Doing nothing will not ensure any of their safety. It will only enable the United Earth to come back and try again later. [ Hence why he killed Hades. He drew him out of hiding and summoned Acnologia. He needed to die before he did any more damage, and he had already done an awful lot. ]

Don't. [ He turned to Juvia. Those piercing red eyes... ] I don't want to hurt either of you, but I am not content to sit idly while people are killed.

[ The black energy swirling around him didn't seem to be fading. Whatever they saw of Zeref before, this was definitely the Zeref of legend, the Black Wizard, the Killing Mage. ]

Step aside. The people in here are safe. Those still outside are not.