Etherion

Meanwhile, at the Magic Council headquarters on the mainland, the atmosphere was extremely tense.

"Siegrain! Do you know what you're saying?!"

The hook-nosed councilor Oge, slammed his hand on the table, stood up abruptly, and glared angrily at the blue-haired youth who had convened this emergency meeting.

"I know."

Siegrain's face was filled with sorrow and determination, and his voice resounded throughout the council chamber.

Jellal is my twin brother.

"However, he unfortunately fell into the demonic path and even rebuilt the forbidden R-System!"

"I suggest we immediately utilize the Etherion to thwart his plot before it succeeds!"

Etherion, the Magic Council's ultimate trump card, a national-level strategic weapon of destruction.

It gathers the magical power of a large number of mages and uses a satellite magic array suspended in the sky to launch a long-range targeted bombardment of the target. Its power is enough to destroy a city or even a small country in an instant.

Because of its terrifying destructive power, the Magic Council stipulated that it should never be used except in extremely critical situations.

Furthermore, each use requires the approval of more than half of the council members.

"Even so, there's no need to use Etherion, is there?" another councilor questioned.

"No! That's because you have no idea who Jellal wants to resurrect using the R-System!"

Siegrain's voice suddenly rose, and he threw out a name that would make the whole world tremble.

"What he wants to resurrect is the most vicious and powerful dark mage in history— Zeref!"

"What?!"

These words shocked everyone present.

The faces of all the judges were filled with undisguised fear and horror.

"If he succeeds, the whole world will be plunged into unprecedented chaos and disaster!" Siegrain's tone was full of urgency.

Meanwhile, Zeref, who was quietly reading a book on a deserted island, suddenly sneezed for no reason. He rubbed his nose, looking puzzled.

"Strange, who's talking about me?"

In the Magic Council's meeting room, Makarov's friend, the elderly Mr. Yajima with his white mustache, frowned. "Even if you say that,..."

"There's really no time left!"

Siegrain, feigning extreme urgency, interrupted Yajima.

"In that case, let's begin the vote."

The chief judge, seated at the head of the table, finally spoke.

Just Siegrain and Ultear, who were sitting not far from him, contributed two votes directly.

Amidst the immense fear of Zeref's resurrection, several more council members gradually raised their hands in support.

The number of votes in favor quickly exceeded half.

Even though Yajima and a few others firmly opposed it, it was already too late.

Seeing that the result was as he had hoped, a barely perceptible smile finally appeared on Siegrain's lips.

"Once this is all over, we'll definitely be glad we made this wise decision."

With the resolution passed, the massive Magic Council system immediately began operating at high speed, making final preparations for the release of Etherion.

While everyone was busy, Siegrain walked up to Ultear and lowered his voice.

"I can already sense it. In the Tower of Heaven, with only half my strength, I've already been defeated by Jiang Bai."

His voice carried a hint of resentment and anger.

"Therefore, I must rush back immediately to unite my powers. This place is entrusted to you, Ultear."

"Don't worry, Lord Jellal."

Ultear bowed slightly and responded respectfully.

"Once the Etherion has finished being unleashed, I'll cause some trouble for the Magic Council, and then immediately head to meet you."

"Aren't you really going to come with me to witness this historic moment?"

"Siegrain, no, he should be called Jellal now," he finally invited.

"This humble woman awaits your good news from here." Ultear's smile was impeccable.

Jellal said no more, and his figure transformed into a streak of light, disappearing from the council hall.

He didn't see it; in the instant he turned around, a hint of undisguised mockery and ridicule flashed in Ultear's eyes.

As the leader of the Seven Kin of Purgatory in the Grimoire Heart, how could she not know that the Dark Mage Zeref, whom their guild master Hades had been desperately searching for, was perfectly alive and well?

She was equally aware that Jellal's plan was doomed to fail from the very beginning.

Even if he were to return as a mere Thought Projection, or even if he were in his complete form from the beginning, he still wouldn't be a match for Jiang Bai.

The reason she cooperated with Jellal in this play was simply to use the council as a tool to test the Magic Council.

That Etherion, powerful enough to destroy a country, could it possibly kill that man named Jiang Bai?

But when she thought of that man's lazy manner in front of her back then, how he could have easily killed her but instead chose to let her go because he found it troublesome, a slight hesitation arose in her heart.

But it was only a tiny bit.

She quickly suppressed this inappropriate emotion.

If he could create a "Great Magic World" and turn back time to the past, he could be with his mother forever.

At worst, we can just resurrect this interesting man along with him later.

Thinking of this, Ultear's eyes turned cold and resolute once again.