The predictable mass brawl didn't last very long. Under the heavy fists of both Makarovs, everyone—faces and bodies covered in shoe prints and fist marks—stood obediently in the hall, waiting for instructions.
"Hey, old man, what's this important announcement you've got to make? We still need to go take an S-Class quest with Lucy!" Natsu called out impatiently.
Both Lucys: "Who agreed to that?!"
"S-Class quest?"
Future Mirajane walked over slowly, holding a stack of documents in her hands. "I'm sorry to say, Natsu, but our guild is currently the weakest in Fiore. We can't get quests of that level at all~"
"WHAT?!!" Natsu cried out in disbelief.
Lucy and the other travelers were equally shocked by this news, their eyes widening as if they had just heard some kind of cruel joke.
They—Fairy Tail—the weakest in Fiore?!
Yesterday had been spent on the banquet, and most of their private conversations last night had been personal topics, so they hadn't learned about this world's Fairy Tail's current standing. Although they had run into the Twilight Ghost members shortly after arriving, who had called them a "third-rate guild," no one had really paid much attention to it at the time.
Now it seemed that "third-rate" was even giving them too much credit?
Seeing the questioning looks from their counterparts, the future Tenrou Island members all lowered their heads, clenching their fists in frustration, silently confirming Future Mirajane's words.
They had arrived three months early and had long since come to terms with the situation seven years later—during their training camp, the Fairy Tail emblems on their bodies had even drawn sneers and mockery from passersby.
"How is that possible? Even without their main members, being the weakest in Fiore is just—"
Wendy covered her mouth in shock, unable to finish her sentence.
Future Macao, his face full of shame, repeated the apology he had given when he first saw Future Natsu and the others: "I'm sorry. Just keeping the guild running has already pushed us to our limits."
In all fairness, even with just them, they shouldn't have fallen to such a lowly position. But Fairy Tail had been far too dominant and ostentatious seven years ago. When the tiger descends from the mountain, even the dogs dare to bite—just like Twilight Ghost, any no-name guild wanted to step over them to climb higher.
And whenever these guilds deliberately targeted them, the Magic Council merely issued a few perfunctory reprimands and did nothing further, adopting a completely hands-off attitude. Coupled with finishing at the bottom of the Grand Magic Games year after year, the title of "weakest" had naturally stuck to them over time.
"That's not true! You've done wonderfully, Mr. Macao!"
Though she didn't understand all the intricacies involved, Wendy sincerely comforted Future Macao.
"Ahem, everyone, quiet down!"
Makarov spoke up, silencing the commotion from his side. "This is what we wanted to talk about next—the Grand Magic Games, which starts in two days!"
After a brief explanation, Natsu, Lucy, and the others who had arrived later quickly learned about this Fiore festival that could turn Fairy Tail from the weakest into the strongest.
"Now then, after exchanging information with my counterpart last night, there's something important I need to tell all of you."
After a short pause, Makarov's expression grew slightly more serious. "The current strongest guild in Fiore isn't Blue Pegasus, nor Mermaid Heel—it's..."
"Sabertooth!"
At those words, the future world members showed little reaction, but Chase's group erupted into an uproar.
"Sabertooth?! Isn't that our allied guild?"
"They managed to surpass old guilds like Blue Pegasus in just seven years?!"
"That's not too surprising, I suppose. After all, their master is Gray's teacher—Ur, who earned the right to be evaluated as a Ten Wizard Saint right after arriving in Ishgar!"
"No. In this world, Ur has already passed away on Galuna Island..."
Gray's heavy words brought the room to a sudden silence.
It was only then that Team Natsu realized: in this world, there was no second "Chase" to break Deliora's Iced Shell!
"So that means the current master of Sabertooth is—"
Lucy tentatively voiced her guess. "That Jiemon?"
"Impossible! That bastard was knocked out by the old man with a single slap! There's no way he's the strongest in Fiore!" Natsu immediately retorted.
"His caliber certainly doesn't live up to the title of 'strongest,'" even the usually precise Erza expressed doubt.
One's capacity determines one's ceiling. She didn't believe a man like that could surpass Blue Pegasus and Mermaid Heel.
"Wait, me—the master of Sabertooth on your side is Gray's teacher Ur?"
Future Lucy and the others were completely lost.
"You can exchange details with your counterparts after the meeting."
Future Makarov spoke up, redirecting everyone's attention. "According to this year's Grand Magic Games rules, each guild needs to send five participants."
Makarov took over, raising a clenched fist. "After discussion, we've decided to have the same members from both guilds compete together—to win the title of the strongest and the 30 million Jewel prize!"
Even if they weren't the same world, the tears and humiliation of the children were universal. After learning about the difficult seven years endured by this world's Macao and the others, as their father, he simply couldn't stand by and do nothing.
Not a narrow victory, not a heartbreaking defeat—they would crush every opponent with absolute dominance, making the name Fairy Tail shake the entire kingdom!
Perhaps this was exactly the reason they had mysteriously traveled here!
"That's right! We've got two completely identical people on our side now—double the advantage!" Future Macao belatedly cheered.
"But isn't that against the rules?" Lucy asked weakly.
Chase walked over slowly, showing the emblem on his right arm, and smiled casually. "Against what rules? Aren't we all members of Fairy Tail?"
Knowing the old man's personality well, he wasn't surprised by this decision—in fact, he had been thinking the same thing.
Although the final outcome of the Grand Magic Games was perfect, the journey there had been full of hardships—especially for this world's Lucy.
"And besides, there's no way two identical people would be allowed on stage at the same time. It just gives us a bit more leeway and flexibility," Mira added.
Looking at their joined hands, Lucy felt a strange sense of unease, but she didn't dwell on it. Instead, she asked, "But doesn't that mean Chase won't be able to compete?"
Chase clearly didn't fall under the "two identical people" category the master had mentioned.
This was what she didn't understand—if they just sent out that monster of a brother of hers, wouldn't winning the Grand Magic Games be a foregone conclusion?
Was it because there wasn't enough time to register as a temporary member?
Or were they worried he might tear down the entire arena?
"Haha, I don't mind at all. You know I've never been one for crowds and spectacles," Chase laughed heartily.
"Only an idiot would believe that!"
Lucy blurted out her true feelings almost reflexively.
***
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