"Crown of Embers, Crown of Insight!"
Even though I'm not sure what's going on with the President, let's put the auras on first.
Offer the three extra Crown of Embers to the severely injured, it will make them feel slightly better.
"Lucy, are you okay?"
"Yes, Mr. Rhode and Miss Mira saved me. I'm sorry..."
The two were on different wavelengths, but somehow the Q&A matched unexpectedly.
Mira anxiously asked, "What happened to the President?"
Erza found it impossible to say.
"Let's talk about it later." Rhode said, "Elfman, take the President to Granny Porlyusica immediately."
Rhode called over the River Crab and let Elfman get on.
"A man!" Elfman said not another word and urged the River Crab to hurry up.
He seemed rough on the outside, but he was very attentive. Having the President carried by him was worrisome at all.
"The two most severely injured, get up here." Rhode nudged Sol and Jubia down, "Kana, go with them and take care."
"Okay."
Two River Crabs carried the severely injured away. The rest just needed to retreat in an orderly fashion.
The lightly injured moved ahead, followed closely by those more severely wounded, flanked by some reliable mages like Macao and Wakaba, Alzack and Bisca.
Natsu, Gray, Loki, and others who were the strongest brought up the rear.
At moments like this, Loki didn't even have time to consider his "Rhode-phobia" and "Lucy-phobia".
The unconscious Sol and Jubia were carried on their backs. Should anything happen, whether as hostages or shields, they would do anything to protect their comrades.
As for the pursuers, twelve Beaked Birds swiftly flew above them, scattering feathered throwing knives, causing many to fall to the ground.
The Magic Swamp Frogs hopped tirelessly, spewing venom when at the perfect range. The agile among them managed to dodge, or immediately stripped off their clothes if splashed, while the slow ones cried out in agony.
Shadow Wolves lunged into the crowd, and their size alone meant even a slight bump could deal a blow.
Stone Beetles emerged from the ground, occasionally tripping a few people, or dragging them into the earth.
The Ghost forces weren't all pushovers, getting caught off guard by the first wave they quickly organized a counterattack, causing the wild creatures' numbers to dwindle.
But...
A colossal purple monster sped through like the wind, sending over twenty people flying, disrupting the newly organized counterattack rhythm.
More importantly, such a gigantic monster crashing among them significantly shook the Ghost's morale. The closer they were, the more terrifying the impact's force felt, practically being blown away even if not hit.
Magic Bullets, knives, swords, fists, and feet struck the Canyon Vanguard with muffled thuds, maybe effective, but imperceptible to the eyes.
The Vanguard simply swayed its tail unhappily, and several people were immediately swept away.
To make matters worse, two Golems and two Tree Monsters were approaching from behind.
Though smaller than the Vanguard, the mass of four monsters advancing side-by-side produced overwhelming pressure.
And the Void Worms incessantly bouncing and surging forth...
Who, who just called the Beast Tamer? Who just mocked the Fairy Tail Strategist? Now that he's here, why aren't you going forward?
Does the term Strategist emphasize "military" instead of "scholar"?
Erza switched into her Celestial Wheel Armor, shooting over a hundred swords at the Ghost crowd in one go.
Mira summoned Satan's Soul, launching black Magic Balls one after another at the enemies.
Any remaining courage the Ghost members had melted away.
"Monsters... monsters!"
"Why are there more and more bugs?"
"Attacks are useless!"
The pursuit quickly turned into a rout.
The senior members had other plans so they hadn't come, leaving them helpless against such monsters.
Originally nearly two hundred people came, now only a few dozen escaped, while the remaining lay scattered on the roadside.
Most wild creatures vanished, before the red and blue ones disappeared they replenished the three with double buffs.
Two Stone Beetles remained, carrying the three toward the others.
...
Erza and Mira directly returned to the Guild; their presence there was essential to reassure everyone.
Rhode went to the Eastern Forest Treehouse since the President might need his healing.
As soon as he reached the entrance, Rhode saw Elfman being pushed out.
Before the door closed, Rhode rushed up: "Granny, how's the President?"
Porlyusica threw the broom in her hand into the corner and turned to enter the house.
This was her way of letting him in, so Rhode quickly followed her inside.
Elfman scratched the back of his head, left to wait outside, feeling he was being treated differently.
Usually amiable, the President lay on the sickbed, eyes tightly shut.
Today was the first time Rhode saw the old man so weak, who could casually cast ultra-powerful Defense Magic, transform into a giant to carry them for walks...
"It's Wind Magic; the effect is 'Exhaustion', capable of causing massive Magic Power loss in a short time, a terrifying magic."
Porlyusica began directly with the diagnosis and cause, "For Mages, Magic Power is the source of life, the more powerful one is, the more 'Exhaustion' pains them."
She was furious enough to give Makarov another slap: "That fool, behaving as he did when young despite his age, merely causing trouble for others!"
Rhode automatically filtered Porlyusica's complaints about the President, the condition sounded familiar:
"Is it Magic Power Deficiency? Does this mean, once recovered, the President will be alright?"
"Not that simple. But it will indeed help his physical recovery and at least alleviate the pain..."
Porlyusica glanced at Rhode, acknowledging his capability, "I noticed his Magic Power had already replenished considerably, was that you?"
"Yes!" Rhode beamed. This indicated restoring Magic Power was effective. The Crown of Insight had already greatly eased the President's pain? That was the best news thus far!
"Receive · Cyan Engraved Golem, Crown of Insight!"
The limited space within the treehouse made receiving more appropriate than summoning, yet even so, Rhode's head hit the lamp above.
Porlyusica brandished her broom and smacked him twice, and Rhode dismissed the transformation with a grin and apologized to Granny.
Without the hard stone "armor", Porlyusica ceased hitting him, grumbling:
"Seriously, you too are so reckless, absurd that he wanted you to succeed him. Yet you panic over minor things, can you really manage this troublesome Guild?"
Rhode paused for a moment: "Is that what the President thought?"
Porlyusica didn't want to engage with him, but looking at frail Makarov she couldn't help but soften:
"He's always been pondering the next generation of Guild Presidents, but as you are now, you're still far from it."
I've only been here a year, and I'm not powerful enough. Suddenly being considered for President is too...
This jumbled Guild is truly haphazard in every way, even when selecting something as significant as the President.
Rhode took a deep breath: "I understand."
If the old man desired a calm, stable successor, then that's the direction to work toward.
"The President's vision isn't wrong, whether it's ability or character, I won't let him down. However..."
Rhode chuckled: "But as for the President's chair, let him keep it for another hundred years; he's more experienced in writing apologies."
"I do not want to be President either."