"Where are Mystogan and Gildarts?" Rowan asked after a moment's thought.
Mirajane shook her head. "Gildarts went to the northern continent. I can't reach him. As for Mystogan… no one knows where he is. Only the Guild Master ever had contact with him. But Councilor Yajima has replied. The Council is already in session. Once they reach a decision, they'll send someone."
"That's enough," Rowan said, nodding. "If we can hold our ground, whether it's until the Guild Master wakes up or until the Council intervenes, this ends in our favor."
Even without Laxus, Mystogan, or Gildarts, hope remained. If Phantom Lord hesitated even a little longer, the Council's enforcement could arrive first.
"Alzack and Bisca are back," someone called out.
The two mages who had escorted Makarov to the East Forest hurried inside and relayed the news.
"Porlyusica said losing his magic so suddenly at his age is serious," Alzack explained. "But she's contacted Mystogan to help recover the scattered magic. If things go well, the Guild Master could wake up this afternoon."
A wave of relief swept through the room.
They waited through the morning. Just after noon, as everyone finished eating and tried to rest, a thunderous sound shook the guild.
They rushed outside.
On the southern lake, an enormous fortress rose from the water. It moved on eight massive, metallic legs like a crawling island, advancing steadily toward Fairy Tail. The emblem of Phantom Lord was emblazoned across its walls.
"Everyone, prepare!" Rowan shouted, his voice amplified across the grounds. "Activate all defensive equipment. Raise every barrier formation!"
Shock gave way to action. Layer after layer of rune barriers wrapped around the guild. Magical defensive tools flared to life, forming overlapping shields in front of the building.
The mobile fortress halted at the lake's edge. A colossal cannon extended from its core, drawing in terrifying amounts of magic.
"They're absurdly rich," Rowan muttered, staring at the structure and its massive magic crystal cannon. Just building something like that would cost a fortune.
"Reinforce the defenses!" he ordered.
Mages with defensive specialties joined in. Gray raised a towering ice shield. Walls of wood and stone followed. Finally, Erza donned her strongest defensive armor, raising the Adamantine Barrier as the last line of defense.
The cannon fired.
A beam of pure magic tore across the lake, smashing through the outer rune barriers as if they were glass. It punched through the defensive tools, shattered the ice shield, and obliterated the wood and stone walls. Even after losing half its power, the beam slammed into Erza's shield, cracks spreading across its surface.
"That cannon is monstrous," Rowan muttered.
He stood directly behind Erza and raised his wand. "Reparo!"
The cracks sealed instantly. New fractures formed, only to be repaired again and again. When the beam finally dissipated, Erza's shield stood intact, and her armor hadn't lost an ounce of magic.
Inside the fortress, Jose rose from his seat in fury.
"That cat again," he snarled. Branch after branch had gone silent, every reinforcement wiped out. Now even the modified crystal cannon, powered by three Element Four members and Gajeel, had failed.
"Then I'll drag you all to hell myself," he said coldly.
The cannon needed fifteen minutes to recharge. In the meantime, Jose lifted a hand.
"Dark Legion."
Dozens of magic circles bloomed around him. Ghostly soldiers poured forth, swarming toward Fairy Tail.
With the ghosts attacking, Fairy Tail wouldn't be able to maintain a clean defensive formation. The next cannon shot could wipe them out.
"We can't stay on the defensive," Rowan said sharply. "Natsu, get over here. We're taking that cannon out."
Natsu was already grinning, flames flickering around him as he rushed over.
"The core of the cannon is the mages supplying it," Mirajane said anxiously. "Without defeating them, destroying it won't be easy."
"I know," Rowan replied. "But I have a way. It might even blow up the entire fortress."
He raised his wand, and blue cursed flames erupted, but instead of launching them at the fortress, he directed them straight into Natsu.
This wasn't Phantom Lord's city. This was Magnolia. Unleashing uncontrolled cursed fire here would risk burning the guild and the town itself.
His plan was simple. Feed the cursed flames to the one mage who could devour any fire and make it his own.
He'd already tested it earlier.
Natsu could absorb the cursed fire. For a short time, his magic surged, and the flames he released carried the cursed properties while remaining fully under his control.
"Hahaha! I can feel it!" Natsu laughed as power flooded his body.
Rowan stopped feeding the flames and pointed upward. "Clear the ghost soldiers first."
The spectral army had reached the airspace above the guild. Normal attacks struggled against their dark, intangible nature, but the cursed flames were a perfect counter.
"Fire Dragon Slayer Magic: Fire Dragon's Roar!"
Natsu inhaled deeply. A blue magic circle flared, and an overwhelming torrent of blue fire erupted skyward, washing over the descending ghost army.