Fairy tail guild — infamary
Sunlight filtered weakly through the war-torn windows of the Fairy Tail infirmary, painting golden bars across a room filled with tension and quiet pain. Beds lined the walls, every one occupied—by friends, comrades, family. Some coughed. Some groaned. Some slept soundly, but too still.
Yume moved between them, sleeves rolled up, the celestial light from Regulus flickering from his antler's like fireflies drifting through fog. Golden sigils swirled in the air and settled over wounds, closing tears in flesh and drawing poison from blood.
But the wear in his shoulders and the shadows under his eyes betrayed a harder truth.
Regulus heals bodies—it doesn't restore magic. Or hope.
Yume wiped the sweat from his brow.
"We need more beds," he said, voice calm but urgent. "Or even just mats. Blankets. Whatever we've got. We have to be ready when the next group comes through."
Mirajane knelt beside Laki, her usual smile long gone. She gently brushed a damp lock of hair off her friend's forehead.
"Yume… do you really think it's going to get worse?"
He paused, his eyes scanning the half-conscious faces around them.
"I hope not, Mira. But we all heard what I told the Master. That first attack wasn't desperation—it was bait."
The honesty in his voice was a blade without edge. Cold. Final.
"And I don't think they're done playing games."
Levy moved briskly through the room, her arms full of freshly folded cloth. "I've got extra linen," she said, trying to sound firm but falling just short. "If we run low, I can try duplicating runes. And—I'll get more water!"
She stopped at Laki's bedside, her hands trembling as she brushed a tear away with her sleeve.
"You don't get to leave us yet. We're not done…"
Across from her, Lucy poured water into a battered mug for Reedus. Her hands wobbled. Her words, steadier than she felt, broke the silence.
"Hang in there, all of you. Natsu, Erza, Gray—they'll be back. They always are."
She turned to Yume, careful to keep her voice from cracking.
"You really don't know what's coming next… do you?"
Yume didn't lie.
"No. I don't."
He dabbed a bandage across Nab's scorched arm.
"All we can do is prepare... and keep the pieces from falling apart until they return."
Mirajane's grip tightened around Laki's hand. "Please... keep them safe." Her words were a whisper, but the quiet carried farther than any shout.
"If anyone can pull through this," she murmured, tears brimming behind closed lashes, "it's Fairy Tail."
Levy turned to Lucy, voice fragile but brave. "Come on, Lu-chan. Let's set up more beds. If we stay strong here... they'll feel it out there."
Lucy nodded, her voice small. "Y-Yeah. I can do that. We have to."
For a moment, the room was more than a field hospital. More than an aftermath.
It was memory—of misadventures and magic gone wrong, of food fights and late-night stories, of siblings not by blood, but by bond.
Each woman remembered Laki in a different way.
But as they joined Yume again, arms full of blankets and grit, they moved as one.
Outside, the distant drumbeat of thunder rose.
A storm was coming.
Inside, Fairy Tail's healing team stood ready. Quiet. Steady. Unbreakable.
***
Oak Town — Phantom Lord guild
Inside Phantom Lord's fortress in Oak Town, the mood was triumphant as its mages bragged about Gajeel's humiliation of Shadow Gear.
Laughter echoed, tankards clinked, and voices boasted:
"Did you see Gajeel string them up? Fairy Tail's nothing without their best!"
"Let the Council whine—this city belongs to Phantom Lord now!"
The doors thundered open, shards of charred timber scattering across the floor as Natsu Dragneel stormed in, flames already curling up his fists.
"FAIRY TAIL'S HERE! BRING IT ON!"
Phantom Lord's braggadocio froze. For an instant, everyone just stared.
The next second, chaos erupted.
Natsu charged, unleashing a jet of flame that sent Phantom Lord mages flying.
"You like picking on my friends? Try me, scrapheads!"
Erza streaked forward, swords flashing, a one-woman storm.
"Yield and spare yourselves further shame," she commanded, her voice iron. "Or face Fairy Tail's wrath!"
Gray followed in a blur, slamming his palm to the ground.
"Ice Make: Lance!"
Shards of icy spears shot forward, pinning three attackers to the guild's steel pillars.
Elfman transformed, his Beast Arm smashing aside a cluster of enemies.
"REAL MEN PROTECT THEIR FAMILY!"
A Phantom Lord mage blinked.
"Did he just say—"
"Just run, idiot!"
Cana was already tossing her enchanted cards, explosions rocking both sides of the guildhall.
"That's for Laki. And that's for every Fairy Tail mark you burned!"
Nearby, Loke dazzled enemies with bursts of magic, grinning.
Nab, Max, and Vijeeter barreled through, casting, swinging, and knocking mages left and right.
Macao and Wakaba fought by his side—Macao launching flame shots and Wakaba cloaking the mages in thick smoke.
On another flank, Macao whipped out his spell:
"Purple Net!"
Ethereal ropes trapped a trio of Phantoms; Wakaba knocked them out with thick clouds of smoke.
"Nice shot, Macao!"
Bisca and Alzack covered the side hallways, picking off snipers and supporting their friends.
Alzack spun and fired a sparkling volley.
"Spark Shot!"
As Boze crept up, Bisca shot first,
"Target lock—Homing Shot!"
The bullet forced Boze's retreat.
Warren's voice echoed in everyone's mind, his telepathy keeping the team linked.
"Watch your right, Erza—two coming in behind!"
"Gray, regroup by the stairs, cover Macao!"
Everywhere Fairy Tail struck, Phantom Lord's confidence crumbled. Some launched fire magic at Erza, but Natsu stepped in, mouth agape, and devoured the flames.
"Thanks for lunch," he grinned, leveling them with a Fire Dragon's Roar.
Reedus's drawings sprang from his book, battering hapless enemies, while Laki's wood magic twined up and immobilized even beefier mages.
One cocky Phantom spotted Happy:
"Hey, let's get the cat! Finally, one we can beat!"
"Try it!" Happy grinned, spinning through the air and slapping them aside, "Aye, sir!"
At the heart of it, suddenly, a shadow loomed across the battlefield—Makarov grew to massive size, voice booming across the hall.
"You dare harm my children? Face your punishment!" he bellowed, swiping a group of mages aside with a single massive hand.
"MONSTER!" someone shrieked.
Makarov's giant hands swept Phantoms aside.
"You messed with my children. And monsters don't care about your laws!"
The Phantom mages panicked:
"They're all monsters… Is every Fairy Tail this strong?!"
Fairy Tail's unity, fury, and love for their own ignited the entire hall into a rolling melee.
At the battle's edge, Erza pressed forward, eyes sharp, alert, casting glances to every shadow. "Where's Gajeel? Where are the Element Four?" she wondered, steeling herself for the inevitable next wave.
High above, Gajeel watched from the beams, lips curling into a smirk.
"Heh… didn't expect Jose's plan to work this well after all."
Below, insulted mages tried once more to dogpile Elfman.
"That's Beast Arm Elfman! Don't let him—"
Elfman roared and sent them flying.
"REAL MEN DON'T ATTACK THE WEAK!" he shouted, flattening enemies, carving a path so Happy could zip overhead.
"Left, Elfman—duck!" Happy warned, and Elfman swung, sending a surprise attacker skidding into the wall.
Max conjured waves of sand to halt enemy advances, Reedus summoned cartoonish beasts to shield exposed friends, and Nab tackled would-be flankers aiming for Fairy Tail's rear.
Though Phantom Lord's numbers were great, their morale faltered beneath the united onslaught of Fairy Tail. Their bluster and bravado gave way to shouts of confusion and fear.
"There's too many—where's the Element Four?!"
"We need back-up—Jose!"
"Erza!" Makarov barked, his voice booming above the clash of magic and steel. "You're in charge down here! Jose's up top—I'm going to drag him back down myself!"
Erza nodded sharply, eyes fierce. "Understood, Master. Leave this floor to me."
As Makarov stormed up the staircase, his voice thundered through the guild like a battle drum:
"Jose! Quit skulking in the shadows and face me like a real guild master!"
Erza's eyes swept the room, every muscle tight with anticipation.
They're still hiding... waiting. Her grip tightened on her sword as her instincts screamed in warning.
Around her, the Phantom Lord mages shrank back, bravado gone. The howls of arrogance had faded to whispers of fear—because now, they'd glimpsed the true wrath of Fairy Tail.
But above, cloaked in silence, stronger threats stirred.
The real fight hadn't even started.
***
Magnolia
The storm in Oak Town was nothing compared to the gathering darkness in Magnolia's streets. Rain turned the city into a canvas of shimmering shadows as Lucy hurried home, coat clutched tight, heart heavy with worry—about her friends on the front lines, wounded guildmates, and what Phantom Lord might do next.
She sighed heavily. Her muscles ached and her mind felt drained. Tired… but lucky, she thought. Compared to the others, she was barely scratched. They almost died… that could've been me.
Her thoughts scattered as droplets tapped against her head.
"Rain?" she murmured, glancing up. "Are you kidding? It's sunny—"
Above was nothing but clear blue skies.
"W-What's going on?"
A quiet voice interrupted her.
"Rain that falls steadily and silently..."
Lucy blinked and lowered her gaze.
A girl was walking through the downpour—one that shouldn't exist.
"What... do you bring?" the girl asked softly.
"Um… who are you?" Lucy asked, confused and cautious.
The blue-haired woman opened an umbrella without looking back. "I had fun. Farewell. Steadily... silently…"
Lucy gawked. "What the—what was that?!"
"Non, non, non," a voice chimed, playful and strange.
Lucy spun around. No one was there, but she could hear him clearly—upbeat, male, and most definitely not the woman who just walked away.
"Non, non, non, non, non, non, non…"
The ground suddenly swelled in front of her, lifting upward like soft clay. From beneath it emerged a lanky, spinning figure, monocle gleaming and posture aloof.
"Bonjour! With non in a 3-3-7 rhythm!"
"Another weirdo—?!" Lucy gasped, taking a step back.
"Juvia-sama!" the man said brightly. "You can't just walk away from the mission!"
"Sol," Juvia said, uninterested, not even glancing at him.
"My monocle whispers," Sol continued, swaying dramatically, "that mademoiselle over there is none other than our precious target!"
"Oh? So she's the one..." Juvia finally turned to look at Lucy.
Lucy's heart dropped. "W-Wait… Phantom Lord…?"
"Pardon my manners," Sol said smoothly with a bow. "I am Sol. You may call me… Monsieur Sol! We are honored representatives from the great Phantom Lord, here to welcome you."
"And Juvia," the water mage added, "is one of the Element 4, whose rain never ceases."
Lucy's eyes widened. Phantom Lord... the ones who hurt Fairy Tail…
Her fingers clenched.
"You... you're the ones who hurt my friends!"
"Non, non, non!" Sol shook his head, wagging a finger. "Let's clear that up properly with three nons! Wrecking the guild? Attacking your sweet comrades? That mess is Gajeel-sama's doing!"
Lucy reached for her keys, fury burning behind her eyes—only to be caught in a surge of water.
She gasped, barely breaking the surface with a sharp breath. "W-What is this?!"
"Juvia's Water Lock," came the calm reply. "It cannot be broken."
The liquid wrapped tighter, dragging her under.
"This is… no good…" Lucy's vision blurred. Someone… anyone…
"You do not need to worry, Heartfilia-sama…" Juvia whispered, watching Lucy fade. "Juvia will not kill you. It's not her mission. She's just here to bring you back."
"Très bien…" Sol beamed. "Capture complete!"
But in the next moment—
A shot of pure dark magic split the storm, hissing as steam exploded around them.
The watery sphere shattered.
Standing between Lucy and the enemy stood Yume, twin gunswords drawn, eyes glowing beneath the stormlight.
"Lucy," he said sharply. "Run."
Before she could speak, Mirage appeared in a rippling shimmer of light, wrapped around her in illusion, and vanished with her into the rain-paved alley.
Juvia's water curled tight, ready to strike. Sol raised his stance, calculating.
But then the shadows shifted.
The rain grew colder.
Yume stepped forward, slow and deliberate. Gunswords in hand. Wind curling around him. Behind him, Rika rose—no longer passive spirit, but the queen of curses. Her eyes gleamed crimson. Her form towered behind him, fanged, draped in mist as darkness pooled around her feet.
Shadows crawled up the walls, framing Yume in twisted horns and billowing cloak—a devil born in the storm.
He didn't need to speak. His presence screamed: Take one step. I'll end both of you.
Juvia's breath hitched.
"This… this one isn't human…" she muttered.
Sol took a step back. "He's not on our list, Juvia…"
Juvia nodded slowly, her composure cracking. "We should… retreat. Now."
The air around Yume shimmered like the edge of broken reality. Rika's eyes gleamed brighter. The Orbs spun faster—the hum soft but terrifying.
Neither attacker dared to move.
Water melted into mist. Sol vanished into steam. Juvia backed into the rain, folding into the shadows.
Yume watched them disappear, guns still leveled, Rika's eyes burning holes in the night.
Yume exhaled slowly, lowering his blades. Rain hissed off steel.
Mirage's shimmer was faint in the distance—Lucy safe, for now.
In that moment, even Magnolia's shadows seemed to hold their breath.
For now, no one would dare threaten Fairy Tail—not when the devil himself stood watch.
***
Oak Town — Phantom Lord guild
Back at Phantom Lord. After Makarov vanished from the ground floor, battle froze. Lightning cracked, illuminating the battered hall—a tense moment of stillness descended on both guilds.
Suddenly, Gajeel dropped from the rafters, a hungry smirk curling his lips. He floored Vijeeter with one brutal strike, shocking Fairy Tail. Elfman rushed in, face set.
Elfman (growling): "You like picking on weaker guildmates? Try me!"
Gajeel (mocking): "Guess the tough ones were all saving their strength. Don't disappoint me, muscle-head."
They traded blows, magic and momentum colliding. Sparks flew. Then, suddenly, Natsu hurled himself into the fight, fire blazing.
Natsu (snarling): "This fight's between us, iron freak!"
Dragonslayer met Iron Dragon, drawing fearful stares from Phantom Lord, cheers from Fairy Tail. Neither yielded, rage and loyalty fueling every strike.
Suddenly the building shuddered. Deep magic boomed—the signature surge of Makarov's Giant Wrath from elsewhere. Hope flickered, anxiety mounting: Where was their Master?
***
At the highest spire, storms raging outside, Makarov confronted Jose—only to find a sneering Thought Projection.
Jose (smirking): "Nice of you to make the climb, old man. But you're too late—"
Jose's form fizzled, replaced with a vision of Lucy—bound and afraid.
Jose: "You left something precious undefended, didn't you? Do you even know who she really is?"
Makarov, stricken with dread and fury, stepped closer.
Makarov: "If you hurt her—"
A sudden chill swept the rooftop. With the whisper of shadow, Aria appeared. In moments, his spectral hands drained Makarov's magic and strength away.
Aria (whispering): "No more Giant. No more strength."
Powerless, Makarov crashed to the floor below.
Everyone froze as the master of Fairy Tail crashed to the ground. Gray spun around, eyes wide at the splintering sound.
"W-What just happened?" he stammered.
Erza rushed to Makarov's side, her expression shattering into panic. "M-Master!" she cried, falling to her knees. When she saw him up close, her fear deepened; it was as if her heart would break.
"Ugh… my… my magic…" Makarov rasped, trying to muster a breath.
"Don't give up, Master!" Erza pleaded, lifting his head with trembling hands.
At that moment, Fairy Tail's fighting spirit wavered. Phantom Lord's mages surged forward, jeering more loudly.
"Guess without magic, he's nothing but an old man!" one Phantom shouted.
"This is it! Hit Fairy Tail while they're down!" another yelled, and the Phantom guild rushed in, newly emboldened.
Erza scanned the chaos, heart pounding.
We're losing ground—without the Master, our morale's shot… we can't win like this.
She wiped tears away and forced her voice steady:
"Retreat! Everyone, pull back! We won't lose anyone else—move! Now!"
Her order sent a shockwave.
Gray clenched his fists. "Like hell I'm running!"
Elfman growled as he shielded Cana. "A real man stands and fights!"
Macao wiped blood from his lip. "I can still throw down, Erza!"
"Same here!" Bisca called, though her voice faltered.
Natsu staggered into view, fists burning, fire in his eyes despite the exhaustion. He shouted, "The fight's not over yet! I'm not letting those bastards think we're scared!" But even he bit back anger, recognizing Erza's resolve.
Erza's voice cut through the battle: "We can't win against Jose without the Master! This is an order—retreat!"
There were no more protests. One by one, battered and heartbroken, Fairy Tail began to fall back.
Hauling the wounded, protecting each other every step, not a single member left behind.
On the rafters, Gajeel scoffed, watching them go.
"Heh—didn't think you lot had it in you to retreat," he said, leaping down beside Aria.
"Sorrowful!" Aria declared, streaks of tears on his cheeks—though his grin looked anything but sad.
Gajeel rolled his eyes. "Seriously, you're one creepy dude. Didn't think you had it in you to drop the old man."
Aria shrugged. "All part of Master Jose's plan."
As rain hammered Magnolia and Phantom Lord's victory cries echoed in the night, Erza—bloodied but resolute—led her friends through the mud, every step heavy, but not a single one broken. Natsu cast a burning glare back at Phantom Lord, a silent promise crackling in the air.
Fairy Tail retreated, wounded but unbeaten.
End of CHAPTER.