The next day.
Domus Flau, the Grand Magic Games arena located on the western mountain of Crocus.
Four giant stone statues, wielding staves and swords, stood tall around the massive stadium, exuding an aura of solemn majesty.
Colorful fireworks and streamers burst one after another atop the statues. Cannons boomed, and countless balloons drifted slowly into the sky.
The tiered spectator stands were packed with people—civilians, merchants, and mages from all over the country had gathered here. Looking out, it was a sea of darkness, the scene incredibly lively.
Everyone was eagerly awaiting the official start of the annual Grand Magic Games!
The electrifying excitement was so intense that even the thick brick walls couldn't contain it, transmitting clearly to the competing teams in the backstage preparation rooms.
Fairy Tail Team A Area.
"To launch such a filthy attack right before the tournament—Raven Tail has no shame at all!"
"Were they trying to weaken us in advance? We can't let this slide..."
Having learned the full story from the two Wendys and Carlas, Erza and the others all wore grim expressions.
Because Wendy had been protected by Chase and hadn't been harmed, their emotions were relatively stable—unlike in the original story, where they had been furious.
"I've decided! If we run into them in the matches, we'll beat the hell out of them!" Natsu said, clashing his fists together.
"Just like we did with that bastard Laxus during the civil war!" Future Natsu added.
Since the other side was the old man's own son, they naively thought that a good beating would make Ivan cherish his comrades just like Laxus had.
"You two are way too simple-minded, aren't you?" Lucy sighed helplessly.
Even though she had never met Ivan, her intuition told her his situation was fundamentally different from Laxus's. You couldn't have that long a rebellious phase, could you? He'd even founded a whole guild just to target Fairy Tail.
"I heard from the Master that Raven Tail used to be a dark guild. Can they really appear in a legitimate tournament like this?" Future Lucy asked.
That morning, Makarov had briefed them on the relevant information and warned them to stay alert.
"That's hard to say. Didn't a mysterious team place ahead of us?" Future Gray said seriously.
The two Wendys froze. Seeing everyone's eyes on them, they frantically looked left and right, puffing out their cheeks and letting out clumsy whistles.
It was clear they couldn't lie to save their lives. But when they had left Team B's inn that morning, Mira's friendly smile asking them to keep quiet still lingered vividly in their minds.
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Their odd behavior immediately aroused Lucy's suspicion: these two definitely knew something!
Just as she was about to press them—perhaps to indulge her boyfriend's little wish—Erza suddenly stepped in and interrupted: "The competition's about to start. Let's decide who's going up first."
She was referring to the matter of the alternate-world counterparts.
Hearing this, Lucy's attention was successfully diverted. She scratched her head with a laugh. "I don't really mind either way."
"Neither do I. We're all fighting for the guild's honor, after all~" Future Lucy added.
No sooner had she spoken than a commotion broke out beside them: the men were punching each other in the face, fighting over who would get the first appearance slot.
"Hey, you guys! Could you show a little decorum?!" both Lucys shouted.
The men ignored them completely and fought even harder.
"Ahem." Future Erza cleared her throat.
The men instantly stopped fighting, their arms rigid at their sides. They stood in a neat line with impressive discipline, awaiting orders.
Both Lucys: "..."
Under Erza's iron fist and Carla's suggestion, the "starting lineup" was decided through a fair game of rock-paper-scissors:
Future Natsu, Gray, Future Lucy, Erza, and Elfman.
Elfman, as a substitute, had temporarily taken Wendy's spot.
The reason was that he had gotten a taste of the action during the preliminaries and had been begging Wendy nonstop to let him fight.
The two Wendys, unable to withstand the relentless pleading of this pair of "twin beasts," eventually softened and agreed.
Then came the moment to change into the uniform Fairy Tail team outfits.
Staring at the cute little skirt in his hands—barely larger than his palm—the manly Elfman burst into tears on the spot, sinking into deep emo.
In stark contrast was Future Elfman, who had lost at rock-paper-scissors.
"Pfft hahaha! The me over there—you absolutely cannot let Wendy down! A real man puts on that skirt right now!" He was practically howling with laughter.
Lucy quietly pulled Wendy further away from him and muttered, "Even herself? The Strauss family really does have some kind of weird trait..."
At the same time, the lively atmosphere outside reached its peak as the commentary team filed in one by one.
From right to left were Chapati Lola, handling the live broadcast; former Magic Council member Yajima, providing magical analysis; and the special guest for the first day—Jenny Realite, a top gravure model from Blue Pegasus and a Weekly Sorcerer Magazine star.
"Here we are! The moment has finally arrived! The annual magical extravaganza—the opening ceremony of the Grand Magic Games!"
"Let's give the warmest applause and cheers to welcome the competitors!!"
True to his profession, Chapati's voice was loud and impassioned. In just two sentences, he ignited the already boiling arena.
"First up, the eighth-place preliminaries team—the hellish hound brigade, Mermaid Heel!"
Amidst the roaring cheers, the Mermaid Heel guild flag fluttered in the wind. Five mages strode out from the tunnel, radiating an untamed, wild aura.
Beneath their fierce expressions hid a faint trace of anger and frustration.
Not because of their eighth-place finish, but because they still hadn't fully recovered from the trauma of stepping in black mud the night before.
Damn organizers!
"Next, the seventh-place preliminaries team—the sea dancers of the all-female guild, Mermaid Heel!!"
The moment the all-female team, led by the strikingly sensual Kagura, stepped onto the stage, a wave of admiration swept through the entire arena like a pink storm.
Among the smitten were Makarov and the other Fairy Tail perverts in the VIP seats.
But the very next team made the perverts' faces turn serious in an instant.
Black feather effects scattered through the air—it was the night raiders, Raven Tail!
When Chapati announced their name, Makarov—who had been mentally prepared—wasn't particularly surprised. He simply watched them coldly.
But the audience behind him erupted in murmurs and doubts. Most mages present knew that Raven Tail was a dark guild.
After a solemn explanation from Yajima, the audience learned that Raven Tail had officially become a legitimate guild this year.
The brief interruption was quickly overshadowed by the fifth- and fourth-place teams that followed.
They were the "Azure Wings Shining in the Darkness" and the "Sacred Destroyers of Love and War"—Blue Pegasus's male idol group, led by the "ultimate pretty boy" Ichiya, and Lamia Scale's mages, led by Ten Wizard Saint Jura.
As two long-established guilds in Fiore, both had considerable fame and fanbases, drawing endless cheers.
However, Chapati's next introduction left the entire arena stunned.
"Third place in the preliminaries—this is a huge surprise, definitely an upset!"
"They are the dominant champions of past Grand Magic Games, the current strongest guild in Fiore—Sabertooth!!"
Future Sting and his four teammates walked out with sour expressions. Unlike their arrogant and triumphant debut in the original story, they were now filled with frustration.
The strongest guild had barely managed to hold onto third place. As proud Sabertooth members, they found it hard to accept.
Yukino, in particular, looked downcast, believing she had brought misfortune to the guild she admired so much. She had only joined a year ago.
"How is that possible? Sabertooth only got third?"
"You've got to be kidding! They were my top pick this year!"
"All the teams have been introduced. Which two guilds are ahead of them?"
"A newly founded guild this year? It can't be Fairy Tail, that perennial last-place loser, could it?!"
Hearing the audience's whispers, Master Jiemon, who had known the results in advance, was already rolling his eyes in the VIP seats.
Not that he had pupils to begin with.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please be patient! Because the next guild is the real bombshell!"
Chapati, holding the ranking list, deliberately paused, drawing the entire arena's attention before shouting at the top of his lungs:
"Can they reclaim their former glory? Will the fallen fairies dance once more? Or is this preliminaries result a signal of their triumphant return?"
"That's right—the second-place team in the preliminaries is—"
"Fairy Tail!!"
***
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