Magnolia, in the basement of the Fairy Tail guild hall.
The once boisterous guild hall, usually filled with laughter and cheer, was no longer usable.
Everyone had moved into the spacious basement originally used for storage.
Under the dim yellow light, Guild Master Makarov's small frame appeared somewhat stooped.
There wasn't a trace of anger on his face; instead, he had drunk himself into a stupor.
He looked down at the members—some sitting, some standing, their faces etched with anger and indignation.
In a deep voice, he spoke. "I know you're all bottling up your rage, wanting to settle the score with those bastards from Phantom Lord right now! The guild is our home. Our home has been trashed. Who wouldn't feel heartbroken? Who wouldn't be furious?"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Natsu's clenched fists, the grim faces of the members, Lisanna's tightly pressed lips, and the fire burning in everyone's eyes.
"But impulsiveness won't solve anything! Phantom Lord's attack was a sneak attack—an act of destruction—but they didn't cause any deaths. This is a blessing in disguise!"
"If we were to launch a full-scale assault on them now, it would escalate into a guild war, and those old fossils at the Council would absolutely not stand by and watch! When that happens, we could face fines, a suspension of operations, or even forced disbandment!"
"So we're just supposed to let it go?!" someone couldn't help but roar, sparks flying from their eyes.
"Of course not!" Makarov's voice suddenly rose, filled with unquestionable authority. "The score will be settled! But not now, and not in this foolish way!"
He took a deep breath and softened his tone. "The most important thing right now is to repair our home! And to stabilize the guild's operations! Only when we are strong and have found our footing can we make our enemies pay the true price!"
"Listen up, all of you! Starting today, everyone is to prioritize quests that will help repair the guild and earn funds for reconstruction! Those without missions will stay here and help with the work! Repairing our guild as soon as possible is the best counterattack against Phantom Lord!"
A wave of resentful murmurs spread through the crowd, but the Master's long-established authority, coupled with the sound logic of his words, was effective.
Although frustrated, they slowly suppressed their immediate urge for revenge and began to discuss repair plans and work assignments in low voices.
Ace stood in the shadows at the back of the crowd, quietly observing the scene.
He knew the Master's concerns were valid.
The framework of a legal guild was sometimes a protection, but at other times, a restraint.
From the Guild Master's perspective, if he truly pushed Jose Porla to the brink, he had no guarantee of a decisive victory.
Besides, if the two guilds went to war, who could guarantee there would be no casualties?
He stepped forward, walked to the Master's side, and spoke in a low voice, "Master, a word in private."
Makarov glanced at him and the two walked to a quieter corner deeper in the cellar.
"Ace, my boy, what do you want to say?" The Master clasped his hands behind his back and looked up at Ace, his small eyes glinting with a complex light.
"Master, we can't just wait this out with Phantom Lord," Ace said directly, his voice calm but firm.
"This won't be their only attack, and Jose's ambition won't stop at a mere 'show of force'."
"Passive defense, waiting for the Council's inefficient 'mediation,' is not my style."
Makarov's brow furrowed. "You want to make a move?"
"Yes," Ace nodded. "The guild is my home, and its members are my family and now my family has been bullied and my home has been destroyed. I have no reason to stand by and do nothing."
The Master gave Ace a long, hard look and sighed. "Ace, you're not a hot-headed fool like Natsu. You should know that Jose is one of the Ten Wizard Saints. Although he's a despicable man, his strength is not to be underestimated."
"His magic power, his understanding of magic, and his combat experience are all far beyond that of an ordinary S-Class Mage. Although you've grown quickly and are very strong, to challenge a Wizard Saint head-on..."
The Master didn't finish, but his worry was palpable.
The Ten Wizard Saints were the ten most outstanding mages on the continent of Ishgar, as recognized by the Magic Council.
No matter Jose's faults, his title was a symbol of immense power.
"A Wizard Saint?" A cold arc formed on Ace's lips.
There was not a hint of fear in his eyes, but rather a sharp, eager glint.
"I've been wanting to find out for a long time just how 'saintly' these so-called 'Wizard Saints' really are."
Seeing the worry in the Master's eyes, he softened his tone, but it remained resolute.
"Master, rest assured, I'm not going to my death, nor am I going to take on Phantom Lord single-handedly. But I have my own ways to make them pay a price, to make them regret reaching out so easily. As for the Council..."
A trace of mockery flashed in Ace's eyes. "They probably haven't forgotten that over a year ago, a commander from one of the Council's special operations units self-righteously tried to 'investigate' me."
"As a result, my Digimon raided his home, and the assets we acquired were used to help countless civilians."
"That night, they were also 'entertained' by several 'hospitable' Bakemon all night long. They probably haven't completely forgotten the story of how they woke up mentally dazed and with their magic in disarray, scrambling back to where they came from, have they?"
Hearing this, Makarov paused for a moment, then recalled that such an incident had indeed occurred.
It hadn't caused a huge stir at the time, as the Council had suppressed it, but he knew the inside story.
Ace, using his "unreasonable" but extremely effective methods, had completely silenced certain ill-intentioned individuals within the Council.
Since then, the Council's attitude toward Ace and Fairy Tail had indeed become subtly more "polite."
"Forget it..." The Master finally let out a long sigh and waved his hand, as if shedding a heavy burden.
"You have your own ideas, your own power. This old man is getting old. Sometimes, I should let you young people go out there to venture and shoulder the burden. Do what you want to do. But, Ace, remember one thing—"
The Master's gaze became incredibly serious. "Protect yourself, and protect the children of this guild. No matter what you plan to do, this is your home, and we are your final retreat. If you need help, just ask."
"I understand, Master." Ace nodded solemnly. He turned, ready to leave and begin his planning.
Just then, a commotion and the sound of hurried footsteps came from the cellar entrance.
It was Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and Happy, returning from an urgent debris-clearing mission.
The moment Natsu entered and saw the oppressive atmosphere and the ruined state of the guild, he immediately blew his top.
"Damn it! I can't swallow this! Those bastards from Phantom Lord! I'm going to burn them all to the ground right now!" Natsu roared, his body erupting in flames as he tried to charge out, only to be held back by Lucy and Gray.
"Natsu! Calm down! The Master said we can't be reckless right now!" someone shouted.
"Let go of me! I'm going to get revenge!"
The scene descended into chaos.
Ace frowned, his figure flashing. He instantly appeared in front of Natsu.
Natsu only saw a blur before a fist, not heavy but as fast as lightning and incredibly precise, gently landed on his abdomen.
Thud!
Natsu's movements froze instantly.
The flames covering his body extinguished with a poof.
His eyes rolled back, and his mouth opened soundlessly before he went limp and collapsed, unconscious.
Ace had used just the right amount of force to help him "cool down."
"Carry him over there to rest," Ace gestured to Gray.
Gray's mouth twitched as he looked at the downed Natsu, but he and Happy dragged him away.
After teaching Natsu a lesson, Ace was about to discuss matters with Erza when he caught a glimpse of Makarov.
The Master had a stern face and was striding toward the still-shaken Lucy.
A small hand was already raised, its target seemingly Lucy's perky ass.
Ace understood instantly.
The Master was redirecting his anger and a portion of the blame onto Lucy.
He knew that one of the triggers for Phantom Lord's attack was likely Lucy's father issuing a request to bring her back.
Just as the Master's hand was about to land, Lucy flinched and shrank back, but she didn't dare to dodge.
Ace's figure moved again, inserting himself between the Master and Lucy like a phantom.
He gently raised his hand and caught the Master's wrist.
Makarov looked up and met Ace's calm eyes.
The anger and frustration in his heart felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over them.
It finally transformed into a long, weary, and helpless sigh.
He lowered his hand, shook his head without another word, and turned to walk heavily toward the corner.
"Master!" Lisanna cried out.
She had squeezed through the crowd and now stood in front of Lucy, glaring at Makarov with her big eyes, her cheeks puffed out slightly.
"How can you still be like this at a time like this! Besides, Lucy is scared enough already, and you're bullying her!"
Lucy shot Ace a grateful look, her eyes still filled with lingering fear.
'So the Master is this lecherous,' she thought. 'I'll have to be more careful in the future.'
However, one wave had not yet settled when another rose.
The cellar entrance was thrown open again.
Levy, her face pale and her eyes red, stumbled in, her voice distorted by extreme terror and rage.
"It's... it's bad! Jet and Droy... they... they..."
"Levy? What's wrong? Calm down and speak slowly!" Erza steadied the swaying Levy.
Levy took a few deep breaths, fighting back tears, and pointed shakily toward the outside.
"Jet and Droy... in... in South Gate Park... they've been... nailed to the biggest tree with iron spikes!"
"They're covered in blood! It was Phantom Lord's people! They even left a message on the tree... saying... saying this is a 'welcome gift' for Fairy Tail!"
"What?!"
The cellar instantly erupted!
The anger that had been barely suppressed by the Master and Ace exploded like dry tinder doused in oil.
"Jet! Droy!"
"Those scum from Phantom Lord!"
"Kill them!"
The crowd was in an uproar.
Even Natsu, who had just been woken up by Gray, leaped to his feet again.
This time, not even Gray and Erza could hold him back.
At that moment, Ace's eyes turned utterly cold.
He gently pushed Erza aside, walked to the center of the cellar, and swept his gaze over the enraged crowd, finally landing on the tear-streaked Levy.
An image surfaced in Ace's mind: Gajeel Redfox, the Iron Dragon Slayer.
'Very well! Since Phantom Lord has handed me the knife, there's no need to wait any longer!'
"Everyone, stand by. Continue repairing the guild and tend to the wounded." Ace's voice wasn't loud, but it cut through the noise with heart-stopping calmness.
"Erza, Gray, Natsu, the three of you go to South Gate Park immediately. Rescue Jet and Droy and take them to Porlyusica. Be on alert for an ambush, but don't get drawn into a fight. Rescuing them is the top priority."
"Ace, what about you...?" Erza asked.
"I'm going to 'return the gift'." Ace turned and walked toward the exit, his black cloak billowing.
"Phantom Lord sent such a generous 'gift'. Wouldn't it be rude of us not to go and 'thank' them personally?"
His figure disappeared at the top of the stairs, leaving behind a cellar full of mages and an atmosphere that had dropped to freezing point.
'Gajeel huh? I'll use you as the first trumpet blast to officially start this war.'
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