Fairy Tail vol. 59 (Photo : FT - Weekly Magazine)
It's going to be another monumental year for Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail, as the story goes deeper into the Alvarez Empire saga. While 2016 largely focuses on the introduction of the 12 Spriggan mages, this year's story is expected to be grander in scale with a potential collision course between Natsu's awakened demon persona END and the Black Dragon Acnologia towards the end of the year.
Here are my bold predictions for Fairy Tail manga series in 2017
-Erza finds it hard to beat an Irene-possessed Wendy because of her emotional attachment to the Dragon Slayer. However, Erza is able to gain new transformation or discover an untapped magical power within her, allowing him to beat Irene and save Wendy.
-Natsu continues to learn more about himself inside his 'heart.' After getting confirmation from Igneel that he is indeed E.N.D in the book of Zeref, Natsu eventually decides to fulfill his mission by killing his brother Zeref once and for all.
-Gray Fullbuster is still determined to kill END, but later on changes his mind after realizing the friendship he had with Natsu. The two then decides to enter into a pact, allowing Gray to kill Natsu if he loses control of himself.
-Gray faces August, the strongest male mage of the Spriggan 12. At first, the gap between Gray's power level and that of August is evident. However, as the fight progresses, Gray gains more strength and unlock another sources of power resembling that of his father, Silver Fullbuster. Gray eventually defeats and proceeds to Fairy Tail Guild house, where the Dark Mage Zeref is waiting for them.
-At the time Gray is fighting August, Natsu is also mixing it up with Zeref, but the Dark Mage is simply too powerful for him. Zeref is disappointed that Natsu hasn't become stronger as he wanted him to be. Natsu believes Zeref is wrong because he doesn't need to accomplish the mission alone. After all, he has friend to back him up.
-Gray, Erza, Wendy, Gadjeel and the rest of the Fairy Tail and Ishgar mages arrived in the battlefield to take on Zeref. Each of these mages had some moments against Zeref, but again the Dark Mage is just too tough to beat.
-With hope of ever beating Zeref dashing away, Acnologia arrives to make things worse for Fairy Tail and the mages of Ishgar. Acnologia annihilates all mages with stench of Dragon Slayer magic: Natsu, Gadgeel, Wendy, Rogue, Sting, Laxus and unknowingly to her, Erza.
-As he witnesses Natsu struggle against Acnologia's fury, Zeref attacks Acnologia, shocking everyone in the battlefield. His love for his brother eventually prevails and Zeref decides to join the fight vs. Acnologia.
-Natsu then transforms to Etherious Natsu Dragneel and smashes straight to Acnologia. The year 2017 ends with Natsu/END squaring it off with Acnologia, paving way for the new arc and perhaps the final of the Fairy Tail story.
Keep in mind that these are speculations and not spoilers. Having said of that, I am confident that some of these events could happen because Fairy Tail story is quite predictable despite the various plot twists that transpired last year.
Fairy Tail chapter 517 is scheduled for release next week, January 18, on Weekly Shonen Magazine by Kodansha. For more Fairy Tail manga update, follow me at Shonenlord@Twitter.
