thebusnovel Chapter 334 Three-way standoff: Natsu vs. Lucy vs. Gray
Chapter 334 Three-way standoff: Natsu vs. Lucy vs. Gray
Chapter 334 Three-way standoff: Natsu vs. Lucy vs. Gray
The upper island of Sirius Tree, an open area where the tree roots are intertwined.
Inside the simple tent made of tree leaves, a stone platform stands with two long stone pillars extending from it, the middle of which shimmers with a faint golden light.
This is the end point of the second round of assessments, the grave of the first president, Mavis!
"Which team will be able to overpower everyone else, collect all the landmarks, and find this place? Or will they discover a loophole in the rules and be the first to arrive within the time limit? It's truly something to look forward to!"
Makarov sat cross-legged, quietly guarding the side of Mebis's grave, his eyes flashing with a rare hint of tension.
Although he was the chief examiner for this S-level assessment, he was also the head of the children's families, and naturally hoped that the participants could have outstanding performances, at least avoiding the disappointing situation of no one being promoted to the S-level last year.
"There's less than half the time left, we have to give it our all, you little rascals!"
Makarov glanced at the ever-flowing countdown magic screen and clenched his fist secretly.
Just as Lucy guessed, finding Mavis's grave beforehand without collecting all the landmarks was within the allowed range of passing the test.
While the ability to judge, execute, plan, and control complex environments is the main focus of this round of assessments, the ability to step outside the norm and address the essence of the problem from an unusual perspective is equally commendable.
The mages of Fairy Tail have always been free and should not be bound by superficial rules, accepted common sense, or rigid concepts.
Only in this way can one go further on the path of demonic cultivation!
Therefore, there are actually two passing criteria for the second round of assessment: either achieve the extreme that ordinary people cannot achieve within the norm, or break out of the norm and find the right direction.
As long as one of these conditions is met, one can be awarded the title of Guild S-Rank Mage!
drop.
Just then, the magic crystal on Makarov's wrist, used for internal communication within the assessment team, suddenly emitted a faint light.
"President, Lucy and Gray's team are heading your way, and their purpose is very clear," Charlotte's voice came from the other end.
As the observer and recorder for this assessment, her magic tablet displays the whereabouts of all the teams.
"Lucy and Gray—"
Makarov was somewhat surprised, not expecting these two to be the first to notice something amiss, and asked, "What about the other teams?"
"Kana is currently confronting Fried and Elfman; a fight is likely to break out soon."
From the air, Xia Lulu, observing the situation, reported truthfully, "Natsu's team is still at the southern road sign, but we don't know why."
They've been standing there for a long time, and haven't shown any intention of taking the road sign.
"Thank you for your hard work, I understand."
Makarov nodded slightly, severed the connection with the magic crystal, and looked up at the clear, cloudless sky.
Is it possible that this year's S-class mage will be decided between Lucy and Gray?
Just moments ago, Old Ma was worried that no one would advance, and now he's starting to worry about things he shouldn't.
It's not that I don't approve of Lucie Gray, it's just that whoever succeeds in advancing in the end is destined to cause a huge uproar within the guild.
The next few months are probably going to be anything but peaceful.
"The magical aura here seems even stronger than down below."
Lucy walked through the dense, tangled forest, carefully sensing the magical energy in the air.
"Time is running out, let's hurry and find the first president's grave," Eclair reminded them.
"Although I can't fly as far as Happy and Charlotte, Lucy, I can provide you with the necessary aerial vision^" Mengmeng waved her yellow wings and volunteered.
"Thank you, Mengmeng, but I have a more efficient way of finding burial plots on the island!"
Lucy smiled mysteriously, the golden key spinning between her fingers as she pulled it out. "Open, Virgo Gate, Valkyrie!"
ding dong~
A celestial spirit circle appeared, and Balrog, wearing iron chains and dressed as a maid, stepped out. She placed her right hand on her left breast and bowed slightly to Lucy: "Princess, you wanted to see me?"
"That's right, Baruka, please help me—"
Before she could finish speaking, Baruga interrupted her, "To whip my body with thorny vines in this desolate, dense forest—truly befitting a princess, a top-tier punishment indeed!"
The girl looked excited, her bright, sparkling eyes filled with longing.
Her aloof and mature demeanor upon her first appearance vanished instantly.
Eclair and Mengmeng exchanged a glance, then Eclair silently took half a step back and looked at Lucy with an incredibly strange gaze: I never thought you were this kind of person!
"No, that's not true!"
Lucy quickly jumped in, shattering the terrible images they were conjuring up, and turned to look at Baloo, who was still half-asleep, "Who would specifically ask you to do something so pointless?!"
"I understand, Princess. Just pretend it was unintentional." With a blank expression, Baluge silently handed over a thorny thorn.
"If it's unintentional, you're even less likely to do it!"
Lucy kicked the thorns away, "And besides, when did this thing end up in your hands?!"
"Good, good, Princess, please give me another kick!" Baloo raised her buttocks towards Lucy.
Seeing this, Eclair distanced herself even further from Mengmeng.
Lucy: "...—
After a righteous and eloquent explanation.
Baruga finally understood the current situation, turned around and burrowed underground, and began searching for the location of the first chairman's grave on the island atop the Sirius Tree.
Time passed slowly in the quiet waiting.
The climate on Tenrou Island was comparable to the sweltering heat. Just when Lucy, who was afraid of the heat, couldn't stand it anymore and wanted to find a place to take a bath, Baloo happened to return.
"Princess, we've found it. The place that looks like a cemetery is in the sunken basin in the center of the island." Baluge raised her hand and pointed out the exact location.
"Really? That's great!" Lucy's listless spirits instantly lifted.
Eclair looked curiously at the clean-looking maid, Barugo: After being underground for so long, she didn't even get a speck of dirt on her.
Magic is truly a wondrous thing.
"So, Princess, can you punish me now?" Baluga still couldn't forget about the whipping.
"I'm so grateful to you! Okay, okay, you can go back now~" Lucy said decisively, closing the door to Virgo without the slightest hesitation.
"Lucy seems like the kind of wicked woman who kicks you when you've served your purpose," Mengmeng muttered in place of Happy.
"In short, let's get going!"
Lucy, her thoughts already drifting to the advancement results screen, ignored everything and shouted with full enthusiasm, "S-rank mage, here I come!!"
"Solvadoraka!"
The sudden sound startled Lucy, who was about to take a step.
"Ice-Make Prison!"
Immediately afterwards, a cold current swept in from the side, freezing even the overgrown ground into an incredibly smooth ice surface.
The events happened so suddenly that Lucy and her two companions were trapped inside a solid ice cage before they could even react.
"Grey? Loki? What are you doing here?!" Lucy cried out in surprise, gripping the bars of the icy cage.
"Lucy, thank you for helping me find the right way to clear the level. I'll treat you to a drink when I become an S-class mage." Gray glided quickly across the ice.
"I'm sorry, Lucy, I promised Gray." Loki said apologetically.
"Who the hell would I ask you to buy me drinks? You actually followed us, how despicable! Coward, if you've got the guts, don't run away, let's have a one-on-one fight!" Lucy shouted.
"The S-level assessment is this cruel, isn't it? Blame it on your carelessness for not noticing us."
Gray, after all, was not Natsu. Instead of being provoked, he accelerated and rushed towards the First Generation Graveyard.
Just then, a burst of fire erupted from another direction.
"Motor! Motor! Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!!"
Natsu descended from the sky, and the explosive flames melted the ice, blocking Gray and Loki's path and forcing them to dodge.
This time it was Gray and Loki's turn to be shocked: "Natsu? What are you doing here?"
Fried and the others were all killed?
No, he doesn't have the beam of light that the road sign stone has!
"Ah~ The first president was such a kind person, he told us the location of the cemetery as soon as we asked~" Happy flew down from mid-air.
"The original told you that? This is already a foul!" Gray immediately retorted.
"Wait, wait a minute, is this a priority?"
Loki's lips twitched, somewhat incredulous that Gray could seamlessly continue the conversation.
The First Generation, who had been asleep for who knows how many years, took the initiative to reveal the location of his tomb?
Even the Protoss found this situation rather horrifying.
"I should be the one saying that! You bastard Gray and you bastard Loki, what are you doing here?!" Natsu shouted.
"Those two despicable bastards followed us here!"
Lucy, freed from the ice prison, quickly caught up, glaring angrily at Gray and Loki.
"Yo, golden retriever, you're here too." Natsu's expression instantly changed.
With his exceptionally keen sense of smell, he naturally had already detected Lucy's fragrance.
"What kind of lousy nickname is 'Golden Hair'!" Lucy snapped.
"Congratulations, Lucy, you've officially been recognized by Natsu as a worthy opponent." Happy explained, spreading his paws.
Lucy: "Is this something to be honored about?!"
"But I really didn't expect the second round of assessments to turn out like this."
Gray strode out, his battle-ready gaze sweeping over Natsu and Lucy. "Enough talk, let's settle this!"
As he finished speaking, he clasped his hands together, assuming an ice-themed activation pose, his body enveloped in icy aura.
Since the old man hasn't announced that Natsu has lost his eligibility for the assessment, it means that he is still his competitor.
In the current three-way standoff, it's definitely impossible to bypass the other two and "steal the base," and there's no time to do so either.
"Will an S-class mage be born from the strongest team? Hehe, I'm getting excited!"
Natsu was not to be outdone; his surging magical power erupted from his body as flames, spewing out waves of heat.
"Bring it on, you two!"
Influenced by the two men's imposing presence, Lucy, unusually, felt a surge of excitement and drew her Star River Whip from her waist.
boom!
Three powerful magical forces, each occupying a corner of the area, collided remotely, stirring up gusts of wind and creating a tense and imminent atmosphere.
At this moment, there are only ten minutes left before the end of the S-level assessment!