Clover Canyon.
Countless fault lines formed by earthquakes in ancient times—adventurers collectively call it "Web Valley." The terrain is insanely tangled, like a natural labyrinth. Even veteran Hunter's Guild teams can get lost here and never make it out.
"Master… you're really making us take the exam in a place this dangerous?"
Macao pressed up against the train window, staring down into the bottomless rifts, his face turning pale.
"Relax. Nobody's dying."
Gildarts yawned lazily and casually opened the window.
"I'll go on ahead."
Then, like he was hopping down to the corner shop, he jumped straight off the high-speed train.
"Hey! Gildarts!"
Everyone shouted.
They watched him adjust his posture midair, then slam down onto a massive boulder at the canyon's edge—BOOM, dust exploding—before vanishing into the canyon depths completely unharmed.
"What a reckless idiot."
Makarov shook his head, not worried in the slightest.
Only after the train crossed the ravines and reached Clover Station did he finally lead everyone off and to the edge of the canyon maze.
"Master, everyone's here—can you tell us the rules now?"
Even Shane, usually calm, couldn't help getting impatient at how relaxed the old man was acting.
"Why the rush?"
Makarov shot him a look and sat on a flat boulder. "Gildarts still needs time to set things up."
Everyone could only grit their teeth and wait in the cold wind.
About half an hour later—
RUMBLE—!!
A deep, muffled roar rolled up from the canyon like some colossal beast turning over underground.
That was Gildarts' signature Crush magic at work.
"Looks like he's ready."
Makarov dusted himself off and stood.
He picked up four fist-sized rocks from the ground. Golden magic gathered at his fingertips like a carving blade, and he etched different numbers of star symbols into each stone.
Then his arm suddenly swelled—partial Giant magic.
"Go!"
With a grunt, he hurled all four stones hard into the canyon.
Whoosh—
They streaked away like meteors and disappeared into the endless ravines.
"Alright!"
Makarov clapped his hands and looked at them, each wearing a different expression.
"The rules are simple."
"Step one: in this giant maze, collect all the #1, #2, #3, and #4 stones."
"Step two: with all four stones, find Gildarts at the deepest point of the canyon."
"Then—by any means you like—
bribe him, threaten him, or force him with violence…
as long as you make him say out loud that you're qualified to be an S-Class mage, you pass!"
"…What?!"
Macao's face changed instantly—he caught the core problem right away.
"So if we don't fight over them, no one can complete the set!"
"In the worst case, doesn't that mean we'd have to fight everyone?"
For Macao and Wakaba, even taking on one of the monster young mages was hard enough. A gauntlet of fights? He had zero confidence.
"That's where strategy comes in."
Makarov grinned wickedly. "You can hide, wait until they're exhausted from fighting, then step in and steal the win. Not against the rules."
"As long as you get the stones—steal or rob, it's all a form of strength."
"…."
Macao and Wakaba exchanged a look, both seeing the same bleak resignation.
"Alright!"
Makarov didn't let them complain long. He raised his right hand high, his voice turning stern.
"During the exam:
Do not destroy the stones.
Do not cripple or kill a guildmate.
Other than that… anything goes!"
His arm slammed down.
"Fairy Tail S-Class Promotion Exam—BEGIN!"
"I'll be leaving first!"
Before the last word even faded, a massive burst of air exploded among them.
Shane snapped open his dragon wings—wind pressure scattering gravel in every direction.
Macao and Wakaba staggered, nearly knocked over.
Before they could even regain their footing, Shane was already a black arrow shooting straight up, flying toward the nearest direction a stone had been thrown.
"That's cheating!!"
Macao and Wakaba looked like they were about to cry.
In a maze made of cliffs and fractures, being able to fly wasn't "an advantage"—it was straight-up unfair.
"You two still not moving?"
Laxus passed them with hands in his pockets, cold as ever—yet strangely kind enough to remind them.
Then lightning flashed and he became a golden bolt, diving into the canyon.
Meanwhile, Erza didn't say a word—she moved like a hunting cat, slipping into the maze's complex terrain.
Seeing the young monsters already move, Macao and Wakaba could only grit their teeth and run too.
"Let's do this, old friend!"
They hurried off in another direction.
…
Inside the canyon.
Shane folded his wings and landed lightly on a cliff ledge.
"Clairvoyance."
His eyes sharpened—deep, hawk-like. Arash's gaze pierced layers of rock and obstacles, locking onto the target almost immediately.
"Heh. Not bad luck."
In a pile of broken rocks, he spotted a faint magical glimmer. He walked over and pulled a stone from a crack—three stars carved into it.
"Stone #3. Got it."
He weighed it in his hand, feeling great.
As for the horror story—"If you get lost here, you'll never return"—he didn't really care. For someone who could fly, this "maze" barely existed.
It was like a maze game where everyone else is trapped in 2D, but he's using a 3D god-view and just skipping the problem.
"Three left… let's keep the momentum and sweep them!"
He pocketed the stone, confidence surging.
He was determined to take that S-Class qualification.
Whoosh—
His wings spread again, air pressure pushing him back into the sky—
But the instant he lifted off, before he could accelerate—
SHING—!
A razor-sharp sword wind ripped the air behind him, shooting straight up his spine.
That prickling "danger at your back" sensation made every hair on Shane's body stand up.
"So fast!"
He didn't have time to think. His body twisted into an almost unnatural midair roll—barely dodging the lethal strike.
A few strands of black hair were severed and drifted away in the wind.
Shane steadied himself in midair. In the people he knew, there was only one who could fly, use a blade, and time an ambush this perfectly during the exam.
He turned.
Just as he expected—hovering not far behind him was a figure in black armor with wings, holding a long-handled greatsword, suspended in the air with chilling poise.
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 120 Chapters Ahead of Others!