Fairy Tail: Perfect Projection

(bjee) The sudden turn of events stunned everyone in the guild, and they all began shouting at once.

"Interesting." Erza collected herself and looked at Ikaruga, fighting spirit blazing in her eyes. This was the first time she had met such a formidable swordswoman. How could she not be excited?

"Here I come." Ikaruga smiled faintly and lunged straight at Erza. Her sword flashed out of its sheath in a single slash, but Erza blocked it. Ikaruga was not disappointed; she had expected as much. Instead of sheathing her sword, she kept slashing, as calm and steady as ever. Her attacks were so fast that Erza could only defend, with no chance to strike back.

Finally, a horizontal slash from Ikaruga gave Erza an opening. She sprang lightly backward and used Requip in midair.

"Heaven's Wheel-Circle Sword!" Dozens of swords formed a circle, spinning rapidly toward Ikaruga.

Facing Erza's attack, Ikaruga remained perfectly composed. Unhurriedly, she sheathed her sword again and instantly unleashed her Quick-Draw Technique.

"Moonless Style-Yasha Flashing Sky!"

In that brief instant, Ikaruga unleashed dozens of sword flashes too fast for the naked eye to follow, cutting apart every spinning sword. But it did not end there. Not only were the swords destroyed, even Erza's Heaven's Wheel Armor shattered into fragments.

"Whoa!"

Seeing Ikaruga cut apart Erza's armor again, everyone in the guild cried out in amazement. Natsu shouted even more excitedly.

"Come on, Erza!"

But his next words left everyone speechless.

"If you lose, I'll be eating dirt for the next few days!"

"Pfft..." Beside Natsu, Lucy nearly spat blood. She could not help shouting at him, "That's what you're worried about?!"

"..." Ignoring the commotion around her, Erza looked at the shattered armor scattered across the floor, then exhaled. "No wonder my brother spoke so highly of you. I wasn't convinced at the time."

As she spoke, Pure Heart Clothing appeared on her body. She wore red baggy trousers patterned with yellow flames and small white flowers, while her upper body was covered only by bandages wrapped around her chest.

"Huh?"

"Why isn't Erza changing into another suit of armor?"

"That looks like a training outfit!"

While everyone else was puzzled, only Makarov and Xi Feng smiled. Erza had finally overcome the knot in her heart.

"Hm?" Sensing the change in Erza, Ikaruga's gaze sharpened, losing its earlier placidity.

"Phew..." Erza took a deep breath. Two swords appeared in her hands, and she charged straight at Ikaruga. Seeing this, Ikaruga stepped forward and charged as well.

Crack!

But just as the two were about to meet, a bolt of lightning suddenly struck down between them.

"!!!"

The sudden interruption stunned everyone present, while Erza and Ikaruga swiftly dodged away.

"What's going on?"

"What just happened?"

"Where did that lightning come from?"

"You still have the time for this nonsense?!"

A deep voice rang out, carrying a sense of barely restrained anger.

"Laxus!"

He was a tall man with short blond hair, a lightning-shaped mark over his left eye, headphones on his head, and a coat draped over his shoulders.

"What was that for?!" Makarov asked coldly, looking at his grandson.

"Hmph..." Laxus snorted without answering Makarov. He turned toward the crowd and fixed his gaze on one man.

"You're the reason everyone looks down on our guild!" Looking at Gajeel furiously, Laxus sent a Thunderbolt crashing down onto him.

"Aaaaaagh!"

Caught completely off guard, Gajeel could only scream in pain as a Thunderbolt struck him.

"Gajeel!"

"What are you doing, Laxus?!"

"Stop it, Laxus!"

Everyone froze when Laxus suddenly attacked Gajeel, then began shouting for him to stop.

"Don't! Gajeel knows he was wrong!"

Juvia could not bear to watch Gajeel being attacked. After all, she was the one who had brought him into the guild. She stepped straight into Laxus's path.

"I remember you were from Phantom Lord too! Then you can die as well!" Seeing Juvia standing in his way only made Laxus angrier. He did not hold back just because she was a woman. With a flick of his hand, he sent a Thunderbolt hurtling toward her.

Chapter 65: The Miss Fairy Tail Contest (Please send flowers)

"Juvia!"

Seeing Laxus suddenly attack, Lucy cried out in alarm.

Whoosh...

Just then, Xi Feng appeared in front of Juvia. With a casual swat, he scattered the Thunderbolt Laxus had sent at her.

"Lord Xi Feng!"

Looking at Xi Feng standing before her, Juvia called out with tears in her eyes. She had thought she was about to be hit, but Xi Feng had appeared before her like a god descending from heaven. She was deeply moved.

"Tch..." Laxus frowned at Xi Feng's appearance, thoroughly annoyed.

"What exactly are you trying to do, Laxus?!" Makarov spoke up, his tone suggesting he was struggling to suppress his anger.

"It's because of you, old man, that everyone laughs at Fairy Tail! This guild is utterly boring now. I can't stand it!"

"Nine six three."

Laxus spat those words viciously at Makarov, then turned and left.

"What did he mean by that?"

"What's gotten into Laxus?"

"What on earth is he thinking?!"

As Laxus left, everyone began talking again. After what had just happened, though, they were all furious with him.

"Laxus..." Watching his retreating back, Makarov felt deeply disappointed. He was no longer the sweet grandson he had once known.

Because of the incident with Laxus, Ikaruga and Erza's duel ended without a result. Although the guild members were disappointed not to know who would have won, the strength Ikaruga had displayed had earned everyone's recognition.

As time passed, Ikaruga, Juvia, Gajeel, and Ur gradually settled into the guild. The annual Harvest Season was also drawing near.

"The Harvest Season spirit is really in the air." Looking at the people bustling along the streets, Makarov was exceptionally happy.

"Yes, everyone's getting ready for the Grand Magic Parade." Xi Feng nodded, then thought of what had happened with Laxus a few days earlier. "With Laxus coming back at a time like this, I don't think he's here to celebrate."

"..." Hearing Xi Feng's words, Makarov looked troubled. Remembering what had happened a few days earlier, he had a vague suspicion, but he did not want it to be true. He shook his head. "Don't mention him. I hope he doesn't ruin the festival, or else... Never mind. Let's not talk about him. Hurry back. The Fairy Tail Miss contest is today, and I want to get a good look!"

As he spoke, a lecherous expression appeared on Makarov's face, as though he was eagerly anticipating something.

"Mm." Xi Feng said nothing more. He simply nodded and followed Makarov.

An enormous crowd had gathered at the Fairy Tail guild that day. Not only were the guild members present, but Magnolia's citizens were there as well. After all, everyone knew it was the day of the Fairy Tail Miss contest, and they all wanted to feast their eyes.

"Sorry for the wait, everyone! Our lovely fairies are about to put on a beautiful show for you. I hereby declare the Fairy Tail Miss contest open!" The host stepped out and shouted to the audience below.

"Our first contestant is... a beauty full of exotic charm! Cana Alberona!"

At the host's introduction, Cana walked out from backstage. She drew her cards and surrounded her entire body with them. When they scattered, she had changed straight into a bikini.

"Awooo!" Quite a few men let out wolfish howls, while Makarov nodded repeatedly, blood trickling from his nose.

"Our second contestant is a new member with S-Class strength! As gentle as water, a fresh, lovely beauty-Juvia Rocks!"

"Watch me, Lord Xi Feng! I'll definitely win!" Looking at Xi Feng below the stage, Juvia wore a determined expression. Her body instantly turned into water, and after a stream washed over her, her outfit became a bikini.

But when it was contestant number four, Mira's turn, she smilingly transformed her head into Happy's, then Gajeel's, making the men present nearly spit blood.

Contestant number five, Erza, charmed everyone with an unexpected contrast by changing into a Gothic outfit. She proved extremely popular, and even Xi Feng discovered a different kind of cuteness in her.

Contestant number six, Wendy, wore a maid outfit. Her shy expression made quite a few little-girl enthusiasts faint.

Contestant number seven, Ikaruga, wore her usual kimono and demonstrated her swordsmanship onstage, but the response was rather ordinary.

Contestant number eight, Levy, decorated herself with word magic, while number nine, Bisca, gave a shooting demonstration. Number ten was a pair, Lisanna and Lisanna. After spinning once in the air, the two transformed straight into cat-eared girls. With an irresistibly adorable "Meow," they sent the entire crowd cheering. ...

"This is quite a sight, isn't it?" A gentle voice sounded beside Xi Feng, who had been watching from below the stage.

"Hm?" Xi Feng turned his head in puzzlement and discovered it was Ur. He had no idea when she had come over to stand beside him. He could not help asking, "You're not entering?"

"Me?" Ur was briefly taken aback by Xi Feng's question, then smiled. "I'm already old. Why would I compete with these young girls?"

"Old? I don't think so." As he spoke, Xi Feng looked Ur up and down. Ever since her resurrection, time seemed to have stopped for her body.

"Back on Galuna Island..."

But the moment those words left his mouth, Xi Feng immediately covered it, realizing he had let something slip.