Recaps

Allen and Ultear failed to find a way to unlock Ultear’s Second Magic Source, so they took a break at the training grounds, where Mira challenged Ultear to a match. The fight began with Mira using her Berserk Flame Lion form and Ultear blocking her first attack with an ice shield.

• After another failed experiment, Allen decided that he and Ultear should rest and clear their heads.
• Allen and Ultear went to the training grounds, where Mira challenged Ultear to a match.
• Allen gave Mira half an hour to recover, while the other mages gathered to watch and Laxus spoke with Allen about the students’ progress.
• Mira entered the arena and transformed with Total Body Reception: Berserk Flame Lion.
• Mira attacked with Blazing Roar, and Ultear stopped the flames with Ice Make: Ice Shield.

Mira pushed her Raging Fire Lion magic to its limits against Urutia, but Urutia recognized her growth and ended the battle with Icebound Barrier and Absolute Zero Fist. Mira was left frozen as the watching guild members were stunned.

• Mira used her increased speed to attack Urutia with a Flame Claw, but Urutia countered with Absolute Zero Fist and knocked her back.
• Urutia criticized Mira’s strength control, prompting Mira to unleash Flame Eruption and transform her flames into armor.
• Mira shattered Urutia’s ice wall with Flame Heavy Strike and fought through Diamond Ice Blades and Ice Make: Rose Garden.
• Mira activated Flame Eruption: Ultimate Form and charged Urutia, who froze her with Icebound Barrier.
• Urutia walked up to the frozen Mira and struck her with Absolute Zero Fist.

Mira lost her sparring match with Urutia but vowed to improve, while Allen and Urutia completed a controllable method for developing a Second Magic Source. Makarov and several guild members gained the new magic source, and the remaining S-Class Mages were called back, though Gildarts was still occupied with his mission.

• Urutia defeated Mira in training, then praised her potential and advised her to seek Allen's guidance about Raging Fire Lion.
• Mira promised Urutia she would make her use her full strength next time, while Allen sparred with Natsu and easily knocked him down.
• Allen and Urutia used Arc of Time and Sealing Magic on a white mouse, successfully stabilizing a second magic source in its body.
• Allen and Urutia told Makarov about their success, and Makarov summoned the absent S-Class Mages to return.
• Allen, Urutia, Laxus, and Makarov acquired Second Magic Sources, followed by Erza, Jellal, and Ur; Gildarts reported that his mission would take longer.

Gildarts returned to Fairy Tail badly injured after encountering Acnologia, the Black Dragon, and the guild learned of the threat it posed. Allen and Makarov suspected Precht might be involved and resolved to gather intelligence and grow stronger, while Kana discovered Gildarts’s injuries and rushed to see him.

• Gildarts returned to the guild wrapped in bandages and told Makarov and the S-Class Mages that Acnologia had injured him but inexplicably spared his life.
• Allen explained Acnologia’s immense power and resistance to magic to Urutia and the others, while Laxus declared he would challenge the dragon someday.
• Makarov warned everyone against confronting Acnologia recklessly, and Allen promised to stabilize his new form and strengthen himself before acting.
• Allen told Makarov he suspected Precht and the Dark Guild were connected to Acnologia’s awakening, so Makarov agreed to coordinate intelligence with Yajima.
• Lucy told Kana that Gildarts had returned injured, and Kana rushed to the treatment room, where Gildarts comforted her.

After Gildarts reunited with Kana, Makarov and Allen investigated strange events across Ishgar and linked them to the Eclipse Gate, the Dark Guilds, and Acnologia. At the S-Class meeting, Allen urged the guild to gather more information before taking action.

• Kana cried as she embraced Gildarts, then vowed to become stronger and protect him.
• Makarov asked Yajima to gather intelligence on major events and Dark Guild movements across Ishgar.
• Allen and Makarov reviewed reports of tremors, black-robed figures, a vanished city, and a huge figure flying from Mount Savol, suspecting Dark Guild activity and Acnologia's involvement.
• At the S-Class meeting, Allen connected the West Mountain Range tremors to Anna's Eclipse Gate and suggested the black-robed figures had sensed its opening.
• Allen suspected the Dark Guilds had abducted people for an experiment or ritual and said Acnologia had awakened and injured Gildarts while searching for whoever disturbed it.
• Makarov and Allen told the mages to gather more intelligence, warned that members of the Dark Magic Group might be involved, and said it was not yet time to act.

Allen and Ultear activated a Second Magic Source for Gildarts, then planned to travel to the Gildarts Continent to investigate a dragon. Meanwhile, Yajima reported the Dark Magic Group and Dark Guilds’ suspected alliance to the Council, whose final response left Allen doubtful that it would act quickly enough.

• Allen and Ultear activated Gildarts's Second Magic Source, and Gildarts left to train Kana while getting used to his increased magic power.
• Allen told Ultear he planned to visit the Gildarts Continent to investigate an active dragon he had sensed in Elmina, and she agreed to go with him.
• Allen restricted Fairy Tail missions in the region where the Black Robed Figures and Black Dragon had been active, then asked Yajima to report the suspected alliance of the Dark Magic Group and Dark Guilds to the Council.
• Yajima reported the threat to Crawford, but Crawford rejected a councilor's proposal to use Fairy Tail for intelligence gathering and called for other guilds instead.
• The Council decided to have guilds in the central region gather intelligence before sending Council forces against the enemy, and Allen doubted the plan would be effective.

As Fairy Tail’s December X778 ranking tournament approached, Allen advised Mira on how to surpass Kana and Sorano while Yukino secretly prepared Gabumon’s near-evolution. The tournament began with Kana, Sorano, Mira, Yukino, Lyon, Gray, Natsu, Gajeel, and Lucy eligible to compete, and the chapter left their final rankings unresolved.

• Mira asked Allen why she kept falling short, and he explained that she needed either a stronger reception target or to push the Raging Fire Lion beyond its limits.
• Allen promised to help Mira change reception targets if she claimed first place before Kana and Sorano graduated, and Mira vowed to keep trying.
• Kana trusted that Gildarts’s guidance would help her retain first place, while Sorano anticipated stronger teamwork after Agumon evolved.
• Yukino kept Gabumon’s near-evolution secret, but Allen discovered its progress and realized she planned to surprise the others.
• The December ranking tournament began, with Kana first, Sorano second, Mira third, Yukino fourth, and Lucy ninth in the previous standings.

On December 31, X778, Fairy Tail gathered at the training grounds to watch the final ranking match of the year. Lucy and Gajeel faced each other in the arena as they waited for Allen to start the battle.

• Fairy Tail closed for the day and gathered at the training grounds for the final ranking match of X778.
• The guild members filled the stands and cheered for Lucy and Gajeel.
• Lucy and Gajeel took opposite sides of the arena and waited for Allen to announce the start of the battle.

Lucy surrendered to Gajeel after explaining that none of her Celestial Spirits were available to fight, and Natsu mocked Gajeel before their ranking challenge began. Gajeel and Natsu traded Dragon Slayer attacks, and their battle continued after their roars collided.

• Lucy surrendered to Gajeel, then told Kana that her zodiac spirits had not recognized her and would not fight for her.
• Natsu teased Gajeel about failing to break Lucy’s clock defense, and Gajeel vowed to beat him in their upcoming match.
• After an hour of rest, Laxus refereed the ranking challenge between Gajeel and Natsu and announced the start.
• Gajeel and Natsu charged at each other and clashed with Iron Dragon’s Iron Fist and Fire Dragon’s Iron Fist.
• Gajeel attacked with Iron Dragon Sword, while Natsu countered with Fire Dragon’s Wing Attack and Fire Dragon’s Roar.
• Gajeel answered with Iron Dragon’s Roar, and the two attacks collided in a deafening explosion.

Gajeel defeated Natsu in a brutal challenge after enduring his powerful burst of fire, and Laxus declared him successful before taking both fighters for treatment. With Gajeel unable to continue, Gray and Lyon prepared to fight under Ur’s watch.

• Gajeel and Natsu traded attacks until Gajeel grabbed Natsu’s leg and pierced him with Iron Dragon’s Lance, despite taking Natsu’s Fire Dragon’s Roar.
• Natsu erupted in intense, nearly white flames that engulfed both fighters, and the pillar of fire burned for two and a half minutes.
• Both fighters collapsed unconscious, but Gajeel briefly woke and sat up after seeing that Natsu had passed out.
• Laxus declared Gajeel had completed his challenge and took Gajeel and Natsu to the treatment area.
• Ur refereed as Gray and Lyon took their places for the next battle, and the brothers began fighting when she gave the signal.

Gray defeated Lyon in their challenge after enduring Lyon’s close-range assault and freezing his hands, but his injuries and exhaustion forced him to give up Yukino’s challenge. Allen and Makarov postponed Yukino and Mira’s battle until after lunch and rest.

• Gray and Lyon exchanged Ice-Make attacks, with Gray destroying Lyon’s Great Ape and blocking his Ice Wolves.
• Lyon closed in with ice blades and wounded Gray, forcing him to retreat under the rapid attacks.
• Gray deliberately took a blow to grab Lyon’s hands and freeze them, then struck him with Diamond Ice Blades.
• Ur declared Gray the winner after Lyon fainted, reprimanded Gray for taking an attack head-on, and helped Lyon to the treatment area.
• Gray gave up Yukino’s challenge, and Allen and Makarov arranged lunch and rest before Yukino and Mira’s afternoon battle.

Yukino and Mira began their challenge match, with Gabumon evolving into Garurumon and pushing Mira into a fierce fight. The chapter ended with Garurumon pinning Mira to the ground as it prepared to fire Foxfire.

• The guild members discussed the morning's battles before returning to the training ground for Yukino and Mira's match.
• Allen replaced Gildarts as referee and started the match between Yukino and Mira.
• Yukino ordered Gabumon to evolve, and it transformed into Garurumon.
• Garurumon attacked Mira with Sharp Claws, but Mira used Raging Fire Lion and Flame Heavy Strike to knock it away.
• Mira dodged Garurumon's Foxfire and traded attacks with it, using her speed and evasive movements to counter its strength.
• Garurumon struck Mira with its blade-like fur, then lunged forward, pinned her to the ground, and gathered Foxfire in its mouth.

Mira defeated Yukino and Garurumon in a brutal battle by unleashing her final attack, Lionheart Release. Though badly injured, she insisted on fighting Sorano next, while Yukino and Sorano discussed Gabumon's evolution and the danger Mira posed.

• Mira used Flame Eruption to strengthen herself and fought Garurumon at close range while Yukino enhanced and healed it.
• Mira and Garurumon exchanged devastating attacks until both were badly injured, but neither yielded.
• Mira charged into Garurumon's Foxfire with Lionheart Release, and the resulting explosion left Yukino unconscious and Garurumon collapsed while Mira remained standing.
• Allen caught Mira and declared her the winner, then took her, Yukino, and their beasts to the treatment area.
• Mira told Allen she would still fight Sorano, and Lisanna and Elfman arrived to comfort her.
• Sorano and Agumon visited Yukino and Garurumon, who warned them about Mira's willpower and powerful final attack.

Mira fought Sorano and her newly evolved Agumon, Tyrannomon, despite still being weakened from her earlier battle. She knocked Tyrannomon down with a final burst of strength, but both fighters passed out in the ensuing explosion, leaving Sorano conscious and the winner.

• Sorano evolved Agumon into Tyrannomon as Gildarts started the match.
• Mira entered her Flame Valkyrie state and dodged Tyrannomon’s Super Flame, but its roar stopped her charge and its tail sent her flying.
• Mira unleashed Lionheart Release and battered Tyrannomon’s thighs, sending the giant Digimon crashing down.
• Mira fired Lionheart Release: Meteor Impact as Sorano shielded Tyrannomon and ordered it to counter with Super Flame.
• The two attacks caused successive explosions that injured Sorano and knocked out Mira and Tyrannomon; Sorano remained conscious and won the match.

Sorano and Tyrannomon faced Kana in the final ranking challenge match, where Kana overcame Tyrannomon and then defeated Sorano. Kana won the final day of the X778 Fairy Tail ranking challenge matches.

• Sorano restored Tyrannomon before the battle, while Allen and the others upheld Laxus's rule limiting winners to one hour of rest.
• Allen refereed as Kana opened the final match with Crushing Magic, and Tyrannomon countered with Super Flame and a close-range claw strike that sent her flying.
• Kana recovered, evaded Tyrannomon's attacks, interrupted its Dragon's Roar, and injured it with Crush while Sorano used healing magic.
• Tyrannomon charged with Great Horn, but Kana struck it down with Ura Hades and knocked it unconscious.
• Sorano continued fighting without Tyrannomon, but Kana defeated her two and a half minutes later and won the final ranking challenge match.

The Dark Magic Group sacrificed civilians to summon Zeref’s demon Ossar, hoping it could help Hades defeat Acnologia. Acnologia destroyed Ossar and attacked the cultists, while Hades escaped and Yaroc survived badly wounded, vowing revenge.

• Yaroc activated the black pentagram Magic Circle and sacrificed the bound civilians to open the Gate of the Abyss.
• Ossar emerged from the Magic Circle, and the Dark Magic Group’s cultists worshiped the demon.
• Acnologia arrived and annihilated Ossar with two roars after Ossar attacked it.
• Hades abandoned Yaroc and fled as Acnologia attacked the gathered cultists and pursued him.
• Yaroc staggered out of the explosion with three limbs severed and cursed Hades and Acnologia.

After the Council downplayed the devastation in Carlos City, Allen identified the Black Dragon as the cause and organized Fairy Tail’s S-Class Mages to hunt the Dark Magic Group and search for Yaroc. Allen traveled to Elmina to find Gildarts, where the Water God Dragon Melkforbia sensed his arrival and went out to meet him.

• Valentine Eli ordered Laharl to investigate Carlos City, but dismissed Laharl’s warning that a powerful unknown creature had killed the demon.
• Yajima passed Laharl’s findings to Makarov, and Allen concluded that the Black Dragon had killed the newly summoned demon instantly.
• Allen advised Yajima not to provoke the Black Dragon and led Fairy Tail’s first S-Class Mage meeting of X779, assigning teams to search for Yaroc and the remaining Dark Magic Group members.
• Allen set out alone to find Gildarts and test himself against a dragon, while Makarov stayed behind and Ur and Gildarts led the search teams.
• After reaching Elmina, Allen sensed tremendous magic beneath the sea, and Melkforbia told Karamir to hide before going out to confront the approaching presence.

Allen challenged the Water God Dragon Melkphobia to test his strength before facing Acnologia. Their battle escalated into a clash between Melkphobia’s water magic and Allen’s Great Serpent’s Sweep, whose shockwave sent a tsunami toward Elmina.

• Allen told Melkphobia he wanted to fight a real dragon before challenging Acnologia, and Melkphobia agreed to test him.
• Melkphobia attacked with waterspouts, waves, water blades, and a vortex, but Allen’s Chrono-Adamantium defense let him push through.
• Allen’s Royal Spear Strike failed to break Melkphobia’s Water Curtain, so Allen charged through it and vaporized Melkphobia’s water blades with World Devouring Flames.
• Allen unleashed the Dragon Slayer Secret Art, Great Serpent’s Sweep, and Melkphobia countered with a powerful column of water.
• The attacks collided and triggered a colossal tsunami that shook Elmina, collapsed houses, and sent its people fleeing.

Allen defeated Melkphobia in a sparring match, then faced the Fire God Dragon Ignia, who attacked after learning Allen used fire-based Dragon Slayer Magic. Allen blasted Ignia into the sea with Pure Land of Bliss, leaving his fate uncertain.

• Allen overwhelmed Melkphobia with Great Serpent's Sweep, and Melkphobia healed himself in the sea before acknowledging Allen's strength and introducing himself.
• Allen and Melkphobia noticed Ignia approaching, and Melkphobia identified him as the Fire God Dragon.
• Ignia asked which Fire Dragon had taught Allen, and Allen challenged him to defeat him if he wanted to know.
• Allen struck Ignia with No Form, sending him flying and provoking him to attack with Fire God Dragon's Roar.
• Allen countered with Pure Land of Bliss, and Ignia absorbed the flames around him before firing World-Burning Flame Explosion.
• The attacks collided in a massive explosion that sent Ignia into the sea, while Allen shielded Melkphobia from the shockwave.

Allen and Melkphobia saw Ignia floating alive in the sea after the explosion, grievously wounded. His dragon blood contaminated the surrounding water and killed some marine creatures.

• The explosion's shockwave gradually subsided.
• Allen and Melkphobia spotted Ignia floating nearby.
• Ignia remained alive despite a hole through his chest and his severed left arm and wing.
• Ignia's blood contaminated the seawater, and marine creatures that drank it died.

Fairy Tail's S-Class Mages investigated the disappearance of a village's residents while searching for Yahak. Ultear suspected Yahak had abducted them to recover from his injuries.

• Gildarts and Ur led the Fairy Tail S-Class Mages in their search for Yahak.
• Yajima reported that the residents of a village near Carlos City had mysteriously disappeared.
• Ultear connected the disappearance to Yahak's serious injuries in Carlos City and suspected he had taken the residents to heal himself.

Ur, Ultear, and Erza battled Yaroc while Gildarts, Laxus, and Jellal fought the War God. Yaroc tried to escape inside an ice sphere, but Ultear stopped him with Time Roar, and the scene shifted to Dimaria on the Western Continent.

• Ur and Ultear's ice attacks met Yaroc's dark magic, and Erza exploited a distraction to wound him in close combat.
• Ur and Erza attacked Yaroc together, but he protected himself inside a sphere of dark magic that Ur froze with Absolute Zero.
• Yaroc controlled the War God to kick his frozen sphere into the air and tried to break free while the others realized he was escaping.
• Ultear told the others not to pursue Yaroc, then used Time Roar to halt him and make the ice sphere vanish.
• Dimaria looked up at the sky from a tribe of Albares on the Western Continent.

Yukino and Mira faced Allen in their graduation exams, demonstrating their new abilities against his overwhelming strength. Allen passed both students, leaving them ready to continue training and growing stronger.

• Yukino overcame her nerves and used Armor Evolution with Garurumon to attack Allen, but he defeated her with a series of powerful blows.
• Yukino struggled back to her feet, and Allen ended her exam after praising her courage and determination.
• Mira began her exam by using Full-Body Assimilation with Gatomon and attacked Allen with light-element magic.
• Mira dodged Allen's initial attacks and used Holy Guard to survive his Kintsugetsuyou, after which Allen declared that she had passed.

Mira began her first A-Class mission with Kana, escorting a Heartfilia Trading Company shipment of Magic Beast meat from Magnolia toward Carlum. The journey reached Hargeon without trouble, where Mira learned that Fairy Tail's strength inspired both respect and hostility among other guilds.

• Mira arrived early at the mission hall and reviewed the escort mission before Kana joined her.
• Kana and Mira met John, inspected the shipment at the Heartfilia Trading Company's Magnolia branch, and placed Fairy Tail's guild flag on the caravan.
• Kana explained the escort procedures and warned Mira to deal decisively with anyone who attacked them at sea.
• The caravan traveled safely from Magnolia to Hargeon, where Mira noticed other Mages reacting to Fairy Tail's flag with mixed feelings.
• Kana told Mira that some guilds resented Fairy Tail because Allen and Laxus had challenged guilds across Fiore, but feared the guild's strength.

During the escort mission, Kana defeated the attackers aboard Ship One and learned that the Dark Magic Group had recruited three Dark Guilds to ambush Fairy Tail’s mission routes. As she brought the captured ship alongside the caravan, a holy energy mass appeared in the sky and fired beams toward the other ships.

• On the second night of the voyage, three unmarked ships approached the caravan, and Kana told John to speed up and ram the ship ahead.
• Kana leaped onto Ship One while Mira stayed aboard to guard against the other two ships.
• Kana disintegrated the charging members of the Dark Magic Group and forced Serpent's Lair’s leader to explain the ambush.
• Serpent's Lair’s leader revealed that two other Dark Guilds were aboard the remaining ships and that two more groups had been sent to ambush Fairy Tail elsewhere.
• Kana had Ship One brought alongside the caravan after failing to find the Dark Magic Group member who had organized the attacks.
• A holy energy mass rose into the sky and fired beams toward the other two ships.