The great battle in Magnolia had been raging for four whole days...
Although the Council and the guild alliance that styled itself as righteous had numbers on their side, they still hadn't managed to take the entire city of Magnolia!
Not only that, they had suffered devastating losses wildly disproportionate to the number of Fairy Tail members they'd defeated!
And so...
Outside the city, Sting Eucliffe of Sabertooth, Kagura Mikazuchi—the strongest Mage of Mermaid Heel, wielder of the grudge-blade "Unforgivable"—high-ranking officers from some of the Council's forces, and powerful Mages from other guilds were gathered in a tent, heatedly discussing their next move:
"According to reliable reports, Fairy Tail's Fire Dragon, Natsu, and Titania, Erza, have returned and entered Magnolia. They've become new boss fights guarding the city, adding plenty of uncertainty to our campaign to take it!"
"So we'll have to completely revise our plans!"
"Wait!"
"??"
"Well, you see..."
"I'd rather know what new obstacles those people added after they came back."
"..."
"Not many. Just these three places: here, here, and here!"
An officer from the Council pointed out three locations on a map of Magnolia and planted flags bearing the Fairy Tail guild crest on them.
By now, most of the outskirts on the map were covered in the Council's little green flags, showing that they had defeated every boss fight stationed in those streets, gardens, bridges, courtyards, and ramps.
But they still hadn't managed to break through from any direction into Magnolia's central district near the church, let alone attack Magnolia's grand cathedral at the very heart of the city.
"Then who's guarding these three new checkpoints?"
Kagura Mikazuchi of Mermaid Heel asked with a frown.
"The one by the river used to be guarded by just one troublesome member of the former Phantom Lord