At the center of a mirror-like lake, a lone figure was encircled by countless glowing rings, radiating dazzling light.
From all directions, hazy green vines and grasses stretched outward, blanketing the world in endless growth. Spheres of light clustered in groups, filling every corner of the realm.
Suddenly, a humanoid figure of light stepped inside, and the entire world stirred like boiling water. The glowing spheres rushed toward the newcomer, surrounding him.
"You're back! How is it outside? Has development gone well? Did anything change?"
"How's Fairy Tail? Still the same members? How are they living now?"
"Did you uncover anything new? Any insights?"
"…"
A storm of voices surged through Pai Pai's consciousness—countless figures all speaking at once, clamoring so loudly it was impossible to distinguish who said what.
"You can see for yourselves."
Pai Pai loosened his mind, sharing all his experiences from the outside world with the others.
The noise died immediately as each fragment of consciousness immersed itself in the flood of memories, searching for what it desired.
Gradually, some spheres of light began to shine. With a faint pop, they burst and vanished without a trace. Others dimmed, disappointed, and drifted away.
Each fragment of Pai Pai was the embodiment of a single obsession or wish.
Some wanted to witness something.
Others sought to achieve a task.
Still others pursued strange and inexplicable goals.
Once their inner purpose was fulfilled—whether ideally or not—they would soon fade away.
Like the Pai Pai who first welcomed Natsu and Erza: its purpose was to "become the person Fairy Tail's members cared about most, and serve as their emotional harbor" (harbor here meaning family, not romantic love).
The outcome proved impossible, and Pai Pai had disappeared not long after.
Usually, before sending a fragment out, the collective would agree to choose one with an unusual, difficult-to-fulfill obsession. That way, it wouldn't vanish at a critical moment.
"…Fewer again." The newly returned Pai Pai glanced around. The once-crowded clusters of spheres had thinned, leaving the world emptier. He couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.
"Yes… much emptier." Another replied softly, its tone heavy with melancholy.
Compared to Fairy Tail, it was always themselves who stayed the longest. Even though fading after achieving their wish was inevitable, there was still reluctance to part.
"I'd rather things stay this way," one translucent sphere said quietly. "Being alone isn't so bad."
"Your wish might never be fulfilled. The main body won't disappear. In at most ten years, maybe twenty, and this place will return to how it was. The host's stray thoughts grow fewer every day."
"…" The transparent sphere said nothing and drifted off.
Then, suddenly, the lake roiled with violent waves.
From beneath, a massive beast emerged. Its body was dragon-like, stretching a hundred meters, and its gaze bore oppressive weight as it stared at the returning self.
"Talking back and forth with yourself… In the old days, people would've called that insanity!"
"Perhaps," the other replied calmly.
"I saw what you did. Maybe the impact isn't obvious now, but in the future, the difference will be immense. Why don't we intervene? Leave our footprints behind! Wouldn't it be fascinating when we return later?" The dragon-shaped Pai Pai's voice carried temptation.
"I don't want to."
"…" The dragon fragment said no more, sinking beneath the water. A giant hand pressed the waves flat, returning the lake to stillness.
Edolas – Royal Capital, Palace Study
Byro, under the dim light of a lamp, urged Faust:
"Your Majesty, the situation is strange. Should we not wait a little longer?"
The eruption of magic power had been more bizarre than anything Byro could imagine. At the site of the previous surge, he led a team to investigate—but found no one, no fortifications at all.
Or rather, not nothing.
It was as if the land had glitched. A huge chunk of terrain, utterly different from its surroundings, had appeared—like an island lifted dozens of meters higher than the ground, with unnaturally smooth edges.
On its surface, Byro found traces of human habitation, erosion marks from waves, and faint remnants of powerful magic flow.
But it lacked any defensive structure. It wasn't a forward base for war.
It was more like… discarded refuse, processed and dumped there. Byro pondered as Faust finally spoke.
"No, Byro. We don't have time." Faust shook his head, setting down the report and rubbing his brow. "During this time, those Exceeds came again."
"What?!" Byro's head snapped up. Exceeds—the parasites—what did they want this time?
"They declared divine will. And raised taxes." Faust's tone was faint, weary as he leaned against his right hand.
"Magitech alloys, lacrima, food—almost everything they could tax, they raised by twenty percent."
Perhaps the Exceeds were simply too skilled. Or perhaps someone had already crippled humanity from within.
Either way, the Exceeds held immense sway over humans—even within the military. Many high-ranking officers feared them. The soldiers beneath them? Even worse.
The army, meant to be humanity's blade, dared not bare its fangs.
How ironic.
Faust needed a victory. Not just any, but a monumental, unprecedented triumph—one that would skyrocket his prestige, silence all dissent, and then allow him to crush the Exceeds in one decisive strike, ensuring humanity's dominance.
Such a victory would also redirect public outrage caused by the shortage of magic, letting society and magic itself continue to endure.
"It's not that we want to move early," Faust said quietly, face somber under the lamplight. "It's that if we don't act now, those Exceeds will bleed us dry."
"…We will be your sharpest blade, Your Majesty." Byro bowed deeply, his voice firm.
"Good. Prepare everything. The last surge of magic power is enough to activate Nirvana ahead of schedule."
"As you command." Byro saluted and withdrew.
A remote forest…
Mistergān suddenly froze, his heart pounding. His vision went black, and he staggered, almost collapsing.
Huff… Huff…
Collapsed on the ground, drenched in sweat and gasping desperately, he muttered, "No… no… this isn't right… It shouldn't change now…"
Behind him, the staff on his back wailed like an alarm. At the same time, he felt something building up within him, on the verge of bursting—like a water pipe straining against unbearable pressure.
"I must find that man. He's the only one who can stop this."
Almost instantly, Mistergān thought of Pai Pai. Without hesitation, he rushed toward the Fairy Tail guild.
There… there was something that could contact him.