Flickering ghostly flames replaced the shattered Pandemonium, giving way to a grim, eerie arena.
After all, this monster was said to be a match for even a Ten Wizard Saint. In its colossal form, the S-Class monster far surpassed all others in both reaction speed and destructive power, radiating an overwhelming sense of dread.
Before such a monster, Mira—who had only taken on Halphas's power—was clearly at a disadvantage. After a fierce exchange, she was sent flying by a massive fist, crashing hard into the arena's edge.
"What a devastating blow! Can Mira withstand this?!"
Like the anxious audience, Chapati held his breath, his eyes fixed on the smoke-covered holographic screen.
"An unexpected trap. I see. So that's the true meaning behind the name 'Pandemonium'..." Yajima remarked gravely.
At the arena's edge.
"I warned you. This game isn't so easily cleared, Pumpkin," Pumpkin Head said with a relieved sigh, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.
The reason he had set the S-Class monster at a Ten Wizard Saint level was to keep potential competitors like Jura and that bastard Chase in check—at the very least, to ensure they wouldn't have an easy victory.
He never expected this "insurance policy" to end up being used against Mira!
"Perhaps. But if it's Mira—"
Future Erza, standing nearby with her arms crossed, wore a faint smile and said matter-of-factly, "That big guy is no match for her."
Pumpkin Head and the other competitors were taken aback, unable to understand where her confidence came from—Mira was clearly at a disadvantage!
Meanwhile, at Fairy Tail's stands.
"GO! Mira! Show everyone what it means to be a man!"
Both inside and outside the cards, both Elfmans were shouting excitedly.
Their cheers left the others a bit embarrassed.
"Elfman, Mira is a girl!" both Lisannas said, equally mortified, correcting him in unison.
Future Laxus, leaning against the wall, glanced at Chase: "You look pretty relaxed. Not worried at all?"
"Haha, what's there to worry about? She's my girlfriend!" Chase said with pride.
Future Laxus, force-fed a mouthful of couple fluff: "..."
He shouldn't have asked.
"You don't have to make that face. Don't you have a girlfriend too?" Chase asked probing.
Looking at Future Laxus, he suddenly remembered something he'd been curious about—a bit of gossip he wanted to dig up.
Specifically, in the original story, Larcade Dragneel's Pleasure Magic had worked on Laxus too.
Had he been "corrupted" by Ichiya and his gang of host boys during the time he temporarily joined Blue Pegasus after Fairy Tail disbanded?
Or had he left his youthful innocence behind during his rebellious phase?
It probably wasn't anyone in the guild—at least in the two-plus years since Chase had joined, he hadn't heard any such rumors.
"Wh-Why are you so nosy?!"
Future Laxus's face flushed. He turned his head away resolutely, showing no intention of answering.
Nearby, Juvia, Gajeel, and Future Cana, who had been eavesdropping, sighed in disappointment.
Just then, the entire arena erupted in gasps.
On the arena platform, Mira had entered a Combination Take Over form—Demon King, Demon, and Halphas combined. Like a blooming demonic flower, she landed a brutal punch that shattered the S-Class monster's right arm!
The tide had turned instantly.
Against Demon God King Mira, who had battle experience against Acnologia and had awakened her Second Origin, the S-Class monster stood no chance. It was beaten back step by step.
First its left arm crumbled, then its armor was kicked apart—
In the end, its eye core embedded in its abdomen, along with its entire massive body, was annihilated in the explosive magical shockwave!
"Winner — Fairy Tail Team B, Mirajane Strauss!"
"Another decisive victory, just like the first day's event!!"
Amidst Chapati's near-screaming commentary, the entire arena boiled over. Cheers soared to the heavens!
Pandemonium and the arena platform faded away. Mira stood on the shrinking teleportation circle, her black dress slightly soiled.
"Oh my~ I might have overdone it a bit~"
Glancing around and letting out a humble sigh, her gaze swept past the stunned competitors from other guilds and landed on Chase in Team B's stands.
Seeing her boyfriend give her a thumbs-up, the silver-haired girl's smile widened with joy.
"That was incredible, Mira," Future Erza said, walking over.
"Oh, I'm sure Erza would have had the same result—maybe even more spectacular," Mira replied with a smile.
Future Jura, Future Millianna, and other competitors from guilds friendly with Fairy Tail also came over to offer their congratulations and admiration.
"Just lucky, that's all."
Sabertooth's Lightning God Slayer, Orga, scoffed dismissively and turned to Pumpkin Head. "Hey! Since all the monsters are gone, how do we settle this?"
In his arrogant view, he could have achieved the same result if he had gone first.
"Well, I've just discussed emergency measures with the organizers," Pumpkin Head said, raising his hand. A device embedded with a special magic crystal appeared before them.
"This is the Magic Power Finder — MPF. Attack this device with magic, and your power will be displayed as a numerical value."
"Though it's a bit dull compared to Pandemonium, your final rankings will be determined by these numbers."
Hearing such a simple, brute-force method, the competitors were briefly taken aback, each reacting differently.
Orga, Jura, and other power-type mages were eager to try. Hibiki, Millianna, and others who favored strategy and technique looked troubled.
"Magic power output, huh..." Future Erza smiled confidently.
Though incomplete, she hadn't expected to get a chance to use the equipment she had specially commissioned from the weaponsmith!
"The testing order seems to follow the earlier lottery draw. Erza, what number are you?" Mira asked curiously.
"Probably because I'm sharing a room with Lucy—I got last place, number eight," Future Erza said with a helpless shrug, showing her lot.
Two chibi Lucy heads popped into view: "My luck has always been amazing, okay!"
After the gong sounded, the MPF testing officially began.
Millianna went first, scoring 365.
According to Lahar's explanation, this was equivalent to an Enforcement Unit squad captain level—respectable.
Nobally followed, scoring 124 amid the wild cheers of the Four Little Puppies mages.
Third was Blue Pegasus's Hibiki Lates. After a flashy performance, he scored a disappointing 95.
Even below "puppy" level!
Thankfully, Raven Tail's substitute Anoje scored even lower—not even double digits—drawing laughter from the entire arena.
Of course, this was likely Ivan's doing, deliberately hiding his guild's strength to spring a surprise in the upcoming battle rounds.
After the comedy act, Sabertooth's Orga finally scored an impressive 3825, even stunning Lahar.
Then Lamia Scale's Jura wowed the crowd with an astonishing 8623!
"Oh? Higher than I expected..." Chase said, a bit surprised.
If he remembered correctly, in the original story, Jura had scored 8544.
He hadn't lied earlier—Jura had indeed made small progress after their first-day battle.
"Can our Erza really surpass that score?" Juvia asked, her expression worried.
"Beating Sabertooth shouldn't be a problem. But Jura..."
Future Laxus sighed softly. "That'll be tough."
It wasn't that he doubted Erza—it was just that her opponent was too strong. Even he would struggle to beat that score.
"Sore wa dou kana (that's debatable)," Chase said with a smile, delivering the classic Card Nerd line.
As it happened, during last night's date with Erza, they had talked about this very topic.
Hearing that, Future Laxus's expression shifted. He looked toward the arena with a mix of curiosity and confusion.
There, Future Erza—the last to compete—had changed into her Purity Robe, a chest wrap, and was charging a red-tasseled longsword with immense magical power.
"Even if it means abandoning all defense with her Purity Robe—"
"Wait—what is that?!"
Future Laxus suddenly noticed that Future Erza's sword arm was equipped with an unfamiliar bronze right arm, engraved with mysterious runes!
As he stared in shock, a flash of cold light streaked across the arena.
The sharp-eyed Fairy Queen had already completed a stylish draw-and-sheath motion.
Under everyone's horrified gazes, the MPF crystal—cut cleanly into two—fell to the ground.
The displayed number was...
9999 — OFF THE SCALE!
***
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