Cana and Terra Mere in their revealing matching bikinis made their way towards the split, as they looked, they were dismayed at the four options left A, C, F, and J. The two ladies continued to ponder.
"So, what do you think?" Cana asked, rather nonchalant.
"I'm thinking route C would be best" Terra Mere responded.
"Why's that?" Cana asked.
"Considering your name, and it is the first letter in my sweet Romeo's last name Terra Mere responded daydreaming.
"I hate to ruin your dream sequence, but we should make a decision" Cana said.
"Alright, alright" Terra Mere pouted, "I like taking route C regardless".
"Ok then, hopefully we have someone easy like Lucy and Levy" Cana teased, she then teased further and said, "or are you hoping fight that dolt Bixlow and your sweet Romeo".
Terra Mere laughed loudly, shaking her head, "heavens no, I'd be too busy trying to distract him to help effectively" she said.
"Well, if that bikini gets cut any better, everyone will be distracted" Cana teased back, Terra Mere blushed. The two ladies soon reached a clearing in the cave, marked by a massive yellow and red barred cave, the ladies knew this is where the battle was going to happen.
Meanwhile, Gajeel and Pantherlily had arrived at the split, the duo pondered the lack of luck they had.
"Well this sucks" Gajeel said, "there's only 3 left, and just like that it'll be the lightning dolt, the red head, or the she-devil left" he grumbled.
"Well, maybe our luck isn't that bad" Pantherlily the black exceed remarked, sitting on Gajeel's left shoulder. "With that attitude, we'll never make s-class" he continued.
"Yeah, you're right" Gajeel admitted, "so which do you think is best" he asked.
"Well, the answer should be obvious" the exceed remarked.
"So, no A or J?" he said, the exceed nodded in response.
"Exactly, we do not know which routes lead to where, or if there is any rhyme or reason to these route pairing, and it is safe to bet, the first and last routes have someone powerful waiting to stop people, including Makarov himself perhaps?" the Exceed explained.
Gajeel nodded and proceeded towards route F, eager to battle whoever it would be that would dare to stand in his to become s-class. They duo walked into the cave, further and further, lightly conversing, until they rounded a curve and a voice shouted.
"Earth make prison!" Terra Mere shouted, and the dirt around them formed to make a cage around the two of them.
Gajeel spoke first "not bad kid, I haven't been trapped like this in a long time.
"But" the exceed interrupted, "let's bust out here" he said as he transformed from tiny exceed to a massive brawny cat that stood taller than Gajeel and wielding a now massive burgundy and silver sword, "this will be easy to bust out of" as the exceed swung the sword and the earth make prison turned to dust, Terra Mere looked at them in shock.
Gajeel laughed at how easy they escaped, "my turn now Lily. Iron dragon roar!" Gajeel shoute and blew a black and gray circular column towards the girls.
Terra Mere reached to the ground and said, "earth make wall!" and a sandy wall formed in front of the ladies that thankfully blocked Gajeel's attack.
"Not bad kid" he said, rather impressed.
"But let's end this, Iron make lance" Gajeel said and a dozen iron lances traveled to the ladies, landing direct hits on both, they slowly got back to their feet.
Terra Mere then said, "alright Cana, it's time to try it!"
"Right!" Cana said, then saying, "Death, reverse deck, summon lightning!"
Terra Mere then followed with "earth make lance!" The two spells started to merge, as they came closer and closer to Gajeel and Pantherlily.
The two dodged with surprising ease and jumped in the air, they then delivered the knockout punch to Cana and Terra Mere.
The red and yellow gated cave opened up, with Gajeel saying "not bad you two, but this was a nice warm up" as he and the exceed walked towards the exit "see you back at base camp".
Thirty minutes later, Cana groaned and looked over to Terra Mere, "man could I use a drink" she said getting her bearings, "I do want to apologize, I really thought we would do well this year", she said, rather disappointed.
Terra Mere gained consciousness and sighed, "I just wish I could have gotten you to s-class" saying rather dismayed.
Cana then smiled and relaxed "you're fine, I should be apologizing to you, you're going to be a very powerful wizard someday, and will probably be more powerful than me" Cana half-heartedly teased. Terra Mere smiled in response.
Meanwhile, Gajeel and Pantherlily had made it to where the paths come back together.
Master Makarov then spoke, "oh hey Gajeel, I was beginning to wonder if anyone was going to challenge Natsu next round".
Pantherlily the exceed then said confused "you mean Natsu and us are the only ones to pass?"
The master nodded, then adding "there's one more battle that has not been decided just yet, but we only have about 15 minutes before the next round will start" he said ominously.