Chapter Summaries

After six months of fighting Zero in BLACKVOX, Erza, Laxus, and Mirajane had grown powerful enough to threaten him. Laxus learned a Dragon Slayer Secret Art from Zero, who then locked himself back in his cell to escape training them.

• Over six months, Laxus approached Saint Ten-level strength, Erza reached Saint Ten-level combat power, and Mirajane became a qualified S-Class Mage.
• Laxus challenged Zero to a solo fight, and Zero advised him to rely on overwhelming speed and explosive power.
• Laxus mastered the Dragon Slayer Secret Art Narukami and struck Zero with a powerful punch.
• Zero realized he had been helping Fairy Tail's mages grow stronger and refused to train Mirajane.
• Zero took the guard's controller, locked himself inside the black box, and taunted Erza, Laxus, and Mirajane.

After completing their training at BLACKVOX, Erza, Laxus, and Mirajane formed a team and took an extermination mission in Carles. They defeated Andrew’s gang but destroyed the town’s docks in the process, while Makarov realized Fairy Tail would likely face a compensation bill.

• Erza told Mirajane and Laxus that Ywen had ended Stage B of their training, and she suggested they test their growth on an S-Class extermination request.
• Erza, Laxus, and Mirajane formed a team, then agreed that whoever contributed most on their mission would get to name it.
• BLACKVOX sent the trio to Carles to eliminate Andrew, a wanted mage whose gang controlled the docks and exploited the townspeople.
• Makarov learned that the three had already gone to Carles and feared the damage they would cause, while Toki Andarba watched helplessly.
• Laxus blasted Andrew before he could react, and Erza and Mirajane joined him in defeating the gang.
• The trio wiped out Andrew’s gang but also left the tavern and docks burning, prompting Carles’s residents to lament the destruction.

Ywen met Layla and Grammi in Crocus to open the Eclipse Gate with all thirteen Celestial Spirit keys at midnight on July 7, 777. The Fiore Kingdom’s finance minister led them to the palace basement, where Ywen lit the way and the group began their descent.

• Ywen reunited with Layla and Grammi, who had brought all thirteen Celestial Spirit keys for the Eclipse Gate.
• Layla explained that the Eclipse Gate was hidden somewhere in the royal palace, and Ywen reasoned that the palace and kingdom had been built to protect it.
• The Fiore Kingdom’s finance minister met Layla at the palace and led her, Ywen, and Grammi inside, warning them to keep the gate’s location secret.
• Ywen entered the basement passage and used magic to light its lamps, then led Layla and Grammi farther inside.

Ywen agreed to join King Toma’s planned continent-wide magic battle competition after a system mission offered him a medal. At the appointed time, Layla activated the thirteen Celestial Spirit keys before the Eclipse Gate, and ominous magic spread across the kingdom’s sky.

• Ywen confronted King Toma, who revealed he was a Fairy Tail fan and invited the guild to compete in a magic battle tournament across Ishgar; Ywen accepted after receiving a system mission.
• Layla and Grammi arrived, and Toma explained that the Fiore family had never managed to open the Eclipse Gate.
• Layla prepared the thirteen Celestial Spirit keys while Grammi watched the time and Ywen waited beside the gate.
• When Grammi’s pocket watch struck midnight, Layla chanted and sent the thirteen glowing keys toward the Eclipse Gate.
• Dark shadows covered the moon as ominous magic spread across the sky above Fiore Kingdom.

Ywen and the Heartfilia family opened the Eclipse Gate, bringing Anna and five children from four hundred years in the past into X777. Anna set out to find the scattered children, while Ywen followed her into the mountains to discuss something privately.

• Layla opened the Eclipse Gate with Ywen’s help, but Igneel and the other presences sent the five children through the ceiling before Ywen could stop them.
• Anna emerged from the gate and learned from Layla that they had arrived in X777, four hundred years after their departure.
• Anna recognized Layla as her descendant through the family notebook and explained that the Heartfilia family had preserved it to open the gate at the right time.
• Anna asked the group to keep their arrival secret, then left to find the scattered children.
• Ywen disappeared from the royal palace and intercepted Anna in the mountains to speak with her.

Ywen privately warned Anna about the dangers in the modern era, including Acnologia, Zeref, the dragons of Guiltina, and Edolas. Overwhelmed by the news, Anna stopped him and began organizing what he had told her.

• Anna confronted Ywen, and he introduced himself as Ywen Belserion, leading her to think he was descended from Aileen.
• Ywen told Anna that Acnologia was still alive and that Zeref had also survived the four centuries.
• Ywen revealed that Zeref had commissioned him to help Layla gather the Celestial Spirit keys and open the Eclipse Gate.
• Ywen warned Anna that Zeref ruled the Alvarez Empire and described threats from powerful dragons in Guiltina and the world of Edolas.
• Anna wondered whether the past had been safer, then covered Ywen's mouth and began sorting the information into her notebook.

Anna learned about the major threats facing the world and promised to search for the children, while Ywen offered to train them at Fairy Tail. After claiming two mission rewards and advancing his abilities, Ywen spent a month developing a new martial art that reached level 11.

• Ywen briefed Anna on Zeref and his empire, Acnologia, Edolas, and the five known Dragon Gods of Guiltina.
• Ywen suggested Anna bring the children to Fairy Tail for training, and Anna agreed to find them herself.
• After Anna left, Ywen claimed two mission rewards and used them to raise Six Powers to level 10.
• Ywen decided to combine Six Powers and Swordsmanship, then spent a month training beneath a waterfall.
• Ywen completed his breakthrough and replaced the separate Swordsmanship and Six Powers categories with Martial Arts at level 11.

After a month of training, Ywen merged his max-level Six Powers and Swordsmanship into Martial Arts and returned to Fairy Tail. Makarov asked him to cover the guild’s fines, and Ywen paid Erza’s and Mirajane’s shares before refusing to pay Laxus’s or become Guild Master.

• Ywen tested his new Martial Arts skill, unleashed a slash that split a distant mountain, and used Attach Magic to restore the mountain range.
• Ywen returned to Fairy Tail and found Makarov weeping over repair bills caused by Erza, Mirajane, and Laxus competing to complete jobs separately.
• Makarov explained that the destruction and fines were straining the guild’s finances and pleaded with Ywen for help.
• Ywen agreed to pay Erza’s and Mirajane’s fines, then tried to leave for home.
• Makarov asked Ywen to pay Laxus’s share and take over as Guild Master, but Ywen refused both requests and left.
• Makarov cried out for Ywen while a Magic Newspaper editor decided to make the scene a headline.

Makarov brought Natsu Dragneel to Fairy Tail, where the guild welcomed him amid its usual chaos. Igneel and Aileen sensed each other and avoided a fight, while Ywen decided Natsu would become his next training project.

• Laxus, Erza, and Mirajane argued at the guild over a mission that had left both bandits and their hostage, Mayor, hospitalized.
• Makarov introduced Natsu Dragneel as a new Fairy Tail member, and Natsu said that dragons had raised him.
• Igneel sensed powerful dragons and mages in Magnolia, briefly clashed with Aileen through their auras, and then returned to slumber.
• Aileen detected Igneel within Natsu and warned him, while both conveyed that they did not want to fight.
• Ywen sensed Igneel falling asleep and resolved to train Natsu, leaving Laxus to pity the new recruit.

Natsu joined Fairy Tail and insisted that a dragon had raised him, but Gray tried to disprove him by asking the guild’s other Dragon Slayer Mages. The chapter left Gray and Natsu stunned when Kurnugi revealed that he had been born from a dragon.

• Lyon, Gray, and Ul realized they had accidentally taken off their clothes, while Cana scolded them and called out Gildarts for watching Ul.
• Gray asked Natsu for proof that a dragon had raised him, and Natsu said Igneel had taught him Fire Dragon Slayer Magic.
• Gray told Natsu that Laxus, Kurnugi, and Ywen also knew Dragon Slayer Magic, then asked Laxus and Ywen whether dragons had raised them.
• Erza threatened Gray after he mistakenly referred to Ywen’s human mother as a dragon, and Gray explained that Ywen had not been raised by dragons.
• Gray asked Kurnugi whether he had been raised by dragons, and Kurnugi answered that he had been born from one, shocking Gray and Natsu.

Gray, Natsu, and Kurnugi discussed their ties to dragons, and Kurnugi explained that dragons often leave their young once they can survive alone. Natsu took comfort in the idea that Igneel had left because he trusted Natsu to manage on his own, but Kurnugi admitted he had snuck away from home, and he could not tell Natsu where Igneel had gone.

• Gray questioned Kurnugi about being born from a dragon, and Kurnugi insisted that dragons were born from dragons.
• Kurnugi recognized Natsu as a dragon raised by a dragon after smelling his dragon scent, and Natsu said Igneel had given him his scarf.
• Natsu and Kurnugi argued over whether Igneel or Kurnugi’s mother, Moon Dragon Selene, was the strongest dragon.
• Kurnugi told Natsu that dragons often leave their children once they can survive independently, and Natsu felt reassured that Igneel might have left for that reason.
• Natsu asked whether Kurnugi had left home with his parents’ approval, and Kurnugi admitted he had snuck out while Selene was away.
• Natsu asked where dragons went after leaving their children, but Kurnugi did not know, so Natsu resolved to search for Igneel himself.

Natsu fought Gray on his second day at Fairy Tail and learned that Gray’s teacher, Ul, was one of the Ten Wizard Saints. After Lisanna explained that Makarov and Ywen held the same title, Natsu ran to ask them for help becoming stronger.

• Natsu challenged Gray after Gray called him a little kid, but Gray blocked his attack and sent him flying with Ice-Make Magic.
• Gray boasted about Ul and the Ten Wizard Saints before walking away, then realized he had forgotten to put on clothes again.
• Lisanna helped Natsu up and explained that the Ten Wizard Saints were Ishgar’s ten strongest Mages, including Makarov and Ywen.
• Natsu decided to seek training from Makarov or Ywen, thanked Lisanna with a hug, and ran toward them.
• Mirajane and Erza continued arguing over responsibility for their mission’s problems while Laxus yawned nearby.
• Natsu reached Makarov as he was drinking, and Makarov set down his wineglass.

Natsu asked Makarov to teach him how to become stronger so he could defeat Gray and Lyon, but Makarov sent him to reflect after hearing his answer. Natsu then sought guidance from Ywen, who agreed and dragged him away for training.

• Natsu asked Makarov to make him his apprentice, explaining that he wanted power to beat Gray and Lyon.
• Makarov told Natsu that magic came from the heart, but hit him when Natsu again said he wanted to fight the two boys; Gray mocked Natsu and was punished too.
• Natsu and Gray agreed that they wanted to hit Lyon, then Natsu asked Ywen whether he was a Ten Wizard Saint and begged him for training.
• Ywen agreed to teach Natsu and dragged him toward the training grounds, while guild members watched and Erza envied Natsu's special training.

Ywen repeatedly tried to make Natsu stronger by pitting him against powerful beasts and throwing him from a waterfall, but Natsu failed to awaken any hidden power. Anna Heartfilia arrived and found Ywen sending Natsu plunging into the water, questioning his idea of childcare.

• Ywen encouraged Natsu to fight an S-Class magical beast, but it swallowed him twice before Ywen destroyed it.
• Ywen took Natsu to face an A-Class brown bear, which defeated him before Ywen eliminated it.
• Ywen tried to awaken Natsu's potential by kicking him from the tallest waterfall more than twenty times, but Natsu only learned to dive elegantly.
• Ywen decided to consider more traditional training for Natsu, as he had used with Lisanna and Elfman.
• Anna Heartfilia arrived to see Natsu fall into the waterfall and challenged Ywen's claim that he was good at raising children.

Ywen’s brutal training brought Natsu to the point where he could defeat a powerful magical beast, and Ywen prepared to return him to Fairy Tail to spur the other young mages to improve. Meanwhile, the Magic Council selected Jose Porla as a Ten Wizard Saint and openly challenged the influence of its Fairy Tail-aligned members, prompting Yajima to consider countermeasures.

• Ywen left Natsu to train automatically while he hurried after Anna, and Natsu continued gaining strength through repeated cliff jumps.
• Zeref woke in a distant forest, learned that Natsu had arrived in the world, and continued pursuing his dream as nearby plants withered around him.
• Four months later, Natsu defeated a giant bear and reached Level 4 in Dragon Slayer Magic, magic power, and Martial Arts after Ywen’s harsh training.
• Ywen planned to bring Natsu back to Fairy Tail and considered having Cana, Gray, Lyon, and Elfman take part in the upcoming S-Class Mage Examination.
• Yajima, Rob, and Tocchi Anderba recommended Gildarts for the Ten Wizard Saints, but the Magic Council chairman and the other councilors chose Jose Porla instead.
• Yajima recognized that the councilors were moving against their group and decided to inform Ywen so Fairy Tail could prepare countermeasures.

Makarov announced the candidates for Fairy Tail’s Year X777 S-Class Mage Examination, but Mirajane replaced the planned rules with an all-out guild brawl. The tournament began with Mirajane transforming into Satan Soul and launching the first attack, while Makarov watched in despair.

• Makarov named Mirajane Strauss, Gray Fullbuster, Lyon Vastia, Kagura Mikazuchi, Elfman Strauss, Natsu Dragneel, and Cana Alberona as candidates.
• The candidates reacted to their selections, while Cana privately hoped to close the distance between herself and Gildarts.
• Mirajane seized Makarov’s microphone and proposed that every guild member fight until only one remained standing.
• Gildarts, Ywen, Erza, and Laxus accepted Mirajane’s proposal, despite Makarov’s protests.
• Mirajane declared the Year X777 S-Class Mage Certification Battle Tournament underway and transformed into Satan Soul.
• Mirajane charged into the guild brawl and blasted numerous Fairy Tail mages into the sky.

The S-Class Mage Examination descended into a chaotic guild-wide brawl as Cana used clever cards to defeat several opponents. Cana and Kagura teamed up against Mirajane, who overwhelmed the remaining contestants and faced their simultaneous attack.

• Makarov mourned the damage as Fairy Tail's mages fought across the guild, while Gray tricked Lyon by putting an ice vest on him and striking him with an Ice Holy Sword.
• Cana used a card to put a skirt on Gray and strike him with Laxus's lightning, then Natsu knocked Elfman out before Cana's train card defeated Natsu.
• Cana attacked Kagura with marshmallow, but Kagura repeatedly slashed through the barrier and shattered Cana's card, forcing Cana to prepare her strongest attack.
• Mirajane arrived after defeating the other contestants, leaving Cana and Kagura as the only ones still standing.
• Cana and Kagura agreed to join forces and attacked Mirajane together, while the S-Class Mages watched, convinced the outcome was already decided.

Mirajane won Fairy Tail’s Year X777 S-Class Mage Examination, then challenged Erza before Makarov stopped their fight. After the guild members were left injured, Reis brought Porlyusica to the hall, where she scolded Makarov.

• Makarov declared Mirajane Strauss the winner of the S-Class Mage Examination after Cana and Kagura collapsed.
• Mirajane challenged Erza, and Makarov transformed into a giant to block their attacks and forbid them from fighting inside the guild.
• Makarov announced Mirajane’s victory, then asked the other S-Class Mages to fetch Porlyusica because Mirajane had knocked out the guild members.
• Ywen left with Erza, Mirajane carried her younger siblings home, and Laxus escaped after refusing to stay and help Makarov.
• Reis brought Porlyusica to the guild, and she roared at Makarov for letting the members get injured.

Ywen learned that Crawford Seam was trying to weaken Fairy Tail’s influence in the Magic Council and planned to counter him by bringing Senior Warrod Sequen out of retirement. He left Yajima with the idea that Warrod’s appointment could give Fairy Tail enough council seats to deter the chairman.

• Ywen spent the start of Year X778 improving and combining his magical resistances, then answered Yajima’s summons to the Magic Council.
• Yajima told Ywen that Crawford Seam and other councilors were moving against Fairy Tail, seeking to elevate Jose Porla and draw Toki Andarba away from its side.
• Ywen proposed driving the chairman out before he could remove Yajima and Rob, alarming Yajima with talk of killing the councilors before admitting he had been joking.
• Ywen asked Yajima where Senior Warrod Sequen was and suggested that Warrod’s return to public life could secure Fairy Tail another seat on the Magic Council.

Ywen visited the reclusive Warrod Sequen and persuaded him to return to the magical world by revealing that Zeref’s Alvarez Empire sought Fairy Heart, housed beneath Fairy Tail. Warrod agreed to investigate the threat, and Ywen then told him that Precht had gone insane.

• Yajima gave Ywen Warrod’s secluded address after warning that Warrod might not agree to return.
• Ywen arrived at Warrod’s mountain home and asked him to serve as a Magic Councilor, but Warrod initially refused.
• Ywen told Warrod that Alvarez, ruled by Zeref, planned to target Fairy Tail and seize Fairy Heart to defeat Acnologia.
• Warrod agreed to leave seclusion and investigate the threat to Ishgar.
• Ywen told Warrod that Precht had gone insane, leaving Warrod stunned.