Fairy Tail: Collapsing Stars

Chapter 464: Makarov, You Actually Recruited the World-Destroying Black Dragon into the Guild?!

”Acnologia? Could it be that Acnologia from the Apocalypse?”

As Lucyʼs teammate made his dazzling entrance, the group of old gamblers inside the Fairy Tail guild were all stunned. Immediately afterward, they could no longer control their own heart attacks.

”Of course…”

”Back then, we also fought Acnologia on that deserted island. Unfortunately, whether it was our magic or Natsuʼs Dragon Slayer Magic, neither had the slightest effect on Acnologia!”

”In the end, it was Natsuʼs father, Igneel, who stepped in and briefly suppressed Acnologia! Although, in the end, even Igneel lost…”

Gray heard the discussions from his companions beside him and directly confirmed Acnologiaʼs identity.

”Then how did you defeat Acnologia and even bring him into the guild?”

Just listening to Grayʼs description, Macao could already imagine how tragic that battle must have been. At the same time, Macao was curious about exactly how Acnologia had joined Fairy Tail.

”In the end, Yven, Irene, Selene, Ignia, August, and Zeref all joined forces. Only then were they barely able to defeat him! You could say that guy was completely a monster!”

Gray thought for a moment before explaining to Macao.

”I see…”

Macao nodded vigorously. At the same time, the look he gave Acnologia became increasingly respectful.

To be able to fight alone against Yven, Irene, Selene, Ignia, August, and Zeref, all of them the top combatants of Fairy Tail, even though Acnologia had ultimately been defeated, it had already proven just how powerful he was…

”Hmph~”

Acnologia had naturally heard Gray and Macao discussing him, but he said nothing.

Was he supposed to grab Macaoʼs hand and tell him, ”Actually, Yven and the others didnʼt defeat me with any difficulty at all. I was just getting beaten the entire time, and in the end I even got slapped twice so hard that several of my teeth were knocked out”?

”Wait, Lucy and Acnologia are teaming up. Isnʼt that cheating?!”

At the same time, Macao suddenly realized something. He still remembered his bet with Makarov!

He, Macao, had bet nearly two hundred thousand J that Lucy would be the first one eliminated. If Lucy was teamed up with Acnologia, wouldnʼt all that two hundred thousand J go straight into the pockets of that shameless old bastard Makarov?!

”President Makarov, you already knew that Lucyʼs teammate was Acnologia, didnʼt you?”

”Arenʼt you setting us up?!”

”Give us our money back! Give us our money back! Give us our money back!!”

After confirming that Lucyʼs teammate was the legendary ʼBlack Dragon King,ʼ all the gamblers in the guild began shouting for Makarov to return their money.

”Return your money? Returning it isnʼt possible. It will never be possible~”

”You guys, could you at least have some backbone?”

”You had the guts to gamble, so have the guts to accept losing! If you couldnʼt afford to lose, you shouldnʼt have gambled in the first place! Now that youʼve lost, all you do is whine and complain. How boring…”

Makarov picked his nose while arrogantly speaking to the gamblers inside the guild.

”This guy is so damn punchable!”

”If we werenʼt weaker than him, heʼd already be dead!”

The gamblers inside the guild clenched their fists while looking at the arrogant Makarov on the platform and silently cursed him.

”So, Freed, do you understand now?”

”Itʼs impossible for anyone to make my grandfather suffer a loss. Absolutely impossible!”

At the same time, Laxus folded his arms in front of his chest and spoke softly to Freed beside him.

”I understand. As expected of Laxus…”

Freed clenched his fists after hearing Laxusʼs words. He had comprehended the truth once again.

”So, what does this have to do with Laxus?”

Bickslow and Evergreen, standing behind Freed, looked completely bewildered. Although the two of them were also die-hard fans of Laxus, there was still a huge gap between them and Freed in terms of devotion.

Meanwhile, Lucy was also completely dumbfounded…

”No, wait…”

”Youʼre saying that my teammate is that legendary Black Dragon, Lord Acnologia, recorded in the Apocalypse?!”

Lucy was stunned. Suddenly, she felt as though she had gone from being an oppressed peasant to becoming the master of the land.

At the same time, Lucy felt a little smug…

This was the happiest day Lucy had experienced since she had been selected to participate in Fairy Tailʼs X784 S-Class Mage Promotion Trial!

”Hehe, who said I didnʼt have a teammate? My teammate is super strong…”

Since her teammate was so powerful, Lucy felt that she had to put her hands on her hips. She raised her chin and looked at Natsu and the others, as if the words ʼarrogantʼ had been written all over her face.

There was nothing she could do about it. Lucy had suddenly gone from a poor peasant, surpassed the rich peasant, landlord, and capitalist classes, and directly advanced to the highest rank, instantly becoming a major capitalist herself!

Honestly, this was a feeling Lucy had never experienced before.

But now Lucy understood!

It felt really, really good!

At this moment, Lucy felt exactly like those stories circulating throughout the various weekly magazines of the Kingdom of Fiore:

A girl who had always believed her family was poor, who had grown up living a frugal and impoverished life, suddenly one day learned from her father:

”My daughter! Actually, our family is the richest family in the Kingdom of Fiore~! I made you live such a miserable life before because I wanted to test you. But now your father isnʼt pretending anymore. Iʼll tell you the truth! Yes, our Heartfilia family is the richest family on the entire continent…”

Yes.

That was exactly how Lucy felt right now.

She was so excited that she almost couldnʼt believe this was real…

”Woman! Do you think that because I lost one arm, I am no longer worthy of being your teammate?”

”It doesnʼt matter. I permit you to leave my team and join those idiots over there…”

Acnologia seemed to have noticed Lucyʼs unusual behavior.

The Black Dragon King, dressed in a black cloak, suddenly turned cold. He leapt high into the air from the platform, flew over everyoneʼs heads, and landed directly in front of Lucy.

He asked coldly.

Yes, Acnologia had never cared about teammates.

Even if he were alone, it made no difference.

After all, he had long been accustomed to walking forward alone.

”Gulp~”

Lucy had previously been completely immersed in the joy of having such a powerful teammate.

But when she faced Acnologia directly, she finally remembered that her teammate was no ordinary person.

He was the World-Destroying Dragon King recorded in the Apocalypse!

”Is… is he going to kill me?”

Lucyʼs body instantly went cold.

Cold sweat continuously appeared on her forehead, and her body involuntarily trembled.

At this moment, Lucy was no longer smug.

All that remained was awe toward Acnologia.

”Hmph!”

Acnologia merely snorted coldly, his eyes filled with disdain toward Lucy.

To be fair, if he had never encountered Yven and never received those two slaps, then under normal circumstances, if Acnologia encountered a little weakling like Lucy, he wouldnʼt even bother lifting his head.

He wouldnʼt bother paying attention to her, let alone speaking to her.

He wouldnʼt even bother killing such a weak existence as Lucy.

At the very least, someone had to possess strength on Gildartsʼs level, standing at the pinnacle of humanity on the continent of Ishgar, before they were worthy of making the great Black Dragon King move his muscles and have a little fun…

”Inhale… exhale…”

”Of, of, of course not!”

After taking several deep breaths, Lucy barely managed to calm herself down.

Then she looked at Acnologia standing before her and repeatedly shook her head.

”Itʼs just that I really canʼt believe that an existence like you would actually become my teammate…”

”Heh~”

Acnologia looked at Lucyʼs fearful and ʼhumbleʼ posture and sneered.

Then he said nothing more.

Acnologia simply stood beside Lucy, displaying the bearing of a powerhouse who would carry the entire exam by himself in a moment!

”So, the legendary Black Dragon King Acnologia really became my teammate just like that?”

”Could it be that the president already knew from the beginning that Acnologia would join the Fairy Tail guild, which is why he arranged for me to have a team by myself?”

”No, that doesnʼt seem right. It wasnʼt that the president arranged for me to be alone. It was simply that no one wanted to team up with me…”

Lucy thought sadly.

At the same time, when Lucy thought about this, she subconsciously gave Natsu and Brandish an extremely resentful look.

The reason Lucy had been ostracized was all because of those two troublesome idiots, Natsu and Brandish…

Brandish, whose gaze was caught by Lucy, subconsciously turned her head away.

She looked as though Lucy failing to find a teammate had absolutely nothing to do with her.

Although now, whether Lucy teamed up with Brandish or not no longer mattered.

After all, Lucy had an even more powerful teammate.

The strongest teammate imaginable…

”Is it because when the guild conducted the S-Class Mage candidate simulation team assignments, Acnologia had not officially joined the guild yet, so they used a mysterious person as a substitute?”

”And because Acnologia had not officially joined the guild at the time, only someone who had been left without a partner and had not formed a team with anyone else in the guild could become Acnologiaʼs teammate?”

”Wait, if thatʼs the case, didnʼt I actually turn misfortune into fortune?”

Lucy was utterly shocked.

At this moment, Lucy was genuinely both surprised and delighted.

”Lucy, didnʼt I tell you that I would make you an S-Class Mage this year~”

Just as Lucy was thinking things over, Leo, the leader of the twelve Zodiac Spirits and the Spirit of Leo, limped over to Lucy with the support of a cane.

He bent down and whispered into Lucyʼs ear.

”What? Could it be that all of this was part of your calculations? Leo, youʼre actually this clever?!”

Lucy looked shocked after hearing Leoʼs words.

”Hahaha…”

”Donʼt underestimate me, Lucy!”

”Iʼm an ancient Spirit who has lived for hundreds, even thousands of years, after all. I wouldnʼt dare say that I can predict everything, but when I get serious, accomplishing something like this is still within my abilities…”

Leo laughed loudly after hearing Lucyʼs words.

”Speaking of which, Leo…”

”Thereʼs something Iʼve wanted to ask you since the beginning~”

”How did you know all this information beforehand? Whether it was this yearʼs exam rules or Acnologiaʼs arrival, none of this is something you could have learned simply by bribing the president, right?”

”It would be understandable if the president knew beforehand, but I donʼt think he would tell you! Because technically speaking, you arenʼt even a Mage of our Fairy Tail guild!”

”Besides, given your identity, you shouldnʼt have access to information involving the guildʼs core secrets, right?”

After her initial shock, Lucy suddenly realized something was wrong. She looked at Leo in confusion.

Based on Lucyʼs understanding of Makarov, although Makarov occasionally did things that crossed the line, he still had his limits.

If revealing the exam questions beforehand was still within those limits, then telling Leo that Fairy Tail was preparing to deal with the ʼBlack Dragon Kingʼ Acnologia had clearly crossed that boundary…

”Ah, this…”

”Well…”

”I can only tell you that I definitely didnʼt learn it from the president! But I canʼt tell you exactly whose hands I got the information from…”

”Anyway, it definitely cost me a great deal, hehe… hehehe…”

After hearing Lucyʼs question, the corner of Leoʼs eye twitched.

He scratched his head before lowering it timidly, subconsciously looking toward someone in the distance.

”Hmm? How suspicious…”

Lucy narrowed her eyes slightly as she looked at Leoʼs suspicious behavior.

Lucyʼs instincts told her that Leo was definitely hiding something important.

When Lucy noticed Leoʼs wandering gaze, she immediately followed his line of sight.

At the end of Leoʼs gaze stood a woman as beautiful as moonlight, graceful and elegant.

The woman possessed skin as delicate and youthful as a girlʼs, while also possessing the charm of a mature woman.

That moonlight-like woman was none other than Moon Dragon Selene…

When Selene sensed Lucyʼs gaze, she revealed a meaningful smile.

Then she licked the corner of her sexy lips.

At the same time, Selene silently mouthed to Lucy:

”Enjoy your exam~”

”Uh…”

”I understand. Youʼve worked hard, Leo.”

Lucy looked at the scene before her as though she had been struck by lightning. Her body trembled repeatedly.

At the same time, she sent Leo a sympathetic look.

Yes.

In merely an instant, Lucy understood.

She understood everything.

There was no need for further explanation.

At this moment, Lucy was filled with concern and sympathy for Leo.

”Itʼs all something I should do!”

”After all, youʼre my master~”

”Besides, the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial! This isnʼt only your battle. Itʼs my battle too!”

”For your sake, and for my own sake, making some sacrifices is only natural.”

Leo became emotional after sensing the understanding in Lucyʼs eyes.

In this world, there was nothing better than having a mistress who could understand you.

”All right! Since the newcomer has already been introduced to everyone!”

”Then I wonʼt say anything unnecessary!”

”I, Makarov, as the third-generation president of the Fairy Tail guild, hereby announce that the Fairy Tail X784 S-Class Mage Promotion Trial officially begins!!”

Just as Lucy was comforting Leo, Makarov stood on the platform with his hands behind his back and spoke solemnly to the Mages of Fairy Tail.

”President…”

Just as Makarov finished speaking, Mirajane seemed to notice something wrong. She looked seriously at Makarov.

”Mirajane, is there something you want to say?”

Makarov sensed Mirajaneʼs gaze and asked.

”To be honest, you arenʼt actually the third-generation president of the Fairy Tail guild. Youʼre the fifth-generation president of the Fairy Tail guild!”

”After all, it was only a few days ago that you took over authority from August, the fourth-generation president of our guild~”

Mirajane smiled as she reminded Makarov.

”Uh…”

”Thatʼs not important!”

The corner of Makarovʼs eye twitched slightly.

Honestly, even as the president of Fairy Tail, the guildʼs succession system was so chaotic that even he found it confusing.

He himself couldnʼt figure out which generation of president he was anymore…

In any case, he remembered that he was the president.

That was all that mattered!

”Ahem…”

”In any case, all teams, get ready! Weʼre heading to Tenrou Island to begin the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial!”

Makarov coughed lightly before straightening his expression and speaking solemnly to the group of troublesome brats inside the guild.

”Weʼve been ready for ages~”

The S-Class Mage candidates of Fairy Tail spoke listlessly one after another.

They had practically given up on this yearʼs trial…

After all, their opponent this year was the ʼBlack Dragon Kingʼ Acnologia.

What the hell were they supposed to fight?!

”Iʼm fired up!”

Among all the candidates, only Natsu was different.

His entire body was burning with flames, excited to fight Acnologia.

”Interesting…”

Among the remaining S-Class Mage candidates, the only other person who still seemed unwilling to submit was another Dragon Slayer Mage, Gajeel.

Everyone else had already accepted reality.

Then there were the current S-Class Mages of Fairy Tail…

”The man before us is one of the strongest Dragon Slayer Mages in the world right now?”

”I really want to test myself against him and see exactly how large the gap between me and the strongest is…”

Laxusʼs body crackled with electricity as he stared at Acnologia, looking eager to try.

”The victor of the Dragon King Festival four hundred years ago, the legendary Dragon King?”

God Serena stood beside Laxus.

He too felt his blood beginning to boil.

His chuunibyou soul was burning.

”A powerhouse who can stand shoulder to shoulder with Yven, a monster whom even Mother admits she is inferior to…”

Erza stared at Acnologia while tightening her grip around the hilt of her sword.

”I really want to fight him one-on-one!”

”But that guy has already lost one arm to Father. Even if I defeat him, I wonʼt be able to prove that my strength surpasses his!”

”Damn it! How unfair! I really want to fight Acnologia at his peak!”

”Born at the wrong time, born at the wrong time!”

Ignia became somewhat frantic as he looked at Acnologia, who had lost one arm.

Unlike the others, Ignia wanted to fight Acnologia from four hundred years ago, when he had been crowned the Dragon King and stood at his peak, in a one-on-one battle.

Unfortunately, four hundred years ago Ignia had still been young, while the Acnologia of today had already had one arm severed by someone and was no longer at his peak…

”Hehe, interesting…”

Acnologia sensed everyoneʼs gazes and gave a cold laugh.

His eyes went directly toward the yawning Yven, who looked completely listless on the platform.

”If I were at my peak, could I defeat this guy?”

”It would be difficult…”

Acnologia recalled the state in which Yven had unleashed his full power and displayed that nearly overwhelming strength.

His eyes narrowed.

”Senior Irene, please!”

Just as the Mages of Fairy Tail were each harboring their own thoughts, Makarov slightly bowed toward Irene, who was standing behind him.

Although Irene looked far younger than Makarov, in terms of age and seniority, she was indeed Makarovʼs extremely senior elder.

”Just call me Irene. Donʼt add ʼSenior.ʼ Youʼll expose my age~”

After hearing Makarovʼs words, Irene narrowed her eyes and transmitted her voice directly to him.

”Uh, I understand, Senior Ire— I mean, Mage Irene.”

Makarov heard Ireneʼs transmission.

The shameless old Makarov, who feared neither heaven nor earth and had even dared to charge into Magnoliaʼs womenʼs bathhouse with Gildarts, finally broke into a cold sweat of fear.

”Hehe~”

Irene smiled lightly after hearing him.

With a wave of her hand, a teleportation gate gradually formed.

”Hum!”

”Everyone, please proceed. Beyond this gate lies Fairy Tailʼs sacred ground, Tenrou Island~”

Irene stood beside the teleportation gate and spoke softly to the Mages of the guild.

”Letʼs go…”

Once the teleportation gate was complete, Acnologia smiled lightly.

He waved toward his teammate Lucy and then walked toward the gate first.

”Boom!”

With a rumbling sound, Acnologia successfully passed through the teleportation gate, traveling from the Fairy Tail guild in Magnolia to Tenrou Island, Fairy Tailʼs sacred ground in the middle of the sea.

”So thatʼs how it works. It moves the atmosphere, magic power, and absolutely everything within the entire space away, thereby transporting even me…”

”No, thatʼs not right.”

”The core of this magic isnʼt moving me. Itʼs moving the space Iʼm standing in!”

”So this is a teleportation magic that even I can use?”

”That Extreme-Type Enchanter really has something going for her! She actually developed this kind of magic. If thatʼs the case, then even I have no way to deal with her!”

”I underestimated her…”

”No. I should say that the one who hid her abilities the deepest among everyone was that woman…”

Acnologia stood on Tenrou Island and suddenly smiled.

At this moment, Acnologia was somewhat pleasantly surprised.

He had discovered a teleportation magic that even he could use…

Acnologia was immune to magic.

The magic immunity of this body of his was so powerful that even magic he cast himself was rendered ineffective.

In other words, Acnologia couldnʼt even use spatial teleportation magic on himself!

Therefore, he normally had only two ways of traveling.

Walking step by step on the ground, or flying slowly through the sky with his own wings…

However, the world of Earth Land was simply too vast.

It was far larger than the Earth Yven had once lived on!

Even with Acnologiaʼs strength, traveling across the entire continent of Ishgar would require years.

But with this teleportation magic, Acnologiaʼs traveling speed would increase tremendously.

”Hum!”

Just as Acnologia was marveling at Ireneʼs extraordinary abilities, the S-Class Mage candidates of Fairy Tail, as well as the S-Class Mages serving as examiners, emerged from the teleportation gate behind him.

”Can you give me this magic later?”

As Irene arrived, Acnologia asked his question.

”Oh my~”

”Theyʼre merely some mediocre spells. If you like them, whatʼs the harm in giving them to you?”

Irene smiled slightly after hearing Acnologiaʼs request.

”Thank you!”

After receiving Ireneʼs agreement, Acnologia unexpectedly thanked her.

”Even Acnologia has to ask that woman for something?”

”Could it be that the most dangerous person in this entire guild is actually Irene?”

Lucy, who had silently watched the scene, complained inwardly.

”Everyone, since youʼve all arrived, then as the third-generation president of Fairy Tail… I mean, as the fifth-generation president of Fairy Tail, Iʼll explain this yearʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial rules!”

”First, do you see these caves in front of you?”

”There are thirteen entrances in total, corresponding to thirteen teams!”

”Each S-Class Mage candidate team will choose one entrance and enter.”

”Twelve teams will engage in an internal battle, and the victors will pass!”

”The remaining team that receives the bye will pass directly!”

Makarov selected a massive boulder and stood high upon it, explaining the rules of this yearʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial to the thirteen teams before him, twenty-six S-Class Mage candidates in total.

”Does everyone understand?”

After explaining the rules, Makarov asked everyone.

”Understood~”

Led by Natsu, the twenty-six S-Class Mage candidates all nodded after hearing Makarovʼs words, indicating that they understood the rules.

”Then let us officially begin this yearʼs trial…”

Makarov was extremely satisfied with everyoneʼs attitude this year.

Sure enough, if he let these people cause a huge ruckus during the simulation battle first, then when the official trial began, they would behave much better.

”Iʼll invite President Precht and President Mavis over later and let them properly appreciate just how perfect the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial I organized is…”

At the same time, Makarov had invited Mavis and Precht to come and watch this yearʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial.

He had decided to properly demonstrate his abilities before his two predecessors.

”At the same time, Iʼd like to remind everyone of a few precautions…”

Makarov continued speaking with his hands behind his back.

”Dragon Kingʼs Crushing Fist!”

Just as Makarov smiled and looked at the S-Class Mage candidates before him, announcing the beginning of the trial while imagining Mavis and Precht praising him after seeing the trial he had organized, a rather discordant voice slowly rang in Makarovʼs ears.

”BOOM!!”

Accompanied by overwhelming magic power and a violent shockwave, the thirteen entrances Makarov had painstakingly prepared overnight, along with the entire mountain, were blasted into countless pieces!

”Huh?!”

Makarov stared blankly at the mountain flying into the sky behind him.

”Those boring exam rules are completely unnecessary, arenʼt they?”

”As long as we knock everyone here unconscious, then weʼll be the S-Class Mages this year, right?”

Acnologia spoke as he withdrew his right hand after the punch.

Then he began walking toward Natsu and the others step by step.

”Uh…”

For a moment, Natsu and Macaoʼs team, Brandish and Dimariaʼs team, Levy and Gajeelʼs team, Gray and Invel Yuraʼs team, Lyon and Mystoganʼs team, Freed and Bickslowʼs team, Evergreen and Elfmanʼs team, Lisanna and Juviaʼs team, Cana and Kaguraʼs team, Wendy and Jacobʼs team, ʼDeath Godʼ Bloodman and ʼSaintʼ Larcadeʼs team, Mystogan and Wahl Ichtʼs team…

All twelve teams stared solemnly at Acnologia!

”Just what I wanted!”

Immediately afterward, as Natsuʼs voice fell, all twelve teams, a total of twenty-four Mages, simultaneously activated their magic circles toward Acnologia.

Although they knew clearly that they were absolutely no match for Acnologia, honestly, simply surrendering without a fight would leave even them feeling unwilling to accept it…

For a moment, twenty-four magic circles of various forms lit up directly before Acnologia.

”Interesting! Too interesting!”

”Sure enough, joining Fairy Tail was the right choice~”

Acnologia looked at the series of flashing magic circles and laughed wildly in excitement.

His entire appearance was so frenzied that he looked like a Demon King crawling out of hell.

”BOOM!!”

Amid one explosion after another, the beach of Tenrou Island was directly reduced to nothing!

”Hahahaha…”

Acnologia laughed wildly.

As for the twenty-four Mages, Natsu and the others who had challenged Acnologia, they had already been blasted into the sky by Acnologia.

”Freed!”

In the sky, the people who had already prepared to cooperate with one another did not simply wait to be defeated.

They all looked toward Freed, who possessed Dark Écriture Magic.

”Wings!”

Freed did not waste words.

He drew the Western-style sword from his waist and immediately carved his Dark Écriture onto everyoneʼs shoulders.

”BOOM!”

Immediately, a pair of enormous black wings appeared behind each Mage.

This was a brand-new Dark Écriture Freed had created for flight after upgrading his Dark Écriture: Wings!

”Weʼre saved!”

As everyone gained a pair of wings behind them, including Natsu and the other Mages who couldnʼt fly, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The people who had obtained wings spread them and flew through the sky, observing Acnologia on the ground.

None of them dared to attack recklessly.

”Hmm? These guys can fly?”

”Interesting…”

”In that case, Iʼll go up there and find them!”

”The sky belongs to the dragons!”

Before long, Acnologia noticed that the Mages he had blasted away could actually fly.

He immediately smiled.

His body underwent a transformation.

In the blink of an eye, the youthful Acnologia transformed into a terrifying, completely black dragon covered in strange markings.

Then he took flight, charging straight toward the Mages in the sky…

”666!”

Meanwhile, Lucy, Acnologiaʼs teammate, stood behind him holding two golden pom-poms.

She jumped around performing cheerleading routines while shouting:

”666!”

”Remember, this is Fairy Tailʼs sacred ground. Make sure you absolutely do not destroy Tenrou Island…”

As Makarov spoke, he directly fell to his knees on the ground, tears continuously filling his eyes.

”My heart hurts!”

”Why does a perfectly good S-Class Mage Promotion Trial always end up like this?”

”Why canʼt everyone just calm down a little and happily, peacefully complete the trial?”

Makarov clutched his chest and spoke in agony.

”Hum!”

At the same time, accompanied by a rumbling sound, a teleportation gate appeared behind Makarov.

Under Augustʼs leadership, Fairy Tailʼs First President Mavis, Second President Precht, and the current Chairman of the Magic Council, as well as Fairy Tailʼs founder, Warrod Sequen, passed through the teleportation gate and arrived on Tenrou Island.

”President Makarov, I brought the First and Second Presidents here to watch the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial you organized~”

August held his staff and looked at Makarov, who was kneeling on the ground clutching his chest, as he spoke with a smile.

”Ah! Itʼs over…”

Makarov was on the verge of tears.

At this point, forget about receiving the approval of the guildʼs former presidents.

If Precht and Warrod found out that he had accidentally demolished Tenrou Island, he would be lucky if they didnʼt beat him to death…

”Strange. I remember this used to be a beach, didnʼt it?”

”Have I been away for too long and simply remembered incorrectly?”

At this moment, Precht stood atop the smooth rock wall and looked at the rocks beneath his feet, narrowing his eyes.

He clearly remembered that this place hadnʼt been rock before.

It had been a beach.

”Hehe…”

Makarov merely smiled and said nothing.

Everything was left unsaid.

”Speaking of which, Makarov…”

”Where did all the children go?”

”There have to be people participating in the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial, right?”

”Everyone standing here seems to be people who have already passed the trial, doesnʼt it?”

Warrodʼs attention was different from Prechtʼs.

What puzzled him was why, on Tenrou Island, he could only see Makarov and the current S-Class Mages of Fairy Tail who had passed the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial in previous years.

He couldnʼt see any of the Mages participating in this yearʼs trial.

”Sigh…”

Makarov let out a long sigh.

Then he covered his face with one hand and pointed toward the sky with the other.

”Huh?!”

Precht and Warrod looked at Makarovʼs gesture and subconsciously raised their heads.

The sky was blue, with a few thin white clouds floating through it.

It was completely clear.

”Thereʼs nothing in the sky?!”

Warrod stared at the sky for a long time.

He found nothing, so he asked in confusion.

”No! Thatʼs not right…”

”Thereʼs something falling from the sky!”

Although only one of Prechtʼs eyes was exposed, his eyesight was far sharper than Warrodʼs.

More importantly, he could sense waves of magic power coming from the sky…

”AAAAAH!!!”

The next second, just as Precht and Warrod stared upward, twenty-four Mages fell from the sky.

Not one more.

Not one less.

Exactly twenty-four Mages.

They were the members participating in Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mage Promotion Trial, excluding Lucyʼs team.

At this moment, every one of these Mages had panicked expressions.

They seemed to be fleeing from something as they rapidly descended toward Tenrou Island…

”What are they afraid of?”

Looking at the scene before them, both Precht and Warrod were stunned.

”ROAR!!”

Just as the two guild founders were confused, the thin clouds high above suddenly split apart.

A gigantic black dragon, several dozen meters long, revealed its powerful figure.

The dragon turned in midair.

Without any unnecessary words, it immediately charged toward Natsu and the other Fairy Tail S-Class Mage candidates who were falling toward Tenrou Island.

”A dragon? Thatʼs a dragon, right?”

Warrod, the tool-like man who knew ʼvery littleʼ about Fairy Tail, stared at the dragon that had suddenly broken through the clouds.

”What the hell?!”

”Could that be the Black Dragon Acnologia recorded in the Apocalypse?”

Precht reacted much faster than Warrod.

Based on the dragonʼs characteristics, he quickly deduced its true identity.

”Makarov, you actually provoked such a dangerous existence and still dared to invite us here to watch the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial you organized?”

”Are you tired of us old men breathing down your neck, preventing you from going all out and using the power of Fairy Tail to conquer the world, so you decided to find an excuse to kill us?”

”I knew you were a rebellious little brat…”

At this moment, the corner of Prechtʼs eye twitched.

He stared at Makarov and questioned him angrily.

Precht sneered.

He had known for a long time that Makarov intended to conquer the world…

At the same time, he knew that, given Makarovʼs unscrupulous nature, it was only a matter of time before Makarov made a move against him.

He simply hadnʼt expected that time to come so quickly!

”My wish, Second President…”

Makarovʼs body trembled after hearing Prechtʼs words.

He couldnʼt help but speak.

”No! Thatʼs not right…”

At this moment, Warrod seemed to have noticed something.

He craned his neck upward and stared at Acnologiaʼs figure, repeatedly shaking his head.

”What is it?”

Precht heard Warrodʼs voice and asked him.

”Old Pre, look at the markings on that Black Dragonʼs chest.”

”Donʼt they look like the emblem of our Fairy Tail guild?”

Warrod stared at the sky for a long time before asking Precht.

”Hmm?”

”Now that you mention it, they really do!”

Precht immediately raised his head after hearing Warrodʼs words.

He stared at the white emblem on Acnologiaʼs chest.

His expression froze.

It was unmistakably the emblem of the Fairy Tail guild.

”Makarov, you actually recruited the World-Destroying Black Dragon into the guild?!”

After a long moment, Precht finally realized what had happened.

He stared at Makarov and asked in disbelief.