"How could they allow such a guild to participate in the Grand Magic Games!"
Makarov angrily tried to rush down from the spectator stands to confront the officials, but was quickly restrained by Macao and Wakaba.
Mavis's eyes reflected the appearance of the five people below, especially the masked man in the black cloak, as she murmured:
"Indeed, I sense a sinister aura."
The spectator stands had also become restless due to Makarov's outburst.
The audience had heard rumors about Raven Tail, but never expected them to appear so openly at the continent's most celebrated festival.
Raven Tail's Guild Master, Ivan—Makarov's son—sat in the spectator stands watching his furious father with a mocking smile, sneering:
"Sorry, Father, but you can't expel me here."
On the commentator's platform, Chapati was urgently reviewing the official documents given to him.
Picking up the microphone, he announced: "Raven Tail has existed for seven years and recently passed the review to become an official guild."
Mr. Yajima slightly opened his cloudy eyes, his voice weathered as he stated.
"In that case, they are qualified to participate in the Grand Magic Games."
Raven Tail's team now stood facing off against Fairy Tail's Team A on the arena floor.
The lead figure wearing a bronze mask spoke in a gloomy voice from beneath his disguise:
"Fairy Tail... that little girl sends her regards."
Hearing the masked man's words, Natsu's pupils contracted. His legs tensed as he prepared to charge forward.
Erza raised her hand, stopping the impulsive Dragon Slayer. Her gaze was like piercing ice, radiating killing intent as she stared at the Raven Tail members.
"Enjoy the festival, fairies."
The masked man's grin was grotesque, causing members from surrounding teams to unconsciously distance themselves.
"Well! Only two teams remain to be introduced now!"
Chapati's voice continued echoing throughout the coliseum.
Hearing this, Erza thoughtfully remarked. "Two teams... one must be Sabertooth."
"Who could the other team be?"
"To think there's still a hidden powerful team in the Grand Magic Games." Hibiki approached Lucy holding a bouquet of flowers, flirting just as he had seven years earlier.
"I'm not paying attention to you, you know." Ren stared straight ahead, speaking with feigned seriousness.
Lucy responded with visible annoyance: "You two are exactly the same as before... and don't you have a fiancée? Why are you still like this?"
Eve went to flirt with Cana, only to be completely ignored by the drinking Mage.
Ichiya wandered over to Erza, but the preoccupied warrior irritably kicked him away.
The five members of Quatro Cerberus stood with arms around each other's shoulders, bending over while shouting their peculiar team chant.
Lamia Scale's Lyon was arguing with Gray about who Juvia really liked, thoroughly annoying the ice Mage.
A new face from Lamia Scale, Sherry's cousin Sherria, was staring jealously at Lyon during the argument.
The field was in chaos. The five female members of Mermaid Heel were also somewhat excited, wanting to go greet their old friends.
The plump girl, Risley, patted the cloaked girl beside her and asked with a smile, "Millianna, aren't you going to say hello to your friend?"
Erza's dear friend from the Tower of Heaven, Millianna, secretly watched Erza from under her cloak and replied with a mischievous grin.
"I want to wait until tonight to give Erza-chan a surprise!"
The leader of the female team, a woman with long spiral hair wearing spiderweb-patterned clothing named Arania, looked at her captain.
"What about you, Kagura? Why don't you go greet your sister?"
Seven years had flown by, and the once thin, wretched little girl Kagura had grown into a handsome, heroic woman.
Kagura brushed aside her long hair, watching the pensive Erza in the distance, and said helplessly.
"No need. We'll find out when we take the stage."
In truth, Kagura had guessed that Erza probably hadn't recognized her.
This sister of hers, who appeared strong-willed and decisive on the outside but was actually somewhat airheaded and naive inside, probably still thought of her as that little girl about Wendy's age.
Yet in reality, Kagura was now older than Erza...
The competitors on the field spontaneously ignored the gloomy Raven Tail and began chatting among themselves, while Chapati's voice suddenly rose several octaves as he shouted:
"Oh! Here they come! Surprisingly, their ranking isn't high! The perennial champions actually only placed second in the preliminary round!!"
Chapati's introduction left many Sabertooth supporters momentarily stunned, only daring to stand up and cheer loudly after hearing the latter part of his announcement.
"The strongest guild! Invincible, the king among Fiore's guilds!"
"Sabertooth!"
As grand fireworks and pyrotechnics erupted, the atmosphere instantly reached an even higher level, with thunderous cheers and shouts that seemed ready to shake the arena to its foundations.
Simultaneously, all the excited spectators shared the same question in their hearts.
Sabertooth only placed second?
Then who was first?
Amid the overwhelming cheers, Sting and the others emerged from the competitor's tunnel.
But unlike what the audience expected, the Mages of Sabertooth wore expressions as if their family graves had exploded.
Their faces were dark with obvious displeasure.
Gray watched the Sabertooth Mages and frowned slightly. "Sabertooth is second? Then who's first?"
Natsu pointed at Sting and Rogue across the way and laughed, "So you're only second place after all!"
Sting's face flushed red, Rogue clenched his fists tightly, while Rufus and Orga gritted their teeth in anger.
'Seriously... How dare an eighth-placer like you mock us?!'
But... Natsu and his team were actually in the other group.
A shadow fell over Rogue's heart as he turned to look at the final team about to emerge.
Didn't that mean...
"Now we're only waiting for the final team!"
Chapati grabbed his microphone and roared with full passion:
"The strongest guild from seven years ago, with their main members returned, immediately claimed first place upon participating in the Grand Magic Games! Will they spread their wings here and return to the peak?!"
Erza listened to the strangely familiar introduction, her eyes widening.
Natsu and Lucy stared with jaws agape, while Gray and Cana watched speechlessly as five familiar figures emerged from the passageway.
"Fairy Tail, Team B!!"
Golden lightning crashed down, etching Fairy Tail's iconic emblem before the five figures.
Ankh's familiar face appeared before Erza and the others.
"Brother?!"
"Ankh? Laxus? Gajeel?"
"Mira and Juvia? Why are you all here?!"
The corners of Ankh's lips curled upward as he savored Erza's astonishment. He then raised his head to survey the previously bustling arena that had fallen silent.
This was the feeling he wanted!
Mockery?
While the fairy is away, the tigers will play.
The status they held seven years ago—it was time to reclaim it!
...