Hyberion was a true statesman. Though he always preferred peace over conflict, when war came he never hesitated—his decisions were sharp and resolute.
In just a year as Speaker, even the other top Councilors had grown to admire him. A mage of lofty ideals, Hyberion bore the weight of the continent itself. Any other wizard of his rank—second among the Ten Wizard Saints—could have lived in ease as one of the strongest alive. Instead, he chose to stand at the front lines against the might of Alvarez.
Not long after the Council meeting, Mest teleported into the Fairy Tail guild. He reported everything he had learned—and the Council's resolution—to Su Yan.
Mest was Fairy Tail's agent, and Su Yan was now guild master. Orders from him were absolute.
Su Yan listened calmly, then said:
"So… Zeref has returned to Alvarez."
From his tone, Mest caught a flicker of something else—knowledge. His eyes widened.
"You… you already knew that the Emperor of Alvarez was Zeref?!"
Su Yan rolled his eyes.
"Everyone in Alvarez knows that. Only the Magic Council remained ignorant of it all this time—pathetic."
Mest flushed red. He had been there himself, standing in the crowd when Zeref appeared, and the fevered cheers of the citizens made it clear they all recognized their Emperor. He realized just how shallow the old Council's intelligence truly was.
If not for Su Yan's overwhelming strength, Mest might have believed Ishgar had no chance of survival.
"Master," Mest asked nervously, "what do you intend to do?"
"The Council will take time to rouse its armies. Too much time. In the meantime…" Su Yan's gaze sharpened. "…I'll give Alvarez a gift."
For a year he had held his hand, waiting, watching. He despised needless killing. His hands were already bloodstained enough, but never with the blood of innocents.
The soldiers of Alvarez were just that—soldiers, following orders. He had left them be. But if they marched on Fairy Tail, if they sought war, then mercy would only mean death—for himself, and for his family in the guild.
He clenched his fists. If you reach for Fairy Tail, you'll pay in blood.
"Let's go."
"Wha—now?!" Mest stammered.
"Of course. Do you think Alvarez will wait politely while you prepare? Even now their vanguard is already moving."
Mest swallowed hard. To him, it seemed reckless—but he also knew he had never truly understood the might of the Alvarez war machine. Under Zeref's command, the empire would move as one.
And so he obeyed. Together, they teleported straight into the heart of the enemy.
The Alvarez Empire
Night cloaked the imperial capital, but the city blazed with torchlight. Outside the palace, millions of soldiers stood in formation. Warships crowded the skies. The whole empire waited upon one man.
"Your Majesty," Invel reported, "all armies stand ready."
Zeref stepped forward, his voice carrying across the square.
"There is only one order: kill everything you see. Wherever the Alvarez Empire marches, nothing will remain."
"Kill! Kill! Kill!!" the soldiers roared back in unison, their voices shaking the capital. Alvarez was a nation forged in war, and to them Ishgar was nothing but prey.
Then—
BOOM!!!
A warship exploded in midair, scattering fire across the night.
Another followed. Then another.
"Enemy attack!!" voices screamed. "Enemy attack!!"
"What?!" Shock rippled through the crowd. This was the imperial capital itself. Zeref, the Emperor, and all twelve of the Spriggan Shields were here. Who would dare strike here, now?
A burning warship plummeted from the sky, smashing into the parade ground. Soldiers scattered in terror.
From the blaze, a single figure strode out.
Su Yan.
He swept his gaze across the endless ranks, and a faint smile curled his lips.
"So lively… What's all this for? Why not let me join in?"
"Who are you?!" Invel barked. "How dare you trespass in Alvarez—EXECUTE HIM!!"
Soldiers raised their weapons as one.
But Su Yan's body trembled with power, and a tide of overwhelming force erupted from him.
"Om—!!!"
The ground cracked beneath his feet. The air itself shuddered.
Conqueror's Haki.
A storm of pure will spread outward, drowning the square.
The Spriggan Twelve stiffened, feeling the mental shock ripple through their minds. Their vast magic allowed them to endure it… but only just.
The soldiers, however, had no such defense.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
One after another, they collapsed like dominoes, tens of thousands falling unconscious in an instant beneath the crushing weight of Su Yan's will.