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A little earlier.
Just as Erza reunited with her friends, the Magic Council reached a decision on how to deal with the Tower of Heaven.
With an overwhelming nine-to-one vote, the ten high-ranking members approved Siegrain's proposal to activate Etherion against the Tower of Heaven.
What caused Chairman Crawford, known for his indecisiveness, to suddenly change his mind?
He ignored Makarov and Magic Councilor Yajima's objections and announced the activation of Etherion, completely disregarding the lives of Erza and her companions within the Tower of Heaven.
The only one who could give Crawford the confidence to openly offend a Ten Wizard Saints was, naturally, another Ten Wizard Saints.
At this moment, an additional middle-aged man, about forty years old, was in the meeting room. He wore a tall hat, a purple-black robe, and had a handlebar mustache.
The man's name was Jose Porla, one of the Ten Wizard Saints and also the Guild Master of the Magic guild Phantom Lord, a person of extraordinary status.
Hearing that Makarov requested the Chairman to hold a high-level meeting, Jose, who was hostile toward Fairy Tail, rushed over uninvited.
After learning the meeting's topic, Jose unhesitatingly chose to support Siegrain, demanding that the Chairman use Etherion to destroy the evil Tower of Heaven.
Chairman Crawford was already in a difficult position regarding the proposal to deal with the Tower of Heaven because Makarov was present, as Makarov was famously protective of his guild members.
However, with Jose, also a Ten Wizard Saints, on his side, Crawford became resolute. After all, the title of Ten Wizard Saints was bestowed by the Magic Council. If Makarov dared to cause trouble here, the Council wouldn't mind revoking that honor.
Looking at these foolish Magic Councilors, Makarov was furious.
Facing the impending activation of the war Magic, how could he stand by and watch his children be annihilated by Etherion?
So Makarov acted without hesitation.
Etherion required the joint authorization of at least seven Magic Councilors to activate. If he could control three of them before it launched, coupled with his friend Magic Councilor Yajima's dissenting vote, he could stop the Magic from activating.
The crime of attacking a Magic Councilor was severe, even for a Ten Wizard Saints, but Makarov didn't care.
However, two figures blocked the enraged Makarov.
"Master Makarov, don't be angry."
"To maintain order in the Magic World, and to prevent Black Mages from having a chance to rise again, though regrettable, some sacrifices are necessary."
A slightly high-pitched voice came from Jose's mouth. It sounded like he was trying to console Makarov, but anyone could hear the schadenfreude in his tone.
Since its establishment, Phantom Lord had been at odds with Fairy Tail. Jose had also been taught a lesson by Makarov before and held a grudge against him.
From the Magic satellite footage, Jose saw Erza's figure. Being able to weaken Fairy Tail's strength under the guise of "justice" was something Jose was more than happy to do.
And Siegrain, who intended to make Erza a sacrifice for the Tower of Heaven, certainly wouldn't let Makarov ruin his plans.
Although the Tower of Heaven was not yet fully completed, it didn't prevent the early execution of the plan to revive the Black Mage.
"Lord Makarov, I understand your feelings."
"Although I also want to save the people there, we all know how terrifying the R-System is. If that Magic is allowed to remain in this world, only more people will die because of it."
"He who hesitates is lost. My apologies."
After a righteous speech, Siegrain and Jose, two individuals with ulterior motives, tacitly worked together to block and neutralize Makarov's attacks.
Even Makarov, with his formidable strength, was temporarily unable to break free from their entanglement.
If that was the case, then there was only one Magic left to use.
Just as Makarov clasped his hands together in front of his chest, preparing to unleash his ultimate Magic, the Magic Councilors' authorization was completed.
The Magic Council's ultimate weapon, the war Magic Etherion, possessing the power to destroy a nation, was activated.
A massive Magic Power beam, connected from the Council headquarters to the Magic satellite, precisely locked onto its target through the satellite's positioning. In less than half a minute, it struck the Tower of Heaven.
This scene made Makarov's eyes burn with rage. He frantically looked at the gray satellite image on the Magic screen, praying that the children would escape.
Jose chuckled, no longer lingering. He wanted to leave while Makarov's attention was diverted.
With the S-Class Mage, the Fairy Queen, dying from the Council's Magic, Makarov's protective nature meant he might clash with the Magic Council soon.
With Makarov and Erza absent, how many powerful Mages were currently guarding Fairy Tail headquarters?
According to intelligence from spies in Magnolia, among Fairy Tail's other four S-Class Mages, three were rarely in Magnolia, with only Demon Mirajane remaining to guard the guild.
This was Fairy Tail's weakest defensive moment, and the best time to destroy Fairy Tail.
A brilliant idea suddenly appeared in Jose's mind.
Makarov and the Magic Council clashing and suffering mutual losses, and Fairy Tail dying a violent death—how sweet that sounded.
Thinking of this, Jose couldn't help but lick his lips and slowly murmured, "Fairy Tail, our feud is finally coming to an end."
"If everything goes as I expect, from now on, Phantom Lord should revert to its original name. The Dark Guild Blue Skull will once again rule Magnolia!"
Soon after Jose left, the satellite image, which had been flickering with white dots in the meeting room, returned to normal.
Everyone present stared intently at the screen.
Unexpectedly, the Tower of Heaven was not destroyed by Etherion. Instead, its entire form underwent a massive transformation. The tall tower had turned into a colossal Magic crystal!
"What... what is going on?!"
"A super-large Magic crystal..."
"Could it be that the Tower of Heaven was just a container?"
"..."
"Siegrain, give us an explanation!"
Crawford, realizing he had been deceived, quickly reacted and searched for the proposer of the motion. However, Siegrain, who had just been there, had already vanished during the previous panic among the Magic Councilors.
At the same time, in the building where the Custody Enforcement Unit was located.
The sturdy building suddenly developed countless cracks due to aging, and rubble continuously fell from the ceiling. The entire Custody Enforcement Unit building aged and collapsed in an instant.
Fortunately, there were no casualties.
Mest fell to the ground, panting. His frequent use of Teleportation in a very short time to rescue all team members before the building completely collapsed had nearly drained his Magic Power, and his body was too exhausted to stand.
Mest gritted his teeth, looking at the destroyed building. "Siegrain's female secretary—that woman's Magic can control the time of objects!"
"She and Siegrain are working together!"
Compared to his friend's anger, Lahar was much calmer. He needed to report to the Magic Councilors that the major criminal Jellal had been rescued, and that Siegrain was highly suspicious and needed to be controlled as soon as possible.
However, as soon as he pushed open the meeting room door, Lahar knew it was too late.
The Magic Councilors in the meeting room were in disarray. Some were silent, some were red-faced, and some were cursing Siegrain for instigating them to activate Etherion, but no one dared to admit their own mistakes.
When did the Magic Council become like this?
Lahar sighed inwardly and walked toward Magic Councilor Yajima, the only calm high-ranking member, to report that Ultear had rescued Jellal.
Yajima nodded without saying anything, only looking at his grief-stricken old friend. For Makarov, there was nothing sadder than witnessing his children's deaths firsthand.
Lahar then noticed the satellite image on the screen. "What is that thing?"
Yajima was about to explain, but his expression suddenly changed. He forcefully pulled his grieving old friend. "Makarov, look!"
Makarov numbly followed his old friend's gaze, only to see a humanoid figure, about ten meters tall, flying out from the shadow of the structure that had transformed into a Magic crystal tower in the satellite image on the screen.
It was actually a humanoid Dragon Magic Machine!
Erza, Natsu, Gray, Lucy, two cats, and several people Makarov didn't recognize were all clinging to that Magic Machine.
Only Noah was nowhere to be seen.
Staring at the majestic Magic Machine in the image, Makarov smiled knowingly. "This kid—he has such a good thing and didn't even let me play with it first."