Just as Erza declared her victory, exactly as she'd predicted, the contestants who had been rushing toward her location all slowed down upon hearing the Pumpkin Head announce the hidden rule.
The venue's live commentary would keep them updated on the battle. They only needed to wait for news of either the Executioners or Erza being defeated, then swoop in to claim the ripe fruit!
Near the central plaza, side streets.
BAM BAM!
Two explosions rang out in succession. Sting and Rogue, who had been moving separately, converged at an intersection.
Not far behind them, Bacchus and Ichiya—who had made a "strategic retreat" upon seeing Jura earlier—had been ambushed. One lay in a crater, unconscious, while the other was head-first in a building wall, his black thong-clad rear sticking out.
They were clearly in no condition to continue fighting.
Since both were team captains, Sabertooth easily earned 10 points.
Quartet Cerberus had been wiped out. As expected, they became the first guild eliminated from this Survival Game!
"The rules have changed. What should we do now? Should we head straight for the Fairy Queen?" Rogue asked in a low voice.
"We'll do as the young lady said earlier."
Sting looked up at the various areas where magic power fluctuations could be felt. "The ones who'll survive to the end will definitely be that guild anyway."
In the past, he would have rushed in to display his power.
But the utterly one-sided Four Dragon battle the day before yesterday, and the terrifying experience of almost losing Lector yesterday, had forced him to mature considerably.
To defeat Fairy Tail and uphold Sabertooth's honor, and more importantly, to fulfill his promise to Lector, patience was the safest choice at this moment!
"I understand." Rogue nodded lightly.
North District.
"As a way to pass the time, I'll play with you for a while."
Minerva stood on a streetlamp with one hand on her hip, completely unconcerned that her high-slit cheongsam might reveal more than intended. She looked down at the female swordsman not far away with arrogance. "Kagura Mikazuchi."
"If I'm not mistaken, you're Sabertooth's captain, aren't you?"
Kagura raised her unsheathed Grudge Sword, Unfearing Heaven, meeting Minerva's gaze calmly. "I'll be taking those five points, then."
"If you have the skill, feel free to try~"
The moment the words fell, immense magic power surged from both women, colliding into a tearing gale that shook the ground beneath them!
Crocus Library.
Future Gray pushed open the slightly ajar door and walked calmly into the main hall.
"I'm impressed you found this place, Fairy Tail's Ice-Make Mage."
Rufus sat elegantly in a chair with his legs crossed, looking somewhat surprised by Future Gray's appearance.
"Though the First Master's plans were completely thrown into disarray, your magic is still an unpredictable variable for us," Future Gray said in a low voice.
"Am I to understand that you came here specifically to stop me?" Rufus adjusted his top hat and slowly rose to his feet.
"No. I'm here to defeat you."
"Perhaps if those two who didn't show up were here, it might be possible. But you—"
Rufus chuckled disdainfully. "Your magic is already deeply etched in my memory. You have no chance of winning."
To prove his point, he raised a single finger.
"Memory Simulation: Immovable Black Rose."
Frost danced. Black lightning crackled. A delicate ice rose bloomed slowly. It was clearly Ice-Make Magic and Lightning God Slayer Magic combined!
"Magic that can simulate spells seen in memory?"
Future Gray's brow furrowed slightly, but he quickly noticed the fatal flaw in this magic and smiled. "In other words, it's a fake. Copy magic?"
Then he would just have to increase the speed of his Ice-Make to the point where his opponent couldn't keep up with the memory simulation!
South Street.
"Drew the lucky card. How fortunate." Future Laxus slowly removed his fur coat.
Despite his words, he showed no surprise. His serious expression was laced with excitement.
If they were going to win the Grand Magic Games in the most brilliant way possible, then Jura—who was as strong as a monster—was an unavoidable obstacle.
Looking at the entire Fairy Tail team, aside from Erza, he was the only one capable of facing him.
So he had taken on this most difficult battle himself, following the source of the powerful magic to lie in wait here!
Across from him, the sound of wooden clogs on stone tiles suddenly stopped. The setting sun's glow reflected off the bald head, casting a bright gleam.
"Lucky?"
Future Jura stopped in his tracks, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "I could sense your unconcealed magic power from far away, Mr. Laxus."
Hearing this, Future Laxus didn't deny it. He returned the same smile and warned, "Sorry, but the area ahead is a thunderstorm-prone zone. No entry."
Golden arcs of lightning crackled across his body, manifesting his burning fighting spirit.
"Oh? What if I force my way through?" Jura said calmly.
Inwardly, he couldn't help but marvel: Truly worthy of being Master Makarov's grandson. This magic power is certainly impressive.
But that was all.
As the fifth-ranked Ten Wizard Saint, considered one of the top powerhouses in human territory, Jura also had his own "pride."
Compared to Chase, Laxus didn't exert nearly as much pressure on him.
"Then I'll say sorry in advance!"
With that, Future Laxus moved decisively. He transformed into a golden bolt of lightning and shot down the street, appearing before Jura in the blink of an eye!
Jura stood firm like a mountain. Just as the lightning-charged fist was about to land, he swung his arm with the same motion that had one-shot Orga earlier—a precise slap aimed at Laxus's head.
THUD!
A dull impact rang out. Debris flew.
Future Laxus was slammed down with tremendous force, cracking the ground beneath him!
"Another... one-shot?!" Chapati's eyes widened as he cried out in shock.
This was Laxus, who had single-handedly defeated the entire Raven Tail!
However, Jura, who was about to withdraw his arm, suddenly tensed up.
The next second, thunder crashed. Future Laxus gritted his teeth and rose. A Lightning Dragon punch slammed straight into Jura's chest, sending him stumbling backward!
"Don't underestimate me, you bastard old man!!" Future Laxus clenched his fists, lightning crackling around him.
"I see. So you're not someone who can be dealt with so easily, huh." Jura steadied himself after his failed show of dominance.
That punch, brimming with violent power, was like a switch being flipped, awakening his dormant fighting spirit.
As the black coat slipped from his shoulders, his magic power surged rapidly, shaking the entire street and even all of Crocus.
Following the intense battle with Chase on the first day, the Ten Wizard Saint had entered his serious state once again!
***
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