Not long after Chase and the others set their traps and left the exam site, the second team entered the center of the Sky Labyrinth.
They were Sabertooth mages.
"That was fast. How boring," Future Rogue said, walking on the inverted sky, eyeing the space with disdain.
"Haha! That's just how it is for the strongest of us. Other teams are still scrambling around in the labyrinth," Future Sting laughed heartily.
"Exactly as I remember. Even in the preliminaries, Sabertooth is naturally number one," Future Rufus said, elegantly adjusting his hat brim.
"Now all we have to do is wait for the labyrinth to restructure, and we can head back to the ground and reach the finish line," Orga Nanagear said, finding the whole thing rather dull. "I was hoping for something more interesting."
Yukino, the Celestial Spirit Mage walking behind them, remained silent, a hint of unexplained worry flickering deep in her eyes.
Would it really be that simple?
Having never truly been needed by anyone, her personality tended toward pessimism, always fearing that misfortune would befall those around her.
Truth be told, neither their combat strength nor their ability to handle complex environments could match Jura of Lamia Scale. However, the Sky Labyrinth primarily tested teamwork. Although Jura's team included Lyon and Sherria, they were held back by their other two members.
Sabertooth, by contrast, had members with relatively balanced strength—each one could pass as S-Class in a regular guild!
BUZZZZ.
With the turning of mechanical gears, tremors echoed throughout the space, and the direction of gravity shifted once again.
Sabertooth's five members landed steadily on the ground corresponding to the sky above.
"If my memory serves me right, beyond this land should be—" Future Rufus said, stepping forward. But his confident expression suddenly changed.
A magic circle flared beneath his feet, and an unfamiliar card slowly flipped over.
Trap Card: Hexagram Curse!
"What?!"
Future Rogue's pupils contracted as he stared at the hexagram array that had firmly bound them in place.
Before they could react, thunder roared above. Hidden golden magic crystals triggered, raining down lightning that engulfed the entire surrounding area!
Meanwhile, other teams that had reached the labyrinth's center encountered varying levels of interference.
The Lamia Scale team was restricted by three holy swords of light. The Mermaid Heel team found themselves trapped in a maze of iron rods. The Blue Pegasus team was caught in a whirlpool current...
But the worst off was the Mermaid Heel team—they had stepped into piles of black mud shaped like turds. Not only did it slow their progress, but it also dealt a heavy blow to their minds and eyes!
"Damn it! If you're going to set traps, fine, but the organizers are so damn heartless they planted this disgusting crap here?!"
Staring at the sticky black mud coating their boots, the furious Mermaid Heel mages couldn't help but curse loudly.
Other teams that had been caught in traps and left in disarray also vented their anger, pointing their accusations straight at the Grand Magic Games organizers, berating them for being utterly unethical and not warning anyone in advance.
A chorus of complaints and praises merged into a single stream, reaching the Pumpkin Head at the finish line.
Having witnessed everything Chase's team had done, his mouth twitched uncontrollably, and his face turned dark.
I didn't do it! It wasn't me! I didn't set any of that stuff!!
As he paced frantically, wishing he could rush out and explain himself right that moment, he suddenly noticed five figures sprinting toward the finish line along the suspended dirt road over the sea.
It was Fairy Tail's Team A!
"Dammit! I thought we were the fastest! I didn't expect so many people to have gotten here already!" Future Natsu grumbled, looking at the bustling interior space.
"Something feels off. Why didn't we trigger any traps like those along the way?" Future Gray said, analyzing as they ran.
"Hehe, it's obviously thanks to my overflowing luck~" Future Lucy said smugly.
Future Erza's eyes flickered. Recalling the information about Team B she had learned from her counterpart, she roughly guessed the reason.
Her understanding of Chase's Card Magic was quite limited, but the descending thunder, the sprawling iron forests, and especially those uniquely shaped black mud piles—they all felt intensely familiar!
"Who cares! Just charge through! That's what it means to be a man!!" Future Elfman cheered loudly.
"OOOOOH!!!"
In the end, with an unobstructed path, they unsurprisingly reached the finish line first.
"Con-gra-tu-la-tions! Fairy Tail! You're in second place!" Pumpkin Head said through gritted teeth, his fists clenched.
Having been saddled with a huge black mark, he no longer had any of his initial enthusiasm—he just wanted this farce to end as quickly as possible.
"What? Only second place?"
"That can't be right! There's a team faster than us?!"
Future Natsu and the others were stunned, their faces filled with disbelief.
Future Erza said nothing. Future Lucy shrank her neck and muttered quietly:
"Is it just me, or does he seem to be looking at us with contempt and resentment?"
And so, the intense and thrilling preliminaries came to a close with Fairy Tail taking first and second place.
Meanwhile, the Team B members had long since returned to their designated inn. After enjoying a comfortable bath, they gathered in the small living room, reminiscing about their "masterpieces."
"Oh my, setting traps for the other competitors—Chase, you're so naughty~" Mira laughed, covering her mouth, as she listened to Future Mirajane's gleeful description.
She could easily picture the scene of everyone cursing and shouting.
"Damn it! If I'd known it was this fun, I would've come even if I had to crawl!" Gajeel said with deep regret.
"Too bad we couldn't trap Natsu and the others too," Future Laxus sighed with a hint of regret, then turned to Chase, who had just finished talking to the old man. "Chase—how did Team A do?"
At that, everyone immediately stopped chatting. The two Wendys held their breath nervously.
If their carelessness had caused Team A to be eliminated, they wouldn't have been able to sleep tonight!
"Haaah..."
Chase let out a heavy sigh first. After a few seconds of silence, he finally smiled. "They took second place."
"Even through the cards, I could clearly see those two old men's mouths practically twisted with smugness!"
The two Wendys, who had been on the verge of tears, froze for a moment, then happily embraced each other: "Wahhh! That's wonderful!"
Carla shot the Card Nerd an annoyed glare, while Future Carla, like a mother hen, lectured them on keeping their composure.
"Two old men..."
Future Laxus felt the phrasing was a bit odd but wasn't surprised by Team A's result.
"And what about that bastard dad's Raven Tail?" he asked, his tone growing slightly more serious.
"The old men said that if those guys made it through the preliminaries, we shouldn't worry too much—just stay on guard," Chase said.
Though Raven Tail had lost Obra as an official member compared to the original story, they probably wouldn't fail to pass the preliminaries.
Of course, no matter who substituted in, the outcome had been sealed the moment Ivan decided to participate in the Grand Magic Games.
"I see..." Future Laxus clenched his fist slightly, making a decision in his heart.
Forget everything else—the attack on Wendy alone was unforgivable!
Since it was almost one in the morning and they still had the Grand Magic Games tomorrow, they chatted for a bit longer before heading off to rest one by one.
The stingy organizers hadn't arranged private rooms—instead, they had placed six beds, including the team members, all in the same room.
As travelers from another world, Chase generously gave up his bed and took his own team members into Dark Magician Girl's castle inside the Card Space to make do.
At Mercurius Palace.
"I'm so mad! I'm absolutely furious! To dump such a huge black mark on me!"
On the throne, King Toma—having removed his pumpkin mask—was fuming, his beard and mustache bristling with rage.
Beside him, Arcadios stood silently in silver knight armor. He was the captain of the Cherry Blossom Holy Knights, Princess Hisui's trusted aide and bodyguard, and a staunch supporter of the Eclipse Project.
"Arcadios."
Toma stared at the list of eight teams that had passed the preliminaries. After a moment of thought, he fixed his gaze on the Ten Wizard Saint's avatar from Lamia Scale.
"Yes, Your Majesty? What are your orders?"
"I don't care about the others. For tomorrow's battle rounds, make sure to pair up Jura and that guy Chase. That troublemaking brat absolutely needs to taste some consequences!"
"Understood, Your Majesty."
***
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