"Not bad, Gray." Kana grinned mischievously as she hooked Gray's neck and handed him a bottle, "Want a drink?"
"You've had too much to drink." Gray pushed Kana away in disdain.
Natsu complained, "Why did you lose to that Sabertooth guy!"
"It's because he's really strong, right?" Lucy said, "It feels like his magic is perfect for this competition."
"Don't worry about it, it's already a good start." Erza encouraged, "Let's keep working hard, our goal is to beat Team B as well!"
Every participant received different reactions when they returned, either comfort or complaints, but aside from Sabertooth, none of them seemed to harbor deep grudges.
It seemed like everyone was enjoying the festival just as the host mentioned at the beginning.
"Alright, next, I will explain the combat segment's competition rules!" Jabadi cleared his throat and began the introduction,
"Today there are a total of 4 matches in the combat segment, with eight teams paired up, each selecting a participant for a battle.
"The winning team gets 10 points, the losing team gets 0 points; if a winner isn't decided in 30 minutes, it's a draw, and both teams get 5 points.
"The results of the pre-match voting are already being tallied by the staff, and the matchup list will soon be handed to me. Please be prepared.
"So, Mr. Yajima and Miss Jenny, who do you most look forward to seeing battle?"
Mr. Yajima said, "Without a doubt, Jura and Rhode."
Jenny said, "As for me, I'd rather see the showdown between Miss Mirajane and Erza than Mr. Jura."
Jabadi jokingly said, "If it were up to me, I'd like to see Miss Jenny and Miss Mirajane square off, but in a modeling contest."
This remark resonated quite well with the audience.
They almost wanted to suggest having the organizers arrange a special match.
"I'd love to have such a match too," Jenny said somewhat regretfully, "but sadly, Mirajane has already retired."
The three commentators engaged in idle chatter about the famous contestants until they finally received the matchup list.
"Alright, the matchup list is here." Jabadi took the paper handed over by the staff, "Great Demon Fighting Martial Arts Combat Segment, Day 1, Match 1 - Fairy Tail A Team, Lucy vs. Rays of the Rising Sun, Jimmy!"
"Me?" Lucy was a bit surprised; she thought a more famous contestant would be in the first match.
Plus, isn't her opponent a friend of Mr. Rhode?
Erza patted her on the shoulder, "Good luck, Lucy."
"Why not pick me!" Natsu grumbled, then added, "But Lucy works too. Let's see what you've achieved in your training!"
"If you win, I'll treat you to a drink."
"Can I borrow some clothes?"
Lucy gave a helpless look, "Leave the match to me!"
Meanwhile, Rhode frowned, "A newbie from Fairy Tail against a newbie from Rays of the Rising Sun, it seems barely acceptable, but..."
Judging by the commentators' chatter just now, one could guess who had more votes, Lucy and Jimmy being chosen first likely means there was manipulation.
To ensure the match's excitement?
Or was it that Princess Jade truly looked forward to seeing Lucy's battle, hence the urgency?
"Both contestants, please step forward!"
The two were already on the field, at the urging of the Pumpkin Man, they stood in the middle of the arena.
Lucy had the River of Stars hanging on her left side and a keychain on her right, while Jimmy held her massive Candy Cane Magic Staff.
The Pumpkin Man raised his hand, "Prepare yourselves—match start!"
After shouting, the Pumpkin Man scurried to the sidelines as if escaping, which looked quite comical.
However, Lucy and Jimmy didn't start fighting immediately; instead, they greeted each other.
"Hello, Miss Lucy."
"Hello, Jimmy, I heard Miss Mira talk about you. Didn't expect you'd really join as a newbie, impressive."
During Jimmy's visit to the Guild, Lucy was in the Star Spirit Realm, so they hadn't met.
"Miss Lucy as well." Jimmy stepped back and pointed her staff at Lucy, saying, "Although I don't want to fight against Fairy Tail, I must win this match."
"Me too." Lucy touched the keychain, "So let's give it our all!"
Jimmy swung her magic staff, sending a rainbow-colored light towards Lucy, "Sweet Bonds!"
Lucy, in turn, swung her key, "Taurus!"
"Moo~~~" Taurus charged at Jimmy with his axe, but was instantly hit by the rainbow light.
His body became encased in an amber-like crystal and was immobilized, while the axe flew due to inertia, landing with a crack between Jimmy's feet.
"..." Jimmy remained composed but turned pale a few seconds later.
It seemed that this was an unexpected situation for her.
The captain of Rays of the Rising Sun, Locke, commented, "Jimmy got nervous, not enough practice."
Teammate Yeluo'er simply stated, "She's still young."
On stage, Lucy noticed Jimmy's expression and almost apologized, but Jimmy had already retreated far away, so she held back.
"Miss Mira mentioned that Gajeel lost his ability to resist with just one hit from this move, can't let it hit me," Lucy reminded herself in a whisper.
Outside the ring, Gajeel glared at Mira, "Why did you have to tell her that?"
"What?" Mira looked puzzled, her hearing wasn't as sharp as a Dragon Slayer Mage's.
"..." Gajeel was speechless, he couldn't bring himself to repeat it, "Hmph! I have at least ten ways to counter that move! Ten ways!"
"Haha." Rhode laughed out loud.
Gajeel then glared at Rhode instead.
On the field, Lucy deftly dodged to the side, avoiding another rainbow light, and whipped out a long whip.
She calculated in her mind: for long-range combat, I'd call Sajidarius, but archery and Taurus's axe are too dangerous. So, Scorpio or maybe...
"Open, Gate of the Scorpion, Scorpio!"
The Scorpio Constellation's Scorpio appeared at once, raising his tail and unleashing a torrent of sand and dust.
Jimmy sidestepped nimbly, demonstrating her agility.
But Scorpio's tail tip tracked her sweep, soon covering the arena in swirling sand, severely obstructing visibility.
Jimmy completed one last roll and coughed a couple of times while covering her mouth, "Is this one of the Twelve Zodiac Gates' star spirits? So strong."
"So strong."
Jimmy seemed to hear her own voice, "An echo?"
"It's not an echo."
Jimmy heard her voice again, and when she turned around, she found an identical figure standing in front of her.
While she was in shock, the other figure, holding a candy cane magic staff like hers, pointed at her, "Sweet Bonds!"
Jimmy suddenly found herself and her staff ensnared by candy magic, unable to move, dazed, thinking, "Is it me using my move against myself?"