A/N: Episode 189, Opening 16.

Enjoy!

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE: GLORIA

"It's almost settled." Darton said.

"Yes. We'll know for sure whether my contact's prediction will come true." Hisui claimed.

"So you're not going to change your mind." Darton stated. "If the prediction comes to pass, you'll activate Eclipse."

"I was uncertain myself. I didn't want to believe it, but then thought, what if...? I vacillated between doubt and disbelief."

"It's a decision of great consequence."

"However, I believe this is the only way to make that decision. If the results of this event match the prophecy, it proves my contact really does know the future." Hisui said as her and Darton watched the matches.

"That is, the prophesied horde of dragons will destroy the kingdom of Fiore." Darton said.

"For now, let's see what happens." Hisui told him. "Let's see how their battle is going to be resolved."

Something moved underneath Millianna's cape. "It feels like something weird is stuck to me." Millianna muttered to herself. "Is it just my imagination?"

Both Laxus and Orion ended up flying back. Meanwhile, and Earth block rose in the air, causing Maxim to fly up.

"Stalagmite of the Earth!" Maxim called out as four large spikes appeared from the ground.

"Sediment!" Jura countered as the rock pillars clashed with the large spikes, causing an explosion.

Laxus charged forward at Orion. "Lightning Dragon's Halberd!" He yelled, throwing a lightning bolt at Orion.

However, Laxus was shocked when Orion completely transformed into a black smoke figure with white eyes. A white Magic Circle with black accents and a skull in the middle soon appeared, followed by a warphole that deflected Laxus's attack right back at him.

Maxim tried to punch Jura in which he blocked it. Maxim swiftly avoided the Earth pillars being thrown at him and charged forward once more as him and Jura resumed their battle.

"Wow..."

"He's actually fighting Jura as an equal!"

"Embrace the Aftershock!" Maxim shouted, creating large shockwaves into the ground as Jura nearly avoids the attack.

"This... is astonishing." Jura commented as Maxim was trying to catch his breath. "I haven't felt this much fighting spirit in years."

"I went too easy on him during our match on the first day." Maxim thinks to himself. "I have to give it my all!"

Flames came from Sebastian's fist as he threw it at some guards, causing an explosion. Kamika and Cosmos soon stepped in. "Their numbers just aren't decreasing!" Lucy complained.

"We're completely surrounded!" Wendy added.

"Well, we're gonna break through! We should almost be at the exit!" Sebastian claimed.

"Why don't you call on a lot more Celestial Spirits?!" Happy suggested.

"We don't need 'em! I can take on all these guys! Sebastian, let's go!" Natsu exclaimed.

"Right!"

Natsu and Sebastian got to work as they took out the royal guards one by one. "Knowing you, I actually believe that." Lucy commented.

Massorao struggled to get up. "I doubt you can stand anymore with your injuries." Minerva stated.

Massoro slowly got to his feet. "I'll get up again and again. If it's a fight I cannot afford to lose, I'll keep on getting up. Shall I repeat Orion's words for it to stick to your pea brain?" He insulted. "Black Sun... doesn't forgive those who harm our comrades!"

"Anger isn't good for beauty." Minerva claimed.

"How dare you do that to Kallia... Erza, Kagura, Millianna..." Massorao clenched his fists tightly. "I'm not just angry... I'm downright furious."

"And am I supposed to be afraid of such fury?" Minerva asked, activating her Magic once more. Massorao easily avoided the blasts sent towards him until one struck him in the back.

"My Spatial Magic makes everything I see a target area!" Minerva informed as Massorao continued dodging the blasts.

"Explosions..." Millianna mumbled.

"That magic not only switches places..." Cyana started to say.

"...but even change the property of that space!" Zane finished.

"The strongest magic befits the strongest guild. Territory!" Minerva continued.

Massorao soon appeared from the smoke and struck Minerva with two scabbards. "I saw it coming!" He exclaimed.

Minerva tried to attack Massorao again as he kept dodging her attacks before striking her, sending her back a few feet. Minerva gritted her teeth in anger.

"You...!"

"Your five points are mine, you overgrown cat!" Massorao claimed as he got covered in a golden light. "Requip!"

"Not only can he change his weapons, but his armor as well?" Levy asked in shock.

Massorao soon appeared wearing a duster coat.

"Drake Scale Duster Coat!"

Nox was breathing heavily. "It's getting harder..."

"I'm almost at my limit, too." Aster informed.

"Let's finish them off, Lyon!" Sherria said.

Lyon had his eyes closed. "As much as I would like to battle the one who took down Juvia, I'll let you handle Aster." He claimed.

"Are we on that again?! You're stronger than I am, so you should just take him out with one shot! Then I'll use my Healing Magic to restore your power." Sherria told him.

"Healing Magic?!" Aster repeated.

"I see. So that's what you've got up your sleeve." Nox stated.

"We didn't want to show our cards that easily." Lyon said.

"Lyon, just hurry up and finish them off!" Sherria shouted in irritation.

"I told you! I'm leaving Aster to you!" Lyon fired back.

"Why me?!"

"It sounds like their weakness is teamwork." Nox pointed out, glancing at Aster. "Unfortunately for them, we're the best in that department. What do you say we join forces and take them out?"

"Sounds like a plan, Nox-san." Aster agreed.

Spectre summons a ghostly bow as arrows rained down towards Laxus while Maxim disappeared under the ground, confusing Jura.

Maxim appears behind Jura and shouts, "Devouring Earth!"

Enormous jaws made out of the Earth crushed Jura, sending him flying.

"I've lost." Jura thinks to himself.

Laxus and Jura fall down to the ground in sync, knocked out.

"Orion and Maxim have won! They defeated Laxus and Jura! Comeback! Comeback! Comeback!" Chapati announced as Black Sun moved up to first place.

"Laxus was defeated?!" Freed spoke in shock.

Aster rushes towards Lyon and Sherria, golden magic energy surrounding him. "Dino King's Unrelenting Charge!" He called out, releasing a series of powerful kicks and punches at Lyon and Sherria, making them stumble back.

"Now, Nox-san!" Aster shouted.

"On it!" Nox said. "Dark Spikes Plague Massacre!"

Spikes rose from the ground and pierced Lyon and Sherria, sending them flying through the air.

"Damn you, Sherria!" Lyon shouted.

"I'm sorry!" Sherria apologized.

"Jura and Lyon have both been defeated?!" Obaba exclaimed.

"That idiot, Sherria!" Sherry scolded her younger cousin.

"I-I-I'm gonna spin!" Obaba began spinning.

"Obaba-sama, get a hold of yourself!" Sherry said.

"A-Another victory for Black Sun! With this, they get an additional two points!" Chapati said as their point count went up.

"That brings them to 58 points-kabo!" Mato added.

"Nonsense! This is nonsense!" Minerva exclaimed.

"It's over!" Massorao claimed.

"Disappear!" Minerva fired her Magic towards Massorao as it struck him. However, when the dust cleared, he was still standing, shocking Minerva.

"How...?" Eric mumbled in shock.

"The Drake Scale Duster Coat increases defense immensely against magic attacks and can withstand almost any attack that isn't of the Dragon Slayer variety without being punctured. However, Massorao most definitely felt it." Kida explained.

"It can't be! How can you have this much power left?!" Minerva asked.

"You harmed the people I care about too much." Massorao replied as his Byzantium Blaze sword appeared in his hand.

Minerva stepped back a bit. "D-Don't!"

"Suffer the consequences!" Massorao exclaimed.

"Stop! I... I..."

"Great Byzantium Blaze!" Massorao shouted, striking Minerva with flames, sending her flying through the air before she crashed onto the ground.

"It's Massorao! He beat Sabertooth's leader and earned five points!" Chapati announced, bumping Black Sun's point count to 63. "Right now, Black Sun has 63 points! They're strong! Black Sun is too strong! Will they win this without one member going down?! The wizards from the other guilds are almost all out! In fact, the only one who's left is Sabertooth's Sting!"

Chapati shoved the microphone in Yajima's face. "Yajima-san, I think this is about over!"

"B-Black Sun has gotten extremely close to victory." Yajima stuttered.

"Incredible-kabo!" Mato commented.

"There's still one person left!"

"But what can one person do against those members?"

"That's right!"

"Black Sun have already all but won it!"

The audience soon started cheering 'Black Sun' over and over.

"Here it comes." Hisui informed.

"Yes."

Sting smirked to himself. "I didn't think it would actually work out the way I wanted it to. This must be fate." He muttered as Kross had a worried look on his face.

"What's wrong, Kross?" Zane asked.

"Oh, it's just that score..."

"An eight-point difference, what about it?"

"Look, if Sting did manage to beat all five of our elite wizards, what would happen?"

"The leader is five points, the other four are one point each, so..." Zane gasped in realization.

"Nine points! If Sting beats all five Black Sun members, he'll get nine points!" Chapati exclaimed, shocking the Black Sun members. "Sabertooth would come from behind for the win! You don't think he..."

"All of the Black Sun members are injured." Yajima pointed out.

"He intends to take them all down-kabo?!" Mato questioned.

"Is that what he was after?"

"Hey, I can't believe that..."

A white flare signal shot up in the sky, creating a firework and revealing Sabertooth's guild emblem.

"I'm right here! Come and get me, Black Sun!" Sting yelled.

All of the Black Sun members began moving from where they were, eventually meeting Sting.

"What a spectacular sight seeing Black Sun's best all beaten up." Sting said.

"Can the chatter. This is the final battle." Nox stated.

"We'll beat you one on one. Just say who you want." Orion told him.

"All at once is fine. With your injuries, one on one would be boring." Sting claimed.

Aster stepped forward. "We may be beaten, but don't make light of us."

"I wouldn't dream of it. I'm treating you guys with respect. You did manage to beat even Fairy Tail, after all. That's why I'm gonna crush you all together!" Sting stated. "I've been waiting for this. I'm gonna show Lector how strong I am!"

"Lector?" Orion quoted.

"I don't know what you're rambling on about, but are you serious?" Nox questioned.

"I'm serious! I got stronger! Losing Lector has awakened new strength! For Lector's sake... For my best friend's sake... I'm gonna beat all of you!" Sting declared.

Massorao stepped forward, wincing as he did so. "Fine. If you're that prepared... then we'll fight you, Sting!"

"That's what I want to hear." Sting said as all of the Black Sun members had determined looks on their faces.

Sting soon began to power up as white light engulfed him. "I'll show you my newly-awakened power!" He chuckled before looking at the Black Sun members. His eyes then widened, causing his power to die down.

"All of them are already worn out. So beat up, one push would knock 'em over." Sting clenched his fist. "Dammit, I came this far! What are you hesitating for, dumbass?! If I beat them all at once, I'll have kept the promise to my lady. I'll be able to see Lector! That's right! Lector! Move! I got stronger! My feelings for Lector... made me stronger! Stronger! Stronger! I'll win!"

Sting suddenly collapsed on his knees. "I... didn't win..." He thought as he was hunched over.

"I give up."

One point was added to Black Sun's count, making the members cry.

"That's it! The winner of the Grand Magic Games..." Chapati began as fireworks were shot up in the air. "...is Black Sun!"

The audience cheered loudly as Black Sun celebrated.

Massorao walked towards Sting. "Sting, why didn't you come after us?" He asked.

"I had a feeling I couldn't meet him. Before, I thought I'd be able to meet him if I won... but for some reason, I feel like I couldn't meet him. I don't understand it myself. You people are so radiant that I didn't think I could meet him the way I am now." Sting answered.

Massorao hummed as he side glanced at something. "I wouldn't be too sure about that. Take a look." He said.

Sting glanced over to see Millianna waving and holding a sleeping Lector in her arms, who opened his eyes slowly.

Sting ran towards Lector, who did the same.

"Lector!"

"Sting-kun! Sting-kun!"

"Lector!"

Sting and Lector then hugged.

Arcadios bolted into the room. "Princess! Princess!" He shouted, seeing that Hisui was nowhere to be found. "Don't tell me she already went to..."

Hisui and Darton were walking down the steps. "All of the Black Sun members undefeated and Sting surrendered." Darton said.

"The future no one could have guessed was foretold. My contact was correct. The future they foretold is all true. From this moment on, the battle for survival of the human race begins. Bring Eclipse 2 a.k.a. the Eclipse Cannon to the surface!" Hisui shouted.

Natsu attacked some of the royal guards. "About what time is it now?" He asked.

"I don't know! Probably almost night!" Sebastian answered, swinging a flaming leg down on an unsuspecting guard.

"I wonder if the Grand Magic Games are over!" Raden said.

"Well, of course Black Sun's a guaranteed win! So let's wrap this up!" Sebastian exclaimed, taking down another royal guard. "We gotta meet up with the Master and everyone else an' tell 'em about Eclipse!"

A/N: Another chapter is done!

Thanks for reading!

~ Kaleb.