Promotion Trial

The blue sea churned with waves.

A lone island stood between the sea and sky.

The island was thick with vegetation and rugged with jagged rocks. From time to time, the heart-stopping roars of beasts rang out.

This was Tenrou Island, the site of the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial.

As the sacred ground of the Fairy Tail guild, it was not only rich in magic but also hid countless unknown dangers.

At that moment, Lu Chongwei stood in a dense forest, holding a map made of parchment.

"The rules are simple."

Makarov's words from before their departure echoed in his mind.

"Hidden across this island are 20 tokens engraved with the Fairy Tail Mark."

"Before sunset, you need to find as many of them as you can."

"The first person to collect 12 tokens will qualify for the next round."

"And the next round is to face Gildarts and last ten minutes against him, or earn his approval."

Lu Chongwei put away the map and scanned the bushes around him.

"Twenty tokens. Whoever gets 12 first wins."

"In other words, this is both a race and a contest to seize them."

He and Laxus had been dropped off at opposite ends of the island.

But that didn't mean they wouldn't meet.

On the contrary, as the number of tokens dwindled, it was inevitable that they would run into each other.

"I've found four so far."

Lu Chongwei patted the satchel at his waist. Several crisp clinks came from inside.

All four tokens had been hidden in hard-to-find places. Some were in birds' nests on sheer cliffs, some at the bottom of deep pools, and one had even been hidden inside the mouth of a giant Venus flytrap.

"Eight more to go."

Lu Chongwei took a deep breath and instantly spread his Observation Haki, covering an area several hundred meters around him.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, his eyebrows lifted.

He sensed a strong magical presence in a cave not far ahead.

And beside that magical presence, a faint glimmer belonging to a token was shining.

"The fifth one. Found it."

Lu Chongwei smiled slightly, then vanished from where he stood in a flash.

A moment later.

"Roar!!!"

A deafening roar erupted from the cave.

Immediately afterward, a massive bear covered in rocky armor charged out.

The beast had clearly been enraged. Its eyes were bloodshot as it swung its enormous paws, trying to crush the little bug who had disturbed its sleep.

"Quit roaring. You're annoying."

Lu Chongwei stood at the cave entrance, one hand gripping his sword hilt.

"Nadeshiko."

A flash of cold light streaked past.

The giant bear froze in place.

The next second.

A thin crack appeared in its hard, rocky armor.

"Boom!"

The bear's massive body crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Lu Chongwei walked forward and pried a golden token from a crack in the rocks behind the bear.

"The fifth one. Got it."

He blew the dust off the token and tossed it into his bag.

But just then.

A golden bolt of lightning suddenly streaked across the sky.

"Bzzzt—"

The sound of electricity crackling came from nearby.

Lu Chongwei looked up and saw Laxus standing on the crown of a towering tree, toying with a big handful of tokens as he watched him with a mocking expression.

"Well, well, Lu Chongwei."

Laxus looked down at him, his eyes full of provocation.

"You're awfully slow. You've only found a few?"

Lu Chongwei narrowed his eyes and looked at Laxus's hand.

At a glance, there were no fewer than eight tokens!

"Did you turn on wallhacks or something?"

Lu Chongwei couldn't help but quip.

He'd worked hard, fighting monsters and crawling through caves, just to find five tokens. And this guy had already gotten eight?

"Hmph. That's what you get with skill and luck."

Laxus sneered, tossing the eight tokens into the air before catching them again. They clattered together.

"Some things are just lying by the side of the road. It'd be harder not to pick them up."

"Just lying by the side of the road?"

Lu Chongwei's mouth twitched.

What kind of absurdly lucky streak was this?

Still, he quickly regained his composure.

The situation was clear now.

Lu Chongwei had five tokens, while Laxus had eight.

That made thirteen altogether.

Only seven tokens remained on the island.

In other words, even if Lu Chongwei found all seven, he would only have twelve—just enough to pass.

But Laxus would never give him the chance.

And if they wanted to end the trial as quickly as possible, there was only one way—

Steal!

If he took the tokens from his opponent, he could reach twelve in an instant!

They had both clearly thought of it.

The atmosphere instantly grew tense.

Laxus took off the headphones around his neck and casually hung them on a branch.

"Bzzzt..."

Wild golden lightning began to dance across his body. His hair stood on end, and he radiated an aura of destruction.

"Lu Chongwei, stop wasting time looking for the rest."

Laxus rolled his neck with a series of sharp cracks.

"Hand over the five you've got, and I'll let you lose with some dignity."

Lu Chongwei smiled.

He slowly drew the Zanpakuto at his waist. The blade quivered slightly, and a scorching aura began to spread.

"Funny, I was just thinking that looking for things is a hassle."

"Since you've collected them for me, I'll gladly take them off your hands."

"Boom!"

Two immense torrents of magic erupted at once.

On one side, raging lightning ionized the surrounding air with a crackle.

On the other, scorching flames instantly withered and curled the surrounding plants.

Red and yellow light collided in the air, sending countless sparks flying.

Meanwhile.

In the central region of Tenrou Island.

Makarov and Gildarts sat on a huge boulder, with a giant Magic Crystal screen floating before them.

The screen showed Lu Chongwei and Laxus facing off.

"They've already met?"

Gildarts took a swig of his drink, excitement flickering in his eyes.

"Even faster than I expected."

Makarov watched the two on the screen, his expression conflicted.

"Laxus..."

Makarov sighed, his brows drawing together.

"He really is strong. You could even say he's one of the best of his generation."

"But he's too impatient and too proud."

"He's desperate to prove himself and shed the label of 'Makarov's grandson.' That's become his own inner demon."

As he spoke, Makarov turned to Lu Chongwei on the other side.

The black-haired young man remained calm and composed, even as Laxus confronted him with overwhelming force.

That composure, that confidence, wasn't an act. It came from having absolute control over his own strength.

"By comparison, I have more faith in Lu Chongwei."

Makarov spoke frankly.

"The boy may seem lazy most of the time, but his resolve is stronger than anyone's."

"And he knows to respect power, and how to control it."

Gildarts raised an eyebrow and glanced at Makarov in surprise.

"Oh? Old man, are you putting the guild before family?"

"You don't want your own grandson to win?"

Makarov snorted, his mustache twitching.

"There's no family favoritism in a guild trial."

"Besides..."

Makarov looked at Laxus on the screen, his body wreathed in lightning and his face full of arrogance. A hint of pain flickered in his eyes.

"If he keeps having everything go his way, he's bound to get into serious trouble sooner or later."

"Sometimes, a crushing defeat can help him grow faster."

As the two were talking.

On the screen.

A gust of wind blew past, sending a pebble tumbling into the air.

It spun as it fell slowly.

The instant the pebble touched the ground.

"Snap."

A soft click.

Like the sound of a starting pistol.

The two figures on the screen vanished at the same time!

"Boom!!!"

A thunderous roar erupted through the forest.

Countless trees snapped in half, and clouds of dust billowed into the sky.

The battle had begun!