Fairy Tail: Collapsing Stars

Chapter 402: Who Is the Strongest Mage in the Fairy Tail Guild?Chapter 403: What the Belserion Family Sets Its Eyes On Must Belong to the Belserion Family

”This old man will absolutely not lose to anyone.”

Augustʼs expression was serious. His gaze swept across the face of every member inside the Fairy Tail Guild before finally settling on Mavisʼs delighted smiling face.

”August, youʼre pretty arrogant, huh?!”

”You say that like you can defeat us~”

”When did you start having the illusion that you could defeat us?”

A dangerous light radiated from Ireneʼs eyes. What had she just heard? August actually said he would not lose to anyone? What kind of joke was that...

August, who always acted like a good old man in the guild, was actually speaking so arrogantly now? Could this be tolerated?

”For Mavis, even if it is Irene or Selene, I will win and show you...”

Augustʼs aura surged. Magic power rose around him, powerful enough to be clearly visible even to ordinary people who did not understand magic. Without a doubt, at this moment, August lived up to the name of Magic King.

Unfortunately, August had forgotten one thing. Although August, who had joined Fairy Tail, indeed possessed the power of the belief buff, that thing was standard equipment inside the Fairy Tail Guild!!

For a moment, Irene and August, the two greatest cards in Zerefʼs hand in the original work, the twin walls of the Alvarez Empire, stared at each other and confronted each other. The atmosphere between the two began to grow heavy, as though they would begin fighting if a single word did not match.

”Hey, hey, hey! No way!”

”Irene and August are going to fight? This is not a joke!”

When the atmosphere between Irene and August began to grow heavy.

Inside the guild, the members who had originally been clamoring to hold a fighting tournament finally sensed the seriousness of the matter. They looked at Irene and August, who were releasing violent magic power in the center of the guild, their expressions tense.

Honestly speaking, they would rather roll up their sleeves and fight themselves than see friction occur between the four monsters Irene, Selene, August, and Evan.

Just like how the Magic Council strictly established rules that powerful people selected as the Ten Wizard Saints were not allowed to have private conflicts, the Fairy Tail Guild also had its own rules.

That was, if Irene, Selene, August, and Evan had conflicts, please resolve them through methods other than battle.

After all, if powerhouses at Ireneʼs level truly fought, then for powerful people of their level, it might just be a simple little scuffle, but for everyone else on the continent, it would be a natural disaster. If things went badly, an entire countryʼs people would have to be buried with them. Condolences.

”Speaking of which, Iʼve always had a question in my heart...”

”Although we all know Senior Irene and Senior Selene are very strong, weʼve never been clear about who is the number one mage of the Fairy Tail Guild, who exactly is the strongest...”

”Ahaha, why not take this chance to have a great decisive battle inside the Fairy Tail Guild? Letʼs see who exactly is the number one mage of the Fairy Tail Guild, who exactly is Fairy Tailʼs strongest mage...”

Just as Irene and August were confronting each other and countless mages around them were watching, Natsu suddenly thought of something. His expression was incomparably excited. It was as though he felt magma burning in his chest. His hot blood boiled, and after thinking briefly for five seconds, the completely fired-up Natsu directly voiced the question in his heart in front of everyone.

”Hey, Natsu, you really shouldnʼt say that~”

As Natsuʼs words fell, the atmosphere inside the entire Fairy Tail Guild suddenly stiffened.

Everyone suddenly realized that things might develop in a direction they could not predict...

”Oh? The Fairy Tail Guildʼs number one mage?”

Evan muttered to himself. At this moment, electronic music roared in his mind.

[Emergency Mission: The title of the strongest mage of the Fairy Tail Guild has been vacant for too long! Everyone has only been the strongest candidate, yet no one knows who the strongest in the guild truly is?! It is time to sit on the throne of Fairy Tailʼs strongest!]

[Become the strongest mage of the Fairy Tail Guild and receive one Hundred-Year Quest Medal! Second place reward: five Ten-Year Quest Medals! Third place reward: two Ten-Year Quest Medals! Top five reward: one Ten-Year Quest Medal! Top ten has no reward...]

It was also precisely when Evan was muttering to himself that the systemʼs voice suddenly sounded in his mind.

”Who said the strongest mage of the Fairy Tail Guild must be decided between Irene and Selene?”

”Although the strongest will definitely belong to our Belserion family, the waves behind the ocean always push the waves ahead! Perhaps unknowingly, the student has already surpassed the master...”

Black lightning flashed in Evanʼs eyes. Violent magic power erupted from his body, surging and majestic.

”Evan, youʼve grown up~ I know youʼre eager to prove yourself to me...”

”But winning against Mom is not that easy~”

”If you want to beat me, you should train for another ten or eight years!”

”And today, Mom is going to exercise a motherʼs authority after a long absence. Evan, you had better already be mentally prepared...”

After hearing this, Irene revealed a gentle smile toward Evan. However, hidden within Ireneʼs smile was endless killing intent! At this moment, Irene was like a queen seated high upon a throne, looking at the rebellious prince Evan who had challenged her, revealing a sincere smile from her heart...

Yes, Irene sincerely hoped Evan would grow, but some things required time to develop! Right now, it was still too early. Everything was still too early...

”Mother, Brother...”

Erza looked at the confronting Irene and Evan, her expression panicked. She had not expected that her mother and brother would one day ”turn against each other.”

”Hehe, not to be rude~”

”But that look of yours, as though the title of strongest had already been decided internally by you mother and son, really makes me angry~”

”Do you know where this place is? This is Elentear, my world! This is the Black Night Mountain shrouded in eternal night! It is the world that belongs to the full moon! Perhaps it is time to let you know, to know why my title is Moon Dragon God.”

At some unknown time, Seleneʼs figure had appeared inside the guild. She looked at Irene and Evan and revealed a charming smile.

”Thatʼs right~”

”The throne of the Fairy Tail Guildʼs strongest is something this old man does not wish to give to anyone else~”

”The spirit of the Fairy Tail Guild, along with the title of strongest, should all be inherited by this old man.”

At this moment, August also revealed a ”brilliant” smile. Beneath that smile was endless fighting spirit.

”Evan...”

Irene looked at Selene and August, who had suddenly entered the fray, and glanced at Evan beside her.

”Understood.”

Evan gently nodded and directly stood beside Irene. The meaning was self-evident.

Before the Belserion familyʼs internal war, they would first unite against outsiders.

For a moment...

Irene, Evan, Selene, and August, the four giants of the Fairy Tail Guild, stood in the center of the guild confronting one another!

Terrifying magic power rose from Irene, Evan, Selene, and August. Endless magic power made the atmosphere turn viscous.

”Hiss...”

As Irene and the other three erupted with endless magic power, every mage inside the Fairy Tail Guild was shocked.

In front of Irene and the othersʼ magic power, the path of magic they pursued seemed incomparably insignificant...

”Damn it! Why is the sky so high?”

As the person in the Fairy Tail Guild currently closest to the realm where August and the others stood, Gildarts revealed a helpless bitter smile. The more he advanced in that direction, the more he could feel the enormous difference between himself and Ireneʼs group. Every step later on was like a heavenly chasm...

”Rumble! Rumble...”

At the same time, as Irene and the othersʼ magic power soared, the land of the entire Earth-land world let out waves of mournful cries. Lightning danced wildly in the sky, and for a moment, it was like the end of the world...

Elentearʼs magic power had originally been far higher than Earth-landʼs, and even because its magic power was too high, it had caused a massive burden on the entire world. It once brought Elentear to the brink of destruction, until Evan and Wisdom completed the connection between Elentear and Edolas and gradually balanced the magic power of this world...

However, at this moment, the original balance was broken by the appearance of Irene, Evan, Selene, and August, these four great lords of magic power! This caused Elentearʼs magic power to continuously rise, and the burden on the entire world grew even greater. Endless crisis was brewing in Elentear!

However, compared to the crisis of the planet Elentear itself, the greatest crisis placed before the world of Elentear right now was how to settle these four violent great lords of magic power...

Silence...

Unlike the restless world of Elentear, all the mages inside the entire Fairy Tail Guild stopped their usual loud clamor. They closed their mouths, their eyes tightly fixed on Evan, Irene, August, and Selene, who were currently standing in the center of the guild and confronting one another.

As members of the Mage Guild Fairy Tail, everyone naturally knew who was truly the strongest inside the Fairy Tail Guild! Although the Magic Council had evaluated Evan Belserion as the strongest mage of Ishgar, the number one of the Ten Wizard Saints!

However, the mages of the Fairy Tail Guild all knew clearly in their hearts that the so-called ranking of the Ten Wizard Saints, including the title of Ten Wizard Saints itself, was a joke. According to Ur, one of the Ten Wizard Saints with the title ”Freezing,” if all the powerful people inside the Fairy Tail Guild were truly placed on the Ten Wizard Saints ranking, then perhaps everyone on the Ten Wizard Saints ranking except Evan would be squeezed off the list...

As for the true strongest inside the Fairy Tail Guild, in the eyes of ordinary guild members, it was probably a choice between Evanʼs mother, Irene Belserion, and the Moon Dragon God Selene. Meanwhile, August, who later joined the Fairy Tail Guild and was unfathomable, as well as the still-young Evan, should be powerhouses second only to Irene and Selene...

As for who was stronger between Irene and Selene, the strongest people inside the Fairy Tail Guild, or rather between the monsters August and Evan, who were second only to the strongest, no one knew!

Regarding who exactly was stronger among them, even within the Fairy Tail Guild, opinions were divided. The guild members said all kinds of things, but there was never an accurate answer!

And now, if Irene, Selene, August, and Evan were to begin a battle, what would the final result be?! Thinking this, for a moment, all the mages inside the Fairy Tail Guild widened their eyes. Their expressions were excited and carried a trace of panic! Yes, panic...

Because they knew clearly that once mages at Irene and Seleneʼs level went all out, it would be a battle comparable to the end of the world!

”Boom...”

Just as the mages inside the guild held their breath, the four people standing in the center of the guild, who were being tightly watched by countless eyes, moved.

”Boom!!”

Four afterimages flashed inside the guild, and four powerful, violent magic powers instantly collided together...

Endless violent wind blew outward from the four of them as the center toward the others in the guild...

In merely the blink of an eye, the entire guildʼs ceiling had already vanished without a trace!

At the same time, dark clouds filled the sky, with lightning flashing and thunder roaring! Within that endless shadow, there seemed to be giant dragons! Above those high clouds, there seemed to be gods!

At this moment, Irene, Selene, August, and Evan perfectly interpreted what it meant to be still as unmoving as a mountain, and when moving, to shatter heaven and earth...

”Boom!!”

In the sky, August had long since been possessed by endless resentment. His body was red, his pale long hair stood upright toward the sky, and terrifying magic power gathered around him, actually forming walls made of magic power.

”Roar!!”

Selene roared continuously. Her body was no longer that of a beautiful young woman, but had transformed into a roaring giant dragon! The gorgeous nine white tails behind her constantly swayed, like a shrine maiden serving the gods, dancing gracefully beneath the moon, using beautiful dance steps to attract the attention of the gods...

”Hmph~”

Irene had also long since changed her form. Her body became even more slender and even more suited for battle. Scarlet, translucent scales clung to her cheeks, refracting all light shining toward her. Looking carefully, rings of scarlet flame clouds, like ribbons, seemed to surround her body. At this moment, Irene greatly resembled the beautiful flying apsaras on Dunhuang murals! Like a celestial maiden descending from the heavens, Ireneʼs appearance and power at this moment both lived up to her name as the Scarlet Heavenly Maiden...

”Roar!!”

Lastly was Evan, who had entered his human-beast form. Evanʼs form was very similar to Ireneʼs, also having flame clouds like ribbons wrapped around his body. It was just that Evanʼs posture was even more violent. He was like an azure beast, his face incomparably ferocious, his body tall and strong. His entire body seemed to exist for slaughter!

At this moment, Evanʼs entire body revealed powerful strength. That strength moved even Selene, Irene, and August. Unlike Evan before, who had barely reached the Dragon King level, the current Evan was a genuine Dragon King-level being...

”I wonʼt hold back...”

Evan tightly gripped a spiked kanabo in his hand and smiled slightly at Selene and August.

After trying many weapons, Evan discovered that compared to swords and blades that concentrated power into a single point, a kanabo was more suited to his violent strength...

”Who wants you...”

”To hold back!!”

Selene and August looked at each other, then shouted at Evan at the same time.

”Roar!!”

Accompanied by a roar, Evan swung his kanabo and directly went after Selene.

As for August, he was naturally left for the stronger Irene to deal with...

This was Tian Jiʼs horse racing!

At the same time, beneath the sky filled with endless dark clouds, lightning, and thunder.

”...”

Makarov looked at the sky above his head in silence, crystalline tears hanging at the corners of his eyes.

”What happened to the promised Twenty-Four Hour Endurance Race?”

”How did it suddenly become a fighting tournament?”

”And then how did it change again into the Fairy Tail Guildʼs strongest mage showdown?”

”I just wanted to hold a proper guild social activity. Why is that so difficult? Who can tell me why it is so difficult?!”

Makarov felt incomparably exhausted. Thinking about it now, six years ago in that spring, he should not have gone soft-hearted and allowed Evan to join the Fairy Tail Guild.

”Sigh...”

Thinking this, Makarov helplessly sighed.

”In short, at present, the Twenty-Four Hour Endurance Race can no longer continue...”

Makarov stood with his hands behind his back and spoke helplessly to the mages inside the guild.

”Fight! Fight!”

After hearing Makarovʼs words, Natsu shouted excitedly.

”Fight my ass! Itʼs you brat who has been stirring things up since just now!”

It would have been fine if Natsu had not spoken, but now that Natsu opened his mouth, Makarov finally could not endure it anymore. He stretched out his fist and punched toward Natsu.

”Bang~”

Accompanied by a rumbling sound, Natsu was directly knocked unconscious by Makarovʼs punch.

”Phew...”

Only after Natsu was taken down by Makarovʼs punch did he feel that the anger in his stomach had lessened quite a bit.

”Since the mages of our guild have rarely gathered together like this, and those four monsters just happen to be fighting in the sky, why donʼt we handle the most important matter of this year here in advance~”

Makarov looked at the sky above his head that was releasing violent magic power. He stroked his chin, narrowed his eyes, and finally made an incomparably difficult decision! At present, Irene, Selene, Evan, and August were rarely being held up by something. In order to prevent another accident during this yearʼs exam...

No, to be precise, according to Makarovʼs prediction, if nothing unexpected happened, this yearʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial would definitely have another accident. In that case, it would be better to take advantage of Irene and the others unexpectedly fighting and hold the exam now...

How should one put it! This was called using an accident to deal with an accident...

”Guild Master, the most important thing you are talking about, could it be?”

As Makarovʼs words fell, all the mages inside the guild froze.

”Mm! It is this yearʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial!”

The corners of Makarovʼs mouth rose as he looked at the guild members before him and spoke with a smile.

”But Guild Master, shouldnʼt there still be four months before our usual exam time? This doesnʼt match tradition and rules, right?”

As Makarovʼs words fell, the mages inside the guild instantly trembled, and someone immediately asked.

”Huh? Listen to what a shallow thing you just said. So you still know our guild has traditions and rules? Ever since this old man became the Guild Master of the Fairy Tail Guild, I have nearly forgotten that our guild even had that thing...”

Makarov looked expressionlessly at the guild member who said those words, his eyes filled with speechlessness.

”What about the rules? What about the venue? Guild Master, we havenʼt prepared any of those this year!”

At this moment, Gildarts also stepped forward. He looked at Makarov and raised his own question.

”When did we ever use those things when our guild held the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial in the past?”

”You either destroyed the venue I prepared completely or mercilessly trampled the exam rules I established. And now you actually have the face to talk to me about those things?”

Makarovʼs gaze shifted toward the guildʼs S-Class mages who had passed the exam through all kinds of methods in previous years.

”Uh...”

After sensing Makarovʼs gaze, the S-Class mages of Fairy Tail all lowered their heads and turned away, looking as though they did not dare meet Makarovʼs eyes. Among them, Mirajane directly crouched in a corner, muttering, ”You canʼt see me, you canʼt see me...”

After all, the S-Class exam in the year Mirajane passed had directly destroyed Makarovʼs rules completely. Before Makarov could even explain the exam rules, she had defeated all of her competitors.

”In short, this year, X780, the Fairy Tail Guildʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial officially begins!”

”As for the candidates taking the exam this year, and the rules of the exam, they are extremely simple...”

”Didnʼt you want to hold a fighting tournament? Then fight!”

”Starting now, after half an hour, whoever can still stand will be this yearʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial candidates! Then I announce the start of the competition...”

Makarov stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze burning as he looked at the mages inside the guild.

Did these little fellows not want to fight? Then fight! No one was allowed to run!

”Mm?!”

As Makarovʼs words fell, the non-S-Class mages inside the Fairy Tail Guild all froze.

”Ice-Make Magic...”

”Pict Magic...”

”Full-Body Take Over...”

”Fire Dragonʼs Roar...”

Natsu spat dragon flames from his mouth and instantly set several nearby mages on fire.

”Ah!”

Accompanied by a scream, the mage who took Natsuʼs roar head-on was instantly eliminated.

”Ice-Make: Infinite Holy Swords!”

Gray placed both hands in the stance of molding magic. Immediately, countless holy swords were released from Grayʼs hands, spinning and dancing as blade after blade of ice directly cut down the surrounding mages to the ground.

”Twin Ice Dragons.”

Lyonʼs two hands lit up with magic circles at the same time. Immediately, two ice dragons, each ten meters long, appeared in the Fairy Tail Guild hall and bit toward the nearby mages.

”Gravity Blade: Fall!”

Kagura held her katana in hand. Gravity was actually wrapped around the blade in her hand. Every mage who approached Kagura involuntarily sank downward and then fell to the ground.

This was the ability Kagura had learned after undergoing the hellish training of Bluenote and Ikaruga! At this moment, Kaguraʼs magic power had already reached the standard of a veteran S-Class Mage, standing at the peak of Level Six.

”Who do you think will ultimately pass this yearʼs Fairy Tail exam?”

At this moment, behind Makarov, Gildarts and the other S-Class Mages who had already passed the Fairy Tail Guildʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial were chatting.

”I think the one who can pass this yearʼs exam must be Kagura.”

”The strength Kagura is currently displaying has already surpassed the strength we possessed when we passed the guildʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial back then. Without a doubt, Kagura has the strength to pass the S-Class exam.”

Erza looked at Kagura, who raised and lowered her blade, cutting down one mage after another who charged toward her and eliminating them, and gently nodded. She had seen all of Kaguraʼs progress and was very satisfied.

”Mm...”

As Erzaʼs words fell, Laxus and the others gently nodded.

Six years ago, when they passed the guildʼs S-Class exam, they were not as strong as the current Kagura.

Honestly speaking, with Kaguraʼs strength, she could actually have passed the guildʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial as early as a year ago...

Unfortunately, the current Fairy Tail Guild was truly too competitive. At present, all those in the entire Fairy Tail Guild who possessed S-Class Mage qualifications had strength that could rival, or even surpass, the Ten Wizard Saints. As the strength of the S-Class Mages inside the guild grew stronger and stronger, the guildʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial also became harder and harder to pass...

”Hehe...”

Thinking of this, Laxus could not help laughing. He still remembered that six years ago, when he had just passed the exam, he had been unconvinced by his grandfather Makarovʼs decision and had intended to take the exam again. If his strength back then were placed in the present, forget passing the exam, perhaps he would not even enter the preliminary selection.

”I think it will be very difficult for Kagura to pass the exam...”

”It isnʼt only Kagura who has become stronger over these years. The others in the guild have also been growing stronger rapidly!”

”Natsu, Gray, Gajeel, Lyon, Freed, and Elfman have all improved by leaps and bounds over these years. Even if Kagura can win if she meets them, winning absolutely will not be easy! In the end, there are too many variables in the S-Class exam. Unless one has overwhelming strength, anything is possible...”

Gildarts sat on the broken bar counter, holding half a glass of beer. While drinking, he spoke to everyone behind him.

”Thatʼs true...”

As Gildartsʼs words fell, Erza and Laxus both nodded. In the end, although Kagura was very strong, she was not so strong that the others could not defeat her. If Natsu, Gajeel, and the others planned to join forces and deal with Kagura first, then with everyone attacking together, Kagura would still be defeated.

”Speaking of overwhelming strength, I do know that among this yearʼs participants, there is one person whose strength is especially powerful! To the other participants in the guild, it is equivalent to possessing overwhelming strength!”

Just as everyone agreed with Gildartsʼs words, Mirajane suddenly raised the corners of her mouth. It seemed that among this yearʼs candidates, there was someone she was very optimistic about.

”Oh? I wonder who the so-called candidate you value is, Mirajane?”

After hearing this, everyone froze, then looked at Mirajane and asked.

”Moonlit Beauty: Seilah...”

After hearing this, Mirajane directly stated the participant she was optimistic about.

”Oh! Seilah! Seilah does indeed have a high chance of winning. After all, her Curse has excellent compatibility against humans, and among this yearʼs candidates, there should be no non-human existence.”

Gildarts immediately became spirited when he heard Seilahʼs name. Moonlit Beauty Seilah, the legendary little succubus created by the Black Wizard Zeref~ No man would dislike Moonlit Beauty Seilah, and he was naturally no exception...

”No, no, no~”

”Seilah is already different from before. She entrusted President Precht to install some things inside her body!”

”The current Seilah can no longer be completely counted as a demon created by Zeref. She is the joint work of Black Wizard Zeref and President Precht...”

Mirajane shook her head. During the past half year, she had visited Precht together with Seilah.

After all, Precht was the Black Wizard second only to Zeref in this world. He was currently the person they could find on this continent who understood Zerefʼs magic and demons the most. With Prechtʼs understanding of demons, Mirajane and Seilah believed that perhaps Precht could help them become stronger...

And the truth was just as they thought. With Prechtʼs help, both Mirajane and Seilah made entirely new progress! Among them, Seilahʼs progress was especially a leap forward. Prechtʼs technology achieved a massive breakthrough on Seilahʼs body, and this breakthrough was something even Precht himself had not expected...

Simply put, Precht modified the heart inside Seilahʼs chest into a pseudo-Demon Heart! Although Seilah did not obtain the vast magic power of Prechtʼs true Demon Heart, she gained the ability to continue strengthening herself through Magic Barrier Particles. In other words, Seilahʼs power would no longer be fixed to the Books of Zeref. She could also continue becoming stronger. According to Precht, Seilah had become even more perfect...

In Mirajaneʼs view, this change that happened to Seilah was a qualitative leap...

”That Seilah you mentioned has already lost...”

Just as Mirajane believed that the winner of this yearʼs guild exam would definitely be Seilah, accompanied by the winding of vines, Seilah directly collapsed to the ground.

”Why?! Arenʼt you already dead?”

Seilah lay on the ground, looking at the figure within the mist, her eyes filled with confusion.

”Yes! I indeed died, but now I have returned from hell!”

As the mist dispersed, a young man wearing a black trench coat and a smile walked toward Seilah with his hands behind his back.

Endless darkness radiated from all over the young manʼs body. His terrifying and gloomy power made people feel alarmed just from seeing him.

”Underworld King Mard Geer?”

At this moment, it was not only Seilah, who had been instantly defeated by the young man, who felt shocked.

Even Mirajane could no longer remain calm. When Mirajane saw the young man wearing a black trench coat, with a cold expression and a face that seemed to carry endless gloom, her whole body immediately trembled! Because the young manʼs face belonged to an acquaintance of Mirajane, and Mirajane even used that young manʼs power.

Yes, that young man was precisely Mard Geer, the acting Guild Master of the Dark Guild Tartaros, who had been killed by Evanʼs punch.

At this moment, Mirajaneʼs eyes were filled with confusion. She could not understand why Mard Geer, who should clearly have already died and whose soul should have become part of her power, had suddenly revived and appeared so openly inside the Fairy Tail Guild.

”Yo! Long time no see, Mirajane. Is my power still useful?”

Mard Geer seemed to have also noticed Mirajane. He stood with his hands behind his back, smiled at Mirajane, and gently greeted her.

”You really are that Underworld King...”

After hearing this, Mirajaneʼs face turned cold. Originally, she had thought the Underworld King before her might be an illusion or something, but now she could confirm that the Underworld King before her was not some illusion at all, but the genuine article.

”Alright, Mard Geer! Stop exchanging greetings with an old acquaintance. Continue clearing out the trash around here for me...”

Just as Mirajaneʼs face darkened and she prepared to personally attack Mard Geer, a voice suddenly interrupted Mirajane and Mard Geerʼs reunion.

Beside a nearby table, a man wearing disgusting green armor, with blue long hair, slanted bangs, and a ponytail, was sitting on a chair with his legs crossed. With an expression as though he were watching a show, he issued orders to Mard Geer.

”Understood~”

After hearing the manʼs words, Mard Geer gently nodded. Then, with a wave of his hand, countless vines appeared inside the Fairy Tail Guild and sent the surrounding mages flying one after another.

”You are?!”

As this man with disgusting taste and naturally sarcastic speech appeared, Mirajaneʼs expression froze.

”Sorry, little sister~”

”Your old acquaintance who spoke to you is already dead. He only temporarily revived from the underworld because of my magic and fights for me. It will not be long before he returns~”

This man with extremely poor taste seemed to understand Mirajaneʼs doubts and spoke with a smile.

”I asked, who are you?”

Mirajane frowned. She felt especially displeased with this man before her, who answered something unrelated to her question and was extremely arrogant, with pride and arrogance in his words.

”You ask who I am?”

The man crossed his legs. After hearing Mirajaneʼs question, there was a trace of amusement in his eyes.

”Who I am is not important. What is important is that I will end this boring exam!”

”Alright, the game should end. The weak can already leave the stage...”

As the man spoke, enormous magic power erupted from his body. For a moment, countless magical beasts, dark mages, and powerful demons suddenly appeared inside the entire Fairy Tail Guild...

”Keyes, Tempester, Jackal, Torafuzar, Kyôka, Franmalth... and Underworld King Mard Geer!”

Silver looked at the demons around the man, cold sweat appearing on his forehead. Those standing around the man were none other than his former comrades in Tartaros, the Nine Demon Gates, and the acting Guild Master of Tartaros, Mard Geer.

”What kind of joke is this...”

Standing beside Silver, Ur was just as shocked by the manʼs magic as Silver, because she saw a creature that absolutely should not appear here.

”Roar!!”

Before Gray and Lyon, an enormous demon nearly ten meters tall was bending down and staring at them. That demon was violent, thickset, and emitted an evil aura from its entire body.

”Deliora?”

Grayʼs body trembled slightly as he stated the name of the demon before him.

”No way...”

Lyonʼs legs went weak, and he nearly fell to the ground.

”Weaklings, you can already leave the stage! Iʼve already grown tired of watching your battle. This yearʼs Fairy Tail Guild S-Class exam belongs to me~”

The man wearing green armor, surrounded by countless demons, smiled as he looked at the shocked mages inside the Fairy Tail Guild, arrogantly announcing the end of this yearʼs Fairy Tail S-Class Mage Promotion Trial.

”Who exactly are you?”

Erza looked at the man before her with a solemn gaze. She had already roughly guessed the manʼs magic. If she had not guessed wrong, the magic of the man before her should be the ability to summon the dead to fight for him.

”Oh! My dear Princess Erza, I am the subordinate of your mother, Her Majesty Queen Irene, the loyal dog of the Belserion family, Neinhart. You may just call me Little Nei...”

As Erzaʼs words fell, the man in green armor, who had originally been arrogant and unmatched, immediately stood up from his seat, then sprinted, slid on his knees, performed dogeza, and knelt before Erza, speaking with incomparable respect.

”Huh?!”

For a moment, Erza froze. Makarov, as the Guild Master, froze. All the S-Class Mages behind Makarov froze.

Her Majesty the Queen? And calling Erza Princess? Calling himself the loyal dog of the Belserion family? What was this? Training play? It had to be said, Irene truly knew how to play~

No, to be precise, their entire Belserion family was quite good at playing~

”Uh...”

At this moment, Erza felt the doubtful gazes of the companions around her, and her face turned bright red.

Although Neinhart was thick-skinned and felt nothing, Erza still thought that the current scene was indeed far too embarrassing.

”Alright, you dead useless desserts, hurry up and help me clear out this trash. Canʼt you see that our Princess is already impatient?”

Neinhart knelt beside Erza on both knees. Looking at Erzaʼs awkward expression, as if she had socially died, a trace of understanding flashed through his eyes. He then issued orders to the army of dead he had summoned.

”Oh!!!”

The Tartaros army that received Neinhartʼs order immediately began fierce combat with the mages of the Fairy Tail Guild.

Although Kagura and the others did indeed possess S-Class Mage strength, compared to the acting Guild Master of Tartaros, Mard Geer, the gap was still too large. At this moment, a one-sided scene began to unfold inside the Fairy Tail Guild along with Neinhartʼs voice...

Although Neinhart did not amount to much compared to Irene and the others, to the current Fairy Tail, with its S-Class Mages removed, he was practically overwhelming combat power!

”No, I didnʼt...”

Erzaʼs expression was awkward at this moment. She was not embarrassed because of her companions fighting inside the guild. The source of her embarrassment was this person before her who called himself the loyal dog of the Belserion family!

”Hehe, Princess~”

As for Mirajane and the others, who heard Neinhart address Erza, they naturally would not let go of this opportunity to bully Erza.

”Stop saying it. Itʼs too embarrassing...”

Erza covered her flushed cheeks. She was merely a girl born into an ”ordinary” family, a ”plain and unremarkable” girl. She was not some Princess.

Although in a certain sense, Neinhart had not addressed Erza incorrectly...

At the same time, in the sky...

”Guild Master August, and Senior Selene, I advise you to conduct yourselves properly. Do not compete with Irene and me for the title of Fairy Tailʼs strongest. Otherwise, do not blame me for ignoring feelings and showing no mercy...”

Within the dark clouds that nearly covered the entire continent, Evan stood on flame clouds, holding a kanabo, and spoke coldly to August and Selene.

At this moment, Evan was advising August to retreat in the face of difficulty and not fail to appreciate kindness. In the three worlds of Elentear, Earth-land, and Edolas, anything the Belserion family set its eyes on would sooner or later belong to the Belserion family!!

”Hehe, since weʼre going to fight anyway, whatʼs there to talk about feelings for? Save that kind of thing for after the fight!”

August stood in the sky, holding his staff, flames flickering in his eyes.

”Irene, how about you deal with Selene, and I play with this old fellow?”

Evan carried his kanabo on his shoulder, endless Observation Haki flashing in his eyes.

”Thatʼs fine...”

After hearing Evanʼs words, Irene gently nodded. She had exchanged a few moves with the Magic King using Enchantment Magic just now and had not gained any advantage. If she used only Enchantment Magic, Irene and the Magic King at full firepower were roughly equal.

Originally, Irene had intended to go all out and directly rush in with dragon power, but after hearing Evanʼs words, she stopped her movements...

”End it quickly!”

Irene reminded Evan.

”Alright!”

Evan gently nodded. Naturally, black lightning began shining on the kanabo in his hand.

”Theyʼre coming...”

Selene seemed to sense something and reminded Magic King August beside her.

”Mm!”

August nodded. A few drops of sweat seeped out from his aged forehead, which was covered in wrinkles.

”Boom...”

Suddenly, accompanied by the sound of a sonic boom, Evanʼs figure had already disappeared from where he stood. Like a supersonic nuclear warhead, he held his kanabo and directly charged toward August.

”Stop right there!”

Selene had long since noticed Evanʼs figure. Her snow-white tails rose into the sky behind her, moving to block Evan.

”Where are you going, Selene?”

Irene had long since sensed Seleneʼs movement. She instantly dragonized, transforming into a scarlet giant dragon and blocking between Selene and Evan.

”Damn it...”

Looking at the dragonized Irene, Selene immediately felt a headache, but there was nothing she could do.

”Relax!”

August sent Selene a signal to relax. He intended to face Evan alone.

”Hehe...”

Regarding this, the corners of Evanʼs mouth rose. The kanabo in his hand was directly raised high above his head. The Haki on his body poured out completely, gathering at the tip of the kanabo. Black lightning wrapped around Evan, releasing bursts of thunder.

”Mm? What magic is this?”

August stared in Evanʼs direction for a long time and suddenly discovered that he could not understand the magic Evan was using at this moment. Immediately, his eyes widened, and confusion appeared within them.

”This is not magic!”

In a single breath, Evan had already arrived before August. He raised his kanabo and grinned fiercely at August.

”What kind of king did you say you were again, August!!”

As Evan raised his kanabo and swung it toward August, he asked.

”Hmph~”

August snorted coldly, seeming rather disdainful of Evanʼs actions.

”Do not think that just because you are not using magic, I have no way to deal with you...”

Magic power roared around August, preparing to launch an attack on Evan. In a brief fraction of a second, he had already gathered dozens of super magics.

”Hehe~”

However, just as August prepared to launch his attack at Evan, Evan suddenly activated illusion magic. A cute blond girl appeared before Evan just like that.

”Mm?”

Looking at that cute girl, Augustʼs pupils shrank, and his eyes were filled with disbelief.

”Kekeke, August, you wouldnʼt want your mother to get hurt, would you?”

The corners of Evanʼs mouth rose, his face like that of a villain.

”Itʼs Mother? No, thatʼs not right, itʼs an illusion!”

As the Magic King, August saw through Evanʼs little trick at a glance. However, his love for Mavis surpassed his own imagination. Even if it was only an illusion of Mavis, he could not bear to destroy it.

Then.

”Thunder Bagua!”

In the brief instant that August lost focus, Evan seized the opportunity and swung his kanabo toward Augustʼs old face.

”You sneak-attacked an eighty-year-old comrade!”

August looked at the kanabo growing larger and larger before his eyes, his pupils trembling as he cursed Evanʼs shameless behavior.

”Rumble!”

Accompanied by thunder, the kanabo firmly gripped in Evanʼs hands smashed fiercely onto Augustʼs body.

The moment Evanʼs big club landed on Augustʼs body, old comrade Augustʼs eyes rolled back, and he fell toward the ground. From then on, a generationʼs Magic King quit the stage. August finally understood that magic had its limits!

”Sorry, August... A victor needs no explanation!”

”Overly trusting your magic is your greatest weakness. I am helping you overcome your weakness. No need to thank me!”

Looking at August, whom he had knocked down with one strike, Evan felt somewhat unable to bear it. He decided that afterward, he would help Old Man August strengthen his physique so that Augustʼs final weakness would disappear. That could also be considered a slight compensation for scheming against August today!!