"I won!"
After Laxus collapsed to the ground…
Erza slowly drew the knight's sword from her waist, raised it toward the sun overhead, and flashed a proud smile.
"I didn't disappoint Father."
Erza's heart surged with emotion. She could already picture herself winning the Fairy Tail 24-hour Brawl Tournament this year and receiving Ian's praise...
At that time, Erza would stand on the podium, with all the guild members staring enviously, jealously, and grudgingly at her, as she presented the million jewels prize she earned herself to Ian as a gift.
That scene was simply too beautiful; just imagining it made her excited.
"Huff! Huff! Huff..."
Just as Erza was gazing up at the sunlight, lost in her daydreams, a heavy, rhythmic panting sound suddenly caught her attention.
"Huh? That is…"
Turning toward the sound, Erza saw Cana approaching. Dressed in a tank top and shorts perfect for long runs, a towel around her neck, and a water bottle in hand, her skin glistening with sweat and shimmering in the sunlight, her healthy bronze tone accentuated by every movement.
"Cana, we won for our dorm!"
Upon seeing Cana, Erza waved enthusiastically and shouted.
"Yes, we won for our dorm," Cana replied with a smile. She quickened her pace, like a swift leopard, crossing the finish line of Fairy Tail's 24-hour endurance race, and raised her hand high, holding up the glistening scales of the wyvern.
"I've brought back the scales of the wyvern!" Cana shouted triumphantly, "The champion of this year's 24-hour endurance race is me, Cana!"
"Huh?!"
Erza's mind blanked for a moment as she stared dumbfounded at Cana. "Wait, Cana, what was the competition we were just in called again?!"
"The 24-hour endurance race. Why?" Cana asked, confused, turning toward Erza.
"Haha... oh no."
Erza forced an awkward laugh. Endurance race? She had completely forgotten. In her mind, this was clearly a brawl tournament.
Finally, Erza plopped down on the ground.
"This year's champion of the 24-hour Brawl Tournament is…"
At that moment, Ian and Ur arrived at Fairy Tail's mountain behind the guild. Upon seeing Erza and Cana still conscious, they instinctively began to announce the winner of the tournament.
However, when Ian noticed the wyvern scales Cana was holding, a look of realization flashed across his eyes, and he muttered, "Oh! Come to think of it, yesterday's event wasn't a brawl tournament; it was the endurance race, wasn't it?!"
"Huh?! That's news to me!" Ur was stunned, exclaiming in disbelief.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"What exactly are you all so shocked about?"
"Come on, is it really that surprising that this year's event was the endurance race and not a brawl tournament?" Cana interrupted, holding the scales and criticizing Ian and the others. "Besides, our guild has been hosting endurance races for years… What did you all think we were participating in?"
"I wasn't in the guild the last few years, so I didn't participate in the endurance races. It's only natural I didn't know the rules, right?" Ur said confidently, crossing her arms.
"And for the last few years, the rewards weren't as generous as they are this time," Ian added, mimicking Ur's posture with a righteous tone. "So I skipped the endurance races under the pretense of doing missions and went drinking with Gildarts instead..."
"What exactly are you proud of?" Cana sighed helplessly at Ian's smugness.
"In any case, since the guild master isn't here, it falls to me, as the acting S-class mage, to continue hosting this year's 24-hour endurance race." Ian raised his hands as he declared, "I hereby announce the champion of this year's endurance race is Cana Alberona! And she's also the only one who completed the race within the 24-hour limit."
With that, Ian raised his hands in celebration. "Let's give a round of applause for Cana's victory."
Clap, clap, clap…
"Cana, congratulations!"
"Well done, Cana!"
"This is a great achievement, Cana!"
Suddenly, the makeshift podium was filled with the cheers, congratulations, and applause of Ian, Ur, and Erza.
"Ah, this is so depressing…"
"I mean, I did win the championship, but..."
Cana stood there in a daze, surrounded by Ian and the others who were clapping and congratulating her. Yet, for some reason, she couldn't help but feel an odd sense of desolation inside. Even the trophy in her hands didn't feel as rewarding anymore.
"Now that we have a winner…"
"It's time to talk about the losers."
"Victors get rewards, but the losers? They get punishments."
"Don't even think about trying to escape your fate," Ian said with a sly grin, turning to the Fairy Tail members who were sprawled across the mountain, most either unconscious or pretending to sleep.
"Uh-oh…"
In that instant, all the Fairy Tail members, whether they were starting to wake up or still lying down pretending to sleep, suddenly tensed up. A chill ran down their spines as the icy aura Ian emitted filled the air.
Everyone knew the punishment wouldn't be simple.
And so, in the afternoon…
After they had regained some strength and rested a bit from the 24-hour endurance race, the Fairy Tail members gathered again at the back of the guild's mountain, just as Ian had requested.
It was time for punishment.
"Boom!"
Without wasting words, Ian summoned the reward he had obtained from his simulation—a towering, magical research building—using his space magic.
"What is that?!"
"Ian had something like this hidden away?"
"Incredible..."
All the Fairy Tail members were utterly shocked by the massive building before them, which was several times larger than the Fairy Tail guild itself.
"Seeing this building again after four years really brings back memories," Ultear said calmly, having already come to terms with her past. She could now look at the towering structure without any emotional turmoil.
"No… this is bad…"
Gray and Lyon, however, seemed to have guessed the nature of the punishment. Without a word, they started to flee.
"Hey~"
Ian had anticipated their move. He blocked their escape and grinned wickedly. "Where do you think you're going, little brats?"
At that moment, Ian looked like a devil walking among mortals.
"Ugh…"
Gray and Lyon trembled uncontrollably.
"Everyone, please enter~"
With a snap of his fingers, Ian opened the doors to the magical research building.
Creak!
Boom!!
Beyond the doors was an abyss of pitch-black darkness.
Within the darkness, it felt like countless eyes were staring at the gathered Fairy Tail members.
"This place feels really ominous," Mirajane muttered, sweating nervously. If even someone who had absorbed a demon's soul was feeling scared, it was clear just how eerie this place was.
"Don't worry~"
"You'll be fine."
"After all, I'm not a devil, right?" Ian chuckled, using gravity magic to forcibly "invite" those who were unwilling to enter the creepy building.
---
Bonus chapter for reaching 300 Power Stones, Thank you all who voted!
Next Milestone is: 400 Power Stones.
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