Mirajane watched with curiosity as Cana suddenly brimmed with confidence, holding the peculiar silver card.
Ankh remarked with a strange expression, "Is that... storing magic within cards? The highest application of Card Magic? Cana can already achieve this level?"
Normally, Card Magic would release corresponding magical attacks based on the properties imbued by the Mage.
This application of storing magic within cards allowed powerful spells to be collected during downtime and released when needed by throwing the cards.
This technique could truly make a Card Mage into a versatile, super-powered artillery platform.
Just imagine—Cana throwing four or five cards at once: one containing Laxus's Dragon Slayer Secret Art, another with Ankh's Death Reaper, and yet another with Mirajane's Destruction Beam...
No one would dare underestimate a well-prepared Card Mage.
If anyone did...
They simply hadn't prepared thoroughly enough.
Ankh nodded and said, "It seems Cana wants to merge her Card Magic with Gildarts's Crash style."
In the arena, watching Bacchus about to break through her defenses, Cana pressed the card against her arm.
The silver card transformed into light, merging with Cana's body and forming several glowing patterns that extended from both arms up to her cheeks.
Feeling the surging power in her arms and body, Cana couldn't help but laugh aloud.
Since her constitution prevented her from using Crash extensively, this physique-enhancing magic stored in the card perfectly solved the problem.
Cana called this: Gildarts Mode!
Bacchus finally burst through the stone walls, but froze momentarily upon seeing Cana's transformed appearance.
Seeing him emerge, Cana opened her palm and released a Crash net!
The silvery web-like light wave shot forth.
Though the attack seemed silent, Bacchus's pupils contracted.
He curled his body and rolled to the side, awkwardly dodging the Crash.
As expected, the rock pile behind him was reduced to sand by the light wave.
Cana looked at her arms with satisfaction, smiling as she murmured to herself.
"Almost no recoil from using Crash anymore, and the firing speed has improved tremendously!"
Bacchus broke out in a cold sweat, staring at the sand behind him as he trembled.
"What kind of magic... is that?"
"This is the power of the S-Class Mage candidate you looked down upon!"
Before Bacchus could adjust his strategy, Cana had switched from defense to offense.
Her arms shimmering with silver light, she charged forward without a trace of fear!
'Not good, I have to dodge this!!'
No matter how strong his physique was, Bacchus wasn't foolish enough to believe he could withstand such terrifying destructive magic.
Cana's palms released waves of Crash as she closed in on Bacchus, unleashing a web of light beams like a perpetual motion machine.
Boom, boom, boom—
As Cana's frenzied bombardment continued, the entire arena transformed into a dust-choked battlefield.
Makarov even forgot to cheer for Cana.
His jaw dropped as he stammered, "A… a younger version of Gildarts… What insane destructive efficiency…"
Mavis swung her little feet gleefully, laughing. "Cana has fused her father's legacy with her own abilities. She might even surpass Gildarts in the future~"
Bacchus escaped the barrage of Cana's attacks, and now he truly regretted his earlier actions.
The weakness of close-combat Mages had become apparent—he… simply didn't dare get close!
He never should have provoked this madwoman!
Where in this vast arena could he even find a foothold now?
"What's wrong? Weren't you tough? I haven't even gone all out yet!"
Cana seemed to finally understand how exhilarating it felt for her father to wield Crash Magic, ecstatically pursuing Bacchus without pause.
"Taste my ultimate move! Bacchus!"
Watching Bacchus completely suppressed by the Crash Magic, reduced to dodging and fleeing for his life, a sharp glint flashed in Cana's eyes.
Then, from the pouch she carried, Cana grabbed a huge handful of cards and scattered them wildly into the sky!
Bacchus was already on edge.
Seeing the swarm of cards fluttering down like snowflakes, he couldn't help muttering under his breath.
"What kind of move is this now?"
Cana channeled her Magic Power, leaping high into the air as the fearsome Crash Magic gathered and condensed in her hands once more.
The fact that she needed to charge this attack—unlike the instant releases earlier—spoke volumes about its power.
Seeing this, Bacchus didn't care about pride anymore.
He immediately tried to create distance.
But just then, the appearance of the falling cards caught his eye, sending a cold sweat breaking out all over his body.
These cards… they were all silver cards!
"Your strength wouldn't even measure up to a failed S-Class Mage candidate in our guild! Bacchus!"
A satisfied grin spread across Cana's face as she clasped her hands together.
A massive silver-white web of Crash descended from the sky with overwhelming force.
"Be drowned in the tides of destruction!"
Simultaneously, the hundreds of drifting cards began radiating deadly, terrifying auras!
All of them were infused with Crash!!
Ankh in the stands suddenly paled.
'Damn! The arena is done for!'
Moving swiftly, Ankh leaped down from the stands.
Jura in the distance seemed to sense his intention and proactively joined him at the edge of the arena.
The two Ten Wizard Saints channeled their Magic Power into the ground to protect the field.
The Grand Magic Games officials also recognized the severity of the situation, deploying barriers to shield the audience!
Then, white light nearly swallowed the entire arena.
Panicked screams erupted as spectators shut their eyes in terror.
After a long while, the aura of destruction subsided, and the audience members cautiously opened their eyes.
Then, astonishing cries of reverence and shock pierced the sky.
On the field, Cana's body-enhancement Magic had worn off.
She was leaning on her knees, panting heavily like an ox, with the gratified smile of a destruction maniac still lingering on her face.
Across from her, Bacchus lay on the ground barely breathing, fulfilling the bet as all his clothes were completely obliterated, leaving the bloodied Drunken Falcon stark naked...
This outcome was only possible because the two Ten Wizard Saints had used their magic power to protect him while safeguarding the arena.
Moreover, the Crash Magic stored in Cana's cards was entirely her own, not Gildarts'.
Otherwise, with such a wide-ranging and dense chain of crushing attacks, Bacchus would likely have met his maker...
The Fairy Tail members stared at the scene in stunned silence, their jaws nearly hitting the floor.
Bacchus's specialty was offense, yet... Cana had overwhelmed him with even fiercer firepower, breaking strength with greater strength!
Ankh had entered the arena unnoticed with the official medical team and was now using his Divine Power to treat Bacchus, preventing him from actually kicking the bucket.
When Bacchus regained consciousness, he stared dazedly at Cana proudly showing off to the entire audience, his body trembling violently.
He'd been warned not to provoke a Card Mage... especially one who possessed another destructive magic...