Makarov's complexion looked significantly better than when he was first carried back.
As soon as the effects of the previous buff faded, Rhodes imdiately refreshed it. He also cast another buff on himself, and on Elfman, who was still waiting outside the door.
"Alright. He's basically out of danger now," Porlyusica muttered after another brief check of Makarov's condition. But her expression quickly shifted to one of visible irritation. "You, get out."
"Eh? Granny Porlyusica, I—" Rhodes hesitated. He was still worried about the Master's condition.
"What do you an 'I'? This is no place for you to be loitering," she snapped, waving her hand and dramatically pinching her nose. "You humans stink. Out!"
And just like that, she shoved him outside and slamd the door.
A mont later, the tiny window of the treehouse creaked open. Porlyusica stuck her head out and pointed at the crabs standing nearby.
"Take those two hulking creatures away too! They're an eyesore!"
"They're not humans," Rhodes protested. "They can help the Master if soone tries to attack—"
"Oh, so now you think I can't even protect one patient?!" she shouted.
"Got it, got it. I'll leave everything in your hands," Rhodes sighed, canceling the summons.
The old won had chosen to live out here in the woods alone. She must've had so kind of defense plan in place.
After thinking it over, Rhodes summoned Warm and nudged the fluffy creature toward the treehouse window.
"Alright, I'm leaving you behind to keep watch. You know what to do."
Warm gave a low chirp and sat down obediently. If sothing went wrong, it would cancel its own summon to alert Rhodes imdiately.
"Wait."
Porlyusica didn't drive Warm away this ti. Instead, she opened the door again, marched over to Rhodes, and jamd a small bottle into his mouth.
"Ggh...! Cough, cough—!" Bitter liquid flooded his throat before he could react. It was the most aggressive bottle-feeding he'd ever received.
"That's a potion to relieve fatigue," she said flatly. "Now go, and stop bothering ."
Before he could respond, she tossed a cloth bag into his arms and turned around, vanishing back into the treehouse. Warm padded in after her just before the door slamd shut.
Elfman blinked, looking a little less embarrassed about being kicked out earlier.
"She's still as fierce as ever."
Rhodes shook his head and opened the cloth bag. Inside were various small jars and rolled bandages, classic external wound treatnt supplies.
"She's worried about the guild too," Rhodes said quietly. "That's why she rushed us out. She doesn't even want wasting magic power unless it's necessary."
"Is that so?" Elfman muttered. He'd known Porlyusica for longer, but in that mont, he wasn't so sure he knew her better than Rhodes did.
"Let's go," Rhodes said, summoning two Murk Wolves to carry them.
He glanced at the tear on Elfman's shirt. "You hurt?"
"Just a scratch. It'll heal fast," Elfman said, rolling up his sleeve to show a shallow wound. "How's my sister? Is she alright?"
Rhodes smiled. "Mira's fine. You should've seen her when she got mad, absolutely badass. She was so fierce when she started pounding those Phantom guys."
Elfman tilted his head back with a complicated expression. 'How could I not know what my sister looks like when she's angry...?'
'To most people, it would be terrifying.'
'But this guy... actually finds it attractive?'
Elfman sighed and shouted what he always did in monts of emotional conflict: "A real man!"
The iron rods that had impaled the Fairy Tail guild hall were finally removed. Laki had even patched up so of the larger holes with basic repairs.
At first, the idea was to open up more space so people could rest inside. But after the rods were pulled out, the entire structure started to groan and sway.
In the end, it was too unstable to use the main floor. Everyone had no choice but to stay and recover in the basent.
Lucy had already told everyone her full na and the likely reason Phantom Lord had co after her.
But most of them had already guessed as much. The enemy hadn't exactly kept things secret.
And just like Mira had said earlier, things had gone far beyond Lucy's personal matter.
Natsu walked up to her and clapped her on the shoulder. "You said you wanted to stay here, right?"
"Yeah," Lucy nodded with a pout. "I want to stay in Fairy Tail."
"Then that's that!" Natsu said with a grin. "No one's gonna take away one of our own. 'High-society lady' and stuff like that, just doesn't suit you."
"Right?" Happy chid in. "You're more like... um... regular Lucy! And Lucy's eyes are wet."
"They're tears," Lucy sniffled, half-laughing through her tears.
"Sorry... this happened even though I was here." Erza's voice was uncharacteristically quiet. "If I had just gone with the Master when he confronted them..."
"What are you saying?" Loke adjusted his glasses. "You were fighting just as hard as the rest of us."
"Yeah," Cana added, spreading her deck of cards on the floor as if reading a battlefield fortune. "If that's how you're thinking, then all of us are to bla."
Max clenched his fists. "It's all because those Phantom bastards played dirty. They used an illusion of Lucy being tortured just to distract the Master."
"Exactly." Nab slamd a bandaged hand into his other palm. The pain made his face twitch, but he growled through it. "Can't forgive them... ssing up so bad I can't even do my job."
Across the room, Vijeeter mumbled under his breath, "Pretty sure your lack of work had nothing to do with them..."
Mira carefully bandaged Mickey's wound. The girl had charged too recklessly in battle.
"In any case," Mira said, tying the final knot, "everyone, use this ti to rest. The war's not over yet."
Her voice was calm, but her words carried a chill.
The Master had collapsed.
Without Makarov, there was a gaping hole in both morale and leadership. Spiritually, it felt like the heart of the guild had stopped beating. And tactically... there was no denying it, Fairy Tail's current forces were outmatched.
While Erza and Mira remained as their strongest pillars, Phantom Lord's Guild Master, Jose, was a Wizard Saint, one of the Ten Holy Wizards. No one besides Makarov could realistically challenge him one-on-one.
And then there was the man who struck Makarov down with terrifying magical power. His identity and strength remained unclear.
If Gildarts had been here... or if Laxus and Mystogan had both answered the call... things might have been different.
That was what most mbers quietly believed.
The worst part was: Laxus had outright refused to help.
And Gildarts and Mystogan? Unreachable.
The only sliver of good news was that Mira and Rhodes had captured two of the Elent Four.
That alone lifted a heavy weight from everyone's minds.
More than anything, it was the image of Rhodes summoning an entire army of magical beasts during the retreat that stuck with them.
That guy... he used to be a headache when you had to deal with him solo. But now? Fighting alongside him made things feel survivable.
As long as he was on the battlefield, no one had to worry about being outnumbered.
Mira was the first to notice Rhodes and Elfman return.
"Rhodes, Elfman, how's the Master?"
The chatter in the basent ceased instantly. Dozens of eyes turned to them, hoping for even a sliver of good news.
Rhodes smiled gently. "Don't worry. The Master's out of danger. Granny Polyusica says he'll wake up soon."
A wave of relieved cheers swept through the room.
"Ohhh!!!" Cheers echoed, louder than expected.
The old man was going to be okay.
From the corner, Gray's voice called out, a little drowsy but alert.
"Hey... that water ghost chick just woke up."
...
Bonus Chapter @1200 PS
Read upto 40 Chapters ahead at /Keepsmiling818
Reviews
All reviews (0)