Natsu intervenes between Igneel and Acnologia's battle, confused and angry over Igneel's unexplained return. Igneel tasks Natsu with stealing the book of E.N.D. from Mard Geer with the promise of answering Natsu's questions about his fourteen-year disappearance; however, he instructs Natsu to avoid opening or destroying it. Seeing the dragons as obstacles in his plans, Mard Geer telepathically orders Kyôka to hasten Face's detonation by merging with the control device. Kyôka complies, aware that this will end her own life, and assumes her Etherious form to kill Erza.