Rhodes used Ocean Healing on both Gajeel and Wendy. Noticing the strange look on Gajeel's face, he raised an eyebrow.
"Why do you look guilty after winning?"
Gajeel instantly bristled. "Who's guilty?!"
Rhode glanced at Wendy, thought for half a second, and couldn't hold back a laugh.
'Ah. He was scared of being scolded because Wendy got injured.'
Rhode wasn't that overprotective of Wendy, it was perfectly normal for Mages to get hurt in battle.
(Though, yes… he'd still settle that score later when they were sparring.)
"All right," Rhode said, "go wash up and change. Juvia, go with Wendy."
Wendy and Juvia both nodded. "Okay!"
During this strange time, no one was allowed to be alone. Even Gajeel.
But Rhode had zero intention of waiting around for him to finish showering, so he turned and stared at Laxus.
Laxus stared straight ahead, expression stiff, pretending he didn't see a thing.
Gajeel, realizing what that stare meant, and wanting absolutely none of it, quickly blurted:
"I...I'll go find Lily!"
He fled before either of them could volunteer to accompany him.
The arena had been shredded nearly in half, and the organizers had originally planned to announce a break.
But after such an explosive battle, the crowd was far too hyped to leave.
Cheers, demands, and excited yelling filled the stands.
The organizers finally caved and asked Jura to help the construction team with emergency repairs.
Jura accepted politely.
After briefly coordinating, he used Earth Magic to reconstruct the arena floor and reinforce the surrounding walls.
Damaged areas of the audience stands were quickly swept up. Toppled statues were pushed outside the arena for later repair.
By the time everything was handled, Gajeel had already returned in freshly changed clothes.
Wendy took a little longer, and when she and Juvia returned, they walked in just as the host announced the next match:
Match 2: Blue Pegasus vs. Shining Sun!
"Match Two: Ichiya and Jenny of Blue Pegasus versus Rock and Caluger of Shining Sun!"
This lineup was clearly voted in for looks, three handsome men and one gorgeous woman.
Jenny required no introduction.
Caluger, nicknamed the "Noble Flower," was charming in his own way.
Rock might look rough, but if someone fixed his bowl-cut, he'd be quite handsome too.
As for Ichiya, his unique brand of "charm" had an entire cult-like fanbase screaming for him every year.
Once the four contestants stepped onto the stage, the arena erupted in deafening cheers.
Rock was practically vibrating with excitement.
"Mr. Ichiya! I've heard of your reputation for so long! Please guide me!"
"MEEEN~!"
Ichiya swept his hair back dramatically, lowered his head, touched his forehead with two fingers, supported his elbow with his other hand, and said deeply:
"Young maaan, I smell… the fragrance of effort on you. Show your everything. This stage, is yours!"
"Mr. Ichiya!"
Rock's eyes sparkled with admiration.
The three Pegasus men were screaming his name. Many in the audience swooned as well.
Jenny, long accustomed to the chaos, turned toward the somewhat stiff Caluger.
"Mr. Caluger, my editor wanted me to ask, would you be interested in doing a cover shoot for Sorcerer Weekly? Even better if you're open to long-term work."
"C-cover? Me?" Caluger blinked in confusion.
"Yes. Your look fits perfectly. You'd definitely be a hit," Jenny said with confidence.
"And of course, the pay is excellent."
Pumpkin Man stared at the two pairs, left side, Ichiya and Rock losing themselves in admiration, right side, Jenny and Caluger discussing business matters.
"Um," he finally coughed. "May we begin?"
The four snapped out of it and stepped apart, signaling they were ready.
"Match, start!"
Ichiya extended a refined hand toward Rock.
"Come."
"Requip!"
Rock swapped into his combat gear instantly.
The familiar steel-reinforced boots appeared on his feet, and a pair of unremarkable black gloves materialized on his hands.
He warned kindly:
"Be careful, Mr. Ichiya. These gloves explode when they land a hit."
Ichiya nodded calmly.
"It's fine. Come at me."
Rock truly meant every word he said.
The moment he finished, he shifted his feet, and blasted forward like a cannon shot.
His reinforced combat boots flashed, releasing a burst of explosive kinetic force. In the blink of an eye, he closed the distance and drove his right fist straight into Ichiya's face.
BOOM!
Ichiya's cheek visibly distorted, an explosion rang out, and his body flipped backward through the air like a limp rag doll.
He tumbled across the arena several times before finally coming to a stop, flat on his back, completely motionless.
Jenny's eyes widened in panic.
"Mr. Ichiya?! Snap out of it!"
But Ichiya didn't react at all.
His face went slack, his eyes unfocused, and his mouth hung open like someone whose soul had just escaped.
Rock didn't press the attack. Instead, he looked genuinely worried.
"D… did I hit too hard…?"
Jenny sprinted to Ichiya's side, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small green bottle.
She was just about to twist open the cap when a hand shot up and grabbed her wrist.
"I do not need Pain Relief Perfume, yet."
Ichiya rose dramatically to his feet.
He shook out his hair, flicked his collar into place, and struck a pose.
"MEEEN~ What a powerful punch."
Jenny exhaled sharply and tossed the bottle back at him.
"Don't scare people like that if you're still alive!"
Rock's face lit up with admiration.
"As expected of Mr. Ichiya! You took my Explosion Punch head-on and came out completely unharmed! Now I can fight seriously!"
"Of course," Ichiya replied smoothly, spreading his gloved fingers across his face in a stylish fan. "This is a battle. Please, give it your all."
It looked cool to the audience.
But behind his hand, Ichiya's expression twisted painfully.
(It hurts SO MUCH!)
(That punch nearly killed me!)
Rock charged again.
This time, Ichiya was ready, bracing himself and blocking several explosive blows, finally displaying the poise expected of an S-Class Mage.
Meanwhile, Jenny turned her attention toward Caluger.
"Take Over: Machine Soul!"
Her arms and legs reshaped into mechanical components, gleaming red and white metal plating, joints reinforced, face lines sharpening into sleek mechanical contours.
Caluger, with his elegant flower-themed magic, sent waves of enchanted petals swirling with every motion.
Jenny fought skillfully, but as the duel continued, she began to feel strangely discouraged.
'I'm a nationally famous model, but compared to him… his style is prettier than mine?!'
Every petal sparkling through the air felt like a slap to her pride as a beauty icon.
This level of aesthetics, this man MUST be on a magazine cover. Even if he's just the special effects guy!
But before she could adjust her fighting rhythm.
"Poppy Corridor!"
Caluger swung his ornate flower-staff, releasing a burst of colorful poppy petals that wrapped around Jenny like a blooming tunnel.
"Oh no!" Jenny gasped.
Her head spun violently. Her balance faltered.
Her body drooped forward as the soporific magic overwhelmed her senses.
Then a red mist drifted through the petal corridor, enveloping her.
Ichiya's voice echoed elegantly through the haze:
"MEEEN~ Stay focused, Jenny. This is still a battle."
Jenny snapped upright.
"Yes, Mr. Ichiya!"
But then her eye twitched.
"But this perfume—ow—! It stings!"
"That is because it is Pain Perfume," Ichiya explained apologetically.
"But I lowered the concentration. I will apologize properly after we win."