Chapter 111: Debuts

"So? What did you think of that Evanee woman?" Skye asked Reve. The gunslinger shrugged, but his answer gave a much different tone.

"That Asuka chick was pretty amazing. She showed off her ability to temporarily shatter her limits, so no matter how high of a ceiling she has, she can always go higher with Rajin Tempo as she calls it, and whatever that last power up was. She shouldn't hang her head on that."

Skye blinked a few times in confusion. "Yeah, but I asked about Evanee."

"I know." Reve replied. "With everything I said about Asuka, it didn't even affect Evanee once. Asuka played right into her humiliating game, and destroyed her — probably even her will to be a mage. If Asuka bounces back from that, then it means she's meant to be here, as a mage. That last form we saw from Asuka...it was radiating magic power that I've never felt before, and I'm sure you felt it too. I think with that form, if she's able to maintain balance, she's the strongest mage here, as much as it's hard to admit. So young, yet with so much potential. And yet..."

Reve hesitated long enough for Skye to raise a brow, arms folded over her chest. "And yet?" She questioned, waiting for him to finish his thought.

"And yet...until she used that Underworld Magic, I didn't sense any magic power from Evanee. She did all of that from regular strength alone. That kick she took from Asuka, the uppercut too... Evanee was fighting against that Asuka I just praised about without magic power whatsoever."

Skye's eyes slowly widened as she replayed the event in her head, also remembering that she too didn't feel a single stint of magic coming from Evanee until the very end when she said that Asuka earned it.

"It just reminds me of Sidney..."

That caught Skye's attention.

"When it came to fighting us, Sidney rarely used any magic. Nothing besides his vanishing act, the tombstones, and maybe a summoning spell here or there. Evanee's fight really reminded me about just how much of Sidney's arsenal has been kept hidden simply because he doesn't need it against us. Think about it. When's the last time Sidney actually had to let loose? I think Evanee was a third party example of that."

"So you're putting her on par with Sidney?" Skye asked.

Reve shook his head. "No. She's either better...or weaker than Sidney, but that's something they'll have to figure out between each other. If it ever happens, that is."

With that out the way, Skye allowed the prior conversation to marinate for a few seconds before finally turning back to him with a cheeky visage. "So...you and that Miya girl seemed to have got along pretty well during your event! And she's really cute too!"

Reve only side eyed her, already he knew what she was getting at, and the look on his face told her that he didn't want any part of it, so she sighed and pleaded her case. "It's been a year, nīsan, and you're Fiore's most eligible bachelor! I miss Taya too but—"

"Cut it out." He interrupted, a voice more stern than usual. Skye was taken aback, gaining a somber look as Reve continued to watch the events below unfold. He didn't follow up with an apology nor explanation, and because of that, Skye opted to remain quiet as well.

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{Flashback}

"Well then. Since the Avatar case was well..." Erza clenched a fist comedically. "...Wrapped up a lot faster than we initially estimated... Gray, you can go back now. I'm sure I'll see you soon."

Gray nodded towards Erza, giving her a wave as well. "Right. I'll see you around, Erza. Make sure to give a shout to Jellal for me."

He was off, trailing back to the abandoned village where he left Juvia for the past few weeks. The stroll so far was enjoyable, Gray enjoying the atmosphere around him as he entered the next town in search of something to eat. That's when his newest "fateful" encounter happened.

He entered a city that was being overrun by a bunch no namers — bandits that were destroying everything in sight. The marketplace was the latest to go just as Gray arrived, and as he called out to them, his voice was echoed by another. The Ace of Mermaid Heel who also happened to be strolling by, Kagura. An uncanny tag team, the two subdued the group of bandits with little to no problem despite the numbers of them all, but it's what happened in the midst where our story lies.

Upon a rooftop, Gray stood off against his latest opponent. A woman with silver hair and a sleek figure with feminine curves, and for some reason, everything started to feel...familiar.

The woman was bleak, quiet and somber, standing there with a monotonous expression that resembled the gloomy sky above. It was all too recognizable, but Gray wasn't the type to believe in deja vu so strongly. That was...until the fight was over...

{Flashback End}

"Gray-Sama... How do you know that wench?" Juvia asked again, this time with her nose pressed against his cheek and a finger pointed towards the waving Melody. That's when Melody opened her cheery eyes to see Juvia touching her beloved, causing her to gain a hostile expression herself. "Hey! Harlot! Get your dirty face away from my Gray-Sama!"

"WHAT DID YOU SAY TO JUVIA!?" She roared. Causing Gray and those around them to shy away. Juvia gripped the railing, causing it to shatter in fissures from her comical strength as her aura rose. "I'LL DESTROY YOU! JUVIA WILL DESTROY YOU!"

Tyson could only stand there helplessly, watching the two women with their verbal exchanges. He turned back to his team awkwardly, to which they would give him the same look he was projecting — except for Ilaria who was nodding along with the chaos. "That's right ladies! Fight for what's yours!" The Soul Binder shouted with folded arms and that continuous nod. That caused everyone to give Ilaria a look. Riley then slid in to instigate, holding her hands up together like a love induced victim. "It's like a soap opera! Who will win the heart of Gray Fullbuster! Is it the water wielder from Fairy Tail, or the newcomer from Mermaid Heel who has yet to reveal her magic!?"

Ilaria's eyes sparkled as the others simply sighed and groaned in defeat from the two, but back below, after the awkward exchange between the two new love rivals finally diminished, Mato was able to begin the match. "Fighters ready...?" He asked awkwardly, turning to the real victim of this whole thing, Tyson. He nodded, regaining his composure as Melody did the same, and that's when everyone took interest. Melody was in a Maker's stance just like Tyson. Juvia ducked down behind the railing with her fingers crossed, chanting to herself. "Please don't be ice or water! Please don't be ice or water!"

"Begin, Kabo!" Mato yelled, and the fight was underway with Melody starting them off. "Silver Make—"

"Juvia wins!" She shouted, ecstatically flailing about.

" — Arrows!" Launching her hands forward, Melody created a plethora of silver arrows that threatened the first strike between her and Tyson Bryant. The white Eclipse would quickly react with his own creation however, a blue and red aura blessing his hands as he slammed them to the ground. "Fusion Make: Steam Wall!"

The sudden creation of a wall created purely of the concoction between fire and water only concealed Tyson's visual presence. The evasion was completely up to him and with little time to do so, the rookie pulled it off perfectly with a hard roll to his left. The silver arrows went flying straight through, hitting nothing but the back arena wall and causing Melody to remain on her toes as she waited for the concealed Tyson to counter attack. And there it was.

"Clay Cannon!" Firing off through the steam wall, a giant ball of ground and water element mixture was now hurling towards Melody and halfway through its trek, the ball noticeably hardened from a wet to dry clay cannon ball. Melody grinned, waiting for the very last second to duck down low, causing the cannon ball to whiff right by her and into the wall behind her as she simultaneously took off towards Tyson in a sprint.

Gasps were heard from Fairy Tail, noting her speed. "Yeah, she's pretty fast." Gray said aloud without thinking, causing Juvia to turn to him once more with an angered look on his face. "Pretty!?" She asked loudly. "I said pretty fast!" Gray disputed, but the deranged Juvia wasn't hearing it. She turned back to the fight, watching as Melody created a brandished, silver sword in her right hand, swinging for Tyson as the White Eclipse rookie used the limited space given to dodge each strike.

"So this is it, huh?" Juvia asked herself. "So this is a true...love rival!"

"WHAT!?" Gray shouted, but no context was given as the fight went on.

"Tch... I need a way out." Tyson said to himself, creating another mixture of two elements. This time, red and silver swirled together as fire and iron forged his newest technique. "Fusion make: Red Gauntlets!"

Just as he summoned it, the powerful concoction of fire and iron fused together around his hands and forearms, creating two gauntlets — one in each hand. As Melody swung her silver blade once more, Tyson halted it with his newly covered hands, causing the sword to gradually melt from the burning gauntlets.

Melody smiled at this action. She immediately dropped the sword once she realized it was no longer of use, spinning away from Tyson's latest reach towards her in an attempt to inflict some heat raising pain. With the space between the two, Melody readied herself as Tyson lunged forward once more.

"He's pretty good." Beth Vanderwood observed. Kagura nodded. "That may be true, but he's also very green. Melody has been toying with him. She'll win."

Beth raised a brow. "She is? I didn't catch on to that at all."

"Mhm." Kagura nodded once more. "I apologize for springing these new members on you all so quickly, but I know them very well. Miya had a decent showing, but it's nothing compared to what she's capable of, and now you're seeing Melody, once more in a situation where she can't completely flourish and showcase her skills. Don't worry... Mermaid Heel is in good hands with all of our strength combined. Just watch. Melody!"

Kagura's call twinged in Melody's ears, and she smiled as she avoided that lunge by Tyson. "Got it, Kagura-Sama! Silver make:..."

She held her pose patiently, and Tyson didn't let up, rushing towards her once more worn both fists intertwined for a powerful hammer fist. That's when Melody struck. While Tyson was in midair, she slammed her hands to the ground, causing the entire surface to turn silver. It caught Tyson off guard, and the next thing he knew, a plethora of rising pillars spun around him, entangling him and raising him into the air.

"That's a wrap, rookie." Reve murmured as the pillars came crashing down on top of each other with Tyson underneath it all. All that could be seen from the White Eclipse rookie, was a limp left hand sticking out from underneath the pile of silver, and the results would be confirmed as Melody withdrew her technique for Mato and Chapati to do their job.

"T-Tyson Bryant is out cold! What a move by Melody Silver, and the win goes to Mermaid Heel!"

While everyone cheered, White Eclipse B were in shock. "Wow. Tyson went down..." Lance was able to say as everyone else remained silent. It was hard to believe, putting so much faith in one of their leaders, but Tyson was duly defeated by someone from a guild they weren't expecting to lose to.

Melody waved and waved until she turned to Gray. Once she realized who she was facing, she blew the ice maker a kiss, and Juvia swatted it away as if the gesture had an actual physical form. Gray could only make an awkward face at the entire situation. "Juvia won't lose!"

"Gray? What was that move?" Lucy asked, looking to him for answers. With an angry Juvia looming over him, Gray sighed, doing his best to ignore her as he answered Lucy's question.

"I just recently discovered it myself, but it seems that maker Mages have the ability to create a domain of their element."

"A domain of their own element?" Lucy asked, both her and Juvia tilted their head in confusion with question marks visibly hanging over them. Gray nodded once. "I'm sure Kuro has probably learned it by now too, but yeah, maker mages can turn an entire area into their element, or compose that entire area into their element and take control of it, as you just saw. I don't know if there is an official name for it, but only the skilled maker mages can pull it off. Melody being able to use it isn't a surprise for me, but it definitely is a surprise that she's with Mermaid Heel. I wouldn't count that guild out yet. This next three days will definitely be crucial."

Everyone was in an uproar until Chapati announced the next fight, and it was one with promise. Ready to get her hands on her opponent. Minerva Orland stood in the ring, waiting for her victim to arrive. "And for our next fight! It's Minerva Orland of Sabertooth, versus...!"

Nina Roulette, the other half of the Roulette sisters walked in, pushing back her blonde hair with an excited smirk as she walked over to stand before the tigress. "...Nina Roulette of Empyrean Dawn!"

That's when Nina made her remarks — more like her request. "You still harboring that anger from what happened to your friend during the event? Good. Please make sure to take it out on me. I feel most alive that way."

Minerva grinned, but you could tell it was laced with anger at the mention of Sting's downfall earlier on this day. Nina was pushing the tamed tigress back to her old ways, and it was a slippery slope when it came to that for Minerva so... she didn't need much of a push. "It seems revenge has been given to me on a platter. I'll be sure to wring your neck until you beg for mercy, then I'll abstain from giving you that mercy. It's only fair. An eye for an eye, you know."

"Is that so?" Nina asked with a sultry grin. The blonde would then hold up her hands, keeping her fingers loose as she made her next proposition. "You seem really intent. How about we save the conclusion of this story for the final day, and in the mean time... me and you, we just get some good ol' bare knuckle boxing in, hm?"

Minerva arched a brow, hands on her hips as she stood there, allowing the proposition to marinate. She had questions, mostly regarding what Nina meant by a conclusion; and story, but each question that surfaced in her mind sunk to the back as she could only oblige her opponent's request with a cloudy discourse of anger. "Not really my style, but I'm curious about everything that was said. It's like you've read me like a book. I do indeed intend on taking down the entirety of your little gang one by one, so if I have to play by your rules to do it, then I guess damned if I don't, hm?"

"That's the spirit!" Nina shouted, clutching her fists by her side with an anxious look upon her mug. "Now lets not waste anymore time—"

Before she could finish that sentence, the space before her opened with Minerva grabbing the blonde bombshell by the face and slamming her head into the unforgiving cement that was the arena floor. "BAKA!" Minerva shouted as rubble floated past her. "Me!? Play by your rules? That has nothing to do with getting revenge for my guild master! No, this goes beyond that. That...that was for believing that you could make a deal with Sabertooth's First Lady, Minerva Orland! I take orders and negotiations from no one! Especially not some third rate criminals!"

Reve instantly halted his leave, turning back around with an arched brow. "Good. I thought this was going to be a boring fist fight."

"It was definitely going to be gruesome if it happened." Luke nodded. "What's the difference between that and a magic fight?" The young Sophie asked, and Reve had no problem explaining it without any sugar coating. "The difference between purely physical fight and once coveted in magic is this, Sophie. Your fists are basically a lot more dangerous, yet one dimensional when it comes to fighting. With purely your fists, you could knock someone's teeth out, or blacken their eye or even worse, the punch to the temple enough times could render them unconscious immediately or in fact...kill them."

Sophie continued staring, unfazed yet her mind turning gears as she took in the information.

"Whereas magic, though it has the potential to do the same depending on how it's used, is really a method to simply defeat your opponent. Even punches imbued by magic usually inflict pain without such bludgeon. No matter how bad you mangle an opponent, nothing you do with magic will really disfigure them in any way. That's up to a third party, like a nasty fall or hitting a wall really hard. But again...there are exceptions to every rule."

As Minerva remained on top of Nina, greedily pushing her head into the ground, she continued her declaration. "One by one, I'll take you all down until I reach the one running this show. Kaiser, is it? Yeah, he has some real explaining to do."

"I wouldn't count on any of that happening." Nina laughed through the hand that muffled her. Instead of pushing Minerva off of her, the Empyrean member tightened a grip around that wrist — a sign to let Minerva know that she was doing just fine. "I ain't worried about you believing in me or not, because hell yeah I'm a criminal. Just to spit on your master's mental grave in front of you, I'm going to keep my promise of fighting without my magic! So if you lose to me, you'll join that Sting guy in the pits of despair!"

"Gch! Her grip is tight..!" Minerva thought to herself, only for Nina to finally relinquish her hold on that who held her down — pushing back and then standing up in one motion to create a velocity as she threw Minerva across the arena. The Saber landed on her heels, turning to face a standing Nina once more. She sucked her teeth, conjuring an abundance of magic with the palms of her hands. "Die." She declared with a venomous tongue, shooting a beam of her unique spatial magic known as Territory directly towards her opposition. With an optimistic grin, Nina clutched both hands by her side and darted forward, veering right past the incoming beam while never losing stride in her charge towards Minerva. A right hook fired, but Minerva ducked it with an annoyed look on her face. "You're way too close for my liking." Said Saber's Ace, creating a large orb of Territory Magic that separated herself and Nina from such close quarters. Unsure of what it was capable of, Nina had no choice but to take a hop backwards, but that didn't stop the daredevil from charging forth once again. She would lunge forth, and Minerva caught the timing perfectly as she launched her Territory orb, connecting with Nina while she was in mid-lunge.

The blonde was able to raise her arms to shield, her only line of defense as Minerva's latest spell clashed against her. Explosion occurred, and Nina flew backwards only for Minerva to chase her. "You still going to stick to your little fun!?" Minerva condescendingly asked while closing in on her. Just before she could fully close the gap, Nina regained her balance and didn't hesitate to leap back forward to deliver a powerful uppercut to beneath Minerva's chin. The powerful blow shocked her just as much as it hurt, rocking the Saber as she stumbled backwards.

"Ow!" Reiss shouted, holding his own chin. Even Sophie looked on with surprised eyes as she remained with hands by her side. "So that's what Reve meant." Lance analyzed as Nina slammed two more alternating right and left hooks into the Saber's jawline. "That looks absolutely painful."

"There's a bigger problem here than that." Riley interjected with a small smirk. "Isn't that the third place guild last year? And isn't Minerva like their Ace or something? Then why is this match so close when Nina isn't even using any magic?"

"Well..." Reiss began, regurgitating words without research. "A fight is a fight, even without magic, so I don't think it's that..."

Riley turned to him with arched brows before snickering. "Yeah, sure. Whatever you say, captain."

"And Nina has Minerva reeling! Will the Sabertooth Ace regather herself?" Chapati's words definitely struck a cord with her, but it didn't help her get moving as Nina arrived right before her, swiping an elbow for the stomach. Unfortunate for her, she was stopped short by the Lady's Territory magic. An oval of it, not only acting as a shield, but doubling as the base of a powerful ray of the product that struck Nina directly against the sternum. This time again it was Nina who was thrown back, but the damage was also beginning to couple on Minerva as well, unable to physically pursue thanks the blows she took to the face. As Nina tumbled however, she regained herself in a dangerous place as it began to glow right beneath her. "Huh?" She questioned as Minerva was able to show a grinning feature.

"I grow tired of your presence. Begone! Niel Wielg Mion Terse Elcantaeus: Yagdo Rigora!"

"Minerva!" Erza shouted in disdain, but Minerva simply ignored her a slight chortle as she summoned her favorite war god. A large statue wielding intricate designs appeared, and what happened next...a powerful explosion that decimated the entire arena.

There was nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide or be safe from the powerful summoning, and as the smoke mostly cleared, Nina was...

Directly behind Minerva with a multitude of bruises and scars, holding a large club behind her head at full coil.

"What's happened to no magic?" Waiston asked as the arena became deathly quiet. Reve then answered what he already knew. "You know to never trust a criminal, Waiston."

Minerva tried to turn around, but that glowing aura of an Ogre Club came blazing in full force, catching fire as it slammed into her skull, and then driving Minerva into the ground, or what was left of the ground thanks to her attack beforehand. But unlike Yagdo Rigora, Nina's Ogre Club showed absolute result as Minerva was unconscious, silencing everyone in the arena.

"M...Min..Minerva is down!" Chapati managed to yell as Empyrean Dawn began their usual hoot and holler to cheer on their fellow felon. "Nina Roulette is the winner!"

"Hell YEAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Marshall shouted along with Julia, Ano and a few others while Hubert, Firenze, and the rest stood behind them with proud visages. Reve arched a brow. "I can't pinpoint those guys. Did they decide to take the games seriously now? Or are they just happy for this victory for personal reasons? That Firenze guy wasn't caring about time when he did what he did to Sting... but now they're cheering like they're making head room."

"I think it's just because of who that Nina girl is." Takeru replied. "Her and her sister..they live for fights, right? Maybe that aspect of them really get them going. They aren't fighters themselves, just criminals, so maybe that's the reason. Nina's appearance and victory here may be bad news for everyone else, but exactly what they needed in order to get into this. It's obvious they were granted temporary freedom just to join these games, so who really knows the ordeal? Maybe there's a reward they've just stared taking seriously as well."

"So no answer." Reve summarized the rambling, causing Takeru to stick his tongue at him when he wasn't looking.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. It's official! Your winner of this bout is Nina Roulette of Empyrean Dawn! Ten points for their team! Now, we have two more fights for the day, so let's not delay as the next bout belongs to Fairy Tail's Cynthia Rose versus... Cygnus Gwydion!"

He sighed as he walked in with a smirk, the crowd cheering his name as a returning favorite. "I can't believe I'm on the main roster and my debut is squashing a kid!" Words were said as he came into Cynthia's earshot. That caused the little girl to return the cocky look, readying herself for the fight at hand. "Don't underestimate me! I'm going to show you and my friends that I belong!"

Cygnus was unamused, but it caused Fairy Tail to share a confident smile as Cynthia remained ready for her debut.

"Mages ready-kabo!?" Mato asked with a raised hand.

"Begin!"