Fairy Tail: The Phantom Dragon Slayer

Chapter 2: The End and the Beginning (2)

Autumn, Year X376

Deep within the so-called Forest of Death, where humans feared to tread, Zeref, Anna, and I worked together—sharing our magical knowledge and refining the formulas and energy sources required to activate Eclipse.

The Eclipse Plan

By invoking the magic of time, Eclipse would be activated to send the young Dragon Slayers of this era into the future, preventing Acnologia from bringing about the world's destruction.

The dragons, determined to stop their protégés from succumbing to Dragonization and transforming into dragons themselves, had resolved to use the Soul Fusion Ritual—sealing themselves within their students' bodies.

They were prepared to make this ultimate sacrifice…

All to change the future.

All to protect Natsu and the others as they moved forward.

All for peace.

Without knowing anything about this plan at first, I somehow ended up being chosen—alongside Anna—as one of the five children's guardians.

According to Zeref, Eclipse would be ready to activate in less than a year.

With time quickly running out, the dragons spent their remaining days creating memories with their children, cherishing the fleeting moments they had left.

I was just as busy preparing for Eclipse, but whenever I found a moment to spare, I made sure to visit Pheonixia—granting her whatever wishes I could, within my power.

"Pheonixia, is there anything you want to do? Or anything you'd like from me?"

"Huh? You've been unusually kind lately. You're not messing with me, are you?"

"The time we have left… it's only natural to spend it with family."

"…Ciel."

"So, do you have any wishes?"

"Then… find me a husband!"

"That is impossible."

"You're so cruel~!"

"...Let's just continue our training."

This unmarried dragon… In the days to come, she would be sealed inside my body, falling into a deep slumber.

That meant that in this era, Pheonixia and the other dragons' physical bodies would perish, leaving behind only their consciousness, which would be sealed within the Dragon Slayers.

Pheonixia had chosen death for the sake of the future.

I had lived through countless lifetimes, but this was the first time I had ever received such warmth from another being—not a human, not a god, but her.

Perhaps that was why…

The thought of Pheonixia's impending death left a bitter taste in my mouth, stirring an unfamiliar emotion within me.

After experiencing endless cycles of life and death, she was the first to truly care for me—not just as a mentor or a guardian, but as my family.

My mother, whom I dearly loved.

I remained composed in front of her, but when night fell, my heart felt unbearably heavy.

"How ridiculous. I have watched countless parents perish, met endless tragic fates, and even laughed in the face of gods as they tried to destroy me… yet why does this emotion grip me so tightly now?"

As I sank into my thoughts, I suddenly sensed an overwhelming aura of death behind me.

I turned my head and spoke.

"You still love appearing behind people, don't you, Zeref?"

Zeref let out a quiet chuckle.

"Ciel, even when I hide my presence, you still manage to find me."

"It's impossible not to sense the death that radiates from you."

"True enough… but you're the only one who can stand near me without dying. Just what are you?"

I met his gaze, my expression unwavering.

"I am simply Ciel Illusian. Son of the Phantom Dragon Pheonixia, and… the only friend of the mage Zeref Dragneel."

"Ciel…"

Zeref sat down beside me.

As the cool breeze brushed against our skin, we silently gazed toward the horizon.

"Our time together is running out."

"Zeref, I will meet your future self, not the person you are now. We are not truly parting ways."

"That's rather cruel, don't you think? I have spent my entire life waiting to die. Surely, someone will appear in that future who can finally put an end to me."

"...."

"Ciel, if… if I were to continue living in the future, could you use your illusions to—"

"I'm sorry, but I refuse."

At my immediate rejection, Zeref's expression darkened. He closed his eyes, letting the breeze wash over him in silence.

I said nothing.

I had witnessed this kind of suffering before—the agony of those who longed for death but could not die.

A hero cursed by the gods, forced to wander in immortality.

An undying being, born with eternal life, who wished for nothing more than release after losing every loved one.

A warrior, weary of endless battles, yet incapable of dying.

I had seen them all.

But no matter how much I witnessed their pain, I never had the power to grant them true release.

Even if I shattered their minds with illusions, driving them into a mental abyss, their bodies would remain intact.

Their souls would never be freed.

And because I understood that truth, I could never grant Zeref's request.

It was not liberation—it was simply another descent into an even deeper abyss.

_"I cannot grant your wish, Zeref. But one day, someone will appear who can.

As long as you remain bound by the cycle of reincarnation, you will continue to experience both life and death, over and over again."_

"...That's quite the profound statement."

Even I—who had slain gods, demons, humans, and yokai—could not escape the weight of attachment.

No matter how many cycles of reincarnation I endured, their presence still lingered within me—those who had once fought for me.

I could not forget them.

The foolish subordinates who had followed me in my reckless schemes to slay gods and conquer the world.

The ones who chose to die with me, vowing to stand at my side even in death.

They were long gone. I would never see them again.

And yet, no matter how indifferent I appeared, losing someone I cared for still left a deep ache within me.

Perhaps it was selfish.

But in this world, I had found a kindred spirit—a friend I could truly relate to.

And I did not want to watch him die.

...

July 7, X377

The time had finally come.

The Eclipse of the future and the Eclipse of our present had aligned, opening the gate.

Though the portal was only partially open, in a few minutes, the full activation of Eclipse would commence.

Before the Gate of Time, I stood alongside the five Dragon Slayers and the six dragons, all prepared for departure into the future.

"Everyone, are you ready?"

"We've already steeled our resolve."

"Of course."

"Let's just get this over with already!"

"...."

"All preparations are complete."

The dragons stepped forward, standing before their children, and began invoking the Soul Fusion Ritual.

Pheonixia did the same before me, activating the spell that would bind her essence within me.

Slowly, her presence began merging into my body.

"So, this is how we say goodbye."

"We will always be together, my child."

"Even when you act solemn, it never carries much weight."

"Really?! Can't you at least accept this moment properly?! Even now, you're still insisting on making me the 'old maid dragon' until the very end!"

"If you weren't like this, you wouldn't be Pheonixia."

We exchanged bittersweet smiles.

Meanwhile, the younger Dragon Slayers sobbed and screamed, refusing to part with their dragons—but as the Soul Fusion took hold, their consciousness faded, and they collapsed.

Anna stepped in, casting Memory Alteration Magic on them, ensuring they would not remember what had just transpired.

Now, only Pheonixia and I remained.

"You always ate so much… I suppose that's why it's taking longer for you to merge. Hahaha."

"What nonsense are you spouting?! It's taking longer because I have far more magic than the others! And do you even realize how difficult it is to reverse and suppress the Dragonization that has already progressed in your body? Your mother worked hard for 16 years, you know!"

"Yes, I understand."

As we exchanged words, her body continued to fade—until only her head remained.

"I'm sorry to leave you with such a heavy burden."

"No… If this is the price for the time I was able to spend with you, then I will accept it gladly. I want to embrace this, rather than resent it."

"Ciel..."

"This is our farewell. Thank you… for raising me. I will never forget the youth we spent together."

"...."

"I loved you, Mother."

"Saying it only now, at the very end… how embarrassing."

With those parting words, Pheonixia vanished completely.

Her final whisper echoed in my mind.

"I will always live on within you. I love you, my one and only son, Ciel."

Only at the very end… did I finally say it.

Even now, I remained someone who could only be honest at the last possible moment.

She was not truly dead.

But I would never see her again.

Saying goodbye to someone… truly was a sorrow that cut deep into the heart.

"...."

"Ciel, everything is ready. It's time to go."

"Anna, go on ahead. I need a moment… to say my final farewell to Zeref."

"Alright. I'll go first, then."

Anna nodded, carrying the unconscious children through the gate of light.

Now, I was the only one left.

Zeref stood before me, gazing at me with a bittersweet expression.

"Zeref, this is farewell—for now, at least."

"Ciel… before you go, can you promise me something?"

"A promise?"

"If… in the future where you arrive, I am still alive—no, there's a high chance I will be… and if the future me has completely lost his mind… will you stop me?"

A final request from a friend—to stop him, should he lose himself to madness.

I turned my back to him and walked toward the light of Eclipse.

"That promise… I will accept it, my dear friend."

The moment I stepped into the light, I felt an overwhelming force pulling me in—hurling me beyond the gate of time.

A powerful radiance enveloped me, blinding my vision.

Then, the light faded.

As my senses adjusted, I slowly opened my eyes.

A damp, cool air surrounded me.

"Where… am I?"

The only illumination in the area was a dim light, just enough to see my immediate surroundings.

Yet, there was no sign of Anna or the others—those who should have arrived before me.

"Where are Anna and the children?"

Fortunately, before our departure, I had placed my Illusion Mark on them.

While I couldn't pinpoint their exact location, I could at least sense whether their life force was nearby or far away.

I focused, scanning the area for any traces of their presence.

But no matter how much I searched…

I found nothing.

"Judging by the readings… we've all been scattered separately. It seems Eclipse transported us to different locations."

As I muttered to myself, a deafening roar erupted from above, shaking the entire space.

"Grrrrr…"

A suffocating killing intent, the sheer presence of death, and an overwhelming sense of dread sent chills down my spine.

This feeling…

I remember it.

The same terror I felt when I first stood before the so-called gods.

Slowly, I lifted my head.

"Hahaha…"

"Grrr…"

A massive dragon loomed above me, its black scales streaked with blue markings, its golden eyes gleaming with an eerie hunger.

Only then did I understand why this place felt so cold and damp.

The dragon's very breath chilled the air, and its mere existence suffocated all life in the area.

That was why I couldn't sense a single trace of any living being nearby.

Because everything here had already been erased by him.

"Well now… facing the final boss right from the start, is it?"

I shook my head slightly, raising my right hand.

Mist swirled in my palm, condensing into my weapon—a spear of illusions.

I pointed its tip toward the dragon above me.

"Then I will fight with all my strength, Acnologia."

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