Although this was the first ti the Fiore Kingdom had hosted the Grand Magic Gas, Raizel thought it was being handled quite well.
After the two participating teams from Fairy Tail passed the preliminary rounds, they didn't have to wait for the other competing teams.
They could leave first, as long as they arrived at the main venue, Domus Flau, by the designated ti tomorrow.
This detail greatly pleased Raizel, who had originally thought they'd have to foolishly wait for others to finish—who knew how long that would take.
"To celebrate both our teams passing the preliminaries, let's have a party!!!" Makarov returned to the inn's bar counter, raising his glass high.
"Manly!!!"
"Let's party!!!" Natsu spewed flas from his mouth toward the sky.
Ascending a steep, ten-thousand-step stone staircase led directly to the mountaintop main venue, Domus Flau.
Originally a mountain, it was flattened during construction, similar to how Magnolia built the Fiore Garden Square.
However, the construction of Domus Flau was slightly different. Looking up the steps, one could vaguely see a massive open-air colosseum.
While perhaps less comrcial than the Fiore Garden Square, its competitive nature was even more pronounced.
But who could bla Toma for his wealth and extravagance?
With money, he could build to his heart's content. Built entirely of brick and stone, it exuded a rustic, gladiatorial charm.
A giant stone statue stood at the center of the heavenly staircase—a swordsman holding a massive greatsword with both hands, planted vertically into the ground.
The main venue was circular, with enormous sculptures of figures gripping weapons positioned around the periter.
The two competing teams from Fairy Tail waited in their exclusive waiting room for their entrance.
Raizel stood on the viewing platform adorned with the guild's flag, observing the surrounding spectators.
The three-tiered stepped seating could accommodate tens of thousands of viewers, and the seats were packed with a bustling, roaring crowd.
The twelve wide stairway passages were spacious enough that even with so many people, the entry process remained orderly.
Seeing this terrifying sea of people, Raizel couldn't help but marvel.
"How about a beer? Care for a beer?"
Vendors specializing in snacks and drinks weaved through the aisles, enthusiastically hawking their wares.
"I heard this venue has over 80,000 seats," Levy said with a wide-eyed expression, holding up eight fingers to Raizel.
"Astonishing..." Raizel sighed, contributing a tiny bit to Earthland's global warming.
The audience cheered enthusiastically.
Though the competition hadn't started yet, the cheerleaders below, dressed in white miniskirts and dancing with such vigor, certainly deserved the applause.
Makarov stood on the railing, raising his arm in a rallying gesture.
Raizel wore an expression of secondhand embarrassnt.
'Oh well,' he thought, 'since the people sitting next to don't seem to mind, I'll just pretend I didn't see it.'
Sitting beside Makarov was Mavis, swinging her little feet, her attention captivated by the venue, with no ti to spare for Makarov.
If Porlyusica had been willing to co out, she would have surely swept Makarov off his feet with a broom right then and there.
Fortunately, Porlyusica detested crowded places and could only stay in her exclusive dical room.
It was worth ntioning that Layla had also co to watch the competition, temporarily blending in with the Fairy Tail mbers.
She hadn't told Lucy yet, planning to surprise her when she made her appearance.
Lucy had written ho saying she would participate in the Grand Magic Gas, so Layla discussed with Jude about coming together.
Unfortunately, Jude's business kept him overwhelmingly busy, and in the end, only Layla could make it.
Luckily, she had Ur, who was around the sa age and easy to talk to, as well as Raizel, who was a bit younger but still good company.
"Everyone! The magical festival you've all been dreaming of and eagerly awaiting—the first Grand Magic Gas of the Fiore Kingdom—has finally arrived!!"
"Grand Magic Gas!!!" the comntator cheered enthusiastically from the announcer's booth.
The comntator wasn't exaggerating.
After nearly a year of buildup, with established guilds like Fairy Tail, Blue Pegasus, Lamia Scale, and Quatro Cerberus well-known for their reputations, coupled with the rising fa of the newly erged Sabertooth, it was no overstatent to say the gas had captured the attention of the entire nation.
The synchronized cheers of over 80,000 people pierced through layers of brick and mortar, reaching the waiting room where Erza and the others were.
"Such passionate cheers," Erza couldn't help but remark.
"I never expected so many people to co watch," Lucy said, feeling a bit nervous upon hearing the roaring crowd.
"It's the entire audience of Fiore, after all. It's only natural," Cana shrugged.
"Relax, we're the ones being challenged here," Kagura continued polishing her blade, Archenemy.
Kagura said this because mbers of Sabertooth had made bold claims in interviews, vowing to take first place and dethrone Fairy Tail.
"Alright, the Grand Magic Gas are about to begin! I, Chapati Lola, will be providing live coverage, and we're also joined by forr Council mber Yajima for comntary."
"Mr. Yajima, we look forward to your insights."
"Pleased to be here," Yajima said into the microphone.
"It feels a bit strange not having Jason as the comntator," Mira remarked, looking at Chapati Lola on the announcer's platform.
"I agree, I miss Jason's COOL..." Raizel nodded.
"Speaking of Jason, he's right over there," Lisanna, overhearing their conversation, pointed to where Jason was running back and forth, his super-long telephoto lens in hand, shouting "COOL!" while snapping photos nonstop, cara flashes lighting up the area.
"Suddenly, I don't miss him as much."
" neither." Raizel and Mira exchanged a glance and chuckled.
"Alright, everyone, it's ti for the contestants to enter!"
"First up, the eighth seed in the preliminaries... the Croix Knights from Crocus! With their ho-field advantage, they've advanced to the main event. Let's look forward to their spectacular performance!"
"Woo!!!"
"Croix Knights!!!"
The audience's enthusiasm ignited instantly, their already fervent cheers growing even louder.
The five-mber team consisted of three n and two won, all clad in armor.
Leading them was a man wearing lion-thed helt armor.
To his left rear stood a brawny man who appeared half a head taller than Elfman—the kind of heavily-built figure that would beco a at grinder on the battlefield.
"Next up, the seventh-place qualifier: the hellhound legion known as Quatro Cerberus!!!"
"WILD!!!" "FOUR!!!"
The Quatro Cerberus flag waved as they made their entrance chanting slogans.
However, their cheers were considerably muted, with only scattered applause.
After all, they were just a bunch of rough-looking n with no particular visual appeal.
Aside from the sowhat famous Bacchus, the Drunken Falcon, the rest were quite ordinary.
"Now for the sixth-place qualifier: the ocean's dancing maidens, the all-female guild rmaid Heel!!!"
When introducing rmaid Heel, Chapati Lola suddenly pushed himself up from the table!
The fans' cheers were no less enthusiastic than those for the ho team, Croix Knights.
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