"Using those stone monsters for defense, and then using this monster crab to chase me?"
Jet didn't notice that many details, he was still confident, "If you can do it, then try me!"
"Not so simple." Rhode patted the leg of the large Ancient Stone Beetle, "Ancient Stone Beetle, split!"
Crack!
As Rhode gave the command, blue light shone from the cracks on the back of the Ancient Stone Beetle, which actively split in two and transformed into two Stone Beetles as they landed.
This was the difference from the games, the Stone Beetle could actively split itself.
Three almost identical Stone Beetles lined up in front of Rhode, with the River Crab ahead of them, glaring at Jet.
"Split? Five against one..." Jet was stunned; from his angle, he could only see Rhode's head,
"No matter how many there are, their speed won't increase, I won't lose in speed!"
"No worries, I can't maintain this state for long." Rhode jumped onto one of the Stone Beetles and felt the rate of his magic power consumption.
"If I can't catch you in five minutes, I lose." Rhode pointed forward, "Gorge Swift Crab, charge!"
The Swift Crab charged forward plainly, leaving trails of afterimages behind.
Immediately after, Rhode took a deep breath, "Stone Beetle, burrow!"
The three Stone Beetles lifted their front legs, lowered their heads, and with the opening and closing of their pincer-like mouths, they burrowed underground simultaneously.
It even took Rhode along!
"Don't think you can catch up with me!" Jet sidestepped the charging River Crab triumphantly, turned around, and couldn't see Rhode anywhere.
At this moment, a slight vibration came from the ground, and soft soil was overturned from below. Jet exerted force under his feet and instinctively jumped out.
A Stone Beetle broke through the ground, but missed.
However, the second Stone Beetle emerged just below Jet in the air.
Jet twisted his waist, flipped, and kicked, "Eagle Dive... Oh no!"
Jet's expression changed because at this moment the third Stone Beetle emerged carrying Rhode, its mouth opened and closed, firmly gripping Jet's waist and one hand.
Rhode swung his fist, stopping just at Jet's nose, then smiled after a moment, "How's that?"
Jet struggled a few times, but it was hard to exert force while being held like this. He said somewhat frustrated, "I lost to you."
The Stone Beetle released Jet, and together with the River Crab, their forms became illusory and finally disappeared.
Rhode had already jumped down, feeling extremely pleased inside, but in order to consider Jet's feelings, he had to control himself and just showed a normal smile:
"Thanks for practicing with me."
Rhode extended his hand.
"Companions should help each other after all."
Jet also extended his hand, but instead of shaking it, he slapped Rhode's palm with a snap, turned his right hand into a fist, and faced the back of his hand towards Rhode.
"Shaking hands is too formal, I don't like it."
Rhode raised his hand and bumped fists with Jet in imitation, bursting into laughter with him.
He seemed to like this guild more and more.
"Oh!!!" Marcus appeared in a cloud of dust, holding a microphone, and shouted excitedly,
"The winner is—Rhode! After a series of defeats, Rhode has achieved his first victory since joining the guild!
Let's congratulate Rhode! Using Summoning Magic to call forth powerful monsters... Rhode!"
A cheer erupted from the onlookers, many of whom had been watching since Rhode's duel with Erza.
Rhode's persistent spirit despite repeated losses was admirable, but they honestly hoped he'd win at least once.
Even though the whole ordeal spanned less than half a month, it brought a sense of triumph as if watching a child they'd seen grow up finally achieve success.
Mira was among those cheering, but after raising a fist and shouting, she stood silently with a smile.
Her red dress made her particularly striking among the crowd.
"Well done, Rhode!" Kana's voice was overwhelmingly loud, with a bottle in her right hand and waving cash in her left, shouting to Rhode,
"I'll invite you for a drink later! No need to find someone for practice tomorrow, I'll be there!"
Today, besides Mira who supportively bet on Rhode's win, everyone else who participated in the bet placed on Jet.
Thus Kana earned a big windfall and wouldn't have to worry about her drinking money for quite some time.
However, Rhode felt a bit embarrassed. Although he knew she was referring to accompanying him in practice duels, Kana's outfit, her drunk expression, and the cash in hand easily led to misinterpretation.
Yet after the cheering came the denunciations, a group of people who lost the bet, including the two uncle figures Macao and Wakaba, started venting by accusing Jet of deliberately losing and causing them to lose money.
Jet instinctively started arguing with them. Unsurprisingly, the quarrel quickly turned into a brawl.
Rhode tilted his head to avoid a shoe thrown by who knows who, caught an innocent Poro thrown around as a weapon, and decisively distanced himself.
"There's not much magic power left, getting into this fight would be a loss, let's retreat!"
"Uh..." Warm's eyes turned into swirls, responding dizzily.
The Guild President watched everyone fighting with a cheerful smile, pleased with Rhode's progress, and also comforted by the children's good relationships.
It was also a rare occasion where they were in the yard and not inside, so he didn't have to worry about things being damaged...
Bang!
Macao crashed through a window, flying into the guild hall.
The President maintained his smile, but a vein bulged on his forehead.
"Wakaba, you bastard!" Macao smashed through the window again, wielding purple flames.
Rhode never figured out why Macao and Wakaba ended up fighting, considering they were on the same side just now.
But he backed away even further with Warm, even considering summoning the Stone Beetle again for cover.
Because the battle had started to escalate: Wakaba emitted a smoke fist, Kana pulled out several cards, Elfman's arm turned into a beast's claw...
"Macao, don't think you can escape!" Several figures rushed out from the hall, expanding the hole in the window—they had just suffered from Macao flipping over their table.
The President's smile gradually faded, the veins on his forehead turning into a tic-tac-toe sign.
"I smell a fight!" Natsu, fresh from a mission, rushed into the backyard without even dropping his luggage.
Thanks to him, the unlucky window now connected with the adjacent ones.
"I'm joining! Fire Dragon's—"
The President finally couldn't bear it anymore, his body rapidly swelling up, casting a giant shadow over the entire battlefield: "Use the door properly! No destroying the guild!"
Natsu's "Iron Fist" wasn't even uttered before he was stomped down by the President, and the others engaged in the heated brawl were all slapped into the ground.
"Oh my, it's turned out this way again." Mira gently laughed behind the President, as if her younger brother wasn't among those plastered into the ground.
Rhode shivered while holding Warm. Speaking of guild destruction, he remembered when he summoned the River Crab, he had also knocked down the courtyard wall.
"Thank goodness the President didn't use the Tathagata Divine Palm on me, I'm truly grateful."