As Rain bid farewell to Laxus, his heart raced with anticipation. The S-Rank Trials had been grueling so far, but this was the moment he had been preparing for all his life. "Now comes the hardest part of the exam," he thought, his lips curling into a confident smile. The sun cast a golden hue over the island, its rays filtering through the dense canopy as Rain sprinted toward the source of the powerful mana signatures ahead.
Rain's sharp senses picked up three distinct energies. The faintest belonged to Laxus, who had just observed his earlier trials. The other two, however, were overwhelming—a mixture of raw strength and mastery honed over decades. Gildarts and Makarov were waiting.
Ascending the rocky trail, Rain's determination burned brighter with every step. He could hear the faint rustle of the wind, the distant crash of waves against the cliffs, and, more keenly, his own heartbeat pounding like a war drum. Finally, he reached the summit, where Gildarts and Makarov stood. The older mages were framed by the horizon, their presence exuding both power and authority.
"Welcome, Rain," Makarov said, his voice warm yet commanding. "You've done well to reach this stage. But now comes the true test."
Rain didn't flinch. He met Makarov's gaze, then turned to Gildarts, who stood with his arms crossed, a wry smile playing on his lips.
"Your final trial is simple," Makarov continued. "Defeat Gildarts."
Rain blinked, though he wasn't surprised. The air around Gildarts crackled with latent energy, like a storm barely held in check. He knew this was no ordinary battle; it was a clash that could reshape the land.
"Please go easy on me, Gildarts," Rain said with a playful smirk.
Gildarts threw his head back and laughed—a booming, hearty sound that echoed across the cliffs. "Go easy on you? Don't make me laugh harder, kid. You're strong. Let's see if I'm right." With that, Gildarts turned and leapt off the cliff. The ground trembled slightly as he landed far below, the force of his descent scattering loose rocks.
Rain followed without hesitation, launching himself into the air. As he fell, he thought, This battle won't last long if we go all out. We're strong enough to destroy the entire island. His boots hit the ground with a light thud, and he straightened, standing face-to-face with one of the strongest mages in the world.
The two warriors stared at each other, their energies flaring instinctively. The air between them grew heavy, charged with tension.
"I won't hold back," Gildarts declared. The ground beneath him cracked as an immense wave of mana surged from his body, the sheer pressure enough to make the air hum with energy.
Rain's eyes narrowed. "Neither will I." He unleashed his own mana, a shimmering silver aura infused with moonlight. The two energies collided invisibly, creating a palpable force that rippled through the air.
Without warning, Gildarts moved. His speed was blinding as he dashed forward, his fist raised. Rain react, meeting the attack with his own. Their fists collided, unleashing a shockwave so powerful that the ground beneath them fractured, sending debris flying in all directions.
They leapt apart, only to charge at each other again. Blow after blow echoed like thunder, the sheer force of their strikes shaking the island to its core. Birds fled the treetops, and distant cliffs crumbled into the sea.
"This is just the warm-up," Gildarts said, grinning as though he were truly enjoying himself.
Rain smirked back. "Then let's turn up the heat."
He gathered his mana, channeling it into his lungs. "Moon Dragon's Roar!" he bellowed, releasing a torrent of moonlight energy that illuminated the battlefield. The beam raced toward Gildarts, carving a deep trench in its path.
Gildarts raised his hand. "Crash!" he shouted, his magic condensing into a singularity of destruction. The two forces met with an earth-shaking explosion, sending shockwaves across the island. When the dust settled, the battlefield was unrecognizable, but both mages stood unscathed.
Rain wasted no time. He summoned a blade of pure moonlight, its silver glow illuminating his determined face. With a mighty swing, he unleashed a crescent slash, its arc slicing through the air toward Gildarts.
Gildarts countered with his Crash magic, dissipating the attack with a powerful swipe. Another explosion followed, but this time Rain had created a protective barrier around the battlefield, shielding the island from further destruction.
"Well done," Gildarts said, his tone more serious now. "But I'm still not convinced. Show me everything you've got."
Rain nodded, his expression resolute. "As you wish."
The air grew even heavier as the two released their full power. Gildarts' energy surged like a volcano, raw and unrelenting. Rain's moonlight aura intensified, its brilliance illuminating the battlefield like a second sun.
For a moment, Gildarts faltered, sweat beading on his forehead. "How can someone so young have this much power?" he thought, a mix of awe and disbelief.
Gildarts charged his ultimate attack. "All Crush!" he roared, his energy condensing into a singularity of annihilation.
Rain responded with his own trump card. "Moonlight Blade!" he shouted, unleashing a barrage of crescent blades before focusing his energy into one final strike. His sword's light was blinding as he brought it down, releasing a wave of destruction that carved deep into the earth.
The attacks collided, their energies clashing in a dazzling display of power. The resulting explosion lit up the entire island, leaving a massive fissure in the ground.
When the light faded, both mages stood. Gildarts' attack had dissipated, and he stepped aside, avoiding the final remnants of Rain's energy. He turned, his expression both impressed and relieved. "I wouldn't have survived that," he admitted silently.
Gildarts approached Rain, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "You did it, kid. You're now an S-Class Mage."
Before Rain could respond, a familiar voice cut through the air. "Gildarts, I think you need to learn some restraint," Makarov said, his arms crossed as he descended the mountain path.
"Master, that's easier said than done," Gildarts replied sheepishly.
Makarov chuckled. "Well, now that this is settled, let's return to the guild."
Back at the guild, the members were abuzz with excitement. "Who passed, Master? Tell us!"
Clearing his throat, Makarov raised his voice. "I present to you our new S-Class Mage: Rain!"
The guild erupted into cheers and applause.
"It's really Rain?!"
"Yes, and to celebrate, we'll throw a grand feast!" Makarov announced.
"OHHHH!"
And so, Rain's name was etched into the guild's history as an S-Class Mage, his journey only beginning. The boy who had once been a novice was now a legend in the making, destined to rise even further and one day stand among the Saints.
Chapter End