Hearing Gildarts' astonished reaction, Gaal began to explain, "This Magic Crystal might be rather large."
Gildarts rubbed his chin and mumbled, "Big? How big could it possibly be? As big as a house?"
Gaal led Gildarts down to the basement, not even looking back as he replied, "It's even a little bit bigger."
Gildarts' eyes widened in surprise, "Bigger than a house? How big? Two houses? That's not easy to manufacture—where did you get it? Customized from the Southern Continent?"
Gaal shook his head and said, "Even bigger than that…"
After leading Gildarts along a spiral staircase for what felt like an eternity, they finally stopped before a grand door.
Gaal pushed open the door built of magical materials, and a dazzling golden light burst forth.
Gildarts felt an overwhelming surge of Light Magic Power emanating from within and couldn't help but step forward.
Shielding his eyes with his hand, he stared in amazement at what lay inside and blurted, "Hey, hey, hey—what the heck is this? Did you hollow out the entire underground of the town?"
They had come down the spiral staircase from Gaal's Magical Cottage basement, pushing open the magic-sealed door.
Before Gildarts stretched out his eyes was an endless cluster of Magic Crystals, each radiating a golden light like a field of stars; the underground, normally shrouded in darkness, now shone as if it were daytime.
In the distance, roughly the distance separating Gaal's Magical Cottage from the Guild, a colossal golden pillar of light stood tall.
Looking closely, Gildarts saw that the gigantic pillar was composed of countless Magic Crystals, intricately connected by pattern lines with special talisman symbols engraved on its exterior, all pulsating with energy.
This ever-flowing pillar, marked with unique pattern symbols, seemed to extend endlessly without any visible beginning or end.
Gaal then spoke, "Something like that. The area covers the size of an entire town, yet at its core lies only that gigantic Magic Crystal. The crystals arranged around it, scattered like stars, form a transformational array spanning a town's size to charge the central Magic Crystal."
As he spoke, Gaal stepped inside and floated toward the enormous Magic Crystal.
Gildarts gradually recovered from his shock; seeing Gaal enter, he followed, only to realize that his own gravity had been adjusted—once his foot touched the ground, he was propelled forward toward Gaal.
"Inside, it's charging with light elements, huh? Are you planning to accumulate magic power to cast a Great Magic?" Gildarts asked.
Gildarts, ever perceptive and well aware of Fairy Tail's renowned Three Great Magics, quickly connected the dots.
"Exactly," Gaal replied. "The drawback of Fairy Tail's Three Great Magics is that they siphon magic power too quickly, leaving mages unable to keep up and eventually draining their life force. And once this enormous Magic Crystal is fully charged—theoretically speaking—if Hades were to show up, Fairy Law would drain him to death."
Gildarts was a bit stunned, "That drastic? And that guy's Magic Source…"
Gaal interjected, "That fellow's Magic Source supplies him ceaselessly. In terms of instantaneous supply, nothing can compare to this Magic Crystal."
He continued, "The continuous burning flames and a magical bomb thrown at your feet simply can't match the instantaneous damage from a magical bomb's power."
Nodding in understanding, Gildarts said, "I see."
Gildarts looked up at the golden Magic Crystal pillar before him, raised his hand to touch it, and remarked in admiration, "You really've got it, kid. If this thing were fully charged…"
Suddenly, his expression shifted; if he remembered correctly, Gaal had asked him to charge this thing with magic power.
Lowering his gaze to the seemingly endless pillar emanating from the depths below, his lips twitched as he asked, "Gaal, this isn't a joke, is it? Do you expect me to do it alone? Are you kidding me? With a Magic Crystal this massive, it could very well drain someone dry!"
Gaal shook his head and replied, "Of course not. I would never have you bear the entire burden alone."
Gildarts sighed in relief, but before he could relax further, Gaal waved his hand and produced four boxes of Recovery Potions.
"Here are some Recovery Potions to accompany you. Since it's been charging for some time now, with your magic power and these potions, you should be able to fully charge this Magic Crystal in about three days. By then, the Guild will stand invincible. The safety of our beloved Guild members—and our charming Cana at the Guild bar—is in your hands, Gildarts!!!"
With a solemn expression, Gaal grasped Gildarts' hand as he explained earnestly.
Then, flipping his hand, Gaal produced a cup adorned with golden stripes and pressed it into Gildarts' hand.
"Take this, too. You didn't prepare a gift for Cana this time, did you? How about giving her this? What could make her happier than a Magic Item gifted by her father?"
Gildarts was momentarily at a loss for words, his thoughts stifled as he only managed a halting, "Y-you… This…"
His head buzzing, he could only focus on the cup in his hand and asked, "What is this?"
Gaal explained, "It's called the Golden Holy Cup. When carried, it enhances a mage's magic power recovery. Moreover, the Holy Cup absorbs magic on its own and produces Recovery Potions inside, all secured by an array so you need not worry about any spills. Try it out for the next few days. Good luck."
Gildarts, with a resigned expression, muttered, "I'm scared stiff of you."
Looking up at the endless colossal golden pillar, he placed his hand on the designated spot and murmured, "Three days, huh…"
As Gildarts' vast magic power surged into the system, the entire underground became bathed in brilliant light from the crystals.
The transformational array sprang into relentless action.
——
One week later.
Central Ishgar Continent unfolded before an endless plain.
Five Airships of the Magic Council descended slowly from the sky.
Chairman Crawford Seam of the Magic Council and Makarov, Guild Master of Fairy Tail and one of the Ten Wizard Saints, disembarked from the airship, followed by a contingent of guards who set up simple tables and chairs before taking up defensive positions at a distance.
Makarov turned his head to survey the vast plain and remarked, "This is indeed rather cautious—choosing a locale with no cover, no obvious concealments to hide a large ambush. Likewise, the Dark Guild won't be able to set up any covert traps here."
Chairman Crawford Seam sat on a chair and said, "When the others arrive, keep your temper in check; let's resolve this through negotiation. This war has already raged for more than half a year, and everyone in the Magical World is weary. Continuing to fight like this benefits no one. The Alvarez Empire on the Western Continent already harbors intentions of invading us, but the deterrence of Etherion keeps them at bay. If we continue fighting, however, we might just leave ourselves vulnerable to their opportunistic strike."
Makarov's lips twitched as he marveled silently—he hadn't expected their Guild to become so formidable as to influence the balance of the Magical World.
Glancing at Crawford Seam, Makarov sighed, "Fine. But what takes those guys so long?"
Suddenly, the ground beneath the two other chairs began to writhe.
Makarov and Crawford Seam watched as a figure slowly materialized from the earth.
Azuma, a smile playing on his lips, said, "Our Guild Master has urgent business at the moment. I will be assuming full authority to negotiate with you both."
Makarov furrowed his brow, "Hades hasn't shown up?"
Chairman Crawford Seam nodded and asked, "The Seven Kin of Purgatory, then?"
"That certainly suffices," he added.
Azuma shook his head and replied, "Correction, Chairman Seam—I am currently the Vice Guild Master of Grimoire Heart, concurrently holding the position among the Seven Kin of Purgatory."
Humming in acknowledgment without further comment, Crawford Seam exchanged glances with both men before saying, "Then, let us begin."
——
At that moment, high above the sea surface twenty nautical miles from Magnolia Town, under the dark cover of storm clouds, an armada of airships floated overhead, hurtling toward Magnolia Town at breakneck speed.
The vessels varied in size, yet each proudly bore the banner of the Dark Guild.
All were subordinate guilds under Grimoire Heart.
Every subordinate Guild in the Western Continent had been gathered together by Hades.
Dark Mages on every ship couldn't help but idolize Hades.
These vessels, not true magical ships and lacking inherent flight capability, were only able to float and surge ahead because their supreme leader—the mightiest Dark Guild Master Hades—was using his own magic power to lift them.
On the very top ship, Hades himself stood at the bow wielding his Magic Staff; dark magic emanated from his feet, extending into thick magical chains that coiled around the twenty-three Dark Guild ships below, single-handedly supporting the entire fleet in flight.
Such a display allowed many Dark Mages to witness true personal might for the very first time.
As the fleet pressed on, Magnolia Town gradually emerged in a hazy outline below.
Gazing at the familiar layout of the town and the fluttering flags, Hades' eyes flickered with a brief moment of daze before hardening into steely determination as he focused on Magnolia Town in the distance.
Pointing his Magic Staff downward at an angle, all the ships immediately assumed a plunging dive formation, and Hades declared, "Totally destroy, Fairy Tail."
As his words faded away, the Magic Staff in his hand began to emit a dark purple glow, with Dark Magic coalescing at its crystal tip.
Boom—!!!
A terrifying beam of magical energy, akin to a converging magical cannon, shot directly toward the town below.