The instant Gajeel opened his eyes, a fresh scent of grass and trees washed over him. He found himself in a dense forest, surrounded by towering trees that seemed to pierce the clouds. Their branches and leaves were lush, and sunlight streamed through the gaps, casting dappled shadows. The air was filled with the fragrance of earth and flowers, making even breathing feel lighter.
"Forest? That doesn't really suit my style."
Gajeel frowned and clenched his fists, feeling the flow of magic power within him. His gaze swept across the surroundings, and he soon noticed an open clearing ahead.
He strode toward the clearing. As he drew closer, the silhouette of a colossal creature gradually came into view.
It was a huge creature standing around three meters tall. Its head resembled a frog, its body was blue-green, and a massive red flower grew from its back. The flower had six petals covered in white spots, supported by a brown, trunk-like stalk. It looked as though a palm tree had grown on its back.
The moment Gajeel saw the colossal creature, he knew it had to be his exam opponent.
Gajeel stepped into the clearing. Venusaur seemed to sense his presence and slowly opened its red eyes. Their gazes met in midair, and a row of flickering words suddenly appeared before Gajeel:
Requirement: Defeat the Venusaur before you. Any move allowed. Time limit: one hour!
After the words vanished, a huge countdown appeared in the air, and the seconds began ticking away.
"Hmph. Just what I wanted." Gajeel let out a cold laugh as both his hands rapidly transformed into serrated Iron Dragon Swords, their blades gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
Venusaur was clearly enraged by Gajeel's expression. The flower on its back suddenly shook, and two thick vine