"Come on!!"
With flames blazing around his fist, Natsu charged straight at Zeref.
"Raaahhh!!!"
His punch smashed into Zeref's face, slamming him into the rock wall. Stone cracked and collapsed around him under the sheer force.
"Boom!"
But Zeref calmly stepped out from the rubble. The blow had been powerful—but not nearly enough.
His fingers moved, shaping a dark sphere of magic. It shot forward, hissing through the air.
Natsu's hands erupted with fire.
"Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame!!!"
A blazing fireball roared forth, colliding with Zeref's bullet.
"BOOM—!!"
The battlefield shook under the explosion.
"You've grown strong enough to cancel my magic…" Zeref said, but before he finished, Natsu burst through the smoke, fist driving into his gut.
"Ughhh!!"
Zeref's body bent as he was launched into the sky. Natsu followed immediately, fists aflame, hammering blow after blow.
"Take this!!"
Zeref raised his hand and unleashed a surge of dark magic, knocking Natsu back.
"Kh!!" Natsu gritted his teeth, slammed his feet against the ground to halt himself, and then launched forward again, flames spiraling.
Their battle intensified. With every clash, the flames on Natsu's body grew brighter, dragon-scale patterns etching across his skin.
Zeref's eyes narrowed. "Dragon Force?!"
He recognized it instantly. For a first-generation Dragon Slayer to awaken this power was a feat of will and fury.
Natsu's roar cut him off. "Fall for me, Zeref!!! Fire Dragon's… COLLAPSING FIST!!!"
"BOOM—!!!"
The explosion tore through the land, a mountain in the distance caving in.
The soldiers of Albarez stared, trembling.
"Another monster… in Fairy Tail?!"
When the smoke cleared, Zeref lay on the ground.
"Whoaa…" Natsu panted heavily, body battered.
"Your Majesty!!" Invel cried, starting forward.
But Zeref slowly lifted his arm. Natsu's eyes widened—his strongest strike hadn't finished him.
Zeref pushed himself upright, brushing off the dust.
"You've grown stronger, Natsu. Strong enough to wound me, to wield the power of a dragon. But it's still not enough. I carry the curse of Ankhseram. Not even a dragon can kill me. Not even Acnologia. I turned him into what he is, in the hope he'd be the one to end me. But he couldn't."
"Then I'll do it!!" Natsu's fire burned hotter.
Zeref shook his head. "Not as you are now. The only one who might kill me… is Su Yan."
"Then you're gonna die anyway!! You always wanted to die, didn't you?!" Natsu roared, remembering Mavis's story of Zeref's eternal curse. "Because of that, because of you—so many people have suffered!!"
Zeref's gaze softened, almost wistful.
"Once… yes. I longed for death. But fate is cruel. Just when I was ready to accept it, another path appeared. A way to begin again. To rebirth this world. To erase both Acnologia and Zeref the Black Mage."
"What the hell are you talking about?!" Natsu growled.
Zeref sighed. "You won't understand yet. Perhaps you never will. But there is one truth I must tell you, before this ends. So that at least, my existence will be remembered."
Natsu's fists tightened. "…What?"
"My name is Zeref Dragneel."
He looked Natsu straight in the eye.
"I am your brother."