Fairy Tail: Collapsing Stars

Chapter 403: What the Belserion Family Sets Its Eyes On Must Belong to the Belserion Family

”Fire Dragonʼs Roar...”

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

”Ah!”

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

”Ice-Make: Infinite Holy Swords!”

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

”Twin Ice Dragons.”

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

”Gravity Blade: Fall!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

”Mm...”

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

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

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

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

”Hehe...”

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

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

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

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

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

”Thatʼs true...”

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

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

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

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

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

”Moonlit Beauty: Seilah...”

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

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

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

”No, no, no~”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

”Why?! Arenʼt you already dead?”

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

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

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

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

”Underworld King Mard Geer?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

”You really are that Underworld King...”

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

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

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

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

”Understood~”

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

”You are?!”

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

”Sorry, little sister~”

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

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

”I asked, who are you?”

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

”You ask who I am?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

”What kind of joke is this...”

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

”Roar!!”

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

”Deliora?”

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

”No way...”

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

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

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

”Who exactly are you?”

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

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

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

”Huh?!”

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

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

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

”Uh...”

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

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

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

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

”Oh!!!”

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

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

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

”No, I didnʼt...”

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

”Hehe, Princess~”

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

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

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

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

At the same time, in the sky...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

”Thatʼs fine...”

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

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

”End it quickly!”

Irene reminded Evan.

”Alright!”

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

”Theyʼre coming...”

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

”Mm!”

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

”Boom...”

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

”Stop right there!”

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

”Where are you going, Selene?”

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

”Damn it...”

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

”Relax!”

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

”Hehe...”

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

”Mm? What magic is this?”

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

”This is not magic!”

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

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

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

”Hmph~”

August snorted coldly, seeming rather disdainful of Evanʼs actions.

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

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

”Hehe~”

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

”Mm?”

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

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

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

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

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

Then.

”Thunder Bagua!”

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

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

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

”Rumble!”

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

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

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

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

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