Inside the villa in the Eastern Forest, Aryen sat in the study with several communication lacrimas placed on the desk before him. One after another, the images of Laxus, Kagura, Ur, and Mystogan appeared.
"Yo, Aryen. This is rare. You actually contacted me first," Laxus teased.
"Have you guys returned to Magnolia yet? Kagura, Cana, and I just finished our job too. We were planning to head back to the guild and finally get some proper rest," Ur said with a lazy smile.
"Save the catching up for later," Aryen cut in calmly. "I contacted you because I have something I need you to do."
"Oh? First time I've seen you this serious," Laxus replied, his expression turning solemn.
"The guild was attacked by Phantom Lord. They struck at night. Thankfully there were no casualties." Aryen's voice turned icy. "I contacted you because I want you to finish your current jobs as quickly as possible… then wipe out every Phantom Lord branch you can find."
Everyone froze in shock before fury erupted across their faces.
Phantom Lord had dared to destroy their guild—their home.
Unforgivable.
Laxus and Mystogan only left behind a curt "Understood," before cutting off the connection immediately.
"We'll handle the guild side. Kagura, Cana, and I will destroy all Phantom Lord branches as fast as possible before returning," Ur said seriously.
"No need," Aryen replied. "Just make sure every branch is crushed. Here in Magnolia we still have Erza, Ultear, Mira, and me. The three of you just be careful."
After a few more words, the connection ended.
"Phantom Lord… Jose…" Aryen stood by the window overlooking the night outside. "You really are asking to die."
"You alright, Aryen-sama?" Ultear entered the study carrying a cup of tea. After setting it down, she wrapped her arms around him from behind.
"I'm fine." Aryen turned and gently held her slender waist. "Go notify Erza and Mira. Tonight, we patrol Magnolia."
Ultear looked up at him. "You think they'll come back and attack the guild members again?"
"They definitely will," Aryen answered calmly. "With Jose's personality, once he acts, he'll go all the way. The first attack wasn't just provocation—it was a declaration of war."
"The Master wants to avoid conflict because he's worried about upsetting the balance of the magic world and the casualties a war between two major guilds would cause. But Jose doesn't want peace. He wants to completely crush Fairy Tail."
"So in order to force the Master into fighting… they'll attack again. And this time, they'll give him a reason he can't ignore."
"I'll go gather everyone right away."
Ultear hurried out of the study.
Not long after, hurried footsteps sounded through the villa. Ultear, Erza, Mira, Lisanna, and Lucy all gathered inside the study.
Aryen looked at each of them in turn.
"I'll keep this brief. Ultear should already have explained my theory. I've informed Ur and Laxus already—the Phantom Lord branches are theirs to handle. As for us…"
His golden eyes grew cold.
"We destroy Phantom Lord's headquarters."
Erza crossed her arms. "You mean an all-out war with Phantom Lord? But from the Guild Master's attitude, he wants to settle things peacefully."
"There's no point anymore," Aryen said flatly. "If Phantom Lord dared travel all the way here just to ambush Fairy Tail, then they were already prepared for war."
"Blind tolerance never brings peace."
"The only way forward is to crush them completely."
"Just like Natsu said—if we don't beat them until they're begging for mercy, this anger won't disappear."
Mira tapped a finger against her chin. "You mentioned patrols, but Magnolia's huge. Just the few of us won't be enough."
"We only need to follow guild members who are alone or who live far away." Aryen looked toward Lisanna and Lucy. "Lisanna, stay with Mira tonight. Lucy, stay with Erza. Don't leave their sight."
"Understood, Aryen-nii." x2
The sky that night was exceptionally dark, as though foreshadowing the coming storm.
Levy, Jet, and Droy walked casually through the empty streets, chatting leisurely, completely unaware danger had already set its sights on them.
"Heh… I was hoping to completely destroy Fairy Tail's guildhall," a voice sneered from above. "But finding three stray little fairies works too. Guess I'll use you as the fuse that ignites full-scale war with Fairy Tail."
On a rooftop hidden from the streetlights stood a man dressed in black punk-style clothing adorned with studs and metal accessories. His entire appearance radiated savage brutality.
His eyes were filled with madness.
The next instant, he leapt down from above, his fist transforming into a massive iron club as it smashed toward Levy.
Levy and the others turned in shock, but it was already too late.
Levy shut her eyes instinctively—
But the expected pain never came.
Instead, a heavy impact rang out.
Opening her eyes, she saw a tall figure standing before her.
Silver-white hair.
A silver-gray cloak.
Aryen.
"Aryen!" Jet and Droy shouted in relief.
"You three, get back," Aryen said calmly without turning around.
The punk-clad man withdrew his fist, his expression turning grave.
"Silver hair… blue crescent mark…" he muttered. "You're the Battle-Shaking Nobleman, Aryen Viviamilio?"
"So you're Gajeel, the so-called Iron Dragon." Aryen's voice was emotionless. "You're the one who destroyed my guild."
He slowly rested a hand on the hilt of Arayashiki.
"Looks like Jose still only knows how to rely on sneak attacks."
"My companions were quite thoroughly 'taken care of' by you."
Though his tone remained calm, Gajeel felt a terrifying chill crawl down his spine.
Run.
That was the only thought left in his mind.
If he stayed—
He would die.
"You dared destroy my guild," Aryen said softly. "You dared hurt my companions."
"You've got some nerve."
"Gravity Impact."
Magic circles flared beneath Aryen's feet as compressed gravity exploded toward Gajeel.
"Damn it! Iron Dragon's Roar!"
Gajeel unleashed a storm of black metallic particles from his mouth. Unlike Natsu's flames, his Dragon Slayer roar resembled a violent iron sand tempest.
Boom!
The invisible gravity shockwave smashed straight through the Iron Dragon's Roar, obliterating it effortlessly before slamming into Gajeel head-on.
He was blasted away like a ragdoll, crashing heavily across the ground.
Before he could recover, Aryen vanished into starlike particles and reappeared behind him instantly.
Another Gravity Impact crashed down.
Then another.
And another.
The battle became nothing more than one-sided slaughter.
Gajeel was tossed around like a broken sandbag under relentless gravity strikes, utterly unable to retaliate.
Finally, Aryen seized him by the throat with one hand.
Killing intent overflowed from his golden eyes.
"I'll spare your life," he said coldly. "Go back and tell Jose to wash his neck and wait for me."
"His life…"
"I'll be the one to take it."
"Now get lost."
Aryen flung him aside casually.
Gajeel rolled several meters across the ground before collapsing motionless.
Levy and the others swallowed nervously.
This was the first time they had ever seen Aryen this terrifying.
"Let's go," Aryen said, returning to his usual calm demeanor as though nothing had happened. "I'll escort you back. It's late—you should get some rest."
"What about him?" Levy pointed nervously at Gajeel's battered body.
"Who cares?" Aryen shrugged. "Whether he lives or dies depends on his luck."
"Come on. Keep up."
Aryen turned and began walking toward the girls' dormitory, with Levy and the others quickly hurrying after him.