The whole of Magnolia was wearing a festive look, with the joy of the holiday everywhere.
The streets were draped with colorful ribbons and lanterns, and the air was filled with the aroma of roasted meat and mulled wine.
Vendors of all kinds had gathered from all over the Kingdom of Fiore to set up stalls in Magnolia, their cries competing with one another, adding a lively atmosphere to the Harvest Festival.
Gray, Lucy, and Juvia were walking down the street, sighing at the liveliness of the Harvest Festival while complaining about Laxus.
"Laxus is just like that."
Gray said, hands behind his head.
Just then, a voice came from behind them.
"He's still the same old guy."
The three turned their heads in unison.
Gray's eyes lit up, and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Warren! Long time no see!"
Warren grinned, waved at Gray, his forehead glistening with the light sweat of travel.
"Glad I made it in time for the Harvest Festival. I almost didn't make it back, I ran until my legs felt like they were going to break."
Gray glanced at him sideways, retorting mercilessly.
"Who told you to take so many jobs at once? Serves you right."
Warren clutched his forehead, his face bitter.
"It wasn't that! I saw Riyao taking so many jobs at once, and I got a whim and wanted to try it too. As a result, I almost worked myself to death on the road. What kind of monster is that guy Riyao anyway?"
Lucy put her hands on her hips, sighing and complaining at the same time.
"That's amazing. Does Riyao actually do that many jobs? Usually, when I see him, he's either farming or eating melon seeds..."
Juvia stepped forward, bowed slightly, her short blue hair fluttering gently in the autumn breeze, a shy smile on her face.
"Hello, I am the newcomer Juvia. Please take care of me."
Warren looked her over curiously.
"I know who you are. Please take care of me too."
Lucy suddenly said "Ah" and clapped her hands sharply.
"Oh no! The Miss Fairy Tail contest is about to start!"
Without another word, she took off running towards the guild, her blonde hair flying behind her.
"I'm late, I'm late!"
A dense aura of resentment instantly erupted from Juvia, water swirling around her, her eyes becoming sharp.
"I will not lose to Miss Lucy."
Gray looked at their completely different reactions and sighed helplessly.
"Did you both enter..."
The guild hall had been completely refurbished, with colorful flags fluttering and voices roaring.
The audience below was packed tight, and the cheers of the men were almost enough to lift the roof off.
Max stood on the stage acting as the host, wearing a shiny suit, his hair slicked back, picking up the microphone and shouting at the top of his lungs.
"Everyone! The long-awaited Miss Fairy Tail contest is about to begin!"
The audience below exploded instantly, with whistles and screams rising and falling.
Max cleared his throat and intentionally dragged out his tone.
"Next, please welcome contestant number 1! The exotic beauty with an interdimensional stomach! Cana Alberona!"
Cana walked out from the side stage. Today, for a rare change, she was dressed warmly, wrapped tightly in a long-sleeved jacket, and winked mysteriously at the audience.
Just as the audience was confused, she flipped her wrist, and cards flew from between her fingers, carving an arc in the air.
With a splash, water sprayed up, her long dress dissipated in the light, and she instantly switched into a cool swimsuit. Her wet brown hair clung to her shoulders as the cards spun and landed back in her hands.
The men below collectively gasped, followed by an explosion of deafening cheers.
Max wiped the sweat from his forehead and continued shouting.
"Next, please welcome contestant number 2! Although she is a newcomer, she possesses S-class strength! The beautiful girl who keeps dripping rain! Juvia Lockser!"
Juvia walked onto the stage in small steps, her hands clasped in front of her, looking obedient and cute. Her short blue hair made her look exceptionally pure, and she looked nervously flushed.
She took a deep breath, water surging on her body. Amidst the mist, her dress turned into water droplets and scattered, revealing a water-blue swimsuit, with droplets slowly sliding down her collarbone.
This stark contrast made the audience cheer in delight; the shy girl from a moment ago had become so sexy that people couldn't take their eyes off her.
Max shouted with increasing enthusiasm.
"Next, please welcome contestant number 3! Her beauty has brought the whole continent to its knees! Mirajane Strauss!"
Mirajane stood obediently in the center of the stage, her long silver hair glowing softly under the lights, and her white dress making her look like an angel who had walked out of a painting.
She tilted her head, flashed a sweet smile, and with a light tap of her fingertip, her Transformation Magic activated.
That exquisite face instantly turned into Happy's cat face, and the audience froze for a moment.
Before they could react, it changed into Gajeel's fierce, iron-faced look, paired with Mirajane's gentle posture, creating a massive sense of discordance.
The audience below looked as if they had been hit by a truck, falling into a dead silence at first.
Then, they erupted into even crazier laughter and cheers; some laughed so hard they slapped their thighs, and some laughed until tears came out.
"Next, please welcome contestant number 4! The legendary Titania! Erza Scarlet!"
Erza strode onto the stage, her long red hair flying behind her, full of imposing momentum.
A white light flashed, and her Requip Magic activated. The audience held their breath in anticipation.
As the light gradually faded, Erza appeared, wearing an exquisite gothic lolita outfit.
The black lace skirt flared out fluffily, and she wore a small bow hair accessory on her head, lifting the hem of her skirt with both hands to perform a slight curtsy.
This was the complete opposite of Erza's usual stern and dignified appearance. The audience was stunned for half a second, followed by another wave of boiling cheers, with some people getting so excited they stood up directly.
"Next, please welcome contestant number 5! Combining cuteness and wisdom! Levy McGarden!"
Levy hopped onto the stage, her blue twin-tails swaying with her movements, the eyes behind her round-rimmed glasses curving into crescents.
She cast Solid Script magic, and the two characters "Cute" appeared in the air, transforming into falling petals and stars, adding a dreamy background to herself, making her look like she was standing in a fairy tale world.
Among the audience, Jet and Droy were the most excited, waving their arms and shouting hoarsely.
"Levy! Levy! Levy!" Their voices were almost hoarse.
"Next, please welcome contestant number 6! The wild western gunslinger! Bisca Mulan!"
Bisca strode onto the stage, dressed very boldly in leather clothes and boots with a short skirt, truly full of a wild style.
She had a blade of grass in her mouth, and she threw a few wine bottles into the air. The moment the bottles spun in the air, she drew her sniper rifle from her waist.
With a few crisp "bangs," the bottles exploded in succession in the air, the fragments and wine splashing like fireworks under the lights.
The audience was completely ignited by this performance. Alzack was the most intense, standing up and clapping until his palms were red, his eyes full of stars.
"Next, please welcome contestant number 7! The guild's poster girl, the representative of the girl-next-door! Lisanna Strauss!"
Lisanna ran onto the stage with a grin, her white short hair glowing softly under the lights. She clasped her hands together, cast Transformation Magic, and a pink light erupted from her body.
As the light faded, she had turned into a fluffy bunny, her long pink ears twitching, her little nose sniffing, and she tilted her head at the audience.
Seeing such a cute Lisanna, the audience's hearts were about to melt, and the cheers rose wave after wave.
"Next, please welcome contestant number 8! Her radiance is guided by the stars! Lucy Ha..."
"I'll introduce myself!" Lucy hurriedly jumped out, interrupting the surname Max was about to say, putting her hands on her hips and glaring at him.
She changed into an energetic cheerleader outfit, holding pom-poms, and danced an upbeat cheerleading routine, her blonde ponytail swinging with her jumps, her smile bright.
The audience clapped along to the beat, and the atmosphere was heated.
Max paused intentionally, flipping the card in his hand, a mysterious arc hooking at the corner of his mouth, his voice lowering.
"Next, please welcome contestant number 9! A mysterious origin that fascinates people, said to be Mirajane's cousin! Qing Strauss!"
A figure slowly walked out from the side stage, wearing a cyan qipao.
His long dark green hair flew wantonly, cascading down like a waterfall, with fine, glittering green light curling at the tips.
His golden pupils slowly swept across the audience, a flow of light seemingly surging in the depths of his eyes, carrying a soul-stirring charm.
A pair of winding dragon horns stood proudly from the sides of his forehead, the surface of the horns having fine lines, the tips glowing with a faint green light.
The dark green dragon tail behind him swayed leisurely, the scales reflecting a faint cyan light under the stage lights.
He walked to the center of the stage, his steps as light as if stepping on the wind.
He tilted his head slightly, giving the audience a half-smile, the angle of his upturned mouth just right—both lazy and flamboyant.
The audience was dead silent at first, then completely boiled over. The screams and whistles were almost enough to bring the hall down.
And Lucy, Gray, Natsu, and others, seeing these familiar dragon horns, familiar eye color, and familiar tail, all had their eyes twitching in unison.
Gray's mouth twitched, and he cursed in a low voice: "That guy is at it again..."
Lucy's temple vein throbbed, gritting her teeth.
"I knew he wouldn't pass up the chance to cross-dress... What did he stuff inside there?"
Natsu and Happy slapped the table and laughed, almost laughing until they ran out of breath.