Midnight Bells, Sky Labyrinth!

Sting's theory of being a "Third Generation Dragon Slayer" did not arouse Natsu's interest in the slightest.

It doesn't matter to him which generation it is or what power it has fused with.

He only heard the most crucial sentence.

They, too, were taught magic by the dragon himself.

"Were you also raised by dragons?" Natsu stepped forward, a hint of barely perceptible anticipation in his eyes, and asked eagerly.

"So your dragons... did they also disappear in X777?"

"That's right, the timing matches up." Sting admitted this, but then he said something that struck Natsu like a thunderbolt.

"However, they didn't disappear."

"Instead, we killed them with our own hands."

A cruel smile appeared on Sting's face.

"Their Dragon Lacrima are now within us. Therefore, we are the true Dragon Slayers, surpassing you products of the old era."

"..."

Natsu's expression froze.

He stared blankly at Sting, as if he hadn't understood what the other was saying.

A few seconds later, an uncontrollable, volcanic eruption of rage surged from the depths of his heart to his head!

"What... what did you say?"

Natsu's voice trembled, each word seeming to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

"You mean... you killed your own parents?"

"Parents?" Sting asked as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world.

"You actually have feelings for that kind of thing? How disappointing, Natsu Dragneel."

"When the time comes, I'll show you firsthand what true Dragon Slayer Magic is all about on the field."

"Let's go, Sting," Rogue, who had been silent all along, finally spoke, saying calmly.

"How boring."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Sting shrugged and turned around as well.

"Asshole!"

Watching them leave, Natsu could no longer contain his rage and roared hysterically, "When you meet me on the field! I'll show you who the strongest Dragon Slayer is!!"

By the time Natsu and Lucy returned to the inn designated for the tournament, it was already getting dark.

Upon entering, you'll see the lobby piled high with all sorts of shopping bags.

Jiang Bai had already returned from shopping with Erza and Mirajane, and was now sprawled on his bed in his room, fast asleep without any regard for his image.

Although he really wanted to take advantage of the night to do something "fun" with the two beauties, Erza and Mirajane refused him righteously, saying they needed to "conserve their energy for tomorrow's match."

Frustrated and disappointed, Jiang Bai decided to go to sleep.

Time passed by, second by second.

Most of the Fairy Tail members gathered in the hall, waiting for that mysterious Midnight.

Lucy watched the clock on the wall nervously; the hands were slowly approaching their highest point.

It's almost midnight, and I still have no idea what will happen.

"Ding-dong!"

With a crisp chime, the minute hand of the clock came to a steady stop at the "12" mark.

In that very instant!

A slightly comical, yet resounding male voice that echoed throughout the entire city suddenly rang out!

"Good evening, members of all the guilds participating in the Grand Magic Games!"

Everyone was startled and rushed to the window to look outside.

Suddenly, a giant male image appeared in the night sky of Crocus, wearing a silly-looking Pumpkin headgear.

"Next up, we'll begin the preliminary rounds, which will reduce the 113 participating teams to just eight!" The Pumpkin Man's voice was full of passion.

"The qualifiers?!" Lucy exclaimed in surprise.

Not only them, but at this moment, discussions were rising and falling in the inns of all the participating guilds.

"In recent years, the number of non-governmental organizations signing up for the competition has increased significantly, leading to lengthy and bland competition content, which has received negative feedback from many viewers."

Therefore, after discussion, it has been decided that only eight teams will be able to participate in the official competition!

"The rules for the qualifiers are very simple!" the Pumpkin Man continued.

"Next, let's have a race! And the finish line is the venue for our official competition—the Thomas Brau Arena!"

Only the first eight teams to reach the finish line will advance!

As the Pumpkin Man began his introduction, the inn beneath their feet suddenly began to shake violently!

Immediately afterwards, the entire hotel rose from the ground and continued to rise!

"Wow! The hotel is moving!"

"Look! The inns of other guilds are the same!"

"So the hotel itself was the starting point!"

No wonder they told us we had to be back at the hotel before midnight.

To everyone's astonishment, a colossal, three-dimensional maze composed of countless glowing steps appeared out of thin air in the night sky above the city.

"Whether or not to use magic during the competition is entirely up to you; we do Infinity."

"However, please note! If the team does not have a full five members when they reach the finish line, they will not qualify for advancement."

"Also, the organization will not be responsible for any deaths that occur accidentally within the maze."

The Pumpkin Man spoke the incredibly cruel rules in a cheerful tone.

"Now, I declare!"

"The preliminary round, 'Sky Labyrinth', has officially begun!"