Gray and Leon locked eyes across the arena, each recalling the challenge they'd set for one another years ago. Leon's words rang clear in Gray's mind: "Surpass Ur… surpass myself." Despite Gray's remarkable progress in three months, he couldn't help but admire his rival's unyielding ambition.
Leon's presence pulsed with raw power—second only to Jura among the Ten Wizard Saints—evidence of seven years of relentless training.
"Admit defeat, Gray," Leon called out.
"I've trained every day for seven years. You can't catch up in three months. I'm your senior brother—I've earned this strength."
Master Makarov watched, awestruck. "Such power… rivaling Gildarts himself!" he murmured, thinking of how unexpectedly formidable Leon had become.
Onlookers from Sabertooth Tiger and Mermaid Heel alike drew breath at the display. No one had suspected Leon to harbor such force beneath his calm exterior.
Su Yan's jaw clenched at Leon's declaration. He'd known Leon to be proud—but never this proud. "I'll have to remind these two about true power once this is over…" he thought, determined to teach both Gray and Leon a lesson in humility.
Gray steadied himself, channeling what magic remained in his weary body. "This ends now!" He slammed both fists to the ground.
"Ice Make: Ice Fortress!"
In an instant, a towering bastion of ice sprang up around Gray—walls bristling with cannon muzzles trained on Leon.
Gray panted, every fiber of his magic spent on this desperate gambit. "I can't hold forever… but I must try!"
Leon's eyes gleamed. "Interesting. You've found your style at last." With a sweep of his hand, the beasts of his Beast Tide roared and surged forward.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The ice fortress trembled under the onslaught of Leon's creatures—eagles, tigers, apes, wolves, leopards… all empowered by frost.
Spectators gasped—a hundred ice beasts crashing against a single fortress, as though two legions were at war.
Gray's cannons answered: "Boom!" Spray of icy blasts shattered dozens of the smaller creatures, but one behemoth remained—the Ice Dragon itself.
The fortress's barrels erupted in cracks under the dragon's tail swipe. Ice walls splintered as Leon's greatest construct bore down.
"Crack—!" A fissure ran through Gray's shield. If it gave way, Gray would have no choice but to rush Leon with nothing but his fists.
Suddenly, a horn sounded:
"Time's up! The duel ends!"
Thirty fierce minutes had passed in an electrifying standoff. Neither wizard could claim a knockout, so by rule both earned five points.
"Magnificent!"
The crowd roared its approval—a duel for the ages. Even without a victor, Gray and Leon had proven themselves masters of their art.
Leon looked to Gray, breathless but unbowed. "No winner today. Juvia will stay with Fairy Tail A… but next time, I will win, and then she'll join Lamia Scale. That was our pact."
Gray laughed despite exhaustion. "Very well—until next time!"
On the sidelines:
Orga Nanagear murmured, "Sculpting magic… it truly is limitless."
Rufus noted, "Leon's Beast Tide and Gray's Fortress—they're the pinnacle of mold and shape magic."
In the Snake Scale area, Sherria and Yuka clutched each other in awe.
Toby wiped tears and cheered. "Three cheers for my guildmates!"
Leon, returning to the stands, offered a wry smile.
"It's a pity I couldn't finish him," he admitted.
"My magic reserves drained, and if I'd risked everything on the dragon, Gray might have broken free. Today remains undecided."
With that, both rivals departed—hearts alight with promise for their next fateful clash.