"The Seven Kin of Purgatory have already dispersed and begun landing on the island... Yet Fairy Tail remains undivided?"
The battleship of Grimoire Heart was docked by the shore.
Hades remained alone in the ship's hall, sipping red wine with arrogant composure as he gazed at the smoke and flames of battle rising from the island.
Hades leisurely cut into the steak on his plate with a knife and fork, seemingly entirely unconcerned about the situation unfolding on Tenrou Island.
"Is there anyone on this island who can make me fly...?"
Just as Hades was enjoying his meal, the plates and candles on the table suddenly began shaking violently, as if some invisible force was trying to crush the table itself.
Hades frowned slightly and passed a hand over the table, instantly restoring its stability.
"Bluenote, its not yet your time to appear."
From the shadows behind Hades emerged a tall man with the Grimoire Heart emblem tattooed on the back of his left hand.
Named Bluenote Stinger, he wore his black hair in a waist-length braid, had a hawk-like nose with sideburns extending down to his cheeks, and was draped in a white overcoat.
Though his expression appeared vacant, an immense, suffocating Magic Power radiated from his body.
Staring toward the distant battlefield on Tenrou Island, Bluenote spoke in a hoarse voice tinged with excitement.
"I can sense it... a powerful Magic Power that can make me fly!"
"Your descriptions remain as peculiar as ever." Hades set down his cutlery and wiped his mouth, saying.
"The one currently fighting Azuma is likely Fairy Tail's S-Class Mage, Laxus... who is also Makarov's own grandson."
Bluenote licked his lips, his smile twisting into an ugly expression. "I'll go have some fun with him."
"Unnecessary. Let Azuma test the capabilities of Makarov's grandson."
Hades immediately stopped him.
Under Bluenote's dissatisfied gaze, he picked up his knife and fork again, intending to continue his meal.
BOOM!
The ship lurched violently, causing the meat on Hades's fork to fall to the floor.
His eyes darkened as he murmured, "They have arrived faster than expected."
...
Outside, along the shore of Tenrou Island, a giant old man stood bare-chested, tightly gripping the Grimoire Heart battleship as if trying to snap it in half.
Screams of terror erupted from countless foot soldiers inside the vessel.
The giant Makarov showed absolutely no mercy.
The muscles in his massive arms bulged as he lifted the entire ship, preparing to smash it to pieces.
"I would advise against that."
Makarov suddenly felt as if a literal mountain were pressing down on him, forcing him to relax his grip and release the ship.
Bluenote stood atop the ship's deck, both hands projecting a gravity magic circle.
Makarov's entire body was being forced downward, sinking deep into the sand and creating a massive crater.
Makarov's eyes blazed with fury as his body radiated a brilliant golden light.
He swung his massive fist, unleashing an unstoppable wave of holy power toward Bluenote.
As the enormous fist closed in, a fanatical expression spread across Bluenote's face.
He roared, "Come on! Make me fly!"
A massive magic circle materialized before Bluenote, erupting with intense horizontal gravity to counter Makarov's furious strike.
The next moment...
Bluenote truly flew.
Makarov, holding absolutely nothing back, struck Bluenote with a giant punch infused with holy light magic, sending him flying through the air.
"GHAH—!!"
Bluenote was sent skimming across the sea like a skipping stone, coughing up blood before sinking deep into the waters.
"Get out here, Hades!"
Though Makarov had sent Bluenote flying with a single punch, his rage remained unabated.
He clasped his hands before his chest, as a sacred judgment force gathering once more within his palms.
This was the strongest magic Makarov commanded, one of Fairy Tail's Three Great Fairy Magics—Fairy Law!
Brilliant judgment light condensed between Makarov's palms as his dignified voice rang out:
"Grimoire Heart, Hades! Take your men and leave Tenrou Island immediately, or I shall judge and eliminate every single enemy on this island!"
"I will only count to three!"
Makarov's eyes blazed as the radiance of Law in his hands grew ever more blinding, his voice thundering:
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"
The warship remained unresponsive. Makarov's eyes burned with intensifying fury as he pressed his palms together, poised to unleash Fairy Law.
"Enough, boy."
At that exact moment, opposing Fairy Law, an equally terrifying judgment force emanated from the other side—but with a dark, sinister magical attribute that seemed inherently opposed to the light.
'That voice!'
Makarov's eyes widened sharply.
This familiar voice instantly conjured in his mind the image of someone he respected profoundly.
Hades strode to the ship's bow, maintaining the exact same hand gesture as Makarov.
This white-bearded, white-haired geezer gazed at Makarov with a dark, mocking smile.
"This is Grimoire Law, with the exact same effect as Fairy Law. If you wish to see all the Mages you've nurtured perish, feel free to annihilate us together."
Makarov's hands fell limply.
His aged face was filled with complete disbelief, followed rapidly by deep heartache and sorrow.
"Why, Guild Master Precht?! Why are you the master of Grimoire Heart?!"
Standing before Makarov was the second master of Fairy Tail, the very man who had entrusted the guild leadership directly to him—Precht Gaebolg!
He was the person Makarov respected most, who had taught him truths he still upheld to this very day.
How could such a man become his enemy?!
Seeing he had successfully intimidated Makarov, Precht wore a faint smile, his entire being radiating sinister energy as he said.
"After leaving Fairy Tail, I continuously pursued the end of the magical path, seeking the One Magic. The deeper I delved, the more I understood that the true essence of magic is darkness."
Precht coldly laughed at Makarov's stunned, grief-stricken expression. "I too once believed magic grew powerful through bonds and emotions. Unfortunately, those who completely abandon such things are the true strong ones!"
"Look at my Seven Kin of Purgatory—they are the perfect proof."
"Nonsense!"
Shattering the image of the kind, tolerant elder in his mind, Makarov roared at the evil old man before him.
"You have pursued the wrong path, Master Precht!"
"Those who abandon their emotions are merely hollow shells who can use magic—they can never become true powerhouses!"
"Through my time with the children of my guild, I gradually came to understand that the so-called 'One Magic' might simply have been a fire-starting spell developed by a child trying to warm their parents during some long-forgotten year."
"Or perhaps it was a water-creation magic developed by a husband trying to desperately save his companions in the desert."
"It could even have been a blooming magic created by a romantic soul for their beloved."
"What kind of world-destroying magic could the One Magic have been? Don't make me laugh!"
Makarov pointed angrily at Precht, roaring from his soul.
"Magic doesn't appear out of thin air! It begins from humble origins, born as miracles that respond to the deepest emotions within people's hearts!"
"LOVE is the One Magic!"
Precht watched the tearful Makarov trying to persuade him to return.
His eyes gradually darkened as he murmured in a low, cold voice.
"Ignorant nonsense."
"This is exactly why I want to destroy the Fairy Tail you've built, Makarov..."