Irene found another set of clothes for Acnologia and helped him put them on. "How do you feel?"
"I've just about managed to stretch my muscles a bit."
Acnologia didn't feel tired at all; this was far from the dragon massacres of four hundred years ago.
He looked at the hesitant expressions on Wendy, Natsu, Lucy, and the others, and said flatly, "Are you afraid?"
"We are comrades, how could we be afraid!"
Natsu shook his head with a serious face and then said, "It's just the first time we've seen you like this. Didn't you kill a bit too many?"
"We aren't afraid either..."
As girls, Lucy and Wendy hadn't seen many bloody scenes. Even though they mentally told themselves that Acnologia was a comrade and family, they still couldn't hide the fear deep in their eyes.
This wasn't just killing one or two people; it was a massacre that left a river of blood. He alone had killed more than all the members of Fairy Tail combined.
Acnologia seemed to sense an invisible distance forming between them. After a moment of silence, he said, "Perhaps it was a bit much, but if they choose to be our enemies, they must be prepared to die."
"If one day you are captured, I will also slaughter everything in my way."
"To me, everyone else in the world combined isn't as important as you!"
He wasn't lying. If not for the Fairy Tail Guild, he would have no interest in this world. Part of the reason he fought so hard to slaughter the Evil Dragons four hundred years ago was the hope of seeing them.
Looking at Acnologia's serious expression, Lucy and Wendy felt a surge of self-reproach and regret.
What were they thinking? How could they fear their own comrade... Everything Acnologia did was to protect them and the guild. Faced with enemies who harmed their comrades, was he supposed to hold back?
With reddened eyes, Lucy and Wendy felt that the fear in their eyes just now must have stung Acnologia's heart, so they apologized with full sincerity: "We're sorry!"
Acnologia raised his hand and gave each of them a flick on the forehead. Looking at the two girls clutching their heads and crying out in pain, he smiled and said, "Stop being so sentimental. If you have time for that, we'd better hurry up and rescue Erza and the others."
With that, he stepped forward.
Natsu and Happy, who had already walked ahead, turned back and waved with a laugh, "You guys, hurry up and catch up!"
Irene reached out and put her arms around Wendy and Lucy, saying with a smile, "Don't dawdle. Out of all these people, only you two are this emotional, aren't you?"
"Acnologia won't get angry over such a small thing. Let's go."
"Thank you, Irene!" they said in unison.
"Call me Sister!"
"Sister Irene!" they repeated.
"Mhm, you two are much more obedient than Little Erza!"
...Under Knightwalker's lead, the five people and two cats arrived at a heavily guarded square. In the middle of the square was a giant Magic Crystal. Although they couldn't see the sealed people through the crystal, that familiar magic power couldn't be mistaken.
"Those are... our comrades!"
Natsu's body trembled, his eyes filled with fury. He wouldn't let anyone go who dared to treat his family like this.
Lucy's heart ached and her eyes reddened. Seeing Natsu about to rush forward, she reached out and held him tightly. "Natsu, don't be impulsive. Acnologia and Sister Irene haven't moved yet!"
Acnologia pressed a hand on Natsu's shoulder and said, "The magic extraction hasn't started yet. We also need time to wait for someone to arrive. It could be Gajeel, or it could be Mystogan; they have the Magic Restorative Medicine in their hands."
"If we unseal everyone now, the war will begin immediately. Comrades without magic won't be able to stop the Kingdom Army's encirclement at all, and I won't be able to protect everyone in the heat of battle."
"So the most important thing now is to calm down and wait for the right moment!"
Natsu nodded seriously. "I understand all that. I will endure it!"
"Good!"
Acnologia knew that although Natsu was usually careless, he was more attentive than anyone when it came to his comrades.
"We'll stay near the square. Once Mystogan and Gajeel appear, that will be the moment we strike."
...Three days passed in a flash.
On a bright, sunny morning, the atmosphere in the square was already exceptionally heated, with cheers echoing through the clouds.
"His Majesty!"
"Long live His Majesty!"
Residents of the kingdom gathered from all directions, their faces brimming with expectation and joy as they looked at the old man on the high platform—their King, Faust, a king dedicated to leading them into a world of magic.
Faust raised his hand, and the noise stopped instantly. His voice was full of age and determination: "Citizens of Edolas, our Holy Kingdom has already produced ten years' worth of magic power from Anima..."
In the crowd, Happy said angrily, "That old geezer actually said they manufactured it. How shameless!"
Carla whispered, "Calm down!"
On the high platform, King Faust brandished his scepter and shouted with a laugh, "Let us cheer together and share this joy!"
Everyone cheered again, and some even shed tears of emotion, seemingly grateful that the kingdom had such a brilliant and strategic king.
Faust's voice was stirring and full of charisma. Every word and every gesture could make the entire audience cheer.
"I promise here that in the near future, the kingdom will obtain even more magic. We will achieve true eternity!"
"And this Magic Crystal is nothing more than scraps!"
As he spoke, he swung his scepter and stabbed at the Magic Crystal. Instantly, a shard of the crystal broke off and fell to the ground with a crisp sound under the excited gazes of everyone.
Natsu's eyes widened instantly at this scene. That broken crystal felt like the flesh and blood of his comrades.
His expression was furious, his teeth grinding audibly. At this moment, he wanted nothing more than to tear that bastard on the stage to shreds.
In a corner, Gajeel sneered, "How ridiculous. Such a hypocritical speech can actually delude so many people."
He turned and walked away. "Next, I need to think about what to do."
He wasn't like Natsu, who only acted recklessly. To save his comrades, he had to rely on his own clever brain.
Suddenly, a hand pressed on his shoulder, giving him a fright. But when he saw the person in front of him clearly, he breathed a sigh of relief.
The newcomer was Acnologia!
Gajeel asked in confusion, "Why are you okay?"
Then he remembered. "Right, you're also a Dragon Slayer Mage!"
Mystogan had told him that Dragon Slayer Mages were not swallowed by the Super Subspace Magic, Anima.
Acnologia nodded slightly. "Come with me now to discuss saving our sealed comrades."
"Just the two of us?"
"No, there's also Irene, Natsu, Lucy, Wendy, Carla, and Happy."
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