A/N: Hello, readers! Another chapter is here!

Enjoy!

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: LAXUS VS. ALEXEI

Chapati had just finished listing the rankings of the guilds. "Alright, the battle part of the third day of the Grand Magic Games is about to begin!" Chapati announced.

"I'm looking forward to the battle part!" Yajima said.

"Indeed." Lahar agreed.

"In the first match, it's Millianna of Mermaid Heel... vs. Semmes of Quatro Puppy!" Chapati said.

"Our souls are always Wild..." Rocker began.

"...Four!"

"Let the match begin!" Chapati said as the gong rang out.

Millianna removed her cape as she got into a fighting stance.

"Victory goes to the swiftest! Wild Spin!" Semmes shouted as he began spinning around the arena.

"Oh, my! It's a body attack, using his giant body to spin around!" Chapati stated as Millianna landed on the ground.

"I'll use magic to slow him down! Cat Binding Tube!" Millianna called out, a pink-colored Magic Circle appeared from her hand as an orange tube came out.

However, her attack deflected as Millianna ended up getting thrown in the air. "It bounced right off!"

"Millianna!" Arana, Beth, and Risley exclaimed in unison.

"Attaboy!" War Cry cheered.

"Our souls are always Wild..." Rocker started to say.

"...Four!"

"Keep it up and you'll win!" Goldmine encouraged.

"I'm not done yet!" Millianna claimed.

"Wild..." Semmes began spinning once more.

"Kitten Blast!" Millianna shouted, but her attack was deflected again.

"That spurred my spinning on even more! Now take this!" Semmes said, attacking Millianna and sending her in the air.

"Beat her with one shot!" War Cry cheered.

"Our souls are always Wild..."

"...Four!"

"I hope Millianna's okay..." Happy stated.

"She's taken a lot of damage." Natsu pointed out.

"Erza..." Lucy glanced over at Erza.

"She's fine. Millianna would never lose over a few bruises like this." Erza claimed.

"Millianna!" Risley shouted out.

"Hang in there!" Beth said.

Kagura had her eyes closed. "There's someone Millianna needs to defeat." She stated, opening her eyes. "Until she brings him down, she won't lose."

"If I can't beat a guy like this, I better pack it in... There'd be no point in joining Mermaid Heel!" Millianna exclaimed.

Semmes charged forward. "Time to end this!" He declared, his body began to spin again. "Wild Spin, twice as fast!"

"Uh-oh! Is this gonna decide the match?!" Chapati questioned.

"Cat Binding Tube!" Millianna called out again. This time, it wrapped around Semmes.

"I'll tear this junk right off!" He said.

"I'm not letting go, no matter what!" Millianna declared as she held on.

Semmes was soon shown on the ground, knocked out. "W-W-Wild..." He stuttered before Millianna sat on him.

All of the Quatro Puppy members were pale. "That ain't wild at all!" Rocker claimed.

"Feelin' spiffy!" Millianna said.

"Semmes is down for the count! The winner is Millianna!" Chapati announced.

Millianna was waving. "Kagura-chan! Risley-chan! I won!" She shouted.

"Now that was an interesting battle!" Yajima commented.

"And she used various kinds of magic. I learned something." Lahar added.

"You've improved, Millianna." Erza said.

"Even though getting bound by that tube wouldn't draw a score on that magic-measuring device from before..." Lucy pointed out.

"Bound...?" Wendy quoted.

"It was rough for me when I went up against her a long time ago, too." Natsu commented.

"Next, the second match for the battle part! From Sabertooth, the minstrel who sings to the red moon... Rufus Lore!" Chapati said as Rufus's face appeared on screen and the audience screamed in excitement.

"Versus the Black Death of Black Sun B... Nox Slypher!" Chapati finished as Nox showed up on the Lacrima Vision as well, causing more cheering.

"Do your best, Nox!" Helena cheered.

"This will be the first Sabertooth vs Black Sun battle." Chapati commented.

Yajima nodded in agreement. "Not to mention, Nox-kun is a member of their elite S-Class wizard group, the Assembly of Ash."

The gong soon rang out, signaling the start of the match. Nox rushed forward and sent a punch towards Rufus, in which it went right through him.

"That's your memory of where I was standing." Rufus claimed, appearing behind him.

"Yeah, I kinda figured." Nox commented. "I watched you in the competition on the first day. I remember your magic well."

"You remember it, eh?" Rufus quoted as his face soon changed into Kross being shirtless. "Eh?"

This caused Nox to stop dead in his tracks. Kross's face turned red while Sebastian laughed. "I knew there was something goin' on between them!" He exclaimed.

"That's your memory." Rufus said.

"Bastard!" Nox sends a kick towards Rufus's abdomen before he could strike him, causing Rufus to stumble back in surprise.

The sky soon became dark again as a red-colored Magic Circle appeared behind Rufus. "A star falls on the night!" He shouted as the light directly attacked Nox.

"A direct hit on Nox!" Chapati said. However, Nox leaped into the air, avoiding his attack and appearing behind Rufus. "Or so we thought, but it seems he's dodged the attack!"

"A word of advice, pal." Nox started to say. "Don't expect the same attack to work twice."

"I see..." Rufus hummed, pressing his finger to his temple. "Memory Make."

A red-colored Magic Circle appeared behind him once more. "There it is..." Gray commented.

"What kind of Molding Magic is that?!" Lyon wondered out loud.

"Magic that gives form to memories?" Ultear questioned as her and Meredy were watching from the orb. "That's..."

"...an ancient spell." Mavis finished. "In other words, Ancient Magic."

"So there's more to this than meets the eye, huh?" Makarov asked.

The arena started to turn orange. "Oh, boy! W-What is...?" Chapati trailed off.

"It's getting kind of hot out here..." Yajima commented.

"I'm sensing the rise of a tremendous magic power..." Lahar said.

Nox sighed exasperatedly. "So not only you kitties are arrogant, but also stupid. Good to know." He commented. "God, I'm so fucking bored."

"Dark Spikes Plague Massacre!" Nox called out as spikes rose from the ground, piercing Rufus.

The sky went back to normal as Rufus collapsed to the ground, knocked out. "T-The match is over!" Chapati exclaimed. The audience cheered while Fairy Tail stood in shock. "Rufus didn't even get a chance to strike! The winner is Nox of Black Sun B!"

"Holy crap..." Gray muttered.

"Those guys are no joke." Natsu commented.

"From the Fairy Tail B team, Laxus Dreyar!" Chapati shouted as the crowd cheered. "Versus Alexei of Raven Tail!"

"It's Laxus!" Natsu exclaimed.

"His opponent is from Ivan's guild..." Erza muttered.

"Good luck, Laxus!" Mira cheered.

"I'm sure you got nothin' to worry about." Gajeel said.

"We're talking about Laxus here..." Cana grinned.

"But... Juvia's got a bad feeling about this..." Juvia said.

Laxus and Alexei stared each other down.

"There's been bad blood between father and son guilds since day one, right, Yajima-san?" Chapati asked as Yajima only nodded in reply before turning to Lahar.

"Lahar-kun, you brought along people from the Corps, right?" He whispered.

"Yes. A few. Because of regulations..." Lahar replied.

"Keep a close eye on Raven Tail. If there's any skulduggery, stop the match immediately." Yajima said.

"Right." Lahar nodded.

"Warren..." Makarov said sternly.

"Roger!" Warren said, pressing his finger to his temple.

'This is HQ! Bisca, can you hear me?' Warren spoke telepathically.

"What do you mean "HQ", Warren?" Bisca replied as she was on top of one of the statues, her sniper pointed at Ivan. "No movement from Master Ivan. Go ahead."

"Roger!" Warren said. "Team Raijinshuu plus Lisanna... How 'bout you?"

"This is Raijinshuu plus Lisanna. Currently, there are no conspicuous movements from Raven Tail." Lisanna replied, lowering her binoculars. "I'm not gonna let you do any funny business like that first day, Crow-chan!"

"Just try to tarnish Laxus's valor. The Raijinshuu won't guarantee your lives." Freed claimed.

"Ivan..." Makarov mumbled. "I won't let you pull any more cowardly stunts."

Mavis giggled, getting Makarov's attention. "Is something wrong, First Master?" He asked.

"No, nothing. Doing everything in your power to protect your comrades... And just a little bit of enjoying the circumstances..." Mavis gave a close-eyed smile. "It's splendid. The ultimate form of my aspirations is right before my eyes. Don't forget this, Third Master. Um... Or is it sixth?"

"I appreciate the kind words. And it's actually the seventh..." Makarov replied.

"Sixth is right!"

"Get a grip!"

"Both of you, step forward!"

Both Laxus and Alexei did so, with Laxus having a calm look on his face. "Let the match begin!" Chapati said as the gong rang out.

"So you're in my old man's guild? Who the hell are you, anyway...?" Laxus's eyes widened as Alexei charged forward, sending Laxus flying in the air.

Natsu widened his eyes, along with Lucy, Erza, and Gray. The Raijinshuu Tribe were also in shock along with the rest of Fairy Tail as Laxus skidded on the ground.

"This guy..." Laxus thinks to himself as Alexei sent a kick to his face before blasting him with magic.

"How...?" Mira asked.

"You gotta be kiddin' me!" Gajeel exclaimed.

"He's getting his ass kicked?" Cana questioned as Alexei kept attacking Laxus.

"I don't believe it... Laxus?!" Lucy said in disbelief.

"W-What's going on?" Wendy asked.

"Who the hell is that masked freak?!" Gray exclaimed in anger.

"No way! Laxus...?!" Natsu said.

Alexei sent a punch upward towards Laxus's jaw. "My goodness... Alexei keeps pouring it on! Laxus can't even lift a finger!" Chapati said as Laxus crashed to the ground.

Laxus looks at his defeated form as he stood back up. "What the hell is this?" He asked.

"A kind of Hallucination Magic. Everyone around us is talking about this right now. They can't see our true bodies. They can't hear us either. What they see are phantoms fighting." Alexei replied. "It looks real, doesn't it? Not one person realizes it's an illusion. The crowd is watching images of the mighty Laxus as helpless as a baby."

"Why is Laxus on the ropes like this?!" Makarov wondered out loud.

"Bisca!" Warren exclaimed.

"Ivan isn't doing anything!" Bisca replied.

'Raijinshuu plus Lisanna!' Warren said as Lisanna was looking into the binoculars.

"I don't think they're doing anything crooked over here either!" Lisanna answered.

"This is unbelievable! Laxus! It's time to get serious!" Freed said.

"Dammit..." Bickslow cursed.

Laxus then got punched again. "Laxus! What's wrong?!" Evergreen wondered.

Alexei pointed a finger. "It seems that even your guild idolizes you. I wonder how your compatriots feel while watching this..." He said.

"Laxus!"

Laxus's eyes flickered over towards Team A. "Go, Laxus!" Natsu cheered.

"Hang in there!" Lucy added.

Laxus swung his fist at Alexei, sending him flying into a wall. "Oh, my! Laxus has begun to counterattack!" Chapati announced as Laxus punched Alexei repeatedly with his Magic.

"Go! Do your best!" Happy cheered.

"That's how you do it! Go, Laxus!" Makarov encouraged.

"Alright! Go!" Freed cheered.

"Easy win!" Bickslow said.

Laxus sent another punch at Alexei. "I figured he'd be okay." Gajeel commented.

"Yeah..." Juvia agreed.

Laxus sends another blast of lightning towards Alexei from his mouth, attacking him directly.

"Yeah!" Warren cheered.

"Yes! That ought settle it!" Makarov said. "It looks like we were worried for nothing. Warren!"

"Right!" Warren said, pressing his finger to his temple once more. 'Good job, Bisca.'

"Thanks." Bisca responded.

'Raijinshuu plus Lisanna...'

"In the end, they didn't do anything, huh?" Lisanna questioned.

"I was a fool for worrying about Laxus even for a moment!" Freed stated.

However, Alexei was still standing before he blasted Laxus with his magic once more and sending him crashing into the arena wall, shocking Fairy Tail.

"Uh-oh! The tables are turned again! Is this the end of Laxus's counterattack?!" Chapati wondered.

"Laxus!" Natsu said.

"What the hell is going on here?!" Gray questioned as Alexei picked Laxus up by his collar and punched him again, sending him to the ground.

"Is this the "end result" you were talkin' about?" Laxus questioned, still in the illusion.

"Depending on your negotiations with us, it's possible that we would even let you win this." Alexei responded.

"We've got nothing to talk about. The illusions don't mean a damn thing. I'm gonna finish this by taking out your real self right here and now." Laxus declared, covering himself in lightning.

"That's impossible!" Flare claimed as the rest of the Raven Tail members appeared behind Alexei.

"Reality is harsh." Nalpudding commented.

"Not even you can defeat Raven Tail's elite all at the same time. And there's one more thing." Alexei claimed as he raced his arms, taking off his mask to reveal Ivan. "You know how strong I am, don't you... my foolish son?"

"I figured as much... useless old man!" Laxus insulted.

"Makarov would die before he coughed it up. But you're different. Would you tell us? The location of Lumen Histoire!" Ivan said.

"What are you talking about?" Laxus questioned.

"You don't have to play dumb."

"Huh?"

"I'm sure Makarov has told you." Ivan claimed.

"Actually, I don't know." Laxus said.

"No. You must know." Ivan argued.

"Well, even if I did, I wouldn't tell you." Laxus fired back.

"Come, come... You're in a hopeless situation, but I'm willing to let you win. Although if you don't accept the condition... it's not going to end with just your illusory self being beaten." Ivan stated.

"Jeez, you're a real pain in the ass. I can understand why Gramps washed his hands of you." Laxus raised his hand up. "Bring it on. See, the master's enemies are my enemies!"

"Apparently, you need to be taught a lesson... about the power of Raven Tail, the anti-Fairy Tail guild!" Ivan declared, his eyes glowing red and having a dark aura around him as his guild members were the same.

A/N: Yes, I had Nox fight Rufus instead of Eve.

Thanks for reading!

~ Kaleb.