Chapter 346: Allies Gather
Dante was currently standing around a table with a map of Magnolia spread out on it. In addition to Dante other guild members were present. Markov, Freed, Levy, Erza and Winter stood around the table with Dante. While the other guild members not in the guildhall were busy evacuating the town of Magnolia, Dante and the small group with him were taking the time to formulate a battle plan. Taking another moment to study the map of Magnolia, Dante turned his attention towards Winter and started to speak.
"Winter you used to be a high ranking member in the Alveraz military. Do you have any ideas how the enemy will attack" asked Dante in a curious tone. Nodding her head, Winter started to speak.
"I wouldn't know the specifics, but I can tell you the basics. In the Alveraz military there is a creed that all members know and follow, it's the foundation of all of their strategies" responded Winter.
"What creed would that be" asked Markov in a curious tone.
"It's a simple creed but effective. The creed and foundation of all military strategy is to face the enemy at all times with overwhelming force" responded Winter in a serious tone. Signing with exhaustion at these words, Dante started to speak.
"I was afraid of that. Considering Zeref is after the Fairy Heart it would be reasonable to assume that the entirety of the Alverez Empire military will be used against us" responded Dante as he looked at the laid out map of Magnolia. With a nervous look, Levy started to speak.
"Hold on just how big is the Alvarez military" asked Levy in a nervous tone.
"The Alverez Empire has soldiers that number over a million" responded Winter.
"Over a million, I can hardly believe that such a large army is possible" responded Erza in a serious tone as she tried to imagine fighting against an army that numbered over a million.
"In addition to the number of soldiers the empire has the Spriggan 12 who are powerful enough to be an army all on their own" responded Winter.
"That's right. I've only had the pleasure of facing two of them in battle so far, that being Brandish and Irene. Their strength is unreal, and they will be a huge problem. Brandish is scary enough, but I think I can deal with her if we were to meet again in battle now that I know how her magic works. Irene is the one that scares me the most, her magical power was suffocating when I faced her in battle" responded Dante in a serious tone, remembering how easily overpowered he was when he fought against Irene.
"The odds are certainly against us but don't count us out yet. If there is one thing I've learned in all my years is not to doubt the power of my children" responded Markov in a confidant tone. Dante, Erza, Levy and Freed smiled at these words, thinking that was true enough.
"Master Markov is right. We might be facing overwhelming force, but we will win. Everyone here will live through this. As the Seventh master of Fairy Tail you have my word on that" responded Dante while the others around the table nodded their head in agreement. Focusing his attention on Winter, Dante continued to speak.
"Any idea how the enemy will attack first" asked Dante in a curious tone.
"The enemy will want to attack us from multiple different direction all at once. Their target is Magnolia and the Fairy Tail guildhall. It is very likely they will attack by land, water and air. We will need to be ready to respond to multiple threats from many different directions" responded Winter. Nodding his head in understanding, Dante started to speak.
"That certainly sounds like overwhelming force" responded Dante thinking it would be difficult to defend against multiple different directions.
"There is one good thing for us. We know their target and can fight a defensive war. Fighting a defensive war is much easier to do than attacking" responded Erza. Nodding his head in agreement, Dante started to speak.
"You're right Erza, that is one thing going for us. We should make sure our defenses are as strong as they can be" responded Dante as he tried to think of ways to make the guildhall impenetrable.
"If it's defense you are worried about then I can erect a barrier around Magnolia using my enchantments" responded Freed. Turning his attention towards Freed, Dante started to speak.
"You think you can cover that big of an area" asked Dante in a somewhat surprised tone since Magnolia wasn't a small city. Nodding his head, Freed started to speak.
"Yes I believe I can. The barrier I have in mind wouldn't prevent people from entering it but it would defend against magical attacks" responded Freed in a confidant tone.
"That would be a help, the Alvarez Military will certainly try and hit us from a long distance" responded Winter.
"How long do you think you can maintain this barrier Freed and how much damage can it take" asked Dante in a curious tone.
"It's hard to say for sure without knowing exactly what the enemy will throw at it. I do know that if I spend the rest of the time before the war writing my enchantments then it will be the strongest magical barrier Fiore has ever seen" responded Freed in a confidant tone.
"I can help you Freed; my solid script should be able to meld nicely with your enchantments" responded Levy in a determined tone.
"Thank you Levy, the help is appreciated" responded Freed thinking it he could cover all of Magnolia easier if Levy helped him writing his enchantments.
"We also have reinforcements that we can't forget about. The king has promised his army and is positioning them around key part of the kingdom. Zeref might be after the Fairy Heart but the entire kingdom in in danger, it wont just be Magnolia that is attacked" responded Dante while he studied the map in front of him.
"Don't forget that the magic council is also helping. Every single Wizard Saint is going to help fight and that includes the Gods of Isgar" responded Erza. Nodding his head in agreement, Dante started to speak.
"That's right. When the battle begins I will be with the other Gods of Isgar where the fighting should be the strongest. The enemy will take notice of us and likely send some of their best to fight. I'm confidant that with the other Gods of Isgar with me I will be able to defeat anyone they send" responded Dante in a confident tone.
"Are you sure you will be alright master? It worries me that you will have to face the strongest enemies" responded Levy in a worried tone. Smiling at Levy, Dante started to speak.
"I'll be fine Levy. With you and everyone else to come home too there is no way I'm going to let some jerks from the Alveraz Empire take me down" responded Dante thinking there was no way he would die when he had so many people to have a happy life with. Blushing slightly at Dante's words, Levy nodded her head hoping that the man she loved would be okay. With everyone's attention still on him, Dante continued to speak.
"I also have a few other allies we can call on that will make a huge difference" Dante started to say before the guildhall started to shake and rumble. Looking around the guildhall, Erza started to speak.
"What is this? Is it an earthquake" asked Erza in a worried tone. Smiling to himself, Dante started to speak.
"No it's not an earthquake. I believe that is one of the allies I was just talking about" responded Dante with a smile as he started to walk out of the guildhall. With curious looks everyone followed Dante out of the guildhall.
"My word, this is the ally you were talking about" asked Markov in a shocked tone as he stood in front of the guildhall, the giant chief from the Sun Village was towering in front of everyone. Nodding his head, Dante started to speak.
"That's right. During my year as a magic council member I prepared for this war and I figured having an entire village of giants on our side would help" responded Dante with a smile before he turned his attention towards the giant chief as he continued to speak.
"Glad you could make it" shouted Dante to make sure the giant chief heard him from the ground. Smiling at Dante, the giant chief started to speak.
"We're glad to be here. If little Flare's guild is in danger then you can count on the combined strength of the entire Sun Village" responded the giant chief with a smile.
"Where are the rest of your people? Do they need anything? Food or water" asked Dante with a friendly smile.
"We can hunt for ourselves don't worry about food and water for us. The rest of my people are just outside the city. We figured it wouldn't be wise to have serval dozen giants walking through your streets. You humans have such narrow streets" responded the giant chief with an amused smile. Laughing lightly at these words, Dante started to speak.
"Well we are a fraction of your size" responded Dante, shouting his response to the giant could hear him. The giant let out a booming laugh before he started to speak.
"Haha that's true, you humans are so small and puny" responded the giant chief in an amused tone.
"Hey we might be small but we humans can be really tough. You'll see soon just how strong we humans can be" responded Dante in an amused tone, he liked his chances of winning the war now that he had serval dozen giants to fight alongside. Taking a step forward, Winter started to speak.
"Joking aside we should go over strategy so the giants are placed at the most needed areas" stated Winter in a serious tone. Nodding his head in agreement Dante started to speak.
"You're right Winter" responded Dante before he turned his attention back towards the giant chief and continued to speak.
"Talking strategy sounds good to you" asked Dante with a shout. Nodding his head, the giant chief started to speak.
"That's fine, I just hope you don't mind discussing it outside since I can't fit in your guildhall" responded the giant chief. After saying these words Dante discussed strategy with everyone for a few hours before it was decided it was enough for the day.
"If that is all I will go back to my people. I'll make sure everyone knows what needs to get done. If you see Flare point her in our direction, it would be nice to see her again" stated the giant chief before he waved goodbye to the small group. Watching as the giant chief walked away, Dante turned his attention towards Markov who started to speak to him.
"By the way Dante, what were the other allies you talked about" asked Markov in a curious tone. Seeing that everyone had their attention on him, Dante smiled at Markov as he started to speak.
"Let's just say I'm glad Fairy Tail will have all of it's S-class wizards fighting in the war" responded Dante with a smile. Having a confused look on her face, Levy started to speak.
"What do you mean master? Why wouldn't all our S-class wizards be fighting, it shouldn't be a surprise" asked Levy in a confused tone.
"No Levy, I meant ALL of our S-class wizards" responded Dante with a wide smile.
"We still don't understand master, of course all of our S-class would help" responded Erza just as confused as Levy and Freed. Markov then had a look of shock on his face as he realized who Dante was talking about.
"Hold on Dante, you don't mean" asked Markov in a shocked tone before Dante nodded his head and started to speak.
"That's right. Like I said Fairy Tail is going to have ALL of its S-class wizards helping out" responded Dante in an amused tone. Getting a little bit frustrated that Dante was still leaving them in the dark, Levy started to speak.
"Are you going to stop teasing us master? Who are you talking about" asked Levy in a cute pouting tone. Laughing lightly to himself, Dante started to speak.
"Come on Levy you haven't figured it out yet" asked Dante in an amused tone. After waiting for a moment to tease everyone other than Markov, Dante continued to speak.
"Fairy Tail will have ALL of its S-class wizards helping out. That will of course include old friends" responded Dante with an amused smile before he continued to speak.
"Mystogan is ready to help at a moments notice. Once a member of Fairy, always a member of Fairy Tail" stated Dante with a smile thinking that Mystogan and his army would make a huge difference. With all of these allies, Dante was sure that the Alvarez Empire would have their work cut out for them. No matter what Dante will make sure Fairy Tail wins the war, even if he had to use his last resort secret weapon.
End of Chapter 346