Chapter 541

Even Marin's magic could not stop Osysiris's lightning bolt before their eyes.

How much less could Melkocobia, the Water Dragon, whose power fell far short of Acnologia's?

They, who had not fought for over a hundred years, had forgotten the ferocity befitting a dragon.

Instead, to avoid conflict, they had always lived in seclusion within the Northern Continent.

The reason was clear: they feared Acnologia's power, terrified that as divine dragons, they would be stripped of their Dragon Power by Acnologia.

The longer a creature lives, the more it fears the arrival of death.

The reason the Five Divine Dragons came to the continent of Ishgar was equally simple: Igneel told them Acnologia was dead.

Added to that, they sensed the emergence of various dragon kinds, so each came with different intentions.

But now, with Melkocobia's death, all dragons had grown sober.

"Lord Igneel, come with us."

Amidst the seventeen-second silence, Timaeus's voice broke through.

Igneel's weary thoughts snapped back; his wings flared, and the dark mass hovering over Fiore's capital surged upward.

All flew northward; no one knew where they were headed.

Before the Emerald Princess could ask, her vision suddenly blurred.

When her senses returned, she found the surrounding environment had changed.

She had arrived in Fiore's capital—the familiar walls and surrounding environment.

It was a place the Emerald Princess visited every day.

"Has it finally ended...?"

The Emerald Princess's expression grew slightly melancholy now that the danger had passed.

Yet her heart already felt a quiet disappointment, still haunted by the dragons' overwhelming power.

Though Meliodas's words had made him fully understand, sometimes not everyone can think so clearly.

The most essential thing needed to fulfill all ambitions is nothing but power.

"It's over. Nothing in the capital was destroyed."

"Fiore is still Fiore."

Meliodas stepped forward, gazing at the surroundings and the sky beginning to brighten.

A faint smile appeared on his face, like the first glow of dawn, warming the Emerald Princess's steadily sinking heart.

In the Magic Council, shortly after Fairy Tail won the Grand Magic Games.

In just two days, the Magic Council held three meetings regarding the Kingdom of Fiore.

At last, they reached a decision and summoned all Ten Saint members.

Macao and Jura Leiji arrived last.

Having come directly from Fiore, both felt the heavy atmosphere in the meeting hall as soon as they sat down.

"What's so urgent that we were called back so suddenly?"

Jura Leiji, seeing everyone silent, wore a look of confusion.

After exchanging a glance with Macao, who shook his head, Macao finally spoke to the group.

"It concerns the Kingdom of Fiore—what Fiore has just done."

The Magic Council has officially decided how to deal with the Kingdom of Fiore.

Vord Siken closed his eyes and spoke calmly to Jura Leiji beside him.

His tone carried more resignation toward the Magic Council—or perhaps toward Fiore.

But Macao's eyes twitched slightly; he stared at the figures before him, disbelieving.

The Kingdom of Fiore? What are you talking about?

Macao clearly had no idea what had happened.

He had witnessed the Dragon Incident in Fiore just days ago.

But in Macao's view, it was merely an accident, even if it had started with the Zodiac Keys.

Afterwards, Fiore returned all twelve Zodiac Keys and paid Fairy Tail compensation.

So Macao had no intention of pursuing it further—after all, Fairy Tail operated within Fiore's borders.

And now, in this very Magic Council, such a topic.

Could only lead one to imagine one thing: the appearance of the Ten Thousand Dragons.

It was deliberately orchestrated by Fiore's high command.

Our investigation revealed a door beneath Wang Gong.

"The Emerald Princess opened that Shan Sect door, triggering the Age of Ten Thousand Dragons—and that is why we are punishing her."

"Her true intention in summoning the Ten Thousand Dragons was to conquer all of Ishgar."