Author's Note: A little something to tide you all over for the hols. Merry Christmas to all my readers and please enjoy this little gift.
~Jose Porla~
'First Gajeel. Then Aria. Totomaru. And now both, Sol and Juvia?! The branches have fallen silent too! No reports, no distress calls, no nothing! What the fuck is going on?! Why is no one answering my Telepathic Links?!'
His thoughts swirled with possibilities, with one becoming more and more likely to his mind. They were defeated. Someone intercepted and silenced them. He just knew that those with his personal seal on them, meaning the S-Ranks, were alive, but not if they were conscious or not. His guess was that they were kept away from the public eye and unconscious until all of this blew over...
'As if I'd let it come that far... I'm committed now. It won't be for naught. This will be the end of Fairy Tail.' He growled in his mind. If his S-Ranks were defeated, he'd need to enter the field himself. He was a Wizard Saint, same as that old fart Makarov. Only, he was in his prime. Who could possibly put up a fight against him if he mobilised the entire Guild and personally made a move? Sure, the S-Ranks were gone, but he had plenty of other cannon fodder to throw at them. He'd have to change around some parts of his plans and speed up what was left of it, but that wasn't a problem at all. He'd show them that he wasn't one to joke around.
New plans began to take shape in his mind and he smiled wickedly. Maybe it was time to move more decisively. Fairy Tail's demolished Guildhall stood on prime real estate, didn't it? He just needed to clear the plot. Jupiter would work well for that, he was sure. It was time to show Fiore that the future was in Magical Engineering. What better way was there than to shoot some Fairies out of the sky?
With his thoughts coming together, he began the preparations. He just had to plug those hapless sheep into the Lacrima Network. Those Mages would soon be reduced to batteries for true greatness. The Super Mage Giant Phantom MK II. Spine chilling laughter kept floating from his private quarters, causing some panic attacks in those venturing too close.
~Laxus Dreyar~
He crossed his arms behind his head as he grimaced slightly while looking up to the ceiling. He really had no idea what had come over him to do all this. Something inside of him had called out to the pale bluenette. He always found her attractive back then when everything was still an anime and things were easier. When he watched Natsu weaponise the Power of Friendship and reach frankly ridiculous heights with it. It was a very real thing in this universe. Emotions fuelled Magic, and sometimes, if they reached a peak rarely seen, miracles were indeed possible.
As for Juvia, well, he had a bit of a thing for Yanderes, he had to admit. Not the violence part, mind you, but the crazy devotion did things for him. He was a bit like that himself, putting way too much of himself out there when he was committed to something. Her antics and the way her personality shined just spoke to him in that regard. But this primal force inside of him demanding that he did his best to woo her... It was the first time he'd experienced something like this. He knew if he didn't find her attractive inside and out, this wouldn't have happened, but it still left a bad taste to be manipulated by his own instincts like that.
'I guess the whole Dragon Mate thing the Fandom had going is real, then. I'm... Fine with that I think. It just hit me rather suddenly and without preparation.' After making his peace with the situation, he turned to Juvia Lockser. She was sneaking glances at him, thinking that he didn't notice since he was distracted. They had relocated after the whole scene, neither of them being in the mood for a fight anymore. Lucy, who barely even knew either of them, was kind enough to invite them into her home and was making some tea for them at this moment. She rejected his offer for help and looked at him seriously before telling him that he needed to talk with the rainy woman. He agreed with that at least. 'Well, no need to let the awkward silence lead the conversation.' He thought to himself while suppressing a wry smile. Sighing, he gathered his determination and addressed her.
"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come on to you so strongly...-"
Immediately, he was interrupted by the formidable Water Mage. She seemed a bit panicky and nervous if compared to the composed self she'd shown in their short altercation. She certainly knew he was stronger than her but kept it together well enough and didn't give up at all. An admirable trait. Compared to that, she seemed almost overwrought now. Though... 'Cute...'. He couldn't help but think. The glaring differences between her behaviour earlier and now showed off two sides of her that were nearly polar opposites and he found that to be fascinating. So much so that he nearly missed her words.
"Ah, no! Juvia liked that... I... I mean, I always... Why is this so hard?..."
She murmured the last part before taking several deep breaths to compose herself. He had to restrain himself from showing his amusement. It was rather clear that she enjoyed what happened back then and that wasn't exactly what this was about. But he'd hear her out and answer once she was done collecting her thoughts.
"What Juvia wants to say is that she never had anyone say things like this to her. She is used to being hated or at least disliked for the rain that follows her. Since childhood, she was treated like a nuisance, a disease, or worse. Having someone encourage her like this was a nice change. Also, the hug was pleasant and warm. She wouldn't be opposed to experiencing it again... O- Only if you want to, of course. If you didn't mean...-"
Now it was his turn to interrupt her. He knew just how devoted she was to those she loved. The source material showed splendidly that she'd go through grievous harm, sometimes even self inflicted, to protect those she held close to her heart. She shared that particular trait with Fairy Tail as a whole and he definitely wanted her to be part of his Guild. Most of all, however...
"I meant every single word. I think you are a beautiful woman, inside and out. I think you have absolutely massive potential. I am completely convinced that you'd fit in fabulously with Fairy Tail. I'm not just claiming this from our short interaction by the way. As I did with all of the Element 4, I investigated you. The quests you took and the way you fulfilled them. I even got my hands on some of the reports from the questgivers. 'Cold but polite. Fulfilled the request perfectly. Very professional. Will definitely hire her again.', 'Very well spoken. Her calm demeanour was the only thing staving off a panic amongst the townsfolk. Could use someone like that in my townguard.', and my favourite: 'Oh my gosh, she's so cute! I clearly saw her eyeing our puppy but she didn't approach Rufus before finishing up the job. Afterwards, she approached me all formally, and said this: Juvia requests permission to pet the puppy. After my dumbfounded nod, she spent two hours pampering the little rascal. And he loved every moment of it! Seriously, I nearly died from cuteness overload. She's such a treasure.'"
If her stoic mask was cracked before, this completely obliterated it. Her cheeks were flushed and mortification was spreading on her face. She looked moments away from fainting, but that wasn't what I had in mind.
"What I mean is, I'm interested. Besides wanting you in my Guild, I'd also like to pursue you. Romantically, that is. Very much so. I feel we clicked instantly and I'd definitely like to see where this is going. I just don't want to jump twenty steps ahead. I want to get to know you, to see what makes you tick. I want to show you who I am. I want you to experience the whole thing. And I want to woo you, to show you the romantic prowess of a Dreyar. You deserve no less."
He wondered just how he managed to spout such a thing with a straight face, but he wanted her to know where he was going with this. He wouldn't go all tsundere on her like Gray. The guy was a good Mage and an exceptionally reliable Guildmate, but in terms of love, he was... strange to say the least. The tropes used for his character were all wrong, for the romance aspect at least. There was one more thing he had to make clear to her. As seriously as he could, he addressed her.
"It's just, there is one more thing... My magic makes me rather possessive of the people I consider mine. Lost Magic often influences their users's personalities a bit, and this is my trade-off. If I overstep, you'll need to tell me. It's likely that I won't recognise it."
She looked at him with an unreadable expression on her face. The blush that had receded some returned in full force and she was swaying slightly. The worry that she'd faint on him wasn't laid to rest, it seemed. She caught herself and nodded, though if one could call such a minuscule motion a nod was questionable.
"Juvia likes that..."
If he didn't have supercharged senses from being a Dragon Slayer, he wouldn't have heard those muttered words. 'Good to know, I suppose, but calling her out on it would just be mean.' He'd probably use it for teasing later on, though. This conversation went in an entirely different direction than he thought it would, but he was ok with that. It needed to be cleared up, after all.
"You never answered my other unspoken proposition, by the way. Let me make it official: Will you join Fairy Tail? We'd absolutely love to have you. Phantom Lord won't exist for much longer and you'll need a new Guild anyways. Why not join mine?"
She shivered. Did he scare her? That wasn't at all his intention. But he wouldn't back paddle. The dissolution of Phantom Lord was the least amount of punishment he'd accept for Jose Porla. He wouldn't negotiate on that.
~Juvia Lockser~
No hesitation at all. Jose Porla was a Wizard Saint. One of the official top ten Mages in the entirety of Fiore. And there wasn't even the shadow of a doubt in Laxus-sama's eyes. The sheer confidence he had in himself and his Guild was astounding. From what she could sense, he was around Jose's level in pure volume of his magical power. It was a bit of a challenge to get a read on him due to his control. His magic also had a different, slightly foreign feel to it which made gauging it even more of a challenge.
If what he told her was true, and he really didn't have a reason to lie, Gajeel had joined up with Fairy Tail. The Iron Dragon Slayer was extremely proud and wouldn't accept just anyone as his superior. Whoever convinced him must have truly impressed him. More so than Jose. With glowing cheeks, she shyly glanced at the muscular blonde. She had a suspicion who faced Gajeel. It was then that she remembered being asked a question by Laxus-sama. Did she want to join Fairy Tail? Misfortune followed her and she didn't want to risk pulling them down with her, but...
'A family...' She thought as she could feel the stirrings of a long-suppressed emotion. She yearned for family ever since she was a child. Cursed with impossibly large magical reserves, she unlocked her magic far earlier than was usual. She only had the vaguest memories of a blue sky from her early childhood, as with age three, she was already pulling in the rainclouds. Her parents tried. They were mages themselves, though not particularly strong ones, and tried teaching her to control the Ethernano inside of her.
For a three years old child, those concepts were a bit beyond comprehensible though, so they quickly gave up and abandoned her in front of an orphanage. As always when she thought of it, she felt the vague pang of sadness. Just how different would her life have been if her parents stood by her? Would she have managed to reign herself in before today? It wasn't as if she didn't try to get her magic under control. She even tried to exhaust herself so much that it didn't leak anymore, but it was futile. To refill her container, Ethernano from the atmosphere was pulled in, and with it came even more water than usual.
It was useless, and after desperately trying for years, she simply gave up. Just as she gave up on ever having friends or family. Or a romantic partner. When Jose came to the orphanage, she could see in his eyes that he just wanted to take her in for her magic, and she was right in that assumption, but it was at least better than having to face the scorn of the caretakers and the other inhabitants, so she went with him anyways. She quickly rose through the ranks with her innate skill and the massive amounts of Ethernano backing it. If nothing else, she managed to reach a respectable level of strength and was self sufficient. She even had some colleagues who didn't completely despise her. If she squinted heavily, she might have called Gajeel a friend.
And then came her Guildmaster's obsession with surpassing Fairy Tail. Just when he was announced a Wizard Saint some years ago, he told them that was the long term goal and adjusted all his plans accordingly. Something had happened and he was seething. Judging from the way he moved a bit more gingerly than usual, he was probably beaten in a fight. Additionally, it was clear that he was jealous of the spotlight they so easily seemed to pull on themselves. She met some of Fairy Tail's Mages. Both, stronger and weaker ones. Their rambunctiousness and the jolly happiness they seemed to radiate struck her and she felt jealous of their attitudes. How could she become happy herself? 'Not at all.' Her inner voice whispered back then and she agreed.
Of those called the strong, Fairy Tail's roster of S-Ranks, she met three. The first was 'Titania' Erza Scarlet. The woman was severe and serious, but had an unexpected cute side that she was allowed to witness when she spied her in an alleyway, playing with a stray cat. 'Demon-Fairy' Mirajane was the second one she met. The woman was a friendly one, though she could tell that she had depth to her and that she might not always have such a pleasant demeanour.
The third one was their Ace. She remembered the oppressive feeling that radiated from Gildarts Clive when she stood close to him once. She knew he was far beyond even her Guildmaster but chose to keep her silence. He wouldn't listen anyways. From what she could tell, he had some of the same problems she had. Only, instead of pulling in rain, his surroundings just seemed to fall apart randomly. If his concentration faltered, even if it was just for a moment, things tended to end up crushed by his magic. She felt sympathy and a bit of kinship when she realised his plight.
Was she truly allowed to join them? Did she want to risk hurting her new obsession in life by being close to him and his? This man, in a short few minutes after their first meeting, had done more for her than anyone else in her life. He embraced her and gave her the warmth she so desperately craved while expecting nothing in return. Usually, she wouldn't have let him, but not only was He stronger than her, he also didn't restrain her in any way. She could have slipped from his arms at any moment and he wouldn't have stopped her.
He then claimed that Juvia was a gorgeous woman, and that rain was something to be enjoyed. She could still feel an echo of the pleasant tingle that ran through her when she realised what he had said. Both were notions she wouldn't have entertained usually, but the silent passion that had filled his voice when he spoke of refreshing summer showers and devastatingly beautiful tropical storms convinced her of his honesty. That and the clear appreciation in his voice when he called her gorgeous.
But it was what he did afterwards that would forever cement him as one of the most important people in her life. Gently, his magic had prodded at hers. Almost unconsciously, she'd allowed a connection to form. She didn't know why, but there was this intrinsic understanding in her that he wouldn't harm her. And he didn't. Instead, he blew her mind. Guided by a thread of his magic, her own began to follow intricate patterns. The pressure she endured at all times, as if she was a dam moments away from bursting, began to recede. Fascinated, she watched with rapt attention as he weaved her own magic into sophisticated flowing ribbons.
Awestruck, she finally comprehended what he was doing, and she actively began aiding him. This generous man who barely knew her handed her the key to what might become true happiness in the distant future. He gave her a method to take full control over her reserves. It took some concentration to keep her magic flowing in patterns like this, but it wasn't nearly as much as contantly keeping a hold on all the pressure that built within her core. This one gift changed so much in her life that she was at a loss. So many emotions and impressions swirled through her mind that she didn't know what to do with them. In the end, she decided to lean back into the strong body behind her and watch the sun for the first time in recent memory. She didn't notice until later that her lips had pulled upwards.
Resurfacing from the memory, she once again glanced at the man who was patiently waiting for her answer. His eyes expressed an understanding and compassion that she didn't feel she deserved. It just wasn't right to receive gift after gift without giving anything back.
"Juvia... Is sorry, but she has to decline your offer. She doesn't feel she deserves...-"
She was interrupted by his faintly amused voice.
"Nope. Try again."
Non-plussed, she stared at him for a moment before trying to refuse joining again. Once again, she was interrupted, and after several times, her frustration boiled over.
"Why are you not accepting Juvia's choice?"
She asked him heatedly, only to feel vaguely ashamed for her outburst. She surreptitiously glanced at the other person in the room and found only sympathy and compassion in the Heartfilia Heiress's eyes. She had returned with tea that spread it's pleasant aroma a short while ago. 'Are they all like this?' She thought to herself before her attention snapped back to the wonderful and frustrating man who had riled her up seemingly intentionally.
"I will continue to refuse your answer as long as you keep being dishonest to yourself. If you'd mean it, I wouldn't hesitate to accept it. I'd be sad, and it would make keeping contact a bit harder, but I would accept it. That's not the case, though. You are trying to make a decision for all the wrong reasons. You are not undeserving. Not at all. You are a strong Mage and an asset to any Guild you join. As for the misguided notion that you'd spell our doom if you join?"
He let out a bark of a laugh and grinned at her with his canines visible. The slightly feral expression on his face, coupled with the slight gleam in his intense, gray eyes made her stomach deliciously queasy, but she forced herself to pay attention to his words.
"Fairy Tail survived the likes of Natsu and Gildarts joining. We have both, Erza and Mirajane, in our midst and their violent rivalry in their youth is the stuff of legends. And some horror stories on Mira's part, but we don't talk about those. Our guild breaks out into brawls at least once a day. Just what do you think your addition would do? Storm floods? We had far worse than that. Heck, maybe you can even cool down some of those hotheads enough to activate their braincells! Honestly, sometimes I'm surprised that we weren't kicked out of Magnolia yet."
Despite his harsh words, his entire speech was laced with fondness and a clear love for his Guild. When he concluded his words, he leaned backwards and leisurely folded his arms in front of his chest while watching her with a curious light in his eyes. There was one thing she understood now. It was a startling and humbling realisation. He wasn't much older than her, she knew. But it was clear as day, that he'd sacrifice everything he was for them. For his family.
"You'd die for them..."
She vocalised her thoughts and drew a confused stare from him.
"Of course I would. They are family. I'd much rather live for them, though. I'm of no use while I'm dead and returning would be such a hassle."
'Why does Juvia have the suspicion that he isn't joking?...' She thought to herself but didn't ask the question aloud. She wasn't sure she was ready for the answer. Before she could come to a conclusion as to what to do, Laxus-sama's eyes sharpened. It took her a moment to understand why but when she felt the massive amount of moving Ethernano closing in on Magnolia from the seaside, she came to the horrifying realisation that it was her Guild. Jose's secret weapon. The Super Mage Giant Phantom MK II. Frantically, she turned to the serious Mage besides her and tried to explain only to have him shake his head with silencing severity.
"I know. It's his secret weapon. The reason he's so confident. I found partial blueprints in Aria's quarters. Your acceptance has to wait for a moment, I think. Let's welcome you into the fold when this whole thing's over, shall we?"
She nearly gaped at him. Just what was it that made him so sure that she'd join them? She didn't even know herself yet and he was already throwing that confident smirk at her. The fact that it did things to her insides that were better left unmentioned would have absolutely no influence on her decision. Suddenly, Laxus-sama's hand softly grabbed her arm. She turned her eyes on him and that damnable smirk was still in place. He grabbed the Heartfilia Heiress too and said.
"Let's go and watch."
Before she could do as much as ask what he meant, she felt electrified and disoriented. Light overtook her vision, but it faded as quickly as it appeared and suddenly, she was somewhere else. One of the big advantages of a body that could transform into liquid at a moment's notice was that she rarely suffered from things such as vertigo. The same couldn't be said about the Heiress.
As soon as they landed wherever Laxus-sama had taken them she stumbled, fell to her knees, and dryheaved a few times before looking up resentfully at the man who seemed equal parts apologetic and amused.
"Sorry, sorry. It would've been worse if you knew what was about to happen."
He then turned to the old man who was sitting on the edge of the roof.
"Hey gramps. I brought some observers. Mind scooting aside a bit?"
He sported a rougish little grin and she nearly melted at it's sight. Her attention was nonetheless pulled by the diminutive old man already occupying the roof. By no means did she underestimate this powerhouse based on his appearance. The third Master of Fairy Tail. The 'Titan of the Light' Makarov Dreyar. While his public appearances as a Wizard Saint dwindled in recent times, he was still very active locally.
Monthly magical shows for children that he organised with some members of his guild. Token quests he personally took from orphanages like entertaining the little ones or repairworks. When asked why he was doing so much for the orphans, he answered with 'Because no one else does it. Children are the true treasures of our world. They are innocent beings of infinite potential. So many children suffer needlessly and if I can do a little something like this to make their lives more bearable, I don't see a reason not to do it. Now stop spouting nonsense and come here. We still need someone to announce the act and you have the experience.'
He was far more admirable than her own Master, though she wouldn't call Jose Porla that for long anymore. She had made her decision. Should Fairy Tail survive this day, which was almost guaranteed with both, Grandfather and Grandson close by, she'd accept his offer. Laxus-sama stood besides the legend with crossed arms and a soft gaze. His eyes were firmly on the happenings on the battlefield.
"Look at them. See the spirit of Fairy Tail with your own eyes. Let them show you the meaning of Family."
He spoke with severity and proud reverence reverberating through his voice. Instinctively, she obeyed and she noticed from the corner of her eyes that the Heartfilia Heiress did the same. Fairy Tail was caught off guard by the sheer amount of Mages pouring out of the walking Fortress. That much was clear. But there wasn't even a moment's hesitation before they retaliated. She watched in awe as they mounted a solid defense against the onslaught. The battle was chaotic, and the likes of an angry Dragon Slayer joining in made it only more so. But one theme seemed to weave through the entire fight. She saw Fairy Tail's people take shots for others only to have the favour returned instantly. She saw the selfless way Fairy Tail Mages behaved and it stood in clear contrast to the average Phantom Lord members. Most were selfish and uncaring towards their peers and it showed in the casualties. Fairy Tail was standing proud and strong while Phantom Lord's forces were dwindling.
She did wonder where their stronger members were, though. What Jose seemed to have mobilised here was the rabble of the guild. None of their A-Ranks and only a few of the weaker B-Ranks were in attendance. Her answer came in the form of a dark aura starting to build in front of the Fortress. 'Jupiter... Strengthened by most of his remaining powerhouses...' her horrified thoughts must have shown on her face, because she felt a hand squeeze her shoulder gently. Her eyes turned to Laxus, who mouthed 'Just watch...' with fierce pride in his eyes. And so she did.
~Erza Scarlet~
Facing down a blast that would raze most S-Rank Mages from the face of this planet wasn't what she had in mind when she left the shower, but she was used to such surprises. Well, kind of. When you were part of Fairy Tail, Chaos kinda came with the territory. 'I'm not sure if I'll survive this one.' She mused absentmindedly as she felt the blast build up well beyond what a Jupiter Cannon should have been capable of. Not that it changed anything. Behind her back, there was her family. Failing to protect them simply wasn't an option. If it cost her her life, so be it.
Her magic surged through her in response to her protective and self-sacrificing intent. Fueling her signature magic with it made her entire body glow in an otherworldly shine. Once the bright light receded, she was clad in the defensively most powerful armor she possessed. The Adamantine Armor was bulky and exceedingly heavy. It was utterly useless in a regular fight where she relied mostly on her mobility and mastery of the sword. Due to it's nature, she struggled to even move, much less fight, in it. But it had one very special enchantment besides everything in the books that increased its durability. It allowed her to exceed the limits of any other defensive equipment she used. A short flash later, she was holding two halfs of a whole shield in her hands. Usually, if they were united, they'd form a defensive barrier capable of tanking several regular S-Rank attacks. But with this Armor...
An almighty glow illuminated the surroundings as a gigantic spell circle built up in front of her. She fed more and more Ethernano into it in preparation for the impact that would soon happen. Desperately, she dug deeper than ever before, but came to the horrifying realisation that it wasn't enough. She could still feel the Jupiter Blast gaining strength.
'Where... Where can I find more?! I need to protect them! I can not fail!' Gritting her teeth, she slammed against the metaphorical wall that kept her from fulfilling her task. Again and again, but it would... Not... Break! She could feel her eye sting with tears when she realised the fatal truth...
"[Satan Soul: Damascus Demoness]"
Mira's distinct voice cut through her despair and her eyes widened when she felt the hands of her rival and best friend on her back.
"As if I'd let you face something like that alone."
She could hear the pout in her voice and knew she was cross with her. A wry smile appeared on her face, even as she could feel their magics mingle and synchronise. This was the first time they'd attempted something like this but it felt as if they'd done it uncountable times already. As one, they chanted.
"[Unison Raid: Dark Avalon]"
The Blast's long build up gave them the time to prepare, and it was necessary. As the massive beam drilled into the dark blue barrier consisting of several overlapping magic circles that were spinning with hypnotic harmony, their combined magic strained severely. Now that they felt the magical blast directly, they could tell that it was fuelled and directed by several rather strong mages in addition to containing a large amount of inert Ethernano, usually indicating the use of Battery Lacrimas.
Faint worry trickled into her consciousness and was immediately squashed when the first barrier shattered shortly after the impact. She searched deep within for anything to add, but she was running dry. Even with the short rejuvenation due to the influx of Mira's magic, there wasn't much left. But... Once again, she faced the barrier inside of her. Her instincts told her that this was the solution but it looked as solid as ever. A hand slipped into hers and peace overtook her. If she couldn't overcome the barrier alone, then...
""Together.""
~Makarov Dreyar~
"Oh, they unlocked their Second Origin."
He murmured while consciously relaxing his tensed body slightly. The light around his two daughters had intensified by several degrees, and the remaining barriers strengthened impressively. It was a given. When a strong S-Rank Mage unlocked their Second Origin, it always brought with it a dramatic boost in power. Double that up and add their Unison Raid to the equation and you had one momentous piece of magic. It wasn't quite as potent as [Fairy Sphere], but it did have the potential to grow. Already, he could see how they might improve on it. How far they would push their collaborative spell, he couldn't say. Only time would tell. Curiously, he turned to his grandson with a question in his eyes.
"Did you know? The Unison Raid was already a surprise. I know for a fact that this was their first time attempting one. A successful collaboration like this leaves hints of the other participant's signature in your magic. Neither of them had that distinction. And yet, the merger of their Magicks was nearly seamless."
Laxus was grinning with fierce pride in his eyes. There was a slight hint of surprise hidden in them, however. It was rather clear that they exceeded his expectations. He confirmed his thoughts when he slowly shook his head.
"I didn't know she was that close to pushing through. Mira being pulled along was a surprise too. I was ready to step in when the first barrier cracked after less than a second. But they pulled through... Look at that. The Jupiter Beam is dispersed and [Dark Avalon] is still standing tall and proud."
There was slight awe in his voice and Makarov could understand it. This piece of defensive magic was in it's infancy. And undeveloped as it was, it still managed to stop a blow that would have been a severe challenge to halt even for a lower tier Wizard Saint. The potential of this magic was mind-boggling. There were several Mages among Fairy Tail's roster who could have done so, to be fair. Without preparation time, he'd say Gildarts, Laxus, and he himself of course. If they had an hour or two to prepare themselves, however... Levy, Freed, and surprisingly Laki joined that group. The first two were pushing towards S-Rank themselves while Laki was sitting at mid-A-Rank. But her constructs were exceedingly sturdy, and she'd have been able to weather it, most likely. His thoughts turned to what Laxus had achieved over the past few days. Of course, those thoughts made him pay attention to their guest.
He glanced at Lucy and the young woman standing besides her. The person they brought along. Juvia Lockser. She made no move to support Phantom Lord, and the way she kept glancing at his grandson with slight blush on her face told him that she was already charmed away from her former Guild by him. 'Not even two days. Five S-Rank Mages. He defeated two of them and convinced three to join Fairy Tail. Haaah... Always the overachiever, aren'tcha, Laxus?' His thoughts concluded with a slight smile that slipped from his face when he heard the question he asked.
"Now, they are exhausted as you can see. Elfmann, Natsu, and Gray are doing a good job keeping the rabble away while they are being evacuated, but the power-sapping shades from Jose are annoying to deal with, especially for close combat specialists like them. The only one among them who has some range is Gray. Wanna step on the field yourself to end this?"
He mused over it as he let his gaze wander over the battlefield. They'd chosen one of the surrounding buildings as vantage point to keep watch over them. He wanted to show that little upstart Jose just who he messed with. Threatening a Monster's children like this, it was suicidal. Beating him into the ground was the least his protective rage demanded from him. On the other hand... Wouldn't it hit him far more intensely if his entire Guild, himself included, were beaten down solely by the new generation? The foundation for his humiliation was already laid with his grandson taking more than half of their S-Ranks for himself and with Erza, in collaboration with Mira, defending the Guild from a blow that should have obliterated them. It was an impressive feat. He allowed himself a hint of Schadenfreude as he shook his head.
"No need. You have it well in hand, my boy. Go down there and show them what a Dreyar is capable of. Make them fear the name of Fairy Tail. Oh, by the way. Why was there no support from Phantom Lord's branches? They should have sent several branch leaders and their contingent by now, no?"
He wondered about that and was certain Laxus had something to do with the lacking backup. The source of his pride glanced at him, surprised by his decision no doubt, before answering his question.
"Mystogan and the Thunder Tribe. I asked a favour of him and gave him temporary control over my team. He led them to obliterate all of the branches without leaving any traces. You know how good he is with covert work. It's why his status as an S-Rank of Fairy Tail isn't widely known. That said, are you sure? I thought you'd be itching to tan that tacky moron's hide."
Makarov's moustache twitched at the description before he laughed lightly. He couldn't help it. Yes, usually, that would have been the case. But there was no reason to pull out all stops. For someone like that, his grandson was more than enough. He also needed to learn how to deal with other Guildmasters if he wanted to succeed him and stomping that punk into the ground with extreme prejudice was exactly the kind of experience he needed. 'Wait, am I promoting violence as a solution to his problems with other Guilds?... Ah, whatever.' He shrugged his shoulders and answered.
"Watching you...-"
He was interrupted by Jose's voice. He sounded unhinged and there was a note of genuine insanity to be heard by those who had experience with it. Unnerving was the adjective that came to his mind when he listened to him.
"Now you have done it. You've made me angry enough to throw in everything I have. This is your end, Fairy Tail. Witness the inconceivable might of [Abyss Break]!"
Laxus's countenance grew serious as did his own. Just how deranged was that idiot? Using this kind of spell in a populated area like Magnolia... From the scale of the magic circle, this blast would hit at least the entirety of the city. No, he might even hit some small villages around it... 'He really lost it...' Turning to Laxus, he commanded with the appropriate severity.
"Go. Show him the error of his ways."
He nodded seriously and stepped to the edge of the roof. Before using his Lightning Magic to move to the battlefield, he threw him a wave and a barb.
"Got it, gramps. Just stay here resting your old bones while I do all the work. Wouldn't wanna have to carry you around after you broke your hip from moving too much."
A tick mark appeared on his forehead as he had to restrain himself from punching his mouthy grandson.
"There's still enough of a fight left in these old bones, you disrespectful brat. Haah... Be careful down there. I know you're strong, but overconfidence often costs you more than you are willing to pay."
He stood there for a moment, absorbing his words, before leaving without reacting to them. It was fine. He knew he'd heed them. Now, with all the worries left in the hands of the new generation, he decided to have a bit of fun. Turning to the blue-themed girl, he teased.
"So... You have designs on my grandson, is that right?"
~Totomaru~
'So that's why he paid us to charge a giant Lacrima daily for two whole months...' He thought to himself, feeling severely conflicted about the fact that it was partly his magic fueling this the Spell Jose wanted to use for mass murder and destruction.
"I was hoping to keep myself hidden, but I guess I'll have to go to the field now, eh? What a hassle. Jose was always a bit unhinged but did he have to lose his plot big time? What's his deal anyways?"
He murmured to himself as he roused himself from the slouching position he had taken after expending considerable amounts of his magic. The moves he made during the battle were rather overt and stayed largely unnoticed, but they were pretty heavy on his reserves due to the distance. The subtle way he controlled any and all fire spells from those Phantom Morons to hit air or collide with other Magicks while doing the opposite for Fairy Tail's roster was enough to help turn the tide against Phantom Lord's forces. He asked for permission from Fairy Tail's Fire Mages beforehand of course. He always did when it was likely he'd work with someone. Some of the Magicks here were a bit different than usual to control.
Conbolt's [Purple Flare] for example. It was interesting to control since it's properties were more prone to be changed. Despite being fire by nature, it could be easily used to inflict cuts and piercing damage, and the like. It's temperature was also more variable, though the upper limit was pretty low. They had an understanding from their short talk and the fact that Laxus trusted him enough to bring him in uninjured and leave him alone with the Guild. That said, the one he got on the best with was definitely Natsu. Their personalities meshed well even though they were on opposite ends of the spectrum in the way they used their magic. While he was all about control, Natsu was an absolute monster in terms of reserves and power. He was also pretty much self-sufficient with his ability to eat fire. No finesse, though. Not yet, at least.
His ability to consume foreign sources of fire was also one of the reasons they got along so well, since they experimented a bit with how the different aspects of his [Rainbow Flame] tasted. The Dragon Slayer's magic was a hassle to control, though. It bucked and fought even though it's user was cooperative. There was something primal to it, which was to be expected since it was called [Dragon Slayer Magic] for a reason. It was a kind of Lost Magic that went back further than most.
Just when he readied himself to make his move, he felt a wrathful presence approach the battlefield. The air was charged and clouds were churning ominously where there were none before as trace amounts of magic were deliberately released into the atmosphere.
"Uh oh. He's almost as angry as back then when Natsu destroyed his Sound Pods during a Guild brawl."
The talking blue cat named Happy was floating besides him with his paw in front of his mouth as he was snickering away while the Fire Dragon Slayer flinched with a traumatized expression. Apparently, the future suffering of their enemies was amusing to the sadistic feline.
"Fairy Tail. My family. You did well and I am proud of you. I'll take it from here though. It's time that fucker is put down like the rabid dog he is."
His voice wasn't especially loud, but it carried all over the battlefield, causing anger and fear in the forces of Phantom Lord. Fairy Tail was a whole different matter, though. Just like that, the entirety of the guild relaxed. There were smiles and anticipatory gleams on the faces all around. Even Gajeel, who was on 'bedrest', enforced by a small bluenette who grumbled about Laxus's cursing, smirked knowingly. 'Just how much trust do they hold in him to just abandon any tension when he steps on the battlefield?!' His thoughts swirled. He knew the 'Second Ace' was strong, but could he really go toe to toe with a Wizard Saint supported by a moving Fortress of Doom and Lacrimas the size of houses filled with enough energy to blow Magnolia to high heaven thrice over? He was pulled from his thoughts when Laxus addressed him directly.
"Totty, you bitched to me that you'll never become well known without flashy magic and that all you have going for you is control. Well, let me show you what you can do once you reach the pinnacle of Control."
Standing in the middle of the battlefield, the well-built Mage looked downright tiny in front of the humongous Magitec Golem that was Phantom Lord's Guild building. He glanced upwards, sparking with static electricity and Totomaru was confused. 'What is he...-'
Before he could finish the thought, he felt him send a minuscule amount of Ethernano upwards. The clouds that had begun to build earlier converged above him, moving in slow, rhythmic circles. It looked as if they were pulled slightly downwards, akin to a hurricane building up. There were abnormal amounts of magic building behind those clouds and only a small trace of it was Laxus's. The rest was atmospheric magic, the kind that existed all around them. The next scene would be forever burnt into his memory.
"[Lightning Dragon Slayer Secret Art: Kirin]."
The clouds were ripped apart by a humongous beast of azure lightning that faintly resembled a horned Dragon. It's roar crackled like lightning and boomed over the battlefield like thunder before it freed itself from its cloudy confines. For a short moment, it lingered in the air, painting the entire battlefield in an ethereal blueish glow, before it swept downwards, leaving several sonic booms in its wake. The speed with which it travelled was almost too much for his eyes to trace and the shockwave it generated with its impact into the moving Fortress swept the field clear from lingering Mages causing panicked screams all around.
'What the fuck...' was the only thing on his mind as he watched the bodies fly. Only Phantom Lord's rabble was affected, though. Just before the shockwave could have reached them, a translucent barrier shining with a golden light snapped in place to protect Fairy Tail from the aftermath. No one was panicking or even looking worried, he realised, though there was plenty of awe and admiration on the faces surrounding him. He shook his head with a wry smile when he saw electricity dancing over the shield. He sensed Laxus's magical signature in it, of course. 'That guy's way too meticulous...' His attention was quickly pulled to the battlefield again, however.
He almost couldn't believe his eyes when the dust cleared away. Where once loomed an imposing Golem ready to obliterate the entire city, there were only ruins left. Heaps of debris and partly intact floors marked the formerly formidable product of magical engineering. The Magic Circle of [Abyss Break] was shattered right along with the Lacrimas holding months of the Element 4's accumulated magic. In the middle of that mess, a cloud of darkness was building. 'That's Jose, and he's royally pissed.' He mused idly and wondered why that thought didn't hold the amount of terror over him that it once had.
~Laxus Dreyar~
'Sasuke was a bit of a moron sometimes, but he did have style...' He smirked proudly at the results of his self-made Dragon Slayer Secret Art. He took inspiration from the severely traumatized Uchiha's strongest Lightning Style Jutsu, and it was a bitch to recreate. 'Worth it, though.' His smirk turned predatory when he sensed the buildup of magic in the ruins. He had focussed a large part of his Spell on blasting apart the Lacrimas and containing the uncontrolled discharge of magic that was bound to follow. In tandem, he infused another major junk of it into the Lacrima wires running all through the walls of the Fortress with the consequence of destroying the golem from the inside. The leftover magic was far from enough to finish off a Mage of Jose Porla's calibre.
While he may shit on him quite a bit, Laxus knew the man was a capable Mage. He had to be to rise to the status of a Wizard Saint at that age. If he concentrated on improving himself instead of becoming an obsessive Dickhead, he might have reached the likes of Draculos and Wolfheim. 'Its been a while since I had a decent fight, gramps excluded of course.' He thought as he activated his [Lightning Enhancement]. His entire body was flooded by tightly controlled electricity, enhancing his reflexes and agility to levels far beyond even S-Ranks while increasing his already rather monstrous durability by another notch. Additionally, his energised synapses allowed his thoughts to move faster and keep up with his body. Every Mage subconsciously used magic to increase their physical prowess to varying degrees depending on their specialties. It was an instinct that was ingrained in them. A protective mechanism magical bodies developed to increase the odds of survival by using what they had access to. But only a rare few consciously pushed that aspect further than that.
Finally, the shadowmancer managed to blast himself free from the debris that had buried him. His disheveled appearance tickled his sense of humour, but he suppressed the urge to laugh and regarded him seriously. His somewhat militaristic outfit of choice had definitely seen better days. The long, gray coat was ripped in several places and hung somewhat loosely on Jose's body, and that misfitting cape over his shoulders was barely even recognisable. It was clear that he didn't make it out of it without suffering some physical damage either. There was a slightly bleeding gash on the side of his forehead and several scrapes and building bruises on his face. His visage was twisted into a furious grimace, complete with veins bulging from the wrath he undoubtedly had running through his body.
"What... Have... You! DONE!"
The first word was nearly a whisper, but by the end of his statement, he was shouting furiously. Darkness pulsed around the man as if it was alive and his magic power was climbing with his rage. There was no doubt he was strong by regular standards, but... 'That guy wants to rival gramps? I expected more to be honest.' Not bothering hiding his disappointment, he answered.
"I laid waste to those pathetic little machinations of yours. Nothing more and nothing less. You targeted my Family. And in return, you'll see all your dreams and aspirations go up in flames."
'That should be enough pre-fight banter, right? Ah, whatever.' He had enough of this shit anyways. It was time to end it. Supercharging himself, he moved at speeds most couldn't even track, dashing towards his opponent even as he was opening his mouth for a retort. Instead, his face transformed into a grotesque approximation of surprise as he mounted a hasty defense against the lightning-infused knee that slammed into his forearms. He was sent barreling through the ruins of his Guild's former base.
The Guildmaster caught himself quickly and sent some shades after him as he steadied himself. Breathing a bit more heavily, Jose looked at him with caution in his gaze. That attack should have hurt him a bit, probably snapping him out of his rage-induced haze.
"You finally taking this seriously? Good, because let me tell you. As of now, your performance is a fucking disgrace."
He didn't give him time to answer, charging a silent and internalised [Lightning Dragon's Breakdown Fist] before clashing with the Shadowmancer and Darkness Mage. Both factors weakened the spell, but in tandem with the magic running through his body, it was more than enough to cause some damage. Jose growled as several stray lightning bolts penetrated the shield of Darkness he'd mounted before increasing his output and intentionally destabilising the stalemate to get some distance between them.
"I admit you're strong. But do you truly think I reached my status as Wizard Saint with merely this much?"
Coupled with his words, his magic surged, quickly surpassing his former self while influencing his body. Laxus watched with interest as Jose's body began to bulk up slightly while his features deformed demonically. His dark magic flowed into his sclera, tinging it black as if an ink bottle was running out over white paper. A dark aura surrounded his grotesque form as his oppressive magic threatened to plant the seeds of despair in the hearts of those observing the fight.
Instead of causing Laxus distress, his opponent's power up made the excitement that was buried beneath disappointment rise again. A feral grin spread on his face as his eyes sparked with electricity.
"That's more like it. Well, then let's take this up a notch, shall we?"
He breathed out as he increased his output. Under his strict guidance, he allowed his dragonic lightning to mingle with the natural one enhancing him, making golden scales appear on his bare skin. His pupils transformed into reptile-like slits and his canines elongated slightly, giving him a far more savage appearance. Their transformations concluded near-instantly and the clash that followed was far more violent.
Porla's newfound confidence took a heavy blow when he noticed that Laxus not only kept up with him but neatly overpowered him at every turn.
"You know, I have no idea what the hell came over you when you decided to take us on even though I dismantled your plans left and right, but thanks for that I guess."
While Jose wasn't as free as Laxus was to banter, having to fend off blows that would incapacitate him with the smallest of lapses in concentration, he did show his confusion on his bizarrely malformed face. With insidious amusement in his voice, Laxus informed him silently.
"Why do you think I let this go on as long as it did? You were an excellent Whetstone. A fabulous test for our members' growth. You pushed Erza and Mira further than what they would have reached in years otherwise. Oh, and you handed us three new S-Ranks too! I thank you from the bottom of my heart for that."
The shock he experienced in that moment destabilised him enough to miss a block. He screamed in pain as agonising voltage blasted through his corrupted body when Laxus's fist found purchase. Not wasting the opening, he followed up with a lightning quick knee into the Darkness user's gut, flooding his body with debilitating amounts of lightning magic. With dexterous movements, he placed a rudimentary seal on the defeated Guildmaster. No need to allow him a suicide technique or shit like that.
"Gramps is still stronger than me. He would have curbstomped you even harder."
He left the man's fading consciousness with something to think about. While the fight itself wasn't that challenging, keeping their destructive Magicks from wreaking havoc on the surroundings did pose a bit of a challenge for him. If Jose would have heard his thoughts, he might have fainted anyways. As it was, the tacky moron was unconscious for a more violent reason. Having your insides ravaged by violent lightning would do that to you.
"You'll take him to be judged by the council? I'd venture they'll revoke his status as a Wizard Saint and disband his Guild, but will he face personal punishment too?"
He asked his gramps who had stepped up to stand besides him, looking down on the beaten form of a fellow Guildmaster with slightly complicated emotions in his eyes. Hissing in discomfort, Laxus observed the state of his body. While he had won handily, he did suffer some damage. Jose's magic was corrosive in nature and it did eat away at the protective coating he used while he was in battle mode. If there was a tad more oomph behind it, it would have eaten through his Dragon Scales. Impressive, all things considered. As it was, he had some bruises and wounds that almost looked like acid burns.
"You could have been a powerful force for the good, Jose. Instead, you chose to live the life of a fool. I truly hope there is redemption in your future."
Makarov shifted his attention to him, pride and worry warring in his eyes. Laxus waved off the unasked question.
"I'll be fine, gramps. Nothing permanent. I'll be at 100% in a few days. No need to worry away the few hairs you still have."
He grumbled about disrespectful brats for a moment before answering his first question.
"He'll be tried, but the punishment won't be extensive since he caused no damage outside of our Guild-owned property thanks to your interference. Erza's and Mira's defensive Spell severely limited the collateral damage too. You know that Guild disputes get handled with more care, but they wouldn't want to lose a strong Mage like him permanently. Bosco has been pushing borders recently, and while Fiore isn't directly affected, we are still preparing for the worst case."
Laxus nodded thoughtfully. He understood that his gramps had better insight in the workings of the council. He cared little for them since he had a genuine dislike for most politicians. Those who had his attention were the two who had infiltrated it. Siegrain aka Jellal Fernandez and Ultear. He tried to get to them earlier but they covered their tracks well.
"If he tries to attack Fairy Tail again, I'll kill him."
It was a simple but impactful statement. He was willing to give the guy a second chance since he didn't actually cause much damage, but if he so much as looked wrong at his Guild again, Laxus wouldn't hesitate to deal with him permanently.
"No need to dirty your hands. If he starts something again, I'll bury him myself."
United in their determination to protect their Guild, two generations stood solemnly in front of a defeated enemy.