The next day.
Accompanied by the rumbling sound of the city mode switching, the preliminaries officially began.
Unlike the city maze of the elimination tournant.
This ti, Magnolia was divided into six areas, better suited for group battles.
Makarov scanned the energetic crowd and then announced the rules for the preliminaries.
"After deliberation by the judging panel, to account for gaps in strength, the six teams this ti will each be led by soone with S-Class strength, with the remaining people grouped randomly."
"S-Class? If there are six teams, we don't have enough people..."
"Even counting Ron, that's only five. Could it be... Gildarts has returned?"
"That's clearly impossible!"
"..."
"Now, announcing the captains of the six teams. They are..."
Makarov ignored the discussions below and began to announce.
"Ron, Laxus, Mystogan, Erza, Mirajane, and Natsu and Gajeel!"
Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly realized.
"So that's how it is. Did you count the two Dragon Slayer Wizards as one captain?"
After announcing the captains, a screen appeared in front of everyone.
At the top were the nas of the captains, and below the nas, different colors were used to distinguish the teams.
"First, it's Ron's team..."
Makarov pressed Ron's na. Four blue-gold lights darted back and forth among the remaining nas, stopping after a few seconds.
"Ron's mbers are: Reedus, Bickslow, Jet, Warren."
The others were dumbfounded.
"What kind of combination is this? I don't understand it at all!"
"The Thunder God Tribe is being split up the mont they arrive?!"
Bickslow looked at Fried and Evergreen beside him and shrugged helplessly.
"Wow, teaming up with Ron? How lucky!"
"Being on the sa team as Ron is basically a free win!"
"A free win?"
Makarov glanced at the person who spoke and emphasized sternly.
"Listen up, brats!"
"Don't think you can rest easy just because there's a strong person on your team! Don't forget, individual performance ratings are the most important component of the preliminaries."
"In other words..."
His eyes were deep as he held up a finger and shook it.
"If you slack off on the team, even if your team wins, you are very likely to be eliminated!"
"Conversely, even if the team loses, as long as your performance is recognized by the judging panel, you can still hold your head high and enter the next round!"
"Rember, the strongest selected by our Fairy Tail can never be cowards who only know how to hide behind others!!!"
"Alright, next are the opponents for Ron's team."
After finishing, Makarov reached out and tapped the screen in front of him.
Five colors of light spun back and forth on the screen, finally stopping on red.
"Battling against Ron and his team are: Natsu, Gajeel, Levy, Bisca, Alzack."
"The opponent is Ron?"
Natsu was instantly excited, a pillar of fire erupting from his mouth.
"I'm all fired up!!"
"Ron?!"
Gajeel chuckled, his fighting spirit surging.
Clearly, he rembered the fight with Ron that hadn't finished last ti.
The other three were not as excited or optimistic; looking at the nas on the screen, cold sweat broke out.
"Although it's great to be on the sa team as Bisca."
Alzack swallowed hard.
"But if the opponent is Ron..."
"Now, continuing to the next group," Makarov said.
"Laxus's mbers are..." The golden light stopped, revealing the four nas above: "Chico, Juvia, Cana, Lucy."
Laxus looked at his team, expressionless, but muttered to himself inwardly.
'Uh, are they all girls?'
'Did I get tead up with Laxus?'
Laxus's fan, Chico, blushed slightly, 'So nervous...'
'What a pity, I didn't get tead up with Gray-sama.'
"Gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp..."
Lucy covered her face helplessly.
One only knows how to drink, two have hearts in their eyes and are acting lovesick... and this captain, he doesn't look easy to get along with.
It's over, this team is too difficult!
"The opponents of Team Laxus are the Black Team led by Mystogan. They are: Mystogan, Gray, Loke, Laki, Droy."
'Ah, Gray-sama! It's Gray-sama!!'
Juvia looked at Gray with burning eyes, 'Is this destiny?!'
Lucy gave Juvia a gentle, annoyed pinch.
"Hey, calm down. Gray is our opponent now, okay?"
"Juvia will do her best!" Juvia clenched her fists to cheer herself on.
Lucy: Do your best at what? I feel like you've got the wrong idea...
"Sorry, Lucy." Loke stepped forward and scratched his head embarrassedly, "I didn't expect us to beco opponents."
"It's fine, it's random."
Lucy waved her hand to indicate it was fine, but was wailing inwardly.
'Wahhh, as expected, my original support has beco an opponent. It's too hard!!'
Laxus looked left and right, looking bewildered.
'Such complicated relationships... too difficult!'
Just as everyone was lost in their own thoughts, the mbers of the last two teams were also assigned.
They were the Scarlet Team led by Erza: Elfman, Evergreen, Bickslow, Macao.
And the purple team led by Mirajane: Fried, Wakaba, Max, Nab.
"Sis?"
Elfman looked at the list and was instantly fired up, raising his fist high.
"Manliness must also do its best today!"
Mirajane smiled gently and cheered, "Elfman, do your best."
Imdiately, she also gently clenched her fists.
Although her desire to fight wasn't strong, if the opponent was Erza...
Besides, she hadn't beaten her brother in a long ti, and her hands were a bit itchy.
"Evergreen and Elfman?"
Erza crossed her arms and silently estimated the strength of both teams.
"The two of them should have no problem holding off Fried. As for Mira, leave her to ."
Macao, Wakaba, and others silently complained: So... our combat power wasn't considered at all?
"Alright! Teams are assigned."
Makarov clapped his hands, interrupting everyone's scattered thoughts.
He began his speech.
"For the sake of fairness and watchability, every team has strong people and those who are weaker, but..."
"A team has strong and weak mbers, but that is what a guild is."
"If a companion is weak, it is not a reason to abandon them. Instead, it requires us to huddle together for warmth, help each other, and encourage one another."
"If you are strong yourself, don't be arrogant or complacent, because it ans you have to take on more responsibility for your companions and family, and protect this ho well."
Ron looked at Makarov, then at Laxus.
He felt that the old man was smuggling in his own agenda, taking the opportunity to knock so sense into his grandson!
But looking at Laxus, he probably wasn't listening at all, perhaps worried about being stuck in a kingdom of won?
"Alright, now according to the color distribution on the map, head to your respective bases and choose a location to place your flag."
"Fifteen minutes later, the bell will ring, and the preliminaries will officially begin!"
Makarov waved his hand, and everyone left to head to their respective bases.
Ron also left with his team.
"Natsu and Gajeel, two Dragon Slayer Wizards, interesting!"
Ron's squad soon arrived at their base.
"Co!"
Ron beckoned to his teammates.
"Let's discuss the tactics for the upcoming match."
User Comments
0 comments from readers