Above the ruins of the Phantom Lord guild, thick smoke billowed into the sky, threatening to envelop the entire world.
Yet, amidst this chaos, a black figure shot past like a bolt of lightning.
It was Ace, weaving through the smoke like a phantom, his movements agile and nimble.
It was just before dawn.
In this disaster-ravaged city, the first light of morning seemed exceptionally faint and dim.
He had originally planned to go straight to Phantom Lord's headquarters—since they had already made their move, he intended to be thorough.
But just as he was about to set off, a strong sense of unease welled up from the depths of his Digital Soul.
It wasn't a premonition of battle, nor a warning of danger, but something deeper... a sense of attachment.
"The guild..."
Images flashed through his mind: Mirajane's forced smile, Lisanna's held-back tears, and Master Makarov's drunken yet undeniably weary back.
Gajeel was just a pawn of Phantom Lord; the real threat was yet to come.
His black trench coat whipped in the wind as Ace increased his speed once more.
...
On the eastern horizon, the morning sun had just revealed a sliver of golden light.
And from the direction of Magnolia—a massive wave of magical power was emanating.
At the ruins of the Fairy Tail guild, the morning light scattered across the wreckage.
Everyone was busy clearing debris and repairing the damaged structures.
A few young mages carried broken beams, Gray used his ice magic to temporarily secure cracked walls, and Lucy and Levy sorted through scattered mission documents.
Elsewhere, Mirajane stood before a communication Lacrima, desperately asking Laxus for help.
But the response was cold; Laxus arrogantly stated that the guild's troubles had nothing to do with him.
"If you want my help, maybe you should be my woman," his voice sneered from the crystal.
Bang!
The Magic Lacrima was shattered by an enraged Mirajane.
She had no choice but to abandon the idea, tears streaming from her eyes.
"I can't believe... that kind of person..."
"Is he really a member of Fairy Tail?" Cana asked, furious.
"Mira-nee..." Lisanna walked over, her voice choked with emotion.
"It's okay." Mirajane looked up, forcing a smile through her tears. "If the guild falls, we can rebuild it. I'll join the fight next time too. As long as everyone..."
Her voice trailed off.
Her gaze fell upon the scene nearby.
Two members of Team Shadow Gear—Jet and Droy—were currently lying in makeshift hospital beds, their bodies covered in gruesome wounds, their blood staining the white sheets.
The doctors had done everything they could, but due to the severity of the iron spikes, both were still in a deep coma.
And then there was Ace... He had gone to find Gajeel alone, and there was still no word from him.
"As long as everyone... is okay..." Mirajane's voice grew quieter, and finally, the shell of strength she had been struggling to maintain began to crack.
Her shoulders started to tremble slightly. Her fingers clenched a splintered piece of wood so tightly that her nails dug into her palm.
"Mira-nee..." Lisanna's heart ached, and she moved to hug her sister.
But someone else was faster.
A pair of strong arms gently wrapped around Mirajane's shoulders from behind.
Mirajane's body stiffened, then went completely soft.
"Ace..?" She didn't turn around, her voice trembling with disbelief.
"Mhm." Ace rested his chin lightly on the top of her head, pulling her deeper into his embrace.
"I'm back."
Mirajane's tense body finally relaxed completely.
She turned around, burying her face in Ace's chest, and gripped the lapels of his trench coat tightly.
The tears she had suppressed all night finally broke through.
"I-I'm sorry..."
"Its okay... if you're tired, just let it all out." Ace said, gently stroking her back, his voice softer than ever before.
Mirajane's tears soaked the front of Ace's coat.
This girl finally allowed herself to show her own vulnerability.
Their guildmates all stopped what they were doing, watching the scene in silence.
No one spoke; no one interrupted.
Lisanna covered her mouth, tears welling up in her own eyes.
Just then—
"Look over there!" Happy's cry broke the silence.
Everyone looked in the direction his wing was pointing.
On the eastern horizon, an impossibly huge shadow was slowly moving toward Fairy Tail.
At first, they thought it was a mountain, but mountains don't move.
Then, they thought it was a cloud, but clouds don't have such sharp, distinct outlines.
As it drew closer, the shadow's true form became clear.
It was a fortress.
A colossal, mobile fortress constructed of steel, rock, and magic.
Its scale far surpassed any ordinary building, estimated to be at least a hundred meters tall.
At its base were enormous caterpillar tracks that rumbled deeply as they crushed the earth.
The fortress's surface was covered in thick armor plates bearing the emblem of Phantom Lord—a ghost's skull entwined with chains.
What was truly terrifying was that the towering fortress resembled a dormant beast, and the giant cannon barrel at its front was like a hideous fang revealed as it opened its gaping maw!
At this moment, the massive cannon began to adjust its angle with a slow but inexorable rhythm, as if declaring to the world that any enemy who dared challenge this impregnable bastion would be mercilessly crushed.
The cannon's muzzle was aimed directly at the Fairy Tail guild.
"What... the hell is that thing..." Gray sucked in a cold breath.
"I never would have expected this." Erza, who had just been bathing, was now wrapped only in a towel with bare feet.
"Those guys... to think they'd attack in such a way."
The fortress drew nearer. Its shadow already blanketed half of Magnolia.
Residents on the streets fled in panic, and shops shuttered their doors.
The entire city descended into chaos.
The fortress halted about five hundred meters from the guild ruins.
The muzzle of the main cannon—the Jupiter Cannon—began to glow with a blinding magical light.
It was charging for a blast.
Erza looked at the magic cannon about to fire, gritted her teeth, and rushed out of the guild, her towel replaced instantly by armor.
"I won't let you destroy the guild!" Erza shouted.
She took a step forward, a Magic Circle unfolding in her hand.
"Requip: Adamantine Armor!"
Heavy golden plate mail covered her entire body.
A massive tower shield appeared in her left hand, and a heavy war hammer in her right.
This was Erza's strongest defensive armor, specifically designed to withstand large-scale magical attacks.
"Erza! What are you doing?!" the others exclaimed in shock.
"I'm blocking that shot," Erza's voice came from beneath her helmet, calm and resolute.
"Otherwise, the entire guild will be leveled."
"Are you crazy?! How could you possibly block a magic cannon of that power—"
"I am an S-Class Mage of Fairy Tail," Erza interrupted. "Protecting the guild is my responsibility."
The light in the fortress's cannon muzzle reached its peak as the charging was complete.