"Grahhh...!" Erza gritted her teeth, her arms shaking. The shields were cracking, the force of the Jupiter Cannon being too much. The beam was a little too close for comfort. Erza's eyes were wide, her whole body tense. But she would not give in.
"Erza...!" Makarov cried out, his voice full of worry.
"You can't...!" Mirajane was worried for her friend. She was putting herself in danger, risking her life for the sake of protecting them. The intensity of the beam pressing against the shield was causing the whole area to start trembling, as if a typhoon was approaching.
Erza's feet were on the verge of sliding back. Her teeth were grinding, her whole body feeling the strain. But she was determined. She wouldn't move. She was going to save the ones she cared for, even if it meant giving her life for them.
"Silence! I won't move. I will not move." Erza said, her eyes focused on the beam. "I will not let this blast harm Master Natsu. I will not allow it. Even if it means taking the blast myself. I will not move. No matter what."
The pressure elevated more and more, causing some of the guild members to be sent flying, crashing into the wall. They were being pushed back by the force. However, Erza was standing her ground, her shield the only thing keeping them alive.
"Damn it...!" Vaddeus held onto the walls, trying to resist the force. But even he was starting to be pushed back. His fingers scraped across the walls as his feet were leaving the floor. "Not like this...! Not when I'm this close!"
"Grrgh!" Makarov would growl, his eyes glowing. His body began expanding, his magic power growing. He saw how out of control this was getting, immediately forming a magic shield around the entire guild. All but Vaddeus were now safe. The force of the beam struggling with the shield caused a lightshow that was seen by many from afar.
"H-Hey, look! Over there!"
"It's Fairy Tail!"
"And that's the Jupiter Cannon!"
"The blast is heading their way!"
"Everyone is in danger! We need to evacuate!"
Many civilians were looking, horrified at the sight. They would all watch as the beam was about to wipe out the guild. And if not the guild, then the surrounding areas. They were all panicking, afraid of what would happen next. They already had their homes trashed because of this battle and now it looked like the disaster was reaching its peak.
"Damn it! Why is this happening?!"
"Why is the Jupiter Cannon being used?! This is madness!"
"We'll all be wiped out if this keeps up!"
Meanwhile, viewing this clash were Natsu and Gajeel. Their fight had halted as they were watching the same thing.
"That power..." Natsu was amazed by the power he was seeing from that cannon while Gajeel smirked, impressed.
"Yeah. That's the kind of power we at Phantom Lord really pack. Our ace in the hole. You're getting a good look what we're capable of. Can your kingdom even produce something like that? You don't even feel like you can match that. At this rate, we'll take down Fairy Tail before you get the chance to do so."
"Shut it...! I'm not done yet!" Natsu shouted.
"Oh yeah? As if you've got enough strength to fight back against me. As long as I've got this neat trick of mine, you're not making any progress pal." Gajeel boasted while bumping his chest, the impact, making his now-metal armored body vibrate a bit. "My Iron Dragon's Scales are a lot better than yours."
"...Heh." Just then, Natsu put on a grin in response to that, making Gajeel raise his eyebrows. "Heh, heh!"
"What's so funny?" Gajeel questioned, curious as to why Natsu was suddenly chuckling.
"That so? Guess I've got a good enough reason to use more of my magic. To be honest, I've just been using what I know more than the rest since my magic's perfectly strong. I didn't think I'd ever have to come across another Dragon Slayer so there's some stuff I've just stuff I've been keeping secret."
"Secret? What are you talking about, Fire Breath?" Gajeel asked, getting annoyed.
"You wanna see my own ace in the hole? Fine. I'll show you."
"What are you babbling on about?"
"You're not the only one who's got a secret technique, Metal Head." Natsu said as a bright aura started to surround him. His magic was building up, his flames burning. "Now, I'll show you how a real Dragon Slayer does it."
"Tch. So what?" Gajeel would scoff, unamused. Just then, Natsu's body would star flaring up, but not in the usual way. Flames would sprout from his body, spreading across his skin. Gajeel's eyes widened, the sight of the boy's flames changing was shocking.
"Huh?! Wait, his flames are turning red?!"
Natsu's flames were no longer the normal orange color. Instead, they were a deep, bloody crimson. It was a bright, burning crimson, like the flames of a dragon. The intensity was great, the heat could be felt from a distance. The sheer power was also incredible.
"W-What's this?!" Gajeel was stunned by the display. He had no idea what was going on.
"Fire Dragon's Cloak!" Natsu yelled, the flames now encasing his body. His clothes would even light up, surrounded by these flames. He gained a cloak of flames that billowed majestically but with great intensity. With his body burning, he was now ready. "If you've got the armor of an Iron Dragon...then I've got something like this as well!"
"Well then..." Gajeel scoffed his eyes narrowing "Guess we have more in common, huh? So much for feeling special. Looks like I'm not the only one who's got a secret ability."
"Not at all. I haven't had much of a reason to use this until now. You're gonna feel the full force of my power, pal! I hope you're ready!" Natsu would roar as he rushed in, the cloak of fire surrounding him. He would charge forward, his fists balled and ready.
"Tch. Fine then, Fire Breath. Let's see what you can do with those fancy new flames." Gajeel replied, his body fully coated in iron. He would charge forward, ready for another clash. The two would engage, their bodies moving fast. The moment they would collide, sparks would fly.
"Raaaaaagh!" Natsu would roar, his fist smashing against Gajeel's armor. Gajeel would block, his arm covered in a club. The impact of their attacks would cause the ground to crack a bit, the tremors affecting the city.
"Umph!" Gajeel would grunt, the punch forcing him back a bit. But he wouldn't let up, swinging his club at Natsu. The Fire Wizard would jump, his body spinning around.
"Fire Dragon's Crushing Fang!" He would then launch a kick, the flames burning. The impact would cause a small burst, sending Gajeel stumbling. The iron armor would break a little, the impact being stronger.
"Damn...!" Gajeel would curse, not expecting the attack to have that much force. "But it's not over yet!" He would swing his arm again, aiming for Natsu's head.
"Too slow!" Natsu would dodge, the club missing. Natsu would then grab his arm, his hands burning. The fire would spread across the iron, melting it a bit. Natsu would then swing his body, hurling Gajeel into the air.
"Urgk!" Gajeel would cry out, his body going high. But not for long. "Is he...faster than before?!"
"You got that right! If you're even tougher just like how Iron is...the Fire Dragon's Cloak allows me to move just like fire! As wild as I can be!" Natsu shouted.
"Don't underestimate me!" Gajeel would roar, his body twisting around. He would change his arms into spears, aiming them at Natsu. "Iron Dragon's Sword Horn!" His body would then transform into a large spear, which he would then stab into the ground, launching himself towards Natsu.
"Nice try!" Natsu would dodge, his speed increasing. The attack missed, the iron piercing the ground.
"Damn you!" Gajeel roared, the fire on his body not stopping. Natsu was able to move around faster than before. He was able to avoid Gajeel's attacks, making the other wizard frustrated.
"Try this on for size! Fire Dragon's Flame Elbow!" Natsu would spin his body around, his elbow igniting. He would then ram his elbow into Gajeel's armor, the impact causing a massive burst. The explosion would send Gajeel flying, his body tumbling.
"Gah...!" Gajeel grunted, his body skidding along the floor. He couldn't even find the time to propely counterattack since Natsu was moving so frantically. Gajeel would then quickly turn his body, his leg transforming into a club.
"Iron Dragon's Club!" He would swing his foot, his aim being Natsu's head. But once again, the strike missed as Natsu swiftly zipped to the side, the club moving through a part of his cloak.
"I've got you now!" Gajeel would suddenly transform his arm into a spear. But before he could even react, Natsu would appear above him, his foot coated in flames. The strike of his foot landed square in Gajeel's face, the fire burning him.
"You bastard...You've been holding back this whole time, haven't you?" Gajeel held his face while growling at Natsu.
"You wish. I just didn't have a reason to bring this out. Not until now. But I won't like when I say you're tough. You're not an easy opponent. I'll give you that." Natsu replied, smirking. "I've been waiting for a battle like this for so long. You're just the kinda guy to make me see how far I can go. Because one day, I'll become an Emperor."
"An Emperor?"
"That's right." Natsu walked past all the rubble with a grin. "I've been given my destiny from the start. To become an Emperor of something way bigger than a Kingdom. I'll be the new Ruler of the Void Kingdom one day and then some. This is just the start."
"So that's your end goal? Being some ruler?"
"It's not just some ruler! I'm gonna be something way more than that! Just you wait and see! Beating you is how I'm gonna get closer to that goal!" Natsu would point at Gajeel, declaring his eventual victory. "And after this...you'll have to join up with me. If I beat you, you'll join my team that I'm making. I've already got Erza as one member, so you'll be next up!"
"In your dreams! Like I'd ever be on a team with you!" Gajeel barked at him for bringing up such a notion. "I ain't joining any teams! Not even if you defeat me! I work alone!"
"We'll see about that." Natsu would reply, his eyes narrowing. "Because I'm going to win. I'm gonna take you down and then you'll join me. And then we'll be unstoppable. We'll become the strongest wizards in the world!"
"Like hell! I'll be the strongest on my own terms!" Gajeel declared to him. "I'll make sure the next attack finishes you off for good, Fire Breath." To end this, Gajeel would try and unleash a truly devastating attack that he believed was sure to defeat Natsu in one go. But before he could do so, Natus moved at swift speeds thanks to the cloak, elbowing Gajeel's face before he could pull it off. "Ghh! Gah!"
"If I'm gonna become an Emperor, I gotta make sure I'm stronger than everyone else!" Natsu said, zipping from side to side at high speeds while continuously striking at Gajeel from all angles, putting the pressure on the Iron Dragon Slayer. "I've gotta be better and always aiming for the top!"
'I can't keep up!' Try as he might, Gajeel couldn't keep up with Natsu's speed. He was like a fly, moving all over the place at such speeds that it was frustrating to catch him. Each blow began shattering Gajeel's Iron Armor, the impact of each hit being greater than before.
"This is my chance!" Natsu shouted as he grabbed onto Gajeel's arm, his body igniting. "Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame!" With a mighty roar, Natsu unleashed a massive burst of flames that engulfed Gajeel's entire body, burning him. The sheer heat of the flames was enough to melt the iron armor.
"Grahhhh!" Gajeel screamed, his whole body feeling the burn. It was hotter than anything he had felt before, the pain searing through his skin. His body would be covered in burns, his eyes wide. Natsu grinned as a huge amount of smoke gathered around the area, setting nearby items and leftover rubble ablaze.
"Heh. How's that?" Natsu smirked. But it seemed that Gajeel's pain was only momentary. He stopped screaming as right through the smoke, a long Iron Lance flew out. "?!" Natsu spotted this, swiftly zipping to the side to avoid contact, but that's exactly what Gajeel planned for. By using his other arm, he strUCK Natsu from the side, stabbing into the side of his body. "Ngh! Gah!"
"Heh. Gotcha." Gajeel, who had a majority of his iron scales broken and his body smoking in places, grinned at Natsu after landing that sharp hit, finally stabbing into his body.
"Damn...you..." Natsu cursed, the lance piercing his side. Gajeel would then move the lance a bit, in turn harming Natsu some more, causing him to roar in absolute pain. "Aaaagh!"
Gajeel made sure to keep the lance in there, not retracting it for even a moment. But he did more than just keep it there. Gajeel would start revving up the lance like a chainsaw, the blade cutting into Natsu's flesh.
"Rrrrgh!" Natsu gritted his teeth, his body being cut by the blade. The blood would drip from his body, staining the ground below. He tried to get away, but Gajeel would not let him escape. Natsu then gripped onto the blade while panting aggressively, doing his best to throw the blade off.
"Not so fast!" Gajeel would suddenly transform his other arm into a club, swinging it at Natsu's head. The Fire Wizard would quickly dodge, but that didn't stop Gajeel from trying again. He swung his club once more, aiming for Natsu's head. This time, the fire wizard couldn't react in time, getting smacked across the face.
"Gah!" Natsu cried out, the impact sending him flying back. The lance was still stuck in his side, the blade digging deeper. Gajeel would then grab onto the handle of the lance, pulling on it to cause Natsu more pain. "Grrraaahhh!"
"It doesn't matter if you're fighting to become an Emperor. I'm not gonna lose. Losing here means I'd never be able to face Metallicana or even see him again. Which is why I'll make sure you don't win. I'll take you down with me." Gajeel said, determined to win this fight.
"L-Like I care about that...!" Natsu grit his teeth while gripping onto the blade. "If I don't win here, I won't be able to prove myself as the next Emperor! So I can't lose either!" With a mighty shout, Natsu would pull the blade out of his body, ripping it out. "I refuse to lose!"
"You bastard...!" Gajeel growled, seeing Natsu remove the blade. But he wasn't done yet. Just then, he noticed that Natsu was forcefully gripping onto the lance, harming his hand as the sharpness of the lance would dig into his skin. But he wasn't attempting to pull it out. Instead, Natsu was going for something different.
"Fire Dragon's Outburst!" Natsu would suddenly roar, flames erupting from his body in a fierce flare. The flames would engulf the lance, burning it. The heat would reach Gajeel's hand, causing him to cry out in pain.
"Grahhhh!" Gajeel screamed, feeling the heat. He tried to let go, but Natsu wouldn't let him. He kept a firm grip on the lance, making sure to keep the flames going. He would burn the lance, the metal melting away. The flames would then fully surround Gajeel's body, the intense heat raging on. Natsu would then lunge forward, pulling his fist back for a devastating strike. "So to reach the very top, I'm gonna win and keep on winning! Fire Dragon's...!"
"...?!" Gajeel grimaced, unable to move out of the way or perform a quick counterattack. He was too stunned by the flames around him that acted as a prison of some sorts.
"Iron Fist!" Natsu would roar before punching Gajeel square in the face. The impact was enough to send him flying, his body crashing through two buildings. The fire would then dissipate, leaving nothing but smoke behind. Natsu would pant heavily, his body smoking from the attack.
Natsu now had a massive wound in his body, still greatly injured. But he had won regardless. Gajeel could be seen lying on his back, completely down for the count. His body was battered and bruised, his iron armor having been broken in many places.
Natsu would then get on one knee, feeling a bit burnt out as that final attack had everything he could offer. He would look at his hand, seeing the blood dripping from it. "Damn...He really was tough. I guess I should've expected that much. But I still beat him. I won."
As Gajeel laid there, he started having thoughts while his body was numb from all the damage. In his mind, he immediately started thinking about Metallicana, wondering if he'd be disappointed in him for losing. He then started thinking about the very last time he ever saw Metallicana, remembering what he said to him.
"The world is full of strong wizards. And you'll have to fight against them to become stronger. You must be ready for that. When that day comes, don't hold back. Give it your all. Because it will determine whether you live or die."
"..." Gajeel remembered those words, closing his eyes. He knew that Metallicana wouldn't want him to give up here. He would have wanted him to keep fighting, no matter how dire the situation seemed. However, he just couldn't do it right now.
"Damn it...I lost..." Gajeel groaned while lying defeated, his hand gripping the rubble. But he lacked the strength to do anything else. Natsu would then walk up to the Iron Dragon Slayer, silence filled the atmosphere even with the sound of the Jupiter Cannon in the background.
"You were tough. That's the only fight I've had where I've ever been pushed like that. That was an awesome fight." Natsu would then stop, holding his hand out. "If you were on my team, we'd be unstoppable."
"Pass...I'd never join up with someone like you. Not in a million years..." Gajeel replied, refusing Natsu's offer.
"Hmph." Natsu closed his eyes before letting out a smirk, turning around. "Alright then. Let's do this again sometime."
"W-What...?" That surprised Gajeel. It made it sound like Natsu wanted to fight him some other time. Natsu would then pass out
"Damn it...I can't move..." Gajeel cursed, trying to get up. But he couldn't. He was too injured. He could barely move. The two of them would then lay there, both of them having passed out from their injuries.
With the battle between Natsu and Gajeel over, the main focus would now shift back to Erza, who was still struggling to hold back the blast. She was doing her best, but she couldn't keep it up forever.
"Grrghhhh!" Erza gritted her teeth, her body straining. Her arms were shaking, her legs trembling. She was reaching her limit. Even with her armor, the force of the beam was too much. She could feel her arms cracking a bit, the shield starting to break. "N-No...! I won't let it end like this!"
She refused to give in. She was going to protect Natsu no matter what. She would not lose. But as the beam kept pressing against the shields, the cracks began to grow, the pressure increasing. The Adamantium Armor was beginning to shatter bit by bit.
However, even though the armor wsa breaking apart, the power being outputted by the Jupiter Cannon was beginning to decrease.
"Huh?!" Jose gasped, seeing this. "The Jupiter Cannon is losing power?! Why?!"
"Ngh...! Haaaaa!" Erza would yell, taking a step forward as she intended to send the blast back to the Jupiter Cannon itself.
"This can't be happening...!" Jose was shocked at the sight. "How could this be?!"
Erza would push herself, using all of her strength to try and redirect the blast. She wouldn't give in. She would not lose. She would protect Natsu.
"I will...protect Master Natsu!" Erza shouted, her eyes burning with determination. She would then use all of her might to push the blast back, her feet digging into the ground. "Rrrrraaaaghhhh!" She would then use something extra. Deep within her, the magic that had been bestowed upon her by the Void Kingdom which is how she received that new armor, would kick in. It specifically activated once her thoughts about Natsu kept coming in.
"I am the sword of the future Emperor! I will not fail!"
A powerful surge of energy would suddenly erupt from Erza's body, her eyes glowing red. The light of the blast would then change direction, heading right for the Jupiter Cannon.
"Impossible...!" Jose gasped, seeing this. The beam would then hit the cannon, causing it to explode. The explosion would cause a massive shockwave, destroying the cannon and sending debris flying everywhere.
The explosion would also expand to great levels, reaching the guild of Phantom Lord. Jose couldn't believe his eyes. All he could see was a massive light coming his way, obliterating every bit of his guild rapidly. His ultimate weapon was being sent right back at him and now he was going to be the victim of it.
"No...Noooooo!" Jose would scream in absolute terror, horrified at the sight. The beam would come towards him, the heat of the flames scorching everything around it. He would then scream as the blast consumed him, the entire guild being destroyed.
The blast would destroy the entirety of Phantom Lord, leaving nothing behind. The blast would even reach the surrounding areas, damaging them as well. The blast was so large that it could be seen from miles away. The civilians of Magnolia Town would watch in horror as the blast reached their town, but just stopping in time before it could reach anyone there.
"What was that?!"
"Did someone blow up the whole guild?!"
"No way! What could've done that?!"
Many were in disbelief. They couldn't believe what they were seeing. A huge explosion had occurred, wiping out an entire guild. It was unthinkable.
"Who did this?!"
"Is it over?!"
"Are we safe?!"
The people were in a panic. But the one who was most relieved was Makarov. The old man would sigh in relief, knowing that the battle was finally over.
"Thank goodness..." Makarov sighed, glad that the fighting was finished. "We're finally safe."
"Master...!" Mirajane called out to him.
"It's alright. The guild is safe." Makarov replied. "That's all that matters."
"But...what about Erza?" Mirajane asked, worried for her friend. Erza took deep breaths, panting as her Adamantine Armor would full crack, unable to be sustained any longer. She would fall to her knees, her body exhausted.
"Erza!" Mirajane cried out, rushing to her side. She would grab onto Erza, holding her. "Are you okay?!"
"Don't...touch me!" Erza would shove Mirajane off, not wanting her to touch her. She would then stand up, panting once more before facing everyone else here. Despite the guild being saved, bits of it started falling as the ceiling was coming apart. The guild members all looked up as Erza took this as her opportunity to flee.
Makarov would protect everyone else, preventing those that were knocked out from being harmed by the falling rubble. Erza would then quickly leave the building, running outside.
Vaddeus would groan, also getting up as he held his arm, walking out of the guild unseen. He would look around, seeing the destruction caused by the Jupiter Cannon.
"Damn it...I can't believe I let myself get caught up in that blast..." Vaddeus cursed, his body having been damaged by the blast. "Forget being here any longer...Damn it all!" He would then walk away, leaving the guild behind.
All that was left of the Void Kingdom's attack on here were the knocked out members of the guild, including Gajeel and Natsu. They would lay there unconscious, unaware of what had happened.
Meanwhile, Erza would run through the streets of Magnolia Town, her eyes filled with tears. Her mind was still messed up, her memories altered. She was still loyal to the Void Kingdom, believing that she was part of the group. She didn't remember anything about Fairy Tail or the friends she made here. All she knew was that she needed to return to the Void Kingdom.
"I need to go back...I have to get back to Master Natsu..." Erza said to herself, her mind focused on returning to the kingdom. She would then stop, seeing Natsu passed out on the ground next to also downed Gajeel.
"Master Natsu...!" Erza gasped, rushing over to him. She would kneel beside him, checking to see if he was okay. "Master Natsu! Are you okay?! Please wake up!" She would shake him a bit, trying to rouse him. But he wouldn't wake up.
"Please...I need to get you to safety." Erza would pick Natsu up, carrying him in her arms. She would then start walking, intending to take him back to the Void Kingdom. Gajeel looked at Erza, still unable to get up at the moment. He simply watched her take him away, not saying a word.
"I will protect you, Master Natsu..." Erza whispered, holding Natsu close. "I promise..."
It was all over. The Void Kingdom's attack on Fairy Tail came to an end and the result was the near-destruction of Fairy Tail and the absolute destruction of Phantom Lord. The battle was won, but it was not without its costs.
The guild was severely damaged and many of its members were injured. The damage done to the town was great as well, leaving the civilians in fear. Makarov looked around him, seeing the destruction caused by the Void Kingdom and by extension, Jose.
While everyone in his guild were safe, it was very clear that this large attack was merely a sign of things to come. Makarov had to wonder why the Void Kingdom attacked them specifically, especially a day after Erza had been captured.
If they wanted to launch an attack, it would've been on the entirety of Fiore, not one specific location. This meant that the attack had to be personal, something that involved Fairy Tail.
'Why did the Void Kingdom attack us?' Makarov thought to himself. 'What could possibly make them target us?'
He wondered. He couldn't help but feel like this was only the beginning of something much larger. Something that would involve more than just Fairy Tail.
Showing up here, a little too late now that the battle was over, was the Magic Council. In the distance, many soldiers with spears and armor marched, led by a man in front of them all. None other than Siegrain, who had arrived on the scene.
"So, this is what happened..." Siegrain said, looking around at the damage. "Quite the attack they launched, but it was specifically against Fairy Tail. Curious, curious...This will need further investigation. Capture all the downed Void Kingdom Wiazrds at once and tend to those damaged here. We'll be cleaning up right away."
A few hours had passed and all the Void Kingdom Wizards that fell unconscious were taken into custody. They were all arrested, being placed in magic-sealing cuffs. All damages to Magnolia Town were also fixed thanks to the Magic Council, using their own magic to repair everything.
Mirajane, Levy and the few Guild Members who were still healthy would tend to their guildmates right away. Gray, Cana and Lucy had returned, also receiving that same treatment.
"How is everyone?" Makarov asked, walking up to Mirajane.
"They're all okay." Mirajane replied. "They'll recover soon. If that blast had fully landed, it would've been awful for everyone here."
"I see..." Makarov nodded, looking at everyone. "I'm glad everyone's safe. I can't believe that we were attacked like that. It was so sudden. And for what? What reason could they have for attacking us?"
"Master..." Mirajane spoke up. "Erza..."
"We will get Erza back." Makarov replied before she could finish. "I would never give up hope on her. The Void Kingdom may have messed with her mind, but we can fix that. The next time we come across Erza, we'll see to it."
"Damn it!" Gray, however, punched the wall in frustration that he couldn't reach Erza. He was too late to show up and Erza was gone. "If I was here, then maybe I could've done something!"
"Gray..." Lucy said with a worried and sympathetic tone.
"It's my fault! If I had been here sooner, then Erza wouldn't have gotten captured!" Gray shouted, angry at himself. "Now she's gone and it's because of me!"
"Don't blame yourself, Gray." Makarov said. "You weren't the only one who wasn't here. Many others were out on missions as well. You couldn't have known that the Void Kingdom would attack us."
"But still...!" Gray wanted to argue, but Makarov held his hand up.
"The only thing we can do now is focus on getting Erza back. She's still alive and we will find her. That's all there is to it." Makarov said, determined to get Erza back. "We will get her back."
Gray stayed silent, hoping that was the case. He hasn't lost hope yet. The Ice Wizard clenched his hand, believing in another chance of saving Erza, no matter how long it would take. And as he thought so, two figures would show up at the entrance of the damaged guild. Everyone turned their attention to see who it was and it was none other than Gajeel and Juvia.
Juvia was seen holding up Gajeel, who was greatly injured after his battle with Natsu. Right now, they were the only two members of Phantom Lord present here.
"Those guys from Phantom Lord..." Gray commented. "How come you came back here?"
"Yeah. Your Guild Master tried blowing us to kingdom come with that cannon of his." Another Fairy Tail Guild Member commented, pointed out how Jose attempted to destroy both the Void Kingdom and Fairy intentionally.
"Tch." Gajeel scoffed while Juvia was specifically gazing at Gray. Naturally, Fairy Tail wasn't too happy see Phantom Lord here and Gajeel didn't feel the same way.
"Can you please help him?" Juvia requested, revealing that she came here to have Fairy Tail tend to Gajeel's severe injuries. "He's hurt badly."
"Huh? Why should we?" One of the guild members asked. "Why don't you just go back to your own guild and fix him up there?"
"Dumbass. Our Guild is toast." Gajeel bared his teeth before grunting in pain.
"Come on in." Makarov immediately allowed them to enter his guild just so that they could be tended to.
"Master?!" The guild members were surprised by this, wondering why he'd allow them to come inside.
"They're our guests right now. Let's not forget that they are still people too." Makarov said, reminding everyone that even though Phantom Lord attacked them, they were still human beings.
"I'm sorry for the trouble." Juvia bowed her head.
"Don't worry about it." Makarov replied. "We'll fix him up right away."
Juvia would then carry Gajeel into the guild, laying him down on a table so that he could be healed. Mirajane and Levy would go over to him, tending to his wounds.
"Thank you." Juvia said, grateful for their kindness. Gajeel simply looked away, a bit annoyed that he needed help from a rival guild. However, he could really use it, so he didn't bother arguing. Not in his condition.
Juvia, meanwhile, would already appear next to Gray, already gaining a huge liking to him in the span of a few minutes after their first interaction. Gray would lean back once he saw how close Juvia was getting.
"Um...Thanks for helping out back there. Against that Vaddeus guy." Gray would speak to her.
"Mm-m! Thank you for saving Juvia from him!" Her reply was filled with absolute elation, her eyes sparkling. "Juvia will always remember that moment!"
"Uhh..." Gray was a little weirded out by how much Juvia was fawning over him. He didn't know how to react.
Makarov could already deduce both Gajeel and Juvia. Especially Juvia. Despite being apart of the rival guild Phantom Lord, Juvia didn't seem to have the same destructive tendencies as Jose did. She seemed like a nice girl. As for Gajeel, Makarov could tell he was a bit of a hothead, but he had some good in him. Though he was a rather hard one to really decipher.
Makarov could even say the same for some of the other Phantom Lord Members. Those unconscious and those that had just now awoken, learning of their guild's destruction.
Alehot sat at his throne, already receiving word about what happened at Magnolia Town. His expression was unreadable, his hands clasped together. Tigha stood beside him, looking at the message that was sent to him.
"Hm. So, ultimately, a neutral outcome for the most part." Alehot commented, seemingly unbothered by this. "But not a bad first major outing for Natsu. I'm glad he's finally starting to show his potential."
"I agree, Master." Tigha nodded. "It's a shame it didn't end in our victory, but I suppose a neutral one is acceptable. But I must ask. Why specifically Fairy Tail? That sole guild?"
"Hm. That guild is not to be underestimated, Tigha. That is all I have to say." Alehot answered, but it still left Tigha with more answers. It couldn't just be that it was a formidable guild. There had to be something else. Vaddeus felt the same way which is why he was so dedicated to reach Fairy Tail in the first place, but couldn't find anything about it.
"Yes, Master." Tigha bowed her head. "I understand."