Fairy Tail: Collapsing Stars

Chapter 465: The Weakest S-Class Mage in Fairy Tail History

”Makarov, tell me honestly. What exactly are you trying to do?!”

Precht stared at the enormous black dragon in the sky, the Fairy Tail guild emblem emblazoned across its chest, and questioned Makarov beside him.

Originally, Precht had not paid much attention to it. After all, even if Makarov had lured the Black Dragon Acnologia recorded in the Book of Apocalypse here, it did not matter...

He, Precht, had lived on the continent of Ishgar for so many years, supported so many people, explored countless ruins, and learned so many kinds of Lost Magic. Even if he could not defeat the legendary ʼBlack Dragon Kingʼ Acnologia, could he not still escape?! Was all the teleportation magic he had painstakingly learned during this time merely for show?!

However, when Precht heard Warrodʼs words, he finally realized that something seemed to be wrong! The pattern on the chest of that black dragon was simply far too similar to the emblem of their Fairy Tail guild...

Only after Precht carefully examined Acnologiaʼs chest did he finally realize what was going on. His expression suddenly changed.

”This isnʼt a matter of being similar. Thatʼs the emblem of our guild!”

It was at this very moment that Precht understood that Makarov had actually dragged the invincible black dragon recorded in the Book of Apocalypse into the Fairy Tail guild!

”Makarov, could it be that your goal isnʼt merely to conquer the world?!”

After realizing this, Precht could not help but tremble, as he questioned Makarov.

”...”

Faced with Prechtʼs questioning, Makarov fell silent. At this moment, he simply could not understand what kind of ridiculous story this shallow-minded man before him—the second guild master of Fairy Tail, and to Makarov, a man who was both teacher and father—had imagined in his head.

”ʼBlack Dragon Kingʼ Acnologia. As far as I know, he has absolutely no interest in anything other than destroying the world, and he is even unwilling to communicate with the living world! In his eyes, those lowly and ordinary lives arenʼt even qualified to communicate with him! It would not be an exaggeration to say that Acnologia is an existence even more evil than the Dark Wizard Zeref...”

”Yet an existence like that has joined the Mage Guild Fairy Tail under Makarovʼs command...”

”Could it be that Makarovʼs goal from the very beginning was not to conquer the world, but to destroy the world?!”

”Come to think of it, whenever the brats from Fairy Tail go out on missions, they destroy everything in their path. They are practically destroyers of the world, causing countless people on the continent of Ishgar to suffer! Could it be that Makarov has been cultivating these minions to destroy the world from the very beginning?!”

”When you think about it this way, everything makes sense...”

Thinking this far, Precht recalled Fairy Tailʼs actions throughout the continent of Ishgar. He immediately sucked in a cold breath. Cold sweat appeared on his forehead, and his body began trembling subconsciously.

At this moment, Precht believed that he had already taken another step closer to the so-called truth...

”Damn you, Makarov! You even said that the guild you founded wasnʼt a Dark Guild!”

Precht roared angrily, pointing at Makarovʼs nose as he cursed him.

”Huh?”

Makarov looked puzzled upon hearing this.

”Second Guild Master, how can you falsely accuse us like this?”

”Although our guild has a Divine Dragon who enslaves the world and turns an entire alternate world into his own playground!”

”We have the demon who has rampaged across the continent for four hundred years and has been defined as despair, as well as the creator of those great demons—the legendary Dark Wizard!”

”We have the Wings of Despair recorded in the Book of Apocalypse compiled by the church, the legendary Black Dragon who brings about the end of the world!”

”But our Fairy Tail guild is a bona fide Legal Mage Guild! A Legal Mage Guild protected by the Magic Council ERA!”

”At the same time, our Mage Guild Fairy Tail has been selected as an Outstanding Legal Mage Guild of the continent of Ishgar for five consecutive years, and has even received the title of Model Legal Mage Guild!”

Makarov refused to let Precht falsely accuse him without a fight. Instead, he argued his case, firing back at Precht with a barrage of words.

”How?! How is that fair?! This isnʼt fair at all...”

”A guild like yours is actually classified as a Legal Mage Guild! This shows just how corrupt the Magic Council ERA is! This continent is doomed sooner or later...”

After hearing Makarovʼs words, Precht felt a blockage in his chest. Deep down, there was simply too much unwillingness in his heart!

Back then, the Mage Guild Grimoire Heart that he had founded had merely researched some forbidden magic and operated under the name of the Dark Wizard Zeref, yet the Magic Council had immediately classified it as a Dark Guild...

Now, Fairy Tail had not only dragged the Dark Wizard Zeref into the guild, it had even dragged the Black Dragon from the Book of Apocalypse and the Divine Dragons that had brought chaos to the northern continent of Guiltina into the guild. Yet every year, it was still selected as a model Legal Mage Guild of the continent of Ishgar.

The difference between guilds was simply too enormous, wasnʼt it?

Although the Fairy Tail guild was his guild as well, Precht could not help but feel a sense of disparity deep down.

”Eh...”

”Guild Master Precht, you are mistaken! If the Mage Guild Grimoire Heart that you founded back then had actually managed to invite Lord Zeref into the guild as its master, instead of merely saying so, then your guild could also have become a Legal Mage Guild. Moreover, just like the current Fairy Tail, it would have been selected every year as a model Legal Mage Guild of the continent of Ishgar...”

Although Makarov was much younger than Precht, he understood the filthiness of the world far better than Precht, who spent all day immersed in his laboratory.

That was simply how this world worked.

For example, when someone says that your guild has weapons of mass destruction, it would be best if you actually had weapons of mass destruction...

Ahem...

”...”

Precht fell silent after hearing Makarovʼs words.

He realized that, without even noticing it, he had already become unable to see through this brat Makarov. Over the long years, Makarovʼs enlightenment had gradually surpassed his own.

”Roar!!”

Meanwhile, the battle between Acnologia and the various S-Class Mage candidates from the Fairy Tail guild was still continuing.

With Acnologiaʼs furious roar, the ancient forest that had covered Tenrou Island for hundreds of years instantly transformed into a stretch of sand. Countless trees were sent flying into the sky by Acnologiaʼs roar, soaring high into the air...

”Ah, after the beach, the forest has disappeared too...”

Makarov stared at the scene before him, his eyes widening as he sighed.

”Indeed, this place used to be a beach, right? Youʼre the one who made these bastards turn Tenrou Island into this mess, arenʼt you?!”

Prechtʼs ears twitched slightly. When he heard Makarovʼs sigh, the corner of his eye twitched, and he roared at Makarov, the successor he had chosen as the next guild master of Fairy Tail.

If there was one greatest mistake Precht had made in his entire life, then it was undoubtedly choosing this bastard brat Makarov as his successor...

”Uh, about that...”

Seeing that he had been exposed, Makarov immediately turned his head away, hunched his neck, and pretended to be an ostrich.

”His roar alone has that much power?!”

”What the hell? Even the airflow coming out of his mouth is comparable to a Super Magic spell!”

”How are we supposed to fight that?!”

On the other side, the Fairy Tail S-Class Mage candidates who had been blown away by Acnologiaʼs roar and had landed in a miserable heap stared at Acnologia with despair in their eyes.

”Who is supposed to be the Sky Dragon here?!”

Wendy sat on the ground, helplessly looking at Acnologia.

There was nothing she could do. Acnologiaʼs roar and sigh were already more powerful than Wendyʼs Sky Dragonʼs Roar when she unleashed it with all her strength!

”Wendy, Sky Dragons arenʼt particularly good at combat to begin with. Losing to Acnologia isnʼt anything to be ashamed of!”

A snow-white cat spread its wings and flew beside Wendy, its voice filled with helplessness.

”Grandeeney...”

Wendy looked at the white-haired cat, which bore a slight resemblance to Carla, and called out Grandeeneyʼs name affectionately.

Yes, this white cat was none other than Grandeeney, who had emerged from Wendyʼs body.

According to the theory of Soul Dragon Magic, from the moment Grandeeney left Wendyʼs body, her life had already entered its countdown...

However, at the critical moment, Irene used Personality Separation and Attachment Magic on the consciousnesses of the Sky Dragon Grandeeney and the Iron Dragon Metalicana, then transferred the consciousnesses of the Sky Dragon and Iron Dragon into the bodies of cats!

”Iʼve got a cat too! From today onward, Iʼm no longer a weapon that learned Dragon Slayer Magic! Iʼm a Dragon Slayer!”

Gajeel excitedly shouted as he held up the black cat that his father, Metalicana, had transformed into with one hand.

For a moment, the scene was incredibly filial!

As for Gajeelʼs black cat Panther Lily from the original story, he was currently still in the world of Edolas, serving as the captain of the Royal Guard of the human kingdom!

As a side note, because the magic power of the world of Edolas was gradually recovering, the conflict between humans and the Exceeds had nearly disappeared. Thus, Mystogan, the king of the human empire—namely Jellal—had begun deep cooperation with the Exceeds. The human empire had now armed an elite Holy Knight Order consisting entirely of Exceeds...

After all, who in this world could possibly refuse the power of cats?!

”Metalicana, lend me your power! Help me defeat Acnologia!”

Gajeel looked arrogantly at his old man and laughed loudly.

”Hahaha...”

”Keep dreaming! Even I am no match for Acnologia. How could you possibly defeat Acnologia?!”

As Gajeelʼs words fell, the response he received was the merciless mockery of his father, Metalicana.

”Damn it!”

Gajeel angrily clenched his fist and then punched Metalicana in the head.

”Youʼre getting out of hand! Do you really think that just because this old man doesnʼt show his power, Iʼm actually a stupid cat?!”

After taking Gajeelʼs punch, Metalicanaʼs eyes flashed red, while the magic power within his body surged! He prepared to properly teach Gajeel a lesson and show Gajeel who was really the father!

”Roar!!”

Just as Gajeel and Metalicana were displaying their father-and-son affection, Acnologia moved.

His massive wings gently flapped, and an endless gale swept across the entire battlefield. The Fairy Tail S-Class Mage candidates were directly blown into the sky by the terrifying airflow!

”Buzz!”

At the very moment everyone was sent flying into the sky, Acnologia transformed into his more mobile human form.

”Itʼs over!”

Acnologia calmly announced the end of the battle. Immediately afterward, he charged directly toward the Fairy Tail S-Class Mage candidates who were trapped in the airflow stirred up by his wings and were unable to move.

”I canʼt move!”

”Move, damn it! Donʼt underestimate the bonds between us!”

”Even Acnologia canʼt possibly defeat us this easily!”

”Ah!!”

Natsu and the other Fairy Tail S-Class Mage candidates were trapped in Acnologiaʼs airflow. They shouted one after another, attempting to unleash the power of their convictions!

Unfortunately, the Fairy Tail peopleʼs unique power of belief was ineffective against their fellow Fairy Tail members!

In other words, after sacrificing one arm in exchange for the Fairy Tail guild emblem and officially joining the Fairy Tail guild, Acnologiaʼs strength had not decreased but instead increased!

At least, Acnologia was no longer afraid of the power of belief, explosive power-ups, or plot kills! Because all of those had already become his skills...

”Whoosh!”

In merely one exchange, none of the S-Class Mage candidates even noticed how Acnologia had attacked. Acnologia had already disappeared from their sight and arrived behind them!

”So fast!”

”Damn it! Weʼre completely out of his league...”

”Has this yearʼs S-Class Mage exam come to an end?!”

”Next year, next year we definitely wonʼt lose again...”

By the time everyone reacted, they had all already collapsed onto the ground and lost consciousness.

”Crack, crack...”

Accompanied by a series of light sounds, the Fairy Tail members knocked unconscious by Acnologia fell onto the ground, which had long since become soft sand, producing a succession of muffled sounds.

”Phew...”

After ending this battle that could only be described as a farce, Acnologia withdrew his arm and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

After joining the Fairy Tail guild, Acnologia had not followed the conventional trope of becoming weaker after being redeemed. Instead, he had become even stronger!

Before Acnologia joined Fairy Tail, Natsu and the others could still rely on their convictions and fool around with Acnologia for a while...

But after Acnologia joined Fairy Tail, even if Natsu and the others unleashed the power of their convictions, they could not stop the ʼBlack Dragon Kingʼ before them even for a single step!

No, in fact, Acnologia had not been redeemed at all!

Compared to the Wings of Despair Acnologia recorded in the Book of Apocalypse, the Acnologia who had joined the Fairy Tail guild seemed to pose an even greater threat to the world!

Therefore, Acnologia had not become good after joining Fairy Tail!

He had simply become even more thoroughly evil!

If I turn myself into a lunatic ahead of time, then I wonʼt have to worry about going insane over the course of the long years!

Using madness to counter madness, insanity to suppress insanity!

”I feel a little tired...”

Acnologia raised his head and gazed at the azure sky, his eyes carrying a hint of melancholy as he muttered to himself.

”Yes. After all, your opponents were Natsu and the others. Even Lord Acnologia would find them somewhat troublesome, right?”

Lucy, Acnologiaʼs teammate and also one of the only two remaining S-Class Mage candidates still standing in the X784 S-Class Mage exam, spoke with a cheerful smile after hearing Acnologiaʼs words.

”No! I think youʼve misunderstood...”

Acnologia gently shook his head after hearing Lucyʼs words.

”The reason I feel somewhat tired isnʼt because these guys were too strong, nor because they caused me any trouble! Itʼs because they were simply too weak for me! I had to spend far too much mental energy controlling my strength so that I wouldnʼt accidentally kill them with a single blow. Thatʼs why Iʼm somewhat tired now...”

Acnologia looked helpless.

After all, trying to step over an ant without crushing it requires very precise control of strength. Holding back is also a skill, and holding back against ants requires a surprisingly high level of technical ability. Even Acnologia himself could feel extraordinarily exhausted by it.

”Uh...”

Lucy fell silent after hearing Acnologiaʼs words.

”Fine! Youʼre strong, youʼre invincible. Iʼll just follow you around shouting ʼ666ʼ!”

After a brief silence, Lucy quickly found her position.

Yes, her position was that of Fairy Tailʼs number-one cheerleader.

”Hey, Guild Master! Iʼve already defeated all my competitors!”

”The Fairy Tail S-Class Mage exam is over, right?”

”Can you announce that Iʼve passed the exam now?”

After ending the battle, Acnologia walked before Makarov and coldly asked the Fairy Tail guild master.

”This guy is completely and utterly a monster!”

This was the first time Makarov had witnessed Acnologiaʼs power.

Looking at Acnologia, who had defeated Natsu and the others as easily as chopping vegetables, Makarov sighed inwardly.

”Since youʼve successfully passed the first stage of the exam, letʼs now begin the final stage of this yearʼs Fairy Tail S-Class Mage exam...”

”You should know that the core of this yearʼs Fairy Tail S-Class Mage exam is ʼbondsʼ! So the final examination is very simple...”

Makarov stood with his hands behind his back before Acnologia and explained the rules of the Fairy Tail guildʼs S-Class Mage exam.

”What bonds this, bonds that? Just tell me who Iʼm fighting!”

Acnologia frowned as he listened to Makarovʼs endless rambling.

Makarovʼs words had already begun to annoy him. At this moment, Acnologia simply wanted Makarov to shut up and find him an opponent so that he could have a proper fight!

”Uh...”

Makarovʼs eye twitched after hearing Acnologiaʼs words, and his expression froze for a moment.

There was no denying it. In merely one week, Acnologia had already adapted to the Fairy Tail guildʼs way of doing things, and an irreversible Fairy Tail transformation had occurred.

He was now a fully qualified Fairy Tail mage...

”Next, Acnologia and Lucy. As the two remaining members of the final team in the X784 Fairy Tail S-Class Mage exam, you can choose to fight among yourselves within the team. The winner will automatically be considered to have passed the exam and will officially become an S-Class Mage of the Fairy Tail guild!”

”Of course, thatʼs one choice. There is also a second choice! If you donʼt want to fight among yourselves, you can challenge two active S-Class Mages of the Fairy Tail guild. As long as you can defeat the active S-Class Mages, your entire team will directly advance as the successful candidates of this yearʼs S-Class Mage exam! Both of you will become S-Class Mages!”

”As for how you choose, Iʼll leave that to the two of you...”

Makarov explained the rules to Acnologia and Lucy.

”Uh...”

As Makarovʼs words fell, Lucyʼs expression instantly changed. Her mouth fell slightly open, and she trembled at the situation before her.

”Isnʼt this just screwing me over?”

”If Acnologia chooses the first option, doesnʼt that mean Iʼll immediately be eliminated?!”

Lucy felt like crying.

”Still, Iʼve already relied on lying down and winning to make it to the second stage. At this point in this yearʼs S-Class Mage exam, Iʼm even ahead of Natsu and Gray. To put it bluntly, Iʼve already come a long way!”

”Thinking about it this way, it is actually normal for things to end here! Iʼll just try harder in next yearʼs S-Class Mage exam!”

Lucy changed her mind. Looking at Natsu and Gray lying on the beach, foam coming from their mouths, she revealed a faint smile.

Yes, she had already made it ahead of Natsu and Gray. She also wasnʼt the first person eliminated from the S-Class Mage exam, which meant she had managed to slap the faces of those gamblers in the guild who looked down on her!

It could also be considered that she had lived up to all the effort she had put in during these days...

”I surrender...”

After thinking this through, Lucy made up her mind.

Rather than being blown away by a single punch from Acnologia, it would be better to admit defeat beforehand. At least that would look somewhat dignified.

”This even needs a choice? Of course Iʼm choosing rule two!”

However, before Lucy could speak, Acnologia directly chose the second option.

”What? Acnologia, why are you being so nice to me?”

For a moment, Lucyʼs eyes filled with tears. She looked at Acnologia with deep emotion and gratitude.

”What are you talking about?!”

”No matter what, I was once the King of Dragons! How could I possibly attack this weak little girl before me?! If word got out afterward, wouldnʼt that disgrace the dignity of the Dragon King?”

Just as Lucy was looking deeply moved, Acnologia looked at Lucy with disdain and explained.

In Acnologiaʼs eyes, Lucy was simply too weak—so weak that no matter how much he controlled his strength, he would still kill her with a single punch...

”Uh...”

”Give me back the gratitude I felt toward you!”

After hearing Acnologiaʼs explanation, all the emotion on Lucyʼs face vanished. She stared at Acnologiaʼs back and muttered incessantly.

”Just as expected of that Acnologia!”

”He actually chose the second option, which I thought no one except that idiot Natsu would ever choose!”

Makarov smiled after hearing Acnologiaʼs words.

Now he understood why Irene had recruited Acnologia into Fairy Tail.

Although Acnologiaʼs mind was somewhat abnormal, for Fairy Tail, where everyone had something wrong with their heads, he was actually quite normal.

”Then, Acnologia, who are you planning to challenge?”

Makarov continued looking at Acnologia as he asked.

”Guild Master of Fairy Tail, it seems youʼve misunderstood something...”

”I am the Black Dragon King Acnologia. Even if there is a challenge, others should be challenging me, not the other way around!”

”The active S-Class Mages of the Fairy Tail guild! Anyone interested in exchanging a few blows with me, come at me together!”

”Of course, even if all of you come at me together, I donʼt mind at all...”

Acnologia walked before the Fairy Tail guildʼs active S-Class Mages and asked with a savage grin.

”Itʼs over!”

Lucy looked at the scene before her, her expression panicked.

No matter how she thought about it, she had never imagined that Acnologia would directly challenge all of Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mages...

”Hm?!”

As Acnologiaʼs words fell, the Fairy Tail S-Class Mages immediately showed displeased expressions.

”Since thatʼs the case, let me see just how powerful the legendary Acnologia really is!”

Laxus had long been itching for a fight. Now that Acnologia had spoken, Laxus immediately stepped out from the crowd and walked before the invincible Black Dragon King...

”Laxus!”

Lucy swallowed as she watched Laxus step out from the crowd.

She had been in Fairy Tail for quite some time, so naturally she knew that Laxus was Makarovʼs biological grandson. She also knew about Laxusʼs terrifying strength, which was so powerful that it was practically inhuman, comparable to a monster!

”I heard from Master Irene that you are the strongest among the Dragon Slayers! You were the victor of the Dragon King Festival four hundred years ago, the undisputed Dragon King of the dragons!”

”But there is one thing I must tell you. The dragons have neither a king nor a god!”

”Let me, God Serena, see what youʼre made of...”

At the same time Laxus stepped out from among the S-Class Mages, the naturally chuuni Serena also walked before Acnologia.

As someone who possessed eight Dragon Slayer Lacrima within his body, Serena was an exceptionally rare existence even throughout the entire history of Dragon Slayers. He had always wanted to see exactly how far he was from the legendary strongest Dragon Slayer in history!

”Boom!!”

In an instant, the power of eight Dragon Slayer Lacrima erupted from within Serenaʼs body.

”Boom!!”

As for Laxus, he also unleashed waves of lightning.

Perhaps because Laxus was facing Acnologia, the one who had trampled upon the dignity of the dragons four hundred years ago and relentlessly crushed it beneath his feet, the Lacrima belonging to ʼThunder Dragon Kingʼ Alexion sealed within Laxusʼs body erupted with thunderous roars at this moment, continuously squeezing out magic power and supplying it to Laxus...

As a result, Laxusʼs strength actually improved yet again!

”You two have familiar scents on you~”

”Ah, let me think. Whose scents are they?”

”Oh, I remember! Arenʼt those the scents of my defeated opponents from four hundred years ago?”

”I never imagined that you would take the hearts of my defeated opponents from within their bodies, turn them into Lacrima as though they were treasures, and implant them into your own bodies~”

”Hahaha, could it be that the two of you are professional scrap collectors? Scrap recyclers?”

Acnologia stood before Laxus and Serena.

Sensing the immense magic power of the two before him, he revealed a faint smile. Then, pretending to ponder, Acnologia thought for a moment before raising his chin and speaking arrogantly to Laxus and Serena.

”Go to hell!”

Acnologiaʼs words successfully enraged Laxus and Serena. The veins on their foreheads bulged as they immediately unleashed their respective ultimate attacks against Acnologia.

”Dragon Slayer Secret Art: Lightning Roar!”

”Dragon Slayer Secret Art: Roar of the Eight Dragons!”

Almost instantly, an iron fist radiating endless lightning and a roar containing eight different attributes of Dragon Slayer Magic shot toward Acnologia.

”Gulp!”

Acnologia sensed the immense magic power before him and simply opened his mouth.

Then, an astonishing scene occurred.

Whether it was Laxusʼs lightning or Serenaʼs eight types of Dragon Slayer Magic, Acnologia swallowed them all into his stomach as though they were food.

”Phew~”

After Acnologia completely devoured the magic power of the two, the great Black Dragon King comfortably exhaled a breath of stale air.

”How is this possible?!”

Laxus and Serena stared blankly as their magic power was turned into someone elseʼs nourishment. They simply could not believe what they were seeing.

”Thank you both for providing me with such precious Dragon Power!”

”To thank you, I shall grant you a defeat!”

Acnologia gave the two no chance to react.

The instant his words fell, his body transformed into an afterimage. In the blink of an eye, he had arrived before Laxus and Serena.

”Not good!”

Laxus and Serenaʼs pupils trembled violently as they stared at Acnologia, who had appeared before them in an instant.

For a moment, they seemed to see an enormous black dragon dozens of meters long baring its fangs and claws, roaring ferociously at them.

”Bang! Bang!”

The next second, accompanied by two light impacts, Laxus and Serena collapsed to the ground, their eyes rolled back as their bodies twitched.

”He one-shotted them! Laxus and Serena were both defeated by Acnologia with a single punch!”

Lucy stared at the scene in shock, though her shock lasted only an instant.

After all, Acnologia was a monster recorded in the Book of Apocalypse. Being capable of doing this was only to be expected...

”This isnʼt even a battle on the same level...”

The Fairy Tail S-Class Mages all felt a chill run through them.

One had to know that Laxus and Serenaʼs strength was by no means weak among Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mages!

Yet such powerful people as Laxus had been one-shotted by the invincible Black Dragon King with virtually no ability to resist!

In other words, Acnologia was powerful enough to one-shot the vast majority of those present with a single punch!

Perhaps, aside from Irene, Erza, Selene, Ignia, August, and Zeref, no one could withstand a second punch from Acnologia.

”Too weak...”

Acnologia did not even glance at Laxus and Serena lying beneath him. He simply walked toward Makarov and the Fairy Tail S-Class Mages standing behind him.

”Who else?!”

”Who else wants to challenge me, the great Black Dragon King?”

”Whether itʼs one person or two! Come at me together! I will let you experience the absolute difference in strength between us!”

Acnologia stood before the Fairy Tail S-Class Mages and laughed loudly.

”Uh...”

As Acnologiaʼs words fell, the expressions of all the active S-Class Mages of Fairy Tail changed.

”My current strength is still vastly inferior to Acnologiaʼs!”

”Looks like I still need to keep working hard...”

Although Erza really wanted to test the gap between herself and Acnologia, after seeing Laxus and Serena instantly one-shotted by Acnologia, she immediately put the thought aside.

Her strength was slightly greater than Laxus and Serenaʼs, but ultimately, she and Laxus were still roughly evenly matched.

Someone who could one-shot Laxus could, without any surprises, one-shot her as well...

”But! How can I retreat here?!”

”A strong person faces a strong person! A weak person bullies someone weaker!”

”And I am unquestionably a strong person...”

After thinking this, Erza stepped out from among the active S-Class Mages.

”Iʼll challenge you!”

At that moment, Conquerorʼs Haki erupted from Erza in all directions.

After confirming her own heart, Erza had already acquired the qualifications to become a king!

”...”

Acnologiaʼs gaze lingered on Erza for several seconds.

As a Dragon Slayer, Acnologia possessed an extraordinarily keen sense of smell. He almost instantly determined Erzaʼs relationship with Irene.

Then, when he saw Irene standing behind Erza with a tightly furrowed brow, he immediately understood what was going on.

”Who else wants to challenge me?”

Acnologia instinctively ignored Erza and asked the others in the guild.

”Me! My name is Erza Belserion! I want to challenge you!”

Seeing Acnologiaʼs attitude, Erza immediately became displeased and stepped forward.

”No one? Then forget it...”

”Itʼs not that I didnʼt give you a chance! I gave you a chance, but you werenʼt up to it!”

Acnologia looked at Erza, who was advancing step by step, and took half a step backward as he withdrew his previous words.

”Hey! Whatʼs wrong with you?!”

Erza puffed out her pretty cheeks in anger.

”Guild Master Makarov, can you announce my victory now?”

Acnologia walked before Makarov and asked softly.

”Oh! Oh-oh...”

”Hereby, I announce that the Fairy Tail S-Class Mage exam has officially ended!”

”The winners are Acnologia and Lucy Heartfilia! Congratulations to both of you. From today onward, you are officially active S-Class Mages of the Fairy Tail guild...”

Makarov looked at Acnologia and Lucy and announced the result.

As for Makarovʼs foolish grandson, who had been one-shotted by Acnologia, after Makarov confirmed that Laxus was still breathing and had not died, he completely ignored him...

”Iʼve actually become an S-Class Mage of the guild?”

When Lucy heard Makarovʼs words, she fell into a surreal state.

She had literally done nothing and had directly advanced to become an S-Class Mage of the Fairy Tail guild. If she told anyone about this, they probably wouldnʼt believe her!

”Still, with my joining, it seems that Iʼve dragged the overall lower limit of Fairy Tailʼs S-Class Mages down to an entirely new level.”

Thinking this, Lucy revealed a somewhat bitter smile.

”As for Acnologia and Lucy passing the exam and becoming this yearʼs S-Class Mages, does anyone have any objections?”

After the Fairy Tail S-Class Mage exam ended, Makarov, as the guild master, symbolically asked the other S-Class Mages for their opinions.

”We have no objections...”

The S-Class Mages, who had originally intended to simply go through the motions, shook their heads.

They had absolutely no objections to Acnologia passing the exam.

Nor did they dare to object...

After all, this was not merely a result silently approved by Makarov. It was the result of the collective efforts of Fairy Tailʼs top combat forces, including Irene, Erza, Selene, and the others!

”Wait!”

However, just as the matter was about to be settled, a voice broke the silence.

”Hm?”

”So everyone really wonʼt agree to me becoming an S-Class Mage of the guild!”

When Lucy saw someone objecting, she revealed a relieved smile.

She had already expected that she would not be able to pass the exam smoothly.

”I object to Acnologia becoming an S-Class Mage of the Fairy Tail guild!”

Then Lucy saw Ignia step out from the crowd and walk directly before Acnologia.

”Interesting~”

Acnologia smiled as he looked at Ignia approaching him.

”Letʼs have a fight!”

Ignia did not waste any words and directly stated his purpose to Acnologia.

”Roar!!”

Accompanied by a roar, in the blink of an eye, both Acnologia and Ignia transformed into enormous dragons dozens of meters long!

”Boom!”

The next second, the two enormous dragons soared into the sky, rising thousands of miles into the heavens!

”Eh?!”

At the same time, Lucy stood there in bewilderment.

So this had nothing to do with her after all?!