Chapter 36 - Babel
Well I am back with another chapter, this is the first proper chapter of the grand magic games arc so i hope you enjoy it.
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Enjoy!
Fanfares and cheers filled the grand city of Crocus on the day Team Natsu walked through the mages gates. Natsu, Lucy, Gray, Wendy, Happy, Carla, Gajeel, Pantherlily, Juvia and Levy walked under the giant statues of the ancient mage lords to be greeted by the largest crowd they had ever seen. All were shocked at the turnout almost half the population of Crocus had come to greet the heroes of the last grand magic games.
Some of the group were fairly uncomfortable, Wendy for one began to walk in the centre of the group avoiding the crowds sight and Levy clung to Gajeel nervously. Others however took the greeting incredibly well Natsu and Happy paraded down the streets jovially performing tricks and dancing ridiculously. The rest of his team mates would be embarrassed if the crowd wasn't eating it up so well.
"Well, I wasn't quite expecting this, do you think it will be this busy all the way to the inn?" Carla said as she floated above Wendy.
"I guess, It's possible." Lucy said looking around at the masses of people.
A large sign was hoisted above a group of girls reading "marry us Gray!" Juvia's envious gaze instantly saw it and with a savage gleam in her eyes she quickly tore the poster to pieces with a water slicer. Once she had finished she shivered muttering something about love rivals and Gray.
"That seems a bit over the top." Lucy slightly afraid of the water mage. Her words were soon shoved in her mouth when she heard a woman call. "Natsu! I love you!" Natsu seemed to notice and looked at the woman. Lucy then understood Juvia's actions and would have done something about it until Natsu did something unexpected. He walked up to her and simply said. "I'm sorry but my heart belongs to another." He then held out his hand to Lucy who cautiously approached and took his hand. Natsu pulled her in and said, "Lucy is the only woman for me so it's best you forget about me. Good luck for the future!" He said as he walked away holding a shocked and blushing Lucy close.
"Tch, freakin' playboy." Gajeel complained causing Levy to give him a stern look.
Gray who had stayed fairly silent throughout the parade noticed some incredibly well done Erza cosplayers looking rather disappointed. "I wonder what Erza would have thought of that?" He said nodding his head towards them.
Gajeel laughed, "she'd either be incredibly flattered or end up yell at them for the state their armour is in."
"I guess they must be pretty disappointed Link and Erza aren't here." Wendy said.
"Well I don't think many of them even know who Link is yet." Carla finished.
"Hey have you guys noticed they've been kinda distant and secretive lately?" Levy asked
"Yeh I noticed that," Lucy said from the front.
"Hmm, I wonder why?" Wendy said before the topic was bypassed and the group decided to get to the inn as fast as possible.
(…)
Erza and Link were currently entering through a different gate, In order to get a little bit of extra training in they had decided to leave later than the rest of the team. It also gave Link and Erza a chance to have a bit more alone time before they rejoined the guild. Link who had never seen a city so big was taking in all the sights and sounds. Crocus was called the blooming capital for a reason. Everywhere he looked there were flowers: in boxes, in plant pots, in the parks, growing out of cracks in the road, literally everywhere they could find a foothold. An overwhelming floral scent covered the city and Link loved breathing in every ounce of it. Erza chuckled at Link as he childishly toddled around the street smiling at passersby and taking in his surroundings. Erza quickly sidled up to Link and took his hand.
"C'mon I want to show you something." She said happily leading him down the street.
The couple soon arrived at a small café just off the main street they were on. It was named Crocus cakes.
"This, is the second best cake shop I have ever been too." Erza said proudly. As she presented it to her boyfriend.
"Second best?" Link said with a confused look.
"Well it's better than the patisserie in Akane and I'm pretty loyal to Magnolia's cake shop so therefore this is the second best."
"You've got a top ten cake shops don't you…" Link sweat-dropped.
"Of course, I have visited every cake shop in Fiore and this is definitely the second best. C'mon they do the nicest strawberry shortcakes." She said pulling him into the shop.
The pair quickly ordered and sat across from each other in the corner of the café. As Erza ate her cake with finesse Link sat playing with his banoffee pie. Erza noticed this.
"Hey, Link what's up?" She asked.
"Ha, nothing gets past you does it?" Link laughed, Erza looked at him with a slight frown. "I guess I'm a little nervous, no one knows we're dating yet and I have no idea how I'm going to tell them. Or what everyone's reactions are going to be."
Erza smiled sweetly, "hey, Link do you really think our guild, our family will not give us their blessing. They love us as much as we love them so I think we will be fine."
Link smiled back at Erza, "Your right. Sorry I was just…"
"Just eat your pie." Erza said. Link nodded and took a mouthful. The instant it touched is tongue he gasped. "Sweet Hylia this is so good."
"I know right! Here try the shortcake," Erza said offering a forkful of her cake to Link, Link let her feed him and sighed in delight. Erza smiled at his childishly content face, happy she had found someone to share her cakes with.
(…)
The sun was setting when Link and Erza reached the inn Fairy Tail were staying at, just like last year it was a modest establishment but large enough to fill their needs. Still it seemed quiet, too quiet.
"Hey erz, you sure this is the right place?" Link said uncomfortable with the silence.
"I don't know but there is a way to…" before Erza could finish there was an almighty crash as Jet flew through the inn's doors and landed in his butt in front of Link and Erza.
He immediately got up and yelled, "why you! I'll get you for that Bickslow." Bickslow chuckled as he threw a chair at Jet whilst continuing to brawl with the other mages of Fairy Tail.
"Nothings changed huh?" Link said making Jet turn around after punching through the chair. "Hey you guys are back! Long time no see. Yo everyone, It's Link and Erza!" Jet yelled. There was an immediate cheer and Jet dragged the pair inside where they greeted all of their friends.
"Hey, Erza you finally made it!" Natsu called hanging from a chandelier preparing to drop down on Gray.
"You're right Link nothing's changed at all." Erza laughed before heading to the bar where Makarov was sat watching his children play.
"Ah, Erza, Link your back how was your little romantic retreat." Makarov teased, instantly both warriors blushed far more than they should have. "Ah it went well I see, well then how about your training? I've already heard from Natsu and Gray how they did but what about you?"
"Our training went fantastically we are both fit for the games should you decide to choose us master." Erza said confidently.
"I see, well there is no use in keeping the guild waiting. Everyone we are about to select Fairy tails team for this year." Makarov called over the guild. None of them listened and continued to brawl loudly.
Makarov then got angry. "Can you brats keep your damned fists to yourself for one minute!" He yelled. Immediately the guild stopped mid-brawl and stood silently looking at Makarov. "Now we will be selecting the members who will be competing in this years grand magic games. So I want you all to pay attention." The guild stopped brawling and all stood ready to listen to Makarov's decision.
"Right, due to the events of last year they have reverted to the rule where only five mages per guild may compete. These five mages are to be in their designated guild inns by midnight tonight. Now that you are all here I will tell you who I have chosen to represent our guild. The first member, and I'm sure you will all agree, will be Laxus." Everyone murmured their agreement that one of Fairy Tails strongest S class mages would be chosen.
"Laxus, you will act as the leader of the team, you will be the one to lead us to victory." Makarov finished. Laxus nodded at his grandfather accepting his role. The guild cheered heartily before Makarov silenced them again.
"Alright next, due to her fantastic performance last year Erza will take second in command." The guild cheered again congratulating the red headed mage. Link gave a thumbs up to her and she smiled.
"I wont let you down, any of you." She said to the guild.
"Hmm I don't doubt it, now the last three are harder, you are all fantastic mages but using both the calculations of the first and I think the overall view of the guild, the last three members will be… Natsu, Gray and Link." The guild roared in approval some were disappointed but clapped anyway, some like Lucy and Wendy sighed in relief. Link felt many pats on the back. He honestly was not expecting to be chosen but was glad that he had been. He looked around at his team mates and all of them had smiles across their faces, even Laxus who nodded at Link.
"Alright alright settle down," Makarov said again. "As well as our five participants we do also need reserve members in case one of ours gets too injured. These will be, Elfman, Freed, Wendy, Gajeel and Juvia. Do remember both the reserves and team can change depending on circumstance so I trust that all of you are ready to play your part. Now as you all know we won last year and now we have a bright red target pinned to our backs, this year will not be easy but I know you and I know us and there is no doubt that Fairy Tail will remain victorious!" Makarov finished punching his fist into the air as the rest of the guild cheered and yelled over confident boasts. "Now the five competitors should head upstairs for the first brief. I'll join you in just a moment." Makarov said. The five of them nodded adopting serious looks and began to head upstairs after being congratulated by the rest of the guild.
(…)
Link and Erza were the first upstairs and managed to talk quietly before the other three came up.
"I guess we didn't have time to tell anyone huh?" Link said.
"There will be plenty of opportunity maybe when we get back after the event." Erza replied.
The door soon opened and an excited Natsu bounded in. "Yo, guys what ya talking about?"
Erza and Link looked at each other nervously, "we'll tell you later." Erza said causing Natsu to frown in worry. This was soon bypassed as Laxus, Gray and Makarov entered the room.
"So what's the first challenge gramps? Do we have to fight something? Is it a hundred guild brawl? I'm up for anything!" Natsu said excitedly.
"Ah cool down would ya, pinky." Gray said looking bored.
"Nah, shut up ice brain!" Natsu bit back.
"Shut it both of you before you get me involved, let the old man speak." Everyone looked at the usually silent Laxus who was flickering with electricity and staring the pair down.
"Thank you Laxus, now listen up you five, we don't know what the first challenge is but I have heard some interesting rumours. This first task will test your physical strength and endurance, there may be combat but we don't know. You are the most resourceful mages we have so I'm sure whatever comes up you can deal with it. Just make sure you don't fight amongst yourselves that will surely lead to defeat." Makarov said looking at Natsu and Gray. "Now Laxus is the leader so make sure you listen to him and trust his judgement." Natsu and Gray shifted uncomfortably but Erza knowing his strength and intelligence nodded resolutely. Link took her stance as well, although he had had next to no contact with him he could tell Laxus would make the best leader. "Right I'll leave you there then the first task starts in a few hours so I suggest you come up with a game plan." Makarov said as he left.
Before anyone could say anything that could cause friction Erza said, "so Laxus what's the plan."
Everyone then turned to the dragon slayer. "Alright, so we've been chosen because other than Gildarts who is out on a decade mission we are the toughest Fairy Tail has. As you can tell all our magic is geared towards attack especially mine and Natsu's so we will be relying on the rest of you for support and stuff."
"That makes sense." Gray added, "you two can control energy but not physical matter."
"That's right?" Laxus said gruffly. "We should be fine so long as we keep our heads out of the clouds." Laxus glared at Natsu. "Now other than this for the first challenge we can't make much of a plan until we see what the challenge is. However at this stage it is best to avoid any combat with other guilds and focusing on finishing the task quickly however since we are the prime target we will need defence. Link your abilities in magic defence will prove useful so I want you to help defend us from sneak attacks and projectiles. Gray you can help him here. Then me Erza and Natsu will move on to sweep the attackers before they attack again before continuing with what ever the task is. The other thing is Link I want you to be our secret weapon that means through out this mission I want you to remain hidden." Laxus pulled a brown cloak out of the chest, "stick this on and make sure your face is hidden from any lacrocameras. This is another reason why I don't want you attacking anyone and revealing your abilities. In fact it would probably be better if you found a way to make your sword invisible."
"I can put my sword and shield in my adventure pouch if it helps I'll have to make room though." Link said as he pulled out his slingshot and a divine shield he hadn't used in ages.
He then hid the master sword and hylian shield in the pouch.
"Good we should be fine then." Laxus said walking to the door. "One last thing…" Laxus turned to face the other four. "You mess up for us, I will personally send you hell," Laxus then left the room and closed the door loudly.
"Just when I thought he liked us." Gray sighed.
"I don't think he hates us really." Link decided to himself.
"No he doesn't hate us, he respects our strength. Besides we are his family." Erza told them all.
(…)
Just before midnight the new Team Fairy Tail congregated on the roof silently looking over the currently dark city of Crocus. The palace stood out like a shadow against the moon. The rest of the guild were coming out onto a balcony to witness the first task. Their noise seemed to tick Laxus off, he knew that most of the guild were totally drunk by now. He sighed and focused on the mission ahead. He looked left and right at the strongest members of Fairy tail who were flanking him. Erza and Gray like him were silent and prepared, ready for whatever the games were going to throw at them. Link stood silently with his hooded cloak shrouding his face in darkness, from what Laxus had heard about him from the first master he would be a fantastic benefit to the team. Finally there was Natsu who was currently in a state of sheer childish excitement but was still releasing a terrifying magic pressure that resonated with the rest of the team. Laxus grinned he had no doubt this team was going to bring them to victory.
After a single moment the entire city of Crocus lit up with golden lights and the city cheered excited for the first event of the Grand Magic Games. Lacroma-screens flickered to life all over the city revealing the pumpkin face of the grand magic games mascot Mato.
"Welcome, welcome Ladies and gentlemen to Fiore's eighth Grand Magic Games, kabo!" He called. Fireworks went off all over the city covering it in every colour of light. "Now as you know this is the event where all Fiore's guilds compete to find out which is the number one guild, kabo. Last year ended with the incredible victory of Fairy Tail the number one guild of eight years ago as well as today, kabo. This year there are 161 guilds all fighting to knock the mighty Fairy Tail down from their throne. But to do this the guilds must possess strength, intelligence, teamwork and most of all willpower. Do you think you can do it, kabo?" Mato asked causing every other guild to roar tremendously filling the city with sound. Fairy tail stood resolute, Link felt his stomach flip fighting monsters was fine but to have every mage in the country after you was more than a bit daunting.
"Well it looks like Fairy Tail has some competition, kabo! I think it is time to reveal the first challenge on the climb to the number one guild, kabo. So let me reveal to you… BABEL, KABO!" With a flash of light and the shaking of the Earth thousands of magical seals opened up all over the city. When the light faded an enormous thick pillar stood over the capital city. It stood on thousands of smaller curved pillars that were rooted next to each guild's starting point.
"This, kabo, is Babel the 5 mile tall tower to the heaven's, the task for all you guilds is quite simply to reach the top. The fastest eight guilds will move on to the rest of the games, all the other guilds will be eliminated, kabo." Mato said this with a sinister undertone shadows appearing around his eyes.
"Let's go." Laxus everyone nodded and they all jumped onto the curved pillar that headed towards the massive central tower.
Mato continued. "However this task is not as simple as that, first of all this is no simple tower and is covered with all kinds of tricks and traps, kabo. The other thing you should know is that if any participant moves down the tower more than five metres the guild the participant is part of will be immediately eliminated also every guild will be bound together by this magic unbreakable tether, magic rope appeared around the waists of fairy tail the rope linked all five mages together with only a few metres between them. Laxus was on one end followed by Erza and Natsu with Gray and Link at the other end.
"This just keeps getting better doesn't it." Gray complained.
"Finally, Kabo, we will not be held responsible for any deaths caused by Babel. Ready, set KABO!" Every guild began to head towards the tower. The wiser guilds, including Fairy Tail had set off long before Mato had said go and were already making good headway whilst planning for the climb.
"Any ideas how we are going to do this." Laxus asked.
"We could punch out hand holds." Natsu suggested setting his fists on fire.
"Ice make, Picks!" Gray shouted producing a pair of climbing picks.
"Better." Laxus said.
"I've got my clawshots, they will essentially work like picks." Link suggested bringing out his clawshots.
"I can use my swords but Link why don't we use Airya." Erza asked.
"Well, I doubt she can carry the five of us for very long and this is a climbing challenge don't you think they will have something in place to stop flyers." Link said looking up at the tower, from where they were it seemed plain and empty but all five of them knew better.
"Even so a giant bird would help if one of us falls." Laxus yelled back. They were quickly reaching the tower now.
"Fair point, hold on." Link pulled out a small statue from his pack, it was a a statue of a small loftwing, it's tail and neck had holes in them. Link blew in the tail hole and a sweet melody filled the air. Soon after the Crimson Loftwing could be seen flying towards them. By the time they reached the tower it was circling above them Link shouted what he wanted her to do before they all prepared for the long climb ahead of them.
"Right Link and Gray you have ways of making hand holds so you head up first and make the hand holes, remember focus on speed, me, Natsu and Erza will take out any thing that comes our way. If it comes to it you can use that crystal shield spell you use but try not to use anything else." Laxus ordered. Link nodded and equipped his clawshots. Punching the wall he managed to make successful footholds in order to pull himself up. Thanks to a boost from Gray, Link quickly managed to set up the first foot holds for the others. Gray quickly followed using his ice picks to hoist himself up. Very soon the team was making good and quick progress up the tower, at this point there were no obstacles the wall was just flat. Link chanced a glance down and noticed some guilds had only just made it whilst others had no idea how to begin to scale the tower. Even so the number of guilds starting the climb was increasing. Link realised what the problem would be with the bottom of the tower. There were far more guilds and as predicted all of them were looking for Fairy Tail. Fortunately they were ahead but it wouldn't be long until they would be attacked.
"Link, focus on the climb let us worry about them" Erza said sternly. Link nodded and turned his gaze up.
Laxus could see a guild to the left, deciding to stick with the tactics he chose, he decided to ignore them and ensure that his team was making good headway. Then again if they were foolish enough to attack them Laxus would make sure they were blasted to oblivion. Laxus looked up and noticed Natsu was looking eager as if he were asking for them to attack him. All of a sudden he heard from the left.
"That's them, it's Fairy Tail."
"What are we waiting for let's get them!"
The team launched two attacks one appeared to be a stream of paper the other was a fire ball.
"Natsu, deal with it."
Natsu breathed in heavily and the fireball picked up speed and fell into his mouth.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!" He yelled after and all the paper burned to a crisp.
Soon after Laxus held out a hand and shouted. "Lightning blast!" A discharge of electricity left his palm and struck the entire of the other team causing them to let go of the wall and fall. After five metres a magic portal opened below them and all five members were eliminated.
"So that's what happens if you fall, I guess that isn't so bad." Gray said as he continued to climb.
"Bah, it's not going to be us who falls it'll be them." Natsu yelled confidently.
"In any case we need to pick up the pace come on we don't have till morning." Laxus said. He felt a presence on his back and suddenly realised there was an entire guild flying.
"Damn it," Laxus cursed, he was about to loose a thunderbolt but Laxus spotted saw Link's giant bird descending on them dodging all kinds of projectiles thrown at him with expert aerial skills. The loftwing soon reached them and clawed at them causing them to lose concentration and drop.
"Hmm, maybe that's not such a bad idea. Hey Link get your loftwing to pull down some of the other guilds, keep him close though." Laxus yelled.
"Right!" Link yelled before relaying the order to the bird.
Team Natsu were now around a third of the way up, for the time being they were doing fine but Link predicted they would soon get tired from the long climb. It seemed to Link that the guilds were definitely thinning out and no doubt only the strongest guilds were remaining. Link was sure everyone was wondering where the other major guilds were around the pillar.
Link thrust his clawshot into the wall and quickly noticed there was something different about this bit. It was rotating.
"Guys this part of the tower is spinning this is not going to be easy to get onto."
"Just do your best Link, you can come up with something." Erza encouraged, Link smiled upon hearing her voice, knowing she was close comforted him. "I guess we could just power through and hope for the best or gray could make some kinda platform to help."
"Could do that." Gray let go of one ice pick and placed his hand on the tower, "ice make ledge!" He yelled, an ice ledge appeared almost twenty metres away from them on the spinning part of the tower it was slowly approaching. He followed this up with, "ice make ladder!" A ladder appeared on the ledge long enough for even Laxus at the bottom to reach. "Grab on when it gets close enough then we can use the same tactics as before. The team nodded and once the ladder was close enough they made the jump and quickly scrambled onto the ledge.
"Wait a minute this thing is… Moving." Instantly Natsu barfed a little in his mouth and he went soggy halfway up the ladder.
"Oh you have got to be…argl." Laxus said also succumbing to the motion sickness.
"Erza what's going on!" Link asked.
"Natsu and Laxus both get motion sickness." She shouted back disgusted that she was in between the two broken dragon slayers.
"Damn, right we'll have to use Airya to bypass this bit but I don't know how high she will be able to carry us. Gray make a perch so she can land."
"Right," gray did so whilst Erza pushed Natsu onto the ledge whilst pulling up an ashamed Laxus. Link pulled out the loftwing call and soon after the giant bird swung round the tower and landed on the perch.
"Just try and get us as high as possible girl." Link said as he jumped onto the bird. Gray and Erza dragged the dragon-slayers onto the bird and then Airya set off. "Just don't go down more than five metres at a time." Link finished. The bird seemed strained but compared to Erza luggage this wasn't too bad. With two heavy wing beats they were airborne, Natsu and Laxus soon came out of their stupor.
"A word of this to anyone," Laxus said grumpily.
"There's no need." Erza said pointing to a lacrocamera laxus in a fit of rage shot the camera down with a bolt of lightning causing Link to chuckle. They ascended past the spinning section of the tower and reached the final third, this section was completely empty guild wise which the team took as a good sign but trouble quickly brewed. This section seemed to have a lot more obstacles then the lower levels and one of these was the addition of huge cannons set into the side of the tower.
"Link, shot coming in at 9 o clock." Erza yelled, Link quickly guided Airya out of the and was forced to descend a little way.
"Try not to do that again." Laxus shouted. As he saw more shots coming starting to take the form of a barrage, "intercept!" Everyone except Link fired at the projectiles taking out as many as they could whilst Link and Airya's masterful flying skills avoided the rest.
"We can't keep this up for much longer especially if we cant go down. Airya's getting tired."
"Right we'll make for the wall." Erza shouted knocking down a huge ice shard that was headed their way. Airya flew closer to the wall but the pressure of the cannons couldn't let her get any closer than she already was
"Gray, make a ledge." Natsu shouted,
"I can't flame brain it's too far away for me to make one good enough."
"You'll have to do it mid jump." Erza yelled.
"Are you crazy?" Natsu and Gray said together.
"Just trust her." Link said
"Alright three, two, one, Jump!" Laxus ordered, all five of them pushed off the bird and headed towards the tower, Link pulled out his two clawshots and shot them into the wall fortunately they hooked on. Gray cast the spell and the team landed on the icy ledge, all except one Laxus being on the end had the least room to land and managed to slip on the ice. He cursed and she slid of the edge falling onto his front and pulling Erza down with him he managed to grip the slippery surface with one hand. Laxus realised they were nearing the 5m limit as a bright blue magic circle opened up beneath him ready to suck him and his team into it.
Link felt the tug as the heaviest member of the team and the armoured Erza began to slip away. "Natsu, Gray catch Erza and pull now." Link shouted, unceremoniously the duo managed to catch Erza and using their combined strength as well as having to freeze their feet in place. Soon they successfully hauled Laxus onto the icy ledge.
"You alright Laxus?" Natsu asked.
"Yeh, yeh I'll be fine, race remember we can't stop." He said out of breath. Everyones hands and feet were hurting now but they decided to continue before the icy ledge gave way and continued climbing.
"We must be almost there." Natsu gasped his arms were growing weaker.
"We should be, it's getting to morning already," Erza pointed out, they all noticed the sky was getting much lighter Although the sun was yet to come up.
"We must have been at this at least four hours. You sure we are going to get there on time?" Gray asked.
"They would have told us if the game was over we still have time. Who knows maybe the other guilds are having the same problems as us." Laxus said grumpily.
"Hey guys." Link called down worriedly.
"Ugh what now, I'm tired of this I just wanna fight someone." Natsu cried.
"Urm well lava." Link replied.
"Wait what?" Everyone called.
"Lava above us, right I'm going sideways to avoid it." Link said. As he moved to the side sure enough they saw lava dribbling down the side of the tower. As fast as possible Link moved to the side with everyone following, the lava laxus had just reached the corner as the embers were getting far too close for comfort.
"Wait guys I can see the top!" Natsu cheered, "there's another guild above us."
"Guys we gotta get there before them they could be the eighth team." Gray called.
"Right then let's move, Erza see if you can't slow them down." Laxus said grinning.
Erza summoned three blades and sent them catapulting towards the other guild. The three swords were met by three bolts of magic, one of shadow one of light and one of black lightning. Natsu saw this and gasped. "You have got to be kidding me. It's Sabre-tooth." Sabre-tooth seemed to realise who was on their tails and so Orga and Sting let loose some attacks that rocketed down. "Link, Erza use the defence." Laxus yelled.
The pair immediately complied and yelled. "Nayru's love." The crystal shell formed and the attacks bounced off. Link and Erza released the magic and allowed Laxus, Gray and Natsu to unleash their own attacks. The effort was futile as sabre-tooth managed to put up their own shield.
"Damn it there going to beat us," Sabre-tooth held up their defence and continued to climb as Fairy Tail launched magic at them futilely. Fairy tail quickly caught up but it was too late. The first member of sabre-tooth pulled themselves to the top of the tower just as Link got into reaching distance of their last member Rufus who tipped his hat as he was pulled over the pillar. Link had no choice but to finish the climb moderately disappointed that Sabre-tooth just managed to beat them. The feeling of pulling himself over the top was nothing less than amazing, he turned back to pull his team mates up then looked around at the top of the tower. Sabre-tooth were in exactly the same state as Fairy tail as well as another three guilds who must have already placed, they were all sprawled out in exhaustion as the sun rose above them.
"Holy crap, we made it." Gray gasped.
"Aye, we did well." Erza said also out of breath. Laxus grunted in approval before they lay in peace.
"Hey, Hey this is no time to rest, kabo." Mato said appearing over the top of the almost unconscious team interrupting them loudly. "You managed to place, 5th just after sabre-tooth so congratulations, kabo. Now get ready because the entrance ceremony will be this afternoon, kabo"
"Nah get lost you stupid pumpkin head let me sleep." Natsu said exhausted.
Link slowly crawled over to Erza and lay next to her there foreheads touched as they fell asleep together.