"Princes and generals—why should they alone be noble?"
Sugisawa Yuuto's words rang out like thunder, echoing above the Naval Headquarters.
They rolled across the battlefield like crashing waves and, through the transmission snails, reverberated throughout Sabaody Square.
Deafening.
Unshakable.
And profoundly stirring.
Yes—princes and generals, why should they alone hold power?
Born as human beings, who among us is truly inferior?
Why should the so-called Celestial Dragons—the self-proclaimed nobles of the world—be allowed to act with impunity, seizing and killing as they please?
In that instant, Yuuto's words planted a seed of rebellion deep within the hearts of countless men and women.
"Ohhh!"
"Well said, Fairy Tail!"
"As expected of President Sugisawa Yuuto!"
"That's it exactly!"
"The Celestial Dragons—what kind of 'gods' are they supposed to be?"
"They're nothing but pigs in human clothing!"
The Marines, bound by the chains of the World Government, dared not speak aloud—but the pirates of the Whitebeard crew had no such restraint. They roared with approval, slamming their weapons and cheering in defiance.
"True! So true!"
Lindbergh, commander of the Revolutionary Army's Southern Division, shouted with fervor.
"Princes and generals, why should they alone be noble? This—this must be written into our revolutionary creed!"
Karas, the Northern Division's commander, nodded fiercely.
"As expected of President Sugisawa Yuuto—he truly is the most remarkable man alive."
"Heehee! Of course he is!" Koala said proudly, hands on her hips. "Didn't you already know? The president is the greatest man in the world!"
"With the president leading us, we'll definitely build a better world," Robin said softly.
Nami, Vivi, and the others all nodded in agreement.
"Long live the president!"
"President, you're amazing!"
Perona, Junty, and the other Fairy Tail members raised their voices in jubilant cheers.
"Damn you! You're all damned!"
The face of Jupiter, one of the Five Elders, twisted with fury.
It wasn't only the fact that Sugisawa Yuuto and Fairy Tail had dared to openly defy the World Government—it was those eight words that enraged him the most:
"Princes and generals, why should they alone be noble?"
He could already see the catastrophe those words would bring.
If that line spread across the world, it might not have much effect at first.
But in time… it would ignite the hearts of the oppressed.
It would become a phrase whispered among the downtrodden—a call to awaken, to resist.
And eventually, it would blaze like wildfire across every nation, shaking the very foundations of the World Government's rule.
"Unforgivable!" Jupiter bellowed. "You dare defy the order of the world itself—don't think you can escape judgment!"
"This should be our line," Sugisawa Yuuto replied coolly.
He lifted his hand, and his voice carried across the battlefield.
"From this moment forward—Fairy Tail declares war on the World Government!"
A thunderous uproar swept across the top of the battlefield.
At the same time, the same cry echoed over Sabaody Square.
"War has been declared!"
"Fairy Tail has declared war!"
"Fairy Tail versus the World Government!"
"From this day forth, the top battlefield belongs to them both!"
"The biggest news of the century—hurry, get this to headquarters!"
"And don't forget that quote—'Princes and generals, why should they alone be noble!' It's going to shake the world!"
The reporters in Sabaody Square were frantic, their cameras flashing as they shouted over one another.
Atop the battlefield, the Marines trembled as Fairy Tail's official declaration rang out.
"So it's true… they've really done it…" one whispered.
"It's over. Fairy Tail is finished," Jupiter snarled, his eyes burning with hatred. "This is your end, Sugisawa Yuuto!"
Yuuto only smiled faintly.
"That line suits you more than me."
"President, give the order!" Gildarts called, his grin wide and his fighting spirit blazing.
"Don't rush," Yuuto said with calm confidence. "Our time will come soon enough."
Over the past six months, the guild's strength had grown immeasurably.
New members—fearsome warriors like Gildarts—had joined their ranks.
And Sugisawa Yuuto himself…
He had obtained something extraordinary.
A forbidden magic—one that both awed and terrified him.
Forbidden Magic: The Chronicle of the Dead.