Fairy Tail: Collapsing Stars

Chapter 281: In the Hot Spring

Steam rose from the peak of Black Night Mountain's tower...

After the battle, everyone was soaking in the hot spring, letting the warm water gradually heal their weary bodies.

Besides cleansing and healing, they also discussed the future direction of Edolas, Elentear, and Earthland...

This included matters concerning the Black Dragon Acnologia and the Dragon Gods...

"So why did only you come? I asked you to find Zeref. So, where did Lord Zeref go?"

Evan sat in the hot spring, looking at August, who was grinning foolishly at him, feeling speechless.

"His Majesty said he doesn't like interacting with too many people; it unsettles his mind. He can't experience too much happiness, or certain great deities would be displeased..."

"Especially, His Majesty is worried that seeing his brother Natsu here would stir uncontrollable emotions within him..."

"In your words, it means..."

"You wouldn't want to see His Majesty go mad, triggering the curse and causing Ankhseram's curse to massacre everyone here, right?"

August smiled warmly at Evan as he spoke.

"How much did you see back then?"

Evan raised an eyebrow, watching August use his own words to threaten him so skillfully.

"I saw a little, I told you, just a little~"

August smiled, imitating Evan's gesture, showing two fingers to indicate he really only saw a little.

"Heh..."

Evan chuckled lightly, not believing him at all. This old man seemed to be getting worse, more like someone from Fairy Tail, possibly because of the dormant DNA of First Master Mavis awakening within him.

"Right now, the magic in Edolas is dwindling day by day. Our world's remaining magic is almost exhausted, and soon it won't be enough to maintain basic living needs. I hope Lady Selene will allow us to start drawing magic from Elentear to balance the magic between our worlds..."

As Evan and August were bantering, Mest, sitting nearby, spoke seriously about Edolas's magic situation.

In truth, Edolas's magic could have lasted for more than a decade...

But the former king, Faust, foolishly activated the super dragon knight Evan created.

That thing consumed magic excessively; every second it operated used enough magic to power the entire kingdom for a day, just for basic needs like heating water, lighting fires, and lamps...

If the Edolas Fairy Tail guild used magic tools recklessly, it would quickly deplete the magic, which was why Faust had banned wizard guilds. Ironically, the biggest magic spender was Faust himself.

So, due to Faust's wasteful usage, Edolas was running out of time...

"So you want magic from Elentear?"

As Mest finished speaking, a seductive female voice came from behind the fake mountain—Selene, the Moon Dragon.

Selene and Irene, along with the Moonlit Three Beauties, were on the other side of the bathhouse, separated from the men by a fake mountain. Their voices could be clearly heard on both sides, facilitating smooth communication.

"Yes, please allow it, Lady Selene!"

Mest stood up from the water, bowing deeply toward the fake mountain, requesting Selene's permission.

"To be honest, I don't care about Elentear's magic; it's meaningless to me..."

"I can give you all this magic~"

"But not without conditions. I need something beneficial in return~"

Selene, soaking in the spring, leaned against the fake mountain, feeling the comfort of the warm water. She stretched lazily, causing waves in the water from her movements.

"Indeed, Lady Selene's figure is extraordinary!"

Yoko, one of the Moonlit Three Beauties, who had a flat figure like an airplane runway, gave a thumbs-up at the sight of Selene's bouncing fullness in the water.

In Yoko's eyes, Selene was perfect in every way...

"What does Lady Selene need? If it's within my power, I'll do my best to fulfill it..."

Mest, having learned from last time, directly asked Selene what she wanted.

"Is Evan there with you?"

Selene asked after hearing Mest's question.

"He is..."

Mest glanced at Evan, then replied softly.

"If he agrees to stay with me tonight, I'll agree to your request~"

Selene's voice, filled with excitement, came from behind the fake mountain.

"Uh..."

Mest fell silent.

"Am I some kind of gigolo? I'm not a Blue Pegasus wizard..."

Evan was at a loss for words. Why was Selene so fixated on him?

"No, this is too dangerous. I should visit Elentear less often..."

"Or maybe I can introduce Gildarts to Selene sooner..."

"Gildarts is always up for anything, as long as it's a full figure. It's perfect."

Evan thought to himself.

"Evan, why don't you just agree to Selene's request?"

As Evan pondered, August suggested with a smile.

"Huh?"

Evan stopped thinking, looking at August with a "you must be kidding" expression. Though he said nothing, his meaning was clear.

"Hehe, Evan, think about it! If you marry Selene, the two strongest women in this world will be yours. You'll have everything you want. Aside from Acnologia, no one can stop you!"

August, rubbing his beard, grinned.

"Slash!"

Evan flicked at August's beard.

Immediately, droplets of water turned into blades, cutting August's beard.

"What?!"

"Look what you've done!"

August looked at the beard in his hand, shocked and horrified.

"Hehe, August, if you like Selene so much, why don't you go for her yourself? You seem fit enough..."

"With Selene, Alvarez wouldn't just be the strongest on the Western Continent. Even including Northern Continent's Giltena and Ishgar, Alvarez would be unrivaled!"

"With Zeref's command, you could conquer anyone. Even Fairy Tail couldn't compete!"

Evan coldly suggested to August.

"You brat, what nonsense are you spouting?"

"How could I possibly marry the Moon Dragon Selene?"

August, his forehead touching Evan's, shouted angrily.

"You started it!"

"And if I'm ever forced to join Selene, the first thing I'll do is team up with her to destroy Alvarez..."

Evan, his forehead coated with Haki, headbutted August.

"Ow..."

"Is your head made of iron?"

August held his bruised forehead, asking in pain.

"Don't insult my head by comparing it to iron!"

Evan boasted as August winced in pain.

"You brat, no wonder dragons are attracted to you—you're practically one yourself!"

August, holding his forehead, shouted.

"Actually, I'm human..."

Evan emphasized his pure human bloodline, though his tone lacked confidence.

"No human has a head harder than iron! Idiot!"

August roared, holding his head.

"What did you say, jerk..."

Evan grabbed August's newly grown beard, shouting angrily.

"Let go! Brat! This is my freshly groomed beard! Don't ruin it again..."

August tried to pry Evan away from his precious beard.

While Evan and August quarreled, on the other side of the hot spring...

"It seems you still don't get it, Selene!"

"I've told you countless times! Stay away from my child!"

"You b*tch dragon, you don't deserve my perfect son..."

Irene coldly warned Selene.

"Let me make it clear too..."

"Our fight was a draw at best!"

"So, you have no right to stop me from pursuing my happiness! You old hag..."

Selene stood up from the spring, angrily responding.

"Old hag? How dare you! We're probably the same age!"

Irene's forehead veins popped; she hated being reminded of her age, especially by someone her age...

Besides, she wasn't old at all!

"Fine~ Let's fight again!"

"The loser leaves Evan alone, like the black and white celestials, the loser leaves forever, the winner takes all!"

Irene, calming down, smirked coldly.

Her ample chest shook as she spoke, ready for another fight with Selene.

"Bring it on, you think I'm scared?"

"You think I've dominated Giltena for 400 years and earned the title of Dragon God by bathing?"

Selene's ample chest heaved, matching Irene's.

The tension was palpable in both the men's and women's bathhouses.

Men's bathhouse...

"Kurnugi, do something! Stop their fight!"

Mest urged Kurnugi, watching Evan and August argue.

"You do it if you can!"

Kurnugi, expressionless, soaked in the spring. He'd seen such scenes too often in Fairy Tail to be surprised anymore.

"This..."

Mest, taking Kurnugi's advice, soaked back in the spring, admitting he couldn't stop the fight.

Women's bathhouse...

The Moonlit Three Beauties felt overwhelmed watching Selene and Irene, four breasts ready to clash again.

"Lady Selene, Lady Irene, please calm down!"

They tried to persuade Selene and Irene, but neither listened.

"You all are too noisy, arguing all the time..."

"With this attitude, you expect to defeat Acnologia? I suggest you give up and find a new world to live in!"

As Evan, August, Irene, and Selene faced off, Natsu, sitting on the edge like an old man, suddenly spoke up.

"Huh? Natsu, what's wrong with you?"

Mest was shocked by Natsu's courage to say what he always wanted to but didn't dare.

"Phew~"

Natsu tossed his towel, which instantly burned to ashes.

"Boom!!"

Stepping into the hot

spring with Evan and the others, Natsu continued.

"It's been about 400 years since I last had a cold bath..."

Natsu, now fully in the spring, smiled at Evan.

"Boy, you tried using consciousness-separating magic on me while I was asleep, didn't you?"

"You succeeded! But only because I allowed it..."

Natsu, fully immersed, grinned at Evan.

"So you are?"

Evan, sweating, realized who it was...

"Hehe..."

"Yes! I am the Fire Dragon King Igneel!!"

Natsu, arms crossed, proudly declared.

"You're too slow in planning. Let me help you make better plans!"

Using Natsu's body, Igneel arrogantly addressed Evan, August, Mest, and Kurnugi.

**Thanks to the reader for the reward.**

**Laying groundwork, clearing thoughts. Next, I'll cover changes in guild members and wrap up the second generation's story, leading to the main plot.**

**Resting early today, more updates tomorrow. Thanks for the subscriptions, rewards, and votes. Enjoy and stay healthy!**