Chapter 50 Tri Aquathon!
"Good day Fiore! It is the final day of our regularly scheduled events and battles. I bet today's battles and event will be the best one yet!" Chopati Lola announced.
"I couldn't agree more. It will be interesting to see what the organizers have in store for us today," added.
"Well, the name of the event is the Tri Aquathlon! So guilds, please select your wizards.'' Chopati Lola finished.
Zedris grinned as he went down to the floor of the arena before anyone could object, much to the chagrin of Laxus and Gajeel.
"Well, if Zeldris is going to fight, I should go and get us some points too," Meredy said.
"Just don't go throwing the fight for your boyfriend," Erik teased as Meredy glared at him in response to his remark.
The rest of the wizards soon stood at a starting line, each starting marker highlighted by a guild mark.
"As our wizards line up on the starting line, let us run you through our competitors for today's event," Chopati Lola announced
"From the Alvarez Guild and starting furthest away from us, the fire dragon slayer Apollo. Second, it's Lamia Scale's Yuka. Now from Twilight Ogre and ready to set the field on fire, is the stunning Mattan Ginger. Starting next to her is Saber Tooth's top dragon, Rogue. Quattro Cerberus has gone all out on this one and has brought in Bacchus. Next to him is Blue Pegasus's newest member and holder of all the cards, Sho. From Mermaid Heel and someone who looks to cut the field down to size, it's Kagura. From Crime Sorciere, one of the founding members of the guild, Meredy. Next to her is the stunning water wizard herself is Juvia from Fairy Tail team A. Now finally from Fairy Tail team B, the mysterious new wizard who joined the guild just one year ago after Fairy Tail's dominant performance in the games last year, Zeldris!" Chopati Lola finished while the crowd roared.
"It seems everyone has put in their top competitors for today's final event. This should make each stage of today's event quite interesting," Mr. Yajima noted with intrigue.
Mato then walked onto the grounds of the arena, only stopping beside the line where each of the wizards stood.
"So, is today's event some kind of race?" Juvia asked.
"Precisely! Perhaps to better describe it as a kind of Triathlon. Each stage will focus on a different element of water. From ice, to water, to steam. Or maybe a combination of them.." Mato hinted in a quiet ominous tone
From behind Mato, a massive block of ice that seemed to soar to the heavens appeared in front of the contesting wizards. Behind that was a massive pool, filled with what appeared to be ice. Finally, behind all of that was an exact replica of the sumo battle of the elements ring.
"So, before you all run off in this race, let's explain what the plan is, and what the stages are!" Mato said. "First, you must climb up or through this massive block of ice. From there, you will jump into the pool of an unknown substance and swim the length of the pool. After that, those who get there first will have to wait. They will rest and recover as the slower competitors make their way to the sumo battle. Secondly, a sumo battle of the elements using only the stages of water. Finally, there is a catch, or maybe even two or three! First, there is a timer. You must finish the ice and the pool within two hours. Otherwise, you're out and your results stand as is. With that the tower of ice and the pool are constantly being heated! So, will you wait for the ice to melt and the pool to be completely water but risk the timer and be tired going into the sumo battle? Or perhaps you will rush and hurry to complete both stages but recover in time.. Personally I'd recommend some swimsuits for this," Mato said.
"Wow, there's a lot to think about with strategy for this game," Meredy said as each competitor got down into their swimsuits. For some leaving very little to the imagination, especially Meredy and Juvia, who both gave Zeldris an eyeful.
"All this just sounds wild man, let's get it on!" Bacchus said as the crowd tried their best to understand the event they were about to witness.
"Since it seems everyone is ready, let the Tri Aquathlon begin!" Mato yelled as a gong ran out.
Soon, everyone was doing their best to scramble up the massive ice block tower. It took only Zeldris a moment to remember the job that Romeo, Terre Mere, and himself undertook to give the town their water and to defeat the Albion.
Zeldris climbed the massive block of ice with his swords. Juvia merged with the water inside the block of ice and slowly made her way to the top. Yuka tried to use his wake boost to climb the ice which had mediocre effectiveness. Apollo was struggling the hardest, unable to climb up and was burning his magic power trying to burn the ice away. Rogue tried to use his shadow powers to climb up. Bacchus struggled, attempting to his chop hanging palm strikes to climb up the ice. Sho used a stairway of cards, but it took him many cards at time to support his weight. Kagura took after Zeldris's approach and climbed up with her swords, after all, flying was never going to be allowed in this event. Finally, Meredy used her own version of Zeldris and Kagura's techniques, only this time using her maguilty sodom swords to dull her senses to the cold and to be used as physical tools to climb.
Thirty minutes had passed and Zeldris's use of the swords to climb was helping him be head and shoulders above the competition. With many others nipping right behind him as he was nearing the top.
Laxus watched, his brow furrowed and arms crossed. A tense air hung over the team B suite. One that was matched with a similar but less tense air in the main Fairy Tail suite, and finally the Fairy Tailers with the highest spirits was team A. They were cheering on Juvia with great enthusiasm.
When 45 minutes passed, Zeldris was the first to reach the top of the slowly melting ice skyscraper. Up there, there were ten diving boards, one for each contestant. He slowly walked onto the diving board judging the distance and it felt like a mile down to the thick slowly warming pool of liquid.
By now, the first of the other competitors arrived, Meredy, Juvia, and Kagura. Zeldris couldn't help but grit his teeth as he stepped backwards, getting a run up to the diving board. He dove off and crashed through the thin ice that was on top of the slowly warming liquid. A slight shriek could be heard as Zeldris crashed through the ice and tried his best to swim towards the goal.
As for the other competitors, some took a minute to judge the distance before jumping off. This applied to Juvia, Meredy, and Kagura. Juvia got in first of the trio, Meredy was next, and Kagura brought up the rear about five minutes behind the other.
The next to come up at the top of the was Sho from Blue Pegasus. He was about equal time behind Kagura and the other ladies and Bacchus who was leading the back markers in this race. Sho simply ran with no stopping as he dove off the diving board. He was in a hurry as he was one of the last contestants to be ahead of the minimum time of two hours.
Everyone else was behind the curve with the time and they each knew it as they could hear Chopati Lola and Mr. Yajima's discussions of the matter.
As for Zeldris, it was now an hour and fifteen minutes after the start of the competition as he finally crawled from the swimming pool and into the sumo ring for the final part of the event. He was exhausted and almost collapsed when he selected his spot.
The three ladies were next, Juvia taking an hour and twenty minutes. Meredy an hour and twenty-five minutes. Finally, Kagura got there after an hour and thirty-five minutes. Each lady took a spot across from each other.
Each of the four were exhausted, as they sat down to relax. Not long after this, they started to talk and exchange banter.
"I'm surprised I never did catch up with you despite my water magic," Juvia said.
Zeldris lightly chuckled, "I wound up taking the charge as hard as I can and resting as much as I can approach." he said. Zeldris's face changed to that of a serious look, his eyes locking on Master Makarov as he said, "I want to win this, to prove myself, to everyone in the guild. But more importantly, I want to win this for Fairy Tail."
Juvia smiled and nodded, before Meredy chirped in. "Well, you'll have to get through us first!" All three friends laughed, even Kagura joined in on the fun as the minutes ticked down to zero.
Sho was the final one to climb from the once icy water that was now bubbling as it was beginning to boil. It was only five minutes after the new Blue Pegasus wizard emerged from the pool before the timer went off.
"Show time," Zeldris said as he stood up, surveying like everyone else, those unfortunate to finish in time.
"Just like that, two hours have passed. While everything gets ready for part three of our incredible event today. Here are the results so far of those who are eliminated. In 10th place the fire dragon put on Ice, Apollo, still stuck on the ice it seems. In 9th with a disappointing performance, Yuka from Lamia Scale. In 8th and making her debut in the game, Mattan Ginger. In 7th, and arguably our biggest shocker is Rogue. Finally, and the closest one to making it in 6th was Bacchus". Chopati Lola said.
"Many points are needed for Quattro Cerberus, but I bet every single one of the contestants would prefer to have made it, '' Mr. Yajima said.
"Now that that's taken care of, we can focus on the final part. One final part to end the event portion of this year's Grand Magic Games. An all-out brawl to see which guild can survive this event!" Chopati Lola said excitedly.
By now each of the contestants were ready for their next part, the repeat of sumo battle for the elements. It started in a flash; the side of the pool closest to the contestants fell away. The still boiling water moved like a raging torrent towards them.
It wiped Sho away with ease before anything could stop him. The four remaining took notice as they started to charge at each other. The floor of water quickly turned to ice. Everyone slipped and slid except for Juvia.
From there, she tried to knock Zeldris out with no avail. As if she knew he would be her biggest competition. As everyone finally started to get a grip, Juvia's attention turned to Kagura. Knocking her out with relative ease.
"Sho's out, now Kagura is out, it just leaves the two from Fairy Tail and Meredy from Crime Sorciere," Chopati Lola announced.
The ice on the floor quickly melted and then turned to boiling water. Juvia then turned to Meredy as the pink haired wizard charged at her best friend.
"No offense Juvia, but I'm taking this victory!" Meredy teased as the two begun to be locked hand in hand in combat.
"You say that as though you're gonna beat me!" Juvia quipped back, as she seemed to get the upper hand. She quickly pushed Meredy out of the circle. As she saw Meredy fall to the ground. Juvia saw Meredy's eyes grow in shock.
"Zel-" Meredy said as she hit the ground, followed quickly by Juvia. Zeldris had kicked her in the back, hiding from the two as they battled against each other.
The thud that was heard from Juvia hitting the stadium grounds was deafening in its true impact.
"Insanity! Zeldris managed to kick the odds-on favorite Juvia from Fairy Tail team A out of the arena. Fairy Tail team B has turned things around in a seeming act of betrayal!" Chopati Lola announced.
Zeldris simply stepped out of the small area for the sumo. He looked over to Juvia whose face was twisted in shock and rage.
"How dare-" Juvia started to say before Zeldris cut her off.
"Just remember, you tried to knock me out first," Zeldris said as he walked off the field. The crowd slowly began to applaud and cheer.
"Well, after that, it seems Zeldris has made his presence known going into today's battles." said.
"Indeed, he has. Perhaps there might be some bad blood to settle in the battles," Chopati Lola chuckled.
Juvia meanwhile, had returned to the Fairy Tail team A suite entrance, meeting her darling Gray.
"You alright?" Gray asked her. As Juvia's face was still in a rotten scowl from before.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she said, before looking out to the stadium grounds. "If we get to fight in today's battles, I want to wipe the floor with Zeldris," she finished, clenching her fist.
"He'll pay for what he did, don't you worry," Gray said to Juvia, comfortingly. Natsu, Erza, Wendy, and Lucy all looked at each other with concern about the potential of the upcoming battle.
As the couple returned to the suite to take their rest, Chopati Lola then began another announcement.
"Now, after that incredible event, it is announced which teams will compete. Guilds and teams will select the wizards that compete, independent of the coordinators. Now, for the battle lineups, our first match will be the battle of last place with Twilight Ogre taking on Quattro Cerberus. In our second matchup will pit the ladies of Mermaid heel vs the former champions Saber Tooth. In our third matchup, Crime Sorciere takes on the Alvarez Guild. In our fourth matchup Lamia Scale will take on Blue Pegasus. And finally! Looking to settle some potential bad blood and to decide which team is top in the Fairy Tail guild. Fairy Tail team A takes on new points leaders, Fairy Tail team B!" he finally finished announcing.
"I want to fight Zeldris!" Gray and Juvia said in unison, declaring their battle against him.
"Good, I was hoping you two would fight that monster. I can form a strategy with you two in mind," Master Mavis said, with a noted glee.
Zeldris looked over to the team A suite as he walked into his own guild suite, declaring, "I want to fight team A, and I want Freed to go with me."
Everyone looked at him in shock, but no one objected as an eerie silence fell over each suite associated with Fairy Tail as the first fighters walked onto the field.
