(Third Person POV)
[Aboard The Nemesis, In The Air]
"Are you feeling okay?" Mavis asked Jason as she walked up to him
Jason nodded, "Somewhat." He responded, "Why? Is everything okay?"
They were in the briefing room, Jason was looking up at the holographic map that was above them. He had his arms crossed as he stood there while everyone was walking around, frantically speaking and communicating with the forces throughout the country.
Mavis smiled slightly, "Everything is fine." She said, "I just wanted to know if you're okay. I know you must be stressed for Erion."
Jason nodded, "I am." He said, "But I know he'll be fine, I took care of Acnologia. He was the one that was hunting him and Zeref wanted to use Erion to fight him. Now that he's gone, I don't think he's in any immediate danger. I do worry what plans they have for him."
Mavis gently grabbed his hand and rubbed it, "Whatever it is, we'll get him back." She said, "I give you my word."
Jason looked at her, "Yea, I know." He said, "For the time being, I want the Northern Armies to be vanquished so we focus on the rest."
Mavis nodded, "Yes." She softly said, "They've engaged a Shield. Igora is currently fighting. I wonder if she'll be alright."
"She will be, she's strong." Jason told her, "She wields Devil Slayer Magic, whoever that Shield is, if he's an Etherious, he's at a disadvantage."
Mavis looked at her, "I guess this whole war won't let us be alone, huh?" She said with a smile, "Don't you think so?"
Jason smiled, "I guess so." He said before placing his hand on her chin, "After this is over, I promise you, we'll be alone. And well, I'll give you a treat."
Mavis blushed, "Oh? We're flirting now?" She said
"Hey!" a voice interrupted them
Jason looked up to see Natsu walking up to them.
"What's wrong?" He asked
"Enough of this shit, Jason." Natsu said, "I say we take on Zeref, You and I, and we end this once and for all!!!"
He had a serious scowl on his face as he cracked his knuckles. Jason could tell right away, he was dead serious. He wanted to end this war as soon as possible but facing Zeref before defeating his Shields would prove difficult.
Jason shook his head, "I don't think it'll be that easy." he said, "We have to be patient. First, we defeat his armies and then we focus on him."
"But-" Natsu started
"Natsu, we cannot recklessly attack someone like him." Mavis spoke up, "Jason exhausted the one weapon that was meant for him on Acnologia."
Jason looked at her, "How did you know?" He asked
"Felicity mentioned that the God-Killer weapon was meant for Zeref." She explained, "But you used it against Acnologia and I doubt you have something else that's useful like that."
Jason crossed his arms, "No..." He said, "I don't. We have to approach this very carefully....I have another problem....but...."
Jason looked over to the side, seeing Gray sitting down next to the massive glass window panes that overlooked the deck of the ship. He had a serious look on his face as he looked out in the distance.
Natsu noticed this, "I talked with him." He said, "He is still mad at you. I tried telling him that sometimes, we keep secrets to protect the ones we care about."
Jason nodded, "That's surprising, coming from you." He said, "Keep that thought in the future."
Natsu raised his eyebrow, "Eh?"
Jason patted his shoulder as he walked past him, "Don't worry about it." He said
****************************************************
[200 Miles From Magnolia, August's Armies]
"Lord August!!!" an Alvarez Soldier cried as massive explosions were heard
He ran up to a small tent where August was sitting on a chair, stroking his beard.
"How interesting...." He said as the soldier reached him
"W-We're under attack!!!" the soldier exclaimed, "I-It's bad!!"
August kept stroking his beard, "I am aware..." He said, "But to think that an attack would reach us this far into our claimed territory. The mechanical weapons that Jason deployed on us have longed been dispatched....who would attack us? Is it the Magic Council? A group of Guild Mages? Fairy Tail?"
The Soldier panted as he was hunched over, "N-No, sir..." He said, "They wield dark magic!!"
As he said that, there was a massive explosion that erupted several hundred meters away from the tent. The ground shook violently as the smoke and flames raged on, dozens upon dozens of soldiers scattering around the camp as more explosions erupted.
"Dark Magic, huh?" August said standing up and walking out the tent, "Interesting. It's definitely not any of the Guild Mages nor Jason, no..."
August then felt an intense magic power, a familiar one that he hadn't felt in decades, not since he was but a young boy.
"Oh..." He said as his staff appeared in his hand, "This is peculiar....I thought he was long dead....Here I was thinking that the name was merely a title that another mage had inherited from him.....To think it was actually him."
As he said this a massive explosion of purple dark magic erupted several dozen meters in front of them as the ground was shredded by the shockwave.
August immediately deployed a barrier that protected himself and the random soldier who had come and warned him.
"S-Sir!" He said
"Worry not." August said, "Gather the forces and compose yourselves. Fight back, we must not allow these lowlifes to get the better of us."
"Yessir!!" The soldier exclaimed
"Lowlifes?" A voice said as a figure appeared from the smoke, "Is that how you see me, boy?"
August began to stroke his beard, "Ah, that voice." He said, "It has been a long time, Precht....."
The smoke dispersed, revealing Hades standing with his arms crossed, wearing his usual attire of dark clothes with his cape and his large crown.
"The last time I saw you, you were but a young runt that I had spared." Hades said as he gave August a serious glare, "To think you would join Zeref and grow in power."
"Master Precht....or Hades as you go these days." August said, "What is your reasoning for these attacks?"
"What do you think, boy?" Hades said as he raised his finger that glowed purple, "I am here to kill you."
"As I should've done long ago."