"Boom!"
Thunder roared and wild winds danced!
Everyone looked up at the violent blue beast, their eyes widening in awe.
"Although I, Irene, Kurnugi, and Selene can all transform into dragons, there are many differences among us..."
Evan, soaring through the sky, looked down at Makarov and the others, who seemed like ants, and began to explain.
"You mean there are differences even though you're all dragons?!"
Gildarts was taken aback, as he did not even know the secrets Evan was revealing.
"Yes, while Irene and I are humans who have undergone irreversible dragon transformations due to mastering Dragon Slayer Magic, Selene and Kurnugi were originally dragons..."
Evan explained the fundamental differences between himself, Irene, Selene, and Kurnugi.
"Evan, if what you say is true, then the ultimate result of mastering Dragon Slayer Magic is turning into a dragon?"
As Evan spoke, everyone was stunned, especially Laxus and Natsu, who were Dragon Slayers. According to Evan, they too would eventually transform into dragons if they continued mastering Dragon Slayer Magic.
"In theory, yes. Only by transforming into a dragon can a Dragon Slayer truly kill dragons. Those who have not yet transformed are still in an immature state."
Evan nodded, confirming that Dragon Slayer Magic's ultimate mastery would lead to becoming a dragon.
"Hey, Evan, if the end of Dragon Slayer Magic is becoming a dragon, was it really created to kill dragons?"
"I've heard from Natsu that his Dragon Slayer Magic was taught to him by a dragon, who also raised him as their child."
"Honestly, I could never understand why dragons would teach humans a magic meant to kill them, let alone raise those humans as their children. But now, it makes sense."
"Evan, can I infer that the true purpose of Dragon Slayer Magic is not to kill dragons, but to transform humans into dragons, thereby increasing the number of dragons in the world? So, the true name of Dragon Slayer Magic should be Dragon Transformation Magic, right?"
Gildarts' eyes narrowed as he asked a question that had long troubled him.
"Uh..."
As Gildarts' question hung in the air, everyone was taken aback. They had never considered this perspective. It made sense that dragons wouldn't hand over magic designed to kill them unless there was some benefit. The benefit became clear with Evan's explanation and Gildarts' hypothesis: humans taught Dragon Slayer Magic could eventually become dragons themselves.
"No, that's not entirely accurate..."
"In reality, Dragon Slayer Magic was indeed created to fight dragons. Over four hundred years ago, a war erupted on the continent of Ishgar between dragons and humans, as well as among dragons themselves."
"This war was between dragons who saw humans as pests to be eradicated and dragons who wanted to coexist peacefully with humans, alongside humans fighting for survival."
"Though the alliance of peace-seeking dragons and humans had a numerical advantage, it was futile. Human magic was ineffective against dragons due to their immense magic resistance. The dragons fighting to protect humans bore the brunt of the battle..."
"But the hostile dragons vastly outnumbered the peaceful ones. Dragons who saw humans as food and pests were far more numerous. The situation was dire for the peace-seeking dragons and their human allies."
"Then, a visionary emerged—a queen who ruled over a kingdom where dragons and humans coexisted, known as the Dragon Queen. She had an idea: if human magic was ineffective, why not use dragon magic against dragons?"
"But humans couldn't learn dragon magic with their bodies. In the desperate times of the war, the Dragon Queen, who was a high-level enchanter, thought of a solution: if a stick can gain the properties of iron through enchantment, why couldn't humans gain the properties of dragons?"
"Thus, the first Dragon Slayers were born. These humans had dragon properties enchanted into them, giving them abilities akin to dragons."
"However, no one foresaw that mastering Dragon Slayer Magic would lead to transforming into dragons. This transformation is a side effect of Dragon Slayer Magic."
Evan explained the history of Dragon Slayer Magic to the assembled Fairy Tail wizards.
"What..."
The Fairy Tail wizards were shocked to learn that humans created Dragon Slayer Magic.
"No, wait, Evan, the queen you mentioned who created Dragon Slayer Magic wouldn't happen to be..."
Gildarts, his meticulously groomed hair now disheveled, seemed to realize something. He tried to steady his racing heart as he looked at Evan.
"Yes, it was Irene~"
"Irene is the originator of Dragon Slayer Magic. So, not only are Erza and I her children, but Natsu, Laxus, and all Dragon Slayers are her children too. Irene is the mother of all Dragon Slayers."
Evan smiled, confirming Gildarts' suspicion and revealing everything since he had already decided to be honest.
"What?!"
The Fairy Tail wizards gasped in unison. If what Evan said was true, then Irene must have lived for over four hundred years!
"Huh?! I have a mom?!"
Natsu was bewildered, having thought he was hatched from an egg by Igneel.
"No, no, it's just a metaphor. Do you understand metaphors?"
Laxus patted Natsu on the shoulder, correcting him.
Laxus also recalled his first S-Class exam on the boat, where Irene had initiated a conversation with him. It meant Irene knew he was seasick and about to throw up.
"How embarrassing! No, it's beyond embarrassing; it's utterly mortifying..."
Laxus blushed, caring deeply about his image.
"Haha, you humans have such interesting expressions..."
"Haven't you gathered from my mom, Selene, and Aunt Irene's—er, Sister Irene's conversations that they've lived for four hundred years?"
Kurnugi laughed at the shocked expressions of Ur, Ultear, Gray, and others.
"No, we haven't heard that at all!"
Makarov and the others retorted to Kurnugi.
"As for turning into dragons being the pinnacle of Dragon Slayer Magic..."
"It's because human bodies are too weak. Even with dragon power, they can't unleash the true potential of Dragon Slayer Magic, let alone rival a dragon."
"Even if some Dragon Slayers awaken the so-called Dragon Force, as long as they remain human, their Dragon Force is incomplete and can't compete with real dragons."
"If a Dragon Slayer truly wants to gain power equal to or surpassing dragons, there's only one way: transform into a dragon! Use claws against claws, fangs against fangs, and a powerful dragon body to fight dragons!"
"And that man was born—the sole victor of the war four hundred years ago, the human hero who tore through the sky to battle dragons. His real name is forgotten, perhaps even by himself. We know him as the Black Dragon King, Acnologia."
Evan continued, deciding to tell them everything, including the story of Acnologia.
"Acnologia? The black dragon prophesied to destroy humanity?"
Makarov was taken aback, remembering the prophecies in the book of Revelation.
"Yes, him..."
"The dragon-slaying hero who became a dragon, ending the war four hundred years ago, slaughtering all dragons and Dragon Slayers on the battlefield, bathed in dragon blood, becoming the black wing of despair, a magic-eating dragon!"
"How ironic that the hero who ended the war is now our greatest enemy. Perhaps Acnologia retains some sanity, avoiding human towns, but if this continues, he'll eventually go mad. When that happens, he'll attack all life, and we'll have to stop him. This is also Igneel's hope for you, Natsu!"
Evan, soaring in the sky, looked down at Natsu and spoke softly.
"Igneel?! Evan, you've seen Igneel?"
"Evan, can you tell me where Igneel is?"
Hearing Evan's words, Natsu was first stunned, then overjoyed as he shouted at Evan.
"Natsu, I can tell you where Igneel is right now and what he's doing, but what can you do with your current strength?"
Evan, hovering in the air, asked Natsu in return.
"What can I do now?"
Natsu was confused by Evan's question.
"Natsu, Igneel, the Flame Dragon King, is far more powerful than me. He's gathering strength to fight Acnologia, the Black Dragon King, again on the day of the Dragon King Festival."
"A battle between the only dragon who might surpass him in four hundred years—a duel of dragon kings. Can you, with your current strength, interfere in such a battle?"
Evan, flying above, asked Natsu.
"The Flame Dragon King and the Black Dragon King, a duel between dragon kings?!"
Natsu clenched his fists in excitement, his body trembling. He was thrilled, burning with anticipation.
"I want to help! I want to help Igneel! I want to fight Acnologia with him and send that Black Dragon King flying!"
Natsu, unable to contain his excitement, shouted at Evan.
"Is that so?"
Evan looked Natsu over, seeing his strong, resilient body honed by the Six Arts. Natsu's strength now matched his abilities when he first appeared in the original series.
Given that, it might be time for Natsu to understand what true fear is. As Gildarts said, only by recognizing his own weakness could he continue to grow.
"Natsu, watch closely!"
"This is what a dragon's roar truly is!"
Evan gazed at Natsu, then turned to a distant mountain range.
"Inhale~"
The next moment, immense magical power gathered in Evan's mouth, causing Tenrou Island to tremble.
"What is that..."
Natsu's eyes widened as he watched
Evan.
"A roar?!"
Laxus, also a Dragon Slayer, quickly realized what Evan was about to do.
"Boom!!"
Before Natsu and Laxus could react, an immense dragon flame erupted from Evan's mouth, lighting up the night sky! Waves of heat spread, forming violent gusts...
"Boom!"
In an instant, Evan's roar reached the distant mountains, reducing them to ash. The once-green landscape turned into molten lava, and the terrifying roar continued, transforming the sky into a blazing sun, dispelling the darkness.
"Roar!!"
On Tenrou Island, Natsu, Gray, Lyon, Cana, and others trembled, instinctively prostrating themselves. The primal fear engraved in their DNA prevented them from looking at Evan. Only after the roar ended did they slowly rise.
"This can't be real..."
"The land was flattened?!"
Under the bright sun in the sky, they saw the mountains reduced to a vast crater, extending to the horizon. They could only look at the crater in helpless despair.
According to Evan, their enemy might be even stronger than this. How powerful must their enemy be?
"Haha, hahaha..."
As despair filled everyone, Natsu suddenly laughed.
"Strong! So much stronger than me, but I'm so excited. Just thinking about such a strong enemy makes me excited beyond control!"
"Evan, if I work hard, can I reach this level too?"
On the edge of Tenrou Island, Natsu asked Evan after witnessing a true dragon's roar.
"Hehe..."
Evan smiled at Natsu's enthusiasm.
"Of course! Natsu, Laxus, Erza, Mirajane, Kagura, Ultear, Gray, Lyon, Elfman, Lisanna, Freed, believe in your hearts. You can do it! Your limits are far beyond this. Strive for the pinnacle of magic!"
Evan shouted to the youths below.
"Yeah!"
With Evan's words, the youths stood up, aiming to surpass his powerful roar.
"I'm fired up too!"
Makarov shouted excitedly.
"No! Old man, you've reached your limit. You should rest!"
Evan didn't hesitate to pour cold water on Makarov's excitement.