After returning to the stands, Erza immediately gave Calvin a high-five, showcasing their seamless teamwork and Erza's effortless victory in the previous battle.
"Impressive! You've mastered 'Sakura Flash.' Pascal was no match for you, and you didn't even go all out, did you?" Calvin said with a confident tone. Erza only smiled nonchalantly in response.
"By the way, Calvin, what condition are you going to impose? Don't let that guy off easily," Gray interjected. Everyone in Fairy Tail was furious with Pascal for suggesting Erza spend a night with him. Now that he had lost, they wanted to ensure he paid for it.
"Hmph, since he likes women so much, I'll return the favour. Let's have him spend a night with a man. With his strong build, I'm sure he'll be popular."
Lucy was shocked by Calvin's words, giving him a horrified look, and even Gray was taken aback, momentarily speechless.
"Are you serious? Not joking?" Gray finally asked.
"Of course. Do I look like I'm joking?" Calvin replied calmly, shrugging.
At this point, Erza looked at Calvin with a peculiar gaze, making him feel uneasy. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Calvin asked.
Erza shook her head and said softly, "Nothing, I'm just curious where you met men who like other men. Could it be that you..."
Her words left the rest of the group understanding the implication.
Calvin, exasperated, said, "It was just a coincidence. I like women!"
Erza responded with a sceptical "Oh, oh," while Gray discreetly moved a few steps away, looking awkward.
Calvin, fully aware of Gray's actions, chose to ignore them to avoid making things worse. He realized that Gray's behaviour was partially in jest.
Calvin then noticed that Natsu had been resting for a long time after his match. Given Natsu's resilience, he should have recovered quickly from his motion sickness. This unusual situation prompted Calvin to ask Lucy, who had escorted Natsu to rest.
"Lucy, isn't Natsu's motion sickness unusually severe? He's been resting too long."
Lucy seemed surprised but answered softly, "No, Porlyusica said he only needed a short rest. He should be coming out soon."
Before she finished, Natsu appeared, his face dark. He immediately spoke up, "Wendy and Porlyusica were kidnapped, but I managed to rescue them. It was Raven Tail's doing."
Everyone's faces turned grim. Calvin asked, "Are they okay?"
Natsu nodded quickly, "They're fine. Wendy's previous condition, where her magic was drained, has also improved."
The group breathed a collective sigh of relief, grateful that Wendy was unharmed. Calvin nodded, remaining calm. "Explain everything from the beginning. What happened?"
Natsu recounted the events after he woke up. He found the rest area empty and detected unfamiliar scents. He followed the trail and discovered Wendy, Charle, and Porlyusica being taken away. After defeating the culprits, he overheard them say they were instructed by Raven Tail.
Calvin fell into deep thought, while Gray cursed angrily, "Raven Tail is despicable, using such underhanded tactics!"
"Their leader's behaviour reflects their actions, but I doubt Wendy was the main target. Lucy was also in the room," Calvin suggested.
His words made everyone realize Lucy might have been the actual target. Lucy, confused and worried, wondered why she was targeted.
"Are they trying to weaken our fighting strength one by one?" Erza speculated.
"I'm not sure, but there are other oddities. They have someone capable of draining magic instantly, yet they don't use them. Plus, Natsu was in a vulnerable state. If I were them, I wouldn't have missed that chance. Natsu poses a greater threat than Lucy," Calvin reasoned.
The group pondered his words, and Gray soon explained. "Maybe it's due to the duel rules. Participants must appear, and they didn't know who would be chosen."
Calvin nodded, "That makes sense, but everyone knows about our rivalry with Raven Tail. It could be a setup. Regardless, someone is plotting against Fairy Tail. Stay alert, and Lucy, avoid being alone."
"I have a bad feeling about this Grand Magic Games. It might not end smoothly," Calvin added.
The others nodded in agreement, their expressions serious despite their current leading score.
Meanwhile, the next match was announced: Jenny of Blue Pegasus versus Mirajane of Fairy Tail's B team. Both were famous beauties and former magazine models, capturing everyone's attention.
Jenny proposed a modelling contest to decide the winner, judged by the three referees. However, Mirajane refused without hesitation.
"Afraid you'll lose your charm to me, Mira?" Jenny taunted, trying to provoke Mirajane.
Mirajane smiled calmly and said, "From now on, my charm belongs to only one person. Let's fight, Jenny. Are you scared?"
As Mirajane's demeanour shifted to seriousness, Jenny felt a chill. Despite not being a strong fighter, she readied herself, not wanting to show weakness.
Jenny used her Take Over magic, 'Machina Soul,' transforming to gain powerful machinery abilities. In response, Mirajane activated her Satan Soul, specifically the form she used against the Harpies, becoming a fearsome figure with blue flames.
"Mirajane can control that form? Isn't it dangerous?" Calvin exclaimed, shocked.
Lucy, noticing Calvin's reaction, asked Erza, "Is that form really that terrifying?"
Erza smiled and explained, "Yes, it's the strongest Satan Soul. Years ago, when Mirajane first used it, she lost control and severely beat up Calvin."
Lucy, stunned, glanced at Calvin, who defended himself, "I held back because I didn't want to hurt her!"
Natsu and Gray, sharing a knowing look, understood Calvin's predicament, having been on the receiving end of Mirajane and Erza's strength before.
As Calvin refocused on the duel, it was already over. Mirajane had easily defeated Jenny with a single strike, showcasing the power of her Satan Soul.
Gajeel, from the B team, looked fearful and advised against provoking Mirajane. Even Laxus agreed, recalling Mirajane's fearsome reputation.
"She's still as terrifying as ever. If this was half a month ago, even my summons would struggle against her," Calvin remarked, implying his summons had now grown much stronger.