One of Phantom Lord

A few days later, Lucy returned with the others after completing the quest, and Erza probably took a break and went out to play.

Along the way, I even managed to buy a skewer of candied hawthorns from a roadside stall, which I ate as I walked, the red sugar coating shimmering in the sunset.

As I walked down the street, the gossip of passersby buzzed into my ears like flies.

"They're from Fairy Tail, and they don't seem to know yet..."

A sense of unease filled the group, and their pace quickened.

Lucy stopped eating her candied hawthorns, Erza crushed half of her candied hawthorns before they were gone, with sugar crumbs spilling from between her fingers.

When I returned, I saw that Fairy Tail guild was covered with iron pillars.

Huge iron pillars, like the quills of a hedgehog, were embedded in the guild building; some pierced through the walls, some were nailed to the roof, and some smashed the windows to pieces.

Wood chips and broken bricks were scattered all over the ground, and the guild's iconic banner was torn apart by an iron pillar, fluttering helplessly in the evening wind.

Natsu exploded, his fists bursting into flames, his eyes turning bloodshot, and a low roar escaping his throat.

"Those bastards!"

The others also looked grim. Gray's fists clenched so tightly they cracked, Erza's lips were pressed into a thin line, and Lucy covered her mouth with reddened eyes.

Upon arriving at the guild's basement level, the atmosphere among the guild members was subdued.

Under the dim light, the members sat in twos and threes, some drinking silently, some leaning against the wall in a daze, and some talking in hushed tones. A sense of oppression and sullenness filled the air.

Jet was drinking when he slammed his glass down on the table, spilling wine all over his hand, and looked annoyed.

"The Phantom Lord and we've always been at odds; those bastards are bound to cause trouble sooner or later."

Troy said nonchalantly, crossing his legs and tapping his fingers on the table.

"Why don't we just call them? This constant dawdling is so annoying."

Levy sighed, her short blue hair falling beside her ears. She pushed up her glasses, her voice weary.

"Don't be impulsive. Fighting now will only make things worse."

At the bar, Riyao and Makarov sat side by side, each holding a glass of wine, leisurely clinking their glasses.

Ur came out of the kitchen carrying a tray, his wooden frame creaking slightly, and served the two of them a plate of peanuts and a plate of braised beef.

When the two saw Natsu and the others return, they greeted them with smiles, as if welcoming old friends home for dinner.

"You're back."

Natsu roared, slamming his fist on the bar, making the glasses bounce.

"Grandpa! What are you all doing so leisurely! The guild has been smashed to pieces!"

Makarov ignored Natsu, picked up his glass, took a sip, smacked his lips, and leisurely asked Lucy how her mission went, as if he were asking if the cabbages at the market were fresh.

Erza looked at Riyao, her brown eyes filled with confusion and anxiety.

"The president is like this, and you're like this too. Do you even understand what the situation is like right now?"

Natsu agreed, flames dancing between his fingers.

"Our guild has been ruined by someone else! And you guys are still here drinking and eating peanuts!"

Riyao shrugged, picked up a peanut, popped it into his mouth, and chewed it.

"The old man won't let me do it, what can I do?"

Mirajane's temper flared up; her long silver hair billowed as if blown by an invisible storm of anger, and a dangerous glint flashed in her eyes. She slammed her hand on the bar, making the peanuts bounce.

"Then let's go over there and knock them out! Then we'll put them all in sacks and sink them to the bottom of the sea!"

Riyao quickly hugged Mirajane and coaxed her to the side, putting his arm around her shoulder and whispering something in her ear. Mirajane's expression gradually softened, but she was still sulking, her cheeks puffed out like a hamster.

Makarov reassured Natsu and the others, his small frame leaping down from the bar, walking to them with his hands behind his back, his tone calm and collected.

"What's the rush? I know what I'm doing."

Ur, who had been watching the commotion, walked over. His wooden body creaked as he raised his hand and slapped Gray on the back of the head with a large shovel. He didn't control his strength well, and Gray's head was knocked forward, almost falling into the barrel.

"Don't just follow the crowd, listen to the chairman."

Yes, Ur has joined Fairy Tail and is now a waiter.

After all, she needed Riyao's help to adjust her doll's body.

Gray covered the back of his head, looking aggrieved.

"Ur, be gentle..."

At night, the cool night breeze dispels the hustle and bustle of the day.

On the streets of Magnolia, the streetlights cast a dim, yellowish glow, creating soft halos on the cobblestones.

The shop signs swayed gently in the wind, and the distant clock tower echoed with the long, drawn-out chimes.

Riyao and Mirajane strolled hand in hand down the street, their fingers intertwined, silver and gold hues mingling in the night breeze.

Mirajane was so angry today that she didn't want to cook, so the two of them went out and randomly found a small stall and ate a bowl of noodles.

Riyao gently squeezed her small hand, his thumb tracing circles on the back of her hand as he spoke softly.

"Let's not get angry. We'll wait until the Phantom Lord can't hold back anymore, then we'll just crush them."

He added, lowering his voice, "If we attack now, the Magic Council won't let it go. Those old geezers are just waiting for our guild to make a mistake; they'd love for us to strike first."

Mirajane pouted, her cheeks still puffed out, her silver eyelashes drooping slightly, her tone carrying a hint of resentment.

"I know, but I'm just so angry. They started it, why should we have to put up with it?"

Riyao put his arm around Mirajane and sat her down on a park bench, letting her lean on his shoulder and resting his chin on the top of her head, the sweet scent of her silver hair filling his nostrils.

He reached out and put his arm around her shoulder, his voice languid.

"The Magic Council to the guild sabotage incident isn't any good either. They definitely took money from that old devil Jose; that old bastard is best at this kind of thing."

He said this in a casual tone.

Riyao deliberately led Mirajane around the area, waiting for Gajeel.

Based on his understanding of the original storyline, Gajeel will attack lone guild members tonight to further provoke Fairy Tail and force them to make the first move.

The two sat for a while, the night breeze carrying the fragrance of flowers wafting by, the surroundings were quiet, with only the chirping of insects in the distance.

Then, a muffled thud broke the silence.

This was followed by the sound of metal clashing, and then screams of agony.

Riyao and Mirajane exchanged a glance and stood up at the same time.

Upon arriving at the scene, they saw Gajeel attacking Levy and her two companions.

Gajeel's body is covered in iron scales, with sharp iron spikes protruding from his joints, making him look like a humanoid iron hedgehog.

Jet and Troy lay on the ground, their bodies bearing obvious iron spike wounds, blood seeping from the wounds and staining their clothes red.

Mirajane instantly transformed in anger, her long silver hair billowing up, her white dress Darkness Devour and replaced by a purple bodysuit, bat-like wings unfurling behind her, and her scarlet eyes burning with fury.

She rushed over and started beating Gajeel with lightning speed, like a purplish-black lightning bolt. Her fist slammed into Gajeel's face, and the iron scales shattered under her fist, making a piercing metallic clang.

"So you're Phantom Lord, huh?! You dare to ambush our comrades?!"

Her voice, carrying a demonic echo, reverberated through the night sky.

The second punch landed on Gajeel's abdomen, and the third punch slammed into his chest; each punch carried earth-shattering power.

Gajeel is only of average skill; he can't even beat Natsu right now. Putting aside the protagonist's plot armor, Natsu would still win.

The fact that Gajeel doesn't get motion sickness tells us that the Dragon Force Dragon Slayer far from being awakened.

Riyao walked over to Levy and the others to treat them, and pale golden light flowed from his fingertips, slowly seeping into their wounds.

As for stopping Mirajane from fighting Gajeel, he didn't want to sleep on the floor that night.

"Mira, don't kill him! The old man will be in trouble."

His tone was relaxed and casual, as if he were saying, "Don't burn the food."

Gajeel was able to hold off a couple of attacks at first, sparks flying as his iron fists clashed with Mirajane's claws.

But he was quickly pinned to the ground and beaten by Mirajane. The purplish-black magic bound his limbs like chains, rendering him unable to move and leaving him to be beaten like a tin can.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Each blow shattered the iron scales, deforming Gajeel's face and leaving his iron-like skin covered in cracks.

Riyao knelt down to treat Levy and the others, a pale golden light enveloping the three of them, and their wounds healed at a visible speed. He looked at the three of them speechlessly, his tone tinged with helplessness.

"The old man told you all to go home early today, but you're still wandering around outside."

Levy said shyly, pushing up her glasses. Her short blue hair was messy and stuck to her forehead, and her cheeks were slightly flushed.

"I just started reading a book, and I can't put it down..."

Riyao ruffled Levy's hair, gently rubbing her short blue hair with his palm, revealing a tender smile, but there was a clear hint of calculation in that smile.

"Hehehe, I need your cooperation."

Levy, Jet, Troy trembled, sensing an ominous premonition from Riyao's smile.

They were all too familiar with that smile. Every time Riyao showed that smile, it meant someone was about to be in trouble.

This time, however, they felt they weren't the ones who were unlucky.

In the distance, Mirajane was still beating Gajeel; the tin can was almost smashed into a tin pancake.