— — — — — —
Kazuma and Wendy spent a long time gathering the dragon race together. In the end, out of more than ten thousand dragons, only a few thousand were successfully revived.
Four hundred years was still far too long. Back then, the Black Dragon Acnologia had been utterly ruthless. Even powerful dragon souls couldn't endure for that length of time.
Once everything was settled, Kazuma prepared to leave with Wendy. But just as he was about to go, he suddenly sensed something.
"So… the Black Dragon Acnologia is finally coming."
Kazuma's danger sense flared sharply. He turned toward the distant horizon at once.
The Black Dragon was on the move.
"Last time he was coming too, but something delayed him halfway. This time…"
Kazuma glanced at the dragons within his Shadow Kingdom. The disturbance caused by reviving them had likely been detected.
As a dragon sworn to exterminate all dragonkind, Acnologia would come no matter how far away he was the moment he sensed the presence of dragons.
"Wendy, I won't be going back to the guild for now," Kazuma said gently. "You head back first. Let everyone know once you're there."
"I need to deal with something. I won't be back for a while."
With a smile, he rubbed Wendy's head, then told Wendy and Carla to return on their own. As for himself, he was going to find a place to face the Black Dragon.
"I understand, Niisan," Wendy nodded obediently. She hadn't sensed anything herself, but she trusted him completely.
"You… you'll be okay, right?" Carla sensed something wrong and asked anxiously.
Kazuma's aura was dangerous, but ever since they'd met, he had helped them again and again. Carla might be tsundere, but she wasn't heartless.
"Don't worry," Kazuma replied with a light smile. "It's just a small matter."
With that, he turned and left. Wendy and Carla set off on the road back to the guild.
Elsewhere, using the special abilities of a Sky Dragon, Grandeeney sought out the other dragons hidden within Dragon Slayer mages.
"Everyone," she said calmly, "that human possesses a special kind of magic. He can summon us in our dragon-soul state and restore us in a complete form."
"Yes, the price is that we would be placed under his command and fight for him. But we wouldn't have to worry about disappearing after leaving our Dragon Slayers' bodies."
"And he's already caused such a huge disturbance. I can feel it. The Black Dragon Acnologia is approaching."
"We need to regain our bodies as soon as possible, so we can face Acnologia in our best condition."
Grandeeney laid out her stance clearly.
"Grandeeney, that all sounds nice," the Iron Dragon scoffed, "but how can you be sure that human will help us?"
"We only get one chance to leave our Dragon Slayers' bodies. That chance is meant for Acnologia. If we use it now, there won't be another."
He spoke with clear irritation. His child, Gajeel, had nearly been beaten to death by Kazuma. He had no goodwill toward that human at all.
"I understand your concerns," Grandeeney replied evenly. "But I've also gathered information on him through my own channels."
"He's a mage. A very powerful one. And more importantly, someone who keeps his promises."
"As long as I issue him a request and he accepts it, we can be almost certain he'll help us."
Grandeeney could contact Porlyusica. While she couldn't appear in person, Porlyusica could communicate with Kazuma on her behalf.
"Grandeeney, I told you long ago not to meddle in human affairs," a deep voice cut in. "We don't need human help."
"Acnologia will be defeated by me."
Fire Dragon King Igneel rejected her proposal without hesitation. His pride would never allow him to submit to a human.
"Igneel, don't be stubborn," Grandeeney shot back. "You know better than anyone that we can't defeat Acnologia with our strength alone!"
"If we could have won, we would have done so back then. We wouldn't have had to wait until now, and we wouldn't have needed to raise Dragon Slayers in the first place!"
"I know you care deeply for those humans. You don't want them dragged into this danger."
"But we have no other choice."
"Either we gather every bit of power we have and hold another Dragon King Festival, fighting Acnologia to the death…"
"Or we stand by and watch him destroy this world. Destroy all life!"
This time, Grandeeney refused to back down. She was gentle by nature, but that didn't mean she lacked resolve. This was not the time to hesitate.
"This time, no matter what you think, I will act on my own decision. I choose to help that human."
"If you trust me, trust my judgment as the Sky Dragon, then come with me."
"If you don't… then do as you please."
With that, Grandeeney turned and left.
This time, she was truly serious. She would no longer concern herself with the others' opinions. She would follow her own path, no matter what.
.
.
.