On the dusty streets of Magnolia, the Magic Earth Unit marched forward with heavy steps, each movement kicking up smoke and broken stone.
Germain led them at the front, his face tight with pressure and purpose.
The purple magic aura radiating from his body was fierce and oppressive, sweeping across the buildings on either side. Terrified townsfolk slammed their windows shut and bolted their doors, praying not to get caught in the crossfire.
This time, Saber Fang hadn't mobilized its full force only the elite had followed Germain into battle. The younger members, like Minerva, hadn't come along.
It wasn't out of kindness. Germain hadn't suddenly grown a conscience or wanted to protect the kids from the battle between "Fairy Tail's goblins" and "Phantom's ghosts."
The truth was simpler: those brats were too weak. Bringing them would've only brought shame to Saber Fang.
To Germain, this was it. The battle that would finally make his name known throughout Fiore.
Even someone like him, not exactly known for brainpower, could tell he was being used by Jose.
But once the arrow leaves the bow, there's no turning back.
He knew full well if he didn't see this through, Phantom would crush him anyway.
Besides, setting aside his grudge against Chase, there was also ambition. High risk, high reward.
If he could take down Fairy Tail in one strike, Germain would no longer be a third-rate guildmaster. He'd be famous across the continent.
In that sense, he and Jose were two of a kind.
But compared to Jose's cunning mind, Germain's head was clearly made of bricks and biceps.
"Ugh… this magic pressure… it feels awful…"
Outside the Fairy Tail gates, Lucy swallowed nervously as she stared at the advancing enemy.
This was the first full-scale conflict she'd ever been part of since joining the guild, and her nerves were completely normal.
"There's nothing to worry about."
Natsu stepped forward, standing protectively in front of her with a confident grin.
"Even Chase and Erza don't have to step in. The old man's got this handled."
Around them, the rest of the guild members remained calm.
Fighters like Elfman looked like they were about to explode from anticipation, fists clenched and itching to leap into action the moment the Master gave the word.
As for Chase, Mira, and Erza, they stood completely relaxed, casually watching as Saber Fang's troops stopped just a few meters away.
They hadn't even moved.
"Long time no see, President Makarov."
Germain stepped forward, slowly uncrossing his arms. His deep voice rumbled through the tension.
Makarov eyed him lazily, then cracked a small smile.
"You brought your people all the way to Magnolia to find me. What's the occasion, Germain? You here to help us rebuild the guild?"
Makarov's tone was light, but those who knew him well recognized the weight behind the words.
As one of the magic world's senior figures, he'd always believed in guiding the younger generation. Even now, with tempers flaring and war at the doorstep, he was giving Germain a chance.
If Germain, the pawn in Jose's game, turned back here and now Makarov would let him go without punishment.
He would let it go.
But
"Don't be ridiculous."
Germain's answer was cold.
"I'm not here to reminisce with you," Germain said coldly. "And I certainly didn't come to help you rebuild your little guild. But "
His eyes sharpened, and in an instant, the magic surrounding him surged into chaos. Violent winds howled around him, stirring up the debris on the street.
"We're here to declare war on Fairy Tail!!"
Buzz!!
Just as the words left his mouth, golden light erupted from above, and a massive magic circle began to spin in the sky.
A gigantic fist of pure magic radiating immense power dropped from the heavens like divine judgment, aimed straight at the Saber Fang squad clustered around Germain.
Germain's expression changed dramatically.
He shouted and poured all his magic into a desperate counterattack.
BOOM!!
The fist slammed down with explosive force, shaking the entire street. The impact kicked up a mountain of smoke and left the air humming with raw energy.
As the dust finally settled, Lucy peeked out from behind the others, stretching her neck nervously
Then instantly gasped and slapped her hands over her mouth.
In the giant crater where the fist had landed, the elite Saber Fang unit was scattered like garbage.
Every single member was knocked out cold completely incapacitated.
At the center of the mess, Germain, once so proud and arrogant, lay with his eyes rolled back and foam bubbling at his mouth, passed out like a ridiculous cartoon villain.
"I've been wanting to do that ever since the last Guild Conference,"
Makarov muttered as he casually lowered his outstretched arm.
He didn't spare Germain a single glance.
When it came to protecting his children, Makarov never held back.
"OHHHHH!!! THAT'S OUR MASTER!!"
"Unforgivable! The old man beat me to it! I was going to fry that guy's eyebrows into dust!!"
"This is the power of the Master! A true MAN!"
The guild hall exploded with cheers and wild laughter. No one was shocked they all knew what Makarov was capable of.
But still, seeing it with their own eyes was always exhilarating.
"With just one punch... he took down the leader of an official guild and a whole squad of elite mages?!"
Lucy stared at the smoldering crater, completely stunned.
She had known Makarov was strong.
But this? This was insane.
"Love! Lucy, don't forget our Master is one of the Ten Wizard Saints~"
Happy flapped next to her, beaming with pride.
That's when the real weight of it hit Lucy.
If even Makarov was this powerful...
Then what kind of monster was Jose Porla, the Master of Phantom Lord who was also a Wizard Saint?
Only now did Lucy truly grasp what Erza meant last night:
"When the Wizard Saints go to war... the sky falls and the earth splits."
Even so...
Though concern twisted in her stomach, her face showed no fear.
She looked around at the blazing eyes of her friends, her family.
Everyone was here.
And as long as they were together...
Fairy Tail would never lose.
"Don't worry," Chase said with a calm smile, glancing at Natsu beside him.
"You'll get your turn to go wild soon enough."
Makarov let out a soft sigh.
His expression gradually shifted calmness replaced by a sharp, commanding seriousness.
He looked out at the entire guild and raised his voice so that none would miss his warning.
"Don't let your guard down. The real battle... starts now!"
The appearance of Saber Fang, used as Phantom's excuse to light the fuse, confirmed it beyond a doubt:
That little punk Jose Porla had fully committed to dragging Fairy Tail into an all-out war.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
Suddenly, a rhythmic rumbling echoed through the ground.
The trembling earth the pounding steps of something enormous confirmed Makarov's suspicions.
Fairy Tail's members turned their heads toward the sound.
And then... they saw it.
A flag.
The Phantom Lord banner flapped violently in the wind, just visible through the mist rising from the lake behind the guild.
Looming in the fog, a massive moving fortress slowly emerged each step sending shockwaves across the water.
Six enormous mechanical legs stomped across the lake, throwing up massive waves that crashed against the shore, shaking the ground.
The already fragile guild building shuddered from the shock and began crumbling again, small pieces breaking off with loud cracks.
Makarov didn't hesitate.
"Move out!" he barked.
Led by their Master, everyone rushed toward the lakefront.
"That's their mobile headquarters..."
Mira stared across the misty waters, her voice tense.
**"That's Phantom Lord's moving fortress the Six-Legged Walker."
It was like something out of a nightmare.
A colossal fortress atop six mechanical limbs, standing tall on a small island in the center of the lake.
At that moment, a window in the center of the fortress creaked open.
The sound of grinding gears echoed through the mist, and from the opening, a giant cannon barrel slowly extended.
Dark energy pulsed at its center.
Black and purple magical energy spun into a violent vortex at the mouth of the weapon, drawing in more power with every second.
In Phantom's command chamber
Jose Porla sat on his throne-like chair, arms crossed, his expression cold and impassive.
"Let this serve as our greeting to those damned goblins."
He didn't even blink.
"Magic Cluster Cannon Jupiter. Fire."
"JOSE, YOU BASTARD!"
Makarov's eyes widened.
He saw exactly what was coming and he knew the scope of destruction it would bring.
"You want to destroy all of Magnolia?!"
Golden light flared at Makarov's fingertips. He was already preparing a powerful spell, ready to intercept the blast at all costs.
But
"Master! Let me handle it!"
Erza stepped forward and raised her hand to stop him.
She wasn't challenging him. She wasn't underestimating the threat.
She just knew... in a war like this, every drop of Makarov's magic power needed to be preserved.
This wasn't just about blocking a cannon.
This was the start of something far greater.
And she was ready to take the first hit.
....
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