Chapter 36 : War Begins!!

"Requip!"

Erza's voice echoed through the room as she swiftly donned a suit of black and silver armor.

This armor set, covering vast areas, boasted a rugged design, hinting at formidable defensive capabilities.

"Erza, it's futile!" Gray's voice trembled with concern. "Even the impregnable Adamantine Armor won't hold against the magic cluster cannon!"

"Erza, don't act recklessly!" exclaimed others in chorus.

"Let's confront this together!"

The collective plea echoed in the tense air.

"Five," Jose's voice, brimming with confidence, emanated from the Phantom Lord Guild.

"Four," Everit's tone remained composed.

"Everit, stand behind me!" Erza's urgency was evident, yet Everit paid no heed.

"Three," Jose counted down.

"Two," Everit's voice followed suit.

"One!" Jose's declaration rang out.

Everit spoke simultaneously.

"War."

"Let the battle commence." As the words resounded,

'Boom!'

A bolt of lightning materialized out of thin air, striking the tallest spire of the Phantom Lord Guild!

The magic convergent cannon, poised for launch, was met with a thunderous bolt as thick as a pillar, detonating instantly!

'Boom!'

A colossal explosion obliterated the mobile platform beneath the Phantom Lord Guild headquarters.

The once formidable edifice now resembled a powerless giant, slouched in defeat amidst the sea.

"Laxus!" gasped the onlookers in unison.

"Ah!!!" Natsu's enraged cry transformed him into a fiery dragon, hurtling towards the Phantom Lord Guild.

"Ice Make Staircase!"

Gray invoked his magic, conjuring a staircase of ice bridging towards the Phantom Lord Guild.

"Charge!"

Erza led the charge, her companions following suit, their determination unyielding.

Everit stood motionless, rooted in place.

In the original storyline:

The Guild Master was assaulted by Aria and plunged into a coma after being stripped of his magical abilities.

Laxus never made a comeback.

Erza suffered a severe blow from Jupiter, injuring her before the battle even commenced.

Lucy remained sheltered from the battlefield, inadvertently exposing herself to exploitation by others.

Jupiter remained unscathed and poised to unleash another devastating blast, casting a Sword of Damocles-like shadow over everyone.

Lastly, Phantom Lord Guild Master Jose's formidable area magic kept everyone stifled, leaving the majority of the lower and mid-tier combatants immobilized.

Hence, this confrontation proved exceptionally daunting.

However, the current reality unfolds differently.

The Guild Master is rushing back, instilling confidence in everyone that perseverance will lead to victory.

Laxus has returned, boldly confronting Phantom Lord Guild Master Jose, thwarting his attempt to unleash widespread magic. Laxus's intervention also caused Jupiter to erupt, damaging the magical convergent cannon and incapacitating the Phantom Lord headquarters' mobility apparatus.

Erza is in prime condition, significantly boosting her chances of triumph.

Lucy, too, fights alongside her comrades. With their protection, even in the face of formidable foes, Lucy remains shielded.

And then there's Everit, who has already unleashed his magic, enveloping the entire battleground.

Under the influence of his magic, everyone is granted a fair opportunity to engage the enemy, ensuring a minimum threshold of defeat—no fatalities.

With such favorable conditions, isn't it worth fighting with all their might and giving it their all?

After all, to hell with those Phantom Lords!

This fierce clash undoubtedly drew numerous spectators.

Reporters from all corners had already "anticipated" the conflict and were strategically positioned to capture every moment.

Their cameras clicked incessantly, each hand busily snapping pictures and recording.

However...

Their insights pale in comparison to mine.

Everit produced his own camera and ascended the icy steps.

He walked, capturing every moment through his lens.

Before the battle, everyone had bottled up their rage, but now, they unleashed it with unrestrained fury.

Fairy Tail's guildhall was bustling with activity as members showcased their prowess in various tasks.

Natsu, Gray, Elfman, and others stood out with their exceptional performances.

Erza, wielding her twin swords, carved a path through the challenges with unmatched determination.

Lucy and Cana formed a formidable duo, seamlessly coordinating their efforts to achieve remarkable success.

In the midst of the commotion, Natsu suddenly halted his sprint.

A loud 'Boom' echoed through the hall as an iron rod burst through the wall, narrowly missing Natsu's head.

Natsu swiftly turned to face the source of the disturbance.

A man with black hair and a manic grin slowly withdrew the iron rod, seamlessly integrating it back into his arm.

"Fairy Tail's Fire Dragon Slayer, Natsu," the man declared, his eyes brimming with excitement.

"Gajeel, the Iron Dragon Slayer," Natsu responded, his own gaze unwavering.

Another resounding 'Boom' marked the beginning of their clash.

Gajeel's formidable defense clashed against Natsu's flames.

Both fueled by their reckless determination, the battle intensified with each passing moment.

Witnessing fire and iron collide in a fierce exchange, it seemed as though neither would yield.

The iron pierced through the flames, dealing heavy blows to Natsu.

Yet, the flames scorched the iron, leaving Gajeel's skin marred with burns.

In this relentless struggle, there was no clear victor, only the certainty that the battle would rage on.

"It sounds like a blacksmith's shop," Everit complained, trying to capture photos amidst the noise of the two fighters.

"These two are going to go at it for a while," he sighed.

Everit knew that with the physical prowess of these two, determining a winner in a short span of time would be challenging. 

Furthermore, given their abilities – one swallowing fire and the other consuming iron – their magical stamina would hardly diminish. It would ultimately come down to who had more endurance.

Everit continued on his path.

Elfman was locked in combat with Sol, one of the Element 4.

Sol wielded the power to manipulate sandstone, but defeating Elfman solely with this ability proved difficult. Elfman's Take Over magic had him embodying the Beast King. With the strength of the Beast King's arm, Elfman shattered Sol's sandstone creations one by one, overcoming each magical assault.

In retaliation, Sol conjured a clay puppet resembling Lisanna, Elfman's sister, in an attempt to intimidate him. Despite the severe beating Elfman endured, his indomitable physique allowed him to persist in the fight, exerting immense pressure on Sol.

Eventually, Sol resorted to his deadliest move.

At some point, Sol had captured Elfman's sister, Mirajane. Utilizing his sandstone manipulation, Sol ensnared Mirajane, the sand creeping up to block her mouth. If it continued upwards, obstructing her nasal passages, she would suffocate within minutes.

Elfman was faced with a dire situation. What would he do?

Everit pondered, pinching his chin.

"Um—"

Mirajane let out a pained sound.

When one's sister is being bullied, how can you just stand by?

Everit set down his camera.

Bullying Mirajane? Not on his watch!

Everit recalled their agreement. If Mirajane were to later acknowledge his actions and weigh them evenly – both merits and demerits – then...

Drawing Haven from its sheath, Everit sliced through the sandstone with a single swift motion.

"Everit."

Mirajane staggered and collapsed into Everit's arms, her strength failing her.

"Miss Mirajane, I apologize for my tardiness. Are you alright?" Everit feigned surprise at the scene before him.

"It's... it's alright," Mirajane managed to utter, clinging to Everit's shoulders for support as she struggled to stand.

"Allow me to escort you," Everit offered.

"Elfman," Mirajane glanced anxiously at her brother.

"Wait, who are you?!" Sol exclaimed, staring at Everit in disbelief. He hadn't noticed when this person had appeared.

A chill ran down Sol's spine as he realized that if Everit had not come to their aid, but instead posed a threat, he could have met a deadly fate.

****

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