The Queen Descends from Her Pedestal (Part One)

"Hey, hey... don't kill my cat!"

Just as Gajeel was about to charge into the battlefield, Pink Ball suddenly swooped in and blocked his path.

"Gajeel, game time is over!"

"Move!!!"

"I said... the game is over!"

"I said it too... move!!!"

As the two remained deadlocked, a bright yellow pentagram Magic Array in the distant sky flashed with dazzling lightning and let out a deafening roar.

"Rumble."

"Damn it!!!"

"Whoosh!"

Amid Gajeel's anguished cry, a large, dark figure trailing black smoke plummeted downward.

"You guys..."

Before Gajeel could erupt, Bartender Girl spoke up. "Relax, he just passed out!"

Learning that his prospective partner was not in mortal danger, Gajeel's rage instantly faded.

"Didn't you say you wouldn't interfere?"

"You think we wanted to?"

"Wouldn't it be nicer to sit on little stools, watch the show, drink, and eat?"

"Then... then..."

"Hmph! Old Suo gave the order. Take it up with him if you've got a problem!"

"Old Suo?"

Before the murmur had even faded, a silver-white dot resembling Lazy God appeared in the distant sky and rapidly closed in.

"Whoosh!"

"Rumble!"

One second before Lazy God reached the battlefield, a massive Shockwave spread from beneath the floating island, sending Pink Ball and the others flying.

"Clang, clang, clang!"

The metallic collisions quickly faded, and then Gajeel and the other two noticed that a white tail had appeared on the floating island.

"Bzzzz..."

As the trembling hum rang out, the floating island began gaining forward momentum.

"Damn it! Did we still fail to make it in time?"

"Old..."

Ignoring Pink Ball and Bartender Girl, who were greeting him, Lazy God teleported directly in front of the floating island.

"Prison!"

"Creak, creak!"

Blocked by tremendous force, the white chains that were struggling to hold on let out overloaded groans, while sweat