Chapter 146: The Battle Begins!
"Lucy, don't be afraid. Fairy Tail is the strongest guild. We'll smash the Phantom Lord to pieces for you!"
"Protecting the young lady is what a real man should do!"
"Lucy, I'm still waiting to be the first to read your novel. Don't give up now!"
"You're a member of our strongest team. You have to take charge of your own life!"
Not a single member of Fairy Tail blamed Lucy for being the catalyst of the conflict. Instead, they all comforted her.
Finally, Makarov waved his hand and declared boldly:
"Lucy, since you've joined our guild, you're one of us—my child. No one can bully Makarov's children. Let's go, we're heading to Phantom Lord!"
Hearing their heartfelt words, Lucy burst into tears.
"Master, how are we getting there?"
At that moment, George raised a crucial question.
The city of Magnolia was quite far from Phantom Lord's headquarters. Most of the guild's mages couldn't fly—they couldn't possibly run all the way there. If they did, they'd be exhausted by the time they arrived.
"I've heard the Magic Council has spatial magic tools that allow large groups of mages to teleport between cities. Does Fairy Tail have something like that?"
"What are you talking about, George? Fairy Tail doesn't have the money for such expensive magic tools. We're taking the train!" Makarov waved his hand awkwardly.
"I have a good relationship with the mayor. He'll arrange a special train for us so everyone can rest and recharge on the way."
Ever since Natsu and the others grew up, the guild had been in financial trouble every month. It was only after George joined that they started making a profit again. There was no way they could afford ridiculously expensive spatial magic tools.
"Alright, the train works too."
George blinked but didn't press the awkward topic further.
Still, he thought to himself:
Once I advance in alchemy, the first thing I'll learn is how to make Portkeys.
"Let's move out!"
Makarov waved his hand again, and everyone rushed toward the train station.
Even Mirajane, who no longer fought, came along this time—mostly because leaving her alone at the guild might be dangerous.
As for Gajeel, who had been physically knocked out by Makarov, he was also brought onto the train as ironclad evidence of Phantom Lord's attack.
Once the train started moving, Natsu immediately succumbed to motion sickness. George used a Levitation Charm to keep him floating mid-air to ease his discomfort.
Unexpectedly, Gajeel, who had just regained consciousness, also started suffering from motion sickness.
"Something's not right..."
Seeing Gajeel's condition, George grew suspicious and turned to Mirajane:
"Mirajane, does Laxus get motion sickness too?"
"I'm not sure, but I've never seen him ride a train. When he goes on missions, he usually moves as lightning—it's very fast."
Mirajane thought for a moment before answering.
Then, Makarov called George over and explained quietly:
"Laxus gets motion sickness too. I've asked some old friends about it, and apparently, it's said that all Dragon Slayers have this weakness with vehicles. So if you ever consider becoming a Dragon Slayer, keep that in mind."
"All Dragon Slayers get motion sickness? What kind of ridiculous weakness is that?"
George couldn't help but complain.
But after thinking it over, he decided it wasn't a big deal for him.
First, he could fly—he didn't need vehicles. Second, he planned to learn Apparition later—who would ride a train when they could teleport?
Lastly, he believed that as he explored more magical worlds in the future, he'd eventually find a way to remove this weakness.
As the train sped toward Oak Town, where Phantom Lord was based, the guild members' excitement grew.
Meanwhile, in Oak Town—the oldest city in the northeastern part of the kingdom—inside the largest building at its center, Phantom Lord's headquarters, Master Jose was holding a meeting with the Element Four:
"Once Gajeel returns, if everything goes smoothly, our next plan will be..."
He had sent Gajeel to attack Fairy Tail's mages, knowing full well that Makarov's temper would ensure Fairy Tail retaliated with most of its members the next day.
At that point, he could send two of the Element Four to kidnap their target while distracting Makarov, allowing Sol (the Air Element) to ambush him and drain his magic power.
Without Makarov, a member of the Ten Wizard Saints, Fairy Tail would be powerless.
When the Magic Council investigated, Phantom Lord could claim Fairy Tail had attacked first, and they were merely defending themselves.
As long as Fairy Tail was completely wiped out—and with the wealth of the Lotte Filia conglomerate secured—Jose could leverage his connections in the Council to ensure minimal consequences.
"Don't worry, Master. With Gajeel's strength, as long as he doesn't foolishly attack their S-Class mages, there shouldn't be any problems."
Aria, the leader of the Element Four, replied with tears streaming from his eyes.
Jose nodded.
"Gajeel may be arrogant, but he knows his limits. He wouldn't take unnecessary risks."
BOOM!
Just as they were finalizing their plans, a furious roar erupted from below:
"Fairy Tail is here! Jose, come out and face your death!"
"It's Makarov! Why is he here already? What the hell is Gajeel doing?"
Hearing Makarov's roar, Jose shot to his feet.
"Change of plans! I'll fight Makarov. Aria, stay hidden and strike when the time is right. The rest of you, take down Fairy Tail's other mages with everything you've got!"
Downstairs in the guild hall, Phantom Lord's mages—who had been drinking in a space ten times larger than Fairy Tail's—immediately charged into battle as Fairy Tail burst through the doors.
The all-out war had begun.
"Fire Magic: Purple Net!"
"Pipe Magic: Smoke Iron Fist!"
"Bullet Magic: Lightning Cannon!"
"Pict Magic: Rampage of Ambition!"
"Wood Make: Bashful Love Dam!"
Aside from the magic of Erza, Natsu, and the others, George finally witnessed the spells of Fairy Tail's other members firsthand.
While not overwhelmingly powerful, each was unique.
Right now, every Fairy Tail mage was holding their own against a dozen Phantom Lord mages.
Erza and Natsu, in particular, were like unstoppable forces—no one could stand against them.
This made George realize why Fairy Tail, despite its small numbers, was considered one of the strongest guilds.
They were all elites.
(End of Chapter)