Rhode fulfilled his promise.
Today in the duel segment, he stood on the 'Martial Arts Arena' alongside Laxus and Erza.
But the situation was not as everyone imagined.
It wasn't Laxus and Erza teaming up against Rhode, nor was it a three-way battle, but rather Rhode and Laxus joining forces against Erza.
Kana looked at the three not far away, too stunned to drink or open a gambling round, and simply said:
"If Rhode and Laxus join forces, can anyone in the guild really beat them?"
Macao said: "The President, and your father Kildas, might be able to?"
Wakaba said: "But, I remember during Fairy Tail fighting, Mr. Jura from the Ten Wizard Saints fought against those two and only lasted a few rounds."
Reby asked worriedly: "So why arrange such a duel?"
Lisana answered: "Brother-in-law said, the current training is too weak for Erza, she needs more pressure."
Lucy said fearfully: "This kind of pressure is too exaggerated."
"Erza, defeat them...no, let me defeat them!" Natsu shouted and struggled to rush forward.
Hapi and Romeo, one grabbing Natsu's scarf and another hugging him from behind, held him tightly: "Natsu, don't make trouble now, you'll get killed!"
Romeo had seen Natsu challenge those three over the past month, but had never seen him win.
Though Natsu always claimed he had improved, he ended up getting beaten more miserably each time.
Seeing those three standing together today... Romeo really didn't want to lose his Natsu.
"Too noisy, Natsu." Gray focused intently on the three ahead.
Actually, he also wanted to challenge, but...not tackle all three at once.
"Everyone~" Mira's voice echoed from afar.
The crowd turned their heads puzzled.
Elfman carefully shielded Mira as she put her hands to her mouth to shout:
"Rhode said they're serious today, better stay away~"
The crowd contemplated the meaning of 'serious' and suddenly felt a gust of wind nearly sweeping them off their feet.
"Wah!!"
"What's happening?"
"Has it started?"
The wind did not stop just because they turned around; everyone had to raise a hand to shield themselves, struggling to see what was happening.
But those three hadn't done anything; merely by brewing some magic power, they stirred up a fierce gale.
This was just the beginning, as their aura kept rising, the ground quaked, tiny pebbles leaped from the earth's tremor.
The clear sky began to gather clouds, dark clouds blocked the sunlight, yet seemed torn by some force, twisted into swirling vortices, quietly spinning.
Wendy took a deep breath: "The air changed, it feels so heavy."
Even if she hadn't said, everyone could feel the oppressive surge.
Lidas instinctively set up his drawing board, but hesitated before drawing and asked:
"Um, when the Ten Wizard Saints seriously fight, does it cause changes in the world?"
"That's right." Fried said proudly, "In terms of magic alone, Laxus can definitely stand among the Ten Wizard Saints."
Jubia asked: "Them being so serious, is that okay?"
Gajeel said: "Anyway, we're in the mountains, it doesn't matter."
Marcus said: "The mountains don't matter, but I think...we're standing too close."
Silence fell among them, then someone suddenly said, 'Mira's right, let's move.'
So, they all quickly relocated to Mira's position, dragging even those reluctant to move.
The strong wind gradually ceased, Rhode took off his Ten Wizard Saints Cloak while Laxus tossed his coat.
Erza also got into gear, emitting white light: "Fairy Armor!"
The armor change was completed instantly; the companions from afar immediately recognized this set of armor:
"Using Fairy Armor from the start?"
"Carrying the guild's name, she absolutely won't lose..."
"But against those two, even with Fairy Armor, it's not that easy."
Erza charged towards Laxus holding two swords, leaving a small dent in the ground as she pushed off with her foot.
Her speed was so fast that only a pink afterimage was visible.
But, in Laxus's eyes, this speed was far from enough.
He slightly turned sideways, dodging Erza's first slash.
Then, golden arcs sparked from his body, as if he became lightning, dodging the second slash and appearing behind Erza in an instant.
As if expecting this, Erza spun and swung her right arm to sweep with her sword.
The sword, covered in green light, collided with a golden fist, and the violent magic power exploded instantly.
The location they were in was immediately flooded with golden light.
The ground trembled slightly, and some nearby stones were blasted into pieces, showing smooth cuts from slashes.
The pink figure jumped out from the golden light, with the golden meteor relentless, reaching a higher position faster for a downward whip kick.
"Uh..." Erza was a tad slow in raising her sword, getting kicked on the wrist.
Though the longsword wasn't knocked away, her body shot towards the ground like a cannonball due to the immense force.
With a bang, Erza landed, poised with a half-crouch supporting herself with her sword, though the ground was still dented with a web-like pattern surrounding.
"Don't be careless, Erza!" Laxus warned, twisting his body in mid-air, "Thunder Dragon Celestial Halberd!"
The Heaven-piercing Halberd formed by golden lightning seemed aimed right at Erza's head, exploding amidst thunder, enveloping an area of more than ten meters with golden lightning.
Without waiting for the lightning to disappear, Erza emerged clad in light blue armor, wielding a long spear aimed at...Rhode.
She had noticed Rhode drawing a magic array from above.
Intuition told Erza that letting him finish wouldn't be good.
But before Erza rushed to Rhode, layers of purple magic arrays had already surrounded her.
Rhode snapped his fingers, grinning: "Not enough, must settle for this, Amaterasu Formula 100."
The rumbling explosion sounded throughout the mountains, its aftermath almost reaching Laxus, who was an ally.
Makarov resisted the urge to unleash the Three Pillars God's power for Erza, merely complaining: "Using such magic is too excessive."
Mira reassured: "It's okay, President, such level of attack, Erza can handle."
Makarov frowned: "With such power, even Flames Emperor Armor..."
As the smoke cleared, Erza stood firm at the explosion's center in a thick silver-gray armor, arms locked in front forming a shield with arm armor.
Erza's voice rang: "Earth Mother Dragon·Vajra Armor!"
Everyone recognized Vajra Armor, but this armor was different; its chest, back, shield, and helmet were embedded with hexagonal scales of varying sizes.
These scales were, of course, from the Earth Mother Dragon that Rhode felled during the Great Demon Fighting Martial Arts.
Erza had a craftsman combine these indestructible scales with her Vajra Armor, greatly enhancing defense.
With this armor on, she was confident she could face the Magic-guided Cluster Cannon head-on without retreating even a step.