The first sensation Neralyth felt as she stepped through the portal into Earthland was the pulse of its mana. It wasn't the concentrated, cosmic hum of celestial energy she was used to, nor the cold, precise magic of DC's multiverse. Earthland's magic was alive, wild, and untamed, woven into every blade of grass, every gust of wind, and every drop of rain. This world throbbed with the vitality of creation itself, a delicate tapestry of chaotic beauty.
The moment she touched the soil, Neralyth felt the threads of Earthland's Loom surge into her awareness. It was a cacophony of lives, events, and histories crashing into her mind all at once. She staggered slightly, pressing her claws into the ground to stabilize herself. Her presence here—an ancient dragon bound to the Loom of the multiverse—caused the threads of this world to tremble, rippling with tension.
"I need to tread carefully," she muttered to herself. "This world isn't used to something like me."
From the ridge where she stood, she gazed upon the town of Magnolia sprawled below her. It was alive with light and laughter, even as the sun dipped below the horizon. Her sharp eyes picked out figures moving about the town—merchants closing their stalls, children playing in the streets, and guild members wandering back toward the massive Fairy Tail guild hall at the town's heart.
But her focus wasn't on the town or its people. Her attention was drawn to the faint traces of dark magic that clung to the forest on the town's outskirts. The corrupted energy writhed like a living thing, winding its way through the trees, poisoning the land as it went. She closed her eyes and extended her senses, tracing the thread of malevolence back to its source.
"Zeref…" The name left her lips like a curse. Even after his death, the echoes of his dark magic lingered in Earthland, twisting the threads of its Loom. For someone like Neralyth, who could see the Loom's fraying edges, the damage was unmistakable. It was as though Zeref's influence had left permanent scars on the fabric of this world.
Determined, she began to follow the thread of corruption into the forest. Her massive form moved with unnatural grace, her claws barely disturbing the earth as she weaved through the trees. Her scales shimmered faintly in the moonlight, blending her form into the shadows. Despite her size, she was nearly invisible, a ghostly presence moving through the woods.
The deeper she went, the stronger the corruption became. The trees were withered and gnarled, their bark blackened as though burned from within. The air grew colder, heavy with the stench of decay. Neralyth paused, her eyes narrowing as she spotted a cluster of glowing sigils carved into the ground. The runes pulsed with dark energy, forming a barrier that anchored the corruption in place.
Carefully, she reached out a claw, her talons glowing faintly with cosmic energy. As she touched the edge of the barrier, the sigils reacted violently, sending a surge of dark magic toward her. She absorbed it with ease, her form rippling like water as she dissolved the barrier with a single thought.
"This is only the beginning," she murmured. She could feel the threads unraveling further ahead, leading toward something far more dangerous.
Just as she prepared to move on, a distant sound caught her attention. It was faint at first, barely audible over the whispering wind, but it grew louder with each passing moment: shouting, the clash of metal, and the unmistakable roar of flames. Neralyth's eyes sharpened. A battle was taking place not far from her position.
Without hesitation, she altered her course, moving swiftly through the forest toward the commotion. It didn't take long for her to find the source of the noise. In a clearing up ahead, she spotted the Fairy Tail mages locked in combat with a group of cloaked figures.
Natsu Dragneel's flames lit up the night, casting shadows that danced across the battlefield. Lucy Heartfilia stood beside him, her celestial spirits fighting valiantly against the attackers. Erza Scarlet moved like a storm, her swords flashing as she struck down one opponent after another. Gray Fullbuster conjured waves of ice, freezing enemies in their tracks.
But the cloaked mages were no ordinary foes. Their movements were precise, their attacks coordinated, and their magic bore the unmistakable taint of Zeref's influence. Dark tendrils of energy lashed out at the Fairy Tail mages, forcing them to fight harder just to hold their ground.
Neralyth observed the battle from the shadows, her sharp eyes taking in every detail. Though the Fairy Tail mages were holding their own, she could see the strain beginning to show. Their opponents weren't just powerful—they were relentless, driven by a purpose that Neralyth could feel in the air.
"They can't win this on their own," she muttered.
Extending her claws, she reached out with her magic, weaving her own threads into the battlefield. It was a subtle touch, one that the Fairy Tail mages wouldn't notice, but it was enough to tip the scales in their favor. Natsu's flames burned hotter, his roars echoing like thunder as he charged forward with renewed strength. Gray's ice surged like a glacier, freezing entire sections of the battlefield. Erza moved with impossible precision, her blades striking true with every swing.
The tide of the battle shifted. One by one, the cloaked mages began to falter, their confidence cracking under the overwhelming counterattack. Natsu delivered the final blow with a deafening roar, his flames engulfing the last of their enemies in a brilliant explosion of light and heat.
As the dust settled, the Fairy Tail mages regrouped in the clearing, their breaths coming in heavy gasps. Erza scanned the forest, her sharp eyes narrowing as she took in her surroundings.
"Someone else is here," she said, her voice firm. Her hand rested on the hilt of her sword, ready to draw it at a moment's notice.
Lucy looked up, her celestial spirits hovering near her. "You think someone helped us?"
Gray frowned, his icy breath visible in the cool night air. "It felt like… the balance shifted. But who?"
From her hidden perch, Neralyth watched them carefully. She admired their instincts—they were sharper than she had expected. But she wasn't ready to reveal herself, not yet. For now, it was better that they remained unaware of her presence.
Silently, she retreated into the shadows, her form blending seamlessly with the darkness. She had more pressing matters to attend to. The thread of corruption she had been following was still there, leading deeper into the forest. Whatever lay at the end of that thread, she knew it was the key to understanding the full extent of Zeref's lingering influence on this world.
As she disappeared into the night, a single thought lingered in her mind.
"Earthland's fate is more fragile than I thought. If I'm not careful, this entire world could unravel."