Jackal's lips curled into a cruel smile. He spread his arms wide and spun in place.
"Boom—!"
A ring of explosions erupted all around him, dozens of blasts tearing through the town in a mocking radius—innocent homes and bystanders caught in the carnage.
"Ah—!" Lucy cried in horror. "Why attack the townspeople?!"
Jackal laughed, voice cold as steel. "Collateral damage? I prefer calling it… a statement."
Fury ignited in Natsu's eyes. Flames roared up both his legs as he lunged forward.
Jackal merely held up a palm.
"Boom!"
A concussive blast slammed into Natsu's chest, sending him skidding across the rubble.
"That was a direct hit?!" Michelo gasped, aghast.
Happy bounced up beside them. "Don't worry—heat magic can't harm Natsu!" The little cat cheerfully hopped onto Natsu's back—and sure enough, Natsu rose unharmed.
"Useless," Jackal spat.
With a roar, Natsu charged again. His first punch cracked the air around Jackal's jaw. The second strike gouged the earth beneath them.
Jackal staggered, surprise flashing in his dog-like eyes. "He… ate my explosion!"
Natsu exploded forward in a flurry of blows. Each fire fist pounded Jackal's face and chest until the dark guild member was forced onto his back.
Michelo and Carla watched, jaws dropped. "So this is… Fairy Tail's power?" Carla whispered.
Wendy and Lucy exchanged worried glances. "Natsu—do you think he'll talk?" Lucy wondered.
Natsu paused atop Jackal's chest, chest heaving. "We need to know their headquarters—and why they're targeting Councilors."
Carla nodded. "Tartaros didn't just wipe out active Councilors—they hunted retired ones, too. There must be… some greater motive."
Michelo swallowed. "They know about… the ancient Legacy of Feith. Only a handful of us remember its name." His voice trembled. "If that is their goal…"
He shook his head, face pale. "I—I need to warn the others."
"Grandfather!" Carla reached for him.
"Wait," Jackal rasped, body trembling beneath Natsu's weight. He lifted a trembling finger. "If you give me useful information… I might spare you my… Undead Kiss."
Natsu snarled. "We don't bargain with monsters." He drew back, ready to strike again.
Michelo stammered, "I—I know nothing more—I swear!"
Jackal's lips split in a grin. "Then you die."
At Jackal's command, the strange magic on his fists flared. Runes of dark energy wrapped around Natsu's right hand and foot—symbols of Jackal's "My Spell" ability.
"Everything I touch… becomes a bomb," Jackal explained as Natsu glared down at the glyphs. "How many times did you land your fists just now?"
"Happy—get down!" Lucy cried; Wendy covered her face.
Before any of them could move, Jackal whispered a single word: "Boom—."
A massive explosion ripped through Natsu's body—flames and smoke billowed outward.
"Natsu—!" Happy's mewl turned into a scream as the smoke cleared. There, in the crater's center, lay Natsu's limp form.
"No… impossible…" Lucy choked.
Jackal's laughter echoed over the ruins as he walked away into the smoke: "That's the finale."
Silence fell—only the crackle of dying fires remained.
Above, dark clouds gathered—Tartaros's true assault was only beginning.