Eve Festival

Philiers East Gate

Whoosh!

A yellow afterimage streaked across the blood-red setting sun, shooting toward the magnificent city gate.

"Negus, faster! The gates are about to close!"

Gritting his teeth, Yellow Meow Meow pushed his potential to the limit, and the afterimages in the sky multiplied.

"Hey... Negus, who's stronger, you or Happy?"

Yellow Meow Meow froze at those words.

"Laxus, who's stronger, you or Natsu?"

Faced with the question, Thunder Dragon answered without hesitation, "Of course I'm stronger!"

"Well, there you have it!"

"But why have I seen Happy move faster than that?"

At that, the handsome cat immediately realized he had been provoked into speeding up.

"Tch! If you wanted me to go faster, you could've just said so!"

"Hehe... doesn't this work better? (Thunder Dragon grinned like a child.)"

"Hmph! I'm not some muscle-brained guy like Natsu!"

Though he kept complaining, Yellow Meow Meow's wings beat faster and faster.

"There are ten minutes until the city gates close! Anyone entering, get moving! Anyone leaving, make your preparations in advance!"

At the shout of the gate soldiers, the flow of people near the gates abruptly quickened and thickened.

"I'm so jealous of you guys!"

"Come on, you've already spent the whole day wandering around the city. Still not satisfied?"

"Sigh... I wonder if we'll get a chance to attend the banquet tomorrow night."

"You really dare to dream, kid!"

"Exactly! His Majesty only gave us two hundred slots in total. Even the captains can't secure one!"

"The Heavenly King Guard has it good. They can attend directly!"

"Then why don't you figure out a way to join the Heavenly King Guard?"

At the squad leader's words, the guards all burst into laughter.

"Haha!"

"Haha!"

"Stop laughing! Something's wrong!"

The moment the squad leader spoke, the guards, who