"They're terrifying."
"How are they so strong?"
"Are these Fairy Tail wizards?"
"Oh my God!"
Watching Natsu and the others take on ten opponents apiece, the Phantom Lord members began to lose their nerve. Even with so many allies on their side, their enemies were simply too strong.
"Drawing True Magic-Wild Rampage!" Reedus, the guild's resident painter, drew several boars with enormous tusks on his drawing board. The moment he finished, a brilliant True Magic circle lit up on its surface. The painted boars came to life and charged furiously through the chaotic hall.
"Hey! There are two cats over here." Several drooling Phantom Lord members surrounded Happy and Carla, staring at them strangely.
"Don't worry, Carla. I'm a wizard too. I'll protect you." Happy spread his wings and took to the air. Somehow getting his hands on tables and bricks, he hurled them at the enemies with wild abandon.
"Hmph, I don't need you to protect me." Carla snorted as she flew up, though the corners of her lips curved slightly.
Down below, the Phantom Lord lackeys ran in all directions as Happy chased them. It was terrifying. One careless moment, and a brick, stick, or stone would come raining down on their heads. None of these attacks involved particularly powerful True Magic, but getting hit still hurt!
"Carla, look! Aren't I amazing?" Happy watched several Phantom Lord members flee with their hands over their heads, then turned to Carla with a smug look.
"..."
Carla ignored him and flew straight over to Wendy.
Meanwhile, Makarov had made his way alone to Phantom Lord's top floor.
"Jose." Terrifying golden magical power blazed around Makarov as he stared at Jose, who sat on the highest seat.
"Tsk, tsk..." Looking down at the furious Makarov, Jose grinned in surprise. "It's been so long, and you're already this angry?"
Bam! Makarov enlarged one hand and smashed it down at Jose in a rage. "I'm not here to chat with you, Jose."
"Hmm? A thought body? Have you already fled the guild?" Makarov stared at Jose, who remained unharmed beneath his fist. His body had merely rippled like flowing light.
"Heh... A battle between two of the Ten Wizard Saints could shatter the heavens and tear the earth apart. I simply prefer a more sensible way to win," Jose said, looking at Makarov.
"Where are you hiding? Come out and fight me fair and square." Makarov gritted his teeth as he glared at Jose's thought body.
"Now, now! No hurry. Take a look at this first." Jose calmly spread his hands, and a blonde girl appeared at his feet.
"Lucy!" Makarov stared at the girl at Jose's feet in shock. "What?! Why?"
"Hehehe." Jose gave an evil chuckle. A dagger appeared in his hand, and he thrust it toward her.
"Stop!" Seeing Jose attack Lucy, Makarov hurriedly moved to stop him, his face filled with horror.
"Waaah, waaah..." Just then, sobbing sounded behind Makarov.
"What? This man!"
Makarov's heart tightened at the sight of the man who had suddenly appeared.
"So sad..."
"What do you think you're doing?!" Just as Makarov was about to be attacked, a wall exploded. Xi Feng burst through and punched Aria in the face.
"What?!" This time, it was Jose's turn to be shocked by Xi Feng's sudden arrival.
"Xi Feng." Makarov felt a wave of relief when he saw him.
"Master, are you all right?" Standing in front of Makarov, Xi Feng spoke quietly while watching Jose.
"I'm fine." Makarov brushed the dust off himself and shook his head. Then he looked worriedly at Lucy at Jose's feet. "But they still have Lucy."
"Lucy..." Xi Feng's eyes flickered as he murmured her name.
Jose glanced down at Lucy and gave an evil grin. "Long time no see, Xi Feng. Care for a little chat?"
"I have no interest in talking to a freak like you. Master, let's go." Xi Feng rejected him outright, then turned to Makarov.
"Go? But Lucy..." Before Makarov could finish his puzzled question, he saw that Lucy was already draped over Xi Feng's shoulder.
"What?!" Jose stared in shock at Lucy on Xi Feng's shoulder, then demanded, "How did you do that?!"
"Because you're too weak," Xi Feng said flatly. Then he addressed Makarov again. "Master, let's leave."
"Yes." Though Makarov wondered how Xi Feng had done it, he knew this was no time for questions. Xi Feng's repeated insistence on leaving also told him that rescuing Lucy had taken a considerable toll on him.
"Damn it!" Watching Xi Feng and the others leave unharmed, Jose's face twisted viciously. He knew he could not attack now. The ambush on Makarov had failed, and who here could defeat him? "Fairy Tail!"
Chapter 50: War Begins in Earnest
"Hah..." After leaving Phantom Lord, Xi Feng dropped to his knees, sweat streaming down his forehead as he gasped for breath.
"Xi Feng!" Seeing him suddenly fall to his knees, Makarov asked anxiously, "What's wrong?!"
"I'm fine." Xi Feng shook his head and forced a smile. "I just used up too much magical power."
"What ability could drain you this badly?" Makarov asked with a frown.
"Stopping time..." Xi Feng smiled bitterly. Although he knew Jose had been hired by Lucy's father, he still feared that Jose might have another trick up his sleeve. After all, he was one of the Ten Wizard Saints. In the end, Xi Feng had been forced to project the Evil Eye of Stopping the World.
The Evil Eye of Stopping the World was Gaspar's Sacred Gear from High School DxD, a Sacred Gear that could disregard the rules and stop time.
But Xi Feng had never expected projecting the Evil Eye of Stopping the World to be so exhausting. Manifesting a power that defied the rules truly took an extraordinary toll. Moreover, with his current strength, he could only stop time for a single second.
"Stopping time?!"
Though Makarov was shocked, he knew Xi Feng had many secrets. He could even bring people back to life, so what was one more ability to stop time? Makarov asked no further questions about it, only saying worriedly, "Then, right now, you..."
"I'm fine." Xi Feng shook his head. "I'm just a little low on magical power. A night's rest will be enough. For now, let's get everyone from the guild back."
"All right."
After wreaking havoc at Phantom Lord, the Fairy Tail members were in much better spirits. They had more or less settled the score. Natsu and Elfman, however, were still dissatisfied. Gajeel had toyed with both of them, and they insisted on going back to teach him a lesson.
If Makarov had not held them back, they would have run off already.
"Xi Feng, thank you."
Xi Feng was sitting off to one side, drinking fruit wine, when he heard Lucy's voice behind him.
"Hmm?" Xi Feng turned to her with a puzzled look, then shook his head. "You don't need to thank me. We're in the same guild. We're family."
"Xi Feng..." Tears gathered in Lucy's eyes at his words. She wiped them away and nodded firmly. "Yes."
Boom! Just then, a series of thunderous crashes sounded outside the guild.
"What?! What's happening?!" Alarmed, the Fairy Tail members immediately rose and rushed outside.
Gasps rang out the moment they reached the street and saw what was happening.
Not far from the Fairy Tail guildhall, an enormous walking guildhall was advancing toward them, one heavy step at a time! Emblazoned on it was the unmistakable emblem of Phantom Lord!
"Wh-what is that?! A guildhall that can move?!" Every Fairy Tail member who saw it stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
"The Magic Converging Cannon, Jupiter..."
Deep inside Phantom Lord's guildhall, Jose watched the Fairy Tail members standing ready outside their guild through a True Magic mirror. Veins bulged on his forehead as he said coldly, "Disappear."
A series of sharp mechanical clicks rang out, and a cannon barrel slowly extended from the front, aiming straight at the Fairy Tail guildhall nearby!
Looking into that deep, pitch-black muzzle, the Fairy Tail members felt chills run down their backs. They did not know what would happen next, but they knew it could not be anything good.
As they stood stunned, terrifying blue-black magical power rapidly gathered at the cannon's muzzle. Within moments, it had formed an enormous, dreadful sphere of magical light!
Makarov's eyes widened at the sight of the sphere, and he hurriedly shouted, "Everyone, get down!"
At the same time, he charged forward.
"Master!"
"Gramps!"
The guild members watched Makarov rush out, their hearts filled with worry.
"Defensive True Magic-Three God Pillars!"
Makarov pressed his palms together, magical power pouring out of him without end. A blue True Magic circle appeared beneath his feet, and three pillars thrust upward, forming a triangle in front of him.
Boom!
The black beam struck the Three God Pillars head-on, sending sparks flying before exploding with an earth-shaking roar.
"Jose, what are you trying to do?!" Once the dust cleared, Makarov glared furiously at Phantom Lord's enormous guildhall.
"Makarov! Hand over Lucy Heartfilia! Right now!" Jose demanded, his expression dark.
"You've got to be kidding!"
"What guild would hand one of its own over to the enemy?!"
"Lucy is our friend!"
"Get lost!"
"Go back where you came from!"
Before Makarov could even speak, the guild members erupted in anger, shouting curses at Jose.
Before you continue