"Gray-sama, did you see it~?"
The water sphere in the arena disappeared, and the competitive event of the fourth day of the Grand Magic Games came to an end.
At the edge of the field, Juvia waved innocently toward Gray as he came down from the stands, calling out to him while running over.
Since the match was over, and in order to ensure Lucy's safety, Gray and Erza had also left the spectator platform and headed toward the arena.
Gray sighed helplessly and pressed a hand to his forehead. "If possible, I'd rather you didn't do something that flashy."
"Eh?"
Juvia instantly petrified where she stood, then began poking her fingers together in grievance.
"You…"
Seeing her like that, Gray was just about to say something when his eyes suddenly sharpened.
His hands swiftly moved into position as he activated Ice-Make Magic.
Juvia froze for a moment.
Then, from behind her, a violent shock rang out.
The ice shield Gray had summoned was instantly smashed into fragments.
The sudden incident immediately drew everyone's attention inside the arena.
Cana, who had just caught Lucy, looked along the path of the attack and immediately roared in anger, "Hey! You Sabertooth bastards, why are you attacking one of our people?!"
Just now, perhaps because Juvia's outrageous stunt had made her lose her head, Minerva had been watching Juvia happily reunite with Gray and the others when anger suddenly surged inside her.
She had failed to secure a perfect victory, and she had been humiliated like that…
In front of everyone, Minerva had actually chosen the most foolish option and launched a sneak attack!
"You bastard!"
With his short temper, Natsu had already moved.
Seeing Juvia attacked, he raised fire without saying another word and punched toward Minerva.
Boom!
However, that furious punch was blocked by Sting, who had come down at some point and crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"You want to fight, Natsu-san? We're ready whenever you are!"
"Ice Geyser!"
Natsu was not the only one who had reacted.
Gray had clearly given his answer as well.
Before Minerva could even speak, he had already slammed a fist into the ground, and sharp ice spikes burst out from below like an erupting spring.
This time, however, Rufus, the Memory-Make Mage, stepped in front of Minerva and "forgot" the Ice Geyser, dissolving the attack once again.
At the same time, Orga and Rogue also stood beside Minerva.
No matter what, Minerva was still their young lady.
They had to back her up.
On the other side, Gray shielded Juvia behind him, his gaze cold as he stared at the full Sabertooth team opposite them.
He looked ready to start a fight at any moment.
Beside him, Natsu, Cana, and the others were clearly prepared as well.
In the commentator's booth, Chapati panicked when he saw the two guilds already facing off against each other.
He hurriedly tried to smooth things over.
"Um… for some reason, Contestant Minerva seems to have acted impulsively and actually launched an attack against Contestant Juvia while leaving the field."
Yajima frowned and said in his hoarse voice, "Such immoral behavior must be strictly prevented!"
"N-No, um… Mr. Yajima, shouldn't the most important thing right now be calming down the two teams…"
Below, Mato was so anxious he nearly started cursing.
Nonsense.
Who did not know they needed to calm them down?
But just look at them. Did any of those people seem willing to listen?
Caught between the two teams, Mato desperately tried to say pleasant things to both sides, sweating buckets beneath his pumpkin head.
If this were an ordinary Grand Magic Games, Mato would have made the decision himself.
Acting without permission outside the match? Disqualify the entire team.
But this year… was different.
That person from the future had given Hisui a prophecy about the Grand Magic Games, and the kingdom's higher-ups were all waiting to see the results.
If they interfered rashly, who knew whether they should still believe that future person's words?
While Mato was still hesitating, Erza stepped to the front of the group.
With a dark expression, she asked in a low voice, "Sabertooth… is this the so-called dignity of the strongest guild of the past seven years?"
"How unimpressive."
Hearing Erza's words, rage flared in the eyes of every Sabertooth member.
Light flickered around Minerva's hands as she sneered. "Titania, I think you're the one who is all style and no substance."
Erza's gaze gradually darkened.
If it was going to be a fight, then so be it.
Fairy Tail had never been the kind of guild to swallow its anger while its comrades were wronged.
Magic light flashed violently in Erza's hand, and a sword appeared in her grip.
Both sides were on the verge of battle.
Minerva had no intention of apologizing, and Erza and the others had no intention of letting her off.
Everyone revealed their Magic Circles.
For a moment, colorful magic arrays rose across the arena, and the spectators still watching became excited.
Those who loved a spectacle were never afraid of things getting worse.
Gradually, the crowd spontaneously split into two camps, chanting for the guild they supported.
"Sabertooth!"
"Fairy Tail!"
The supporters on both sides cheered like a roaring sea.
Compared to Fairy Tail's pitiful number of supporters before the tournament began, after only a few short days, they were already able to stand evenly against the hugely popular Sabertooth!
Erza gripped the hilt of her sword. Minerva gathered her wave of energy.
Just as the two seemed about to shout and charge, Ankh's voice suddenly sounded from not far away.
"Wait, Erza."
Erza slightly relaxed her sword.
Natsu and Gray also quickly canceled the power they had been building, turning their attention in unison toward Ankh as he walked over slowly.
At the same time, the two equally matched waves of cheering gradually cooled.
The members of Sabertooth could not help showing a trace of wariness in their eyes.
A man who had instantly defeated a Wizard Saint, suppressed every member of Sabertooth's team except Minerva with one hand, and wandered around Sabertooth's lodging as casually as if it were a public restroom…
They were arrogant, not stupid.
This was not an opponent they could defeat just because they wanted to.
"Are you all right?"
Ankh looked toward Juvia.
Juvia quickly shook her head and said, "Thanks to Gray-sama protecting Juvia, Juvia is fine."
"That's good. All of you step back. I'll handle this."
Erza hesitated for a moment, but still obediently put her sword away.
The proud Natsu and Gray were clearly unhappy, but they also honestly withdrew their Magic Power.
Mato let out a long breath of relief.
But then he suddenly heard Ankh's indifferent voice.
"Judge, our contestant was injured. Do you have no punishment prepared for them?"
Injured?
Mato subconsciously glanced at Juvia, who looked perfectly lively, and scratched his pumpkin head.
However…
Ankh looked down at him just like that, while Mato stared up at the terrifying look in Ankh's eyes.
He suddenly realized that this was not the time to argue.
"Then… how would Lord Ankh like them to be punished? The tournament will fully support your decision!"
Mato rubbed his hands together with a smile.
Ankh also revealed a cruel smile and said, "No need to trouble yourselves. I've already finished punishing her."
Splurt—
The moment his words fell, Minerva, who had just been standing arrogantly at the very front of Sabertooth, suddenly had an enormous slash wound appear across her chest.
Blood sprayed out like a waterfall.
Under the furious, bloodshot gazes of the Sabertooth members and Mato's stunned stare, Minerva's eyes gradually rolled back.
Blood spilled from her mouth as she lost consciousness and fell backward.
"Young Lady!!"