I am new here as well , and i want to speak on the matter regarding August being the strongest Spriggan . August is one of the strongest individuals merely due to his magic . Being able to copy and use any type of magic except Holder type magic (Cana ,Lucy and somewhat Erza) . He is being called ,titled, nicknamed however you want to call it the Wizard King because of his vast knowledge of spells and magic he knows and uses . Meaning if Irene and August were to fight even in her dragon form and his dark form , he might have won . Because he can copy every magic that he is being hit . Hell he could probably copy Brandish's magic or Dimaria's against Irene . He can probably use even dragon slayer magic , although its not confirmed by Hiro himself but its a possibility nonetheless , since it hasnt being included as a weakness to his magic or ruled out that he cant use it .
Reference
https://fairytail.fandom.com/wiki/August
<<
Copy Magic: August is lauded as the "Wizard King" due to this particular kind of Magic, which he can notably use instantaneously; with it, August can copy, master, and then nullify an opponent's Magic after having given it witness. However, he is unable to copy
Holder Magic as one cannot use Holder Magic without physically using the required tools >>
<< August possesses immensely terrifying reserves and strength in Magic Power, being crowned the strongest ma
[5] and strongest individual
[80]
[81] among the Spriggan 12 as the group's leader,
[4] placing comparable with
Irene Belserio, the strongest woman of the twelve.
[82] His power goes so far beyond what the other ten have normally at their disposal that even
Makarov Dreyar, one of the highly esteemed
Ten Wizard Saints and
Fairy Tail's
Guild Master, grew quite visibly distraught at the mere memory of some of August's capabilities in Magic at work.
[7]Even fellow Shields
Jacob Lessio and Brandish hold the elder's might in very high regard, with the latter one stating that, of all Mages in existence, only Irene has a shot at defeating him.
[83]
[84]
Mest Gryder,
Lucy Heartfilia, and even
Natsu Dragneel were awed by his immense Magical presence, with Mest pointing out how, despite knowing of August's power level, he didn't expect him to be that powerful,
[85] and that his power is in fact in a completely different dimension from even Brandish's (hers already being exceptionally overwhelming).
[86] One of Fairy Tail's
S-Class Mages,
Mirajane Strauss, hailed his Magic Power, alongside Irene's, as defying common sense, while sweating from simply being in their presence.
[87]
Mavis Vermillio, too, Fairy Tail's First Guild Master herself, was scared of August's mere presence.
[88] He was even able to defeat the majority of
Crime Sorcière, (including former Wizard Saint
Jellal Fernandes) by himself, without so much as a scratch to his own person, and also pressure them by countering them with their own Magic.
[89]
[90] When he exerted his power, it was capable of shaking both the earth and sky while making the very foundation on which he stood steadily crumble.
[91] >>
As for Larcade he is , as he delicated put it , an exception to the mix . Due to the nature of his magic . He would affect Acnologia as well , if he encountered him .
He can copy every magic that its known . Even forbidden ones (except holder type magic as i said earlier ) . LITERALLY anything . So lets not forget that . And it isnt being stated that he is weaker from Irene in dragon form . I think you got confused when Brandish said he is one of the strongest . Meaning there are more , at the same power as him or close to him . She blatantly said he is the strongest among the 12 . Also in the anime the subtitles are different from the manga . In the manga she said and I quote : << Excluding Eileen , there is no mage in existence who can stand up to August , Of course that includes me as well >> https://i10.**********.com/fairy-tail/484/fairy-tail-7520179.jpg . She never said , that she could beat August . Just merely going against him . Just because nothing of these happened , like Larcade using his magic on Acno , or August fighting Eileen , that doesnt mean its unconfirmed .
I think the argument really is , What else are they capable of ?! . We didnt really get to see the full extent of their powers for August and Irene . We merely got a glimpse of what they can do and its not a lot to be able to have a complete understanding of their power level . And lastly as for Zeref he got erased by Natsu's Blaze Dragon King's Demolition Fist and came back like nothing happened . Thats enough to give you a hint on how powerful Zeref became by acquiring the Fairy Heart . I cant imagine what it would be like to fight against Acnologia . Probably he would lose , but not die (Acno) from Zeref . I dont know if there was a versus between Acnologia and FH Zeref .
