Spikes

A series of cracks resounded around Su Yan's body, and almost immediately, patches of dragon scales began appearing on his bare skin. His muscles swelled with a deep, resonant thrum, and two sharp horns sprouted from his forehead, contorting his features into something far more fearsome than human.

His eyes shifted into narrow, reptilian slits, glinting with a frigid detachment that only a beast could possess. The bones of his arms and legs twisted and extended, shaping into scaled forelimbs with curved claws, and a swirl of clouds and winds seemed to coil around his entire form.

In one smooth leap, Su Yan launched himself skyward, his body distorting until it fully transformed into a colossal azure dragon against the stormy heavens. Overhead, the sky was churning with dark clouds laced by lightning and thunder. Fiery wisps of red and gold danced along his new draconic forelimbs, and the vast serpentine figure circled in the air with an ominous grace.

"A dragon?! A real dragon?!"

Disbelief echoed across Tenrou Island as countless fighters—both Fairy Tail and Grimoire Heart—looked up in alarm or awe.

But for Fairy Tail, shock gave way to surging hope. The sight of Su Yan's awakened form ignited a spark of renewed confidence throughout the guild: if anyone could save them, it was him.

Hades, meanwhile, gaped at the great creature looping against the stormy backdrop. "Dragon…? It can't be! How can a dragon appear here in Fairy Tail?!"

Though dragons had vanished from the world centuries ago, legends had always proclaimed their godlike power. Even one dragon was rumored to be able to destroy an entire kingdom with ease.

Despite his terror, Hades forced himself to stand firm. "No matter! Even a so-called 'dragon' can't win against the power of the abyss. Let's see if you can withstand my might!"

He commanded the demons he had created—a legion of twisted, earthen beasts rising from the debris. Waving their tentacles, they hurled magic blasts at Su Yan's massive shape.

Boom, boom, boom!!

Explosions cascaded across the dragon's gleaming blue scales, but Su Yan scarcely flinched. In dragon form, his defensive power rivaled that of a real ancient wyrm.

"Impossible!" Hades exclaimed. "He's ignoring my demons' attacks?!"

From high in the sky, Su Yan reared back his draconic head, forging a blazing sphere of molten energy within his jaws.

"Heat Breath!!!"

A searing torrent of superheated air exploded downward, instantly incinerating the demons' limbs. Even as Hades tried to shield them, the flames devoured his forces in mere moments.

"Gwaaah—!!" Hades screamed as the ferocious heatwave tore through the earth around him, blasting him across the island's edge. When the flames finally died, a huge crater marred the coastline where Hades had been flung, and the demon legion had been reduced to ash.

The entire Grimoire Heart force, scattered across Tenrou Island, felt a cold shudder. A mere minute earlier, they believed they held every advantage. Now, their leader lay sprawled and gravely injured, while the unstoppable dragon soared overhead.

"It's impossible…" Zancrow muttered, voice shaking.

Nearby, Natsu—though drained of magic—gave a faint, triumphant grin. "Your 'god' just got burned by a real dragon, pal."

In the sky, Su Yan's massive azure body turned. He swooped low toward the Tenrou Tree that had been felled. Landing with a thunderous crash, he raked a colossal claw through the massive trunk. In one swift motion, he plucked someone from within the tangle of roots—Azuma, the mage who'd severed the tree's link to Fairy Tail.

Azuma hadn't even realized Su Yan had found him so easily. The massive claws coiled around his torso, pressing him tight.

"Aaah—!" Azuma shouted in pain.

Su Yan's draconic voice rumbled. "You destroyed the Tenrou Tree. Restore it—now."

Azuma gasped for breath. "I—I can't…!"

"Then you die." Su Yan tightened his grip, prepared to crush Azuma's ribs.

"W-wait! I—I can return your guildmates' magic! That will at least stop the Tenrou Tree from draining them further!" Azuma yelped, "And Ultear—our leader—she can restore the tree fully!"

At once, Azuma did as promised, relinquishing his magic hold. Throughout Fairy Tail, members felt their lost power surging back into their limbs.

They began striking back at the Grimoire Heart soldiers, and with Hades defeated, chaos seized the dark guild's ranks. Freed from the aura sapping their strength, Fairy Tail reclaimed the upper hand across the island.

Makarov's magic also returned. He approached Hades, who lay hunched on the ground, battered and broken. The old Master gazed down at a figure who had once been Fairy Tail's second guild master: Precht, the man who had guided him long ago.

"Kill me," Hades rasped, no longer able to utter 'kid.' "Go on, do it…"

Makarov's hands trembled at his sides. "Why…? Why did you stray so far into the darkness?"

"Magic is born from darkness," Hades murmured. "Long ago, I left the guild to find the true source of magic, deep in the endless night. I searched for the real meaning behind it all. 'This world is false… only Zeref's Great Magic World is real.' I wanted to see it for myself… so I needed all the keys to awaken Zeref."

Makarov closed his eyes, heart twisting in sorrow. He remembered once idolizing Precht. Yet here they were.

"If I'd had a little more time… I'd have reached the ultimate magic," Hades sighed. "Just a little… but your brat ended everything."

Makarov glanced over at Su Yan—the azure dragon that had crushed Hades, reclaimed Tenrou Island, and saved Fairy Tail. A single tear slipped down the old man's cheek.

"What happens now… is up to him."