Recaps

Cana defeated Gildarts’s examination challenge and earned his acknowledgment before revealing that he was her father. Gildarts recognized her as Cornelia’s daughter, and they reconciled, with Cana happily accepting him as her dad.

• Cana fought Gildarts until both were battered, and he praised her strength and declared that she had passed.
• Cana cried at receiving Gildarts’s acknowledgment, then told him she had joined the guild to find her father and that he was Gildarts.
• Gildarts tried to guess which woman was Cana’s mother, angering Cana enough to punch the ground and send him flying with the shockwave.
• Gildarts realized Cana was Cornelia’s child, embraced her, and apologized for not recognizing her sooner.
• Cana told Gildarts she was glad they had acknowledged each other and called him Dad, while he promised to stay by her side.

The candidates who passed the first exam gathered as Makarov announced the results, including Elfman and Evergreen, who revealed they had beaten Mirajane by exploiting an opening. As Makarov began to explain the second exam, the examiners discussed Elfman and Evergreen’s unexpected marriage, while Zorn searched the island for the concealed Zeref.

• Laxus let Levy and Gajeel pass after Gajeel protected Levy through his strength test, and Gray and Loke emerged from Ur’s passage soon afterward.
• Gildarts revealed his devotion to Cana by pushing Gray and Loke away and covering Cana with his cape, then Makarov announced that Freed and Bickslow, Natsu and Happy, Cana and Lucy, Levy and Gajeel, and Gray and Loke had passed.
• Makarov explained that Juvia and Lisanna had surrendered to Erza, who carried them away, and that Erza only counted people who defeated her as passing.
• Evergreen and an injured Elfman arrived and announced that they had defeated Mirajane by taking advantage of an opening, then Makarov began introducing the second exam.
• The examiners discussed Elfman and Evergreen’s marriage, while Zorn searched the island with Observation Haki but could not find Zeref.

Elfman, Evergreen, Natsu, and Happy encountered a black-haired man on Tenrou Island whose uncontrollable death magic threatened to kill them. Zorn intervened with holy light, and the man was revealed to be Zeref, who recognized something familiar in Zorn’s power.

• Elfman and Evergreen fled a giant Magic Beast, then met a distressed black-haired man who warned them not to approach.
• Natsu arrived, and the man recognized him, saying he had been searching for him while struggling to suppress his black Magic Power.
• The man’s power erupted into a sphere of death magic, and Natsu pushed Elfman, Evergreen, and Happy out of its path.
• Zorn appeared and used golden holy light to restrain the death magic, though his power was being rapidly consumed.
• Zeref watched Zorn’s magic and wondered if it was connected to the other goddess, while Zorn faced him with a grave expression.

Zorn confronted Zeref on Tenrou Island and sealed him away before teleporting him elsewhere to prevent his deathly magic from attracting the Black Dragon. As Grimoire Heart approached the island, Fairy Tail prepared for a changed trial: defeat every member except Ultear.

• Zorn's holy magic clashed with Zeref's deathly power, leaving one side of the battlefield lifeless and the other unchanged.
• Zorn revealed his Dragon Scales to Natsu, announced that the others would face a real trial, and sealed Zeref inside a barrier guarded by five Divine Dragons.
• Zeref's magic corroded the chains, so Zorn used his Observation Haki to teleport himself and Zeref away.
• Fairy Tail members received Zorn's order to kill every member of Grimoire Heart except Ultear as the dark guild approached Tenrou Island.
• Makarov and the S-Class Mages prepared for Grimoire Heart, while Laxus eagerly claimed the coming fight.

On Tenrou Island, Gajeel and Levy fought Grimoire Heart members Yomazu and Kawazu, with Levy overcoming her doubts and proving her strength. After defeating the pair, Gajeel and Levy killed them as the guild’s other forces approached.

• Gajeel noticed Levy had wandered off while dwelling on her weakness, and he caught up with her and told her to stay close.
• Yomazu and Kawazu ambushed Gajeel and Levy, but the pair dodged their attacks and Gajeel blocked Yomazu’s blade.
• Levy used Solid Script—Silence to cancel Yomazu’s booming Magic, allowing Gajeel to strike him with an Iron Dragon’s Club.
• Levy burned Kawazu’s eggs with Fire and swept him into the sky with a Tornado, while Gajeel praised her fighting.
• Yomazu and Kawazu boasted about Grimoire Heart’s Seven Kin, but Gajeel said Fairy Tail’s active S-Class Mages were ready for their forces.
• Gajeel and Levy agreed to kill the defeated enemies, and a cloud of smoke rose in the distance.

Gajeel reflected on Makarov’s invitation to Fairy Tail and realized he was no longer lonely, while Wendy’s group was attacked by Azuma of Grimoire Heart. As Fairy Tail members moved toward the fighting, Hades confronted the giant Makarov near the Fairy Tree.

• Gajeel remembered Makarov’s offer to join Fairy Tail, reached for Levy, and told her they should head toward Grimoire Heart’s main force.
• Carla, Lily, Tami, and Ximi arrived to protect Wendy and challenged Mest, who explained that Zorn had already revealed his identity.
• Azuma attacked Wendy’s group from a tree, identified himself as one of Grimoire Heart’s Seven Kin of Purgatory, and prepared to fight Mest and Wendy.
• Natsu and Happy rushed toward the cliff after hearing an explosion, while Gray told Lucy and Cana that an S-Class Mage had already gone there.
• Hades and the other Kin saw giant Makarov approaching the Fairy Tree, and Hades greeted him before Makarov shouted for him to disappear.

Makarov and Laxus fought Grimoire Heart’s master Precht and destroyed the guild’s airship, while Fairy Tail’s S-Class Mages confronted the Seven Kin of Purgatory across the island. Laxus and Makarov’s battle with Precht ended in a clash of defensive magic, and the other fights were still underway.

• Makarov damaged Grimoire Heart’s airship, but Precht ordered the crew to evade and fired Jupiter at him.
• Laxus attacked the airship with Thunder Explosion, forcing the Seven Kin of Purgatory to escape as the ship exploded.
• Laxus prepared to cast Fairy Law, but Precht countered with Demon Law, and Makarov urged Laxus to withdraw the spell.
• Laxus attacked Precht directly while Makarov supported him, and the two Fairy Tail mages combined their defensive magic against Precht’s spells.
• At Zorn’s request, Fairy Tail’s S-Class Mages confronted the Seven Kin of Purgatory as they searched the island for Zeref.

Zorn fought Zeref after taking him to a distant continent, then escaped when his Holy Light Magic failed to defeat him. On Tenrou Island, Gildarts, Ur, and Erza confronted the remaining Grimoire Heart members, leaving Ur and Erza facing Rustyrose and Kain Hikaru.

• Zorn took the frenzied Zeref to a distant continent to keep his dangerous Magic Power away from Tenrou Island.
• Zeref broke out of Zorn's sealing barrier and attacked, so Zorn used Holy Light Magic—Starlight Radiance to blast him into a crater before fleeing.
• Zeref survived the attack and decided to return to the Empire to make preparations.
• Gildarts, Ur, and Erza faced Bluenote Stinger, Rustyrose, and Kain Hikaru on Tenrou Island.
• Ur and Erza attacked Rustyrose and Kain Hikaru, while Gildarts struck Bluenote and pursued him.

Ur defeated Rustyrose and Kain Hikaru with Ice Make, while Laxus and Makarov continued their fight with Precht. Natsu faced Zancrow as the distant ice roses interrupted their battle.

• Ur froze Rustyrose’s Undead Realm and trapped Cao Zhong inside a block of ice.
• Rustyrose and Kain Hikaru attacked Ur, but she shattered Rustyrose’s god-flame scythe and imprisoned both men in ice roses.
• Precht watched Ur’s victory, then fought Laxus and Makarov as they dodged his attacks and continued their assault.
• Mirajane pursued Azuma in Demon Soul form while Natsu blocked Zancrow’s black flames and fought him with Wendy, Mest, and the cats nearby.
• After seeing the ice roses bloom in the distance, Natsu announced that he would fight Zancrow at full strength.

Mirajane fought Azuma in the forest, overpowering him with her demonic forms and preparing to end the battle before he could threaten her allies. On another battlefield, Cana, Lucy, Gray, and Loke faced Caprico, while Lucy and Loke sensed something familiar and unsettling about him.

• Azuma let his guard down, and Mirajane struck him with a kick that broke his ribs and sent him crashing through trees.
• Azuma used the forest and his Arc of the Great Tree Form to attack Mirajane, but she evaded his strikes and blocked his explosions.
• Mirajane transformed into Demon God Halphas, overwhelmed Azuma, and told him she was ending their fight early.
• Cana, Lucy, Gray, and Loke attacked Caprico, but he caught Gray and Loke's blows and appeared unaffected by their Magic attacks.
• Cana fired a card attack at Caprico as Gray and Loke moved aside, while Lucy and Loke sensed something familiar about him.
• Cana clenched her fists in anger at Caprico's taunts, and Loke sensed an aura erupt from her direction.

Natsu and Wendy fought Zancrow together, with Wendy’s enchantments strengthening Natsu enough to injure the Fire God Slayer. Their clash sent them falling down a cliff, while Wendy continued boosting Natsu from above.

• Gildarts blasted Bluenote backward after their fists collided, revealing that Bluenote had mistaken their initial exchange for an even match.
• Wendy volunteered to support Natsu, and Natsu accepted her help as Zancrow mocked her and insulted Fairy Tail and the dragons.
• Wendy enhanced Natsu’s speed and strength, allowing him to overwhelm Zancrow with attacks and wound him despite Zancrow’s belief that flames could not hurt him.
• Zancrow unleashed his Flame God’s Kagutsuchi against Natsu’s Brilliant Flame, and their magic caused the ground to collapse beneath them.
• Natsu and Zancrow fell down the cliff, while Wendy refused Carla’s offer to rest and poured more magic into boosting Natsu.

Natsu fought Zancrow on Tenrou Island and defeated him by swallowing his God Slayer flames and turning them into a powerful attack. The other Fairy Tail members saw the victory, while Gajeel and the others remained trapped at the second exam’s finish line, demanding that Zorn let them out.

• Natsu rejected Zancrow’s taunts and charged at him, fighting fiercely alongside Wendy as their flames stirred up a storm.
• Zancrow formed a black Flame Tachi and attacked Natsu, but Natsu countered with a compressed fireball inspired by Zorn’s magic.
• Zancrow engulfed Natsu in God Slayer flames, but Natsu swallowed them and combined them with his own fire.
• Natsu hurled the Dragon God's Yang Flame Sun at Zancrow, whose defeat ended in a massive explosion.
• The other Fairy Tail members saw Natsu’s magic and fought with renewed confidence, while Gajeel and the others protested after being teleported to Mavis’s grave and trapped behind a ring of light.

Precht’s forces continued to fall as Mirajane defeated Azuma and Gildarts defeated Bluenote, leaving Ultear, Meredy, and Caprico possessed by Zoldeo among the Seven Kin. Ultear admitted her guilt to Meredy, who confronted her about the destruction of her hometown.

• Precht recognized that Azuma and several of the Seven Kin had been defeated while Laxus and Makarov continued to hold him at the shore.
• Mirajane defeated Azuma in her Demon God Halphas form after he threatened Fairy Tail’s companions.
• Gildarts shattered Bluenote’s supergravity sphere and defeated him with One Day.
• Ultear tearfully asked Meredy to leave Grimoire Heart and Zeref behind and begin a new life.
• Meredy asked Ultear whether she had destroyed Meredy’s hometown, leaving Ultear stunned.

Ultear confessed to destroying Meredy’s hometown while pursuing a plan for their second lives, then stabbed herself before Meredy could act. Ur saved them and took them home, while elsewhere Cana fought Caprico and overwhelmed his summoned heroes.

• Ultear admitted that she had destroyed Meredy’s hometown for the sake of her plan, leaving Meredy torn between love and hatred.
• Ultear stabbed herself, and Meredy caught her, forgave her, and begged her to stay alive.
• Ur arrived, froze Ultear’s wound, comforted Meredy, and transported all three away with a golden Magic Circle.
• Caprico’s Human Subordination Magic reduced Cana’s combat ability, but Loke explained how the ancient magic worked.
• Cana used Observation Haki and a barrage of cards to corner Caprico and defeat the heroes he summoned.
• Gray, Loke, and Lucy blocked the shockwaves as Cana continued fighting Caprico without their help.

Lucy summoned Taurus to help Cana defeat Zoldeo, freeing Caprico from possession. Caprico gave Lucy the key to Scorpio and returned to the Celestial Spirit World, while Gray realized he had lost his partner.

• Caprico attacked Cana with black Magic Power and tried to take her body, prompting Loke to warn her that only a Celestial Spirit could fight him.
• Lucy overcame her hesitation and summoned Taurus, who struck Caprico while Leo tried to knock Zoldeo out of his body.
• Cana blocked Caprico's escape with a wind wall, allowing Leo to separate Zoldeo from him; Zoldeo then vanished in a burst of light.
• Cana thanked Lucy, and Leo told Scorpio that Lucy already had the spirits' support and power.
• Lucy apologized to Caprico, who gave her the golden key to Scorpio and returned to the Celestial Spirit World; Leo also departed, and Gray realized he had lost his partner.

Zorn transported Natsu and the others to face Hades while Makarov, Laxus, and Fairy Tail’s S-Class Mages trusted them to fight. The young mages charged Hades together, and their combined Magic Power met his dark magic as the battle began.

• Zorn used golden Magic Circles to swap Makarov with Natsu and the others, sending them to confront Hades.
• Makarov worried about the young mages, but Zorn and Fairy Tail’s S-Class Mages reassured him that they trusted the group to handle Hades.
• Ultear told Meredy that Fairy Tail’s confidence in its members was what made the guild precious.
• Gray created an ice staircase, and Laxus led Natsu, Lucy, Wendy, Gray, Elfman, Evergreen, Freed, Bickslow, and the others toward Hades.
• Natsu charged past Laxus, and the group unleashed their magic at full power as Hades countered with Dark Energy.

Fairy Tail's members combined their attacks against Hades, but he survived Cana's devastating blow and summoned demons with his released power. As the guild prepared a coordinated counterattack, Lisanna and Juvia infiltrated the ruined airship.

• Wendy boosted everyone's magic, and the guild members coordinated attacks that drove Hades into the airship and encased him in an electrified iceberg.
• Hades broke free unharmed, but Cana struck him with a concentrated blow that shattered the ship and damaged the coastline.
• Hades recovered, opened his Demon Eye, and summoned powerful demons while Makarov prepared to intervene and Zorn showed him a golden dragon above the clouds.
• Fairy Tail's members joined their magic in a Unison Raid, and Hades prepared to fight alongside the demons while believing his magic was endless.
• Lisanna and Juvia quietly entered the airship's hull by riding an ocean current.

Fairy Tail defeated Hades after Juvia and Lisanna destroyed his heart, and the guild celebrated on Tenrou Island. Zorn kept Hades alive long enough for Mavis to appear before him.

• Hades overwhelmed Fairy Tail's Unison Raid until Juvia and Lisanna destroyed his heart, weakening his Magic Power as Laxus's Lightning Dragon and the guild's combined spell struck him down.
• The Lightning Dragon broke through the clouds, and Natsu and the others celebrated their victory with Makarov, the S-Class Mages, and their companions.
• Natsu tried to resume the S-Class exam, but the guild's brawl ended with Gildarts knocking him down; Cana kissed Zorn and calmed her angry father.
• Wendy offered to treat the injured guild members, while Caprico carried Natsu and advised Lucy to lose weight.
• Zorn returned to the fallen Hades and used a golden Magic Circle to summon Mavis, whom Hades recognized as the First Master.

Mavis learned from the dying Precht that he had abandoned their son, who inherited both light and dark Magic Power. After Zorn returned to the camp, a Magic Circle appeared and a small figure recognized Mavis as the First Guild Master, while August waited anxiously for the Emperor.

• Precht told Mavis that she had been pregnant when he sealed her in the crystal and that he had abandoned their son, fearing the child's light and dark Magic Power.
• Precht died, and Zorn withdrew his Magic Power after helping reveal the truth about August.
• Wendy treated the injured at camp while Erza, dressed as a nurse, drew the boys into a rival treatment line.
• Cana wondered where Zorn had gone, and Lucy teased her about missing him.
• A Magic Circle appeared at the camp, and a small figure broke free of Erza's bandages and called Mavis the First Guild Master.
• August waited atop the capital walls and worried about the Emperor, whom he called Father.

Zorn trapped the Fairy Tail mages in a Light Circle and sent them away from Tenrou Island as Acnologia arrived. He faced the Black Dragon alone and wounded him with a powerful Dragon Slayer attack, beginning their battle.

• Zorn warned Makarov and the others that Acnologia was approaching and enclosed them in a Light Circle to send them away.
• Makarov, Mavis, Natsu, Cana, Gildarts, and the others objected as they realized Zorn intended to fight Acnologia alone.
• Acnologia arrived and attacked Tenrou Island just as Zorn transported everyone else away.
• Mavis watched from the Tenrou Tree as Zorn fortified himself with armor and formed a black-and-gold Light Sword.
• Zorn struck Acnologia with Flash Dragon's Comet Strike, and the Black Dragon retaliated after the attack left a small wound.

Zorn fought Acnologia alone on Tenrou Island, binding the Black Dragon with a light-based formation as he prepared a massive attack. Back at Fairy Tail, the guild learned what had happened and found hope of reaching Tenrou Island when Cana revealed Zorn’s Teleportation card.

• Zorn dodged Acnologia’s attacks and struck it with a giant Light Sword, but the Black Dragon emerged from the sea unharmed.
• Zorn cast Light-Binding Dragon Lock Formation to restrain Acnologia while he gathered the light elements for a stronger attack.
• Macao and the guild welcomed the injured group’s return, then learned that Acnologia had attacked Tenrou Island and Zorn had stayed behind to fight it.
• Natsu and the others grieved over Zorn and wanted to return to Tenrou Island, but they feared they could not reach it in time.
• Cana remembered the card Zorn had given her and revealed its Teleportation ability, giving the guild hope of reaching the island.

Fairy Tail arrived near Tenrou Island and saw Zorn confront Acnologia with a giant golden Buddha. After testing Zorn with a breath attack, Acnologia broke his chains and rose to face him, leaving the battle poised to begin.

• Porlyusica treated Ultear and Meredy, while Ultear reassured Meredy that she believed in Zorn and Fairy Tail.
• Cana teleported the Fairy Tail members to an unnamed island near Tenrou Island, where they saw Zorn’s enormous golden Buddha restraining Acnologia.
• Acnologia fired a breath attack at Zorn, who shielded himself with the Buddha’s hands and Holy Shield spells, while Gray and Juvia froze the waves threatening the guild members.
• Acnologia praised Zorn’s strength and threatened to kill him, while Zorn answered with a taunt.
• Acnologia strained against his chains, tore them apart, and rose into the air to face Zorn.

Zorn relentlessly attacked Acnologia, destroying much of Tenrou Island, but the Black Dragon endured and launched a powerful counterattack. As Zorn prepared to meet him, Fairy Tail's members joined hands to combine their magic and help him.

• Acnologia asked Zorn for his name, and Zorn answered by trapping him beneath a barrage of giant light hands.
• Zorn's attacks battered Acnologia but tore apart half of Tenrou Island, leaving Makarov distraught over the damage.
• Acnologia emerged with only minor injuries, declared his intent to destroy dragons and Dragon Slayers, and flew toward Zorn while charging a powerful beam.
• Zorn gathered light magic to counter Acnologia as the sustained assault drained his stamina.
• Natsu and the Fairy Tail members resolved to support Zorn, joined hands, and began combining their magic under Makarov's rallying cry.

Zorn, Mavis, and Fairy Tail’s allies combined their Magic Power and Bonds to attack the Black Dragon Acnologia. Their assault drove him through a spatial rift and severed an arm and a wing, but Zorn realized Acnologia might return as Cana approached him.

• Mavis cast Fairy Glitter, empowered by Fairy Tail’s Magic Power, the Celestial Spirits, and the Dragon Force of Igneel, Grandine, and Metalicana.
• Acnologia fired Dragon's Roar + Death Ray at the group, while Zorn unleashed his destructive spell and Mavis bound the dragon with Fairy Glitter.
• Zorn and Mavis combined their attacks with Fairy Tail’s magic in Super Magic + Unison Raid—Divine Dragons' Glory, blasting Acnologia into the sky.
• Acnologia vanished through spatial cracks, leaving a severed arm and half a wing behind as the rift healed.
• Zorn considered the threat temporarily ended and resolved to train, while Cana walked toward him and Fairy Tail’s members examined Acnologia’s remains.
• The Magic Council’s upper ranks watched the battle on their screens and reacted in shock to the spatial rift.

After the battle on Tenrou Island, Mavis told Makarov she could return to Fairy Tail as a spirit, and the guild set off for home. The Magic Council decided to praise Fairy Tail publicly while secretly hoping the recognition would draw Tartaros into confronting the guild, and Fairy Tail’s reputation soared across the Kingdom.

• Mirajane asked Makarov whether the S-Class Exam would continue, but Natsu, Gajeel, Elfman, and the others started fighting over who should become an S-Class Mage, so Makarov canceled the exam.
• Mavis appeared before Makarov, explained that she had fully awakened as a spirit, and said she could return to Fairy Tail if Zorn replenished her magic power.
• At the Magic Council meeting, Gran Doma and the Council Members discussed Grimoire Heart’s defeat and the unknown fates of Zeref and Acnologia, then agreed to publicly commend Fairy Tail to attract Tartaros’s attention.
• A week later, reports of Fairy Tail’s victory over Grimoire Heart spread through the Kingdom, while news of Zeref and Acnologia remained hidden.
• Fairy Tail’s reputation surged and requests poured into its guild, while members of other guilds complained that they had fewer jobs.