Ultear is introduced as a member of the Magic Council, seemingly working under Siegrain. She is appointed to the council and attempts to secure the demon Deliora for Jellal by masquerading as Lyon's follower, Zalty (ザルティ Zaruti), assisting him in melting the ice created from Ul's body that entraps the demon. Failing in her endeavor to obtain Deliora, Ultear later aids Siegrain in manipulating the Magic Council to activate the Tower of Heaven. After Jellal deceives the council into firing Etherion at the Tower, she destroys the council building.
Following the events at the Tower of Heaven and Jellal's defeat, Ultear reveals she had been controlling Jellal all along since Zeref was never killed—only sealed away. Her true aim was to unseal Zeref, using Jellal to acquire one of the keys needed to release him. Presently, she is part of the dark guild Grimoire Heart and leads the Seven Kin of Purgatory. After the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial arc, she collaborates with Meredy to rescue Jellal, leading them to establish Crime Sorcière—an independent guild dedicated to dismantling dark guilds and ultimately defeating Zeref.
Ultimately, she sacrifices her entire life force to rewind time by a single minute, resulting in her transformation into an elderly woman whom only Gray seems to recognize.
