Bonus Chapters every 200 Power Stones
"Normal Dialogue"
'Inner thoughts'
[Year X791]
~ With Team Fairy Tail A ~
Team Fairy Tail stood in the shadowed tunnel leading to the arena, but their pre-competition energy was absent. Although they had managed to qualify for the main tournament through the preliminary Sky Labyrinth, their mood remained heavy with the knowledge of what had happened to Wendy and Carla the night before.
"Is the person who hurt Wendy part of this tournament?" Natsu asked, his voice quieter but no less determined.
Lucy shifted nervously beside him, her hands worrying at the edge of her outfit. "It's definitely possible. I mean, what are the odds that someone would attack a Fairy Tail member the night before the Grand Magic Games and it not be connected somehow?"
Gray nodded grimly. "The timing's too convenient to be coincidence. But the question is whether they attacked Wendy to weaken our team or for some other reason entirely."
Their speculation was cut short by the distant sound of fanfare echoing through the tunnel. The ceremonies were beginning, which meant their entrance was imminent. Whatever discussions they needed to have would have to wait until after they'd represented their guild with the dignity it deserved.
"Now to introduce the competitors!" Chapati Lola's voice boomed across the arena, amplified by magic to reach every corner of the massive colosseum.
"Okay, let's go," Natsu said to his team before they walked towards the open arena.
"First up in eighth place. Can this rowdy bunch with an uncharacteristic name burst out of mediocrity?! It's Fairy Tail!"
Team Fairy Tail emerged from the tunnel into blazing sunlight and thunderous noise. The arena was packed beyond capacity, with spectators filling every available seat and magical viewing screens broadcasting their images to overflowing crowds throughout Crocus.
They stopped at the centre of the arena, taking a moment to absorb the atmosphere. This was it. This was their chance to show the world that Fairy Tail had returned.
"Despite facing tragedy after tragedy, Fairy Tail has remained as a contending guild over the past two years!" Chapati continued, his voice somehow managing to carry over the crowd's roar. "Will the sensational return of their Tenrou Island team and the miraculous survival of their newest S-class mage help them to reclaim their spot as Fiore's greatest guild?!"
The announcement caused the cheers to grow even louder, led by the dedicated section of Fairy Tail supporters who had travelled to Crocus specifically to support their teams. But the announcer's words also caused confusion among Team Fairy Tail themselves, who exchanged puzzled glances as they tried to process what they'd just heard.
"Newest S-class mage?" Natsu spoke questioningly. "None of us passed the trials. The announcer doesn't know what he's talking about."
But Erza had caught something in the phrasing that the others had missed. 'Survival of our newest S-class mage… It couldn't be…'
Her thoughts were interrupted as Chapati moved on to introduce the other teams, his voice maintaining its enthusiastic energy as he worked the crowd into an even greater frenzy.
"In seventh place, representing the southern regions with their beast-like ferocity, it's Quatro Cerberus!" A team of rough-looking mages took their position, acknowledging the crowd with confident waves and flexed muscles.
"Sixth place belongs to the lovely ladies of Mermaid Heel!" The all-female guild's entrance was met with appreciative cheers, particularly from the male members of the audience.
"Taking fifth place, the men of Blue Pegasus spread their wings!" The guild known for its attractive male members made their entrance with characteristic flair, their leader blowing kisses to swooning fans in the stands.
"And in fourth place, a surprise showing from the usually second-place contenders, Lamia Scale!" This announcement caused a ripple of shock through the crowd, as Lamia Scale had consistently been Sabertooth's primary competition in recent years. Their placement in fourth suggested that this year's competition would be far more unpredictable than anyone had anticipated.
"Third place goes to a guild making their debut in the Grand Magic Games, the mysterious Raven Tail!" As the dark-cloaked team emerged from their tunnel, whispers began spreading through the spectator sections. Several people could be heard questioning whether Raven Tail was actually a dark guild, their reputation preceding them despite their recent official recognition.
Yajima, the secondary announcer, stepped in to address the crowd's concerns. "While Raven Tail has operated for over seven years, they only recently obtained official guild status. Since they've been approved by the Guilds League under our tightened protocols, they are likely not a Dark Guild."
The explanation seemed to satisfy most of the common spectators, though certain individuals in the crowd remained suspicious. Makarov, amongst a few others, looked particularly unhappy with Raven Tail's inclusion in the competition.
"Only two other teams cleared the preliminary round!" Chapati announced, his voice rising with excitement. "In second place, NOW THIS IS A SURPRISE!"
The announcer's shock was genuine and infectious, spreading through the crowd like wildfire as people tried to process what they were hearing.
"You knew them as the most powerful! Most indomitable! And most formidable of all! The reigning champions, SABERTOOTH!"
The crowd's reaction was a mixture of cheers and confusion. Sabertooth had dominated the Grand Magic Games for years, their supremacy so complete that most people had assumed their victory was inevitable. To see them relegated to second place before the competition had even truly begun was shocking beyond words.
The Sabertooth team itself seemed equally stunned by their placement, their expressions showing annoyance as they took their positions. These were mages accustomed to being treated as the undisputed champions of magical combat, and their demotion to runner-up status clearly irked them.
"And now, in first place..." Chapati's voice dropped to build suspense before exploding with enthusiasm.
"NOW THIS IS AN EVEN BIGGER SURPRISE! THEY WERE ONCE KNOWN AS THE STRONGEST GUILD OF ALL OF FIORE! UNTIL TRAGEDY STRUCK SEVEN YEARS AGO!"
The entire arena held its breath, tens of thousands of people waiting to hear who had achieved the impossible by surpassing Sabertooth in the preliminary round.
"WILL THESE FALLEN WINGS BE THE KEY TO SOARING VICTORY? MAKING A COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED APPEARANCE: FAIRY TAIL TEAM B!"
As the announcer finished his sentence, lightning struck the centre of the arena with perfect timing. The bolt was massive, far beyond what most lightning mages could have produced, and when the accompanying smoke and dust cleared, five figures stood in formation.
Laxus, Gajeel, Mirajane, and Juvia occupied the cardinal positions around their formation, with Laxus and Mira radiating the kind of power that made most mages take involuntary steps backward. But it was the fifth figure that commanded the most attention.
Kneeling in front of his teammates in a pose that somehow managed to convey both humility and absolute confidence, Shisui had made his public debut in the most dramatic fashion possible.
~ End of Chapter 103 ~
You can read advanced chapter on p@treon.com/The_Editor982
A/N: He's gonna do it, he's gonna do the ting! SUPERHERO LANDI-