Destroy with overwhelming force.
Anything standing in their way—be it people, horses, or chariots and buildings—all were completely demolished and violently crushed by the three of them.
The four appeared to be driving an invisible bulldozer, overturning roads, collapsing buildings, and causing chaos wherever they went.
Starting from the city gate, they created a brutally devastated path straight to the Royal Palace.
The closer they got to the Royal Palace, the more people stood against them, but the soldiers' fighting spirit was diminishing.
—They probably knew the number of people blocking the way, yet these few men still arrived without a scratch.
Either everyone ahead had deserted, or... these four had defeated thousands along the way.
Bang!
"Waaaah..."
Kildas swung a punch, shattering the ground ahead, sending dozens flying out, crashing into more people.
He suddenly looked up, turning to another direction of the Royal Palace: "Hmm? It's noisy over there."
Erza swung her Great Saber to the right, sending a large group of enemies flying with a loud rumbling sound.
With her saber inverted, she chuckled: "We seem not to be in a position to call others noisy, right?"
Mira casually tossed a purple-black Magic Ball, blowing up a war chariot, and said: "Perhaps they're mobilizing some special troops again?"
Rhode waved his hand, causing two Cyan Engraved Golems to charge backwards, knocking a small enemy squad trying to flank them, then they ran back.
He patted the golem's leg as encouragement: "A River Crab is heading over there, we'll know soon."
In the middle of a battle, vision is crucial, and among the four, Rhode was the most idle, so it was good to be distracted and take a look.
The four continued advancing as the army retreated step by step, and they were on the verge of breaking into the Royal Palace.
Suddenly, an aged yet authoritative voice echoed across every corner of the Royal Capital:
"Citizens, I am Faust, King of Edolas, speaking to you from the Royal Palace during this broadcast!"
Be it advancing soldiers or fleeing citizens, everyone unconsciously slowed down to hear what the King had to say in the face of this crisis.
"The King?" Rhode paused, finding the voice familiar.
Mira, proficient in transformation and voice-changing, was more sensitive and promptly said: "It sounds just like the President's voice!"
Erza was a bit surprised but thought of Natsu, Lucy, and herself, and speculated: "Could it be..."
"Could it be..." Kildas held his head in disbelief, "...the old man has already made it into the Royal Palace?!"
Rhode, Mira, and Erza were momentarily stunned, giving Kildas a look reserved for idiots.
Kildas awkwardly waved his hands: "Ah haha... just kidding, just kidding."
Faust's voice continued to resonate:
"Just three days ago, our sacred Edolas Empire used Anima to generate enough Magic Power for ten years!
"At this moment, we should be rejoicing together, singing together, sharing in this happiness! Because the people of Edolas are a sacred race destined for the future, we will possess even more Magic Power..."
The word 'generate' was used well, as if it was cultivated through their efforts, sounding not guilty at all, but rather full of pride.
As if the lives of Aslan were merely insignificant pigments... Rhode, Mira, Erza, and Kildas wore somber expressions; it was the tone of complete bandits.
"But today, a group of evildoers have barged into the Royal Capital taking advantage of our unprepared state, secretly attacking the Magic War Team, ambushing the Guard Army! They want to steal our Magic Power, to take away our future!"
Rhode looked back at the path their group had pushed through from the front and couldn't fathom how that King could shamelessly use the term 'sneak attack.'
Could entering through the main gate and carrying a flag of formal declaration of war be considered a sneak attack, an honorable sneak attack?
The shameless broadcast continued:
"These evildoers are none other than the most vicious Dark Guild in history—Fairy Tail! Up until now, the brave Edolas army continues to fight bloodily, yet those evildoers press on relentlessly!
"Citizens of Edolas, if we do not win this battle, we will lose everything! Therefore, pick up your weapons and fight, drive out those evildoers, protect our Magic Power!
"Soldiers of the Royal Capital, let us show the external invaders that Edolas is resilient and fears no challenge, and I, Faust, will fight with you to the last moment!
"Edolas populace, join me, protect our future together!!!"
The broadcast ended, and the Royal Capital was momentarily silent before cheers erupted from all around.
Aside from inciting the heart, the King's words were also equivalent to announcing his participation in battle, which would undoubtedly greatly boost morale.
For example, the soldiers blocking Rhode and the others, if they had previously considered retreating, now their faces were filled with fanaticism.
They had embraced the resolve to fight to the death for Edolas.
"Bastard..." Kildas's face was grim.
Mira and Erza were equally furious.
Not because the soldiers in front of them were highly motivated, but because Faust's actions were akin to sending civilians to their deaths.
Not everyone would be swayed by his words, but inevitably, some would be incited to fight desperately.
Kildas punched the ground, a neat fan-shaped crack expanded forward.
The soldiers ahead fell one by one, and the Royal Palace gates shattered loudly.
Despite many soldiers falling with severe head injuries, they struggled to support their bodies and get back up.
They relied on their guns, with red eyes, rearranging their defensive formations.
Rhode was momentarily stunned: "Fairy Tail?"
Mira asked, "What?"
Rhode relayed the scene he saw through the River Crab's perspective: "Edolas's Fairy Tail is attacking the Royal Palace from another direction. However...
"They're surrounded; dealing with soldiers is manageable, but when civilians rushing in from all around arrived, they hesitated and suffered greatly."
Though considered a Dark Guild by the Empire, Fairy Tail here, like a Legitimate Guild in Aslan, does things to solve problems for the common folks using Magic.
Now facing ordinary people, for a time, they could only defend awkwardly, finding it difficult to strike decisively.
Erza frowned: "Why are they here too?"
"Perhaps to change the Mages' circumstances." Rhode recalled their bitter sentiment over the Royal Capital seizing all the world's Magic.
Perhaps 'Lucy' and 'Natsu' understood the Royal Capital's situation in the morning and wanted to act when the Empire was weakest.
"There they are!"
"It's Fairy Tail!"
"Charge!"
The four had no time to worry about the other Fairy Tail as they found themselves in similar circumstances.
Yet the four remained unwavering.
Want to fight? Then come on.