Chapter 257

[Finally, as if having made some decision, he raised his head: "Everyone, at this point, we can only continue down the wrong path!"]

["Leaving it alone is impossible, therefore, we can only follow that guy’s footsteps now."]

["This war... cannot be avoided!"]

[Lucy: "I think the matter shouldn't be too serious yet, after all, didn't the Magic Council not discover that it was Natsu who did it?"]

[Makarov shook his head: "You underestimate the Council too much; this picture is just short of carving Natsu’s name on it."]

["How could they not know, unless they are playing dumb."] 5.6

[Speaking to this point, Makarov’s expression suddenly stiffened.]

["Playing dumb?"]

[Makarov’s eyes lit up, as if he had thought of something.]

[He kept muttering this word in his mouth.]

[The more he thought, the more possibilities there seemed to be.]

[After a long while, he suddenly raised his head.]

["So that’s how it is... so... those guys don't have as much backbone as I thought!"]

[Thinking of this, everything became clear, and Makarov couldn't help but smile bitterly twice.]

["So, that guy Natsu had always thought of this, which is why he acted so unscrupulously..."]

[Shaking his head, looking at the newspaper handed back, Makarov muttered: "Sure enough, I am old, I don't have the edge that young people have..."]

[Just at this moment, a magic carrier pigeon flew into the Fairy Tail guild.]

[It brought a letter to Makarov.]

[He tore the letter open.]

[He read it at a glance.]

[Makarov raised his head slightly, his expression grave.]

["Did something happen?"] [Lisanna asked.]

["A letter from the Magic Council."] [Makarov said.]

[Immediately, he spoke somewhat incredulously.]

["That old guy Jose... is asking for peace?"]

[Kalo City.]

[The originally peaceful city was broken by a violent explosion.]

[Firelight shot straight into the sky.]

[The impact, like a gale, spread continuously toward the surroundings.]

[Clearly, another Phantom branch was easily uprooted.]

[The entire branch of over a hundred people all died here.]

[The flames were burning, and the dancing sparks landed mischievously on a corpse, but were immediately extinguished by the blood-soaked clothes.]

[Happy watched this scene quietly, then folded the Phantom flag in his hand and placed it in his backpack.]

["Counting all the Phantom properties along the way, we have already destroyed twelve places."]

[Happy said.]

["Twelve places? It seems our speed is still quite fast."]

[Black Natsu in front smiled.]

[Yes, this speed is already considered quite fast.]

[From last night until now, the one man and one cat have almost been on the road of destruction and slaughter.]

[Almost single-handedly, they uprooted all the Phantom branches in the nearby towns and all the businesses operated by Phantom.]

[For this, the number of people slaughtered has already reached no less than a thousand.]

[The piled-up corpses could even reach the height of a small hill.]

[He loosened his shoulders.]

[Black Natsu continued: "How long until the next Phantom branch?"]

[After Happy took out the map and studied it, he said: "For the next one, we have to cross three towns."]

["After all, the Phantom in the nearby area has already been completely cleared by us."]

["Three towns?"]

["It will take a long time just to travel."]

[Black Natsu complained somewhat.]

20 [Happy spread his hands helplessly: "No way, even at the fastest speed, it will be dark by the time we get there, so, should we continue today?"]

["Hmm..."]

[Black Natsu was rubbing his chin, just about to say something.]

[His expression paused slightly.]

["Perhaps not needed, those guys seem unable to sit still."]

[Black Natsu said.]

["Eh? Did you notice something?"]

[Happy immediately understood.]

["Stay a bit further away later, Happy."]

["Understood!"]

[At the same time.]

[On a high mountain not far from this Phantom branch.]

[A group of four people appeared here.]

["Is it right below? It’s truly tragic... even here you can see the billowing thick smoke rising."] [Totomaru watched the Phantom branch below and shook his head.]

[He asked: "So, what should we do now?"]

["Dealing with an enemy of that level, naturally we cannot be careless, therefore, it is best if a surprise attack is more effective."] [Sol said.]

["My magic can lurk into the earth, and at that time, I can launch a surprise attack on that guy from the ground."]

["Wuwuwu... so sad... so sad..."] [Aria’s tears flowed down uncontrollably.]

["Really, at a time like this, can you say something useful?"] [Gajeel couldn't help but speak.]

["You guys won't understand... witnessing the fall of the powerful, how sad a thing it is."] [Aria shook his head.] 0

["And the key to achieving this is to give me a chance!"]

["A chance that can make that guy lower his guard!"]

["I need you to help me stall that guy for one minute."]

[When saying this, Aria was facing Gajeel.]

[Therefore, even though Aria’s eyes were covered by bandages, Gajeel could still feel that this guy was staring at him.]

[In an instant! Gajeel’s eyes widened.]

[He pointed at himself in disbelief: "Me??"]

["You mean, let me stall that guy for one minute??"]

[Aria nodded.]

[Gajeel was instantly furious!]

["Bastard, what kind of joke are you making?!!"]

["You might as well just tell me to go die; stall that guy for one minute?? How is that possible!!!"]

["Hey hey hey... Gajeel, you don't need to react so strongly..."]

[Watching Gajeel suddenly explode, Totomaru quickly stepped forward to mediate.]

["No! What are you guys thinking, letting me go alone to stall that guy for one minute??"]

["Do you know what that guy can do in this one minute? It’s enough for him to kill me ten times, ten times!!!"]

[Gajeel’s emotions were still agitated.]

[To the side, Sol and Aria couldn't help but furrow their brows.]

["Is it that serious? Gajeel."]

["Otherwise, you guys go and stall that guy for one minute?"] [Gajeel looked at the crowd.]

["And then I go for a sneak attack??"]

["Also!"]

[Speaking to this point, Gajeel couldn't help but shake his head: "Honestly, I have always been suspicious if your so-called sneak attack can really succeed."]

["You have to know, that guy is a Dragon Slayer Black Mage; his nose is at least not worse than mine, if someone is lurking, it is very likely he can smell it."]

[Aria waved his hand: "Don't worry about this, my concealment method is not just something that can be smelled by scent."]

["Using a barrier of wind, I can completely isolate my scent."]

[Gajeel was suspicious: "Really?"]

["Of course."] [Aria said affirmatively.]

["I don't care if you are real or fake, anyway, I am not going alone."]

["This is no different from sending myself to death."]

[Gajeel crossed his arms, his attitude firm.]

[The few people present looked at each other.]

["How about this, I will go to the front with Gajeel."] [Totomaru said.]

["With the two of us temporarily distracting that guy’s attention, then Mr. Sol can take the opportunity to launch an attack."]

["Under our three-way pincer attack, he will inevitably use powerful magic, and at that time, I can manipulate his flames."]

["His own flames being controlled, I think, no matter who it is, there will be a brief opening, right?"]

["In this way, Aria, who has quietly approached with the help of the time we created, can perform the magic extraction."]

[Totomaru quickly explained his plan.]

[The others had no problems, and finally, the three people’s gazes fell on Gajeel.]

[He took a deep breath.]

["I still say the same thing."]

["The operation is fine, but... once the situation exceeds expectations, that is, after you guys fail, I will run away without hesitation."]

["I don't want to die here for nothing."]

["It’s really hard to imagine that Mr. Gajeel would actually say such words."] [Sol adjusted his glasses.]

["Alright, stop talking nonsense, let’s act quickly!"]

["Gajeel, we go first!"] [Totomaru said.]

[The plan was set.]

[Aria’s figure gradually faded into the air.]

[Sol also swayed his body and gradually merged into the earth.]

["Really, I haven't even recovered from my injuries, why do I have to do this kind of thing."]

[Gajeel was still complaining.]

[But, he still followed Totomaru and moved his feet.]

[Rapidly... rushing toward the Phantom branch below.]

[...]

[At this moment, Black Natsu had already signaled Happy to retreat.]

[And he stood alone on the ruins of the Phantom branch.]

[Quietly... waiting for something.]

[Abruptly! The rapid sound of breaking air made him open his eyes.]

[He tapped the ground lightly, his whole body leaped high, and his figure flipped backward.]

[With a backflip, he landed on a higher rock and stood.]

[His gaze looked at the original spot where he had been.]

[A dazzling flame slash, combined with an extended iron rod, landed there, setting off a roar like an explosion.]

[Sand and dust flew.]

[Broken stones fell from mid-air, making a crisp clatter.]

[Two figures also gradually emerged from behind the rising sand and dust.]

[Black Natsu’s eyes narrowed slightly.]

[The corners of his lips lifted.]

["You still dare to come, Gajeel."]

[Gajeel, who was called by name, raised his head and stared at Black Natsu standing on the high ground.]

[His heart couldn't help but tighten!]

[Scene after scene from last night surged out like a tide, occupying Gajeel’s mind.]

[Even his figure! Couldn't help but retreat two steps involuntarily.]

["Mr. Gajeel!"]

[Totomaru to the side immediately spoke, waking Gajeel, who was trapped in fear at this moment.]

[Without hesitation, Totomaru drew the blade at his waist.]

["Hey! You guy, aren't you going too far?"]

[Black Natsu glanced at Totomaru accordingly.]

["Who are you?"]

[Totomaru was startled, then spoke unhappily.]

["You openly made such a provocation to the Phantom guild, and you didn't even learn about Phantom’s Element 4?"]

["I am one of the Element 4, the Fire Element Totomaru!"]

["Element 4 or whatever... I don't need to remember."] [Black Natsu shook his head gently.]

["Anyway, in my eyes, anyone who has the Phantom emblem engraved on their body is the same!"]

["Anyway, you are not much stronger than those small fries."]

[Totomaru was almost angered to laughter.]

["Truly unexpectedly confident, however, I am a Black Mage who can manipulate all the fires in the world, specifically to deal with guys like you who use flames."]

["I said, this kind of thing doesn't matter, 933 since you guys intend to come and crusade against me, hurry up."] [Black Natsu said.]

[His gaze glanced at the ground accordingly.]

["Right, the guy hiding in the ground should come out too."]

["Since it’s a surround and kill, at least put on a posture of many against few, right?"]

["Otherwise, these two guys might not last until you come out."]

[Black Natsu’s voice fell.]

[The earth beside Gajeel and the others appeared like ripples in water.]

[Immediately after, Sol, wearing a brown suit, with a thin build and a monocle, emerged from the earth.]

["Sure enough, Gajeel was right, for a Dragon Slayer Black Mage, this kind of method doesn't work."]

[Sol sighed helplessly.]

[But, in his eyes behind the lenses, a trace of smugness flashed.]

[At least, Aria was also right, his concealment could really evade the detection of a Dragon Slayer Black Mage.]

["Three against one, you won't have a chance to win."] [Totomaru pointed his long sword at Black Natsu.]

[His tone was grim.]

[Black Natsu glanced at the empty surroundings vaguely.]

[He smiled disdainfully.]

[He tapped the giant rock under his feet, leaped down, and landed on the ground.]

[With his hands in his pockets, he walked toward the three people in front casually.]

["So... what made you think that a mere three people could surround and kill me?"]

["It seems I was underestimated after all."]

[Black Natsu walked toward the three people step by step.]

[A terrifying aura echoed in this empty ruin with his words for no reason.]

[For some reason, at this instant, Totomaru and Sol’s bodies seemed to stiffen.]