Sting's White-Shadow Dragon Mode gives him an advantage against Larcade, who counters with a spell that almost puts Sting and the other wizards into a sleep-like death. With the help of Kagura's gravity magic, Sting merges with his own shadow to resist Larcade's spell and defeat him. Meanwhile, during her battle with Erza and Wendy, Irene reveals herself to be Erza's mother; however, Erza denies having any relationship with Irene, having never known her parents. Irene decides to tell her and Wendy the story of Erza's birth, which she begins by introducing herself as the former queen of the dragons.