The grand hall of Clover Town's conference building was massive, with towering stone pillars and intricate carvings of ancient mages that lined the walls. The ceiling was enchanted, resembling a night sky that slowly shifted between dawn and dusk.
Dozens of guilds from across Fiore filled the chamber, each master seated at a long circular table that symbolized unity. Powerful auras clashed subtly in the air as if the room itself was holding its breath.
I shifted awkwardly behind Makarov's seat, standing next to Macao. Most of the faces here were unfamiliar to me. After all, this was thirteen years before the era of Natsu and the others. The only ones I recognized were Lamia Scale's Guild Master, Ooba Babasaama, and her young apprentice, Jura. Then there was Bob from Blue Pegasus, with his flamboyant outfit and painted face, and standing beside him...
"Magnifique," Ichiya said softly to himself, striking a ridiculous pose with one hand on his chin.
Yeah... I won't comment about that.
I turned back to the table as Makarov let out a heavy sigh. "Let's get this started." It was starting.
Ooba stood up, leaning on her cane. "The reason we've gathered here today is because of the growing threat of dark guilds throughout Fiore. Villages have been burned to the ground. Entire communities... vanished. And the Magic Council remains powerless."
Murmurs spread across the room.
"The dark guilds are becoming bolder," Bob from Blue Pegasus added. "It's no longer just illegal magic or smuggling. They're targeting civilians at first and now mages. Kidnapping them."
The atmosphere in the room shifted. Even the more laid-back guilds like Quatro Cerberus and Mermaid Heel fell silent.
"We believe this is the work of a rising faction within the Balam Alliance," Bob continued. "They call themselves The Fallen."
Makarov's eyes narrowed at the mention of that name.
"The Fallen?" I whispered to Macao.
"A dark guild that specializes in forbidden magic and assassinations," Macao replied grimly. "They're ruthless."
Nothing comes to my memory, about them. I guess they were destroyed years before canon, which means.
I glanced at Makarov, but his expression was unreadable.
"The Fallen is moving in the shadows," Ooba spoke up, her tone calm but firm. "But there are others as well. Tartaros. Grimoire Heart. And... rumors of a new guild... Oración Seis."
"Tartaros?" one of the masters echoed. "Never heard of them."
"Few have," Bob replied. "But their actions are already leaving scars across the continent. And unlike the others... rumors are that their members are demons from the Books of Zeref."
The mention of Zeref's name sent chills down their spine.
Zeref…
I enjoyed his character a lot, being cursed is what makes him evil. The only reason he is cursed is because of a selfless act of love for his brother. He probably would've been an amazing mature soft older brother to Natsu but alas, that didn't happen.
Overall I think he is one of the most unappreciated character's of the whole series, and for sure the best villain. Way much better than that black lizard.
Perhaps I could help him. I made a mental note and explore my inventory later, for sure there is something there to help the poor guy.
Anyways, I turned my attention back to the meeting.
"Then we must act," Master Goldmine from Quatro Cerberus said, slamming his hand on the table. "We can't wait for the Magic Council to catch up."
"What do you propose, Goldmine?" Bob asked.
"A united front," Goldmine replied. "If the dark guilds are forming alliances, then so must we."
"You're asking us to set aside our rivalries and work together?" Jose Porla scoffed. "Fairy Tail can't even go a month without destroying half of Magnolia!"
"HEY!" Macao shouted, ready to jump across the table.
"He's not wrong," Makarov muttered, rubbing his temple.
Ooba's cane slammed against the floor, silencing the room. "Enough bickering! This is bigger than guild rivalries. Innocent lives are at stake."
The room fell quiet again.
I glanced around, noticing some of the younger mages like Jura and Ichiya watching closely. We were here to observe and learn... but I couldn't help feeling like we were standing at the edge of something much bigger.
"We'll need more than unity," Makarov said. "We need information. We need to know where these dark guilds are hiding and what their true goal is."
"We've already started investigating," Makarov continued. "But Fairy Tail can't do this alone."
Jura stepped forward beside Ooba as she nodded. "Lamia Scale will support this effort. We will protect the innocent and crush those who threaten them."
"Blue Pegasus will assist as well," Bob added with a smile. "Though... Ichiya may need to work on his stealth skills first."
"Beauty cannot be hidden, Master," Ichiya said, striking yet another bizarre pose.
I nearly choked trying not to laugh.
More guilds slowly began to pledge their support. Even the more reluctant ones like Phantom Lord agreed—though their master, Jose Porla, clearly had his own motives.
Makarov leaned forward, his expression serious. "Our first step is gathering intelligence. We need to identify the strongholds of these dark guilds and determine their next moves. We can't fight an enemy we can't see."
"Lamia Scale has scouts who can assist," Ooba offered. "They've already begun tracking movements near the western mountains."
"Blue Pegasus excels in information networks," Bob added. "We can send word through our contacts and dig into the underground channels."
Goldmine crossed his arms. "Direct confrontation is inevitable. We need strike teams ready to intervene when the time comes."
Jose Porla smirked. "Phantom Lord is more than capable of handling direct engagements. Just say the word."
Makarov shot him a look but didn't argue. "We need subtlety first. If we storm in without understanding their plans, we could be playing into their hands."
Jura nodded. "Then we should coordinate efforts. Assign tasks to those best suited for them. Gather intelligence, locate their bases, and be ready when the time comes to act."
The room buzzed with murmurs of agreement. Plans were already forming, and alliances were being forged. This was only the beginning.
Suddenly, the air shifted.
A deafening explosion rocked the hall, sending debris flying. The stone walls cracked as masked figures emerged from the shadows, dark magic radiating from their hands.
"AMBUSH!" someone shouted.
Guild masters sprang into action, spells clashing as chaos erupted. I barely had time to react before a blast of energy hurled me backward. The grand hall, once filled with strategic discussion, had become a battlefield.
I hit the ground hard, pain exploding through my body. But before I could even take a breath, I felt it, the familiar warmth of my regeneration kicking in. My wounds sealed almost instantly, the pain fading as I pushed myself back to my feet.
Reaching into my inventory, I equipped my golden armor, feeling its weight settle over me. The polished metal glowed faintly in the dim light, a reassuring presence in the chaos. This was Gilgamesh's armor from the series. It is nearly indestructible and enchants the wearer's physical abilities.
First, I needed to check on Master Makarov. I spotted him near the fallen table, groaning as he sat up. Blood trickled from a gash on his forehead, and his robes were torn, but he didn't seem to be in immediate danger.
"Master, are you alright?" I asked, kneeling beside him.
He let out a weary chuckle. "Tch... I've had worse. What about you?"
"I'm fine," I assured him, though my pulse was still pounding from the sudden attack. But then my attention snapped to Macao.
He was sprawled on the ground, struggling to breathe. Deep gashes ran across his chest, his clothes soaked with blood. I rushed over, my heart hammering in my chest.
"Macao! Hang in there!" I pressed a hand against one of his wounds, trying to slow the bleeding.
His eyes flickered open, filled with pain. "Damn... didn't see that one coming..."
Around us, the battle raged on, but at that moment, all I could think about was keeping him alive.
Reaching into my inventory again, I grabbed two senzu beans—one for Master Makarov and one for Macao. "Eat this," I told Master Makarov, handing him the small green bean.
He raised an eyebrow but didn't question it, popping it into his mouth. Almost instantly, the wounds on his forehead closed, and strength returned to his expression.
I turned back to Macao, gently placing a senzu bean in his mouth. "Chew, it'll heal you."
He weakly bit down, and within moments, his wounds began to close. His breathing steadied, and he managed to sit up, looking at me in disbelief. "What... what was that?"
"No time to explain," I said, rising to my feet. "We need to get back in the fight."
The air crackled with magic as I turned to face the attackers. The enemy mages were strong, their power pulsing like a dark tide sweeping across the battlefield, but they weren't stronger than me. I smirked.
A blast of fire erupted from one of them, surging toward me like a flaming serpent. I raised my arm, summoning a golden shield that absorbed the attack in an instant. With a flick of my wrist, I sent a shockwave through the floor, knocking several of them off their feet.
Another charged at me, a heavy axe glowing with enchanted energy. I sidestepped at the last moment, catching his wrist and twisting it sharply. The weapon clattered to the ground as I sent him flying with a single punch.
More enemies swarmed, spells lighting up the room in streaks of electricity and bursts of shadow. I weaved through them, my armor deflecting blows as I countered with precise, devastating strikes. A swordsman tried to catch me off guard, but I caught his blade between my palms and shattered it with raw strength before driving my fist into his chest, sending him sprawling.
I could hear Master Makarov roaring, his massive titan form sweeping through the battlefield. Macao, now fully healed, fought beside him, flames coiling around his fists. The other guild masters were holding their ground, but I could tell they were struggling.
One of the enemy mages stood apart from the rest, watching me with a knowing smirk. There was something different about him, his magic felt heavier, more refined. Without a word, he raised his hand, and a black spear of energy shot toward me with terrifying speed.
I barely managed to dodge, the spear cutting through a stone pillar behind me as if it were paper. Whoever this guy was, he was on another level compared to the rest.
Good. I needed a real challenge.