CHAPTER 604: CARING FOR CENTENARIANS

The moment the Purgatory Dragon vanished, Rhodes received a message through their link.

"How did it go?" Makarov asked, his expression heavy with unease.

He wasn’t sure which worried him more, that the Purgatory Dragon might fail, or that Precht might be killed.

Rhodes frowned. "He’s not finished."

"You’re joking, right?" Mira asked in disbelief.

Erza and Laxus felt the same. They had witnessed the dragon’s appearance with their own eyes, and even from a distance they had seen the devastating power of its first roar.

If a monster like that couldn’t finish the fight, then just how terrifying was their former Guild Master?

Rhodes clarified, "It’s not that the dragon lost, it’s that Precht can’t be killed. It’s like he has an immortal body. He’s... troublesome."

He added with a worried glance, "And Zeref was blown away in the chaos. I don’t know what state he’s in."

"Maybe it’s some kind of special defensive magic," Gildarts suggested.

"Fairy Sphere?" Rhodes muttered. The Second Guild Master almost certainly knew Fairy Law, but if he also had Fairy Glitter, Bluenote wouldn’t have gone looking for it earlier.

Makarov, reminded of the guild’s greatest secret, clenched his fists. "Whatever the case, we’ll face him ourselves. Let’s go."

If it had been up to Makarov, they all would’ve attacked together from the start. But Rhodes had convinced him it was safer to send the dragon ahead to test Precht first, and Makarov had respected his judgment. The dragon’s fighting style was wild and destructive, other than Natsu and Rhodes, no one could keep up or coordinate properly with it.

At least their patience had paid off. They’d confirmed the worst: Precht was far more dangerous than they imagined. And Makarov would verify the truth with his own eyes.

Makarov, Gildarts, Laxus, Erza, Rhodes, and Mira, that was the chosen strike team for this grim mission.

Those too injured remained at camp to recover, with Wendy staying behind for healing support. Between Rhodes’s red, blue, and purple buffs, they had all the backup magic they needed.

Natsu and Gray had wanted to come too, but with wounded comrades and remnants of Grimoire Heart still prowling Tenrou Island, reliable defenders had to remain behind.

As for Laxus, Makarov scowled, but everyone could see through it. Deep down, the old man was glad his grandson had returned.

Precht’s thoughts, however, were burning with fury.

Two goals consumed him now:

First, to find Zeref.

Second, to capture that whelp Rhodes and make him endure all one hundred levels of the Amaterasu Formula.

Rationally, he should’ve avoided unnecessary complications. But Precht was long past rationality. He was the Master of the strongest Dark Guild, why should he hide from children?

One side marched forward deliberately. The other had no intention of running.

And so, inevitably, the two forces collided.

"You still dare come here, Makarov," Precht said coldly, stepping from the shadows.

"Things must be settled," Makarov answered firmly. His eyes were filled with sorrow, but his voice carried the weight of a Guild Master. "Precht Gaebolg, as a member of Fairy Tail, there are three sacred rules we live by. Upon leaving the guild, you’ve broken at least two of them."

Precht smirked, his single visible eye gleaming. "Sacred rules? I forgot them long ago. To be honest, I’ve probably broken all three."

The first rule: Never reveal guild secrets, nor use knowledge of them against the guild.

The second: Never harm those who were once clients of the guild. Many of the villages Precht had destroyed may have once called on Fairy Tail for help.

And the third... the most sacred of all: Cherish your comrades. Precht had abandoned his, and now sought to annihilate the guild itself.

This betrayal could never be forgiven.

But Precht no longer cared.

"You’ve gathered quite a few promising young ones," Precht sneered, his gaze sweeping over the fighters beside Makarov. "Fairy Tail’s future will be completely destroyed by your decision today."

"No," Makarov answered firmly, though his eyes betrayed deep sorrow. "Fairy Tail will endure. We will keep moving forward, and we will carry its will into the future. That’s what you once entrusted to me, long ago."

"Then let’s see about that." Precht’s single eye narrowed sharply, fixing on the one figure he despised most. "You must be Rhodes."

Before anyone could react, pale violet chains shot through the air, Precht didn’t even bother with words, launching his attack directly at Rhodes.

Rhodes blinked in disbelief. ’Wait, I didn’t even get a chance to taunt yet?!’

Before he could dodge, Gildarts stepped in front of him, hand raised like a claw. The chains froze, then shattered into fragments under the weight of Crush magic.

Makarov moved next, his hands cutting the air like blades. Three golden orbs streaked through the night sky, trailing light as they shot toward Precht.

But Precht merely raised his left hand, a translucent purple shield blossoming before him, dispersing the blasts.

Then lightning rained down. Laxus thrust his fist skyward, summoning a storm, bolts of gold hammering Precht’s position.

"Hmph!" Precht conjured a black sphere in his palm. It swelled rapidly, devouring the lightning until it was the size of a boulder. With a twist of his wrist, he hurled it straight at Rhodes.

Rhodes sighed internally. ’Seriously? I actually used to admire you, Second Master...’

Once again, he didn’t need to move. Gildarts dashed forward, shattered the orb with a single palm strike, and pressed the assault.

Meanwhile, Erza re-equipped into her Star Dress Armor. Twin swords of pure starlight ignited in her hands, unleashing radiant arcs of golden energy.

Precht sidestepped, his hands snapping together in a gun-like gesture. A hail of black bullets erupted from his fingers, aimed directly at Rhodes.

"Maximum Defense Seal, Three Pillar Gods!"

Makarov’s voice boomed as three colossal runes wrapped Rhodes in protective light.

He and Gildarts didn’t need to speak, they had silently agreed: Rhodes had burned through most of his magic supporting the dragon. He was to be shielded at all costs.

Relieved, Mira unleashed her Satan Soul, diving into battle with blazing confidence.

Rhodes could only grumble inwardly at being babied so much, but he still summoned a squad of Sentinels and towering Bramblebacks. With quick chants, he layered buffs over his allies, blue buff to sharpen Mira, Erza, Laxus, and himself; red buff to bolster Gildarts, Erza, Mira, and Laxus; and of course, Crown of the Shattered Queen over everyone.

The battle ignited like wildfire.

Laxus flashed forward first, his Crushing Fang slamming Precht sideways.

Gildarts was already waiting, his fist crashing into Precht’s chin and launching him skyward.

Before Precht could recover, Mira soared above in a blaze of flame, driving her fist into his back and hammering him into the earth.

Erza struck next, her twin starlight blades unleashing a blast that sent him spinning upward again, only for Makarov, towering in his Titan form, to bring down a colossal punch that smashed him back into the ground like a meteor.

From behind, Sentinel cannons whirred to life, bombarding the pit with searing magic blasts. The cries of the fallen Dark Master echoed out as explosions shook the forest.

Precht staggered, his body wracked with unfamiliar pain.

’Why... why does this hurt more than the dragon?’ he wondered in disbelief.

And so, after more than a century, the former master of Fairy Tail returned... only to be given the most enthusiastic care by the strongest hands of Fairy Tail.