Fairy Tail: Collapsing Stars

Chapter 452: ʼBonds’? Got It, Let’s Take Out Our Teammates in the Same Group!

”Guild Master Makarov, although I know you revealed this yearʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial rules to Leo in advance and customized the examination rules for me in order to help me smoothly pass this yearʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial, and Iʼm actually quite happy about that…”

”But as the Guild Master of Fairy Tail, you are ʼknowingly breaking the law,ʼ taking the lead in violating the rules you yourself established. Is there really no problem with that?! Will a guild like this really not descend into chaos?”

Lucy really could not hold herself back anymore. She was, after all, a person with a strong sense of justice.

Thus, Lucy quickly walked up to Makarov and looked at him as she asked.

”Huh? Rules?!”

”Even if this old man establishes such things as rules, how many people actually follow them?”

After hearing Lucyʼs words, Makarov asked her while picking his nose.

At this moment, Makarov naturally looked like an old man who was completely lacking in propriety…

”Th-That is true…”

After hearing Makarovʼs words, cold sweat appeared on Lucyʼs forehead. Although she wanted to refute Makarov somehow, unfortunately, she had nothing she could use to refute his words.

Just as Makarov said, in Fairy Tail, no one would actually follow something like rules…

”Sigh…”

”Lucy, youʼve been in Fairy Tail for such a long time already. How are you still so superficial?”

”You should become like me and learn to take things easy…”

Makarov clasped his hands behind his back and sighed deeply while teaching Lucy.

”Su-Superficial?!”

When Lucy heard Makarovʼs words, she was completely dumbfounded. Was she, Lucy, really a very superficial person?!

”Although I really am a superficial person…”

”But anyone can call me superficial, except you, Guild Master! You have no right to say that about me, do you?!”

”If weʼre talking about being superficial, arenʼt you, the guy who bows his head to money, the most superficial of all?!”

The corner of Lucyʼs eye twitched. She pointed her fair finger at Makarovʼs nose and angrily asked.

”Huh? Iʼm only accumulating retirement money for myself. Itʼs all for the sake of living, so whatʼs superficial about that?!”

”If I donʼt work hard to save money now, are you going to pay my retirement expenses for me?”

Makarov clasped his hands behind his back, looking as though he had done absolutely nothing wrong.

Not only did Makarov not think he was wrong, he even believed that Lucy was the one who was wrong…

”Uh…”

Although Lucy really wanted to say something to Makarov.

But for a poor bastard who could barely afford her rent, no matter what she said now, she had absolutely no persuasive power…

”Sigh…”

”Lucy, you were simply born into a wealthy family, so you donʼt understand the hardships of us poor people.”

”In this world, money isnʼt everything, but without money, nothing can be done~”

At this moment, Makarov clasped his hands behind his back and put on the airs of a Guild Master. Looking like a philosopher who had seen through the world, he taught Lucy.

”Thank you for your teachings…”

At this moment, Lucy was already speechless. She could only cup her hands toward Makarov while thanking him for his painstaking teachings.

”Sigh…”

”Another day of saving the lost lambs in the guild! I really have boundless merit!”

Makarov clasped his hands behind his back. Looking at the convinced Lucy, he revealed a smile.

”Alright, you little brats in the guild!”

After Makarov had enlightened Lucy, he revealed a smile. Today was another day in which Makarov had accumulated boundless merit. Then Makarov directly leaped onto the podium in the center of Fairy Tailʼs guild hall, facing the many Mages inside the guild!

”I imagine all of you have been waiting for far too long!”

”Then I hereby announce that Fairy Tailʼs X784 S-Class Mage Promotion Trial! Begins now!”

Makarov clasped his hands behind his back. The moment he stood on the guildʼs podium, his clown-like outfit immediately began to shine. In the blink of an eye, that circus clown suit transformed into a white coat with the holy cross emblem of the Ten Wizard Saints printed on the back…

Perhaps it was because clothes make the man. The originally unreliable, comical, and ridiculous Makarov, after putting on the coat of a Ten Wizard Saint, immediately displayed an incomparably majestic aura of a powerful expert! That intense contrast made Makarov seem like an unparalleled grandmaster hidden among the masses, someone who never adhered to formalities!

”Oh!!”

As Makarovʼs voice fell, all the Mages inside Fairy Tailʼs guild hall erupted into excitement.

December, the end of the year, was Fairy Tailʼs liveliest time of the year, because on this day, no matter how busy the Mages were, they would return to the guild, submit the results of their year, and then await the Guild Masterʼs evaluation!

It could be said that once someone was selected by Makarov and determined to be qualified to participate in Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial, regardless of whether they ultimately passed the examination, it was already a symbol.

It symbolized that this Mage had not slacked off throughout the year, but had instead continued working hard.

Moreover, in Fairy Tail, being selected by Makarov and obtaining the qualification to participate in the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial itself symbolized a certain level of strength!

After all, this was Fairy Tail, the most competitive Mage Guild on the entire continent of Ishgar, and even in the entire world!

Not to mention Fairy Tailʼs currently active S-Class Mages. Just speaking of the seeds inside the guild who had a chance of passing the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial, on average, they already possessed the strength of the lower-ranked Ten Wizard Saints. And this yearʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial was exceptionally terrifying. Even currently active Ten Wizard Saints might not necessarily be able to pass it…

As for Mages like Lucy, who were relatively ordinary compared to Fairy Tail, all one could say was that Fairy Tail was simply too competitive!

”Then I wonʼt waste any more time!”

”I will now announce the list of personnel participating in Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial this year!”

”They are, Natsu Dragneel…”

After the members of Fairy Tail erupted into cheers, Makarov clasped his hands behind his back and began announcing the list of members participating in Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial this year, namely X784.

The first person Makarov announced was none other than the Fire Dragon Natsu, who had become famous in recent years throughout the Kingdom of Fiore and even across the entire continent of Ishgar.

”Natsu was selected…”

When Lucy heard Natsuʼs name, she immediately looked toward the group of people surrounding the podium inside the guild.

Natsu had indeed arrived at the guild early as well. After Makarov called Natsuʼs name, he directly came to the front of the crowd.

”This yearʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial, I am determined to win!”

When Makarov announced Natsuʼs name, Natsu did not reveal any particular expression, because his selection was inevitable! What truly made Natsu feel pressure was not being selected as a candidate, but passing the trial!

At this moment, Natsu crossed his arms over his chest and stood beneath the podium, confidently speaking to the other Mages inside the guild.

”Natsu, donʼt get too arrogant!”

”This year, I wonʼt hold back anymore.”

Gray looked at the confident smile on Natsuʼs face as an icy aura erupted from his body.

”And, Gray Fullbuster! Lyon Bastia, Cana Alberona, Kagura Mikazuchi…”

It was precisely while Gray and Natsu were exchanging harsh words that Makarov looked at everyone and continued speaking.

Makarov announced almost all of the remaining participants in one breath…

They were Gray, Lyon, Cana, Kagura, Mystogan, Gajeel, Wendy, Elfman, Lisanna, Juvia, Freed, Bickslow, Evergreen, Levy, and Mest, fifteen people in total. They were not participating in Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial for the first time. They were the top seeds of Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial throughout the years!

Among them, Kagura was particularly dazzling among the group of top seeds! As for Seilah, Seilah had already given up on becoming an S-Class Mage of the guild and voluntarily abandoned this yearʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial…

”Am I not included? Strange. Why isnʼt even Brandish included?”

When Lucy heard that her name was not on the list, she first slowly breathed a sigh of relief before secretly feeling puzzled.

It was perfectly normal that she was not among the candidates participating in this yearʼs Fairy Tail S-Class Mage Promotion Trial…

But Brandish not being included was strange. In Lucyʼs opinion, with Brandishʼs strength, she was completely capable of becoming an S-Class Mage of the guild.

”Hehehe…”

At this, Makarov gave Lucy a look telling her not to worry. Everything was within his calculations.

”As expected, itʼs these people!”

”Just as expected…”

”Speaking of which, Little Kagura, as expected, has once again chosen to challenge the guildʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial this year…”

”How many years has Kagura-chan been a top seed for the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial?”

”Almost ten years, right?”

As Makarov announced the list, a wave of discussion immediately swept through the guild. Naturally, the matter most worth discussing among the Mages was whether Kagura-chan could become an S-Class Mage this year.

”...”

Kagura listened to the discussions of the many Mages inside the guild. She merely pursed her lips and remained silent, like a bullied little wife.

Although Kagura had become increasingly silent, the sword in her hand had become increasingly sharp! With Kaguraʼs current strength, even if Jura, who had reached the human-limit level years ago, namely the fifth level of the Ten Wizard Saints in the original story, would not dare claim that he could definitely defeat Kagura anymore!

Yes, Kaguraʼs magic power was advancing toward an even stronger state…

Perhaps after another year or half a year, Kagura would naturally break through to a higher level, namely the Level Eight standard evaluated by Evanʼs system…

Unfortunately, this yearʼs Fairy Tail S-Class Mage Promotion Trial, as expected, had another group of monsters unexpectedly barging in…

”I imagine everyone is very familiar with the Mages I just mentioned and isnʼt unfamiliar with them, right?!”

”They are all the people in our guild who have been qualified throughout the years to participate in the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial and become S-Class Mages!”

”Besides this, Fairy Tail also has many outstanding talents joining the guild this year. This is also thanks to this old manʼs excellent measures for the guildʼs development!”

Makarov clasped his hands behind his back and spoke with a grin.

”Guild Master, have some shame! How those talents came here, everyone else may not know, but donʼt you have any AC number in your heart?! What does that have to do with your contributions to Fairy Tail?!”

As Makarovʼs voice fell, the many Mages inside Fairy Tail immediately began complaining one after another. They showed Makarov absolutely no respect.

”No way?!”

Unlike everyone else, when Lucy heard Makarov say this, her expression changed slightly, and an ominous premonition suddenly arose in her heart.

”Ahem, quiet! Quiet…”

”The list of personnel participating in this yearʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial that Iʼm about to announce is no small matter! Although they are Mages who have only just joined Fairy Tail this year, they have already enjoyed great fame for many years!”

”They are a group of Mages who, many years ago, were already famous throughout the Western Continent! And on the Western Continent, they obtained titles comparable to those of the Ten Wizard Saints of the continent of Ishgar. They are the existence known as the Spriggan 12 of the distant Western Continent, the Empireʼs Spriggan 12…”

”They are Bloodman, known as the ʼGrim Reaper,ʼ Dimaria Yesta, known as the ʼWar Goddess,ʼ Jacob Lessio, the ʼAssassin,ʼ Wahl Icht, the ʼJudge,ʼ Ajeel Raml, the ʼDesert King,ʼ Invel Yura, the ʼWinter General,ʼ and the one who was captured by Selene for several years and only officially joined the guild this year, known as the ʼSuper Self-X Stickʼ…”

”Ahem, I mean the ʼSaint,ʼ Larcade Dragneel, as well as ʼNation Destroyerʼ Brandish μ, and ʼSuper Newcomerʼ Lucy Heartfilia…”

Makarov stood on the podium in the center of Fairy Tailʼs guild hall and loudly spoke to the Mages inside the guild.

As Makarovʼs voice fell…

The former Spriggan 12 members, who had long been impatient to prove their strength in Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial, all stepped forward.

”Although we lost to the guildʼs S-Class Mages last time! But this time is different. This time…”

”We will definitely pass the trial and become S-Class Mages of Fairy Tail!”

The ʼDesert Kingʼ Ajeel stood in front of Natsu and spoke arrogantly.

However, although Ajeel was extremely arrogant, no one in the guild refuted him. After all, the battle between the Spriggan 12 and Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mages when the Spriggan 12 first arrived at Fairy Tail had already proven that the Spriggan 12 of the Alvarez Empire all possessed strength comparable to Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mages…

”Is that so?!”

”Donʼt get too arrogant! Youʼre nothing but newcomers…”

”Let us show you the strength of the S-Class Mage seeds of Fairy Tail!”

As Ajeelʼs voice fell, Natsu and the other Fairy Tail S-Class Mage seeds, who had already participated in the guildʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial multiple times but had lost for various reasons, immediately surrounded the Spriggan 12 and spoke with overwhelming momentum.

”Weʼll settle it with our fists when the time comes!”

Ajeel and the others did not say much either. After all, nothing they said now had any meaning. Only by knocking everyone down during the examination could they prove their strength.

”...”

At the same time, Lucy, standing among the Spriggan 12, trembled.

So how had she suddenly become part of the Spriggan 12 faction?!

Didnʼt this feel completely out of place?!

Also, everyone elseʼs titles were ʼNation Destroyerʼ! ʼGrim Reaperʼ! At worst, there were also ʼSuper Self-X Stickʼ and ʼSaintʼ…

Now look at her title! ʼSuper Newcomerʼ!

What kind of title was this?!

Lucy felt like she was about to vomit blood…

”Lucy, this is quite something~”

”I never thought you would actually be on their side! Donʼt blame me for not holding back when the trial starts!”

Natsu looked at Lucy and spoke sarcastically.

”Natsu, donʼt talk like Happy!”

After hearing Natsuʼs words, Lucy spoke angrily.

”Hehe…”

”Youʼre nothing but a mere Lucy, yet you actually dare to rank among the Spriggan 12 and provoke our Fairy Tail…”

Erza, who had somehow appeared behind Makarov on the podium, curled her lips and put on a contemptuous expression.

”What do you mean ʼyouʼre nothing but a mere Lucyʼ?”

”Whatʼs wrong with me?!”

”And I didnʼt provoke Fairy Tail at all, did I?!”

”Most importantly, this has nothing to do with you, Erza, does it?”

”Iʼm begging you, big sis, donʼt make things harder for me. I already have enough trouble…”

After hearing Erzaʼs words, Lucy frantically complained.

”Hehe~”

At this, Erza turned her head toward Lucy with a light laugh.

Just as Lucy had said, this indeed had nothing to do with her…

No! Actually, it did have something to do with her, because this yearʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial, she was one of the examiners!

”Heh, youʼre nothing but a mere mistress…”

As Lucyʼs complaining voice fell, Juvia, standing opposite Lucy, imitated Erzaʼs manner and spoke coldly.

”Youʼre going even further…”

After hearing Juviaʼs words, Lucy was completely numb. She was already too exhausted to complain.

Compared with Erzaʼs words, Juviaʼs words were concise, but there were simply too many points to complain about. Lucy was completely powerless to complain, and she did not even know where she should begin. Every single word in Juviaʼs sentence was filled with points to complain about…

”Donʼt worry, Lucy! We will protect you!”

”Yes, Lucy. Since you are Brandishʼs friend, you are our friend!”

”Believe us, Lucy!”

For a moment, the members of the Spriggan 12 all patted Lucyʼs shoulder, swearing that they would protect her.

”Oh, oh!”

”Lucy has received the recognition of the Spriggan 12. I really wonder how far Lucy, who has obtained the friendship of the Spriggan 12, can go in Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial. Itʼs truly exciting!”

Makarov immediately stirred things up when he saw the scene before him.

”Guild Master, please stop stirring things up. Thank you!”

At this, Lucy once again expressed her gratitude to Makarov.

”So exactly how far can Lucy go in Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial?”

”Letʼs make a bet!”

At the same time, the gamblers inside the guild seized this opportunity. They grinned wickedly and began their gambling pool based on how far Lucy could advance in Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial.

”I bet she gets eliminated immediately!”

”She wonʼt even make it past the first round…”

”Nonsense! Maybe Lucy will get lucky and make it to the second round! Before getting instantly killed by someone else…”

For a moment, the attention of everyone in Fairy Tail became completely distorted!

They had gone from questioning why someone like Lucy could participate in Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mage examination to discussing exactly how far Lucy could advance in Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial!

”Hehe, foolish humans! You were so easily distracted by me…”

Leo gently pushed up his sunglasses and quietly watched the Mages participating in the betting pool inside the guild. Everything happening right now was within his plan.

The purpose was to make sure the people of Fairy Tail did not notice that a Lucy had been mixed into the sacred S-Class Mage Promotion Trial…

In fact, even Erza suddenly provoking Lucy was the result of Leoʼs secret manipulation. The purpose of doing this was to attract everyoneʼs attention inside the guild. After all, Erza came with a built-in attention-grabbing effect!

For this, he had spent a fortune giving Erza one thousand Celestial Spirit World limited-edition strawberry cakes…

Leoʼs wallet was crying!!

”Alright, the above are the candidates for this Fairy Tail S-Class Mage examination!”

”Then I now announce the rules for this yearʼs Fairy Tail S-Class Mage Promotion Trial. Listen carefully…”

Makarov clasped his hands behind his back. First, he announced who the candidates for Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial were, then he faced everyone and began explaining the examination rules.

”This yearʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial rules will be different from before…”

”This year, the theme of our S-Class Mage Promotion Trial will no longer be slaughter! Instead, it will be ʼbonds.ʼ Everyone should understand the word ʼbondsʼ! It is a symbol of friendship between the companions of our guild! Therefore, we will have the twenty-five candidates participating in this yearʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial form groups of two! As for how the examination will proceed afterward, I imagine all of you already understand, right?!”

Makarov stood with his hands behind his back, deliberately looking profound as he spoke to the many Mages inside the guild.

”I understand!”

As Makarovʼs voice fell, Natsu immediately revealed an expression of realization.

”It seems Natsu has already understood this old manʼs profound meaning. Not bad!”

Makarov looked at Natsuʼs enlightened expression and immediately smiled slightly.

”If thatʼs the case, everyone, please form your groups!”

Seeing that even Natsu understood what he meant, Makarov did not continue speaking. After all, even Natsu could understand his words, so there was no reason for anyone else not to understand.

As Makarovʼs voice fell, Natsu directly walked up to the ʼDesert Kingʼ Ajeel.

”Hey! Bastard, you heard what the Guild Master just said, right? Now immediately team up with me!”

Natsu spoke coldly to Ajeel.

”Perfect! Iʼve been annoyed by you for a long time!”

As Natsuʼs voice fell, Ajeel immediately revealed an eager smile.

”First group formed, members are Natsu Dragneel and the ʼDesert Kingʼ Ajeel Raml! Everyone, please choose your teammates carefully. After all, you only have one chance, and once you choose, you cannot change it~”

As the Guild Masterʼs assistant, Mirajane immediately announced the formation of the first group after Natsu and Ajeel formed their team. To be honest, Mirajane was also somewhat curious about what interesting things would happen afterward with Natsu and Ajeelʼs team.

”Natsu, why did you team up with Ajeel?”

Makarov, who had originally planned to have a cup of tea and take a break, felt somewhat puzzled after seeing Natsu choose to team up with Ajeel. Thus, he walked up to Natsu and asked.

”The reason I teamed up with Ajeel is, of course, because of what you meant, Guild Master! After all, when you just announced the rules and told us S-Class Mage alternates to form groups of two, didnʼt you mean for us to choose the person we hate the most in the guild, then take him out before the competition even begins?”

Natsu looked at Makarov and spoke with a grin.

”Exactly!”

Ajeel nodded vigorously, expressing his agreement.

”When did I ever say that! You idiots!”

”What I meant is that you will participate in Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mage examination together with the person you choose. The following competition will be conducted as a group. As long as any one person in the group loses the ability to fight, you will immediately lose your qualification! You idiots!”

”And how many times do I have to repeat it? The core of this yearʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial is ʼbondsʼ!”

Makarov practically roared after hearing Natsu and Ajeelʼs words.

”Huh?!”

The two idiots, Natsu and Ajeel, froze in place after hearing Makarovʼs words.

”Idiots.”

At this, the corner of Makarovʼs eye twitched as he spoke helplessly.

Yes, Makarov was not insulting anyone. He was merely stating a fact!

”I request a change! Team up with me, Lucy!”

”I request to change teams! Big Brother Jacob, please!”

Natsu and Ajeel almost simultaneously requested to change their teammates.

”Denied!”

Then Mirajane rejected the two with a smile.

”No!!”

For a moment, the miserable cries of the two idiots, Natsu and Ajeel, rang out throughout Fairy Tailʼs guild hall.

”Idiot!”

Lucy looked at Natsu and spoke helplessly.

At the same time, Lucy gently rubbed her forehead. Although the rules now had undergone some adjustments compared to the Fairy Tail S-Class Mage Promotion Trial rules Leo had told her about yesterday, the basics were still within the plan. In other words, the person who would team up with her next would be Brandish.

”Then Brandish, just as planned, you come team up with me!”

Thinking of this, Lucy turned her head and looked at Brandish.

”Sorry, Little Lu, I already agreed to team up with Little Dimaria~”

However, when Lucy looked at Brandish, what she received was Brandishʼs smiling refusal.

”Ah…”

When Lucy heard Brandishʼs words, she froze in place. This was different from the plan?!

Thus…

Lucy looked toward Leo in the distance.

”Sorry, Lucy…”

”I thought that with your relationship with Brandish, Brandish would definitely choose to team up with you!”

At this, after sensing Lucyʼs gaze, Leo revealed a brilliant smile.

”What are you doing, you useless lion!”

After hearing Leoʼs words, Lucyʼs entire mentality collapsed.

So Leo had not negotiated the conditions with Brandish at all!

Then the problem was, now that the most crucial part had gone wrong, could she, Lucy, really smoothly pass the preliminary round of the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial?!

For a moment, Lucy even began to doubt herself!

At the same time, Lucy cursed in her heart: ”Leo! You useless lion, go be Senior Seleneʼs cat! Bastard!”

Yes, at this moment, Leo, the Celestial Spirit of Leo, had already become an existence on the same level as the stupid cat Happy in Lucyʼs eyes! They were all unreliable beings who would drop the ball at crucial moments and could not be depended upon!

At the same time, Leoʼs status in Lucyʼs heart plummeted straight down, already falling below the soles of her feet…

At this moment, there was completely no room left for Leoʼs status in Lucyʼs heart to fall any further!

”Wait, the number of participants in this yearʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial isnʼt even. Now that both Natsu and Brandish have dropped the ball, will anyone really team up with me?”

For a moment, Lucy seemed to have discovered the key point. Her face instantly became as pale as snow falling in winter, deathly pale, deathly pale.

First update, seven thousand four hundred words. The S-Class Mage Promotion Trial begins…