Makarov walked over with a glass in hand. Looking at the energetic Lucy, his eyes were filled with relief.
"Good girl."
He deliberately raised his voice and praised her loudly in front of everyone.
"In today's arena, you performed exceptionally well. Faced with Raven Tail's despicable ambush, you gritted your teeth and held on until the end, slapping those sinister lowlifes hard in the face. You did not bring shame to Fairy Tail!"
Lucy's eyes grew slightly warm, warmth surging in her chest, and she nodded firmly.
"I will never admit defeat to them!"
After several rounds of drinks, the celebration reached its peak.
Makarov leaped onto the bar, raised his glass high, and signaled for attention.
"Everyone, quiet down!"
The noisy tavern fell silent in an instant, and every gaze focused on him.
"Taking our first victory today is worth celebrating for everyone!"
Makarov's expression suddenly turned solemn, his gaze sweeping over every guild member.
"But the Grand Magic Games have only just begun. The events that follow will only be even more brutal, and the other guilds will absolutely not sit back and do nothing."
"I'm warning every one of you: do not grow proud and complacent because of a momentary victory. Hold on to this momentum, charge forward with everything you have, and reclaim the throne as the number one guild in the Kingdom of Fiore!"
He raised his glass high, his roar shaking the air.
"For Fairy Tail!"
"For Fairy Tail!!!"
Everyone raised their glasses in unison. Deafening cheers resounded through the tavern, and unyielding fighting spirit blazed fiercely in every heart.
Early the next morning.
Morning light spilled across Crocus, and the second day of the Grand Magic Games officially began.
A hundred thousand spectators filled the stands, and contestants from the various guilds entered