"What?!"
The entire guild fell into a stunned silence at Kael's words. Even Makarov looked up, his eyes wide with surprise. He hadn't expected Kael, usually the most level-headed among them, to be the one pushing for retaliation against Phantom Lord.
"Kael… do you want to fight too?"
Makarov asked in a low voice.
"Master, I know you want to resolve this peacefully to protect us,"
Kael said, stepping into the center of the room.
"But how can you be sure they'll stop here? If they attacked once, what's stopping them from doing it again?"
He pointed toward the ceiling, where the iron pillars still pierced the roof.
"Suppose we rebuild the guild tomorrow. What if Phantom Lord launches another sneak attack the following night? Are you going to stay awake every night to guard the building?"
Makarov opened his mouth to respond, but Kael didn't give him the chance.
"There's an old saying: you can't guard against a thief forever. You might think enduring this insult brings peace—that 'turning the other cheek' is the wise choice. But in the eyes of someone like Jose, your silence isn't wisdom. It's a sign of weakness."
"What?! You think I'm afraid of that idiot Jose?"
Makarov's voice boomed, his pride flaring. He wasn't afraid of anyone, let alone the Master of Phantom Lord.
"Maybe not,"
Kael replied calmly.
"But the world won't see it that way. And the guild members don't feel that way."
Makarov's gaze swept the room. Most of the wizards looked away, unable to meet his eyes. Only Natsu was nodding vigorously, showing his agreement with Kael.
"Not only that,"
Kael continued, his voice resonating through the basement.
"If we don't respond, this story will spread. Soon, every citizen in the Kingdom of Fiore will know. You don't just represent yourself, Master; you represent the name of Fairy Tail."
He leaned forward slightly.
"When our members walk down the street, people will point and whisper: 'Look, there goes a member of Fairy Tail. Their home was destroyed, and they were too afraid to do anything about it.'"
Makarov's eyes narrowed into a glare.
"They wouldn't dare!"
"They absolutely would. People care about results, not your reasons or your 'mental journey.' And think about the clients. They'll start losing trust in us. Requests will dry up. Our members will stop wearing the guild emblem out of shame. One by one, they'll leave to find work elsewhere. In a few months, this guild will be a ghost town."
"Enough!"
Makarov barked, visibly agitated.
"I only held back once! You make it sound like the end of the world. If they dare attack us again, I'll deal with them!"
"Master, you think one act of restraint is a small thing, but to those who look up to you, it's everything. If you don't lead, how do you expect the rest of us to stand tall? If the Master won't resist, why should anyone else?"
"…."
"True dignity,"
Kael added, his tone sharpening, "is earned, not given. Peace isn't bought with silence. It's only achieved by proving to the world that you aren't to be trifled with."
Makarov let out a long, weary sigh. The weight of Kael's words finally broke through his resolve. The rest of the guild watched, holding their breath, waiting for the verdict.
"Phew... Fine, brat. You've made your point. I'm tired of being the 'grown-up' anyway. Tell me... what do you have in mind?"
The corner of Kael's lips curled into a confident smirk.
"It's simple. The Magic Council prohibits 'war' between guilds. So, we won't give them a war. We'll give them a competition."
"A competition?"
"Exactly. Fighting violates the rules, but an 'amicable exhibition match' does not. We'll frame it as a way to promote friendship and mutual progress between the two top guilds in Fiore."
Kael's eyes glinted with mischief.
"We'll hold it in a massive public stadium. A six-on-six duel. It's too small for the Council to call a 'guild war,' but big enough to be a spectacle. We can even sell tickets."
He looked around at his comrades.
"If we crush them in front of the entire kingdom, Phantom Lord will never be able to hold their heads up again. No matter how much they try to cheat, people will only see them as sore losers, not a real threat."
The energy in the basement shifted instantly. The gloom evaporated, replaced by a fierce, competitive fire.
"Perfect! The Council can't say a word if we call it 'training'! We'll tear them apart in front of everyone! Phantom Lord thinks they're number one? Let's show them who runs Fiore!"
"Wait,"
Gray intervened. "Will they actually accept?"
"We'll announce the challenge in the newspapers,"
Kael said. "If they refuse a 'friendly match' after attacking our building, they'll be mocked as cowards who only know how to attack empty houses."
"Master! Your call!"
Makarov stood up; his small frame suddenly radiated an immense pressure. He raised his fist into the air.
"Fine! We'll do it Kael's way! We're declaring war on Phantom Lord... officially!"
"OOHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
The basement erupted in a roar that shook the very foundations of the ruined building.
Mira smiled, already reaching for a pen.
"I'll get in touch with my friends in the press. I still have the numbers for the reporters at Weekly Sorcerer."
As a former cover girl, Mira's influence on the media was massive. She understood that a guild as public as Fairy Tail needed visibility, and a high-stakes duel was exactly the kind of story that sold papers.
In two hours, news reached every major outlet. Reporters went into a frenzy, dropping other stories to follow up on the "Clash of Titans." By nightfall, newsboys were already shouting the headlines on street corners across the kingdom.