Gray Fullbuster vs. Bickslow

is a battle fought between Mages of Fairy Tail, Gray Fullbuster and Bickslow of the Thunder God Tribe.

Prologue
Numerous battles spring up around the same time as Vijeeter Ecor and Nab Lasaro's battle: Warren Rocko vs. Max Alors, Macao Conbolt vs. Wakaba Mine, Laki Olietta vs. four other girls and a few other matches. These battles have been caused by the rune traps Freed Justine set up around town that forces the Mages trapped inside to fight each other until there is a winner. Through the status report, also by Freed's runes, Makarov and Natsu Dragneel read the ongoing matches. Nab won his match with Vijeeter, Warren won his match with Max, Laki eliminated four girls while Macao and Wakaba's battle is still ongoing. This angers both Makarov and Natsu. Makarov is angered by the fact that the Fairy Tail Mages are fighting among themselves while Natsu is angered by the fact that he's not part of the battles. Makarov chastises him for this and asks what good would it do if he joins. Natsu argues that it's just a tournament. Makarov replies that it's no tournament as comrades are being forced to fight one another. Their lives are on the line and nobody's thinking straight. At that rate, those who have been petrified would turn to dust. Natsu isn't convinced by this and states that Laxus Dreyar wouldn't seriously do that because he's a Fairy Tail Mage too. Makarov is surprised by Natsu's faith in Laxus despite the deeds he's done. But he is later more surprised when the status report states that only forty-two Fairy Tail Mages remain, less than half of the total number of Mages they started out with.

Meanwhile, Reedus Jonah attempts to exit the town in order to find Porlyusica in the East Forest as per Makarov's request. However, he smacks straight into a wall of runes. He realizes that the runes are placed around the entire town. Freed appears and tells him that he won't let anyone violate his rules and that if he's a Mage, he should show him his power.

Battle
While Gray roams around town looking for Laxus, he finds Bickslow in a toy shop instead. Bickslow tells him that they should have some fun. Gray manages to dodge all the incoming attacks by Bickslow's dolls. Bickslow has his dolls assume the Line Formation and launch a vertical beam of light at Gray. Gray somersaults and dodges the attack. Bickslow tells Gray that he's not bad and orders his dolls to do the Victory Formation. However, the dolls do not comply as they are frozen by Gray's Magic. As Bickslow is temporarily taken by surprise, Gray knees Bickslow in the face and casts Ice Make: Hammer. Bickslow thinks fast and uses his Magic to possess mannequins to protect him from Gray's attack using the X Formation.

Bickslow tells Gray that even if he freezes the bodies of his dolls, he can't freeze their souls. He could just implant the souls into new dolls. Gray exclaims that he'll just freeze Bickslow himself and shoots a beam of ice at him. The mannequins block the attack and Bickslow tells him to go ahead if he think he can do it then runs out, laughing. Gray gives chase until they both end up in an alley. Bickslow hangs from above. Gray asks him what he's trying to pull and Bickslow replies that he and his babies only want to have fun. Suddenly, symbols appear on the floor surrounding Gray. He realizes that he's trapped in an enchantment. The runes state that anyone trapped within is not able to use Magic until the battle is over. Bickslow laughs and has his mannequins attack Gray and they make a direct hit. He states that even the great Gray is useless without his Magic. However, Gray manages to spring himself up to Bickslow's height and is about to throw a punch when he sees a little girl observing the battle through her window. Distracted, Bickslow's mannequins manage to make contact with Gray again and he smashes into a wall. Gray retaliates by coming out of the smoke and punching Bickslow in the face, blowing him away. Bickslow is surprised by this, but when he irritably gets up, he sees Gray has already collapsed, defeated.

Aftermath
Natsu and Makarov see the status report that declares Gray's loss and brings down the combatants to twenty-eight. Laxus's Thought Projection laughs at them, telling them he was right. Happy and Natsu become frustrated by this. Laxus taunts Makarov and asks who's going to beat the Thunder God Tribe now. Happy tells him that Gajeel Redfox could and Laxus replies that he doesn't seem to be taking part and it's not like he cared about the guild in the first place. In addition, there's still him to defeat. Makarov tells him that it's enough and that he surrenders. Laxus refuses this and calls it no good. He adds that if Makarov really wants to resign, he should do it after he hands over the title of "Master" to him. This enrages Makarov and Natsu states that Laxus is playing dirty because he's too scared to fight him. Laxus warns Makarov that there's just an hour and a half until the women turned to stone crumble to dust and so he better think over things good.

Laxus tells Makarov that if he wants to put an end to all of this, he should take the guild's megaphone and announce to the whole town that he renounces his position. Before his Thought Projection fades, he asks Makarov which is more important: his position or the lives of his guild members. Makarov states that he doesn't care about his position but he can't hand it over to Laxus. He comments that Laxus lacks too much in conviction and heart to take his seat. In frustration, he asks who could defeat Laxus. Natsu volunteers himself but Makarov argues that it's no good since he can't leave the enchantment. All of a sudden, Gajeel appears from underneath a table, eating tableware. He attempts to leave the guild so he would go after Laxus himself, but he smacks into the wall as well, surprising everyone.