Chapter XXVIII: Makarov Strikes; The Battle of Tenroujima!
Family Divided, Strength Multiplied
The Descent Begins
The confrontation in the sky above Tenrou Island shifted dramatically as seven dark figures emerged from the Grimoire Heart airship, each radiating malevolent power that made the air itself seem heavy with threat. The Seven Kin of Purgatory had arrived, and their individual magical auras painted the evening sky in shades of destruction.
Hades stood at the bow of his vessel, his ancient wisdom calculating tactical variables with cold precision. "Disperse," he commanded his elite operatives. "Each of you will claim a different section of the island. Let no fairy escape alive."
"With pleasure," Zancrow laughed maniacally, his God Slayer flames beginning to dance around his form like excited serpents.
Rustyrose adjusted his magical tools with artistic precision. "Such a lovely canvas for destruction. I shall paint it crimson."
Caprico descended with stoic determination, his human subordination magic already seeking targets among the guild members below.
Azuma's tree magic began resonating with the island's natural energy, preparing to corrupt it for his own purposes.
Kain Hikaru clutched his cursed dolls with sadistic anticipation, while Meredy's sensory link magic spread outward to track every life signature on the island.
But as the Seven Kin began their descent, five figures launched themselves from their concealed position with explosive force that shattered the evening calm.
Family Strategy
"Remember," Teilanne called out as they flew toward their respective targets, her voice carrying clearly across the magical turbulence, "we're not just fighting for ourselves. We're fighting for every person wearing a Fairy Tail mark on this island."
Gine's ki blazed brighter as she locked onto Zancrow's magical signature. "Natsu's down there somewhere dealing with fire that's supposed to kill dragon slayers. That bastard picked the wrong target."
"Mira's strong," Kizuna said, his own power flaring as he tracked Azuma's descent toward the forest where his girlfriend was located, "but she's been holding back her Satan Soul transformations. She might need backup against someone this dangerous."
Uruk's analytical screens showed him Gray and Loke's position relative to where Rustyrose was heading. "Tactical assessment indicates that artistic-type opponents often have unpredictable attack patterns. Gray's ice magic and Loke's celestial power should complement my technical approach."
"Wendy..." Cumber's voice carried protective concern that surprised even his siblings. "She's strong for her age, but she's still a child facing adult killers."
Teilanne's expression softened momentarily as she looked at her family members preparing to scatter across the battlefield. "Everyone comes home alive," she said firmly. "That's not a request-it's an order."
She turned toward Gildarts, who had been monitoring the approaching threats with growing concern. Moving close enough for a quick kiss on the cheek, she whispered, "Handle the big boss. We'll clean up his subordinates and meet you at the center."
"Be careful," Gildarts replied, though his tone carried absolute confidence in his family's abilities. "And remember-if any situation becomes too dangerous, retreat and regroup. No heroic martyrdom allowed."
Gine vs. Zancrow: The Super Saiyan's Wrath
Gine intercepted Zancrow just as he was preparing to rain destruction down on the forest clearing where Natsu was still processing his encounter with Zeref. The memory of her previous battle with Laxus flashed through her mind-the moment she had first achieved the legendary transformation that ran in her bloodline.
"Hey, asshole!" she called out, her hair already flickering between its natural color and golden blonde. "Looking for someone to burn? Try me!"
Zancrow's manic grin widened as he turned to face this unexpected challenger. "Another fairy? How delightful! Let me show you what real fire looks like!"
His God Slayer flames erupted outward in a massive wave of black and crimson destruction. The attack was designed to consume and corrupt any magical fire it encountered, turning an opponent's own power against them.
But as the flames approached, Gine's transformation completed itself. Her hair blazed golden, her eyes shifted to aqua-blue, and her aura exploded outward with the legendary power of the Super Saiyan. When Zancrow's flames collided with her transformed ki, they didn't just dissipate-they were obliterated by raw power that transcended magical understanding.
"What?!" Zancrow snarled, his confidence evaporating as he stared at the golden warrior floating before him. "How is that possible? My flames devour all other fire!"
"Because I'm not using fire magic, genius," Gine replied, her voice carrying the confidence of someone who had unlocked power beyond conventional limits. "I'm a Super Saiyan. Your little party tricks don't work on legendary transformations."
Her counterattack came in the form of focused energy waves that struck with planet-shaking force. Each blast created shockwaves that flattened trees for miles around, forcing Zancrow to abandon his planned ground assault just to survive the overwhelming barrage.
Kizuna vs. Azuma: The Legendary Super Saiyan Awakens
Deep in the forest, Mirajane had been tracking magical disturbances when the trees themselves began turning against her. Azuma's magic corrupted the very forest, transforming peaceful woodland into a maze of hostile vegetation that attacked with lethal intent.
"Great Demon: Halphas!" Mira called out, her Satan Soul transformation blazing to life as thorned vines tried to entangle her limbs.
Her demonic magic carved through the attacking plants, but for every vine she destroyed, three more took its place. The forest itself had become her enemy, and she was quickly being overwhelmed.
That's when Kizuna arrived, and the very island trembled.
His entrance was marked by an explosion of emerald-green ki that didn't just flatten the corrupted trees-it vaporized an entire section of forest in a display of power that defied comprehension. Where Gine's Super Saiyan transformation was controlled fury, Kizuna's legendary status manifested as barely contained destruction that seemed to warp reality itself.
"MIRA!" he roared, his voice carrying harmonic frequencies that shattered stone and bent metal. His massive frame radiated power that made even Mira's demonic transformation seem subdued by comparison.
"Kizuna? How are you-" Mira began, but her question was cut off as his aura expanded outward in waves of purifying energy that didn't just burn away Azuma's corruption-it retroactively prevented it from ever having existed in the first place.
"Nobody," Kizuna said, his power continuing to climb toward levels that made the air itself scream in protest, "threatens my girlfriend and survives the experience."
From his hidden position, Azuma stared in growing terror at readings that exceeded everything in Grimoire Heart's databases. The legendary Super Saiyan of Earthland stood before him, and every instinct he possessed screamed that he was facing something beyond mortal comprehension.
Uruk vs. Rustyrose: Enhanced Analysis
In the island's rocky terrain, Gray and Loke found themselves facing an opponent whose magic defied conventional logic. Rustyrose's Arc of Embodiment allowed him to create anything he could imagine, turning the battlefield into a surreal landscape of artistic destruction.
"Behold!" Rustyrose declared dramatically, his magical brush creating a massive stone warrior that immediately began pursuing Gray with crushing intent. "The beauty of imagination made manifest!"
Gray's ice magic responded with practiced precision, creating barriers and projectiles to counter the embodied threats. But for every construct he destroyed, Rustyrose created two more, each one more elaborate and dangerous than the last.
"This guy's power is limitless as long as his imagination holds out," Loke observed, his celestial magic providing covering fire. "We need to disrupt his concentration somehow."
That's when Uruk's enhanced approach changed the entire dynamic of the battle. His arrival was marked by the deployment of multiple holographic screens powered by both analytical magic and Saiyan energy efficiency, creating a computational matrix that processed information at superhuman speeds.
"Magical constructs based on imagination and artistic visualization," he announced clinically, his Saiyan-enhanced reflexes allowing him to catalog and counter Rustyrose's creations faster than they could be deployed. "Weakness: reliance on sustained concentration and creative inspiration."
Before anyone could ask what he meant, Uruk deployed a series of ki-powered devices that began generating white noise across multiple sensory spectrums-visual static, auditory interference, and magical resonance disruption enhanced by his Saiyan heritage to operate at frequencies that made it increasingly difficult for Rustyrose to maintain focus on his artistic visions.
"What is this?!" Rustyrose demanded, his latest creation-a massive dragon sculpture-beginning to flicker and fade as his concentration wavered under the systematic assault. "You're disrupting the artistic process!"
"Exactly," Uruk replied with scholarly satisfaction, his enhanced abilities allowing him to maintain multiple countermeasures simultaneously. "Art requires inspiration. Saiyan-enhanced science requires only superior method and unlimited energy reserves."
Cumber vs. Mest: Crash Magic Inheritance
In a clearing near the island's center, Wendy found herself facing not one of the Seven Kin directly, but rather Mest, whose true identity as a member of the Magic Council's intelligence division had finally been revealed. His memory magic created a different kind of threat-not physical destruction, but the potential erasure of everything she held dear.
"I'm sorry, Wendy," Mest said, his expression genuinely regretful as his power began to build. "But the information you've gained about Zeref cannot be allowed to spread. I have to erase your memories of this entire trial."
"No!" Wendy protested, her sky dragon magic flaring defensively. "I won't forget my friends! I won't forget my guild!"
Her wind magic created a barrier around herself and Carla, but Mest's memory alteration abilities didn't require physical contact. The spell began to take effect despite her defenses, causing her recent memories to blur and fade.
That's when Cumber arrived, and reality itself seemed to fracture around his presence.
His movement combined Saiyan speed with the inherited crash magic from his adoptive father Gildarts, creating spatial distortions that made it impossible for Mest to maintain his memory spell. The very concept of "erasing Wendy's memories" was shattered by crash magic that could destroy anything-even abstract magical effects.
"You were going to steal her memories," Cumber said quietly, his voice carrying the kind of controlled power that made the ground crack beneath his feet. "You were going to take away everything that makes her who she is."
"I... I have no choice," Mest gasped, struggling against ki-enhanced crash magic that was systematically dismantling his memory alteration spell. "The Council's orders..."
"Wrong answer," Cumber replied, his combined Saiyan and crash magic heritage flaring with enough destructive force to create a crater beneath their feet while simultaneously ensuring that Wendy remained completely unharmed within his protective field.
Teilanne vs. Ultear: Time Meets Destruction
High above the other battles, Teilanne confronted Ultear in aerial combat that painted the night sky with flashes of temporal distortion and destructive energy. Ultear's Arc of Time allowed her to manipulate the flow of temporal energy, aging attacks to dust or reversing damage to make it as if her injuries had never occurred.
"You're the famous Destroyer," Ultear observed with cold analytical interest, her crystal orb floating around her as she prepared her most devastating techniques. "Master Hades spoke of you with something approaching respect. Let's see if that reputation is deserved."
Her time magic reached out to age Teilanne's energy attacks, but something unexpected happened-the Saiyan's ki proved resistant to temporal manipulation, maintaining its integrity even when Ultear tried to reverse it to a state before it existed.
"Interesting," Teilanne replied, her crimson aura intensifying as she began to understand her opponent's abilities. "Time magic. I've heard of it, but never faced it directly."
"Then allow me to educate you," Ultear said, launching a complex spell that attempted to trap Teilanne in a temporal loop where she would be forced to experience the same moment of defeat over and over again.
But Teilanne's response was to power up beyond the parameters of Ultear's spell. Her transformation pushed her energy signature so far beyond normal magical measurements that the time magic simply couldn't contain her.
"Here's the thing about time manipulation," Teilanne said as she broke free from the temporal prison, her power continuing to climb toward levels that made the very air crackle with electricity. "It only works if your opponent stays within the bounds of what's possible. And I stopped caring about 'possible' a long time ago."
The Master's Betrayal
At the island's heart, Makarov stood frozen in shock as he stared at the dark figure before him. The magical signature, the familiar presence beneath all that corruption-it was unmistakable.
"Precht..." Makarov whispered, his voice carrying the weight of decades of friendship and betrayal. "You're Fairy Tail's second master. How could you-"
His words were cut off as Hades' Chain Magic lashed out with brutal efficiency, striking the old guild master down with chains forged from pure malevolent energy. Makarov crashed to the ground, his body wracked with pain from the dark magic.
"Leave, old man," Makarov struggled to say from where he lay. "I don't wish to fight you. There's still time to-"
"Time?" Hades laughed coldly, his ancient features twisted with dark purpose. "Time for what? Peace? The same naive dream you've always clung to?"
He raised his hand, and the battle erupted in earnest. Makarov's Light Magic blazed forth in desperate defense, golden radiance clashing against Hades' overwhelming Darkness Magic. For a moment, the two forces seemed evenly matched-master against student, light against shadow.
But the years of pursuing forbidden knowledge had made Hades something beyond what Precht had ever been. His Amaterasu technique unleashed black flames that consumed even light itself, overwhelming Makarov's defenses in a massive explosion that shook the entire island.
High above, Gildarts felt the magical shockwave and knew immediately what it meant. His worst fears were being realized-Master Makarov was fighting for his life against an enemy whose power had grown beyond mortal limits.
The Endless Tide
Across Tenrou Island, the situation deteriorated rapidly as Grimoire Heart's endless reinforcements continued to pour from their airship. The remaining S-Class teams found themselves overwhelmed not by individual strength, but by sheer numbers that seemed to have no end.
Levy and Gajeel fought back-to-back against a dozen enemies, their combined magic carving through opponents only to face twice as many in the next wave. Elsewhere, Juvia and Erza moved with deadly precision, but even their considerable skills were being worn down by the relentless assault.
The strategy was clear-Grimoire Heart intended to exhaust Fairy Tail's mages through attrition before deploying their truly dangerous operatives. And it was working. Magic reserves dwindled, stamina flagged, and desperation began to creep into even the strongest hearts.
Deep in the forest, under the shade of an ancient tree, Zeref sat in peaceful contemplation while chaos raged around him. His dark eyes held infinite sadness as he watched the violence unfold.
"Why won't the wars end?" he murmured to himself, his voice carrying the weight of centuries of witnessing humanity's endless capacity for conflict. "No matter how much power I possess, no matter how much they fear me... they never stop fighting."
The Master Falls
Back at the island's center, Makarov struggled to his feet despite his grievous injuries. His Light Magic flickered weakly around his battered form as he faced the man who had once been his predecessor.
"You were a fine master, Precht," Makarov said, his voice heavy with sorrow. "You taught us about peace, about protecting what matters. What happened to you?"
Hades' response was to drive Makarov further into the ground with crushing magical force. "I found the truth, old fool," he snarled, his single eye blazing with fanatic fervor. "I looked for the origins of Magic itself, traced it back to its source. And there I found him-Zeref, the wellspring of all magical power. In learning his secrets, I discovered the essence of Magic itself!"
He turned away dismissively, but Makarov's determination wouldn't be broken so easily. The old guild master struggled to rise once more, his paternal love for his children giving him strength beyond his physical limits.
Hades anticipated the movement and struck without turning around. His magic pierced through Makarov's defenses, sending the master of Fairy Tail crashing to the ground with what might be his final defeat.
Divine Flames Meet Dragon Fire
In another part of the forest, Natsu, Happy, Wendy, Carla, and Panther Lily found themselves surrounded by Grimoire Heart mages. The enemies attacked with conventional fire magic, which only served to restore Natsu's strength as he gladly consumed their flames.
"Thanks for the meal!" Natsu grinned, his Fire Dragon Slayer magic blazing hotter as he overwhelmed the lesser enemies.
But their victory was short-lived. As the last of the Grimoire Heart mages fell, a new presence made itself known with an explosion of black flames that incinerated the defeated enemies where they lay.
"Pathetic," Zancrow sneered as he descended from above, his God Slayer flames dancing around him like living shadows. "You weaklings let slip that this brat was strong, and look how you performed. Disgusting."
His casual execution of his own allies sent rage coursing through Natsu. "You bastard! They were your own people!"
"Were they?" Zancrow laughed maniacally. "Strength is the only thing that matters. The weak exist only to be consumed by the strong!"
Natsu launched himself forward, ready to devour Zancrow's flames and gain the upper hand. But when his mouth closed around the black fire, something impossible happened-the flames refused to be consumed. Instead, they burned his mouth and throat, forcing him to leap back in pain and confusion.
"What the hell?!" Natsu snarled, wiping blood from his mouth.
"You can't eat my flames, Dragon Slayer," Zancrow explained with sadistic pleasure. "My God Slayer Magic exists on a higher plane than your dragon techniques. To me, you're just another weakling to be burned away!"
The Super Saiyan's Intervention
That's when the sky erupted in golden light.
Gine's Super Saiyan aura blazed like a miniature sun as she descended between Natsu and Zancrow, her transformation complete and her power radiating protective fury that made even the God Slayer step back in alarm.
"Sorry I'm late, Natsu," she said without taking her aqua-blue eyes off Zancrow. "Had to take care of some other business first."
"Gine?! What are you doing here?!" Natsu exclaimed, though relief was evident in his voice.
"Protecting family," she replied simply, her golden aura intensifying. "And this asshole just made a big mistake threatening you."
Zancrow's initial shock gave way to manic excitement. "Another challenger! Even better! Let's see how your pretty light holds up against flames that devour gods!"
He unleashed his most powerful attack, black flames that should have consumed any magical energy they touched. But when they met Gine's Super Saiyan ki, something unprecedented happened-the God Slayer flames were simply obliterated, their divine nature meaning nothing against power that transcended the very concept of magic itself.
"Impossible!" Zancrow screamed, his confidence cracking for the first time. "My flames devour everything!"
"Not everything," Gine said with deadly calm. "Just everything in your limited understanding of power."
The Seven Kin Face the Impossible
Across the island, similar scenes played out as the other Clive family members engaged their targets. Each member of the Seven Kin of Purgatory found themselves facing opponents whose power defied every tactical analysis Grimoire Heart possessed.
Kizuna's legendary status as the Super Saiyan of Earthland became apparent as his emerald ki simply erased Azuma's attacks from existence. The tree mage's corruption magic, which should have been able to affect any living being, encountered power that operated on principles beyond the reach of conventional magic.
Uruk's Saiyan-enhanced analytical capabilities allowed him to process and counter Rustyrose's artistic creations faster than they could be conceived, while his enhanced devices disrupted the very act of imagination itself.
Cumber's combination of Saiyan heritage and inherited crash magic proved devastating against Mest, whose memory alteration techniques were systematically destroyed before they could take effect, protecting Wendy from harm while ensuring that the Council agent's mission would end in complete failure.
Hades' Growing Concern
Aboard the Grimoire Heart airship, Hades felt the tide of battle shifting in ways he hadn't anticipated. His magical sensors detected power signatures that defied classification-energy levels that exceeded anything in his vast databases of magical knowledge.
"Master," Ultear reported through their communication link, her usually calm demeanor showing cracks of concern. "The Seven Kin are encountering... unexpected resistance. These power readings don't match any known magical disciplines."
"Impossible," Hades growled, but even as he spoke, he could sense the truth of it. Five new players had entered the game, and their very presence was reshaping the battlefield in ways that threatened his carefully laid plans.
On his viewscreen, he watched as Teilanne continued her aerial battle with Ultear, her crimson aura growing stronger with each passing moment. Her power signature alone exceeded most of the Seven Kin combined, and she wasn't even the strongest member of her family.
"The Destroyer and her kin," he murmured, recognition dawning. "I should have anticipated that Gildarts wouldn't come to this island alone."
He planted Grimoire Heart's flag on the island's shore, its dark banner whipping in the wind as he made his declaration: "Fairy Tail has no chance against the Seven Kin of Purgatory!"
But even as the words left his mouth, he knew they were no longer true. The variable he hadn't accounted for-the Clive family's intervention-was systematically dismantling his elite forces with power that operated beyond the rules he thought governed all magical conflict.
The battle for Tenrou Island had become something far more dangerous than he'd prepared for. And for the first time in centuries, Hades began to wonder if his ambitions might have finally led him to face opponents he couldn't overcome.
The Destroyer Approaches
That's when he felt it.
Ultear's magical signature had vanished from his sensors-not destroyed, but deliberately concealed. She had gone into hiding, which in the tactical doctrine of Grimoire Heart meant only one thing: she had encountered an opponent so overwhelmingly powerful that retreat was her only option for survival.
Hades' ancient eye widened with a mixture of anticipation and something he hadn't felt in decades-genuine uncertainty.
Teilanne Clive, "The Destroyer," would be coming for him next.
The woman whose power had single-handedly annihilated an entire dark guild fortress. The Saiyan warrior whose crimson aura had been witnessed leveling mountains during her training sessions with Gildarts. The wife of Fairy Tail's Ace, whose combined power with her husband had created legends that even the Balam Alliance spoke of in hushed, fearful tones.
For the first time since his transformation into the master of darkness, Hades found himself genuinely unsure if he could achieve victory. His magical power was immense, drawn from centuries of forbidden knowledge and dark research. But Teilanne's strength operated on principles that seemed to exist outside the very framework of magical understanding.
As if summoned by his thoughts, a new presence made itself known. The air itself began to vibrate with barely contained energy, and crimson light began to emanate from the direction of the island's interior. She was coming, and even the ancient trees of Tenrou Island seemed to bend away from the approaching power.
"Interesting," Hades murmured, his grip tightening on his staff as he prepared for what might be the greatest challenge of his extended existence. "Let us see if the legends about the Destroyer are merely exaggeration... or if I have finally found an opponent worthy of my full power."
The crimson light grew brighter, and somewhere in the distance, reality itself seemed to warp around the approaching figure. The final confrontation between darkness and destruction was about to begin.
The Dragon Slayer's Awakening
Natsu's Revelation
Natsu's eyes widened as he watched Gine effortlessly deflect Zancrow's divine flames, her golden aura pulsing with power that made his own dragon fire feel like a candle in comparison. This wasn't the same person who had left Magnolia months ago after Laxus's exile. Something fundamental had changed.
"She's... she's gotten this strong?" he whispered, his voice barely audible over the crackling energy surrounding his friend.
Happy fluttered nervously beside him. "Natsu, her magical power... it doesn't feel like magic at all!"
But Natsu's dragon slayer senses picked up something else-something that made his blood sing with recognition despite never having encountered it before. Ancient warrior instincts, predatory fighting techniques that spoke to something primal in his dragon-trained mind.
"This isn't over yet," Gine said calmly, her aqua-blue eyes never leaving Zancrow's increasingly panicked expression. "You threatened someone I consider family. That requires a more... thorough response."
The Ascension
What happened next defied every expectation Natsu had about power scaling. Gine's golden aura began to intensify, crackling with electrical discharge that made the air itself scream in protest. But it wasn't just growing stronger-it was evolving.
Her hair, already transformed into the legendary golden blonde of the Super Saiyan, began to shift. Green highlights appeared throughout the blonde locks, creating an ethereal combination that seemed to capture and reflect the island's natural energy. Her muscle mass increased visibly, but not in a way that compromised her speed or agility. Instead, she seemed to achieve the perfect balance between raw power and controlled precision.
"What... what is that form?" Wendy gasped from behind Natsu, her Sky Dragon Slayer senses overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of energy being displayed.
"Full Power," Gine answered, though her voice now carried harmonic overtones that made the ground beneath their feet vibrate. "I spent months learning to access the complete potential of the Super Saiyan transformation. Most warriors never achieve this level because they can't maintain the emotional control necessary while accessing maximum output."
Zancrow's manic confidence finally cracked completely. "This is impossible! God Slayer magic exists on a higher plane than any other power! You're just some Fairy Tail mage!"
"Wrong on both counts," Gine replied, and suddenly she wasn't where she had been standing.
Saiyan Combat Techniques
Natsu's enhanced reflexes, trained by a dragon to track the fastest opponents, barely managed to follow Gine's movement. She appeared directly in front of Zancrow, but her attack pattern was unlike anything he'd seen her use before.
Her first strike was a precise palm thrust that bypassed Zancrow's flame barrier entirely, connecting with his solar plexus with surgical accuracy. The technique spoke of generations of warrior knowledge, refined through countless battles and perfected by a race born for combat.
"Rebellion Spear," she said calmly as Zancrow doubled over, his God Slayer flames flickering weakly around his form.
But she wasn't finished. Her follow-up was a devastating uppercut that launched the God Slayer into the air, followed immediately by a technique that made Natsu's breath catch in his throat. Gine appeared above her opponent, her hands cupped together as ki energy began to gather between her palms.
"Final Spirit Cannon," she announced, and the resulting energy wave didn't just overpower Zancrow's desperate defensive flames-it atomized them, along with a significant portion of the forest behind him.
Zancrow crashed to the ground, his God Slayer magic completely depleted and his body wracked with injuries that spoke to the precision of Gine's assault. He wasn't dead, but he was comprehensively defeated in a way that left no doubt about the vast gap between their abilities.
The Dragon Slayer's Perspective
"Gine..." Natsu started, then stopped, unsure how to process what he'd just witnessed. This was his friend, someone he'd grown up with in Fairy Tail, but the power she'd just displayed belonged to legends he'd only heard whispered about in ancient dragon lore.
She turned to face him, and for a moment, Natsu saw something in her green-tinted eyes that reminded him of stories Igneel had told about warriors from ages past-beings who fought not for glory or conquest, but for the protection of everything they held dear.
"You've been holding back," he said, and it wasn't a question.
"We all have," Gine replied, her transformation beginning to fade as her hair returned to its natural color. "But not anymore. Not when our family is in danger."
The emphasis she put on 'family' made Natsu realize something important. The Clive siblings hadn't just grown stronger during their time away-they'd learned to embrace the full extent of their heritage. And that heritage included viewing Fairy Tail as worth protecting at any cost.
"Those techniques..." Natsu began, his dragon slayer instincts still processing the combat patterns he'd observed. "They weren't random, were they? They felt... ancestral."
Gine smiled, and for the first time since her transformation, she looked like the person he remembered. "Bardock's legacy. Along with Gine's compassion and Raditz's tactical awareness. Turns out our Saiyan heritage comes with more than just raw power-it includes the accumulated fighting wisdom of our entire race."
She looked toward the center of the island, where massive energy signatures were still clashing in patterns that spoke to conflicts far beyond anything the S-Class trials had originally been intended to test.
"Come on," she said, her tone shifting to something more serious. "The real fight is just getting started, and our family is going to need all the help they can get."
The Gathering Storm
As they began moving toward the island's center, Natsu found himself grappling with a realization that changed everything he thought he understood about his guild's power structure. The Clive family had been among Fairy Tail's strongest members even before their transformations, but what he'd just witnessed suggested they'd reached levels that put them in a category entirely their own.
"Hey, Gine," he called out as they navigated through the damaged forest. "When this is all over... think you could help me figure out how to push my dragon slayer magic to its limits like that?"
Her laugh carried the warmth he remembered, but underneath it was the confidence of someone who had discovered the true extent of their capabilities. "I think Igneel would be proud to see how far you've already come, Natsu. But yeah, I'd be happy to help you reach the next level."
Above them, the night sky continued to flash with energy as the other Clive siblings engaged their respective opponents. But now Natsu understood what those flashes really represented-not just magical combat, but the awakening of power that had been dormant for far too long.
The battle for Tenrou Island had become something unprecedented, and for the first time since the trials began, Natsu felt genuinely optimistic about their chances. With allies like this fighting beside Fairy Tail, even the legendary darkness of Grimoire Heart might find itself outmatched.
A Dragon Slayer's Honest Assessment
"You know," Natsu said with a genuine smile as they moved through the forest, "Laxus is gonna kick himself when he realizes what he's missing. If he could see you now..." He trailed off, shaking his head with amusement.
Gine's cheeks colored slightly, though whether from embarrassment or the lingering effects of her transformation was unclear. "Natsu..."
"I'm serious!" he continued, his trademark grin widening. "I mean, you were already pretty before, but now? With power like that and the way you protected all of us?" He gestured emphatically. "That lightning-brained idiot would be the luckiest dragon slayer on Earthland. Hell, he'd probably trip over himself trying to get back to your side if he knew."
"You really think so?" Gine asked quietly, her usual confidence wavering slightly when it came to matters of the heart.
"Are you kidding? The guy's stubborn, not blind. When he sees you again, there's no question he's gonna want to stand right beside you." Natsu's expression grew more serious. "And honestly? After what you just did for us, for our family... he'd be an even bigger fool than I thought if he didn't realize what he had."
The Final Strikes Across the Island
As if responding to Natsu's words, the night sky erupted with the concluding battles across Tenrou Island. Each flash of light marked another victory for Fairy Tail's unexpected guardians.
In the eastern forest, Kizuna's legendary power reached its crescendo. His emerald aura had grown so intense that it warped the very fabric of reality around him, forcing Azuma to witness his life's work-the corruption of nature itself-being systematically undone by power that transcended natural law.
"This is impossible," Azuma gasped, his tree magic failing completely as Kizuna's ki purified the very concept of corruption from the surrounding area. "My magic affects all living things!"
"Not all," Kizuna rumbled, his massive frame radiating protective fury as Mirajane watched in awe from behind him. "You threatened her. That makes you my enemy. And enemies of my family face the legendary Super Saiyan."
The final blast didn't just defeat Azuma-it retroactively healed every tree he had corrupted, leaving the forest more pristine than it had been before the battle began.
Meanwhile, Uruk's systematic dismantling of Rustyrose reached its logical conclusion. His Saiyan-enhanced analytical capabilities had catalogued every possible variation of the Arc of Embodiment, and his technological countermeasures had reduced the artist to a state of creative paralysis.
"Art requires inspiration," Uruk observed clinically as his devices completed their work. "But inspiration requires mental clarity. My Saiyan heritage provides unlimited energy to maintain disruption patterns that render artistic visualization impossible."
Gray and Loke could only stare as Rustyrose collapsed, his imagination completely suppressed by technological precision enhanced to superhuman levels.
Cumber's protection of Wendy concluded with the most decisive victory of all. His inherited crash magic, amplified by Saiyan power, hadn't just prevented Mest from altering Wendy's memories-it had shattered the very concept of the memory spell itself, ensuring that no similar technique could ever affect her again.
"Her memories are under my protection now," Cumber stated quietly, his power creating a permanent defensive field around the young Sky Dragon Slayer. "Try to take them again, and you'll learn what happens when crash magic meets Saiyan determination."
The Black Wizard's Observation
Deep in the heart of Tenrou Island's ancient forest, beneath a tree that had witnessed centuries of magical history, Zeref sat in contemplation. His dark eyes, filled with the weight of immortal existence, had observed every moment of the battles that raged across his sacred sanctuary.
"Fascinating," he murmured to himself, his voice carrying the sadness of someone who had witnessed the rise and fall of countless civilizations. "Power that exists outside the framework of my understanding. Warriors who fight not for conquest or glory, but for the protection of bonds that transcend blood."
His gaze shifted toward where Teilanne's crimson aura was beginning to manifest, growing stronger as she approached the final confrontation with Hades. The other Clive siblings had been impressive, but this one... this one carried something different. Something that reminded him of heroes from ages past who had stood against darkness not because they were ordered to, but because they chose to.
"The Destroyer approaches her greatest test," Zeref observed, though his tone carried neither hope nor despair-only the clinical interest of someone who had seen too much to be truly surprised by anything. "Will her bonds prove stronger than Hades' accumulated darkness? Or will she learn, as I did, that some powers corrupt simply by existing?"
He closed his eyes, settling deeper into his meditation as the final battle prepared to begin. Whatever the outcome, it would reveal truths about the nature of power, family, and the price of protecting what one loved most.
The Crimson Dawn
High above the island's center, Teilanne's aura began to manifest in earnest. Her power signature climbed beyond anything her siblings had displayed, and the very air began to crackle with energy that spoke to battles fought across dimensions and time.
Hades felt her approach like a physical weight pressing down on his consciousness. This was no mere guild mage coming to challenge him-this was a warrior whose legend had grown beyond the bounds of Earthland itself.
"So," he murmured, his ancient features set in grim determination, "the Destroyer finally shows herself. Let us see if a mother's fury combined with your legendary power is built on substance... or merely fear."
But even as he spoke the words, Hades found himself gripping his staff with both hands. The power approaching him wasn't just that of a legendary warrior-it was the combined strength of maternal protection and Saiyan heritage, a combination that his centuries of accumulated knowledge couldn't fully classify. For the first time in his extended existence, he faced an opponent whose capabilities existed outside his understanding of magical law.
The final confrontation was about to begin, and the fate of Tenrou Island-perhaps the fate of the magical world itself-hung in the balance.
To be continued in Chapter 29: Crimson Dawn- Teilanne the Destroyer Unleashed