After the qualifying round concluded, with Fairy Tail leading the pack, the remaining guilds also finalized their participation.
These included Blue Pegasus, Lamia Scale, Mermaid Heel, Raven Tail, Sabertooth, Quatro Cerberus, and Twilight Ogre.
Of these, Raven Tail and Sabertooth resorted to forcefully seizing platforms defended until the last moment by other contenders, while the remaining guilds secured their progression to the main event through sheer magical prowess in the acquisition of magic crystals.
Twilight Ogre, in contrast, advanced entirely through fortuitous circumstances, capitalizing on the prevailing pandemonium to displace numerous rivals and thereby procure a qualifying berth.
Drake retained a distinct recollection of this particular guild, as they had previously accosted Fairy Tail with demands for debt repayment.
Indeed, Makarov had incurred substantial external obligations in his stewardship of the guild, and Twilight Ogre was indubitably among the creditors.
However, Drake harbored a profound incredulity that Makarov would be so imprudent as to subscribe to such patently inequitable terms, rendering it transparent that Twilight Ogre sought to exploit Fairy Tail's predicament, extorting a considerable sum under the guise of debt retrieval.
Drake, having endured a period of acute financial duress, could scarcely countenance such perfidy, promptly ejecting them from the premises.
Contrary to expectations, they had nonetheless secured qualification for the Grand Magic Games, thereby positioning themselves on the same competitive stage as Fairy Tail, affording the opportunity to redress both extant and antecedent grievances.
Subsequent to the culmination of the qualifying round, the inaugural day of formal competition commenced without delay.
Eight elevated platforms were suspended above the Thomas Brouh Dueling Arena, situated atop the western promontory of Crocus, affording those ensconced upon them a comprehensive vista of the Grand Magic Games' venue.
Four colossal statuary figures, resembling tutelary deities, encircled the expansive arena, while the assembled spectators had already assumed their designated positions. The competitors, in turn, vacated the platforms, returning to their respective grandstand emplacements.
Drake evinced considerable interest in the aforementioned venue. Having arrived at the site, Drake was abruptly reminded of the purported existence of a Dragon Graveyard situated beneath the arena's surface.
In the canonical narrative, Gajeel, during the course of a competition, was propelled into the subterranean domain by Natsu, thereby discovering the aforementioned ossuary.
Subsequently, through the application of Wendy's Dragon Slayer Secret Art - Milky Way, he engaged in communication with the disembodied essence of a dragon terminated by Acnologia.
Drake's interest was instantaneously piqued. Lacking experimental subjects, what could prove more efficacious than the soul of a dragon?
Alas, the methodologies for the extraction of souls remained somewhat rudimentary. Under alternate circumstances, Drake would have relished the opportunity to inspect the Dragon Graveyard firsthand.
Speaking of which, he had nearly neglected Wendy's singular Dragon Slayer Secret Art. Should he succeed in its analysis, it might significantly augment his research endeavors.
Furthermore, Grandeeney had entrusted the documentation pertaining to the two Dragon Slayer Secret Arts that she had been unable to impart to Wendy to her counterpart in Edolas… specifically, Porlyusica, an erstwhile associate of Makarov.
Porlyusica resided within the forest situated east of Magnolia. Drake speculated as to whether a visit to her abode might yield the aforementioned Dragon Slayer Secret Art documentation.
While Drake was thus engaged in reverie, an amorphous entity bearing a pumpkin-shaped cephalic appendage materialized within the confines of the arena, proclaiming loudly through a handheld microphone: "Esteemed patrons, the qualifying phase of the Grand Magic Games has concluded! Those competitors who have successfully secured berths in the formal competition have now entered the premises.
The Grand Magic Games shall transpire over a period of five days. The competitions during the initial four days shall be bifurcated into racing and combat segments. The racing component shall award differential point allocations contingent upon the final standings, with the victor receiving 10p, the runner-up 8p, the third-place finisher 6p, the fourth-place finisher 4p, the fifth-place finisher 3p, the sixth-place finisher 2p, the seventh-place finisher 1p, and the eighth-place finisher 0p.
The combat segment, in contrast, shall comprise four engagements per diem, with the victor securing 10p, the vanquished 0p, and a draw yielding a point allocation of 5p to each participant.
The culminating day shall feature a grand melee, encompassing all participants. The subjugation of opposing team members shall yield 1p, while the subjugation of a team captain shall yield 5p. The final tally shall be derived from the cumulative scores amassed over the duration of the five days.
Now, without further preamble, allow me to elucidate the nature of the inaugural racing event…"
Concomitant with the termination of the aforementioned pumpkin-headed entity's pronouncements, a colossal luminescent screen materialized within the arena.
"Chariot!"
The four prominent characters emblazoned upon the aforementioned screen instantaneously morphed into a cartographic representation of Crocus, upon which a curvilinear trajectory extended from the venue, circumscribing the city, and ultimately terminating at its point of origin.
The pumpkin-headed entity proceeded to enunciate the governing regulations, stating: "Each guild shall designate two competitors to traverse the designated route in a chariot race.
The route shall be punctuated by signposts bearing the respective emblems of each participating guild. Contestants are hereby instructed to dismantle said signposts during the course of their traverse.
Failure to dismantle a signpost shall incur a time penalty of ten minutes, to be appended to the overall completion time. The resultant temporal measurement shall constitute the final score for each participating contestant.
Of paramount import is the caveat that contestants must exercise extreme caution! The designated route is by no means devoid of peril, encompassing a diverse array of magical contrivances and traps.
Finally, the completion of the chariot race shall be contingent upon the arrival of both designated members!"
Drake, having perused the displayed cartographic representation, remarked that the regulations were reasonably engaging, devoid of readily exploitable loopholes, while simultaneously assessing the multifaceted capabilities of the participating mages.
It appeared that, notwithstanding the kingdom's primary objective of harvesting magical energy, they had not elected to disregard the competitive integrity of the proceedings.
Drake, electing to abstain from direct participation, inquired: "Sting, Rogue, are you amenable to assuming responsibility for this particular event?"
Sting responded with unrestrained enthusiasm: "Drake, entrust this endeavor to our capable hands with absolute confidence!"
Rogue concurred, stating: "Affirmative. We shall secure victory with expeditious and decisive action."
Having articulated their respective commitments, the aforementioned individuals promptly vaulted from the grandstand, joining the assembled representatives from the other participating teams at the designated starting point.
The pumpkin-headed entity, brandishing a diminutive pennant, proclaimed: "Permit me to reiterate, for the sake of absolute clarity, that the utilization of any and all forms of magic is permissible within the context of the Grand Magic Games!
With that understanding firmly established… assume your respective positions!"
Upon the descent of the aforementioned pennant, a sonorous buzzer reverberated throughout the arena.
"The Chariot Race has commenced!"
Transgressing the confines of the starting line, all participants proceeded to invoke their respective signature magical techniques.
Certain competitors invoked acceleration enchantments, while others employed elemental magic to augment their velocity. Still others availed themselves of transformation magic, assuming the guise of beasts renowned for their celerity, conveying their compatriots upon their respective dorsums.
One individual, displaying considerable ingenuity, employed make magic to fabricate a motorized conveyance, proceeding to accelerate away from the starting line with unrestrained abandon.
The application of make magic, it should be noted, transcended the mere fabrication of a superficial likeness. The construction of a functional, self-propelled conveyance necessitated an exceptional degree of precision and expertise.
Drake, observing the proceedings, could not suppress a modicum of admiration, remarking that even seemingly unremarkable mages possessed unique and noteworthy aptitudes.
In effect, each competitor invoked their respective talents to maximum effect, resulting in a heterogeneous display of magical ingenuity. Upon their departure from the starting line, the participants were rapidly dispersed, with substantial disparities in velocity manifesting from the outset.
Sting and Rogue, while lacking specialized mobility enchantments, compensated through the inherent augmentations conferred by their respective Dragon Slayer magics, enabling them to attain a velocity that was scarcely inferior to that of the leading echelon.
During their period of sustained acceleration, Rogue abruptly inclined his cephalic appendage, as a projectile traversed his facial plane with alarming proximity.
Rogue swiftly rotated his cranium, discerning a mage astride a bestial construct generated through transformation magic. The individual was brandishing a firearm, its muzzle directed menacingly towards Rogue's personage.
From the vantage point of the grandstand, Stella, having apprehended the aforementioned sequence of events via the projected display, vociferously protested, striking the railing with considerable force: "What is the meaning of this? They have initiated an assault upon their fellow competitors! Surely such conduct constitutes a violation of the established regulations?"
Drake, however, remained composed, stating: "Did not the aforementioned pumpkin-headed entity explicitly stipulate that the application of any and all forms of magic was permissible? Consequently, even offensive enchantments are sanctioned by the prevailing rules."
Stella, evincing a degree of apprehension, inquired: "Nevertheless, are Sting and Rogue adequately equipped to contend with such circumstances?"
Drake emitted a confident chuckle, retorting: "Have no apprehensions whatsoever! Such trivialities pose no significant challenge to their capabilities. Furthermore, their adversaries have inadvertently alerted them to the potential for such tactics.
Those two impetuous youths shall proceed to impart to their antagonists a profound understanding of the concept of competitive dominance!"
In accordance with Drake's prognostication, Sting and Rogue promptly recognized the alternative strategic dimensions inherent in the competition.
"Shadow Dragon's Roar!"
Rogue, reciprocating in kind, unleashed a torrent of umbral energy that directly impacted the mage wielding the firearm, in conjunction with his transformed companion, simultaneously obliterating a signpost adorned with the Fairy Tail emblem.
Sting, in turn, targeted the conveyance situated proximally ahead of their position, unleashing a "White Dragon's Holy Ray," projecting a focused beam of incandescent energy that bisected the aforementioned magical vehicle.
In short order, the designated thoroughfare was transformed into a scene of pandemonium, with Sting and Rogue exerting their dominance over the proceedings with unrestrained abandon.
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