Recognition and a New Journey

"I've known all along how big the gap is between us! But so what!"

Natsu's voice grew louder and more powerful with each word.

"I will keep getting stronger! And even stronger! Until one day, I will be able to truly surpass you, Jiang Bai!"

Having said that, Natsu straightened his back once more, facing the terrifying magical power that was enough to crush everything, and let out a deafening roar.

"Jiang Bai, this is the last one! Dragon Slayer Secret Art-- "

He mobilized all the remaining magic power within his body without reservation, concentrating it on his fists.

The flames continued to swirl and converge.

He remembered what Jiang Bai had just said.

Temperature, and compression!

We still have no idea about the temperature and such.

But compression, he can do it!

"Compress it for me!!"

Natsu roared, using all his strength to squeeze the raging flame inward again and again!

The originally enormous and violent flames, under his control, rapidly shrank and solidified at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Finally, the outline of a sword formed on his fists.

The sword was entirely a deep crimson gold, and on its blade, it seemed as if a phoenix rising from the ashes was spreading its wings and crying out!

"Crimson Lotus Phoenix Sword!"

If we were to ask who in the Fairy Tail guild most admires Jiang Bai's strength, it would definitely not be Erza or Mirajane.

Instead, it was a group of younger people, led by Natsu and Gray, who had been "beaten up" by Jiang Bai since they were young.

Erza and Mirajane were well aware of how unfathomable Jiang Bai's strength was.

But precisely because they are Jiang Bai's lovers, no matter how strong Jiang Bai is, they will still instinctively worry about him.

Natsu and Gray, they won't.

In their minds, there was nothing in this world that Jiang Bai couldn't solve.

They don't need to worry about Jiang Bai at all.

It's important to remember that when Natsu and his friends were just a bunch of little kids, and had only recently been brought into the guild by Makarov, as the guild leader, couldn't possibly be with a bunch of brats all the time.

At this time, Jiang Bai, who was the de facto leader of the younger generation in the guild, took the initiative to take on the responsibility of training Natsu, Gray, and the other kids.

The matches over the past decade have been less like training and more like a one-sided thrashing.

Jiang Bai's unfathomable strength had long been etched into the hearts of each and every one of them, like a brand.

For them, Jiang Bai is both a goal they want to pursue and surpass, and their strongest support.

Therefore, when Jiang Bai makes a suggestion, Natsu will believe it without hesitation and try it.

Because he knew that Jiang Bai was absolutely right!

The "Crimson Lotus Phoenix Sword," composed of extremely compressed flames, pierced straight towards Jiang Bai with an unstoppable momentum.

Jiang Bai watched this all-out attack, feeling the destructive power it contained, which had surpassed its limits in an instant, and finally a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

He extended a finger and casually touched the tip of the sword.

That terrifying power, enough to split a mountain in two, vanished instantly, as if it had never existed.

"Natsu, you certainly didn't disappoint me."

After Natsu's all-out attack, his body could no longer support him, his legs buckled, and he almost collapsed to his knees.

But with his last bit of strength, he forced himself to stand up straight again.

When he saw that Jiang Bai was still unharmed and calm, a hint of loneliness inevitably showed in his eyes.

"Still... unable to do it?"

Natsu muttered something under his breath, then took a deep breath, as if trying to shake off all his negative emotions, and shouted loudly at Jiang Bai:

"I surrender! Jiang Bai!"

Then, he forced himself to cheer up, grinned, and revealed a smile that looked even uglier than a grimace.

"Haha! But it's okay! Next year! I'll definitely succeed next year!"

Happy flew to Natsu's side and felt bad seeing him pretending to be strong.

It knew just how much effort Natsu had put in for this S-Class Exam.

In the end, they couldn't even budge Jiang Bai a finger.

Just as the man and the cat were immersed in their feelings of loss, Jiang Bai's voice suddenly interrupted them.

Who said you're going to wait until next year?

Jiang Bai looked at Natsu with a playful smile on his face.

"Natsu, congratulations! You've passed my test!"

"... Huh?"

Natsu's smile froze instantly, and he stood there stunned, his mind going completely blank.

It passed?

Even though he had passed the test, he felt no joy, but rather hesitation and confusion.

"But... but..."

Natsu stammered, "I didn't defeat you at all! I couldn't even make you move an inch..."

"Natsu, S-Class is never the end."

Jiang Bai looked at him and said earnestly, "If you want to become stronger, start with S-Class and explore more things! That's the true meaning of the S-Class Exam."

Seeing his simple-minded younger brother still looking sullen and stuck in a rut, Jiang Bai could only sigh helplessly and continue to try to comfort him:

"Natsu, you don't need to be so coy. I only let you pass because I truly acknowledge your strength."

He paused for a moment, then dropped a bombshell.

"You know, when Laxus and Erza took the test here, their performance was about the same as yours now."

"Does saying this make you feel any better?"

"Laxus and the others... are they like me?"

A glimmer of light rekindled in Natsu's eyes.

"What do you think?" Jiang Bai rolled her eyes at him, annoyed.

"Alright, you've already become S-Class, but there are still tests waiting for you. Prove it to me, Natsu!"

Jiang Bai's voice suddenly became louder, filled with inspiring power.

"Let me see that idiot who dares to face me directly, become an S-Class!"

"Um!"

Natsu nodded emphatically.

A warm feeling welled up in my heart, and my eyes could no longer be held back, they became moist.

He wiped his face haphazardly with the back of his hand, turned around, and walked with Happy towards the exit behind Jiang Bai that represented the way through customs.

Just before entering the passage, he turned back to Jiang Bai and shouted with all his might:

"Jiang Bai! I will definitely not let you down!"

Meanwhile, in another passageway.

Cana and Lucy were looking at the person in front of them with expressions of despair.

"Lucy..." Cana's voice trembled.

"Didn't you say... your luck would never be inferior to anyone else's?"

Looking at the stunningly beautiful knight before her, clad in silver armor, wielding a long spear, and sporting long, crimson hair, she felt that her S-Class Exam journey might be coming to an end.

It's Erza!

This is incredibly bad luck!

"You... you also use cards for divination!" Lucy retorted, on the verge of tears.

"It seems my fate has come to this," Cana took a deep breath, her fighting spirit rekindled.

"But even if we lose, we should lose honorably! We should still put up a fight, Lucy!"

OK!

Lucy immediately understood and took out a gold key from her key pouch at her waist.

"Open! The Gate of Taurus! Taurus!"