While Rowan Mercer's newest incarnation explored an unfamiliar world, his other selves were anything but idle.
Deep beneath the Fairy Tail guild hall, Rowan stood in a circular stone chamber, staring at a luminous sphere suspended in midair. Time itself had been folded around it. Inside the sphere, everything was frozen in a perfect, unmoving stillness.
Rowan grinned.
"So that's it," he murmured. "Finally."
For months, he had dissected this spell piece by piece. He had cross-referenced it against every time-based principle he had learned across different worlds, run simulations in his mind without rest, and even observed the lingering distortion around Tenrou Island from afar.
And now, at last, he had done it.
Using nothing but his own understanding, Rowan had successfully cast Fairy Sphere, the most powerful defensive spell in this world.
From this moment on, unless his enemy also possessed mastery over time itself—or enough raw force to tear through temporal laws—Rowan could render himself untouchable. With Fairy Sphere alone, he could withstand virtually any attack.
Breaking time through sheer power?
That was cosmic-tier nonsense.
Rowan exhaled slowly.
"Time to bring everyone back."
He rose through the guild hall and emerged into the open air. Banners were strung across the courtyard. Tables were covered in food and drink. Laughter echoed everywhere.
He grabbed a nearby guild member by the shoulder.
"What's the occasion?"
Wakaba blinked. "Boss, you finally came out! Bisca proposed to Alzack a few days ago. Today's their wedding."
Rowan's ears twitched.
"Oh? Then it's a double celebration."
He knew Alzack had planned to propose during the Grand Magic Games, but the timing and his nerves had ruined the moment. Apparently Bisca had taken matters into her own hands.
"What do you mean, double?" Wakaba asked.
"You'll see," Rowan said lightly. "When does the ceremony start?"
"About half an hour."
Rowan nodded. "Plenty of time."
Before Wakaba could ask anything else, Rowan vanished.
The air above the ocean shimmered as Rowan appeared over the empty waters where Tenrou Island had once stood.
He circled the invisible barrier slowly.
"So it wasn't damage," he muttered. "It was a mana deficit."
The Fairy Sphere here had already entered its release phase. But the caster simply hadn't had enough power to complete it. At this rate, the seal would have unraveled naturally… in about six years.
Rowan extended his hand and pushed it straight into the frozen barrier.
Understanding flowed from him into the spell. Power followed.
His mana surged in controlled waves, feeding the ancient construct. It was massive, enclosing an entire island, but Rowan's reserves regenerated almost as fast as he could spend them.
Twenty minutes later, the ocean warped.
The barrier thinned.
Then shattered.
Tenrou Island reappeared.
Rowan closed his eyes.
Everyone was alive.
Injured. Exhausted. Unconscious.
But alive.
Even he hadn't been certain they would survive an encounter with Acnologia. The black dragon's ability to dissolve magic into raw energy made him an absolute nightmare to fight.
Rowan descended in flashes of motion, gathering the scattered bodies and placing them together. Green light washed over the island as he healed them one by one.
"Rise and shine," he said gently.
Eyes opened.
Confusion spread.
"Rowan?" Makarov croaked. "We were attacked by the dragon. Where is it?"
"That was a year ago," Rowan replied. "As for why you're still here… ask her."
He gestured toward the hill.
A small, luminous figure stood there. A girl with silver hair, glowing faintly, her body translucent like moonlight on glass.
"Hello, everyone," she said cheerfully. "I'm Mavis Vermillion. The first guild master of Fairy Tail."
Shock rippled through the group.
Makarov stared at her in disbelief.
Mavis smiled and explained.
She had gathered everyone's will and magic and cast Fairy Sphere to save them from Acnologia. The cost was sealing them—and herself—inside the spell. In her current state, it would have taken seven years to dissolve it naturally.
"But Rowan here," Mavis continued, "understood the spell… and supplied the power I couldn't."
She turned to him brightly.
Rowan bowed slightly. "Sixth guild master, Rowan Mercer. It's an honor."
Mavis blinked. "Sixth already?"
She laughed softly.
"Then the guild really did grow strong."
Her form began to fade.
"I'm glad you're all safe," she said warmly. "That's all I wanted."
With that, she vanished.
Rowan looked at the stunned guild members.
"Wedding's in half an hour," he said. "Try not to miss it."