"Have you noticed how your physical abilities have improved ever since you started mastering Dragon Slayer Magic?" Noah asked, giving Laxus a serious look. "Your growth rate has accelerated, and your magic power has increased significantly."
He pointed to Laxus's frame, which had become far more muscular and defined compared to before.
"The Dragon Slayer Magic is finally starting to take effect. You're becoming a true dragon-slaying wizard."
Only then did Laxus become aware of the changes. Without even noticing, his body had grown stronger, sturdier more capable.
Seeing that Laxus was now stable on his feet, Noah let go of his shoulder and allowed him to stand on his own. He pulled a potion bottle from inside his coat, unscrewed the cap, and handed it over.
Laxus accepted the bottle and downed the contents in one gulp. A cooling sensation flowed from his mouth into his stomach. Almost instantly, the fatigue from burning through so much stamina and magic began to lift, and his aching muscles relaxed. The sharp edge of his exhaustion dulled.
Noah gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"You've been improving steadily for a while now, but with Dragon Slayer Magic added into the mix, you've grown even faster. You've got a bright future ahead of you."
Laxus glanced down at himself, then back at Noah's perfectly calm face.
"But even now, I still don't feel like I can match up to you."
His eyes dropped to the small holes singed into Noah's shirt. That was the only visible damage after everything he'd thrown at him. He sighed heavily.
Noah rolled his eyes.
"Come on, you've got way too much magic power, even for a wizard your age. And you've got the Lightning Dragon Lacrima embedded inside your body. You're insanely strong."
He crossed his arms.
"I mean, if you say I have better talent than you, how are you supposed to explain what you've got going for you?"
Laxus gave a wry grin. "Still doesn't change the fact that you've pulled way ahead."
"Just keep practicing with your Dragon Slayer Magic," Noah said, smiling. "You'll keep improving. That magic pushes your limits every time you use it."
At that moment, Makarov and Ulu approached from the edge of the field. Ulu's eyes scanned Laxus's battered form. She turned to Noah with concern in her voice.
"Is he alright?"
"He'll be fine," Noah said confidently. "It's mostly surface wounds. The bigger issue is the magic and stamina drain, but I've already given him a potion."
He paused and added with a smirk, "I did go all out with that last kick, just to send him flying. But I was careful."
He had checked Laxus thoroughly when he caught him earlier. Given his physical condition and resilience, with some rest and treatment, Laxus would be back to full strength in no time.
Hearing this, Makarov let out a breath of relief and finally asked what had been on his mind since the fight ended:
"As the examiner... what's your judgment, Noah? Did Laxus pass the test?"
At the sound of that question, Laxus immediately tensed. He stood up straighter, eyes fixed on Noah.
It was obvious how much this meant to him. He had fought with everything he had, all for this moment this answer.
Noah paused for a few seconds, then gave a calm but firm reply:
"From where I stand... he passed."
Laxus' face lit up with joy at Noah's answer. But before he could speak, Noah's expression turned serious, and he added:
"However, there's something important I need to say. When you take on S-Class requests, you need to know your limits. Don't try to complete missions just to boost Fairy Tail's reputation."
Noah paused, his voice calm but firm.
"In Fairy Tail, what we treasure most is our comrades our family. Not fame, not glory. Just each other."
He looked Laxus in the eye.
"Take on jobs you know you can handle. And if you can't walk away. I never want to hear that you died trying to prove something."
Laxus nodded seriously. These weren't just words to him. He knew Noah meant every single one.
Thanks to Noah's guidance over the years, Laxus had already built solid relationships with the guild members. He no longer clung to his pride as the grandson of a Wizard Saint.
After all, when you had a monster like Noah moving forward every day right beside you, you had to put all your strength into simply keeping up. There was no room left for arrogance.
Because he'd matured emotionally, Laxus had also become more open-minded and more willing to listen.
Seeing that Laxus understood, Noah gave a small smile.
"As long as you keep that in mind, you'll be fine. Lightning magic is naturally fast, so if things ever go south, don't hesitate get out of there. Just don't be stubborn."
Then Noah turned to Makarov.
"Well, now it's up to Grandpa to decide whether you're officially approved as an S-Class wizard."
Makarov glanced at Ulu.
"What do you think, Ulu?"
Ulu nodded without hesitation.
"I think Laxus qualifies. His strength and experience are both more than enough."
Laxus turned to Makarov, eyes filled with anticipation. But Makarov didn't answer right away.
As the seconds passed, Laxus's hopeful expression slowly began to fade into disappointment.
Finally, Makarov made his decision.
"…I agree. You can become an S-Class wizard."
Laxus's head shot up.
"Grandpa… you really mean it?"
Makarov smiled warmly.
"Yes. But just like Noah said, I'm not asking you to push yourself for the sake of some title. I don't need you to be the strongest. I don't need you to be the fastest. I just want you to be healthy, to live your life with strength and purpose. Promise me you'll only take on what you can handle."
Laxus nodded firmly.
"I understand, Grandpa."
With things settled, Noah stretched and said with a grin:
"Well then, let's head back."
Everyone agreed, and with a flash of teleportation magic, the group returned to the Fairy Tail guild just in time for lunch.
As they appeared inside the hall, the atmosphere instantly turned lively.
"How did the exam go?"
"Whoa, Laxus looks totally wrecked! That must've been one heck of a battle."
"Wait… wasn't it Laxus versus Noah? Why does one of them look like they crawled through a warzone while the other looks like he just woke up from a nap?"
"As expected… Noah really is way stronger than Laxus."
Noah clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention to the front of the guild hall. Then he stepped aside and gave the floor to Makarov.
Makarov walked forward with a proud expression and declared loudly:
"After our careful evaluation Laxus is officially recognized as an S-Class wizard of Fairy Tail!"
Cheers erupted instantly throughout the guild.
"Congratulations, Laxus!"
"You did it!"
"Well deserved!"
Everyone rushed to surround him, patting his back, clapping his shoulders, and congratulating him with wide smiles. Laxus grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head with an embarrassed chuckle. Despite all his pride, this moment truly moved him.
Then someone suddenly shouted:
"Let's toss him!"
"Huh?! Wait a minute !"
Too late.
Before he could protest, Laxus was lifted into the air and thrown up high. Laughter filled the guild as everyone joined in. The moment he came back down, someone caught him and launched him right back up again.
Again and again.
Laxus soared through the air, a flurry of blond hair and lightning sparks.
Eventually, they set him down, still laughing, while Laxus staggered a bit before laughing along with them.
At the bar counter, Makarov, Ulu, and Noah sat together, smiling as they watched the celebration unfold.
They didn't say anything, but their proud, content expressions said it all.
Among the crowd, Ultear, Erza, and others of the same generation as Laxus looked on with a gleam in their eyes. That look of longing, of ambition. Someday, they too would stand on that stage. They would earn those cheers, that recognition.
The party continued late into the night before the guild finally quieted down. Everyone returned home with warm hearts and full stomachs.
The next morning
Laxus, newly minted as an S-Class wizard, confidently showed up at the guild, ready to take his first S-Class commission.
He never made it past the request board.
Noah knocked him out cold and personally teleported him back home.
When Laxus came to, he was lying on his bed with a splitting headache and a note stuck to his forehead:
"You're not going anywhere until you're fully recovered. - Noah"
No matter how much he grumbled, Laxus couldn't defy orders from someone who had flattened him the day before. In the end, he had no choice but to rest obediently.
Once he was fully recovered, Laxus finally began accepting S-Class missions, one at a time. And so began his journey as a full-fledged S-Class wizard of Fairy Tail.
As for Noah he returned to his usual life of research and training.
He rarely took commissions now, only doing so when the missions coincided with his need to gather rare materials for magical experiments. He often picked up nearby jobs to keep a low profile while traveling for research.
With the financial support from the returned profits of the Jude Pharmaceuticals deal, Noah no longer needed to worry about funding his work. It allowed him to dive deeper into his studies without distraction.