Phantom Lord

Inside the Magic Council

"Defendant Ye, Phantom Lord Guild Master Jose, has accused you of attacking the Phantom Lord guild, causing numerous members to be injured and damaging their headquarters.

You intended to provoke a guild war, violating the treaty forbidding conflict between guilds.

"Do you plead guilty?"

Ye nodded. "Though that's somewhat biased, it's mostly correct. But I had barely left when you all showed up. Could some of you have taken Phantom Lord's money?"

"What did you say?! How could we possibly do such a thing?"

"Whether you did or not, you know in your hearts!"

"Arrogant, utterly arrogant! You dare spout nonsense even here? Chairman, not only should Ye be punished this time, Fairy Tail should also be stripped of its status as an official guild!"

The other councilors chimed in. "That's right! He has no respect for the Magic Council at all. He must be severely punished to demonstrate the Council's authority!"

Yajima said, "It's not that serious. He merely violated a few regulations and injured some people. Besides, I heard Phantom Lord attacked first. Ye only acted because he couldn't stand it anymore, so his actions were understandable."

"Councilor Yajima, don't think you can shield Makarov's guild member like this just because you're close to him. Hasn't Fairy Tail committed enough offenses already?"

"Besides, is there any clear evidence proving that Phantom Lord was responsible for attacking Fairy Tail?"

"But..." Yajima wanted to say more.

Org interrupted, "Enough. I think Councilor Michelo has a point. Fairy Tail committed a serious offense this time, and Makarov, as guild master, cannot escape responsibility. I propose that Fairy Tail be disbanded."

"I second that!"

"I second it as well!"

"..."

"I now declare that Ye of Fairy Tail is guilty of maliciously destroying Phantom Lord, injuring numerous Phantom Lord members, and attempting to provoke a war between the two guilds. Ye of Fairy Tail is sentenced to five years' imprisonment."

"Since Fairy Tail Guild Master Makarov failed to properly manage his members, he is sentenced to one year in prison. Effective immediately, the Fairy Tail guild is to be disbanded."

"Hahahahaha!"

"What are you laughing at? Do you object to our ruling?"

Councilor Michelo hurriedly said, "Openly defying the Magic Council—your crime is aggravated!"

"If you're determined to accuse someone, you'll always find an excuse. Sentence me however you like. I don't want to listen to you ramble on anymore."

Ye shook both hands, and the Anti-Magic Shackles instantly shattered.

The Council members stared in shock at what had happened. The Anti-Magic Shackles that even the Ten Wizard Saints had to obediently submit to had been destroyed just like that.

"What are you trying to do?!"

"What am I trying to do? I'm a Dark Guild now. Isn't attacking the Magic Council perfectly normal?"

"Guards! Where are the Ancient Knights' magic soldiers?"

"My apologies, Councilor, but we have no intention of becoming Lord Ye's enemies!"

"Even you intend to defy our orders?"

"Please do not make things difficult for us, Councilor. By the king's command, we are forbidden from ever becoming enemies with Lord Ye."

"You should all get away from here quickly."

"Yes! Lord Ye, all troops, retreat!"

Ye said mockingly, "Looks like no one is willing to help you. Then there's no need for the Magic Council to exist anymore." Ye instantly unleashed Conqueror's Haki, and the entire Council shook violently.

Ye gathered Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki beneath his feet.

"Heaven-Guard Kick!"

With a single kick, the interior of the Magic Council was instantly destroyed, and the entire Council collapsed.

Outside the Magic Council, Ye held Yajima and asked, "Old Yajima, are you all right?"

"Ho ho ho, I'm fine. Ye, you've caused enough trouble, so you should have vented your anger by now, right? I've already informed Makarov. He'll be here soon to take you back."

"Hahaha! You really did think everything through, old man!"

Yajima slowly said, "After this incident, I'm afraid most of the councilors will have to step down. Ye, don't be so reckless in the future. I won't be able to speak up for you anymore."

"Thank you, old man. I understand!"

At that moment, Makarov's voice came from afar.

"You brat, what are you doing in a place like this? Weren't you summoned to the Magic Council?"

Yajima said, "This is it, Makarov."

Makarov looked at the ruins before him. "You know, I really couldn't tell if you hadn't said so. You brat, you went way too far this time. You leveled the entire Magic Council."

"Old man, I didn't want to either. Who knew they wanted to imprison me for five years, abolish Fairy Tail, and even imprison you?"

"Don't you councilors think you've gone too far?" Makarov threatened them with the magic power of a Ten Wizard Saint.

The chairman hurriedly said, "Guild Master Makarov, just take this brat and leave. A new ruling will be issued."

Makarov nodded in satisfaction.

"Yajima, we're heading back first."

"Take care, Makarov! Ho ho ho!"

Not long after Ye and Makarov left, the Magic Council slowly returned to its original state.

"It was Ultear and Siegrain."

The chairman angrily demanded, "Why didn't you two show yourselves just now?!"

Ultear said, "Oh my, Chairman, you wouldn't expect a weak woman like me to fight that monster, would you?"

"And you, Siegrain? As one of the Ten Wizard Saints, why didn't you step in to stop them?"

"Chairman, you saw it too. They had someone no weaker than me, as well as an experienced Ten Wizard Saint. How could I possibly be their match?"

"Damn it!"

Inside the Fairy Tail guild.

Natsu angrily said, "I can't take this anymore. I'm going to wipe out those bastards."

Gray advised, "Ye and the Guild Master aren't here. Going now would just be suicide! Let's wait for them to return."

"Can't we do anything at all?"

At that moment, the ground began to tremble.

"What's going on? Is it an... an... earthquake?!"

The guild members rushed outside and discovered a moving guild out on the sea.

"What is that?!"

A massive fortress with six mechanical legs emerged from the sea and marched toward the Fairy Tail guild.

"That's Phantom Lord's guild!"

"What?! It's huge!"

"Are those bastards trying to start a war?!"

"Damn it, they picked the time when the Guild Master and Ye weren't here!"

"Laxus and Erza are out on jobs too. All our top fighters are gone."

"Boom!" Phantom Lord's guild stopped by the shore.

Jose looked at Fairy Tail and said, "Makarov truly isn't here. Everything is proceeding smoothly according to plan. This time, I will definitely destroy Fairy Tail and repay the humiliation I suffered six years ago!"

Six years ago, Makarov had defeated Jose before the masters of many guilds. That humiliation had haunted Jose ever since. To erase it, he had to make Makarov suffer.

"Makarov, I wonder what expression you'll have when you return and find your guild gone. Hahahahaha!"

"Prepare the Magic Converging Cannon, 'Jupiter.'"

"Yes, Guild Master!"

Atop Phantom Lord's headquarters, the wall split apart, revealing an enormous cannon barrel aimed at Fairy Tail.

"H-Hey, what is that?!"

"It's the Magic Converging Cannon!"

"Does Phantom Lord want to wipe us all out?!"

At that moment, the Magic Converging Cannon gathered an enormous amount of energy, radiating terrifying magical fluctuations.

"This is bad! The Magic Converging Cannon is about to fire! Everyone, take cover!"

Lucy panicked. "Has Phantom Lord gone insane? Why are they doing this?!"

Mira urgently shouted, "Everyone, get out of the way!"

Natsu shouted, "I'm not backing down! If I do, the guild will be destroyed!"

"A Fairy Tail member, huh? Since you're looking to die, I'll gladly send you on your way. Hahahaha!"

"Magic Converging Cannon energy accumulation complete."

"Fire."

"Yes!"

Whoosh!——!

A massive blast of energy shot rapidly toward Fairy Tail.

At that moment, another beam of energy appeared from elsewhere and collided with the Magic Converging Cannon in the blink of an eye.

"W-Whoa!! What's happening?!"

"I don't know!! Hold onto something! Don't get blown away!"

The tremendous energy from the collision erupted into a mushroom cloud, and Fairy Tail's members were scattered by the shockwave.

"Is it over?! But who saved us?!"

The smoke slowly cleared, revealing a familiar figure standing ahead.

Mira shouted, "It's Ye, everyone! Ye is back!"

"Oh!!! Ye, that was so cool!"

"Damn it, you really showed off this time!"

Mira ran up to Ye. "Are you all right? Are you hurt anywhere?"

Ye rubbed Mira's head. "I'm fine. Don't worry."

"The Guild Master is still behind me. I had a bad feeling, so I came back first."

Jose looked at the undestroyed Fairy Tail guild.

"Damn it! Who was that?!"

"Guild Master! It was Ye from Fairy Tail. He blocked the Magic Converging Cannon!"

"Those useless fools at the Magic Council couldn't even hold him back for long!"

"All forces, attack!"

The guild gates opened, and a dense mass of people poured out, nearly two thousand of them.

Fairy Tail watched as Phantom Lord sent out so many people, while they had fewer than a hundred.

Lucy said in shock, "How can there be so many of them?"

Gray explained, "Phantom Lord has opened branch guilds everywhere over the years, and they recruit anyone. That's why they've grown to this scale."

"They're just trash mobs."

Just as Ye was about to unleash Conqueror's Haki to clear the field—

"Ye! I advise you not to make a move. Take a look at this."

Three battered and bruised people were tied up on Phantom Lord's guild: the Shadow Gear team.

When Lucy saw them, she hurriedly cried out, "It's Levy! That's horrible!"

"Damn it!"

Jose's move instantly ignited Fairy Tail's fury.

At that moment, the sky and earth shook violently. The sky darkened ominously, and the atmospheric pressure rose severalfold.

Ye's expression gradually turned furious and crazed.

"Jose! You truly deserve to die!!!!"

Makarov, still far away, looked toward the distant sky.

What did Jose do to make Ye this furious? I need to hurry back.

The guild members saw gentle Ye transform into a beast with a violent aura, and they could not help swallowing nervously.

"Is this the bearing of the strongest creature on the surface?"

Mira looked at Ye worriedly.

"Ye~"

Jose laughed without a care. "Oh, oh, oh~ Angry, angry. But you need to calm down. If you don't calm down, I can't guarantee I'll stay calm either. Who knows what I might do then?"

Hearing Jose's words, Ye gradually relaxed, and the sky and earth returned to calm.

Jose looked at Ye with satisfaction. "I have to admire Makarov. He can actually keep a beast like you in check."

Natsu angrily said, "Ye is our family! He is the lamp that keeps us moving forward! Don't you dare talk about him like that!"

Everyone in the guild shouted in unison, "That's right!"

Mira shouted, "Friends, this time it's our turn to protect the guild! Everyone, rescue Levy with everything you have!"

"Oh!!"

"I'm fired up!"