"That person... is Ankh."
While Ankh was staring at the girl, Rogue was watching the team leader thoughtfully.
Sting pointed at Ankh and shouted rudely, "Hey! Why are you five representing Fairy Tail? Where's Natsu!"
After all his determination to compete against Natsu, he encounters Fairy Tail's team only to find Natsu isn't even with them?
Gajeel sneered in response. "Of course it's because... the Salamander is weak..."
Sting's eyes blazed with fury as he clenched his fists and lunged forward to fight Gajeel, only to be stopped by the burly young man.
"What are you doing, Orga?" Sting said discontentedly.
Orga, a headband tied around his hair, glanced enthusiastically at Laxus before explaining, "Let's talk after reaching the finish line. Even in the preliminaries, Sabertooth must take first place!"
Sting withdrew his fist in displeasure, then looked at the golden-haired young man standing with his hands behind his back.
The golden-haired youth, whose demeanor and speech resembled a bard—Rufus—understood Sting's gaze and placed two fingers against his temples.
"O burning light of hope, guide the traveler lost in midnight toward the path of rebirth!"
As Rufus chanted, chain-like radiance shimmered behind him. Golden light particles scattered through the air, assembling into the shape of an arrow.
A Photon Arrow materialized in the atmosphere, pointing directly in a specific direction.
Sting smirked triumphantly at Ankh and the others before waving his arm and shouting toward the arrow's direction.
"Let's move out!"
The five-member team sprang into action, sprinting in the direction indicated by the light arrow.
Mirajane observed the magic Rufus had cast and remarked with some confusion, "Light Creation Magic?"
"It seems to be more than just creation. Can Creation Magic also provide guidance?" Laxus commented.
Ankh waved his hand dismissively. "Let's follow them."
With ready-made guides in front of them, there was no need to find their own way.
Thus, the five members of Sabertooth charged headlong toward the east while Ankh and his group trailed leisurely behind them.
"Are we just letting them follow us like this?" Rufus frowned as he looked back at the persistent fairies they couldn't shake off.
Rogue maintained his calm demeanor. "Unless we leave someone behind to intercept them, but then the remaining four of us wouldn't be considered as having passed even if we reach the finish line."
"Damn clingy pests!" Sting growled in frustration.
Ankh appeared unfazed by the furious glares from the five ahead, continuing to follow behind them calmly.
Following you?
So what?
This is the only path to the finish line—should I take a detour?
Just as the two teams were testing each other's sprinting speeds, Sting's eyes lit up.
Ahead stood a staircase leading upward into the sky, with a heavy door at its summit.
The word "Finish" was inscribed above the doorway, and the Grand Magic Games mascot had been waiting there for some time.
The Pumpkin King's eyes sparkled when he saw two teams racing toward him.
'They're here! They're here! The first and second place teams!'
'Sabertooth and... Fairy Tail?'
'So Ankh and the others really returned. Fairy Tail's capabilities have instantly been elevated...'
As the Pumpkin King composed himself to welcome the leading Sabertooth team, the expression hidden beneath his pumpkin head froze.
'Huh?'
'Where did they go?'
On the long staircase, Sting struggled under the overwhelming weight, collapsing awkwardly onto the ground in a disheveled state.
"Damn it! It's gravity!"
Sting pushed himself up, but the ground beneath his feet cracked inch by inch, making it impossible to take a step.
Rufus sprawled on the ground, his face grim as he tried to stand.
Orga stubbornly resisted the gravity, refusing to fall.
Rogue gritted his teeth and lifted his head, shouting to the girl behind him, "Yukino!"
"Yukino?"
Running behind and seeing Sabertooth nearing the finish line, Ankh, who had been quietly causing trouble, couldn't help but pause upon hearing that name.
The name itself sounded full of youthful energy.
Yukino quickly understood his intention.
She produced a golden key, calling out in a light, ethereal voice:
"Open, the Gate of the Scales! Libra!"
The Fairy Tail team watched in astonishment at this very familiar scene.
Just like when Lucy summoned her Celestial Spirits, golden light spread like a drawn curtain, and a figure emerged from the astral glow.
This was a dancer adorned in a style reminiscent of ancient Egypt, with a healthy wheat-colored complexion.
Her black hair was tied into pointed shapes extending to both sides, and her face was veiled with a scarf bearing the symbol of Libra.
Libra wore numerous bracelets on her arms and legs, a thick necklace around her neck, and held a golden scale in her hands.
"Libra, remove this gravity!"
"Understood."
With a simple reply, Libra's body arched into a curve, causing both sides of her scale to tilt as green light glowed from them.
Sting felt the weight lift from his body, but his rage only intensified. Gritting his teeth, he turned and charged toward Ankh and the others.
Rogue was alarmed and shouted, "Sting! Don't be reckless—get to the finish line first!"
But Sting, already lunging forward, couldn't hold back.
The rest of Sabertooth had no choice but to join him in the counterattack.
Though surprised that the opposing Celestial Spirit could manipulate gravity, Ankh didn't hesitate.
As Sting charged at him, Ankh reached out and caught his fist, then forcefully twisted downward, dissipating Sting's momentum—and possibly dislocating a joint.
Before Sting could cry out in pain, Ankh grabbed his shoulder and hurled him backward like a ball.
Laxus, with perfect timing, reached up and caught the "ball" mid-air.
This was a move the two had often used on Natsu in the past...
Next, facing the four charging Sabertooth members, Ankh swung his hand down, and they were once again crushed by gravity.
Libra broke out in a cold sweat, and Yukino's expression turned grim.
Clearly, her Magic Power wasn't enough to support Libra in breaking through a higher level of gravity suppression.
And so, Ankh and Laxus casually strolled past the members lying on the ground, with Laxus tossing Sting even farther away.
At a leisurely pace, the five of them walked up to the astonished Pumpkin King.
Ankh wore a harmless smile as he addressed the referee.
"Fairy Tail Team B, arrived."