During the reconstruction of Fairy Tail's guildhall, Levy McGarden registers Erza as the guild's seventh master to substitute for Makarov Dreyar, who has been missing for the past year. Mest Gryder arrives and reveals Lumen Histoire to Erza and her eavesdropping friends, explaining that Makarov disbanded the guild to protect them from the Alvarez Empire, a military superpower on the western continent of Alakitasia that intends to obtain Lumen Histoire by invading Ishgar. Reasoning that Makarov has been taken hostage during his attempt to negotiate peace with Alvarez, the group prepare to infiltrate the empire and rescue him by themselves. However, Gajeel overhears them and organizes his own team to recruit Laxus Dreyar.