Chapter 289

Mavis: "Moreover, the location of Black Natsu happens to be Magnolia."

"I remember this day; it was the day we were forced to engage in battle with the Blue Skull, the dark guild that was entrenched in Magnolia at the time, because we were saving a mother and daughter within the city."

"Wasn't it the day we were ultimately beaten to the point of serious injury and forced to flee into the forest?"

Warrod: "That's right. Back then, none of us knew magic yet, so we were beaten to a pulp by that mage guild."

Erza: "The timing all matches up, so then..."

She looked up at the sky screen abruptly.

"In other words, in the dark world, Black Natsu is actually still able to meet the First Master???"

Gray: "This... is truly somewhat absurd."

Makarov: "You all haven't realized the gravity of the situation yet. Black Natsu is not a person of that era at all. Once he does something there, it is very likely to have a huge impact on the future."

Mavis: "Isn't the impact already significant enough? The trajectory of that world and our world are already completely on different paths."

"Everything in that world is strange and unknown to us."

"We are completely unable to predict what might happen."

Ultear: "So, time travel really is a terrifying thing."

Lucy: "If that's the case, what kind of sparks will fly between the Black Natsu over there and the founders of Fairy Tail?"

【Inside the sky screen.】

【The sudden, violent roar that echoed through the air made Mavis and her group feel a hint of unease.】

【Precht: "Without a doubt, that is definitely a mage over there."】

【Warrod: "And just hearing the commotion over there is so frightening; it must be a very, very powerful mage..."】

【"A very powerful mage... is it?" Mavis clutched the corner of her clothes with her small hand.】

【Her gaze was filled with some regret.】

【"Now is not the time to dwell on these things, Mavis."】

【Looking at Mavis's appearance, Precht couldn't help but speak up.】

【"None of us expected Blue Skull to be so powerful. This was a miscalculation on all our parts, it is not your fault alone!"】

【Warrod also took a deep breath and nodded: "Instead of dwelling on useless things, we should think about our current predicament!"】

【"Yuri's injuries are very serious; he is no longer strong enough to make it to the next town. We must treat his wounds and rest now."】

【Precht spoke up: "I can handle the wound treatment, but we cannot sit idly by regarding the threat over there. In the off chance... it's not a person but some kind of beast, our lives will be in danger."】

【Mavis stood up abruptly.】

【"I'll go investigate!"】

【"Mavis..."】

【Within Mavis's line of sight, a girl wearing a plaid shirt named Zera spoke up with some concern.】

【Mavis gritted her teeth, then forced a smile.】

【"It's okay, I am the only one among us who knows magic. Even if I encounter some crisis, my chances of escaping are higher than yours."】

【"So, let me go. I'll see if I can find some drinking water while I'm at it."】

【Although it is somewhat cruel to let a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl explore the unknown.】

【But, it must be said, Mavis's proposal was the most correct method.】

【The others, even Warrod, who was the only one not injured at the moment, could not take on such a task.】

【Mavis's Illusion Magic could, to a certain extent, confuse opponents and create an opportunity for herself to escape.】

【Just like that, Mavis went off alone, quietly heading in the direction where the roar had just come from.】

【At this moment, on the other side.】

【Dust and smoke were filling the sky.】

【In front of Black Natsu, countless withered tree trunks had been completely destroyed.】

【Only a bare, long-shaped gully remained.】

【At the end of the gully lay a black-haired man covered in blood on the ground.】

【The white cloth was already stained with blood.】

【His body was covered in charred marks from flames and blue smoke rising from lightning.】

【". Ugh..."】

【Abruptly, the black-haired man moved.】

【Then, in Black Natsu's sight, he slowly stood up.】

【An eerie black aura seeped out from the wounds all over his body.】

【Then it covered the wounds.】

【When the black aura disappeared again, a scene that shocked even Black Natsu occurred.】

【The previous injuries had all recovered as if they had never been there.】

【It was as if... nothing had happened at all.】

【If not for the blood-stained white cloth, Black Natsu would have even thought he hadn't hit this guy.】

【This time, he was no longer crying.】

【What his eyes contained was a smile.】

【He looked at his own open hands, his expression somewhat excited, like a madman.】

【"To think... I could reach this level??"】

【"To think, you could really beat me like this??"】

【In those dead-silent eyes, there seemed to be light once again.】

【He looked at Black Natsu again, opened his mouth, wanting to say something.】

【But, after hesitating for a long time, he dismissed the thought in his mind and sighed softly.】

【"However, it's not enough for now..."】

【"But I will wait for you. At this rate of growth, you will definitely be able to do it!"】

【"Definitely be able to do it!!"】

【Regarding the black-haired man's inexplicable words, Black Natsu frowned tightly and put away his fists.】

【"Is this guy... crazy?"】 【The current black-haired man gave Black Natsu the feeling that he was crazy.】

【"What is your name?"】

【Black Natsu asked loudly.】

【"I... am Zeref! You only need to remember that."】

【Zeref patted the dirt off his body, and a smile seemed to appear on his face again.】

【"Although I really want to say a lot of things to you, considering your safety, I still have to leave."】

【Zeref did not hesitate anymore and turned around.】

【"Time is truly long; more than three hundred years have already passed."】

【"I hope... it can be even faster, even faster!"】

【"I am... already unable to wait."】

【He stood still in place, staring at the sky, as if he had seen hope again.】

【He took steps with a very happy heart.】

【His figure completely disappeared from Black Natsu's sight.】

【"That guy... why did he give me that feeling?"】

【Black Natsu did not force that strange person to stay.】

【Instead, he stroked his own chest, feeling that strange sensation originating from the bottom of his heart.】

【It was like... deja vu?】

【"Zeref? The most evil Black Mage in history, what kind of relationship does that guy have with me?"】

【With Zeref's previous conversation with him echoing in his mind, Black Natsu seemed to have grasped something.】

【But, he dared not be certain at all.】

【Because that kind of speculation... was simply too whimsical.】

【Rustle... Yan】

【That was the sound of sand and gravel on the ground being stepped on.】

【Black Natsu turned around reflexively, his eyes fixed on the figure that had suddenly intruded.】