-----
-----
The moment Mason clicked "publish," the enormous light screen known as the Projection Platform of the Myriad Worlds flared to life, hanging high in the skies of countless universes.
One Piece World — The Thousand Sunny
"Fairy Tail? Grimoire Heart?"
Usopp stared at the two guild emblems glowing on the screen. One in particular made his skin crawl. A heart wrapped in sharp spikes.
His legs started shaking. He hurriedly hid behind Zoro, peeking out with half his head."Hey, hey, Luffy, those names sound super bad! Grimoire Heart… that totally sounds like some monster that eats people's hearts, right? Shouldn't we run?"
"So scary!" Chopper yelped, instantly shrinking into his tiny form. He hugged Usopp's leg and trembled."Doctor! Where's a doctor?! I've got that disease where you die after seeing scary names!"
"You idiots," Zoro muttered, sliding his sword back into its sheath. His eyes never left the screen."Names don't matter. What I want to know is how strong this so-called 'hot-blooded battle' really is."
Marine Headquarters — Marineford
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, Sakazuki clenched a cigar between his teeth, his face dark enough to drip water.
He stared out the window at the massive screen dominating the sky, feeling an irritation he hadn't known in years.
"Fairy Tail? Grimoire Heart? Never heard of them," he growled. "New pirate factions hiding in the New World?"
"Buru buru buru—"
The Den Den Mushi on his desk rang wildly.
Sakazuki snatched it up. "Investigate everything! Activate all intelligence networks. New World, Four Seas, I don't care. I want full reports on both organizations immediately. And if they're pirates, wipe them out completely!"
Naruto World — Konohagakure
Fresh from completing the Land of Waves mission and defeating Zabuza, Uzumaki Naruto was sitting in Ichiraku Ramen, which was still perfectly intact at this point, slurping noodles like his life depended on it.
"Huh? What's this?"
With his mouth still full, Naruto looked up at the sky."Hot-blooded battle highlights? Tch, if we're talking hot-blooded battles, ninja fights are way cooler! The Third Grandpa used to talk about the Third Shinobi World War. That was legendary!"
Hokage Tower — Rooftop
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, held his pipe, his aged but sharp eyes filled with concern.
"An unknown power system… unknown organizations…"
He exhaled a ring of smoke, brows tightly furrowed."The shinobi world has only just found peace. If these forces are enemies lurking in the shadows, then Konoha, no, the entire world may face another catastrophe."
Fairy Tail World — Magnolia
Inside the Fairy Tail guild hall, chaos reigned as usual.
Natsu and Gray were grabbing each other by the collars and yelling insults. Erza calmly ate strawberry cake. Lucy complained about repair costs and structural damage.
Then the sky changed.
"Hey! Everyone, look up there!" Macao shouted, pointing skyward, dropping his mug in excitement. His face flushed bright red."That emblem! That's ours! Fairy Tail! We're on the screen!"
"What?!"
The guild instantly exploded into motion. Everyone rushed outside and stared up.
"It's real!" Happy flew around in circles, pointing at the title. "That's our name! And that Grimoire Heart thing… Aye? Who's that?"
"Grimoire Heart…" Erza's expression hardened immediately."That's part of the Balam Alliance. One of the strongest dark guilds in legend."
As everyone stood stunned, the screen finally began to play.
Video Playback Begins
The scene did not show land.
Instead, it opened on the deck of a massive airship soaring through the sky.
Winds howled. The atmosphere was deadly serious.
Five figures stood facing an elderly man with an eyepatch and a long beard.
Those five were Natsu, Gray, Erza, Lucy, and… a small blue-haired girl.
"That's… future me?"
In the present, Natsu's eyes went wide as he stared at the version of himself on the screen, flames raging around his body. Even through the image, the heat felt overwhelming.
In the video, Natsu attacked first.
"Fire Dragon's… Iron Fist!!!"
With a roar, dragon-shaped flames coiled around his arm as he punched forward. The fire was not ordinary orange. It carried a violent golden-red hue. The heat warped the air itself. The reinforced deck melted and shattered like tofu.
"So strong!" Wakaba shouted. "When did Natsu's flames get that crazy?"
Even Natsu froze, staring at his hands."Future me… got this strong?"
Next, Erza switched armor instantly.
"Requip: Black Wing Armor!"
Pitch-black wings spread wide. She shot forward like a bolt of black lightning, leaving countless afterimages.
"Black Wing… Moon Flash!!!"
A storm of sword light poured down, each slash capable of cleaving steel.
"That's… me in the future?" Erza murmured, eyes flickering."Speed and power both increased by a whole level. Good. I didn't slack off."
The scene shifted again.
"Ice-Make… Holy Sword!"
Gray clasped his hands as extreme cold erupted. A massive holy sword of ice formed instantly. The freezing aura crushed Natsu's lingering heat, even freezing moisture in the air into frost.
"Aye! Gray's not bad either," Happy said. "Though future Gray still loves taking his clothes off."
Sure enough, video-Gray was shirtless, muscles on full display.
Present Natsu burst out laughing."I told you! You're an exhibitionist! Future you's still a perverted droopy-eyed freak!"
"What did you say, flame-brained idiot?!" Gray snapped back.
Before they could fight, Erza knocked both of them on the head at once.
"Quiet. Watch. This is important future intel."
Beyond those three, the other two were just as impressive.
Lucy raised a golden key."Open! Gate of the Taurus! Taurus!"
A muscular, axe-wielding bull-man burst out in a shower of starlight, smashing the deck and tearing a massive crack through it.
"I'm in it too!" Present Lucy squealed, covering her face."And I'm strong! This is amazing! I really became a proper mage!"
But the most shocking presence was the blue-haired girl.
In the video, Wendy spread a massive magic circle beneath her feet, her clear voice ringing out.
"Enchant: Divine Crown! Knight of God! Attack, defense, speed… all boosted!"
Multicolored light surged over Natsu and the others. Their auras skyrocketed instantly.
"Who's that girl?" Mirajane asked. "That's Lost Magic, Enchanting. And she looks like a Sky Dragon Slayer."
"She bears our guild mark," Makarov said gravely."It seems she will join Fairy Tail in the future. Right now, though… she should belong to Cait Shelter."
The Battle Continues
Even under the assault of Fairy Tail's strongest team, the old man named Hades remained terrifyingly calm.
He lifted one hand, not even bothering to move his feet.
"You may be fledgling birds, but you are not insignificant," he said coolly."However, before abyssal magic, you are still far too green."
He flicked a finger.
Erza, moving at high speed, suddenly froze as if bound by invisible chains.
"What?!"
Before she could react, a magic construct of light seized her and flung her like a meteor hammer, smashing her straight into Gray, who had been preparing another spell.
Boom!
They crashed together and rolled across the deck.
Hades waved again. Golden magic formed a gigantic hand that slapped Natsu mid-charge, sending him flying through multiple layers of the ship.
Grimoire Heart — Inside the Airship
The real Hades sat on his throne, watching the screen. His remaining eye narrowed slightly.
"So this is a glimpse of the future."
"Fairy Tail… the fledglings Makarov raised, daring to challenge me."
He let out a cold laugh and tapped the armrest."But the ending is already decided. Before the grand ambition of the Great Magic World, the struggles of light are meaningless."
Across the countless worlds, viewers were completely absorbed.
Even with only a few scenes, the clash of magic, the brilliant yet lethal combat style, left everyone stunned.
But this was only the beginning.
The title was Hot-Blooded Battle Scenes.
And hot-blooded meant one thing.
A desperate explosion of power.
"....."