Fairy Tail: Falling Towards the Chaos

Chapter 43

Some days, it was hard to get out of bed. Sometimes, Virgo or even Jason's personal assistant, Zoni, would pop in to make sure she was alright. She supposed today was just one of those days. Lucy blearily blinked as the curtains were ripped open violently. Sunlight shined brightly upon her, causing the blonde to groan as she tried to pull the blanket over her head.

"Lucy, c'mon," Loke sighed, pulling the sheets away and out of her reach, "it's the big day. The final day of the Grand Magic Games, remember? You promised Jason you would be there bright and early."

"Oh crap, is that today?!" She shrieked, jumping up and out of her sleep. Despite the merciless pounding in her head and the heavy, aching feeling in her chest, she somehow found the energy to hussle herself, getting ready in around twenty-five minutes flat. Loke's figure fading away in the background as he chuckled softly at his mage's antics.

She eagerly brushed her hair swiftly, absentmindedly noting that her hair was growing quite long. It almost reached down to the lower part of her back. When she looked back up at her face, she noticed the small little bags that were settling under her eyes. Lucy scowled, roughly grabbing her eye cream, that seemed to work like a charm.

Lucy smoothed out the wrinkles in her blue halter top and straightened her white pleated mini skirt. Her bag was already packed with her notebook, portable lacrima, and extra pens; thanks to Loke.

As she looked up to see herself in the mirror once again, she took a deep breath. She popped one of her pills in her mouth to quell the headache before she smiled to herself with determination.

"Today is going to be a good day," she promised.

However, nothing always went to plan because she had spent half an hour arguing with the guards because she had forgotten her media pass. Thankfully, Jason had noticed her struggle and called her over with an exasperated sigh. He smiled down at her, though, so she knew it was in good faith.

"Sorry for being late!" Lucy apologized, bowing.

"Don't worry about it! The match is about to start," he chimed, pointing over the railing. The two opponents were entering the arena and the crowd was going wild. Lucy hastily pulled out her notebook and pen, preparing herself to catch every single little moment and detail.

"Aw, yeah! Time to get a scoop," she cheered alongside Jason. She jotted down notes as she tried to watch attentively to the match, but she had to admit, the Grand Magic Games was not as famed and glorious as it was before. In the past year, many of the guilds she'd fought back in the games had ceased entering, which left the pool of competitors filled with measly guilds holding no title or exponential power. So, as a wizard, Lucy felt very underwhelmed by the turn of events. Even when the winner was announced.

"W-woah! What is this? Another competitor entering the arena?!"

"An intruder?" She questioned quietly.

Emerging from the north entrance was a cloaked figure, face obscured, as he approached the winners slowly with even and steady strides. The magic power radiating off of him was unlike any Lucy had ever sensed, as she let out a soft gasp. Instinctively, her free hand went to clutch her keys, ready for any signs of aggressive.

"Jason, we need to evacuate everyone now, t-this m-magic power, it's off the charts!" Lucy exclaimed.

Suddenly, all at once, a wave of heat hit her square in the face. She squeaked as the heat surged through the arena; the very air feeling like it had turned to flame.

"Hey! Who the hell are you?!" One of the opponents in the arena called out to the cloaked figure.

The cloaked figure didn't give him an answer before he thrust his arm out and vicious dark black flames sprouted from his fingertips. It gathered slowly at first before expanding rapidly and swallowing the opponents whole.