Zeldris sat down on a padded stone bench, like the day before he was still groggy from only having just woken up. Gabriel, Romeo, and Terre Mere practically had to drag him to the coliseum.
"Look alive Zeldris, you are a reserve member after all" Laxus said, arms folded as he stood there, looking out at the grounds of the stadium as people were filing into the stands to watch another day of action.
Zeldris grumbled in retort but not something that was understandable. He was slowly waking up until a voice suddenly boomed over the loudspeakers.
"GOOOOOOOOOD DAAAAAY FIOREEEEEEEE!" Chopati Lola's voice boomed. The crowd cheered during his announcement.
"Isn't it a bit early to be that loud?" Evergreen huffed, having covered her ears at the noise.
"It's just before noon," Freed responded, bursting Evergreen's bubble.
"If it wasn't for the fact, we haven't done a job with Zeldris since the jewels of the Rose Garden city incident, I'd say his sleeping habits are rubbing off on you" Bixlow said, as Zeldris and Evergreen glared at him in response.
"Welcome back folks to day two of the Grand Magic Games!" Chopati Lola said, adding, "we've got another great event and slate of battles!" he finished.
"I bet I can win it for us today!" Gajeel remarked with a grin.
"Can it metalhead" Laxus retorted, still having a stern look on his face, "we don't even know what the event is" he finished.
"Besides, let's not have a repeat of the chariot race in 791" Mira added, warmly.
"Don't remind me," complained Gajeel.
Zeldris looked at everyone confused, Romeo sighed and said to him quietly, "I'll explain later" as Zeldris nodded in understanding.
"Our event for today is named the one hundred levels of pandemonium!" Chopati Lola said.
"This is a bit of homage to the event in the past," Mr. Yajima added.
"With that, guilds and teams please pick your wizards, you have five minutes, and the rules will be explained when everyone is selected!" Chopati Lola announced.
"I think it's in my best interest to go" Laxus said, adding, "if it's anything like the pandemonium event in 791 we will need a lot of power".
The rest of the group nodded, and Laxus left the suite to head down to the stadium grounds. He was the first to get there as everyone else joined slowly, a couple of guilds sending their wizards in at the last minute.
"Now, with everyone on the field, let's see who today's participants are," Mr. Yajima said excitedly.
"First up, from Fairy tail Team A and winner of pandemonium in 791, Erza Scarlet! From Fairy Tail B, Laxus Dryar, hopefully he will bring a shocking performance today. From Saber Tooth, who look to make a statement today, it's Minerva. From Blue Pegasus, Ichiya Vandalay Kotobucki, seems like he's ready to stink up the field with his parfum. From Lamia Scale, the ice wizard Lyon Vastia. Putting her paws on the field for Mermaid Heel is Millianna. From Crime Sorciere is the poison dragon slayer, Erik. From the Alvarez guild the mysterious Ree Zay. From Quattro Cerberus and hoping to spin the field on it's top, Rocker. Finally, from Twilight Ogre, hoping to start an epic comeback and certainly someone I wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley, Bludger. Now we will turn it to our referee Mato to explain the rules of today's events' ' Chopati Lola announced.
"Welcome, wizards'' Mato said, as a large castle like building began to appear and lower down behind him, he then continued, "back in 791, we held an event known as Pandemonium, in which our eight contestants were to compete against 100 monsters and were to choose the number of monsters to compete. One wizard managed to defeat all 100 monsters, so we have decided this year. We will have each of our contestants battle one hundred monsters. Like in 791, there are five classes of monsters, D, C, B, A, and S. You will each compete at the same time; with every monster you defeat you will receive one point. The first one to defeat all the monsters or defeat the most monsters in general will win the event! If you run out of magic power, please say "Grand Magic Games' ' as your word of surrender. We will be paying attention to each run in Lacrimavision and will be ready to stop the monsters at any point, and don't think we went easy on you, these monsters are a lot stronger than in 791". Mato said, before adding one last thing.
"You will draw straws for which door you will enter to compete," Mato said, and each wizard drew straws. Erza drew door 1. Laxus drew door 2. Lyon drew door 3. Erik drew door 4. Ichiya drew door 5. Minerva drew door 6. Millianna drew door 7. Ree Zay drew door 8. Bludger drew door 9. Finally, Rocker drew door 10.
Each contestant entered the building and went to their prospective rooms. Mato then said, "good luck and let the pandemonium begin!" and a gong sounded for them to start the fight. As everyone began the event, Erza and Laxus were making quick work of the lower ranked monsters. Ichiya and Minerva were doing well too while Bludger from Twilight Ogre was having a rough go of things.
Meanwhile, Zeldris sat on the stone padded bench and while the event was exciting, his eyes began to wander. He looked over to the suite for the guild and noticed a young-looking woman with exceptionally long blonde hair standing sitting there with many people surrounding her.
Zeldris finally turned to Romeo, pointing to the blonde woman, and asked, "who is she?"
Romeo looked at the woman and a confused expression formed on his face, "well" he trailed off. Finally continuing after squinting trying to ensure this was the person, he thought he was seeing. "That is our first guild master, Mavis," he said.
Gajeel, Mira, Cana, and the members of the Thunderlegion all spun around and looked at Romeo in confusion. With no audible response, he simply pointed to the commotion in the Fairy Tail guild suite.
"That can't be right, she is supposed to be dead" Cana blurted out in her slightly drunken stupor.
"Yeah, I thought Zeref and Mavis died during the Alvarez battle" Gajeel said, followed by, "I ought to arrest her" which elicited eye rolls of annoyance from some.
Mira then pondered aloud, "even when she was inside that revival lacrima we could see her, and she could interact with us".
The entire group in the Fairy Tail team B suite were on edge, how on earth could she be alive, they all swore she was dead. The group's confusion did not go unnoticed either, with Lucy and Wendy talking amongst themselves.
"So, what do you think they're shocked about?" Wendy asked Lucy as Gray, Juvia, and Natsu were all fixated on Erza's performance.
Lucy's eyes followed where Romeo's hand pointed and her face fell, as she went pale, finally saying to Wendy and everyone in the suite, "I don't know how, but Mavis is alive".
Natsu, Juvia, and Gray all pulled themselves from Erza's performance on the lacrimavision screen and looked at Lucy as if she had said something vulgar.
"But that's impossible, she's dead!" Gray said, as the trio of shocked wizards looked at the main Fairy Tail guild suite.
Meanwhile, in the Alvarez suite, the two couples looked on at the confusion of the Fairy Tail wizards. Moreno, their guild master, spoke first, "it seems that Emperor Spriggan is working his magic".
"Indeed, it's nice to see those fairies all frenzied and in shock like that" Apollo remarked with a grin on his face.
"At least it makes up for Ree Zay's performance" Crystal said, referring to the scores. Erza was in the lead, having defeated 35 monsters, Laxus was not far behind with 30, and Minerva and Ichiya were holding their own at 27 and 26 defeated respectively.
Alayna frowned and sighed a frustrated sigh; this was agreed upon collectively in the guild.
"We're here to show off, and grow our numbers, not to win it all" Moreno said, reminding everyone of their objectives, he grinned ever so slightly, adding, "even so, I hope we do win or at least put a massive dent in the fairies". This sentiment raised the collective spirits of the guild.
Meanwhile, master Makarov of Fairy Tail had gone white as a ghost seeing the first master there in their suite, "but how are you, like, alive?" he stammered.
"Oh this?" Mavis said, "I just sort of got lucky you might say, being able to return to Earthland just to see you compete in the games!"
Surprisingly, everyone seemed to just take that answer, this was not the first time Mavis seemed to defy logic for the guild. Considering the fact, she could be seen only by Fairy Tail members until now, not that they knew yet.
This time was different, everyone could see her, and whispered to themselves about the situation but the announcers did not bring attention to this, focusing instead on the match. By now, Erza and Laxus had crossed the 80 monster's threshold with Minerva and Ichiya falling further behind. Many were still struggling with the monsters including Bludger of Twilight Ogre and Rocker of Quattro Cerberus, having each barely gotten through 15 monsters and both looking ready to keel over in a matter of moments.
Meanwhile, in the Crime Sorciere suite, the group were more worried about Erik than the situation.
"I would never have thought he would struggle so much with this event," Meredy said, looking dismayed.
"It can't be helped, he has power, but Jellal or yourself would be better suited for that event" Sawyer said. Jellal lightly chuckled at this.
"You really think so?" Meredy responded surprisingly embarrassed, she was a bit shy, and never was known as the power type of wizard. Her magic had been powerful, giving Juvia and Erza a run for their money when she was just a young teen back in 784.
"Of course," Jellal responded, "Ultear and I may have overshadowed you in our days as a trio, but you were still growing, and now you could rival Ultear and I" he said, continuing to praise her. Meredy silently blushed again in response to this. It had been three years since her metaphorical mother had sacrificed her life and saved so many the night of the dragon's attack on Crocus. Meredy missed her quite a bit still, even after those three years.
Meanwhile, a loud announcement came over the speakers, putting a pause to the confusion and other conversations.
"Erza Scarlet wins today's event for Fairy Tail team A and brings home another ten points!" Chopati Lola announced.
"Laxus Dryar isn't far behind her, with only the s-class monster to defeat!" Mr. Yajima added.
"Right you are, with Minerva and Ichiya right behind him. As both guilds look to keep their positive swing from the battles yesterday" Chopati Lola also announced.
Cheers could be heard from the Fairy Tail guild suite, with Mavis cheering loudest of all.
"No surprise Erza would win" Evergreen said, both impressed and slightly upset that Laxus did not win.
"Let us not be disappointed" Freed said, "Laxus still looks to finish second". As he said this, the mountain of a man and lightning dragon slayer finally defeated the s-class monster.
"Laxus finishes second, taking 35 minutes, to Erza's 25! Fairy Tail again sweep's the day's event" Chopati Lola announced.
"Am I the only one somewhat surprised that Ichiya is hanging in there like he is?" Bixlow asked, to which the members of the Thunderlegion looked at their former guildmate with surprise and admiration.
"I would have never taken him to be someone who could do that well," Zeldris said in admiration.
By now, several wizards had surrendered. This included Bludger of Twilight Ogre, Rocker of Quattro Cerberus who claimed he was still wild when he surrendered, and Ree Zay of Alvarez. None of the respective guild masters were happy about this. Moreno of the Alvarez guild took this the hardest, fuming at his result.
"We must all work on our endurance," he said.
"I hate to copy his words" Crystal started off, "but I think it is important we commit this embarrassment to memory".
Just as she said this, Erik of Crime Sorciere surrendered with only 69 monsters defeated, nice. This was still much better than any of the previous dropouts.
By now competitors were dropping like flies, Minerva dropped next, unable to defeat the s-class beast. Millianna of Mermaid Heel then collapsed, she defeated 70 monsters. Ichiya fell just ten minutes later, himself unable to finish off the s-class beast. The only one left fighting was Lyon Vastia but he soon collapsed after defeating 85 of the monsters.
"With Lyon Vastia's surrender, our 100 Levels of Pandemonium is complete" Chopati Lola announced. "We are going to give the groups a one-hour lunch and then we'll be back for the battle portion!" Chopati Lola said.
"Indeed, but for now, let's go over the results," Mr. Yajima interjected.
"To settle any ties, we went based on time and how quickly someone defeated a monster," Chopati Lola said before reading out the scores.
"Defeating all 100 monsters in 25 minutes, Erza Scarlet of Fairy Tail team A wins 10 points".
"Defeating all 100 monsters in 35 minutes, Laxus Dryar of Fairy Tail team B earns 9 points".
"Defeating 99 monsters in 35 minutes is Minerva of SaberTooth earning them 8 points".
"Defeating 99 monsters in 50 minutes is Ichiya Vandalay Kotobucki, giving Blue Pegasus 7 points' '.
"In 5th place, defeating 85 monsters is Lyon Vastia of Mermaid Heel, earning them 6 points".
"Right behind him in 6th place was Millianna defeating 70 monsters, earning Mermaid Heel 5 points".
"Nipping at her heels is Erik of Crime Sorciere in 7th defeating 69 monsters, earning 4 points".
"Behind him is Ree Zay of the Alvarez guild, defeating 50 monsters, and earning 3 points".
"Rocker of Quattro Cerberus defeated 46 monsters, earning him a 9th place finish and 2 points".
"Bringing up the rear, having defeated 35 monsters is Bludger of Twilight Ogre, with 1 point".
The updated points displayed on the screen as wizards and members of the crowd saw them and analyzed for themselves.
Fairy Tail team A 30
Fairy Tail team B 28
Saber Tooth 24
Lamia Scale 21
Mermaid Heel 19
Alvarez Guild 11
Crime Sorciere 11
Blue Pegasus 10
Quattro Cerberus 4
Twilight Ogre 2
"Wow" Zeldris said, focusing on the results, "It seems there are two or three distinct groups on these results" he finished.
"These games are going to be interesting for sure," Romeo added.
Zeldris clenched his fist with determination, "I just hope to be a part of them" he said, determination in his eyes, and eagerness in his heart and soul.