newbobooks Chapter 314 A Battle of Dignity: Chase vs. Gildarts!
Chapter 314 A Battle of Dignity: Chase vs. Gildarts!
Chapter 314 A Battle of Dignity: Chase vs. Gildarts!
The "trump card" that Lucy had deliberately hidden made the contestants, who had just been relaxed, feel a sense of urgency.
So they completely abandoned any intention of lingering in the guild to chat and instead seized the time to leave with their respective partners.
Some plan to conduct a week-long intensive training program like Nazhabi, while others focus on studying their competitors' weaknesses.
Since they were all members of the same guild, they naturally knew each other's magic very well.
If you're not confident you can take down those monsters like Chase, can't you handle an "opponent" you know all too well?
This might be a good path for beginners!
Even Lucy didn't expect that her actions would indirectly change the competitive landscape of this S-class mage exam.
-
The reckless man who had always only known how to charge headlong into battle has begun to learn pre-battle analysis.
Of course, Natsu is an exception.
Throughout, he had only one understanding of passing the test: defeating the guild's current S-rank mage!
As the contestants left one after another, the lively discussions and noise in the hall gradually subsided.
It's a pity I wasn't selected again this year, but life goes on, doesn't it?
The guild returned to its normal routine, with only Macao and Wakaba, the laid-back types, still chatting away.
Lucy was unusually proactive. After sending away a few curious non-contestant companions, she helped the waiters clean up the empty wine bottles, meat bones, and other food waste scattered everywhere.
Time passed quietly, and soon it was evening when the sun was setting.
Light snowflakes fell from the sky, casting a soft white blanket over the city of Magnolia, illuminated by the orange streetlights lining the streets.
It reflects a faint glow.
Wendy carried Charlotte on their way back to the girls' dormitory.
"What's wrong, Xia Lulu? Why do you look so serious after leaving the guild?" Wendy's little leather boots left tiny footprints in the snow.
"I have a feeling that something big is going to happen in this S-level exam," Xia Lulu said in a deep voice.
Just now, a jumbled mess of images, impossible to piece together, suddenly flashed through the depths of her mind:
Chase's blood-soaked figure, the blurry dragon shadows clashing under a blood-red sky, the colossal black creature standing on the sea, its entirety obscured, the space shattered.
Xia Lulu felt somewhat uneasy, unsure whether it was her precognitive abilities playing tricks or a hallucination caused by excessive stress during this period.
Or perhaps it's the scene of Fairy Tail's S-class mage exam, which has always been this exaggerated.
"In short, you absolutely can't go, Wendy!" Charlotte solemnly instructed Wendy. Sensing Charlotte's worry, Wendy smiled and reassured her, "It's okay, Lucy and the others already have their own partners."
Nobody will choose me.
"That's not necessarily true, Sky Priestess."
The sudden sound from behind startled Wendy and Charlotte.
Looking back, I saw a man making a strange gesture, opening his mouth to catch the snowflakes falling from the sky.
It seems like they're tasting the snow?
"If I remember correctly, you seem to be—"
"I am Mester, a disciple of Mystergang."
Meanwhile, Chess, Mira, Erza, and Gildarts have arrived at Sirius Island, located on the vast sea.
As examiners for this S-level assessment, they bear the responsibility of eliminating potential dangers in advance, setting up the examination venue, and building a rest camp. These tasks must be completed within a week.
As the sacred ground of Fairy Tail and the resting place of the first guild master, Tenrou Island is surrounded by a powerful concealment magic barrier.
It is extremely difficult for outsiders to discover.
Unlike ordinary islands, from a distance, Tianlang Island looks like two small islands stacked together.
The lower level is a dense forest with strangely shaped rocks, while the upper level is land supported by Sirius trees, whose thick branches intertwine like a large open umbrella.
It can be described as a masterpiece of nature!
The twinkling stars and the bright moonlight cast a sacred aura over the already mysterious Sirius Island.
The rising campfire dispelled the darkness and brought light to the makeshift camp.
Chess and his three companions sat around the campfire, while a number of enormous and rare magical beasts lay sprawled not far away.
Judging from their perfectly straight posture, it's easy to tell that they are "sleeping" soundly.
Since there were still many things to deal with, and the guild would inevitably fall into chaos without anyone to look after it, Makarov brought them here, gave them a few brief instructions, and then returned to Magnolia.
"Card magic is really convenient. I didn't expect to be able to drink fresh, ice-cold beer here."
Gildass sat cross-legged on the ground, his bulging cheeks stuffed with the roasted meat he had found on the spot, and his words were somewhat muffled.
Fresh, chilled beer?
Chase silently scoffed to himself, then raised his wooden goblet and clinked it against Gildarts's: "It's just a regular card with storage capabilities; Canna could do that too, right?"
"That's right, that's right, Kana is amazing! She truly is my daughter, hahaha~"
Gildarts gulped down the drink along with a mouthful of meat, his stubble-covered face radiating pride and swagger.
He was genuinely happy to be reunited with his daughter, whom he had been separated from for many years, and to take her to do various favors, and now...
We eagerly await her shining on the grand stage of the S-level assessment a week from now.
So this is what you, this doting father, really wanted to express!
"Although Kana is indeed very strong, if we're talking about who might successfully advance this time, I'm sorry, it has to be my Lucy," Chess said with a smile.
Despite saying he'd definitely beat Lucy up if he met her, he had a lot of faith in his silly little sister—as long as she didn't trigger her unlucky passive ability at a crucial moment.
"Hmm? That's not necessarily true. During the time Kana and I trained together, she learned some incredibly powerful magic."
Gildarts was equally confident in his beloved daughter, and it was obvious that he was referring to his superior destructive magic, Crash.
Speaking of which, being able to instantly comprehend Fairy Radiance, one of the three great fairy magics, shows that Kana's talent is definitely not weak, and is even ridiculously strong.
The problem is that the potential of card magic is not high, and it can be used in a haphazard way without being particularly proficient (except for Chase).
Unfortunately, even with the Shattering Magic, it's still not enough against Lucy at this stage.
Leaving aside the fully functional and versatile Celestial Robe and the almost bug-like Gemini, she also has the trump card of "Star Chart History," which is also a super magic!
Thinking of this, Chess shook his head slightly: "No matter how strong it is, it's useless."
"Natsu told me that you took Lucy on an SS-rank mission before, right?"
Gildarts slowly set down his glass, his competitive spirit immediately ignited, and a glint of rivalry flashed in his eyes. "So, how about we make a bet?"
Who will win this test, my daughter or your sister?
"That sounds interesting. So, what's the stake?" Chase immediately became interested.
"The loser must wear a sexy maid outfit and perform public service in Magnolia for three days."
As soon as Gildarts finished speaking, Erza, who was quietly enjoying the strawberry cake that Chess had provided, suddenly brightened up and looked up abruptly.
"Wow, the punishment for a non-S-rank mage accepting an S-rank commission without authorization?!"
Although I feel a little bad for Lucy, why do I have this inexplicable feeling of hoping that Chase will lose?
The image of sexy Chase dressed as a maid involuntarily appeared before his eyes.
Bathed in the glow of the campfire, the fairy queen, with cream still smeared on her lips, had sparkling eyes and looked quite adorable, a stark contrast to her usual rigid and serious demeanor.
Compared to her relatively reserved demeanor, Mira was much bolder, raising her hand with a smile and saying, "I see, a side activity between examiners? Then as Elfman's older sister, I'll join in too!"
"No problem, but it's still a bit not exciting enough. How about we add a lap around Magnolia, in Gray's style?"
Chess's voice rang out almost simultaneously with hers.
Mira's smile froze on the spot, and she silently withdrew her half-raised, fair arm.
It's definitely not that I lack confidence in Elfman, it's just that I suddenly feel that quietly being a bystander and watching the drama unfold might not be so bad.
(The original work did not mention the punishment for accepting S-class commissions without permission, but judging from Natsu Gray's terrified reaction, it was probably this kind of unconventional punishment that is very much in the style of Fairy Tail.)