Fairy Tail: Collapsing Stars

Chapter 466: I’m Coming Clean! I’m the Strongest Man in the World!

”ROAR!!”

Accompanied by wave after wave of furious roars, the pitch-black dragon and the deep-red dragon repeatedly collided in the sky!

Terrifying magic power erupted with every collision!

”Ignia, I never expected that after witnessing what happened to your father, Igneel, you would still dare challenge me! Since thatʼs the case, Iʼll send you underground to reunite with your father! Yes, your fatherʼs fate will be your fate as well!”

The pitch-black dragon that was Acnologia roared furiously at the deep-red dragon.

”Heh heh, are you trying to turn me into a little cat?!”

”Or perhaps you want me to bite off your only remaining arm?!”

The deep-red dragon that was Ignia immediately fired back at Acnologia. When it came to trash-talking, the two dragons were surprisingly evenly matched.

”If you can do it, then give it a try!”

Acnologia became furious after hearing Igniaʼs words. Ever since Igneel had bitten off his left arm, many aspects of his life had become inconvenient! Ignia deliberately bringing up this matter again was obviously meant to provoke him!

And there was no doubt about it—Ignia had succeeded! Acnologia spread his wings, unleashing endless sonic booms as he charged toward Ignia!

”ROAR!!”

Facing Acnologiaʼs charge, Ignia revealed a vicious grin. A rumbling roar erupted from his mouth as he continuously bellowed. Then, endless flames burst into existence all over his body, and he charged straight toward Acnologia.

”BOOM!”

In an instant, the two enormous creatures collided. Immediately afterward, they tore into each other, biting and grappling as they struggled for supremacy. For a moment, neither could do anything to the other!

However, whether it was Ignia or Acnologia, both of them deliberately held back during their attacks, refraining from releasing the Dragonʼs Curse that would prevent their opponentʼs wounds from healing!

After all, neither Ignia nor Acnologia was willing to waste too much of their life force on each other! They now had an opponent they were even more eager to defeat—the lofty God of Life, Ankhseram!

If they suffered injuries that were too severe here and were ultimately unable to challenge that great God of Life, then it would truly be a terrible loss…

”Whoosh…”

As Acnologia and Ignia tore into each other, bite marks of varying sizes appeared all over their bodies. Countless drops of dragon blood flowed from them, raining down from the sky!

”No good. I need to create some distance!”

After fighting Ignia at close range for a while, Acnologia discovered a problem. Because his left arm had been bitten off, he was at a disadvantage in close combat against Ignia. He was constantly getting smacked by Igniaʼs left arm!

Thus, Acnologia immediately flew backward. At the same time, he opened his enormous jaws and began devouring the magic power of the world around him!

”Perfect!”

Ignia did not pursue Acnologia. Seeing Acnologia open his mouth, he likewise opened his own mouth. In an instant, endless flames converged toward his jaws.

”Dragon of Darkness…”

”Fire God Dragon…”

”…ROAR!!”

The next moment, Acnologia and Ignia had almost simultaneously finished charging their attacks, and both unleashed their Roars.

”BOOM!!”

The white radiance containing the magic power of all things collided with flames heated to the extreme—the radiance was so brilliant that it rivaled the light released by the sun!

In an instant, all things were annihilated! Above the sky where the two Dragon Kings fought, the clouds, birds, magic power, atmosphere—everything was completely obliterated. Only the two savage dragons remained, flapping their wings as they continued floating in the sky!

On the ground…

As endless magic power erupted across the sky, a dazzling and newborn sun seemed to rise slowly into the heavens! The entirety of Tenrou Island trembled continuously under the battle between the two dragons!

”Uh…”

The people on Tenrou Island stared at the two dragons battling in the sky, their hearts filled with indescribable shock. Even Lucy, who had once witnessed Acnologia battle Igneel, was stunned by the battle between Acnologia and Ignia! A battle of this level would leave Lucy shaken no matter how many times she witnessed one!

”Thatʼs about enough…”

August raised his head and gazed at the white light in the sky, his eyes narrowing slightly.

In fact, he had already cast the highest-level protective barrier over his eyes. Otherwise, merely looking directly at this white light would leave him permanently blind…

”Itʼs time to stop them!”

Hearing Augustʼs words, Evan gently nodded.

Following Evanʼs movement, the previously cloudless sky suddenly became covered in dark clouds!

”ROAR!!”

Evan let out a furious roar. The sound was nothing like a human voice; it seemed to belong to some supreme creature!

Immediately afterward, Evan lightly leaped into the air, his body flying directly toward the dark clouds above.

”RUMBLE!!”

As Evanʼs body merged into the clouds, fierce winds erupted and lightning flashed and thunder roared!

Immediately afterward, something seemed to be moving continuously within the dark clouds! The creature was enormous! Terrifying beyond measure…

”BOOM!!”

Just as Acnologia, who had already lost an arm, was locked in an intense battle against Ignia at his peak, countless dark clouds suddenly filled the sky above their heads!

”This is?!”

At almost the exact same moment, the expressions of Acnologia and Ignia changed dramatically.

A power that surpassed both of them—a power standing above them and completely transcending the level of the Dragon Kings—revealed itself above their heads!

”Throughout the entire world, thereʼs probably only one person who possesses this kind of power…”

At the same time, Acnologia and Ignia instantly understood.

The reason Acnologia and Ignia could calmly accept the Fairy Tail guild mark was not because of some lofty ideal, nor because of the guildʼs enormous potential!

It was because the Fairy Tail guild itself concealed a terrifying monster whose power surpassed even Acnologia and Ignia!

”BOOM!”

Suddenly, the dark clouds dispersed. Two enormous claws descended from the sky. Each gigantic claw was as large as a small mountain, directly clamping down on Acnologia and Ignia.

”ROAR!!”

In an instant, Acnologia and Ignia let out cries of pain. They exerted all their strength, yet they still could not escape the restraint of those claws!

”Ten minutes…”

Within the endless dark clouds in the sky, a colossal Divine Dragon a thousand meters long silently muttered to himself.

That was Evan in his complete dragon form, and ten minutes was precisely the amount of time his current magic power allowed him to maintain his complete dragon transformation while unleashing his full power!

In fact, Evanʼs cultivation over these years had not been in vain. His Armament Haki, Observation Haki, and Conquerorʼs Haki had all improved, causing his Haki level to rise by another stage. His magic power had also increased. Although it was still within the range of Level Fourteen, it was getting increasingly close to Level Fifteen!

However, even with Evanʼs current magic power, it was still insufficient to sustain the consumption of the Level Sixteen Dragon Power at full strength! Thus, every time Evan recovered his magic power, he only had ten minutes during which he could unleash his abilities at full power.

But at least during those ten minutes, Evan was invincible!

In fact, the reason Evan had originally refrained from immediately punching Acnologia into submission was that he did not know exactly how strong Acnologia was?!

After all, in the original story, Acnologiaʼs strength had always been something of a mystery! He was unquestionably the ceiling of combat power in the world of Earth Land!

Even Igneel successfully injuring Acnologia in the original story had involved an element of Acnologia being caught off guard! As for the rumors spread throughout the continent of Guiltina during the 100 Years Quest arc, claiming that the Five God Dragons standing at the summit of Guiltina were each no weaker than Acnologia, Evan had never believed them from beginning to end…

But after Evan used Igneelʼs hands to thoroughly test Acnologiaʼs strength through Ignia, and confirmed that although Acnologia was powerful, he was still within the level of the Dragon Kings, there was nothing left for Evan to fear!

Evan directly chose to throw a heavy punch!

At the same time, Evan, who had not displayed his strength before the members of the Fairy Tail guild for a long time, was revealing his full power for the first time, unleashing the terrifying strength that stood at the summit of the Earth Land world!

Thatʼs right. Evan was coming clean!

He was the strongest man in the world of Earth Land!

”The battle is over!”

Therefore, when August worried that the battle between Acnologia and Ignia might truly get out of hand, Evan soared into the sky, transformed into a thousand-meter Divine Dragon, and grabbed Acnologia and Ignia with one claw each, directly holding both Dragon Kings in his claws…

”Al-right, alright!”

Acnologia and Ignia exchanged glances. After confirming that the power within Evan completely surpassed their own, their expressions became somewhat helpless. In the end, they nodded as though they had compromised.

On the ground…

A large group of Fairy Tail members stood across the vast Tenrou Island.

”Thatʼs Evan, right?!”

”That Divine Dragon so enormous that you canʼt even see its end at a glance—is that Evan, right?!”

”He actually grabbed Acnologia and Ignia in an instant! So the biggest monster in this guild is actually Evan, right?!”

”Evan can even instantly suppress Acnologia from the Book of Apocalypse! From now on, no matter what astonishing feat Evan accomplishes, I wonʼt be surprised anymore. Even if Evan kills all the gods in the heavens, I wouldnʼt be surprised at all…”

Lucy stared at the rolling dark clouds flashing with lightning in the sky, her eyes wide open.

Originally, whether it was Ignia or Acnologia, both were already so powerful that they exceeded Lucyʼs imagination. Whether it was Ignia, the Fire God Dragon who ruled the Northern Continent, or Acnologia, the Black Dragon recorded in the Book of Apocalypse, both possessed the power to destroy nations, annihilate continents, and cause enormous harm to the entire Earth Land world!

To put it bluntly, they were both monsters capable of plunging the world into an apocalypse!

Yet such monsters had actually been casually grabbed by Evan, one in each hand?!

”Wait, Evan… he wouldnʼt really go and kill all the gods in the heavens, would he?!”

Thinking of this, Lucy suddenly froze. As she listened to the thunder rumbling beside her, her body instinctively shuddered.

She suddenly became a little afraid that her words might actually become a prophecy—that Evan, now invincible beneath the heavens, would truly ascend into the heavens and kick those lofty gods from their thrones.

If it were someone else, Lucy would not be worried. But Evan was a mage of the Fairy Tail guild! And he was also the leading figure among the younger generation of the Fairy Tail guild!

Ascending into the heavens and killing the gods really was the kind of thing Fairy Tail would do…

”I hope the gods wonʼt take offense…”

”This is all just my imagination!”

With that, Lucy clasped her hands together and repeatedly made gestures of ʼworshipʼ toward the gods of heaven and earth.

Lucy was somewhat frightened. She was afraid that Evan and the others might really do something that would tear the heavens apart, and that the gods, unable to do anything to monsters like Evan, would vent all their anger on her…

”Has Evan really become this strong?!”

Aside from Lucy, Gildarts was equally shocked. At this moment, Gildarts scratched his brownish-red slicked-back hair and stared blankly at the sky.

Before Evan revealed his true strength, even Gildarts had not known exactly how strong Evan was. He only knew that Evan should have already surpassed him, but he had no idea by how much…

Today, Gildarts finally understood.

It was no longer a question of Evan merely surpassing him. The two had unknowingly entered completely different levels of strength. Their combat power was simply not on the same level.

Little did he know that ten years ago, when Evan had just joined the Fairy Tail guild, his strength had still been far inferior to Gildarts. At that time, Gildarts had unquestionably been the number one… male mage in the Fairy Tail guild.

”Heh heh, time waits for no one, huh?”

”Could it be that Iʼm already old?”

Gildarts sighed helplessly.

He did not even know when it had begun, but countless monsters had appeared within the Fairy Tail guild—monsters that even Gildarts found incredibly troublesome.

There were dragons that had originally vanished from the continent of Ishgar, powerful demons recorded in the Book of Zeref, and countless legendary mages whom everyone had once believed existed only in myths…

And now, even Evanʼs strength had far surpassed his own!

What Gildarts did not know was that, in fact, within Evanʼs first year after joining Fairy Tail, his combat power had already reached the same level as Gildarts and had even surpassed him!

The moment Gildarts had suppressed and beaten eleven-year-old Evan was the greatest moment of glory in Gildartsʼs entire life!

To the point that even in his old age, Gildarts could boast everywhere:

”I once fought the strongest man in the world, Evan, to a draw, and even had the upper hand!”

As long as Gildarts did not continue explaining, nobody would know that the person he had bullied back then was an eleven-year-old child…

”We canʼt compare…”

”Yeah, yeah…”

”After all, thatʼs Evan!”

”Since itʼs Evan, this level of combat power actually seems pretty reasonable, doesnʼt it?!”

”I remember that a few years ago, Evan wasnʼt even a match for Selene and the others, right? In just a few short years, he has completely surpassed our imagination!”

Within the Fairy Tail guild, the other S-Class mages exchanged glances before helplessly sighing. As they gazed at the enormous azure figure in the sky, their eyes were filled with recognition for Evan.

Although grabbing Acnologia and Ignia directly in his hands, one claw each, was absurd beyond belief!

But if it was Evan, somehow it did not seem quite so absurd anymore…

”As expected of Big Brother!”

Compared with everyone elseʼs shock, Erza remained completely calm, even looking somewhat proud.

Seeing Evan become this powerful only made Erza happy.

”As expected of my son!”

Eileen was equally proud. She gazed at Evan displaying his overwhelming might in the sky, the corners of her lips rising.

For a moment, Eileen suddenly felt that she really did possess a talent for raising children.

She had raised Evan incredibly well!

”As expected of my man!”

Selene stood beside Eileen and lightly nodded, equally proud.

”Hmm?!”

As soon as Selene finished speaking, Eileen, Erza, and Mirajane all turned toward Selene with confused expressions.

”You promiscuous female dragon! How many men do you have?! Bastard!”

Erza and Mirajane immediately shouted angrily at Selene.

”Are you jealous?”

Selene narrowed her eyes slightly while deliberately emphasizing her extraordinarily voluptuous figure.

”Selene, itʼs been a long time since we had a proper heart-to-heart~”

At the same time, Eileen smiled as she placed her hand on Seleneʼs shoulder.

”BOOM!!”

For a moment, terrifying currents of air collided between Eileen and Selene.

Aside from them, August, Zeref, and the other top-tier combatants within the guild showed no surprise whatsoever at Evanʼs performance. They had already had a general idea of Evanʼs strength!

Even so, Zeref still sighed repeatedly…

”At first, I merely discovered that this kid Evan possessed extraordinary potential, with the possibility of fulfilling my long-cherished wish!”

”The reason I helped him was merely a whim, an accidental move on the chessboard! Just like the Alvarez Empire I established on the Western Continent on a whim…”

”Yet I never expected this kid Evanʼs rate of progress to be so fast. In the blink of an eye, he has already reached a level that leaves me unable to catch up! In just a few short years, he surpassed Acnologia, Ignia, and the other Dragon Kings, standing at the summit of all beings in the Earth Land world!”

”At this rate of progress, perhaps Evan really can drag those lofty gods down from the heavens. It seems the vacancy in this world is about to come to an end…”

Zeref gazed at Evan, his heart filled with emotion.

He could be said to have watched Evan grow up, watching him advance one step at a time and continuously improve himself at an incomprehensible speed.

Zeref still remembered that in previous years, when Evan faced beings at the level of the God Dragons, he had not been confident enough to fight them alone. He had needed to summon both Zeref and August before daring to challenge a God Dragon!

Yet in just a few short years, Evan had already grown into a monster capable of stomping on God Dragons and beating Dragon Kings…

Zeref looked at Evan, who had already surpassed him, and revealed a satisfied smile.

It seemed that as Evan gradually became stronger and ascended to the throne at the summit of the world, Zeref was even happier than Evan himself about his growth…

Strictly speaking, Evan, as a member of the Fairy Tail mage guild, could be considered Zerefʼs direct successor, as well as one of Zerefʼs juniors.

Just as the members of the Fairy Tail guild were looking at the sky and sighing with emotion, the battle in the sky finally came to an end!

”RUMBLE!!”

Another peal of thunder echoed through the sky. Accompanied by azure lightning descending to the ground, Evan returned to his human form.

His left hand rested on Igniaʼs shoulder, while his right hand rested on Acnologiaʼs shoulder. Just like that, he dragged the two disobedient Dragon Kings down from the sky.

”In any case, letʼs all get along peacefully from now on~”

Evan smiled as he looked at Acnologia and Ignia beside him.

”Hmph~”

Upon hearing this, Acnologia and Ignia exchanged glances before simultaneously turning their heads away and snorting.

”Alright, everyone, letʼs go back!”

After settling the dispute between Acnologia and Ignia, Evan looked ahead.

”Hmph~”

As soon as Evan finished speaking, Eileen and Selene, who had been about to start fighting, simultaneously turned their heads away and snorted.

”Whatʼs wrong with them now?”

Evan was utterly bewildered.

He had just calmed down the anger between Acnologia and Ignia, and now Eileen and Selene were fighting again.

Couldnʼt everyone get along peacefully like August and Zeref?!

”Itʼs nothing…”

”Women, you know! There are always a few days when they canʼt stand the sight of anyone! Even the two strongest women in the world are no exception…”

”Evan, youʼre already twenty years old. Youʼre not young anymore. You need to learn what it means to maintain balance.”

Having experienced such things themselves, Makarov and Gildarts came to Evanʼs side, patted him on the shoulder, and gently advised him.

”Forget it! With my current strength, my age doesnʼt count as old! Besides, I donʼt need guidance from you two scumbags! When you get back, youʼd better think carefully about how youʼre going to explain to the Fairy Tail Womenʼs Association why you two tried to peek at the guildʼs female support staff while they were bathing last week, only to get caught~”

Evan did not appreciate Gildarts and Makarovʼs concern.

Even Erik from the Oración Seis had come to complain. He had heard that Makarov and Gildarts were planning to peep on the Fairy Tail support staff while they bathed, and had insisted that Evan stop them.

After all, Erikʼs girlfriend, Kinana, worked in Fairy Tailʼs support department!

Erik absolutely refused to allow the woman he regarded as the moonlight of his heart, his beloved Cubellios, to be spied on by two perverted men!

”Eh? How did you know about our plan? We hadnʼt even put it into action yet!”

Makarov and Gildartsʼ expressions immediately changed upon hearing this.

”I told you, you got caught…”

Evan helplessly sighed.

”Smack!”

Just as Makarov and Gildarts were about to say something, two strong yet slender jade fingers had already landed on their shoulders.

”Heh heh…”

Makarov and Gildarts lightly laughed as they turned their heads.

”Explain yourselves, gentlemen!”

After turning around, Makarov and Gildarts were greeted by the smiles of Eileen and Selene, as well as the garbage-like looks of all the female members of the Fairy Tail guild.

”Whatʼs there to explain…”

Makarov and Gildarts exchanged glances before arrogantly walking toward Eileen and Selene.

”Do me a favor and please donʼt hit us in the face!”

Standing before Selene and the others, Makarov and Gildarts raised their chins and, with the most arrogant expressions possible, said the most cowardly words imaginable.

”AH!”

”BOOM!”

Accompanied by waves of thunderous explosions, the miserable screams of the scumbags resounded throughout the sky!

Several hours later…

After Natsu and the other S-Class mage candidates of the Fairy Tail guild regained consciousness, Eileen waved her hand and opened a teleportation gate, sending everyone back to the Fairy Tail guild in Magnolia Town.

”Master, what happened to you? Could it be that you finally did something so outrageous that you angered the heavens and suffered divine punishment?”

After returning to the guild, Macao, Wakaba, and the other gamblers immediately surrounded the group that had returned from Tenrou Island. They mercilessly mocked the bruised and battered Makarov.

Thatʼs right.

There was not the slightest trace of sympathy in Macao and Wakabaʼs eyes as they looked at Makarov, their guild master.

There was only schadenfreude!

”You wretched bastards! How dare you make fun of your great guild master!”

Makarov, whose face was swollen and bruised, with one eye larger than the other, became furious upon hearing Macao and Wakabaʼs words. He immediately roared at them.

”Heh heh heh…”

For a moment, the entire Fairy Tail guild was filled with the snickering of the gamblers.

”Alright, Master! Youʼre a magnanimous man who doesnʼt hold grudges against petty people. Itʼs time to announce the results of this yearʼs S-Class mage examination, right?!”

After snickering, Macao and Wakaba looked at Makarov and asked softly.

Although their words sounded relaxed, both of them had secretly clenched their fists, their palms continuously sweating…

At this moment, whether it was Wakaba, Macao, or any of the other gamblers in the Fairy Tail guild, everyone nervously stared at Makarov, waiting for him to announce the final results of this yearʼs S-Class mage examination!

After all, every year, the Fairy Tail guildʼs S-Class mage examination did not merely determine whether countless S-Class candidates could leap over the dragon gate and become active S-Class mages of Fairy Tail.

It also determined whether the guildʼs gamblers would have enough to eat for the coming year!

”Heh heh, the final winner of this yearʼs Fairy Tail S-Class mage examination is…”

Makarov, who had just been beaten black and blue, immediately raised his chin and revealed a smug expression.

”Gulp~”

As for everyone in the guild, they did not even dare to breathe too loudly. They all pricked up their ears, afraid that they might miss even a single word Makarov said.

”…This yearʼs winners are Lucy Heartfilia and the ʼBlack Dragon King,ʼ Acnologia! Letʼs cheer for Lucy and Acnologia! They are this yearʼs S-Class mages of the Fairy Tail guild!”

Makarov stood on the platform and loudly announced.

”FIXED!!”

The instant Makarov finished speaking, all the Fairy Tail members immediately shouted in outrage.

”Never mind Acnologia…”

”But whatʼs with Lucy?!”

Macaoʼs eyes streamed with bloody tears.

After all, he had placed double bets this time. He had not only participated in the gambling pool for who would pass this yearʼs Fairy Tail S-Class mage examination, but had also bet on who would be the first person eliminated from this yearʼs S-Class mage examination!

Thatʼs right.

Macao was also one of the people who believed Lucy would be the first person eliminated.

”Huh?!”

”Lucy and Acnologia are members of the same team. Of course she passed together with Acnologia!”

”If youʼre dissatisfied, you can go talk to Acnologia…”

”So stop wasting time and hand over all the money you owe this old man!”

Makarov stood calmly on the guildʼs platform, grinning sinisterly at everyone.

Thatʼs right.

He had not only bet that Lucy would not be eliminated first, but had also bet that Lucy would successfully pass this yearʼs S-Class mage examination!

This year, once again, was the year Makarov harvested the entire field…

”You think my strength is insufficient?”

At precisely the same moment Makarov finished speaking, Acnologiaʼs gaze turned cold as he looked toward Macao, Wakaba, and the others.

”Uh…”

Everyone shuddered beneath Acnologiaʼs icy gaze.

Facing the overwhelmingly powerful Acnologia, neither Wakaba nor Macao dared to complain in the slightest!

”Itʼs just that, givenLucyʼs strength, isnʼt passing the Fairy Tail S-Class mage examination somewhat against the rules?!”

”Yeah! Besides, you know how dangerous those tasks designated as S-Class by the Magic Council are. Given Lucyʼs strength, donʼt you think this is too much for her?”

”So, I think this yearʼs S-Class mage examination should be held again. Of course, I mean another examination on the condition that Acnologia remains successfully promoted…”

The gamblers argued their case.

Yes, they werenʼt doing it for that little bit of money.

They werenʼt shallow people like that.

They were merely concerned about Lucyʼs safety.

They were doing it all for Lucyʼs sake.

”I think so too!”

Natsu vigorously nodded.

He believed the gamblers had a point. He was the one who should have become an S-Class mage of the Fairy Tail guild this year.

”Natsu, arenʼt we on the same team?”

”Arenʼt we teammates?”

”Shouldnʼt teammates help each other at times like this?”

Lucy could not help asking after seeing Natsu directly betray her and ally himself with the gamblers.

”Yes! Lucy, you really are my teammate!”

”But compared with teaming up with you, Lucy, I want to become an S-Class mage of the Fairy Tail guild even more!”

Natsu looked at Lucyʼs gentle gaze before ultimately choosing to remain true to his own convictions.

”Uh…”

”Natsu, why do you want to become an S-Class mage of the Fairy Tail guild?”

”Youʼre not someone who cares about empty titles, are you?”

Lucy could not help twitching the corner of her eye after hearing Natsuʼs words. She then looked at him and asked.

”I really donʼt care about empty titles!”

”But in the Fairy Tail guild, only people who pass the S-Class mage examination are allowed to go to the second floor and accept S-Class missions! If I want to challenge missions of greater difficulty, I have to become an S-Class mage of the guild!”

Natsu clenched his fists.

He had wanted to challenge those missions designated as S-Class by the Council for a long time.

”But, Natsu…”

”According to the rules of the Fairy Tail guild, as long as one person in a team is an active S-Class mage of the guild, the team can accept S-Class missions…”

”In other words, as long as I accept the mission, and the two of us complete it together, wouldnʼt that work?”

Lucy looked at Natsuʼs clenched fists and could not help asking.

”Ah! We can do that?!”

Natsuʼs expression suddenly became enlightened after hearing Lucyʼs words.

”Aye!”

At the same time, Happy, who was flying beside Natsu, also revealed an enlightened expression. Clearly, he had only just realized it as well.

”Are you two done already?”

Lucy looked speechlessly at Natsu and Happy, who seemed to have completely frozen in place.

”Lucy, are you actually pretty smart?”

Natsu looked at Lucy in disbelief.

”Itʼs not that Iʼm smart…”

”Itʼs just that, Natsu and Happy, your simple minds donʼt work very well.”

At this moment, even Lucy, the Fairy Tail guildʼs resident straight man, was too exhausted to complain about Natsu and Happy.

”Since thatʼs the case, as members of the same team…”

”Then I have to do my best to protect you, Lucy…”

Natsu finally understood what Lucy had meant. He quickly walked in front of Lucy and firmly grasped her fair hands with both of his.

”Youʼre standing too close, Natsu!”

Lucyʼs pretty face turned red.

She had to admit, when Natsu became serious, he really did possess a certain charm.

Especially when Natsu solemnly declared that he would protect Lucy—it practically struck directly at her heart…

And then…

”Heh heh…”

”All of you losers who refuse to accept Lucy becoming an S-Class mage! Come at us together!”

”As long as you can defeat Lucy and me, Lucyʼs S-Class mage qualification will belong to you!”

”Of course, you pieces of trash definitely wonʼt be able to defeat Lucy, the active S-Class mage of the Fairy Tail guild! Thatʼs what Lucy told me…”

Natsu stood in front of Lucy and arrogantly beckoned toward all the S-Class mage candidates in the guild.

”Huh?!”

For a moment, all the mages in the Fairy Tail guild who had failed this yearʼs S-Class mage examination became interested, including those who had not even participated in the S-Class mage qualification examination.

”Lucy, youʼve got some nerve saying that!”

”But if I defeat you, the S-Class mage position will be mine! Thatʼs what you said, Natsu! Donʼt go back on your word! A manʼs word is his bond!”

Grayʼs body began radiating cold air.

”A man should beat the crap out of Natsu and Lucy!”

Elfman declared.

”Looks like itʼs time to have a big fight!”

Freed drew the Western-style sword at his waist.

”Lucy, you only passed this yearʼs examination because you picked up the leftovers! And now youʼre acting so arrogant!”

Juvia gnashed her teeth as she glared at Lucy, her anger toward Lucy growing even stronger.

”Is that so? You merely passed this yearʼs S-Class mage examination, and youʼre already getting carried away?”

”Are you mocking me for participating in the examination for several years without accomplishing anything, while you managed to pass it so easily?”

”Simply unforgivable…”

Kagura unknowingly drew the katana at her waist, her eyes glaring angrily at Lucy.

In short, the Female Alliance had gained another member!

”No! Thatʼs what Natsu said! It has absolutely nothing to do with me!”

Lucy nearly cried.

What was all of this?!

Natsu was the one who caused this disaster, so why was everything being dumped on her in the end?!

”Beat Lucy! Beat Lucy! Beat Lucy!!”

For a moment, all the S-Class mage candidates in the Fairy Tail guild shouted together.

Even Brandish, who was not interested in becoming an S-Class mage, lay on the table and quietly chanted along with them…

”Leo…”

”Quick, think of something!”

In desperation, Lucy looked toward her Celestial Spirit, Leo.

”Haha! Lucy, I successfully helped you become an S-Class mage of the Fairy Tail guild!”

”What happens next has nothing to do with me…”

”Goodbye~”

After hearing Lucyʼs plea, Leo smiled lightly. He waved his hand, and his body transformed into countless points of light before returning to the Celestial Spirit World.

”What an unreliable guy!”

Lucy could only rage helplessly.

”Kill her! Take down Lucy and Natsu!”

Just as Lucy cursed Leo for being unreliable, the mages of the Fairy Tail guild all revealed their magic circles.

In an instant, endless magic power filled the guild hall.

The countless dazzling and colorful magic circles bloomed like flowers, causing Lucyʼs eyes to sting painfully just from looking directly at them!

”My eyes!”

Lucy covered her eyes and cried out in despair.

”Attack!”

The next second, the mages bared their claws at Lucy.

”Ice-Make Magic…”

”Flash Magic!”

”Full-Body Take Over…”

”Water Stream Strangulation!”

In an instant, countless spells surged toward Lucy.

”Fire Dragon Kingʼs… Crushing Fist!!”

In response, Natsu waved his hand. Endless magic power boiled within his body. He had already begun to master the magic power that Igneel had left within him.

”BOOM!!”

With a thunderous explosion, Natsuʼs punch sent countless mages flying into the sky!

It even sent half of the Fairy Tail guild flying into the air with them!

”Ah…”

”My guild!”

At this point, amid the chaotic brawl among countless mages, the only person crying was Makarov, the current guild master of Fairy Tail.

”Ultear, quickly! Use Arc of Time and help me restore the guild!”

Facing the ruined guild, Makarov helplessly looked toward his final lifeline, Ultear.

”Iʼm sorry, Master…”

”Starting today, I donʼt mind helping you restore the guild, but Iʼll have to charge you for it~”

”Donʼt worry, Master~”

”Since youʼre my VIP customer, I can give you a fifteen-percent discount~”

”And of course, if you choose our prepaid card service, you can enjoy even more incredible discounts!”

After hearing Makarovʼs request, Ultear gave him a friendly smile before delivering the heartbreaking words.

”Pfft…”

Makarov spat out a mouthful of old blood before collapsing onto the ground.

At the same time…

Because Natsu had unleashed his full power, the violent flames directly affected the other mages inside the Fairy Tail guild!

Yes, even the S-Class mages of the Fairy Tail guild who had originally planned to watch from the sidelines now looked at Natsu with displeasure.

”Natsu, thatʼs enough!”

”Natsu, are you looking for a fight?”

”Natsu, looks like itʼs time to let you experience the difference in strength between us!”

Erza, Mirajane, and Laxus spoke to Natsu almost simultaneously.

”Huh?!”

For a moment, Erza, Mirajane, and Laxus all froze.

”Natsu is my prey!”

”Huh? Natsu is your prey? Did you ask me?”

”You two, stop arguing! Natsu is my prey!”

Immediately afterward, Erza, Mirajane, and Laxus began arguing.

”Thereʼs no helping it! Letʼs have a satisfying battle!”

”Requip: Dragon Slayer Armor!”

Erza completed her Requip first.

To deal with Laxus, Erza directly equipped the armor created by Evan using the dragon scales shed by Kurnugi, Animus, and Ignia as materials, with Eileen personally imbuing it with Dragon Slayer properties.

”Full-Body Take Over: ʼDemon Lordʼ Mard Geerʼs Soul!”

Mirajane took on her strongest Demon Soul.

”Interesting…”

Looking at Erza and Mirajane, lightning erupted from Laxusʼs body.

”BOOM!”

In an instant, Erza, Mirajane, and Laxus engaged in an intense battle.

With the addition of Laxus, Erza, Mirajane, and the others, the situation on the battlefield became increasingly uncontrollable.

The brawl among the S-Class mage candidates of the Fairy Tail guild directly developed into an all-out internal battle among every mage in the Fairy Tail guild!

”God! Come save me!”

”My heart, my heart…”

Makarov looked at the Fairy Tail mages who had instantly descended into a massive brawl.

His eyes were not focused on the members who were being beaten black and blue. Those idiots had brought it upon themselves.

What he was worried about was whether his guild could survive.

What he was worried about was whether his little treasury could withstand the damage!

”Thereʼs nothing I can do! Let me lend you a hand!”

Just as Makarov was nearly drEvan to despair, another guild master of Fairy Tail, August, extended a helping hand toward him.

”August!”

Makarov looked at the only person who had extended a helping hand during the Fairy Tail guildʼs crisis, and a smile appeared on his face.

Sure enough, in the entire Fairy Tail guild, August was the only good person…

”Heh heh~”

August lightly chuckled.

After all, he was also a guild master of the Fairy Tail guild. Once Makarovʼs rotation ended in a few years, he would have to take over.

Although it looked as if he was helping Makarov now, August was actually helping his future self!

At the same time, the thought of having to clean up the mess that was Fairy Tail in the future gave August an intense headache!

”Go, Fairy Tail!”

”Everyone is having so much fun fighting!”

”As expected, I love the lively Fairy Tail guild the most~”

Just as August was preparing to use Arc of Time to restore the entire Fairy Tail guild, he suddenly noticed a beautiful blonde girl sitting at the guildʼs bar.

Her beautiful bare feet were exposed as she enthusiastically cheered for Natsu and the others, looking incredibly happy.

The way the girl cheered for Fairy Tail was so adorable and captivating that August became distracted for a moment!

”BOOM!”

As Augustʼs staff lightly touched the floor of the Fairy Tail guild, the entire guild building was torn apart.

The eighteen-story building, standing approximately eighty meters tall, instantly transformed into countless fragments!

”The guild… is gone…”

Makarov completely collapsed onto the ground this time, his eyes empty.

”Ah! I got too excited and used the wrong magic! I accidentally turned Arc of Time into a Pulverizing Magic spell? Sorry, sorry, Iʼll restore it right away…”

August looked at the guild that had disappeared without a trace and scratched the back of his head, looking as though it had been an accident.

”How can you accidentally mess up so badly that you turn a Time Magic spell into a high-level Destruction Magic spell?! Tell me, was this really an accident, or did you do it on purpose?”

Makarovʼs eye twitched as he stared at August.

For a moment, he genuinely could not tell whether August was an ally or an undercover enemy.

August was simply using the excuse of helping him to make his situation even worse!

However, with Augustʼs magic, the Fairy Tail guildʼs farce finally came to an end…

After all, the guild they had been using as their battlefield had disappeared!

Once they lost the guild, everyone began feeling bored.

Indeed, only when fighting inside the Fairy Tail guild, surrounded by the sounds of tables and chairs breaking, windows shattering, and walls collapsing, did a fight truly feel satisfying!

”What is Fairy Tail up to now?”

Seeing the Fairy Tail guild collapse yet again, the passing residents helplessly shook their heads.

They muttered to themselves before paying it no further attention.

After all, the Fairy Tail guild was destroyed by explosions every single day. They had already become accustomed to it.

It was just that today, the guild had been destroyed especially thoroughly.

”Lucy, keep going! Your future path has only just begun!”

Elsewhere, Evan watched Lucy struggling to deal with the chaos caused by the guild, and lightly smiled.

The reason Evan had arranged for Lucy to become an S-Class mage was precisely to create some pressure for her!

To wear the crown, one must bear its weight!

Since Lucy had become an S-Class mage of the guild, she had to accept challenges from the others!

If Lucy wanted her days ahead to become easier, she had to work hard, work harder, and continue working hard, constantly becoming stronger.

In other words, Lucy had to become even more competitive than everyone else in the guild!

”Then next, itʼs time to deal with the other God Dragons, right?”

After observing Lucy for a while, Evan stretched lazily.

His gaze passed through the countless ruins inside the guild before finally landing on a quest board buried within the rubble.

It was the quest board on the second floor used to store quests rated at the Ten-Year and above levels!

And Evanʼs gaze landed squarely on the only Hundred-Year Quest.