"So light magic can hit that hard…"
Rowan stared upward as Makarov fought Jose without relying on his signature giant form, matching him blow for blow using light magic alone. Until now, Rowan had always considered light magic underwhelming on the offensive side. Its defenses were excellent, especially with spells like the Three Pillars, but its raw damage had never impressed him.
Watching Makarov fight changed that completely.
This wasn't a problem with light magic. It was a problem with Rowan's level of mastery.
Every spell Makarov cast carried the weight of a natural disaster. Rowan felt certain that any one of those attacks could obliterate a small mountain. The realization left him both stunned and quietly thrilled.
As the battle between the Ten Wizard Saints raged in the sky, the fighting below reached its peak as well.
Rowan judged the aerial clash too evenly matched to intervene for now. Makarov still hadn't used his giant magic, which meant he was holding back. Instead, Rowan shifted his focus to the second battlefield.
Erza, Natsu, and Gray were facing Phantom Lord's remaining Elemental mages. On paper, Fairy Tail should have been at a disadvantage.
In practice, it didn't look that way at all.
"…Phantom Lord's S-class don't seem that impressive," Rowan muttered.
Natsu and Gray were clearly under pressure, but they weren't being overwhelmed. Their opponents had the edge, yet the gap was far smaller than Rowan had expected.
Erza's fight was even more lopsided.
She hadn't even changed armor.
Sol's stone attacks shattered under her blade one after another, forcing him to dissolve into sand repeatedly just to survive. His attempt at psychological warfare briefly rattled her, conjuring images from her past, but even that only slowed her down.
He couldn't hurt her. He could only delay the inevitable.
Seeing Rowan's confusion, Mirajane leaned closer and spoke quietly.
"The missions S-class mages take are much more dangerous," she explained. "For everyone's safety, the Guild Master keeps our standards much stricter than other guilds. Honestly, Natsu and Gray would already qualify as S-class almost anywhere else."
She smiled faintly. "But don't tell them that. The Guild Master worries they'd get cocky."
That explained everything.
Makarov was stronger than Jose. Erza alone outclassed Phantom Lord's Elementals. Natsu and Gray were already operating at near S-class levels. Fairy Tail wasn't taking a reckless gamble at all.
It was simply stronger.
Rowan's earlier doubts vanished.
No wonder Fairy Tail was considered the strongest guild in the kingdom.
And that wasn't even counting Laxus, Mystogan, or the legendary Gildarts, who was said to rival the Guild Master himself.
The lower battles ended quickly after that.
Erza recovered first, breaking free of Sol's mental trick and knocking him unconscious with a single strike. Moments later, Natsu and Gray defeated their opponents almost simultaneously.
Yet Rowan's unease only grew.
One Elemental mage was still missing.
That bothered him.
High above, Makarov noticed the outcome below and finally halted his attacks.
"It's over," he said coldly, staring down at Jose. "Kneel and surrender. I'll count to three. This is your last chance."
Makarov could have ended the fight much earlier. He'd held back deliberately, letting the younger mages gain experience in real combat. Opportunities like this were rare.
Jose laughed, fury twisting his face.
"Don't make me laugh, Makarov! Our strength is equal. I'm far more ruthless than you. If anyone's kneeling, it'll be you!"
Dark magic erupted from his body.
"Soul Devour!"
Two massive black specters formed, lunging forward to consume Makarov's very essence.
"One. Two. Three."
When Jose still refused to yield, Makarov clasped his hands together.
A colossal magic circle formed above the city, vast enough to blot out the sky itself.
Before the spell was even released, the dark specters disintegrated, purified by the overwhelming light surrounding Makarov.
Rowan's jaw dropped.
"What the hell… is that?"
The reaction was universal. Natsu, Gray, and every Fairy Tail mage below stared upward in stunned silence.
Mirajane spoke softly, reverently.
"That's the Guild Master's ultimate spell. Created by the First Guild Master. A holy magic that judges enemies alone and spares allies. A unique super magic."
She smiled.
"Fairy Law."
"Light-based super magic… Fairy Law," Rowan breathed.
I want to learn it.
His choice to focus on light magic suddenly felt like destiny.
Then Mirajane's expression changed.
"Guild Master, behind you!"
A large man in green appeared from nowhere, eyes covered, tears streaming endlessly down his face.
"So sad… so very sad," the man murmured. "At last… an opening."
"Territory Collapse."
A strange magic circle flared beneath Makarov. His face tightened as his magic power drained away in an instant. The enormous light circle above the city vanished like smoke.
Makarov cursed under his breath.
"I let my guard down."
Jose's earlier terror evaporated, replaced by shrill triumph.
"Kill him! Kill him now!"
The unfinished Fairy Law had terrified him beyond words.
Makarov could not be allowed to survive.