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Chapter 159: Inner Zeref
🕑 Added 2025-07-07 03:01:01 +0000 UTC【 After hearing Zeref's words, Natsu and Happy were both incredibly shocked. Happy even cried out anxiously, “Na...Natsu, don't believe what he says.”
“I'm Zeref's dead brother or END?!” Natsu's voice was clearly panicked, though he still refused to believe it. “That's too much information, I'm going to explode!”
Natsu then put his hands on his hips and gave his reason for not being END: “Besides, Igneel said he couldn't defeat END. If I were END, he should have been able to easily crush me.”
Zeref calmly refuted his reason: “He couldn't defeat him, not because of physical power difference, but because love had formed. That's why he~ couldn't defeat him!”
Natsu was clearly stunned for a moment, then he clenched his right fist tightly and still loudly denied, “END is a demon who established Tartaros! It's not me... Besides, I'm a good person!!”
Zeref's tone was still calm and gentle: “The one who established Tartaros was Mard Geer Tartaros. He used this book he accidentally found, claiming it was END's will, to command the demons.”
As he spoke, Zeref extended his hand, and a book with “END” written on its cover appeared in his hand. He then casually threw it on the ground.
Natsu shouted angrily, “So I told you I'm not some END!!”
Seeing the stubborn Natsu, Zeref stopped talking and directly shot a magic beam from his hand, piercing the “END” book on the ground!
“Ah...!”
At the same time, Natsu on the other side felt as if his chest had been pierced as well, letting out a painful scream. Then his whole body trembled, and he unconsciously clutched his chest with his right hand, kneeling on the ground. 】
【 。。。。。】
~Projection of All Worlds~
Seeing this scene, the people from other worlds became even more certain of their guess: the battle between Zeref and Natsu was completely one-sided, with Zeref holding back!
Putting aside his strength, if Zeref, with the Book of END in hand, wished, he could have taken Natsu's life at any moment!
~Type-Moon World, ██████ Worldline~
~Chaldea~
“The damage dealt to the book is reflected back to Natsu, so Natsu's life is currently a book?!”
Doctor Roman was amazed by this.
Undoubtedly, Zeref was the most genius young man he had seen since watching the ranking videos. Whether it was when he was young and developed the R-System by himself, or the Eclipse Gate that could travel through time...
The last life composition alone was enough to make countless people look up to him. He actually went to such lengths just to revive his brother!
~In the 7th singularity, Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia~
Gilgamesh stood outside the palace, arms crossed:
“In other words, the current Natsu is not human at all. As he said, he is the strongest demon he created... and also his brother.”
No wonder he was cursed by God. This kind of forbidden magic has overturned the natural cycle of life and death. But I must say, this king also wants to possess this kind of magic to revive his friend...
~Fairy Tail World, Earthland~
At this moment, the faces of the Fairy Tail members suddenly became grim. Whether Natsu was the so-called END or not, they would definitely protect Natsu... Natsu was their companion and also a member of Fairy Tail; there was no doubt about that.
The key to the problem now was that the book that seemed to control Natsu's life was in Mard Geer's hands. This situation was a bit difficult to handle! They didn't know what the other party's attitude towards Natsu would be after watching the video.
And those who hated demons, now knowing Natsu's identity, didn't know if they would take any radical actions? Some people were even stirring up trouble at the banquet.
Seeing this, the other guild members unconsciously protected Natsu.
“Natsu!!”
Happy cried loudly and flew to Natsu's head, as if he were about to disappear in the next second.
Natsu grabbed Happy from his head:
“Don't underestimate me, Happy. I'm Natsu Dragneel, a member of Fairy Tail!”
Sting and Rogue from SaberTusk also stepped forward:
“Don't forget about us!”
Ichiya from Blue Pegasus and Lyon and Jura from Lamia Scale also showed their stance without showing weakness, standing on the side of the Fairy Tail guild!
First Master, Mavis couldn't help but sigh at Makarov:
“A guild should be fertile soil where dreams take root. To move forward on your own path, that is a Fairy Tail mage! Third Master, you have built Fairy Tail into a wonderful guild.”
Makarov, who was praised by the First Master, looked like a child who was so happy he didn't know what to do. He said shyly and awkwardly,
“First Master, you are too kind. I just treat them like my children.”
【 “Shut up!!” Natsu rushed towards Zeref, his voice a little hoarse. “How could I believe your nonsense?”
Zeref still stood in place as Natsu rushed towards him, showing no intention of dodging. He continued to speak unhurriedly.
“You are a demon from the Book of Zeref. If you kill me... You will also die.”
Saying this, Zeref looked at Natsu with tears in his eyes.
“So what?!” Natsu's right hand was already wrapped in black and red flames, coming closer. The attack infused with Igneel's will was already ready to be unleashed.
“I won't hesitate, I've already decided! I'm here precisely to defeat you.”
Happy cried and rushed down towards Natsu: “Natsu!!”
Looking at Natsu like this, Zeref couldn't help but shed tears, “This will be the last chance to stop me!”
Just as Zeref calmly accepted death, Natsu's attack, containing Igneel's will, missed because Happy pulled him back.
Happy's hands were already charred and smoking as he pulled Natsu's collar and flew up, tears dripping down his face, his voice choked: “I don't want this! Natsu... I don't want Natsu to leave my side.”
The dragon mark on his right hand was almost completely gone. Natsu shouted anxiously: “Let go of me, Happy! Igneel's power is about to disappear! If I miss this chance, I'll never be able to defeat Zeref again!”
Happy, with teary eyes, grabbed Natsu's collar and flew higher. “Natsu is my friend, isn't he? Aren't I important to Natsu?”
Zeref stood in place until he saw the figure in the sky gradually disappear.
Tears flowed from his eyes, and he made his final farewell: “There's nothing left to stop me. Farewell... Natsu!”
Then a faint light emitted from his body, and all the injuries he had sustained during the battle disappeared. His eyes were no longer gentle, and his whole demeanor became chilling:
“I no longer have any hesitation!” 】
【 。。。。。】
~Projection of All Worlds~
Seeing this scene, everyone sighed helplessly. If Zeref died, Natsu would also die, which is why Zeref was crying...
Because it was Natsu, Zeref stood in place and gave him a chance, but this time Natsu still couldn't kill him, so Zeref no longer had hope and decided to solve it in his own way.
~Type-Moon World, Kaleid liner Prisma Illya Worldline~
“What a pity... I'm afraid as Zeref said, there won't be a second chance.”
Miyu sighed at this scene.
The previous battle couldn't even be called a battle. Zeref had no intention of resisting at all. It was just a brother's love for his younger brother. He could accept his own death and looked forward to Natsu being able to end his life.
However, Natsu, who was given hope, failed to end his life, and his last bit of gentleness was completely buried in his heart as a result... In the next battle, Zeref wouldn't be holding back like this anymore.
~A Certain Magical Index World, Academy City~
“Indeed! Zeref was holding back all along...”
Shokuhou Misaki couldn't help but exclaim as she watched the last scene.
Although Zeref looked battered and bruised, she didn't expect that with just a slight flash of his body, all the wounds would disappear instantly!
This recovery speed was simply unbelievable. If his clothes weren't still torn, no one would have noticed that he had just experienced a fierce battle.
~Fairy Tail World, Earthland~
At this moment, the members of the Fairy Tail guild were silent. They also didn't expect that defeating Zeref would require such a heavy price. If Zeref died, Natsu would also die...
Erza couldn't help but walk up to Natsu again and hit him hard on the head with a punch, saying sternly:
“Why were you thinking of dying with Zeref?!! Don't you trust your companions like us?!”
“When you faced that million-strong army alone, you probably weren't planning on coming back alive, Natsu!!”
Leaving aside the fact that Natsu would die if Zeref died, just the fact that he dared to face Zeref's million-strong army alone probably meant he wasn't planning on coming back alive.
“Ouch...”
Natsu rubbed his head in pain.
“What are you doing, Erza? I promise this won't happen again.”
【 The scene changed, and in the Fairy Tail guild, Natsu and Zeref stood opposite each other. Zeref's face was downcast: “I tried my best, too! I tried to grasp happiness.”
“But with this body, falling in love with someone will kill them. It's simply not allowed! I can't have a family, nor can I have happiness.”
As he spoke, the scene flashed through the plants and trees swallowed by death, the fish in the water, the birds in the sky, none were spared.
Zeref sat alone in the forest, accompanied by black and white, full of loneliness and death! 】
【 。。。。。】
~Projection of All Worlds~
Falling in love with someone will kill them?! Everyone was stunned when they heard this. What kind of malicious god would cast such a vicious curse?
Not only that, but he was also given an immortal life, destined to wander the world alone forever. No wonder Zeref longed for death... hoping that Natsu could kill him!
~Type-Moon World, Fifth Holy Grail War Worldline~
“Zeref is actually a kind-hearted person.”
Emiya Shirou finally understood at this moment why Zeref always appeared in the forest in the video.
Perhaps he was also afraid that he would strip everyone of their lives in the city due to the curse, which is why he wandered alone in the wilderness.
~Detective Conan World~
“Is this the curse caused by researching the taboo of life and death? Isn't this too cruel?”
Ran, who was already kind-hearted, felt a little sad. So Zeref had been wandering alone like this for over 400 years, but because of the kindness in his heart, he had never been to the city; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
But to thus deprive a person of the right to love and happiness, that so-called god is really too hateful...
(Translator-kun: Don't worry, Ran, you also got that little Shinigami, wherever he goes, death follows)
