Blake stood tall on the central stage, the roar of the packed stadium echoing in his chest. His aura, calm and massive, was a palpable presence that settled the chaotic energy of his guildmates. He unhooked the magical microphone, his deep voice booming over the crowd.
"ALRIGHT, FAIRY TAIL! ALRIGHT, MAGNOLIA!"
"You've seen the teams. You've picked your favorites. Now, it's time for the rules of the competition!"
With a grand gesture, Blake pointed to the ends of the massive, reinforced battlefield. On cue, guild assistants rolled out two human-sized crystals, one a deep, fiery red, the other a brilliant, cool blue. They were massive, flawless crystals.
"The rules are simple! This is a 'Crystal Break' battle! Each team is assigned one of these beautiful crystals," Blake announced.
"Your job is twofold," Blake continued, his voice resonating with authority. "First: You must keep your crystal safe. Second: You must destroy your opponent's crystal to win the match!"
Natsu, already bouncing on his toes, yelled, "So I just gotta punch it, right?!"
"Yes, Natsu!" Blake smirked. "But remember, you also have to protect yours as well."
He held up a hand, and the crowd quieted. "This is a team battle! You must defend, you must attack, and you must coordinate! You are not allowed to kill, maim, or permanently disfigure your guildmates..." He paused, a dangerous glint in his eye. "...too badly."
A ripple of excited, bloodthirsty laughter went through the guild.
"The first team to shatter the enemy's crystal WINS! The first battle is about to begin! Will Team Veterans' experience triumph? Or will Team Strauss's power prove to be the real deal? LET'S FIND OUT!"
Team Strauss: Mirajane, Elfman, Lisanna, and Reedus Jonah.
Team Veterans: Macao Conbolt, Wakaba Mine, Alzack Connel, and Bisca Mulan.
The two teams took their places at opposite ends of the field. The Veterans' blue crystal was placed behind them, while Team Strauss's red crystal was set near their starting point.
Macao adjusted his collar, a look of grim determination on his face. "Alright, listen up. We're the old guard. We can't match that monster Elfman head-on, and Mira is a demon when provoked. We fight smart, not hard. Bisca, Alzack, you are our long-range. You are not aiming for the mages; you are aiming for the crystal, non-stop. Wakaba, I want this entire field covered in smoke. Reedus is their only dedicated defender, and he can't guard what he can't see. We snipe their crystal before they even know what hit 'em."
On the other side, Mirajane smiled sweetly, her hands clasped. "Alright, everyone! Elf-niichan, you're our main shield. Your job is to stand in front of that crystal and be a big, manly wall. Lisanna, I want you in your fastest Animal Soul form. Run interference. Keep their snipers busy. Reedus, please stay back and use your Pict Magic to draw shields, just in case. I'll... provide support."
"And you, sister?" Elfman asked, pounding his fists. "You will fight!"
"My, my," Mira giggled. "We'll see."
Blake's voice boomed: "BEGIN!"
The fight exploded instantly. "SMOKY WOKY!" Wakaba roared, and a thick, acrid cloud of purple smoke instantly flooded the entire stadium, reducing visibility to zero.
Macao was already moving. "Purple Flare: Trap Net!" He sent streams of sticky, purple fire into the smoke, creating a web of explosive traps between the two teams.
CLANG! ZING!
Through the smog, the sound of gunfire erupted. Alzack's "Guns Magic: Ricochet Shot" and Bisca's "Requip: Sniper Rifle" were already at work. They weren't even trying to find the mages; they were firing calculated, arcing shots at the last known position of the red crystal.
"MANLY SHIELD!" A massive, scaled Beast Arm erupted from the smoke, Elfman having transformed just his upper body. He batted the magical bullets out of the air, sparks flying. "You can't beat a man with tricks!"
"They're smart," Mira noted calmly from behind him. "Lisanna, go."
"Right!" Lisanna shouted. "Animal Soul: Cat!" She vanished into the smoke, her senses far sharper than a human's. She moved with a speed that shocked the Veterans, leaping over Macao's fire traps and appearing directly in front of Bisca.
"Hi!" she chirped, her claws out.
"Wha—!" Bisca yelped, forced to abandon her sniper position to engage in close-quarters combat.
"I've got her!" Alzack yelled, turning his fire on Lisanna. "Wakaba, Macao, keep that big guy busy!"
"On it!" Macao shot a "Purple Flare" blast. Elfman simply walked through it, the fire parting around his "manly" aura.
"This is tougher than I thought," Macao grunted, dodging a backhand from the massive Beast Arm.
The battle devolved into a brilliant, tactical stalemate. The Veterans were proving their worth. Alzack and Bisca were a perfect duo, laying down suppressing fire that kept Elfman and Reedus pinned, while Macao and Wakaba used smoke and fire to control the field.
"Reedus! I need another shield, left flank!" Elfman roared, blocking a "Spark Shot" from Alzack.
"I'm... I'm drawing as fast as I can!" Reedus yelped, his brush flying.
"They're pinned!" Macao yelled, seeing his chance. "Bisca, now! 'Homing Shot'!"
"Target locked!" Bisca requipped to a larger rifle, firing a single, glowing bullet that curved around Elfman, heading straight for the crystal.
"ELF-NIICHAN, BEHIND YOU!" Lisanna screamed.
Elfman roared. He couldn't block it and defend the front. He made a choice. He abandoned his post and threw his entire massive body in front of the crystal.
The Homing Shot struck him dead-center in the back.
BOOM!
The explosion was massive, sending Elfman staggering to his knees, smoke rising from his back. He was hurt.
"ELF-NIICHAN!" Lisanna cried out, her eyes wide with fear.
Macao grinned, his teeth visible through the smoke. "Got him! He's tough, but he can't take that all day. Mira! Aren't you going to do something? "
Mirajane, who had been standing with her eyes closed, opened them. Her sweet, gentle smile didn't just fade; it evaporated. The temperature on the field plummeted. A dark, suffocating, magical pressure rolled off her in waves, so potent that even Blake, from the announcer's box, sat up straight.
"Oh," Mira said, her voice a sickly-sweet, layered whisper that sent a shiver down Macao's spine. "You wanted me to do something, Macao-san?"
"TAKE OVER: SATAN SOUL!"
The explosion of dark magic was so violent that it blasted every wisp of Wakaba's smoke off the field. Mirajane, now in her full, demonic form, hovered above her crystal, her eyes glowing red, her claws flexing.
Macao's cigar fell from his mouth. "Oh... crap."
"Elfman," Mira commanded, her voice an unholy echo. "Your magic... it's the strongest. It's manly. Now... destroy their crystal. NOW."
Elfman, kneeling on the ground, looked up at his sister. He wasn't afraid. He was inspired.
"WITH PLEASURE, SISTER!" he roared, his body convulsing. The pain was gone, replaced by power. "BEAST SOUL: FULL-BODY TAKE OVER!"
He exploded into his massive, purple-scaled Beast form, a towering monster of pure, unadulterated strength.
The Veterans panicked. "ALL FIRE ON THE BEAST! NOW!" Alzack and Bisca unloaded their entire arsenal. The bullets and cannon shells just pinged off his thick, magical hide.
"I'll stop him!" Macao yelled, creating a massive "Purple Flare" wall.
Elfman didn't even slow down. He charged, a living, roaring mountain.
"I don't think so," Mira's voice whispered from behind Macao. He spun, but her "Darkness Stream" was already upon him, enveloping him and Wakaba in a sphere of pure darkness, their magic instantly nullified.
Elfman reached the Veterans' blue crystal. He raised his massive, clawed fist.
"THIS... IS FOR FAIRY TAIL! WOOOOO!"
He smashed the crystal. It didn't just break; it disintegrated into a million glowing-blue shards.
The stadium was silent for a beat, then erupted.
Blake's voice boomed: "THE MATCH IS OVER! THE WINNER IS... TEAM STRAUSS!"
Next Match
Team Thunder Legion: Laxus Dreyar, Freed Justine, Bickslow, and Evergreen.
Team Shadow Gear: Gajeel Redfox, Levy McGarden, Jet, and Droy.
The field was cleared, and the new crystals were brought out. Team Thunder Legion took the field to a massive ovation. They were S-Class and the clear favorites. Team Shadow Gear shuffled out, looking terrified.
"Gihi. What a drag," Gajeel grunted, munching on a small, iron bolt. "Stuck with these runts."
"Hey!" Jet and Droy snapped.
"Gajeel, be nice!" Levy scolded. She looked across the field at Laxus, who was yawning, his arms crossed. "This... this is bad. Laxus is in a different league."
"So?" Gajeel said, his red eyes narrowing on the blonde mage. "So am I. I'll take Laxus. You three... just stay out of my way."
"Gajeel, wait!" Levy said, grabbing his arm. "We can't win a straight fight! We have to think! Just... just buy me thirty seconds. Whatever it takes. Keep them away from me and our crystal. I have a plan."
Gajeel looked at the small, blue-haired girl. He saw the fire in her eyes. He hated plans. But...
"Tch. Thirty seconds. Fine. But this is stupid."
Blake's voice rang out: "SECOND MATCH... BEGIN!"
"Let's finish this," Laxus yawned, not moving. "Evergreen. Bickslow. Take out the trash. Freed, guard our crystal."
"Right, Laxus!" Evergreen's eyes flashed behind her glasses. "Fairy Magic: Gremlin!" She fired a blast of golden, explosive fairy-dust at Jet and Droy.
"Here come my babies!" Bickslow cackled, his "Baryon Formation" launching his five totems, which zapped at the two men with "Figure Eyes" soul-sealing magic.
"Run-run-run!" Jet screamed, his "High Speed" magic activating, grabbing Droy and pulling him into a frantic, zig-zagging retreat. They were pure defense, and they were failing fast, the totems herding them like sheep.
"Gihi. My turn," Gajeel said. He saw Freed, who was moving with elegant grace toward Levy. Gajeel intercepted him. "Iron Dragon's Sword!"
His arm elongated into a massive, jagged blade, clashing with Freed's rapier with a deafening SCHREEEE!
"You're out of your league, Dragon Slayer," Freed said coolly, his "Dark Écriture" runes glowing on his blade. "Your magic is unrefined. Crude."
"Shut up and fight, pretty-boy!" Gajeel roared, pressing his attack.
While the chaos raged, Levy was a beacon of calm. She was on her knees, her fingers flying, her magic ink painting the ground. She wasn't writing "Fire" or "Iron." She was writing a complex, multi-layered tapestry of runes—a trap of her own.
Laxus, bored, finally decided to end it. "This is taking too long."
He raised his hand. A massive, crackling ball of golden lightning formed. He wasn't aiming at Gajeel. He was aiming at their crystal.
"Game over, runts."
He fired the bolt.
"NOW!" Levy screamed, slamming her hand on the ground. "SOLID SCRIPT: SHIELD!"
A massive, domed, multi-layered barrier of purple script-magic materialized around their crystal.
Laxus's lightning bolt hit it... and fizzled. The runes glowed, absorbed the blast, and dispersed it harmlessly into the earth.
The entire stadium—and Laxus—stopped.
Levy was panting, sweat pouring down her face. "It's... It's an 'Anti-Lightning' enchantment... tuned only to your magical wavelength, Laxus-san. It... it should hold."
Laxus's eye twitched. The pipsqueak... had blocked him. A flicker of... respect? No. Just an annoyance.
"Clever, pipsqueak," Laxus growled, his voice losing its bored tone. "Fine." He turned to his team. "Freed. Bickslow. Evergreen. Forget the runts. Take Gajeel. I'll handle the crystal myself."
This was the turning point. The full force of the Thunder Legion descended.
"This is for Laxus!" Bickslow yelled, his "Baryon Formation" now aiming at Gajeel.
"Stone Eyes!" Evergreen shouted, trying to catch Gajeel's gaze.
"Gihi, I'm not that stupid!" Gajeel snapped, fighting with his eyes half-closed, but the "Fairy Bomb: Gremlin" dust exploded on his back, staggering him.
"Dark Écriture: Pain," Freed wrote in the air, the rune transferring to Gajeel's shoulder, causing him to roar in agony.
Gajeel was fighting a 3-on-1, and he was losing.
Meanwhile, Laxus walked calmly to Levy's barrier. Jet and Droy tried to stop him. Laxus didn't even look at them; he just released a pulse of his magic pressure, and the two C-Class mages collapsed, their legs giving out.
He stood before the runes.
"You tuned it to my magic," he said, his voice a low growl. "But you forgot about my fists."
He cocked his arm back, his bicep swelling, his fist crackling with raw, physical energy, not lightning.
Levy's eyes widened in terror. "Oh, no... the script... it can't... GAJEEL!"
Gajeel, on his knees from Freed's "Pain" rune, saw it. He roared, his rage overriding the magic. He threw off the Thunder Legion, his skin shifting. "Iron Dragon's... SCALES!"
He charged Laxus, trying to intercept.
He was too late.
Laxus's punch connected with the barrier. The runes, not designed for pure, S-Class physicality, shattered. The barrier exploded in a shower of purple light.
Laxus's fist continued, not slowing, and connected with the crystal.
KRA-KOOM!
The crystal shattered.
Gajeel froze, skidding to a halt just feet away, his own fist raised, but the battle was over.
Blake's voice boomed over the silent stadium. "THE MATCH IS OVER! THE WINNER IS... TEAM THUNDER LEGION!"
Laxus just scoffed at Gajeel's defiant, panting form and turned away. "A waste of time."
Gajeel stood, shaking, his fists clenched, staring at Laxus's back. He had lost. But Levy ran over, helping Jet and Droy, and then looked at Gajeel. "You were... you were amazing, Gajeel. You held them off."
Gajeel just grunted, "Tch." But as he walked off the field, the crowd, which had been silent, began to clap. Not for the winners, but for the losers. Team Shadow Gear hadn't just rolled over; they'd made the S-Class team work for it.