The Upcoming S-Class Examination

Year 778

It had been over a year since Qian Guang and the other three joined Fairy Tail. So far, only Qian Guang had been allowed to take jobs; the guild master had refused the others on the grounds that they were too young.

Given Qian Guang's personality, he would not have wanted to take jobs as long as he was not short on money. But at the beginning of 778, Porlyusica had thrown him out and told Makarov:

"Either he goes, or I go!"

Damn old man and old lady!

With no other choice, Qian Guang began his career as a job-taker. Though they were called jobs, they were really just disguised sightseeing trips—gathering herbs, treating patients, getting into fights. Life was quite comfortable.

However, two months ago, that situation changed. There were fewer jobs on the request board—or rather, there were not fewer jobs. Everyone had simply suddenly become more diligent.

At the root of it all was that workaholic Laxus! He did not rest at all, taking jobs one after another. If he had been allowed to accept a whole pile of jobs at once, he probably would not have come back at all.

Guild

Several little brats who could not take jobs sat at the bar with the guild master, watching everyone scramble for requests on the job board.

"Hey, why is everyone so motivated? Is everyone short on money?" Lisanna asked the guild master as she looked at the pitifully sparse request board.

"Hehehe, I know. This has something to do with everyone's examination," Cana said with a mysterious smile, being the oldest among the little brats.

"What examination? Tell us, tell us!" Natsu was excited. He was the one who wanted to take jobs the most.

"Huh!"

Mirajane and Erza looked over as well. Both of them were already very strong, but the guild master felt that letting either of them out would cause major trouble. He had fooled them into waiting until next year by saying this year was almost over.

"Oh, the S-Class examination. They're doing this for the S-Class examination." The drunken guild master directly revealed the mystery.

"Guild Master! I was supposed to say it!" Cana was unhappy. She had finally gotten a chance to act like an elder.

"Hahahaha, sorry."

"Grandpa! What's S-Class?" Natsu fired up. Even though he knew nothing about it, he thought it sounded cool.

"Oh~ See the second floor? There's another request board up there, but the jobs on it are Ten-Year and Hundred-Year Jobs. Only S-Class mages can accept those, so you can't go up there until you become S-Class. Especially you, Natsu." The guild master warned the eager Natsu, then casually punched him too. No reason—it just felt good.

"All right, I'm definitely becoming an S-Class mage!" Natsu climbed back up, burning with determination once more.

"Hah, I'll become S-Class before you!" Gray refused to be outdone.

"Give it a rest, you snot-nosed little crybabies. I haven't even said anything yet," Mirajane mocked them.

"Mirajane, you're going too far. I'll definitely be the first one to become S-Class." Erza looked completely serious.

"Hah, go die, red-haired poser."

"Go die!"

The little brats' group battle began again, while Makarov continued watching with a drunken grin.

Boom! Boom!

Suddenly, the request board exploded.

Laxus and Qian Guang, one big and one small, had started clashing auras again. The two of them grabbed the same request and confronted each other.

"Hey, as a senior, shouldn't you give way to your junior, you blond bastard?"

"Hah? Little brats should be drinking milk at the bar. Besides, I'm definitely becoming S-Class!"

The two of them were practically natural enemies. They had actually started arguing over a job with a meager reward.

"Bastards! Neither of you is taking that job! And fix the request board!" A huge fist sent both of them flying. "Honestly, you never let this old man have any peace of mind."

Just as the guild was in chaos, an announcement rang out. "Magnolia will soon shift into Gildarts Mode. All citizens, please proceed to designated locations as quickly as possible."

"What's Gildarts Mode?" Lisanna tilted her head. She had never heard of such a mode.

Laxus stopped arguing with Qian Guang as well. Clicking his tongue, he went to get a drink. "Didn't think that old man would be back too."

The moment Cana heard the announcement, she stiffened awkwardly in her chair. But everyone was too curious about Gildarts Mode to notice. Only the guild master gave her a deep look.

Curious, Qian Guang opened the door and looked outside. What he saw made him wonder whether this world's technology was being used in some very strange ways. ‼(•''╻''•)꒳ᵒ꒳ᵎᵎᵎ

The town split into square sections, and those sections continuously shifted until a clear path from the guild to the town gates had been opened.

A red-haired, scruffy-bearded man appeared in everyone's sight, rubbing his hair with an embarrassed expression.

As the figure drew closer, the guild master became increasingly nervous.

"Hey, everyone! Long time no see!" The man greeted them cheerfully and strode toward the guild.

"You idiot!!!"

"The door's over there!"

Bang

The guild master was still too late. A huge hole instantly opened in the guild wall.

"Ahahahaha, sorry. I didn't notice." Gildarts awkwardly laughed as he rubbed his greasy red hair.

Gildarts, currently Fairy Tail's only S-Class mage, usually took 10-Year Quests and only returned after a very long time.

"Honestly, none of you ever let anyone relax."

"Oh! Gildarts, how was the 10-Year Quest?"

"Did you bring back any souvenirs?"

Everyone was delighted to see Gildarts again. After all, they might not see him even once a year.

"Yo, Gildarts!" Natsu happily pounced on him, taking the opportunity to show off his Happy!

"Oh! A cat with wings! That's amazing!" Gildarts instantly made a foolish face. Hot-blooded protagonists really did come with an intelligence-reducing aura.

Meanwhile, Mirajane felt a little uneasy. She did not know Gildarts. When Qian Guang and the others had arrived, Gildarts had just left on a 10-Year Quest. But her instincts told her this man was terrifying—far more terrifying than anyone she had ever seen.

"Oh, long time no see, Cana. You've gotten prettier. Hey, Gray, you're not wearing clothes again." Gildarts ruffled Cana's hair and laughed heartily.

Qian Guang watched Cana's blissful expression and felt that this idiot uncle really was dense. In the original story, Cana had always wanted to tell him.

Qian Guang assessed Fairy Tail's current strongest man. In terms of magic power, he truly was a monster—at least far stronger than that aged Wizard Saint.

Gildarts, who was getting acquainted with Mirajane and remarking on how the guild had gained a few more cute little brats, sensed Qian Guang's gaze. After all, Qian Guang had not hidden it.

Gildarts turned toward the source of that gaze: a black-haired, straight-haired little brat studying Laxus's headphones.

"Yo, Laxus, long time no see. Have you started babysitting now?" Gildarts teased Laxus first. To him, Laxus was still a little brat too. Unfortunately, that shoebox brat was no longer as cute as before. Back then, Gildarts could still trick him into barking like a dog.

"Who wants to babysit him?!"

"Who wants him babysitting me?!"

The two of them clicked their tongues and immediately retorted.

"Ah, I see. Didn't expect Laxus to have a rival too. Nice. You're a scary little brat, aren't you? Hello, kid. I'm Gildarts." Gildarts did not mind in the slightest and greeted Qian Guang with a grin.

"Hello, Uncle. I'm Qian Guang. Mirajane and I are currently living together." Qian Guang solemnly introduced himself.

"Huh, so mature already?" Gildarts felt misunderstood. He clearly liked well-endowed older women, not little girls! They had only just met, and this kid was already declaring ownership.

"Go die!" Unfortunately, a certain white-haired demon had extremely sharp ears, and a size thirty-two shoe intimately met his face once again.

"You don't need to come back tonight!" Mirajane did not deny it either, since everyone in the guild knew the four of them lived together.

"Hahahahahaha, it's still as lively as ever!"

"All right! Let's have a party!"

"Yeah!!!"

"Quiet!" Makarov stopped the guild members, who were about to start some inexplicable party.

The guild instantly fell silent, and everyone looked toward the guild master.

"Since Gildarts is back, no one will be taking jobs. Over the next few days, prepare for the announcement of the S-Class examination candidates!"

"Yeah!"

Everyone looked fired up. This was a major event, after all.

"Now then, let the party welcoming Gildarts home begin!" The guild master suddenly raised his cup.

"Yeah!!!" The guild instantly erupted.

Three days later, at the guild

A massive notice board appeared inside the guild.

"Ahem. I will now announce the S-Class examination candidates!" The guild master looked seriously at everyone below him.

"There are two participants in this S-Class examination. They are..."

"Laxus Dreyar!"

"Yeah!!!"

Laxus snorted when he saw his name, but the smile at the corner of his mouth gave him away.

"Qian Guang Meredith!"

"Yeah!!!"

"That's amazing, Brother Qian Guang!" Lisanna immediately threw herself onto Qian Guang.

"Just don't lose like last time." Mirajane turned her head aside, though she was happy for him too.

"Of course." Qian Guang smiled.

Qian Guang and Laxus looked at each other, both wearing cruel smiles.

"This time, I'll definitely become S-Class!" ×2

"This examination will take place in El Canyon! Gildarts will serve as the examiner! You'll be told the contents when you get there. Go by yourselves; everyone else waits here."

"Huh? Why's it like that?"

"I wanted to watch. Last time, I didn't get to see them fight either."

. Provided by the author Qianwei's Fairy Tail: Starting with Dual God's Might