The thick pillar of lightning swept toward Kabe, carrying a domineering, destructive aura.
Kabe's response was even more straightforward.
He wrapped ki around his arm, raised it toward the oncoming thunder pillar, and gave it a casual slap.
The next second, the lightning beam veered sharply off its original course, arcing past him and smashing into the forest behind.
"Boom!!!"
The ground shook violently where the magic struck, and countless trees collapsed in a chain, like rows of helpless dominos.
The culprit, Laxus, could only stare, dumbfounded, at the boy who casually shook out his hand as if nothing had happened.
For the first time, he realized that the talent and strength he had always been so proud of were nothing in front of a true monster.
...
Kabe flexed his fingers, recalling the force he had felt when he swatted aside the roar, and calmly commented,
"Dragon Slayer Magic, similar to Natsu's, huh? Did not think you still had that hidden up your sleeve.
But looks like hiding it for so long made you slack off on training that power.
Right now, it feels like you can only deal with small fry."
His words made Laxus' face turn as dark as storm clouds.
"You said... my moves can only deal with small fry?"
Kabe nodded without any mercy.
"That is right."
"Then watch closely. I will show you the true power I possess!"
Laxus grabbed his yellow-brown shirt and ripped it open, revealing a torso of hard, well-defined muscle.
Kabe glanced at him and still shook his head, unimpressed.
"Do not think tearing your clothes makes you stronger.
That is all in your head. The current me is already a wall you cannot climb."
"Do not get full of yourself, brat. If I get serious, I can finish you in one hit. I am the strongest!"
With a roar, the clear sky above them responded to Laxus' magic.
Massive banks of dark clouds gathered overhead. Lightning slithered through them like golden serpents, accompanied by low, rolling thunder.
"Turn to dust within the thunder's roar. Thunder Pressure Surge!"
Laxus swung his arm up, calling a bolt of lightning down from the clouds. It crashed onto the spot where Kabe had just been standing.
Thunder tore the ground apart, but it did not hit the target it should have hit most.
"Afterimage Fist. You fell for the same trick twice. You are really not qualified to be a Saint Seiya."
Kabe's voice came from behind Laxus.
The Dragon Slayer's twisted, furious expression froze for a heartbeat.
He did not have time to figure out what a "Saint Seiya" was before the attack that had been waiting behind him landed.
"Kamehameha!"
A blue beam of ki, dragging a long comet-like tail, blasted forth and swallowed Laxus, ramming him into the already devastated forest.
The resulting explosion was even greater than any of the attacks before.
Kabe dusted off his hands lightly.
"Done. Like I said, your moves are only good for cleaning up small monsters."
He turned and shrugged at Gildarts as the older mage walked toward him, his expression exaggeratedly troubled.
"Honestly, kids these days are such a pain.
All this talk about puberty and rebellion. You have to beat them up every now and then to keep their brains clear."
Gildarts stopped, then took two more steps forward and rapped Kabe smartly on the head.
"You brat, stop acting like you are above it all.
Out of everyone in the guild, you are the most troublesome one."
After scolding him, Gildarts looked around at the forest, which now looked much more "open" than before, and clutched his head in silent agony.
"Look at what you two have done.
Originally this S-Class exam was supposed to be mostly symbolic for you. Just a formality.
Now it is a disaster zone. How am I supposed to explain this to the master?"
An adult's breakdown often happens in an instant.
Taking in the devastated East Forest, Gildarts could already picture just how furious Makarov would be.
As for Kabe, the examinee, none of that was his problem.
He was here to take the test. If the examiners told him to fight, then he fought.
He still had Gildarts and Laxus standing above him to take the fallout. He did not feel even a flicker of guilt.
"Relax, old man, do not stress.
Everyone at the guild is waiting for me to come back with good news.
You should come have a drink too, celebrate me becoming S-Class."
He leaned close to Gildarts, lowering his voice.
"Laxus looks like he will not be waking up anytime soon.
As long as you do not say anything and I do not say anything, the master is not going to find out right away."
Gildarts' eyes lit up at that.
Right. As long as the two of them kept quiet, he could head back, drink himself happy at the party, then leave town the next day like nothing ever happened.
Thinking it through, Gildarts clapped Kabe on the shoulder and nodded.
"Too right. There is no way I am missing the celebration for the birth of Fairy Tail's third S-Class mage.
Come on, let us drag Laxus back and report the good news properly."
With the plan settled, they went to one of the massive craters nearby and fished out Laxus, who was lying at the bottom with his eyes rolled back and completely unconscious.
Supporting him between them, they started back toward the guild.
...
"...That is how it went, Master.
Although there were some accidents, after my strict evaluation together with Laxus, we both agree that Kabe already has what it takes to be S-Class."
Back at the guild, Gildarts summed up the situation to Makarov.
Makarov listened, glanced at Laxus, who was slumped at the bar looking very much like death warmed over but not offering any objections, then fell silent in thought.
After a moment, he nodded heavily and made it official.
"In that case, I have nothing more to say.
I hereby announce that Kabe has officially passed this S-Class Promotion Exam...
and becomes Fairy Tail's third S-Class mage!"
The words had barely left his lips when the guild exploded.
"He really did it! The youngest S-Class mage in Fairy Tail... no, in all of Fiore is here!"
"Well done, little Kabe! You have brought so much glory to our Fairy Tail!"
"For the new S-Class, party time!"
In that moment, everyone threw away the tiny bit of jealousy they had felt at the very beginning.
From the bottom of their hearts, they gave Kabe the loudest cheers and warmest shouts they could muster.
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