Charles was wrapped in flames like never before—his fire burned so hot, it turned the sky a deep red.
The imprint of Charles's fist remained on Acnologia's head scales. The Dragon King seemed baffled by how a mere insect like Charles could wound him.
After all, Acnologia possessed no specific magical attribute; if anything, his attribute was magic itself.
He could devour all types of magic, and his scales could repel any kind of magical attack.
But Charles's strike had landed—and caused pain. A sensation Acnologia hadn't felt in a long time.
Charles, feeling the power surging through him, finally understood its source.
It was the skill "Dragon Slayer"—a passive effect that increased damage and effectiveness against dragon-type beings.
Usually, Charles had to trigger the skill through hypnosis, but now it was fully activated, unleashing its true power.
That meant this battle wasn't completely unwinnable. With that thought, Charles launched himself back at Acnologia to press the attack.
Perhaps enraged, Acnologia let out a thunderous roar.
The shockwave alone created tidal surges, and combined with Acnologia's tremendous magical pressure, it hurled Charles backward.
Struggling to breathe in the oppressive atmosphere, Charles immediately forgot all about pushing the offensive.
Acnologia had only been playing with him earlier—mocking the weak. That's why Charles had landed a hit.
But now, the Dragon King was serious—and Charles realized just how terrifying the dragon that annihilated an entire race truly was.
At the same time, the power of Charles's "Dragon Slayer" skill intensified even further. His orange-red flames began to shift toward a blinding white.
Most people powered up through darkening—Charles, on the other hand, turned white. And he could feel it: this new white flame was unimaginably strong.
After Spirit Assimilation, his magical form took on an intricate pattern that spread across his entire body like blooming flowers—from his chest to his cheeks and even coiling around the horns on his head.
Acnologia's tail came crashing down, creating a ripple across the sea and triggering a towering splash.
Charles raised a hand to block the blow. Though it looked like he was struggling, he managed to stop the attack.
Curling his fingers, his palm ignited with intense flame, lifting Acnologia's tail upward.
He soared skyward, releasing a fireball between his palms.
"Brilliant Flame of the Fire Dragon King!"
With all his trump cards revealed, Charles's Dragon Slayer magic ascended to the level of Igneel's—he'd successfully cast one of the Flame Dragon King's techniques.
Acnologia opened his mouth and released a torrent of magic energy—a beam, not a roar, simply concentrated and expelled magic. But even that was enough to obliterate Charles's brilliant flame.
Charles broke through the shattered fire and the rushing beam, arriving face-to-face with Acnologia's claw.
"Collapse Fist of the Fire Dragon King!"
He threw his full strength into the punch, and a flaming silhouette of Igneel appeared behind him, mimicking the strike.
For several seconds, the world went silent—then came an explosion like thunderclap.
It was as if a nuclear bomb had detonated over the sea, the clouds overhead completely torn away.
Charles was flung through the air like a broken kite, the healing power of his dragon force not nearly fast enough to mend his wounds.
"So hurry up already, First Master!" he muttered.
…
Back in time, right after Charles defeated Precht.
He had used his Dragon Slayer Secret Art to finish the fight, then collapsed onto the wreckage of the airship, putting away all his transformations and sitting down to recover.
He took a long breath as Tenrou Tree's power restored his magic.
Precht had strength worthy of being in the top three of the Ten Wizard Saints—defeating him had been no easy feat.
Just then, Charles noticed a small figure—a barefoot girl with winged hair accessories.
"How tragic… Precht actually ended up down that path."
Then she turned to Charles and smiled. "To think the guild has someone like you now—how delightful!"
Charles quickly greeted her. "It's an honor to meet you, First Master."
Mavis beamed. "You know who I am?"
Charles nodded. "There are records about you in the guild's library, so I recognized you. But your current form is… unique."
He couldn't feel anything from Mavis—no soul fluctuation, no magic, no life force. If not for her visible form, Charles wouldn't have known she was there.
That's why he said her state was strange.
"So, First Master," he asked, "why are you appearing before me?"
In the original story, Mavis's spirit only appeared right before Acnologia attacked to guide everyone in using Fairy Sphere. That's why Charles was curious why she showed up now.
Mavis sat beside him and said, "At first, it was for that girl—I wanted to see how she would use Fairy Glitter.
And then it was you. Your confusion is even greater than hers."
Charles paused, then said, "So you noticed… First Master, I have a request.
Acnologia will arrive soon. If the others don't make it off the island in time, please protect them."
Mavis looked at him seriously. "The determination to sacrifice yourself for your comrades is admirable—but it's not what they would wish for."
Charles smiled. "Don't worry. I don't intend to die. That's why I'm asking you to protect them."
…
While Charles fought Acnologia, Mavis's spirit appeared before the others.
Though a ghost, she could still interact with the physical world.
She pulled out a magic device that projected the scene of Charles's battle.
Gildarts held Natsu back forcefully. "Calm down! You'll only drag him down!"
Natsu pounded the ground in frustration, tears in his eyes.
Makarov crushed his staff. As their guardian, he couldn't bear watching his child shoulder the danger in his place.
Mavis spoke. "That boy Charles said he has a way out. But we must be ready to escape. Only if we're safe can he make his move.
You all understand what's happening. Now, take each other's hands. Let our bond as Fairy Tail members bring this spell to life!"
Makarov gave the battle one last look. "We must not let Charles's efforts be in vain. We're all going to survive."
…
Charles wiped the blood from his mouth and felt the massive magic building behind him. He smiled.
"Acnologia, that's as far as I go. But don't worry—we'll settle this someday."
As he spoke, a silver-and-black magic circle opened. Charles stepped into it and vanished from the sky.
Back at the guild, everyone saw him disappear on the screen—and only then did they finally relax. Fairy Sphere was complete.
The enormous magic sphere bearing Fairy Tail's insignia enveloped the entire island, sinking it into the ocean.
The sea was now empty, save for Acnologia, whose furious roar echoed through the air.
…
Seven years later, the seal on Fairy Sphere broke, and Fairy Tail's core members returned.
Makarov sat at the bar, gazing fondly at the guild that was once again full of life.
Aside from Macao and the others being visibly older, nothing about the guild had changed.
Macao leaned on the counter beside Makarov. "It's all thanks to Charles. He not only kept the guild running these seven years—he also recruited a lot of promising new members."
Makarov said with emotion, "Two Dragon Slayers, one God Slayer, and a girl who can match them with just swordsmanship. I don't know where Charles found these people."
Watching the veterans quickly blend in with the newcomers, Makarov couldn't help but smile.
He had worried what would happen to Fairy Tail with its core gone for seven years—but Charles had held it all together.
In fact, judging from Charles's performance, maybe it was time to entrust the guild to him.
And then… he spotted Lucy acting like a total fool.
Macao also noticed Makarov's gaze and explained, "Probably because she got a gift from Charles.
Aside from bringing in talent, he also gathered a few Celestial Spirit keys over the years. I think they're Golden Keys—Zodiac spirits!"
Lucy carefully hung two new Golden Keys onto her keychain, then gazed lovingly at her completed collection of all twelve.
From now on, Lucy Heartfilia would be a Celestial Spirit Mage with all the Zodiac Spirits.
Makarov averted his gaze from his ridiculous child and asked, "Speaking of Charles… where is he?"
Macao replied, "He goes out every so often. It's been about a month since he left—he should be back any day now."
Just as he finished speaking, the guild doors burst open.
"Everyone—long time no see! Welcome back!"
—End of the Tenrou Arc. The next arc will cover Charles's adventures during those seven years.
------------------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get early access to chapters by joining my Patre@n!
Find me at: patre@n*com/Mutter
You can read each novel for $5 or get them all for just $15.
Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]