Southern side of Tenrou Island.
CRASH!
God Slayer Magic suddenly erupted. Countless crimson thunderbolts fell from the sky, creating tiny mushroom clouds on the ground.
Before the smoke, filled with fire and electric arcs, could dissipate, a grid-like white disintegration magic tore through it, shattering everything in its path.
Chase and Gildarts fought from the sky to the ground, then from the ground to the coastal shore. The terrifying magical collisions sent shock spilling in all directions. The entire sea was turbulent, with thunderous roars echoing incessantly!
After another violent clash, the two were simultaneously sent flying by the rising air currents. They landed amid the shattered environment, facing each other across the distance.
"For a Card Mage, you have incredible close-quarters combat ability." Gildarts had visible wounds on his face, chest, and arms. His already tattered cape was completely destroyed. "You're seriously overpowered."
He shook his somewhat sore arm, an excited smile on his lips.
He was simply too strong. Not just within the guild, but across the entire Ishgar continent, he had few rivals. The Ten Wizard Saints, especially the top-ranked ones, obviously wouldn't fight him without reason.
So, as Makarov had thought, Gildarts was in a state of long-unfelt exhilaration from the fight.
Chase raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, smiling. "Haha. Then you'd better be careful, old man. This isn't my limit yet."
His shirt was long gone. The four pieces of the sealed Exodia glowed with dark gold light. Crimson Slifer scales covered his well-built, solid muscles. The two magical powers intertwined, outlining his defined lines even more dominantly and wildly.
Whether it was the powerful life force brought by the Heart magic or he will become stronger after reuniting with his daughter, Gildarts was a bit stronger than expected. His pressure was no less than Hades with his Underworld Magic activated.
This discovery made Chase's blood boil.
Even the thought of card drops was temporarily pushed aside. At this moment, he just wanted to give it his all and claim the title of Fairy Tail's strongest mage!
"Fine by me. Bring it on. Let me see your limit!"
Gildarts burst out with his magic power, gladly accepting the challenge. He also reminded Chase, "Let's move a bit farther. Don't interfere with Natsu and the others' trial."
Chase naturally had no reason to refuse. In fact, he had been thinking the same thing.
From the very start of the battle, the two had tacitly held back to avoid destroying the southern landmark tablet.
And so, the battlefield shifted from Tenrou Island to the offshore waters.
After a brief silence, the two collided once more. In an instant, gales howled, thunder and lightning flashed. An even more fierce battle had begun!
Nearby, at the edge of the forest.
Natsu and Happy, having reached the vicinity of the red light pillar, poked their heads out from a thick bush.
"They've moved farther away, Natsu. Should we go grab the tablet now?" Happy whispered.
"Don't rush~" Natsu's body was surrounded by blazing flames. His eyes were fixed on the fierce battle at sea. "I have no idea what those idiots were thinking. Not a single one followed us. This is clearly the most critical spot for becoming S-Class!"
His words were full of confidence, as if having arrived here first meant the S-Class title was already within reach.
Happy was puzzled. "The most critical spot?"
Seeing Natsu's eyes glued to the battlefield at sea, the damn cat's brain raced.
Could it be... Natsu's goal wasn't the landmark tablet at all, but Chase and Gildarts?
Wait until they've tired each other out, then ambush them when they're exhausted and weak, and pry useful information out of them as examiners?
That could actually work!
Thinking this, Happy's expression instantly lit up. "How unbelievable, Natsu. Since when did you learn to think about—"
"Chase! Gildarts! Either one of you! Come fight me! Beat you, and I'll be an S-Class mage!"
Before he could finish, Natsu charged out, shouting loudly and completely openly, with no intention of ambushing anyone.
"He's just here to pick a fight with Chase and Gildarts?!!"
Happy dragged his own cat face, scared stiff, turning into a hardened cat strip.
Facts proved that he had still overestimated Natsu.
Not to mention serious thinking through a plan, this idiot had probably only heard twenty percent of the second round rules!
"Go away. Don't have time to play with you!" x2
Sure enough, within the two and a half seconds of Happy's exclamation, Natsu, who had been shouting as he charged, flew back like a piece of rag, crashing back down beside Happy with a thud.
Amidst the rolling rubble, Natsu quickly got up.
"I didn't pass out? I didn't pass out this time! Wahaha! See, Happy? I've gotten stronger!"
They just didn't want to cost you your qualification for the trial, that's all...
Happy covered his face with his paw and sighed silently. As expected, it's better to pack up and go home early.
Just as he was about to persuade Natsu to behave himself, grab the tablet, and leave, a light, cheerful laugh suddenly rang out.
"Haha. You're all so interesting, everyone in Fairy Tail~"
Natsu and Happy were startled. They both looked toward the source of the voice.
Then, the man and cat froze on the spot.
Sitting on a tree branch thick with leaves was a young girl in a white dress, who hadn't been there a moment ago.
The girl had golden, wavy hair as long as her body, green eyes, and delicate, cute features. On either side of the little bump of hair standing up on her head "grew" a pair of white, elf-like ears.
Her fair, flawless bare feet swung back and forth in the air. The bright sunlight filtering through the gaps in the leaves fell upon her, making her look lively and sacred.
Taking in her appearance, Natsu and Happy stiffly turned their heads to look at each other. A creepy sensation spread through their bodies.
Natsu: "Th-that's... could that be the legendary... fairy?"
Happy: "Don't look. Whatever you do, don't look. The moment you make eye contact, they'll cruelly gouge out your eyes!"
Hearing the man and cat's whispered exchange, Mavis covered her mouth with a light laugh. She slowly "floated" down from the tree.
"Though I'm happy you'd mistake me for a fairy, I'm more of a 'spiritual body' or 'ghost' kind of existence, really. Besides, fairies don't just gouge out people's eyes, you know~"
"I see. Not a fairy, but a ghost..." Natsu and Happy's tense nerves instantly relaxed.
Then—
"AAAAHHHH! Isn't a ghost even more terrifying?!"
"AAAAHHHH! S-she floated over here just now!!"
The two brothers with slow reaction times hugged each other tightly in terror.
***
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