As Zeref collapsed heavily, never to rise again,
The Fairy Tail members outside the video erupted into thunderous cheers.
"Natsu-nii, you're so strong!" Romeo jumped excitedly, stars shining in his eyes.
"Natsu, I never knew you'd become this powerful in the future!"
"Hehe, it's not that crazy—just a little bit stronger." Natsu's nose practically touched the ceiling from the praise.
Pumped up, he yelled at the others, "Erza! Laxus! Gray! Let's settle this!"
But he didn't realize… He wasn't that strong yet.
In just two hits, Erza's "Love Fist" sent him sprawling to the ground.
"Lucy, what's wrong?" Natsu looked at Lucy, noticing her worried expression.
"It's nothing." Lucy shook her head. The video hadn't revealed whether Natsu had truly broken the curse.
"Ah~ Is Lucy thinking about something naughty?"
Happy covered his mouth, leering at the two.
"Happy!"
Lucy's face instantly flushed red.
"Alright, that's enough. I never knew you and Natsu had gotten this close!" Erza stared at them in shock, clearly surprised by what she'd seen in the video.
For her and Wendy, who were both quite innocent, this was too much to handle—they were practically steaming.
Just as they were about to say more, the video resumed.
[Mavis and Zeref, now restored to his original form, embraced tightly, whispering words only they could hear.]
[Zeref's face was filled with relief, a single tear tracing down his cheek.]
["As long as I love you with all my heart… I can kill you."]
Mavis looked at him sorrowfully, her small body trembling as teardrops the size of beans fell to the ground.
["That was the plan originally…"]
"But the truth is… I never wanted you to die. I wanted to be with you forever!"
Her words, cried out from the depths of her soul, moved Zeref deeply. A faint smile touched his lips—almost self-mocking.
["The contradictory curse… The more you love someone, the more it steals their life."]
["So this is the way to break the curse of immortality."]
The girl wept bitterly, her fists pounding weakly against Zeref's chest.
["I hate you… I despise you! You destroyed the guild… you killed Makarov…"]
"So I died after all." Makarov didn't seem surprised.
If the children of the guild were hurt this badly… I couldn't not be there. It had to be me who sacrificed.
The outcome wasn't unexpected.
["Die, just die… I don't love you at all…"]
She screamed, but the light glowing around her contradicted every word.
["So let's go together, Zeref!"]
Zeref's emotions surged violently at her words. He cried out:
["No! You have to live!"]
But Mavis had no intention of living on alone.
Two immortals had finally reached their end.
What many feared as death was, in their eyes, a final liberation.
Mavis gently stroked Zeref's cheek and whispered,
["Do you really mean that, Zeref?"]
Seeing the determination in her eyes, Zeref stopped pleading and pulled her into his arms.
A brilliant light enveloped them.
["So warm…"]
["Of course… This is Fairy Tail."]
["I wanted to make up with Natsu too…"]
["If there's a next life…"]
BOOM!
As the light faded, they vanished along with it.
In the distance, Laxus held Makarov, who was sleeping peacefully.
["Is the battle over…?"]
["I had a dream…"]
Everyone in the guild couldn't believe their ears. They turned to look at Makarov, tears welling in their eyes.
"GUILD MASTER!!! YOU'RE ALIVE!!!"]
Laxus completely broke down, tears and 鼻涕 (snot) streaming down his face.
["Old man!"]
Juvia, Mirajane, Cana, Gajeel, Charle, Lily, and the others all wept tears of joy.