Magnolia Town.
"We're back!"
"Finally home!"
"That was incredibly fast this time!"
"Aye!"
It had taken them a full day and night to sneak away to the island, but on the return trip they left in the morning and arrived in Magnolia by the afternoon.
"It's only because Kael was driving like a maniac on the water!"
Gray said, still feeling a bit shaky from the voyage.
"Boat… blergh…!"
At the mere mention of the word, Natsu felt another wave of nausea.
Kael had pushed the boat to its limits. With the ship behind them moving so fast, it bobbed violently on the waves, making even people who didn't usually get seasick—like Gray, Lucy, and Happy—feel like they were about to lose their lunch.
"Sigh. We stole that mission for nothing,"
Natsu grumbled. "We didn't get a single Jewel."
"Serves you right,"
Kael shot back. "That's what happens when you steal jobs. Besides, it's not like I didn't give you a chance. You got frozen the second the fight started. If you'd actually beaten those three, I might've shared a little."
"How was I supposed to know that guy would fight so dirty? He used ice to trap me instantly!"
Natsu snapped. He was still fuming. If he hadn't been frozen, he was sure he could have taken down Lyon and his team single-handedly.
Happy glanced up at Kael.
"Kael, that earthquake in town the other night… that was definitely you, wasn't it?"
The others suddenly remembered the strange tremor that had shaken Magnolia a few days earlier. It had felt completely unnatural.
"What are you talking about? I have no idea,"
Kael said, quickly looking away with a guilty expression.
"It had to be you,"
Happy insisted. "Magnolia hasn't had an earthquake in years. Then suddenly, the night you leave, the ground shakes? You must've used that old man with the white mustache again."
"Don't go making accusations without evidence, cat. I'll sue you for slander."
"I'll keep quiet for a fish."
"I'll give you ten!"
"Yay! It's a deal!"
Just then, they noticed the citizens of Magnolia whispering and pointing toward the end of the street.
"Wait… what's going on?"
Gray asked, his voice dropping. "The guild looks… strange."
The group hurried forward. Their hearts sank when they saw the Fairy Tail guild hall. Massive iron pillars had been driven through the building, spearing the walls and roof. The once-lively landmark was now a mangled wreck—exactly what you'd expect from a brutal attack.
"Who did this?!"
Natsu's blood began to boil. Seeing his home destroyed triggered a wave of pure rage.
"It was Phantom Lord."
They turned toward the familiar voice. Mirajane stood nearby, her expression solemn.
Kael rushed over, concern etched across his face.
"Mira, are you okay? Were you hurt?"
Kael's immediate worry warmed Mira's heart. She shook her head gently.
"No, I'm fine. I wasn't hurt."
Lucy ran up as well.
"Where is everyone? Is everyone okay?"
"Everyone is safe,"
Mira reassured them. "They're all in the basement for now. Follow me."
The basement served as Fairy Tail's warehouse—normally used for storage—but now it was the guild's makeshift headquarters.
"Oh! Kael, you're back!"
"Natsu and Gray are home!"
The guild members greeted them, but the mood was heavy.
"Did you see the guild? It's a disaster,"
Someone muttered. "Those bastards from Phantom Lord… we should go level their place right now!"
"Calm down! We're talking about Phantom Lord here. It's not that simple."
Angry shouts and calls for revenge filled the room.
"Yo. Welcome back,"
Makarov said casually, sitting on a crate and sipping a beer as if nothing had happened.
"Gramps! This isn't the time to be drinking!"
Natsu yelled, pointing toward the ceiling. "The guild is trashed!"
"Oh, is it?"
Makarov glanced over his shoulder. "More importantly, you three went on an S-Class mission without permission. Punishment! You will accept your punishment immediately! Be prepared!"
"Who cares about that right now?!"
Natsu screamed.
Makarov stood, delivered a quick knock to the heads of Natsu and Happy, and gave Lucy a sharp smack.
"Master! That's inappropriate!"
Mira scolded.
Natsu rubbed his head, even angrier than before.
"Old man! Do you even realize what's happening? Our home was attacked!"
"Calm down,"
Makarov said, dismissive. "It's not a big deal."
"What?!"
The group stared at him. The guild was in ruins, and the Master didn't care?
"Those idiots at Phantom Lord only have this much talent,"
Makarov said, taking another sip. "What's there to be proud of in smashing an empty building while we're away? There's no point getting worked up over cowards who only know how to launch sneak attacks. Just ignore them."
"How can we let this go?!"
Natsu snarled. "I'm going over there and kicking their teeth in!"
Mira stepped in quickly.
"Natsu… the Master is just as upset as you are. But the Magic Council strictly prohibits armed conflicts between guilds."
"But they started it!"
"It doesn't matter who started it,"
Mira sighed. The Council wouldn't care about details—they would punish anyone involved in a guild war.
Makarov set his beer down.
"The matter is closed. Until the upstairs is repaired, we'll operate from here."
"Who has the heart to work at a time like this?!"
Natsu shouted.
A cold, gloomy voice suddenly echoed from behind them.
"Oh? So you aren't in the mood to work?"
"Eeeek————!!"
Natsu, Lucy, and Happy screamed in terror. They turned around to find Erza standing there, a murderous aura radiating from her.
"E-Erza…?!"
Natsu feared no one more than Erza. She'd been beating sense into him since they were kids, and that fear was carved into his bones.
"Erza… look! The guild… it's been destroyed!"
Natsu stammered, trying to redirect her fury toward Phantom Lord.
Erza's eyes were icy.
"That is still no excuse for stealing an S-Class mission."
"Forget the mission for a second! What about Phantom Lord?"
Natsu pleaded. "You can beat me up later—do whatever you want—but they destroyed our home! Are you really just going to stand there and watch? Are you honestly okay with this?"
Erza's expression flickered. She had grown up in this guild; it was her family and her sanctuary. Of course she wasn't okay with it.
But she also understood the risk. Fairy Tail already had a terrible reputation with the Magic Council. If they went to war with a guild as powerful as Phantom Lord, the Council might choose to dissolve Fairy Tail entirely. Everyone would lose their home. The Master was swallowing the insult to protect them from something worse.
Just then, Kael's calm voice cut through the tension.
"Master,"
Kael said, stepping forward, "if there were a way to teach Phantom Lord a lesson without getting us in trouble with the Magic Council… would you be on board with that?"