"Hm," Yajima stroked his chin.
"Bringing up Rhode's score at a time like this, won't that just intimidate the rest of the competitors?"
Chapati blinked.
"It shouldn't, right? Mr. Rhodes isn't participating in this round."
Lahar chuckled lightly.
"Or it might ignite their competitive spirit. The next Magician is Sabertooth's Shadow Dragon Slayer."
Rogue.
The real pressure for Rogue wasn't Rhodes, it was the people behind him in the queue: positions 7 and 8. He would never let a comparison to a seven-year-old score shake him.
Even if he had been beaten previously, Rogue believed firmly:
He was not weaker than the Rhodes of seven years ago.
Black, misty magic began spilling from his body as he walked toward the crystal. His clothes fluttered from the surge, and a heartbeat later, his hair rose, and black scale-like markings crept over his face and arms.
His magic power spiked dramatically.
"Dragonization?!" Gajeel yelped, Zirconis's words echoing in his mind.
'Was this guy turning into a Dragon?!'
Natsu, Wendy, and even Laxus tensed instinctively.
Meanwhile, Rhodes was thinking something else entirely:
'Did I forget to explain Dragon Force to my Dragon Slayers? It seems possible. They were pretty weak back then…'
Rogue answered coolly, voice calm despite the roiling aura:
"Dragonization? If that's what you call it, then fine. But strictly speaking, this is Dragon Force, the true power of a Dragon Slayer.The power meant to defeat Dragons."
"…"
That did NOT reassure Gajeel at all. If someone turning into a Dragon was connected to Dragon Slayer power going out of control...
Then wasn't Dragon Force basically the "Dragonification precursor"?!
Rhodes tilted his head.
"Isn't Rogue embarrassed bragging like this after getting flattened by me…? Did I hit him too lightly that time?"
Rogue stiffened for half a breath, recalling that exact incident, then his magic flared again as if trying to erase the memory.
Even the ordinary spectators could feel the pressure; wind whipped across the stage.
Rogue drew in a breath and steadied his stance.
"Shadow Dragon's ROAR!!"
A pitch-black blast erupted from his mouth, corrosive, turbulent, ripping across the arena. The Magic Power Meter vanished inside the darkness, and the shockwave carved a wider, deeper scar into the arena wall than Yerol's strike had.
The darkness dispersed.
And a cold number appeared:
4191
The audience gasped.
That was dangerously close to Rhode's legendary MPF number.
Rogue's expression did not change, but everyone watching felt the pressure intensify.
Next in line, Simon swallowed hard.
He knew, painfully, that he wasn't as strong as Millianna, nor suited for this kind of destructive one-shot test.
But Pumpkin Man had already called his name.
He could only straighten his suit and walk forward with the refined composure drilled into him by Blue Pegasus.
No matter the outcome, their "older brothers" had taught him: Always maintain a perfect image.
Simon positioned his right hand across his shoulder, suit sharp, posture elegant...
Then he unleashed the attack.
"Dark Devour!"
A crescent of black light sliced out sharply, striking the magic crystal.Darkness burst outward with a boom, covering nearly half the arena.
Visually? It looked comparable to Rogue's.
But the number told another story:
521
Simon let out a long, defeated breath.
"As expected. Not my strong suit."
Millianna immediately bounded over, paws raised.
"Don't be sad, meow! That was super impressive! They're all monsters anyway, Kagura-chan is way stronger than that guy!"
"That somehow makes me feel worse," Simon sighed.
Maybe, it was time to consider learning Gravity Magic like his little sister.
Pumpkin Man read the number aloud, then immediately called:
"Number 6, Magician Refus!!"
Refus stepped forward calmly.
This time, he didn't unveil any fancy new invention, he simply unstrapped the double-barreled shotgun from his back and twisted a mechanism on the grip.
Clack-clack-clack
The gun instantly split, segments rotating and reassembling in a dizzying mechanical bloom.
The twin barrels slid together, thickened, and elongated until the entire weapon had transformed into a compact single-man rocket launcher.
"I'll use a high-explosive round," he said solemnly.
He lowered to one knee, adjusted the shell type, shouldered the launcher, took a brief aim, and fired.
A small crimson magic circle flashed at the muzzle.
The shell streaked out with a shrill whistle and slammed into the Magic Power Meter.
BOOOOM—!!
Fire engulfed the device, smoke swirling as the crystal core resisted the blast.
Then a number surfaced through the flames:
998
A Dragon's Treasure member scratched his head.
"Master, why didn't you let him use that weapon?"
The guild master looked pained.
"That thing takes too long to load. And using magic crystals for rapid-fire support drains our finances like water.
"Besides, even in its portable version, the Magic Crystal Cluster Cannon is still fundamentally a weapon of war."
He sighed. "Bringing it into the arena would only invite trouble from the organizers. Not worth the headache.
"And above all… even if we could bring it, I don't dare sell it to anyone privately."
The guild member nodded.
This entire contest, simple, raw destructive output, was honestly torture for a guild that specialized in technology, not brute-force magic.
"Finally, my turn."
Gajeel rolled his shoulders, stepped forward, and casually stretched his neck.
Then he inhaled deeply, and exhaled.
Way too gently.
Halfway through, he paused.
"Can I attack from another direction?"
Pumpkin Man blinked. "You can, but… why?"
Gajeel smirked, wicked and self-satisfied.
"Ghihi~ To let loose."
He turned, adjusting his stance until he was facing, his own team's direction.
Rhodes immediately understood and covered his face, laughing.
"Do I praise him for the thoughtfulness, or beat him up later?"
He answered his own question by raising a hand and invoking a thin curtain of golden light.
A barrier shimmered into existence, just in time.
"Iron Dragon's… ROOOAR!!"
A hurricane of iron blades, screeching tiles, and shrapnel exploded forward.
The roar shredded the arena floor, ripped up walls, and crashed into Rhodes's barrier like a metal typhoon.
Wendy squeaked, hugging her staff.
"Mr. Gajeel, that was too scary!"
Rhodes nodded gravely.
"Yes. Very much so." (He had decided. He would beat Gajeel up.)
The smoke cleared, and above the Magic Power Meter floated:
5213
A new high score.
The stands erupted with cheers and shock.
Rogue's eyes widened.
"G-Gajeel?
Is Mr. Gajeel really that strong…?"
This wasn't right. This wasn't the picture he had in mind at all.
'I should be surpassing him, not falling behind again!'
Rogue clenched his fists, glaring at Gajeel's back.
Gajeel, meanwhile, clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.
"Tch. That big a gap with that guy?Should I have used a Dragon Slayer Secret Art instead?"
...
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