"Blue buff, Red buff!"
Not knowing exactly what was wrong with the Master, Rhodes cast the buffs on him first just in case.
The remaining three buffs he assigned to the most seriously wounded, giving them so much-needed relief.
"Lucy, are you alright?"
"Yes! Mr. Rhodes and Miss Mira saved . I'm sorry..."
The two of them weren't even on the sa page, but sohow their question and answer still matched.
Mira turned to Erza, eyes full of concern. "What happened to the Master?"
Erza's mouth opened, but the words wouldn't co.
"Let's talk about that later," Rhodes said, quickly shifting gears. "Elfman, take the Master to Porlyusica. Right now."
Rhodes called scuttle crabs over and helped Elfman get the unconscious Makarov onto the creature's back.
"Man!" Elfman grunted with determination and urged the crab to move.
He might look rough, but Rhodes knew Elfman was surprisingly gentle when it ca to taking care of people. The Master would be in good hands.
"The next two most seriously injured, get up here." Rhodes pushed Sol and Juvia down from their current mount. "Cana, take care of them."
"Got it."
Two crabs rushed off with the gravely injured. The rest of the group began a more organized retreat.
The lightly injured led the way, followed closely by those with moderate wounds. A few dependable fighters like Macao, Wakaba, Alzack, and Bisca guarded the flanks.
Natsu, Gray, and Loke held the rear.
Even Loke, despite his usual fear of Rhodes and overwhelming awkwardness around Lucy, had his ga face on. This was no ti for hesitation.
They carried Sol and Juvia's unconscious bodies. If worse ca to worst, they could serve as bargaining chips or shields, anything to keep their comrades safe.
Behind them, twelve Raptors swooped down from the sky. Their razor feathers rained down in a flurry, dropping several pursuers before they could react.
Gromps leapt into range and spat venom. Those quick enough dodged or stripped off their outer layers. Those who didn't scread in agony.
Murk Wolves tore into the enemy ranks, each impact like a battering ram. Krugs erupted from beneath, toppling Phantom Lord mages or dragging them underground.
The Phantom Lord forces weren't completely untrained. After the initial surprise, they started regrouping and fighting back. Wild summons began falling.
But then—
A massive purple beast barreled into their ranks like a bolt of living thunder. More than twenty people were flung into the air like rag dolls. Their barely-ford counterattack shattered in seconds.
Panic rippled through their formation. Those near the Rift Herald felt the shockwave of its charge even if they weren't hit, the sheer force threatening to lift them off their feet.
Magic blasts, blades, and fists landed on the Herald, but the thuds were like pebbles against a cliff. If the creature felt pain, it gave no sign.
It flicked its tail in irritation. More mages went flying.
And it wasn't alone.
Behind it lumbered two Blue Sentinels and two Bramblebacks.
Although the summoned beasts were smaller than the Rift Herald, seeing four massive creatures charging forward side-by-side was overwhelmingly oppressive.
And that wasn't all, Voidmites kept pouring in like an endless tide.
Who was it that called the tar useless? Who mocked the "Fairy Strategist"? He's here now, so go ahead, try stopping him!
Maybe it's ti to rember that "Startegist" cos from "tactics," and tactics often involve commanding an army.
Erza switched into her Sky Wheel Armor and launched a barrage of hundreds of enchanted swords, raining them down upon the fleeing Phantom Lord mbers.
Mira, now fully transford into her Satan Soul form, hurled one black magic sphere after another, each one detonating with devastating power.
The last shred of courage Phantom's forces had evaporated.
"Monsters! They're monsters!"
"Why are there more bugs no matter how many we kill?!"
"Our attacks aren't doing anything!"
What began as a full-frontal pursuit quickly turned into a panicked rout.
The elite mbers of Phantom Lord didn't show up—they were busy executing other plans. And the ones on the field now couldn't handle this onslaught.
Nearly 200 Phantom mbers had sward the battlefield when they arrived. By the end, only a few dozen managed to flee. The rest were scattered across the wilderness, groaning in defeat.
Most of the summoned beasts vanished soon after the battle ended. Before disappearing, the creatures bestowed final buffs upon Rhodes, Mira, and Erza.
Two Krugs remained, crouching down to carry the trio back toward their companions.
...
Erza and Mira headed directly to the ruined guildhall. Their presence was needed to restore morale and support the shaken mbers.
Rhodes, however, veered east into the forest, toward the treehouse where Porlyusica lived. Master might need her help with treatnt.
When he arrived at the door, he saw Elfman being firmly shooed away.
Just as the door was about to shut, Rhodes dashed forward. "Granny, how's Master Makarov?!"
Porlyusica didn't respond directly. She simply threw the broom she'd been brandishing into a corner and turned back into the house.
That ant: permission granted.
Rhodes quickly stepped inside, leaving Elfman scratching his head outside, mumbling, "Why does she always treat differently...?"
Inside, the ever-smiling guild master Makarov lay quietly on the bed, eyes closed. His presence was still, his energy faint.
Today was the first ti Rhodes had ever seen the old man this weak.
Makarov, who could effortlessly cast powerful defensive spells, who could transform into a giant and carry the whole guild on his back, now lay motionless, pale, and still.
"It's wind-based magic," Porlyusica muttered, checking his condition. "The effect is 'Exhaustion.' It drains a mage's magic power rapidly. A nasty piece of work."
"For a wizard," she continued, her voice growing colder, "magic is life. The stronger the mage, the more devastating the effects of having that energy ripped away."
She gritted her teeth and looked like she wanted to smack Makarov again.
"That idiot. Even at his age, he's still pulling the sa reckless stunts he did in his youth. All he ever does is cause trouble for others."
Rhodes tuned out her grumbling. He was more focused on what really mattered.
This condition... he'd heard of it before.
"Is it Magic Deficiency?" he asked. "So if we restore his magic power, he'll be alright?"
"It's not that simple," Porlyusica huffed. "But it will help. At least it can ease the pain and stabilize him."
She glanced at Rhodes, her gaze sharp. "I assu you're the one who gave him that recovery boost?"
"Yes!" Rhodes perked up. "So the Blue buff helped? That's great, maybe I can maintain it longer."
He raised his hand. "Take over-Blue Sentinel. Blue buff!"
The space inside the treehouse was cramped, so instead of summoning outright, he take over the sentinel's magic into himself to avoid wrecking the room.
Even so, he bumped his head on the hanging lamp overhead.
Porlyusica didn't miss a beat, she whacked him twice with her broom.
"Ow—sorry!" Rhodes canceled the stone-form enchantnt and rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish grin.
With his hard armor gone, Porlyusica finally lowered the broom, though she didn't stop muttering under her breath.
"Seriously. You're just as reckless. He always hoped you'd take over soday, and look at you, panicking at every little thing. How can soone like that be trusted to run that troubleso guild?"
Rhodes blinked. "Wait... the Master said that?"
Porlyusica sighed and turned away, but her voice softened slightly.
"He's been thinking about who to pass the torch to. But don't get ahead of yourself. You've got a long way to go."
Rhodes fell silent.
He'd only been with Fairy Tail for a year. He was strong, yes—but not on par with S-Class legends like Laxus or Erza. Not yet.
And yet... Fairy Tail was just like this. Chaotic. ssy. Wild. And sohow, full of heart.
Even the decision of choosing the next guild master felt like a warm family squabble.
He took a slow, deep breath. "I understand."
If the old man was hoping for a steady successor, then he'd beco one.
"The Master's judgnt isn't wrong. If he believes in , I'll earn it. I won't let him down."
A small smile crept onto Rhodes' face.
"But still... he should hang on as guild master for another hundred years. He's got way more experience writing apology letters than I do."
He added with a quiet chuckle, "I don't really want to be guild master."
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