Magnolia, Fairy Tail Guild
Back inside the Fairy Tail Guild, the once rowdy and chaotic members had taken on a more serious and desperate tone.The aftermath of the raid lingered in every broken breath and exhausted face.
The floor was dotted with makeshift bedding, bruised bodies, and mages lying under blankets as they groaned and recovered. Tables had been pushed aside to make space for the wounded. Tamamo moved from one to another, her golden tails swaying and her fox ears twitched gently behind her as she laid glowing hands over wounds, muttering soft healing incantations. Despite her serene appearance, her eyes were sharp and filled with quiet fury. As she patches broken ribs, mending burns, and restoring torn muscles.
"I swear you people are so reckless." She muttered, her voice soft but teasing as she healed a groaning Wakaba.
Wakaba gave a weak laugh, followed by a hiss of pain. "I'll take that as a compliment," He wheezed.
A few feet away, Miya assisted by refilling water jugs and tending to minor bruises, while Sakura sat quietly beside Levy's cot, holding her hand and whispering words of encouragement.
Around them, the rest of Fairy Tail bustled with preparation. Armor or clothes was repaired by Uzume, magic items replenished, and new strategies whispered in tense groups. The entire guild was on edge, awaiting the inevitable counterattack.
Then the doors opened.
Natsu, bruised and scuffed but alive, entered with a determined gait, carrying someone close to him.
Lucy. Her clothes were damp, her eyes swollen from tears, and her hands clutched tightly around the last remnants of her strength. Happy fluttered behind them, looking both relieved and worried.
The room stilled as all eyes turned to them.
No one spoke at first.
But the relief on everyone's faces was immediate. Lucy had been saved. She was safe.
But Lucy didn't feel safe. She couldn't meet anyone's gaze. Her shoulders trembled, and when Natsu gently guided her to sit near the corner of the hall, she didn't resist.
There, surrounded by warmth, healing magic, and friends—she sat like a ghost.
Gray approached first, crouching beside her. "Hey… you okay?" He asked quietly.
"I'm sorry," She said.
They blinked.
"Huh?" Gray asked, confused. "For what?"
Lucy clenched her fists in her lap. "All of this… the war, the fighting, Levy… My father caused it. My family is rich and I kind of ran away from home. My father sent Phantom Lord to retrieve me. All of you got hurt… because of me," She whispered. "Just because of me."
Elfman knelt next to Gray, frowning. "It wasn't your fault, Lucy. None of us blame you."
"But it was my fault," she said, her voice cracking. "If I hadn't run away… If I hadn't joined Fairy Tail… none of this would've happened. If I go home, maybe they'll stop. Maybe none of you would have to suffer again because of me."
Silence settled like a weight.
Tamamo, overhearing from across the room, briefly stopped healing and turned her ears toward them—but said nothing.
It was Natsu who broke the silence. He slowly stepped forward, knelt in front of her, and gave her a sharp flick to the forehead. "Ow, what was that for?!"
"For being stupid." His fists clenched, eyes burning, not with anger at her, but at the situation itself. "You think any of this is your fault?!" Natsu shouted. "You're not your father!"
"But—!" Lucy slowly looked up.
"No buts," he said firmly. "You're not some pawn or some trophy locked up in a mansion. You're Lucy, Lucy of Fairy Tail. You belong here."
She stared, eyes shimmering.
"Here, you're not a job. You're not a pawn in some rich guy's plan. You're one of us. And yeah, we fight for each other. We get hurt by each other. But we're family. Because you're worth fighting for."
A silence followed, but it was different now.
Lucy brought a hand to her mouth, shaking as tears welled again, this time not from guilt, but from the weight of being seen, and accepted.
A few quiet sniffles sounded from nearby. Even Gray looked away with a small grunt, hiding the emotion behind his calm facade. "Even if you're a pain sometimes, we'd still fight for you."
Elfman crossed his arms. "A real man protects his family. And you're our family."
"Besides," Happy added, floating up beside her and patting her cheek, "You leaving would make me cry."
Lucy blinked. Her chest tightened. Then the tears came. Not out of sadness but out of relief. "Thank you… all of you."
Natsu grinned and threw an arm over her shoulders. "You're one of us. Don't ever forget it."
Tamamo softly smiled and resumed healing the next mage.
—------------------------------------
On another part of the guild, the tables had been turned into makeshift supply stations, covered with rolls of bandages, flasks of healing potions, and pieces of armor being hastily repaired. Members moved briskly, each one nursing wounds some visible, some not as they readied for the inevitable retaliation from Phantom Lord.
Among them, Issei and his girls worked shoulder-to-shoulder with the rest of the guild. Yuuka and Misuki handed out clean bandages. Uzume playfully teased a few mages while helping them into fresh armor or repairing their clothes. Miki and Gorou could be seen passing potions or ointments. Misuki gently handed a roll of bandages to Bisca, who gave her a grateful nod. Yashima reinforced wooden supports.
Even Akitsu, usually silent, moved from mage to mage applying cold compresses, her expression calm and focused.
But one among them didn't hide her disdain.
Karasuba stood off to the side, arms crossed, her mouth a hard line and eyes sharp with judgment. Her long silver hair fluttered slightly as wind from the open windows caught it, but her stance never wavered.
She watched as Fairy Tail bustled around her, bruised and limping but still moving—and her frown only deepened.
Finally, she spoke. Loudly.
"You all call yourselves warriors," she said, voice slicing through the room like a blade. "Then tell me? Why did you all just drop your weapons when the old man fell? Were you waiting for someone to hold your hand and tell you what to do?"
The room fell into silence.
Some of the guild members looked down, their shame written in their silence. Her words were a slap to the face but they didn't deny them.
"You panicked," She continued, tone sharp and biting. "You froze. You let your emotions cloud your decisions. If your backbone's that weak, then maybe Phantom Lord was right to challenge you."
Several members couldn't even talk back.
But before anyone could respond, Issei's voice cut through the tension, who had been carefully helping an older mage wrap a bandaged arm. His eyes met Karasuba's.
"Karasuba. That's enough."
Karasuba turned to him, unfazed. "Am I wrong?"
"No," Issei said evenly. "You're not wrong. But you're not right either."
The room stirred.
Issei walked toward her, his voice calm but firm.
"They didn't run because they were weak, Karasuba. We didn't grow up here.They pulled back because they were protecting their father, Makarov. To them, he's not just a Master. He's their family."
Karasuba narrowed her eyes. "And?"
"And what about us?" Uzume stepped forward beside him, folding her arms beneath her chest, her usual playful expression replaced with something quieter.
"If Issei had been the one to fall like that in front of us… would you really keep fighting?" Uzume pressed. "Would you smile and charge forward like it meant nothing? Or would you fall apart, even just a little?"
The silence was deafening.
Karasuba scoffed, looking away. "Hmph… He wouldn't fall. That's the difference." But even she didn't argue further. Because deep down… they all knew the truth.
Issei stepped forward and placed a hand on Karasuba's shoulder. She looked at Issei, who didn't say anything—just watched her.
Her lips pressed into a thin line. She scoffed and turned her head, muttering, "Hmph. I wouldn't panic... But I wouldn't like it either."
The tension slowly eased.
A few chuckles slipped out from the Fairy Tail members.
"See?" Issei smiled. "You're not so different from them."
Karasuba gave him a sideways glare. "Don't push it."
But she didn't say anything else. Instead, she grabbed a nearby bandage roll and tossed it to Nab, who caught it with wide eyes. "You're bleeding, idiot," she muttered.
Nab blinked. "Uh… thanks?"
Issei smiled to himself.
—------------------------------------
In one of the quieter corners of the Fairy Tail guild, Cana Alberona sat at a table strewn with cards, her eyes narrowed with rare focus. The cards floated above her hand, glowing faintly with magical energy. Her brow furrowed as she whispered incantations, drawing more cards and laying them in patterns.
"Come on… show me something," She muttered, flipping another card. "Mystogan… Where the hell are you?"
Another card shimmered, spun, and cracked with a tiny pop of magic—then vanished without a trace.
"Nothing again," Cana muttered, tossing the rest of the cards aside. She slumped forward, frustrated.
At the table across from her, Matsu had been silently observing. Her eyes gleamed behind her glasses, her hands scribbling in her notebook with excitement.
"Fascinating!" Matsu said. "The cards seem to form a divination network similar to a predictive algorithm, but infused with spatial recognition... Can I ask what exactly you're trying to do?"
Cana gave her a look. "Trying to contact another one of our members named Mystogan, if anyone can turn this around, it's him."
"…Noted."
Meanwhile, across from Cana, Mirajane stood facing a Communication Lacrima that pulsed with soft blue light. On the other side of the glowing screen was the familiar, infuriatingly smug face of Laxus Dreyar.
"Laxus… please," Mira said softly, pleading. "The guild needs you. Makarov was hurt—badly. We're preparing for another fight with Phantom Lord. It's… serious."
Laxus scoffed, his voice coming through the crystal with cold indifference.
"That's not my problem," He said coolly. "If the old man croaks, then maybe they'll finally give the guild to someone who deserves it."
Mirajane's eyes widened in disbelief, her heart sinking.
He leaned in, voice laced with a twisted smirk. "Tell you what. I'll come back, if all the big-breasted girls in Fairy Tail decide to serve under me, maybe I'll reconsider. Might even throw in a lightning bolt or two for the trouble. You included, Mira. Fair trade, right?"
That was the last straw.
Mirajane's hand clenched into a trembling fist. Her other hand hovered over the crystal, ready to smash it in disgust and fury.
"Fool." A calm but firm voice stopped her.
She turned.
Issei stood there, having just stepped into the room. His eyes were sharp, his tone steady—but behind it was a storm.
Laxus's face twisted. "Oh, look who it is. The stray dog pretending to be a lion. Got a lot of nerve interrupting me, brat."
Issei stepped forward, folding his arms. "Says the coward, that's not even here. You talk about power, pride, and legacy, but where were you when the guild needed you? When your family was hurt?"
Laxus's smirk vanished. "You'd better watch your mouth."
"I'm not afraid of someone who turned his back on the people who needed him," Issei shot back, eyes narrowed. "You've got power, sure. But you forgot what truly matters. The family that has cared for you.."
The Lacrima flickered… then went dark, the connection severed.
Silence fell.
Mirajane stared at the blank crystal, her fingers trembling slightly. She stood there a moment, the fight gone from her limbs. Slowly, tears formed at the corners of her eyes.
"I can't believe he said that… he used to care. He used to be… kind.How can someone from our own family be so… awful?"
Issei gently stepped forward and pulled her into a soft embrace without hesitation, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and pulling her close. She leaned into him, tears dampening his shirt.
"Don't worry," He whispered gently. "You're not alone. You've got a whole guild full of people who love you. I may not have known Makarov for long, but this place… this family… it's been good to me. And I'll protect it with everything I've got."
Mirajane sniffled, then smiled weakly through her tears. "Thank you… Issei."
She pulled away slightly, brushing her hair behind her ear. "If it comes to it, I… I want to fight too."
Before Issei could respond, Cana, who stop trying to contact Mystogan leaning on a nearby wall—called over. "Mira, if you were to join the battle, you would only get in the way."
Mirajane flinched slightly.
Issei turned to her, eyebrows raised. "What does she mean?"
Mirajane looked down, her fingers curling around the edge of her dress.
"It's… it's a trauma," she admitted quietly. "Something that happened a long time ago and ever since that incident I have never been able to fight. My magic won't come when I call it."
Issei was silent for a moment, then gently reached for her hand.
"You don't have to force it," He said softly. "But I believe in you. When the moment comes… I know you'll do whatever it takes to protect the people you care about."
Mirajane met his gaze and saw no judgment. Just trust."…Okay."
—-------------------------------------
As the members moved quickly in sharpening weapons, checking armor and preparing for the coming battle. Erza, freshly cleaned and draped in only a towel, stepped from the shower room just as the earth rumbled violently beneath her bare feet.
Boom.
The ground shook. The tremor rocked through the stone walls of the guild. Plates rattled. Bottles fell. Screams rang out from the street.
"What was that?" Loke gasped.
"Earthquake?!" someone shouted.
"No," Gray said sharply, running toward the doors. "I think that was something else."
The mages poured out of the guild. Issei, Yuuka, Akitsu, Yashima, and others bolted into the open streets, hearts pounding.
Even Erza, rushed out in nothing but a towel, dripping water and with a furious glare.
Then they saw it.
And they stopped cold.
Tamamo and Miya emerged from the guild entrance with Sakura behind them, and even they froze at the sight in surprise.
Emerging from the forested ridge to the south was an impossible sight, a massive fortress, towering and monstrous, supported by mechanical legs, each step shaking the very ground. It was the Phantom Lord Guild, not as a building… but as a walking weapon of war.
Its shadow fell upon Magnolia like a curse.
"W-What the hell is that?!" Nab cried out, eyes wide.
"The guild… it's walking," Matsu muttered, stunned. "That entire structure is mobile. That shouldn't even be possible! Those legs don't look nearly strong enough to lift the building."
"It's probably magic." Akitsu nonchalantly says.
The towering guild came to a halt slamming its weight into the ground like a titan kneeling.
And then…
A cannon emerged.
From the heart of the mobile guild rose a massive cylindrical barrel, easily taller than any tower in Magnolia. The magic pressure building around it was suffocating, the very air beginning to shimmer and warp.
Fear gripped every mage present.
"Get down!" Erza shouted, already sprinting ahead of the group. Magic flared around her body in a golden shimmer.
Her towel evaporated in a flash of light—Requip: Adamantine Armor—giant metallic shields formed around her. Her boots tore across the ground as she positioned herself between her comrades and the cannon.
"I'll stop it here!" Erza shouted, her eyes fierce.
Behind her, several guild members gasped.
"She's going to block it?!"
"But that's suicide—!"
Before anyone could react further, the cannon fired.
The sky split with a violent scream of energy as a concentrated magic beam—blazing with swirling violet and white—roared toward Magnolia.
"Tamamo!" Issei's voice rang out, powerful and commanding.
From behind, Tamamo's golden eyes glowed with divine power. Without a word, she dashed forward faster than a human could track, her elegant kimono flaring with every step. Five of her fox tails whipped outward, glowing with ethereal light.
In a single, fluid motion, she raised her hand—and in it formed the legendary artifact, an elegant, radiant mirror.
"Eightfold Blessing of Amaterasu."
The moment the beam struck, it collided not with Erza's shields but with Tamamo's mirror.
A shockwave exploded outward as raw destructive magic slammed into the divine barrier. The mirror glowed gold, absorbing the entire cannon blast—its intricate engravings spinning like a sun dial in motion. Erza was in shock, eyes wide as Tamamo was in front of her.
"T-Tamamo?! What are you—"
But Tamamo didn't answer her. "Reflect." Her voice was a whisper as the attack collided with the mirror, the force of it shaking the earth. Dust and debris flew backward. Energy crackled, tore at the surroundings—and yet, it did not pass.
Tamamo held the line.
Behind her, the guild stared wide-eyed as the vixen stood with serene focus, her tails flaring around her like divine banners, her mirror glowing with overwhelming energy.
But it wasn't over.
The mirror shifted slightly. Its polished surface, now fully glowing with captured energy, tilted back toward the Phantom Lord Guild.
And then, with a sound like the crack of thunder—
The entire blast was reflected.
The beam was fired back, ripping across the sky, slamming full-force into the mobile Phantom Lord fortress.
A deafening boom echoed across the landscape. The blast ripped through the massive structure, tearing metal, shattering magic shields, and engulfing the base in a violent storm of fire and light.
A wave of wind and smoke blasted across Magnolia. Even from afar, the Fairy Tail guild shielded their eyes as debris from the collapsing giant rained down.
There was a moment of silence.
Then a massive explosion rocked the horizon.
Smoke and fire erupted as the towering guild trembled—its cannon crumbling, metal melting, legs buckling. In mere seconds, the once-menacing war machine was reduced to a flaming heap of ruin.
Everyone in Magnolia stared.
Mouths open.
Frozen.
Erza was still crouched mid-cast, her armor shining in the fading light. Slowly, she lowered her hands, her expression caught between awe and disbelief.
"…You… blocked it," She whispered.
Tamamo turned her head slightly, her golden eyes gleaming, tails still raised behind her. "My husband asked and I, his faithful wife, obeyed."
Issei let out a long breath, visibly impressed. "That's my wife."
All around them, murmurs rose into cheers. The threat had been stopped.
Smoke still drifted across the battlefield where the Phantom Lord mobile fortress had crumbled, its smoldering frame crackling in defeat. The air was thick with the lingering pulse of magic and tension, but in that silence Issei saw their moment.
He clenched his fist, eyes narrowing at the ruined tower ahead. Phantom Lord's war machine had fallen, and with it, their chances to fight back.
"Now!" Issei shouted, raising his voice above the quiet. "While they're down! This is our chance to show them what happens when they mess with us!"
A roar erupted in response.
"For Fairy Tail!" came the answering roar from all around him.
The guild members, wounded or not, rallied around his call like lightning to a rod. Natsu, Gray, Elfman, Cana, Alzack, Bisca, Yashima, Uzume, Akitsu and many others surged forward with fire in their eyes.
Issei turned, flashing a grin toward the woman who had made this possible. "Thanks for the save, Tamamo."
She brushed her hair behind her human ear and smiled serenely, tails swaying like a breeze-blown banner.
"Anything for you, my husband," She replied, voice sweet and soft.
Issei gave her a short nod before launching himself forward, leading the charge as the Fairy Tail mages raced ahead. Their footsteps thundered across the broken field.
Behind them, Tamamo watched quietly, her expression softening. Her sharp eyes followed Issei for a moment longer, as if memorizing the sight of him leading with his full strength, before she turned to the side.
Erza still stood frozen in place, her Adamantine Armor gleaming in the sunlight. Her shield was gripped tightly in her hand, her eyes still wide from what she'd witnessed.
Tamamo approached her calmly, tails tucked neatly behind her. "You're still here?" She asked gently. "Shouldn't you be charging in like the others?"
Erza blinked, startled. She looked at Tamamo, as if seeing her for the first time. "I was going to protect everyone," Erza said quietly. "But you—"
Tamamo raised her hand in dismissal. "There's no time for that now. What's done is done."
"Aren't you going to join?"
"Nah, Karasuba would pout if I took all the action, plus my darling could use the exercise. Miya and I will be at the guild preparing dinner and guarding those that can't defend themselves."
She stepped closer, placing a hand on Erza's armored shoulder.
"If anyone falls in battle, bring them back to the guild," Tamamo added. "I'll be there—healing them. Making sure no one is left behind."
Erza requiped into her standard armor as her hand gripped on her sword. She swallowed hard—then nodded, her composure beginning to return. "I will."
Tamamo gave a warm smile and stepped away. Her tails flicked in the wind as she turned back toward the guild hall, now far behind the frontline.
"I'll be waiting with bandages, salves, and maybe some treats." She called over her shoulder.
And with that, the fox goddess vanished into the guild, heading back to her post.
—--------------------------------
The once-mighty stronghold of the Phantom Lord guild now stood broken and smoldering. Thick black smoke curled from shattered stone and bent steel supports, casting long shadows through the ruin-strewn halls. Where once stood proud banners, only torn rags fluttered in the breeze.
Amid the debris, a low groan rumbled.
A cracked floor tile shifted as a figure pushed himself up with trembling arms. Jose Porla, Phantom Lord's guild master, staggered to his feet, clutching his ribs. Pain lanced through his chest.
"What… what happened?" His vision swam, flickering like an old projector. Blood trickled from his lip, and his once-flawless suit was scorched and torn. As he took a shaky breath, it came back to him.
He remembered it clearly now—his guild's pride and joy, their trump card, the Jupiter Cannon, had roared with devastating light. A beam of magic designed to obliterate anything in its path.
But right before impact—there had been a shift. A twist in the air. Like the world itself hiccuped.
And then… 'No. That… that couldn't have happened…'
He clenched his fists, the memory now burning behind his eyes. The cannon's blast, more powerful than anything Fairy Tail could've done to survive, had been stopped—absorbed—and then…it was reflected.
A single individual had stood between his ultimate weapon and Fairy Tail.
'But that's impossible. No one—no one in that guild should have that kind of power!' A flicker of panic tightened in his chest. 'Unless Makarov's been hiding someone. A secret weapon. A trump card.'
The thought made his stomach twist. For a moment, the logical thing to do was retreat. To live and rebuild, to retaliate and gain a win another day.
But logic died quickly in the fire of his pride.
His face contorted with fury, and his magic flared like black static across his shoulders. 'No. I am Jose Porla. Master of Phantom Lord. I will not run from Makarov's brats.'
A nearby pile of rubble groaned, and several members of Phantom Lord began to stir.
"Ghh… What the hell happened…?"
"Did we win…?"
Jose turned to see the Element 4, and the other members of his guild pushing themselves upright one by one. Totomaru's face was bruised and dirty. Juvia, still silent, wiped soot from her cheeks. Sol and Aria groaned, but none of them were dead.
That was something.
Jose spat blood to the side and forced his voice to resonate with power again. "Get up," He growled, louder now. "We're not done yet."
Some of the other guild members groaned in confusion, dragging themselves out of the dust and debris. Bodies limped and stumbled upright, eyes dazed, but Jose's presence was like a beacon.
Then—footsteps.
A battered scout rushed in through a barely-hanging door, nearly tripping over broken beams.
"Master Jose!" He cried. "They're coming!"
Jose turned sharply. "Who?"
"The Fairy Tail mages! They're marching straight for us! They're almost here!"
Gasps rippled through the injured crowd.
"They're retaliating?"
"They shouldn't be able to stand—!"
Jose's teeth ground together audibly. His magic sparked violently, eyes glowing with dark fury. "They dare… come here?" he hissed. "To my guild?!"
He turned to face his people, arms outstretched.
"Then we will show them. Show them that, Phantom Lord is not so easily crushed!"
Dark mist began to swirl around him, black tendrils of energy wrapping through the cracks of the broken stone beneath him. In an instant, it expanded—thick shadows stretching outward like ink in water.
Shade soldiers began to rise, born from his magic—humanoid silhouettes with glowing red eyes, forming in dozens, then hundreds.
The ground trembled slightly under their combined mass.
Jose's voice thundered across the ruined hall.
"They think they can finish us off? Then let them try! We will fight back with EVERYTHING we have!"
He pointed toward the distance, where faint figures were approaching beyond the haze.
"Raise your fists! Your magic! Phantom Lord does not fall!"
The soldiers raised their weapons in eerie silence, an army of shadows awaiting the clash.
Behind him, even the bruised Element 4 straightened. Juvia's gaze flicked to the horizon. Aria adjusted his clothes with a groan. Sol crossed his arms, grim but ready.
Totomaru gave a cocky smirk. "Guess we've got one more round."
Jose narrowed his eyes. "This isn't over, Makarov. Whoever your hidden trump card is… I'll bury them under the weight of my hatred."
And far beyond the ruins, the mages of Fairy Tail marched, led by fury.
—------------------------------
The shattered area around the area of Phantom Lord's base had become a warzone.
Stone cracked beneath the feet of dozens of mages. Shouts of spells, roars of attacks, and the thunderclap of magic echoed across the courtyard as members of Fairy Tail clashed head-on with the recovering forces of Phantom Lord.
"Iron Rock Wall!"
"Fire Dragon's Claw!"
"Smoke Bind!"
"Water Bullet!"
Explosions shook the ground as the mages of both guilds released wave after wave of attacks. Lightning flashed across the sky. Flames lit the shadows. Ice froze the entire earth.
Boost!
And at the heart of it, Issei Hyoudou, moving like a storm.
His red Boosted Gear gleamed in the flickering light as his fist collided with another Phantom Lord mage's chest, sending them crashing through a broken column. One Phantom Lord grunt rushed in with a spear coated in wind magic, he was knocked out cold by a single shoulder-check from Issei.
Another came from behind with a flurry of knives, but Issei ducked under them, spun, and delivered a rising kick that sent the enemy flipping into a broken pillar.
Then came the shade soldiers.
Dozens of them.
Silent, weightless, and fast.
"Get out of my way," Issei growled, ducking as two swiped at him in unison. His fist ignited with energy as he countered. "Reinforce!"
The red gauntlet flared on his left arm, the emerald gem glowing fiercely.
Boost!
He slammed his fist into the ground, sending a shockwave that blasted the shadows apart like dry leaves. The air cracked with force.
Behind him, Yuuka covered his flank with her twin revolvers, blasting a Phantom Lord mage with a Charged bullet. A second later, Akitsu froze another to the ground with a sweeping wave of frost.
Issei kept moving forward, his path a trail of unconscious enemies and vanishing shades.
'At the end of this mess… there's their leader. That guy who fired the cannon.' As he broke through another wave, a new figure emerged from the smoke.
A whip of water suddenly sliced toward him.
He caught it with his gauntlet, but paused as the water reformed back to a feminine silhouette, a woman with swirling blue hair, emotionless eyes, and water swirling around her feet.
"Juvia of the Element Four, shall not let you pass!"
Issei shifted into a ready stance—but a hand stopped him.
"Leave her to me." Gray Fullbuster stepped forward, shirt already gone, ice forming around his arms. His eyes locked onto hers.
His expression was more serious than usual. "She's mine."
Issei blinked, then gave a short nod. "Got it. Don't lose."
Gray gave a faint smirk. "Please. Like I'd let you show me up."
Without another word, Gray charged Juvia, their clash beginning as water met ice.
Issei kept moving.
More soldiers came. Every opponent that tried to slow him was met with a punishing blow—his gauntlet cracking through barriers, his aura intensifying with every step. Boost after boost flared from the sacred gear.
But his frustration grew."Seriously?! How many of these guys does he HAVE?!" He shouted, annoyed.
Another squad closed in. He winced. "Ugh, I don't have time for this!"
That's when he made the call.
"Kuromaru!" He roared, his voice ringing through the sky.
For a second, everything paused.
Then—
A roar.
The sky shuddered as a massive wyvern with midnight black scales burst through the clouds. Its wings tore the wind asunder, its eyes glowing like molten gold.
The Phantom Lord mages stopped mid-cast as they watched in terror.
"W-WYVERN!!"
"WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?!"
The wyvern dived, releasing a blast of electricity that scorched a swath of shade soldiers. They vanished instantly, their forms unraveling under the intense blast.
Issei grinned.
The massive beast landed with a thunderous slam behind him.
"Good timing, partner."
He jumped onto Kuromaru's back without hesitation, red gauntlet glowing again.
The wyvern took off, wings beating furiously as they ascended above the battlefield.
From up there, Issei could see it all—Fairy Tail holding strong, Phantom Lord flailing, and one figure watching from a high vantage point, surrounded by his Shade soldiers.
'Jose. There you are.' He leaned forward. "Take us to him, Kuromaru."
With a shriek, the wyvern folded its wings inward and shot toward the heart of the enemy stronghold.
But just before he could reach it—
A heavy pressure dropped onto the air ahead of him.
Gajeel Redfox.
Hovering atop a rising steel pillar, arms crossed, eyes narrow.
"...You smell like a dragon."
Issei blinked. "You can also smell that?"
"Yeah," Gajeel said, a fang peeking out. "And I don't like it."
Issei cracked his neck. "Cool. But I don't have time to play right now."
Before Gajeel could respond, a flash of orange flame shot upward.
"Oi, Issei!" Natsu Dragneel landed on the same steel platform with a wild grin. "This one's mine."
Issei met his gaze and gave a sharp nod. "Then don't waste time."
Natsu turned to Gajeel, fire dancing in his fists. "Let's finish this, metalhead."
Gajeel scoffed. "Bring it, flame breath."
The steel crumbled beneath their feet as the two Dragon Slayers collided, the sound of fire and iron crashing together like thunder.
Issei didn't watch.
He turned forward, raised his hand, and pointed.
"There. The one surrounded by these things."
Kuromaru shrieked and flew straight toward Jose Porla, whose dark aura was now rising like smoke off his shoulders.
Time for the real fight.
—-----------------------------------
Amidst the smoking battlefield, the sounds of gunfire, ice cracking, steel clashing, and magic exploding roared like an orchestra of war.
Yuuka, twin revolvers gleaming with runes, was a force of precision. Every bullet she fired struck true—taking out Phantom Lord mages before they could even cast their spells.
Beside her, Bisca and Alzack covered her flanks. Bisca fired a burst of rapid rounds, her rifle enchanted for speed and accuracy. Alzack, calm but focused, provided suppressive fire with twin pistols. Their synchronicity kept the advancing enemy at bay.
"Keep your eyes on the sides!" Yuuka shouted, taking down a shade soldier mid-leap. "They're using their numbers to their advantage!"
"I see them!" Bisca yelled, already aiming.
Akitsu, calm and stoic, froze a half dozen mages in place, her breath forming a white mist around her. The moment they were paralyzed in ice, Yashima appeared with a thunderous battle cry, her massive hammer crashing down with devastating force.
Boom!
The shockwave blew dust across the field, flattening nearby shrubbery and debris.
Meanwhile, in another section of the battlefield, Laki, Warren, Cana, Max, and Loke were struggling. Their spells bombarded the shade soldiers, but they just kept reforming.
"These things won't die!" Max shouted in frustration, his sand magic sweeping through them only to be ignored.
"I don't get it," Laki muttered, backing up and trying to trap one in her wood construct. "It's like they're illusions... but physical?!"
Cana cursed, flipping another magic card. "They can't be this strong, can they?!"
"They're magical constructs! They might disappear when the caster is defeated." Warren shouted over the chaos.
"Then just hit them harder." Said a cold voice.
The shade soldier Max had been targeting suddenly split clean in two, dissolving into mist.
Karasuba, her blade gleaming in the light, stood beside them, eyes cold and sharp.
"You're tickling them," She said, brushing her long hair aside. "These things need to be hit with force."
She disappeared in a blur, her katana a streak of steel, carving a path through the summoned constructs like they were paper.
Back near the front lines, Mirajane stood amidst the chaos, eyes darting across the battlefield. Her hands trembled slightly, the trauma still gripped her, keeping her magic buried deep within.
Then it happened.
Two Phantom Lord mages charged her from opposite sides, blades raised.
Mirajane's breath caught in her throat.
But before they could get close—
Crack! Thud!
Both attackers were sent flying by a ribbon-like veil that snapped like a whip, sending them crashing to the dirt.
"Honestly," Came a teasing voice, "You really shouldn't be here." Uzume with a playful grin on her face, stepped between Mirajane and the carnage.
Mirajane's voice trembled. "I… I couldn't just sit back at the guild…"
"You should've," Uzume said, her tone softer now. "If you can't fight, just go back."
"I can't do that. Not while everyone is fighting so desperately to save our home." Mirajane then looks around but couldn't find who she was looking for. " By the way, do you know where's Elfman and Issei?" Mira asked, her voice laced with worry.
Uzume chuckled, shifting her weight as her veil slithered around her like a living weapon. "I don't know about Elfman, but Issei went to fight the asshole who started this. You know how reckless he is. He charged the frontlines," Uzume said casually. "Wanted to punch their guildmaster in the face."
"That's suicide!" Mira gasped. "Jose's a Wizard Saint. One of the ten most powerful mages in this country!"
Uzume shrugged. "Yeah. But Issei's just Issei. He doesn't think about stuff like that. But don't worry. If it gets too hot, Tamamo or Miya will intervene. That man's never really alone."
Mirajane bit her lip. Her heart was pounding. 'Please be careful, Issei…'
Suddenly, the ground shifted beneath their feet.
A voice echoed from the shadows with a dramatic flair and a foreign lilt. "Pardon the interruption, ladies. But I'm afraid I must insist—you tell me where the fair lady Lucy has gone."
From behind a fallen pillar emerged Sol of the Earth, flamboyant and twisted in his stance. His hands already crackled with stone magic.
Uzume stepped forward, veil floating behind her. "Oh, you wanna play." she grinned. "Fine. But don't blame me when you lose your teeth, monsieur."
—----------------------------------
Back on the far flank—
Totomaru sliced through three Fairy Tail mages with a fiery sweep of his blade, smirking. "Is that all? Weaklings, the lot of you."
A chill crawled up his spine. His instincts screamed and he stopped.
"Hmm?" He raised his sword just in time to block a vicious overhead strike, the shock of it sliding him back several feet.
His eyes narrowed.
A woman in black stepped forward, blade humming with magic, her posture loose but her aura anything but casual. Karasuba.
Her eyes glinted with predatory glee. "You're a swordsman," She said.
Totomaru smirked. "That's right."
"Good. I was starting to get bored."
—--------------------------------------------------
The sky above the battlefield roared with thunder.
The form of Kuromaru swept through the blackened air, his shadow stretching long over the smoldering remains of the Phantom Lord stronghold. His every wingbeat sent dust and shattered stone flying across the ruins.
And on his back stood Issei Hyoudou, jacket flapping in the updraft, his red gauntlet glowing with unspent power, his eyes locked on the dark figure ahead.
At the far edge of the ruined courtyard, standing atop a platform of swirling shadow and ash, was the man who had started this war.
Jose Porla. Guild Master of Phantom Lord.
From high above, Kuromaru opened his jaws wide, a shriek of primal fury echoing across the battlefield. Lightning surged within his throat, gathering between fangs crackling with power.
"NOW, KUROMARU!" Issei shouted, pointing down.
FWOOM.
The wyvern's breath erupted—a colossal beam of crackling electricity that surged toward the ground like a divine bolt of judgment, consuming everything in its path. Phantom Lord's remaining forces scattered in panic as the blast tore through walls, leveled towers, and vaporized dozens of shade soldiers.
But at the heart of the inferno—
Jose remained standing.
His silhouette was illuminated in the blast. With a casual flick of his wrist, a swirling barrier of black and violet energy rose around him. The breath met the shield—
and dispersed like mist.
Behind him, the remaining shade soldiers disintegrated into flickers of dying light, but Jose didn't so much as flinch.
His red eyes glowed, his presence pulsing with barely-contained malice.
"That was impressive," Jose said, his voice echoing unnaturally. "But ultimately useless."
Issei narrowed his eyes. Kuromaru flapped once more and landed hard, sending a shockwave through the ground. Issei leapt from his back and landed before Jose, the ground cracking beneath his shoes as he straightened.
Face to face now.
"So you're Jose Porla." Issei said calmly, cracking his knuckles. "You hurt my friends. You tried to kill us. And worst of all you made my daughter cry."
Jose tilted his head. "And what of it? That's the nature of the powerful. The strong dominate. The weak suffer. Fairy Tail simply forgot its place."
Issei's smile faded. "Then I'll make sure you remember yours."
A heavy silence fell between them.
Then—a shift in the air.
Jose raised his hands, the ground beneath him shifting as dark tendrils of magic surged upward, twisting into malformed shapes—blades, beasts, serpents, all made of shadow and raw fury.
"I admit, I didn't expect a mere boy to make it this far. You must be another of Makarov's hidden cards." Jose said, floating slightly above the ground as his magic surged around him. "But it doesn't matter now. You will fall like your master. Like your guild. And your little pet won't save you."
Issei's Boosted Gear pulsed, the voice of Ddraig thundering in his mind.
Boost!
Issei rolled his shoulders. "Big words for a guy who hides behind tricks and puppets."
Jose's smile faltered for a moment.
Then—
They moved.
Jose fired the first attack—a spiral of black lances, each humming with deadly power. Issei darted forward, weaving between them, his movements precise, his eyes locked on the target. One lance scraped past his side, burning through his jacket—but he didn't slow.
Kuromaru roared behind him and took off again, circling above like a hawk watching for its moment to strike.
"Let's see what makes a Wizard Saint tick," Issei muttered.
And with a cry, he launched himself at Jose, fist raised, his gauntlet glowing.