Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master-Chapter 238: Rift Herald

This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.

Rhodes' description of the Rift Herald left Makarov deeply unsettled.

The creatures Rhode had been summoning were growing stronger, and stranger. Concerned by the escalating power, Makarov decided it was best to relocate the summoning to a more remote, less populated location.

He led Rhodes northwest, taking a path around the small hill where the girls' dormitory was tucked away, and out beyond the borders of Magnolia. They kept moving north until they arrived at a secluded spot near the mountains and a quiet lake.

There wasn't a soul in sight. Even wildlife was scarce. It was the perfect place, no buildings, no civilians, and no consequences if things got loud.

Knowing this summoning would take a heavy toll on his magic reserves, Rhodes made preparations beforehand.

First, he summoned two Scuttle Crabs and let them roam the perimeter to ensure no one was lurking nearby.

Then he summoned the Blue Sentinel and applied Blue buff to himself, enhancing his mana recovery. He waited until his magic had fully recovered before dismissing the Scuttle Crabs and the sentinel.

With this setup, the blue buff's boost would last for about two more minutes, granting Rhodes enough magical stamina to finish the summoning safely.

Makarov observed all this quietly, occasionally setting up defensive enchantments just in case. Even if they weren't needed, it gave Rhodes peace of mind.

Once Rhodes completed the chant, his face turned pale—his magic drained in an instant.

It was one of the largest mana costs he'd endured to date.

A swirl of purple light formed in front of them. As the summoning circle surged with energy, a strange, spine-chilling sound filled the air. Something between a hiss and a screech, like a blend of insect and serpent.

Then it appeared.

The creature's massive body erupted from the light. It let out a roar and stood still, looming like a fortress.

Rhodes blinked. It... kind of looked like an oversized Scuttle Crab.

Except this one had a horn protruding from its head, hard, wing-like armor plating on its back, a long tail, and it was massive, easily several times larger than any of his previous summons.

If a Scuttle Crab was a standard cart, this thing was a siege engine.

The Rift Herald, sometimes called the Vanguard, the Tower Breaker.

Its primary strength? Smashing through defenses like a living battering ram. It could even be ridden, charging into enemies at breakneck speed.

Summoning it in the Fairy Tail world might seem strange, but it had undeniable battlefield potential.

As Rhodes synchronized with the Rift Herald, he started receiving flashes of understanding, brief, instinctive data exchanged through magical contact.

As for its true capabilities, that was up to Rhodes to figure out through careful testing.

Makarov watched Rhodes carefully, noting the pale look on his face. "How's your magic holding up?"

"Not for long," Rhodes admitted. "I'll need to dismiss it soon. But before that—" he pointed to a barren hillside nearby, "—let's test its power.

Target: demolition."

The Rift Herald let out a rumbling roar and rose to full height. Its wings buzzed faintly with energy as it began to charge. In a flash of violet energy, it slammed into the hillside.

BOOM!

The entire slope erupted as if hit by a massive explosive. Boulders and stones of all sizes blasted into the air. Cracks split through the earth, radiating from the impact point up the slope and deep into the foundation. Dust and debris flew in every direction.

Thankfully, Makarov had set up a protective barrier ahead of time. The magic circle flared to life, blocking the avalanche of stones that flew toward them.

"Incredible power!" Makarov exclaimed.

From his vantage point, he could see just how deeply the mountain had been damaged. Cracks spiderwebbed through the rock from the point of impact, spreading like veins all the way to the summit and far down into the roots of the hill.

"If I transformed into a sentile by taking over, and threw a full punch," he muttered, "maybe I could do that much... but not with this kind of precision."

The Rift Herald didn't stop there. Since it had been ordered to demolish, it continued its work. Raising its massive claws, it struck the same spot again with a heavy blow.

Another eruption of rock and dust followed. The mountain trembled. The cracks widened. More rubble tumbled down the slopes.

"Stop!" Rhodes quickly called out. "Any more of that and we'll lose the entire hill."

Obediently, the Rift Herald froze and lowered its claws. Its ability to follow orders was surprisingly disciplined.

But Makarov took one glance at the increasingly unstable slope and said, "It's too risky to leave it like this. Might as well finish the job."

"Yeah, you're right," Rhodes replied. His face had gone pale, he was clearly out of magic. Even with the blue buff still lingering, the regeneration couldn't keep up with the Herald's mana drain.

The Rift Herald gave one last, echoing roar and began to fade. Its enormous form turned translucent, then vanished entirely into a cloud of purple mist.

As soon as it disappeared, Rhodes felt a noticeable difference, his magic began to recover much faster.

He looked sheepishly at the wobbling hill. "Think you could take it from here? Give me a few minutes to recharge."

"You really know how to time things," Makarov said, shaking his head with a sigh. Then his body swelled, muscles expanding and magic surging as he activated his Giant Magic. One massive punch later, the weakened hillside shattered beneath his fist.

The already fragile hillside gave way with a thunderous crash, crumbling into a cascade of rubble. The ground around them shuddered from the force of the collapse.

Dust billowed through the air, shrouding the area in a dense, earthen fog. A blanket of tan mist drifted over the spot where Rhodes and Makarov had stood just moments before.

Coughing, Rhodes covered his mouth and nose, but before he could be fully engulfed, the president's large hand scooped him up and lifted him above the choking haze.

Makarov carried him out of the dust cloud with ease, then returned to his normal size, a satisfied grin tugging at his face.

"Hah! That felt great. Alright, let's head back!" the old man beamed.

Rhodes blinked. 'You feel better after toppling a whole hillside? Aren't you supposed to be the one keeping us in line?'

He summoned the scuttle crab once again, and the two of them rode it back toward the guild.

On the way, Makarov cast him a curious glance. "So, what are you planning to summon next?"

"Hmm... maybe a dragon," Rhodes replied.

"A dragon?" Makarov's expression shifted. He recalled the rumors from the day he first found Rhodes, how someone claimed they saw a dragon circling in the forest.

"I don't know if it's the same kind of dragon Natsu's searching for," Rhodes admitted. "But if I keep at it for a few more months, I might find out."

The truth was, it would still take some time before he could fully integrate the Rift Herald into his combat arsenal, and the dragon, if it existed, was still even further out of reach.

Fortunately, with the aid of the blue buff, the magic cost for turning wild summons into regular allies had dropped considerably. It gave him hope.

Makarov fell quiet, his thoughts turning over. 'Dragon Slayers... Dragons... And in just a few months? What kind of storm is brewing?'

They were almost at the guild when Laki ran up to them, waving frantically.

"Master! Rhodes! You're finally back! Mira's been waiting for you both!"

Makarov raised an eyebrow. "What's going on?"

"It's the Cherry Blossom Festival!" Laki said brightly. "It's the day after tomorrow! We've got to start the prep today!"

"Oh-ho! That time of year again!" Makarov's eyes lit up. "Should we kick off the festivities tonight?!"

Rhodes stared. "Didn't you look super worried just a moment ago...?"

Makarov puffed up with pride. "Of course!"

He raised one finger dramatically.

"As wizards, we face all sorts of unexpected challenges. Sometimes we complete jobs with ease and earn big rewards. Other times, we risk everything for just a handful of Jewels.

"But no matter what happens, we don't walk away. That's our code as mages.

"And even though tomorrow might bring storms, today's joy still matters."

He looked at them warmly, hand raised high in the familiar Fairy Tail salute, index finger extended, thumb outstretched.

"That's why we never skip training... and we never skip the celebration either.

"That's what it means to be part of Fairy Tail."