The Grand Magic Games' format was ingeniously designed, ensuring the importance of each day's competition while preventing a single setback from completely jeopardizing a team's championship aspirations.
For instance, after three days, Fairy Tail, despite holding first place, possessed a mere forty-seven points, a single point ahead of Sabertooth in second. It seemed they could be overtaken at any moment.
Of course, guilds like Twilight Ogre, with a paltry three points after three days, were essentially out of contention.
Speaking of which, Sabertooth had truly made a name for themselves, forcing everyone to acknowledge the previously obscure small guild.
To avoid any mishaps, Drake personally participated in the fourth day's Javelin Throwing event, securing a full ten points.
Then, in the 2v2 battle against Mermaid Heel, Kagura and Stella easily triumphed, earning another ten points.
With this, Fairy Tail suddenly boasted a terrifyingly high score of 67 points, widening the gap considerably.
The other guilds could only hope for Fairy Tail to falter in the final round-robin tournament. But would Drake grant them their wish?
The Grand Magic Games' fifth day was the final: a free-for-all brawl with all members participating.
Aside from their own guildmates, everyone in the arena was an enemy.
Each five-person team had one captain and four members. Defeating an enemy captain earned 5 points, while defeating a member earned 1 point. The guild decided who would be captain.
Fairy Tail entered the arena to the cheers of the audience.
The venue had been magically transformed into an entire town, forcing everyone to search for enemies and fight in the complex terrain.
Stella summoned her Dragon Queen Sin Sword, asking: "Drake, what's our plan?"
Drake replied: "The most important thing in this kind of competition is securing points quickly, so let's start by saying hello to our opponents!"
"Magic Territory" + "Peacock Plume"
The Magic Territory's added ability allowed magic to strike any location within the domain, making it perfect for the current situation.
Drake's Magic Territory nearly covered the entire arena, and everyone simultaneously felt as if they were being targeted by the most terrifying predator.
Then, they saw scorching fireballs, as precise as missiles, flying towards them.
On the light screen in mid-air, Fairy Tail's score skyrocketed, increasing by a full nineteen points before stopping.
With a single spell, Drake had cleared the field, eliminating all the weaker mages. Even the town itself had been transformed into ruins.
Drake, however, was somewhat dissatisfied; he had expected to score 25 points or more.
But these were the kingdom's most elite mages, after all; it would have been too boring if they were all wiped out by a single spell.
Drake stretched his limbs, saying: "That locks up our victory early; now, go wild and have some fun!"
The four looked at each other, their competitive spirits reignited. Drake's display had spurred them on, and they scattered to find their prey.
Drake, however, didn't move, instead looking towards one side of the ruins.
"Are they teaming up?"
From that direction, Drake sensed several approaching presences. With the town destroyed, he soon saw the figures approaching.
Jura and Lyon of Lamia Scale, Ichiya, Eve, and Ren of Blue Pegasus, and Minerva, Orga, and Rufus of Sabertooth.
The top-tier mages of this Grand Magic Games had almost all gathered around Drake.
Drake glanced in another direction, then looked at the assembled group.
In the shadows, Ivan, wearing his armor, felt a shiver run down his spine from Drake's gaze, wondering if he had been exposed.
However, he had no intention of giving up. Having come from Fairy Tail, Ivan knew the guild possessed a secret magic, known only to its successive guild masters: "Lumen Histoire."
Ivan had always sought to understand and possess that magic, and after the Tenrou Island incident, he believed Drake, the sole survivor, held the key.
Now was the perfect opportunity to acquire "Lumen Histoire."
That was why he had obtained the right to participate in the Grand Magic Games at any cost. He couldn't possibly give up now.
The group stopped nearby, but instead of forming an alliance as Drake had expected, they kept their distance from each other, as if wary.
Drake said with amusement: "What's this about?"
Jura clasped his hands together, saying: "This is the Grand Magic Games; we'll settle things with magic, of course! I've long wanted to test my skills against your Dragon Slayer magic, Drake!"
Ichiya struck a bizarre pose, saying: "I, too, feel the same way, men! Let's have a fair fight!"
Minerva glanced at the two, secretly gritting her teeth. Her original plan was to form an alliance with the other guilds to eliminate Fairy Tail first, but the opportunity never arose.
Drake wasn't surprised; mages like Jura possessed their own pride and wouldn't team up against one person.
If they lacked that pride, they wouldn't have reached where they were today.
Drake smiled: "Perfect; I'm getting fired up too."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone moved at once. Jura remained stationary, but numerous stone pillars erupted from the ground, targeting not only Drake but everyone else as well.
Drake leaped onto a pillar, seeing the others evade Jura's probing attack in their own ways.
But Lamia Scale's attack wasn't over; Lyon, riding his ice serpent, charged forward.
Blue Pegasus' Ren also fired an air cannon at Drake. Above, Ivan unleashed a storm.
Although it was a free-for-all, it was clear who the greatest threat was, so most of the attacks were focused on Drake.
Of course, there was also the possibility that Drake's taunting had drawn too much aggro.
Take Blue Pegasus, for example; to block Drake's Peacock Plume, Hibiki had used all his magic power to shield Ichiya and the others.
Drake didn't mind; if anything, it made him even more excited.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
Drake shattered the ice serpent with a single punch, while the flames extending from his hands devoured the incoming air cannon and melted the blizzard.
Just then, Orga, wreathed in black lightning, charged forward, throwing a punch at Drake.
"God Slayer magic, eh!"
Drake retaliated with a punch of his own, the black lightning and crimson flames spreading out, destroying the stone pillars Jura had created.
Orga roared, concentrating all his power into his fist, but still saw Drake's fist pressing down, unstoppable.
At that moment, Ichiya, his body bulging with muscles, punched Drake from behind.
Drake raised his hand and blocked Ichiya's fist, casually throwing him away. In mid-air, Ichiya's body, the space around him twisted before he froze in place.
"Ichiya-sama!"
Amidst Eve and Ren's cries, Ichiya's muscles all contracted, and he lost consciousness, his eyes rolling back.
Minerva licked her lips; she had just used her space magic to drain Ichiya's magic power.
That was her strategy; the final outcome was determined by points. There was no need to clash head-on with a monster like Drake; it was easier to take points from others!
Rufus, standing at the highest point, used his Memory-Make magic. A massive magic circle opened, unleashing a meteor shower of magical projectiles upon everyone.
Sabertooth's actions intensified the chaos of the battle.
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