"Hmm... Juvia wants to withdraw from this exam." Juvia suddenly spoke.
"Huh? Why?" Wendy was startled.
Everyone in the Guild really wanted to get a spot in the exam, so why would Juvia want to withdraw?
"Because I want to be... because... Juvia wants to..."
Lucy whispered to Gray, "Because she wants to be your partner."
"Huh?"
Juvia shouted, "I knew it! So you're following him! Lucy!"
Lucy quickly waved her hands. "No... I'm not..."
Ever since Juvia joined the Guild, she had regarded Lucy as her love rival. Lucy had no such thoughts at all, but Juvia, as a woman, knew her feelings weren't wrong. Gray did have some interest in Lucy.
"Sorry, I've already decided on my partner."
Just then, a figure appeared beside Gray. "Long time no see, everyone."
"Loke!!!"
The newcomer was indeed Loke, also known as the Celestial Spirit Leo.
"We made a promise last year. Whoever qualified for the S-Class trial, the other would be their partner." Gray said with a smile.
Back in the Guild, they were the best of friends. Who would have thought Loke was a Celestial Spirit?
"Sorry, Lucy, we'll have to cancel our contract during the exam. You don't have to worry, I've already created a gate to use my own magic, so I don't need you to disappear, nor will it consume your magic power."
Lucy was dumbfounded to hear this. "How casual are you?"
"But the rules say it has to be a Guild member." Elfman's pettiness flared up.
Loke unbuttoned his shirt, revealing the Fairy Tail emblem on his back. "I am still a Fairy Tail Mage. I will stake the Guild's honor to make Gray an S-Class Mage."
"I'm counting on you."
"Leave it to me."
The two exchanged deep gazes, brimming with camaraderie.
Gray looked at Juvia. "So this means you'll have to seriously defeat me. Let's have a fiery battle."
"Fi... fiery battle?"
Juvia's mind was already conjuring some inappropriate images.
Carla said, "Miss, don't be like that."
Lisanna said, "In that case, Juvia and I will team up."
Elfman was startled. "Are you serious, Lisanna?"
"Juvia and I were good friends when I was in Edolas, and this Juvia is quite cute, so it's decided."
"Wait! Lisanna! Who will be my partner then?!" Elfman panicked.
He hadn't expected his own sister to betray him and become someone else's partner. What was he supposed to do?
Lisanna pointed towards the bar, saying, "There's someone over there looking at you with a gaze that wants to turn you to stone."
Elfman looked over and saw Evergreen staring at him.
"Evergreen..."
Elfman was startled. He had just been severely beaten by Evergreen not long ago, and now seeing her was like a mouse seeing a cat.
"She seems to be angry that Freed chose Bickslow as his partner instead of her."
Over at the Team Shadow Gear.
"Levy got chosen! That's amazing! You might become an S-Class Mage!"
"Our Levy! S-Class Mage! So, I'll be your partner, right?"
"No way! I'm the one who's suitable to be Levy's partner!"
"My magic is better for combat!"
"But I'm faster than you!"
"Oh, is that your reason? You just chase Levy!"
...
Jet and Droy started arguing over who would be Levy's partner, which gave Levy a headache.
Just then, Gajeel appeared behind Levy. "If you really want to become an S-Class Mage, then I'll lend you a hand."
"Gajeel!"
Levy was very surprised to see Gajeel. She and Gajeel usually didn't interact much, and Gajeel's fierce eyes scared her, so she usually deliberately avoided him. She never expected Gajeel to suddenly come over and offer to help her.
Gajeel had no choice. All the elites in the Guild had gone to participate in the trial. If he didn't go, wouldn't it make him seem incapable?
Teaming up with Juvia would undoubtedly give Juvia the highest probability of becoming an S-Class Mage, but that would make him seem less impressive.
So the best way was to find someone not as strong and help them become an S-Class Mage, which would then make him appear very strong.
Levy said dejectedly, "I'm... small, and I don't have any particular strengths. I'll probably lose quickly."
Gajeel grabbed Levy.
"Ah! Let... let go of me!" Levy was startled and struggled quickly.
Gajeel said, "What's the use of saying such discouraging things before we even start? I'll make you very strong."
Levy stopped struggling upon hearing this.
Crack!
Jet and Droy knelt on the ground, dumbfounded.
"S-Class trial."
Takeshi sat in a chair, leaning against the counter, his elbows also resting on it, and took a light sip of wine.
"What? Feeling nostalgic?" Mirajane appeared behind Takeshi and asked.
"Hmm... yes. A year has passed in the blink of an eye."
He wasn't nostalgic, he was just recalling this plotline, and a sense of unease filled his heart.
Takeshi's memory of the S-Class trial plotline was relatively clear compared to others, because it was the first appearance of Acnologia, the ultimate boss of this anime, leaving an incredibly deep impression on him.
Acnologia easily toyed with everyone from Fairy Tail. All of them were powerless to resist. In the end, if it weren't for the First Guild Master Mavis using Fairy Sphere, an absolute defense super magic, to block Acnologia's roar, everyone from Fairy Tail might have died.
Thinking of facing Acnologia, for the first time, Takeshi felt both fear and excitement, which made him very conflicted.
To be honest, with his current status in Fairy Tail, he could easily propose changing the trial venue.
This could avoid direct contact with the Black Dragon Acnologia, but then he would completely lose control over the plot. He wasn't sure what consequences such an action would bring.
After much deliberation, he decided to let nature take its course. The existence of Dragon Slayers might have already attracted Acnologia's attention, and if they missed this trip to Tenrou Island, his sudden appearance next time would be unavoidable.
On the other hand, he also somewhat wanted to confront Acnologia and see how big the gap in strength between him and Acnologia was.