Arslan P.O.V.
After Daryun left the room, most of the team sat around on the beds, waiting for the first task to start. By the time the clock hit 11:55, the team went out onto the balcony connected to the room. When the clock hit midnight, an image of a man with a giant pumpkin head appeared in the middle of the air, surprising Arslan.
"The rules are quite simple." It speaks. The buildings start growing taller, making Natsu kneel down and start looking sick. Several other buildings also grow to about the same height. "Now, you will all be participating in a race! The exit is at the coliseum! Only the first eight teams to reach it will be able to participate in the Grand Magic Games!" A wooden bridge starts growing from the top of the railing on the balcony, leading to a sphere that appeared in the air.
"You can use your magic in any way you see fit, there are no~ restrictions! But remember, only the first eight team to cross the finish line can participate! However, all five team member must cross the finish line for it to count! But remember one more thing! We are not responsible for any death that may occur in the labyrinth." The team gasps. Gray answers.
"You may begin!" With that, they all jump onto the wooden bridge and run into the labyrinth. A large, solid platform signified that they were in the labyrinth. Looking around, Arslan noticed some things that were upside down or sideways.
"Woah, it's like some sort of 3D maze." Gray remarked.
"The colosseum was towards the east when we were on the ground, so we should head that way." Lucy summoned her compass spirit, Pyxis, and they determined what way east was.
"Yes, I was aware, because I brought a regular compass." Erza said. Lucy crouches down as she and Pyxis sulk.
"What is a 'compass'?" Arslan asks. Used to his not knowing things, Erza hands him the compass so he can see it.
"A compass is something that helps us see what way is which." Erza answers. Arslan nods and hands the compass back to Erza. "What do you guys do to determine what direction you are going in?"
"Well, we mostly look at the position of the sun or moon to determine what direction we are going in and what time it is." Arslan responds. The group nods, impressed, as they start walking towards their destination.
"So you everyone from your world knows how?" Gray asked. Arslan nods.
"Of course. Even if they cannot go to school or not, we all grow up with it. It is like basic knowledge."
"Huh. That's interesting." Arslan nods his head and notices they are nearing a door.
"Hey, where does that lead?" Arslan asks.
"Let's find out." Erza responds, opening the door.
"I feel like I could fall right in." Lucy says. The group runs through the door, leading into a tunnel, and Natsu opens a door at the other side. He accidentally steps off the edge and waves his arms rapidly, trying to regain his balance and not fall through the labyrinth until Erza grabs the back of his shirt, effectively pulling him back up on both feet. They continue looking around, trying to find another path.
"Should we make a map?" Arslan suggests, looking around.
"Probably. Does anyone have any paper?" Lucy asks. Everyone checks their pockets and gives Lucy all they have, leaving Lucy to pull a pen out of thin air. She sketched out where they had already been and then where they are on a different page.
"Alright let's go. I can keep drawing the map the further we go." Lucy says. Erza nods. They continue walking, always going East, until eventually they come face to face with another guild.
"Give us your map." One of the men says.
"No way!" Lucy exclaims. The men punch their fists and stalk towards the Fairy Tail team, not expecting what happens. As soon as the men made a move, Arslan pulled out his sword and stood in front of the team, sword aimed at the other men. They laugh scoffingly.
"What can a puny guy like you do with a non-magical sword against wizards? What are you even doing here? This is a magical competition." One guy mocks. Arslan smiles.
"This." He simply states. Arslan takes his pointer and middle finger and run them along the edge of the blade, lightning dancing of his fingers and onto the sword. As soon as he reaches the end, the whole sword is lit up with lightning. Arslan swings his sword, sending lightning in a curve in the direction of the men.
"What the hell?" One man exclaims. Arslan smiles.
"That was, as you say, 'awesome'." He says. Gray smirks.
"Yeah it was!" He yells. Several of the men that had attacked them were surprised enough to accidentally walk off the edge of the platform they were standing on and where gripping the side in fear of falling. The ones that managed to stay on were shaking.
"What was that?" One asks.
"I-I don't know." Another answers. A third one stands straight.
"That was a one time thing, right? I bet you can't do that again!" He exclaims. "You won't be able to win against my plant magic!" He hold his arms out and plants rise from the platform, swinging around at the Fairy Tail team. Arslan cuts through the plants though, and Gray and Erza take care of the rest. Natsu walks up to the guy, fire in his eyes, and punches him off the platform. The other men start scramblin away from the team and fling themselves off the platform.
"Hey, they dropped this." Natsu says, picking up a collection of papers.
"It's another map!" Lucy exclaims.
"That probably means that the other teams also have maps." Erza says.
"We should get other teams maps as well." Natsu suggests. Lucy agrees and they start searching out other teams to collect their maps. After several teams and several maps, Lucy puts them together and leads the team to the middle of the labyrinth.
"Now, which way is east?" Gray asks. Erza pulls out her compass and looks at the top, only to see the point spinning in circles.
"I don't know. The compass broke." She says. Arslan raises his hand and points in a direction.
"It's that way." He says. "I was paying attention to the stars on the way here." Lucy smiles.
"Alright!" She exclaims. The team starts running towards the east and a door appears at the end of the path. The door as the word goal on it, flashing to catch people attention. When they reached the door, the pumpkin man was standing there with his hands clasped behind his back.
"Congratulations! You have passed the preliminary round!" He exclaims, clapping.
"I'm just dying to know, did we come in first place?" Lucy asks.
"Err, no. More like… eight place." He says.
"What?! Eighth place?"