The entire world of Edolas immediately descended into a frenzy of activity. Soldiers began carrying out Jovian's orders one after another.
In addition to ordering them to find a way to destroy the entire Anima system, Jovian also instructed them to locate Natsu and the other Dragon Slayers.
As a result, Natsu's group ended up clashing violently with the soldiers Jovian had sent out.
One week later, when Natsu and the others were finally captured and brought before him, everyone stared in astonishment.
"This is bad! The king of this world is an Edolas version of Jovian! We're in serious trouble!" Natsu shouted when he saw Jovian sitting on the throne.
Jovian fell silent, completely speechless after hearing Natsu's conclusion. After a long pause, he finally said, "Natsu, Lucy, Wendy... I am Jovian."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You're trying to trick us, aren't you? It won't work!"
Natsu grinned proudly. There was no way he would let an enemy from this world deceive him so easily.
"You idiot. I'm saying we need to find Mystogan and have him undo all this ridiculous magic so he can send us home," Jovian said irritably, no longer willing to entertain Natsu's stupidity.
"Huh?"
"Natsu, he might really be the Jovian from our world," Lucy said.
She had been studying Jovian with a serious expression. The moment she heard him mention Mystogan, her face changed. Her instincts and her common sense both told her that only the Jovian from their world would know about Mystogan.
"What?!"
"Are you serious...?"
Natsu's mouth fell open as he stared at Lucy in disbelief.
"I think so," Lucy answered hesitantly.
"Jovian, are you really from our world?" Natsu asked.
After hearing Lucy's explanation, his attitude immediately became much more obedient.
"Yes, which means you're finished. Once we return to Fairy Tail, I'm going to give you a proper beating," Jovian replied.
"No!"
Natsu shook his head frantically. Even he was frightened by the thought of being beaten for absolutely no reason.
"For now, we need to find Mystogan."
Jovian sighed helplessly.
He had originally considered placing an announcement in the newspapers to search for Mystogan directly. However, revealing the truth about Edolas could have caused unnecessary panic throughout the entire world.
After thinking it over, Jovian decided to find Natsu and the others first.
Then he had a newspaper publish the news that Natsu's group had been captured, forcing Mystogan to come rescue them.
The plan worked.
When an anxious Mystogan finally rushed into the royal palace, he was greeted by an outrageously extravagant party. The Fairy Tail Mages were drinking, eating, and enjoying themselves while waiting for him to send them home.
"We're spending the royal treasury's money," Jovian announced smugly while relaxing in a swimming pool.
"I understand..."
"I'll send all of you back immediately."
Mystogan, who was this world's Jellal, covered his face with one hand. He could barely stand to look at them.
After completing a series of preparations, he finally activated Reverse Anima, sending all the Magic Power in Edolas into Earth-land.
As Jovian and the others departed, the truth about them holding the king hostage and living it up inside the royal palace also became public.
The people were shocked, but they soon rallied behind Mystogan, the man who had protected their lives, and supported him as their new king.
"It's finally over..."
"Thank you, Natsu, everyone from Fairy Tail, and Jovian."
That night, Mystogan continued watching until Natsu and the others disappeared into the night sky.
Meanwhile, after the members of Fairy Tail returned to their guild, it was time for one of the guild's most important annual traditions, the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial.
"All of you already know why I summoned you here!"
"Fairy Tail's most important annual event, the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial, is about to begin!"
"This year's examiners will be Fairy Tail's current S-Class Mages, Gildarts, Laxus, Mirajane, and Erza!"
"They will determine whether you truly possess the strength to stand on your own and accept and complete S-Class jobs!"
"I will now announce the participants in this year's S-Class Mage Promotion Trial!"
"They are Natsu, Gray, Juvia, Elfman, Cana, Freed, Levy, Mest, Ultear, and Jovian!"
Standing on the stage, Makarov announced the names of this year's participants.
"Wait... Jovian?"
The expressions of the other candidates immediately changed when they heard that Jovian would also be participating.
"Guild Master, isn't it a little excessive to make Jovian take the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial when he has already been named one of the Ten Wizard Saints?" someone protested the instant Makarov finished speaking.
"Well..."
Makarov hesitated.
The protest was reasonable. Did someone who had already received the title of Wizard Saint truly need to participate in an S-Class Mage Promotion Trial?
Forcing Jovian to take the exam seemed like a complete waste of time. However, Fairy Tail had never directly promoted anyone to S-Class without making them take the trial.
"Guild Master, Ultear and I will withdraw from this year's trial. Becoming S-Class Mages doesn't really mean much to either of us," Jovian said as he stood up and voluntarily forfeited.
"Uh..."
"All right."
Makarov respected Jovian's decision. Since Jovian did not wish to participate, he would not force the issue.
"The remaining candidates must each select a partner. One week from now, meet at the harbor. This year's trial will take place on Fairy Tail's sacred ground, Tenrou Island!" Makarov continued.
"Why not just promote Jovian directly to S-Class?" Laxus asked while scratching the back of his head.
He believed the S-Class promotion system was far too rigid.
Future trials should include a rule allowing direct promotions. If all the current S-Class Mages agreed that a guild member possessed S-Class strength, or if that member had received an official title from the Magic Council proving their power, such as Wizard Saint, then there was no reason to force them to take an exam.
"I don't think he needs to take the trial either," Gildarts said, scratching his head.
He had personally tested Jovian and understood just how unfathomable his strength truly was.
"So you agree with me, old man."
Laxus nodded when he heard Gildarts's opinion. They both felt the same way.
However, Jovian already had other matters to handle. He had never intended to participate in Fairy Tail's S-Class Mage Promotion Trial.
While everyone else traveled to Tenrou Island for the trial, Jovian left the guild with Ultear. They departed not only from Fiore, but from the entire continent of Ishgar, traveling west toward Alakitasia.
An empire stood there.
The mightiest empire ever created by Zeref.
Soon, however, it would cease to exist.
A thunderous crash shook the enormous imperial palace as Jovian and Ultear descended directly from the sky.
"Who are you?!" exclaimed a hunched old man inside the palace.
It was Yajeel, a minister of the Alvarez Empire.
"Don't mind me. I merely wanted to see how far the nations of Alakitasia had developed."
"I also wanted to ask whether all of you would be willing to surrender immediately."
Jovian sat upon the throne normally reserved for Zeref and looked down at the hunched old man.
"This is outrageous..."
"We serve Emperor Zeref! How could we possibly surrender?!"
Yajeel shook his head. They served Zeref, the fallen Black Wizard. Surrendering here would mean betraying their emperor.
"Such a shame."
"If you had surrendered, I wouldn't have needed to do anything."
"Since you're determined to make this difficult, come on."
Still seated upon the throne, Jovian crooked a finger at the old man.
Boom!
A cloud of dust and sand burst into the air, and an arrogant figure strode into the palace.
"Who dares trespass here?!"
The man had wild, explosive hair and an incredibly conceited expression. His eyes overflowed with confidence.
It was the Desert King, Ajeel Raml.
"Small fry."
Faced with the supremely confident man, Jovian merely raised one hand.
"Urgh..."
Ajeel, who had been acting so arrogantly only a moment earlier, suddenly clutched his throat. His eyes rolled back as he collapsed and began convulsing on the floor.
"Careful. Power can be choking," Jovian said coldly after instantly defeating the sand-wielding thug.
"What is happening here...?"
The moment Ajeel fell, three more Mages entered from outside.
They were Jacob Lessio, a gentleman wearing a black suit, Neinhart, an effeminate man dressed in green, and Wall Eehto, a young man whose body resembled that of a mechanical cyborg.
Szzzt!
Jovian did not bother saying a word to them. His eyes immediately glowed red.
The crimson Heat Vision destroyed Wall's internal circuitry, punched straight through Neinhart's body, and pierced Jacob's heart.
"Urgh..."
All three coughed up blood and collapsed simultaneously.
"If you're nothing but small fry, stop coming at me one at a time. This is getting unbearably boring."
Jovian yawned as he stared at the three men he had defeated in an instant.
"To think you defeated all of them in a single exchange. Your abilities are truly remarkable."
As Jovian began losing interest, another group entered the throne room.
At their head was August, an elderly man wearing gray robes. Accompanying him were two young women, Dimaria Yesta and Brandish μ, along with Bloodman, a figure in a black cloak carrying a scythe, Invel Yura, a wise-looking man dressed in blue, and Larcade Dragneel, whose white clothing gave him the appearance of a holy man.
"How exciting..."
Dimaria, a short-haired blonde girl overflowing with fighting spirit, looked at her fallen comrades. Rather than becoming angry, she grew excited.
In the next instant, time appeared to stop before her eyes.
Dimaria drew the two short blades from behind her back and slowly walked toward Jovian. Once she reached him, she swung both blades at his neck.
Crack!
A crisp sound rang out as both short blades shattered instantly, scattering into countless fragments.
"What?!"
Dimaria stared at her broken weapons in disbelief.
"That's it?"
While she struggled to understand what had happened, Jovian's cold voice entered her ears.
"Uh..."
Dimaria's expression changed dramatically. She tried to flee, but it was already too late.
Crack!
The barrier of frozen time shattered, and Dimaria collapsed to the floor, her body convulsing uncontrollably.
"Valkyrie?!" the others exclaimed when they saw Dimaria defeated.
Before they could process what had happened, Jovian had already left the throne and appeared directly in front of them.
"Good morning, everyone."
As Jovian greeted them, he extended one finger toward Brandish's forehead and flicked it lightly.
"Urgh..."
Brandish felt her brain violently tremble inside her skull. Her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed to the floor.
"What are you staring at?"
At the same time, Jovian's eyes suddenly glowed red. A beam of Heat Vision flashed across the room and severed Larcade's head.
"Damn it..."
After watching several of his comrades fall in an instant, the Grim Reaper-like Bloodman released an enormous cloud of pitch-black Magical Barrier Particles.
"Disappear before my Magical Barrier Particles! They are deadlier than the most potent poison!"
Bloodman shouted loudly, though it was unclear whether he was trying to encourage himself or simply explaining his ability to Jovian.
"Inhale..."
The next second, something beyond Bloodman's comprehension occurred.
Jovian opened his mouth and inhaled the Magical Barrier Particles floating through the air.
In an instant, every last particle was sucked into his lungs.
"Exhale..."
"That certainly has a kick. It's stronger than a cigar."
After inhaling all of Bloodman's Magical Barrier Particles, Jovian spoke as calmly as ever.
Bloodman had no idea what to say.
"Third Seal..."
Unwilling to accept defeat, Bloodman attempted to activate his ultimate power.
Szzzt!
Before he could complete the transformation, a crimson beam of Heat Vision struck him and completely destroyed his body.
"Now, as for you..."
"Old man, you can make the final choice. Will you save these people, or will you continue resisting me and die alongside them?"
After finishing with Bloodman, Jovian looked toward the stunned August.
"I never imagined a monster like you existed in this world..."
"A monster who stands completely above both me and the Emperor."
August stared at Jovian and murmured to himself.
Until now, he had believed himself to be the strongest human on the entire continent, the man closest to Emperor Spriggan. However, it appeared he still had a long way to go.
There was someone in this world who had transcended magic itself.
"Make your choice, old man."
"Of course, I could also sink the entire continent of Alakitasia beneath the ocean. Then you wouldn't need to choose at all," Jovian continued.
"I surrender."
"With the appearance of a monster like you, everything we have spent years preparing has become meaningless."
The man known as the Wizard King shook his head.
A being capable of fighting Acnologia, and perhaps even stronger than the Black Dragon, had already appeared. Their plans were no longer necessary.
At the same time, August felt a quiet sense of relief.
Even he had never wanted to witness his mother and father turn against each other.
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