User blog comment:FairyRaven/Fairy Tail Chapter 414: Drops of Fire, Review and Commentary/@comment-5268982-20150105223744

POSTING A THEORY ON MY OWN BLOG BECAUSE WHY NOT:

I just checked the MS translation and Zeref's words strong me as peculiar:

"I have come here today to finally settle things with you...but Acnologia decided to stick his snout into things. Will he once again end history? Or will a miracle happen occur? I don't know...... If you somehow manage to make it through this hopeless situation, then I shall grant you even deeper hopelessness."

To me, it seems like Zeref kneww about Igneel's death, and this is the hopelessness he does not expect Natsu to survive from. Next chapter's called the will to live so maybe it will be about that.

As for the miracle thing I bolded, I think Zeref believes in Natsu to show the real potential he's been seeing in him, and kill Acnologia to avenge Igneel, in case he knew about his imminent death. We've been knowing all along that Zeref wants Natsu to kill him, so maybe him gathering enough strength from his anger and grief will manage to turn him into E.N.D. finally put an end to him.

As for the hopelessness thing, it obviously is a hint to their final fight :P no need to analyze that.

Raven out.