"Ughhhh!!"
"Ughhhhhhh!!"
Buckle roared, dispersing Natsu's flames with a sweep of his arm, then unleashed a shockwave that rocked the battlefield.
Cardia Cathedral
At the center of Magnolia, Freed's barrier covered the town. His eyes widened in disbelief.
"Impossible… it's been breached?!"
"What?!" Evergreen gasped. "Freed, that's not possible!"
Even Bickslow froze—nobody knew Freed's enchantments better than them. They were absolute.
Fairy Tail Guild
Warren's radar crystal flickered wildly. "A hole… no, an actual gap has opened in the barrier!"
Mavis' expression hardened. "Then Alvarez has brought someone who can erase magic itself…"
On the streets, Wall the Inquisitor strolled into Magnolia, soldiers following at his back.
"Heh… barriers like this are child's play."
"Lord Wall is unstoppable!" his men cheered.
Makarov's jaw clenched. "To think even among the Twelve Shields, they have one who specializes in breaking through…"
Mavis raised her voice. "They're entering the town! Prepare for battle!"
But a new voice cut through her command.
"No need to trouble everyone. If they're already here in Magnolia…"
Laxus stepped forward, lightning flickering across his shoulders.
"…then leave them to me."
"Laxus!!"
Every guild member straightened. Beside Su Yan and Gildarts, Laxus was their pillar. Years of relentless training had honed him into one of Fairy Tail's strongest. Now, his eyes burned with confidence.
Mavis nodded. "Then I'll entrust Wall to you."
Above Magnolia – Ajeel's Flagship
Mira smirked, fins sprouting from her ears. "If you need water… I'll drown you in it. Black Water Magic: Huiga!"
A torrent of cursed water poured forth, saturating Ajeel's sand. His control faltered as the grains clumped into dead weight. The bindings around Erza collapsed.
"What?!" Ajeel's eyes widened.
"Good job!" Erza cried, armor shifting. "Requip: Sea King's Sword!"
The watery blade sliced across Ajeel's chest, leaving a deep wound.
"Arghhh!!"
Erza pressed the attack, blades flashing, while Ajeel scrambled to evade.
"This… impossible! My sand devours all… what blade can cut me?!"
He stared in horror at the water-forged sword.
"The Sea King's Sword…?! Water solidifies sand…"
"Exactly." Erza's voice was steel as she slashed again.
Ajeel leapt back—straight into Mira's fist.
"Hardening spell!" Mira snarled, her knuckles shining like diamond.
"GAAHH!!" Ajeel's palm cracked under the blow.
"You—damn you both!!" Rage twisted his features. "Two mere women dare humiliate me?!"
He spread his arms wide. "Sandstorm: World of Sand!!"
Winds howled. Grains roared.
In an instant, not just the flagship but every Alvarez cruiser, and even all of Magnolia, was swallowed by a howling sandstorm.
"Wh—what is this?!" townsfolk cried.
Natsu staggered mid-battle. "Tch—damn sand's everywhere!"
Bakr, captain of Ajeel's forces, laughed madly from the ground.
"Hahaha!! Lord Ajeel has unleashed his Sand World! Now the battle is ours!!"
"The… World of Sand?!"