"I shouldn't have dragged you into this fight. I didn't know you were a gentleman without combat abilities."
"Even so, you still chose to fight alongside me..."
"And you're so handsome..."
Ichiya, who had been beaten up by the two opponents, was deeply moved by his feline counterpart's sacrifice.
After taking another blow, Ichiya fell hard to the dirt.
"Has the outcome been decided??" Chapati Lola announced.
Bacchus and Rocker, who were already celebrating their easy win, saw Ichiya struggling to get up.
"No, it seems it's not over yet! Ichiya still seems able to stand!"
"I will never let your kindness go to waste, Nichiya!" Ichiya's height began to increase, and his muscles rapidly swelled to unnatural proportions.
His pristine white suit was violently torn apart from the sheer bulk.
"It's here! Ichiya's Power Perfume!"
In an instant, Ichiya, now taller and far broader than Bacchus and Rocker, was enveloped in golden magical power.
Facing another combined attack from Bacchus and Rocker, Ichiya simply planted his feet, clenched his massive fists, and punched both of them away.
The double strike sent them crashing heavily against the stone wall of the arena, leaving two large, spiderwebbed craters.
"They're down! The winner is Ichiya!"
"He actually won two against one! He's not just a fool after all," Chapati Lola screamed.
...
"Alright, the next match is: Lyon and Sherry from Lamia Scale versus Meredy and Amelia from Mermaid Heel!"
"Mr. Yajima, what are your thoughts on this match?"
"I'd say it wouldn't be surprising no matter which side wins. This match is worth looking forward to."
"Go, Meredy!" Erza cheered from the stands.
"You know her?" Raizel looked at Erza with some confusion.
"We've met a few times on missions before. We're friends."
Ultear added, "Actually, Kagura and I know her too. But Lyon is technically my junior, so I'll just stay neutral."
Laxus noticed Gray posing coolly with his hands in his pockets. "Gray, aren't you going to cheer for Lyon?"
"He's representing Lamia Scale now, so there's no need. Besides, he's definitely going to win."
"It seems we have a pretty good relationship with Lamia Scale, right?" Raizel asked.
"As a guild? Definitely."
Facing Meredy and Amelia, Lyon displayed his overwhelming strength.
"Ice-Make: White Tiger, Griffin, Giant Ape, White Dragon!"
With a single hand seal, he used his dynamic Ice-Make Magic to create four giant, moving magical creatures at once.
Meanwhile, Sherry took advantage of the forest-like arena, using her Doll Magic to control several massive trees to coordinate seamlessly with Lyon's beasts.
Lyon and Sherry quickly overpowered Meredy and Amelia.
"The third match is! From Fairy Tail Team A... Natsu!!"
Just as Chapati Lola was about to introduce him, he was suddenly startled by Natsu appearing right beside him on the commentator's platform.
'Could Natsu's opponent be me??' Chapati panicked.
"Contestant Natsu? Why are you up here?!"
Natsu didn't answer.
His mind was flashing back to Jiemma's brutal scolding of Minerva, the young woman hanging her head with tears streaming down her face, and the oppressive, terrifying atmosphere Jiemma brought to Sabertooth.
He knew this was someone else's guild, and that Jiemma was even Minerva's own father, but the roaring anger in his heart was impossible to suppress.
Something that makes your comrades sad and brings them to tears—that doesn't deserve to be called a guild.
He wouldn't allow anyone to trample over what a true guild should be.
Under the shocked eyes of the entire stadium, Natsu grabbed Chapati Lola's microphone and unleashed a deafening roar.
"Jiemma! Get out here!!"
"Get out here..."
"Out here..."
"Huh??"
"Is this kid crazy?"
Jiemma, who was already fuming from his guild's poor performance, now suppressed his rage into a deadly calm.
He stood up from his VIP seat and walked to the edge of the viewing platform.
The magical cameras quickly zoomed in, directing focus toward Jiemma and Natsu.
"What do you want with me, kid?" Jiemma's voice was a low, dangerous rumble.
"I challenge you! If you lose to me, you step down as guild master!"
"Natsu-san, this isn't according to the rules..." Chapati Lola looked weakly at Natsu, but seeing how furious the Dragon Slayer was, he didn't dare snatch the microphone back.
He missed Laharl right about now!
Lucy, looking at Gajeel's expression of enjoying the show, asked in confusion, "Aren't you his tag team partner this time? Aren't you going to do something about this, Gajeel?"
"Such a spotlight-stealing moment, I'll let him have it."
"That's not what I meant at all!"
"This is what you had him do? That's so reckless! Now I have to write a formal self-criticism letter to the Council again!" Makarov was so angry his beard trembled.
"Writing self-criticisms... such unpleasant memories..." Mavis, who had been watching the show beside him, perked up at the keyword and, just like Makarov, began to droop her head with dark depression lines floating over it.
What kind of guild master hasn't written a self-criticism letter to the Magic Council? It wasn't even midnight yet, but the two guild masters had already entered their 'online depression' mode!
Raizel awkwardly scratched the side of his face. "I didn't really consider that part..."
"It's not you the one who's writing it!" Mavis, acting as if she really had to write the letter herself, joined Makarov in righteous indignation.
...
"Natsu-san..."
"He dares to challenge our guild master one-on-one?"
"This is suicidal..."
"Frosch thinks so too..." The members of Sabertooth couldn't help but tremble at the sheer audacity.
"Are you serious about this, kid? Talking big comes with the price of your life," Jiemma warned.
"I'll never forgive someone like you who tramples over their guild members!" Natsu yelled back.
'Is it because of the young lady?' Rogue wondered.
'This has nothing to do with you... A normal person wouldn't get this angry over something like this, or take it this far...' Sting's pupils shook violently.
They glanced at Minerva and clenched their teeth tightly.
"Though I don't know why you're doing this, the fact that you're taking this action means you're willing to bear the consequences," Jiemma said.
He didn't look down on Natsu—after all, Natsu's 9999 MPF score from yesterday was still fresh in his mind.
"I accept, but I have a condition too. If you lose, you join our guild!" Natsu demanded.
His reasoning wasn't solid, but his spirit was fierce.
"Hahaha! Interesting!" Jiemma was so amused he laughed in pure anger.
"Wait, Natsu, Guild Master Jiemma, this isn't according to the rules!" Chapati Lola finally remembered that Yajima also had a microphone.
"The Guild Master cannot participate in combat, and this is scheduled to be a doubles match!"
"I don't care about the rules! Even if this match doesn't count for points, it doesn't matter!" Natsu roared.
"Natsu, go back for now. Let the tournament committee discuss this first," Yajima commanded gently but firmly.
Since Yajima was Makarov's good friend, Natsu still had to show him some respect.
He begrudgingly stepped down.
...
The match was temporarily suspended as Yajima and Chapati Lola returned backstage.
"Is this really okay?"
"Challenging the Guild Master? Jiemma is a monster."
"The Salamander isn't weak either, okay? That kid's destructive power is no joke."
The audience buzzed with excited discussion as the cheerleaders took to the stage, putting on a lively performance to fill the time.
Ten minutes later, Pumpkin Head hurried to the center of the arena holding a piece of paper and announced the committee's final decision.
"After intense discussion by the tournament committee, the duel between Sabertooth's Guild Master Jiemma and Fairy Tail's Natsu is approved as an exhibition match! The outcome of this match will not count toward the tournament's guild points. Additionally, any verbal bets regarding guild membership between the two parties are void! Finally, this is a one-time exception and will not be permitted again, kabo!"