Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Crocus.
July 1, x791.
{"Although I can't say that the outcome to the game was unexpected, the process was…"} Loli said in a slightly awkward tone.
{"Yes, it was more one-sided than expected."} Yajima added, picking up where Loli left off.
{"Yes, it was almost as if the wizards from Fairy Tail could tell the real wizards from the clones."} Roy added.
{"Actually, they probably could." Yajima said, his tone making it clear that he had just remembered something. {"A long time ago, Maki, I mean former Fairy Tail guild master, Makarov Dreyar, told me about a skill that Alfonzo Marcus developed when he was a child. I think that was how they did it."}
Hearing that, both Loli and Roy leaned forward with interest. Though, the expression on Roy's face was much more intense.
{"That sounds quite interesting."} Roy said, his playful tone completely absent. {"Why don't you tell me more, Yajima."}
{"You know I can't do that, General."} Yajima replied, his perpetually squinted eyes widening slightly as he did so. {"That's a Fairy Tail guild secret, and it's not my business to tell."}
Exactly the opposite of Yajima, Roy narrowed his eyes until he was squinting when he heard that.
'Looks like I need to find some time to have a conversation with Master Mavis.' Roy thought to himself while glancing towards the Fairy Tail seating area. 'I doubt she would be willing to give it up, though. A spell like that would be an advantage for any wizard, let alone an entire guild.'
{"Well, now that today's event is over with, why don't we take a look at the overall scoreboard before we move onto the day's Battle Round?"} Loli asked, pulling Roy out of his thoughts.
With that, the Lacrima-Vision screens were replaced with the scoreboard.
{Grand Magic Games Overall Scoreboard
Rank Team Score
Fairy Tail A 10 Pts. Fairy Tail C 8 Pts. Fairy Tail B 6 Pts. Mermaid Heel 4 Pts. Quatro Cerberus 3 Pts. Lamia Scale 2 Pts. Sabertooth 2 Pts. Blue Pegasus 0 Pts.}
{"It would appear that all three teams from Fairy Tail have come prepared."} Yajima said while looking over the scoreboard. {"And that doesn't look like a good thing for the other teams."}
{"You're right, Yajima."} Roy added. {"Especially for Blue Pegasus, who is consistently one of the strongest teams participating in the Grand Magic Games."}
{"That's true.} Yajima said with a nod. {"But I wouldn't count them out yet. Blue Pegasus is a guild filled with powerful wizards. And just because they got off to a slow start doesn't mean they will stay that way."}
{"Well, I think there's only one way to see if things will change or stay the same!"} Loli shouted excitedly with palpable enthusiasm in his tone. {"I just got the list of today's battles. So, without further ado, let's see who will be facing who!"}
{"Was the rhyming really necessary?"} Yajima asked in an exasperated tone.
{"Seriously."} Roy added, sounding just as exasperated.
Ignoring the two commentators, Loli quickly opened the envelope he had been handed only a moment before. Then, his eyes lit up when he read the first two names on the card.
{"The first match will be between two swordswomen who put on quite the show in last year's Games."} Loli said, his enthusiasm completely undiminished. {"Now, let's welcome Sun Seto of Fairy Tail Team A and Kagura Mikazuchi of Mermaid Heel into the arena!"}
*Cheer~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!*
Hearing the two names Loli just announced, the crowd went wild. Everyone who watched the Grand Magic Games last year still had an impression of the magic and swordsmanship the two put on in last year's final event, the Grand Magic Game, and they were all looking forward to more.
Meanwhile, Sun stood up before pecking Alfonzo on the cheek. Then, she leapt from the seating area into the arena. At the same time, Kagura stood up among her teammates and without hesitation joined her rival in the arena.
*Clang!!*
As soon as the match started, both Sun and Kagura rushed forward without a word. A moment later, the blade of Sun's Shirasaya, Kanade, met with the sheath of Kagura's longsword, Archenemy. The force of the impact so powerful that a shockwave was sent in all directions, causing the ladies' hair to flutter while dust was kicked up and sent in all directions, creating a haze all over the arena.
*Clang!* *Clang!* *Clang!* *Clang!* *Clang!*
*Cheer~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!*
Though the floating dust obscured most of the audience's view of the arena, the sound of clashing weapons kept their attention focused firmly. And as time went by, the speed Sun and Kagura were moving at slowly cleared the dust as the air flow their movements created pushed it away.
Meanwhile, as the battle raged on, Mavis finally turned her attention away from the arena. When she did, she looked at the two guests Gildarts, Levy, and Irene brought back during the Hidden event. And when she saw the future Lucy standing between Levy and the Lucy she already knew, to say she was intrigued would be an understatement.
However, because she knew she would be able to speak with the future Lucy later, when everyone returned to the hotel after the day's events ended, she turned her attention to the other individual who clearly did not belong in this timeline.
"Although I already know who you are based on the feel of your magic power, would you mind introducing yourself?" Mavis asked in her usual tone.
Yet, the cloak man who Mavis spoke to did not even acknowledge her existence. Instead, he watched the battle going on in the arena with shock and awe.
'At this point in time, no one in Fairy Tail or any of the other guilds should be this strong other than Gildarts.' The cloaked man said to himself. 'Just what in the world is going on here? All of these overpowered wizards… All the unfamiliar faces… Where did I actually end up? I mean, I know this is Fiore on the continent of Ishgar, but nothing seems like what I know.'
*Thud!*
The sound of a solid impact on the Domus Flau's stands pulled the cloaked man out of his thoughts with a jump. He then turned in the directions of the sound, only to see Irene glaring at him with her stave in hand.
"Pay attention, Boy." Irene said in acold tone with a sadistic smile on her face. "Or perhaps, you need to be trained to listen when someone is speaking to you."
Irene punctuated her question by licking her lips in an unsettling manner. Though, Alfonzo would have probably found it quite attractive, even if he would have had to show her who ran things in the bedroom later.
Shrinking back slightly, the cloaked man quickly looked away from Irene before making eye contact with Mavis, whose eyes were much more welcoming than Irene's.
"It looks like I need to repeat that." Mavis said with a smile. "Although I know who…"
As mavis repeated herself, the cloaked man could not help looking at her skeptically. Sure, it was possible to identify someone by their magic power if someone was familiar enough with them. But he doubted that she had spent enough time with his younger counterpart in this world to actually be able to do that. They were from different guilds, after all.
Not to mention, according to the timeline he knew, his former guild and Fairy Tail should only be encountering each other for the second time this year. And their first meeting should not have left them on friendly terms.
"Based on the fluctuations of your magic power, it would seem you don't believe I know your identity, Rogue Cheney." Mavis said, her tone never changing. "Well, although there is a slight difference from the Rogue I know, I'm confident that I'm not wrong. I am curious to know why it seems like Sting Eucliffe's magic power has been integrated with your own, though."
Hearing that, the cloaked man, or rather, Future Rogue, widened his eyes, which could not be seen due to the shadow cast by the cloak's hood, and his mouth dropped open. That one statement completely shattered his hypothesis about Mavis not being able to know his magic power signature based on unfamiliarity.
"So, that's who this kid was." Gildarts, who was unable to use [Magic Power Detection] thanks to the properties of his [Crash Magic], said in an enlightened tone.
"So, now that we've established your identity, would you mind telling us why you've come back to our time?" Mavis asked with a bright smile. "Oh, and I think you should keep this in mind before you refuse."
Mavis then flicked a glance in Irene's direction before she continued.
"Should you insist on refusing, I'll just let Irene ask you all the questions I want answers to." Mavis said as she turned her gaze back to the future Rogue. "And based on the way you shuddered earlier, I'm sure you know that she won't be nearly as kind when she asks."
That subtle threat of torture made the future Rogue look at Mavis as if she were some kind of smiling demon. He then glanced at Irene, whose eyes were practically screaming: "Please refuse, nothing would make me happier." Then, with fear evident in his eyes, he turned back to Mavis, raised his hands, and removed his cloak.
"Fine, I'll tell you everything you want to know." Future Rogue said as he revealed his face for everyone to see.
When he did, Future Rogue revealed a familiar, yet unfamiliar, appearance. While the right side of his face was still obscured by his long bangs, the eye behind them was missing, replaced by a long, jagged scar. AS for the left side of his face, it was relatively unchanged. Though, there was a curved tattoo around his visible left eye. On top of that, his hair was much longer, tied into a high ponytail that reached the middle of his back. Plus, his hair was no longer completely black, the left side now a shade of platinum blond.
On top of that, Future Rogue's facial features were also older, as he came from seven years in the future. But that should have been obvious.
"So, what are your questions." Future Rogue said in a reluctant, yet resigned, tone.
Meanwhile, despite the serious conversation taking place it eh Fairy Tail seating area, the battle in the arena continued, its intensity rising with every second that passed. Yet, despite both Sun and Kagura releasing the seals on their weapons, neither woman could claim victory before the thirty minutes allotted for the battle passed, resulting in the first battle of the day ending in a draw.
{"What an amazing match!"} Loli shouted excitedly.
{"Indeed."} Yajima replied with a nod. {"It's clear to see how much both contestants have improved since last year."}
{"Especially Sun Seto."} Roy added. {"In last year's Games, Kagura was the victor. But this time, their battle ended in a draw. I'm curious to see just how far these two will grow in the future. Especially since they are both relatively young."}
{"Yes, the future for Fiore is certainly looking bright, isn't it?"} Loli asked with a smile. {"Now, I think it's time to move on to the next match. Ultear Milkovich of Fairy Tail Team C and Lyon Vastia of Lamia Scale, please make your way into the arena."}
{"Now, this should be an interesting matchup."} Roy said while looking down at the notes on the contestants. {"Both of these two were trained by the Ice Witch, Ur Milkovich."}
{"They aren't the only ones, either."} Yajima added. {"Gray Fullbuster of Fairy Tail Team C was also trained by the Ice Witch."}
{"It would seem that Ur is quite the trainer of wizards."} Roy said while leaning forward slightly. {"If only the military had a wizard of her caliber to train its ice wizards."}
{"Any organization would be happy to have someone as talented as Ur when it comes to training young wizards."} Yajima added.
While the three commentators continued to talk about how good Ur must be as a trainer, and Ur was sitting with the rest of her team while puffing out her chest in pride, Ultear and Lyon both hopped down into the arena. Though, there expressions were vastly different from the other's.
"Lyon, you'd better give this everything you have." Ultear said as she stepped into a comfortable speaking range. "Mom gave Gray and I strict instructions to test you thoroughly if either of us were to face you during the Grand Magic Games."
"didn't the two of you test me enough when I was training with you after last year's Games?" Lyon asked, sounding a bit apprehensive.
"Well, we have to make sure you haven't been slacking off since you left, right?" Ultear said with a bright smile. Though, there was a hint of something else in her eyes that Lyon could not readily identify.
'No, wait!' Lyon thought to himself. 'That's how she looked just before she beat me up during training. Is that the only thing she's looking forward to? Just beating me up? Does checking my progress even matter to her?'
To be blunt, the answer to Lyon's unasked question was a resounding no.
"Fine." Lyon said after realizing the situation he was in. He then made his casting gesture as he continued. "I'll show you everything I've got."
Almost as soon as Lyon's words ended, the battle began. And for the next fifteen minutes, Lyon and Ultear showed the audience something they had only seen once before.
Such a brutal one-sided beating on the same level as Alfonzo's fight against Orga in the first battle of the first day's battle round in last year's Grand Magic Games. The only difference between this one and the one from last year was how long Ultear continued to tortu--- *Cough* fight Lyon.
After the end of Lyon and Ultear's match, the next match was announced between Cana Alberona of Fairy Tail Team B and Bacchus Groh of Quatro Cerberus. And just like the match between Sun and kagura, this one also ended in a draw. Because while Bacchus held the advantage in close quarters combat, Cana never let him get close enough to land a finishing blow. Bacchus, on the other hand, managed to defend himself against all of Cana's [Card Magic] with the use of his [Palm Magic] and his fighting style, the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist.
Though, everyone noticed Laxus shouting at Cana while she started drinking from a bottle of liquor when she returned to the stands, making it seem like Cana had not gone all-out when fighting Bacchus, which was true. Because had Cana released Hoyle, she would have been able to easily defeat Bacchus. However, Cana did not want to show off her trump card so early in the Games, so she did not take things that far on the first day.
As for the last match, it was between Yukino Agria of Blue Pegasus and Minerva Orland of Sabertooth. And unfortunately, Yukino, though a skilled mage who used [Celestial Spirit Magic], and had two Golden Celestial Keys, Libra and Pisces, she was no match for Minerva and her [Territory Magic], resulting in a victory for Sabertooth.
As a result, the overall scoreboard looked like this at the end of the first day of the x791 Grand magic Games.
{Grand Magic Games Overall Scoreboard
Rank Team Score
Fairy Tail C 18 Pts. Fairy Tail A 15 Pts. Sabertooth 12 Pts. Fairy Tail B 11 Pts. Mermaid Heel 9 Pts. Quatro Cerberus 8 Pts. Lamia Scale 2 Pts. Blue Pegasus 0 Pts.}