The shock of Laxus's departure still hung in the air, leaving the guild's hall looking like a chaotic war zone.
Erza directed the members who could still move to help the wounded.
Mirajane and Lisanna supported Lucy, Cana, and the others, while Juvia used her water magic to clean wounds and cool the pain of the injured.
"Quick! Get all the wounded inside the guild!" Makarov stood on the steps at the main entrance, his small body projecting an absolute sense of authority.
"Medical team! Where is the medical team?!"
"Master, they attacked a lot of people before they left. Half of the medical team... was also turned to stone. The survivors just recovered and can barely stand," Levy reported as she rushed over.
Her hair swayed in the smoky air, and her small face was covered in soot.
Makarov frowned deeply.
He looked off into the distance where Laxus had vanished.
A flash of pain crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by hard resolve.
"Then have the lightly injured take care of the badly wounded! Erza, take a team and search all of Magnolia. If you find him, contact me immediately. I will not forgive him this time."
"Yes!" Erza nodded and turned to gather her team—
"Wait!"
Gray struggled to his feet.
Blood was seeping through the bandages on his chest, but his eyes were as cold as ice.
"I'm going too. Freed specializes in enchantments. I've seen his magic a few times, and I bet he has other traps set up."
"Your injuries..." Makarov frowned.
"I'll live." Gray gritted his teeth.
He clapped his hands together, and chilling energy formed into two ice swords in his grip.
"Besides, even though Laxus is gone, the Thunder God Tribe is still a problem. They might hurt the regular people in town."
Makarov looked at Gray's determined expression and finally nodded.
"Be careful. Don't push yourself."
"I'm going too!" Natsu stood up shakily.
Even though Ace had healed his physical injuries, he was still weak from using up so much magic.
He clenched his fists, flames sparking in his palms. "That bastard Laxus... I'm going to send him flying with my own hands! This is the second time!"
"Me too!"
"I'm going too!"
Everyone in the guild who could still stand chimed in.
In just a few minutes, a team of over a hundred people gathered in the plaza.
Men and women—everyone's eyes burned with anger.
Anger at Laxus's betrayal, anger at their hurt friends, and anger at this ridiculous civil war.
"Good!" Makarov took a deep breath, standing up perfectly straight. "Remember, our main goal is to clear the traps set by Freed and keep the citizens of Magnolia safe! Only after that do we capture the rest of the Thunder God Tribe! Move in small groups, watch each other's backs, and do not fight alone!"
"Understood!!!"
Over a hundred people shouted together, their voices shaking the air.
"Then—" Makarov waved his large hand forward. "Move out!!!"
"Yeahhhh!!!"
The crowd surged forward like a broken dam, pouring out through the guild's main entrance.
Makarov stood on the steps, watching his guildmembers charge into the streets.
He felt a wave of relief and was just about to head out himself to find Laxus—
Thud!
A dull smacking sound echoed at the door.
Makarov, who was at the very back of the group, seemed to hit an invisible wall the moment he tried to cross the doorway.
He bounced back, looking a bit ridiculous.
"What's going on?!" Makarov stood up, rubbing his bruised forehead with a pale face.
He walked up to the entrance again and reached his hand out.
About half a meter from the doorway, his hand hit a tough, invisible barrier.
"This is a Rule Enchantment," Makarov said grimly. "Before the battle started, they put traps on all the guild's doors. Once the conditions are met, the spell activates and creates a solid wall of rules."
The dark purple letters on the doorframe slowly spun around, forming a sentence in the common language of Fiore:
[Rule 1: People over eighty years old cannot pass through this door.]
[Rule 2: Stone statues cannot pass through this door.]
[Those who break the rules will be struck by the enchantment and severely injured.]
"Over eighty?" Makarov froze for a second before exploding in anger. "Freed! Are you picking on an old man like me?!"
"You bastard!!!" Makarov roared, his terrifying magical power flaring up.
But no matter how hard he pushed against it, the invisible barrier didn't budge.
"Master, calm down," Ace's voice called out from behind.
He walked slowly to the door and touched the invisible wall.
Dark gold Digital Soul flowed from his fingertips, scanning the spell's structure.
A few seconds later, he pulled his hand back with an understanding look in his eyes.
"It's a very strict enchantment," Ace said quietly. "It's not just a magic shield; it turns 'rules' into a physical wall. Trying to force your way through would be like trying to punch a concept."
"So there's no other way?" Makarov gritted his teeth.
"Master, you stay here," Ace decided. "Freed's trap is obviously meant for you, but it can't hold the rest of us back. I'll take a team to clear the traps in the city and catch the rest of the Thunder God Tribe."
"But—"
"There's no time." Ace cut him off, looking around at the guild members who were still inside, mostly those recovering from being turned to stone.
"Mirajane, Lisanna, you two stay here and help the Master protect the wounded."
"But, Ace, can't I help?" Lisanna asked, looking worried.
"Lisanna, trust me," Ace said, meeting her eyes. "I'll handle this. Besides, we need you here to look after the injured."
Secretly, Ace was curious.
If Mirajane didn't stay behind, he wondered if she would end up clashing with Erza.
...
In a narrow alley in Magnolia's East District.
Ace knelt beside Jet and Droy.
The dark gold Digital Soul flowed into their wounds like warm water.
The magic bullets wrapped in the data, broke down and vanished.
Their torn flesh healed right before their eyes.
Alzack stood nearby, leaning on his twin guns and looking pale from blood loss.
"Freed's traps are all over the city." Ace stood up and looked around.
He could feel dozens of faint magical rules humming in the air, like an invisible net covering the town.
"We have to clear them out fast, or more people will get trapped."
"But there are so many of them. Clearing them one by one will take forever..." Levy bit her lip.
Juvia stood beside her, wringing her hands anxiously. "And... Freed is the Thunder God tribe strategist. His enchantments must be full of traps..."
"Traps?" Elfman grinned, the muscles in his right arm bulging as it transformed into a beastly claw.
"A real man smashes through traps head-on!"
Suddenly, the heavy sound of footsteps echoed from both ends of the alley.
Everyone immediately spun around, putting their guards up.
At each end of the alley, seven or eight Fairy Tail members were slowly walking toward them.
Their eyes were blank and their steps were stiff, like puppets controlled by strings.
The weirdest part was the dark purple paper tag stuck to each of their chests, covered in twisted, bloody runes.
"Is that... What's wrong with you guys?!" Levy cried out, recognizing them.
But they didn't answer.
They stopped ten meters away and raised their hands in unison.
Magic began to gather in their palms—fireballs, ice lances, wind blades, and rock bullets.
All sorts of basic attack spells were being aimed right down the narrow alley.
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