"I've finally waited for this moment... Father, let me show you the fruits of my efforts over these years." Cana murmured in her heart, her aura growing stronger, all her magic power contained within herself.
Cards rotated around Cana's body, controlled by her magic power.
"Oh, not bad! It seems you're ready. Then..." Gildarts's eyes narrowed slightly, and he immediately assumed a fighting stance, waiting for Cana to attack.
Cana turned her head and signaled to Lucy, who nodded in understanding, preparing herself.
"Fountain of Prayer"
"Icicle of the Grim Reaper"
Cana then flicked two cards with her fingers, one after another, sending them flying rapidly towards Gildarts.
The moment they neared Gildarts.
Countless water whips radiated outwards from the cards as a center point, a wide-range magic attack. Gildarts, however, was not flustered; a white light flashed from his hand.
They were instantly repelled and disintegrated.
Lucy, seizing the opportunity, plunged the Aquarius key into a drop of water.
"Now... Open, Gate of the Water Bearer—Aquarius!"
"Ding-dong!" With the sound of a door opening, Aquarius stepped out of the Star Gate, holding an urn.
"Aquarius, the enemy over there..."
"Hey... Lucy... Don't you know I'm on a date... Do you want to die...?" Aquarius, the moment she emerged, was about to unleash her anger, but she hadn't finished speaking.
She suddenly felt a powerful magic power instantly pressing down on her.
Aquarius immediately realized that it wasn't the time to discipline Lucy. That oppressive feeling made her understand that this battle was extremely serious and allowed no room for jokes.
"Please, Aquarius, this battle is very important!"
"Tch~ Got it! Your magic power is too weak. After one hit, I'll disappear, so be careful later!"
After Aquarius coldly finished speaking, her expression also became serious. The water in the raised urn seemed inexhaustible, gushing out.
"Hydro Storm!" Under her control, the water formed a water vortex at Gildarts's feet, completely engulfing him. During this process, Gildarts made no movement whatsoever.
"Pop~" Cana snapped her fingers, and the Death's Icicle card instantly activated. The water vortex immediately transformed into ice spikes.
"Did it succeed?" Lucy questioned aloud at the sight.
"Not even close. That man... It's good enough if this kind of attack can restrict his movement even a little." Aquarius said with a heavy tone, one hand on her hip.
She knew it when she was manipulating the water flow during that attack; the water flow was immediately disintegrated the moment it got a little close. She estimated there was an empty space in the center right now, and he was standing there perfectly fine!
"Alright, I still have a date with my boyfriend. Remember, *boyfriend*... Goodbye... Hahaha!" After explaining, Aquarius squinted, showing off her boyfriend, and even covered her mouth, laughing wildly.
"Why did you say it twice! Damn it, it's always like this." Lucy was clearly poked in a sore spot, stomping her feet in anger, venting her rage with both hands and feet.
Cana's figure, however, flickered. Armament Haki immediately covered her left foot, and magic power condensed into a single point.
She reached directly above Gildarts in an instant and kicked downwards.
"Painful Sky Kick!"
"Oh, this attack, I approve!"
Gildarts grinned, very pleased that another promising talent had emerged in the guild. He clenched his fist and swung it forcefully.
The moment of impact.
"Bang~" The ice pillar exploded.
"Boom~"
The entire cave began to shake under their power. Cracks spread across the ground like a spiderweb, and a gust of wind instantly swept through the entire cave.
Gildarts's feet vibrated slightly, and the ground was instantly shattered, serving as a buffer.
"Ahhh~" Lucy quickly hugged a stone pillar, her entire body already lifted by the wind, barely managing not to be blown away.
"But you're still too hasty!" Gildarts said, and a fierce white light flashed in his hand.
"Rumble~" A violent explosion erupted within the cave.
Lucy's hands were about to break free because of it.
Smoke rose everywhere.
Cana had already used the force to jump away, pulling Lucy, and blocking her. A golden Spriggan Shield also rose in front of her.
With a flick of her hand, a card instantly shot out, transforming into a wind blade attacking Gildarts.
The smoke was also dispersed because of this.
"Are you alright, Lucy! I'm sorry, I didn't consider you just now." Cana asked Lucy with concern.
"I'm... I'm fine, Cana, you... are so strong!!" Lucy looked at Cana with some shock. That attack truly struck her heart; it was so cool.
It was her first time seeing such a rough side of Cana.
"Clap, clap, clap~" Gildarts applauded, his expression full of admiration. To be able to abandon the next attack in an instant to help a companion.
Logically speaking, this test could be considered passed. The attack power reached a certain standard, and her character was good.
However, he inexplicably wanted to see this girl's next performance, and he was also very excited, as if his own child had performed excellently, feeling very proud in his heart.
He wanted to know more. Gildarts felt a little strange about this inexplicable emotional barrier, but he didn't think deeply about it, simply treating it as an expectation for a junior in the guild.
"Lucy, next, I might not be able to look after you. Take these cards; they can protect you." Cana took out several "Spriggan Shield" cards from the cards around her and handed them to Lucy.
"Okay... Cana, when will you tell..."
"Later, I don't want him to go easy on me because of this. I want to become an S-Class Mage with my own strength!" Cana said softly, slowly standing up, her resolve growing stronger.
"Thank you, Lucy!"
After Cana finished speaking, her body sank slightly, and with a stomp of her foot, there was a loud boom.
The sound stopped, and her figure had already reached Gildarts's right side, unleashing a punch: "Monstrous Strength!"
Gildarts shifted to his right, dodging, but the next attack came from the right again.
A punch was thrown, and the moment they connected, the wind pressure came again. Gildarts's body paused, and the two began a close-quarters combat exchange.
Fortunately, with the cards Cana gave her, a Spriggan Shield enveloped Lucy, protecting her from the aftershocks of the battle.
"Your close-quarters combat is really good! This kind of power is truly strong!"
Gildarts sighed slightly in his heart. He crossed his arms, blocking Cana's right straight punch.
The ground collapsed again, and the pain in his arm was also very intense.
Cana, however, seized the opportunity to activate several magic cards. Even if they had little effect, they could cause a slight disturbance.
The destruction caused by the magic and close-quarters combat attacks left Lucy stunned on the side.
She truly hadn't expected Cana to be able to fight Gildarts to such an extent. The release of magic and the close-quarters combat attacks were closely coordinated. If the opponent had been her,
She would have been finished long ago. At this moment, she began to admire Cana, silently cheering for Cana in her heart.
The frequent vibrations also reached several nearby passages.
...
Over at Zorn's side.
The passage vibrated slightly, and brokenstones fell.
"What's wrong, Natsu? Your strength shouldn't be just this!"
"D-damn it!"
Everything around was already full of holes, and the ground had collapsed into a large pit.
Natsu was lying in the center of the large pit, trying to stand up with a slight effort.
Zorn was propping his head with one hand, squatting by the pit, teasing Natsu with a playful expression.
"Natsu...." Happy looked at Natsu with a worried expression, silently cheering him on in his heart.
To be continued~
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