The colossal shadow of Jose's creature began to unfurl, a tide of spectral shades spilling forth from the Phantom Lord guild hall. These ethereal soldiers, born from pure magical malice, flew through the air with an unsettling, silent grace, their forms rippling like dark smoke.
A chilling detail about them was their ability to drain the life force of anyone they touched, and even more unsettling, they could reform themselves after being destroyed. Though initially possessing the strength of a common foot-soldier, Jose had the terrifying ability to remotely amplify their power, transforming them into super-soldiers—relentless, tireless, and seemingly unstoppable.
Cana, ever the pragmatic strategist despite her love for a drink, surveyed the grim situation, her brow furrowed.
"Alright, listen up! Jupiter's going to fire in fifteen minutes! We need to do something about it, and we need to do it now!"
Natsu, already itching for a fight, didn't wait to be told twice.
"Leave it to me! Happy, let's go!" he bellowed, already dashing off, the blue Exceed scrambling to keep up.
Gray, always competitive with Natsu, grumbled,
"Tch, don't hog all the fun, Natsu!" and quickly followed alongside Elfman.
Cana, already drawing cards, called out,
"Gray, Elfman, you two back up Natsu! Loke and I will strengthen our defense here!"
Just as Natsu was about to charge the main group of Shades, Yume stepped smoothly into his path, blocking him with an outstretched arm. His expression was calm, almost detached, cutting through the chaos.
"Hold it, Natsu. Gray, don't move."
Natsu, never one for patience, bristled.
"Huh? What's the big idea, Yume? There's a fight going on! And Jupiter's about to fire!"
Yume's gaze was steady, unimpressed by Natsu's impatience.
"These creatures are best dealt with from a distance. If they touch you, they drain your energy and regenerate. You, Natsu, can play both close and distance, and you have the raw firepower to deal with them effectively.
Gray, however, is more of a close-quarters fighter, and while his ice can range, it will only drain him faster and make him vulnerable. Understand?"
Natsu and Gray, surprisingly, caught the serious, almost cold tone in Yume's voice. They exchanged a quick, understanding glance.
"Alright, got it!" Gray conceded, then turned to Happy.
"Happy! Get me to Jupiter's core! I'll stop it!"
With Happy's help, Gray took flight towards the massive cannon.
Cana and Loke began weaving their defensive spells, the air crackling with their magic. The others formed a desperate line of defense, determined to protect their guild hall. Dust motes danced in the strained light filtering through the grimy windows, revealing fresh cracks webbing across the stone walls.
Meanwhile, Mirajane, ever the protective older sister, tried to guide Lucy to a hideout.
"Lucy, you need to get to safety!"
Lucy, though, shook her head, her eyes burning with resolve.
"No way, Mira! I'm a Fairy Tail wizard! I'm fighting too!"
A gentle, sorrowful look crossed Mirajane's face before she cast a swift sleeping spell.
"Forgive me, Lucy," she murmured, catching the falling Celestial Mage.
"Reedus, take her somewhere safe, now!"
With Lucy out of sight, Mirajane's form shimmered, transforming into a perfect replica of Lucy. Her expression hardened, a steely resolve replacing her usual gentle demeanor.
I will protect them, no matter the cost. Even if it means fighting in her stead.
***
Gray reached the colossal Jupiter cannon, its immense, dark form looming. He landed on its exterior, hammering a fist against the metal.
"Damn it!" he grunted, grimacing. "It doesn't even budge an inch!"
"Maybe we have to break it from the inside!" Happy suggested, hovering next to him, his small face serious.
Gray nodded, seeing the logic. The cannon's massive barrel, still smoking faintly from its last blast, offered a potential entry point.
"Good idea, Happy! Let's go!"
Together, they squeezed through the scorched opening of the cannon, navigating a cramped, metallic tunnel that hummed with residual magic. They finally emerged into a vast, dimly lit chamber at the cannon's heart.
The Unending Tide
The ground shuddered with the relentless surge of Shades, dark specters reforming faster than Fairy Tail could destroy them. Sweat and determination mingled on every face. The guild's foundation groaned under the assault—not just magical, but emotional, straining against despair.
Erza's sword gleamed as she pivoted to parry a Shade lunging for Cana. "Push them back!" she cried. "Every line holds. We are the only shield Magnolia has!"
Cana nodded to herself, feeling her own spirit reignite, gritting her teeth, flung Magic Cards like razor-sharp projectiles, a rare grimness on her face. Alzack and Bisca, true to their Gun Magic, rained down a torrent of bullets.
But a Shade, faster than expected, slipped through and touched Wakaba Mine. He gasped, clutching his arm, his face paling as he felt his very essence draining away.
"Ugh… my energy! It's draining!"
"You idiots! You heard what I told Natsu!" Yume's voice, sharper now, cut through the din, devoid of any discernible emotion beyond urgency.
In both hands, two sleek AK47s, conjured from Pandora, materialized, spitting a rapid-fire barrage of dark energy bullets.
Beside him, Natsu, already in his element, unleashed a blazing Fire Dragon Fist, incinerating several Shades in a burst of flames.
Loke, sensing the dark magic, warned everyone,
"These things are cursed! Don't let them touch you!"
He swept his hand, his Ring Magic eliminating a cluster of Shades in a flash of light.
From the towering Phantom Lord guild, Jose's cold, triumphant voice echoed across the square, magnified to a terrifying degree.
"Indeed! My Shades are cursed! A single touch will sap away your very life force! Watch them fall!"
Alzack and Bisca, hearing the confirmation, exchanged a grim nod.
"Alright, so we just don't get touched!" Bisca muttered, requipping two high-powered rifles. Alzack charged his gun, then unleashed a blinding "Sunlight Shot" that blew away a large number of Shades. Bisca followed, her two rifles firing simultaneously, shredding through countless others.
Many Shades were momentarily dispersed, but the horrifying reality soon settled in: each one reformed, coalescing from the shadows as if they'd never been hit.
A cold dread began to seep into the guild's collective consciousness. Fairy Tail realized with a sickening lurch that there would probably be no end to this, their magic draining with every futile attack. The sheer futility was crushing their morale.
Amidst the chaos, Loke felt a sudden, ice-cold premonition, a distinct magical signature flaring, his gaze snapping towards Reedus and Lucy's last known location.
No... not her. Not now.
Max Alors nearly got touched by a Shade, its chilling aura brushing his arm, only to be saved by a timely burst of Natsu's fire.
"Whoa! Thanks, Natsu!" he gasped, sweat beading on his brow, looking utterly exhausted.
Natsu, already re-engaging, just grunted,
"Pull yourself together, Max! Protect the guild, no matter what!"
Erza's voice, ringing with steely conviction, rose above the clamor once more.
"Phantom Lord knows nothing of the sadness of losing comrades, or the chagrin for the destruction of their guild!
They are machines! But we... we are Fairy Tail! We have bonds! We will not let them defeat us!"
Natsu's fists burned fiercely as he fought through the swarm of enemies, sweat gleaming on his brow. But each massive blaze he unleashed, though effective, drained his magic ever faster. He could feel it, the familiar magical well starting to run shallow, a frustrating ache in his core. Suddenly, Yume's calm voice, almost annoyingly collected amidst the chaos, cut through the din.
"You're wasting too much energy. There's no need to kill a fly with a cannon."
A big question mark popped over Natsu's head as he fought for breath.
"Huh? Kill a fly with a cannon…?"
Yume sighed, a faint flicker of exasperation in his eyes, but his movements remained fluid and precise. He raised his hand, molding Pandora Orbs in the air, his fingers forming the shape of a gun.
"Copy me. Change the AK47 back into Pandora Orbs."
He gestured smoothly, firing rapid bursts of dark magic bullets with both hands—twin gunswords mimicked by his fingers—each shot precise and fast, tearing through their enemies one by one. The dark bullets left faint, shimmering trails in their wake.
"See? Instead of wasting all your firepower in one shot, break it up.
"Copy me. Sub in your fire magic instead of darkness. Make your flames into bullets—fast, controlled, and sharp."
Natsu's eyes narrowed, a familiar spark of competitiveness igniting. Being lectured in a fight? Who does he think he is? Frustration flickered across his face—he wasn't used to this kind of precision, preferring brute force. Just punch 'em harder, right? But as Yume repeated the motions, firing rapid twin volleys with effortless grace, a grudging curiosity ignited within Natsu. Okay, maybe there's something to it. Gotta try everything if it means winning.
Natsu's initial attempts at mimicking Yume's dual-wield style were clumsy and unsteady. His fists flickered with uneven flames, and the orbs he conjured sputtered, lacking the steady burn Yume's dark bullets possessed. He launched a few tentative blasts—one fiery orb, then two, weak and scattered.
"Hah… this is tougher than it looks," Natsu huffed between breaths, sweat sliding down his temple. His eyes narrowed in fierce concentration as he forced himself to steady his breath and focus.
No way I'm letting that guy show me up! I'm the one who's gonna be Hokage… I mean, the strongest!
Gradually, the flames in his hands steadied and brightened, the orbs growing more defined, pulsing with raw heat. Then, with a determined grin breaking through his frustration, Natsu clenched his fists hard.
"Heh! Watch me, Yume—no way I'm letting you look cooler than me!"
He formed a small, intense orb of fire in one hand and blasted it forward with a confident yell:
"Fire Dragon Bullet!"
The fierce orb zipped through the air, slicing cleanly through an opponent's defense. Natsu's smile widened, heart pounding with renewed energy.
"Like that?" he gasped, shaking off the lingering doubt.
Yume gave an approving nod, steady as the surrounding battle roared.
"Good. Now... try this."
Yume raised both hands confidently, his fingers extending as if gripping twin guns. Around him, glowing dark spheres—the manifestations of his Pandora Magic—whirled into place like enchanted ammunition.
With precise, fluid motions, he mimicked pulling triggers, firing rapid successive shots of dark energy. Each shot hissed sharply through the air, tiny bursts of shadowy force lancing out and striking their targets with pinpoint accuracy.
The hollow clicks of his invisible guns echoed rhythmically as the magic bullets tore through enemies, moving faster than a conventional blast, each one carefully aimed rather than wasted in a wide explosion.
His voice was steady, cutting through the chaos:
"Watch closely, Natsu. This is how you conserve power and strike relentlessly."
The rapid-fire volley continued—both hands seeming to dance as he fired pairs of magic bullets, twin streams of destruction spreading shock among their foes.
Mimicking Yume's dual-wield stance, Natsu's competitive spirit and fiery determination ignited. His eyes sharpened, a confident grin formed, and with a sudden burst of focused energy, he summoned multiple fiery orbs, adopting the twin-gun stance with unbridled enthusiasm.
He shouted his new attack's name—"Fire Dragon Bullet Barrage!"—unleashing a steady storm of rapid-fire fireballs that combined his raw power with newfound control.
With rapid punches and gunlike motions, he sent a storm of rapid-fire fireballs blazing forward, overwhelming their foes with a relentless onslaught.
Natsu laughed, eyes shining bright above his burning fists.
"This is awesome! Yume, you gotta teach me more moves like this!"
Yume allowed himself a brief, almost imperceptible smile, the storm around them momentarily forgotten in this burst of fiery camaraderie.
Natsu, now fully embracing his new ranged style, swept twin blazing hands through the air, peppering Shades with rapid-fire orbs of flame. He spun, covering Macao as another Shade nearly snagged the veteran's leg. Macao panted, "Thanks, Natsu!" and launched a volley in return.
Next to Natsu, Yume's dark bullets carved silent lanes through the horde. "Keep them at range, don't let them touch you!" he reminded, voice steady, AK47s blazing magical fire in smooth, economic bursts.
Yume (firing alongside Natsu, nodding approvingly):
"Now that's how you control your flame, Natsu. Precision beats pure blast power any day."
Erza (catching sight of Natsu's new barrage from across the field, eyes narrowing with respect and encouragement):
"Impressive. You've adapted well. Keep that up and this fight will turn around."
Cana (duking it out nearby, chuckling as she watches the spectacle):
"Heh, Natsu's got himself a new trick! That's more like it—don't burn out before the fight's done, hothead."
Elfman (blocking an attack but turning his gaze toward Natsu, fists pounding the air in approval):
"Hell yeah! Show them what Fire Dragon magic really looks like—efficient and fierce! That's Manly!"
Levy (casting a rune mid-battle but pausing to smile warmly):
"That's the Natsu we know—fiery spirit and quick learner. Yume's teaching really paying off!"
Macao (grinning while launching flame shots of his own):
"Looks like Yume's got a good influence on you, Natsu. Keep it steady, don't burn yourself out now."
Levy's runes pulsed along the guild's front wall, glowing with layered enchantments, briefly slowing the advance of the spectral warriors. Elfman, brute force contained within disciplined lines, smashed a Shade that reformed instantly—until Loke's Ring Magic sizzled through, dispelling it once more.
Behind the lines, Cana wove defensive barriers of cards, weaving between offense and protection. She glanced to Loke, who grimaced, sweat dotting his brow. "You feel it too, don't you?" she whispered. Loke nodded—something bad was brewing near Lucy.
Loke's ominous premonition intensified, a cold dread washing over him. He felt it—a distinct magical signature flaring, a connection to the Celestial Spirit world, a threat directly linked to Lucy. He quickly broke away from the defensive line, He sprinted toward the rear "Reedus! Keep Lucy safe! Something's coming for her!" a gnawing certainty in his gut telling him something was terribly wrong.
Meanwhile, disguised as Lucy, Mirajane pressed her back to the guild's inner wall, eyes flashing with fierce determination. She channeled Lucy's whip with surprising effectiveness, striking any Shade that slipped past the frontline. "I'll protect them," she whispered, channeling magic and raw will together.
***
In the chamber of Jupiter, Gray stood before the monstrous, glowing Lacrima pulsing with raw, destructive power, easily twenty feet tall.
"That's it!" Happy gasped, eyes wide.
"That's probably what gathers all the Magic Power! It's how Jupiter works!"
Gray stared at the colossal crystal.
"I don't really get how it works, but... all I have to do is break it, right?" He cracked his knuckles, a determined glint in his eye.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows: Totomaru, the Fire Mage of the Element 4, an arrogant smirk playing on his lips.
"Well, well, well," he drawled, casually flicking a tiny flame in his palm.
"So, Fairy Tail's got an ice mage. Guess I should turn up the heat, huh?" He claimed, with a theatrical flourish, that he could control every kind of flame.
Gray strode in, teeth gritted, eyes fierce. He hated mages who relied on gimmicks.
"You talk big for a guy who hides behind cheap tricks."
Totomaru's smile stretched wider.
"Let's see how your ice handles real fire, pretty boy."
He snapped his wrist; a whip of flame lashed out hard, searing the air. Gray dodged, rolling behind a broken pillar, then thrust both palms forward.
"Ice Make: Shield!"
Jets of fire slammed the barrier, dissolving into hissing steam. Totomaru grinned, waggling a finger.
"Not bad, but… try this on for size!"
He dropped into a stance, hands dancing with symbols—his fire split and arced, forming clawed hands that fanned out, snapping and twisting. With a snap, one twisted the flames around, threatening to blindside Gray.
Gray narrowed his eyes.
He's not just a fire wizard, he's a fire manipulator. This is going to be annoying.
"You can control fire? Tch, guess I'll have to work for it."
He ducked and rolled, ice forming spike traps at his heels, slowing Totomaru's fiery constructs. The hall crackled with shifting shadows and haze.
Totomaru laughed, a high-pitched, annoying sound.
"I expected more. Let's turn up the tempo—Totem Fire Waltz!"
Scorching lashes swept toward Gray from multiple angles, one melting dangerously close to his shoulder.
Gray let out a breath, focusing.
He's trying to overwhelm me. Gotta find an opening.
"I'm not done yet! Ice-Make: Geyser!"
A pillar of ice erupted beneath Totomaru, forcing him airborne and momentarily disrupting his fire. The air grew thick with mist as Gray advanced, weaving a flurry of ice daggers, each shot aiming to restrict Totomaru's movement.
Totomaru twisted midair, slashing the daggers apart with fire.
"You're stubborn, but you're on my turf!" He focused, his magic sweeping the room—fire circled, then suddenly changed color as Totomaru grinned wickedly.
"Color Fire: Vanish!"
The flames danced around Gray's spells, swallowing and dispersing them as if they were never there.
Gray's eyes hardened.
He's not just strong, he can nullify my attacks too. This isn't about brute force then. I need to hit him directly.
"So you can erase my attacks, too… but you can't erase me!"
He gritted his teeth, then abandoned defense, sprinting straight at Totomaru.
Totomaru sneered, launching a massive wave of colored fire.
"Burn away, icicle!"
Before the flames reached him, Gray dropped to his knees and slapped his palm to the ground.
"Ice-Make: Floor!"
The ground beneath Totomaru froze in an instant—a sheet of slick, shimmering ice spreading rapidly. Fire licked over it, sputtering as it lost its fuel and the cold gnawed at its essence. Totomaru stumbled, his magic faltering as his footing failed.
Gray didn't wait.
"Ice-Make: Prison!"
Thick bars of ice shot upward, locking around Totomaru. He fought, flames snaking through gaps—but Gray smirked, breath fogging in the chill.
"You talk too much," Gray said, his voice low and cutting.
"This is Fairy Tail's payback."
With one final burst, he froze the prison solid, trapping Totomaru's fire and leaving him shivering inside.
Totomaru's cocky grin faded as he tried to summon more flame, only to find Gray's cold gnawing at his fingers, utterly nullifying his power.
Totomaru, trapped and shivering within the ice, his usual bravado gone, tried to summon one last surge of power.
"You really think you've won? I've still got one last—!"
Gray (cutting him off, his face grimly determined):
"Sorry. Show's over."
He slammed his fist onto the ground, channeling every ounce of his remaining magic.
"Ice Make: Glacier Crush!"
Cracks of ice erupted from the floor and encased Totomaru instantly, then exploded outward—blasting him across the battlefield and burying him in rubble. The ground trembled from the impact.
The Lacrima, now vulnerable, shattered under Gray's next attack, rendering the massive Jupiter cannon utterly unusable.
A cheer, weak at first but rapidly growing, erupted from the battle below. Gray's hard-won victory sent a visible surge of inspiration through the Fairy Tail members; shouts of "Gray!" echoed across the square, and a renewed fire ignited in their eyes as they reinforced their counterattack with increased vigor.
***
The ground shook violently, not just a tremor, but a deep, grinding roar emanating from the Phantom Lord guild hall. Metal screamed, twisting and groaning, the sound of stressed foundations echoing through the air.
Towers folded into shoulders, walkways compressed into limbs—the entire structure shuddered, transforming into a mechanical titan.
Dust rained down, thick and acrid, as the colossal Phantom Guild roared to life, a monstrous robot rising from its foundations, casting an impossible, terrifying shadow over Magnolia. The air filled with the smell of ozone and superheated metal.
Jose's voice echoed magically, cold and cruel, amplified across the battlefield, dripping with malevolent glee:
"Beg for mercy, children of Makarov. Or be stepped on like the insects you are."
Elfman:
"Holy crap… the guild's a robot now?! That's… that's so manly! And terrifying!"
Erza's armor clattered as she stepped forward, radiating defiance. Around her, guildmates exchanged wide-eyed glances, fear momentarily replacing their defiance. Some looked truly broken, on the verge of giving up. But Erza would not.
"We won't bow," she declared fiercely, her voice cutting through the stunned silence, a beacon of iron will. "We are Fairy Tail! We stand together! We do not yield. We endure!If you want Fairy Tail, you'll have to go through me!"
Erza's hand tightened on her sword hilt, her jaw set. Around her, guildmates exchanged wide-eyed glances, defiance replacing their fear .
Gray looked out at the transformed battlefield, chest heaving from his recent fight, but his eyes were sharp and determined. He might have just finished a tough fight, but he wouldn't let his guildmates falter now.
"Don't let the size scare you," he shouted, his voice hoarse but clear, a testament to his own pain.
"It's just more metal to melt—or freeze."
Then, he drew a deep breath and roared, his voice carrying surprising strength despite his exhaustion:
"FAIRY TAIL! Let's put that thing back in the ground!"
His rallying cry, a testament to his own hard-won victory, sliced through the fear.
Tired spirits revived, and other mages, catching his gaze, felt a surge of renewed purpose, rallying behind him with determined shouts of their own. The tide of battle, perhaps, was about to turn.
Natsu unleashed a broad wall of flame, Yume's bullets grew even faster, Bisca and Alzack fell into perfect tandem, and Cana's cards flashed, forming a mosaic shield.
Hope kindled as enemy lines, for the first time, faltered. Several Shades burst into nothingness, slower to reform than before, a sign that with enough coordination and relentless attack, even the inexhaustible could be resisted.
Erza caught Jose's mechanical eye glinting above. She raised her sword and pointed skyward. "You underestimate us, Jose. Fairy Tail's heart cannot be broken!"
Yume glanced toward Gray, who was surrounded by the shattered remnants of his last fight, still catching his breath. His expression, as always, was calm and unreadable, unperturbed by the colossal transformation.
"Gray," Yume said firmly,
"you've done your job here. Now, it's time we move inside and end this. We destroy Phantom Lord from its core." He already seemed to be calculating their path.
Erza, standing tall nearby, tightened her grip on her sword and nodded resolutely.
"I'm with you. We won't let them regroup. We'll dismantle them piece by piece, from the inside."
Natsu cracked his knuckles, flames flickering at his fingertips, a fiery grin spreading across his face despite the overwhelming sight.
"Heh, let's go take these guys down for good! No more holding back! They asked for this!"
Elfman stepped forward, muscles tensed and ready.
"Count me in. Time to protect my guild—no matter what it takes! This is what it means to be a man!"
"Let's go!" Yume urged, his voice resonating with cool determination.
Without hesitation, Yume, Erza, Natsu, and Elfman stepped forward, their gazes locked on the colossal mech.
Natsu grinned, fire swirling in his fist. "Let's take this fight inside! Time to smash this oversized tin can!"
As the leaders of Fairy Tail surged toward the mechanical behemoth, their guild behind them, the tide of the impossible battle at last seemed ready to turn.
End of chapter.