"Defense magic, quickly prepare defense magic!"
The crowd was in chaos; some pessimists were almost ready to say their last words.
But their desire to survive supported them, the belief to never easily give up supported them, and the companions nearby also supported them.
"There's still a way! Fairy's Ball!" Rhode heard someone mention defense magic,
"I know of a magic said to be Absolute Defense! I need enough magic power, though I've never succeeded before, but…"
Mira unhesitatingly held Rhode's hand: "I believe in you, this time you'll definitely succeed."
"I believe in you, this time you'll definitely succeed," Makarov repeated Mira's words.
Kildas extended his hand: "Magic power is something that, no matter how much you need, just take it."
"I believe too!"
"It will definitely succeed!"
"Feel free to use my magic power!"
"..."
The guild companions unanimously expressed their support to Rhode, and Ultear and Melty, deeply moved, joined in.
The group formed a circle holding hands, using unconditional trust as a bridge, continuously channeling magic power onto Rhode.
Rhode recalled all he learned about the Fairy's Ball, methodically controlling the magic power.
The voices of his companions echoed in his heart.
The determination to survive, the courage to oppose strong foes, the resolve to forge ahead together...
These powerful emotions surged into Rhode's heart all at once.
Mebius's ethereal voice also sounded in Rhode's ear: 'It will succeed, just move forward, Fairy Tail.'
Golden light shone from everyone, spreading around, flowing over the forest, flowing over the hills.
The Black Dragon's breath spewed downward, swiftly spreading, covering the entire Celestial Wolf Island.
"Fairy's Ball, activate!"
The golden light gradually solidified, forming a translucent protective shield around the Celestial Wolf Island, enclosing the entire island within.
The Black Dragon's breath poured down, engulfing the protective shield entirely, stirring up gigantic tsunamis around the island.
At this moment, almost all magic sensing devices on the continent detected a sharp rise in the magic power concentration here.
The Council and various magic-realm-focused countries' alert agencies were in chaos, urgently relaying alarms to the highest levels.
Countries urgently convened their ministers for discussions and summoned the presidents of major guilds for consultation.
The Council members at this time had already received communications from Lahar and Mest, originally discussing strategies against Zeref and Demon's Heart.
Now the sudden alarm forced them to conduct new investigations and analyses.
Of course, with the confirmed enemy-engagement of Fairy Tail there, the Council concluded: 'With such a magic power concentration, no one could possibly survive.'
...
It was a bit cold, damp.
Rhode felt like he was in the water.
He opened his eyes, unable to see that forest and the towering Celestial Wolf Tree. He moved slightly and found he was indeed floating on the water surface.
He tried swimming, but the water seemed only waist-deep here.
Rhode stood up, successfully stepping on the bottom, looked around, feeling it was somewhat dim, surrounded by water, foggy, with faint mountain walls visible at a distance.
If he remembered correctly, he seemed to have been using the Fairy's Ball to fend off the Black Dragon's breath; did he fail?
No, since he survived, it should be a success, right? Where did the others go?
"Mira? President? Wendy?"
Rhode called out a few times, but no one answered, only his own echo responded.
He furrowed his brows in thought, pondering if Celestial Wolf Island was gone, flattened and partially submerged by seawater, thus the surroundings were all water.
So the others should be fine as well.
Rhode tried to think this way, though he couldn't help but feel somewhat anxious inside.
Splash...
A sound of water came from behind, Rhode looked over with some expectation, a blurry silhouette in the mist was approaching him.
Rhode, with some anticipation, waded slightly forward until he could make out the outline of the approaching figure.
"Is this...a River Crab? That is..."
Rhode, feeling dizzy, looked at the strange giant crab before him, mainly noticing the towering, lush green seaweed beside it.
If he wasn't seeing things, wasn't that a bush?
This... where have I ended up?