In the cheering stands, Makarov had long since been weeping openly, so overcome that he could barely keep hold of the wine cup in his hand.
Beside him, Mavis watched everyone embrace and shed tears, watched the two people in the arena cling stubbornly to the end, and smiled with gentle warmth.
"Makarov, do you see it?"
"This is Fairy Tail's most precious treasure."
"No matter how low we fall, no matter how the years change, as long as our bonds do not break, the guild will never fall."
On the field.
After an agonizing trek pushed to the limit, Natsu and Gajeel finally reached the finish line.
The two raised their hands at the same time and struck the finish line hard.
Colorful streamers fluttered down from the sky.
"The match is over, pumpkin!"
Pumpkin Man announced loudly, and the lacrima immediately replayed the instant they crossed the line, judging the result with precision.
"Official replay verdict! By the tiny time difference of his fingertip touching first, Gajeel crossed the line ahead!"
"Gajeel takes sixth place and earns two points! Natsu is seventh, earning one point!"
"Sabertooth's Sting voluntarily forfeited, earning zero points!"
At the commentary booth, Yajima slowly rose to his feet and looked at the two exhausted figures collapsed in the arena, sighing with heartfelt emotion.
"This old man has commentated on the Grand Magic Games for many years and has seen countless contestants use any means necessary for points."
"In today's match, the contestants' convictions were far more precious than their rankings."
As his words fell, Yajima was the first to clap.
The clear sound of applause spread through the whole venue through the microphone.
In the next second, a hundred thousand spectators responded as one, and tsunami-like applause swept through the entire arena.
That applause