We Won!

"So, you're using those Stone Monsters for defense, and then this monster crab to chase me?"

Jet hadn't paid attention to such details and remained confident, "If you can do it, then come and try!"

"It's not that simple." Rhode patted the leg of a large Stone Beetle. "Ancient Stone Beetle, split!"

Kala-la!

At Rhode's command, the blue light flashed from the gap on the Ancient Stone Beetle's back, and it actively split into two. By the time they landed, they had already become two Stone Beetles.

This was different from the game; Stone Beetles could split on their own.

Three nearly identical Stone Beetles lined up in front of Rhode. The River Crab was positioned in front of them, glaring at Jet.

"It can split? If it's five against one..." Jet was stunned. From his angle, he could only see Rhode's head.

"No matter how many there are, their speed won't increase. My speed will never lose!"

"Don't worry, I can't maintain this state for too long." Rhode jumped onto the back of a Stone Beetle, feeling the rate of his magic consumption.

"If I can't catch you within five minutes, then I lose." Rhode pointed forward. "Canyon Swiftclaw, charge!"

The Swift Crab charged straight ahead, leaving afterimages in its wake.

Then, Rhode took a deep breath. "Stone Beetles, burrow!"

The three Stone Beetles raised their front legs and lowered their heads. As their pincer-like mouthparts opened and closed, they had already burrowed into the ground simultaneously.

They even took Rhode with them!

"Don't even think about catching up to me!" Jet triumphantly dodged the River Crab's charge and turned around, but Rhode was nowhere to be seen.

At that moment, a slight tremor came from the ground, and soft earth was overturned from below. Jet stomped his foot and instinctively jumped away.

A Stone Beetle burst out of the ground, missing its target.

But a second Stone Beetle emerged from beneath Jet while he was in mid-air.

Jet twisted his body, flipped, and kicked. "Eagle Dive... Damn it!"

Jet's expression changed because at that moment, the third Stone Beetle emerged, carrying Rhode. Its mouthparts opened and closed, firmly clamping onto Jet's waist and one hand.

Rhode threw out a punch, stopping just before Jet's nose. After a moment, he chuckled, "How about that?"

Jet struggled a few times. It was difficult to exert force when clamped like this. He said with some annoyance, "I admit defeat."

The Stone Beetles released Jet, and their forms, along with the River Crab, became illusory before disappearing.

Rhode had already jumped down, feeling extremely happy internally. However, to spare Jet's feelings, he had to deliberately control himself, showing only a normal smile.

"Thanks for practicing with me."

Rhode extended his hand.

"That's what nakama are for, to help each other."

Jet also extended his hand, but instead of shaking it, he slapped Rhode's palm away, clenched his right fist, and turned the back of his hand towards Rhode.

"Shaking hands is too serious, I don't like it."

Rhode imitated him, raising his hand to fist-bump Jet, and they both laughed.

He felt like he was growing to like this guild more and more.

"Ooooh!!!" Marcus emerged in a cloud of dust, holding a microphone and shouting excitedly.

"The winner is—Rhode! After days of defeat, Rhode has achieved his first victory since joining the guild!

Let's congratulate Rhode! The one who uses Summoning Magic to summon powerful monsters... Rhode!"

A cheer erupted from the onlookers. Many of them had been watching from Rhode and Erza's match until now.

They greatly admired Rhode's persistent spirit despite his repeated losses, but ultimately, they hoped he would win at least once.

Although the time span was less than half a month, it made them feel the joy of watching a child they had watched grow up finally achieve success.

Mira was also among those cheering, but after raising her fist and shouting once, she stood there and smiled quietly.

Her red dress made her particularly conspicuous in the crowd.

"Well done, Rhode!" Kana's shout was incredibly loud. She held a wine bottle in her right hand and waved banknotes in her left, shouting at Rhode.

"I'll buy you a drink later! And no need to find anyone tomorrow, I'll accompany you!"

Today, apart from Mira, who encouragingly bet on Rhode winning, everyone else who participated in the betting had bet on Jet.

As a result, Kana made a substantial profit and wouldn't have to worry about money for drinks for quite some time.

However, Rhode felt a wave of awkwardness. Although he knew she meant accompanying him for practice battles, Kana's attire, her drunken expression, and the banknotes in her hand, combined with that sentence, easily led to misinterpretations.

However, after the cheers came the accusations. A group of people who had lost their bets, including the uncle-like figures Macao and Wakaba, began to vent their frustrations, complaining that Jet had intentionally gone easy on Rhode, causing them to lose money.

Jet immediately started arguing with them. As expected, the argument soon turned into a brawl.

Rhode tilted his head to dodge a shoe thrown by someone, caught an innocent Poro being used as a weapon, and decisively moved away from them.

"My magic is almost depleted, fighting is a disadvantage, let's retreat!"

"Waaah..." Warm's eyes turned into spiral circles, and he responded groggily.

The Guild Master watched everyone fight with a smile, happy with Rhode's progress and relieved that the children got along so well.

It was also rare that they were fighting in the yard instead of inside, so he didn't have to worry about anything getting broken...

Bang!

Macao crashed through the window and flew into the guild hall.

The Guild Master maintained his smile, a vein throbbing on his forehead.

"Damn you, Wakaba!" Macao burst back out of the window, engulfed in purple flames.

Rhode couldn't even figure out why he was fighting Wakaba; they had been on the same side just moments ago.

However, he hugged Warm and moved further away, even considering summoning another Stone Beetle to block the attack.

The battle was escalating: Wakaba unleashed fists made of smoke, Kana pulled out a few cards, and Elfman's arms transformed into beastly claws...

"Macao, you're not getting away!" Several figures rushed out from inside the hall, widening the hole in the window—they had just been knocked over by Macao's table.

The Guild Master's smile slowly vanished, the veins on his forehead forming a grid.

"I smell a fight!" Natsu, returning from a mission, burst into the backyard without even dropping his luggage.

Thanks to him, the unfortunate window was now connected to the one next to it.

"I'm here too! Fire Dragon's—"

The Guild Master finally lost his patience, his body rapidly expanding. A massive shadow enveloped the entire battlefield. "Use the door properly! No damaging the guild!"

Natsu's "Iron Fist" was stomped out before he could even shout it, and the others who were fighting fiercely were each slammed into the ground by the Guild Master's two palms.

"Oh dear... it's like this again." Mira chuckled softly behind the Guild Master, as if her own brother wasn't among those slammed into the ground.

Rhode, holding Warm, trembled. Speaking of damaging the guild, he had also torn down the courtyard wall when he summoned the River Crab.

"I'm so grateful the Guild Master didn't use the Palm of Buddha on me, I'm prostrating myself in thanks."