Here is the thirty-seventh chapter in this story released in accordance with my upload schedule for this story. Asta has defeated Erza and sent shockwaves through the Battler Royale, the colosseum, and Fiore with his victory. Now it's time to see how various people reacted to that epic battle and set things up because the Battle Royale still isn't over, there's at least one more battle left to decide who will win it. That is all that I have for the administrative stuff I have for y'all and while there are no questions that need answers, or won't be answered in other responses, there is are 4 guest reviews that needs a response and an announcement to make, so I will do that now. Do keep them coming as your support is the best motivation for me to keep producing chapters at this kind of rate.

To Brayden (guest), thank you for the praise, Asta v. Erza was one of the toughest battles to write and the hype for it was through the roof so I'm glad that it lived up to expectations. Go ahead and write, if you enjoy it and want to share it, it doesn't matter how good it is and the more you write and publish, the more feedback you get, and the more experience and practice you get will improve your work. I assure you my earlier works are bad and I still cringe looking back on them but through constant writing and realizing what does and doesn't work/look good it got better, at least to me. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.

To Flame Fox (guest), thank you, I'm glad that it lived up to the hype and keep you entertained throughout the entire battle. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.

To KGBeastboy (guest), thank you for your review and glad you enjoyed my work. As for your predictions, well you'll just have to wait and see if they are right or not as the Grand Magic Games comes to an end over the next few chapters. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.

To Fire turtle (guest), not until the sequel when they return to the Clover Kingdom as I intend to keep that meeting canon with the additions of the new sword styles Asta's learned in the Earth Land thrown into the duel as well. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.

Also the first art piece from this series, or any that I've written that I know of, has been made and put on Deviant Art. The artist is Spartanbender (SaiyanFury34 on fanfiction) and is Noelle with her new Sea Dragon's Trident from chapter 35 so check it and the artist's profile out and I'm hoping for more art of this series as it's a high honor to me if you want to draw things from it.

That is it for this pre-chapter note so it is time to sit back and enjoy the thirty-seventh chapter in Black Bull Banishment.

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to these two great animes.

Chapter 37: Setting up the Finale

"…has been defeated!"

The moment that Asta heard those words he removed his sword from Erza's chest and stepped back from her with a slight stagger in his steps as his Black Asta Form fell. He wasn't paying attention to it or what he had to do as he was to focused on the moment. He'd just defeated Erza Scarlet, a swordswoman considered to be one of the best, if not the best, in Fiore. The only thing Asta could do in a moment like this was tilt his head back and roar his victory to the sky sword still in hand and body covered in dirt, blood, and bruises.

"With that stunning victory the Black Bulls have gained 5 points for defeating Fairy Tail's leader and giving them a total of 64." Chapati said his voice hushed as everyone in the stadium stared open mouthed in stunned silence at the display on the screens as Asta roared to the sky with Erza's unconscious body in front of him. "It would have tied them with Fairy Tail but during that battle Fairy Tail secured two more victories with Gajeel beating Sabertooth's Rogue and Gray beating Lamia Scale's Lyon in tough, hard fought battles that left both winners battered but all our focus was on the battle of the Games so we barely noticed them. That means that Fairy Tail has 66 points to the Black Bulls' 64."

"That's right and with those 3 battles now concluded, there are only 5 combatants left." Mr. Yajima said as the only cheers in the Colosseum, those from the Black Bulls, began to ring out now that Asta's victory had been confirmed. "Three from Fairy Tail in Laxus, Gajeel, and Gray, one from the Black Bulls in Asta, and one from Sabertooth in Sting. That said, only Fairy Tail or the Black Bulls can win it. The question is who as all Fairy Tail needs to do to ensure at least a tie is beat Sting and a win over Asta seals it for them while Asta needs to beat Sting to ensure there's no tie and all four remaining to win it all. Lastly, if Sting beats Asta or all three of Fairy Tail then they win but if he only beats two and Asta's beats the third it will end in a tie. It's still a tense and tight game."

"That it is and I'm sure we've not seen the end of the action what with how complicated the final scenarios are." Mato said as Asta finished yelling and seemed to set himself before he turned and headed back towards the place he'd damaged with one lacrima following him and another remaining on Erza. "I can't wait to see how it all ends."

Fairy Tail weren't really paying much attention to this as they were all still staring wide eyed and open mouthed at the display on the screens that were displayed around the stadium. While the other battles were shown as well as were Laxus and Sting were currently, the latter of whom still hadn't moved from where he'd sat down near the start of the Battle Royale, most were focused on Erza's unconscious body on the broken street and for good reason. It was up there with Jura's loss for most shocking of the day, if not more so given the intensity of the fight between her and Asta.

As such Fairy Tail couldn't take their eyes off the screen as their systems were overwhelmed with the shock of the loss they'd just witnessed. It was just so unfathomable that this could have happened that they were still processing the loss of a member who was feared for her power and skill. To add to everything it wasn't just any loss, Erza had lost in a sword fight.

"How, how did this happen?" Makarov asked finally breaking the silence, though most of the Guild was still in shocked silence at what they'd seen. "How did Erza lose?"

"I, I don't know." Mavis said tears welling in her eyes as her lip quivered her emotions finally breaking through the shock. "I had it 50/50 that Erza would win but I thought that the bonds within Fairy Tail would tip the scales and give us the win as she used them to give her the strength she needed to overcome Asta. This, this…"

Mavis didn't finish before she let out a wail and started bawling her eyes out as she stood on the ledge unable to hold it back anymore. That freaked out all of Fairy Tail who tried to comfort her as she cried there, which given that no one else could see her made those seeing their reaction more confused as it seemed like all of Fairy Tail were staring with concern at a blank spot next to Makarov on the edge of their box. To add to it they couldn't touch her as she was a ghost so they couldn't even hold her as she cried though they did surround her to comfort her.

"First Master, it's ok." Makarov said trying to calm her down. "You said it yourself that it was 50/50 so…"

"I know but I still wanted Erza to win!" Mavis wailed. "Even in my doubts I expected her to pull through just like Gray and Laxus did in their big battles. All my predictions couldn't foresee what Asta would do but if we could get Erza to face him in single combat then we still had the chance to win but we didn't. How can I not predict him!"

"It is quite strange." Levy said thinking on what had happened understanding a bit more than most as she'd read out the description of Erza's Nakagami Armor so it was fresh in her memory and what she'd read made no sense when compared to what had actually happened. "Why didn't that armor work? It's supposed to nullify magic and cut through anything even space, and yet that Takeover Magic remained and his sword withstood the hit. That's what disturbs me the most. That armor is so powerful and has such a high cost that it's not been worn in a decade and yet it did nothing against Asta."

"That's what disturbs you?" Evergreen asked looking at Levy the shock still clear in her voice. "Titania just fell, we watched her get beaten by someone we barely know a thing about and who's got no reputation to speak of before the Grand Magic Games, that alone is disturbing."

"It is vexing." Freed said as he held his chin in thought on it. "Besides Laxus she's the best that we have in the Grand Magic Games and arguably the best suited to face someone of Asta's skillset, other than maybe Gildarts, and yet she lost to him."

"That's the most upsetting thing." Mavis cried her tears still flowing. "My predictions had Erza as the only one who had a chance to beat Asta. Between that Wave Magic that his swords have, the other features each displayed, and the way he can predict attacks is just too powerful for those who only fight with magic to overcome. Only someone who can use a weapon like Erza could beat him as those will work on Asta even if his swords can nullify magic and yet she couldn't."

"Wait what!" Makarov said his eyes wide turning to Mavis, worry in his voice as this was new to him. "Did you just say that Erza was the only one who could beat him?"

"I can't predict accurately what Asta will do or where he'll be but I can assess his fighting skills based on what I've seen so far and my experience." Mavis said. "And what I saw pointed to, one on one at least, the fact that Erza was the only one with a chance as she can fight him sword to sword without magic. I would say that as a group we had a chance against him, even just three is enough, but now that's out the window as well."

"It is?" Makarov asked his face paling at that. "How?"

"Because Asta just revealed two things in that battle that he'd not revealed all Games which completely changes my assessment of him and turns the tables on any other strategy to face him that I had should Erza lose." Mavis said as she stopped crying but she was still sniffling. "Two things I didn't see coming at all and which have now thrown any assessments of how a group would fight him out the window. I, I…"

Mavis couldn't finish as she let out another wail and her crying resumed in earnest and now several members were comforting her as best they could. Only Makarov, Freed, Evergreen, Bickslow, Elfman, Levy, and Lisanna weren't as they huddled up with Makarov to discuss this change though all were still reeling from Erza's loss. Well Cana wasn't as well but after seeing Erza lose she'd broken out the hardest liquor she had and chugged it, and then several more bottles of it so she was on her back with swirls for eyes.

"What's the First Master getting at?" Bickslow asked. "I only saw one thing new there, that Takeover Magic that he used. It's the kinda thing that sticks in the mind especially with its similarities to Mira's."

"That is one of the things and if I'm right it's actually a two parter." Makarov said and Mavis nodded at that as Laki, Max, Romeo, his father, Wakaba, Reedus, Jet, and Droy tried to calm her while Bisca and Alzack comforted their daughter who was confused by everything and anyone else helped with Mavis as well. "The first being that Asta shouldn't have been able to use it."

"What do you mean?" Lisanna asked. "That looked like typical partial Takeover Magic to me. It was a mix of the partial stuff I do with various animals and the full demon takeover that Mira does."

"Don't remind me." Elfman said with a shudder. "Between that and the fact that Asta's ability to draw those swords from his grimoire reminds me of Erza's Requip Magic and I think I'm going to have nightmares now that I know there's someone who can do what both of them can do."

"Great now that's in my mind as well." Evergreen said slapping Elfman's massive chest while everyone else also realized that horrifying combination as well. "Thanks."

"That's the thing." Makarov said plowing on despite everything. "All that I know of the continent that the Black Bulls come from, mostly based off someone from there who was once a member of Fairy Tail back in my youth, indicates that everyone from there has just one type of magic, an attribute as they call it, that they can use. There is one exceptionally rare exception according to Julius, a mixed race individual can have two attributes, but that is apparently next to impossible as other races beyond humans are believed to be extinct or myths. There is a way to fake it with other magic types that can create a different attribute under the right circumstances but that's the only way to have two that Julius knows of."

"So is he like part demon then?" Elfman asked confused. "To have Takeover Magic like that he has to have demon blood in him, or at least knows that demon well."

"They don't have demons though they do have devils there, well in their underworld but they do occasionally show up apparently." Makarov said as his chat with Yami and the Black Bulls the first night of the Grand Magic Games came back to him and how Yami had mentioned that Asta had Takeover Magic though given the true nature of the whole conversation there wasn't much that Makarov could reveal about it. "But I know next to nothing about if they can reproduce with humans. Still, that's the most likely explanation but still no one saw that coming."

"I just wish that we could hear what was being said." Levy said recalling how Asta and Erza had exchanged words after he blocked the attack. "But something knocked out all the sound during that fight so we don't know what either of them said during it. Whatever it was it shocked Erza though, so it could be an explanation for why that armor didn't work on him."

"Whatever it is, it's not good." Makarov said.

"It's not." Mavis said having recovered a bit but she was still crying and sniffling though the comfort of her Guild was helping. "The only good thing I could see is that he doesn't have full control over that change so there is a weakness to it, not that it was enough to defeat him but it is something that can be used in a group setting."

"He doesn't?" Elfman asked. "I thought that he was only using it because he couldn't control a full transformation, like, er…"

Elfman trailed off because they all knew what he couldn't say as the memory was too painful to voice aloud. He'd had control issues with his full transformation in the past and when he'd done it the first time it had cost Lisanna her life, or so they'd thought. That had caused a massive change in him and Mira, which both were finally getting over and that was before Lisanna returned and they learned the truth of what happened. Still, Elfman blamed himself for all that happened to Lisanna so it was tough to talk about.

"That is also an explanation but I saw that he veered off when Erza tossed that water sword of hers to the side." Mavis said. "I could be wrong but whatever that transformation is, it's got Wave Magic in it and for some reason that Wave Magic which is drawn to normal magic. Erza must have figured it out when they were fighting in the air and used that to lure him away and land that hit but it wasn't enough to take Asta down so she used her Nakagami Armor. Why that failed I can't explain."

"We'll have to wait for Erza to explain it when she comes too." Levy said looking at the screen that still showed Erza's unconscious body though only one did now as others showed Rogue and Lyon's defeats as well. "She'll know what it is."

"What's the other issue?" Bickslow asked, there was no point in dwelling on Erza's loss. "You said there were two."

"Oh that, that's the one that makes teaming up on Asta harder as the nature of his Takeover Magic being drawn to other magic can be used against him but this is a counter I feel." Mavis said her tears welling again. "He can move his swords with his mind and picked up Erza's tricks there. That he didn't show so now…"

"Now he can use all three at once which also means that he can use at least two of their effects without having to hold them." Makarov said as understanding hit him while Mavis devolved into tears at that. "And against those three, this isn't good at all."

"Yeah we figured out that one of his swords can destroy the effect of a spell and drawn magic to it." Elfman said recalling Hidden. "That takes range out. Add in his own range with one of his swords, the way that big one can reflect magic with the flat of its blade, his unnatural perception, how he can move his swords with his mind and that transformation which we don't know if he can do it again but can't ignore. This really isn't good."

"It's even worse." Mavis wailed through her tears as they intensified again. "Asta's able to learn on the fly. Didn't you see, he incorporated aspects of Erza's and Kagura's styles into his fighting."

"No I didn't." Makarov said his eyes wide. "Damn, just who is this kid and how good is he really?"

"I don't know!" Mavis wailed as she devolved again as all they'd learned from Asta's victory over Erza was too much for her.

At that everyone went to help her because it was clear that this was hitting Mavis extra hard and they all wanted to be there for their First Master. They had some time, Asta was heading for Sting while Gray, Gajeel, and Laxus were grouping up rather than try to take on Asta alone or risk running into him by going after Sting. Likely it would come down to a final bout between Fairy Tail and the Black Bulls and after what they'd seen Fairy Tail was not confident.

Makarov used the moment to look to the Black Bull box which had stopped celebrating but were happily chatting with themselves and Mermaid Heel who were with them following what happened to Millianna and how the Black Bulls had offered to help her out. As he did Yami turned and grinned at him the moment that their eyes met. Yami had never doubted his child just as Makarov hadn't doubted his and in then end Yami's had won.

Well there was still one clash left and Makarov wasn't go to give up yet. It would come down to them and he was determined to win. So too was Yami and after Asta's display the Black Bulls were the ones riding high with confidence as the sun set and the Battle Royale inched closer to its close.

"Erza lost?" Kagura asked though as it had been confirmed it was rhetorical while some of the more exuberant Black Bulls loudly cheered at Asta's victory.

"Erzy." Millianna said worry in her voice as she hugged the cute red exceed that she'd found on her when she'd recovered close to her chest. "How?"

"Because Asta's the best." Noelle said with a smile in the flower cradle she was in as the Squad cheered, smiled, or otherwise congratulated Asta on his stunning victory even if they couldn't do so in person. "That's how. I told Erza's as much."

"Yes, Asta's amazing." Mimosa said beaming as she looked at the screen that showed Asta heading away from his victory to continue the fight and for once Noelle wasn't jealous at that though that had more to do with he fact that they'd just watch Asta beat Erza and the whole Squad was still riding high from that. "I never doubted him for a second."

The two Mermaid Heel girls, along with the other three on their team, were in the Black Bulls' box having been taken here by Finral after their surrenders a few moments ago. Millianna for treatment and Kagura to make sure that Millianna was ok. The other three had all come over when Millianna had arrived, at Yami's invite via Nero who was sent to get them, and were there in time to see Charmy feed Millianna some Ethernano recovery food which surprised them when it worked and really showed Mermaid Heel that there was a lot more to the Black Bulls than just combat prowess.

Thankfully that had been the issue with Millianna, her magic was drained to basically nothing but otherwise she was unharmed so Charmy, who was already conscious and pretty much healed up following her own defeat as she'd been the first to be brought back, had whipped up some food for her and the others. That would have to wait as Luck and Magna's wounds had been much more severe and they were in their own flower cradles steadily healing up.

Thanks to all her training in Earth Land, Mimosa could heal them faster, and she was steadily eating Charmy's food so that she could pour continuous magic into the cradles, but she was waiting until the Battle Royale ended before going all out just in case she needed to heal even more people at the same time. That meant that the flower cradles would have to serve for now and already Magna and Luck were well on their way to being fully healed up.

Noelle had also ended up in one though Nero had used her Sealing Magic to mend Noelle's broken leg so she could actually leave the cradle if she wanted as all her wounds from Minerva had been fully healed by it. Noelle had also eaten plenty of Charmy's mana recovery food so she was pretty much good to go but as Asta's fight with Erza had begun pretty much right after she'd landed in the cradle so she'd remained in it through the end as no one wanted to miss a moment of that epic battle.

The only other person with them who wasn't part of their Guild was the red exceed that Millianna was holding. He'd appeared after she'd recovered her magic and they recognized him as one of Sabertooth's but all he said was that he was going to wait for Sting, his partner, to win it all or be defeated, which he didn't expect to happen, and then requested he be sent straight to Sting, which Finral agreed to.

Other than that things had been silent during the battle as they were all enthralled by the intense duel between two sword masters. Now that it was over though it was time to process it and the implications of Asta beating Erza.

"I'd figured that he was good, the way he handled Hidden proved it, but that was beyond what I'd predicted based off what he'd shown so far in the Games." Kagura said. "Not only can he make his swords fly like Erza can but he has that Takeover Magic that boosts his speed and strength and he can adapt his style to fit what works against his opponent. I, I still can't believe I accidentally left Archenemy there let alone that Asta grabbed it and used it but the fact that he did so with my own style, I'm speechless at that."

"That was surprising." Beth said as the others nodded. "How'd he manage that? I've never seen anyone wield a sword like Kagura until then."

"Because Asta's always learning and adapting to situations." Noelle said with a smile. "He can pick something up just from seeing it once, or even just being told how it works, that's part of what makes him special. It was no surprise to us that he mimicked your style or Erza's."

"Yup Asta's ability to adapt in battle is second to none." Mimosa said. "It's why it's so hard to beat him because if you can't knock him out in the opening moments he'll figure out how you fight and how to counter it."

"He will be the equivalent of the First Emperor of Ishgar where we're from." Nero noted. "So he wasn't going to lose to Erza."

"I see." Kagura said stunned by just how skilled Asta was. "Well I will reclaim Archenemy when this is over, I do not blame Asta for what he had to do with her because I'd have done the same thing if I had his powerset though those moves he used to evade Erza until his swords arrived were something else."

"Yeah I actually don't know how he did that." Mimosa said. "It was very unlike his normal style."

"While I can't be certain, they looked a lot like Kiato's dance moves." Noelle said. "Though employed in a combat setting."

"Kiato?" Mimosa asked. "Who's that?"

"He's the grandson of the guy who runs the Underwater Temple." Noelle said. "He faced Asta in the Battle Royale that we had there while I faced our friend Kahono but I actually don't know what Asta did to evade those strikes after he tossed away Kagura's katana."

"It was a state of mind that Kiato puts himself into, makes his ki hard to read." Nero said getting both girls' attention and glares at how she knew this about Asta and they didn't. "What? You know what I can do and this was before the incident so I was stuck like that at the time. I hijacked a lift with Asta to the Underwater Temple so that I could retrieve the Magic Stone there and watched that battle where Kiato explained it. He also uses swords, real ones, and Asta mimicked his moves during the fight after seeing Kiato use them much to Kiato's shock. Clearly what he really learned from Kiato was how to effectively dodge."

"After what we just saw I'm not surprised that that came from someone else." Kagura said. "Well, I hope that when this is over I get to battle him as well. He defeated Erza, he's more than worthy and there is a lot that I can learn from him."

"Asta will give you that battle, he's always looking to get stronger." Noelle said. "So come on by the Guild Hall and he'll show you."

"Yes, our no men rule is a bit hard for you lot." Kagura said though there was always putting Asta in drag. "Very well we will come by."

"I wonder what's next?" Millianna asked as they watched Asta close in on Sting. "Who will Asta face first as he still has to beat the others to win?"

"He beats Sting and then beats Fairy Tail to win it." Nero said bluntly as Yami seemed to turn and grin at Fairy Tail for some reason. "It makes the most sense and ensures that a tie cannot happen. Either we beat Fairy Tail and win or they beat him and win."

"Asta's got this." Mimosa said. "I know it."

"Yup just watch, nothing will stop Asta." Noelle said the conviction and support clear in her voice. "Soon he will win the Battle Royale and the Grand Magic Games for us."

All Mermaid Heel could do was nod at that as they settled in to watch what was to come while the sun set around them. The Battle Royale was almost over but there was still at least one more battle to decide it and after all they'd seen it was bound to be a good one as it came down to a Bull and three Fairies, no one expected Sting to defeat Asta, and whoever won it would truly earn the title of Fiore's number 1 Guild. Naturally in the Black Bull box they were all cheering for Asta as he closed in on winning the Grand Magic Games for them.

Gray panted as he leaned against a wall at the corner where one of the roads leading to the square he'd been in was, his body covered in bruises and bleeding from several cuts including a nasty one in his left side but he was still standing. Behind him and at the far end of the square was a ruined building with ice all around it and a series of ice spikes in it, some of which were breaking out of the buildings around it. More chucks of ice, some with clear animal designs, littered the broken ground of the ruined square.

However, the peak of it was a shirtless figure with pale blue hair and black pants lying unmoving on the ground partially buried by the rubble of the ruined building. The figure was of course Lyon, he'd stripped his shirt off during the fight just like Gray had against Rufus, and man had it been a fight. Gray would admit that it was his greatest battle with Lyon, they knew each other well after all they'd been through together so they knew each other's styles and were evenly matched, but after a long, tough fight that had left the square like this Gray had emerged victorious just like he had against Rufus.

He knew that it had been an epic battle, one that should be talked about for ages and coupled with his win over Rufus would show Fiore that Gray was a talented wizard on par with the best in the Kingdom. Or at least it should have been.

As Gray stood there panting, his right hand over his left side staunching the wound there that Lyon had delivered towards the end of their fight, he saw on one of the many screens set up around Crocus that Erza was mid battle against Asta. To say that it put his fight with Lyon to shame would be a massive understatement.

Gray didn't see the start, though he saw a fair few broken pillars, a hole in a wall and a lot of discarded swords which were clear signs that it was already epic. However, he did see the fight from the point that Asta changed with what had to be Takeover Magic, which was shocking to see, and from there things only got more intense.

In fact it was so intense that Gray couldn't really follow it but he was transfixed by the fight as Asta and Erza flew around for a few moments clashing as they passed as if in some kind of aerial joust that they were evenly matched in. Just seeing it confirmed why he'd not heard anything from the commentators during his own fight with Lyon, or a confirmation after he won, there was no need for commentary or focus on anything else with this duel going on. He'd known that Asta was one of the two great threats but he'd not expected that Asta could truly match Erza in a duel but was every bit her equal it seemed.

Hell, Asta even managed to destroy the wings on her Black Wing Armor which caused Erza to crash to the ground and bounce off it into a pillar. It wasn't a good sight but as she did Gray saw the flash of blue that was her tossing a sword to the side which for some reason this transformed Asta followed.

It was clearly a ploy based on something that Erza had figured out and Gray smiled, Asta was good but he wasn't at Erza's level it seemed. Asta had been distracted which gave Erza the chance to rapidly change weapons and blast him with lightning from her Lightning Empress Armor though she was wasn't wearing that as she held the spear.

However, despite his wounds and the blast that he'd just taken, that wasn't enough to take down Asta which really surprised Gray. Clearly this new transformation, which after studying it for a moment Gray was certain was Takeover Magic though how Asta had that along with either Requip or Wave Magic made no sense to him based on what he knew of the Black Bulls, was tougher than it looked.

Whatever the takeover was, it also looked demonic. With Asta hit Gray had a moment to study the takeover and it seemed to be a partial takeover like Elfman's but demon based like Mira's. Couple that with Asta's Requip style and sword skills and it was as if Asta was some kind of nightmare fusion of Erza and Mira. That was a horrifying thought that made Gray shudder, Natsu was going to freak out when he learned this, but thankfully Asta was on one knee and hurt and Erza was closing in for the win.

This was it and Gray grinned despite the pain he was in as he enjoyed the moment knowing from what commentary that he had heard that this was it. This was their overall victory as only Asta stood in their way of returning to the top of the Guild ranks in Fiore and he was about to be put down by Erza, a fitting member to bring the Grand Magic Games home to Fairy Tail.

Even with victory at hand, it was clear to Gray that Asta had done well against Erza. Gray could see that she had a nasty cut on her cheek that was still bleeding a bit and which had run down her neck and upper chest along with several clear bruises all over her body but she was standing and Asta was kneeling before her so she had it. To add to it Gray stared in amazement as Erza changed into an armor he'd never seen before though with how revealing it was on the chest it showed a straight bruise over Erza's breasts that had to be from an earlier hit she took from Asta.

The sound had been taken out before Gray was able to see the fight so Gray didn't hear what Erza said to Asta in her new armor but her body language said that she knew that this was one of her strongest armors and that she was using it to beat Asta. It seemed fitting though as Asta was as dangerous as expected so it was for the best and Gray kept grinning as Erza brought her halberd around and down on Asta.

What Gray didn't see was Asta's black great sword fly in from the side or Asta grab it as the blow came down. He did see the impact and dust and wind that billowed up and around the two combatants completely covering them from view so clearly it was a heavy hit and he was expecting to see Asta unconscious on the ground when it cleared but when it did his eyes went wide. Asta was still there though now in a small crater his sword blocking Erza's halberd and the look of shock on Erza's face was clear as day. She'd not expected Asta to be able to block the attack.

Asta had, however, and Gray watched him speak to Erza and her shock got even worse before he pushed up and through her attack to force her arms up just as his other swords flew in. They were moving like Erza's did when she used her Heavan's Wheel Armor, something that unnerved Gray a bit, and struck her in the gut and wrists before Asta landed a savage, two handed swing with his great sword into Erza's side that blasted her into and then off a pillar with such force that she dropped her halberd.

Thankfully she was still in it and Gray knew that this was just a setback as Erza began to requip the moment she landed on the ground after hitting the pillar. However, before she could a vertical slash of pitch black magic, the same kind that had hit Nalpudding in Hidden, slammed into her from head to naval and ended her requip before it was finished confirming to Gray that it was some kind of projected Wave Magic.

That wasn't all though, because as Erza was blasted back from the hit now back in her clothes from the start of the Battle Royale Asta was suddenly in front of her and kneeing her so hard in the jaw that Gray winced at it. There was so much force that it increased the speed at which Erza was blasted back only now with Asta on her. Worse still was that the wall was behind them and they were heading right for it.

All Gray could do, all anyone was doing, was watch as Asta weakened the wall with some more slashes of that odd black magic he could create before bracing himself as he and Erza hit it with Erza's head taking the first impact. At least the weakening ensured that they smashed through the wall which was safer than smashing into it.

The lacrimas were quick and just managed to catch the explosion of dust and debris out of the wall, out of which the pair flew before hitting the street so hard that Gray heard the boom from where he was. He ignored that as was focused on the screen but it was instantly filled with dust though the lacrima followed the dust cloud as traveled a good distance along it showing that they were sliding over the ground.

For the first time fear began to settle in Gray's stomach as he watched waiting to see what came of the battle as the dust cloud stopped moving and fully filled the screen hoping that Erza was ok because that had been a serious combo that she'd just taken. Finally though the dust cleared and Gray's eyes bugged out at the sight before him.

"No, it, it can't be." Gray said as he saw Erza on her back, arms spread her sides and head turned showing the wounds on her cheek and jaw with her eyes closed as a still demonic Asta stood over her panting his normal looking sword pressed into her chest and right over her heart with just enough pressure to let Erza know that it was there. "She can't…"

"…has been defeated!"

The confirmation from Chapati rang out and Gray felt his legs go from under him as he fell to his knees still looking at the screen that showed Erza's loss with wide eyes as the demon transformation fell from Asta. Erza had lost, one of their strongest and the one who had the best chance of beating Asta had fallen to him giving the Black Bulls 5 points as she was their designated leader and closing the gap to within 1, well 2 as it was soon confirmed that Gajeel had won his battle with Rogue as well. Still, it wasn't good.

"Erza's been beaten." Gray muttered his eyes still wide and his wounds now feeling even more real because the backbone of the team had just been shattered as Asta turned and walked away from the battle that he'd just won. "Who the hell is this kid?"

It was something that Gray had never expected to see, that after all the years he'd been in Fairy Tail had been unfathomable because of how dominant and powerful Erza had seemed. She was an S-Class Wizard in Fairy Tail, a powerhouse ranked in the top 4 of Fairy Tail and who their group aimed to one day beat and yet she'd lost to some guy that they knew next to nothing about.

This was not a good sign but Gray grit his teeth and punched the wall hard enough to crack it. Gray knew that he couldn't let this get him down and that he too had a score to settle with Asta for losing to the Black Bull in Hidden that he intended to do so and avenge Erza in the process.

With that Gray focused on his Guild, his family, and slowly rose back to his feet before he began to walk. He was shocked by Erza's loss, it was a massive blow to their moral, but he couldn't let that get to him now. Fairy Tail was still in the lead, they still had three left standing and fighting and the rest of the Guild was counting on them to win this for Fairy Tail and restore their standing in Fiore after the tragedy that had happened to them. Gray couldn't let them down and so he drew on that bond to put Erza's defeat to the back of his mind as he walked forwards and headed to the final rendezvous point.

It was where they were supposed to meet when they won with all 5 still standing. Now it was a point to regroup and prepare because there was no doubt that Asta would head straight for Sting and then come to them so they had to be ready as it was safer to fight him as a group than risk running into him while looking for Sting. The final fight was coming and Gray was going to do everything he could to ensure that it wasn't a loss for Fairy Tail as they confronted a man strong enough to best Titania with the Battle Royale and the Grand Magic Games on the line.

"…has been defeated!"

"No way, she lost?" Gajeel asked as he staggered where he stood his body battered, bloody, and wounded but still standing and able to fight.

Unlike the rest of the Guild, Gajeel had only had one primary target in the Battle Royale and that had been Rogue. The Shadow Dragon Slayer, who seemed to have a large desire to face Gajeel and had focused on him in the two on two battle the other day, was a major threat just like all of Sabertooth was and based on Mavis's predictions he'd seek out Gajeel so she'd directed him straight to Rogue to ensure that they fought with the expectation that Gajeel would win it and thus remove another threat from the battlefield.

While Gajeel only had Rogue to focus on, the others had multiple targets to focus on. Laxus would handle Olga, Luck, Magna, and if it came to it, which it did, Jura. Gray was to take out Rufus and then team up with Juvia to focus on Lyon. Juvia was to deal with Ichiya and then join Gray with her focus being Sheila who she'd have distracted by that point and kept from interfering until Gray could join her and they could defeat Sheila and Lyon together, and handle Finral if he wasn't subbed out but he had been.

Finally Erza was to handle Noelle, Minerva, Kagura, and Asta with the final one being the big one that she had to take down. Once all those were dealt with any one left after that though other than Charmy there wasn't much expectations for the remaining people. Even Sting was expected to be easy as by then he'd be forced to yield due to Sabertooth having no chance of winning.

All that had been, for the most part, going well as Gajeel made his way to where Rogue was supposed to be. Gray had kicked things off with his impressive win over Rufus. Then Laxus had emerged as the only one still standing from a 5 man brawl though he only took out Magna and Jura in it as Luck and Olga lost to others in the fight but the win over Jura was massive as it removed the first of the two great unpredictable threats while also netting them a solid 5 points for beating a team leader.

Juvia had been the first hiccup to their plan when she lost to Charmy, though Sheila had been beaten in the process as well removing the threat she posed at the same time, but she'd gained them 5 points by beating Ichiya so it only ruined their sweep plans. Plus Charmy, a complete wildcard to them as they knew nothing about her beyond the fact that she used Cotton Magic, was soundly defeated by Gray right after so it was fine.

That just left him and Erza to pull their weight, well Gray still had Lyon but Gajeel wasn't worried about that battle as Gray knew Lyon well enough to be able to beat him, so he had to make sure that he didn't let Fairy Tail down. He trusted Erza to handle it and as he'd run into Rogue just as Erza began to face off with the other 3 powerful females he couldn't focus on that as he and Rogue finally had a one on one that Rouge had clearly desired for some time.

It had been a tough, hard fought fight, but in the end Gajeel emerged victorious and to add to it he even learned a new technique. After all, if Salamander could use two different kinds of Dragon Slayer Magic when he used his Lightning Fir Dragon mode then why couldn't Gajeel do so as well? It turned out that he could as he ingested Rogue's Shadow Dragon Slayer Magic during the fight to activate Iron Shadow Dragon mode, which he then used in his victory over Rogue and gain another valuable point for Fairy Tail.

True it was only one point but it could come down to one or two points in the end and it removed a Sabertooth member from the battlefield, and made up for that crap that Salamander pulled during their battle with the Twin Dragons of Sabertooth, so Gajeel didn't mind. All that was left was for Erza to finish her battle and they'd win it.

Even during his fight with Rogue, Gajeel had been alert to the commentary and had heard that Minerva had fallen, as had Rogue which distracted him though he was quick enough to avoid letting it end him despite Gajeel using it to land a solid hit. However, Minerva he'd fallen to Noelle Silva of the Black Bulls, the second time the Black Bulls' Dragon Slayer had beaten Minerva, not Erza.

That wasn't great but the 5 points that the Black Bulls gained were sorta negated when Kagura surrendered to Erza giving them 5 points and another 1 when Noelle also surrendered leaving Fairy Tail the victor once again in a mass, gender specific, brawl. All that left was for Fairy Tail to beat in order to win the Grand Magic Games was Asta and that fight started during Gajeel's one with Rogue.

As such he was able to defeat Rogue before that fight ended and staggered away from where Rogue had fallen to watch the climax, getting to see it just as Erza donned that new armor of hers that Gajeel had never seen before. Gajeel smirked at that as it was clear that Erza would win. That smirk fell as Asta blocked the attack, countered, and, well there was so much dust from the point they blasted out of the area that Gajeel couldn't see a thing until it cleared and showed Asta standing over an unconscious Erza with his sword to Erza's chest.

"Just what kind of magic was that?" Gajeel asked though no one was around to hear him as the confirmation of his and Gray's victories was announced and Asta backed off as demonic transformation fell before he roared his victory. "It's like Mira's and he has Requip Magic as well like Erza. It's certainly not Slayer Magic but what is it?"

Gajeel was asking the questions in part to process his shock at the defeat he was seeing. He'd never expected to see Erza fall in a battle like this, especially not to an unknown like Asta. True Asta was the second of the two great unpredictable threats but he wasn't a Wizard Saint like Jura, he was just a kid their age who had some strange magic that negated other magics, impressive sword skills, and a high level perception ability. Of course they'd not known about the transformation he could do, that was new to them, but still to be able to best Erza and with swords, that was scary to see and demoralizing at the same time.

Despite that Gajeel couldn't let that get to him. He'd not been part of Fairy Tail long but he'd started to understand their bonds and what made them family and had become close to them, especially one member, so he felt this loss just not as hard as Gray had. After all, Erza was one of the best in the Guild, an S-Class Wizard renowned throughout the Kingdom, and she'd lost. It was a major blow especially after Laxus's great victory over Jura and one that they'd feel for the rest of the Battle Royale.

However, they still held the lead and all they needed to do was beat Asta to win the Grand Magic Games. They had 3 left standing and while all were battered there was no way that Asta could keep going for much longer after all that beating Erza took out of him. They had this and while Asta would no doubt find Sting first they could still beat him in a 3 on one once that was done.

As such Gajeel staggered forward and began to walk to the rendezvous point for the end of the Battle Royale. This wasn't exactly as Mavis had planned, they had lost two of their members now including their leader and likely still had one battle to go, but they could still win and if all three were in one place they could prepare and let Asta come to them.

This was going to come down to a final clash and Gajeel was going to be there ready for it to happen and to win this for Fairy Tail. As he moved he grinned because he felt that he had the ultimate trump card for this battle because after all Asta's swords were just rusty hunks of metal.

"So he defeated Erza." Laxus said from his seat on the ground of a circular public space his back resting against the high wall that curved around part of it and showing that it was below the elevation of most of the city as he regained his strength and watched the lacrima vision before him. "Well the First Master did say that it was 50/50 but still that's a surprise as I'd expected her to pull it off despite that."

Unlike the others, Laxus didn't have a fight having finished his earlier than the others so he'd made his way to this point and sat down to recover as best he could while watching the remaining fights. The focus had been on Erza's and so he'd watched her come out on top of the all-women brawl though she failed to get Minerva's points thanks to Asta's intervention and noted the scores before Erza finally faced off against Asta.

That had been the goal for her the entire time, Asta was a threat that they couldn't ignore and his talent and skills meant that Erza was the only one who had a good chance to beat him. Now she had that chance and with all else going on, and the confirmation that Asta was the Black Bulls' leader with Noelle's surrender yielding only one point, this was it.

As such Laxus settled in with a smile to watch Erza bring home the Grand Magic Games for Fairy Tail and put them back on top of the Guild rankings. Only one Guild and one person stood in their way and he was facing one of their best, and their best swordswoman, in a predominantly sword-based duel so Laxus had faith that Erza would come out on top.

At least he did until the moment Asta showed he could mirror Erza's style with the flying swords by doing the same with his own and then used Kagura's katana, and style, to engage Erza. That had led to a noticeable slice to Erza's cheek and from there Laxus had started to take full notice of the fight. Even then he had faith in Erza to pull off the win given her skills and what was on the line but now it was clear that Asta could match her and she'd have to really push her limits to beat him.

Thankfully she did just that but even that wasn't enough as Asta continued to match her and surpass his own limits to land a hit that stopped her speed based attack, after somehow dodging them when Erza was just a blur to the naked eye, before he changed into that part demon appearance showing that he had some kind of Takeover Magic. That was totally unexpected and Laxus was just as surprised as everyone else at it but even that wasn't enough to beat Erza as she managed to find a counter to it and land a strong hit that gave her a chance to use a more powerful armor, one that Laxus had never seen before.

Alas even that wasn't enough and when Asta blocked the attack from the halberd that had been it for Erza. All Laxus could do was watch in surprise as Asta blocked what had to be a finishing blow and countered so thoroughly that he and Erza were blasted out of the area and to a street below it. When the dust cleared Asta was standing over a downed Erza sword to her chest and a moment later it was confirmed. Erza had lost to Asta giving the Black Bulls 5 points and drawing them to within 2.

"This is going to be good." Laxus said as he continued to sit there and watched Asta walk off likely going for Sting to ensure that no one tied but Laxus didn't expect the others to try and stop him because after that victory it was safer to face Asta together than on their own. "Bring it on then, Erza's not the only powerhouse on the team so let's see how I stack up against the man who can beat Titania."

Laxus didn't move as he remained where he was waiting for Gajeel and Gray to join him as it was a waste to expend energy when he didn't need to just yet. Unlike the others, though, he wasn't demoralized by Erza losing. It was annoying sure but he knew that it could happen as there was often someone stronger than you and as someone considered her equal at least he didn't have the same reverence for her that others did.

Sure he respected her skills, anyone who made S-Class in Fairy Tail was something else, and would like to test his against her one day to see who would win but he knew that anyone could lose, even Erza. He'd proven that by beating a Wizard Saint and he'd do so against Asta and bring home the win for Fairy Tail.

It was going to come down to one final fight and Laxus was ready for it as he sat there waiting while the sun set around him. It would be night when the battle happened, fitting to end what had been one hell of a Battle Royale.

Asta finished his roar and lowered his head back to his normal appearance. He looked down at Erza's unconscious body before him one more time before bowing his head slightly to her. She'd been a more than worthy foe, someone who'd truly pushed him to surpass his limits and then some to win and he was grateful for that. He'd grown stronger from this and he'd use all that he'd learned to keep growing and getting stronger for when he returned to the Clover Kingdom.

Of course, this wasn't the end of the day for Asta and there was still a chance to get even stronger so he turned and walked away from Erza and headed back to down the churned up road and towards where he sensed Slayer and Destroyer were. As he did he put Dweller back in his grimoire and called the other two swords to him. Thankfully they'd burst out of the area behind him and Erza so they'd just fallen to the road close to the structure that Asta and Erza's fight had taken in so he was able to quickly connect with the Anti-Magic in them and make them fly to him.

As they did and he continued to walk Asta heard what the commentators were saying about the remaining points. It seemed that they were 2 points behind Fairy Tail with 4 still on the board for Asta to get, 3 with Fairy Tail and 1 with Sabertooth. Well he wasn't great at math but thankfully he didn't have to be because as the swords reached Asta and he put away Destroyer while Slayer hovered just off the ground before him he heard what the commentators were saying about how the various scenarios might play out with the current scores and the points remaining in the Battle Royale.

It was clear that if Asta wanted to ensure that a tie didn't happen, which he fully wanted to avoid because he was either going to win this outright for the Black Bulls or not at all, then he had to go for Sting next to ensure that no tie happened. That was his goal for now and so he stepped onto Slayer and took to the sky as he began searching for the ki signatures of the remaining 4 combatants and from there he'd deduce who was who so that he could make his move.

Even with his injuries Asta could easily sense the ki of the combatants as he flew through the air, not that the injuries would slow him down when he next had to fight as he'd fought through a lot worse in the past, so he was able to locate those remaining. It helped that the only people right now in Crocus were the participants in the Battle Royale and that many who'd been knocked out had already come to and left the battlefield or in the case of the Black Bulls, Millianna and Kagura been removed by Finral. As such Asta was easily able to tell who was out cold, who had been defeated but come to and not moved, and who was left by their ki.

Therefore it didn't take him long to locate two injured but determined ki signatures moving slowly through Crocus. They were clearly two of the remaining 4 and by tracking the directions they were moving in as Asta flew just above the buildings he was able to locate a third signature that wasn't moving but still in it, a sense of determination in the ki telling him that much.

That could be two members of Fairy Tail heading, especially because one of which was vaguely familiar to him as he was sure he'd sensed it during Hidden meaning that it had to be Gray, to Sting or all three members grouping up. Honestly, Asta wasn't sure but before he could go for a check he sensed the final still active ki, which was not moving, in a different direction though not too far from the other unmoving one.

He knew it was active because there was no defeat in it the way those who'd come to after being defeated had to them and to top it off there was no sense of physical pain in the person's ki which meant that he hadn't fought. However, there was a deep emotional pain and a despondence in it that Asta hadn't ever sensed in a member of Fairy Tail. It was a risk but his gut told him that this was Sting so he banked Slayer and flew down towards it though he made sure to land a street over and in front of the signature so that he could get off and approach it on foot.

Just to be safe, Asta kept Slayer floating and moved it above his head as he walked while also drawing both Destroyer and Dweller from his grimoire and held them in his left and right hands respectively as he approached the ki signature before him. He was ready for action just in case though Asta was going to try and use words to solve this as he felt that whoever this was needed that more than action as he turned into the street and saw who was there.

It was indeed Sting Eucliffe who was sitting on a stone bench that rested against a stone wall his body slumped forward his ki clearly depressed and despondent. He was unharmed and clearly hadn't moved all day, which as the sun was about to set was saying something, so he was fresh and uninjured but that wouldn't stop Asta if it came to a fight as he came to stop several feet in front of Sting ready for one.

"I smelt you coming, hard to miss the blood and sweat that you're caked in." Sting said not looking up, he had indeed smelt the person coming though he didn't know who it was as he'd just been lost in his thoughts about Lector and the failure of Sabertooth that day to focus, so much so that after Minerva and Rogue's defeats he'd stopped paying attention to the commentary as there was no way they could win now. "So, you found me. You here to beat me then? If so then just get it over with, I've already lost him with our Guild's failure so there's no point in even trying."

"I'm here for your point, that's true, but that doesn't mean that I have to fight you for it." Asta said calmly, which got Sting's attention and he looked up blinking at who he was seeing before him and noticed that it was the gray haired Black Bull boy who'd put announced his Guild's presence on the first day with his win in Hidden. "Hello, I'm Asta of the Black Bulls. You must be Sting, one of the Dragon Slayers in Sabertooth."

"Asta?" Sting asked surprised that this was who was before him as he'd expected one of Fairy Tail to find him as he thought they were the only ones left, he'd been so out of it since Rogue's loss that he'd not heard who'd won between Asta and Erza though he'd presumed that Erza would win that fight. "As in the kid who uses what Rufus calls Anti-Magic?"

"I see you've heard of it." Asta said surprised. "People here don't know about it; they just call what I do Wave Magic."

"Rufus has read a lot." Sting said his tone not changing. "So when you beat him in Hidden he deduced that the attack wasn't Wave Magic but Anti-Magic though how we don't know as it's not a force that's been seen in Fiore before as far as Rufus's knows. We have other ways to nullify magic like Wave Magic hence the confusion. If you're here then I guess that this means that you beat Erza. I didn't catch the end of that fight but I wasn't expecting her to be beaten."

"I did and right now only 5 remain." Asta said. "You, me, and three members of Fairy Tail who are regrouping as we speak. Points wise you've got no hope. You either beat me and hand the win to Fairy Tail, fall to a member of Fairy Tail and ensure that I can at best tie which will annoy everyone, or lose to me and ensure that there will be no tie."

"Well the moment we lost m'lady our plan was ruined so I don't know what to do but you're here for a fight so I'll give you one." Sting said as he rose and suddenly a whirlwind of White Dragon Slayer Magic was whipping around him as he began to unleash his power his body glowing white. "I do look up to Natsu even if I still want to beat him, I could at least ensure that his Guild wins this."

"You can try." Asta said as he slashed Dweller up sending an arc of Anti-Magic at the whirlwind which cut through it and dispelled the magic before slamming into the wall above Sting with a boom that caused dust and debris to rain down on him as is spell was ended. "But can you hit me before I hit you hard enough to knock you out? Plus I've read your ki, your heart isn't in it."

"What?" Sting asked, he'd tried to keep his expression neutral but with no hope of winning it all for Sabertooth, the condition to get Lector back or else Minerva would never reunite them, he'd lost all his will to fight though he'd not expected Asta to realize that. "How'd you know?"

"Ki." Asta said simply. "It's how I was able to maneuver in Hidden, how I can fight when I can't sense magic, and how I know that you're despondent about something. It's clear as day in your ki."

"What's ki?" Sting asked as he sat back down knowing that Asta was right.

"Hard to explain but it's essentially the flow of a person's life energy." Asta said. "I was taught to sense it so I can sense your presence, movement, and how you're feeling by sensing your ki which means that you can't lie to me."

"Very well then, I see that I can't win against you if you can sense that." Sting said resignation in his voice. "Just get this over with and knock me out."

"Nope, not till you tell me what's wrong with you." Asta said surprising Sting into looking up at him. "If I can help I will. You're upset about something so what is it?"

"But we're not in the same Guild and right now we're enemies." Sting pointed out. "If you don't end me now then Fairy Tail could find you and win by attacking you while we chat."

"I'll sense them coming and in that case I will knock you out to prevent a tie before either engaging or retreating depending on the situation but we're not done if that happens." Asta said. "And I don't care what Guild you're in, that doesn't matter if you're in need of help. It's the job of a Magic Knight, what we people in a Wizard Guild where I'm from, to help those in need and you're clearly in need."

"You'd risk the Grand Magic Games for that?" Sting asked amazed. "The chance to be the Top Guild in Fiore."

"The Grand Magic Games are just a fun competition held for bragging rights and to see who's best; it doesn't matter in the long run." Asta said. "And besides where I'm from the Black Bulls are the worst of the worst so we're not fazed by not topping the rankings, so what's the issue? If it makes you feel better then how about I promise to aid you in exchange for your surrender to me then you can feel like I'm doing you a favor."

"I, I don't get it." Sting admitted confused by everything and wondering just how good the Wizard Guilds were where Asta was from if the Black Bulls, a Guild that was clearly top tier in Fiore after how they'd performed in the Grand Magic Games, was the worst there. "You're one of the strongest here, strong enough to defeat Erza Scarlet and your Guild has shown up mine at every step of the way and yet you're still helping me? Why?"

"Because you're in need of help and that's what a Magic Knight does, do I have to beat this into you or something?" Asta asked. "Tell me what the issue is and I'll help. I feel like us being here may have added to it."

"To an extent you have as your Guild's actions over the week and general dominant performance that no one saw coming has ensured that we can't win which means that I will never see my partner again." Sting said his sadness deepening as he spoke. "So yeah you can say the Black Bulls played a big role in that."

"Alright then I'll help you rescue this partner of yours and reunite you." Asta said again surprising Sting. "Just tell me what happened and once the Battle Royale is over I'll set to work."

"I see that you're not relenting, you're quite the stubborn guy it seems." Sting said sighing as Asta shook his head and Sting realized that it was best to just tell Asta as he wasn't going to relent until Sting did. "Fine, I'll tell you. As a Dragon Slayer I have an exceed partner who's been by my side for years, all 5 who were trained by dragons do, mine is Lector. He's the red furred one with the blue vest that you've likely seen."

"Yeah I've seen the exceeds that you and Fairy Tail have as they cheered for their partners during the Games, can't say I know the species well as we don't have any on our continent." Asta said. "So he's the one that's at risk then?"

"Yes, you see our soon to be former Guild Master is Minerva's father." Sting said not sure why he was explaining all this but if it got Asta to knock him out then so be it. "He's who made Sabertooth strong because he's obsessed with strength and being the best. It's thanks to him that we replaced Fairy Tail at the top after they went missing. His views are also why he expelled Yukino after she lost to Kagura because he saw her as weak and he humiliated her in the process."

"Bastard." Asta said gritting his teeth. "A Guild is your family; you shouldn't do that."

"You seem to share Fairy Tail's mindset there, that's the same reason why Natsu attacked us when he found out despite not knowing Yukino at all." Sting said. "But Minerva defused that by using her Spatial Magic to capture his exceed partner Happy. The other day, when Rogue and I lost to Natsu, we were going to be expelled for the same reason, I'd been forgiven for Chariots because of my past, same for m'lady and the Naval Battle, but a second failure in the Games was too much. However, Lector stood up for me."

"That's a good thing then." Asta said. "You shouldn't be kicked out just because you lost."

"That was Lector's argument, Rogue and I tried our hardest so we shouldn't be expelled for losing." Sting said. "However, Jiemma didn't know who Lector was but when Lector showed his Guild Mark as a member of Sabertooth Jiemma lost it saying that cats have no place in Sabertooth and, and killed Lector."

"Wait what?" Asta asked. "I thought that Lector was just in danger."

"He is because at the last minute Minerva used her magic to save him but trapped him in another dimension with her Spatial Magic." Sting said. "She didn't tell me until after I reacted with rage and blasted a hole through Jiemma's gut for that. I don't know if he's dead or not, he or his body has vanished, but once this is over he's going to be kicked out for being weak and I'll take over as Guild Master."

"You guys are really confusing." Asta said. "And seriously messed up if you treat each other like that. I agree with the attack, I'd do the same if someone tried to kill one of my Guildmates, but if you take over you need to improve it and stop with all this strongest crap."

"I will change Sabertooth, I won't be like Jiemma but first I need Lector by my side." Sting said his sadness getting even deeper as he spoke. "He's my best friend, we've been through so much together. However, Minerva knows this and used that to fuel me by saying that the attack I used on her father was my real power that she'd been waiting to see and proclaiming me the next Guild Master. After that she said that if I follow her instructions, don't engage in the Battle Royale and then make my move once she's done and everyone else is hurt then I can take the remaining points, win this for Sabertooth, and she'll return Lector to me."

"Given the points that's a tough ask." Asta said. "Neither us nor Fairy Tail were going to be easy to beat and that's not including the strong members of the other Guilds."

"I know but we did expect to get more points and wins than we got, Rufus and Rogue losing were big blows." Sting admitted. "And a good part of it hinged on m'lady beating the other three women, or at least beating Kagura and Erza as they were both team leaders, and well you ruined that."

"I won't apologize for stopping her from torturing someone one." Asta said his gaze hardening. "That was evil. I also won't apologize for us trying to win this, this is still a competition and we we're surpassing our limits to win it."

"I don't agree with what m'lady did to that girl in Mermaid Heel." Sting said. "But she's not all bad, there's good in here but her father is who made her what she is. I know that she can be redeemed if I had the chance."

"I believe you." Asta said and he did because he felt the flare of conviction in Sting's ki that told him he really did care for his Guildmate and wanted to help her change for the better. "So how about this. I can tell that Lector means a lot to you and so I'll do whatever I can to reunite you with him once this is over. I don't care how long it takes or where we have to go but I'll aid you in finding him."

"I, I don't know what to say." Sting said shocked because he could tell that Asta was serious and had only told him so that Asta would stop bugging him and just end this already. "You'd help me, a stranger in this?"

"Yes because that's what the Wizard King, he's kinda our top Wizard Saint I guess, would do and I want to hold that position one day." Asta said. "And I'm not going to demand anything from you in return. All I ask is that you surrender to me now so that either my Guild or Fairy Tail wins the Grand Magic Games. If you want to fight I'll do so as well and beat you as fast as possible but regardless I'll help you find Lector when this is over."

Sting just stared at Asta their eyes locking and he saw no deception in Asta's green eyes. It was pure seriousness, this kid, this man really, who'd defeated one of the strongest fighters in all of Fiore was opting not to fight him if he didn't have to and was willing to aid a stranger who he'd never spoken to before in finding his best friend. It was unthinkable and yet it was true. As Sting realized that tears came to his eyes and he slipped forward from the seat and fell to his knees in front of Asta.

"I, I can't thank you enough for this." Sting said finally accepting Asta's held, his will to fight gone as the tears fell. "There's no need to fight and you'll need your strength for what is to come because you still have to beat three fairies to win this. Still, I accept this and surrender to you Asta, my point is yours."

"And with that Sting has given up!" Chapati's voice called out as the sun finished setting and night fell on Crocus. "Asta has been given his point giving the Black Bulls 65 points and eliminating Sabertooth entirely thus locking them in the rankings. Folks, that means that we will not end in a tie! Either Fairy Tail or the Black Bulls will win the Grand Magic Games!"

"Thank you." Asta said with a smile. "And I will hold up my end of this, I promise. You're a good man, make sure that when this is over you turn your Guild into was a Guild should be."

"I, I will." Sting said as Asta turned and walked off.

Asta was glad that Sting had seen reason and he fully intended to love up to his word, Asta was going to do his all to save this Lector person. What Asta didn't realize was that he'd already done so, but he'd learn that after the Grand Magic Games. For now it was time to end this and he began to walk towards where he'd sensed Fairy Tail's ki converging earlier, which had since converged into three clear ki signatures confirming that they were there, swords in hand and floating above him the final battle of the Battle Royale incoming.

For his part Sting remained where he was crying amazed at the kindness he'd just received and how it was totally different to what he'd grown used to in Sabertooth. He was so lost that he didn't notice the gray portal open next to him and a figure leap out of it and at him. He did hear the familiar voice though.

"Sting!"

Sting turned, tears still flowing but eyes now wide as a red exceed wearing only a blue vest leapt at his chest as a gray spatial portal that Sting recognized as the ones used by Finral of the Black Bulls closing behind him. Sting barely had time to process it before Lector was in his arms and bowling him over onto his back as he hugged his partner to his chest while Lector cried into it.

"Lector!" Sting said his happiness at having Lector back overwhelming his shock. "How?"

"It was that boy, Asta, the one who just promised to help you." Lector said into Sting's chest which was now wet from Lector's tears. "He freed me without realizing it so he's already lived up to his words. When that girl from Mermaid Heel was taken by Minerva she was sent to the same place as me so I went to her as she was bound and grabbed onto her back, hiding under her cloak so that I'd be able to escape and reunite with you. Then, when she was freed by Asta right before he attacked Minerva for torturing the girl I was freed with her but I remained hidden holding onto her back even as Asta held her. I didn't come out until I was safely in the Black Bulls' box and the girl was being healed up by them."

"I, I don't understand it." Sting admitted though his respect for the Black Bulls and how they treated others even when they didn't know them went up another notch. "But I'm just grateful that you're here and that Asta already honored what he said he'd do even if he'd already done it."

"Yeah I watched the battle with Erza with them, they really look up to the kid and draw inspiration from him." Lector said. "I can see why, he beat Erza! He's really something else."

"That he is." Sting agreed with a smile as he sat up still holding Lector. "And he's about to face the remaining members of Fairy Tail. Let's find a lacrima vision to watch it, it will be a good show."

"Frosch is here with Rogue, Frosch went to him after Rogue lost I saw Frosch leave Sabertooth's box and then on the lacrima screens with Rogue so let's go to them." Lector said. "And watch it all together because no matter who wins this final fight will be good."

"That it will be and then we can rebuild Sabertooth as a better Guild that isn't like the one Jiemma created." Sting said as he got up and began to head to where his nose said Rogue and Frosch were though his friend was unmoving following his loss to Gajeel. "Somehow I feel like this loss will be a good thing for us in the long run."

Lector just nodded as they headed off as quickly as possible. The final of the Battle Royale was almost upon them and they wanted to watch it because it was going to be epic as Asta took on Gray, Gajeel and Laxus for the title of Fiore's number 1 Guild.

"Well you two look beat to hell." Laxus said as Gray and Gajeel reached the rendezvous point from different directions, arriving at the same time, before pulling himself to his feet with a pained groan. "Tough fights I take it."

"You're one to talk." Gajeel said as they made their way over to Laxus. "But I've still got enough left in me to take down Asta. I know it."

"Same." Gray said. "Two hard fight won't slow me down, not when we're so close to winning this."

"Yeah that battle with Jura took a lot out of me." Laxus admitted as he walked over to his Guildmates so that they all met somewhat in the middle of the circular public space. "But we're all still standing despite our battles. So long as we are we can win this."

"Yeah but let's not forget what we just saw." Gray pointed out making sure that they were all aware of the reality of who they were facing. "Asta beat Erza. He beat someone few can so this will be a fight unlike any we've had so far today."

"Erza can fall just like Jura can." Laxus said. "And that means Asta can as well. Don't forget that he took a hell of a lot of damage from Erza in that fight so he's as badly injured as we are. This will come down to determination and who wants it more, which we do."

"True." Gray conceded though as he knew Erza better than the other two, and looked up to her more, he was more rattled by her defeat than the others were.

"Plus it's three on one and he uses metal swords so it's not as bad as it seems." Gajeel said. "We'll be ready for him providing that he can…"

"And with that Sting has given up!" Chapati's voice called out as the sun finished setting and night fell interrupting Gajeel. "Asta has been given his point giving the Black Bulls 65 points and eliminating Sabertooth entirely thus locking them in the rankings. Folks, that means that we will not end in a tie! Either Fairy Tail or the Black Bulls will win the Grand Magic Games!"

"…beat Sting that is." Gajeel finished. "Damn, I thought the kid would at least give Asta a fight and add to his injuries."

"No dice, in a one on one fight were the opponent doesn't' have non magic combat skills, Asta's likely unmatched in the Battle Royale." Laxus said. "As strong as Sting is, he doesn't strike me as having what it would take to overcome Asta's skills especially after Asta beat Erza."

"Agreed." Gajeel said. "He's a Dragon Slayer but that's still magic and Asta can negate that."

"I'm more worried about the fact that the First Master didn't think anyone but Erza had a good chance against Asta." Gray said as the moon rose into the sky bathing them in its pale light for it was a full moon. "What does it say that she failed?"

"That we have to try harder and not let the Guild down or Erza's effort go to waste." Laxus said. "You beat Rufus and that was a tossup, I beat Jura and that was a tossup, Erza lost to Asta and that was a tossup. We can win this."

"That we can." Gajeel said with a nod his own plan already in his mind. "We've got this."

"Alright then what's the plan?" Gray said.

"Wait here for him to find us, he has that weird perception skill, and then face him down." Laxus said. "He won't back down and so when the moment presents itself we attack with everything we have."

"Well that's going to have to be soon." Gajeel said as he got a whiff of someone approaching in the air and at this point in the Battle Royale it could only be Asta. "Because he's on his way and he's coming from that direction."

Gajeel pointed to an entrance to the area, the one that Sting would have taken had he not surrendered to Asta, and they all turned to it. As they did they quickly and quietly muttered out a plan of attack before they moved to form a line facing the entrance with Laxus in the middle, Gray on his left and Gajeel on his right. Then they just stood there silently standing tall and proud despite the pain all three were in with serious looks on their faces. This was the final of the Battle Royale and they were all ready for it.

A few moments later they head the sound of boots on stone right before a grinning Asta walked into the area. He looked as bad as they did with blood all over his arms, chest and legs from several cuts along with a scotch mark in the center of his chest, his pants ripped, his robe gone, and a small hole in his left shoulder. However just like them he was tall and proud as he came to a stop before them swords in his hands and to his sides with his third, his great sword, floating above his head point to the sky as he held his other swords out slightly in a similar fashion to how Erza looked in her Heaven's Wheel Armor.

Asta had walked here as the moon rose to conserve his energy and prepare for this fight and now he was here. He stood facing Laxus in the middle grinning as he faced off with the three fairies. There was no surrender in his eyes just as there was none in theirs. This was it, the final of the Battle Royale was at hand and for a moment the last 4 combatants stood there in silence as all of Fiore waited with baited breath to see who would win the Grand Magic Games.

I think that that's a good place to leave this chapter off, don't you? We've seen the reactions to Asta's shocking win, we've seen him in action sorting Sting out, how the Black Bulls' presence completely destroyed Sabertooth's plans, and now it's time for the grand finale of the Battle Royale. Only one Guild can win, will it be the Black Bulls or Fairy Tail? Y'all will find out soon enough as the last battle sees Asta vs. Laxus, Gray, and Gajeel for the Grand Magic Games. For those wondering, other than a minor distraction at hearing of Minerva's defeat to Noelle the fight between Gajeel and Rogue played out exactly as it did in canon. There was no need to alter or mess with it and given the epic battle going on between Asta and Erza no one was paying it any attention which is why I glossed over it so as to not just rehash canon with the only important thing being Gajeel's dual mode. There isn't much more to say as this was a reaction and setup chapter for the grand finale so that is all that I have for this chapter however and therefore I will leave it off here. If you liked this please favorite, follow, leave a review, or let me know in a PM and I will try to answer any questions posed in reviews and PMs as best I can. Until next time.

Stringdog