Fairy Tail: Collapsing Stars

Chapter 454: Fairy Tail’s Internal War Is All Professional!

”No, no, no…”

”Thereʼs absolutely no way we can win this!”

”Sorry, Leo! You might really have to go become Senior Seleneʼs male consort!”

”My master here has already done everything I can…”

Lucy looked at the scene before her, so frightened that her knees went weak. Her straight, rounded long legs were already trembling uncontrollably, as if the slightest stimulation from the outside would make Lucyʼs knees give way and cause her to kneel directly on the ground.

”Ah, how are we supposed to fight this?!”

As for the other S-Class Mage exam candidates in the Fairy Tail Guild besides Lucy, their mental states were also about the same as Lucyʼs at this moment.

”His Majesty Emperor Zeref…”

Among them, the Spriggan 12 were especially desperate. The Spriggan 12 looked at the Emperor of the Alvarez Empire to whom they had sworn allegiance, feeling extremely troubled. If their examiner was their Emperor, they simply could not bring themselves to attack him! Although even if they did attack, they still would not be able to beat him…

”How did His Majesty Zeref even come here?! Do we really have a chance of winning this exam?”

”Why donʼt we just forfeit…”

Dimaria was known as the ʼWar Princess,ʼ with a warlike and proud personality!

But even such a proud woman with beauty as brilliant as flowers was extremely flustered at this moment…

To be honest, Dimaria would rather challenge a dragon.

If she were asked to deal with a dragon, without even discussing whether she could win or lose, at least she would still dare to challenge it. But after Dimaria saw Zeref, she no longer even had the heart to challenge him. On top of that, with Magic King August and a group of Dragon Kings appearing, Dimaria could not help but lose heart.

”This is no longer the most difficult S-Class Mage exam in history…”

”This is practically hell on earth! Our opponents are half of the Book of Apocalypse, powerful enough to destroy humanity several times over!”

As for the Fairy Tail Guildʼs so-called ʼveteransʼ such as Gray and Lyon, who had challenged the Fairy Tail S-Class Mage exam many times, they were likewise extremely troubled by the scene before them.

Although quite a few of them had challenged Evan more than once, not a single one had ever won. They had plenty of experience, but all of it was experience of failure. As for success, they still knew next to nothing about it…

”How about we give up this year after all?!”

”Next year, next year, we can continue trying to find an opportunity to pass the exam…”

Some had even already decided to give up participating in this yearʼs S-Class Mage exam, such as ʼDeath Godʼ Bloodman, the great demon created by Zeref. He knew that passing this yearʼs exam was hopeless, so he might as well withdraw from the exam and continue working hard next year.

”This…”

After hearing Bloodmanʼs words, although no one expressed agreement, neither did anyone express disagreement. It seemed that everyone had tacitly accepted Bloodmanʼs idea.

After all, facing the examiner lineup before them, everyone truly felt from the bottom of their hearts that it was impossible to defeat them!

Although there were no cowards in the Fairy Tail Guild, everyone was the type who feared neither Heaven nor Earth and only wished to see the world descend into chaos!

Even for this S-Class Mage exam, these lunatics in the eyes of outsiders from the Fairy Tail Guild had not taken it too seriously! So what if there were S-Class Mages serving as examiners? The Fairy Tail members still had the strength and hope of defeating them…

However, the problem was…

The S-Class Mage candidates participating in the exam had originally intended to deal with the S-Class Mage examiners in the guild such as Erza, Laxus, and even Gildarts, who were considered more ʼordinaryʼ S-Class Mages by the Fairy Tail members!

Not Evan, Irene, Selene, August, Ignea, and Zeref, those top-tier combatants standing at the pinnacle of the world, at Dragon King level or comparable to Dragon King level!

Yes, no matter how crazy the Fairy Tail members were, they would never think that with their current level of strength, they could defeat the group that averaged over a hundred years old. Apart from Evan, who was a cheat-like latecomer, and August, who had activated his parentsʼ cheats and belonged to Makarovʼs era, everyone else had lived for over four hundred years on average. They had all been born four hundred years ago, in the era when dragons still roamed the continent of Ishgar, and had survived the trials of the Primordial Dragon King Festival. They were the group standing at the pinnacle of the Earth-land world…

Facing the four Dragon Kings Evan, Irene, Selene, and Ignea, as well as the two human Mages August and Zeref who stood at the pinnacle of the Earth-land world!

No one could help but feel despair in their hearts. No one could avoid wondering whether they really needed to continue participating in the exam, and whether they truly had any hope of winning.

But among this group of Fairy Tail S-Class Mage candidates who had already become desperate, their faces turning livid under the magic power released by Evan and the others, there was one person whose face was filled with a smile, eager to try, his entire body seemingly boiling with hot blood, almost as if he were about to burn.

That person was none other than… the beloved little brother of Big Brother Zeref, Natsu Dragneel!

”Hehe…”

At this moment, a smile hung on the corners of Natsuʼs mouth.

The stronger the opponents, the more powerful the examiners, and the higher the difficulty of the exam, the more excited Natsu became!

”What? Are you all afraid?”

”Since youʼre all so cowardly that you donʼt intend to participate in this yearʼs S-Class Mage exam, why donʼt you just give me the S-Class Mage exam championship spot! I absolutely wonʼt give up this year. Iʼll definitely knock away every guy standing in front of me, then successfully advance and become an S-Class Mage of the Fairy Tail Guild!”

Natsu looked at the group of companions around him and laughed loudly, his hands on his hips. He was really getting carried away.

”Are we being looked down upon by that bastard Natsu?!”

”Bastard! Heʼs nothing more than a mere Natsu!”

Natsuʼs words were indeed enough to arouse public anger.

As Natsuʼs voice fell, the already unpleasant expressions of all the S-Class Mage candidates in the Fairy Tail Guild changed one after another. Veins even bulged on their foreheads as they continuously muttered, expressing their disdain toward Natsu.

”Iʼm only telling the truth…”

”Since youʼre all afraid! Why donʼt you forfeit here and now! That way you wonʼt be so scared that your legs wonʼt even be able to straighten when you go to Tenrou Island to participate in the S-Class Mage exam, embarrassing the seniors of the Fairy Tail Guild who participated in the S-Class Mage exams on Tenrou Island over the years!”

However, Natsu did not let them off because of their dissatisfaction with him. Natsu continued pouring it on.

”Bastard!”

”Who are you saying will embarrass the guildʼs seniors?”

”Natsu, youʼd better explain yourself clearly today!”

”I have to say, if you intended to use a provocation on us, Natsu, then I can tell you here that you are very fortunate to have succeeded! Iʼm burning with rage right now…”

Natsuʼs words were indeed effective. With just a few sentences, he directly reignited the boundless fighting spirit of the group of candidates who had originally intended to give up.

”Whatever! Whether we pass the exam or not!”

”At the very least, we have to take down this arrogant bastard Natsu!!”

The group of S-Class Mage candidates simultaneously shouted in their hearts as they looked at Natsuʼs figure.

”Hey! Natsu, youʼve become the target of everyoneʼs anger now. Speaking of which, thereʼs a possibility that before you even reach the examination grounds, youʼll be surrounded and eliminated by everyone else~”

Evan stood on the guild podium, watching the scene before him. Finding it rather amusing, he smiled softly at Natsu.

”Thatʼs exactly what I want!”

In response, Natsuʼs entire body burned with flames, looking completely ready. It seemed that Natsu was not worried at all about being surrounded by everyone, or perhaps Natsu had long since prepared himself to be surrounded by others.

”Anyway, thereʼs only one group that can pass the exam and become S-Class Mages this year, right?”

”In other words, sooner or later Iʼll have to fight the other groups! Since thatʼs the case, whether I eliminate the others a little earlier or a little later doesnʼt matter at all, right?!”

Natsu looked at Evan with a grin as he explained.

”You bastard…”

As Natsuʼs voice fell, the expressions of all the S-Class candidates in the Fairy Tail Guild changed. Although what Natsu said was not wrong, they simply could not tolerate Natsuʼs extremely arrogant attitude.

”Youʼre called the Desert King, right? Are you ready to fight against all the other teams together with me?”

Natsu was still somewhat intelligent. He knew that since this yearʼs S-Class Mage exam was being conducted by teams, no matter how strong his fighting spirit was, he ultimately had to consider his teammateʼs situation.

”Iʼve been ready for a long time!”

”Letʼs have a huge fight!”

”And donʼt act too close to me! Thereʼs also an irreconcilable conflict between you and me…”

”Iʼve already said such big words. If I see even the slightest weakness from you in the middle of the exam, Iʼll take you down together with everyone else!”

The ʼDesert Kingʼ Agil moved his joints while arrogantly provoking Natsu.

”Hehe, what a coincidence. I was thinking the same thing! If you give up, Iʼll take you down too…”

After hearing Agilʼs words, Natsu smiled and imitated Agilʼs words as he spoke to him.

”Hehe…”

”If you have the ability, then go ahead and prove it!”

Agil fully displayed the attitude of a reckless man as he laughed loudly at Natsu.

”Iʼm fired up!”

Flames erupted from Natsuʼs entire body. He was already incredibly excited.

”Boom!!”

For a moment, among the thirteen teams in the Fairy Tail S-Class Mage exam, the ʼIdiot Teamʼ was instead the first to adjust their mental state…

Perhaps this was the advantage of single-celled organisms?!

”We canʼt let Natsu and the others look down on us!”

”Itʼs just Agil…”

”This year, we absolutely have to pass the S-Class Mage exam!”

”Then our task is very clear. Take down the ʼIdiot Teamʼ and then win the S-Class Mage exam!”

”Yeah!!”

For a moment, all the groups except Natsuʼs became eager to try. The minds of everyone no longer contained as much miscellaneous nonsense as before. There was only one thought in everyoneʼs hearts: take down Natsu, then successfully become S-Class Mages of the Fairy Tail Guild…

”Hehe…”

On the podium, Evan and the others looked at the people in the guild who had reignited their desire to fight, and immediately smiled. This was the true power hidden within Natsu! His terrifying ability to inspire others…

”Natsu, youʼve grown!”

Zeref looked at Natsu, who had stirred the emotions of everyone in the guild with just a few sentences, and felt even more gratified. His younger brother had grown up.

However, just as Natsu and the other groups participating in the Fairy Tail S-Class Mage exam were displaying an eager-to-try attitude, Lucy from Team Thirteen still had a deathly pale expression and a look of despair.

”Right now thereʼs only me in the team. I donʼt even know how strong my teammate is. How am I supposed to take this yearʼs exam?”

Lucy was already nearly desperate. Her enthusiasm had dried up.

”Itʼs fine, Iʼve got you!”

Leo looked at Lucy, who had completely lost all enthusiasm for the Fairy Tail S-Class Mage exam, stepped forward, and gently patted her shoulder to comfort her.

”Shut up! You stupid cat!”

”The reason this situation happened in the first place is all because of your stupid arrangement!”

After hearing Leoʼs words, Lucy immediately pulled herself together. However, the reason she regained her spirits was not to continue participating in the guildʼs S-Class Mage exam. Rather, Lucy knew clearly that only by pulling herself together could she make Leo pay!

”Candidates of the S-Class Mage exam, since you have already divided yourselves into teams, I will give you one week here to get accustomed to one another! I hope that by the time of the exam, you can reach the level of mutual cooperation! Remember, the theme of this yearʼs S-Class Mage exam is ʼBondsʼ…”

”Alright, thatʼs all I have to say. Finally, remember this: at eight oʼclock in the morning one week from now, all candidates participating in the Fairy Tail S-Class Mage exam must gather in the guild. As a side note, anyone who arrives late will automatically be considered to have forfeited the exam…”

Makarov looked at the people who had regained their morale, standing on the podium with his hands behind his back as he spoke solemnly.

”Understood!”

As Makarovʼs voice fell, the S-Class Mage candidates in the Fairy Tail Guild responded one after another.

”Dismissed…”

After receiving everyoneʼs response, Makarov nodded in satisfaction and spoke to everyone in the guild.

”…”

”Letʼs go!”

As Makarovʼs voice fell, the various S-Class Mage candidate teams that had still been standing inside the Fairy Tail Guild quickly dispersed.

After all, they had only just formed their teams, and they were not yet familiar with each otherʼs magic. Some of them had not even met before the S-Class Mage exam! Two-person coordinated magic combat was not a simple matter. Two unfamiliar people could not only fail to coordinate, but could even obstruct each other, ultimately creating a situation where one plus one was less than two…

Therefore, in order not to mess up during the exam, they needed to cooperate and fight together, display their proper strength, and eliminate all the other opponents. Thus, they needed a certain period of adjustment. Makarov had not given them much adjustment time either, only one week, so everyone was extremely anxious at this moment.

”Brother Evan…”

”Natsu is really amazing! Just a few sentences were enough to restore the morale of all the Fairy Tail Guildʼs S-Class candidates.”

”I wonder how many people will choose to challenge you and Mother this year, Brother Evan?!”

Erza looked at the group of S-Class Mage candidates who were rapidly leaving and revealed a faint smile.

”Their morale has indeed recovered!”

”But I think they wonʼt choose to challenge me or Irene.”

”I donʼt even think theyʼve regained the courage to challenge me, Irene, Selene, and the others!”

Evan shook his head after hearing Erzaʼs words.

”Hmm!? Then how did they regain their energy?”

Erza revealed a puzzled expression after hearing Evanʼs words. In her eyes, the reason these S-Class Mage exam candidates in the Fairy Tail Guild had regained their morale must have been because everyone had thought things through and understood that only by going against the current, defeating their competitors, and challenging the group of S-Class Mages could they pass the exam. However, Erzaʼs idea was rejected by Evan.

”Itʼs very simple…”

”Because Natsu reminded them! Although the Fairy Tail Guildʼs S-Class Mage exam is very difficult and the examiners are extraordinarily powerful! But who said they must defeat the examiners to become S-Class Mages of the Fairy Tail Guild?”

Evan looked at Erza and asked with a smile.

”Uh, Brother, are you saying?!”

Erza looked at the smiling Evan as she seemed to think of something, a trace of shock flashing through her eyes.

”Thatʼs right…”

”They donʼt need to defeat me and Irene and the other examiners at all. As long as they take out all the other competitors, they will naturally become S-Class Mages!”

After sensing the shock in Erzaʼs eyes, Evan spoke with a grin.

”These guys…”

Erza was speechless. As Mages, shouldnʼt they charge forward bravely?

The strong should punch toward the strong, while the weak should punch toward the weaker…

”Looks like when the exam officially begins, Iʼll have to properly educate them!”

At this, Erza crossed her arms in front of her chest and decided to properly cultivate the young men and women in the guild, teaching them the courage to challenge the strong. After all, only by advancing fearlessly could one become a powerful Mage!

”Is that so? I think you might be disappointed, Erza…”

Evan looked at Erza, who was eager to try, and sighed helplessly.

”Eh? Why?!”

Erza froze for a moment. She did not understand why she might be disappointed…

”Because itʼs very simple. When the Fairy Tail S-Class Mage exam officially begins one week from now, perhaps there wonʼt be many people who can stand before us.”

”Erza, think carefully about the rules Guild Master Makarov mentioned before dismissing everyone…”

Evan explained to Erza.

”Hmm?!” After hearing Evanʼs reminder, Erzaʼs body trembled slightly. She could not help but softly mutter the rule Makarov had mentioned earlier: ”One week from now, anyone who does not gather in the guild on time will automatically be considered to have forfeited, meaning they have given up the exam…”

”Wait, that means…”

When Erza thought of this, she suddenly froze. She had originally been very puzzled about why Makarov would establish a rule that anyone arriving late would automatically forfeit. After all, this was the Fairy Tail Guildʼs S-Class Mage exam, the guildʼs most important event every year. How could anyone possibly be late?!

But with Evanʼs reminder, Erza discovered the trick hidden within this rule.

”In other words, although they themselves wonʼt be late, they can make others late…”

After analyzing the deeper meaning of these words, Erza suddenly understood.

”Thatʼs right! Since anyone who arrives late will automatically be considered to have forfeited, as long as they find a way to make every other team except their own arrive late, then in the end only their own team will remain participating in the exam! Without any competitors, even if they donʼt challenge the Fairy Tail Guildʼs S-Class Mages, they can still smoothly and effortlessly win this yearʼs S-Class Mage exam…”

”In other words, the Fairy Tail Guild X784 S-Class Mage exam had already begun the instant Guild Master Makarov announced the rules…”

Evan revealed a smile. At this moment, even without using Observation Haki, Evan knew that battle after battle was already taking place in Magnolia Town!

”So thatʼs how it is!”

Erza gently nodded after hearing Evanʼs words.

”Boom!!”

At the same time, precisely after Erza understood what Evan meant, a violent roar instantly rang out outside the Fairy Tail Guild!

Yes, just as Evan had said, the battle had already begun!

Behind the Fairy Tail Guild…

Natsu and Agil were confronting Gray and Invel.

”Gray, this is territory we spotted first!”

Natsuʼs entire body burned with flames as he roared at Gray.

”Invel, what the hell is the meaning of this?”

Agil likewise glared furiously at Invel.

”Attack!”

Invel stood with his hands behind his back, completely ignoring Agil. He narrowed his eyes and, when he felt that the timing was about right, directly spoke to Gray beside him.

”Ice Devilʼs Rage!”

Gray did not waste any words and directly rewarded Natsu with a Rage.

”Uh…”

Natsu seemed not to have expected Gray to attack so decisively and was immediately stunned for a moment.

”Desert Sacred Sword!”

Fortunately, Agil, standing beside Natsu, reacted quickly. He aimed one hand at Gray, and immediately a huge sword formed from sand rushed toward Grayʼs Rage.

”Boom!!”

The ice and sand immediately turned into countless fragments, scattering across the sky.

”Natsu!”

After blocking Grayʼs attack, Agil shouted toward Natsu.

”Got it…”

”Fire Dragonʼs Crushing Fist!!”

Natsu immediately understood Agilʼs meaning. Flames wrapped around his body as he instantly punched toward Gray.

”Foolish!”

In response, Invel Yura merely waved his hand at Natsu, directly sealing away Natsuʼs flames.

”What?”

Natsu froze for a moment, seemingly unable to believe that Invel possessed such powerful ice.

”Is this the strength of the Spriggan 12?”

”This is… burning me up!”

Previously, when the Spriggan 12 had fought the guildʼs S-Class Mages, Natsu had not sensed how powerful these people were. After becoming enemies with Invel, Natsu finally felt the gap.

The Spriggan 12 were practically as powerful as the guildʼs S-Class Mages, simply invincible…

”Gray, attack!”

After sealing Natsuʼs movements, Invel immediately called for Gray to attack.

”I know…”

Gray unleashed his Demon Slayer power to the fullest. His body gradually lit up with black patterns as he prepared to strike at Natsu.

”Hehe…”

Invel smiled as he watched the scene before him. In fact, the reason he repeatedly urged Gray to attack Natsu was because Invel knew Natsuʼs demonic identity.

At the same time, Invel also knew that using ordinary magic against Natsu would only accelerate the rapid awakening of Natsuʼs Demon Seed. To defeat END, the Fire Demon that was Zerefʼs masterpiece, the only way was to use Ice-type Demon Slayer Magic specifically designed to deal with demons, and specifically designed to deal with the Fire Demon END…

”Sand Sea…”

Unfortunately, Natsuʼs side also had a member of the Spriggan 12. Agil merely raised his hand, and the ground beneath Grayʼs feet directly turned into sand, instantly swallowing Gray.

Just as Invel had frozen Natsuʼs hands, Agil sealed Grayʼs body. The two members of the Spriggan 12 had barely met before sending each other a warm greeting.

”What is this?”

”Agil…”

In response, Invel looked at Agil and roared furiously.

”Invel!”

Unfortunately, Agil was not intimidated by Invel Yura at all. He was likewise crazed and furious.

In Magnolia Town, inside an ice cream shop.

Brandish and Dimaria were happily eating ice cream. For the two of them, adjustment training was completely unnecessary. They were very familiar with each otherʼs magic and personalities.

Right now, they only wanted to happily eat some ice cream, smoothly get through one week, and then go take the exam.

Unfortunately, some people did not want Brandish and Dimaria to have things go so smoothly.

”May I sit here, everyone?”

Larcade, wearing a white monkʼs robe, had somehow arrived at the little shop where Dimaria and Brandish were, and even sat down beside the two.

”If you donʼt want to die, get lost!”

In response, Dimaria and Brandish did not indulge Larcade at all and directly shouted at him.

”Ah~ How frightening~”

”I hope you can show such frightening expressions later as well~”

After hearing Dimaria and Brandishʼs words, Larcade revealed a kind smile, then his body emitted a white light.

Although Larcadeʼs ultimate technique was not very effective on virgins, if the distance was close enough, it was not impossible to let young men and women experience the taste of pleasure ahead of time~

Apart from Larcade and the others, the other people in the town also encountered their respective opponents.

”Sigh…”

”What am I supposed to do about the exam one week from now?”

Only Lucy was bitterly lamenting inside the bathtub in her bedroom.

Because Lucy was too weak, everyone ignored her.