Fairy Tail Guild (Underground Library)—
After Makarov and Ur arrived at the guild, they were immediately called down to the secure underground library by Raizel and Mirajane.
Natsu was allowed to participate since he knew the specific details of the kidnapping attempt, and since Natsu was joining, Gray couldn't be absent either.
"Is Wendy participating too?" Lucy whispered quietly into Mirajane's ear, looking at the small girl.
"Wendy is very strong, but she probably won't be going alone," Mirajane whispered back.
"I won't hold everyone back," Wendy replied softly, her small face flushing red, for although Lucy and Mirajane had spoken very softly, her Dragon Slayer hearing picked it up clearly.
Raizel briefly explained what had happened the previous night regarding Jose's attempt on Lucy, and then he outlined the retaliatory plan to attack all of Phantom Lord's branch guilds simultaneously.
"But Gramps and Ur can't participate," Raizel stated firmly.
Makarov was about to get angry at being sidelined, but Raizel extinguished his anger with cold logic.
"One of you is a Wizard Saint, and the other is both the Guild Master and a Wizard Saint, so if you take action personally against the branches, it will be impossible to explain things to the Council later."
This was also one of the reasons why Raizel had no interest in becoming a Wizard Saint himself—his identity would hinder his freedom of action.
The original Makarov had taken to the field personally in the past because no one else could match Jose, but now, the situation hadn't reached that desperate point yet.
Using Archive Magic and a Long-range Communication Lacrima, Raizel created a temporary video conference link.
"What's with the big crowd?" Laxus looked surprised as he connected via the Lacrima, seeing the crowded underground library, including even Wendy and Carla.
"Where are Freed and the others?" Raizel asked, seeing only Laxus on the other side.
"Right here," Freed's voice came through as he stepped into the frame. "We're listening from the side."
Just then, Ultear and Mystogan also connected via their respective Lacrima crystals.
After connecting, Mystogan remained silent, feeling a bit embarrassed seeing so many people staring at him.
Good thing I'm still wearing my mask, he thought.
"Yo, this is the first time I've seen Mystogan!" Natsu exclaimed excitedly, staring at Mystogan's masked image. "Even if you pressed your face against it, you wouldn't see much since he's covered up except for his eyes."
"Natsu, don't get so close, for all we can see are your nostrils!" Erza scolded, clenching her fist.
"Sorry, sorry," Natsu scratched his head apologetically.
"I'll send the information up now," Raizel announced. "Everyone, report your specific locations, and we'll divide the areas to attack the nearest Phantom Lord branches."
Raizel used a virtual keyboard projected by his magic to mark the locations of the Phantom Lord branch guilds in red on the map for everyone to see.
"What happened? Why are we suddenly attacking Phantom Lord?" Erza asked, sensing the tension.
"We didn't notify you since you were outside, but Phantom Lord destroyed our guild hall and ambushed Levy, Jet, and Droy," Raizel explained calmly.
"What!" Erza slammed her fist on the table where she was, causing the crystal ball to shake violently from the impact.
"It's fine, as they attacked the guild when no one was there, and Levy and the others weren't injured thanks to Raizel," Mirajane added quickly to calm her down.
"I've had enough of Phantom Lord for a long time, it's just that the old man never allowed me to go after them," Laxus scoffed, having long wanted to wipe out Phantom Lord for their constant provocations.
"Understood, so we'll take this area," Ultear said simply, quickly selecting a section from the region Raizel had divided.
Mystogan and Laxus made their selections in turn.
"Unified action at 8:00 PM tonight. Distribution within regions is your own decision, and there is no need to hide your magic, so use it as needed, and remember safety first. Meeting adjourned."
"Roger," everyone, including Mystogan, nodded and disconnected.
After ending the connection, Raizel looked at the people in the underground library and assigned the local teams.
"Wendy and Lucy will come with me. Natsu, Gray, and Elfman form one team. Mira and Cana form another."
Having Lucy follow him was a necessary choice, otherwise she'd have to stay back with Ur, and since only Raizel, Ur, and Makarov could reliably stop Jose if he attacked again, Raizel wanted her close.
Besides, it was better to let Lucy gain some combat experience anyway, since they'd just be dealing with small fry.
All attendees of this meeting were elite Guild members capable of fighting multiple opponents, so there was no need for other Guild members to participate; they would stay and guard the Guild with Makarov to prevent anyone from attacking their home base.
Raizel first sent Natsu, Gray, Mirajane, and Cana to their respective assigned areas before returning to the Guild to prepare.
Raizel chose the area closest to Magnolia for himself, Wendy, and Lucy.
...
Evening, Phantom Lord Branch Headquarters—
Inside the tavern of a Phantom Lord branch, the atmosphere was rowdy.
"This is so satisfying!"
"I want to smash some Fairy too!"
"I heard that Gajeel guy beat up three people from their guild!"
"I think it's time we got to work, so on our way back, let's pluck a few fairy feathers for fun!"
"Hahaha!"
They had received false information, truly believing Gajeel had taught Fairy Tail members a lesson, so now all the Guild members were in an extremely arrogant state.
BOOM—
A thunderous explosion completely interrupted the cheers and fantasies in the Phantom Lord tavern as the heavy guild doors were blown open by a massive energy blast, sending the people behind them flying into the back wall.
Everyone turned to look through the smoke.
"A girl?"
"A little girl?"
"Look at the Guild Mark—Fairy Tail!"
"That form... I've seen it before—it's Raizel of Fairy Tail!"
Without saying a word, Raizel, now transformed in Omegamon take over, raised his right arm which had morphed into a massive metallic cannon.
"Garuru Cannon!"
He fired multiple freezing missiles from the cannon on his right arm, freezing groups of mages instantly.
"Open, Gate of the Goat—Capricorn!" Lucy shouted.
"Sky Dragon's Wing Attack!" Wendy blew away multiple Mages who were charging at her with a whirlwind of wind.
"Lucy Kick!" Lucy finished off the last Mage standing in this Guild with a flying kick to the face.
After emerging from the wrecked building, Raizel fired an Absolute Zero shot that turned the entire Guild structure into a massive ice sculpture.
"Let's go, next one."
...
Meanwhile, Across Fiore—
Multiple Phantom Lord branches were under simultaneous attack.
"Thunder Palace!"
Laxus stood on the roof of a Phantom Lord Guild, gathering massive amounts of lightning above to form thunderclouds that rained down destructive bolts, shattering the entire Guild hall in seconds.
"Who's there?" A few Mages with decent Magic Power who hadn't taken direct hits managed to stand up shakily.
"Oh? Didn't expect anyone to still be standing," Laxus said, somewhat surprised. "You've messed with the wrong people. Roar of the Thunder Dragon!"
Laxus had come alone, as the Thunder Legion was cleaning up other branches nearby.
...
At another location, chaos reigned.
"What's happening to the Guild?"
"Who built this shoddy construction???"
Phantom Lord members drinking inside suddenly noticed the walls cracking and warping, the entire Guild becoming unstable as the pillars twisted.
Outside, Ultear was using her Arc of Time to fast-forward the deterioration of the building, turning the entire Guild into a collapsing ruin.
"Flash Forward!"
Ultear summoned countless orbs of light, delivering the finishing blow to the fleeing mages.
...
Elsewhere, under the night sky.
"What's happening? No! Its Gravity Magic!"
As a group of Mages leaped high to attack a lone swordswoman, they were immediately pressed down into the pavement by immense gravity, powerless to struggle.
"Archenemy: Strong Form!"
Using her sheathed blade in coordination with her Gravity Magic, Kagura blasted the Phantom Lord tavern into rubble with a single swing.
...
At yet another branch.
"Requip: Heaven's Wheel Armor!"
"It's the Titania Erza! Run!"
"Heaven's Wheel: Circle Sword!"
Multiple swords formed a ring behind Erza before flying at high speed, pinning the Phantom Lord members to the walls by their clothes.
The counterattack had begun, and Fairy Tail was showing no mercy!