Since there was no room left for negotiation, there was nothing more to say.
Makarov and Joseph clashed head-on, unleashing a dazzling exchange of offense and defense. All kinds of magic collided in rapid succession, and the violent aftershocks reduced the surrounding buildings to rubble.
Joseph pressed forward with relentless dark magic attacks, but every strike was blocked by Makarov's ultimate defensive spell—Three Pillar Gods. As the battle dragged on, Joseph gradually fell into a disadvantage. In the end, Makarov seized an opening and brought the fight to a close with a dense barrage of Light Rain.
Joseph's face twisted with rage as he glared at Makarov, while the latter remained calm, surrounded by three golden pillars of magic radiating divine light.
Everything around them had turned into ruins. The arena, the buildings—nothing remained intact, only shattered debris and cratered Earth.
"Enough! The entire venue has been destroyed by the two of you!" Goldmine shouted angrily.
"Yes, Makarov dear, Joseph dear, if you keep going, it will trouble the rest of us~" Bob chimed in, stepping forward with his usual exaggerated, flamboyant tone.
"Hmph. Kaidan, we're leaving." Joseph snorted coldly, sweeping a glance across the crowd. "Makarov… Phantom Lord will remember this."
With that, he left, dragging along the utterly defeated Kaidan.
"Well then, Makarov dear, we'll be taking our leave too~ You can handle the aftermath here," Bob said, covering his face delicately as he turned to go.
"This has gone too far," Goldmine said sternly. "Two Guild Masters—both among the Ten Wizard Saints—fighting during an official meeting. Are you trying to start a guild war?"
"Haha… couldn't be helped," Makarov replied with a shrug.
Goldmine sighed. "Forget it. Just… take care of yourselves."
There wasn't much he could say. After all, Makarov had every reason to act—his guild member had been attacked. If he hadn't stepped in, how could Fairy Tail maintain its standing?
With that incident, the regular meeting—and the mage competition—came to an abrupt and anticlimactic end. Following Blue Pegasus and Quatro Cerberus, the other guilds also bid farewell and left Crocus one after another. Before departing, Jura, Ichya, and Bacchus each greeted Arlen and invited him to visit their guilds sometime.
"Ahh… what a mess of a meeting. This is going to cost the guild a fortune…" Makarov groaned, staring at the ruins with a pained expression.
"No need to worry, Master," Arlen said calmly. "I'll have my family handle the reconstruction. Since everything is over, let's head back."
Naturally, the cost of rebuilding—no, completely reconstructing—the place would be covered by the Viviamillio family. For a house of their wealth, this was nothing.
Still, Arlen made a mental note.
Phantom Lord.
If the opportunity arose… he wouldn't mind making Joseph disappear.
"Ahh, Arlen, you're the best!" Makarov said, eyes brimming with tears.
Arlen felt a chill run down his spine.
If it were Ultear or the others making that expression, it would be pleasant.
But coming from Makarov?
Absolutely not.
On the way back, Arlen asked curiously, "Master, Phantom Lord seems to harbor deep hostility toward Fairy Tail. Did something happen in the past?"
Makarov nodded. "If we're being precise… you could say we're old enemies."
"When Fairy Tail was first founded, the First Master and the others clashed with the guild Blue Skull over the Tenrou Jade. Blue Skull was the predecessor of Phantom Lord."
"After Blue Skull was destroyed, its master swore to create a guild that would rival Fairy Tail—that became Phantom Lord. And ever since, each of their masters has carried on that grudge."
Arlen nodded in understanding.
No wonder Joseph acted like a madman.
So there was history behind it.
After returning safely to the guild, life gradually returned to normal.
Makarov continued attending regular meetings, though the mage competitions were abolished afterward. As for Joseph, after his defeat, he never attended another meeting again.
Time passed quickly.
Before long—
It was X778.
A year filled with many changes.
First—
Lyon and Simon left Fairy Tail to travel the world.
According to them, life in the guild had become too comfortable, and their magic growth had stagnated.
But in truth—
They had been deeply shaken by Erza and Kagura's strength.
Especially Lyon.
He had challenged Erza, Kagura, and Ultear many times—
And lost every single one.
Not once did he win.
Ultear was one thing.
She had learned Ice-Make Magic from Ur, and later mastered Arc of Time under Mavis—her strength had skyrocketed.
But Erza and Kagura?
They had started much later than him—
And still surpassed him.
That hit hard.
After much thought, Lyon decided to leave and train on his own, to grow stronger.
Coincidentally, Simon had the same idea.
The two hit it off immediately, left a letter behind—
And departed together from Magnolia.
When Ur learned of this, her face showed anger—
But her eyes held reluctance and pride.
Her students had grown.
They had their own paths now.
All she could do—
Was silently bless them.
Then—
There was Anna Heartfilia.
After receiving Arlen's message, she had visited Magnolia several times. From afar, she watched Natsu—who was constantly fighting with Gray.
But when Arlen asked why she didn't meet him—
Anna simply said:
"It's not time yet."
Arlen had also invited her to join Fairy Tail.
But she declined gently.
She still had things to do.
The Time Rift had yet to be found.
Her journey would take her even farther.
However, she entrusted Arlen with one task—
To help locate the remaining four children.
Arlen agreed without hesitation.
After all—
Those four, like Natsu—
Were Dragon Slayers.
If they all joined Fairy Tail…
The guild's strength would rise dramatically.
And for Arlen—
Fairy Tail was his second home.
The stronger it became—
The happier he was.
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