Chapter 350: Different Evening Dresses and Gothic Lolita Style
"Gramps, tone it down a bit," Noah said to Makarov helplessly.
"I am seriously participating in guild activities!" Makarov declared self-righteously.
Alright, Noah couldn't argue with that and could only accept it.
"A swimsuit? So sneaky!" Lucy poked her head out from backstage to watch.
"I see... so there's that trick!" Erza also poked her head out thoughtfully.
"Hehe! Not bad, not bad, but I will win!" Sorano's head popped out as well, speaking with absolute confidence.
"Next up is Contestant Number 2! Although she just joined the guild, her strength is S-Class! The crystal-clear, water-like beauty, Juvia Lockser!" Max introduced the second contestant loudly, and cheers erupted from the audience once again.
After Juvia walked onto the stage, her entire body turned into flowing water, forming surging waves on the platform.
"Whoa! Her body turned into water!"
"So amazing!"
Seeing this scene, the audience below cheered loudly.
Amidst the swirling water, Juvia revealed herself in a swimsuit, and the backdrop behind her changed to a summer beach scene with several coconut trees.
"Ohhh! She created a scene perfectly matching her swimsuit!" Max announced loudly, and the cheers from the audience rose and fell in waves.
"Did you see that, Gray-sama?" Juvia's eyes were fixed tightly on Gray in the audience as she spoke loudly.
Being stared at by her, Gray could only clap continuously. Truthfully, Juvia did look beautiful.
"So cute!" Lyon looked at Juvia on the stage, deeply captivated, making his resolve to pursue her even firmer.
"Showing off her sex appeal again!" Lucy said angrily while watching from backstage.
"Mhm!" Erza nodded thoughtfully.
"Next is Contestant Number 3! A beauty who possesses not only an icy elegance but also immense strength, Ultear!"
Ultear stepped to the center of the stage. She clapped her hands lightly, and a small ice castle rose up behind her.
As she spun around, a curtain of ice and snow appeared simultaneously, completely obscuring her figure.
When the curtain dissipated, Ultear appeared before everyone wearing a purple princess gown.
Framed by the castle behind her, she looked like a true Ice Princess, beautiful and noble.
"OHHHHH!!!"
The cheers from the audience instantly erupted. Noah shouted the loudest; he was about to jump out of his seat if Laxus beside him hadn't held him down.
"You need to calm down too," Laxus said to Noah.
"What are you talking about? Ultear is performing on stage! Of course, I have to give her my full support!" Noah gave Laxus a strange look, then turned back and continued cheering for Ultear.
Laxus's mouth twitched, deciding to ignore this guy.
Watching the confident and dazzling Ultear on stage, Ur's eyes couldn't help but well up with tears from the audience.
Recalling the past, she felt like she was in a dream. For a moment, a multitude of feelings surged within her.
On stage, Ultear smiled at Noah and her mother, gracefully retreating backstage.
"Next is Contestant Number 4! A gentle, beautiful, and highly capable mage, Mirajane!" Max introduced her loudly to the crowd, and the audience erupted into a sea of cheers.
"So cute!"
"She's even cuter than she looked in the Weekly magazine!"
The audience discussed animatedly as Mirajane appeared in her usual long red dress.
"Now, it's time to show off your charm!" Max waved his left hand and announced loudly.
"Hello everyone. I specialize in Transformation Magic, so I'll be performing a transformation for you all," Mirajane said with a sweet smile.
"Since this is a competition, I'll change into some outfits I rarely wear. Transform!"
With that, Mirajane activated her Transformation Magic. Magical light flashed across her body, and her clothes and hairstyle instantly changed.
She was now wearing a white, wedding-dress-style gown, and her hair was styled into a sweet, half-updo to match the outfit.
"OHHHH!"
"So beautiful!"
The audience immediately cheered, and Noah looked incredibly excited.
Mirajane's eyes locked onto Noah, a sweet smile blossoming on her face.
Noah knew she was wearing this specifically for him. His heart raced, and he cheered even louder.
"Transform!"
Mirajane took two steps forward. The magical light flashed again, and her outfit changed once more.
She was now wearing a long, crimson evening gown, a much more vibrant shade than her usual dress. Her shoulders were bare, and her hair was styled in an elegant high bun.
The slanted hem of the dress trailed on the floor on the left side, while the right side revealed her fair thigh, making her look both elegant and sexy.
The crowd's cheers erupted again.
"Transform!" "Transform!" "Transform!"
Mirajane cycled through several evening dresses in rapid succession, each paired with a different hairstyle and accessories. Every single outfit stunned the audience, and their cheers never ceased.
"Sigh!"
Laxus looked at Noah and Makarov beside him, who were trying to out-hype each other, and let out a deep sigh.
Noah and Mirajane were a couple, so it was normal for him to cheer loudly and get overly excited. But Gramps, you are the Guild Master! Even if you genuinely love young, pretty girls, you don't have to act like this. Have some regard for your image!
"Mira is just too amazing. I feel like first place has already slipped out of my grasp. Now I can only aim for the runner-up spots..." Lucy looked miserably at Mirajane on the stage. Just by listening to the cheers, she knew how successful Mirajane's performance was and how much everyone loved her.
"Mhm, I see... so this competition can be approached like this!" Erza nodded very seriously, her eyes full of contemplation.
"Mira is definitely a formidable opponent!" Sorano felt a lot of pressure after watching Mirajane's performance.
Amidst the audience's reluctant gazes, Mirajane dispelled her transformation, smiled at Noah, waved, and walked off the stage.
"Next up is Contestant Number 5! A mage who embodies both strength and beauty, Titania—Erza Belserion!" Max announced loudly to the audience.
"Here she comes!"
"Erza!"
"So cool!"
Hearing Max's voice, Erza leaped from backstage high into the air, doing a flip before landing perfectly in the center of the stage.
The audience cheered wildly. Lucy couldn't help but peek out: "She's so popular..."
"Of course, Erza is very famous. But then again, so am I," Sorano also peeked out from backstage, smiling at Lucy.
"Hehe, allow me to show you my specially treasured Requip!" Erza declared confidently. The audience was instantly filled with anticipation, cheering non-stop.
As a magic circle expanded above Erza, her entire body was enveloped in a brilliant magical light, completely obscuring her figure.
When the magical light faded, Erza appeared before everyone in a brand-new outfit.
"G-Gothic Lolita Style?!" Lucy gasped from backstage.
Erza was dressed in a full Gothic Lolita outfit. A black, puffy short skirt paired with black thigh-high socks and black high heels. Her crimson hair was tied up with a delicate ribbon, making her look exceptionally mysterious, elegant, and beautiful.
The cheers from the audience were deafening. Everyone was completely stunned by this outfit, which was such a stark contrast to Erza's usual armor.
"OHHHHH!!!"
Noah was so excited he almost jumped out of his seat. He had never seen Erza dressed like this before!
Laxus had to reach out and hold him down again, completely tossing his previous thought of ignoring him out the window. Laxus held Noah down firmly, afraid the idiot might actually rush the stage.
"Hehe... I've definitely won!" Seeing how much everyone loved her outfit, Erza smiled with absolute confidence.
When Erza finally walked backstage in her Gothic Lolita dress, the audience reluctantly pulled their gazes away.
"Next is Contestant Number 6! The cute and intelligent little fairy! Levy McGarden!" Max loudly introduced the next contestant.
Levy walked onto the stage wearing a different outfit than usual, one that highlighted her youthful and beautiful charm.
She waved her hands in the air, rapidly writing various characters.
Once completed, the meanings of the words manifested into reality. Snowflakes, flowers, butterflies, and other things that showcased Levy's cuteness floated through the air.
"Levy!"
Jet and Droy's cheers echoed throughout the entire guild. They were extremely agitated, with hearts popping out of their eyes. They looked like they wanted to rush the stage.
Everyone else also offered passionate cheers for Levy's display of cuteness and beauty.
"Next is Contestant Number 7! The sexy gunslinger from the West, Bisca Mulan!" Max loudly introduced the next participant.
Bisca, wearing a hot outfit—off-the-shoulder top, short skirt, ankle boots, and a black Stetson hat—walked to the center of the stage with a confident expression.
"Requip!"
A magic circle flashed above her hands, and two short pistols appeared in her grasp.
At the same time, numerous targets popped up around the stage.
She rapidly fired both guns, flipping and jumping, executing various highly difficult acrobatic maneuvers.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
A continuous volley of gunshots accompanied her movements.
When Bisca finally stood still on the stage again, every single target around her had a bullet hole dead center in the bullseye. Not a single exception.
"OHHHHH!!!"
The audience immediately cheered, completely amazed by her precise marksmanship.
Bisca wasn't done with her performance yet. With a flick of her right wrist, she opened her hand, revealing four gold coins pinched between her fingers.
She tossed all four coins into the air simultaneously, letting them flip and tumble.
"Requip!"
Bisca made a grasping motion with both hands, and a sniper rifle appeared in her grip.
She raised the rifle, took a brief aim, and fired a single shot. All four coins in the air were pierced by that single bullet simultaneously.
Bisca swept a lock of hair from her forehead with her left hand, then opened her palm. The four pierced coins dropped perfectly into the center of her hand.
~~~
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