Chapter Summaries

Adam found that his Grimoire was nearing the limit of its fabricated foundation, while his other selves made uneven progress across their worlds. In Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, he entered a human city and began studying the world’s magic, concluding that human magic had advanced mainly in destructive spells.

• Adam realized his Grimoire could hold only a limited amount of magic unless he removed spells, absorbed other Grimoires, or waited for Gabriel to increase her magic power.
• Adam considered the progress of his other selves, noting that the Adams in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End and Fairy Tail had made the least progress.
• Adam rode Furna with Hughgel to a human city, then negotiated with the guards and gained entry after proving he was human.
• Adam searched the city for books and learned that Demon-Slaying Magic had driven human magic toward destructive power.
• Adam judged that humans could likely learn magic beyond their current limits and questioned whether their supposed bodily restrictions were really a lack of knowledge.

Adam considered the erased history of the mythological era and continued his journey toward Oisast, stopping to tell a governor that the child-snatching monster had been killed and its victims were not saved. He then continued gathering magic in the Fairy Tail world, using Piercing Magic against mages and magical tools.

• Adam reflected on humanity's disadvantage in the war and resolved to seek Serie for clues about the mythological era and the goddess.
• A governor asked Adam to kill a two-headed bird that abducted children, and Adam revealed that he had already killed it but found no surviving children.
• Adam refused the governor's reward and left, while Furna dragged Hughgel along and Adam flicked him for wanting the money.
• Adam explained how he acquired magic in the Fairy Tail world and used Piercing Magic to destroy magic, magical tools, and mages.

After destroying another Dark Guild, Adam examined the spoils and found a rare, comprehensive Attachment Magic scroll, though his limited magic power kept him from using its advanced techniques. He also discovered a book on Curse Magic and judged its torture methods unimpressive.

• Adam sorted through the Dark Guild’s spoils and dismissed several common magics, including Script Magic, Rock Magic, Poison Gas Magic, and Requip Magic.
• Adam found a complete Attachment Magic scroll and recognized that it covered techniques from beginner level through mastery.
• Adam explained that advanced Attachment Magic consumed more magic power than his Magic Crystals could currently provide, so Piercing Magic remained more practical.
• Adam found a book recording the Curse Magic Surging Agony, which amplified a target’s perception of pain and required a bodily medium.
• Adam read the book’s torture methods and concluded that the author’s darkness level was low.

Adam experimented with curse magic and compiled his ideas into a handbook, debating what to call it. He chose to release only the pain-dependent Da Qian Record, leaving the more comprehensive Lesser Thousand Records unpublished so his research would not cause widespread suffering.

• Adam formed a Curse Card and reflected on how crafting cards could test his magical research.
• Adam used Script Magic to compile curse ideas into a handbook and considered several names for it.
• Adam and his other selves proposed calling part of the handbook Da Qian Record and the complete version Lesser Thousand Records.
• Adam decided to release only Da Qian Record because its curses required users to endure extreme pain and would have limited effects.

Adam enchanted Da Qian Record with spells and considered how to release it so people would value it while still spreading it widely enough to help refine the Clow Cards. He settled on scattering individual spells through an ancient ruin, and the Adams began compiling scriptures for the Jing Cult.

• Adam used materials and corpses from the Dark Guild to enchant Da Qian Record, giving it eerie visual effects and adding illustrated spells with notes.
• Adam considered preventing people from copying or memorizing the book, but worried that doing so would limit its spread and hinder his Clow Card research.
• Adam proposed separating the spells and placing them in an ancient ruin, where dramatic effects would draw major powers to seek them.
• The Adams debated presenting the spells as relics from the age of the gods, then began compiling scriptures for the Jing Cult.

Adam and his clones planned how to make the Jing Cult and Zuowang Dao seem credible by producing ancient records and artifacts. They decided to list Adam as the top-ranked patron to protect the fakes from time magic, then considered bringing the ruins out through a battle in the gaps between worlds.

• One Adam drafted the Jing Cult's recruitment manifesto, and the Adams discussed creating a Scripture of Deception to explain the cult's destruction.
• Adam considered approaching August to gain his instantaneous copying magic and other spells, but recognized how difficult it would be to reach Zeref, Mavis, or August.
• Adam decided to keep building his reputation, collecting magic, and processing the forged artifacts instead of joining Fairy Tail.
• The Adams realized Adam's status could protect the Da Qian Record and its artifacts from time magic, so they named him the top-ranked patron.
• Adam and the other Adams discussed staging a battle between powerful mages to reveal the ruins, then proposed placing them in the gaps between worlds.

Adam decided to disguise newly created ruins as an ancient site that had appeared between Edolas and Earth Land. As the Magic Council’s elite exploration teams struggled to reach the entrance, the assembled wizards debated whether to let smaller guilds enter first.

• Adam chose to make the ruins seem as though they had suddenly emerged in Earth Land after originally existing between it and Edolas.
• Wizards at an inn discussed the Magic Council’s restrictions and proposed forcing their way into the ruins, while Hyberion dismissed them and Warrod Sequen acknowledged their frustration.
• Ultear warned that the greedy wizards could cause trouble, and Zeref suggested lifting the restrictions so they could trigger the ruins’ traps first.
• Serena urged the others to let the wizards enter, recalling that the Ten Wizard Saints had repeatedly been driven back by strange pain before reaching the ruins’ gate.
• The Ten Wizard Saints recognized fresh traces near the gate and realized that whoever had spread the news intended to draw people to the site.

The Ten Wizard Saints failed to break the ruins’ seal and decided to let other wizards try while preparing to intervene. Adam learned that someone had opened the door and suspected Hades had arrived.

• The Ten Wizard Saints attacked the sealed entrance, but their magic failed, so they memorized the symbols and withdrew.
• The Magic Council planned to use other wizards to weaken the curse and draw out Dark Guild mages, with Magic Sprites ready if needed.
• Adam Fairy Tail Reed reported that Adam’s forged ruins had convinced visitors they were authentic.
• Adam noticed that the ruins’ door had been opened and reasoned that only overwhelming magic could bypass its defenses.
• Adam asked whether Hades, formerly Precht of Fairy Tail, had arrived.

Adam went to investigate a ruin he had hoped would contain Hades's external magic power source, but discovered that Zeref had arrived first. Zeref entered the ruin and began examining its unfamiliar curse magic and depictions of suffering.

• Adam decided to inspect the ruin, hoping Hades's external magic power source could strengthen his avatar enough to challenge powerful mages.
• Adam recognized Zeref's magic and curse aura at the entrance and realized the emperor had reached Ishgar unexpectedly.
• Adam worried Zeref would take the Da Qian Record and ruin his plan to collect samples and refine the Clow Cards.
• Zeref crossed the ruin's threshold, where the worsening pain from the outer curse faded and left him relieved and intrigued.
• Zeref examined the unfamiliar carvings and writing, suspecting the ruin had been built to worship a god associated with pain.

Zeref entered Adam's fabricated ruins to seek a way to lift Ankhseram's curse, but a mechanism scattered the Da Qian Record into the surrounding area. He pursued the pages with deadly force, intent on reclaiming them all.

• Zeref followed the strongest magical reaction through the ruins and found the Da Qian Record in an altar room, where he endured an overwhelming curse of pain.
• Adam watched from outside and believed Zeref was about to take the book, while Zeref staggered toward the stone platform.
• Zeref triggered a mechanism that split the Da Qian Record into pages and sent them flying, and he caught only one page at first.
• Zeref pursued the scattered pages, using dark magic to kill anyone who blocked his way as he gathered the record back together.

After Zeref slaughtered nearly a thousand wizards while pursuing a light from the ruins, the Magic Council confirmed his identity and debated what to do about him. The council postponed action because Zeref’s whereabouts were unknown, while Warrod Sequen believed the incident had hidden circumstances.

• The Ten Wizard Saints arrived at the massacre site and found nearly a thousand dead wizards surrounded by dark magic.
• Survivors told investigators that Zeref had pursued a light from the ruins and killed those who attacked him or blocked his way.
• The Magic Council identified the culprit as Zeref, and Makarov explained how powerful wizards could resist the passage of time.
• The Ten Wizard Saints and council members debated how they could confront Zeref, while Warrod Sequen recognized the danger and suspected the incident had hidden circumstances.
• Zicreine proposed postponing the decision because the council had no way to find Zeref or know when he might appear again.

The Magic Council ended its discussion of Zeref by deciding to keep searching for him and to loosen restrictions on exploring the ancient ruins. Meanwhile, Zeref accidentally summoned Adam by performing a painful ritual, leaving Adam face-to-face with Zeref's shattered consciousness.

• The Magic Council declared that it would hunt Zeref, admitted it could not locate him, and approved looser restrictions on exploring the ruins.
• Zeref studied the scattered pages in a forest and chose to try their rituals, hoping to contact a higher being who might lift his curse.
• Zeref performed Dung Beetle Ascends the Steps, enduring bodily pain until the ritual overwhelmed him with memories of killing Mavis.
• Adam appeared in Zeref's mental space and realized that Zeref had summoned him by using the ritual.

Adam studied Zeref’s magical knowledge and the Curse of Contradiction, finding a starting point for investigating the laws of life. When Zeref awoke in the space of consciousness, Adam revealed the principle behind the Da Qian Record’s exchange of pain for power.

• Adam studied Zeref’s knowledge of magic and used it to plan an external magic power source that could be developed into a mage tower.
• Adam examined Zeref’s Curse of Contradiction and considered using his understanding of death to begin deducing the laws of life.
• Zeref awoke in the space of consciousness and failed to use magic to stand.
• Adam explained that control of one’s heart, rather than magical skill, determined what someone could do in the space.
• Zeref recognized Adam through the effects of the Da Qian Record, and Adam explained that people exchanged their pain for power.

Adam explained the rules behind the pain-based magic in the ruins and discussed Zeref’s curse, leading Zeref to believe Adam could help him. Adam asked Zeref to spread word of his existence, while revealing that Ankhseram’s curse was punitive and not directly harmful.

• Adam explained that the ancient people had learned to use pain to strengthen themselves, harm enemies, and protect their lives because gods could not change magic’s rules.
• Zeref asked Adam how to lift his curse, and Adam identified Ankhseram as its source, convincing Zeref that he understood the matter.
• Zeref asked what price Adam required, and Adam told him to spread word of his existence.
• Adam explained that divine intervention in life and death invited punishment and described Zeref’s curse as punitive rather than inherently powerful.
• Adam pointed out that the curse did not weaken or kill Zeref directly, and Zeref realized Ankhseram had used his own love of life as part of the curse that caused Mavis’s death.

Zeref learned that spreading the Da Qian Record’s doctrine of balance might help lift Ankhseram’s curse, so he sent its pages flying across Ishgar. Meanwhile, Adam improved his Piercing Magic and the different versions of Adam discussed the main body’s absence, which they blamed on a problem connected to Clow Reed.

• Adam gave Zeref a glimpse of the Da Qian Record and told him to scatter it after reading, then left Zeref’s mental space.
• Zeref realized he could use his position as Alvarez’s emperor to spread the doctrine and sent the book’s pages across Ishgar with Attachment Magic: Speed.
• Adam used Zeref’s magical knowledge to improve Piercing Magic, making it shatter magical defenses and deal direct damage.
• Adam and his other versions discussed how differing flows of time let them communicate across worlds and asked the main body to provide support.
• The main body said he had found the source of his problem, and the others blamed Clow Reed for the trouble.

Gabriel showed Adam his new Cinderella’s Bird Friends spell, which let the birds drain magic power and flesh to replenish him. With his magic now more sustainable, Gabriel planned to strike back at the neighbors who had been pursuing him.

• Gabriel summoned two golden birds that could devour opponents’ magic power, draw on what they stored, and turn flesh and blood into magic power.
• Gabriel asked Adam for more fairy tales that might help him raise his magic power limit, but Adam doubted stories were the reason for his magic’s direction.
• Adam wondered what had led Gabriel toward plundering power, then demonstrated his own modified version of the birds, which could steal thoughts and memories.
• Adam told Gabriel he no longer needed to be so desperate, and Gabriel decided to collect interest from Hank and Hans after days of fleeing and defending himself.

Gabriel brought the Black Pearl toward the island under cover of fog and opened fire on Hank and his pirates. He leapt ashore to confront Hank while Adam defended the ship, leaving the two captains facing off.

• Hank heard that the Black Pearl was approaching and led his men to the shore, though Hans warned him to be cautious.
• Gabriel enveloped the sea in fog and ordered the Black Pearl to fire on the island pirates.
• Hans raised an Ice Magic: Azure Wall, but the Black Pearl’s cannonballs shattered it as Hank charged through the fog.
• Gabriel leapt from the ship to meet Hank, while Adam sank two pirates trying to approach the Black Pearl underwater and took their Grimoires.
• Hank questioned what kind of magic Gabriel wielded, and Gabriel challenged him to find out by fighting.

Gabriel outmaneuvered Hank and blinded him with the two little birds, while Adam blocked Hans from rushing to his brother's aid. The chapter left Adam and Hans facing off aboard the Black Pearl as Adam fought back with Azure Garment.

• Hank protected himself from Gabriel with Azure Garment, and Adam praised Hank for developing his own alternative to Mana Skin.
• Gabriel had the two little birds attack Hank's eyes while Hank was occupied, blinding him and provoking a furious burst of flames.
• The birds escaped into another dimension, heading toward the other pirates to help Gabriel recover mana and increase his mana limit.
• Hans heard Hank's cry and turned to help him, but Adam raised an ice wall to block Hans's retreat.
• Hans attacked Adam with Azure Rampage, and Adam countered with Azure Garment while relishing Hans's anger.

Adam defeated Hans and his pirates by using freezing magic to weaken them, while Gabriel fought them and Hank’s attacks caused further chaos. Adam offered Hans a place with their crew and said Hank’s eyes could still be healed, leaving Hans to consider the offer despite doubting his brother would accept.

• Adam used his ice umbrella and freezing magic to evade Hans and incapacitate the pirates charging toward the Black Pearl.
• Gabriel led the blinded Hank toward Adam, but Hank’s flame attacks set pirates ablaze and melted the ice crystals affecting them.
• Hank attacked his own subordinates amid their conflicting directions, driving the pirates into panic and disarray.
• Hans lost hope as Gabriel cut down his helpless men and his and Hank’s work burned in the ghostly blue flames.
• Adam offered Hans a place with their crew, disguised himself as Hank, and told Hans that Hank’s eyes could be healed.
• Hans asked whether he had any other choice, and Adam said they were pirates rather than demons; Hans accepted that his brother might not agree.

After taking over Hank and Hans's pirate stronghold, Gabriel considered how fairy tales might help him become their protagonist while Adam planned for their crew's future. Gabriel introduced himself as Jack Sparrow, and Adam told him to remember his own name as Hector Barbossa.

• Adam called the events the first act of the King of the Four Seas' story, prompting Gabriel to consider whether he could make himself the protagonist of a fairy tale.
• Hank asked who would handle the stronghold's daily work, and Adam assigned purchasing and cleaning to Hank and Hans while taking charge of cooking.
• Gabriel questioned how long they would keep the stronghold, and Adam explained that it could later serve as a supply relay station even after they moved their main base.
• When Hans asked Gabriel's name, Gabriel introduced himself as Jack Sparrow, then learned from Adam that Hank and Hans had heard him called Hector and should be told Adam's name was Hector Barbossa.
• Gabriel proposed selling Hank and Hans's three ships, but Adam decided to modify and keep them for when the crew grew.