CHAPTER 615: WILL THERE BE ANOTHER MIRACLE?

The Purgatory Dragon’s temper was as fierce as its flames, if the enemy pushed hard, it pushed harder; if the enemy fought to the death, it would do the same.

When Acnologia lunged for its throat, the Purgatory Dragon jammed its burning front claw into the monster’s jaws, twisting its body to clamp down on Acnologia’s neck.

A searing glow pulsed from the claw, molten lava flooding into Acnologia’s mouth and throat.

But Acnologia was a beast born from endless battles. It bit down on the lava-filled claw without hesitation, teeth tearing through magma and flesh. With a violent shake of its head, it ripped the Purgatory Dragon’s foreleg apart.

Blood and molten rock splattered through the sky, indistinguishable from one another.

The Purgatory Dragon’s roar split the air, half fury, half agony. Its fangs sank deep into Acnologia’s neck, tearing scales and muscle.

A moment later, Acnologia bit down on its throat in return.

The two colossal Dragons locked together, rolling through the sky, claws gouging and jaws ripping as scales and blood rained down like hail.

Acnologia’s neck was shredded raw, its windpipe nearly exposed. But the Purgatory Dragon’s wounds were worse, half its neck had been torn away. Its wings faltered, spinning as it plummeted.

"Run... damn it! I’ll finish him next time."

The words echoed in Rhode’s mind as the Purgatory Dragon’s form dissolved into mist.

For all its ferocity, its time in battle had been even shorter than the Mountain Dragon’s.

Acnologia didn’t slow down. Its jaws opened wide, blasting a beam of energy at the Cloud Dragon.

The Dragon banked sharply, avoiding the strike, but the Black Dragon was already closing in. Another blast followed the moment she tried to accelerate.

Even if the breath wasn’t as strong as the one that crushed the Mountain Dragon, the Dragon didn’t dare take it head-on, especially while carrying so many people.

"This won’t work," the Cloud Dragon hissed. "He’s coming for me."

Everyone looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"When he first saw you, he was just playing around. But when I showed up, his eyes went red. He’s after his own kind."

Rhode frowned. "But when he arrived, you weren’t even here."

"Not at the start. But now I am." The Dragon tilted her body sharply. "Enough talking, we can’t escape like this. Time to test it!"

"Wait!"

"Ahhh!"

"This is way too reckless!"

Everyone screamed as they were thrown from her back.

The Cloud Dragon spun and dived straight at Acnologia.

As expected, the Black Dragon ignored the falling humans. Its crimson eyes locked on the Dragon alone, wings beating as it lunged.

The Dragon twisted midair, skimming beneath Acnologia’s chest. She countered instantly, blasting a volley of razor wind blades at the wound the Purgatory Dragon had left.

But Acnologia only shifted, letting the blades rake harmlessly across its wings. The cutting power that could slice stone barely left a mark.

It wheeled around with terrifying speed. The Dragon dodged its snapping jaws, but Acnologia already had another breath charged.

A white beam exploded from its mouth. The Dragon twisted aside, but at such close range, the attack still scorched her wing, nearly throwing her off balance.

Now cautious, she relied on her speed, weaving in and out, trying to stall for time. But it was like dancing on the edge of a blade—one slip would mean death.

Meanwhile, the humans were still falling.

"Happy!"

"Carla!"

"Lily!"

The three Exceeds spread their wings, each grabbing someone, Natsu, Wendy, and Levy.

Lily should have caught Gajeel, but Gajeel shoved Levy toward him instead.

"You take her. I’ll manage myself."

Freed had already scrawled runes midair, black wings sprouting from his back as he grabbed Laxus by the arm.

Bickslow, abandoned by Freed, had no choice but to float on his dolls.

Evergreen’s Fairy Wings spread out as she swooped toward Elfman. But just as she reached for him, Legion Wings sprouted from his back too.

The two grabbed each other’s hands at the same time, only to realize neither of them needed saving. They exchanged an awkward glance, blushed, and quickly let go, splitting off to rescue others.

Lisanna transformed into a massive bird, clutching Juvia in one talon and Lucy in the other.

Juvia’s eyes searched for Gray, relief flooding her when she saw Elfman swoop in to catch him.

Evergreen caught Erza, then darted off toward the Guild Master. Elfman hooked Gray with one arm and charged toward Gajeel.

Rhodes didn’t even have the strength to fly anymore, but Mira supported him easily with one hand. Her other arm caught Cana, whom Gildarts had tossed over without worry.

Gildarts himself calmly descended, his feet soon steadied by the puppets Bickslow sent to carry him.

"Freed! Bickslow!" Laxus barked, pointing toward Ultear and Meredy.

"Got it!" Freed spread his rune-crafted wings.

"Baby!" Bickslow’s puppets shot forward.

Together, they each grabbed hold of Ultear and Meredy.

For the first time, Makarov realized just how many of his Guild members could actually take to the air.

Splash!

The blue sentinel and the Brambleback plummeted into the sea, throwing up waves. The others, though, slowed before hitting the surface, hovering just above the water.

Juvia extended her hands, shaping the seawater into a dome-like shield above them. It concealed their presence, but from inside, they could still see everything happening in the sky.

Cana asked quickly, "Rhodes, what about your summons?"

"They’ll be fine," Rhodes assured her.

Neither the sentinel nor the brambleback were ordinary creatures; they couldn’t drown, and if destroyed, they would return on their own. He couldn’t risk recalling them anyway, especially the sentinel. Since leaving Tenrou Island’s range, his pressure had doubled, and without the sentinel anchored here, he’d collapse.

Makarov turned to Gildarts. "Where’s the airship?"

No one had the stamina to keep flying for long, and swimming wasn’t an option. Their only hope was the Guild’s warship.

Gildarts pointed. "That way. Other side from where the Tenrou Tree fell earlier."

Thankfully, it wasn’t on the far side of the island.

Shrouded beneath Juvia’s water shield, the group slipped quietly toward the airship.

But above them, things were going badly.

The Cloud Dragon was fast and agile, but Acnologia had fought fast opponents before. He quickly adapted, irritation building.

He wasn’t just a brute of overwhelming power, he could think. And he’d already figured out the Dragon’s plan.

His crimson eyes shifted downward, locking onto the faint swell of water where Juvia’s shield hid the Guild.

Her magic masked their shapes, but not the heavy surge of magical energy from so many powerful wizards gathered together.

As the Cloud Dragon dodged another strike, Acnologia opened his jaws, light swelling at his throat.

"This guy!" someone gasped.

It was terrifying enough that his power dwarfed theirs. But the fact he could calculate, plan, and target? That was far worse.

The breath beam tore from Acnologia’s mouth.

But before it could strike, the Cloud Dragon slammed herself into his face, forcing the blast off-course.

It seared across the distant ocean instead, towering waves rising before the seawater evaporated in a flash, leaving behind a gaping void in the sea. The collapse of the waters filled it again, forming a massive whirlpool.

The Fairy Tail group surged toward the airship at full speed. Juvia dropped the water dome, focusing everything on blocking the violent currents threatening to swallow them.

In the sky, Acnologia’s claw punched through the Cloud Dragon’s chest. He swung brutally, trying to rip her apart.

"!!!"

The Dragon roared in pain, clamping her jaws onto his wing and tearing free a chunk of flesh.

Blood rained from above, some of it Acnologia’s, but far more her own.

Her body weakened, her form fading, until she finally dissolved away into mist.

Acnologia tilted back his head and roared, not in pain but in triumph. For him, slaying Dragons wasn’t survival. It was ecstasy.

When the sound died, his gaze fell again.

Down to the cluster of "flies" darting across the waves.

Fighting a Dragon after a long time excited him, but immediately after the excitement, he felt something was wrong.

Acnologia had never thought much during battle. For him, fighting was about the thrill of killing, nothing more. But as the blood cooled in his throat, the thought gnawed at him:

Those three Dragons... they had appeared too suddenly, and vanished just as strangely.

It was almost as if they hadn’t "arrived" at all. As if they had already existed here, merely called out.

A possibility flickered in his mind. Could they all have been Dragon Slayers, transforming into Dragons?

If he pressed further, would more emerge from this group of humans below?

The thought stirred him. Power gathered in his jaws, a new breath attack beginning to brew.

Desperation on the Shore

"This is bad!" someone cried. The urgency hit them all.

Every flyer strained harder, pushing their battered bodies to accelerate.

Then Juvia acted. She slipped free of Lisanna’s claws, her body dissolving into water. She merged with the sea itself, harnessing the giant waves Acnologia had stirred up moments earlier.

"Hold on!" she shouted.

The wave swelled and snapped forward, carrying the whole Guild in one tremendous surge toward Tenrou Island.

"Waaahhh!!!" everyone screamed as the ocean hurled them forward.

Behind them, Acnologia’s breath tore into the sea again, detonating another whirlpool.

The Fairy Tail mages slammed into the sand, coughing, dripping wet. Some spat out seawater, groaning, but they were alive.

Juvia apologized frantically, but no one blamed her. Water in the lungs was better than a hole in the chest.

"Don’t relax!" Gildarts bellowed. "He’s still here!"

Boom!

The ground shook as Acnologia’s massive frame landed on the shore.

Blood smeared his neck. A chunk of his wing was missing. His tail was shortened, dripping red.

But instead of looking weakened, he looked even more terrifying, his black-and-blue hide now streaked with crimson, his presence heavier than ever.

And he gave them no time to breathe. His body coiled, then leapt. A mountain of muscle and malice came crashing down.

The shockwave sent the Guild tumbling again, sand and stone whipping through the air.

Despair began to gnaw. Three Dragons had fallen before him already, and still, this monster stood.

What could they do now?

Rhodes clutched the pendant at his chest, his lips pale. ’Too weak. If only I could have summoned them together... if only they could have lasted longer... if only I had more power to call stronger ones...’

Mira gripped his hand tightly. In this state, he couldn’t afford another reckless summon.

"I’m sorry," Rhodes murmured. "If it weren’t for me..."

"You’ve already done more than enough."

Makarov stepped forward, planting himself between Rhodes and Acnologia. His voice, though strained, carried firm conviction.

"As a Wizard Saint. As an S-Class. As a child of Fairy Tail, you’ve already proven yourself."

Gildarts moved up beside him, his gaze sharp. "He’s right. If you think you need to apologize after all that, then we’re the ones who should be ashamed."

Natsu stormed up, fists flaming. "Oi, Master! Don’t go calling him the ’most excellent’ without me hearing it!"

Gajeel spat to the side and joined him, smirking. "Yeah. He’s not the only one here. After I beat this Dragon flat, I’m coming after him next."

Erza’s battered armor gleamed faintly as she requipped. "Rhode’s carried the fight alone long enough. It’s our turn now."

Laxus cracked his neck, sparks sparking along his fists. "Didn’t someone remind us that Fairy Tail’s strength isn’t about one person? Seems like a certain ’new S-Class’ got too cocky and forgot that lesson."

Freed, Bickslow, and Evergreen lined up behind him. "The Thunder God Tribe stands with Laxus!"

Gray ripped off his ruined shirt, icy mist swirling around him. "Running isn’t our style. Let’s show him what Fairy Tail’s about."

"Juvia will help too!"

Lucy raised a golden key high. "Alright, let’s shine too!"

Cana drew her cards, and Levy braced her hands together, determination etched across her face.

Wendy traced runes, enchantments glowing faintly as she buffed her allies one after another.

The Exceeds took their place behind their Dragon Slayers. Ultear and Meredy steadied each other, stepping forward despite their exhaustion. "We may not wear your mark... but there’s no other choice."

Elfman and Lisanna planted themselves on either side of Mira and Rhodes. "Time for the little siblings to protect you for once!"

"You’re still too early," Mira replied, her body already engulfed in Demon Halphas’s Take Over. She glanced at Rhodes. "Right?"

"Of course."

Rhodes raised his right arm, the mark glowing faintly despite his drained state. He wasn’t sure if he had the magic left to cast it, but given time, he would. And when the moment came, he’d let the dragon taste Fairy Law.

His eyes swept across the Master, Gildarts, Natsu, Erza, Gray, Laxus, Lucy, Wendy, Cana, Levy, Elfman, Mira, Lisanna, and so many others, all standing together.

Their voices filled his heart.

"Don’t give up."

"We’ll win."

"Believe in the Guild."

Fairy Tail’s resolve swelled like a roar.

With comrades like this, miracles weren’t just possible. They were inevitable, right?