Mavis also said with surprise, "I didn't expect this... He's more talented than I imagined." Rufus's next move proved he wasn't boasting.
"Ancient Sword Saints in Formation."
Ten half-bodied ice warriors carrying spears and large shields stood neatly arranged before Rufus.
"See, what beautiful ancient magic!" Rufus declared. "Creating soulless soldiers from wandering elements—this is a new interpretation! Your memories of Ice-Make Magic will blossom in this beautiful dream. Dance, pitiful fellow."
Rufus pointed a finger at Gray, and the ancient ice sword saints rushed toward him.
"Ice-Make: Ice Top!" A massive ice top spun, accelerating faster and faster, shattering the ancient sword saints one after another.
Just as the ice top was about to hit him, Rufus calmly pressed his index finger to his temple, his eyes fixed on the spinning mass.
"I see. It seems a more defensive combination is needed. Not a bad idea. Memorize... then forget..."
The ice top melted away before Rufus.
Levy said with a barely noticeable seriousness, "Isn't this Memory-Make magic just too unfair?!"
Raizel nodded in agreement. "It is a bit unfair, but ancient magic isn't something just anyone can learn. You have to admit his talent is remarkable."
"Even so, Gray hasn't lost yet," Mira gently wagged a finger.
"Then try this, glorious thunder blade." Rufus once again combined the magic from his memories, creating an ancient ice giant wielding a thunderous great axe.
With a mighty swing, the axe came crashing down toward Gray.
"Ice-Make: Ice Wall!
"Forget..." Gray's ice wall crumbled once again.
The great axe, carrying golden thunder, struck Gray heavily.
Amid the dust, Gray was sent flying backward, slamming hard onto the ground.
"Incredible, that was an astonishing strike!!! Contestant Gray has been hit!" Chapati Lola screamed.
"Gray-sama!!!" Juvia clung to the balcony wall, her fingers tightly gripping the bricks.
Levy rested her chin on her hand, pondering. "This is troublesome. Endless magic combinations—once he's seen and memorized them, they can't be used against him again."
"How on earth can we defeat that kind of magic, man!" Elfman grunted.
In the library, having lost his Ice Shield and Ice Wall, Gray could only scramble around to evade.
While dodging, Gray still couldn't avoid some of the magical attacks. He was pinned to the floor by Rufus using the ancient Gravity Magic he had just memorized.
A golden magic circle hovered above Gray's head, casting a blinding light that suppressed him with gravity.
"You're about to be crushed flat by this light, with nowhere to escape," Rufus taunted.
"This is incredible! Contestant Gray seems unable to stand up! Is Ice-Make Magic going to lose to Memory-Make?!"
'Gray-sama, stand up. Juvia believes in you.' Juvia clenched her fingers tightly, staring intently at Gray on the screen.
Gray, lying on the ground, clawed at the floor and slowly stood up.
"Seriously, what a joke. With just this level of gravity, you think you can crush someone?"
Rufus's jaw dropped, his proud expression crumbling. "I never imagined you'd still be able to move."
"You think I'd lose? I've faced gravity magic stronger than yours." Gray pressed his hands together.
"Ice-Make: Ice Geyser!" Gray's shaping speed this time was blindingly fast.
The Ice Geyser erupted beneath Rufus's feet, forcing him to leap down from the second-floor balcony.
Even under the suppression of gravity, Rufus still couldn't clearly see Gray's movements.
'It must be because I was shocked.' Rufus's expression froze for a moment.
"Memory shaping is impressive, but my memories also give me strength." As he spoke, Gray tore off his shirt and tossed it aside.
"He took it off... he took it off!!"
Not only were the female spectators thrilled by Gray's eight-pack abs, but Chapati Lola also stood up in the booth.
Some female spectators covered their eyes with their hands, only to secretly peek through the gaps between their fingers.
Of course, the most excited was Juvia, who covered her flushed cheeks with her hands and squirmed around.
A deafening scream erupted from the stands. "Gray-sama!!"
Steam rose from her head, hearts filled her eyes, and her breathing grew erratic.
Steam Princess Juvia, reporting for duty!
Mavis said deadpan, "He finally took it off."
Makarov sighed helplessly, "He took it off."
Ur showed a gentle smile. "This means he's getting serious."
Layla blinked at the three of them in sync, then calmly averted her gaze.
"Although your bold words are impressive, it seems you still have no way to deal with my memory shaping," Rufus taunted.
Gray answered Rufus with action, forming hand seals as blue ice magical power glowed in his hands. "Ice-Make..."
"Memory..." Rufus placed his left hand behind his back and pointed two fingers of his right hand at his temple.
"Unlimited!"
As soon as Gray finished speaking, a dazzling blue light filled the library.
In the blink of an eye, an Ice-Make formation spiraling upward with dozens of weapons—ice swords, ice blades, and ice spears—appeared before them.
"Did you remember it?" Gray, standing in the center, assumed his stance once more.
In truth, Gray had used a trick—the dazzling blue light forced Rufus to avert his eyes.
What memory magic? If you can't see it, how can you remember anything?
"By unleashing multiple shaping spells at once! That's a man!" Elfman roared.
"Memory... can't keep up," Rufus stammered.
"One-Sided Chaotic Dance!"
Multiple Ice-Make weapons simultaneously rushed toward Rufus, freezing him within a massive block of ice.
"It's a pity this is an ice-attribute spell. I still remember fire magic capable of melting ice." Rufus's voice echoed.
"Memory-Make: Blazing Earth's Wrath!" The blazing flames melted the ice, and the fire continued to spread, engulfing Gray.
Before Rufus could revel in his triumph, he noticed something shifting within the fireball.
Gray charged out of the flames, closing in on him. "Sorry, but I've experienced flames far hotter than this..."
Gray was right in front of Rufus, his arms crossed in front of him, palms glowing with magical power.
"Ice Blade: Seven Slash Dance!"
A dazzling combination of strikes caught Rufus off guard.
With a cry of pain, Rufus crashed heavily to the ground.
The red top hat drifting slowly through the air was casually caught by Gray and placed on his own head.
"Contestant Gray is the winner!!!"
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