Three Suns in the Same Sky

Inside the Fairy Tail guild hall, the light on the holographic projection map suddenly flashed wildly as if a pot had exploded.

The three holographic screens, originally representing the eastern, northern, and southern defense lines, lit up with perfectly synchronized cyan-green magic markings at the same second.

Everyone who remained in the guild huddled around the sand table, staring at the three blindingly large points of light, their minds completely blank.

The guild members who were inside were completely stunned when they heard the battle reports from the front lines.

Wakaba's pipe fell onto the table with a thud, oblivious to the sparks that burned a hole in the tablecloth, his finger trembling as he pointed at the sand table.

"Eastern sea cliffs, northern snow-capped mountains, southern Hargeon... all three of these are labeled 'Riyao'?"

Makarov braced himself on the edge of the table with both hands, his eyes wide open.

"The magic power readings are getting more and more terrifying! Even clone magic doesn't operate like this!"

How can there be three Riyao?!

Mavis pressed her two small hands firmly against the edge of the sand table, her golden hair fluttering without wind, and her large, emerald-green eyes rippled with barely perceptible emotion.

She knew very well that the three Riyao were real, and that their guild crests were identical, yet distinct.

The difference in time!

The eastern coastline has adopted Pseudo-God Form, treating the Eight Dragon Magic like marbles— Present Riyao.

In the ancient northern forest, it descended from the sky, bringing with it Sky Dragon might— the Past Riyao.

In the south, in Hargeon, lies the most terrifying of the three Riyao — the Future Riyao.

This is no ordinary clone; it's a time-space magic technique that forcibly pulls different versions of oneself from different timelines onto the same time plane!

Three apex points from different times and spaces descended upon the battlefield at the same moment.

"Perhaps Riyao really can now."

She began to recalculate the difference between the two sides.

Mavis's small hand moved quickly across the sand table. The pawn model, which was originally at a huge disadvantage, saw its win rate curve soar to new heights after the addition of these three super pieces!

Meanwhile, on the plains road in the central part of the Kingdom of Fiore.

The black-clad army of the Alvarez Empire surged forward like a steel tidal wave, the tremors of their iron boots echoing endlessly.

Zeref was walking in the middle, suddenly stopped and looked up at the void, as if he could see the sky in the east, north and south directions at the same time.

A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

It was a causal fluctuation that defied common sense.

How can a person exist in three places simultaneously, and each place have a complete anchor point of existence?

The moment his emotions stirred even a slight ripple, the curse that had been entwined deep within his soul immediately went berserk.

Buzz!

A pitch-black Death Storm rapidly spread out.

Invel's expression changed drastically. Frost erupted beneath his feet, and he slid backward for dozens of meters, staring at the emperor in the black mist with suspicion and uncertainty.

The wild grass on the plain turned into grayish-white ashes the moment it came into contact with the black mist.

Invel frowned; he knew what it was, of course.

His Majesty rarely loses control of the death aura unless he experiences a strong internal struggle.

No, we must eliminate Natsu quickly to make His Majesty make a firm decision.

He assumed that Zeref was thinking of his younger brother, never expecting that the battle situation had changed. In his eyes, the Empire's terrifying lineup could easily crush the entire Western Continent.

The clouds overhead were suddenly torn apart!

A scorching heatwave crashed down from the sky, turning the entire sky a fiery red!

"Zeref!!"

A deafening sound interrupted his thoughts.

Natsu descended from the sky, landing in front of the army, and charged directly into their ranks.

With a loud bang!

It smashed through the ground, sending dirt and gravel flying like shrapnel, instantly overturning the soldiers in the front ranks.

He didn't even glance at the imperial elites around him who had raised their weapons; his eyes were fixed on the black-robed youth in the center.

With a single punch, a raging inferno erupted, burning all the soldiers gathered in front of him to ashes.

A raging crimson flame swept across the fist in a fan shape, instantly burning away the air within dozens of meters.

The hundreds of heavily armored soldiers who surrounded the position melted into molten iron along with their shields and armor, leaving a scorching, reddish-brown road carved out of the battlefield!

Without orders, the Imperial soldiers did not retreat; they all charged forward and fought Natsu.

Spears stood like a forest, and beams of magic intertwined across the sky.

But the flames surrounding Natsu were like a wall of fire, and anyone who got within five steps of him instantly had their protective magic crumble.

The battle was one-sided; the Imperial soldiers were no match for Natsu.

Natsu kept calling out Zeref's name as he fought.

He charged through the densely packed army like a bloodthirsty tyrannosaurus, leaving a trail of charred footprints deep in the mud wherever he went.

Above the army formation, a miniature Fire Dragon lazily floated at the edge of the clouds.

Zeref looked up at Igneel in mid-air, and the two stared at each other for a long time.

The Fire Dragon King looked down at the black-robed youth from his high position, white smoke billowing from his nostrils. He showed no intention of making a move, calmly watching a preordained drama.

Zeref withdrew his gaze and turned away calmly.

He turned and walked towards Natsu.

"The era four hundred years from now is indeed a golden age. This time it shouldn't disappoint me, right? Invel, have them step back."

"But..."

Invel hurriedly stepped forward.

"Um?"

Zeref tilted his head slightly, his eyes cold and devoid of any warmth.

Invel was startled and immediately ordered the army to retreat.

"All troops, listen to my command! Retreat three miles!"

The massive army stretched backward like a tide, leaving a vast, empty battlefield in the center of the plain.

Zeref stepped forward slowly, Invel tried to follow, but Zeref struck him with a palm, sending him staggering back two steps.

"Step back."

"Yes," Invel replied, clutching his chest.

As Natsu saw Zeref approaching, his magical energy surged even more violently, his flames turning blood red, and his Dragon Slayer magic cracked the ground.

"Igneel, let me do it myself!"

"If you get beaten and cry, don't come to my arms to cry."

Igneel, paws behind his head, floated in the air, ready to enjoy the upcoming battle between his brothers.

Happy was flying beside it, was very worried about Natsu's situation.

"Okay, don't worry, Natsu will be fine."

"The opponent is a dark mage, can Natsu really handle it?"

Happy gripped his little backpack tightly with his two short hands, his eyes reddening.

"He'll probably get pinned to the ground and beaten up."

These words made Happy even more worried, and he prepared to take Natsu away if things went wrong.

In the middle of the plain, the two were less than ten steps apart.

Natsu glared at Zeref, his eyes uneven in size, giving him a roguish look.

Her full head of pink hair stood on end in the strong wind, and her teeth were clenched so tightly they made a grinding sound.

"Don't even think about taking the First Generation away!"

After saying that, he rushed forward and punched Zeref in the face.

Bang!

A solid, muffled thud exploded across the plain, sending Zeref flying several meters, his feet carving deep furrows in the mud.

After throwing that punch, Natsu was stunned.

He hit Zeref so easily?

He shook his head, too lazy to think about it anymore.

Natsu clenched his right fist tightly, compressing all the flames into his knuckles and flesh, turning his entire right arm a dark, deep red!

[Fire Dragon King's Demolition Fist]

The flames on his fist were completely contained, but when he threw the punch, the scorching flames were released the instant they hit Zeref, bursting out of his body.

Extremely concentrated Dragon King flames erupted wildly from behind Zeref!

Rumble--

The pillar pierced straight through Zeref's back, cutting a lava trench tens of meters long through the ground behind him!

Zeref was sent flying backwards into the air, Natsu suddenly pulled him with both arms!

[The Fire Dragon King's Brilliant Flame]

Natsu controlled the scattered flames, forming two giant fireballs that sandwiched Zeref between them. The fireballs gradually closed in, triggering a violent explosion.

Two fireballs, each tens of meters in diameter, collided heavily with Zeref, creating a mushroom cloud of intense heat.

Natsu stood firmly in the eye of the storm with his legs slightly bent, his chest heaving violently.

[The Fire Dragon King's Roar]

Natsu took a deep breath, his chest bulging, and blazing flames gathered in his throat.

The surrounding temperature instantly soared, flames erupted, and the Fire Dragon phantom slammed into Zeref.

Roar--

The raging dragon's breath beam tore through the thick smoke and blasted through the sea of fire from top to bottom!

Boom!!

The rocks at the bottom of the pit melted into dark red magma, and the heatwave turned the sky crimson.

Zeref did not resist at all, and even gave up resisting, taking all of Natsu's attacks completely.

The sparks slowly dissipated in the strong wind.

In the very center is a giant lava pit several meters deep.

Zeref lay in the lava, his entire body charred and carbonized, with a grayish-white death aura rising from deep, bone-revealing cracks.

However, the charred body twitched slightly.

"Alas, Natsu, your flames are not enough to completely incinerate me."

He stood up from the pit, his burns slowly healing, and an aura of death emanated from him.

Dead skin peels off piece by piece, and subcutaneous muscle tissue regenerates rapidly, returning to normal in the blink of an eye.

Zeref shook his tattered sleeves and looked up at Natsu with calm, expressionless eyes.