Early September, early autumn, the summer heat had not completely dissipated, but the morning sunlight was not so scorching.
The residents of Magnolia went out as usual, either to work, stall their goods, or chat idly with acquaintances, exuding a rich sense of life.
Although it was still far from noon, some people were preparing to visit the Fairy Tail tavern.
Though it was noisy there, it always managed to bring people joy.
Dabulin's favorite thing was to idle in Fairy Tail, especially wandering around the Lane Engine Squad.
Since seven years ago, he had wanted more than once to join Fairy Tail, and more than once wanted to confess to Reby.
But he always found either task troublesome, so every time he gave up before starting.
Even so, he continued to run to that small tavern, for hanging out with those people was too relaxing.
The person he admired most was Nabu, who was idle like him—although Nabu insisted he just hadn't found a mission he wanted to take.
However, today when Dabulin arrived at Fairy Tail under the midday sun, he found the guild's doors surprisingly closed.
Dabulin scratched the back of his head, remembering the guild had only closed during the Great Demon Fighting Martial Arts.
He wanted to find someone to ask about the situation, but... gathering information felt just as troublesome.
As Dabulin fretted, a small winged megaphone flew over his head, broadcasting Makarov's voice:
"Attention all citizens! The Gate of Hades from the Dark Guild is attacking from the west, Fairy Tail has gone outside the city to intercept them. Please prepare for an orderly evacuation!"
"Gate of Hades?" Dabulin felt he had heard the name recently.
Though he didn't understand the situation, if President Makarov said to prepare for evacuation, he should follow…
Meanwhile, numerous similar megaphones floated in the sky over Magnolia, all broadcasting similar messages.
This matter should've been reported to the mayor for the city hall to conduct the broadcasts, but it was urgent and Makarov didn't have time for that.
The citizens hurriedly returned home upon hearing the broadcast, slightly panicked but not chaotic.
Mainly because they believed Fairy Tail would win.
After all, they were the number one guild in Fiore, and everyone could see how strong these mages were.
A few even experienced it firsthand.
The city hall had just started work this morning but immediately got busy, trying to verify the situation and contacting the Ghost of Dusk to help protect Magnolia.
The mayor looked anxiously at the western sky and suddenly saw two beams of white light shooting diagonally into the sky:
"What's that?"
…
"What's that?"
The same question arose in the mind of Franmarthis in the control room.
And the next second, the vibrations beneath his feet and the sound of explosions gave him the answer.
"It's the Magic-guided Cluster Cannon! Two shots!"
Crawford urgently pulled up images from the bottom of Netherworld Island, searching for suspicious spots, focusing and zooming in.
Below in the mountains, two small mountain tops had smoking cannon mouths retreating into the forest.
The underside and front of Netherworld Island had each been hit, creating nearly hundred-meter diameter holes.
Stone, wood splinters, and some unidentifiable flesh scattered from the holes, with a few unlucky soldiers mixed in.
"The front and underside are severely damaged, some gravity control modules are damaged…" Crawford connected his Super Ancient Document Magic with the control room's privileges, quickly reviewing Netherworld Island's damage status.
As he pulled up the damage report, he frantically questioned, "Weren't you saying the Gate of Hades actions were stealthy, and even if we flew directly over the enemy, no one would notice?!"
"How would I know, it's usually like this!" Franmarthis also couldn't understand how anyone could ambush them, "Could it be because the weather's nice today?"
"You mean because there's no cloud cover in the sky, and someone happened to be looking up, and happened to have two magic-guided cluster cannons ready, both just happened to be charged?"
Crawford scoffed, "Think a little, if it was just coincidental discovery, it'd be impossible to formulate an ambush so quickly!
"The intelligence must've been leaked, weren't three members of Nine Ghosts Sect taken down? They must've talked before dying, right?"
Crawford, applying his own perspective, thought if his life was in others' hands, he would talk, so Nine Ghosts Sect would coward like him!
"Impossible!" Franmarthis immediately denied, "The travel route was just decided by the Netherworld King today, those three didn't know at all."
Two guards rushed into the control room: "Lord Franmarthis, down below…"
Franmarthis interrupted, "I know! Gather everyone, whoever is ambushing, annihilate them!"
"Yes!"
After the guards left, Franmarthis grumbled, "Damn it, do you know how much it costs to repair those huge holes? Huh? How much does it cost?"
Crawford strangely looked at him, "Do you really spend money to repair? Isn't Netherworld Island alive?"
…
"Netherworld Island really is alive."
Rhode saw when the two cannon hits landed, the square-shaped island deformed unnaturally, as if it felt pain.
Shilba had once told him that Netherworld Island was itself a huge demon, and recklessly getting on it might result in being tripped.
So, Rhode, being the cautious type, naturally chose to probe and verify the information.
Sure enough, at the two injured spots, strange flesh appeared, and the whole island emitted odd sounds like a giant beast being awakened.
Now it really seemed one shouldn't easily board the island.
"Sniper team immediately reposition, find opportunities to strike important targets once the magic-guided cluster cannon is charged."
"Received!"
"Received!"
Alzack and Bisca, positioned on separate mountain tops, immediately lifted the cannons down the mountain with their assistants.
These two magic-guided cluster cannons were gifted by friends, one being a Jupiter used by Ghost, the other a Saturn from Dragon's Treasure.
In terms of power, Saturn was superior, as it was an improved version of the former.
At this moment, Netherworld Island began transforming again, with tentacle-like black limbs extending from its underside, constantly writhing.
The top grew two rows of black 'horns', with stones and soil piled up, resembling a row of fish fins.
And a seam opened on the front, exposing two rows of neat teeth and a giant tongue.
The earlier blasted front hole seemed to be at the nose, but on this big face, it could only be counted as a mole.
"Awoo!!!!!!"