So… you all came crawling back in disgrace.
In a dark chamber, at the end of a long red carpet, a man lounged upon a stone seat. Draped in a jagged purple mantle, striped trousers, his sharp and shrill voice echoed as he rested his head upon one hand, gazing down upon the four before him.
The Ghost Element Four — Totomaru of Fire, Juvia of Water, Aria of the Great Sky, and the Iron Dragon Gajeel.
The shadows cloaked his face, shrouding him in a terrifying, mysterious aura.
"Master," spoke a tall man clad in oversized clothes and a gentleman's hat, a ribbon tied at his throat, his eyes hidden beneath a blindfold. "Things went beyond expectations. The Fire Dragon has already reached the level of the Ten Wizard Saints… and Makarov himself also appeared."
This was Aria of the Four Elements, who had witnessed the battle in secret. He had seen with his own eyes how Gajeel was utterly beaten down by Natsu without a shred of resistance.
The oppressive force the Fire Dragon released that night rivaled the Ten Saints themselves. In fact… some of the Saints might not even match the level Natsu displayed in that moment — including Joseph himself.
But of course, Aria didn't dare voice that, lest he wound his master's fragile pride.
"The Ten Saints? Are you certain?"
The shadows peeled away to reveal Joseph's brooding face, his beard curling like an incomplete square around his mouth, topped with a pointed cap that gave him an air both sinister and ridiculous.
His eyes locked on Aria. Had anyone else said such a thing, Joseph would have dismissed them as insane — then silenced them with his Dark Erosion spell as punishment. But this was Aria.
"Yes," Aria replied calmly. "I don't know how he suddenly achieved that level, but he did. Even if I had intervened at the time, I would not have been his match."
Joseph's face tightened in shock, a shadow of unease flickering there. If this were true, then Fairy Tail now had four Wizard Saints in its ranks:
Makarov, their guild master.
Pai Pai, the forgotten relic of another age.
Gildarts, whose strength to take on a hundred-year quests was without question Saint-class.
And now… Natsu.
(Though in reality, Fairy Tail also counted Warrod Sequen — one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Ishgar — among its allies. Joseph, however, did not know of this, and so it went unspoken.)
Beyond them, Fairy Tail's younger generation shone as well. Erza, Laxus, Mystogan, Mirajane — each already standing near the threshold of Saint-level themselves.
Even further down the line stood Gray, Elfman, Cana, Loki, Freed, and many others, brimming with potential.
United, this force alone was enough to rival the might of Fiore itself. And if bolstered further — say, by the immense wealth of the Heartfilia family — their power would swell to unprecedented heights. Even the Magic Council would be forced to recognize them as a threat.
By comparison, Phantom Lord could boast only one Wizard Saint: Joseph. The Four Elements and Gajeel might be touted as S-Class level, but aside from Aria, the rest fell short compared to Fairy Tail's elite. Beneath them, their roster had no one of true note.
From any angle, Phantom Lord had no true capital to rival Fairy Tail, surviving only by reputation as Fiore's "number one guild." By the laws of history, they were destined to fade away, remembered by no one.
"Damn it, Fairy Tail… just how much do you intend to swell before you're satisfied?" Joseph's hands clenched tight, surging magic flaring uncontrollably, shaking the chamber until cracks split across the stone floor. His face twisted in fury.
Aria bowed slightly. "Master, perhaps… it would be wise to cease our hostility toward Fairy Tail."
Given such a disparity in strength, even victory this time would only mean ruin later. Once Fairy Tail retaliated in full, Phantom Lord would be destroyed — if not now, then inevitably.
Even with the Super Mage Giant weapon, their chances were slim.
"Cease? Hand over the title of Fiore's number one guild to Fairy Tail? And why should we?" Joseph sneered.
His anger melted away as quickly as it had come. Crossing one leg over the other, he laced his fingers before his face, covering his nose. A smile curled at his lips, sharp and ominous.
"I have the perfect plan… a way to dismantle Fairy Tail. Phantom Lord will remain Fiore's number one guild — both now, and in the future."
Juvia, Gajeel, Aria, and Totomaru lifted their heads, curiosity flickering in their eyes. What sort of plan could bridge such an insurmountable gulf in power?
Aria spoke first. "And what would that be, Master?"
"They demanded money, didn't they? And an apology? Very well. We'll give them both. The question is… can they handle the gift I intend to deliver?" Joseph tilted his head, shadows cloaking half his face. His expression grew deathly sinister.
"Sol."
"At your service." The floor rippled like water, and a gaunt man surfaced — a monocle gleaming, twin mustaches curled upon his lip, clad in a suit that only accentuated his sleazy demeanor. Bowing with exaggerated grace, he pressed a hand to his chest.
"Go to the guild treasury. Withdraw one hundred million jewels."
"As you wish." And with that, Sol melted back into the ground, vanishing once more.
"Master, this is…" Totomaru faltered, shock twisting his expression. "Do you truly intend… to make peace with Fairy Tail?"
"Peace? With them?" Joseph let out a low laugh, brimming with icy confidence. "Fiore's number one guild is Phantom Lord. It always has been — and it always will be."
He didn't bother explaining further to Totomaru. Instead, his gaze shifted to Aria, his words deliberate, each syllable dripping with meaning:
"Aria… you will accompany me to Fairy Tail. I want to see for myself whether they truly have the stomach to swallow our 'apology.'"
Aria's eyes widened, and in an instant, understanding dawned. The sorrowful tears perpetually streaming down his face vanished, replaced by a cruel smile.
"…I understand, Master."
With that settled, Joseph turned his eyes upon Gajeel — silent throughout the entire exchange. He had once placed great hopes upon the Iron Dragon, but his disgraceful showing against the Fire Dragon had been a bitter disappointment.
"Gajeel."
"…Huh? Ah — yes, Master." Startled that Joseph addressed him at all, Gajeel took a moment before answering. Fortunately, Joseph ignored the hesitation, his tone cold and commanding:
"You fought the Fire Dragon head-on. Your wounds are not light. For now, you will remain here. Take command of Phantom MK II. When the time comes, you will fire Jupiter at the location I designate. Sol, Juvia, and Totomaru will assist you."
His voice grew harder, laced with the weight of a Saint. "Do not disappoint me again. Understood?"
For a fleeting moment, Gajeel felt the same suffocating pressure he had endured against Natsu that night. His fists clenched, hatred blazing in his eyes.
…Of course. I won't let those bastards off. Not again.
Good. See that you don't.