Fairy Tail: Collapsing Stars

Natsu had no idea how many times he had looked forward to meeting his adoptive father, the ʼFire Dragon Kingʼ Igneel. He had waited far too long for this day. Yet upon their first meeting, his adoptive father was immediately going to battle that invincible black dragon!

This filled Natsu with complicated emotions…

Suddenly, Natsu had so many things he wanted to talk about with Igneel. He didnʼt know whether it was merely his imagination, but if he couldnʼt have a proper conversation with Igneel today, perhaps he would never have another chance to speak with him again!

”Igneel, is that you? Answer me!”

As Natsu spoke, he ran toward the giant dragon.

”Wait, Natsu!”

”Donʼt go over there…”

However, just as Natsu was charging forward, a hoarse voice sounded beside his ear. Immediately afterward, a strong and powerful hand pressed down on Natsuʼs shoulder, holding him firmly in place.

”Ignia?!”

Natsu looked at the person holding him back, his pupils trembling, disbelief evident in his voice.

”My foolish little brother~”

”Donʼt interfere with Dadʼs battle! This is a battle between the kings of the dragons. It isnʼt something you can interfere in!”

Ignia pressed down on Natsuʼs shoulder and spoke with a smile.

”Ignia, that black dragon is extremely powerful. I have to go help Igneel!”

After hearing Igniaʼs words, Natsu immediately shouted anxiously.

”Huh?!”

”You said youʼre going to help Igneel?”

”My foolish little brother! Have you finally gone crazy?”

”Open your eyes and look carefully at the sky! Where does Father need anyoneʼs help? Canʼt you see that Father is smiling? Heʼs laughing!”

Ignia raised an eyebrow. He pulled Natsu into his arms, then used one hand to support Natsuʼs chin while pressing down on Natsuʼs head with the other. With both hands, he forcibly turned Natsuʼs head toward the sky, allowing Natsu to clearly see the battle between Igneel and Acnologia.

”This is?!”

Natsu looked up. When he clearly saw his adoptive father, Igneel, he froze.

He actually saw the corners of his adoptive father Igneelʼs mouth raised in a smile!

Yes, Igneel was actually smiling. Facing the invincible ʼBlack Dragon Kingʼ Acnologia, Igneel showed no fear whatsoever. Instead, he was laughing wildly!

”Who do you think that is?”

”That is our father, the invincible ʼFire Dragon Kingʼ Igneel!”

”So what if his opponent is Acnologia? Igneel will still find a way to defeat him!”

Ignia seemed completely confident in his father, Igneel.

”Uh…”

Natsu was stunned. He stared in shock at Igneel, who was exchanging blows with Acnologia in the sky.

”Acnologia is our fatherʼs prey!”

”So donʼt disturb our father now. Just let him hunt in peace!”

Ignia held Natsu and spoke with a cheerful smile.

”Aye!”

Natsu looked at the surging magical power in the sky and nodded vigorously, just like Happy.

Just as Evan had promised Igneel back then, he would give Igneel a quiet, one-on-one opportunity to fight Acnologia. Thus, when Igneel began his Dragon King battle with Acnologia, neither Evan nor any of the other giant dragons had any intention of going up to help. They simply watched quietly…

”Inhale!”

”Exhale…”

After exchanging blows with Acnologia in close combat for a while and realizing that he had gained no advantage, Igneel suddenly took a deep breath before unleashing a Roar at Acnologia!

Blazing flames instantly ignited the sky!

No—the temperature was so high that such flames could no longer exist in nature in the form of fire. This could no longer be called burning flames! Rather than flames, it was more like incandescent light! When the temperature reached Igneelʼs level, it was no different from the sun. Calling it burning was more like describing a nuclear reactor undergoing continuous fusion!

In an instant, the sky was illuminated by a sheet of white light, making everyone on the ground unable to open their eyes…

For a moment, it seemed as though a second sun had risen in the sky, its endless radiance pouring across the earth!

The entire island where Natsu and the others were located was immediately enveloped in scorching heat. The temperature rapidly climbed, countless clouds in the sky were ignited, and even the sea beneath Igneel gradually began evaporating into water vapor!

”ROAR!!”

Devoured by Igneelʼs Roar, Acnologia let out an agonized roar for the first time. He was screaming in pain! How many years had it been? Ever since becoming a Dragon, Acnologia had never been injured again. He had even forgotten what pain felt like.

But today, he remembered that sensation once more!