"Oración Seis..."
Ken's voice was laced with concern as he processed the information Makarov had shared. The imminent crusade against the Dark Guild, spearheaded by the Oración Seis (Six Demon Generals), had arrived much sooner than expected. This battle, which would involve many he cared about, couldn't be avoided. Ken's heart raced as he considered the stakes.
The Oración Seis, along with two other factions—the Grimoire Heart and the Gate of Hades—were among the three most powerful groups within the Balam Alliance. But, of the three, it was the Six Demon Generals who were making the first move.
Ken's concern intensified when he thought of Erza, Natsu, Gray, and the others. He couldn't simply sit back while his friends were in danger.
"Where are Erza and the others gathering?" Ken asked urgently, determined to find them and join the fight.
Makarov, unperturbed by Ken's sudden urgency, took a sip of tea and gestured lazily to the counter. "I put the map over there. Don't worry, Ken. There are ten holy magicians in the alliance this time. They're well-prepared. But I'd better explain the situation—"
Before Makarov could launch into his analysis, a sudden gust of wind interrupted him. Ken had already activated his Storm Dragon wings and was airborne in the blink of an eye, leaving the guild hall in a cloud of dust.
Makarov sat back, frustrated. "If I had known, I wouldn't have said anything..." he grumbled.
Mirajane, with a soft smile, tried to lighten the mood. "He's just worried about his friends, Master."
Ken's mind raced as he flew towards the Sea of Gas Trees. The Six Demon Generals were after the ancient forbidden magic known as Nirvana, which had the power to warp the hearts of its victims—turning light to darkness and forcing them to turn against their allies.
"Once Nirvana is activated, it can switch the light and darkness in a person's heart," Ken thought, his focus unwavering. "And if it's unleashed... it could make allies fight each other."
Ken knew that unlocking the seal on Nirvana wasn't simple. Jellal had known how to unlock it, but after the chaotic events in the Tower of Paradise, it was uncertain whether he could escape. "If the Six Demon Generals are trying to break the seal... they might not even know how to," Ken mused.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sight of the looming forest of gas trees. From a distance, smoke still curled into the air—proof that a battle had already taken place.
As Ken descended to the clearing near the Sea of Gas Trees, he immediately saw signs of battle. The ground was scarred from magic blasts, and the air still held the scent of smoke and destruction.
"Was this the guild alliance's doing? Or... are the Six Demon Generals already here?" he wondered aloud.
As he landed, the figures of injured mages came into focus, and Ken's heart skipped when he saw the familiar faces of Fairy Tail members.
Erza, Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and Happy were among the injured. Erza, in particular, appeared to be in bad shape. Her right arm had been struck by a venomous attack, and it was covered in deep purple marks. Wendy, a blue-haired mage from the Cait Shelter, was working quickly with healing magic to alleviate Erza's pain.
As Ken touched down, his presence was immediately noticed. The injured mages reacted instantly, preparing for a potential ambush.
"Be careful! The Six Demon Generals might be returning!" one mage warned, his stance defensive.
Natsu, with his keen sense of smell, sniffed the air and then relaxed, his eyes widening. "Wait a minute... this scent..." he muttered.
It was only when Ken's figure grew larger and finally landed a short distance away that the entire group recognized him.
"Ken!?" they shouted in unison, relief flooding their expressions.
Ken gave a strained smile. "Sorry, I'm late."
Erza, still holding her injured arm, pushed herself to her feet with difficulty, waving the others down. "Everyone, don't be alarmed. Ken's with us—he's a Fairy Tail wizard. He just hasn't been around for a while."
The tension began to ease as the group relaxed, lowering their guards. Ken scanned their faces, a mix of familiarity and distance in his gaze.
One by one, he mentally identified each person in the group: Hibiki of the Blue Pegasus Guild, Ivan, and Lian. Sherria of Lamia Scale, Lyon, Gray's senior brother, Jura of the Holy Saints, and Wendy—the Sky Dragon Slayer—along with her cat companion Carla.
Ken's gaze lingered on Wendy, who was gently detoxifying Erza with her healing magic. He let out a silent breath of relief. Moving closer, Ken crouched down beside them.
"Does it still hurt?" he asked softly, his voice full of concern.
Erza, pale and hoarse, smiled weakly. "With Wendy's healing magic, it's much better. But..." she trailed off, her expression growing more serious. "The Six Demon Generals are stronger than we expected. We've already fought them, and each of them is a formidable opponent."
Ken's face grew serious. "I understand," he said quietly, rising to his feet. He turned to the rest of the group, his voice calm yet firm. "I have information about the Six Demon Generals. Follow my lead, and I'll help you defeat them, one by one."
Before Ken could continue, a chorus of doubt and protest rang out from the group.
"Wait a minute!" Hibiki called, clearly skeptical. "We've just failed against the Six Demon Generals. We have their magic information, but they're too powerful!"
"Yeah, you really think you know more than the Magic Information Database?" another voice added.
Gray's senior brother, Lyon, appeared the most distrustful. He looked Ken over with disdain, his posture defensive. "A battle plan needs to come from someone like Jura! We're not going to risk our lives on a newcomer!"
Erza opened her mouth to defend Ken, but he gently shook his head, signaling her to stop.
"Let them doubt," Ken thought. "If I want them to follow me, I'll need to prove my strength."
With calm resolve, Ken stepped forward, positioning himself between Lyon and Jura.
"What's your plan, then?" Lyon sneered, raising a hand to create an ice shield, his eyes narrowed.
The air grew tense. The standoff was inevitable. For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath as the two sides prepared for a confrontation.
(Next Chapter: The Dragon Slayer's Gambit)