The two instantly went head-to-head, their foreheads pressed tightly together, colliding with loud bangs.
"Enough, you two."
Erza folded her arms, her tone calm and stern.
"Making a scene in public like this—what kind of behavior is that?"
Her mouth was scolding everyone, but her gaze remained locked firmly on the center of the arena.
"Heh heh heh, brats, are you scared?"
A low, eerie voice suddenly rang out from the side.
Everyone turned at the sound, only to see that Makarov had somehow sidled over.
The little old man braced both hands against his cheeks, his eyes bulging round as he tugged hard at the corners of his mouth, pulling a hideous ghost face.
"That is the Demon-Subduing Hall!"
Makarov deliberately lowered his voice, letting out a hoarse snarl.
"Countless brutal, terrifying monsters are imprisoned inside, and what they love most is gnawing on tender-skinned Mages like you!"
"Once you set foot in the hall, you'll be torn to pieces and drained of every last drop of magic power! Keh-keh-keh-keh..."
As he cackled strangely, he bared his teeth and brandished his claws, deliberately building a chilling, horrifying atmosphere.
And yet the scene fell into deathly silence.
Natsu expressionlessly picked at his ear.
"Old man, you're blocking the screen. Move already."
Gray sighed softly and pointed at Makarov's cheek.
"Master, you didn't trim your beard today. It looks all messy."
Lucy helplessly held her forehead and couldn't help retorting.
"Master, stop pulling out these little-kid tricks. They're seriously childish."
"We're all adults. There's no way we'd be scared by something like that."
Makarov's movements froze completely in an instant.
He held his clawing pose, his whole body seemingly petrified.
Fine beads of cold sweat streamed down his forehead.
"You... You're not scared at all?"
Makarov gave two awkward dry laughs,