For the audience, the final battle of the Grand Magic Games ended somewhat anticlimactically.
Yajima explained calmly, "There was really no helping it. The point gap was simply too large, and Fairy Tail Team B's strategy played a decisive role."
"Strategy?" Chapati asked.
"Yes," Yajima nodded. "Rhodes took advantage of the fact that most teams' strongest members chose to act alone. By teaming up with Laxus, he was able to hunt them down quickly."
"And almost all of those strongest members were worth five points each," he continued. "That allowed Fairy Tail Team B to score rapidly, while also concentrating the most intense battles in the first half of the match."
"I believe that if Fairy Tail Team A hadn't chosen a completely different mode of action from the other teams, Rhodes and Laxus would have very likely gone after Erza after dealing with Minerva and Kagura."
Chapati sighed regretfully. "That's a pity. I was really looking forward to seeing Miss Erza face those two. Her performance in the Demon Subjugation Hall is still unforgettable."
"Regardless," Pumpkin Man said calmly, speaking as the representative of the organizers, "the winner of this year's Grand Magic Games has been decided. Let us congratulate, Fairy Tail Team B!"
"Ohhhhh!!!"
"Fairy Tail!"
"Fairy Tail!"
The entire arena erupted into cheers. The applause was not only for the champion, Fairy Tail Team B, but also for the runner-up, Fairy Tail Team A.
The performances of both teams far exceeded anyone's expectations.
Sabertooth, a guild that had dominated multiple previous tournaments, had been rendered completely powerless before them.
A gong rang through the arena, officially signaling the end of the competition.
Outside the stadium, soldiers released fireworks on cue, and the band struck up a cheerful tune, waiting for the contestants to return.
Fairy Tail's viewing area exploded with celebration. Makarov personally waved the guild flag as three cats flew up and popped party streamers against it.
Amidst the fluttering ribbons, Alzack and Bisca hugged Asuka tightly, cheering and laughing.
Mira hugged Future Lucy, who was smiling through her tears, and bounced in place before turning to urge her younger siblings to go collect the contestants' consolation prizes.
Mavis had completely forgotten her earlier distress over miscalculations and was fully immersed in the festive atmosphere.
The entire arena was alive with joy, and even the contestants still scattered across the capital could hear the noise as they boarded the returning airships.
Sting lay on the ground, staring blankly at the sky, replaying the final moments of the match in his mind.
Perhaps it couldn't even be called a battle.
After Rhodes calmly calculated the scores, Fairy Tail Team A had essentially stopped fighting.
Only Natsu had shouted stubbornly, "I don't care! Survival games are supposed to be fought to the very end! It starts with you, Laxus!"
One second later, Natsu was sent flying, crashing through two entire streets amid fire and lightning. Quite literally, fire and lightning.
After recovering slightly, Natsu jumped up and started running back toward the battlefield.
It was at that moment that Sting stepped forward.
He blocked Natsu's path, white light gathering in his hands.
"Natsu Dragneel," he declared, "only you, I must defeat you head-on!"
Natsu didn't even slow down. "Get out of the way!"
In the next instant, Sting felt overwhelming pain, searing heat, and then, darkness.
Fairy Tail Team A gained one more point, though it changed nothing.
After that, Natsu was decisively dealt with, and the remaining contestants accepted the inevitable outcome.
In the end, Fairy Tail Team B claimed first place with 103 points, while Fairy Tail Team A secured second with 74 points.
Third place, Blue Pegasus, trailed far behind with only 39 points.
Now awake once more, Sting listened to the distant roar of celebration drifting from the arena.
Thinking back on his "final battle," he suddenly found it all rather laughable.
Sting raised his right hand to cover his eyes. A self-mocking smile and unwilling tears appeared at the same time.
"Sting!"
It sounded like Lector's voice.
'A hallucination again?'
"Sting!"
The voice was closer this time, clearer, trembling slightly, on the verge of tears.
That couldn't be fake.
Sting lowered his hand just in time to see a small red cat fly toward him and crash straight into his chest.
"Lector!" Sting immediately hugged him, then lifted him up and stared at him intently.
Lector's tears splashed onto Sting's face.
After a moment of excitement, Sting finally asked, "Did… did the Young Lady let you go?"
Lector shook his head.
"People from Shining Sun said that Rhodes and Laxus defeated the Young Lady and rescued me."
Logically, he should have been happy.
But knowing that the Young Lady had been defeated left Lector unable to feel joy.
When the Master wanted to kill him, it was the Young Lady who saved him.
Although she imprisoned him afterward, Lector was still deeply grateful to her.
"I see…" Sting murmured. It seemed he owed Fairy Tail yet another favor. He fell silent.
Noticing his dejected expression, Lector quickly forced a smile."It's okay, Sting."
"Hm?"
"It's just a competition. Losing doesn't matter," Lector said earnestly. "Sting is the strongest. Even if you lost today, you'll still become the strongest in the future!"
Sting froze for a moment, then finally smiled.
"That's right. We only lost this time. From now on, we'll keep working toward becoming the strongest!"
After a brief pause, his expression grew firm.
"But, we'll do it differently than Master Jieman."
Lector nodded vigorously. "Mhm!"
"By the way," Sting asked, "where is the Young Lady? If we're going to change the guild, I'll need to convince her."
Lector shook his head. "I don't know. I didn't see her when I woke up. Maybe the medical team took her away first?"
Sting nodded and didn't press the matter further.
When Rhodes and his companions returned to the arena, the organizers informed them that the award ceremony would be held the next day. All they needed to do was appear on stage briefly before returning to rest.
No one objected.
Rhodes led the group, with Laxus, Gajeel, Juvia, and Wendy walking at his sides.
Mira, as an original main team member, was also invited.
The six of them appeared together at the center of the arena, walked a short circuit under staff guidance, and waved to the crowd.
Reporters rushed forward to take photos, while the audience and their friends applauded enthusiastically.
Aside from Sabertooth and Dragons Treasure, even the guilds that had lost to them applauded sincerely.
It was rumored that Dragons Treasure had left midway after all their members were defeated, while Sabertooth descended into chaos after Sting returned, many of its members visibly shaken.
Rhodes quietly took note of Sabertooth's abnormal state, but continued waving to the audience alongside his companions.
Although there were still unresolved matters, a simple celebratory banquet was held regardless.
"Well done! You all did an excellent job!"
Makarov was overjoyed by the younger generation's outstanding performance.
Laxus's calm and reliable showing also pleased him greatly, not just as Guild Master, but as a grandfather.
With successors for both the guild and his family, Makarov felt a profound sense of no regrets in this life.
That was, until the sound of a scuffle erupted, and Natsu's sandal flew straight into his forehead.
"NATSU! GRAY!"
Makarov's roar shook the hall.
"I haven't settled the matter of Tequila Park with you two yet!"
Rhodes pulled Mira to the edge of the brawl, happily eating, drinking, and watching the chaos unfold while taking a brief rest.
"Excuse me."
Hearing the voice, Rhodes turned toward the tavern entrance.
"Sting? Is something wrong?"
Seeing the lively, chaotic scene, Sting showed a flicker of envy before quickly composing himself.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," he said. "But our guild's Young Lady, Minerva, has not returned since the competition ended. I heard that Mr. Rhodes and Mr. Laxus defeated her, so I wanted to ask if you have any information."