Assessment Underway (Part Two)

While Old Suo and the others were busy with their promotion assessments, the Heartfilia Family was also in a state of chaos.

"Leila, are you really going to do this?" (Jude)

"Um!"

"But... (Jude)"

"I know it's dangerous to do this, but that's why I'm doing it, because I don't want that danger to fall on Lucy."

Upon hearing his wife's explanation, Jude was speechless for a moment.

"Alright, you don't need to worry so much. Lord Sordil will come to my aid, nothing will happen!"

Seeing that the situation was beyond redemption, Jude instantly changed his stance and began to consider how to help his wife complete the task as soon as possible.

"Since you've decided to do this, I'll immediately send people to collect the keys."

"Jude, thank you!"

"Hmph! If you really want to thank me, hurry up and finish this matter, then come back safe and sound."

"Okay, I promise you!"

After the couple reached an agreement, they shared a loving hug.

"Master Jude, outside... Waaah!"

After realizing the situation, Solydio quickly covered his mouth and then slowly retreated out of the room.

"Solydio, what were you trying to say? (Jude)"

Upon hearing the person in question call his name, Solydio stopped and said awkwardly, "Lord Jude, some mages have arrived outside, saying they were invited by you."

"That's right, I sent them. Bring them in quickly."

"Yes!"

After Solydio bowed and left the room, Leila said in surprise, "You..."

"Heh! With all that commotion you've caused, how could you possibly hide it from me!"

"You... Humph! I'm ignoring you!"

After saying that, the blonde beauty turned around as quickly as possible, then walked out of the room with a blush on her face.

"Hehe! I didn't expect you to still be so thin-skinned after all this time!"

After finishing his reflections, Boss Jude tidied his appearance and then sat quietly in his chair, waiting for the guests to arrive.

Ningguang City, on a certain cliff

Looking at the bottomless darkness before him, Gildarts asked the person beside him, "Are we really going to choose this place?"

"This is the only place around here that meets the standards; the other places are too difficult for them."

As he spoke, Old Suo handed the map in his hand to Gildarts.

After taking the map, Gildarts quickly glanced at it and then nodded, saying, "Judging from this map, this is indeed the only suitable place for the assessment, but I'm still worried that they might get hurt."

"Don't worry, with the two of us watching over you, nothing will happen!"

"That's true!"

"Alright, let's stop wasting time and get started on setting it up!"

"Clear!"

After saying that, the two men slung one of their large backpacks over their shoulders and began working up and down the cliff.

"I never expected you to choose me as your partner. I thought you'd definitely choose Kana!" (Gray)

"Hehe! I wanted to choose her too, but she ran away too fast, and then she stayed in the girls' dormitory and wouldn't come out. What could I do?"

After venting his frustrations in his mind, Laxus smiled and said, "Actually, I think you're stronger Kana!"

"Hehe! Thanks a lot!"

"You rest here for a while, I'm going to ask the chairman some questions."

"Good!"

With his companion's permission, Laxus stood up from his seat and walked toward the front of the carriage.

"Grandpa, where did Old Suo and Gildarts go? I haven't seen them."

Hearing his grandson's question, Makarov stroked his beard and said, "The two of them went to set up the examination venue, so they went ahead."

"You... you mean... the assessment location was chosen and arranged by them?"

"Yes, is there a problem?"

After calming his disordered breathing, the blond youth answered blankly, "No... nothing!"

"Heh! What could be the problem? At most, everyone will fail the test!" (Laxus's inner thoughts)

"If there are no problems, hurry back to your seat, the train is almost at its stop!" (Makarov)

"Oh~~"

Because Thunder Dragon was so frightened by the difficulty of the assessment that he lost his mind, he failed to grasp the important information hidden in the president's words and returned to his seat in a daze.

"Hiss!"

Half an hour later, a screeching sound filled the air, and then the slowly moving train came to a stop.

"Attention everyone participating in the advancement assessment, get off the bus immediately!"

As the guild leader's command rang out in the carriage, the guild members scattered throughout immediately got off the train with their luggage.

After everyone lined up under the command of the S-Class Mage, the president appeared on the roof of the carriage.

"Everyone, the promotion assessment officially begins from this second. The first test is called the Life-and-Death Sprint."

Upon hearing the name of the project, the crowd below began to discuss it amongst themselves.

"Wow! Did they have to be so direct?! (Macao)"

"Don't get excited, maybe it's just that the name is a bit scary! (Wakaba)"

"Ha! This assessment was designed by those two; do you think it will be easy? (Churchill)"

"Sigh! I've tried my best to slack off, how did I still end up in this mess! (Bohr)"

"Hmph! Unless you're as lazy as the Lazy God, you'll always lose to other lazybones! (Versailles)"

"Tch! What a coward, daring to mention Lord Sordil!" (Leena)

"Stop arguing, everyone, and listen to my explanation!"

After silencing the noise below, Makarov continued, "We are now on the border between the two countries. From here, you must walk to Ningguang City and complete the journey within one day, or you will be considered to have forfeited."

Upon hearing this, the crowd below revealed knowing smiles. However, before they could even regain their composure, a heavy bomb fell from the roof of the car, leaving them charred and disfigured.

"Oh, right! I forgot to tell you, for some reason, all trains to Fiore will be suspended for the next two weeks, and the border will be closed. Also, some rumors about you have already spread in the Erus Empire, so don't even think about slacking off!"

"Guild Master, what rumors have you spread? (Rexar)"

"Oh, it's nothing, it's just that a group of Fiore mages are going to assassinate His Majesty the Emperor!"

"Snap!"

After Makarov finished speaking, a series of sounds of bones dislocating rang out below, and then a chin-shaped rug appeared on the platform.

"Alright, good luck to you!"

After speaking, Makarov led the S-Class Mage into the moving train, leaving behind only eighteen ice sculptures with snot running down their noses in the cold wind.

Although Laxus and his companions were somewhat prepared, they still underestimated His Majesty the Emperor's importance. As a result, not long after they left the train, they were discovered and surrounded by the general public.

"That's right, these are the guys who tried to assassinate His Majesty! Folks, take them down!"

"Charge!"

"Surround them, don't let them escape!"

"Oh~~"

Seeing the massive crowd surging towards them, the legs of the eighteen people suddenly went weak, and they almost collapsed to the ground.

"I said... what should we do now?" (Pukins)

"What else can we do but run? (Bohr)"

After saying that, Earthwalking Sun Bohr immediately escaped underground.

Looking at the ground restored to its original state, Rexar exclaimed, "Damn it! How disloyal!"

"You all continue your discussion here, I'll be going now!" (Leena)

"Damn it! Leena, why are you all like this too?! (Versailles)"

"Hehe! Have you forgotten that we're still undergoing assessments? (Leena)"

"Whoosh!"

"Boom!"

Just as Versailles and the others were about to explode with anger, beams of light rose in the distance, and their resentment instantly turned into relief.

"It's dangerous at high altitudes, let's just break out from the ground!" (Laxus)

"Mmm-hmm!" (Everyone)

"Everyone, although we're currently undergoing an assessment, we must remain united; otherwise, we'll never be able to leave here. (Wakaba)"

"That's right!" (Everyone)

"I'll first use lightning to slow them down, then Wakaba will release a smokescreen to obscure their vision, and you all can take the opportunity to create an opening. (Laxus)"

"Agreed!" (Everyone)

After the battle plan was approved, Laxus and Wakaba began to accumulate magic power, while the others looked around, trying to find a weak point in the encirclement.

"Raging Volt!"

"The Smoke Screen!"

"Bilibili!"

"Hiss!"

As the smoke and lightning appeared in the air, several shouts rang out from the crowd that had gathered.

"Everyone be careful, they're trying to break through in the chaos!"

"Rock, Earth, and Wind mages, step forward and set up defenses. The rest of you, deploy your battle formation."

"Everyone, please maintain proper spacing and avoid leaving any gaps!"

Looking at the orderly crowd, Laxus and the others felt a chill run down their spines.

"Holy crap! That's terrifying!" (Churchill)

"Heh! No wonder the Erus Empire was able to unify the continent; their combat skills are practically comparable to a professional army!" (Macao)

"I don't care about that right now; I just want to know if we can survive until the end of the assessment." (Pukins)

After the rough voice fell, the several people gathered nearby all lowered their heads helplessly.

"Once the arrow is released, there's no turning back; we have no choice but to press on!" (Laxus)

"Hurry up! (Wakaba)"

Upon hearing the orders from the two main attackers, the stunned group quickly snapped out of their daze and rushed toward the previously discovered weak point.

"Whoosh"

Just as Laxus and his men had reached halfway, a whooshing sound came from all around them, and then the smoke covering their movement vanished.

"Combined attack magic?! (Pukins)"

"Are you kidding me? Are these people really just ordinary residents? (Rexar)"

"I'd heard long ago that the Erus Empire had popularized magic, but I never imagined it would achieve such terrifying results!" (Churchill)

"Ha! I don't know how well they've done, but I know we're in big trouble!" (Laxus)