END? As in "the end"?
Supposedly a demon from the Books of Zeref.
I hear my dragon dad tried to exterminate it.
The Books of Zeref. I wish I hadn't heard those words again.
I figured if I could find out what this END is,
it'd give me a hint about Igneel's whereabouts.
That's what Atlas Flame said...
I'm sorry. I don't know anything about that.
But when you mentioned Tartarus this afternoon, it made me recall something.
No one really knows anything about them except that they're a creepy guild.
Their location, members, and numbers are all unknown.
But I have heard eyewitness accounts of their gatherings.
Those witnesses all said the same thing.
Their meetings are demonic rituals.
This is only a conjecture from one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Ishgar...
...but it's possible they possess a powerful demon from the Books of Zeref.
A guild has a demon from the Books of Zeref?!
Could that demon be END?!
Then there is a connection...
...with the man from Succubus!
This building still gives me the creeps.
And this is my guild...
So Fairy Tail won the Grand Magic Games...
Good grief.
I expected this would happen when the Tenrou group came home.
That guild definitely stands out.
In the first place, it seems we should discuss the Grand Magic Games tournament.
Still, if one country sponsors such a thing, it will be difficult dealing with them.
Peace, everyone.
The subject of today's meeting is Tartarus.
Tartarus Arc (Prologue): The Nine Demon Gates
As you know, seven dark guilds thought to be affiliated with Tartarus
have disappeared over the past several days.
We don't know who is behind this, but to us, it is an unwelcome favor.
Since if it is the work of a legitimate guild, it's possible there will be retaliation.
It's probably that, you know... the ones that call themselves an independent guild...
Crime Sorciere? Yes, it's possible.
I would guess it's more Fairy Tail shenanigans.
They have a psychological need to show how powerful they are.
I think you have a psychological need to involve Fairy Tail in this.
Well, you certainly have their backs, Sage Org.
Listen. If we're talking about possibilities,
their parent guild, Tatarus, could have taken over their children guilds, no?
To what purpose?
I don't know. However, building up their military force
and weeding out members comes to mind.
Cannibalization between dark guilds?
Now that's one thing I can't see happening!
It's safe to assume that Tartarus is already plenty powerful.
Maybe you're ready for retirement, Sage Org.
Hold on there. Sage Org's opinion sounds logical.
Chairman!
The Tartarus issue has been on the back-burner, but now is the time to address it.
The enemy's identity is unknown.
But if we destroy them now, the whole Balam Alliance will fall apart.
Now is the time for us, the Magic Council, to wield our great power and fight.
So somebody finally suggested they get off their asses?
It took time, but it was worth waiting for.
This way, the dark guilds of the Balam Alliance can be mopped up.
We have an emergency!
What is it?
Fool! We're in the middle of a meeting!
Th-This is more important.
I-Intruder...
Dammit...
What happened?
Lahar, wake up!
Hey! "Emergency" is an understatement here.
Lahar... Hey!
No way...
It can't be...
Hello? Did anybody else make it?
Dammit...
Doranbolt...
Sage Org!
You are okay?
No, no.
I need you dead.
We were after all nine members.
Explode.
D-Don't!
Doranbolt...
Escape!
I can't!
What good is it if you die, too?
Nobody can escape... my explosions.
Go, Doranbolt!
My name is Jackal. I'm a member of Tartarus, one of the Nine Demon Gates.
Remember that in hell.
Remember the name of the man who slaughtered the Council.
L-Live so you can avenge us...
...Doranbolt!
Sage Org!
Mira-chan, I'll take a brew over here!
Me, too!
Be right over!
Pop, it's the middle of the afternoon!
Bastard! You just ogled Lisanna!
Stop it, Elf-nii-chan!
Minerva joined a dark guild?
Yes.
What about her father? The former master of Sabertooth...
I don't know where he is at the moment.
Come to think of it, Sting is the current master of Saber.
A young, handsome master... That's so cool!
Yeah!
We need to report this to the Council.
I thought I would inform Sting, too.
Look at this, Gray-sama!
Juvia baked buns!
They're called Gray Buns!
Well, they look good, but I have a thing against eating my own face...
That makes sense. Juvia will eat the Gray Buns,
while you, Gray-sama...
...please eat my Juvia Buns!
I was tricked!
What's this with Gray?
Even though he said he was going to flat-out reject her or whatever...
It's always the same with them.
If you ain't gonna eat it, I will!
This is the flavor of a Man!
Elf-nii-chan, you need to get a clue!
Another man ate Juvia's buns,
and I don't even understand his opinion!
Well, you did go to the trouble, so I'll have one.
Gray-sama!
That's a Gray Bun.
Look at this.
END... This doesn't go into detail,
but it seems to be a demon that's in a whole other league than Lullaby and Deliora.
So it's a really powerful demon from the Books of Zeref?
That's scary.
What is this "demon from the Books of Zeref" thing?
Hell if I know.
A demon that Zeref brought forth.
It's said the way to summon it is written in one of Zeref's books.
So if you have that book, you can summon one of Zeref's demons?
That's right. There's one demon for every book.
And Tartarus may have that END demon, right?
And Igneel tried to destroy END.
Yeah. Now I get it.
Get what?
I'm gonna beat the crap out of Tartarus!
Agreed!
You don't get it!
There are too many unknowns about Tartarus.
How can you beat them up when not even the Council knows where they are?
We don't even know anything about their members.
But it's a clue to Igneel's whereabouts.
That's right. Grandine, too.
Metallicana may have somethin' to do with it, too.
Emergency! Dire news!
I've been expecting you.
You could hear what went on upstairs, right?
Don't be stupid. I can't use magic from this cell.
All I could hear was an explosion.
Tell me everything you know about Tartarus.
I've told you before. I won't give anything away for free.
My price is the release of all Oracion Seis members.
I don't have that authority.
Then talk to the people upstairs about it.
The people...
All the members have been murdered.
Then they really made a big splash.
My friend died, too. I'm not playing games here.
If you don't cough up information, I'll kill you.
The release of the Oracion Seis members is non-negotiable.
They're my comrades.
But I'll do you a favor and tell you one thing.
It's been a long time, Silver.
Kyoka...
You're as sexy as ever.
I don't often see you in human form.
Manly, right? I like it.
Jackal and Tempesta aren't here?
They're both off on different missions.
Then the plan has already begun?
Good. Let's show humans the power of the underworld.
Let's show them the hell that is Tartarus's Nine Demon Gates.
None of them are human.
They're all demons from the Books of Zeref.
The name of their master is END.
He's the most powerful demon from all the Books of Zeref.
That's our Jackal-san! He knows how to leave an impression!
How much are the lives of the nine Council members worth?
How much?!
Franmalth, stop that infernal cackling.
It is beneath our dignity.
Like demons have dignity?!
Send me out next, Kyoka!
I wanna massacre me some humans!
Ezel-san, in stories, there is always an order to the events.
This is still the prologue...
No. I suppose it would be the foreword...
She's right. Be patient, Ezel.
You already have a job to do.
My body... My body aches for action!
It's not fair that Jackal and Tempesta have all the fun!
Prayers...
Whispers...
And the benediction of the underworld...
Hell has just begun.
It is all for our master, Zeref.
Let us deliver a crushing demonic blow to the human race.
This is terrible news.
The Council was bombed?!
I hear all nine members died.
And not only them. There were 119 casualties.
This is a tragedy.
Good thing you quit the Council.
Shut your mouth! Show some respect.
Still, it could have been worse.
Well, I didn't think it was over.
What was over?
I'm talking about ERA.
The Council headquarters, ERA, represents all of the guilds on the continent.
That is, it's the linchpin that ties all the wizards together.
People sought out the Council for accurate judgment and sound decisiveness.
And that is what I aimed to cultivate when I became a member.
But the truth is, the Council had various managerial problems.
Sometimes we made a bad call.
Sometimes we acted too aggressively.
Eventually, I no longer belonged there.
When I quit the Council and opened my restaurant...
...it felt like laying down a heavy burden.
Yajima-san...
And I did lay down a burden, but...
Do you have any regrets?
It's like a small needle pricking at my heart.
Powerful authority gives rise to anti-authority. That's the way of the world.
Especially when it's uncompromising in every respect.
I thought something like this might happen.
But that doesn't diminish the cruelty of it.
Hey, you guys!
Just because we don't have many customers right now doesn't mean you can slack off!
That uniform doesn't suit you.
Look who's talking!
Sheesh...
You guys complained after the Grand Magic Games led to getting lots of heavy-duty jobs,
so I found an easy one for us, right?
Hey, now, a restaurant is no easy gig.
Well, I am good at cooking.
And I'm good at dishing it out, baby!
Dish it out! Dish it out!
Well, I do have the sex appeal...
By the way, I wonder when Laxus is coming back.
Maybe he got lost?
He can't even run an errand. That guy's hopeless.
Speak of the devil...
Rumble.
Whoosh.
Who is he?!
Yajima-san!
Boom.
Whipper-snapper!
Gust.
Yajima-san!
Fairy Machine Gun: Leprechaun!
Rumble.
Ever!
Damn him...
Who are you?!
I have no name. I am one of the Nine Demon Gates.
The human race calls me "calamity."
Dammit! What kind of magic is this?!
I can't move...
The gates of hell have been opened. Humanity shall be judged.
Yajima-san!
The gates of the underworld... Tartarus?!
Don't tell me...
...their targets weren't only current Council members, but former members, too?!
What the hell are they after?!
Go...
Don't!
...to hell.
Yajima-san!
I was unsure about the way back...
...but I got no doubts about killing you!
A man from Tartarus attacked Yajima,
a former Council member, and called himself a "calamity."
A furious Laxus engaged this powerful enemy, who even overwhelmed the Raijinshuu.
No matter who the enemy is,
Fairy Tail will never forgive someone who injures their comrades.
The curtain opens on a fierce battle amidst crumbling rubble.
Next time: Tartarus Arc (Prologue): Fairy Versus the Underworld!
Tartarus Arc (Prologue): Fairy Versus the Underworld
Raging lightning lies within Laxus's fists!