Nearly five minutes had passed...
Erza and Mirajane had each broken through the areas where the Magic Beasts were. Before each of them lay the same long road, with no end in sight. Mirajane canceled her Take Over Magic, and Erza canceled her Requip Magic. As they walked forward step by step, both adjusted their condition and seized the time to recover their Magic Power.
Zorn and Laxus waited quietly, Magic Power drifting around their bodies as they awaited Erza and Mirajane's arrival.
"Oh, it's you, Zorn. I didn't expect to get another chance to fight you. I've spent the past two years training hard and taking on jobs. Now, let me show you the full extent of my power." After Erza stopped in front of Zorn and finished speaking, she released all her Magic Power and removed her ordinary armor. A surge of golden Magic Power shot into the sky, and light enveloped her body. When the light faded—
"Requip Magic: Fairy Armor!"
She was clad in armor with a pink base, pink ornaments adorned her ears, and she held a winged sword in each hand. With the expression of someone staking everything on this, she looked resolutely at Zorn.
"This armor bears the guild's name. It's my strongest armor at the moment, combining offense and defense. In terms of overall strength, it ranks first among my armor," Erza explained further.
"Oh, not bad, not bad. This is your strongest Magic right now, isn't it? All right, then the exam officially starts now." Zorn nodded, giving Erza's determination and strength his initial approval, though further testing was still needed.
Zorn raised the Light Sword in his hand and swung it hard, sending a massive golden Flying Slash horizontally toward Erza. Her pupils contracted, and she hurriedly crossed her swords, gathered her Magic Power, and unleashed a cross-shaped slash of her own.
The two attacks collided, and a violent force instantly devastated the previously peaceful grounds. Dust billowed and debris flew as the tremendous force of the shockwave tore apart and shattered the surrounding trees and even the rocks.
After a stalemate, the two attacks pressed against each other and flew into the sky, splitting it open together. Both fighters vanished from where they stood in an instant and clashed directly with their swordsmanship. Zorn attacked with broad, sweeping blows, while Erza used her small frame and agile swordplay to defend and counterattack. The surrounding terrain broke apart under their attacks as a golden figure and a pink figure leaped back and forth, colliding throughout the area.
Meanwhile, Mirajane and Laxus had stood facing each other for a long time...
Laxus continued to look calmly at Mirajane, showing no mercy simply because she was a woman. He unleashed all the Magic Power in his body, and the sky above them changed with it. Rolling thunder echoed across Tenrou Island.
Mirajane's expression changed drastically, and her breathing grew somewhat heavy. Gazing gravely at Laxus, who was now bathed in lightning, she hurriedly drew on her Magic Power and spread her hands. A pitch-black magic circle appeared above her head, and as it descended over her, her Take Over Magic was completed.
Demonic wings spread from her back, her hair stood completely on end, and her eyes and mouth turned pitch-black. Her gaze was sharp, her body was covered by a crimson open-collared outfit, and her arms were replaced by demon claws.
"Full-body Take Over: Satan Soul!" Mirajane's personality changed drastically along with her transformation, becoming even more arrogant. Her face filled with excitement as she looked at Laxus.
"The exam begins."
After Laxus made the announcement in a low voice, lightning surged over his body. Having activated every cell in his body, he flashed forward and charged straight at Mirajane, swinging his right fist. "Lightning Strike Fist!" Not to be outdone, Mirajane gathered dark Magic Power in one hand. "Dark Spark!" Their fists collided, instantly collapsing a layer of ground beneath them, and both used the force to spring apart.
They then charged at each other again, their fists and feet clashing back and forth. The Magic Power spilling out instantly devastated everything around them, but neither paid it any mind, both using their strongest moves against the other.
As both exams began and all four released their Magic Power, every person and animal on Tenrou Island could feel those four powerful sources of Magic Power. Animals fled both battlefields, and the Fairy Tail members camping by the shore were naturally also shaken by the terrifying Magic Power.
Some were so frightened that they lost their grip on what they were holding and dropped it. Everyone looked toward the depths of Tenrou Island and at the sky, which had been fairly clear moments ago but was now instantly covered in dark clouds. One side of the sky looked as though it had been split open, while lightning flashed and thunder roared on the other.
"It's all right, everyone, don't worry. I'm here, and Zorn and Laxus will also know when to hold back."
Master Makarov stopped drinking, rose from a rock, and loudly reassured the members. He then brought his hands close together, and a huge magic circle spread around the campsite, forming a protective barrier before vanishing. The master's Magic blocked out the terrifying Magic Power everyone had been feeling, and the lively atmosphere soon returned.
Makarov relaxed as well and resumed drinking his beer. It looked like Fairy Tail would gain two more S-Class Mages after this exam.
The view shifted back to Zorn and Erza's battle...
Erza had coated both of her swords in Armament Haki, and Zorn had done the same to his Light Sword. Erza was now breathing heavily, staring somewhat blankly at the swords in her hands. Zorn, apart from a few wrinkles and some dust on his clothes, was just as he had been before the fight. The difference left Erza feeling a little discouraged, as though no matter how she tried, she could never catch up to Zorn.
Zorn sensed how Erza was feeling and asked, "Erza, what does your power exist for? Just to catch up to me? Just to pass the exam? Just to become an S-Class Mage? If that's all, you'll never become truly strong." Zorn's questions stabbed at Erza one after another, as he sought to dispel the confusion in her heart.
"That's right. My power exists for my comrades and family. I grew stronger to protect them, not just for my own selfish desires. I've never wavered in that, not even for a moment, and I'll keep pursuing that goal as I always have. I'm not just chasing after you. I'm following my heart, which wants to protect and cherish my family. I'm not alone."
After hearing Zorn's questions, the confusion in Erza's heart vanished. She recognized what was in her own heart, and her fighting spirit burned even brighter. As she murmured the words, her Magic Power grew stronger once more. Golden-green Magic Power enveloped her armor and both swords, and the air seemed to freeze at that moment. The terrifying Magic Power shattered the ground, and as it grew stronger again, the cracks widened.
"This will be my strongest strike yet. Get ready, Zorn!" Erza stared intently at Zorn and shouted. She drew the Magic Power that had been surging around her into a single demon blade, and her armor also turned into Magic Power and gathered there. Erza was now wearing only a wrap of bandages and a pair of shorts.
Zorn was startled by Erza's bearing and terrifying Magic Power, and he nodded inwardly. Erza had already reached the standard of an S-Class Mage, and had surpassed it by far.
He also gathered a powerful concentration of Magic Power in his hand. His already radiant Light Sword became even more formidable, and three defensive Holy Shield Magic spells rose before him.
"Come on, then. Show me your strongest strike." Smiling, Zorn made his preparations and gestured for Erza to attack.
"Ah!"
Erza gripped the blade with both hands and shouted. Her figure flashed and vanished from where she stood. When she reappeared, she was already behind Zorn, half-crouched and still holding her slashing stance. After holding it for a moment, the demon blade vanished, and she fell.
Zorn stood where he was. The instant Erza fell, the three defensive Holy Shields before him shattered, followed by his Light Sword coated in Armament Haki. His figure was cut in half, then vanished into particles of light.
When he reappeared, he was beside Erza, with a tear across the chest of his clothes. Zorn bent down and helped Erza, whose Magic Power was completely exhausted, to her feet.
"Did I fail?"
Seeing that her strongest strike had only torn Zorn's clothes, Erza couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. She thought that she had failed the exam after all, and that she still needed to work harder.
"Haha, you succeeded! Congratulations, you passed the exam. You're an S-Class Mage now." Seeing Erza's disappointment, Zorn laughed and congratulated her. "And your attack was strong. It's just that I'm stronger. Haha, take a look at how much damage you caused." As he spoke, Zorn turned Erza to one side, and only then did she see the scene behind him.
The trees behind him had all vanished in a clean sweep, leaving only bare ground, which had also been shaved down by a layer. On another island near Tenrou Island, a huge slash had split open a small portion of the island.
"Let's go. Everyone in Fairy Tail must be getting impatient." Supporting her, Zorn closed his eyes and sensed the campsite's location. Then, with a flash, he vanished from where he stood.
At the campsite, a golden magic circle appeared, and a moment later, two figures materialized. Seeing them, Cana ran over from nearby.
Zorn thought she was coming to welcome him and smiled, reaching out to embrace her. But Cana went past him and ran to Erza's side to check her injuries.
This left Zorn very sad.
To be continued~