Chapter 297: Was This Inevitable?
Boom! Boom! Boom—!!
A fierce explosion pierced the outer wall beneath the Grand Magic Games arena, causing large sections of the empty, abandoned underground structure to crumble.
Sting and Rogue lay on the ground, defeated and unwilling to accept it.
[The winner is Fairy Tail—!!]
[Natsu alone defeated the Twin Dragons of Sabertooth!!!]
[As of now, the fourth day of the Grand Magic Games has concluded!! After a rest day tomorrow, the final battle will be held the day after!! The final day will be an all-participant survival battle!!]
[Which guild will claim victory?! Everyone, wait and see!!]
"It turned out this way after all!" Bob, the Guild Master of Blue Pegasus, watched the footage playing on the massive lacrima screens. He fluttered his fan nervously, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek.
Fairy Tail had always been a special anomaly in the magical world. Makarov's children were all as strong as little monsters, constantly pushing the boundaries of what a Mage could achieve. Gildarts, Laxus, Erza, Natsu... Fate itself seemed to favor this chaotic guild, as generation after generation of powerful children miraculously appeared within its doors.
And then, out of nowhere, Ren had appeared. That boy had instantly created an insurmountable gap in power between Fairy Tail and every other guild in Fiore.
"Should I say... was this inevitable?" Goldmine, the Guild Master of Quatro Cerberus, flashed a stiff, wry smile. He adjusted his spiked collar, feeling a profound sense of helplessness wash over him.
Although he had barely met the younger brats from Fairy Tail, he had heard Makarov brag endlessly about his little devils over drinks more times than he could count. Back then, it sounded like an old man's delusion. Now, it was a terrifying reality.
Of course, those brats truly brought immense pride and face to Makarov. Ever since Ren had single-handedly defeated the Ten Wizard Saint Jose Porla, Fairy Tail's fame had skyrocketed to an absolute pinnacle.
Seven years of absence had caused many foolish people to forget the former, overwhelming strength of Fairy Tail. But upon their dramatic return to this tournament, it was glaringly obvious that they were destined to reach the absolute peak once more.
"To only get third place this time... I'm going to spin around!!" Ooba Babasaeng, the Guild Master of Lamia Scale, shrieked at the top of her lungs.
Unable to contain her boiling frustration, she literally began to spin around in circles in a fit of comedic anger, her arms flailing wildly. Even after sending out their absolute ace, the legendary Wizard Saint Jura Neekis, they still hadn't managed to secure the first-place spot.
"Hehe! Did you see that! Those are the Mages of Fairy Tail!! Ah ha ha ha ha ha!!"
Makarov Dreyar laughed proudly and arrogantly, his booming voice echoing across the VIP balconies. He held a giant mug of ale high above his head, tears of pure joy streaming down his wrinkled face as he watched his golden boy, Natsu, stand victorious over the fallen dragons.
Over in the Sabertooth viewing area, the atmosphere was suffocatingly cold.
"I didn't expect those two guys to lose," Orga Nanagear muttered, leaning heavily on his chin. Black lightning crackled faintly around his massive biceps, betraying his inner agitation. Sting and Rogue's humiliating defeat was entirely unexpected for a man who believed Sabertooth was invincible.
"Hmm, what an interesting match. Fairy Tail, huh..." Rufus Lore smiled gracefully, tipping the brim of his flamboyant feathered hat.
Although the Twin Dragons being utterly defeated was an unexpected variable, Rufus felt he had personally gained a massive harvest from this trip. His mind palace was currently overflowing with invaluable data—especially MC Ren's terrifyingly complex spatial magic, which he believed he had memorized completely.
[Akarin's Note: Rufus's Memory Make allows him to memorize and recreate the magic of others. However, as established in canon and previous chapters, recreating the power of a "God" or complex spatial domains is entirely different from merely memorizing their shape.]
"It looks like we need to figure out a way to formulate a flawless winning strategy for the survival game," Minerva Orland stated, her voice as smooth and deadly as silk. She crossed her arms, her sharp, calculating eyes narrowing as she gazed at the Fairy Tail balcony.
Ren was undoubtedly their biggest, most terrifying obstacle. However, Minerva was a master manipulator; she firmly believed that if used correctly, even the most dangerous obstacle could be manipulated into becoming her sharpest weapon. She just needed the right leverage.
"Waaahhh!"
"Yaaah! Run away!"
"This guy is the Guild Master of Sabertooth!!"
A sudden wave of panicked screams erupted from the audience seating adjacent to the Sabertooth balcony. Jiemma stood up, radiating a dark, suffocating aura of pure, unadulterated fury. His killing intent was so dense it actually cracked the stone flooring beneath his boots, scaring everyone around him into a chaotic, panicked flight.
Down in the ruined catacombs beneath the arena, Natsu looked down at the battered, gasping forms of Sting and Rogue. He didn't gloat, nor did he look down on them.
"You two are quite strong!" Natsu grinned his trademark, toothy smile, wiping a smear of soot from his cheek. "But you're still a bit green. Let's fight again when you've gotten even stronger."
With that, the Dragon Slayer turned his back and walked away, leaving the Twin Dragons to marinate in the bitter reality of their utter defeat.
Later that evening, the magical neon lights of Crocus illuminated the festive city. The giant Lacrima screens hovering above the central plazas updated with a magical chime, drawing the eyes of thousands of revelers.
[Overall Rankings Below:]
Fairy Tail — 51 pts
Mermaid Heel — 41 pts
Lamia Scale — 39 pts
Blue Pegasus — 37 pts
Sabertooth — 35 pts
Quatro Cerberus — 22 pts
"Fairy Tail is truly amazing!" a merchant cheered, clinking his glass with a stranger outside a bustling tavern.
"Yes! They've been dominating in first place for four consecutive days! It's not a fluke; it's an absolute massacre!"
"It looks like Sabertooth is seriously struggling now, ranking second to last. The former champions have fallen from grace."
"I wonder who will win the championship! The survival game is going to be a bloodbath!"
"It has to be Fairy Tail! Fairy Tail has that absolute monster, Ren! Did you see what he did to the Wizard Saint?!"
"Indeed, that guy Ren is incredibly powerful! He bends space itself like it's a cheap toy!"
"Not just Ren, but Laxus, Erza, Natsu, and Gajeel are all terrifyingly strong too. There are no weak links in that guild anymore."
At this moment, thousands of people in Crocus City were gathered around the Grand Magic Games scoreboards, drinking, dancing, and discussing the tournament with feverish excitement. The city was alive with the magic of competition.
Meanwhile, far removed from the joyful celebrations of the city, a dark cloud hung over the luxurious Sabertooth Hotel.
Crocus Garden.
Sabertooth held an emergency, mandatory meeting in the grand hall of their lodgings. The atmosphere was so heavy and oppressive that it was difficult to breathe. Everyone in the guild stood perfectly straight, their hands clasped behind their backs, their eyes glued to the marble floor in front of Jiemma's imposing throne.
Standing at the very front of the formation were Sting Eucliffe and Rogue Cheney. Both young Dragon Slayers were covered head-to-toe in thick white bandages and looked absolutely miserable. Though they were physically fine now after receiving top-tier healing magic from the tournament's medical staff, their spirits were utterly crushed.
Jiemma sat heavily in his oversized chair, his eyes burning with a demonic hatred.
"What is with those shameful, pathetic appearances," Jiemma growled, his deep voice vibrating through the crystal chandeliers above.
Rogue lowered his head further, hiding his eyes beneath his dark hair. He whispered, his voice trembling slightly, "I have nothing to say, Master. We failed completely. Natsu Dragneel's strength was far greater than I imagined..."
"Is that what someone belonging to the strongest guild should say?!" Jiemma roared, surging to his feet. The sheer force of his voice sent a shockwave through the room. "Who said you were allowed to look so disgraceful?! Who said you were allowed to lose?!"
Jiemma marched down the steps, his towering frame casting a dark shadow over the two young men.
"How dare you tarnish the name of the strongest guild!! You made us the laughingstock of the entire continent!"
"You two scoundrels are unworthy of carrying the proud name of Sabertooth!! Erase it!! Erase the guild mark from your flesh!! My guild doesn't need pathetic weaklings! It doesn't need sniveling stray dogs!!"
Without warning, Jiemma unleashed a brutal barrage of magically enhanced strikes. He violently punched and kicked Sting and Rogue, sending them crashing across the polished marble floor. Blood splattered against the pristine white walls. The Twin Dragons didn't dare to raise their hands to defend themselves, accepting the savage beating in silence.
No one in the guild dared to speak. Orga looked away. Rufus adjusted his hat to hide his eyes. Minerva watched with cold indifference.
Suddenly, a small, trembling figure stepped out from the ranks.
The little red Exceed cat, Lector, though terrified beyond belief, still shakily stepped forward into the master's line of sight.
"P-Please don't, Master," Lector stammered, his large eyes welling with tears. "Sting-kun and Rogue-kun tried very hard. They gave it their absolute all. Even though they lost this time, I am still so proud of Sting-kun."
Jiemma paused his assault, his eyes locking onto the small cat with pure disgust.
"I believe that people only become stronger after experiencing failure," Lector continued, his voice gaining a fraction of courage. "Sting-kun learned a lot from this battle, and he will definitely become stronger next time! Please give him another chance!"
"Who are you, you little brat?" Jiemma sneered, his lip curling in revulsion.
"Seriously, Master, I am a member too! I also have the Sabertooth mark carved right here, look how imposing it is!"
Lector desperately lifted his small blue vest, turning around to reveal the Sabertooth guild mark proudly engraved on his furry back. He thought this symbol of loyalty would save his best friend.
Upon seeing the sacred crest on a mere animal, Jiemma immediately flew into a blinding, psychotic rage.
"Since when can trash like stray cats and dogs be allowed to bear the glorious and proud mark of my Sabertooth!!" Jiemma bellowed, his magic power erupting like a volcano.
"Vanish!!"
Jiemma raised his massive palm and aimed it directly at the small, defenseless Exceed. A devastating, concentrated blast of magical energy shot toward Lector with the speed of lightning.
Boom—!!
"Lector—!!"
Sting cried out in absolute, soul-shattering despair, reaching his hand out as if he could somehow pull time backward.
The expressions of the other guild members changed drastically, shock finally breaking through their disciplined facades. Although Lector was just a small cat, he wasn't an ordinary beast; he could speak, reason, and possessed his own intelligence and thoughts, just like a human. Having been with Sabertooth for so long, they all secretly regarded Lector as a genuine comrade.
Guild Master Jiemma had just annihilated the little cat without a second thought, erasing him from existence in a flash of blinding light.
"Ahhhhh... Lector... he vanished..."
The little green-suited cat, Frosch, trembled all over in pure terror beside them, large tears streaming down his face non-stop as he stared at the empty space where his friend had just stood.
"Frosch!"
Rogue immediately lunged forward and hugged Frosch tightly to his chest, terrified that his partner would also be heartlessly killed by Jiemma in his psychotic rampage.
Having killed Lector, Jiemma lowered his smoking hand. He still seemed completely unsatisfied, rambling on like a madman: "So annoying, utterly annoying! A filthy cat actually bearing my guild's sacred mark..."
"Aahhhhhhh!!! What have you done... What have you done..."
Sting let out a guttural cry of pure pain and despair. The light in his eyes shattered, replaced by a blinding, primal instinct.
"Shut up!! It was just a mere cat!!"
Pshhhh—!!
A white laser beam pierced through Jiemma's body.
[Akarin Note:
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