Chapter 58: Pahntom Lord Attack (2)
"Huh!"
Natsu stomped on the envelope beneath his feet, flames erupting and reducing the letter to ash in seconds.
"Jose… using such underhanded tactics!" Makarov's hands trembled with fury—it had been years since he'd felt rage like this. Threatening him with his children's lives for personal gain crossed every line.
"Master! If they're this bold, they must have a trap waiting!"
"Let us come with you!"
"Master, this could be a diversion to leave the guild undefended!"
Makarov raised his hand for silence. "Enough! I'll handle this alone. Dino, I'm entrusting the guild to you. The enemy doesn't know you've returned yet. If they dare attack…" His eyes hardened. "You have my permission—don't hold back. Crush them."
Dino's expression turned cold, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Don't worry, old man. I wasn't planning on showing mercy this time anyway."
If Phantom Lord had challenged them directly, win or lose, Dino could respect that. Wizards clashing over jobs was normal—occupational hazard.
But these cowards kept using dirty tricks one after another, and Dino's patience had run dry. A snake like Jose wouldn't stop even if beaten—he'd just slither back for petty revenge later.
The only permanent solution was to remove him from the board entirely. And Dino had plenty of experience with that.
"I'll be back soon. I promise I'll bring everyone home safely."
Dino's eyes narrowed. "Old man, one more thing—watch out for a guy on their side who can drain magic power. Some bastard tried ambushing me with that trick. Best approach? Take out everyone the second you arrive."
That ability was useless against someone like Dino who fought without magic, but if someone magic-dependent got caught off guard, it could be fatal.
"Understood." Makarov nodded grimly and departed.
Lucy grabbed Dino's arm. "Wait! Dino! Aren't you going to stop the Master?!"
"Stop him? Why would I?"
"What if Phantom Lord gangs up on him?!"
Dino's tone remained cool and unbothered. "Who do you think that old man is? He's the Master of Fairy Tail and one of the Ten Wizard Saints. Yeah, he's getting up there in years, but he doesn't need you worrying about his combat ability."
"That snake Jose doesn't have the guts to face the Master head-on. Sure, he's also a Wizard Saint, but the gap between Saints can be massive."
"The real plan is obviously the diversion. This is all connected—part of a larger scheme."
"I was probably step one. Get me arrested by the Magic Council, force the Master to leave the guild unprotected… and then launch a full assault on Fairy Tail while we're vulnerable."
"I've gotta admit, it's a solid plan. The one thing they didn't account for was me getting back this fast. The Council's a full day's travel away normally."
"Right now, the only ones we should worry about are Levy and the others."
Natsu slammed his fist into his palm, flames sparking. "Let 'em come! I'll show those ghost bastards what we're made of!"
"Yeah! Bring it on! I've been waiting to smash those creeps!"
"They wrecked our guild—I'll never forgive them!"
"Attacking sweet girls like Levy… absolutely unforgivable!"
BOOM… BOOM… BOOM…
A deep, rhythmic pounding echoed through the air. The ground began trembling beneath their feet.
"What the—?! What's that?!"
"That sound… it's coming from outside!"
"Everyone, let's check it out!"
"Holy crap! WHAT IS THAT?!"
Every jaw dropped as they witnessed the impossible. A massive castle was walking across the ocean toward them, each thunderous step sending shockwaves through the earth.
"A castle?! The castle is WALKING on the sea?!"
"Run! Get away from the waterfront!"
The castle's enormous shadow and the tremors from its approach had already caught the attention of Magnolia's citizens. Residents began evacuating away from the coast in a panic.
"Is that… Phantom Lord's guild?!" As the distance closed, Fairy Tail members could make out the Phantom Lord emblem emblazoned on the walking fortress.
"Coming across the ocean… I never imagined they'd pull something like this."
Fairy Tail's home was in Magnolia Town, while Phantom Lord's base was in Oak Town. Though connected by the Grand Canal to the sea, most traveled the land route by carriage—slightly longer, but the standard path.
Makarov had barely left when he spotted the monstrosity. His expression darkened instantly. "STOP!"
The carriage driver's voice rang out cheerfully: "Now, now, Brother Makarov! The fun's just getting started. You should sit back and enjoy the show."
Before Makarov's eyes, the driver's appearance began shifting and warping until that revolting face emerged.
"You! Jose!" Makarov's fury exploded, his magic power surging so violently the carriage splintered with cracks.
Jose's grin widened. "Easy there, Makarov. We haven't seen each other in six years—no need to get so emotional. Or have you forgotten? Your precious guild members are still my guests."
"Besides, attacking me would be pointless. This is merely a Shade—a thought projection."
Makarov's eyes turned glacial. "Jose… what's your endgame? If you have business with someone, it's with me!"
"Ooh, such a scary look! As for my endgame…" Jose's projection leaned forward, voice dripping with sadistic glee. "I want you to watch helplessly as your guild is reduced to rubble! From this distance, even if you rush back, you'll never make it in time. You get front-row seats to Fairy Tail's destruction. That's what I want!"
Then—
Makarov's magic vanished. His killing intent evaporated. He settled calmly back into his seat, expression serene.
Jose's projection faltered, clearly thrown off. "Makarov? Did you hear me? I just said I'm going to destroy your guild. That's your reaction?"