Chapter 73 : Won!!

The torrential downpour of swords submerged not only Jose but also the entire Phantom Lord guild.

In the blink of an eye, the Phantom Lord guild was swept away by the sword rain, reduced to a shattered ruin. Kyros came to a halt, his imposing figure still.

Ever since he succeeded in giving form to the Conqueror's Haki, Kyros had been experimenting with various graceful maneuvers, understanding that the Conqueror's Haki could assume diverse forms.

Despite inheriting the template of the Strongest Creature, Kaido, Kyros's journey diverged significantly due to his systematic augmentation, leading him down a distinct path.

Thus, he naturally gravitated towards his strengths, excelling particularly in Haki. Accordingly, he employed techniques befitting of such mastery of Haki.

His customary attack method is Conqueror Haki, and this one was no exception—Mafestation of Conqueror's Haki.

"Remarkable... so formidable—!!"

The members of Fairy Tail stood in awe at the sight. They were aware of Kyros's prowess, but Kyros's strength exceeded their expectations.

Though the multitude of swords descending from the Sky didn't target them directly, they couldn't help but feel a sense of oppression.

As the dust settled, the once imposing edifice of the Phantom Lord Guild lay in ruins, cleaved in two by Kyros's might.

Is he truly human, or has he ascended to godhood? The myriad sword lights descending, Kyros resembled a God of sword.

"Did... did we just emerge victorious?"

"Phantom Lord is no more; victory is ours!"

Many within the Fairy Tail guild remained bewildered.

Merely moments ago, they witnessed the assault on the Phantom Lord guild across the lake. With no S-rank mages present, despair had loomed large.

Yet, upon Kyros's return, it took little time for him to vanquish all adversaries, his prowess unmatched.

"Excellent!"

"We've won!"

"Kyros has vanquished the top ten magical guilds! What strength!"

"Indeed! Finally, the specter has been laid to rest!"

However, reality soon dawned on them. The Fairy Tail guild hadn't escaped unscathed. This time, they, too, had suffered at the hands of their enemies. Were it not for the guild master's intervention, vengeance would have been exacted upon them.

After Kyros's retaliation, these individuals resorted to petty schemes to have Kyros apprehended by the Magic Council, further fueling their animosity towards the Phantom Lord Guild.

This time, they struck Fairy Tail while the guild master and other key members were absent. Had Kyros not returned in the nick of time, Fairy Tail might have faced extinction.

Kyros plummeted from the sky, landing amidst the ruins of the Phantom Lord headquarters.

Fairy Tail members rushed over and beheld Jose Porla, the Phantom Lord guild master, lying amidst the debris.

Though Jose remained alive, he suffered grave injuries, immobilized amidst the wreckage. His eyes widened in disbelief as he muttered, "No, it cannot be... I am one of the Ten Wizard Saints, I cannot be defeated... I am the tenth saint."

"He's Jose Porla, the Guild Master of the Phantom Lord Guild!"

"The one responsible for wreaking havoc upon our Fairy Tail guild!"

The Fairy Tail members glared at Jose with fury. If not for his pitiful state, they would have undoubtedly rushed to deliver a few blows themselves.

Seeing Jose in such a state, Kyros contemplated delivering the final blow. In Kyros's mind, anyone who dared to harm Fairy Tail deserved damnation.

"Om–!"

Kyros's Conqueror's Haki materialized into a longsword before him.

Suddenly, a voice interjected, "Cease!!"

Kyros turned towards the source of the voice and spotted Master Makarov, who had silently arrived and was making his way towards them.

"Guild Master!"

The guild members parted to make way for Makarov, who approached Jose.

Jose, upon hearing Makarov's voice, halted his muttered ramblings and strained to look at him.

"Jose," Makarov began, unsure of what words could offer solace to Jose, who now faced such a wretched fate.

"Makarov... are you here to mock me?"

Jose struggled to rise, his pride refusing to allow him to be looked down upon by Makarov.

Makarov glared at Jose, a mixture of anger, resentment, and sorrow crossing his features before he finally spoke with a heavy sigh. "You possess immense power, even at your young age, and you could have been among the elite of the Ten Wizard Saints. If only you had wielded your magic for the greater good, setting an example for others, it would have undoubtedly advanced the world of magic. Why have you chosen this path, all because of an incident six years ago?"

Six years prior, Makarov and Jose had clashed within the local guild, where Makarov had endeavored to impart wisdom to the spirited youth.

"Why?"

"Yes! Why?"

"Phantom Lord has always prided itself as the strongest guild, boasting the most formidable magic, the greatest talents, and the wealthiest coffers in the land."

"However, Fairy Tail's influence has surged in recent years. The renown of individuals like Erza, Laxus, Mystogan, and Gildarts has spread far and wide. The tale of the Fire Dragon Slayer's exploits has reached every corner of the country, while the name of Kyros has become renowned across the continent."

"It's not just recent. Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord have emerged as the two premier guilds representing this nation, with Fairy Tail even eclipsing Phantom Lord's stature."

"How could I not be convinced? It's clear as day that you are a sorry excuse for a guild, a pitifully weak entity!"

"Silence! Fairy Tail is not a worthless guild!"

"Yes! Our Fairy Tail is the finest guild there is!"

"Phantom Lords are the real worthless guilds!..."

As Jose belittled Fairy Tail, its members retorted with righteous indignation.

Makarov raised a hand to quiet the clamor from his guild's members.

"Is it out of jealousy that you've chosen to wage this war?"

"Jealousy? You misunderstand. I merely seek to delineate between right and wrong!"

"Just for such a petty reason?!" Makarov's voice trembled with anger. Above all else, he treasured the members of his guild like his own children. Jose's willingness to sacrifice their lives over such a trivial matter stirred a fatherly fury within him.

"Though I've harbored discontent upon witnessing your guild's rise, to consider destroying it over something so insignificant..."

"We've been tasked with retrieving the young lady of the Heartfilia conglomerate."

"The daughter of one of this country's wealthiest individuals resides in Fairy Tail?! How much further must you expand before you relent?!"