AN UPHILL BATTLE Prepared to do what they need to or die trying, Fairy Tail faces off against the vast hordes of the Alvarez Empire. They've retaken the port town of Hargeon, but the battles are hard, and every victory is costly. Fairy Tail's prisoner, Brandish, makes an offer to act as a go-between in a negotiation with August, a man known as the strongest of the Spriggan 12. Fairy Tail is desperate, but can Brandish be trusted? Meanwhile, Gajeel's group has fought a fierce battle to rescue the members of Saber Tooth and regain lost ground, but powerful enemies are close, which could mean more despair for the embattled members of Fairy Tail...