"No, I just think you're stupid."
Noah dismissed Sorano's complaint and once again released a torrent of magic power. The oppressive aura surged outward like a storm, nearly blowing Erza and the others off their feet.
Even outside the protective barrier, the guild members felt the crushing pressure intensify. Though they were far away, many of the weaker mages trembled uncontrollably.
Ultear's magic flared as she raised her hands, calmly shielding the guild from the waves of power. The pressure around them lifted slightly, and the crowd let out a collective sigh of relief, murmuring their gratitude to her.
Makarov had been preparing to intervene himself, but seeing Ultear handle it so effortlessly, he relaxed and pulled back though his eyes stayed sharp, ready to step in if she faltered.
But Ultear withstood it completely. Watching her, Makarov couldn't help but smile.
Noah had grown frighteningly strong. Ultear too was improving at a rapid pace. Add to that active S-Class wizards like Gildarts, Ur, and Laxus… along with the five current exam challengers, the fiery Natsu, the steady Gray, the promising Kagura, and the younger prodigies Wendy and Yukino Fairy Tail's future shone brilliantly before his eyes.
The old master's smile widened, his eyes glimmering with pride at the thought.
Ultear noticed his distracted expression, shook her head faintly, and ignored him, focusing on maintaining her barrier.
Meanwhile, in the arena, Noah sat within the golden giant's head, pouring out magic pressure in every direction. Erza and the others felt their magic power and stamina draining rapidly just from withstanding it. The suffocating aura pressed on their spirits like an invisible mountain.
The giant loomed above them, radiating killing intent so real it made their hearts quake. Breath caught in their throats. Their bodies trembled. An instinct screamed at them to run.
Noah merely watched in silence, observing how they chose to respond.
Erza took deep breaths, forcing down the terror clawing at her chest. She knew that if she did nothing, she'd soon collapse from exhaustion without Noah needing to move at all. Her eyes sharpened. That outcome was unacceptable. Even if the gulf between them was vast, she refused to give in. She would fight, no matter how impossible. Becoming an S-Class wizard was a step she could not afford to let slip away.
Glancing at her companions, she saw the same look mirrored in their eyes. Fear lingered, yes but stronger still was determination. None of them would surrender. All of them would push forward.
Their gazes met, and without words, they confirmed it.
"AAAAAHHHHH!"
They roared together, forcing down their fear and calling up every last ounce of magic within them. Their auras blazed defiantly, five small reefs resisting the overwhelming waves of Noah's storm.
"Very good!"
Noah's eyes lit with satisfaction.
Under crushing pressure, staring into the shadow of death even knowing they would not truly die it still demanded iron will to hold their ground. To keep moving forward despite that fear was the proof he sought.
Their choice pleased him greatly. It showed they had the courage to forge their own path, no matter the odds. That determination would serve them well, fueling their future growth in magic and strength.
At last, the five gathered all their remaining power and unleashed their final, strongest strikes.
"Requip: Lightning Empress Armor! Lightning Spear!"
Erza donned armor of pale green etched with thunder patterns. A glowing spear crackled in her hand, forged from her entire remaining magic. With a thrust, she hurled it like a lightning bolt aimed directly at Noah within the giant's head.
"Soul Extinction!"
Mirajane gathered her full demonic power, condensing it into a mass of dark energy that pulsed with destructive force. With a mighty swing, she launched it, an overwhelming wave of darkness crashing toward Noah.
"Ice-Make: White Dragon!"
Lyon poured every drop of his strength into shaping an enormous white dragon of ice. It bellowed as it charged across the battlefield, rushing Noah at full speed.
"Angel of Victory: Barachiel!"
Sorano summoned the Angel of Victory, unleashing its full dark magic to strike at Noah.
"Dark Spiral!"
Simon gathered every last drop of his strength, compressing the darkness in his hands until it nearly burst out of control. With a roar, he released it, sending the spiraling torrent straight toward Noah.
Inside the golden giant's head, Noah watched the five incoming attacks with calm eyes.
He even had time to think. First, he recalled the aura of pressure he had been releasing, letting it fade away.
Then he raised his hand. The golden giant mirrored him, raising its own hand. A massive golden shield appeared, condensed entirely from compressed light, completely covering the giant's upper body.
The five attacks struck all at once.
Boom!
A massive explosion ripped across the battlefield. Smoke and dust billowed upward, engulfing the giant's entire upper body.
Though they doubted whether their magic could truly defeat Susanoo, Erza and the others still stared into the haze with grim determination. What if… just maybe?
A powerful gust of wind swept through, blowing away the smoke.
The golden shield emerged into view, covered in deep cracks.
Their hearts leapt.
Their combined strike had worked. Even if the shield still stood, it had been damaged. That alone was enough it proved their strength could reach Noah, however faintly. To have no effect at all would have been crushing.
Noah looked down at the cracked shield. He had not held back in forming it. For them to inflict this kind of damage, even together, was impressive.
With a thought, the golden giant's shield dissipated into sparks of light.
Erza and the others immediately tensed, fear prickling in their chests.
A huge golden sword appeared in its hand. Noah's voice resounded through the construct, steady and calm:
"Now, it's my turn to attack."
Their stomachs clenched. They had exhausted their reserves of magic power. No strength remained to defend.
The golden giant swung.
The colossal blade howled through the air as it descended.
Noah had carefully calculated his strength. The strike wasn't intended to kill only to test. The massive sword slammed into them like a wall of force, sending them flying.
Erza, Mirajane, Lyon, Simon, and Sorano were struck one after another, each blow equal in strength, each landing in the same spot. Noah had judged them fairly.
They soared dozens of meters through the air before crashing down, rolling across the ground several times before finally coming to a stop.
The giant of light dissipated, fading back into motes of energy.
Noah descended slowly from above, his feet touching the ground as he began walking toward the five fallen mages.
....
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