Chapter 48: Phantom'sReckoning
"BOOM!"
Cracks spider-webbed across the ground, spreading outward like shattered glass.
"W-Whoa! An earthquake?! This is insane!"
Down in Fairy Tail's basement, everyone stumbled as the floor bucked beneath them.
President Makarov's eyes went wide. "Oh no! That brat Dino's back! Someone calm him down before he brings the whole town down on our heads!"
The violent tremors made standing nearly impossible. Guild members crashed into each other, tumbling across the shaking floor.
"Dino, stop! Stop! Everyone's safe!"
A figure shot through the air from behind, wrapping her arms around Dino's shoulders and shouting directly into his ear.
Hearing that familiar voice, Dino's rage cooled slightly. The trembling earth gradually settled.
"Mira-san!" Lucy gasped when she recognized the white-haired woman clinging to Dino.
Natsu and Gray spoke in unison: "Mira! What the hell happened here?!"
"Phantom Lord attacked. Come on—everyone's downstairs!"
Mirajane quickly guided Dino down to the basement level, where the entire guild had gathered—everyone except those away on missions.
"That earthquake means Dino's back!"
"Natsu, Gray, and Lucy too!"
"Did you see what they did to our guild?!"
"That bastard Jose from Phantom actually had the guts to attack us! I'm gonna tear their guild apart!"
The moment Dino appeared, the guild's energy shifted. Their strongest had returned.
Makarov sat perched on a massive wine barrel as usual, cheeks flushed, casually sipping from his mug. When Dino and the others approached, he raised one hand lazily. "Yo! Welcome back!"
"Old man, is now really the time to be drinking?!" Natsu shouted.
"Oh right! You took an S-Class quest without permission. Punishment time!" Makarov bonked Natsu and Happy on their heads with his staff, then—inexplicably—whacked Lucy's rear.
"President! Do you understand the situation we're in?!"
"The guild's been destroyed!"
Makarov waved dismissively. "Relax! It's no big deal. That pompous fool Jose only pulled this off because nobody was around. What's there to be proud of? Sneaking around like a coward when we weren't here to fight back?"
"There's no point getting angry at opponents who can only attack from the shadows. Just ignore them."
He jabbed a finger at Dino. "On the other hand, YOU almost killed everyone down here just now with those tremors! If I'm gonna die, I'd rather it be against an enemy, not from my own guild member throwing a tantrum!"
Then he smacked Lucy again.
"Why do you keep hitting ME?!" Lucy yelped, rubbing her backside.
"We can't just let this slide!" Natsu roared, flames flickering around his fists. "I'm gonna pound those Phantom bastards into the dirt!!"
"The matter's closed. We'll work from here until the repairs are finished upstairs."
"How can anyone work at a time like this?!"
Makarov's voice boomed. "Natsu, ENOUGH!"
Then he smacked Lucy again.
Lucy clutched her head in exasperation. "SERIOUSLY, WHY ME?!"
"President, you're gonna make me angry too," Mirajane said, a dangerous edge creeping into her sweet tone.
"Dino, say something!" Natsu turned to their strongest member desperately.
Dino smiled, though his eyes remained cold. "Well… no point getting worked up. I'm just glad everyone's safe." He stretched his arms overhead with exaggerated casualness. "I'm exhausted from the trip back anyway. Think I'll head home and sleep."
He turned and headed up the stairs, footsteps echoing as he left the basement.
"President! Dino's actually furious! Is this gonna be okay?" Mirajane's voice carried genuine worry. Having grown up together, she could read him better than anyone.
Lucy blinked in confusion. "He's angry? But he was smiling…"
"That's how you know it's serious," Mirajane explained quietly. "When Dino's truly angry, he gets quieter, calmer… but when he finally acts, it's earth-shattering. The worst thing he ever did was destroy half the Magic Council's headquarters."
"Wait—" Makarov interrupted. "The worst was when he annihilated thirteen Dark Guilds in a single night. Wiped them off the map without a trace."
"THIRTEEN DARK GUILDS IN ONE NIGHT?!" The entire basement erupted in shocked voices.
"I've never heard about that!"
Makarov grinned lazily. "Of course not. That incident was too explosive—the Council buried it. Only rumors survived." His expression darkened slightly. "Jose's gotten too arrogant lately. Destroying my guild? Time that fool learned a lesson."
"President, you think Dino's going to attack Phantom Lord?"
"Not 'might.' He definitely will. That boy's never been one to take a beating lying down."
"But President! Aren't regular guilds forbidden from attacking each other?"
Makarov's eye twitched. "I ALSO told you brats not to cause trouble! When have any of you ever listened?!" He huffed. "Why do you think I've been waiting for you to get back? Phantom's at full strength right now. Our only S-Class mage who could fight them…" He glanced at Mirajane apologetically. "Well, no offense, Mira."
He stood atop the barrel, raising his mug high. "Listen up, you brats! If those Phantom cowards back off, fine! But if they dare attack us again—WE CRUSH THEM!!"
"YEAHHHHH!!" The guild roared back to life, fists pumping.
Dino stood before Phantom Lord's guildhall, staring up at its imposing structure.
Just as Makarov predicted—as the wielder of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit's power, there was no way in hell Dino would let this insult slide.
"CRASH!"
The guild's massive doors exploded inward, wood and metal scattering across the floor.
"Who the hell—?!" Several Phantom members scattered throughout the hall jumped to their feet.
Dino walked through the settling dust, scanning the room with cold eyes.
"Where's your Master? Tell Jose to get out here."