In the solemn and dignified hall, August, Invel, and the other members of the Spriggan 12 were seated around a large round table.
"I see. So the purpose of this attack on Ishgar is to seize a woman's body?" The dark-skinned Ajeel said, sounding somewhat disappointed as he crossed his arms.
"No. It is a magic: Fairy Heart." Zeref, seated at the head, glanced at Ajeel and corrected him. Then, looking at the assembled Spriggan 12, he continued, "Besides that, we must also destroy Ishgar. Humanity must be annihilated once."
Hearing Zeref's words, Ajeel, who had looked bored moments before, suddenly stood up, his face excited. "Leave that task to me!"
"Ajeel, mind your manners in front of His Majesty!" Invel, seated near Zeref, immediately chided Ajeel in a low voice for standing up.
"It's fine, Invel," Zeref first said to Invel, then addressed Ajeel, "Our attack on Ishgar this time is a full-scale assault. All of the Spriggan 12 will participate."
'All of the Spriggan 12?'
As soon as Zeref finished speaking, a look of confusion appeared on Ajeel's face.
He didn't understand why dealing with Ishgar required mobilizing the entire Spriggan 12.
In his view, he alone was sufficient.
But before Ajeel could voice his question, Zeref provided the answer.
"The reason all twelve of you are needed is because of a mage in Ishgar named Kenichi."
"Three months ago, he killed Acnologia."
'What?'
'Acnologia was killed?'
Even though everyone present was a member of the Spriggan 12, terrifyingly powerful in their own right, when they heard from Zeref that Acnologia had been killed by someone, huge waves stirred in their hearts.
After all, Acnologia was the Dragon King, a being even Zeref feared.
"Truly unbelievable... to think someone could kill Acnologia," August, who had remained silent until now, spoke, an unreadable expression on his aged face.
"Kenichi... I've remembered that name. I'll analyze his weaknesses and attempt to kill him," The man next to August, whose head was pointed like a water droplet, said with a smirk, looking very interested.
This man was none other than the automaton, Wall.
To be precise, he was a puppet controlled by Wall.
He possessed the ability to see through others' weaknesses and then create corresponding attacks to target them.
No sooner had Wall finished speaking than another Spriggan's member suddenly stood up and declared in a warning tone, "Wall! I forbid you to target him! He is my prey!"
This Spriggan who stood up so abruptly had an exaggerated spiky hairstyle and a horizontal scar across his nose.
If Kenichi were here now, he would definitely recognize this person.
It was none other than the former #1 of the Four Gods of Ishgar, God Serena.
However, this Serena had long since become one of the Spriggan 12.
The reason Serena betrayed Ishgar and joined the Alvarez Empire was entirely for the chance to defeat Acnologia with his own hands.
Although in the original work, he was instantly defeated by Acnologia, that didn't change the fact that defeating Acnologia was his long-cherished wish, a wish he was willing to betray Ishgar to achieve.
When Zeref announced moments ago that Acnologia had been killed, Serena felt as if struck by lightning.
The goal he had painstakingly pursued was suddenly gone.
Anyone would find it hard to accept.
But quickly, Serena adjusted his mindset, shifting his target from Acnologia to Kenichi, the one who had killed Acnologia.
'Even if Acnologia is dead, if I defeat the one who killed him, that guy Kenichi, it's the same...' Serena thought to himself.
Wall knew Serena's reason for joining the Alvarez Empire was to deal with Acnologia. Seeing Serena now so determined to face Kenichi, he let out a light 'Heh', a smirk curling his lips as he said, "Fine, I'll leave him to you then."
"Thank you very much!" Serena abruptly bowed deeply to Wall, his head nearly hitting the table.
Then he straightened his back and struck a series of exaggerated poses, much like Ichiya of Blue Pegasus.
"How disgusting," Brandish, who had once met Kenichi, commented flatly, looking at Serena's narcissistic display.
"Brandish, you're just too blunt. That's why people always find you unpleasant," A blonde woman in battle armor seated across from Brandish said to her.
"Hah?! The one who's unpleasant is you, Dimaria! I hate you the most!" Brandish tilted her head, looking at the blonde woman.
"Heh, well, it seems we agree on that point," The blonde woman named Dimaria said with a smile.