"Three of the Four Gods of Ishgar have gathered at Fairy Tail... How fascinating."
Siegrain spoke with a calm expression as he observed the panicked faces of the councilors. Despite his appearance, fear gnawed at his heart.
According to his original plan, the Tower of Paradise required the Council's magic power to activate, and Fairy Tail was meant to be a pawn—its actions exposing the tower to the Council's scrutiny. But now, with three of the Four Gods of Ishgar gathered at Fairy Tail, even approaching them felt suicidal. His plan would have to change.
He began recalibrating in silence. The new directive was clear: avoid Fairy Tail entirely.
Beside him, another figure watched the unfolding tension—Ultear. Though her face remained impassive, a flicker of unease crossed her eyes.
As a key member of Grimoire Heart, Ultear knew their long-term objectives included Tenrou Island—Fairy Tail's sacred land. If these titanic mages allied themselves with Fairy Tail, the retaliation would be unimaginable.
She knew Hades, their guild master, was powerful—perhaps capable of contending with one of the Heavenly Kings. But three? That was beyond even him.
"Councilor Yajima, you're close to Makarov. I need you to find out why those three have assembled at Fairy Tail," ordered Speaker Crawford grimly.
"I understand. I'll contact Makarov right away," Yajima nodded. Although he typically defended Fairy Tail during disputes, this matter was far more serious than usual.
He activated the Council's communication crystal and quickly connected with Makarov.
"Makarov, let's skip the pleasantries. You know why I'm contacting you. The Council's in uproar."
"Hmph, you're referring to those three?" Makarov sighed. "They've gathered for a rather technical purpose... something big."
Makarov didn't appear surprised. After all, the presence of three of the Four Gods of Ishgar would naturally stir the Council into a frenzy. He gave Yajima a brief but honest explanation.
"I see... So that's what it is. This could revolutionize the magic world..." Yajima murmured in awe.
He felt genuinely relieved. In the past, he had supported Fairy Tail out of personal obligation, even when it brought him isolation within the Council. If Fairy Tail pulled this off, their status would soar beyond petty politics.
He also knew that many of the Council members who frequently targeted Fairy Tail had been bribed by the Phantom Lord Guild. As the most influential guild in Fiore, the Phantom had deep pockets and branches across the kingdom. Their master, Jose Porla, harbored deep hatred for Fairy Tail—and used his wealth to sway votes and agendas in the Council.
Yajima wasn't surprised. The Council had been corrupt for years. He could only speak up when necessary and keep Fairy Tail informed—he had no real power to change things.
Thankfully, Fairy Tail's sheer strength had deterred worse oppression. If pushed too far, they might've become a dark guild—and no one wanted that.
"Still, it's not a done deal yet," Makarov added. "The one leading the research isn't even a member of Fairy Tail—he just has a close relationship with us."
"You're missing the bigger picture, Makarov," Yajima replied. "Even if no one from Fairy Tail is officially part of the project, it's happening in Fairy Tail. The credit—and the implications—are inescapably linked to your guild."
Makarov nodded. "Fine, then pass on the message. Let them know what's going on. But make it clear that the magic teleportation array isn't guaranteed to succeed."
"I'll handle it."
Yajima ended the communication and returned to the council chamber. All eyes turned to him.
"Councilor Yajima, any news?" Crawford asked.
"Yes. The reason those individuals gathered at Fairy Tail is..."
Yajima detailed Makarov's explanation.
"A magic teleportation array?" Crawford raised an eyebrow. "A fixed-array system that allows instantaneous travel between points?"
As a seasoned politician, Crawford immediately grasped its implications.
Such a system would not only revolutionize transportation of goods—it would drastically enhance the Council's military response time. No longer would local branches struggle alone while reinforcements were en route. With instantaneous travel, they could intervene swiftly, no matter the crisis.
"If it succeeds… the value is incalculable," he muttered, already scheming.
"Yajima, maintain close contact with Makarov. We need real-time updates."
But Yajima didn't answer. He simply stared at Crawford, silently judging the man's ambition.
You think you can interfere in something involving three of the Four Gods of Ishgar? You'll be lucky not to be replaced overnight if they get annoyed, he thought.
Still, he said nothing aloud. Let Crawford dig his own grave. Yajima's only responsibility was keeping Makarov informed.
"If there's nothing more urgent, this session is adjourned," Crawford declared.
Later, in a quiet corridor—
"Is Lord Siegrain interested in the teleportation array?" Ultear asked softly.
"Of course I am. But let's be honest—there's no way I'm getting anywhere near it with the Four Gods of Ishgar guarding it," Siegrain smiled wryly and walked off.
Ultear watched him leave and then found a private spot. She activated her communication crystal.
"Hades."
The dark voice of her true master replied, "Ultear, why are you contacting me?"
"A teleportation array is being developed... with the cooperation of three of the Four Gods of Ishgar. Even Volod is involved."
"I see... then the odds of success are very high," Hades mused. "Keep close watch. If the Council obtains it, extract the data. You're the only one inside."
Even Hades didn't dare mess with the Heavenly Kings directly. Not with the Heart of the Demon at his command.
Time passed, and whispers of the magic teleportation array began spreading across the continent of Ishgar.
Many guilds grew curious. But no one dared act rashly. Not when the trio of fearsome legends was still camped at Fairy Tail.
Half a month later—
In a sealed chamber within Fairy Tail, the teleportation array lit up with radiant glyphs.
"It's done," said Draculos Hyberion, second among the Ten Wizard Saints. "And it's all thanks to Zed. Without his rapid learning and mastery of space magic, this could have taken us years."
The other two nodded.
Zed had become the keystone of the project. His understanding of space magic was unmatched—and even more shocking was the sheer volume of his magic power.
Ever since his magic had fused with Gourmet Cells and soul power, his magical capacity had dwarfed even the Saints.
"This wasn't solely my achievement," Zed replied modestly. "Your support and knowledge laid the foundation. I just accelerated the process."
Still, all three acknowledged a sobering truth—only Zed could create the array. Their research had built a blueprint, but without Zed's space magic, no one could execute it.
So, they struck a deal: they would provide the materials and political support, while Zed crafted the arrays. A fair exchange.
"Then it's settled. We'll begin gathering the materials for the next phase," Draculos said.
The prototype required only a steady supply of magic power. Judging by its construction, it could last a century—provided no one deliberately sabotaged it.
Makarov was the first to receive the news.
"Amazing… They really did it!"
The Fairy Tail guild erupted in celebration. Their reputation, already formidable, now stood on the brink of becoming legendary.
Erza, newly returned from a mission, rejoiced at Mirajane's recovery—but was stunned to hear of the teleportation array's success.
Her own magic—Requip—was a specialized form of space magic. But it was limited, usable only on equipment, and only that which could be worn.
For a complete teleportation system to exist?
"That's unbelievable..."
"With Zed involved, it was bound to succeed," Mirajane said, her voice filled with pride.