The tense atmosphere in the guild relaxed, if only for a moment.
Gajeel crossed his arms, clearly dissatisfied.
"That guy, if he'd already thought of this, why didn't he say it earlier?"
Levy smiled helplessly.
"Maybe he was killing time while flying. Besides, even if we'd known a few minutes earlier, it wouldn't have changed much."
Makarov clapped his hands, snapping everyone back to attention.
"Alright. Rhodes can handle one location on his own. That still leaves five more."
He raised a finger.
"The requirements are simple: speed, enough destructive power, and, most importantly, not getting lost."
Jet looked conflicted. His speed was fine, but smashing a Face…'Should I just bring a sack of explosive magic crystals?'
Happy, Carla, and Lily stepped forward together. They could all fly, which covered speed, and destructive power could be left to their partners.
Natsu, Wendy, and Gajeel didn't even need to speak, everyone already knew they were in.
Laxus, Erza, and Elfman stepped forward next.
There was no need to explain Laxus or Erza.
Elfman could fly, and his raw power was more than sufficient.
The most telling moment came when Mirajane started to step forward, and Elfman reached out and pushed her back.
Mira glanced at him, then smiled faintly and said nothing.
'He really has grown up,' she thought. 'Next time I beat him up, I can hit a little harder.'
Makarov nodded in approval.
"Good. Then Erza stays behind. The rest..."
"Master!"
Warren suddenly rushed over, panic written all over his face.
"Bisca has detected an abnormality west of Magnolia!"
"What kind of abnormality?" Makarov demanded.
"There's a strange cube in the sky, moving toward us!"
Makarov didn't hesitate.
"Connect me to her."
"Yes, sir!"
The communication magic activated at once.
"Bisca, can you hear me? What do you see?"
"Yes, Master." Bisca's calm voice came through. She was peering through her sniper scope, describing exactly what she saw.
A small green magic circle rotated within the scope, an enhancement spell that greatly amplified vision.
At a distance where ordinary binoculars could barely make out a black speck, Bisca could already see clear edges.
"It's an angular cube," she reported. "Its speed isn't very fast. At this rate, it'll reach Magnolia in ten minutes, twenty at most."
Makarov's expression hardened.
"That matches Cube's profile exactly. Keep observing, but do not engage. Do not act on your own."
"Understood."
The call ended.
Makarov turned to the guild, his voice low and firm.
"Tartaros is coming. Prepare for battle."
Yajima swallowed.
"Michello… should we contact the other guilds for reinforcements?"
Michello's hands trembled.
"Yes. This is the final stronghold of the Balam Alliance. If it's just Fairy Tail.."
"Is there any guild that can reach us within twenty minutes?" Makarov cut in.
There wasn't.
The nearest was Twilight Ogre, also in Magnolia, but relying on their combat power in a battle like this…
Makarov made his decision immediately.
"You three, hide," he said to the former Council Members. "Leave everything else to us. If the situation worsens, I'll have someone escort you away."
Although Rhodes had already destroyed one Face, that one had been hidden deep underground.
They still didn't know whether it had been fully unsealed, or whether Cube carried active Faces ready for immediate deployment.
In Makarov's judgment, Tartaros was coming for the Council Members.
And under no circumstances could those three be allowed to fall.
At the same time, Mirajane had already contacted Rhodes, and informed him that Tartaros was on the move.
"What? Tartaros is coming?"
Rhodes halted midair, braking so hard the clouds rippled around him. Surprise flashed across his face, followed immediately by delight.
"I knew Fairy Tail wouldn't miss something this big," he said, grinning. "I'm heading back right now!"
"Wait!" Makarov shouted through the crystal. "If you come back now, what about the Faces?"
"There's a faster solution," Rhodes replied without hesitation. "Instead of hunting them one by one, we capture the former Chairman and take down Tartaros directly. Once they're gone, the Faces can be found and dismantled at our leisure."
"Hey...!"
The call cut off before Makarov could finish.
Natsu practically bounced on his heels.
"As expected of Rhodes! That's way better! I'm fired up now!"
Gray clenched his right fist, the faint markings on his arm stirring.
"That's what I wanted too."
"You idiots..." Makarov started.
"Gramps," Laxus said, resting a hand on his shoulder. "He's right. It's more efficient, and it ends everything at the root."
Erza nodded. "Honestly, I was thinking the same thing. If Tartaros has already identified seven Faces… there's no guarantee there aren't more."
Makarov sighed.
He'd expected Rhodes to take the safest route, split the forces, destroy the Faces, defend Magnolia, then engage later.
Instead, Rhodes had chosen the most direct, and dangerous option.
A few seconds later, a shadow swept over the guild.
Rhodes landed on the roof and vaulted straight down in front of the doors without bothering with the stairs.
"All Fairy Tail members!" he called out. "The search-and-destroy plan is cancelled. Defensive operations begin immediately!"
"We intercept the enemy outside the city!"
"Target: the western mountains of Magnolia. Move according to plan!"
"Ohhhhhhh!!!"
The guild exploded into motion.
At Rhodes's signal, runners dashed off to relay orders, supplies were moved, and teams formed without hesitation.
Once Warren transmitted the command, Freed, already working outside, accelerated his spellcasting. Alzack and the reconnaissance teams sprinted west to reinforce Bisca's position.
Makarov opened his mouth.
'I haven't even officially given the order yet!'
Rhodes leaned over and added briskly, "Master, once you've secured the three Council Members, move out immediately."
Makarov stared at him.
'This brat. When I ask him to take the Master's seat, he dodges like it's poison… but the moment trouble starts, he gives orders without blinking?'
And worse...
'Why do you all move faster when he speaks than when I do?!'
Yajima chuckled softly.
"Congratulations, Makarov. Fairy Tail has found itself a remarkable successor."
"I suppose so," Makarov muttered, rubbing his temples.
Outside, the voices of the younger members rang out, nervous, excited, but fearless.
"Move it, move it! The plan's changed!"
"No, it's the same plan, just faster!"
...
"The plan proceeds as intended," Mard Geer said calmly after hearing Franmalth's report.
Franmalth blinked. "Lord! A Face has been destroyed."
"I heard you," Mard replied, smiling faintly. "That was merely a single point."
He leaned back, utterly at ease.
"Whether they destroy one Face or two makes no difference. At best, it's a stroke of luck before their extinction."
His eyes gleamed with quiet certainty.
"You will understand why soon enough."
"Return to the control room," he ordered. "Execute the next phase."
Franmalth hesitated, thoroughly confused.
"Yes, My Lord ."