The first-ever Fairy Tail Magic Tournament reached its final day, its final match—the highly anticipated showdown that had everyone buzzing: Sage Kira versus Demon Mirajane.
"So, how are we fighting today…?"
Kira reflected on the past two days. He'd faced Gray in a contest of magical speed and elemental strength, then Mystogan in a battle of illusions and mana control. So, what should he test against Mirajane?
On the other side, Mirajane bounced onto the arena with her usual flair. She wore her familiar outfit—no makeup, just her natural, sweet charm. Her long white hair flowed down to her waist, and she sported a simple black dress, its hem swaying with her steps.
Kira stared at the beauty before him, a stray thought crossing his mind. "Has she been wearing that same dress for days? Doesn't she wash it?"
Mirajane caught his gaze but didn't seem to mind. With a bright smile, she said, "I can't believe I made it this far! It'd be amazing to win that grand prize!"
Why's she bringing that up now? Kira wasn't sure what she meant but played along. "Well, duh. Winning the championship comes with a nice chunk of cash…"
As he spoke, he noticed Mirajane's expression shift slightly, looking a bit off. What's with that face? Is she feeling okay? Did she… forget to use the bathroom this morning or something?
Before he could dwell on it, Dispel's voice boomed from the judges' stand: "Let the match begin!"
"Go for it!!"
"Get 'em!!"
Maybe because it was the tournament's grand finale, the crowd's cheers were louder than ever, roaring through the arena.
Some cheered for Mirajane, her popularity unmatched. Others rooted for Kira—mostly those who'd bet on him winning. But for the spectators who didn't know either, Mirajane was the favorite. Who could resist a sweet, adorable white-haired girl?
Kira stood still, waiting for Mirajane to make the first move. He hadn't decided which magic to use in this fight. "Too many options can be a real pain. I can't just jump into battle mode like everyone else…"
Mirajane stopped, her magic surging around her. "Demon Soul: Satan Soul!"
She didn't summon Ice Demon King Aiss's soul. While powerful, its magic was too predictable, and Kira could easily counter it. Plus, she wasn't as comfortable with it. Satan Soul, though? That was her go-to. She'd wielded it for years, earning her the "Demon" title.
"Close-combat mode!"
With a shout, Kira activated a technique he hadn't used in ages. He layered buffs—attack, defense, speed—transforming himself into a melee mage in an instant.
Crack! Boom!
The air exploded with two sharp blasts as both fighters turned into blurs, charging toward each other. The ground where they'd stood cracked, small craters forming under the force.
Clang! Thud! Boom!
Fists and feet collided, the ground shattered, air whistled, and shockwaves rippled. The two shadows clashed in midair, parting and colliding again so fast that their movements were a blur. In the massive arena, only a handful of the thousands watching could track them.
No one expected the final match to kick off with such a straightforward, high-speed brawl.
"These two are both S-Class wizards, aren't they…?"
A voice in the crowd reminded everyone of the previous S-Class battles. The first had showcased dazzling, ever-changing magic and unmatched swordplay. The second immersed them in illusions of seasons shifting, worlds collapsing, and dragons falling. Each duel had broadened their view of magic, redefining what they thought possible.
Today was the third and final match. These two wizards were showing them something new: "Look! No fancy spells, no magical tools or armor, no swords—just raw, brutal hand-to-hand combat. This is how true wizards fight!"
The crowd was stunned, amazed, but far from disappointed.
"No flashy magic, just pure strength and speed beyond anything normal—this is what S-Class wizards are made of?"
"Is this that 'back-to-basics' thing? Do stronger wizards just love throwing punches?"
"Could be!"
As the chatter continued, Kira and Mirajane had been trading blows in midair for minutes. Despite his boosted strength and speed, Kira's technique lagged slightly behind Mirajane's. He was starting to lose ground, but the gap wasn't huge. Spotting an opening, he disengaged, leaping out of the fray.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Both figures shot back to the ground, landing firmly. Then, at the same moment, they raised their hands, magic erupting.
"Dark Torrent!"
"Holy Sweep!"
The physical clash ended, and the magical duel began.
Black and white magic burst forth like tidal waves, tangible and fierce. It was like the ice-versus-fire battles they'd seen before, but this time it was darkness—symbolizing demons and evil—against light, representing purity and justice.
The opposing forces canceled each other out, vanishing in midair.
"Ultra Savage Storm!"
Mirajane soared upward, black vortexes forming in her hands, whipping up a violent tempest around her, as if it could tear everything apart.
"Sacred Sky Tempest!"
Kira crouched slightly, hands positioned at his waist, one above the other. Magic gathered, forming a "Tempest Rasengan" between his palms. Holy magic fused into it, blending perfectly to create a spell far stronger than its parts.
The sheer power of their magic shook the arena, the opposing storms creating an eerie, oppressive silence.
"The air feels… thick."
"It's so heavy…"
"Is this their magic at work?"
The crowd's murmurs didn't faze the fighters. Their bodies tensed, and their ultimate moves shot forward.
Mirajane's storm vortex roared, kicking up blades of wind and cyclones, stirring sand and dust. Kira felt like he was facing a typhoon, unable to move. With a shrug of his shoulders, he hurled his spiraling tempest orb. It arced through the air, striking the eye of Mirajane's storm.
The orb grew on impact, forming a ten-meter spherical wind field. Invisible blades, sharp as steel, shredded the vortex into fragments, dispersing it into faint breezes.
To the crowd, it looked like Mirajane unleashed a black tornado, and Kira countered with a white wind orb that expanded, purifying the dark storm. Ordinary spectators could only judge the magic's strength by the wind's force, but the stark black-and-white contrast gave them a thrilling visual, clearly showing the battle's flow.
This Magic Tournament wasn't just a ranking match for Fairy Tail's wizards—it was a spectacle for the audience and visitors. Strength wasn't the main point; style was. Almost everyone knew this, which was why the fights were so dazzling, even if it meant burning through mana for flashy but impractical spells. It was all to showcase the wonder of magic and Fairy Tail's might.
"Bet the guild's gonna get a ton of new jobs after this. Probably what the old man's banking on…"
As the wind pressure faded, the match neared its climax. This wasn't a life-or-death fight—just a show to dazzle the crowd.
"Soul Extinguisher!"
Mirajane gathered immense darkness in her hands, a spell she hadn't used in years, signaling her triumphant return to the magical stage.
Against dark magic, light was the best counter. Kira spread his arms, a white orb forming before him. It shot skyward, then plummeted down.
"Holy Judgment!"
Surging darkness clashed with piercing holy light. The two ultimate energies collided midair, triggering a massive explosion that shook the entire arena!