A Hardworking Genius
A deafening roar erupted from the stands.
Before the tournament started, nobody paid any attention to Fairy Tail; everyone considered this guild a joke, a perennial bottom-ranked team.
Things are completely different now.
Jiang Bai displayed utterly unreasonable combat power in the Hidden competitions during the day, and no matter who his opponent was, they were all instantly wiped out in front of him.
Sabertooth had dominated the Grand Magic Games for seven years, and the audience was already tired of the predictable title defense.
Now, the former underdog has suddenly emerged and dragged the arrogant overlord down from his pedestal—a spectacle that everyone loves to watch.
In the morning, the organizers announced that the match-up list would be decided by audience vote, and almost immediately everyone cast their votes for Jiang Bai and Jura.
To everyone's surprise, the organizers actually scheduled this major event on the very first day.
The audience erupted in chaos.
"That was so exciting!"
"We'll witness an internal battle Ten Wizard Saints on the very first day!"
"This ticket was totally worth it!"
Who do you think will win?
"It must be Mr. Jura. In the latest Magic Council, Mr. Jura is ranked fifth. Jiang Bai has been missing for seven years, and his ranking has long since dropped to tenth."
"What do rankings prove? Didn't you see Jiang Bai's incredible skills this morning? Space is like a toy to him!"
"Enough nonsense! Lord Jiang Bai is so handsome and strong, he'll absolutely crush you!"
The stands immediately split into two factions.
A small group of male audience members supported the established Jura, while another group of male audience members, along with all the female audience members, shouted at the top of their lungs for Jiang Bai.
In the rest area of Lamia Scale, Jura stood on the edge of the stands, arms crossed, looking eager to try her hand at the game.
Sherria rubbed her eyes, somewhat unable to believe what she had discovered.
"Mr. Jura looks so excited; I've never seen Jura like this before."
Lyon put his hands in his pockets and chuckled.
"Because Mr. Jura has been waiting for this day for a very long time."
Obaba stood to the side, twirling her fingers into a whirlwind and shouting loudly.
"Jura, you absolutely mustn't lose too quickly once you go up there. If that kid takes you down in one move, the Lamia Scales will lose all face!"
Jura turned around and bowed respectfully to Obaba.
"Don't worry, Mother-in-law, I will do my best."
But both of them knew very well that even if Jiang Bai deliberately let Hai go, Jura had absolutely no chance of winning.
Jura forward, walking through the players' tunnel to the center of the field.
His tall, imposing figure stepped onto the bluestone ground, and the cheers from the stands rose once more.
Chapati, in the commentary booth, shouted at the top of his lungs.
"'Rock Iron' Jura has arrived! This man's reputation needs no introduction; he is one of the ten strongest mages on the continent and the strongest contender for the title in this tournament!"
Inside the Fairy Tail rest area, Jiang Bai was sitting on a bench drinking juice when he heard the announcement and put down his cup.
"They actually made me perform twice in one day; the audience's votes are really harsh."
Natsu frantically tugged at his pink hair, practically spitting fire from his body.
"Ugh! Why! Why can Jiang Bai fight twice?! I want to go on stage and cause a ruckus too! Even that guy Gajeel went for a stroll around the arena!"
Lucy rolled her eyes and immediately contradicted him.
"Gajeel entered the arena for less than ten seconds before the opposing team forfeited; that hardly counts as him even having entered."
Gray crossed his arms and looked at the towering figure in the arena.
"Seven years have passed; I wonder how much Jura's strength has increased."
Jiang Bai stood up, stretched his wrists, and spoke casually.
"Jura is a genuine genius who excels through hard work. His seven years of arduous training have definitely paid off. His current combat strength is probably about the same as Uncle Gildarts '."
The rest area fell silent instantly.
Natsu's mouth gaped open, and the flames went out instantly.
"What?! That bald guy actually managed to fight the older man to a draw?!"
Erza's expression turned serious.
"Gildarts' level... if it's true, then Jura is indeed extremely powerful right now."
Gray also abandoned his leisurely demeanor.
"No wonder the Magic Council ranks Jura at the top of the human mages."
Jiang Bai patted Natsu on the shoulder and strode towards the exit of the passage.
"Alright, stop making a fuss. Just keep an eye on things later."
Jiang Bai strolled out of the players' tunnel, his black, specially made team uniform swaying gently with each step.
Yajima sat in the commentary box, stroking his beard with a smile.
"What a nostalgic match! The last time I saw these two spar was many years ago."
Jenny, too, rested her chin on her hand, her eyes glued to the audience.
"Whichever one it is, they are men standing at the pinnacle of the magic world. But personally speaking, Lord Jiang Bai is truly too charming."
Jiang Bai stepped onto the flat stone slab at the edge of the battle platform.
The noisy, Boil stands suddenly paused eerily for two seconds.
Tens of thousands of audience members involuntarily held their breath, as an indescribable heavy oppression descended from nowhere, pressing down heavily on everyone's shoulders.
Even without any outward display of magic, the mere sight of him walking out naturally caused the surrounding air to freeze for a moment.
The silence was broken by a sudden burst of sharp cheers from the east side of the stands.
"Lord Jiang Bai!"
"Look this way, Lord Jiang Bai!"
The female spectators in most of the arena were completely enthralled, waving their ribbons and banners wildly, and their shouts nearly lifted the dome off the stadium.
In the commentary booth, Chapati grabbed the microphone and yelled at the top of his lungs.
"He's here! The man who makes even Fiore's number one guild Sabertooth, dance, has finally stepped onto the battle arena!"
On the Sabertooth's bench, Rufus after receiving emergency treatment from medical staff, suddenly trembled and his teeth clenched so tightly they clicked.
His swollen face twitched violently, and his hands gripped the armrests of the stone bench tightly.
"Can I go up there and beat that bastard to a pulp?"
Rogue, standing beside him, silently turned his head away, not intending to respond.
On the other side of the Fairy Tail viewing area, Mavis, the first guild master in ghost form, floated excitedly in mid-air, waving her two little hands.
"Charge! Fairy Tail!! Let everyone see our power!"
Makarov stood in front of the stands railing, hands on his hips, and shouted loudly at the crowd below.
"You brat! Show us your skills and truly restore the guild's prestige!"
Jiang Bai casually waved his other hand toward the stands, one hand in his pocket, indicating that he had received the message.