The final "Extra Test" was a "Battle Royale" specially prepared by Weston for the core pillars of the guild—the A-Class and B-Class wizards!
Precht called those who chose to continue the examination together and formally announced the contents of the fourth stage.
"The fourth stage of the examination is a comprehensive test."
"First, you must return to Magnolia, find Licht, and receive a 'Mission Scroll' from him to complete the task written upon it."
"Note that Licht only has three 'Mission Scrolls' in his possession. Therefore, only the first three people to find him will be able to accept them. As for those who do not receive a mission, they will need to snatch a scroll from the hands of those who did and complete it first."
"For each mission, only the first person to finish it is considered successful; anyone finishing afterward will not count."
"In other words, there are at most three slots for 'Mission Completion'!"
The wizards who chose to participate in the fourth stage swallowed hard. They had already grasped the "tricky" nature of this final test.
However, far from making them shrink back, this difficulty made them even more excited, their blood boiling with fervor.
"So, it's a race of speed?"
"Not just speed—we have to become competitors against everyone else!"
"Hahaha... Just my style!!"
"The rules don't limit the number of missions one person can complete. That means if you're fast enough, you could technically complete all three yourself, right?"
"I'm starting to feel fired up!"
Very good!
What spirit!
Precht nodded with satisfaction and continued: "While completing the missions, you must also evade Zera's 'pursuit'!"
"Zera will interfere with your exam indiscriminately and to the best of her ability. Once you encounter her, you have only two choices: defeat her or run."
As expected, an S-Class was acting as an interloper!
The third stage already featured a "battle against an S-Class." As an extra credit question for the final stage, how could it possibly be as easy as simply competing with others?
But it was fine. Zera's strength wasn't quite on Precht's level, and her magic was relatively straightforward. As long as they remained vigilant, handling her wouldn't be a major problem!
"In this final stage, combat is inevitable."
"However, you must minimize the damage caused by battle as much as possible to avoid bringing trouble to the townspeople."
At this point, Precht tapped his wrist.
"You have 'Incantations' on your wrists, right?"
"In reality, besides recording your status during this examination, they have two other functions. These functions will only be triggered once you decide to participate in this final stage and return to Magnolia."
"The first function is that it will convert the trouble you cause to the town residents—such as damaging public property or causing loss to others' assets—into data called 'Destruction Points'."
"Once your 'Destruction Points' reach 100, you will be directly disqualified!"
"After the examination ends, those disqualified for this reason must share the cost of all damages!"
"By the way!"
"Any damage caused by Zera attacking you is also recorded in your Destruction Points!"
Holy crap?!
Doesn't that mean we're screwed??!!
"Suddenly... I feel so regretful..."
"Me too!"
"I protest! Why should property destroyed by Zera count toward our total?!"
"Waaaah... Is it too late to quit now?"
The wizards who had decided to participate felt a chill in their hearts, wanting to cry but having no tears.
Everyone knew that the wizards of Fairy Tail were all famously skilled at destroying public property, and Zera was one of the best among them!
Now they were expected to treat the town as a battlefield and fight their comrades while simultaneously avoiding damage to public property?
This... this, this, this... was simply too difficult!!
"The second function of the Incantation is a countdown!"
"The time for this extra match is limited. The deadline is sunset today."
"Until then, as long as you aren't disqualified for exceeding the 'Destruction Index,' you are considered active, even if you are beaten into incapacity by Zera during the process."
This point wasn't surprising.
However, it was only dawn now, and the deadline was "sunset." Wouldn't the duration of this examination be a bit too long?
"That is all for the content of the fourth stage!"
"If you've heard clearly, you may set off now!"
Silence hung in the air for two seconds.
In the next instant, those who decided to compete turned and ran simultaneously, sprinting desperately toward Magnolia!
"Oooooh—!!"
"Out of my way!"
"Licht—! Where are you??!!"
"Those 20 extra points are mine!!"
"In your dreams! The one who will pass the exam and become an S-Class wizard is me!!"
To be the first back to Magnolia and find Licht, the wizards were full of fighting spirit and passion. That scrambling sight would have made even an old lady fighting for discounted pork at a vegetable market feel inferior and wary.
And within this human tide, one figure stood out above the rest.
Clip-clop, clip-clop...
A Pegasus flapped its wings, kicking up a whirlwind. Its hooves slammed against the air with explosive bangs, its speed surging past 100 km/h, leaving the rest far behind.
Astride it was a person. Though small in stature, her gaze was firm and her spirit high. Her dazzling long red hair was whipped up by the oncoming wind. From afar, she looked like a female knight leading her soldiers to storm a castle.
"Is that Erza?!"
"What is she riding?! It's so fast!!"
"Is that a Pegasus?! Could it be Darwin?!"
"Honestly... that kid has completely become Erza's exclusive mount! He's definitely going to be a henpecked husband in the future!"
Watching the "Darwin and Erza Team" leading by a wide margin, the wizards complained and teased while sprinting, making "shipper" jokes.
Amidst the noisy panting, the occasional "uncle laugh" could be heard.
If an uninformed bystander saw this, they might think some perverted organization was holding a racing event in broad daylight.
Fifteen minutes later.
Darwin finally carried Erza into Magnolia.
"We're here!"
"Awesome! We're first!!"
"A commanding lead!!"
On the central street, Darwin shed his Pegasus Soul and returned to his normal human form. He raised his fists high and cheered excitedly.
However, in the next moment.
Thump—!!
With a dull thud, Darwin collapsed onto the ground like a toy that had lost its wind-up spring.
Seeing this, Erza hurriedly rushed over to check. She found him pale, covered in sweat, and breathing weakly. She was instantly frightened.
"Darwin?!"
"What happened to you?!"