Chapter 107: The One Going Through the Fire Ring Might Not Be a Wolf
Chapter 107: The One Going Through the Fire Ring Might Not Be a Wolf
It was nearing 7 PM, and a crescent moon hung in the sky. The moonlight was not particularly bright, but the stars twinkled fiercely, as if competing with the crescent moon for glory.
Both visitors from out of town, like Mr. Ajima and President Goldman, and local residents, such as the Goodman family, had already gathered along the parade route.
Some of the more impatient ones had even stationed themselves at the entrance of the Fairy Tail guild.
However, the guild that was expected to be bustling with lights and activity was now eerily quiet, leaving many to wonder if the magical parade had changed its starting point.
Just as the second and minute hands aligned at 12, a sudden burst of light shot up into the sky.
Crack!
A brilliant red light accompanied by a sharp sound.
Immediately after, more lights with long, trailing tails began to rise from various points around Magnolia, exploding into a kaleidoscope of colorful fireworks.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The night sky was illuminated by a barrage of fireworks, and the explosions echoed continuously.
Even before the mages made their appearance, the crowd's enthusiasm was already ignited by the dazzling pre-parade fireworks.
The flickering lights reflected on the faces of the spectators, who looked up at the sky with expressions of surprise and anticipation.
After about three minutes of intense fireworks, the display gradually thinned out, but new lights began to appear in the sky near Fairy Tail.
It was a magic circle, one layer, two layers, three layers... a total of five massive, differently colored magic circles lit up above the guild, drawing the attention of the audience.
As the light from the magic circles began to fade, a giant figure emerged from the air, as if stepping out of a void, with ripples like water waves spreading around it.
At the same time, festive music began to play, though no musicians were in sight.
"That's Master Makarov!"
"True to his reputation as one of the Ten Wizard Saints, his presence is so overwhelming!"
"It's just an illusion, Master Makarov is actually a very kind person."
Local residents eagerly shared their impressions of Makarov, seemingly deriving a strange satisfaction from the visitors' amazement.
Boom! Boom! The giant Makarov seemed to make the ground tremble with each step he took.
The massive size difference often instilled fear, but knowing it was a magical performance, the audience's emotions shifted to excitement.
Following him were two rows of musicians, a total of ten people, all music enthusiasts from the guild.
They were the ones who had just started the festive music, using specially crafted magical instruments.
Even with the ongoing fireworks, the music reached every spectator's ears clearly.
Behind the musicians was a tall float, carrying the girls who had participated in the Miss Fairy Tail contest.
Kana, Levy, Bisca, and others were all there, dressed in matching outfits, waving ribbons and performing a dance that resembled cheerleading.
Even Kana, who had been suffering from consecutive hangovers, wore a smile—being in this guild, she knew she would eventually achieve her goals.
On either side of the float were two groups of dancers, each wearing their preferred costumes, moving in simple and lively steps to the music.
Jett, Nab, Troy, and Bigda, whose magic was not flashy enough for the main performance, were among them.
The second float carried Elfman, Laxus, and Loki.
Elfman's arms had transformed into fierce, beastly limbs, showcasing his manliness.
Loki flexed his arms, and the rings on his fingers glowed, forming the guild's name as he manipulated them.
Laxus waved his paintbrush, and rainbows and fireworks flew from his stomach, which served as his canvas, almost indistinguishable from the real thing.
Countless petals floated backward, drifting toward the next float.
On this float, Mira danced in a blue festival dress, her arms moving gracefully as petals fluttered around her, making her look like a fairy of the flowers.
Following her was the float carrying Erza, who had donned a specially crafted armor for the festival.
Sixteen long swords, crafted specifically for the festival, danced and spun with her every move, blending beauty and valor in a mesmerizing display.
Many in the audience marveled at the performance but also wondered:
Why didn't she wear this outfit for the beauty pageant? Wouldn't this have been better than using those obviously sharp swords to dance around people's heads?
Each float was accompanied by a troupe of dancers on either side, and between the floats, there were various bands and dance groups.
Everyone was either dressed in elaborate costumes or showcasing appropriate magic, gradually building the atmosphere to a fever pitch.
The group responsible for the finale was Rod, Happy, Natsu, and Gray.
Gray and Natsu each rode an ancient stone beetle, riding side by side.
Gray, with his palms pressed together, conjured massive ice crystals that rose into the air and shattered into a cascade of icy fragments.
Natsu, forcing himself to stay alert, spat out fireballs that rose alongside the ice crystals, exploding into brilliant fireworks.
Rod, meanwhile, was carried into the air by Happy, deftly weaving through the flames and ice crystals, spiraling upward.
Happy released his grip, and Rod began to fall naturally.
At that moment, a flock of red birds flew by, and Rod stepped on their backs, descending gracefully as if walking down a staircase.
Just before he was about to land, Happy caught him again and hovered him in front of Natsu and Gray.
Rod extended both hands, writing 'FIRE' with one and 'ICE' with the other.
The words transformed into letters made of flame and ice, cascading down.
Natsu opened his mouth, swallowing the fire and spitting out the guild's name in flames, while Gray caught the ice and reshaped it into the guild's emblem using his magic.
Makao and Wakaba, standing on either side, manipulated purple fire and smoke to form intricate patterns, encircling the guild emblem and name.
As everyone made their final appearances, Mystogan, hidden in the shadows, put away his staff.
The magic circle at the beginning and the sudden appearance of the guild master and the floats were all achieved through his illusions.
Now that the S-Class special effects wizard Mystogan had finished his performance, it was time for the S-Class security guard Mystogan to take over.
Climbing silently to the top of a building, he discovered two canyon swift crabs that Laxus had magically disguised.
He had heard some rumors about this new guild member, like how he trained tirelessly, had designs on Mirajane, and was incredibly cautious.
While Mystogan wasn't sure about the other rumors, he had definitely seen the caution firsthand.
He should congratulate the guild master, he thought. It's rare to find someone so easy to manage.
The magical parade started at the guild's entrance, crossed the canal, and proceeded to the Cardia Cathedral before returning to the guild via another route.
Everyone put on their best performances, showcasing the magical and enchanting aspects of the guild, as well as the friendly and approachable nature of its members.
Ajima stood in the crowd with his hands behind his back. "With so many excellent young mages, no wonder Makarov is so happy."
"Our guild's children have a long way to go when compared to them," Guild Master Gildarts said, crossing his arms, first with frustration, then with a smile. "But then again, this is Fairy Tail."
Not far from them, a blue-haired girl holding a white kitten went largely unnoticed.
"Such a beautiful and powerful guild," she marveled.
The white kitten spoke in a human voice, "Don't forget why you're here."
"Tomorrow, tomorrow for sure..."
"You said the same thing yesterday."
"Charle~"
In a nearby alley, Laxus leaned against a wall, coolly watching the parade, lost in thought.
The Thunder Palace members were diligently patrolling the parade route—Laxus didn't want Fairy Tail to make a fool of itself, and they didn't want Laxus to be unhappy.
Porlyusica, alone in the forest outside the city, watched the fireworks in the sky with a faint smile that quickly faded.
"Why do they have to hold this ceremony every year? It's so noisy, and how am I supposed to sleep?"
(End of Chapter)
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