Over 400 years ago, the Human-Dragon War ended with the extinction of the dragon race.
Without the pressure brought by the terrifying enemy that was the dragon race, humanity did not live in peace; the unity previously maintained for survival under dragon oppression came to an end.
Resources, land, grudges... too many factors caused internal conflicts among humans. Ultimately, only a few years after the Human-Dragon War ended, various human factions began to attack one another.
War swept across the entire world once again.
The Nibelung Tribe was a peace-loving tribe. After the Human-Dragon War ended, weary of conflict, they created a Magic-Powered Mobile City and retreated into the mountain forests far from human cities, wishing to stay away from the new human disputes.
But those capable of creating such a world-shaking creation had long been targeted by ambitious people who wanted to enslave the Nibelung Tribe and use their technology to build mobile war fortresses.
But the intervention of one person shattered the ambitions of those covetous people.
The Nibelung Tribe chieftain, Rogue Cheney.
One of the strongest Mages from 400 years ago.
After this incident, Rogue Cheney deeply realized that hiding could not bring peace, so he wanted to create a magic that could eliminate the malice in people's hearts to stop wars around the world.
In this way, the Super Conversion Magic 'Nirvana' was born.
However, everything has two sides. When a powerful force appears, an opposing force must inevitably manifest. 'Nirvana' can convert the darkness in people's hearts into light, but at the same time, an originally bright heart will also be eroded by darkness.
Darkness produces light, and light gives birth to darkness.
Black and white can never swallow the other; the balance of the world is exactly like this.
But Rogue Cheney and the Nibelung Tribe ignored this point when creating 'Nirvana'. Thus, when they first activated 'Nirvana', the kind and peace-loving Nibelung Tribe turned into demons.
A tragedy like hell occurred.
This magic, which had been given high Hopes, failed to bring peace to the world. Instead, it became the cause of the Nibelung Tribe's demise. The Nibelung Tribe, eroded by darkness, marched toward extinction through mutual slaughter.
In the end, out of the entire Nibelung Tribe, only Rogue Cheney, the strongest of the tribe, survived by chance.
Although he regained his sanity, Rogue Cheney's physical body was also severely injured during the infighting with his tribesmen, and his life was clearly coming to an end.
But the massive mistake of 'Nirvana' had not yet been dealt with, and the remains of his tribesmen had not yet been laid to rest; he could not die like this.
So Rogue Cheney used all his remaining magic power to create a 'Thought Projection', and then his original body died from his untreated severe injuries.
And the Thought Projection Rogue Cheney, whose will was identical to the original body, discovered after burying all his tribesmen that his magic power could at most stop 'Nirvana', but could not completely destroy this super magic.
After stopping 'Nirvana' and sealing it beneath the Vast Woods, Rogue Cheney waited for someone trustworthy and capable of destroying 'Nirvana' to appear.
This wait lasted for 400 years.
The wind blew across this ancient plaza, fluttering Wendy's deep blue hair. Her eyes were wide, filled with shock and confusion.
Everyone also fell into silence, looking at this kind old man before them in disbelief, digesting this four-hundred-year-old story.
Rogue Cheney took a deep breath. "Now that 'Nirvana' no longer has any possibility of restarting, the mission of this Thought Projection of mine is complete."
As the old man's voice fell, the villagers behind him suddenly turned into light one by one and disappeared into the air.
"What's going on?!"
"Everyone!"
"Don't disappear—!"
"Stop it!"
Wendy and Carla looked in panic at their disappearing companions. They frantically stepped forward, wanting to grab them, but what their fingers touched were nothing but empty illusions.
"Hope! What's happening? Use your invincible power to find a way!" Lucy was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. "Otherwise, Wendy's companions will disappear!"
The others also looked over. They were powerless against this sudden situation and could only watch helplessly, but Hope might be different... Feeling everyone's anxious gazes, Hope sighed slowly. "They were never real people to begin with. How do you expect me to help?"
"What are you saying! Aren't they standing right in front of you? We even had a banquet together yesterday!" Natsu was somewhat angry at Hope's coldness.
Erza held back the impulsive Natsu and explained to her companions, "When we arrived yesterday, Hope told me that these villagers were all Thought Projections..."
'Thought Projection' is a very powerful magic that can vividly replicate the characters the caster desires.
But maintaining so many Thought Projections requires magic power far beyond what an ordinary person can afford. Even a Mage of Jura's level could not do it at all.
Not to mention Rogue Cheney, who was himself a Thought Projection.
Just as everyone was questioning Hope's judgment, Rogue Cheney spoke up. "To think I'd be seen through. The youth of today really surpass the old. Wendy, I'm sorry. I lied to you..."
"For these past seven years, except for Carla, every companion you've seen was a Thought Projection I created."
Seven years ago, a young boy brought a little girl and broke Rogue Cheney's four hundred years of loneliness. He was moved by the sincerity in the boy's eyes and agreed to take care of the little girl.
Because the little girl said her brother would take her to a Mage Guild.
So, in order not to make the little girl sad, Rogue Cheney, who was already a Thought Projection, used magic to create Thought Projections of twenty or so former tribesmen and established 'Blue Moon'.
This was a guild that existed solely for Wendy.
To maintain so many Thought Projections, Rogue Cheney's magic power was mostly exhausted. Otherwise, there would have been no need for the Guild Allied Forces; he alone could have wiped out the Oración Seis.
Rogue Cheney's body began to emit a faint light, and his outline became somewhat blurred and transparent.
"Grandpa Guildmaster?!"
Wendy cried out and wanted to rush over, but her wrist was held. She turned to see Carla, who was already sobbing uncontrollably.
Carla's voice was very low. "Wendy... the Guildmaster, he needs to rest..."
Rogue Cheney's gaze fell gently on Wendy, as if he wanted to engrave her appearance deep in his memory. "Wendy, it was wonderful to meet you. You are the most precious gift in my long years of waiting."
"Now it's time to leave us, these false companions." Rogue Cheney pointed toward the people of the Guild Allied Forces. "Because you already have real companions."
Tears streamed down Wendy's face. She wanted to say something, but her throat felt blocked. She could only cry and throw herself at her Grandpa Guildmaster, wanting to hug him one last time.
However, the small figure passed through the old man's increasingly transparent body. Rogue Cheney looked at the weeping Wendy, and though he was very reluctant, he still managed a smile.
"Wendy, do not be sad. For me, this is a long-awaited rest. My soul can finally reunite with my tribesmen."
Rogue Cheney looked at everyone again. "I leave Wendy and Carla in your hands..."
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