"Hmm... Juvia wants to withdraw from this exam."
Juvia spoke suddenly.
"Ah? Why?"
Wendy was startled. Everyone in the guild desperately wanted a spot in the exam, so why did Juvia want to quit?
"Because I want to become... because... Juvia wants..."
Lucy whispered to Gray: "Because she wants to be your partner."
"Huh?"
"I knew it! So you're following him! Lucy!"
Lucy waved her hands quickly: "No... I'm not..."
Ever since Juvia joined the guild, she had treated Lucy as her love rival. Lucy didn't think that way at all, but a woman's intuition was never wrong; Gray indeed had some feelings for Lucy.
"Sorry, but I've already decided on my partner."
At that moment, a figure appeared beside Gray: "Long time no see, everyone."
"Loke?!!"
The person who came was indeed Loke, also known as Leo the Lion.
"We made a promise last year. No matter who it was, as long as one of us got the qualification for the S-Class exam, the other would be their partner."
Gray said with a smile. Back in the guild, the two were best friends. Who would have thought Loke was actually a Celestial Spirit?
"Sorry Lucy, we have to cancel the contract during the exam period. Don't worry, I've already created a gate to use my own magic, so I don't need your permission to appear, nor will I consume your magic power."
Lucy was dumbfounded upon hearing this: "Just how casual are you for a Celestial Spirit!"
"But the rules say it must be a member of the guild."
Elfman's petty side came out again.
Loke unzipped his clothes to reveal the Fairy Tail mark on his back: "I am still a mage of Fairy Tail. I'll bet on the guild's pride to make Gray an S-Class mage."
"I'm counting on you."
"Leave it to me."
The two shared a deep, meaningful look, dripping with bromance.
Gray looked at Juvia: "So that means you have to seriously defeat me. Let's have a hot battle."
"A hot... a hot battle?"
Some inappropriate images were already floating through Juvia's mind.
Carla complained: "Lady, don't be like that..."
Lisanna said: "In that case, Juvia and I will team up."
Elfman was startled: "Are you serious? Lisanna?!"
"When I was in Edolas, Juvia and I were good friends. Plus, this Juvia is quite cute too. It's settled!"
"Wait! Lisanna! Then who's going to be my partner!"
Elfman panicked. He didn't expect his sister to betray him and become someone else's partner. What was he supposed to do?
Lisanna pointed toward the bar and said: "There's someone over there looking at you like they want to turn you to stone."
Elfman looked over and saw Evergreen watching him.
"Evergreen..."
Elfman was startled. He had just been severely bullied by Evergreen not long ago. Now, seeing her was like a mouse seeing a cat.
"She seems to be angry because Freed chose Bickslow as his partner instead of her."
Over with the Shadow Gear team.
"Levy was chosen!! That's amazing! You might become an S-Class mage!"
"Our Levy! An S-Class mage! So, I'll be your partner, right?"
"As if! I'm the one suited to be Levy's partner!"
"My magic is better for combat!"
"But I run faster than you!"
"Oh, so that's your reason? You only ever chase after Levy!"
...
Jet and Droy started arguing over who would be Levy's partner. Levy felt a headache coming on hearing them.
Just then, Gajeel appeared behind Levy: "If you really want to reach S-Class, I'll give you a hand."
"Gajeel!!"
Levy was very surprised to see Gajeel. She didn't have much to do with him normally, and his fierce gaze scared her. She usually avoided him on purpose, so she hadn't expected him to suddenly come over and offer help.
Gajeel didn't have much of a choice. The guild elites were all taking the exam. If he didn't go, wouldn't it look like he wasn't good enough?
If he teamed up with Juvia, she would undoubtedly have the highest chance of becoming an S-Class mage, but that wouldn't make him look as impressive.
So the best way was to find someone not as strong and make her an S-Class mage. That way, he would look powerful.
Levy said dejectedly: "I'm... small, and I don't really have any strengths. I'll probably lose quickly."
Gajeel grabbed Levy by the collar.
"Eek! Let... let go of me!" Levy was startled and struggled immediately.
"What's the use of talking so gloomily before we even start? I'll make you really strong."
Levy stopped struggling upon hearing this.
Crack————!
Jet and Droy knelt on the ground, dumbfounded.
"The S-Class exam!"
Kael sat in a chair, leaning his back against the counter with his elbows resting on it. He picked up a glass of wine and took a light sip.
"What? Are you feeling nostalgic?"
Mirajane appeared behind Kael and asked.
"Mhm... yeah! A year has passed in the blink of an eye."
He wasn't exactly feeling nostalgic; he was just recalling this part of the plot, which made him feel a bit uneasy.
Kael's memory of the S-Class exam arc was clearer than others because it was the first appearance of the ultimate boss, Acnologia. It had left a deep impression on him.
Acnologia easily toyed with everyone in Fairy Tail. No one could put up any resistance. In the end, if the first guild master Mavis hadn't used the absolute defense super-magic, Fairy Sphere, to block the Black Dragon's Roar, everyone in Fairy Tail would likely have been killed.
Thinking about facing the ceiling of the Fairy Tail universe for the first time, Kael felt both fear and excitement, leaving him deeply conflicted.
Honestly, with his current status in the guild, he could easily suggest changing the exam location.
That would avoid direct contact with the black dragon Acnologia, but then he would completely lose control over the Fairy Tail plot.
He didn't know what kind of consequences such an action would trigger.
After thinking it over, he decided to let nature take its course. The existence of Dragon Slayers might have already drawn Acnologia's attention. If he missed this trip to Tenrou Island, he wouldn't be able to avoid a sudden encounter next time.
On the other hand, he also wanted to face Acnologia and see exactly how big the gap was between himself and the dragon.
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