Freed and Mirajane stared in shock at the aftermath of Su Yan's victory. They both knew how formidable the Jackal Chief had been, but Su Yan had defeated it in a single, crushing blow.
"Su… Su Yan… Why did you save Laxus?" Freed asked, struggling to understand. "After everything he did…"
Su Yan frowned slightly. "What are you talking about? No matter how irritating Laxus is, he's still a member of our guild. We don't abandon our own."
Freed fell silent, absorbing Su Yan's words.
"Well said!" came a familiar voice from the shadows.
Turning around, they saw Makarov and Gildarts stepping into view. Gildarts grinned, giving Su Yan an approving nod.
"Master? Gildarts? You're here?"
Gildarts chuckled. "Of course. This is an S-Class exam, after all. We had to keep an eye on you to make sure things didn't go too far."
Su Yan and the others relaxed, understanding now that the two powerful mages had been watching to ensure their safety.
Makarov smiled, pride evident in his eyes. "Su Yan, I've watched your growth closely. There's no need for further tests—the final stage was to defeat the Jackal Chief, which you've done brilliantly. You've passed the S-Class mage assessment!"
Mirajane and Freed's eyes widened as the news sank in.
"Su Yan," Makarov announced with a wide smile, "you're officially promoted to S-Class mage in the Fairy Tail guild!"
Su Yan stood still, momentarily speechless. He had once dreamed of becoming a powerful mage in Fairy Tail, of achieving the legendary rank of S-Class. Now, that dream was a reality, but it almost didn't feel real.
"That's amazing, Su Yan! Congratulations!" Mira shouted, practically jumping with excitement as she grabbed his shoulders. Realizing she was a bit too enthusiastic, she quickly let go, blushing and crossing her arms. "Hmph! Just you wait—I'll be an S-Class mage next."
Su Yan smiled, nodding. "I have no doubt you will be, Mira."
For a moment, Mirajane's heart skipped a beat. She knew how difficult it was to reach S-Class, yet Su Yan's confidence in her felt unshakable.
Freed, though still coming to terms with the defeat of his leader, managed a respectful nod. "Congratulations… Su Yan. I'll admit, I had faith that Laxus would be the next S-Class mage. But after seeing you today… you're worthy of the title."
"Thank you, Freed." Su Yan replied with a nod, grateful for the recognition.
Laxus, still shaken but back on his feet, approached Su Yan. "Don't get cocky," he said, a begrudging respect in his voice. "Becoming an S-Class mage is just the start. There's a whole world out there, one that'll make this look small."
"I understand," Su Yan said, meeting his gaze.
Makarov couldn't hide his pride as he looked at Su Yan. He remembered first meeting this determined young man on Tenrou Island, and now, barely a year later, Su Yan had become one of the guild's strongest.
---
Upon their return to the guild, Makarov officially announced Su Yan's promotion to the rest of Fairy Tail. The room erupted with cheers, and the guild hall was instantly filled with excitement and pride.
"It's been so long since we had a new S-Class mage!"
"Su Yan really did it! That's incredible!"
"He's only been here a year—amazing!"
The entire guild celebrated, grateful to see a new S-Class mage after so many years. For ages, Gildarts had been the only one carrying the title, a testament to the difficulty of reaching such heights within the guild.
The joy was infectious. Makarov called for a celebration, and the guild quickly erupted into one of their beloved parties. Members feasted, drank, sang, and danced, while others showed off magic tricks, filling the room with laughter and camaraderie.
Watching the celebration unfold, Su Yan felt warmth spread through his heart. This was more than just a guild—it was his family, his home.
He made a silent vow: no matter what challenges lay ahead, no matter the foes they'd face, whether the dark mage Zeref or the terrifying black dragon Acnologia, he would protect this family. No one would ever take this from him.
He would see to it himself.