Under Ankh's overwhelming suppression, Fairy Tail's Team B snatched first place right out from under the five mbers of Sabertooth.
After confirming their ranking with the Pumpkin King, Ankh relaxed and smirked.
First place in the preliminaries.
This should be enough to shut up those critics who doubted the guild's strength.
Ignoring the furious glares from Sabertooth, Ankh and his team left the Sky Labyrinth and followed the Pumpkin King's instructions toward their designated rest area.
Sabertooth had cleared the labyrinth close behind them.
The Pumpkin King waited as several more guild teams arrived one after another, filling up the eight qualifying slots.
Fairy Tail Team A finally arrived, successfully making it into the main competition.
However, when they learned from the mascot that they had qualified in last place, they fell into deep self-doubt.
They trudged toward their rest area near the arena, their spirits low after barely scraping by in eighth place.
Erza crossed her arms and murmured self-reflectively, "We should have made decisions more decisively. If we had realized the nature of the maze earlier, we might have achieved a better ranking."
Natsu pouted and complained, "What's so interesting about a path-finding competition? If we're going to compete, let's use our fists!"
Gray didn't offer any opinion, but looked worriedly at the night sky. "I wonder how Wendy is doing..."
Hearing this, the team fell silent.
Just before entering the Sky Labyrinth, Erza and the others had waited anxiously at the inn for Wendy and Carla to return, but they never showed up.
With the preliminary round about to begin, the support mbers of the guild had to search the entire city for Wendy, and Cana was forced to temporarily join Team A.
Originally, Elfman had wanted to compete with Cana for the spot, but Cana reported to Evergreen that he had spent the whole day ogling girls on the streets of the royal capital.
Elfman then voluntarily conceded the position to Cana.
It wasn't until shortly after the preliminary round ended that Erza's team received news from the support group—they had found Wendy!
In the competitors' rest area within the arena, Mages from each participating guild had their own dedicated space.
Natsu rushed into the dical room and saw Wendy and Carla lying in bed with pained expressions.
His gaze turned fierce.
"Where were they found?" Natsu asked Happy.
Happy's ears drooped. "They were found near the bushes in the rcurius Palace courtyard."
Wendy slowly regained consciousness and saw the circle of people around her bed.
She recalled the terrifying mask she had seen before fainting.
"Wah—"
The frightened girl covered her head and sobbed an apology. "I'm sorry, everyone. We promised to work hard for the guild together..."
Among the support team, the pharmacist Porlyusica, who had traveled far with the guild mbers, was mixing potions nearby.
"She has Magic Power Deficiency, but fortunately it's not life-threatening."
Wendy was saddened that she had lost her fighting ability due to an attack before she even got to compete.
She wrapped her small body in a blanket and sobbed quietly, "Cana-san... could you please compete in my place... I beg you..."
Hearing Wendy's crying, Cana suppressed her violent anger toward the perpetrator.
She patted Wendy's head and said gently.
"Don't worry, Wendy. I'll fight in the Grand Magic Gas with extra effort—for your share too."
Porlyusica's cold voice sounded. "She needs complete rest now. All of you, get out."
With that, Porlyusica ignored Natsu and Gray's protests and shooed the entire group out with a wave of her hand.
After everyone was driven out, Wendy's faint sobs beca particularly noticeable in the small dical room.
Porlyusica looked at the child on the bed and spoke in an uncharacteristically gentle tone to comfort her.
"The Grand Magic Gas is a festival lasting seven days, with a full five days dedicated to competitions. You should be able to catch up with the matches after you recover."
Wendy's sobbing subsided.
Clutching the corner of the blanket, she stared pitifully at Porlyusica with her large eyes.
Porlyusica said with a serious expression, "I swear upon my reputation as Fairy Tail's potion consultant—I will cure you."
A smile blood on Wendy's small face as she replied joyfully:
"Thank you, Grandeeney!"
"I told you, don't call by that na..."
...
The preliminary rounds concluded, with a total of eight teams freshly erging and advancing to the main competition.
All fans of the Grand Magic Gas across Fiore and the continent eagerly anticipated witnessing the style of these eight teams tomorrow.
anwhile, the eight guilds were familiarizing themselves with the arena—the spectator areas for guild support teams, team entry positions, and other procedures.
After a busy day passed, cheers and shouts early the next morning reached the skies in the massive arena capable of accommodating tens of thousands of spectators.
Fairy Tail's Team B mbers had all changed into matching black uniforms, as requested by Makarov, giving them a stylish appearance.
"What? Wendy was attacked?"
Ankh and the others had just learned the news.
As the first team to enter the arena for preparation, their communication with the outside world had been cut off by the officials.
It wasn't until Panther Lily from the support team secretly made his way to their side that they learned about Wendy's condition.
Mirajane, wearing a black dress, frowned and whispered, "Was this to reduce our combat strength?"
Gajeel crossed his arms, his face cold. "It seems there are people in this tournant who play dirty."
A chill emanated from Ankh's eyes.
During the Grand Magic Gas, while in the royal capital, soone dared to attack his guild mber!
He needed to call Jellal and the others over for covert surveillance...
"Alright, the attacker must be among the participants. We need to stay alert."
Laxus brought everyone's focus back, and they stood shoulder-to-shoulder before the team entry tunnel, listening to the roaring cheers from outside.
That's right—by handling the Grand Magic Gas properly, those people would naturally reveal themselves.
Ankh, wearing his black combat outfit, thought to himself, while Juvia's mind wandered elsewhere.
'I wonder what expression Gray-sama will make when he sees us~'
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