"Lucy looks serious," Panther Lily remarked from the spectator stands of the support team, observing the two contestants entering the arena.
Happy waved his paws, full of confidence. "Lucy will definitely win!"
"That's right! Against that disgusting guild, show no mercy and defeat them with all your might!" Makarov shook his fist indignantly.
Romeo looked curiously at the silent Mavis beside him and asked, "First Master, is something wrong?"
Mavis shook her head, gazing at the red-haired woman representing Raven Tail, and murmured.
"What exactly are they planning..."
"From the previous match, it's clear Raven Tail isn't aiming for victory. They're focused on targeting Fairy Tail, disregarding the competition results."
Makarov glared at Ivan watching from afar. "They definitely want to humiliate us. That guy has always been despicable!"
Mavis muttered to herself, her eyes carrying a trace of gravity: "If that were all, it would actually be better..."
Ankh frowned while looking toward Raven Tail's spectator area and said to those around him, "I need to step away for a moment."
Laxus was surprised. "What's wrong?"
"Given Raven Tail's nature, I don't believe they'll refrain from interfering with the match. Just in case, I'll keep an eye on them."
Laxus nodded thoughtfully. "Makes sense. I'll have the Thunder God Tribe stay alert too."
In the arena, Lucy observed the red-haired woman standing before her, beginning her assessment.
Wine-red hair that, despite being smooth and shiny, gave a disheveled impression.
She wore a revealing dress with an open chest area, the Raven Tail emblem tattooed on her left breast, and her hollow eyes radiating madness.
"What are you looking at... blonde..." Flare's eerie voice sounded.
Lucy looked up to see the other woman staring at her with a hostile gaze.
Unfazed, Lucy placed her hand on her key pouch.
Chapati announced from the commentator's platform: "This match will be decided when one party surrenders or loses the ability to fight."
"Then... begin the match!"
As the referee's voice faded, the large gongs around the arena resounded.
Lucy quickly drew a Celestial Spirit Key and chanted:
"Open, Gate of the Golden Bull! Taurus!"
The spotted bull Taurus made a dazzling appearance, immediately raising his giant axe to swing toward Flare.
With a contemptuous expression, Flare retreated.
Seizing this opportunity, Lucy took out another key and summoned:
"Gate of the Scorpion! Scorpio!"
"Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaa!" Scorpio made a rock gesture, perfectly understanding Lucy's intention as his tail cannon aimed at Flare.
A yellow sandstorm swept toward Flare, who swung her wine-red hair.
The long locks rapidly extended and grew, emitting a fiery glow that withstood Scorpio's attack.
"Taurus, use Scorpio's sand!"
Taurus let out a bull-like roar before leaping high once more, his double-headed axe absorbing the sand particles scattered by Flare's defense.
Flare's expression changed abruptly.
This time Taurus didn't falter—his giant axe wrapped in a powerful sandstorm struck toward Flare without holding back!
"Argh!!"
Unable to resist, Flare cried out in pain as her body was thrown far away like a ragdoll.
With most of the arena obscured by yellow sand, Lucy quickly adjusted her breathing before waving both arms to return the two spirits to the Celestial Spirit World.
This was a technique she had learned from Capricorn during special training—now when Lucy recalled spirits shortly after summoning them, it significantly reduced her magic power consumption.
Yajima remarked with admiration: "The rookie from Fairy Tail back then has grown to this level..."
Chapati nodded in agreement. "Truly worthy of the famously elegant and versatile Celestial Spirit Magic."
On Sabertooth's side, the cool, sister-type Mage Yukino watched Lucy below with astonishment.
Rogue couldn't help frowning. "Like Yukino, she can open two gates simultaneously... and the combination techniques between spirits are perfect too."
Sting clicked his tongue, marveling, "As expected of someone who's dating Natsu-san."
Indeed, Sting had naturally misunderstood—when he previously saw Natsu, only Lucy was with him, and they appeared quite intimate...
"Achoo!"
Elsewhere, Natsu rubbed his nose and muttered irritably, "Who's talking nonsense about me?"
"Whatever... keep going."
...
Back in the arena, watching Flare get up, Lucy silently drew another key.
"Damn blonde!"
Clutching her abdomen, Flare angrily activated her magic.
Her red hair extended and grew, forming a giant wolf in the air that lunged to bite Lucy.
"Hair Rain: Wolf Fang!"
Facing the giant red wolf, the prepared Lucy quickly took out a key and summoned again.
"Cancer!"
Cancer appeared in golden light, his scissors dancing up and down as his fairy-like blade work shredded the giant wolf.
Seeing her hair reduced to fragments, Flare grew furious. Her crimson hair burrowed underground before emerging beneath Lucy's feet.
"Ah!"
Lucy was caught by the ankle and swung toward the ground.
Cancer quickly moved to cut the restraints. But Flare used Lucy as a weapon, swinging her toward Cancer.
"Return, Cancer."
Rather than using the spirit as a cushion, Lucy crashed heavily onto the ground.
Enduring the pain, she drew the whip from her waist.
"Star River!"
Lucy swung the Star River, the blue-gold flowing whip binding Flare's wrists.
Both women frantically restrained each other, slamming one another toward the ground.
They crashed heavily onto the earth.
Flare pushed herself up, glaring coldly at Lucy as she sneered, "Your feet must already be scalded by my crimson hair."
Lucy propped herself up, rubbing her slightly burning feet before taking off her shoes. "Seriously... and these were my favorite pair..."
Flare's pupils contracted as she stared wide-eyed at Lucy, who aside from some superficial wounds remained unharmed, finding it unbelievable.
What a joke.
Although Lucy had been taking a beating, one should consider the caliber of those who'd been beating her before.
The Guild Master of Phantom Lord... Oración Seis... the Seven Kin of Purgatory... Natsu could barely count as one too.
So what made Flare such a big deal?
Seeing the shocked Flare across from her, Lucy stood barefoot, taking out her Celestial Spirit Key with confident pride as she declared:
"Come on, next round."