"We can't keep tangling—go for the summoner."
As Jura reached that conclusion, the other two arrived at it simultaneously.
All three shot toward Takeshi.
The instant they closed in, Takeshi's lips curved upward.
"Not good."
A chill ran through them. An instant later, their fears were confirmed.
Shinra Tensei!
Boom—
A terrifying repulsive force erupted outward and the trio were hurled back faster than they'd come.
"Ughhh!"
"Gahhh!"
"Ahhh!"
[There it is again—that devastating blow! Can the three of them still stand?]
"Just what kind of monster is Takeshi?!"
"He's gone way past 'strong'."
Spectators stared, daunted by Takeshi's might.
[Mato-kun, is it really safe for the city to suffer this much damage?]
"Relax, we've got magic, remember?" Mato shrugged it off.
Crash...
Clatter...
Minerva, Kagura, and Jura rose once more.
Minerva and Kagura swayed, clearly battered by two consecutive Shinra Tensei. Jura looked steadier, but he too bore injuries.
[They're up! The trio haven't fallen yet!]
"Hey, you two—quit holding back! If we don't take this monster down, we're finished!" Minerva barked at Kagura and Jura, then glared at Takeshi.
He sat cross-legged on the Rhino's head, flanked by two colossal beasts like bodyguards, utterly at ease—his calm infuriated her.
Snap!
Takeshi snapped his fingers.
Pop-pop-pop!
The three summons vanished.
[What?! Where did they go? Did Takeshi dismiss them?]
"Great—he's run out of mana."
Minerva assumed the beasts' disappearance meant Takeshi could no longer sustain them.
"Takeshi-dono, why release the summons?" Jura asked.
He sensed Takeshi's magic power was near his own—far from exhausted.
Takeshi smiled. "No reason—using summons felt unfair. Besides, such worthy opponents deserve a proper fight."
Minerva sneered, "Spare us the noble talk. Until the end, victory isn't decided."
"But it was decided from the start."
Banshō Ten'in!
Takeshi lifted a hand toward Minerva.
"What?! What spell is this?!"
Minerva felt herself yanked helplessly toward him.
Territory!
She swapped places with a rock.
Swish!
Kagura darted in from behind, blade sweeping for Takeshi.
Asura Path!
Two extra arms sprouted from Takeshi's back: one seized Kagura's sword wrist, the other her sheath hand.
Territory!
Minerva cast again, warping Kagura away.
She began an intricate chant:
"Niel Wielg Mion Terse Elcantaeus: Yagd Rigola!"
"Yakuma Eighteen Battle Gods Magic: Yagd Rigola!"
Boom!
A violent shockwave erupted.
Preta Path!
Suddenly—
Minerva's spell simply vanished.
"What?! Where did my magic go?!" Her eyes widened in disbelief.
Banshō Ten'in!
Takeshi's palm focused on her. She flew toward him and he caught her by the throat.
Mana Devour!
"Ughhhhh!"
Minerva felt her magic power being drained. Magic Power was life to a Mage, and its loss brought agony.
Gravity Magic: Earth!
Kagura cast a gravity spell—weak in power but strong in suppression.
"Gravity?" Takeshi shook his head with a smile.
Gravity was merely a branch of attraction, and this feeble force meant nothing to him.
Banshō Ten'in!
He lifted a hand and Kagura hurtled toward him. She refused to yield, gripping her sword for a point-blank strike.
A shoulder-arm re-formed into a laser cannon and locked on her.
Kagura's face paled.
Zing—
The beam lanced out.
Kagura raised her blade to parry.
"Ahhhhh!"
She screamed as the blast flung her back.
Rumble!
Using the opening as Kagura flew, Minerva warped herself away.
Rumbling Mt. Fuji!
Jura clapped his hands, unleashing his ultimate spell.
It was the same earth-shattering magic that had scored over 9000 on the third day's MPF gauge.
Swish—
The instant he cast it, the spell vanished without trace.
"W-what?! How is this possible?!" Jura's face turned pale.
When he'd first seen Minerva's spell vanish, he'd assumed she'd misfired. Now he realized Takeshi had somehow erased it.
Whoosh!
Takeshi thrust a hand toward Jura, whose expression twisted in alarm. Being caught would be disastrous, as Minerva's fate had just proven.
"Bansho Ten'in."
The moment the words left Takeshi's lips, Jura's body hurtled helplessly toward him.
"Haa!"
Jura roared, stone walls erupting from the ground to wedge between them, severing the spell.
Whoosh!
Before Jura could steady himself, Takeshi stood atop the wall.
"Not good!"
Rock Mountain!
At the first glimpse of Takeshi, Jura unleashed his strongest defense. A titanic peak of rock materialized above him like a war-god's shield.
Takeshi spoke calmly, "Shinra Tensei."
BOOM!!!
A terrifying repulsive force exploded and the earth convulsed.
Crack... Crack...
The mountain fractured from top to bottom, then crumbled away.
"Gyaaaahhhh!" Jura screamed in agony.
The shockwave pulverized nearby buildings. Within moments, every structure for hundreds of meters lay in ruins.
The scale of devastation stunned the Grand Magic Games crowd and every viewer watching the broadcast.
Moments later, the blast subsided. A crater was seen where Jura lay, clothes shredded, body bloodied—clearly out of the fight.
Yet though grievously hurt, Jura remained conscious.
"B… brilliant." He said, utterly convinced.
Takeshi had fought three alone and crushed them. Perhaps even The Four Gods of Ishgar could not match that might.
"As expected… Takeshi. I… lose…"
Thud!
Before he could finish, a blade punched through his abdomen from behind.
[W-what?!]
"Jura-san!"
Every member of Lamia Scale paled.
Jura turned in disbelief to find Minerva behind him, Kagura's sword in her hand.
"M-Min…"
Minerva said, "You've already lost. Rather than let Fairy Tail reap the points, I'll take them."
She yanked the blade free.
"Gah!"
Jura collapsed.
[Min… Minerva defeats Jura—five points!]
[Hold on! Minerva didn't just down Jura, she also ambushed Kagura while everyone was focused on Takeshi! Another five points!]
[That's ten points in one swoop!]
All eyes shot to the standings.
[Overall Rankings]
1. Sabertooth – 61P
2. Fairy Tail – 56P
3. Mermaid Heel – 43P (eliminated)
4. Lamia Scale – 39P (eliminated)
5. Blue Pegasus – 37P (eliminated)
6. Quatro Cerberus – 22P (eliminated)
[Sabertooth turns it around! They now lead the Grand Magic Games!]
…
The stands fell eerily silent.
Such a reversal should have brought cheers, yet Minerva's point-grab felt despicable—kill-stealing and back-stabbing a teammate.
"Bwahaha! Takeshi, no matter how strong you are, you're still beneath my heel! The victor writes history! Hahaha!"
"Stop cackling, it's grating."
"What did you say?!" Minerva's face darkened.
Takeshi said, "Points mean nothing. We're only here because, during our seven missing years, Fairy Tail endured insults and pressure beyond measure."
"If I wished, I could win the Grand Magic Games with ease but that would feel like bullying."
"Hah! Utter nonsense!"
Minerva didn't believe a word.
"Of course you don't. The gulf between us is beyond your grasp." Takeshi regarded her coldly.
"Enough bravado. After that battle, your magic power must be nearly spent. Time to finish you! Come forth!"
At her shout, four figures stepped into view—Sabertooth's remaining members.
[What?! Sabertooth's top five stand united, are they ganging up five-on-one?!]
"Sabertooth's playing dirty!" Macao shouted in fury.
"Yeah, can't take a fair fight?!" Wakaba echoed.
"So this is the mighty Sabertooth's style?!"
"Will Takeshi be alright?"
The non-Tenrou Group seethed with anger and worry. Takeshi's spells had been colossal, the magic power cost surely immense.
The Tenrou Team raged at Minerva's treachery, yet feared nothing for Takeshi—he hadn't shown his true strength. Once he did, these five would fall in an instant.
"Everything proceeds according to the plan." Orga said.
From afar, he'd watched Takeshi like a monster. Minerva, Kagura, and Jura combined hadn't scratched him.
Minerva said, "Surrender now and spare yourself pain."
She still feared him, avoiding battle was best.
Takeshi glanced at the blazing midday sun.
"Mm… the time is ripe."
"Time for what?"
The five exchanged baffled looks.
"Time to end this match. Apologies—things are about to get a little rougher."
Full Body Take Over: Escanor!
Muscle exploded across his frame. In a blink, Takeshi transformed into a towering hulk of power.