Unexpected Guest

Boom!

Jose's magic power erupted.

Aria also turned his face toward Ifrit. Though his eyes were covered, Ifrit could feel himself being locked onto by the other man's "gaze."

Ifrit adjusted his glasses and prepared for battle.

A fierce battle was about to break out.

Just then.

Ifrit frowned slightly.

"Sob, sob."

A familiar, irritating sound of crying.

An old man quietly walked into the middle of the battlefield.

His white hair was a mess, and he had no beard. Like Aria, he wept bitterly. He wore white priestly robes and carried a large black coffin on his back.

He held a brown leather-bound book in his left hand while wiping away tears with his right.

"Sob, sob, don't fight. We should cherish peace. The world is so beautiful; we should protect it with peace, not fighting."

Both sides looked at this unexpected guest.

"Please don't fight. Don't turn your backs on peace," the old man pleaded through tears.

Jose looked at him and smiled. "Pudding, why are you here?"

Pudding cried, "Because I heard people arguing, so I came to stop it. Guild Master Jose, Guild Master Makarov, don't argue, don't fight. You should cherish peace."

"You saw it too." Jose smiled. "They attacked my guild. I'm only defending myself. If you truly want to uphold peace, then you should protect me."

"Is that so?" Pudding looked at Makarov and Ifrit with eyes full of murky tears. When his gaze fell on Ifrit, it paused for half a second.

"Of course." Jose put on an aggrieved expression. "Look at my guild. They've nearly torn it apart."

"Then, Fairy Tail, Guild Master Makarov, can you stop this kind of Terror attack? As a member of the guild alliance, you should not trample on peace like this!"

Pudding looked at Makarov. Though his tone was pleading, the tear-filled eyes held an inexplicably terrifying look.

"Three against two." Jose grinned smugly at Ifrit.

"Pudding," Ifrit spoke. "Do you want to see your own back?"

With that, Ifrit took a step forward. Magic power rapidly spread from his body, making even the air tremble slightly. Everyone inside Phantom Lord felt as though they were standing at the edge of an abyss, fear rising uncontrollably in their hearts.

"Ifrit?" Natsu raised his head and looked upstairs from the hall. He said blankly, "I can smell his emotions. They're really bad."

"When did he get here?" Gray wondered.

"So that faint sense that something was wrong earlier really was because Ifrit had arrived." Erza frowned slightly.

"Ifrit, don't act rashly!" Makarov waved a hand and stopped Ifrit behind him.

Jose's strength was not much different from his own.

If the two of them fought, Ifrit would have to face both Aria and Pudding at once.

Aria was manageable. In a one-on-one fight, Ifrit could defeat him without issue.

But Pudding possessed strength no weaker than one of the Ten Wizard Saints. He absolutely could not be underestimated!

Moreover, Pudding was an extremely troublesome enemy, especially his magic. For Ifrit, it was the kind that was particularly difficult to deal with!

Unfortunately, Laxus and the other S-Class mages were not at the guild. Otherwise, they would not be at such a disadvantage this time!

For now, this matter could only—

"Your words are too frightening," Pudding said through tears.

The attack suddenly arrived. A sharp earthen spike burst from the ground and shot straight at Ifrit's face at incredible speed!

Makarov, who had been on guard all along, instinctively reached out and blocked it.

But—

Giant's Hand was pierced through by the earthen spike. Its bloodied tip stopped less than ten centimeters from Ifrit's eye.

Crack!

Makarov crushed the earthen spike with force.

Ifrit's expression shifted slightly. "Guild Master, you know I'm the slipperiest one around. He couldn't have hurt me."

"But, Ifrit," Makarov said without turning around, "protecting children from harm is a parent's instinct."

"..."

Ifrit fell silent.

Makarov withdrew his bloodied left hand and looked at Jose, his tone grave. "I will submit my opinion to the Magic Council and await a fair ruling."

"Ifrit, let's go."

With that, Makarov turned around.

"You think you can just leave like that?" Jose smiled.

"Don't provoke a lioness nursing her cubs!" Makarov suddenly turned back and stared Jose down.

"..."

Jose's smug smile froze, and a bead of cold sweat slid down his temple.

Just a little more time!

Now was indeed not the time to completely enrage Makarov!

He had arranged an ambush earlier. The best outcome had been taking Makarov down without suffering any losses.

If he could not take him down, he truly did not want to fight Makarov to the death today. Even if Pudding helped, a Ten Wizard Saint fighting without regard for his life... Jose did not want to gamble away his own life or the rest of his magical future.

Besides, he did not trust Pudding. Pudding was not his ally; the man was a lunatic. He would not place his hopes on someone like that.

"..."

Makarov left with Ifrit. Neither Jose nor Pudding said another word.

"Guild Master?"

The members of Fairy Tail all looked at Makarov in confusion.

"Let the war stop for now. We've already injured quite a few of them, and we have plenty of wounded ourselves. We'll leave the rest to the Magic Council's judgment. They'll give us justice," Makarov said.

Even he himself did not believe that group could make any useful decision, but they needed an excuse for now. At the very least, they could not keep fighting today.

That Pudding was a troublesome figure, and his magic was extremely dangerous. It could cripple or kill at any moment. It was hard to say what would happen if they continued.

"Yes..." Everyone was somewhat displeased, but no one said anything.

Phantom Lord's mid-level combat strength was formidable. The gap between them was not large, and Phantom Lord had the advantage in numbers.

Meanwhile, several of Fairy Tail's S-Class mages were absent, and now their Guild Master's hand was injured as well.

Continuing the fight would be very disadvantageous for them!

"Guild Master, Lucy was captured," Erza said.

"Don't worry. I've already found out where Lucy is." Ifrit's voice reached everyone's ears.

"Lucy..." Natsu was extremely worried, unable even to suppress his flames.

As he followed everyone out the door, Ifrit's voice reached his ears.

"Head up the mountain."

Natsu gave no response at all.

Everyone followed their Guild Master out of Phantom Lord and onto the street.

With the help of Ifrit's magic, Natsu and Happy quietly slipped away from the group.

Makarov glanced to the side and asked, "Will Natsu be enough on his own?"

"I already 'asked.' There are only a few people there. Natsu can handle them," Ifrit replied.

At the top floor of Phantom Lord.

Jose and Pudding stood by the window, watching the Fairy Tail members leave in groups along the street below.

He picked up a wineglass, poured himself some red wine, and gently swirled it. With a hint of emotion, he said, "Makarov has gotten old. He's become timid and overly cautious."

Pudding cried, "When people grow old, they become cowardly and desire protection from a fair order. But being afraid of loss is not shameful. It is also a way of longing for peace."

"..."

Jose shot Pudding a disdainful glance.

Just then.

He suddenly stepped back—

He sensed a fluctuation of magic power!

It was extremely faint, almost impossible to detect!

But without hesitation, he immediately used darkness to envelop himself and Aria!