Lucky!

Amidst the cheers, there was also a great deal of discussion.

This time, there was no more mockery or boos.

Fairy Tail silenced all doubters with their undeniable results—first and third place in the preliminaries.

People are discussing a different issue now.

Why are there two teams from Fairy Tail allowed to participate in the competition?

"Yeah, isn't that a foul?"

Upon hearing the questions from the audience, commentator Chapati immediately smiled and turned to the commentary booth.

"It seems many spectators are still unclear about this year's tournament rules, Mr. Yajima."

Yajima, whose hair and beard were completely white, chuckled.

"Yes. The rules of this competition clearly state that each guild can choose to send one or two teams to participate, depending on their own circumstances."

"So— Fairy Tail didn't break any rules!" Chapati's voice rose again.

Backstage, Makarov was so excited that he jumped onto the table, pointed at the broadcast crystal, and shouted at the audience throughout the city.

"Did you all see that?! This is the power of Fairy Tail!"

In the arena, Natsu still stared blankly at Team B on the other side.

"No wonder I didn't see you guys at the hotel. And the old man didn't pick Laxus, but instead put Lucy in the game."

"Hey! Are you looking down on my strength, you idiot?" Lucy's forehead creased with a tic-tac-toe gesture as she delivered a chop to Natsu's head.

"When I heard my grandfather tell me that I should lead the second team in the competition, I was stunned for a moment." Laxus crossed his arms and looked at the most conspicuous man on Team A.

"It seems the old man is truly terrified of poverty," Jiang Bai's lazy voice rang out.

"I clearly stated back then that I could sponsor the guild's renovation costs as a favor. What a proud old man."

Laxus's gaze towards Jiang Bai instantly filled with fighting spirit.

"Besides, I've never beaten you before, not even once in my life. Maybe this time, I can beat you by taking advantage of the rules of the competition."

Gajeel let out his signature "heh heh heh" laugh and looked at Natsu.

"That's right! I've been waiting for this day for a long time!"

"Xiao Bai, you can't lose!" Mirajane winked at Jiang Bai with a sweet smile.

On the other side, Juvia's gaze was completely fixed on Gray.

"Lord Gray, even if it's you this time, Juvia will absolutely not hold back!"

"Oh! That's how it's supposed to be!" Gray habitually took off his shirt, revealing his well-defined muscles.

"I won't show any mercy either!"

The standoff between Team A and Team B instantly created an atmosphere of tension.

"Great, Gajeel!" Flames erupted from Natsu's fist.

"Let's settle this once and for all, fair and square, who is the strongest Dragon Slayer in Fairy Tail!"

"Just what I wanted!" Hard iron scales appeared on Gajeel's body.

"I... I will do my best too!" Even Wendy mustered her courage, her eyes filled with fighting spirit.

Just as tensions were rising, a huge stone tablet suddenly rose slowly from the center of the arena with a loud "boom".

Erza's gaze swept over it immediately, and she read the contents.

Are each day's matches divided into two parts: 'competition' and 'battle'?

"Battle?!" Natsu immediately reignited upon hearing that word.

"Yoshi! Leave this to me!"

"Now, I will explain the Grand Magic Games schedule to you in detail!" Chapati's voice rang out at the right moment.

"First, there's the 'competition' segment every morning! The competition will rank each team based on their results, and teams will receive points based on their final rankings."

"The participants in the competition will be selected by each guild itself!"

"Secondly, there's the 'Battle' segment every afternoon! This segment involves one-on-one battles; the winner gets ten points, and a draw results in five points for each player."

"The lineup for each team will be determined by the organizers, taking into account the audience's votes!"

"Huh? What do you mean?" Natsu didn't understand at all.

"It means," Lucy explained from the side.

"If you're unlucky, or not popular enough, and the audience doesn't want to watch you fight, then you might not be able to play a single match."

"Nani?!" Natsu screamed in shock.

Lucy, however, was already making her own plans.

Hehe, so you're saying I'm just a newcomer with no reputation, no one should know me, right?

Ideally, Jiang Bai, that freak, would be on the field for all the battles. That way, I could easily snag the championship, and the honor would be mine for the taking!

Lucy's imagination ran wild with delight, and she almost burst out laughing.

However, just as she was envisioning a wonderful future of effortless victory, a shout, though not loud, came from a certain direction in the audience.

"Lucy--! Go for it--!"

Lucy froze.

That voice... sounds familiar.

She turned her head stiffly, looked in the direction of the sound, and froze instantly.

In a corner of the audience, a middle-aged man in a well-tailored suit, but with an excited expression, was leading a group of employees in company uniforms, waving a support flag with the word "Lucky" on it.

That person was her father, Jude Heartfilia.

Because of the special medicine that Jiang Bai casually obtained from Granny Porlyusica, Jude not only survived the critical illness and death in the original story, but also became even stronger than before.

After learning that Lucy and the others had disappeared on Tenrou Island, he sold all his possessions and frantically searched for his daughter.

When he ran out of money, he used his exceptional business acumen to start a new small company called "Lucky" to continue making money and searching.

Although it is not as large as before, it is still a small achievement.

At this moment, he is bringing all his company's employees to cheer on his beloved daughter who has been lost and found again.

When Lucy returned from Tenrou Island, she found her seven-year birthday presents in her room. What Lucy didn't know was that what she thought was a seven-year rent debt had actually been paid off by Jude long ago.

"Dad... Dad..." Lucy felt her cheeks were burning hot enough to fry an egg. She instinctively covered her face, wishing she could disappear into the ground.

"Stop... stop shouting! It's so embarrassing!"

"Isn't this great, Lucy?" Natsu leaned closer, flashing a big smile.

You're actually happy too, aren't you?

Seeing her father's genuine smile, full of concern and pride, Lucy's shyness was gradually replaced by an undeniable, warm smile.

She gave a soft "hmm," her eyes slightly moist.