Fairy Tail - Twilight Empire

Chapter 14 - Shining Stars

The stage for the magic contestants was still in the arena itself but was a fancy raised platform, propped up by a Sand Wizard's magic to create powerful pillars that allowed the platform to sit at the eye level of people high up in the stadium. Few wizards were thrown off by the height, as those there had to survive a jump and fall from a much greater height during the preliminary rounds.

Gray was to go first of the Fairies, and then Elfman, followed by Erza, and Lucy rounded them out. Erza's hand twitched while she continued to consider her strategy that would both satisfy the likely-stingy judges and not blow her cover.

Requip magic wasn't the rarest form in the world, but Erza had armors she liked to cycle through commonly. They'd stand out. Some were quite specific to her persona, like her Armadura Fairy or her Heaven's Wheel Armor.

She let her hand rest on her sword resting on her hip.

Her name in the contest was Kaitlin Willow, based on the Knightwalker moniker. It was time she lived up to that, she figured and prayed it would be enough.

Gray was not just the first to arrive on stage for Fairy Tail but for the entire contest. He showed no sign of nerves and maintained a level attitude as he went forth and put on a brilliant display, dazzling the crowd with his ability to manipulate ice in all forms. Best of all, he didn't relent in using his Ice-Make magic.

In a way, Erza felt bad for him. Ice-Make was his instinct, it was his home. The form of Ice-Make magic he learned from Ur was so entirely his own, so unique in style, that to tell him to pull it back to mere Ice Magic went against his pride. Yet, Gray's pride didn't lie entirely in his magic, Erza knew. It was in his friends, in the value he had for their safety and protection. Thus, he did his absolute best and received high marks for it.

Elfman went not long after, ready to go out and,

"Show them how a real man can perform!"

His first Beast Soul transformation was a standard one, the large red one with a red chest and horns whose roars reverberated around the entire arena. Erza wanted to smile at the powerful display, but the haunted looks on the crowd informed her enough: the Empire had more than enough Takeover wizards in their employ.

Elfman changed strategy, then, quickly transforming into his Belcusas Form that was far more resplendent with its incredible armor, a set that almost seemed a more heroic version of what the Imperials wore. Elfman, just as he displayed a feat of strength in the armor, quickly transformed once more into a complete Lizardman Takeover.

Erza raised her eye. He had to be tapping into his Second Origin for some of these, and the speed and control with which he moved through them was absolutely incredible. If the judges knew Elfman's history with Full-Body Takeover magic, they'd give him the highest marks.

As it stood, as Elfman showed yet one more, the judges gave him marks slightly lower than Gray, yet still in the top-end. One judge, who appeared in a more militaristic uniform, indeed gave Elfman a perfect score.

Erza, who stood in the lobby alongside Lucy as they watched the event and waited for their turn, nodded in understanding about why they didn't have a battle Royale between all contestants.

Some magic wasn't meant for fighting. Their old friend Warren was not one who could be great in a fight, necessarily, but was a vital tactical asset. Gray's magic could be used for combat but he didn't receive great marks from the military man, but an official who was older, seemed to be living a more luxurious life. He'd be great at parties.

The magic contest weeded out useful tools for the Empire. Elfman could be recruited to the military. Erza, too, in all likelihood. But Gray and Lucy? They'd be great party tricks.