Natsu clenched his fists. "Tomorrow I'm up! We'll stretch the lead so far the other guilds can't catch us."
"Go for it, Natsu!" Happy cheered.
Gajeel smirked. "If the Fire‑Dragon's in, then so am I."
Panther Lily added, "Time the rest of you saw the fruits of our training."
Max, a little provocative, asked, "Natsu, after three months of practice, how strong are you now?" (Three months earlier Max had actually managed to hold Natsu down.)
Su Yan and Mirajane had always been S‑Class; Natsu's new level was the real unknown.
"Wanna try me?"
"Bring it!!"
A scuffle broke out; everyone gathered, eager for a show.
Moments later Max lay flat, Natsu yanking him up by the trousers.
"Awesome, Natsu!"
"Weak‑burst Max!" Macao and Wakaba whooped.
Warren and Vijeeter stared, sweat‑beaded.
"Three months and he's *that* strong?"
"Where do guys like us even stand now…?"
They'd once felt proud seeing Max surpass Natsu—because Max's power was close to their own. In a blink that advantage vanished, leaving only doubt. Seven years of work erased by someone else's three‑month leap.
Gajeel's eyes gleamed. "Interesting. I'll be your next opponent—"
"Knock it off," Laxus rumbled. "You and Natsu aren't sparring for fun."
Gajeel raised a brow, gave Laxus's head a friendly pat. "Since when'd you mellow out, Laxus?"
Levy hurriedly dragged Gajeel away. "Don't poke the lightning, Gajeel."
Freed, thoroughly drunk, banged the table. "Y‑you lout! Treating Laxus like that tramples our dignity!"
He spun around to rally Evergreen and Bickslow—only to find Cana had already drunk them both under the table.
Just then a burly stranger approached Cana. "You're tough, miss. Care to test yourself against me?"
Cana, pleasantly tipsy, brightened. "A drink‑off? Sure—though I've no idea who you are."
Macao warned, "Buddy, walk away while you can."
Wakaba nodded. "That woman's a monster."
Bottles piled high. Cana finally keeled over—while the man kept drinking.
"No way!!" Macao and Wakaba shrieked.
"Wahahahaha!" the victor roared.
"Seriously?!" Jet gaped.
Laki whispered, disbelieving, "Cana lost… drinking?"
Warren adjusted his glasses. "First time I've ever seen it. Who *is* that guy?"
"Bacchus?" someone murmured.
The man grinned at a red‑haired knight who'd just walked in. "Oi, Erza! Still a beauty, eh?"
"Long time no see, Bacchus," Erza replied.
"I hear you lot vanished for seven years. And you skipped the Games all that time—ha! Gray's pathetic showing earlier meant I couldn't just sit back, so I joined Quatro Cerberus as an alternate." He flexed. "Today's matches were wild—yaaa! Didn't know Fairy Tail housed such monsters. If we meet tomorrow, let's finish our fight, Erza. *Soul forever, WILD—!*"
Erza hesitated. "For…?"
"Wahahaha—doesn't suit you, huh?" Bacchus laughed and strode out.
Lucy blinked. "Who *was* that?"
"Bacchus Groh," Erza explained. "S‑Class mage of Quatro Cerberus—'The Drunken Bacchus.' I've tangled with him a few times. We've never settled it."
"Even with *you*?" Lucy gasped.
Across the room, a very tipsy Makarov leapt onto a table. "Listen up, brats! Give it everything tomorrow! Bring me that forty million—no, bring me the *championship*! Goal: Fiore's Number One!"
"Ohhhhhh!" the guild roared.
After the day's triumphs no one fretted about tomorrow.
---
### Day Two — Athletic Event: **Chariot**
[**Chapati Lola:** In this race, contestants stand on linked chariots that never stop moving. Fall off, you're out. First team across Rocker's resort and back to Domus Flau wins!]
[**Jason:** C000L!!]
Watching the crystal display, the Fairy Tail crew went pale.
"Why let Natsu race?" Gray groaned.
Lucy face‑palmed. "The word *chariot* alone should've tipped him off."
Erza sighed. "He insisted. Wouldn't listen."
Su Yan chuckled. "Heh—then let him suffer."