"Damn it, how are we supposed to fight against this?"
"There's absolutely no hope of winning!"
"Even if we all attacked at once, we'd never be able to exhaust these monsters' magic!"
"Don't flatter yourselves; as if we could actually deplete their magic."
"If we charge in, we'll probably be eliminated instantly, and the amount of effort we take out of them won't even compare to how quickly they can recover!"
The members of the guild finally understood the enormous gap in strength between themselves and the likes of Ian, Gildarts, Warrod, and Ur, who were acting as examiners for this year's Fairy Tail S-Class Mage Promotion Exam. It was impossible to put into words, the sheer power these four possessed, transcending human limits.
"This year's S-Class Exam will take place..."
"As always, on our guild's sacred ground, Tenrou Island."
"I'll give you all one week to prepare."
"During this week, you can freely form teams within the guild—find companions who share your ideals and have the strength to help you gain an advantage in the upcoming S-Class exam."
"I hope each of you passes with flying colors."
"That's all, dismissed!"
Makarov waited until the members of the guild, who were excited beyond words because of the announcement of the S-Class candidates, calmed down after sensing the overwhelming magic power of Ian and the others. Only then did he explain the rules for this year's S-Class Mage Promotion Exam.
Yes, to increase the chances of Laxus, Erza, and the others passing this year's exam, he allowed this year's candidates to find a partner from the guild to join them in the exam.
After the announcement was made, Makarov and the others slowly stepped down from the podium...
Among them, Ian cast a deep glance at Erza from afar, and thought to himself: "Good luck, Erza. The road ahead is one you need to walk alone, but I hope you'll overcome the challenge of making friends."
Yes, Ian, acting like a concerned parent, had no intention of interfering in Erza's effort to find a partner for the exam.
Honestly, Erza was flawless in so many areas—strength, character, personality, appearance. But her social skills were a bit lacking, and this was what Ian hoped she could work on during this S-Class exam.
"I've already got my partner!"
"Happy, you will be my partner for this year's S-Class Mage exam~"
"Our goal is to win."
Natsu lifted Happy high above his head and shouted excitedly.
"Aye~!"
Happy waved his little paw in agreement.
Although Happy had previously bet all his fish on Ur and Erza, revealing that he didn't really believe in Natsu's victory, emotionally speaking, Happy would always follow his brother Natsu, no matter what dangers awaited them. They would overcome anything together...
But logically, Happy could only apologize to Natsu: "Bro, you really have no chance."
"Elfman, want to team up with me?"
After thinking it over, Gray went to find Elfman.
In Gray's eyes, Elfman seemed like the ideal partner.
"Sorry, Gray..."
"I already promised my sister I'd be her partner this year."
Elfman shook his head and looked apologetically at Gray.
"Haha, you're too late, Gray."
"You, Erza's follower, don't even think about passing the exam!"
Mirajane, with one hand on her hip, teased Gray.
"Damn it..."
Since Elfman had already agreed to team up with Mirajane, Gray could only search the guild for someone else to be his partner.
"Laxus, let me be your partner in this year's S-Class Mage exam!"
A young man with short green hair, wearing a red knight's outfit and with a Western sword on his waist—Fried—mustered up the courage to volunteer.
"Partner?!"
"You must be kidding. I don't need that."
Laxus, with his headphones on and listening to loud music, rejected Fried's proposal without hesitation.
To be honest, Laxus wasn't happy with the rules Makarov had set for this year's S-Class Mage exam.
What a joke?!
Did Makarov think he couldn't beat any of the examiners—Ian, Gildarts, Warrod, or Ur—on his own and pass the S-Class exam?!
Well, to be honest, he really couldn't defeat Ian and the others…
"Laxus is so cool going solo!"
"But I still wish he'd take me along."
Fried was deeply impressed by Laxus's declaration of independence but still hoped for Laxus to acknowledge him and take him on as a partner—at least as a subordinate.
"Sigh..."
"You really don't give up, do you?"
"If you want to be my partner, then keep up."
Laxus sighed. Clearly, Fried's persistence had left him with no other choice. After speaking, Laxus stuffed his hands into his pockets and began to walk away from the guild.
"What?!"
"Really?!"
"Laxus, wait for me..."
"I really want to be your partner."
Fried was momentarily stunned, then overjoyed. He quickly followed after Laxus as they both left Fairy Tail together.
Unbeknownst to Fried, Laxus's lips were curving into a smile...
The blond tsundere was secretly enjoying Fried's admiration and the recognition he got.
In the end, Laxus was just a boy craving acknowledgment from his guildmates.
"Lisanna, could you join me..."
In the guild hall, Erza hesitated for only a moment, but in that short time, the other participants had all found their partners.
Laxus had Fried.
Natsu had Happy.
Mirajane had her brother, Elfman.
Gray eventually found Bickslow, who had joined the guild a few months ago.
With the remaining members being either too old, too weak, or not combat-oriented, Erza was left with few options, and in her desperation, she turned to Mirajane's younger sister, Lisanna.
"Sorry, Erza!"
"I've already promised Cana I'd be her partner."
Lisanna, very politely, bowed deeply to show her regret. She wasn't being antagonistic like Mirajane suggested; Cana had genuinely asked her first.
"No, no, you have nothing to apologize for."
"Lisanna, you're nothing like your sister; you're a good kid."
Erza waved her hands, indicating that Lisanna didn't need to be so formal with her.
"Hahaha..."
"Erza, are you feeling our gap in strength now?!"
"Without siblings, you can't even find a partner!"
"Even your little followers, Natsu and Gray, are of no use to you right now!"
Mirajane suddenly appeared next to Erza, seizing the opportunity to taunt her.
"You..."
Erza clenched her fists, furious, but ultimately she held back—there was no time to argue.
Meanwhile, Ultear sought out Laki Olietta, a cute girl with glasses and purple hair.
Laki specialized in Wood-Make Magic and was an informal student of Ur, frequently seeking guidance from her. She was skilled, though her personality had some quirks.
"Ultear, thank you for choosing me to face the endless hell of the S-Class exam with you. I'll keep myself in the best condition, ever vigilant..."
Laki, standing beside Ultear, spoke with a cheerful smile, her words bringing a headache to Ultear.
"Could you just... talk normally, please?"
Ultear sighed.
"Let's do our best!"
Laki condensed her overly poetic speech into something more concise.
"Alright."
Ultear smiled in response.
Laki was reliable—if only she didn't make everything into a strange metaphor.
As for Lyon, he approached Warren Rocko.
"Partner, you know what I mean, right?!"
Lyon looked at Warren with confidence.
"Rest assured, I'll gather all the information in advance."
Warren, who could use Telepathy Magic, could read minds and find out what the other S-Class candidates were planning, which could become a significant advantage.
"Even Lyon has a partner?"
Erza clenched her fists.
At that moment, she wished her mother, Irene, and her father, Ian, would give her siblings like Mirajane had—that way, she wouldn't be struggling to find a partner.
Time flew by, and soon, as the sun began to set, the sky darkened.
"Damn it, I still haven't found a suitable partner?"
"Father has already left with Master Makarov to Tenrou Island to set up the exam grounds, and I'm alone again."
Since Ian, being an active S-Class mage and an examiner for this year, had gone ahead with Makarov to set up Tenrou Island, Erza could only leave the guild hall alone as the sky grew darker.
Walking along the streets of Magnolia, she felt the cold breeze and considered her next move. If she couldn't find a partner, she'd simply take the exam alone.
To her frustration, none of the leftover guild members seemed suitable—they were either too old, too weak, or not skilled in combat-oriented magic.
"If only I had a sibling," Mirajane's mocking words rang in her ears again.
If she had a sibling, she wouldn't be struggling like this.
"Excuse me, do you know how to get to the Fairy Tail guild?"
A clear voice interrupted Erza's thoughts.
"Hm?"
Erza looked up to see a beautiful, tall girl with twin blonde ponytails, carrying a suitcase.
"Who are you?"
The moment Erza laid eyes on her, she felt a strange intuition—as if the woman before her was anything but ordinary.
"Wow, you look just like Aunt Irene."
"There's no mistake; you must be Erza-neesan, right?!"
The woman, who seemed slightly older than Erza, looked surprised, calling her "sister."
"Huh?"
"You're calling me sister?"
Erza was taken aback.
"Erza-neesan, nice to meet you."
"My name is Ereshkigal, but you can call me Eresh."
"I'm the daughter of Selene, the Moon Dragon, and Ian, the Dragon Savior."
"I'm your half-sister."
Eresh said this while bowing slightly in respect.
"What?!"
Erza's eyes widened as her brain seemed to short-circuit.
"What?!"
A few minutes later, Erza finally regained her senses. Her eyes were wide, pupils trembling as she yelled, "You mean I have a sister?!"
"Actually, you also have a brother."
"His name is Kurnugi, my twin brother."
"But I kind of lost him..."
"And honestly, I don't know where he is right now."
"But he's not really that important anyway."
"Let's just pretend he never existed."
Eresh laughed lightly.
In reality, Eresh had purposefully lost her brother, Kurnugi.
In her estimation, if she continued traveling with her brother, it would take a hundred years before they reached Fairy Tail.
Thus, she decided to split from Kurnugi and spent three days finding out where Fairy Tail was, and two more days traveling to Magnolia.
Away from Kurnugi, it only took Eresh five days to find Fairy Tail.
"Uh..."
Erza was left speechless by Eresh's casual words.
She wasn't sure what to think anymore.
But there was one thing she was certain of—she now had a partner for the S-Class exam.
"No time to worry about anything else..."
Erza, having an extremely straightforward nature, didn't want to consider anything more.
She just needed to determine whether Eresh could join her in the exam.
Thus, she looked at Eresh and asked nervously, "Eresh, just how strong are you?"
"Uh..."
"I'm not as powerful as Mother or Aunt Irene."
"But I have inherited the Dragon God's bloodline."
"If you really need a comparison, I can exchange a few moves with Aunt Irene or Mother without losing."
Eresh hesitated, unable to gauge what kind of power Erza considered strong.
If judged by the standards of a Dragon God, she still had a long way to go.
Currently, she was roughly between an elite dragon and a normal Dragon King—a quasi-Dragon King level.
But that last step, the crucial step, was incredibly challenging.
Even Eresh herself didn't know when she'd be able to take that final step. It could take hundreds of years.
"That's enough."
Hearing Eresh's words, Erza smiled in satisfaction.
If no one else wanted to partner with her, so be it.
She'd found a quasi-Dragon King level partner to make an impact.
Everyone who declined to partner with her—and her competitors for the S-Class mage position—should get ready to experience the terror of being dominated by a dragon!