Fairy Tail: Strongest Creature

Su Yan let out a soft chuckle. "You say you have different opinions, but I admire your ambition too much. You intend to rewrite history—not the story of some ordinary soul, but the fate of countless lives altered by Zeref."

He stepped closer, eyes hard. "Do you grasp how many have suffered because of him? And what the world would become without Acnologia, the Black Dragon? If dragons had never fallen, would humanity itself face extinction?"

He raised a hand. "And even if you change the past, do you truly think the world will follow your new timeline? History is like a roaring river; we dwell on a downstream tributary. Alter the source, and you only forge a different tributary—one with no connection to our own. The past you visit won't belong to this world once you've twisted its history. And any future you return to will be but one of infinite possible futures."

Su Yan's voice grew calm but firm. "It's noble to want to save the world, but you needn't tamper with time. Zeref the Black Mage and Acnologia the Dragon King—my fellow mages and I will face them head-on."

He paused, glancing at each of them. "You failed once already. Who reports what happened on Tenrou Island? Who truly knows of your clash with Acnologia? No record exists beyond whispers—Fairy Tail's deeds vanished as if they'd never occurred. Yet we will not fail again."

Natsu and the others exchanged determined looks. They didn't need underhanded magic: they'd grow stronger and one day confront their enemies directly.

Su Yan nodded. "I thought you understood Acnologia's horror—and Zeref's darkness. How can you doubt me? So…"

Suddenly a shout rang out: "Enough of this!"

Rank upon rank of Royal Army soldiers rushed in, swords drawn, encircling the group.

"Royal soldiers? What is this?" Wendy exclaimed.

An elderly man in ornate military garb strode forward. "Arcadios, you and your co-conspirators are under arrest for treason."

Arcadios bristled. "Minister, these aren't traitors—they're vital to our plan!"

The minister's eyes flashed. "Secret plans and state secrets are not yours to share! Stand down now!"

Natsu's fists ignited. "Don't you dare lay a finger on Lucy!"

Arcadios barked, "No magic!" At his command, the Eclipse Gate siphoned away Natsu's power; he collapsed where he stood.

"Magic drains here," the minister explained coldly. "Any sorcerer foolish enough to fight becomes helpless. Soldiers, seize them!"

The soldiers lunged—but Su Yan stood calmly. He inhaled deeply, and a silent force like a tidal wave spread outward. One by one, the soldiers' eyes glazed over; they slumped to the ground, unconscious.

The minister's face drained of color. "What sorcery is this? Magic shouldn't work here!"

Arcadios stared in disbelief; even Yukino's jaw hung open. Meanwhile, Fairy Tail cheered softly—yet no one forgot Su Yan's intervention, and none of it was magic.

Su Yan bowed his head politely toward the minister. "You insisted we couldn't use magic—so we didn't." He gestured to the fallen soldiers. "We also choose not to alter history. And we object to your attempt to arrest my friends. Now, may we be on our way?"

The minister sputtered, furious but powerless. One by one, he and Arcadios withdrew their troops.

Su Yan turned to the group. "Fairy Tail and the royal court have little in common. I sincerely hope you won't cross paths with us again—after all, destroying a kingdom is easy. It's the aftermath none of us want."

Natsu groaned as Gray and Wendy helped him upright. Together, they left the underground chamber, leaving the fallen soldiers and a shaken minister behind.