Once Chen Fan had flown away with Lucy, the pressure weighing on Jose seemed to lighten. He stretched his body slightly and looked at Makarov. "Brother Makarov, it's been six years since we last met face to face like this. In such a short time, Fairy Tail has grown into such a massive guild... even if it has been reduced to rubble now."
"A guild is not just a building; it is the bond between people," Makarov countered. As he spoke, a powerful golden magic began to overflow from his body.
"Are you planning to cause a cataclysm?" Jose asked, his own body emitting a vast, dark purple magic. His eyes turned entirely pitch black, with only the faint outline of his pupils visible.
The ground beneath them began to crack, unable to withstand the sheer magical pressure of the two men. Debris floated into the air before being vaporized into dust by the conflicting energies.
"The blood that has been spilled is the blood of my children. Because of my incompetence as a 'father,' my children have suffered and wept. For the sake of the guild, I don't care if I cause a global cataclysm!" Makarov pressed his left index and middle fingers together, and a golden sphere of light appeared at his fingertip, growing larger by the second.
"I never expected that we would end up fighting under these circumstances two of the Ten Wizard Saints at war," Jose remarked. Dark magic condensed and compressed in his hand as well.
The clouds above the Super Mage Giant Phantom MK II began to swirl into a massive vortex. Crash! A massive bolt of lightning struck down from the heavens. The earth began to shake as if a volcano were erupting, and a massive tidal wave surged outward from the Phantom Lord guild. The trees, the earth, and the sea itself seemed to wail in agony.
All of this was merely the side effect of their magic colliding. At the sound of the thunder, Lucy hugged Chen Fan tighter, burying her head in his chest. To the other guild members watching from below, the scene looked incredibly intimate.
Slap!
Chen Fan gave Lucy a quick pat on her backside. "We're here. Why aren't you getting down? Have you fallen for me or something?"
Lucy blushed furiously and scrambled out of his arms. Not far away, Cana's expression looked a bit strained, though she quickly masked it.
Seeing Chen Fan return, the others rushed over. Macao asked, "Chen Fan, you're back! Did you see Natsu and the others?"
"I didn't see them, but they should be fine. Don't worry."
Swoosh...
Makarov and Jose leaped back from one another. The surrounding walls continued to crumble, stones raining down with sharp cracks.
"Truly impressive," Jose sneered. "To have such magic at such a young age, it's no wonder you hold the title of Wizard Saint. If this magic were used for the right path and you became a role model for the younger generation, you could probably advance the entire magic world."
Jose looked at Makarov with disdain. "Are you lecturing me? Isn't your guild's 'God's Hand' even more powerful? Why don't you make him advance the magic world?"
"He is different from you, and different from us," Makarov cut him off. His face turned solemn. "According to the traditions of Fairy Tail, I shall count to three before beginning your judgment. Kneel!"
Jose pulled back his fake smile. "What?"
"One!"
"I was wondering what you were going to say. You want me to kneel?"
"Two!" Makarov opened his hands in front of his chest, and a golden sphere of magic appeared between them.
Dark magic manifested in Jose's hands, forming several translucent skulls that emitted soul-shaking wails. With a crazed look, he yelled, "The kingdom's number one guild, bowing to you? Don't make me laugh! I am your equal! No, in terms of ruthlessness, I am far superior!"
"Three!"
"The ones who should be kneeling are you! Disappear! Fairy Tail, turn to dust and vanish from the stage of history!"
"Time is up."
"Begone, Fairy Tail!" Jose roared, throwing his hands forward. The dark magic let out a thunderous howl as it surged toward Makarov.
Clap!
Makarov slammed his hands together. An intense light erupted from his body, and every trace of dark magic that touched the light instantly dissolved.
"Fairy Law, activate." Makarov opened his eyes, golden magic circles flashing within them.
Suddenly... Dong!
A sound like a massive bronze bell echoed through the air. A giant golden magic array appeared in the sky above the Phantom Lord guild, tearing through the dark clouds and letting the sunlight pour down.
The magic circle suddenly contracted, and a flash of light even more blinding than before radiated outward from the center of the Phantom Lord guild.
"What is this light? It's too bright!" Bisca blocked her eyes with her arm.
"I don't know, but look! The Shades are all disappearing!" Alzack replied, pointing at the ghost soldiers as they faded away in the radiance.
"But we aren't affected at all," Macao noted. "In fact, it feels quite warm."
Just as Chen Fan was about to explain, another voice spoke up for him. "It is Fairy Law."
"Fairy Law?"
"It uses holy light to smite the darkness. The caster only attacks those they perceive as enemies. It is a legendary ultra-magic that only a Master can perform," Erza said, her eyes shining as she watched the light.
When the light finally faded, Jose stood trembling, his skin turned a ghostly ash-grey. His arms were raised to shield his eyes, his mouth and eyes wide open, his gaze hollow and unfocused.
"Do not ever approach Fairy Tail again," Makarov said, turning his back on him. "After a disturbance of this scale, the Magic Council won't just sit idly by. From now on, you should worry about yourself first. We are even now."
Makarov began to walk away, but paused to add one last thing. "It's over. The line between our guilds has been drawn. If there is a next time, I will eliminate you without leaving a trace."
Makarov's silhouette appeared before his guild members. The members of Fairy Tail let out a deafening cheer.
"Hooray!"
"We won! We beat Phantom Lord!"
"We actually won...!"
"Long live Fairy Tail!"
"This victory was not achieved by my strength alone," Makarov told them, his voice thick with emotion. "This is the victory of our entire family."
The members were moved by his words, many beginning to celebrate with one another.
Chen Fan was the only one who rubbed his forehead in silence. He thought to himself, The old man is acting cool again. Well, whatever, he's earned it. I'll let him have his moment.
"I have one more thing to announce," Makarov said, raising a hand. Everyone's attention focused on him once more.
"Chen Fan! He shall be the next Master of Fairy Tail!"
Makarov had barely finished speaking when everyone's smiles froze. Even though Chen Fan had been mentally prepared for this eventually, he was stunned that Makarov would announce it right now. He stood there, completely dazed.
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