"Everyone here is certainly familiar with Jura, one of the Ten Wizard Saints of Ishgar."
"As for Chase, according to the information we've just received, he's apparently an exceptionally powerful Card Mage. Having only just joined Fairy Tail, he's already earned the trust and recognition of Master Makarov—himself a Ten Wizard Saint—and has been promoted to S-Class ahead of schedule!"
Watching Chase and Future Jura stand facing each other, Chapati turned to his side and asked, "Mr. Yajima and Miss Jenny, what are your thoughts on this match?"
"Hmm... Based on his overwhelming performance in the eight-man competition, Chase's power is clearly not something ordinary mages can contend with. But against Jura, it's hard to say," Yajima said, choosing his words carefully.
"There's no way he could possibly beat Jura! He's the fifth-ranked mage on the entire continent!" Jenny said bluntly, voicing what every spectator in the arena was thinking.
Unlike Yajima, who held a special affection for Fairy Tail, Jenny didn't share that sentiment. In fact, due to her position as Weekly Sorcerer Magazine's most popular cover girl, she even harbored a fair amount of hostility toward Mira.
The only ones on-site cheering firmly for Chase were Makarov and the other Fairy Tail members.
Future Mavis was not among them.
She was frowning, her body squirming slightly, looking uneasy.
"What's wrong, First Master? Don't worry—Chase can't possibly lose!" Makarov noticed her strange behavior.
After a moment of fidgeting, Future Mavis said quietly, "No, it's not that... I need to use the restroom."
"What?!" Everyone was shocked.
Did spirits need to use the bathroom too?
But what Future Mavis said next short-circuited their brains: "The other me—can you go instead?"
Could something like this even be transferred to a counterpart from another world?
"I don't want to!" Mavis refused without a second thought.
Everyone: So it actually CAN be transferred!!!
On the arena floor.
A gentle breeze swept across the field, kicking up clouds of sand and rustling the hems of Chase and Future Jura's robes.
Even though the starting gong had already rung, neither seemed inclined to make the first move.
Future Jura slowly lowered his crossed arms and looked at Chase with a warm smile. "I didn't expect to see you again so soon, Mr. Chase—especially under these circumstances."
"I didn't expect this matchup either," Chase said, lying through his teeth as he casually stretched his wrists.
"I was hoping to just coast through this Grand Magic Games, but here I am facing an opponent like you right from the start..." Future Jura let out a troubled sigh.
"You don't seem to enjoy fighting much," Chase observed.
"Indeed, I don't," Jura nodded. Then he suddenly looked up, the fighting spirit in his eyes rapidly intensifying. "But that only applies when my opponent is far weaker than I am. That would be boring!"
Though he was usually humble and polite, he was still a Ten Wizard Saint whose strength had been recognized by the Magic Council. Among the younger generation, he was in a league of his own, so he naturally had his share of sharp edges and pride.
"Haha! Compared to seven years ago, I like your personality much better now," Chase said with a laugh.
"Seven years ago? Do we know each other?"
Future Jura frowned in confusion, unable to recall any prior interaction with Chase seven years ago.
"Sorry, but for the guild's honor, I won't be holding back."
Chase made no move to explain. Instead, he reached up, unfastened his deep blue cape, and tossed it aside.
His dense dark golden magic power began to stir, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
Sensing this aura, Future Jura was briefly taken aback. Then he set aside his irrelevant confusion, his gaze sharpening.
"Likewise. Losing easily would earn me a scolding from the old hag."
He gave his shoulders a light roll, and the black robe draped over them fluttered to the ground.
Was that fleeting pressure yesterday, rivaling the Four Heavenly Kings of Ishgar, real or just my imagination? Let me verify it myself!
With that thought, Future Jura took a heavy step forward.
BOOM!!
Dark golden magic power and earthen-yellow magic power erupted simultaneously. In an instant, lightning flashed, thunder roared, and fierce winds howled.
The arena—and indeed the entire Grand Magic Games venue—shook violently!
"Just a clash of auras is producing such terrifying phenomena—"
Forgetting his dislodged wig, the ever-dedicated Chapati clung desperately to his microphone, refusing to be blown away, and delivered his commentary with unmatched passion: "Incredible! This is absolutely incredible!!"
After the magical storm subsided, the spectator stands were in disarray. The cheering fans from moments ago were now sprawled all over, looking quite battered.
On the field, Chase and Future Jura stood facing each other across the distance, having gained a basic understanding of each other's strength.
As the floating rubble fell back to the ground, Future Jura made the first move. He pressed his fingers together and traced a magic circle.
"Rock Iron Pillar!"
Thick, solid stone pillars erupted from the ground, racing toward Chase at tremendous speed.
Chase flicked a card from his fingertips: Quick-Play Spell Card — Cyclone.
WHOOSH!
A pitch-black tornado, crackling with lightning, burst forth, engulfing the approaching stone pillars and shattering them into countless fragments!
"A card that can destroy magic?"
The battle-hardened Jura immediately recognized the spell card's effect. He calmly waved his fingers.
SWISH, SWISH, SWISH.
The shattered fragments glowed with light. Under Jura's control, they broke free from the tornado's pull and rained down on Chase from all directions like a dense barrage of bullets, cutting off every escape route!
Chase had anticipated this. Two cards in his hand blazed with light: "Come forth, my most reliable partners!"
Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl emerged from a purple magic circle and a pink magic circle, spinning their staves as they aimed at the hail of stone fragments.
The dark magic accumulated in their staves erupted, pulverizing every last stone!
The deafening explosions echoed throughout the arena.
As the breeze carried away the lingering smoke, the stunned audience finally saw clearly—two people in magical robes had appeared beside Chase out of thin air!
"So cute!!" The perverts in the crowd immediately fixated on Dark Magician Girl.
"Hehe, hi everyone~" Dark Magician Girl casually flashed her signature peace sign.
The very next moment, her head was thwacked by her master Dark Magician: "We're still in the middle of a fight."
"So, Mr. Yajima—what exactly is happening here?" Chapati asked from the commentary booth.
"Hmm. It appears Chase's cards aren't just capable of reflecting and destroying magic—like a Celestial Spirit Mage, he can also summon powerful companions to fight alongside him," Yajima said, squinting toward the distant, laughing Makarov.
Just what kind of monster did this old friend of mine recruit?
***
Dive deeper into the story with 30+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!
patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!