Chapter 25 : Breaking Point

AN: There will be a bonus chapter after this as the story got another 100 power stones for the week. You guys really need to chill, my stockpile is running out...

The morning light streamed through the hospital window, illuminating the quiet room where Jet, Droy, and Levy lay motionless on their beds. Aurelius sat beside them, his usually calm face with a hint of tension. He had been there all night, standing guard, ensuring their safety even within the secure walls of Magnolia's hospital.

Each rhythmic beep of the heart monitors and the faint hum of the fluorescent lights did little to calm the storm brewing inside him. His gaze lingered on Levy, her injuries the most severe among the trio. The bandages that covered her forehead and arms only hinted at the trauma she'd endured. Aurelius's fingers twitched at his side, the thought of Phantom Lord's cruelty simmering into quiet rage.

The sound of hurried footsteps outside the room broke the stillness. The door creaked open, revealing Erza, Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and Happy. Their faces mirrored their shock as they stepped inside, their eyes immediately darting to the unconscious forms of their comrades.

"They're really in this bad of a shape?" Natsu's voice was uncharacteristically soft, though his clenched fists betrayed his growing anger.

Gray's jaw tightened as he looked at Jet and Droy. "Phantom Lord really doesn't know when to stop."

Erza walked over to Levy's bedside, her armor clinking softly as she moved. Her usual stoic demeanor was shadowed by a quiet but intense fury. "This… this cannot go unanswered."

Lucy placed a hand over her mouth, her voice trembling. "How could anyone do this to them?"

Even Happy, hovering nervously near Natsu, whispered, "I've never seen anything like this..."

Before their emotions could spill further, Aurelius stood. The sharp movement drew all eyes to him as he gestured firmly for silence.

"Lower your voices," he said coldly, his tone laced with steel. "You're in a hospital. If you can't control yourselves, leave."

The rebuke hit like a lash, and the group quickly fell silent. Natsu muttered an apology under his breath, though the fire in his eyes remained.

Before they could regain their composure, more footsteps echoed from down the hall. One by one, Fairy Tail mages began to arrive, drawn by whispers of the attack. The sight of their injured guildmates hit them like a blow, and a murmur of outrage rippled through the growing crowd.

"This… this is unforgivable!" someone whispered harshly.

"How could Phantom Lord do this?" another added.

The noise grew steadily louder as the room filled with Fairy Tail's mages, their collective anger palpable.

Aurelius clicked his tongue, his patience thinning. He stepped forward, his voice cutting through the commotion like a blade. "Quiet!" The command snapped the room into silence. "This is a hospital, not the guild hall. If you want to vent, take it outside. Right now, your anger won't help them." He gestured toward the unconscious trio. "Respect this space."

The guild members quieted, though their simmering rage was evident in their eyes.

Then, the atmosphere shifted as heavier, deliberate footsteps approached. The crowd parted like water, and Makarov Dreyar entered the room. His usual warmth and jovial demeanor were nowhere to be seen. Instead, his expression was hard, his small frame exuding a gravity that made the room seem heavier.

Makarov's gaze swept over the injured mages, lingering on Levy's still form. His lips pressed into a thin line, and his hands tightened on his staff. For a moment, the room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for his reaction.

Finally, he spoke, his voice low but trembling with suppressed fury. "Phantom Lord…" His words were heavy, filled with unspoken condemnation. "They've gone too far this time."

The silence in the room was deafening as his words sank in. Every mage, from the youngest to the most seasoned, felt the weight of his anger.

"We have endured their insults," Makarov continued, his voice rising. "We have endured their provocations and even the destruction of our guild hall!" His grip on his staff tightened, the wood creaking under the pressure. "But this—harming our family, my children—this is something I cannot and will not forgive!"

With a sudden burst of energy, Makarov slammed his staff into the ground. The force of the impact sent cracks spidering through the floor. His staff splintered under the pressure, shattering into fragments that scattered across the room. The sound echoed like a thunderclap, startling several members.

"This is war!," Makarov declared, his voice a roar that seemed to shake the walls. "From this moment on, Fairy Tail is at war with Phantom Lord!"

His words hung in the air, charged with the full force of his rage. The mages around him exchanged glances, their initial shock giving way to a fiery resolve.

"They've messed with the wrong guild!" Natsu growled, his fists igniting as he stepped forward.

"Damn right," Gray agreed, ice forming around his hands as he nodded.

Even the quieter members felt their spirits rise, their anger uniting them. The room that had moments ago been filled with grief and outrage now buzzed with a shared determination. Fairy Tail would not stand down.

Makarov's gaze swept over his children, his tone steady but no less commanding. "Prepare yourselves. This is no ordinary battle. We fight not just for our pride, but for the safety of our family."

As the guild members nodded in agreement, Aurelius watched silently from the side, his sharp eyes flickering with unspoken emotion. This wasn't just about revenge. It was about justice, about protecting the bonds that made Fairy Tail more than just a guild.

The declaration of war was not a choice—it was a necessity. And there would be no turning back.

...

Some time later, the hospital room was quiet once again, save for the soft beeping of monitors. Jet, Droy, and Levy lay unconscious in their beds, their injuries a stark reminder of the brutality they'd endured. Aurelius stood near the window, his arms crossed, his piercing gaze scanning the street below. Beside him sat Mirajane and Lucy, who had both chosen to stay behind voluntarily, their expressions a mix of worry and resolve.

Lucy broke the silence, her voice soft but curious. "Aurelius, why did you stay behind? You don't seem like the type to just sit on the sidelines in a situation like this."

Aurelius didn't turn to face her. Instead, he kept his focus on the bustling street, his tone calm but detached. "I didn't choose to stay."

"What?" Lucy blinked, confused.

Mirajane, seated beside the hospital bed, gave Lucy a gentle smile. "The Master didn't let him go."

Lucy frowned, her curiosity piqued. "Why not? Wouldn't someone like him be... valuable in a fight like this?"

At that, Aurelius's expression darkened slightly, though he remained silent. Lucy's question seemed to pull him into a memory, and for a moment, the room felt heavier.

The memory was vivid. Aurelius stood in Makarov's office, his frustration barely concealed.

"I can't just stay behind," Aurelius insisted, his voice firm. "You know what Phantom Lord is capable of. Let me go. We need to make sure that the fight doesn't reach Magnolia."

Makarov leaned back in his chair, his expression hard and unyielding. "No, Aurelius. You're staying here."

"You're making a mistake..." Aurelius argued, his tone sharp. "If this spills into Magnolia, we'll have civilians possibly caught in the crossfire and the guild hall will be in an even more danger, and even I can't easily stop that."

"You've done enough," Makarov said, his voice calm but authoritative. "You've been active non-stop since Natsu's group stole that S-class mission. You need to rest."

"I don't need rest," Aurelius shot back. "I need to make sure—"

Makarov slammed his palm against the desk, his rare display of anger silencing Aurelius mid-sentence. "Enough!" the Master barked. His voice softened but carried the weight of his authority. "You're not going, and that's final."

Aurelius clenched his fists, unwilling to back down. "Why? Give me one good reason."

Makarov sighed deeply, the weight of the guild's burdens etched into his face. "Because I don't want to deal with that if your magic falters."

The words hit like a physical blow. Aurelius's jaw tightened, and he averted his gaze. He knew exactly what Makarov meant. If his ethernano reserves dropped too low, the consequences would be catastrophic.

Defeated, Aurelius nodded stiffly. "Fine," he muttered. "But don't expect me to sit idle afterwards."

Makarov's stern gaze softened slightly. "Guard those who need you here, Aurelius. That's all I ask."

Back in the hospital room, Aurelius's gaze returned to the street below. He didn't answer Lucy's question directly, but the weight in his eyes spoke volumes.

Lucy tilted her head, sensing the shift in his mood. "You're not going to tell me, are you?" she asked quietly.

Aurelius let out a faint scoff, his lips curling into a half-smile. "Don't overthink it. Focus on keeping watching them," he said, glancing toward the unconscious Shadow Gear members.

Lucy frowned, still curious but deciding to let the matter rest. Mirajane glanced between the two, her serene smile masking her own unease. Though the room was quiet, the tension was palpable—an unspoken understanding that the battle was far from over.

After a moment of silence, Lucy stood up from her chair. She glanced at the Shadow Gear members, her expression softening with concern. "I'm going to get some fresh air," she said quietly. "Call me if anything changes."

Mirajane nodded warmly. "Of course. Take your time, Lucy."

Lucy cast one last glance at Aurelius, as if expecting him to say something, but he remained silent, his focus seemingly elsewhere. With a small sigh, she turned and left the room, her footsteps fading down the hallway.

The silence in the room lingered for a few moments before Mirajane broke it. Her voice was calm, but there was a hint of curiosity in her tone. "Aurelius, were you really forced to rest?"

Aurelius finally turned from the window to look at her. "I didn't have much of a choice," he admitted. His voice was even, but there was an undercurrent of irritation. "The Master didn't just forbid me from going. He made me dispel all my thought projections and stop using my magic sense entirely."

Mirajane tilted her head, surprised. "He really went that far?"

Aurelius let out a dry chuckle, though there was no humor in it. "Apparently, I've been 'overusing' my magic since the S-class mission incident. According to the Master, if I keep pushing myself, my reserves might drop too low, and... well, that would be bad."

Mirajane frowned, her usual serene expression replaced with a rare look of concern. "He's just looking out for you. You know that, right?"

"I know," Aurelius replied, though his tone was clipped. He leaned against the windowsill, his arms crossed. "But it doesn't mean I have to like it. Without my magic sense, and thought projections, I feel... blind. I have no idea what's happening out there. It's like I'm cut off from everything."

Mirajane studied him for a moment, her gaze softening. "You're not blind, Aurelius. You're just... forced to trust others this time. That's not a bad thing."

Aurelius scoffed lightly, though there was no malice in it. "Trust, huh? Easier said than done."

Mirajane didn't press further, sensing that he needed space. Instead, she gave him a reassuring smile. "Well, at least you're here to protect them," she said, nodding toward the Shadow Gear. "That's something only you can do right now."

Aurelius didn't reply, but a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. He returned his gaze to the window, though his mind remained restless. He hated waiting, specially if he's not aware on what's happening.

...

Aurelius remained silent for a long moment, his gaze still locked on the window as if trying to see beyond the glass. Mirajane, sensing his unease, was about to speak when Aurelius suddenly broke the silence.

"I wish I'd at least followed them," he muttered, his voice low but filled with frustration. "I've been getting this bad feeling about their raid. Something just doesn't sit right."

Mirajane looked at him, her brows furrowing slightly. "What do you mean? You think something's wrong?"

Aurelius sighed, his arms uncrossing as he ran a hand through his hair. "It's just... My insticnts are acting up. It's hard to explain, but the moment they left, I felt it. And now, sitting here, I'm just... restless. I can't shake the feeling that something's about to go down."

Mirajane's expression softened with concern, but she also offered a reassuring smile. "Aurelius, you've done all you can. Erza, Master, and the others are more than capable of handling things. You just need to trust them, and... trust us."

Aurelius gave a sharp nod, though his gaze remained distant, the unease in his chest growing heavier by the second. "I wish it were that simple. But sometimes... I feel like I'm the only one who can truly keep things under control. It's hard to just sit here and wait."

Mirajane looked at him with a gentle understanding, yet her words were firm. "You can't always do everything alone, Aurelius. No one can. You have to let others take on some of the burden."

But Aurelius wasn't fully listening. His mind was already spinning with possibilities, the weight of his instincts telling him that something was wrong—something he couldn't ignore.

...

Meanwhile...

Master Makarov made his way to the second floor of the decaying Phantom Lord building, his every step echoing through the dimly lit halls. His heart raced, but his face was stoic, his eyes sharp as he anticipated the confrontation ahead. Phantom Lord had already caused too much damage, and it was time to put an end to it. The weight of responsibility pressed down on him, but he wasn't going to let that stop him.

As he reached the doorway to a large chamber, a voice rang out, startling him for a moment.

"So, Makarov, you've finally come," the voice purred, laced with amusement. It echoed eerily from the shadows, reverberating off the cold stone walls. Makarov paused, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his cane as he prepared for whatever was about to unfold.

The voice continued, now closer, and a figure materialized before him—only it wasn't a real figure. It flickered, shimmering in the air like a ghost, an ethereal projection of the Phantom Lord Master himself, Jose.

Makarov's eyes narrowed, realizing the truth almost immediately. 'A Thought Projection.'

Jose's image grinned at him, not a hint of concern in his features. "You're not as surprised as I thought you'd be, Makarov. But, then again, you're a veteran. You probably sensed it, didn't you?"

Makarov didn't flinch. "You're not here."

Jose's projection chuckled. "Correct. But that doesn't mean I'm powerless." He waved his hand in a grand gesture, and suddenly, the image flickered, and Makarov's gaze was drawn to a new scene.

Makarov's heart stopped.

There, bound and unconscious, lay Lucy. Her body limp, her face pale and bruised, her breathing shallow. The sight of her in that condition made his chest tighten with horror. He gritted his teeth, fists clenching, as a wave of anger surged within him.

But there was something deeper, a knot of confusion that twisted inside him. "How did she get captured?" He thought. Aurelius had been with them. He was supposed to be their safeguard—how had they allowed this to happen? Did Lucy left Aurelius' watch?

Jose smirked, clearly savoring Makarov's reaction. "You're wondering how she ended up like this, aren't you? You're wondering how your precious children fell into my hands."

Makarov's mind raced, the pieces falling together as his thoughts flicked to Aurelius.

Jose's voice broke through his thoughts. "You see, Makarov, your guild has grown too reliant on that boy of yours. Too reliant on Aurelius Nyx." The name came with a sneer, a subtle sting of mockery. "You let him carry the weight of the guild, shield you from enemies that you don't even know existed. You've put all your faith in him, haven't you?"

Makarov's expression tightened at the mention of Aurelius. He could feel his chest tighten with guilt, a sense of responsibility that gnawed at him. Had they really become that reliant on one person? And was asking Aurelius to rest then right decision?

"And when that shield had enough," Jose continued, his image flickering slightly as he leaned forward in his projection, "your guild will fall. You'll crumble. And that is the key to our victory. You see, Makarov, you've made a blunder."

Makarov's breath hitched, anger rising, but he kept his composure. His thoughts churned. This wasn't just about their attack on Phantom Lord; it was about their dependence on Aurelius. It was about their weakness, and Phantom Lord knew it.

But the idea that Lucy was a pawn in this scheme—that they had used her as leverage—made Makarov's blood boil. He couldn't afford to lose his focus now. Not with everything at stake.

Jose then spoke once again and for all of Makarov's strength and experience, the words Jose spoke hit deeper than Makarov could have anticipated. "For all we know, Aurelius might have been considering my invitation to Phantom Lord."

The thought pierced Makarov's chest, his thoughts immediately flashing to Aurelius—the talented young mage who had become an integral part of Fairy Tail. Could it be? Was he truly toying with the idea of leaving them for Phantom Lord? The fear gnawed at him, and the anger swelled in his chest.

But before Makarov could respond, Aria, the leader of the Elemental Four, appeared without warning, his soft, sorrowful voice ringing in the air. "To take down such a powerful mage... Truly Sorrowful..."

Makarov's instincts flared, but before he could react, Aria's spell took effect. The air seemed to shift around Makarov, suddenly thick and oppressive. He felt the weight of his own magic being ripped away, as if it was being sucked out of him with terrifying speed. His body turned an unnatural green, the color of drained life and power. He gasped, but no matter how hard he tried to summon his magic, it wouldn't respond. The pressure around him increased, and before he could steady himself, Makarov's body gave way to the overwhelming force of the spell.

With a final gasp, he was hurled violently downward. He crashed through the floor, the sound of splintering wood and shattering stone echoing through the building as he plummeted to the first floor below. His body landed in a heap, unconscious and battered, unable to move, let alone fight back.

A cold, detached voice reached him through the chaos. "Sorrowful," it said, dripping with mock sympathy. "It's so very sorrowful that someone so strong could be reduced to nothing. Truly... sorrowful."

Meanwhile, on the first floor,

Erza, standing a few paces away, watched in shock as their guild master fell. Her heart raced, but she wasted no time in acting. She sprinted forward, her instincts as a leader taking over. Without hesitation, she grabbed Makarov's limp form, lifting him as best as she could and immediately called out to the rest of the guild.

"Everyone, retreat! Now!" Erza commanded, her voice cutting through the chaos. She began to carry Makarov, her mind racing with the weight of the situation. They had to get out of there, fast.

As Erza hurriedly carried Makarov's unconscious form, the rest of Fairy Tail was still gathered, fighting off Phantom Lord's forces. However, their resolve seemed to waver with every passing second. One by one, the guild members started to voice their objections.

Gray gritted his teeth, still glaring at the Phantom Lord mages surrounding them. "We can still fight! We've beaten worse than this before!"

Macao wiped the sweat from his brow, his fists clenched in frustration. "Yeah! We're Fairy Tail, for crying out loud! We don't back down!"

But Erza's voice cut through their objections, sharp and filled with urgency. She turned back toward the group, her expression intense as she carried Makarov's limp form.

"No," she said, her voice cracking with a mix of fear and command. "We can't. The Master is down. We have to retreat, now. We can't risk any more lives. Please, listen to me."

Her words hit them, silencing the murmurs and halting the protests for a moment. The guild members looked from one another, unsure. They knew how strong their master was, how experienced he was in battle. To see him so badly hurt and unable to fight was a reality none of them wanted to face.

Natsu's fist clenched as he looked toward Makarov's unconscious form, his eyes filled with anger and confusion. "But... we can't just leave!" He said, as the words he heard earlier came to his mind. He knows that Lucy was captured.

Erza's eyes softened, but there was no time for doubt. She was already struggling to keep Makarov steady in her arms. "We can't do anything if we're all dead. The Master needs to be taken to safety. Please, just trust me."

Happy, who had been flying by Natsu's side, hovered silently, clearly torn. He didn't want to retreat either, especially with Lucy still in Phantom Lord's clutches, but he knew better than to question Erza when she spoke like that.

Erza's voice grew quieter, almost pleading. "We need to leave now... for Master's sake and for the guild. Please..."

For a moment, the guild members stood still, their hearts heavy with indecision. But the weight of Erza's words seemed to break through their resistance. The realization that they had to act fast, that they couldn't afford to lose more, began to sink in.

Finally, Gray let out a deep sigh, his shoulders sagging with resignation. "...Fine, Erza. We'll retreat."

Cana nodded grimly. "We need to make sure the master lives."

Erza, still holding Makarov, began to lead the group toward the exit, but there was a haunting look in her eyes. She felt the weight of the responsibility pressing on her shoulders, knowing that the hardest decision had just been made. As they made their way out, she kept glancing over her shoulder, as though expecting someone to follow them, but there was no time to search for Natsu or Happy. She hoped they hadn't done something reckless.

What Erza didn't know was that, in the shadows of the chaos, Natsu and Happy had already separated from the group, sneaking away to make their way deeper into Phantom Lord's headquarters.

AN: There will be a bonus chapter today.

Bonus Chapter: 

14/100 power stones

9/10 reviews

Chapter Titles:

26: Shadows of Desperation

27: Shadows of War

28: March of Destruction