To fully defend such a long defensive line naturally required a great number of people. Fortunately, there were quite a lot of mages gathered here.
"Then, we'll deploy our defenses by guild. Each guild will be responsible for one section of the defensive line."
Everyone had originally come as guild units, so naturally it would not be appropriate to split up their manpower. It was best to deploy by guild, and the mages within each guild could coordinate with one another more effectively as well.
The stronger guilds would naturally be responsible for larger areas, while the smaller and relatively weaker guilds could jointly defend one section together.
In arranging the defense, Org tried his best to make things fair so that the supporting mage guilds would not become dissatisfied because of it.
And in truth, there was nothing to complain about. After all, no one could say for certain what level of impact their guild's section would face when the time came. It was completely unknown and entirely dependent on luck.
"The section our guild is responsible for is pretty long."
Moen glanced at the area assigned to Fairy Tail. It absolutely counted as one of the first-tier lengths.
There was no helping it. Even across the entire continent of Ishgar, Fairy Tail was one of the top mage guilds.
"We'll definitely be fine. We might even be able to spare some people to help the guilds on both sides. They're both guilds from the Kingdom of Fiore."
Makarov was very confident and even paid attention to the guilds beside Fairy Tail's assigned defense line. They were familiar faces, two small guilds from the Kingdom of Fiore.
For something this major, whether big guilds or small guilds, they would definitely send people. Being able to contribute even a little was still contributing.
Fairy Tail was large in scale, and Makarov had a strong sense of responsibility. For the two smaller guilds nearby, this was absolutely a good thing. At the very least, if he could help, Makarov definitely would not stand by and do nothing.
"These monsters still have to get past me first."
Moen smiled. He was still quite confident in his "Crystal Wall."
"I hope you can resolve this crisis by yourself."
Makarov spoke seriously. If Moen could truly accomplish that, then naturally it would be the best possible outcome. Nobody would mind making the trip for nothing, it was far better than fighting a huge battle against the monster tide.
Which was why Yajima's worries had actually been rather unnecessary.
After seeing those frozen corpses, everyone had already clearly understood that the beast tide had truly occurred. If nothing else happened afterward, nobody would blame him for making them come for nothing. On the contrary, everyone hoped it would amount to a wasted trip, they could just treat it like sightseeing.
"Anyway, I believe in Mr. Moen's Wall of Ishgar!"
Rastun came over and smiled as he expressed his support. This burly man and Moen could be considered acquainted through conflict. Moen had not even needed to attack, Rastun had been completely convinced by the "Crystal Wall."
"Hopefully I won't disappoint your trust."
Moen smiled and bumped fists with Rastun. He got along rather well with this straightforward "Wrath of the North."
Moen liked straightforward guys without many schemes. The same was true for Bacchus and those guys from Quatro Cerberus. There was not much pressure in being friends with people like them. Everyone was sincere and simply said what they meant.
"Then everyone, hurry back and set up your defenses."
Seeing that nobody had any objections, Org, who was hosting the meeting, spoke up. His expression was serious, already fully prepared for a major battle.
However, after hearing him speak, the guild masters did not leave. Instead, just like Rastun, they all gathered around Moen.
"Mr. Moen, how do you think we should deploy our defenses in this section? During the last beast tide, was the impact on our area severe?"
One guild master asked Moen worriedly for advice on how to arrange defenses, while also inquiring about the situation in their sector during the previous beast tide.
"Mr. Moen! Is there anything we can do to support your Wall of Ishgar?"
Another guild master wanted to contribute toward maintaining the "Crystal Wall." Clearly, they very much hoped Moen's "Wall of Ishgar" could continue stopping the monster tide. That was far preferable to directly facing the monsters—fighting monsters head-on got people killed!
"If there's anything we can do, please don't hesitate!"
That guild master's words quickly received support from many others. Everyone expressed their willingness to contribute to maintaining the "Wall of Ishgar."
Clearly, given another choice, nobody wanted to directly face the monster tide. Everyone hoped to stand behind the "Crystal Wall."
"Although I'd love to gather everyone's strength for my own use, unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a method for that. I can only thank everyone for the goodwill."
Moen smiled and shook his head. He was not Tiga, he truly had no way to borrow everyone's "light."
As for "other people's magic power," aside from Dragon Slayers being able to consume it and turn it into their own power, ordinary mages really had no way to borrow it. At least, Moen did not know of any such method. Perhaps there existed some magic with a similar function.
"..."
Moen's words caused everyone gathered around him to become disappointed for a while.
If everyone's strength could be gathered together to maintain this "Wall of Ishgar," then the possibility of blocking the monster tide would greatly increase, at the very least, it would be more likely than relying solely on Moen himself.
Because of Org's repeated emphasis, everyone believed that the coming monster tide would likely be even more terrifying. Just because Moen's "Crystal Wall" had blocked the first wave did not mean it could stop the second or third, which was why they were anxious.
"Everyone return and hurry to set up your defenses! We must rely on the collective strength of everyone to stop the monster tide! Don't think about relying on only one person!"
Org stepped forward, urging the somewhat disappointed crowd to quickly return to their defensive positions. His lack of confidence in Moen's "Crystal Wall" was practically overflowing from his words.
"This guy..."
Looking at the stern-faced Org, Moen shook his head speechlessly.
When it came to people from Fairy Tail, Org always viewed them through tinted glasses. Although he tried his best to be fair and impartial, his long-held views were clearly difficult to change.
In Org's eyes, Fairy Tail was synonymous with unreliability. He absolutely would not place his hopes on someone from Fairy Tail.
"No need to bother with him. We just need to do what we should do."
Makarov spoke up. He did not care about Org's opinion of them. It would not affect them, nor would it change them. Fairy Tail would not change because of Org.
"The more he acts like this, the more I want to slap him hard in the face. Looking down on my Crystal Wall? Then there's definitely something wrong with his thinking."
Moen shook his head.
Org's approach could not really be called wrong. It was indeed right to have everyone make preparations. It was just that Org's attitude made Moen, the person directly involved, feel uncomfortable.
Even if he did not believe in it inwardly, shouldn't he at least encourage him a little? Shouldn't he at least motivate him to work harder and stop it with everything he had?
Just like the other guild masters, they all desperately hoped Moen could hold the front line a little longer. Some even wanted Moen to place several more "Crystal Walls" in front of their defensive sectors.
That was the proper attitude. After all, every bit more effort Moen put in, every additional monster the "Crystal Wall" destroyed, would make things easier for them.
"Don't mind him. We didn't come because of him. If you can hold the line, then everyone here will owe you a favor."
Makarov imagined that outcome and felt utterly refreshed all over.
If Moen truly managed to resist the Nord Forest beast tide with his own power alone, then the title "Wall of Ishgar" would definitely fall upon him, and all the mages who came to participate in the battle would have to thank Moen.
"Just wait and see."
Moen spoke confidently.
Although the intensity of the beast tide might indeed become even greater than before, his connection with Aries had also deepened, and his mastery over the Aries Gold Cloth had likewise improved.
The current Moen was already completely different from when he had faced the beast tide last time.
They were about to witness the true power of Aries!
After the meeting ended, everyone dispersed to make preparations. But the next arrival of the beast tide came even faster than anyone had imagined.
That very night, while everyone was setting up defenses, an abnormal disturbance erupted within Nord Forest. Everyone was awakened by the roaring and howling coming from the forest, causing all of them to become tense.
One could only say that the scale of it was far more terrifying than they had imagined.
The "Crystal Wall" had always stood there. Although it could block enemy attacks, it did not isolate sound or sight. Therefore, everyone in the allied forces could clearly hear everything happening beyond the wall.
"It's coming!"
In the "Quatro Cerberus" defense zone, Pakas was extremely excited. Every one of them was full of fighting spirit, without the slightest fear.
"No one is allowed to retreat!"
Goldmine stood beside them and shouted loudly. The defense zone assigned to their "Quatro Cerberus" was not small either, but he would lead everyone in holding the line.
Meanwhile, on the other side, in the "Blue Pegasus" camp, Bob was also standing by in full readiness. The main force of their guild had basically all arrived, led by Ichiya, and all of them wore serious expressions as they prepared for battle.
The various guilds had not camped directly beside the "Crystal Wall," but instead kept some distance away. After all, they needed some buffer space. They could not let the magical beasts charge right into their faces the moment the wall collapsed.
"Boom!"
Balls of light were launched into the sky one after another, illuminating the pitch-black night and making everyone's vision clear. It was Makarov's magic. The master of "Fairy Tail" was also highly skilled in Light Magic, and at this moment it could finally be put to great use.
"They're here! The magical beast stampede!"
As visibility became clear, the situation beyond the wall naturally became easier to see as well. Quite a few people could already make out the figures of magical beasts charging toward them. Dense beyond measure, endless in number, the sight shook people to their cores, and some had already begun retreating instinctively.
And they could not really be blamed for it. Anyone who could stay still after seeing such a scene was already considered somebody remarkable. The pressure brought by that endless magical beast tide simply crashed over them head-on.
"What's happening?!"
Behind the allied army's defensive line, a group of children was sneaking closer to the front line when they also heard the commotion.
"It sounds like magical beasts roaring! Have they already started fighting?!"
Gray listened carefully. He could hear the roars of magical beasts, and the feeling that even the earth itself was trembling clearly showed just how enormous the number of magical beasts was. A magical beast riot had truly broken out!
"Then what are we waiting for?! Let's hurry over there!"
Natsu immediately jumped up and rushed out first, charging toward the defensive line constructed by the allied wizard forces.
"Keep up, keep up!"
Gray did not hesitate either and immediately followed after Natsu while also calling for the other children. No one could be left behind. Cana, Juvia, and the others naturally all followed closely behind, their expressions filled with anxiety, yet not a single one of them showed fear.
"Bzzzz!!!"
Before Natsu, Gray, and the others could even reach the vicinity of the defensive line, a violent wave of magical power suddenly spread out in all directions.
Then, in the sky above, nebulae began to flow and rotate, while the star charts of several constellations clearly appeared in the night sky, radiating brilliant light. Among them, Aries, leader of the Zodiac Twelve, was the most eye-catching.
Starlight rained down, to the point that Makarov's magic was no longer needed for illumination. The endless sea of stars alone was enough to brighten the sky, enough for people to clearly see even in the middle of the night.
"Buzz!"
Under the illumination of that pale blue starlight, even the originally invisible "Crystal Wall" began radiating stellar light. The entire wall became clearly visible, standing there like an impregnable wall of starlight, giving everyone an overwhelming sense of security.
"It's Moen-brother's magic!"
Juvia immediately shouted. She recognized it instantly. Of course, all of the children recognized it as well. That magic capable of drawing upon the stars filling the heavens could only be used by their "king of the children," Moen. They were already extremely familiar with it.
"So powerful! As expected of Master!"
Hisui could not help but exclaim in amazement. She was the one most capable of sensing the power resonating with the countless stars. She could clearly feel that Master Moen had become even stronger!
As for Moen's other disciple, Lucy, she had not been brought along, because Lucy had truly only joined "Fairy Tail" a short time ago and had not even officially begun learning magic from Moen yet. No matter how reckless they were, they would never bring along someone who was still a complete newcomer like Lucy.
Of course, what the children did not know was that Lucy had actually snuck along in secret as well.
Lucy, who possessed quite a few Celestial Spirit keys, did have some ability to protect herself. Although her own magical power limited her, meaning that even Zodiac Celestial Spirits were not especially strong in her hands right now, dealing with ordinary wizards was still easy enough.
Lucy, who had arrived while following closely behind Natsu, Gray, and their group, had already seen the strange phenomenon in the sky above.
"What is this?!"
Aquarius, the Celestial Spirit of Aquarius, who wore revealing clothing, possessed an explosive figure, a pure and beautiful appearance, and long blue hair along with a mermaid tail, was currently staring at the constellation charts in the sky with her mouth wide open. The stars of those constellations continuously poured down magical radiance, as though all of them were shining for a single person.
"That's Moen-brother's magic!"
Lucy said happily, causing Aquarius to freeze for a moment.
"The master you're always talking about?"
Aquarius asked. Clearly, she already knew a bit about him. Her relationship with Lucy was extremely special, incredibly close. During Lucy's most miserable and painful days, Aquarius had accompanied her through all of it, and Lucy also relied on her greatly.
"That's right! It's my master! He might already be fighting! Aquarius, let's hurry and help!"
Lucy nodded and gave a definite answer before anxiously running forward, hoping to help.
"..."
Aquarius was speechless. What exactly could they even help with? Just escorting Lucy all the way here had already consumed a tremendous amount of their magic power. Where would they get the magic power to fight? Lucy was simply too worried and had not noticed at all that her own magic power was already close to running dry.
"This Moen what kind of magic is he using exactly? Why is he able to even make the Zodiac constellations themselves..."
Aquarius's expression was complicated as countless thoughts ran through her mind without answer. She had been deeply shaken, feeling as though she had witnessed a scene that completely overturned her worldview. The stars filling the heavens were actually responding to one person's summons. This was something even Celestial Spirits like them could not accomplish!
In truth, Aquarius was not the only Celestial Spirit who was shocked. In the "Blue Pegasus" defense zone, the Aries Celestial Spirit, Aries, stood there with her mouth hanging open. Normally timid by nature, she even ignored Karen Lilica's orders and simply stared blankly at the Aries constellation chart in the sky, her eyes filled with disbelief.
[For additional chapters Patreon. Com/ALLISWELL123]