Chapter 64: Blood Debt Must Be Paid with Blood
Just moments ago, while Erza had been engaging Jose in conversation and holding his full attention, a figure suddenly materialized beside the steel cross binding Levy.
The figure grabbed Levy's arm, and both vanished in an instant. When they reappeared, they were standing near Dino Maxim.
"It's you!" The Fairy Tail mages blinked in surprise, recognizing the man. He was from the Magic Council—the same person who'd come to their guild not long ago because of Dino's incident and escorted Master Makarov away. They'd only met him that one time.
Doranbolt had already severely depleted his magical reserves when he'd teleported Dino and Makarov back to Magnolia. While Dino and Makarov talked, he'd used his last bit of strength to escape, though he hadn't made it far.
Still recovering his magic power in Magnolia Town, he'd stopped at a restaurant for a meal when the Phantom Lord Guild launched their attack on Fairy Tail.
Such a large-scale assault was undoubtedly a guild war. As a member of the Magic Council, he couldn't allow it to continue.
He couldn't take on either side alone, and truthfully, he didn't have the best impression of Dino—after all, the man was lawless enough to attack even the Magic Council.
But before he'd teleported away earlier, he'd overheard Dino's conversation with Makarov and realized that Dino had actually shown mercy to the Council. The main fault for that incident lay with the Council itself.
So he'd set aside his dissatisfaction. When he saw Phantom Lord kidnapping an innocent girl to use against Dino—such a despicable tactic was beneath any legitimate guild—he decided to intervene. He'd been waiting for an opening, and when Erza distracted Jose, he'd seized his chance.
"Levy!" The Fairy Tail mages rushed forward as Doranbolt set her down.
After a quick examination, Mirajane's expression turned grim. "Levy's injuries aren't life-threatening—mostly external wounds—but her magic power is completely drained. She's unconscious and needs treatment from Porlyusica immediately!"
"We'll take her!" several members volunteered.
Suddenly, Dino's voice cut through the commotion. "Everyone, fall back. You've all fought hard enough. Leave the rest to me."
The realization hit them all at once—Phantom Lord no longer had hostages. Dino Maxim was completely unleashed.
"Yes!"
"The guild is saved!"
Doranbolt immediately stepped in front of Dino, hands raised. "Wait! Mr. Maxim, Jose Porla is one of the Ten Wizard Saints. If you two fight at full power, half of Magnolia could be destroyed in the crossfire."
"Since they no longer have hostages, Phantom Lord will likely withdraw. A mutual ceasefire would prevent innocent casualties. I promise the Magic Council will hold them accountable—"
"Get out of my way." Dino's voice was ice-cold. "No one hurts my family and walks away unpaid. A blood debt must be paid in blood. Both sides suffering? You're overestimating this bastard."
"Once a war begins, it only ends when one side is destroyed."
Dino's voice boomed across the battlefield, carrying an anger that had been building for far too long. "Erza! Natsu! Elfman! Gray! Get clear—NOW!"
Natsu and Gajeel had been locked in fierce combat, both exhausted. Natsu held a slight advantage due to Gajeel's earlier injuries.
But when Natsu heard Dino's shout, his face went pale. "Oh crap! Dino's about to let loose!"
He whirled toward Gajeel. "You should run too unless you wanna die here!"
"Hah? What're you—"
"Happy!"
"Aye sir~!" Happy swooped down, grabbed Natsu by the vest, and flew away at top speed.
Elfman didn't need to be told twice. He activated Full-Body Takeover, smashed through a wall, and leaped off the Magic Giant.
Gray's eyes widened. He immediately broke off his fight with Juvia, sprinted to the edge of the Magic Giant, and pressed both palms together. "Ice-Make: Ice Slide!"
A gleaming ice ramp formed, connecting the Giant to the ground far below.
"Are you… running away?" Juvia stared at him, confused.
Gray grabbed her hand without hesitation. "Quit talking and move! We need to get clear before we get caught in the blast!"
Dino crouched low, magic power surging through his legs.
BOOM!
The ground beneath him cratered as he launched himself like a missile toward Phantom's Magic Giant.
The massive magical circle the Giant had been forming shattered like glass as Dino punched straight through it. He landed on the construct's head with earth-shaking force.
CRASH!
The Magic Giant's legs buckled, and it dropped to its knees, unable to bear the impact.
"JOSE! GET OUT HERE!"
Dino's furious roar echoed across all of Magnolia like thunder from heaven itself. The very air trembled. The ground shook.
He raised one leg, and a translucent sphere of white light—the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit—formed around his foot.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
Space itself splintered like fractured glass.
Dino brought his heel down.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The enormous Magic Giant split down the middle with a deafening roar, its two halves toppling in opposite directions.
"The Magic Giant—it split in half!"
"Incredible!"
"Is this the power of Fairy Tail's strongest mage?!"
BANG!
A figure exploded from the wreckage—Jose Porla himself, president of Phantom Lord and one of the Ten Wizard Saints. His face was twisted with rage at seeing his masterpiece, the mobile guild and Magic Giant he'd spent years developing, destroyed in seconds.
"DINO MAXIM! You little brat!"
"Finally crawled out, you shameless rat."
"Don't think I'm afraid of you, boy! I'll show you what a true Wizard Saint can do!" Jose's eyes turned pitch black, an eerie and unnatural sight.
"Dead Wave!" Jose released a massive torrent of black, sickly energy that radiated death itself.
Dino clenched his fist, white light crackling around it as he thrust it forward.
CRACK!
A shockwave of compressed atmosphere launched from his punch, tearing through the air toward Jose.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!