"Attack! Keep attacking!" While Erza was defeating Ajeel, the 50-plus flying warships of the Alvarez Empire continued their relentless bombardment of Magnolia.
Although all the projectile attacks were blocked by the Jutsu Shiki Barrier over Magnolia, under the onslaught of massive shelling, the barrier was beginning to show signs of dissipating.
"Damn it! The Jutsu Shiki can't hold much longer!" Freed, who was maintaining the script inside the Kaldia Cathedral, said through gritted teeth.
"Hold on, Freed! Don't give up!" Seeing the expression on Freed's face, Evergreen said with equal gravity.
"Roar-"
Just then, a soul-shaking roar suddenly echoed over Magnolia.
Hearing this roar, Freed, Evergreen, and Bickslow were all startled.
"This sound is..."
At the same time, the Alvarez Empire's soldiers inside the 50-plus flying warships above Magnolia all looked as if they had seen a ghost, their faces filled with horror as they stared at a specific point ahead.
They saw an enormous steel dragon, creating powerful air currents as it flew towards them.
This steel dragon was, naturally, the one controlled by Kenichi's Dragon Control Magic.
During the Tartaros event, although dragons like Igneel and Grandeeney had disappeared, this steel dragon controlled by Kenichi had not.
"So it's finally here," Kenichi murmured, a slight smile touching his lips as he watched the approaching steel dragon.
The Alvarez Empire's soldiers, however, were screaming in terror:
"A d-dragon...!"
"A real dragon!"
"Retreat, now!"
Crash-
Before the flying warships could even begin to move, the iron dragon's massive body crashed down onto one of them like a falling mountain.
With a tremendous roar, the warship shattered into pieces instantly.
The Alvarez Empire's soldiers inside the warship fell like rain.
After destroying one warship, the iron dragon's huge body instantly turned and charged towards another flying warship.
Then, only the sounds of 'Bang! Bang! Bang!' could be heard as warship after warship was destroyed.
A great number of Alvarez Empire's soldiers fell, their desperate cries filling the air.
"Damn it! Attack! Open fire!" A commander, seeing escape was impossible, shouted with furious hatred.
Boom-
Boom-
Boom-
Immediately, a massive volley of projectiles, dense as a storm, swept towards the iron dragon.
Amidst a series of explosions, the iron dragon's colossal form was swallowed by the explosive flames.
However, before the flames from the explosions could dissipate, a massive, spiraling beam of magical power shot through the fiery blaze, directly sweeping towards the area where the flying warships were clustered.
Watching the enormous magic beam rapidly enlarge in their vision, the faces of the Alvarez Empire's soldiers turned ashen.
In just an instant, the roar attack launched by the iron dragon struck a flying warship.
At that moment, an intensely dazzling light erupted between heaven and earth.
The originally dark night became as bright as day under its glare.
The light devoured everything in its surroundings.
And the world fell into a deathly silence.
But behind this silence brewed destruction.
After a brief silence, a cataclysmic explosion followed.
Kaboom-
Soaring flames rose into the sky like a giant mushroom cloud.
Immediately after, a violent shockwave, mixed with terrifyingly high temperatures, spread out in all directions.
Dozens of the Alvarez Empire's flying warships were caught in the impact of this terrifying heat wave… some evaporated outright, while others were shattered into fragments.
"The 50-plus flying warships... they've all been wiped out!" Inside the Fairy Tail's guild hall, Warren stared at his display, where all the red dots had vanished in an instant, and shouted in exhilaration.
Makarov, who had been pacing back and forth, finally let out a sigh of relief upon hearing Warren's news, the tension on his aged face easing slightly.
"It seems Kenichi and the others succeeded!" As Makarov spoke, Warren also cheered, "As expected of Kenichi and the others! They're amazing!"
"Yes, they are," Makarov said with a smile. But when he turned around, the faint smile on his face disappeared, replaced once more by a grave expression. "But this is only the beginning."
…
On the sea east of Ishgar, over a hundred massive warships were advancing menacingly towards the Ishgar Continent.
Zooming in on one of the warships, Zeref, dressed in black with a white cloak draped over his shoulders, stood at the bow, looking towards Ishgar.
"This is..." Suddenly, an Alvarez Empire's mage behind Zeref let out a cry of alarm.
"What is all this commotion about?" Invel, wearing his glasses, stepped forward and reprimanded sternly.
"Invel-sama! Ajeel-sama has been defeated!"
"The 53 flying warships under Ajeel-sama's command have been completely annihilated!"
Hearing this report, Invel's brow visibly furrowed. He adjusted his glasses and said solemnly, "Although I anticipated Ajeel might be defeated, I didn't expect it to happen this quickly."
"There is no need for concern, Invel."
"Irene and August have already entered Ishgar."
"As long as we obtain Fairy Heart, this war will be our victory." Zeref remained as calm and composed as ever.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Invel replied respectfully to Zeref's words.