X390
The great magical nations perished rapidly in the wars. Ironically, some traditional kingdoms, being too conservative to build Magical Networks (Magical Leylines), survived simply because they weren't targeted.
By now, the world had only three super magical empires left. Each one occupied an entire continent, vast in territory, with complete Magical Networks linked together under a unified central core.
To prevent surprise attacks from the others, all three empires constructed the "Sword of Damocles" system. Should a capital be destroyed, or even if a single major industrial city were struck and its central or sub-core disabled—
Then, hidden underground cities and reserve leyline systems would activate, gathering all available magic power and launching retaliatory strikes at the major industrial cities and magical cores of the other two nations.
"Brother, has peace finally come?"
A pink-haired boy stood at the cliff's edge, holding a newspaper.
It reported that the three super magical empires had united to form the Pan-Human Alliance, claiming they would build a better world together.
"Peace? There has never truly been peace in this world, Natsu."
The black-haired young man walked forward and gently patted his head.
This—bringing Natsu back—was the only true achievement he had left. As for their parents…
Zeref's expression dimmed, and he whispered almost unconsciously:
"Humanity is still immature. The divine power of governance lies in the hands of a small few, and the world changes only according to their narrow will. It's shortsighted."
"But isn't this peace now? Isn't that good enough?"
Natsu sensed faintly that his brother was planning something tremendous, and he was afraid.
"This peace is false, Natsu." Zeref shook his head, his tone heavy.
"Humans once fought for survival—waging war only to seize resources from others so they themselves could live.
That I didn't like, but I could at least understand. So I helped them. I solved their survival problems. I solved the problem of dragons. Humans and dragons began to coexist."
As he reminisced, Zeref held the small Natsu close and spoke softly:
"Humans could finally live safely on the continent. As long as they worked a little harder, they could survive. They might not live as well as nobles, but far better than before."
"Brother, you're amazing!"
Zeref teased, and Natsu nodded fiercely with shining eyes.
"But that wasn't enough. Once survival was no longer a problem, humans began to pursue better lives, glory, and territory. They competed endlessly and waged war for it. That too, I disliked… but I understood."
He sighed, his gaze distant.
"But back then, I was immature. I failed to realize what would come. By the time I did, it was too late to stop it. It was as though cursed—war consumed all the magical empires, until only three remained."
"And that's where we are now." Zeref's eyes grew cold.
"This isn't because they recognized the horrors of war. It's because they can no longer keep fighting.
The scale is too vast, the systems too immense, the risks too high. With new magical technologies, every empire has defensive measures. None can annihilate the others in one blow anymore, and each fears a third power swooping in to profit."
"Besides, their manpower and resources are utterly drained. Their control over occupied territories is weak. If the wars continued, their own nations would collapse even before destroying their enemies. And the guerrilla forces still active in every empire would surely strike."
"And the dragons… they too have begun to move."
Zeref recounted the continent's present state. He didn't expect Natsu to understand; he just needed someone to confide in.
"Will you stand by me, Natsu?"
"Yeah! No matter what, I'll always be with you, Brother!"
"Good boy, good boy."
Zeref smoothed his brother's hair, and Natsu relaxed, leaning against his chest, slowly drifting into sleep.
"Rest for now, Natsu. When everything is over, I'll wake you again."
Carrying him back to his base, Zeref placed Natsu into a massive crystalline stasis pod, like a giant life-support crystal.
X391
The Anti-Human Dragon Faction announced the formation of an alliance. In a short time, they gathered over one million dragons, a force so enormous that even the three super magical empires became wary.
This Dragon Alliance waged guerrilla-style warfare, striking humans across the continents simultaneously. Their main targets were traditional magical nations. Though there were minor skirmishes with the superempires, things never escalated.
For safety, the empires allowed the dragons' rampage.
Unexpectedly, the Anti-Human dragons did not slaughter all humans. Instead, they spared some engineers and mages—forcing them to construct Magical Networks and central cores.
The three empires, still in recovery, had no desire to confront a million-strong dragon alliance yet.
So they still chose to let it be.
But the external threat pushed them closer together, accelerating the creation of the Pan-Human Alliance.
The growth of a million-strong Dragon Alliance was something no empire wanted, including the dragons who had allied with humans.
Though they were all dragons, differences in ideology meant little mercy. They fought without hesitation, and sentiment had no place.
X393
At the headquarters of the Pan-Human Alliance—
The legendary magical genius Zeref still looked youthful, unchanged, while his contemporaries had aged into weary, bearded men.
Standing at the podium, Zeref's calm gaze swept over the assembled world leaders. They stared back, curiosity mixed with unease.
As the man who had proposed and realized the theory of the Magical Network, Zeref held immense influence among both humans and dragons.
To some, he was revered as a god.
To others, he was blamed for the cause of the war.
To most, he was simply distant—someone to admire, but too far above them to truly grasp.
But the leaders present all understood his power, and their eyes watched him with sharp intensity. Some even considered abducting him for their own nations.
Then Zeref spoke.
"Esteemed leaders, to face the escalating survival crisis brought by dragons—and for the sake of true world peace—I present to you my proposal: the Magical Core—'God.'
We will assemble the greatest magical researchers from every nation to elevate the Magical Core to the next level—what I call the God-tier Core.
This Core will function as a world-level Magical Network, unifying every leyline on the planet. With it, we can precisely regulate magic, even severing the flow of magic to a specific individual—or an entire race.
We could weaken them at will…"
Before he could finish, a leader in the front row stood abruptly, sneering:
"Zeref, if this is all your proposal offers, then this meeting is over. You've fallen behind the times."
He turned and left.
Several others followed.
It wasn't that Zeref's plan lacked allure. To possess a God-tier Magical Core—a tool that could exclude traitors from magic itself, even reject entire bloodlines from magic—was godlike power.
How tempting! Any empire would covet it.
Of course they did. But Zeref had chosen the wrong place to announce it.
Had he brought this to a private chamber of an imperial palace, he would have been received as an honored guest.
But here, at the Pan-Human Alliance, in front of everyone? Impossible. Everyone knew the Alliance was but a puppet, a façade for the three superempires. At their whim, it could be dissolved.
For Zeref to present such a plan here, in this setting, before the eyes of all—
It was still too immature.