Grey Fullbuster and Max Allors arrived at the split, looking at the options, minus the sealed, B and D routes.
"So, which one should we take?" Gray asked.
"Why not route G?" Max responded.
"Wouldn't master put Gildarts on this route considering his name?" Gray countered.
Max then shrugged "I feel like he'd put him on route C for his last name, same for Laxus, and then probably route E for Erza as well, and then something random for Mira" he added.
"Therefore" Max continued "route G should be one of the 2 on 2 battles, and we can fair a lot better in those".
"Yeah, I almost hope we meet flame for brains in battle just so I can beat him up and finally win" Gray said.
The two then walked into the cave for route G, and it sealed behind them.
As they walked deeper and deeper along the route, Max then started a conversation to pass the time, "I feel like you told me but I don't remember, so why did you want become s-class again?"
"You can put two and two together" Gray said "I want to get out of Natsu's shadow, I've never seemed to be able to beat him in a one on one fight, and it would be sweet to beat him to s-class" he finished.
"Fair enough, so who do you think we'll fight?" Max pondered.
"Maybe Cana and that earth make girl" Gray pondered in response, "for some reason she reminds me of Juvia" of which he immediately shuddered.
"A combination of Chelia and Juvia, though she makes Juvia seem tame half the time, considering the antics she pulled this moring" Max said.
"At least Juvia has restraint" Gray muttered and many memories of Juvia's antics came flooding back to him. Meanwhile as the duo finally rounded a curve in the cave, and the mayflies then illuminated who the duo was to fight, and they stood their speechless.
It was the god himself, Gildarts Clive, who raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Well well, it seems I got some interesting opponents" Gildarts said.
"We're dead, aren't we?" Gray asked.
"Natsu got by last time without defeating him, we can do the same and more!" Max responded, very motivated to fight.
"Now, sand wall!" Max said as big massive clouds of sand shot from his hands and surrounded Gildarts.
"Good!" Gray said "Ice make floor" and while Gildarts was busy trying to see through the sand, the one solid sand beneath him turned to ice, Gildarts now struggled with his balance on the ice floor, and the sand in his face, Max and Gray truly sprang into action.
Max and Gray leaped into the air and Max shouted "raml sayf!" and a massive sword blade made of sand formed just above the god like man.
Gray then shouted, "ice impact!" and formed a massive hammer like object out of ice, above Gildarts too.
The two then swung their creations at him, and a massive dust cloud formed as it impacted Gildarts.
Gray and Max landed, already thinking of their next attack.
"Not bad, not bad at all" a voice came from the dust cloud.
"Now if this had been 784, I would be happy to let you pass with a little more battle, but Master just won't let me do that" a now unscathed Gildarts said appearing from the dust cloud.
"No way" Gray and Max said in unision.
"How did he stop our attacks?" Gray said, nearly stuttering, never having been this flustered before in battle.
"We should have made some damage!" Max said still in disbelief.
Gildarts then slammed his fist into the ground and shouted "mizuwari!" the ground then shattered beneath the wizards, and he rushed towards, them, hitting them both with one punch, practically knocking them out.
Gray and Max fell to the floor, almost unconscious.
"Aw crap" Gray muttered.
"We lost, didn't we?" Max asked.
"Sadly, that's obvious" remarked Gildarts.
"Go ahead and rest up, and then we'll head to the basecamp" Gildarts then finished.
"Gildarts won't be on this route, he'll be on route C" mocked Gray.
"You agreed to the idea" retorted Max.
"Quit bickering like children before I have to knock you out and take you back to base camp myself!" Gildarts said, settling their squabble.
Gray and Max groaned and passed out, upset at their loss, but too weak to object anymore.