After meeting Zeref on Tenrou Island and learning of his other identity, Natsu harbored a deep hostility toward Acnologia.
Igneel and the others came to this era specifically to destroy the Black Dragon. If he defeated Acnologia now, would Igneel and the others be able to appear of their own accord?
Flames instantly ignited around Natsu's fists.
Gajeel, too, was eager to try.
"Natsu!" Lucy grabbed Natsu's arm. "Get a grip! He's someone who can treat Hopeless like a spinning top!"
"Lucy is right." Levy stood on the same side as Lucy. "Only when you two can beat the Despair Emperor will you be qualified to go up and get thrashed by him."
Hopeless:??? Are you guys being polite?
Acnologia glanced at Natsu, his golden vertical pupils showing no ripples, and said disdainfully, "I have no interest in anything other than gods right now. Don't go looking for trouble."
Natsu's explosive temper flared up immediately. If Erza hadn't personally stepped in, Lucy and Happy really wouldn't have been able to hold him back.
But only Hope understood that Acnologia's words just now weren't meant for Natsu, but for the Fire Dragon King Igneel.
Dragons were the ultimate magical creatures. Besides their powerful bodies and various abilities, they also possessed secret life-saving techniques unique to the Dragon race.
Its name was 'Soul Dragon Technique'.
It allowed a dragon to merge into the body of another magical creature. Generally, only when heavily injured or on the verge of death would the proud Dragon race perform this secret technique to save their lives.
In reality, the missing dragon fathers and mothers of Natsu, Gajeel, and Wendy were inside their respective bodies, accumulating power through the 'Soul Dragon Technique' to prepare for dealing with the Black Dragon.
Once the secret technique was deactivated, they could no longer accumulate power, so they temporarily couldn't meet their children, though they had been silently protecting them all along.
This was because another effect of the 'Soul Dragon Technique' was to greatly suppress the progress of a Dragon Slayer Mage's dragonification.
Knowing the Black Dragon's strength and not wanting Natsu and the others to get involved in the blood feud of the Dragon race, the Fire Dragon King, Iron Dragon, and Sky Dragon all used their own methods to send messages to Hope after the Tenrou Island incident, asking him to help keep it a secret.
It was just that Hope hadn't expected Natsu to be so bold.
One must know that unless it was in an uninhabited area, even he wouldn't dare to fight the Black Dragon with full force, as a battle of their level would cause too much collateral damage.
Fortunately, Acnologia truly had zero interest in Natsu.
In his eyes, whether it was the Black Wizard's younger brother or the Fire Dragon King's foster son, they were no different from the humans and dragons he had killed before—all equally weak.
Of course, if the Fire Dragon King stopped hiding, he wouldn't mind a grand battle.
In fact, from the first moment Acnologia saw Natsu, he saw through the 'Soul Dragon Technique' on him. After all, as the existence that had destroyed the entire Dragon race, how could he lack even this much insight?
He simply didn't take it to heart.
On the other hand, another fellow piqued Acnologia's interest. He looked at the human-form Kurnugi. "I didn't expect there to be a dragon in this world as well. You... do you want to die?"
Kurnugi's cold sweat broke out immediately.
Although he had only heard of him in rumors, when this existence—who had scared his mother into hiding in Erientia—looked over, Kurnugi felt a shudder from the depths of his soul.
With just one look, he felt an immense pressure, as if he were in a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. That aura was far beyond what the Moon God Dragon or Water God Dragon could be compared to.
Hope coughed lightly. "Acnologia, the Sword Saint Dragon comes from Aslant. He has never actively harmed anyone and was even almost eaten by humans."
Hearing about Kurnugi's embarrassing dragon deeds, Acnologia retracted his gaze. Evil dragons or good dragons made no difference to him anymore; he killed them all the same.
Otherwise, how would the Dragon race have perished?
The tense atmosphere eased, and Hope intended to send Acnologia back to Aslant. After all, Edolas was too fragile for him.
Just as he was about to activate 'Wings of Water', a circular spatial portal, similarly surrounded by flowing water, suddenly opened in the Sky.
The others noticed this as well and frowned one after another.
"What's going on?"
"Hope clearly hasn't cast any magic yet."
"Is it Toka's doing?"
"No way, the kitty doesn't have such strong magic power."
As the spatial portal expanded larger and larger, the aura unique to spatial magic clearly emanated from within. That excessively dense magic power radiated a heavy sense of oppression.
This magic power is...
The others didn't know, but Kurnugi was all too familiar with this magic power. Just as he was about to speak—to warn his companions and also the person on the other side of the portal—
A cold gaze landed on him.
It was Acnologia.
He was warning Kurnugi.
If he dared to open his mouth, he could go die.
Facing the invisible pressure of the Black Dragon, Kurnugi could only obediently bow his head to the big boss.
Hope noticed this little interlude, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. Who had cast this suddenly appearing 'Wings of Water' magic was already certain.
A few seconds later, a woman with a curvaceous figure slowly emerged from the spatial portal, sitting in the water ring with her legs crossed.
Her skin was fair and tender, and long golden hair cascaded over her smooth shoulders. Her loose kimono looked as if it were about to fall off, held up entirely by the two pounds of flesh on her chest.
Big, round, and white.
Wow! What truly great evil!
Pity her legs were crossed; otherwise, from Hope's perspective, he might have seen even more scenery. Speaking of which, is the Norwegian Wood golden?
The beauty inside the portal leaned against the water ring with a faint smile on her lips. She looked at the crowd below, locking her gaze on the slightly trembling Faris.
"Faris, are these people the source of your confidence to dare disobey my orders?"
"What a disobedient child."
"As punishment, I'll kill half the people of Rebellious."
Hope stepped forward to fully block the pressure Selene was exerting.
Rebellious was where Faris's family resided. Now there was no need for further guessing; this woman in the Sky, who acted elegantly but spoke cruel words, was one of the Five Dragon Gods.
Moon God Dragon, Selene.
"Oh? An interesting human."
Seeing that Hope could withstand the aura she intentionally emitted, Selene spoke with interest, "Little boy, are you the one who gave Faris courage?"
"That's right, it's me."
Hope smiled harmlessly and pointed to the side. "Before you prepare to act, why don't you first see who he is?"
"Hoho, just a mere human, could he possibly turn the world upside down..." Before she could finish her sentence, Selene saw Acnologia's emotionless eyes.
The expression on her face instantly became incredibly vivid, and she stammered:
"I... I... I won't disturb you, I'm leaving now..."
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