Fairy Tail: Jinchuriki

Zeref shows up in the forest outside of Magnolia Town. He can't just teleport to Alex's location because he can't pinpoint it. So he just teleports outside of Magnolia because he knows Alex can sense his magic power even though he can't sense Alex's magic power.

Even now, Zeref is very impressed by Alex's ability to hide his magic power. As the strongest Mage in Ishgar, Alex should have more magic power than anyone. In their last meeting, Zeref could even sense that Alex has more magic power than him.

Yet, he can't sense Alex's magic power at all. He can sense others' magic power, like Makarov's or the S-Classes' magic power. But he can't sense Alex's magic power that should be incredibly high.

Then when he tries to sense the strong magic power in Magnolia, he senses a very familiar magic power. He has been looking for this magic power signature for years. It was the reason he attacked Ishgar in the past and now, it just appears in his detection range.

"Mavis!"

"Hold your thoughts there, buddy. You aren't allowed to get closer to Magnolia than you are now." Alex suddenly appears from behind a tree and calls out to Zeref.

Even from this distance, Zeref still can't sense Alex's magic power. None of the Spriggan can hide their magic power this well. Yet, he has more magic power than them all. He has become an even more troublesome opponent.

"That magic power...." Zeref still looks toward Magnolia.

"The same person you're thinking of. I freed her from the jail that trapped her. But surely, you won't think you can meet her now with me here, don't you?"

Zeref knows he can't escape from Alex, so he decides to stop thinking about Mavis. Alex already shows up here without attacking him, so he knows Alex is coming to talk. If not, then they would've fought already now.

"What were you doing?" Zeref just asks this.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Alex tilts his head.

"That broadcast. What was your purpose?"

"Ah, were you worried about that? Well, it was just as I said in the broadcast. It was a warning. As I said, we only plan to attack your Capital, where you and your Spriggan stay along with your army. If you want to reduce the casualties, you can put all your power there. I can promise you we won't attack other cities. Unless you try to bring the war in other cities by placing your troops there."

"Are you hell bent on waging war with Alvarez?" Zeref knows the answer, but decides to ask anyway.

"Should've thought about that when you attacked us a few times in the past, pal. You attacked us and targeted our 1st Guild Master. Is that not enough reason for us to get back at you? You were challenging the whole continent and would kill anyone who stood on your path. But we only go after you and your main force. If civilians decide to stand in our way after we give them such a clear warning, then it will be their fault if they die. I valued their lives, that's why I warned them. But you valued your goal, that's why you disregarded others' lives. Isn't this a big irony, Zeref? You worked so hard to revive your younger brother, yet you don't understand the value of life. I guess Ankhseram was correct for condemning you, but his decision to curse you was the worst decision because it only highlighted your lack of sympathy for people's lives."

"I highly value people's lives. But humans themselves don't value others' lives, so why should I keep caring for them?"

"Hah, what a bullshit. No one who values lives would create demons that hated humans and would kill people for fun. Your demons were failed products of your attempts to revive Natsu, right? The fact that you didn't destroy them right away or even after Natsu was successfully revived was enough proof that you didn't value people's lives because you should know that those demons hated other races, even the real demon race. Yet you let them roam free for hundreds of years. Did you think of them as your beloved children or something? If so, then as a parent, you should be responsible for guiding them to the correct path. Another thing. You created all those damn demons, but then you also tried to work together with the Dragons to kill Acnologia. Trying to act as a hero, Zeref? But what hero sacrificed millions of people just to kill 1 enemy? Just to capture Fairy Heart, you would kill millions. All for an unknown chance to defeat Acnologia?"

"That's for a chance of a safe future. Billions or trillions of future generations will be safe in the cost of some millions."

"You sure you need to take millions of lives? Isn't that very unnecessary? Don't you know there is something called negotiation and cooperation? If you talked with Mavis and told her your plan very clearly, then don't you think you would have a chance to work together with her? Do you also think that taking her power forcefully is the only way? Aren't you a Mage with vast knowledge and experience? Couldn't you combine your power without hurting anyone? So many things to try and you are hell bent on attacking a continent and taking her power forcefully with a possibility of killing an immortal like her. After living for hundreds of years, haven't you learned a lot of wisdom? Valuing life? Valuing people? You just value your goal. Are you trying to be the world ruler after killing Acnologia? Are you sure you aren't the same psychopath as Acnologia? Are you sure the world will be a better place with you living there forever after you kill Acnologia?"

Alex takes a step toward Zeref with every question until they stand face to face.

"Don't talk about a better future when you can't even value people's life by letting your damn demons and worshippers kill millions of people. I don't care about your sob back stories or about how the author portrayed you as a caring person at heart. The fact that you have caused a lot of disaster to people and to us will never change. Directly or indirectly, you've caused the suffering for my friends, my family, and myself. Think of this war as my revenge because I am not trying to be a damn hero. No matter how the author tried to portray you as a good person, for me, you are nothing more than a mass killer who needs to be executed. Though I must commend you for being a good father although you don't know it."

"Huh? What?" Zeref is confused about the author thing, but he is more confused about the father thing.

Too bad Alex won't explain anything more because he suddenly grabs Zeref's clothes with his right arm that has transformed into Gyuki's arm. Then he throws Zeref far away from Magnolia with ease, forcing Zeref to teleport back to Alvarez if he doesn't want to fall somewhere.

He still has his confused face when he returns to Alvarez. August, Irene, and Invel who have been waiting for his return obviously notice his strange expression. They thought the meeting with Alex doesn't go well, so they need to ask.

"How was it, Milord?" August asks carefully.

"I met him and he meant everything he said in that broadcast. He even released the Fairy Heart. He freed Mavis."

Zeref doesn't hide it because they will know about Mavis sooner or later. August seems a bit shaken, but he doesn't overreact and only seems surprised like the other 2, so Zeref doesn't notice anything unusual.

"That is surprising, but I don't think that's enough to make you have that expression. You seem confused and unsettled. What else did you find there?" Irene doesn't talk politely and no one minds it because she is the only person in this room that's as old as Zeref.

Zeref is hesitant at first, but he decides to just tell them.

"He says things like the author tried to portray me as a good person and I'm being a good father. I don't understand those things and it confuses me."

Now, August is really surprised while Irene and Invel are getting as confused as Zeref. Zeref immediately notices August's surprise and asks if he knows something.

"That's.... I don't know about the author thing, but if it's about being a good father, I assume he said it because you took quite a lot of orphans in the past and raised them well. I am one of those orphans you took under your wings. For us who lost our parents, you've become our father figure. So maybe that's what he meant. Or maybe, it's because of Larcade who received your family name and basically became your adopted son." August quickly comes up with the idea to cover his surprise.

"That makes sense. The case with Larcade seems more likely because most people think he is your real son." Invel nods in agreement.

Zeref actually also thought of that possibility at first. But he has a very strong hunch that it was not what Alex meant. August also thinks that Alex doesn't talk about Larcade even though he doesn't hear it himself.

They get over it soon though because they need to focus on the incoming war. Alex only gives them a week to prepare while they were planning to attack Ishgar in 2 months. So they need to prepare faster and a week is a very short time.

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Ch. 286. Dragon Eaters