The moment Rowan stepped into the throne hall, he saw him.
Zeref sat high upon the black stone throne, dressed in a long dark robe, his expression flat and empty. His presence filled the chamber like winter air that crept into the lungs.
Below the throne stood eleven mages in two silent rows.
Every one of them radiated power that surpassed even the strongest mages of the eastern continent. Their gazes ranged from cold indifference to open hostility. Some looked amused. Others looked eager to kill.
Not one of them looked friendly.
August drifted forward and bowed.
"Your Majesty. I have brought them."
Zeref's eyes passed over Mavis's translucent form for the briefest moment, lingering just a fraction of a second longer than he meant to. Then his gaze shifted to Anna.
"…It's been a long time, Anna."
Anna stepped forward instinctively.
"Zeref, I found a temporal fracture. I think it can be used to seal Acnologia—"
"It won't work."
His interruption was gentle. Final.
"That rift can't contain him. It will only make him stronger. He can devour temporal energy."
Anna froze.
"…It's useless?"
Zeref nodded once.
"I created Eclipse. I designed the plan. I've studied every anomaly left behind by time travel. That fracture can't bind Acnologia."
The hope she'd carried for years collapsed in a single breath.
Before anyone else could speak, a tall orange-haired man stepped forward, a massive ring of swords strapped across his back.
"Then let me handle the dragon," he said arrogantly. "I'll forge my ninth Dragon Slayer crystal from its corpse."
Eight different magical auras flared from his body.
Rowan squinted.
"…God Serena. Former top-ranked mage of Ishgar. Eight Dragon Slayer elements."
Strong.
Absurdly strong.
Still hopelessly delusional.
Rowan shook his head faintly.
"Overconfident," he muttered. "That thing eats magic."
Zeref didn't even glance at Serena.
His eyes were already fixed on Natsu.
"We meet again, Natsu. You came back sooner than I expected."
His gaze softened for a heartbeat.
Then hardened into disappointment.
"…And you're still this weak."
Natsu bristled.
Zeref spoke quietly, almost to himself.
"My parents and my younger brother were slaughtered by dragons. I studied forbidden magic to bring my brother back. I created the strongest fire demon… END."
Silence filled the hall.
"I didn't care about the curse at first. Immortality gave me endless time to study magic. But everything I came to love… died."
His eyes darkened.
"So I created demons to kill me. None of them could."
His gaze returned to Natsu.
"You were my final hope."
Rowan's pupils shrank.
So that's it.
He built Natsu to kill himself.
Zeref's voice lowered.
"If you grow strong enough… you might end my life. And if even you can't—"
His fingers tightened.
"Then I'll take Fairy Heart and rewrite all of history."
His eyes sharpened.
"But first, you need despair."
A murderous pressure rolled through the throne hall.
"Hate me, little brother."
The killing intent exploded outward.
Rowan's ears flattened.
"What the hell is wrong with this guy?"
He stepped forward.
"Emperor Spriggan. We came here to discuss cooperation. East and west together against Acnologia. There's no reason for war."
A dark-skinned man with a bare torso and burning eyes snorted.
"Cooperate? Your continent is weak. Four years ago I could've flattened it myself."
Jellal snapped back instantly.
"And four years ago you stopped because the Magic Council still had Etherion and Face."
Zeref finally spoke again.
"Face?" he said calmly. "I invented it. Why would I fear my own spell?"
His eyes returned to Natsu.
"I delayed the war because you weren't ready yet."
Natsu finally snapped.
He pointed straight at Zeref.
"You keep talking about my mission. About me being your demon. About killing you."
His fists clenched.
"What the hell are you talking about? What did you turn me into? And why does Igneel say you created me?!"
The throne hall fell silent.
Every eye turned to Zeref.