Phantom Lord, Part Three

As the Magic Giant Phantom Lord approached Fairy Tail, the massive mechanical fortress slowly came to a stop on the sea, the roar of gears shaking the windows of the entire street.

The cannons at the fortress's front began to charge, dark purple magic swirling and compressing within the barrels, distorting the air and emitting a piercing buzzing sound.

[Magical Convergence Cannon - Jupiter]

Erza rushed forward, her steps heavy yet firm, her long red hair billowing behind her.

She clasped her hands together, and a magic circle appeared beneath her feet.

"Requip! Adamantine Armor!"

As the light faded, she was now wearing a heavy set of silver armor, her entire body covered in airtight metal plates, like a mobile fortress.

"I won't let you destroy the guild!"

Her voice was firm and loud, still clearly audible amidst the hum of the magic cannon.

The guild members all tried to dissuade them, their voices rising and falling.

"Even the Adamantine Armor, renowned for its defensive capabilities, is no match! That's a Magic Convergence Cannon!"

"Hey! This is outrageous! Erza, come back here!"

"Erza, you'll die if you do that!"

Erza didn't turn her head, and called out without a trace of hesitation in her voice.

"Get down!"

Gray grabbed Natsu, who was trying to rush out, his fingers gripping Natsu's shoulders so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

"Don't go over there, we can only trust Erza."

Natsu struggled and shouted, flames flickering on his fists, his eyes bloodshot.

Erza!

The others watched in horror as the magic cannon beam approached.

The dark purple beam of light grew thicker and brighter, as if a crack had opened in the sky, within which destructive power surged and boiled.

A massive green magical barrier unfolded before Erza, shimmering brilliantly under the enhancement of her Adamantine Armor.

The magical ray slammed into the barrier, the shockwave shaking the ground. Erza's feet dug two deep furrows in the ground, and cracks began to appear on the surface of her armor, with silver fragments peeling off piece by piece.

Just when Erza was about to give up...

[Life Mimicry - Celestial Spirit]

Riyao burst forth from the side, her long pink hair fluttering in the wind, her entire body radiating a pale golden light.

He leaped up and kicked at the beam, his leg muscles unleashing terrifying power with the aid of Celestial Spirit energy.

The instant he was hit by the ray, his shin felt like it was being burned by fire; his skin instantly vaporized, and muscle fibers snapped one by one, revealing the bare white bone.

The blood evaporated into a red mist in the high temperature, and a pungent smell of blood filled the air.

"Get the hell out of my way!!"

Riyao's roar echoed in the shockwave. He gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, and simultaneously unleashed earth magic.

[Gravity Deflection]

An invisible force surged from his body, like a giant hand, forcibly reversing the direction of Jupiter's rays.

The dark purple beam of light drew a strange arc in the air, deviating from its original trajectory and hurtling into the distance.

Upon landing, Riyao staggered, his left leg barely able to touch the ground, his white bones gleaming pale in the air.

He hopped twice on one foot and made an international gesture towards the Phantom Lord Guild.

Mirajane ran over and hugged Riyao, her long silver hair cascading over him.

He leaned into her arms, his pink hair brushing against Mirajane's cheek, tickling her slightly.

"Don't scare me, you can heal yourself, right?"

Mirajane's voice was filled with deep worry and a sob; tears clung to her silver eyelashes, and her eyes were red-rimmed.

Seeing Mirajane like this, Riyao's heart softened, and he reached out to touch her head, his fingers running through her silver hair.

"I'm fine, I'll be alright soon."

A pale green light emanated from his mutilated lower leg, and flesh regenerated at a visible speed.

First, fine blood vessels grew on the bones, like red vines twining around the tree trunk.

Then muscle fibers grow one by one, layer upon layer covering the muscle fibers.

Finally, the skin gradually transforms from rough granulation tissue into smooth and even skin.

Erza and the others gathered around, their faces filled with anxiety and worry.

"Riyao, are you alright?"

Riyao laughed when he heard this, pointing to his calf, which had fully recovered.

"If you had come even a second later, my calf would have recovered."

Jose's aged and somber voice echoed throughout the harbor through a magical megaphone.

"Fairies, I should commend you for holding back Jupiter. Unfortunately, after today, Fairy Tail will cease to exist."

He paused, his tone becoming sharp and greedy.

"Hand over Lucy Heartfilia right now!"

The guild members immediately retorted angrily, each shout louder than the last, all determined not to give in or abandon their comrades.

"Alzack shouted, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, and the veins on his forehead bulged."

"Are you kidding me?!"

Bisca pointed one finger at Phantom Lord Fortress.

"What guild would hand over its own comrades to the enemy!"

Macao waved and shouted, his voice hoarse but firm.

"Lucy is our friend!"

Erza shouted, her reddish-brown eyes burning with an indomitable flame.

"We'd rather die a quick death than betray our comrades!"

Mirajane shouted back, her long silver hair fluttering in the wind, her eyes flashing with a dangerous light.

"You scum will never understand the value of comrades!"

Riyao's gaze turned cold, and his blue pupils contracted slightly.

Jose! Today you will pay the price for your actions!

Natsu clenched his fists, flames dancing between his fingers, and shouted angrily.

"No matter what happens in the future, our answer will never change! We will definitely crush you guys!"

The guild members all echoed, their voices surging like a tidal wave.

"Oh! That's right!"

Lucy, standing in the crowd, covered her mouth and wept, her blonde hair falling down her cheeks, tears spilling from between her fingers.

She never imagined that these noisy guys would go to such lengths for her.

Makarov wiped away his tears by the window, his short body leaning against the window frame, his cloudy old eyes filled with relief and pride.

"They're all good kids."

When Jose saw this, he was so angry that he was practically fuming. His aged face twisted into a mask of rage, and veins bulged on his forehead.

"Then you can take another extra-large Jupiter! Enjoy the Despair during those fifteen minutes of reloading!"

"I'll send you all to hell, Fairy Tail!"

He suddenly waved his hand and cast a spell, and a large number of Phantom Soldiers poured out of the fortress, as dense as ants, and attacked Fairy Tail.

The Phantom Soldiers emanated a dark purple light, wielded weapons, had hollow faces, and emitted chilling roars.

In the Riyao Manor, the ancient Parasol Tree emitted a soft light, and the leaves on its crown swayed gently in the still air, as if awakened by some force.

The ground began to tremble, and fine cracks spread from the tree roots, with a pale golden light seeping from the soil.