The Magic Merchant in Fairy Tail

"Success! Run now!!"

The battle plan was a success, and Kira knew there was no time to waste. "If we don't leave now, are we going to wait for death?" he thought.

Even if the ice prison chariot, crafted with precision and infused with God-killing Magic, had temporarily held Acnologia, Kira understood its limitations. This was no ordinary opponent; this was Acnologia, the Black Dragon of the Apocalypse. It was no use hoping for leniency or restraint.

Kira quickly activated his remaining magic. Massive, fiery wings erupted from his back as he grabbed Gray and Winter, carrying them toward Fairy Airship No. 1. In seconds, they caught up with Natsu, Happy, and Erza, all struggling but alive.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

The trio landed on the airship, collapsing onto its deck. The others had been waiting anxiously and immediately hit the take-off button. The airship's engine roared to life, and they soared into the sky at maximum speed.

"Save a life!" Kira groaned as he lay sprawled on the airship deck, his body entirely spent.

The others were no better off. Some were injured, others drained of their magic power. They had poured everything they had into the fight and now relied on sheer willpower to hold themselves together.

Natsu, who had unleashed the full force of his Dragon Force, was utterly spent and struggling with the aftereffects of his transformation. Worse, the ship lacked any stabilization magic, leaving him nauseous and miserable.

Erza had pushed herself to the brink, fighting long after her magic power was gone. Kira suspected she had even tapped into her Second Magic Origin, depleting herself completely.

And Gildarts? His wounds were severe, and though Kira had managed to stop the worst of the bleeding, the veteran S-class wizard still required extensive rest to recover fully.

As the airship sped away, a faint explosion echoed from behind them. They didn't need to turn around to know that the sound came from Acnologia breaking free of his restraints.

"How could it break through so quickly?!" Gray exclaimed.

"Is this what dragons are truly like?" Lucy murmured, still shaken.

"Was Natsu raised by something like that?" Elfman asked, incredulous.

"No way!" Natsu, despite his dizziness, slammed his fist on the deck. "Igneel is gentle! He's not like that monster!!"

Gray sighed and placed a calming hand on Natsu's shoulder. "We know, we know. Don't let them get to you."

"I bet he's just frustrated because he couldn't beat the dragon," Kira quipped from his place on the deck.

The others turned to him in disbelief. "Kira! How can you say something like that now?"

Natsu's fists clenched tighter as he stared at the deck. His voice trembled with emotion: "Damn it! Damn it!! That guy..."

"Enough, Natsu," Kira interrupted. "This airship's an older model. If you break it, we're walking home!"

The comment managed to cut through Natsu's despair, and he quieted down.

Kira took a deep breath and continued, his tone serious now: "Listen. Acnologia isn't something we can defeat right now. You don't need to beat yourself up over it. There's no shame in retreating when the odds are this stacked against us."

"He's right, Natsu," Gildarts said from where he lay, his voice weak but steady. "We were able to escape only because of a solid plan and the fact that Acnologia wasn't taking us seriously. If it had, none of us would be alive right now."

Cana, who was tending to her father, hesitated before speaking: "But didn't Kira find its weakness? That transportation trick seemed to work for a while..."

"It won't hold him forever," Kira replied, shaking his head. "And there's something else you need to know."

His words made everyone tense up.

"Acnologia... was once human."

"What?!"

The group stared at Kira in stunned silence.

"Yes, Acnologia was a Dragon Slayer, just like Natsu," Kira continued. "He used dragon-slaying magic to the point where he transformed into a dragon. That's what happens when a Dragon Slayer's power grows too strong."

"Natsu's going to become... that?" Lucy asked, her voice trembling.

Natsu's mind reeled. "I... will become... a dragon?"

"Hey, Kira, quit messing around!" Gray snapped, grabbing Kira by the collar.

Kira didn't flinch. "I'm not joking, Gray. You saw it yourselves—Natsu's dragon power awakened during the fight. That's the first step toward transformation."

"No! I don't want that!" Happy cried, clinging to Natsu. "Natsu can't become a dragon!"

Kira softened his tone, offering a glimmer of hope. "Don't worry. Even if a Dragon Slayer transforms, there are ways to reverse it. They can regain their human form and even switch between the two states."

Relief washed over everyone—briefly.

"But!" Kira added ominously, "Even in human form, they'll still be dragons at their core. They'll lose what makes them human—like the ability to enjoy food or feel emotions as they once did."

Gray, furious, pulled Kira to his feet. "How can you say something so heartless? We're supposed to be a team!"

Kira didn't flinch, his expression calm. "Gray, you're upset because you care. I get that. But we don't have time for comforting lies right now. We need to prepare for what's coming."

Erza stepped forward, her eyes steely. "If you're telling us this, Kira, then you must have a solution."

Kira met her gaze, his exhaustion evident but his determination unwavering. "I'm working on it."

Despite the tension, Kira couldn't help but feel a sliver of optimism. They had survived Acnologia—a feat in itself.

"We'll figure it out," Kira said firmly. "Together."

The airship soared into the horizon, leaving the Zonia Mountains and their harrowing ordeal behind. For now, they were safe. But everyone knew the fight was far from over.

The future was uncertain, but one thing was clear: Fairy Tail would face it together.

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