A magic merchant infiltrating Fairy Tail

"What did you say?!" Gajeel instantly became agitated, his eyes widening as he glared fiercely at Dispel.

You flatter me.

Lily transformed back into a kitten with a 'pop', smiled slightly, and readily accepted Dispel's assessment, clearly agreeing with him.

"Lili?!"

Gajeel's ferocity was no better than a spoiled brat throwing a tantrum in Dispel's eyes, and he wasn't going to tolerate it: "I'm telling you, you can have the same iron sword with a stick! Didn't you notice that your attack patterns with both hands were almost the same just now?"

"You were the only one who kept getting hit by the sword just now, can't you see the problem?"

"Tch... I am the Iron Dragon Slayer Mage!"

"I've cut through anything harder than steel!"

Dispel gave him a disdainful look, then pointed to the other side and said, "Putting everything else aside, your steel is still far inferior to diamond!"

Gajeel looked in the direction he was pointing, and there Laxus was sparring with Serena.

However, calling it a sparring match would be giving Laxus too much credit, because he was being completely thrashed. Although the Thunder Dragon Slayer Crystal within him came from the Thunder Dragon King Alexstrasza, he was utterly powerless against Serena due to the difference in magical power.

Not to mention, Serena also has seven other dragon-slaying spells.

"What? You're still far from being God, you little brat!"

It was a rare treat to bully a junior who was weaker than him but eager to become stronger. Serena was getting more and more addicted to the fight. "If you want to become a stronger Dragon Slayer Mage, this level of training is far from enough!"

The excess fat on his stomach has disappeared through the casting of magic. He is no longer the chubby orange cat he used to be, but the genuine number one of the 'Ten Saints'.

Laxus was panting heavily, his muscular physique clearly visible beneath his tattered clothes, but his face showed no resentment at defeat, only a resolute determination to continue growing stronger. Behind him, the Thors were cheering and supporting him.

"Good eye!"

Serena gave a appreciative compliment, then turned to Geral, who had been watching for a long time, and said, "Kid, you should come too!"

"Then please enlighten me."

Gerald took off his cloak and slowly stepped forward, his expression more serious than ever. He knew that the person in front of him was far stronger than himself, and fighting him would be a rare opportunity for training.

Meanwhile, Levy, Mila, Lisanna, and Wendy were taking care of the pregnant ewe early in the morning. Little did the ewe know that it had almost died yesterday, and was now happily grazing in the meadow.

However, being a magical beast, it did not lower its guard against the two-legged creatures around it that were filled with immense magical power, especially Levy. It seemed to remember the woman who had hit it yesterday and was very rude to her, while being very friendly to Mira.

"I always feel like it really likes Mirasan, why is that?"

Lisanna thought for a moment, her eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands proudly, saying, "I think it's because Mira is very gentle, right? Sheep are very docile animals, and even magical beasts are pretty much the same. In this respect, they are very similar to Mira's personality!"

"But doesn't the book say that ewes at this stage should be very maternal and affectionate towards their young?"

Wendy's question left Lisanna speechless. She lowered her head and thought for a long time before replying, "Well... um... I don't know!"

"Forehead……"

You were so serious just now, I almost believed you!

"Is it going to lay an egg?" Natsu leaned closer, his expression slightly excited.

"Natsu, sheep are viviparous, not oviparous!" Elfman corrected Natsu's mistake, then added after a moment's thought, "Happy is an Beyonder, not an ordinary feline!"

But it's clear that Natsu isn't going to listen.

Gildas watched the children gossiping about love, sparring, training in combat, and showing concern for life, and sighed with a warm expression, "Ah, these young people nowadays are so energetic, so unlike the kids in my family! But..."

He pounced on Kana, who was still drinking heavily early in the morning, his face instantly transforming into a lewd, perverted grin: "Even if you're completely drunk, Daddy will still love you!!!"

Bang! !

As expected, he was sent flying by Kana's punch!

"Your expression is disgusting, you stinky old man!!"

In front of Kana were Brandish and Timalia, who had been drinking with her all night. The three scantily clad girls seemed to be discussing some alluring topics during their drinking session.

“I know, Kana,” Gildas chimed in again. “You’re feeling guilty because you didn’t help Elfman in yesterday’s assessment, aren’t you? It’s okay, you can cry your heart out in your father’s arms…”

Bang! !

He was sent flying by another punch!

"It's so noisy!!!"

"I'm not upset at all! Being eliminated is his own problem; I wasn't the one who captured the monster and completed the assessment!"

The four examiners finally finished discussing the matter when the sun was high in the sky.

Precito scanned his surroundings with his remaining eye, pausing when it landed on Kira and Ultear, a meaningful smile curving his lips.

"Ahem... Come here, everyone! The second round is starting!"

Chapter 585 Four-Person Battle

For some reason, Kira felt that Precht was looking at him in a very improper way.

"Is it just my imagination? No... I feel like this old man is definitely making fun of me!"

Having reformed and entered a life of health and well-being in his old age, Precito has shed the glitz and glamour of decades past and regained the kind and gentle appearance he had when he was still in Fairy Tail. His profound knowledge gives him an extraordinary air, and with his white hair, eye patch, cloth armor, and cloak, one can tell at a glance that he is no ordinary person.

If Kira is a 'sage', then Precht is a 'great sage', a senior mage who embodies both wisdom and power, commanding respect.

But even the most cunning old fox has its moments of carelessness, and Kira keenly caught the fleeting slyness and gossip in Precht's eyes.

"I wonder what this old man is planning..."

Kira straightened his clothes, a hint of wariness flashing in his bright sky-blue eyes.

"Is it finally about to begin?"

"What's the second test? I can't wait!!"

"How many more levels are there? Should we tackle them all at once?"

Natsu, Gray, and Gajeel were all eager for battle and urged Precht to speed up their movements.

'They have absolutely no manners! Are all the kids in the guild this disrespectful to their elders these days? Disrespecting elders is one thing, but they're all dim-witted and only know how to act recklessly!'

Precito inwardly grumbled, feeling anxious about the guild's future.

Compared to these three, Felix, Wendy, Lucy, Juvia, and Abrams seemed much more mature, standing quietly in place waiting. However, whether it was due to Precito's influence or because most of them were newcomers, these individuals clearly exuded a sense of unease, presenting a distinct difference from Natsu and the other two.

Their panicked eyes, tense muscles, and rapid breathing all indicated that they were nervous about the unknown challenges ahead.

With just a glance, Precito memorized the condition of each of the eight individuals and scored them according to his most familiar method of talent selection.

"Still too young!" Precito thought to himself.

Once everyone had gathered, the centenarian finally announced the second stage of the assessment: a four-person battle!

"A four-person battle? What's that? Are you sending four people up for a free-for-all?"

The group looked puzzled and began to analyze the question: "If that's the case, then we'll split into two groups, and the last two remaining will decide the winner?"

Natsu scratched his head and suggested, "Since we're going to have a free-for-all, why don't we just let the remaining eight of them go up together? Then whoever stands still at the end will be the final winner!"

Gajeel chuckled, "Great idea! A free-for-all would defeat you all!"

"In a multi-player battle, it would be better to team up against the enemy in the early stages, right?"

The brighter-minded ones have already started forming cliques, such as Lucy and Wendy, and Fred and Abram. "Generally, the strongest ones are eliminated first..."

Upon hearing that they could team up with Juvia, she instantly fell in love, her eyes turning into red hearts, and she threw herself at Gray with open arms: "Gray-sama~ Let's team up with Juvia!!"

"I do not want it!"

Gray dodged away in disgust, and when he turned around, he had already taken off his shirt. "Anyway, in the end, it's all about who wins and who loses. Teaming up will only lead to misjudging the timing of your attack!"

“Gray is right! Nobody knows when their temporary teammates will turn against them in order to balance the power on the field. It’s better to treat everyone as an opponent from the beginning…”

"Then why don't you team up?"

"Tch! I have my own style of play..."

"Ahem!! Quiet down!!"

Precito interrupted the noise with a tactical cough, inwardly marveling at how much nonsense these people were spouting.

"Sorry, your guesses were wrong from the start!"

"The so-called four-person battle is not a free-for-all between four candidates. Instead, you will be matched with targets by drawing lots and fight alongside your supporters to try to eliminate the opponent's candidates."

Everyone suddenly realized: "So it's a two-on-two battle?"

“Not entirely!” Precito shook his head.

"The rules for this assessment are as follows: each person will be assigned an opponent by drawing lots, forming four groups of two against two; we will demarcate a section of this mountain range as the testing ground, and the sixteen participants will enter from different directions at the same time, find their corresponding target and defeat it before sunset, and those who survive to the end of the assessment will advance."

As Precito explained, Mebius stood beside him, holding several childlike scribbles, showing everyone his 'hand-drawn rules'.

"I see! A survival battle with a time limit and a location limit, huh?"

Lucy rested her chin on her hand in deep thought, "So, the candidates can choose to hide. As long as they hide until the time runs out, they can still advance even without participating in the battle!"

As expected of Lucy, you planned to hide it from the very beginning?

Kira glanced at the girl and continued, "Not only that, under this rule, it's also possible for both sides to lose, or for both sides to advance!"

He looked at Precito: "Maybe this round will eliminate all the candidates! If that happens, how will this year's evaluation be calculated?"

"Then nobody will pass this year's assessment!"

Mira smiled brightly: "No one passed... It seems like this hasn't happened for several years..."

"Huh??" Natsu and the others instantly realized the implication in Mira's words.

Wasn't she implying that since no one passed the S-level assessment this year, they were even worse than Kana, who passed last year?! How could they possibly tolerate that?!

"Just you wait! I'll definitely be the last one standing!!"

"In other words, as long as it's hidden well enough, that should be fine, right?"

"How cowardly! How can a mage of 'Fairy Tail' utter such a cowardly word as 'hide away'?!"

"Then go fight Kira and Gildarts! Fight them now! Don't let me look down on you!"

With just a few words, she stirred up a war. Mira is indeed a wolf in sheep's clothing!