"What?! The S-Class Trial is temporarily suspended?!"
In the forest of Tenrou Island, all the members who had just passed the first phase of the exam stared in shock and confusion at the Guild Master, who had just announced the sudden halt.
Makarov looked gravely at everyone and solemnly declared what he had decided earlier:
"Tenrou Island has been targeted. Grimoire Heart is on their way here right now. We must prioritize dealing with the enemy."
"Grimoire Heart?" Lucy gasped, suddenly recalling information about this Dark Guild.
"Another member of the Balam Alliance?!"
Gray slammed his fist against a tree in frustration and roared, "Damn Dark Guild! How dare they trespass on our sacred ground!"
Natsu, who had earlier been traumatized into silence by Gildarts, had now regained his fiery spirit and shouted angrily.
"And what about our exam?! I was so close to becoming an S-Class Mage!"
The others also wore expressions of anger and frustration—all of which Makarov had anticipated. In a gentle tone, he comforted them:
"The results of the first phase will be kept for now. We will continue this exam another time."
As for how long "another time" would be… that was anyone's guess.
But the naive children didn't overthink it.
Hearing Makarov's words lifted their spirits, and they immediately declared with fierce determination to drive out the invaders!
Just then, dense thunderclaps suddenly roared from the gloomy sky, striking the very center of Tenrou Island.
Everyone instinctively furrowed their brows, simultaneously thinking of one person...
Laxus?
"It's Laxus lightning! The enemies have already landed on the island!"
Makarov's eyes widened as he stared toward the direction of the giant Tenrou Tree on the island.
He roared loudly, "All members, be on high alert! The war has begun!"
"Mirajane! Erza! Lead everyone to support Laxus at the Tenrou Tree! That is Grimoire Heart's main assault point!"
"I will rendezvous with Ankh and Gildarts to intercept Grimoire Heart's transportation ship!"
Erza and Mirajane, who had arrived shortly after the others, immediately nodded and led the examination teams, sprinting toward the central area of Tenrou Island.
Meanwhile, Makarov, filled with rage, expanded his body while emitting a blinding golden light.
Transforming into a giant, he charged madly toward the coastline with huge strides.
Erza and Mirajane led the group of fighters, swiftly heading toward the Tenrou Tree.
However, at that moment, numerous yellow, translucent spheres began drifting through the sky with the wind. Each was about human-sized, wobbling as they descended toward them.
Loke's eyes sharpened as he suddenly lunged forward while shouting.
"Dodge!"
Lucy was knocked to the ground by a sphere falling from the sky.
She watched helplessly as it cracked open right beside her, revealing a Grimoire Heart foot soldier wielding a large blade.
"Die!"
The member raised the large blade to strike down, but Loke pulled Lucy away at the critical moment, narrowly avoiding the fatal blow.
"Bastard!!"
Natsu flew into a rage, swinging his fist fiercely at the attacker and knocking him completely unconscious with a single punch.
But this was followed by even denser showers of descending and bursting spheres.
Squad after squad of cannon fodder emerged from the magical capsules, fearlessly charging at the Fairy Tail Mages.
The group's advance slowed, as they had to spare effort to deal with these surprise aerial troops.
"Ice-Make: Lance!"
Ice spears formed from the moisture in the air successively cleared out swathes of cannon fodder as Gray said with a dark expression.
"Dark Guild scum, how dare you cause such havoc in our sacred land!"
Elfman punched a soldier flying, roaring like a beast, "Damn it! Where are your executives?! Are you just sent here to die?!"
Cana raised her cards to lure enemies into traps once again.
Watching the increasing number of foes, she couldn't help frowning and called out to the two main combatants fighting ahead.
"Erza! Mirajane! Don't worry about us! The situation at the Tenrou Tree is urgent!"
Hearing this, Erza hesitated slightly while scanning the growing enemy numbers.
Gajeel smashed an enemy away and calmly stated.
"These are just weak cannon fodder. You two go ahead first! We'll catch up after cleaning up here!"
Upon hearing this, Erza and Mirajane exchanged glances and nodded.
The two women then activated their Magic, soaring into the sky and breaking through the encirclement with sparks and lightning, flying ahead.
Just then, even more intense screams erupted from the flank within the heavy encirclement.
Evergreen quickly looked in that direction, then exclaimed joyfully, "It's Freed and Bickslow!"
"Juvia and Lisanna are here too!" Elfman spotted his sister and immediately launched a fierce assault in their direction, joining forces with the group.
Gajeel noticed something unexpected... cats.
"Lily... and the she-cat, why did you secretly follow Wendy? Where is that Mest guy?"
Wendy said somewhat dejectedly, "When Mest-san heard about Grimoire Heart's arrival, he suddenly disappeared..."
Carla said irritably, "You're still concerned about him? He's a Council spy!"
"Spy?"
Gajeel, particularly sensitive to that word, froze for a moment.
At this time, Mest hadn't yet revealed the full extent of his Memory Magic, and everyone still considered him a true comrade.
Panther Lily skipped the pleasantries, urgently pointing at the sky and shouting, "Gajeel, take down that guy first! He is transporting soldiers!"
Gajeel's eyes narrowed as he looked at the figure streaking across the sky, riding a jetpack and scattering soldiers contained in spherical capsules.
From the back, it looked like... a goat?
Freed and Bickslow were already chasing him through the air.
Gajeel smirked coldly, extending his fist into an iron sword aimed directly at the goat-man in the sky, growling.
"Get down here!"
The extending Iron Dragon's Sword shot out like a crossbow bolt, shattering the goat's jetpack and sending him crashing down in the distance!
Bickslow exclaimed excitedly, "Well done, Gajeel!"
"He must be an executive! Let's finish him off!"
The two charged toward the strange goat-man together.
Just as Gajeel prepared to join them, a startled cry came from behind.
Levy's hair ribbon fluttered in the air as a Grimoire Heart member resembling a dog-headed human swung a katana, slicing through it and scattering her hair loose.
Nearby, a chicken-headed human opened its beak wide, aggressively spewing a series of explosive eggs that bombarded toward Levy's position.
Gajeel's pupils contracted.
He stomped the ground and rushed over at blinding speed, shielding Levy with his own body.
"Levy!"
"Gajeel!"
Their companions' worried voices rang out almost simultaneously.
After the bomb-like barrage, the smoke cleared.
Gajeel's back clothing was blown to shreds.
Levy lay on the ground, a trickle of blood seeping from her forehead that stained nearly half of her face.
Levy panted heavily, deeply shaken.
Her eyes were slightly reddened from fright as she stared blankly at Gajeel standing before her.
Lucy quickly ran over to support her, while Wendy urgently extended both hands, casting Sky Dragon Magic to heal Levy.
Gajeel's eyes turned ice-cold.
He saw the very distinct katana wound on Levy's forehead...
If Wendy hadn't been here, it might have become a permanent scar.
Gajeel didn't even understand why, but he felt as if a raging fire fueled by pure anger was erupting in his chest...
Abandoning his plan to challenge the executive, Gajeel turned around, his gaze frigidly fixed on the dog-chicken duo.
"Dragon Force mode."
A sinister whisper sounded as dark green Magic Power surged.
Dense, dark green Iron Dragon Scales began growing around Gajeel's cheeks and arms.
Gajeel formed his two Dragon Claws into an open cylinder, placing them before his mouth and unleashing a terrifying roar.
"DIE!!"
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