Chapter 25: Strongest in the Game
Things got much quieter around the guild all for a while after Galen's S class test for Team Natsu. Natsu and Grey were actually afraid to move a pebble out of place on jobs he takes because of the test. There was no complaint mail being sent to the guild master at all, which was fortunate for all parties involved.
After about a week, Galen received a special letter from the magic council about an exhibition match after the Grand Wizard Games. The letter stated that the magic officials from all the other magic nations will attend the event to witness the "final proof" that Starkiller, aka Galen, was the strongest in EarthLand. The letter stated that the match will be mandatory for publicity and economic purposes.
"Exhibition match?! *chuckles* guess I suck at keeping my power a secret even though I don't brag about it. It's supposed to start in 4 days from now."
Galen prepared for the guild trip, encouraged members to train before the games, and mentally prepared how he should go about the match.
The day before the games Galen announced to the guild the members that will represent Fairy Tail.
"The members that will represent Fairy Tail are as follows: Natsu, Grey, Erza, Lucy, and Happy"
" Wait I'm not really much of a fighter why pick me Master!?" Happy complained.
"I didn't choose you for your individual strength Happy, I choose you because of how well you work with your team. After all, are you not Fairy Tail's strongest? You help make it strong just like the rest of the guild Happy. Besides, not all of the games will be about fighting, that much I know for sure." Galen told happy while rubbing his head.
"AIE!"
"That's the spirit Happy."
Fairy Tail packed their bags and made their way to the capital of Fiore. It was early afternoon when they arrived. Erza, Natsu, Lucy, and Happy went about their own business: Erza found a sweets shop and bought 10 strawberry cakes for herself, Natsu and Happy found the nearest diner and stuffed their faces, and Lucy went shopping for new cloths. Galen prepped the inn that was rented to them. While folding towers and blankets, Galen was visited by 2 unexpected guests, but not guests that he did not sense coming.
"It has been a while Galen Marek, or should we say master Marek now."
"It has been some months since last Kyoka. What brings you here?"
"I came here in duty even though my master is gone. The 2 strongest of his empire wish to test your strength since you killed their emperor with 1 strike. I told them of your deeds and now they wish to see you and your power for themselves. They will be fighting you along with the remaining wizard saints of Fiore."
"I came here because she came here, also I'm a bit curious myself. While we still tend to look down on humans, you are a significant exception for multiple reasons which you already know or can guess. While we may not look like it, we are very wise and experienced given our heritage and age and we can tell that you were not fighting us seriously when we first "met". While you are fighting the 2 strongest of Zeref's empire, we wish for you to show us exactly how fierce of a fighter you are." Said Seilah.
"I can do that. I was planning to anyway as a show of respect. A 7v1 match sounds interesting. Will you be watching from the stands?"
" If you are worried about us being discovered then you have little faith in our ability to blend in. Humans can be so easily be deceived." Stats Kyoka.
"Not all of us humans are blind. I've trained Erza for almost a year since you saw her last. She has grown so much in just a short amount of time and I'm certain she will be able to sense where and who you are so just keep that in mind."
"duly noted. We will be looking forward to the match."
Kyoka and Seilah excuse themselves.
The day of the games:
The poliminary round is a massive labyrinth in a spherical shape held up in the sky. Erza was not worried in the slightest when they entered the sphere while everyone else's heads were spinning.
"How in the hell are supposed to navigate this crap!" Grey complains.
" Yeah and I can't fly in here! This sucks kitty litter!"
" aaa poor Happy" Lucy sarcastically remarks.
"Don't worry, just follow the sounds of my voice and don't worry about falling… I'll catch you." Erza spoke softly as she floated across the platforms.
"Hey how are you flying Erza? Isn't that unfair and unbalanced like that announcer suggested?" Happy questioned.
"He said that we would all start out on equal ground for those with disadvantages, he didn't say anything about rules. Now follow my voice." She said as she disappeared from sight.
Natsu was the first to follow with blind optimism and found that when he took a step of the platform he did not fall, but felt like he was stepping into a pool. With some encouragement from Natsu and Erza, the others began to follow even though they were weirded out that they were not falling, all except Happy who was used to flying.
They soon were standing in front of Erza who was already at a goal.
"That was not bad now was it?" Erza asked.
"No, but that still felt weird." Lucy answered.
"*clapping* The Fairy Tail Team is the first to make it to the goal!" The pumpkin announcer said to the group.
" Way To go Erza!" The team exclaimed.
"It was not all me, you had faith that I was not deceiving you and we made it as a team. That and Master's training."
With the poliminaries over it was time for the first game. The name of the game was "Hidden".
" Let me handle this one * Puts on a white blindfold* I can already tell what this game will be about." Erza said.
" How are you gonna compete while your blind?!" The team asked.
"Trust me. I was trained on such things. You can have the next game if you are worried I'll take all the credit."
A town was magically formed in the arena of the colosseum. Duplicates of all the competitors were scattered throughout the town. The rules of the game were if you hit someone regardless if dealt damage or not gets a point while the opponent loses a point. If someone hits a duplicate they lose a point. Having been trained to us force sight by Galen, Erza could see that the duplicates were grey like the town, while the opponents were seen as different colors based on their overall morality.
The game soon starts and people try to figure out a strategy to the game while Erza had her strategy to begin with. Using her powers of mind manipulation, Erza made all of the Erza Duplicates move and react like a normal human with her personality would to her competitors, but not affect the audience to make it look like everyone else was either trigger happy, idiots, or both.
Erza watched with amusement as the other teams were startled by decoys that they attacked and lost points to.
"I might not have to lift a finger for this." She amused herself with thought.
She decided to send the "decoys" to attack anyone they found while she silently creped unnoticed from the back and chopped them in the neck. She was entertained with the confusion and panic this set on the competition.
No one but Marek knew what was happening or what Erza was really doing.
"That's my girl. So proud of you." he said to himself.
The game ended with Fairy Tail getting 15 points and every other team getting either 0 or -4 points. The audience was flabbergasted at how extremely different the points were for Fairy Tail as opposed to everyone else's. They could not for the life of them think of a reason why they sometimes struck at nothing thinking it was their foe or think that a decoy was a moving target.
The first match was between Lucy and Flare. Lucy put up a very good fight but Flare came out on top at the end. The other teams went at it and after the results were taken, game day 1 was over.
The next day:
The first game of the day was a race on huge chariots. Natsu was elected, somehow, to run even though he suffers from motion sickness. Without much needing to be said, Natsu lost, though everyone had a good laugh at the spectacle. The other guilds had their matches and the results were recorded: Fairy Tail was in 4th.
The next day began with the game called "pandemonium": A upside down castle filled with 100 demons projections that vary in strength. Erza elected to go and she was allowed to go first.
"I will face all 100 demons at once." Was her request when she entered the castle.
When the creatures appeared in horde in front of her, she reequipped her lightsaber, and jedi robes, and held it in reverse shien style.
"I will make you proud master. I will not let a single claw hit me." She whispered to herself.
A red four legged demon was the first to lung at Erza. She easily side stepped it and sliced it in half with no effort. The others started to charge at her at once. Erza vanished instantly from sight of them. She reappeared above them as they piled onto themselves. Erza came down in a blur of red light, slamming into the ground with enough force to indent the entire first floor 7 feet deep. The creatures in the path of the light were bisected and thrown into the walls and columns of the room with enough force to shatter their magic projection forms into micro dust. The other creatures in the pile, 35 in all, were also thrown into the structure with enough force to shatter them.
With one slash Erza destroyed 40 projections: 5 B class, 35 D class.
Some of the projections began to breathe fire at her. With a wave of her hand, she deflected and redirected it back at them, melting them away into nothing. T-rex, and ogre like projection were the next to try their luck, but they were met with a dancing light so fast that only Galen saw her hand movements. Erza became more enthralled with the battle and began to move with her real speed.
Everything around her looked like it was moving like molasses and to what like a normal walking speed resembled teleporting to the audience. Large sections of the castle began to fall into the arena. The creatures were disappearing faster than booze at the Fairy Tail guild hall as Erza destroyed the ranks of projections.
In a matter of a minute or less, only the S class projection remained. Erza held her lightsaber horizontally and unignited it. The tiny eyed monster transformed into an armored behemoth and lunged at Erza. She did not move a muscle even when the monster was just inches away from attacking. When the Beast struck, the attack went right through her like she was not even there. Before the beast could turn around and figure out what was happening, it fell apart into a billion pieces.
The crowds were in a uproar of cheers and amazement even though they didn't even see a fraction of what happened, but Galen saw it all and was proud of his apprentice. Erza looked to her master in the stands. He was clapping with a smile on his face. Erza blushed a bit mentally cheered to herself.
"I trained her well didn't I Makarov?"
"Maybe… I don't know… I could not see any of it, but if she won she won.." He said while scratching his chin.
The next event was a MPF strength test, then it was next round of battles. Happy's opponent was Shelly. Happy actual landed a few attacks on Shelly, though he was quickly overwhelmed and subdued by her, giving her the win. The next event is a underwater battle. Lucy enters the field this time. With Aquarius, Lucy is able to overcome the competition in the Naval battle and claim victory for Fairy Tail.
The next event is a team vs team battle, though 2 at a time. Natsu and Grey were up.
"Remember boys… I'm watching." Galen whispered into their minds.
The thought of arguing with each other was washed away with the fear of taking another test. After a very grueling battle between 2 other dragon slayers, Natsu takes them on himself and ends up winning.
The next day:
The final match is a full team free for all. Erza directed Natsu, Grey, Lucy, and Happy to each take on a team by themselves. Happy was the most flustered by this along with Lucy while Natsu and Grey were "fired up". Erza would take on the remaining. Natsu and Grey handled themselves pretty well, and Lucy managed to hold her ground, though Erza occasionally helped her from a distance by making her opponents think Lucy is doing something else, or creating sudden obstructions underneath them. Erza helped Happy by making his attacks feel like an hurricane of pain even if his attack didn't look all that awe inspiring by making his opponents feel like Happy's attacks hurt a lot worse than they did. With a fiery will and with some assistance from Galen's teachings, Fairy Tail came out the victor of the match by a landslide.
The crowds cheering of Fairy Tail's name could be heard throughout the capital as they had won the Grand Magic Games. Before the commotion died down, an announcement came from the game officials.
"If I may have your attention please. While the Games are over, there is still one event left. Magic represenitives from each of the magic nations across earth land have gathered here to set up and witness this exhibition match to determine the strongest wizard in all Earth Land!" The pumpkin mascot announces.
This news came to a shock to everyone, all except the participants and Erza who sensed something like this would happen. Most of the audience didn't know how to feel at first, but decided that if it's going to determine something like the strongest in earth land then they would be more than happy to watch.
Galen, who is wearing a remake of his robes that he wore when he first landed in Earth land, leaped from the stands. He soared high into the sky before landing gracefully on his feet.
" The challenger that seeks to claim the title of strongest in Earth Land's history, a man that has won grand wizard games and defeated the strongest in all other nation, and is the current guild master of Fairy Tail, is Galen Marek!" The mascot announced.
While this did seem farfetched for it to be true, the crowd cheered for him anyway as if they saw his feats with their own eyes since they loved and adored Fairy Tail's performance in the games and they will give that same level of cheer for its master.
" and his opponents to try to disclaim him from this title will be the wizard saints Makarov Dreyar, Jura Neekis, Warrod Sequen, Draculos Hyperion, and Wolfheim. In addition, Master Marek will also face the 2 strongest wizards of the Spriggans from the Alakitasia empire, who recently lost their emperor: August and Irene Belserion!"
While the audience thought that Galen was way over his head with this, they still cheered for the seeming underdog.
" So this is the man who killed Zeref in one strike. His form is not too becoming of such a feet but I'm no fool to believe appearances are everything. Though I can't help but feel this sense of egger anticipation and dread." August thought to himself.
"I can't sense his magic at all! Hhmmm while I'm not the one to disbelieve someone like Kyoka, he seems a little underwhelming, at least in size and number."
"Be careful of underestimating your foe Belserion. It just might cause you a lot of pain." Galen whispered into her mind.
"telepathy?! But I didn't even sense any power! How did he read my thought so clearly?!"
Galen sits on the ground and enters a battle meditation before the match starts.
Meanwhile in the stands:
"Do you really think he stands a chance against that many overwhelming wizards Erza?" Lucy asked concern.
"actually Lucy, after training with Marek for some time and what I can tell from him now… I'm actually afraid for them not Marek."
" Wait Woah! I knew he was strong but the Strongest in Earth Land!?"
"Indeed he is Lucy, and I am proud to have such a master, a master who is a lot like me…" Erza stated with a bit of emotion at the end.
" Ok….. soo *looks at Galen then back to Erza* why is he just sitting there looking like he is about to fall asleep?!"
" *gulps* wow he is actually taking this seriously. To tell you the truth Lucy, I've never seen Galen fight seriously before since he has been a part of Fairy Tail. I know that he will take this one seriously, not because he has to, but as a sign of respect…. I know it because we are… connected.."
" ok but still though…"
"Master is using a technique known at battle mind. It improves his precognition and connection with his power significantly."
"so how do you think this will turn out Erza?!" Natsu interjects.
"This will be no contest, it will be a slaughter. Galen will be given the title of strongest."
" OOOOO I can't wait to see how strong he is!?"
"AIE!"
Before the announcer could commence the match, the ground shook violently as the stands began to lift away from the arena. The stands were lifted away and held over the capital as if it was lying on flat ground.
The audience was extremely confused and some panicked but did not leave their seats. Next the small mountain that the arena sits on the top of was lift from the ground and hurled at blurring speeds away from the ocean. Galen remained firmly to the ground while his opponents were held to the ground with such force that they could not move as the mountain tumbled through the air. The mountain sailed over for what looked like the length of a country before coming to a sudden and violent stop over the ocean. The mountain was held a few feet above the surface of the water. The opponents were released from the telekinetic grip that held them to the floor. Moments after they all got to their feet, the ocean below them began to shake violently as well as land was pulled from the floor and attached to the edges of the arena through force grip.
" I am beginning to see why this man could have killed Zeref with one strike, but that won't stop me from testing him and his limits." August thought to himself.
The land that was pulled up overshadowed the sea making it look like they were on a country or continent.
Galen slowly rose to his feet without opening his eyes yet.
" I'm sorry for the rough trip but I'm going to be taking this seriously out of respect for my opponent. I took us 500 miles away from the capital in the middle of the ocean so that our fight will not destroy anything important. I also raised a significant amount of land from the sea floor to give you enough room to fight me on. I must apologize in advance for the pain you are going to feel during this." Galen stated as he slowly opened his eyes, though no one could see them.
" Wait how will the others…" Makarov began to ask.
" I also brought all of the recording lacrimas the stadium was using with us. Don't worry Makarov, they can see us… well… see you at least."
"You may attack me one at a time or all at once, it does not matter to me. You may begin the match when you are ready." Galen said in a monotone voice.
August acted first, transforming into a dark form and shooting out immense fire from one hand and piercing bullets out the other.
" I can't hear his thoughts or soul…. I must put up some pressure in the fight so I can see his fighting style without being on the receiving end of it." August thought to himself.
His arms did not shoot straight though as they were forced behind his back towards Irene. Manipulating the land to block the attack, but instead the land attacked her.
"What!?" Irene responded loudly.
"Frustrating having your own defense used to attack you." Galen taunted her in her mind.
Irene frees one of her hands from the earth pinning her down and tries to manipulate it back to its original state after it took the brunt of August's attack, but found that any time she tried to manipulate it, it would shake out of control for a bit then resume its attack against her. She redirected her hand to Galen and shot a beam of light to transform him into a mouse.
When the beam reached Galen, he merely redirected it with his left palm back at Irene at inconceivable speeds. She had no time to react as she was transformed into a mouse. The ground then picked up Irene and started to travel very quickly towards Galen in an open palm shape. Irene managed to change herself back, but could not do much after as her neck rammed into Galen's open palm, knocking her out cold.
"Still want to do this one on one?!" Galen called out aloud
August was taken aback by this. Irene was practically his equal and yet their own power was turned against them with such ease, and to be taken out in one palm strike. Before August could cast another spell he blacked out from a knee in the chest he never got to see. Galen threw him to the side and out of the way.
The wizard saints got the point that they could not do this one by one so they all began to cast their spells together. Light, Earth, Nature, Vampiric, and beast transformation were cast and directed at Galen as a tsunami of magic and claws.
Galen merely chuckles as the waves of attack pass through him like he wasn't even there.
Savage Opress' theme from Star wars the Clones wars animated series plays.
Galen was moving so fast that he appeared to be in many places at once and yet an instant later be nowhere at all. The saints didn't even know where to look before they were either uppercutted thousands of feet into the sky or smashed into the ocean through the earth that was lifted from the sea floor. The ones that were uppercutted into the sky were suddenly forced back onto the ground with telekinesis, knocking them out instantly. The ones that were knocked into the ocean were violent back up through the earth and back onto the ground; this damaged them to the point that they could not move or cast a spell of any kind.
Makarov was the last one standing and was preparing to use fairy law as a last ditch effort.
" I'm afraid it's already over Makarov, I'll make sure to bring you some food and a strong drink when you wake up." Galen said.
"Whaa.."
Makarov could not even finish his sentence before he suddenly blacked out.
Song ends
"I am sorry for the pain I caused you all, but if I had won while not fighting seriously then I would have severely damaged your pride for the positions you have earned." He said as he politely bows. As the land from the sea floor falls back into the sea.
Stunned silence fell on the crowd like a plague. No one could speak for what felt like hours. A new feeling swept over the crowd.
They cheered in such a uproar that Galen imagined that he heard them from all the way he was.
" I would not believe this if I did not see this with my own eyes even if the whole world told me Folks! Galen Marek has defeated the Wizard Saints and the 2 Spriggans all by himself. Galen Marek has earned the title of Strongest In Earth land!" The mascot announced.
"*wipes sweat off his forehead* that was quite the work out. Could use something to eat and drink after that." Galen muses to himself.
Author's notes: I hope you liked the chapter.