The S-Class exam day finally comes and the participants are on their way here. So the S-Class Mages are getting ready in the first exam location. It is located in 6 caves where the participants will face either the S-Class Mages or other participants.
The S-Class Mages stay in their designated locations and wait for the participants to come. Ben is waiting in one of the caves like the others, but he also has spread his clones on other caves so he can supervise all the battles.
Also, he wants to make sure that Wendy is safe from that lolicon's hands. He doesn't know which cave they'll choose, so he spread his clones on all the caves. His clone will save Wendy if something happens.
The clones won't be detected because Ben is a master of stealth, so his clones also have the same ability. Not even the S-Classes can sense the clones' presence. So the participants won't detect them too unless they have a greater sense than Ben, which is most unlikely.
Ben also has placed a clone outside to check if the participants have come and see which caves they choose. There are 6 caves and he can make 7 clones, so there's no problem with allocating his clones.
Soon, the participants arrive on a ship and the exam starts. Ben's clone sees Freed & Bickslow fly toward the island. Freed is very smart and has made enchantments around the ship to prevent anyone else from leaving the ship.
They arrive on the island first and choose a cave that isn't guarded by an S-Class, so they will fight another team. On the ship, Levy is trying to break Freed's enchantment and she finished it fast. But the 2nd team that arrives on the island isn't hers, it's Mest & Wendy.
'So he can use teleport, huh? They didn't get in contact with the enchantment barrier, so it didn't affect them. Using teleport is a good choice. But it won't make me like you just because you can use teleport like me. Come to my cave! Then I'll show you fear,' thinks Ben's clone with a demonic smile.
Unluckily, Mest & Wendy choose an empty cave like Freed's team. So they won't face any S-Class and will fight with another team. Ben's clone is very disappointed, but he informs the main body and the clone in the cave that Mest & Wendy choose.
Soon after that, Levy's team reaches the island after swimming. She teams up with Gajeel even though he has beat her up in the past. But it seems she has forgiven him and now they even work together. Also, they choose Ben's cave.
"Time to work," says Ben while smirking.
Levy & Gajeel follow the cave's path and soon they meet with Ben in a rather big room. Ben is sitting on a stone while patting Bella's head. Levy is getting scared & nervous because they face an S-Class, but Gajeel is getting excited to fight Ben.
"Challenger, welcome to my lair. Before we start, let me explain about my test-," says Ben, but Gajeel cuts his words.
"Stop the chitchat! We just need to defeat you, right?" asks Gajeel while rushing toward Ben.
"Gajeel, wait!" shouts Levy, but Gajeel doesn't listen.
Ben just looks at Gajeel and sighs because this guy is too rash like Natsu. Gajeel runs toward Ben, but then, Ben suddenly appears in front of him and kicks his stomach. It makes Gajeel fly back and crashes onto the wall.
"Good grief, can't you just let me finish my words first? Your test from me is simple. You just need to touch me. I will not attack you or even block your attack, I will just move around. Furthermore, I won't use any magic. If I use magic, it's your win," says Ben smugly.
"Hah, you underestimate us too much. I'll make you regret this," says Gajeel as he starts to attack again.
But now Gajeel doesn't rush to attack at close range, he uses his Iron Dragon's Roar. Ben stays true to his words and jumps away to evade the roar attack. He jumps to the left, but Levy has prepared her attack for him.
"Solid Script: Storm!" says Levy as she finished writing the word Storm in the air.
Her magic creates a strong gust of wind that moves to attack Ben. But Ben's reflex is too great and he easily jumps again to evade the surprise attack. Gajeel doesn't let Ben rest and immediately attack.
"Iron Dragon's Lance!" says Gajeel as his right arm turns into a long Iron rod that extends toward Ben.
Ben dodges it easily by moving sideways but then Gajeel moves his arm toward Ben. Still, Ben has a monstrous reflex and he leans his body backward. He dodges the attack and leans back at a very low angle without falling.
"You're kidding me, he can even dodge that? And how can he not fall in such position," says Gajeel in surprise.
"The key is training," says Ben while smirking.
"Damn! Not yet!" says Gajeel as he makes the same attack using his left arm.
Ben dodges again and now he jumps to Bella then he picks her up. She will be in danger if she stays in her position, after all. The safest place here is with him, so he holds her in his arms.
"Solid Script: Fire!" says Levy as she produces fire using her magic.
"Idiot! Fire doesn't affect him," says Gajeel.
But then Gajeel gets surprised when he sees Ben dodges the fire instead of taking it. Gajeel then looks at Bella and thinks that Ben dodges it so Bella won't get hit.
"If you think I dodged that because of Bella, then you are wrong," says Ben.
"Huh? Then why?" asks Gajeel.
"It's because he said that he won't use his magic. His immunity to fire is a magic ability too, so he dodged that. And here I thought that you will fall into it and just take the fire attack," says Levy disappointedly.
"I have prepared for any possibility, so I won't fall into a simple trap like this. But I must praise you for realizing this small detail. No wonder it's you who becomes the S-Class candidate instead of this iron head," says Ben.
Levy gets flattered by Ben's praise while Gajeel gets pissed. So Gajeel wants to attack him again, but Levy stops him and whispers something on his ears. Gajeel agrees to whatever her plan is and then covers his body with Iron Scales.
Then Gajeel rushes at Ben and attacks him in close range using his punches & kicks. Ben grins and evades Gajeel's attacks at a very small margin, taunting Gajeel to do better than this. Of course, Gajeel being Gajeel gets taunted and attacked more fiercely.
However, none of his attacks hits or even touch Ben's hair. But Gajeel's attacks have led Ben toward Levy's position and she has set a trap. It's a trap hole that she made using the solid script and Gajeel is leading Ben there.
Too bad that Ben is always putting attention to his surroundings and he jumps past that trap. The trap hole catches Gajeel who is pushing Ben at close range instead. So their plan failed, but Levy has thought of this possibility and has prepared another trap.
Her next trap is Oil, which she placed right behind the hole. But oil has a smell and Ben's nose is very sensitive, so he realizes it. Ben can't change his jumping direction midair, so Levy is sure that this will work.
It will work if the opponent isn't Ben though. He immediately rips his shirt and throws it onto the oil and uses it to jump. The shirt prevents him from getting slipped by the oil and he can jump away.
Right after Ben jumps from the oil trap, some stone rods come out of the ground and create a cell. Levy has written the word Cage below the oil as her last trap. But because Ben moved too fast, he didn't get caught.
"It's a good strategy, but that's not enough. I kept watching what you did while I dodged Gajeel's attack, so I know all your traps. You need to do better than this," says Ben while smirking.
Gajeel & Levy are in disbelief now because they can't handle someone who doesn't use magic at all.
Ben just smirks and says, "Let's continue."
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