After Kenichi used Doll Attack Magic to subdue Kyoka, the war instigated by Tartaros was completely concluded.
After storing Kyoka in a different dimension, Kenichi turned and looked towards Natsu's group.
They saw Igneel, Grandeeney, and the other dragons emitting a light before finally vanishing into the air.
"Is it over there too?"
As he spoke, Kenichi's figure vanished from the spot.
At this moment, Natsu, Gajeel, Sting, Rogue, and Wendy were feeling very downcast.
For Natsu, Gajeel, and the others, Igneel, Metalicana, and the other dragons weren't just teachers who taught them Dragon Slayer Magic… they were more like adoptive parents.
Ever since Igneel and the other dragons disappeared on July 7, X777, Natsu and the others had been searching for them.
After many years, they had finally reunited.
But now they had to part ways again.
Naturally, Natsu, Gajeel, and the others felt extremely reluctant to let go.
"Wendy."
Kenichi appeared out of thin air behind the despondent Wendy and spoke.
Hearing Kenichi, Wendy slowly turned around.
She looked at Kenichi, then lowered her head.
"I'll always be with you."
Kenichi habitually placed his hand on Wendy's head and spoke comfortingly.
Wendy's mood was already very low.
Now, hearing Kenichi's words, her emotions seemed to find release. She hugged Kenichi tightly and burst into tears.
"Let's go back."
Kenichi let Wendy hold him like this. After a long while, he finally spoke softly.
…
While Natsu and the others were bidding a reluctant farewell to Igneel and the other dragons, Zeref, dressed in black clothes with a white cloak, seemed to sense something.
He turned his head to look in Natsu's direction and said: "Natsu…"
Not long after Zeref spoke, a male voice came from behind him: "Your Majesty!"
Following the sound, they saw a group of soldiers clad in armor, lined up on both sides of the large ship docked at the harbor ahead in perfect order.
And on the main road leading to the ship, a man dressed in blue clothes and wearing glasses was waiting respectfully there.
If Kenichi were here, he would definitely recognize the man with glasses.
This man was none other than Invel Yura, the Winter General, one of the Spriggan 12 of the Alvarez Empire.
Hearing Invel, Zeref turned around and strode towards the location of the large ship.
When Zeref and Invel passed each other, Zeref finally spoke softly: "Invel, prepare for war."
"War?"
Invel turned around, adjusted his glasses, then followed and said: "Does Your Majesty intend to attack Ishgar?"
"To be precise, it's Fairy Tail. All of the Spriggan 12 will be deployed."
Zeref boarded the large ship, stood at the bow, looked back towards Ishgar, and spoke.
'All of the Spriggan 12 deployed?'
Hearing Zeref's words, Invel's pupils slightly dilated.
Although Invel was one of the Spriggan 12, he was also the Chief Staff Officer of the Alvarez Imperial Army.
He knew some things about Ishgar.
Naturally, he also knew that the Fairy Tail Zeref mentioned was just an ordinary mage guild on the Ishgar Continent.
In Invel's view, to attack this Fairy Tail, simply sending a squad of mage soldiers would be enough to capture it.
But now, Zeref was saying that the entire Spriggan 12 should be deployed simultaneously against this Fairy Tail.
This left Invel somewhat puzzled.
After all, any single one of the Spriggan 12 possessed the terrifying strength to easily destroy a country.
If the Desert King Ajeel, one of the Spriggan 12, were here, upon hearing Zeref wanted to deploy all twelve against Fairy Tail, he would certainly retort: "Your Majesty, I alone am enough to deal with Fairy Tail!"
But Invel was not Ajeel.
He understood that Zeref must have his own reasons for doing this.
After Invel, along with a group of Alvarez Empire soldiers, boarded the large ship, he finally asked Zeref: "Your Majesty, why do you intend to use the Spriggan 12 to deal with this Fairy Tail?"
"Not just the Spriggan 12, but the entire military force of the Alvarez Empire."
"As for the reason... Acnologia has been eliminated. By a mage of Fairy Tail."
As soon as Zeref said this, Invel's face abruptly changed, and his heart was filled with towering waves of shock.
Although the first part of Zeref's statement had already surprised Invel greatly, what truly shocked Invel was the latter part.
"Acnologia has been eliminated?"
Who was Acnologia?
The Dragon King.
The embodiment of despair.
Although Zeref was like a god in Invel's heart, Invel clearly knew that even Zeref probably couldn't defeat this Dragon King, Acnologia.
And now, Zeref was saying that the Dragon King Acnologia had been eliminated by someone.
If anyone else said Acnologia had been eliminated, Invel's first reaction would undoubtedly be that it was impossible.
After all, no one in this world could possibly defeat Acnologia.
But the one saying this was Zeref.
Invel trusted Zeref's words unconditionally.
Since Zeref said Acnologia had been eliminated, then Acnologia must have been eliminated.
It was only at this moment that Invel understood why Zeref wanted to use the entire nation's strength of the Alvarez Empire to deal with a single guild.
The reason was simple: because this guild had eliminated the Dragon King, Acnologia.
"I understand. I will summon the Spriggan 12 upon our return."
Invel replied to Zeref.