Issei stood amidst the rubble, motionless.
Red light pulsed around his body in steady waves—foreign, wild, powerful and he didn't know where it came from.
"What… the hell is this?" Issei muttered, glancing at the glowing runes spiraling faintly along his gauntlet. "Ddraig, this isn't a Boost."
The dragon's voice echoed in his mind, calm but clipped. (That… would be correct.)
Issei frowned. "Care to explain why I'm glowing like a Christmas tree?"
(No.)
"What?!"
(You don't need to know how right now. Just use it and fight.)
Issei's eye twitched. "You mean to tell me I just unlocked some kind of mystery power-up, and you're not even gonna explain what it is?!"
(Correct. Just trust it. And me. And maybe don't die while asking questions mid-battle.)
Issei growled. "I swear, if I find out I unlocked this by doing something stupid!"
(…Don't worry about it.)
"…You're absolutely avoiding the answer!"
From across the battlefield, Jose Porla stood blinking, arms crossed as he stared at the boy… apparently arguing with his own arm.
He slowly narrowed his eyes. "What in the actual hell is he doing…?"
Issei continued to rant, arms waving. "You're not even going to give me a name? A cool attack? A transformation cue? Come on, man, this is the moment! You're ruining the moment!"
Jose scowled. "Alright. That's enough." The master of Phantom Lord raised one hand. Darkness pooled in his palm like ink drawn from the void itself. "Let's end this little sideshow."
He fired a concentrated sphere of Darkness rocketed forward, splitting the air with a piercing screech as it slammed directly into Issei's chest. There was no time to dodge. It struck with full force.
BOOM.
The explosion tore through the battlefield, sending rock and flame skyward in a deafening shockwave. The impact crater swallowed half the surrounding ruins. Smoke choked the air. Even Kuromaru was knocked back from the blast radius, wings folding to protect himself.
Jose lowered his hand, brushing off his coat. "Ridiculous brat," He muttered, already turning. "Now then… time to finish off the rest of Fairy Tail and bring this town to its knees—"
CRACK.
A red blur slammed into Jose's jaw with the force of a freight train.
The guild master was flung across the ruins, crashing into what remained of a stone column. Debris caved in around him as he grunted, blinking stars from his vision.
He coughed once. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
"What… was that?!" He rose, brushing rubble from his coat—and then he froze.
Standing in the heart of the explosion was a sleek, armored figure, glowing in an aura of a predator. A metallic helm shaped like a dragon's crest covered his face, and jet thrusters hummed softly on his back with red wings.
"W-Who are you?!" Jose barked.
The figure raised a hand—and then, with a brief hiss of steam, the facemask split open, revealing familiar brown eyes glowing faintly red beneath the energy.
"Still me," Issei said with a grin. "Issei Hyoudou. The brat you just tried to kill."
Jose's eye twitched. "Impossible…"
Issei's boots hissed as the back thrusters activated. He leaned forward slightly, posture shifting into a ready stance. "Let's go, old man."
He charged.
Jose snarled, erecting a massive wall of darkness in front of him—but Issei didn't slow down. He punched through it, his gauntlet shattering the barrier like glass and sending Jose reeling again.
This time, Jose tumbled but landed on his feet. "ENOUGH!"
He thrust both hands forward, launching wave after wave of Darkness Magic—serpents, spikes, shadows but none of them touched Issei.
The new armor pulsed with energy. Each movement was cleaner, more precise. He dodged without wasted effort, and when a tendril grazed him—it simply bounced off against the surface of the armor.
"What are you?!" Jose growled.
Issei didn't answer.
He just punched again.
Jose blocked it with a reinforced arm laced in black magic, the blow knocking him back—but this time, he struck back.
Their fists collided, again and again.
Crack. Boom.
The air rippled from the impact as the two exchanged blows faster than most could follow. Sparks of red and black erupted with each hit.
From above, Kuromaru roared, swooping in again. Lightning surged from his wings, firing bursts of electricity toward Jose to disrupt his focus.
Jose snarled. "You again?! I told you—"
With a flick of his hand, a rift of shadow opened in the sky and a winged Shade beast emerged, serpentine in body and glowing with eyes.
It screeched and surged at Kuromaru, forcing the wyvern into an aerial dogfight.
"Focus," Issei muttered to himself, eyes narrowing. "One problem at a time."
He lunged.
Jose turned, boosting himself back with darkness—but Issei activated his own thrusters, closing the gap mid-sprint.
Jose barely had time to conjure another barrier—
CRACK!
A right hook shattered it. A knee drove into his ribs. A follow-up spin kick sent him flying into another building wall.
Jose groaned, spitting blood again. "This… this shouldn't be possible…"
Issei stood at the edge of the crater, steam hissing off his shoulders.
"Yeah, well…" He flexed his arms, his eyes visible on the green visors once more. "…get used to the impossible."
—-------------------------------
Erza Scarlet soared through the air, the wings of her Black Wing Armor beating furiously as she deflected another barrage of slicing winds from Aria.
"Wind Blade Barrage!" Aria's voice echoed through the air like a whisper carried on a storm. Sharp, crescent-shaped blades of wind zipped toward her with terrifying speed.
Erza spun mid-air, deflecting two of them with her sword and letting her shoulder guard absorb a third. She gritted her teeth. "Tch… he's staying just out of reach."
Aria floated high above, as serene as ever, arms crossed beneath his flowing cloak. "The sky is my domain, Titania. You may be strong on the ground—but here, your blade cannot touch me."
With a flick of his fingers, he muttered, "Zetsu."
The sky shimmered—and then hundreds of transparent orbs of compressed air shot toward her from multiple directions. Erza's eyes widened.
"—That spell again!"
Each orb exploded upon contact, releasing sharp, high-pressure bursts that tore through the battlefield like landmines.
Erza dove between two and sliced three in half mid-air. Another exploded near her leg, the shockwave slamming her sideways into a broken archway.
"Guh—!" She groaned, recovering mid-spin, flipping back into the sky.
Below, pieces of the structure rained down, slicing into the dust-covered battlefield.
From her elevated perch, Erza reached into her dimensional inventory, summoning multiple enchanted swords. "If you won't come to me, I'll bring the fight to you!"
"Requip: Flight Edge – Wing Barrage!"
With a cry, she launched dozens of swords through the air in staggered spirals, each one glowing faintly as they spun toward Aria.
But Aria remained composed, the wind bending around him.
His body shifted in the air like smoke, and he used precise microbursts of air pressure to evade each blade, twirling with effortless grace.
"You're wasting energy," He said calmly. "Your rage is blinding you."
Erza's jaw clenched. Her heart pounded—not just from exertion, but from worry. 'Issei is still fighting Jose… alone.I need to end this and go help—.'
And that's when it happened.
A crashing boom like a meteor tearing through the atmosphere thundered through the courtyard as the earth quaked.
Both Erza and Aria looked down as a figure smashed into the ground not far from them, creating a massive crater that sent rubble flying.
Dust clouded everything for a moment.
Then the shape became clear.
A body was tattered and bloodied, with clothes destroyed.
Jose Porla. The master of Phantom Lord, a Wizard Saint, now lay crumpled in the earth like discarded trash.
Erza gasped. "Jose?!"
Even Aria's composure faltered. "Master…?"
Jose coughed, blood staining his chin. He groaned, trying to rise, but only managed to slump to one knee. His once-flawless militant clothing hung in tatters, and bruises marked every inch of his exposed skin.
Aria's floating form dropped a few feet in stunned disbelief. "What… could have done this to you…?"
And then—
He arrived. Through the thinning dust, a glowing figure stepped into view.
A walking suit of red armor, sleek and imposing, glowing with deep red energy. A humanoid armored dragon.
Erza's breath caught in her throat. She took a defensive stance at first—before the figure raised one hand.
"Erza, are you okay?" The voice said warmly.
Her eyes widened. "…Issei?"
He nodded, his helmet retracting with a hiss to reveal his familiar face. "Sup!" Issei answered with a grin.
"What… is that form?" Erza asked in awe, stepping closer.
Issei looked down at himself, his expression still caught between confusion and exhilaration. "Honestly? I have no idea. Ddraig said I unlocked it without explaining to me anything. I guess it's… new?"
Erza's lips curved into a small, impressed smile. "It suits you."
Issei chuckled. "Glad it looks cool, at least."
But the moment didn't last.
Aria, now visibly trembling with emotion, took a slow step forward. "You… you did this to Master Jose…"
His body began to shake as air currents intensified around him, his blindfold falling loose.
"No mercy, then," Aria whispered. "You are the greatest threat to Phantom Lord now."
"Hey, let's not rush to conclusions," Issei said, raising his hand—but it was too late.
Aria's eyes glowed and brought his arms into a prayer. "Metsu."
The spell unleashed instantly.
A transparent sphere of pressurized air erupted around Issei, locking him in like a vacuum bubble. The very same spell that had once crippled Makarov now attempted to drain Issei's magic dry in an instant.
"Issei!" Erza cried.
But before she could finish—
CRACK.
A shockwave erupted from the center of the air bubble. The sphere distorted—then imploded.
A red-armored fist shot out from the remnants and slammed directly into Aria's gut, lifting him from the ground and sending him sailing backward into a wall.
Issei emerged from the remains of the spell, completely unharmed.
He looked mildly annoyed. "Was that spell supposed to do something?" He asked, brushing dust off his armor.
Erza blinked. "You… resisted his attack?"
Aria coughed, eyes wide in disbelief. "That spell… drains all magic… how…?"
Issei rolled his shoulder. "Must be the armor. But honestly, I don't even know anymore."
He turned his gaze down to Jose, who still hadn't risen.
"And if you two are smart, you'll surrender. Because I'm just getting warmed up."
"I REFUSE!!" Jose slammed his trembling palms into the ground as he rose from the crater. His body was bloodied, his clothes torn, but his eyes blazed with manic defiance. "I will not be defeated… not by you… not by Fairy Tail…!"
His voice thundered across the battlefield, booming with both rage and desperation.
"I will NEVER accept second place to a guild like yours! We are superior! We are powerful! We are the ELITE!"
Purple light danced across the ruins as dark magic began to swirl violently around Jose, forming a vortex of malevolent energy. His hands raised high, glowing black and purple as magic gathered between his fingers.
The very air became thick with oppressive force.
"Erza," Issei said, his voice low, serious. "Get back."
She turned to him immediately, sensing the danger.
Jose's voice was sharp, trembling with rage and pride. "You brat… you think you've beaten me?! You don't even understand what true power looks like!"
The ground trembled beneath them as several ghostly figures formed around Jose. Twisted, shrieking shades, their mouths open in silent wails, began spinning around his magic core like vultures circling prey.
Erza's eyes widened. "That spell—!"
Jose's body surged with power as the ghosts spiraled faster, coalescing into a single, towering torrent of darkness.
"Dead Wave!" He roared, thrusting both hands forward.
The shades screeched and twisted into a blade-like wave of raw destruction. It tore forward like a tsunami of black fire, carving through stone, air, and sky alike. The ground split where it passed. Structures collapsed. Magic itself seemed to recoil from the energy.
Issei stared into the oncoming devastation. His heartbeat slowed. His body burned. But he didn't back down.
"Ddraig," He muttered.
(I'm already with you, Partner.)
"Then let's go."
BOOST!
A surge of heat and light pulsed from his armor.
BOOST!
BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST!
A pressure burst outward from his body. Dust and rubble were pushed back in all directions.
Erza took a step back instinctively, stunned by the sheer weight of his presence.
"Stand back!" Issei shouted. "This one's mine!"
He clenched his fist—and aimed.
A glowing red sphere formed in his palm, crackling with wild power. This wasn't like his usual Dragon Shot. It was sharper and denser.
The red glow turned white-hot, swirling with runes and crackling dragon fire.
"DRAGON SHOT!"
And then he fired.
The red beam roared from his fist like a living comet, howling through the air. It spiraled with draconic force, cutting a burning red line toward Jose's Dead Wave.
The two attacks collided.
A flash of light split the sky. The two forces pushed against each other, neither one giving way.
Jose screamed, pushing more power into the wave, the shadows distorting and shrieking louder.
Issei planted both feet, his armored boots cracking the stone beneath.
(Don't give in! You have more—draw on everything!)
Issei's voice bellowed. "I'M NOT LOSING TO YOU!!"
And with one final roar—
The Dragon Shot surged forward, shattering the Dead Wave's edge and punching through the darkness like a meteor through the night.
The moment the attack connected—
BOOOOOOM.
An explosion unlike any before tore across the battlefield. The shockwave lifted debris the size of carriages into the sky. The force sent both allies and enemies crashing to the ground, shielding themselves from the blast.
Only two figures remained at the epicenter.
Erza opened her eyes from behind a wall of summoned swords she used to shield herself.
The smoke began to clear.
At the center stood Issei, armor scorched and steaming, still standing upright. His breath was labored, but his eyes were locked forward, sharp and alert.
Across from him—
Jose knelt.
His arms hung at his sides.
His coat was gone, burned away by the blast. His body trembled. All around him, black smoke curled from his wounds. His eyes fluttered in disbelief as he gasped for breath.
Erza stepped forward slowly, stunned. "…He… won."
Jose knelt amid the rubble, his breathing ragged, his coat in tatters, smoke rising off his scorched body. His head hung low… until he twitched.
Then he raised it slightly.
Blood stained his lip. His arms trembled.
But his eyes, those prideful, furious eyes still gleamed with refusal. "...No…" He muttered, voice hoarse but rising. "I am… a Wizard Saint... I will not lose… not to a brat… not to Fairy Tail!"
The air around him darkened. A whirlpool of malignant energy began to gather once more, swirling like a miniature hurricane.
He slammed a fist to the ground. "I refuse… to accept this!"
Issei's gaze narrowed, still standing strong across from him. He let out a long, tired sigh.
"You've gotta be kidding me," He muttered. "Still not down? After all that?"
The red glow of his armor flickered around him. Issei began walking forward, steam rising from his joints.
"I really didn't wanna do this the hard way," He muttered, clenching a fist. "Guess I gotta knock you out old-school—"
SHRRAKK.
A sharp sound rang out. The red glow vanished completely.
Issei froze.
He looked down.
His armor was… gone.
His armored boots, chestplate, shoulder guards—all of it had vanished, like scattered light, leaving only the tattered remains of his regular outfit.
"...Uh. Ddraig?" Issei asked aloud, blinking in confusion. "The hell just happened?"
(It's gone.) The dragon's voice was flat, clipped.
Issei's brow furrowed. "Gone?! What do you mean gone?!"
(You burned through all your stamina. You can't sustain the armor any longer.)
"What?! You didn't say there was a timer on it!" Issei yelled, flailing one arm weakly. "If I'd known that, I would've finished him faster!"
(If you weren't so busy wasting time after you activated it, maybe I wouldn't have too.)
"You didn't tell me shit!!" He snapped, swaying slightly. "This is your fault!"
(Partner, I'm a dragon sealed in your hand. You are quite literally the only one with feet.)
But Issei didn't have time to continue the argument.
A horrible, cackling laugh echoed across the field.
Jose's shoulders shook as his head lifted fully.
He stood even as his body suffered heavy damage. But now he was smiling—a wide, unhinged grin that dripped hatred.
"Ahahahahaha! You fool!" He howled. "So this was it! You spent it all! The armor, the power—it's GONE!"
Darkness swirled at his fingertips again, less controlled this time. His voice wavered between triumph and madness.
"You thought you could defeat me? You thought you could topple Phantom Lord?! You're nothing but a child with a toy!"
Issei gritted his teeth, dropping to one knee. The exhaustion hit all at once—his body ached, his muscles screamed, and even keeping his eyes open felt like lifting weights. "Tch… not now…"
Jose began to raise his hand again, magic collecting once more. "This time, I'll make sure there's nothing left of you to stand up!"
"Issei!" Erza called out, dashing forward and placing herself between him and the mad guild master. She raised her sword, armor gleaming with defiance.
"Erza…?" Issei rasped.
"You've done enough," She said, her voice calm and iron-willed. "You've already saved everyone. You don't need to carry this anymore. This time it is my turn to fight Jose.""
For a long moment, only the howling wind spoke.
And then the sound of footsteps was heard and a voice—calm, powerful, weathered.
"…This farce has gone on long enough."
Both Erza and Jose froze. Issei blinked in surprise.
That voice—
Erza turned first. Her eyes widened. "Master!"
Behind them, walking steadily through the ruined building, surrounded by a faint golden aura, stood Makarov Dreyar.
The master of Fairy Tail.
His white coat fluttered in the wind. His face was grim. His eyes were sharp as blades. The old man's presence immediately changed the air—his magical pressure rolled through the battlefield like a silent avalanche.
"M-Master?!" Erza gasped, stepping back in disbelief.
Issei's eyes widened. "He's—he's okay?!"
Makarov stopped beside Erza, placing a gentle hand on her arm. "You've done well, Erza. Both of you," He said with a faint smile. "Now rest."
Erza nodded numbly, taking a few steps back and stood in front of Issei to protect him.
Jose's manic grin faltered as the light reflected in his eyes. "No… you—you were defeated!"
Makarov's gaze turned on him, calm and terrifying. "You made one mistake, Jose," He said quietly. "You didn't finish the job."
Issei, now leaning heavily against Erza's shoulder, could barely keep himself standing—but even through the fog of exhaustion, he could feel it.
That weight in the air. That immense, terrifying pressure.
'So this… this is a real Wizard Saint.' Issei thought, stunned. 'No… this is a Fairy Tail master who's angry.'
Jose struggled to stay on his feet, but the tremors in his legs betrayed him. Still, even in his shattered state, the Phantom Lord master sneered defiantly.
"You think… you've won?" Jose spat. "I don't care if you've crawled back from your deathbed, Makarov. This isn't over! I'll never surrender to you… to that brat... to your pathetic guild!"
Makarov stepped forward, the ground cracking faintly beneath his feet. "Jose," He said, calm but utterly cold. "My children have already defeated you. The only reason you're still breathing… is because of their mercy."
Jose began to charge his magic again, summoning another swirl of darkness in his palms, his body trembling as if even that act was tearing him apart.
"I am superior to you!" Jose roared. "Phantom Lord is superior! You'll see! I'll crush your Fairy Tail with my own hands!"
But Makarov didn't flinch. He merely sighed.
Then slowly raised his right hand.
"You have until the count of three," He said plainly. "To kneel. And surrender."
Jose snarled. "Ridiculous! You think I'll bow to—"
"One."
The air itself grew heavier. Makarov's aura began to glow gold, a rising storm of magic compressing into a focused dome around him.
"Two."
Cracks spiderwebbed out across the battlefield as the pressure increased. Even the ruins groaned beneath the weight of his presence.
"Three."
Jose lunged forward—
And Makarov's voice echoed across the battlefield like a divine decree:
"FAIRY LAW."
—--------------------------------
In an instant, the world exploded with light.
A dome of pure radiance engulfed the entire ruined Phantom Lord guild and the battleground around it, shining with a brilliance that blinded every eye.
The light passed through allies like a gentle breeze—but to enemies, to those judged from Makarov's very heart as threats to his children—it was devastation.
Screams echoed for a breath.
And then silence.
The shades, the dark spirits conjured by Jose, were obliterated, fading to dust like shadows burned away at dawn.
Across the battlefield, every Phantom Lord mage still standing collapsed, unconscious or incapacitated. Those resisting against Fairy Tail members dropped in a heap.
In the far distance, even Gajeel—who had been recovering his strength—fell to one knee, gasping as the light swept over him like a divine hammer.
—-------------------------------------
Back at Fairy Tail's guild hall, Tamamo-no-Mae paused mid-spell, her hands still glowing as she healed a wounded member.
She blinked, ears twitching. This was the second time she felt such a build up of power.
The first time, she had felt her darling's power expand to such an incredible degree, making her wonder what happened and why could she feel his power so closely. Usually Sherri covered his power with a barrier that if it wasn't for their connection between Master and Servant, she would never be able to feel it. But knowing that the sudden power belonged to her darling, she didn't question it and was happy that he got so strong.
But now.
"What… was that?" She murmured, looking toward the direction of the battlefield. "That magic… it wasn't Issei's. It was powerful and it crushed the air with its might." Using her connection with Issei, she felt that he was okay and not in any danger. So she wasn't in any hurry to investigate. Her darling will probably tell her and thde rest when he returns.
—-------------------------------------------
Back at the battlefield.
The light slowly faded and the dust settled.
And Jose Porla—once a proud Wizard Saint—now lay on his back in the dirt, every trace of color gone from his face. His body was a smoking husk, eyes blank, barely conscious.
He didn't even scream. He couldn't. He'd been completely, utterly… defeated.
Makarov stepped over to him, gaze level, voice low and final. "If you ever show your face to Fairy Tail again… you won't get a second warning."
He turned away.
Jose didn't move.
He couldn't.
—--------------------------------------------
Moments later, the soft flapping of wings signaled the return of Kuromaru, descending from the clouds above. The black thunder wyvern hovered before landing gently beside Issei and Erza.
Issei, barely standing, gave a tired smile. "About time, buddy…"
Kuromaru snorted as his opponent was annoying to deal with.
Makarov turned, his warm smile returning now that the battle was over. "Let's go home," he said gently.
With Erza supporting Issei, and Kuromaru crouching to let them climb on, the three figures rose into the sky, leaving behind the wreckage of Phantom Lord's ambition.
As they flew, cheers began to rise across the ruined battlefield.
Fairy Tail had won. Their master had returned. Their enemies were defeated.
—--------------------------------------
The wind carried the scent of ash and rain as Kuromaru descended through the clouds, his wings casting a vast shadow over the grassy clearing where the remaining members of Fairy Tail had gathered.
Cheers erupted the moment the wyvern landed.
"Master Makarov!"
"He's alive!"
"We did it! Fairy Tail won!!"
Issei could barely keep his eyes open as Kuromaru's claws touched down, jolting him gently. He clung to Erza's shoulder as they dismounted, Makarov hopping down with surprising ease for a man his age.
But before Issei could even speak—
"ISSEI!!"
A blur of motion crashed into him, nearly knocking him off his feet. He found himself surrounded, Yuuka was hugging his body, Yashima franaticly checking his wounds, Akitsu pressing her forehead to his in silence as she wanted to feel his warmth. Uzume also went to hold her Ashikabi.
Yuuka then stood and crossed her arms. "You better not have died on me."
Issei chuckled, weakly. "Heh… not this time. But damn, that was rough…"
Yashima's eyes widened. "Rough? Issei, you look like someone scraped you off the floor!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know," He muttered, holding up his hands to calm them. "But I'm okay. Mostly."
Uzume grabbing his shirt, pouted. "What happened? What kind of spell was that? Why did we suddenly feel so much power coming off of you?!"
Issei scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Well… uh… I kinda unlocked something new during the fight with Jose."
The girls immediately leaned in, eyes wide.
"New?" Asked Akitsu.
"What kind of new?" Yuuka demanded.
Akitsu's expression barely shifted, but her hand gripped his tightly. "Show us."
Issei raised both hands. "Okay, okay, slow down! It's not something I can use right now."
"Why not?" Yashima asked..
"The Boosted Gear turns into this full-body red armor, like a dragon-themed battlesuit," He explained, letting out a sigh. "But it eats through my stamina like crazy. Ddraig didn't even tell me it had a timer until it disappeared. So I'm kind of empty at the moment."
Yashima blinked. "So… you won, but then passed out of exhaustion?"
"Not quite," Issei replied. "I didn't beat Jose… I just wore him down. The finishing blow wasn't mine."
Akitsu interested asked. "Then who?"
Issei turned slightly, gesturing toward the old man nearby who was currently surrounded by cheering Fairy Tail members.
"Makarov did. Used a spell called Fairy Law. It was really cool and strong, it hit every enemy still standing and left the rest of us untouched."
Yuuka's eyes lit up in realization. "So that's what that white light was!"
Uzume crossed her arms and muttered, "So that's why those soldiers disappeared."
"That would also explain why the Phantom Lord members were laying on the floor bruised after that flash of light." Yuuka added.
As they explained how their battle went, Issei started to look around them.
Akitsu turned to Issei, tilting her head. "Is something wrong?"
"Huh?" He asked.
"Are you looking for someone?"
Issei glanced around some more.
The hill was alive with celebration. Fairy Tail mages were laughing, bragging, and slapping each other's backs. Many had bandages, some leaned on friends, but the joy was real. They'd won. Their master was alive. Their guild stood proud.
But one face was missing.
"...Where's Karasuba?" Issei asked, brows furrowed.
The girls glanced at one another.
Yashima shrugged. "I haven't seen her since she fought that fire mage."
Yuuka folded her arms. "I thought, I saw her with Matsu."
Uzume rolled her eyes. "She probably went looking for round two with someone. That psycho loves cutting things too much."
Issei chuckled tiredly. "Yeah… probably. I'm sure she's fine. If anyone can take care of herself, it's her. Plus if Matsu is with her I can't see them getting into too much problems."
He leaned against Kuromaru's side, exhaling deeply.
—------------------------------------------
Down with the rest, Natsu and Gray were bickering—again. "I beat twenty Phantom guys! Plus Gajeel"
"Yeah right! I saw you passed out during half of it!"
Others were cheering as Makarov made his rounds, smiling warmly and patting his children on the shoulders.
"Master!" Called out one young mage. "Did you see my punch? I think I broke that guy's ribs!"
Makarov laughed. "You probably broke your own too, kid."
Erza stood to the side, arms crossed, smiling faintly as she watched the scene. But her eyes strayed to Issei more than once.
He was already nodding off against Kuromaru's side, the wyvern acting like a protective older guardian, curling a wing halfway over him.
Erza walked over and knelt beside him.
"You did well," She said softly.
Issei opened one eye, smirking. "You too."
"You scared the hell out of me," She added.
He chuckled. "That makes two of us."
She hesitated. Then reached out and gently patted his head. "…Rest. You've earned it."
—---------------------------------
Boots crunched over broken tile.
Karasuba stepped over a shattered doorframe, a heavy-looking war axe slung over one shoulder, while her other hand juggled a bag overflowing with books and magical tools.
Behind her, Matsu skipped lightly over a pile of bricks, balancing an armful of scrolls and a disassembled mana conductor, her glasses glinting in the low light.
"Remind me why we're looting instead of celebrating?" Karasuba muttered, narrowing her eyes at a pile of enchanted spears that looked more decorative than practical. "We missed the entire damn fight."
Matsu grinned, brushing a strand of green hair behind her ear. "Because, dear Karasuba, while everyone else is busy congratulating each other, we are securing all the valuable research and rare items this idiotic guild left behind."
She held up a strange rune-carved cube that glowed faintly. "And trust me, Phantom Lord had some juicy secrets."
Karasuba scoffed, shifting the axe onto her other shoulder. "So why exactly did I follow you in here again?"
"You tell me," Matsu said, turning around mid-step and walking backward with a playful smile. "I didn't ask for a bodyguard."
Karasuba clicked her tongue and looked away. "You're a noncombatant. If something jumped you while I was sipping sake outside, Issei would throw a fit. Miya would give me that damn disappointed stare. And you? You'd be dead."
Matsu's grin widened. "Awwww~ you do care."
Karasuba's expression darkened. "Don't push it."
"Too late."
The two continued deeper into the ruins, navigating broken support beams and cracked stone until they reached a half-collapsed hallway where faint residual magic still clung to the air.
Matsu's brow furrowed. "The ambient magic here… it's unstable. This must've been close to the cannon's core."
Karasuba let out a low whistle. "That beam Tamamo deflected? You're saying it was fired from somewhere this close?"
"Exactly," Matsu said. "Which means…"
She pushed open a bent steel door and stepped into a massive chamber—and stopped in her tracks.
Karasuba followed—and her crimson eyes widened slightly.
In the center of the room stood a giant Lacrima crystal, the biggest crystal they have ever seen and humming with dormant power. The veins of magic inside it still glowed faintly with pale blue light, pulsing like a slow heartbeat. Arcane runes surrounded its base, partially broken but still radiating magical residue.
"Jackpot," Matsu whispered, eyes sparkling behind her lenses.
Karasuba stepped forward cautiously. "That thing powered the cannon?"
"Yep," Matsu replied, already unpacking her scanning tools from her bag. "A core Lacrima of this size and density? They could have launched multiple city-busting attacks with enough recharge time."
She circled the crystal with the hunger of a researcher in paradise.
"Just imagine what I could make with this." She muttered, more to herself than anyone else, "Maybe my own personal portable death laser."
Karasuba raised an eyebrow. "Portable as in what? A shoulder cannon?"
Matsu smirked. "A backpack cannon."
Karasuba looked vaguely horrified. "You are not strapping that thing to Issei."
"Oh, please," Matsu laughed. "He'd love it."
Karasuba rolled her eyes. "That boy already has more firepower than sense. Giving him a nuke on a leash is just asking for trouble."
"Which is why I'll be the one building it~. Beside I might just make something else. The sky is the limit afterall." Matsu sing-songed, kneeling down to examine the magical conduits. "Now help me figure out how to get this crystal out of here."
Karasuba sighed, shifting the axe off her shoulder and cracking her knuckles. "Fine. But if this thing explodes, I'm blaming you."
"Duly noted."
As the two women got to work, the Lacrima hummed beneath their fingers, unaware that its stolen power was about to be repurposed—for something far more unpredictable than a siege weapon.
—--------------------------------------------
The heavy wooden doors of Fairy Tail's guild hall burst open with a thunderous slam.
"WE'RE BAAAAACK!!" Natsu bellowed, grinning like a lunatic, arms flung wide as he stomped in.
Behind him, the victorious fighters of Fairy Tail poured in, dirtied, bandaged, tired—but triumphant.
A moment passed.
Then the entire room erupted in cheers.
"YOU MADE IT!"
"LOOK, IT'S MASTER!"
"They're back!"
"We won!"
A blur of movement tackled Issei the second he stepped over the threshold.
"DADDY!" A small voice cried.
Issei stumbled slightly, then caught Sakura, his daughter from another world, as she threw her arms around his waist. Her face buried into his dirty shirt, sobbing and laughing all at once.
"Whoa, hey! Careful—still sore!" he winced, but smiled, ruffling her hair gently. "I'm okay, Sakura. I'm here."
Miya stood just behind her, arms folded, a soft smile curving her lips. "Told her to wait until you sat down first. Clearly she didn't listen."
"Would you?" Issei chuckled.
Sakura clung to him. "I was so worried! Did you get hurt?"
"Yeah," Issei muttered, thinking back to Jose. "But nothing can keep your dad down."
From across the room, three familiar figures hobbled forward, still bandaged but very much awake, Levy McGarden, and the duo Jet and Droy. All members were instantly happy to see them walking around.
Meanwhile, Gorou, Miki, and Misukimade their way through the crowd.
Gorou clapped Natsu hard on the back. "You guys really tore through 'em, huh?"
Miki gave Erza a respectful nod. "Thank you for watching over our boy."
Erza blinked, then nodded in return. "He pulled more than his weight."
Misuki gave Issei a half-hug and sighed dramatically. "You always gotta come back bleeding, don't you?"
"Technically I didn't bleed this time," Issei said.
The chatter and cheers were soon interrupted by two voices shouting from the kitchen doors.
"FOOD'S READY!"
Miya and Tamamo stepped into the main hall, each carrying trays of delicious dishes that smelled like heaven.
"Anyone hungry?" Tamamo grinned, three tails swaying as she balanced three trays with ease.
Miya, looking far too graceful for someone juggling roast chicken and curry, smiled faintly. "We made enough for an army. Sit down and eat."
The crowd surged toward the tables in a frenzy of excitement.
—----------------------------------------
Within minutes, plates were clinking, ale was flowing, and laughter filled every corner of the guild hall.
Issei sat near the back with his usual group—Yuuka, Yashima, Akitsu, Matsu, Uzume, Miya, and Tamamo—while Kuromaru rested outside, curled beside a tree, content.
Matsu and Karasuba had returned after hiding what they found and the prisoner they had captured. Many asked where they were and what they did but they had kept there lips sealed.
Plates of steaming meat, grilled vegetables, rice, and dumplings covered the long wooden table. Drinks were passed around, and someone had already started tuning a lute in the corner.
Issei leaned back with a groan, rubbing his stomach. "I haven't eaten this much since… ever."
Yuuka handed him a refill of juice with a smirk. "I guess you did earned it."
Yashima nodded. "You were amazing out there."
Akitsu, sitting quietly next to him, just placed a small bowl of soup in front of him without a word. Her quiet care said everything.
Matsu was already scribbling notes in a glowing book. "The power output of that armor… I need to run tests."
"No tests tonight," Issei groaned.
"Tomorrow, then," she grinned.
Stories were told, games played, drinks spilled. Elfman arm-wrestled half the guild. Cana had her third barrel of ale. Lucy danced with Levy. Gray lost his shirt somewhere around midnight. Everyone was having a good time until it suddenly turned into a brawl that Miya couldn't stop. Truly a Fairy Tail ending.