"Then I announce that this year's Fairy Tail S-Class Mage Trial has officially ended!"
"The person who passed the S-Class Mage Trial in X779 and obtained victory in this year's Fairy Tail Guild S-Class Mage Trial is August!"
Just as Evan and August were discussing the war between the Alvarez Empire and the continent of Ishgar, Makarov stood upon the high platform inside the guild and announced the end of Fairy Tail Guild's S-Class Mage Trial.
As Makarov announced the end of the exam, all the Mages inside the guild became dispirited.
"Lost again…"
Cana sat beside a table, with a jug, or more accurately, several barrels of good wine placed beside her.
Her expression carried a hint of melancholy. Regarding her failure in this year's S-Class Mage Trial, Cana felt exceptionally pained, yet not that pained.
After all, aside from her, Natsu, Gray, Lyon, and even Seilah, these companions who, like her, had participated in Fairy Tail Guild's S-Class Mage Trial two or even three times, not a single one had succeeded. They still firmly remained by her side. There were no traitors among them, and no traitors who betrayed the organization had appeared. Everyone took the exam together, then failed together…
Of course, this was not the most important thing. The most important thing was that Kagura, who had been selected as Fairy Tail Guild's number one seed for the S-Class Mage Trial for four consecutive years, unexpectedly had another accident this year as expected and still failed to pass Fairy Tail Guild's S-Class Mage Trial…
"My blade is still too dull!"
"It must become sharper, sharp enough to cut steel with steel, sharp enough to use the steel blade in my hand to cut down every enemy before me. Only then can I become a true expert. Before that, I am not worthy of receiving the title of S-Class Mage inside the guild…"
After Kagura heard Makarov announce the end of this year's Fairy Tail Guild S-Class Mage Trial, she recalled the scenes of her defeat to August, her eyes solemn.
Kagura did not feel depressed because of her failure this year. On the contrary, after witnessing August's strength, Kagura clearly realized her own shortcomings and became even more eager to try. With such a powerful monster inside the guild, Kagura was endlessly excited!
As for the failure of this year's trial, it was merely one year's failure. Next year, in next year's Fairy Tail Guild S-Class Mage Trial, she would certainly return, pass the trial openly and honorably, and become an honorable S-Class Mage of Fairy Tail Guild.
At this moment, Kagura's eyes burned brightly, her gaze flickering with fiery light. In her heart, she firmly believed that thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, do not bully a young girl for being poor!
"Besides that, aside from August, who displayed overwhelming strength in this year's S-Class Mage Trial, obtained victory, and was directly selected as an S-Class Mage! Among the examinees participating in the trial, there were also extremely outstanding Mages. I saw all of this, so I have decided to give one additional S-Class Mage slot outside of the winner, August…"
"And after careful consideration, this slot, given this year's examinee Sonya Animus's strong strength, will ultimately be given to Sonya Animus! In other words, this year, besides August, one more person in our guild will successfully pass the trial, and that person is Sonya Animus!"
Not long after Makarov announced the winner of this year's S-Class Mage Trial, he ultimately made a decision…
Makarov decided that aside from August, among the candidates for Fairy Tail Guild's S-Class Mages, he would add another extra slot for someone to pass this year's Fairy Tail S-Class Mage Trial and decided to grant this slot to Sonya Animus.
As for why Makarov granted Sonya Animus the identity of S-Class Mage, the answer was very simple…
It was only because the power Animus displayed had already far exceeded Makarov's expectations. Without a doubt, Animus was a pure monster!
In Makarov's view, even among Fairy Tail Guild's current active S-Class Mages, not many people would dare say they could certainly defeat Animus.
Including Makarov himself, he believed that he was absolutely not Animus's opponent. Makarov even suspected that his magic would not have much effect on Animus! After all, dragons all possessed incomparably powerful magic resistance…
As for Fairy Tail Guild's current active S-Class Mages, Laxus, Erza, Mirajane, Silver, Ur, Ultear, and the others were absolutely not opponents of the current Animus either.
After all, no matter how weakened Animus was, he was still a genuine dragon. Animus at his peak would not be weaker than the several dragons who crossed over from four hundred years ago to the royal capital after the Eclipse Gate opened at the end of the Grand Magic Games arc in the original work! With Animus's strength, dealing with ordinary Mages would be at a crushing level…
It was just extremely unfortunate that this year, Animus unfortunately encountered August, who was known as the King of Magic, the great Master of Chaos Magic Power! Yes, it was not that Animus was not strong, but that the Magic King August was too strong.
If peak-state Animus was definitely among the top ten in the current Fairy Tail Guild, then with Magic King August's strength, he could rank within the top five of Fairy Tail Guild…
Therefore, in the end, after thinking things over, Makarov still decided to grant Sonya Animus this year's Fairy Tail S-Class Mage position! If even a monster like Animus could not become an S-Class Mage of Fairy Tail Guild, then Fairy Tail would be far too competitive…
"This year's Fairy Tail Guild S-Class Mage positions really are Animus and August's!"
"There's no helping it. Those two fellows are simply monsters! Didn't you see their magic? When they released magic, the entire Fairy Tail Mage Guild, no, it should be said that the entire Magnolia Town was shaking…"
"And this was the terrifying commotion they caused while holding back their strength. Who knows what kind of terrifying impact these two monsters would cause if they went all out?!"
As Makarov announced the people promoted in this year's S-Class Mage Trial, the ordinary members inside Fairy Tail Guild also began chatting.
"It's just a bit of a pity for little Kagura~"
"With little Kagura's strength, she is completely capable of becoming an S-Class Mage…"
Macao looked at Kagura, who was silently staring at the katana in her hand, and scratched his cheek.
"That's true. I heard that the ace of the neighboring guild Quatro Cerberus, Bacchus, their guild's only current active S-Class Mage, got into a conflict with Kagura-chan during work, and then he was taken down by Kagura-chan. That guy Bacchus was violently beaten by Kagura, and afterward Kagura even thoughtfully sent Bacchus, who could not move, back to Quatro Cerberus Guild…"
Wakaba held a pipe in his mouth, the corners of his mouth slightly rising. Speaking of Kagura violently beating Bacchus, he was extremely happy. In Wakaba's view, Kagura had properly brought glory to their Fairy Tail Guild in this matter~
"And then even such a powerful Kagura-chan still cannot become an S-Class Mage in our Fairy Tail Guild…"
Macao lightly nodded while continuing after Wakaba's words.
"That's true, but just look at what kind of monsters our guild's S-Class Mages are…"
After hearing Macao's words, Wakaba's eyes twitched slightly. At the same time, his gaze turned toward the current active S-Class Mages inside Fairy Tail Guild standing on the guild's second floor.
"Uh…"
Macao followed Wakaba's line of sight. He looked at Evan, Erza, Mirajane, Laxus, Kurnugi, Silver, Ur, and Ultear, and the corners of his eyes twitched slightly.
Then Macao looked again at Gildarts, who was sitting at the bar drinking wine, as well as the newly promoted Fairy Tail Guild S-Class Mages, August and Animus…
Besides that, Macao also thought of Fairy Tail Guild's strongest Mages, Irene and Selene, who currently were not inside Fairy Tail Guild…
In the end, Macao helplessly shook his head.
"Our guild's S-Class Mage Trial is really too competitive…"
Macao sighed.
"Isn't that right?"
Wakaba nodded hard, affirming Macao's words.
If it were in other guilds, people like Wakaba and Macao would not necessarily have no chance of becoming S-Class Mages! In some smaller guilds, Wakaba and Macao might even directly become the guild's ace…
But inside Fairy Tail Guild…
Wakaba looked at Kagura, Seilah, Mystogan, Natsu, Gray, Lyon, and so on, these outstanding children with enormous talent who, if placed in other guilds, could absolutely become S-Class Mages, but in Fairy Tail Guild, year after year failed to pass the guild's S-Class Mage Trial, and helplessly sighed…
"Sigh…"
Along with a light sigh, Wakaba and Macao raised the wine cups before them and gently clinked them together.
Immediately afterward, carrying the helplessness of the two, they drank the wine in the cups in one gulp…
How should it be said? Wakaba and Macao's mentality was pain mixed with joy. Watching Fairy Tail Guild become stronger and stronger, as members of Fairy Tail Guild, Wakaba and Macao were naturally happy.
However, watching more and more monsters appear inside Fairy Tail Guild while they, as veterans of Fairy Tail Guild, were continuously surpassed by juniors, made Wakaba and Macao feel incomparably complicated.
However, Macao and Wakaba knew that this was only the beginning of Fairy Tail Guild's rise. As time passed, their Fairy Tail Guild would only become stronger and stronger. After all, their Fairy Tail Guild was far too competitive…
Competitive to what extent? Competitive to the point that the founders of their Fairy Tail Guild, each of whom were over a hundred years old and almost ready to enter the grave, were currently still active on the continent of Ishgar! Warrod, one of the founders of Fairy Tail Guild, was currently at the Magic Council, leading the light magic world as the Magic Council's chairman…
Precht, one of the founders of Fairy Tail Guild, rebuilt an entirely new Mage Guild outside of Fairy Tail. Its name was Grimoire Heart. This Mage Guild had an excellent style, and every member was a good person. At present, it possessed great fame on the continent of Ishgar and was even privately called by countless Mages of Ishgar the final conscience of Fairy Tail…
This was slander. This was naked slander. Among people who came from their Fairy Tail, not a single one possessed a conscience! Cough cough…
"This kind of victory is truly too embarrassing…"
At the same time, after Animus woke up and learned that he had been specially promoted by Makarov into Fairy Tail Guild's S-Class Mage, his brows tightly furrowed, and his eyes carried a hint of displeasure.
"..."
Sonya stayed beside Animus, remaining silent and not daring to say much.
"Today's defeat is a great humiliation for us. We, as dragons, were actually defeated by a mere human, and it was even a human who used non-Dragon Slayer Magic. If other dragons knew about this, it would be enough for them to mock us for a lifetime! So Sonya, listen carefully. The shame upon us must be washed away by ourselves! One day, we must personally defeat that human old man…"
Animus stood on Sonya's shoulder, his gaze incomparably solemn.
"I-I understand…"
Sonya lightly nodded, indicating that she understood Animus's words.
"It is good that you understand! However, that human old man named August is indeed very powerful. He is absolutely not an ordinary person! The magic power inside his body is incomparably special, belonging neither to darkness nor light, yet merging the characteristics of both darkness and light magic power! And it is precisely because the magic power inside his body is incomparably special that he can rely only on that overwhelming magic power, despite not being a Dragon Slayer Mage, to cause enormous damage to us…"
"If we want to defeat August, that old man, relying on either one of our powers alone will not be enough! For this reason, Sonya, we must combine the powers of the two of us. Starting today, you must work hard to temper the Dragon Slayer Magic I teach you, fully control this magic, and cultivate it to nearly great completion, stimulating the dragon power within your body and allowing your body to reach the point where it can contend against dragons. At that time, your magic power and mine will merge into one. Even that old man, who is so powerful he does not seem human, should not be our opponent…"
Animus's gaze was deep. He deeply knew that relying on his own power alone, he absolutely would not be the opponent of Magic King August. Honestly speaking, even in the eyes of a dragon like Animus, August was terrifying beyond reason, completely a monster wearing human skin.
Facing such a monstrous human, even if Animus came out of Sonya's body and dealt with him in his own peak state, he still had no confidence in victory…
For this reason, after thinking for a long time, Animus finally thought of a method to deal with August, and that was to cultivate Sonya's own power. If Sonya could cultivate the Dragon Slayer Magic inside her body to nearly great completion and fully release dragon power, then as long as he and Sonya worked together, the magic power within their bodies would certainly reach an unimaginable level. At that time, perhaps even Magic King August might not be their opponent…
"I understand. I will definitely work hard!"
Sonya nodded hard, indicating that she would definitely train hard and strive to grow to the point where she could help Animus.
"Mm…"
Animus looked at the obedient Sonya and nodded in satisfaction.
Animus looked at the obedient Sonya and sighed inwardly. As fellow hosts, Sonya was indeed far more outstanding than the hosts found by Fire Dragon King Igneel and the Iron Dragon!
Although he definitely could not defeat Fire Dragon King Igneel in this lifetime, his Dragon Slayer Magic inheritor Sonya absolutely would not lose to that low-IQ-looking thing, the Fire Dragon King's son…
"Hehe~"
Thinking of this, Animus revealed a joyful smile. Perhaps even Animus himself had not noticed that he had unknowingly entered the mindset of an old father.
"Um, Your Majesty Animus…"
Sonya first froze slightly as she looked at Animus with a wicked smile, then tentatively asked.
"Do not call me Your Majesty Animus. Just call me Animus. I have not been king for many days already!"
After hearing Sonya's words, Animus shook his head. He had Sonya change how she addressed him.
"Uh, okay, Your Maj—Animus…"
After hearing this, Sonya's expression carried some hesitation. She first tentatively looked at Animus, softly calling Animus's name, then opened her watery eyes and looked at Animus like this.
"Mm."
Animus lightly nodded, signaling Sonya to continue speaking.
"Animus…" Seeing that Animus was not angry, the corners of Sonya's mouth slightly rose. Incomparably delighted inwardly, she continued, "What should we do next? Where do you plan to start teaching me Dragon Slayer Magic?"
"Uh, this…"
After hearing this, Animus froze. He was stumped by Sonya's question. Right now, there was a very serious problem. He had never taught anyone how to use magic, and he basically did not know how to teach others how to use magic…
Animus's situation was very complicated. In the past, he always maintained distance from humans. Even after establishing the Kingdom of Stella, he rarely appeared before humans, simply because Animus looked down on humans from the bottom of his heart. He was dismissive toward the magic humans cultivated.
Therefore, Animus did not understand how humans cultivated magic. Most importantly, not only had Animus never taught others how to use magic, he himself also had no experience cultivating magic. Whether his father or his mother, neither had ever taught him how to use magic.
The dragon magic Animus used was not cultivated by Animus. Dragons were like the favored children of magic power, descendants of the God of Magic. To dragons, something like magic was like breathing. They naturally learned it when they were born. A dragon's roar was like humans spitting outward, a dragon's Crushing Fist was simply humans swinging a fist, and a dragon's Wing Attack was using the huge wings on their bodies to slap enemies…
Therefore, in this world, no dragon would deliberately learn magic. Of course, there were also some dragons who pursued power and trained themselves, but dragon training was no different from suicide for humans…
"Animus?!"
Sonya looked at Animus, who was silent on her shoulder, her eyes carrying some doubt as she softly asked.
"Indeed, I also do not know how to teach you Dragon Slayer Magic, but the problem is not big…"
After remaining silent for a long while, Animus gave Sonya a reply.
"Although I do not have experience teaching others Dragon Slayer Magic, others do!"
"We can learn the use of Dragon Slayer Magic from the children of Fire Dragon King Igneel, Grandeeney, and Metalicana!"
Animus's eyes flickered, the corners of his mouth slightly rising as he made a decision.
"Uh…"
"Animus, secretly learning other people's things like that is not good, right?"
Sonya's delicate brows slightly furrowed. These days, with Evan's help, she had already become familiar with Natsu and the other Dragon Slayer Mages.
Therefore, Sonya believed they should not secretly learn other people's cultivation methods. This kind of thing was very taboo among Mages.
Sonya knew that there were master-disciple relationships among Mages, just like the relationship between Ur and Gray and the others. Ur was an Ice-Make Mage and had taught her Ice-Make Magic to Gray and the others, helping Gray and the others cultivate. Those who were not Ur's disciples and had not taken Ur as their master were not allowed to secretly watch. Of course, Ur certainly would not care whether others secretly watched or not, but many Mages in this world still cared!
Taking Ur as an example, Ur, who was famous throughout the world for Ice-Make Magic, did not possess the copyright to Ice-Make Magic. After all, Make Magic was still very common on the continent of Ishgar. However, Ur possessed the copyright to the method she had developed based on her own understanding of Ice-Make Magic to quickly cultivate Ice-Make Magic and increase the magic power inside the body!
These were Ur's personal property, belonging to Ur's exclusive secret techniques. Once secretly watched and secretly learned by others, they would either have to become her disciple, or some bad situation would happen.
"It's fine! Sonya, I know human Mages are very taboo about this, but I do not care, because I am not human. Their rules cannot manage me."
Animus slightly raised the corners of his mouth. Human morality had never been able to manage him! Because he was not human.