?" Gajeel grinned.
Then, Ankh slowly revealed a "friendly" smile.
Natsu's heart skipped a beat—his childhood instinct developed from frequent beatings by Erza and Ankh told him something wasn't quite right.
"Wait—"
Suddenly, two fist-sized glowing fists composed of pure Magic Power simultaneously appeared before their faces.
"Friendship Demolition Fist!"
Ankh delivered the blow, sending them flying with their dragon fathers' expectations.
"BAM! BAM!"
The unlucky duo launched from their wheelchairs like rockets and embedded deep into the wall behind them.
"Bastard..."
As Natsu struggled to pry himself from the wall, ready to take Ankh down with him for the sneak attack, he suddenly froze.
He clenched his fist.
"My body..." Natsu exclaimed in amazement. "I can move it! The pain is gone!"
Gajeel flexed his limbs, tearing off the bandages. "Me too! All the side effects from the dragon gem are gone! I feel great!"
Ankh looked at his fists as the trace of Dragon Force entrusted by the two dragons to heal their sons slowly dissipated.
Then Ankh theatrically cleared his throat, imitating the dragons' characteristically deep voices.
"Gajeel, you brat! Tone down that murderous glare! Do you want to stay single forever?! Be nicer to the girl!"
Gajeel's iron-hard face couldn't help but flush red. "That... that sounds exactly like him..."
"Natsu! You better learn how to transform into a dragon properly! You're my son, Igneel's successor! Don't embarrass me!"
Natsu's face burst into flames as his fighting spirit ignited like adrenaline.
"I'm all fired up! Just watch me, Igneel!"
Soon, the two lively dragon kids were again pressing their ears to their stomachs, chattering affectionately with their dragons.
Who knows if they truly understood that their dragons being inside them didn't mean they were literally in their stomachs...
Wendy watched the lively scene with starry eyes, wiping her tears.
She grew increasingly eager for the gift Grandeeney had left her.
...
Meanwhile, within the Magic Source World.
Metalicana couldn't help but chuckle at Gajeel's flustered appearance he could sense in the outside world.
'Raising a child really is quite amusing...'
"However..." Metalicana's voice turned serious. "Igneel, do you truly believe that Ankh is merely a Divine Successor? I feel like... the purity of that power... he might actually be..."
Igneel raised his massive dragon claw.
He watched Natsu through the link, seeing the boy full of fighting spirit outside, swearing to his belly that he would master dragon transformation quickly.
Igneel's tone became much more relaxed.
"Even if he really is... Him... isn't it a good thing for Natsu and the others to be with him?"
Igneel lay his head down near the magma.
"A deity with human compassion," Igneel murmured. "In my view, that feels much safer than that dragon, Acnologia. Let us trust him for now."
---------
Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator