Phantom Lord

Inside the Magic Council

"Defendant Ye, Phantom Lord Guild Master Jose, has accused you of attacking Phantom Lord, injuring a large number of its members and damaging its headquarters.

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

"Do you plead guilty?"

Ye nodded. "Though that is somewhat biased, it is mostly correct. But I had barely left when you people showed up. Did some of you take 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!"

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

Several other councilors echoed, "That's right! He has absolutely no respect for our Magic Council. He must be severely punished to demonstrate the Council's authority!"

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

"Councilor Yajima, do not think that because you are close with Makarov, you can so openly shield his guild member. Has Fairy Tail not caused enough trouble already?"

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

"But..." Yajima still wanted to say something.

Org interrupted, "Enough. I think Councilor Michelo makes a good point. Fairy Tail has committed a grave error this time. As guild master, Makarov cannot escape responsibility. I propose that Fairy Tail be disbanded."

"Seconded!"

"I second it as well."

"..."

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

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

"Hahahahaha!"

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

Councilor Michelo said urgently, "Publicly disrespecting the Magic Council is an additional crime!"

"If you are determined to accuse someone, you will always find an excuse. Sentence me however you like. I do not want to listen to you ramble on any longer."

Ye shook his hands, and the anti-magic handcuffs instantly shattered.

The Council members stared in shock at what had happened. The anti-magic handcuffs that even the Ten Wizard Saints had to submit to had been destroyed just like that.

"What are you trying to do?!"

"What am I trying to do? I am part of a dark guild now. Is it not perfectly normal for me to attack the Magic Council?

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

"Forgive us, Councilors, but we have no intention of becoming enemies with Lord Ye!"

"You too intend to defy our orders?"

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

"You should all get away from here quickly."

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

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

Ye gathered Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki in his foot.

"Heaven-Guard Kick!"

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

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

"Ho ho ho, I am fine. Ye, now that you have caused your trouble, you should have calmed down, right? I have already informed Makarov. He will be here soon to take you back."

"Hahaha, you really thought everything through, Old Man!"

Yajima said slowly, "After this incident, I fear most of the councilors will be dismissed. Ye, do not be so reckless in the future. I will not be able to speak up for you anymore."

"Thank you, Old Man. I understand!"

At that moment, Makarov's voice came from the distance.

"You brat, what are you doing here? Weren't you summoned to the Magic Council?"

Yajima said, "This is it, Little Makarov."

Makarov looked at the ruins before him. "I honestly would not have recognized it if you had not told me. Brat, you went way too far this time. You flattened the entire Magic Council."

"Old Man, I did not want to either. Who knew they wanted to imprison me for five years, abolish Fairy Tail, and imprison you too?"

"Were those councilors not going too far?" Makarov circulated the magic power of a Ten Wizard Saint as a threat.

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

Makarov nodded in satisfaction.

"Yajima, we are heading back first."

"Take care, Little 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 said, "Why did you not appear just now?!"

Ultear said, "Oh my, Chairman, you would not have a weak woman like me fight that monster, would you?"

"And you, Siegrain? As one of the Ten Wizard Saints, why did you not step in to stop him?"

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

"Damn it!"

Inside Fairy Tail Guild.

Natsu said angrily, "I cannot take this anymore. I am going to wipe out those bastards."

Gray advised, "Ye and the Guild Master are not here. If we go, we will only be throwing our lives away! Let's wait for them to return."

"Can't we do anything?"

At that moment, the ground began to shake.

"What is going on? Is it an ea... ea... earthquake?!"

The guild members ran 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 Fairy Tail Guild.

"That is Phantom Lord's guild!"

"What?! It is huge!"

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

"Damn it, they picked the moment when the Guild Master and Ye were gone!"

"Laxus and Erza are both out on missions right now. All our top fighters are gone."

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

Jose looked at Fairy Tail and said, "So Makarov truly is not here. Everything is proceeding according to plan. This time, I will definitely destroy Fairy Tail and avenge the humiliation from six years ago!"

Six years ago, Makarov had defeated Jose in front of numerous guild masters. That humiliation had haunted Jose ever since. To erase it, he had to make Makarov suffer.

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

"Prepare the magic cannon, Jupiter."

"Yes, Guild Master!"

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

"H-Hey, what is that?!"

"It is a magic cannon!"

"Is Phantom trying to kill us all?!"

The magic cannon gathered an immense amount of energy, giving off terrifying magical fluctuations.

"This is bad! The magic cannon is about to fire! Everyone, take cover!"

Lucy said in panic, "Has Phantom gone insane? Why are they doing this?!"

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

Natsu yelled, "I am not moving! If I move, the guild will be destroyed!"

"A Fairy Tail member? Since you are asking to die, I will gladly send you on your way. Hahaha!"

"The magic cannon has finished gathering energy."

"Fire."

"Yes!"

Whoosh!

A massive blast of energy shot rapidly toward Fairy Tail.

At that moment, another blast of energy appeared elsewhere and collided with the magic cannon in an instant.

"Wah! What is going on?!"

"I do not know! Hold on to something! Do not get blown away!"

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

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

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

Mira shouted, "It is Ye! Everyone, Ye is back!"

"Oh!!! Ye is so cool!"

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

Mira ran up to Ye and asked, "Are you all right? Are you hurt anywhere?"

Ye rubbed Mira's head. "I am fine. Do not worry."

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

Jose saw that Fairy Tail had not been destroyed.

"Damn it! Who was that?!"

"Guild Master! It was Fairy Tail's Ye. He blocked the magic cannon!"

"Those useless fools at the Magic Council could not even hold him back for long!"

"All units, attack!"

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

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

Lucy said in surprise, "How are there so many of them?"

Gray explained, "Phantom has been opening branch guilds everywhere these past few years, and they recruit anyone. That is why they have grown to this scale."

"They are nothing but trash."

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

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

Three battered, bloodied people were tied up on Phantom Lord's guild—they were the Shadow Gear team.

Lucy hurriedly said when she saw them, "It is Levy! That is horrible!"

"Damn it!"

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

At that moment, the sky and earth trembled madly. The sky darkened ominously, and the atmospheric pressure surged several times over.

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 angry? I have to get back quickly."

The guild members noticed that gentle Ye had transformed into a beast radiating violent fury, and they could not help swallowing nervously.

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

Mira looked at Ye worriedly.

"Ye..."

Jose laughed without a care. "Oh, oh, oh~ You are angry, you are angry. But you need to calm down. If you do not calm down, I cannot promise I will stay calm either. I do not know what I might do then."

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

Jose looked at Ye in satisfaction. "I have to admire Makarov. He managed to keep a beast like you under control."

Natsu said angrily, "Ye is our family. He is the lamp that keeps lighting our way forward. Do not talk about him like that!"

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

Mira shouted, "Everyone, this time we will protect the guild! Give it everything you have and save Levy!"

"Yeah!!"

"I'm fired up!"