Wanokuni — the Flower Capital.
The city was shrouded in chaos and fear.
The shockwaves from the massive explosion at the Island of Ghosts still rumbled through the air.
Then—
"Everyone! Look at the sky!"
"The ship… it's flying!"
All eyes turned upward.
A massive airship glided through the clouds above the capital, its gleaming hull reflecting the morning sun.
The crowd erupted in disbelief.
"Wha—what kind of ship is that?!"
"It's beautiful! What's going on?!"
Even the ever-optimistic old man Yasuie (known here as "Lao Kang") followed along the streets, staring in awe.
Rakshasa Street
"That's Fairy Tail! There's no mistake — that's Fairy Tail's ship!"
Denjiro, usually calm and composed, widened his eyes in shock and excitement.
"Denjiro!" Hiyori exclaimed, clutching her kimono. "I want to meet them right now!"
Moments later—
Under the stunned gaze of every citizen in the Flower Capital, the Fairy Tail's airship slowly descended, landing in the central plaza.
An old man wearing a large tengu mask led a small girl down the ramp.
He stepped forward, his voice trembling but proud.
"Citizens of Wanokuni! After so many years of darkness… finally, the dawn of our nation has arrived!"
It was Tengu-san, also known as Kozuki Sukiyaki in disguise.
The crowd erupted in confusion.
"Who are you?!"
"And who's on that ship behind you?!"
"What in the world happened today?"
"What was that giant explosion earlier — the one that felt like doomsday?!"
"This is General Orochi's territory — are you trying to get yourselves arrested?!"
Tengu-san didn't answer.
Instead, he quietly lifted his mask.
Gasps filled the plaza.
"Wait—! Are you… Lord Sukiyaki?!"
The old man Yasuie (Lao Kang) squeezed through the crowd, eyes wide with disbelief and joy.
"It's really you — Lord Sukiyaki!"
"Sukiyaki-sama?"
"The former general of Wanokuni?!"
"No way… Sukiyaki died over twenty years ago!"
But Yasuie stepped forward, tears streaming down his face.
"There's no mistake — it's him! Lord Sukiyaki, the rightful shogun of Wanokuni!"
Kozuki Sukiyaki's eyes widened as he recognized the man before him.
"Are you… Yasuie? You're alive too!"
The name struck like lightning.
"Yasuie?!"
"You mean the former Daimyo of Hakumai, Shimotsuki Yasuie-sama?!"
"That can't be— how could this funny old man be that Yasuie-sama?!"
The people were in utter disbelief.
Then, another wave of commotion swept the plaza.
"It's Boss Denjiro!"
"Boss Kyoshiro is here!"
"Hahaha, with Boss Kyoshiro here, we've got nothing to worry about!"
"And look— Doctor Komurasaki is with him!"
"She's as beautiful as ever!"
Seeing Denjiro (Kyoshiro) and Hiyori together, the residents felt a strange sense of relief… until the next shock struck.
"Lord Sukiyaki! Lord Yasuie!"
Denjiro strode forward, fell to one knee before them, and bowed deeply.
The crowd froze.
"Wha—what?"
"Boss Kyoshiro… knelt?!"
"Why is he calling them 'Lord Sukiyaki' and 'Lord Yasuie'?!"
"Are they really who he says they are?!"
"No, what I want to know is— why is Boss Kyoshiro doing this?!"
"Isn't he one of Orochi's right-hand men?!"
Whispers exploded everywhere.
The truth came out soon after.
When Denjiro revealed his true identity — as one of the Red Scabbards, Kozuki Oden's loyal retainers — the Flower Capital erupted again.
And just as the people were struggling to comprehend that, another revelation dropped like a thunderbolt.
"Grandfather!"
The Oiran, Komurasaki — no, Kozuki Hiyori — ran forward, her face flushed with emotion.
"Hiyori… you're alive?!" Sukiyaki cried, tears filling his eyes.
The crowd gasped.
"Wait—Doctor Komurasaki called him grandfather?!"
"Then that means…"
"The Oiran Komurasaki is Lord Sukiyaki's granddaughter?!"
"Hiyori… could it be… Princess Hiyori-sama?!"
"The daughter of Lord Oden—our nation's lost princess—is still alive!!!"
"Yes! It makes sense!" one man shouted.
"Boss Kyoshiro was a Red Scabbard all along, protecting the princess in secret!"
"He disguised himself to guard her all these years!"
"But— there's so much happening at once! Sukiyaki alive, Yasuie alive, the princess revealed… my brain can't handle this!!!"
Someone yelled out from the crowd, "Not good! If Orochi finds out that Lord Sukiyaki, Lord Yasuie, and Princess Hiyori are all alive— we're doomed!"
Panic rippled through the plaza.
Even the Fairy Tail members were stunned by the whirlwind of revelations.
"So let me get this straight," Robin said, summarizing calmly. "The man with the mask is Kozuki Oden's father, Sukiyaki. That beautiful Oiran is Oden's daughter, Hiyori. Both of them disguised themselves for decades to bide their time and overthrow Orochi."
"That's incredible!" Vivi exclaimed. "The princess of this country is amazing. If it were me, I don't think I could have done that!"
"No, Vivi," Sugisawa Yuuto said gently, smiling. "You're stronger than you think. Don't underestimate yourself."
"Really?" Vivi's eyes sparkled at his words.
Meanwhile, the crowd was growing restless.
"Lord Sukiyaki! Tell us what's happening today!"
"What's going on in Wanokuni?!"
Sukiyaki raised his hands, his expression solemn but radiant.
"Everyone, as I said before — the darkest night that shrouded Wanokuni for decades has finally ended. Not long ago, with the help of our nation's saviors — Fairy Tail — justice has been restored."
He took a deep breath.
"The ones who brought ruin to Wanokuni — General Kurozumi Orochi, the Beast King Kaido, and the Beasts Pirates — have all been utterly defeated by Fairy Tail, led by Chairman Sugisawa Yuuto! We are free!"
A deafening roar erupted.
"WAAAAAAHHHH!!!"
The cheers shook the very heavens, echoing across Wanokuni.
From the plaza to the farthest villages, the news spread like wildfire through the light-painting image network.
And just like that—
All of Wanokuni trembled with joy and disbelief.
The age of darkness had ended.
The dawn of Wanokuni had finally arrived.