R System

Koreita, mountaintop

Glaide paced anxiously back and forth, his eyes fixed on the direction of Fostadu. He desperately wanted to know whether Black's operation had succeeded. After all, the deadline demanded by those big shots was drawing ever closer. If he failed to complete the mission on time, Koreita might become the next Fostadu. Just as his patience was about to reach its limit, hurried footsteps sounded behind him. Knowing there had to be news, Glaide immediately turned and asked the newcomer for the result.

"Did it work? Was it a success?" Glaide gripped the man's arm tightly and asked urgently.

"Leader, the camp in Zobol Forest was raided. We only found the bodies of five brothers, including Black. The others have all vanished without a trace!" The messenger watched Glaide's expression closely as he cautiously reported what he had learned.

"What? Black is dead? The operation failed? Where are the people from Fostadu?" Glaide forcibly suppressed the rage in his heart, asking in a trembling voice.

"They're gone." Knowing that his leader was already furious beyond measure, the man spoke in a low voice.

"They're gone, so go find them! Go look for them in Fostadu! Can't you figure that out?" Glaide could no longer tolerate his subordinate's stupidity. He raised a foot and kicked the man, sending him sliding more than ten meters across the ground before he stopped. The messenger began coughing up blood in great mouthfuls, his body shaking constantly, but he still staggered back to his feet, walked before Glaide, and answered his question.

"Leader, we've already gone to Fostadu. But the entire city has disappeared from where it stood, leaving behind nothing but an empty stretch of land." The messenger did not dare look at Glaide again as he stammered out his reply.

"Disappeared? The entire Fostadu has disappeared?" Glaide instantly deflated like a punctured ball, collapsing limply to the ground as he muttered something under his breath.

Just as the messenger was about to withdraw and leave, the dazed Glaide suddenly sprang to his feet. He glanced toward Fostadu's former location, then spread his wings and flew into the sky, roaring at every member of Koreita, "Everyone, assemble immediately! Head to Fostadu at once and investigate the situation! Anyone who delays the operation will be killed without exception!"

A moment later, five or six enormous black shadows that blotted out the sky departed Koreita and flew into the distance.

At this moment, Sordil had no idea that the operation he had planned would cause Koreita to mobilize in full force toward Fostadu. But even if he knew, he would not have cared. After all, he was currently admiring the sea, eating delicious food, and traveling toward Ishgar on the Eastern Continent. Behind him followed Fostadu's dragon flock. Among them, Lindel held a miniature version of Fostadu in his hands, with many ant-sized humans moving about atop it. The only thing Sordil cared about now was how Zeref was progressing at Mildian Magic Academy, and whether his magical research had provoked that brat Ankhseram's jealousy.

Unlike Sordil, who had fled in such disarray, Zeref was now standing on the lecture stage at Mildian Magic Academy, presenting his latest paper. Naturally, the inspiration had still come from the research notes Sordil had left behind. Dressed in a brand-new formal suit, Zeref continuously wrote the principles of magic onto the display blackboard, preparing for the lecture about to begin. Below the stage, Hissell watched Zeref with deep satisfaction. Seeing the gold he had discovered finally beginning to shine, the old man looked forward immensely to the coming presentation.

"Greetings, professors and fellow students! I am Zeref Dragionil, the presenter of today's lecture. First, welcome, everyone, and thank you for attending my research presentation. Next, I will explain the Revive System in detail." After organizing his materials, Zeref turned around and began introducing himself to the audience, explaining the principles and functions of the R System.

"The Revive System is just as its name implies: it is meant to revive life that has lost its will—that is, to resurrect deceased life..."

Onstage, Zeref excitedly explained his discovery to everyone. Beneath the stage, however, the anticipation, excitement, and thrill on Hissell's face gradually faded away. As Zeref continued speaking, the old man's expression grew uglier and uglier, until it was filled with displeasure and worry. Yet the boy onstage noticed none of it. He merely shared his joy with everyone in high spirits.

"The basic principle of the Revive System is to inject an immense amount of magic power into a Time Magic Array, awaken the consciousness that has already vanished, and then transfer that consciousness into a prepared vessel—the sacrificed body. When soul and flesh have completely fused, life will be revived."

"In theory, reviving one life requires only 2.7 billion Idia Units of magic power and the body of a great mage."

"That is the general outline of the Revive System. Thank you all once again for listening!"

Zeref concluded his lecture in an orderly manner, gave the audience beneath the stage a slight bow, and slowly stepped down. He had successfully displayed the results of his research to everyone, and excitement filled his heart. Moreover, the wish he had buried in his heart for so long was about to come true.

"That's incredible!"

"Yeah, he can even resurrect the dead. No wonder he's the most outstanding genius Mildian Magic Academy has seen in nearly a century!"

"Exactly, exactly!"

Zeref did not care about the discussions behind him. The only thing he cared about now was when he could build the R System, so that he could revive Natsu. Just as Zeref was preparing to put his ideas into practice, Hissell appeared before him. Zeref hurriedly stepped forward and bowed. Hissell said nothing more, merely telling Zeref to follow him. The two left the lecture hall one after the other.

Hissell led the way, with Zeref following closely behind. Before long, a white building appeared before them—it was Zeref's dormitory. After the two entered Zeref's room, Hissell could no longer restrain himself. He slammed Zeref's lecture manuscript heavily onto the table and said furiously, "Do you know what you're doing? What you're doing is provoking the god Ankhseram, do you understand?"

"Professor, of course I know what I'm doing. But compared to the wrath of the god Ankhseram, I believe we should be helping those who need it more." Zeref replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Those in need? Are you referring to your dead younger brother?" Hearing Zeref's defense, Hissell said coldly.

"So Professor already knew? Fine, then I won't hide it anymore. That's right, I truly am doing this to revive Natsu. But my invention truly can help others as well!" Rather than avoiding the matter after his secret was exposed, Zeref spoke with righteous conviction.

"Then have you ever considered how those people being sacrificed would feel? All lives are equal. No one exists for the sake of another! And no one has the right to casually take another person's life!" The old man was truly enraged by his student's attitude, and his voice grew more impassioned. Without waiting for Zeref to respond, he continued, "It is precisely because we cannot stop death from taking life that we must cherish the lives in this world all the more, rather than trample upon them. I hope you understand this. I don't want to see you researching such things again!"

After saying that, Hissell left the room directly, leaving Zeref alone in silence. A gust of wind swept through, flipping the pages of the paper across the tabletop one after another.