Evil magic power surged frantically from Jose's body, carrying a decayed stench of death that was almost nauseating.
Two dark Gray magic circles, one above and one below, instantly enveloped the Phantom Lord Guild.
In the next second, shrill screams echoed from beneath their feet.
Ron looked down, his gaze from his heterochromatic eyes piercing through the layers of the structure to reach the main hall at the very bottom.
He saw all the Phantom Lord mbers lying on the ground in agony, with eerie magic circles hovering over them, draining their magic power and even... their life force!
Points of starlight drifted from their bodies, continuously flying into the magic circle above.
Ron snapped his head up, looked at Jose opposite him, and said coldly, "You're actually sacrificing your own guild mbers?!"
"Jose!!!"
Makarov also sensed the cruel nature of the magic circle overhead, his aged face filled with disbelief and fury.
"What on earth do you see them as?! To sacrifice their lives so casually?!"
"What do I see them as? Bargaining chips for victory, of course... In the eyes of the strong, the aning of the weak's existence is to fulfill the strong, isn't it?"
Jose's cold voice echoed through the space, carrying a high-and-mighty arrogance and cruelty.
"They're just a bunch of trash. To beco the nourishnt that defeats Makarov is the honor of their lives! They... should be grateful for my gift!"
After speaking, he turned and ordered Aria, "Aria, go below and tell Gajeel to take the Heartfilia family's daughter and evacuate imdiately."
"Yes, Guild Master!"
Aria, devoid of his usual weeping and sentintality, responded quickly and turned to leave without hesitation.
Although he didn't know why his own life force wasn't being drained, it didn't stop him from getting away from this dangerous place quickly.
"You bastard!!!"
Makarov was trembling with rage, his magic power erupting as he prepared to destroy the massive magic circle hovering overhead.
"Old man!"
Just as he was about to strike, Ron pressed down on Makarov's shoulder and shook his head with a serious expression.
"We can't use force! If we forcibly destroy the magic circle, the resulting magic shock will instantly backlash through this space. We might be able to withstand it, but others who are weaker might not!"
Clap, clap, clap.
The sound of Jose clapping ca from the opposite side. He stared at Ron's heterochromatic eyes for a long ti, his expression full of admiration.
"What a pair of remarkable eyes. Not only can they see through Aria's concealnt, but now they've seen through my Dark Forbidden Magic: Living Sacrifice at a glance."
He pointed at the magic circle above his head, his face full of pride.
"This magic circle has completely trapped this space. Without my permission, no one can leave!"
"If it's forcibly destroyed, not only will every one of those linked trash die, but it will also cause a powerful backlash to anyone inside. Of course..."
"People with dense magic power like you can withstand the backlash, but others might not be so lucky."
Jose looked at Makarov with a mocking gaze.
"Makarov, what will you choose? To leave in disgrace with a few people, or wait for the magic circle to finish charging and be wiped out along with everyone else?"
"I choose... to take you down first!!!"
Makarov's gaze was solemn as he turned to Ron, his eyes filled with trust.
"Ron, I'll deal with Jose. You're responsible for dealing with this magic circle..."
The old man hesitated for a mont, glanced at the floor below, and sighed, "If possible, save these people from Phantom Lord as well."
Ron nodded slightly, looking like he had already known it would be this way.
This was the lovely thing about these Fairy Tail guys; even when facing their enemies, they couldn't turn a blind eye when they saw life being trampled upon so recklessly.
"Leave this to . You can go ahead and focus, old man."
"You brat, watch your mouth!"
Makarov stumbled slightly, glared back at Ron, and then engaged in battle with Jose's Thought Projection.
Since it was a Thought Projection, it naturally didn't have the might of the real Wizard Saint, so Makarov easily suppressed the opponent to prevent him from interfering with Ron.
Ron, anwhile, fully activated his left eye's ability, analyzing the forbidden magic before him.
If it were just about destroying the magic circle, it wouldn't be this much trouble, but his old man wanted to save that group of unlucky bastards below.
"I'm putting in so much effort, you'd better pay back well later, you poor unlucky bastards..."
Ron muttered to himself, the corners of his mouth curling into a playful, cunning arc.
Doing good deeds without leaving a na or seeking reward was for family.
For enemies?
Since he was saving their lives, he naturally had to collect a reward.
Even if it was just acting as a tainted witness in front of the Council, that would be fine... The hall at the very bottom was now silent.
As for why?
Naturally, it was because Ron had used 'Whispering Breeze' to broadcast the conversation of those above in real-ti, making it known to everyone.
So after learning the truth, the psychological defenses of all the Phantom Lord mbers collapsed, and a resentnt and anger known as betrayal spread frantically in their hearts.
"Aaaaah! Jose! Why! Why do this to ?!"
"I'm not willing! I've bled for the guild! I've perford great services for the guild!"
"Help... soone save ..."
"..."
Hundreds of Phantom Lord mbers collapsed on the ground, their bodies shriveling due to the loss of life force. The painful screams and resentful curses rose and fell, making one's skin crawl.
On the other side, Erza and the others had also stopped their hands.
Looking at this tragic scene, the fury that had originally ignited because of Levy's injury transford into shock and pity.
"This... this is too tragic, isn't it?" Lucy covered her mouth and turned her head away, unable to bear it.
"What exactly happened up there? Are the Guild Master and Ron okay?"
Gray frowned, listening to the sounds of fighting from above, his heart full of worry.
"They're in so much pain, should we help them?"
Even though they were enemies, to be sacrificed like livestock by the Guild Master they trusted, this end was too... several people tried to isolate the magic circles on them, but it was all in vain.
"This isn't working either..."
"But they're in so much pain, should we... help put them out of their misery?"
The Phantom Lord mbers all looked at this 'Living Yama' and said silently: Are you serious?!
"Nobody do anything reckless!"
In the end, it was Erza who made the final call. "Trust in Ron's ability; he can solve this."
On the other side.
The battle between Natsu and Gajeel had also stopped.
Gajeel stood frozen in place, his eyes filled with shock.
Natsu stared fixedly at the nearby Phantom Lord mbers and the glowing guild emblems on their arms, his fists clenched tight.
"Hey, scrap tal bastard! Aren't you comrades from the sa guild?"
Natsu's face was full of rage as he shouted his questioning roar.
"You guys... just what do you think comrades and a guild are?!!!"
"..."
Facing Natsu's interrogation, Gajeel's fists creaked as he clenched them.
He tilted his head to look at the guild emblem on his right arm; he had seen it just now too.
He also understood that these eerie magic circles draining magic and life force were only being released through the connection of the emblems.
"Shut up..."
Gajeel snapped his head up, a hint of madness from sha and anger in his eyes.
"Don't lump in with that guy!!!"
He smashed his fist into the nearby wall, blowing a large hole in it.
Just then.
"So sad... why is it so sad... is it because so many lives are about to vanish today?"
Tears poured frantically from Aria's eyes as his figure abruptly appeared beside Gajeel.
"Gajeel, the Guild Master has ordered us to take the Heartfilia family's daughter and evacuate with imdiately."
"Get lost!!!"
Gajeel squeezed the words through his teeth, his tone irritable to the extre.
"What did you say?" Aria was stunned for a mont, clearly not expecting Gajeel to disobey orders.
"I said... get lost!!!"
Gajeel's eyes were disdainful, emitting an extrely dangerous aura.
"Now, nobody gets to order around! Take that woman away? Go yourself if you want to!"
"Since you are unwilling, then I shall do it." Aria shook his head and turned to look at Lucy not far away. "Taking her away is also one of my missions."
"Eh? ?!"
Lucy looked left and right, realizing the other party was indeed looking at her.
"So I didn't hear wrong earlier, it really is Heartfilia, but why..."
"Don't even think about it!"
"You want to take our comrade? In your dreams!"
Two female figures instantly blocked the way in front of Lucy, their voices firm and loud.
Aria's figure instantly froze; although he was arrogant, he also knew how to weigh the situation.
Facing two S-class opponents of the sa level, plus others watching like tigers... "It seems today's mission cannot be completed. In that case, I shall take my leave."
Aria was also a decisive person; knowing he couldn't complete the mission and might even lose his life here, he didn't hesitate at all.
His figure distorted and disappeared directly from the spot, leaving quite cleanly and efficiently.
Not long after Aria left, the brief peace was torn apart.
"Buzz—!!!"
The massive magic circle overhead humd, and its originally dim light gradually beca dazzling.
"Ugh... ah..."
The Phantom Lord mbers, who could still barely groan, seed to have their last bit of strength drained. Their voices were as thin as silk, and their bodies shriveled rapidly, as if they would turn into withered bones in the next second.
"Heh heh ha ha ha ha..."
Overhead, Jose's unmasked wild laughter rang out, his voice full of self-satisfaction and smooth madness.
"Makarov! Ron! It seems you can't stop it..."
The Phantom Lord Guild began to tremble violently under the restless magic power, like building blocks about to collapse.
"Since I can't take the person away, and since you want to be heroes, then stay behind!"
"Let this guild, along with your ridiculous bonds, be wiped out together and turn to ashes!!!"
Ron snapped his head up, the magic circle above reflected in his heterochromatic eyes, a faint smile curling on his lips.
"If you're dreaming, isn't it... a bit too early to say that?"
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