"Smack!"
Cana collapsed straight to the ground without putting up any resistance, and the one who caused this result, Laxus, had an expressionless face.
Joey froze for a moment, his muscles tensing up, and then he immediately rushed toward Laxus, even if he was going to lose, he would lose while charging forward!
"Boom!!!"
With a loud explosion, Joey was sent flying back. With a single punch from Laxus, he was left dizzy and disoriented. He prided himself as a "super muscle-type mage," but when facing Laxus, he didn't have even the slightest advantage in physical strength. Combined with the gap in magic power, he was completely crushed in every aspect.
After crashing through two trees, Joey bared his teeth and struggled to get up from the ground, continuously rubbing his waist, barely able to stand.
"I surrender, I surrender! Laxus, you bastard—why are you so rough with me? Bullying me because I've got a tough body?"
Joey raised his hand and decisively admitted defeat, giving up entirely, there was no way he could fight this!
Gaining Laxus's recognition or anything like that, he had clearly been overthinking it!
Even though he was only one year younger than Laxus, the gap in strength was already so vast that he couldn't even see his shadow.
"The gap is too big."
Laxus shook his head. After testing Erza and Mirajane, testing the others was indeed disappointing.
Even Mirajane was far stronger than the rest. Laxus did not deny her strength and talent.
Although Mirajane was somewhat inferior to Erza, that was because Erza was exceptionally gifted. Compared to others, Mirajane herself became the exceptionally gifted one.
Speaking of the two, they were currently watching from the side. Before Mirajane could take Erza away, Erza had already woken up, this was also one manifestation of her talent. Despite such heavy exhaustion, she recovered so quickly.
Mirajane, however, was skeptical of this. She had been unconscious while in Moen's arms, yet woke up the moment she was in hers was that really talent?
But this was actually a misunderstanding on Mirajane's part. When Erza first woke up and saw herself lying in Mirajane's arms, she had almost jumped up on the spot.
It was only because her body wouldn't allow it. Otherwise, she would have broken free immediately. Erza clearly remembered collapsing into Moen's arms, yet when she woke up, she saw Mirajane.
Sneaking a glance at Moen beside her, Erza's face instantly turned red, as if steam might rise from her. She had already realized that she had been lying in Moen's arms for quite some time and she had been wearing that revealing "Clear Heart Clothing"…
"It looks like only Moen will pass the exam this time."
On Moen's other side, Mirajane sighed with emotion. She had been watching the exam quite seriously and had gained a clear understanding of Laxus's standards. She could say with certainty that if the others came, it would be pointless, none of them would pass.
"Looking at it this way, you two should've been placed later in the order for the exam."
Moen said with a smile. He had also noticed something.
If Erza and Mirajane had gone later, they might have been able to pass by being "contrasted" against the earlier participants. It wasn't that the others were weak, but they were still far from Laxus's standards.
Weak first, strong later this would naturally leave Laxus impressed and likely earn extra points.
But strong first, weak later would only make Laxus increasingly disappointed and cause the later participants to suffer more, since Laxus would surely grow more irritable.
"Even if I passed that way, I wouldn't accept it."
Erza, who had been blushing intensely on her own, immediately spoke up after hearing this. She didn't need that kind of recognition—what she wanted was genuine acknowledgment like now.
"You've already been recognized. Even though you didn't complete the entire exam, you can be considered half an S-Class mage, right?"
Mirajane looked at Erza and said with some envy. As for herself, she wasn't even sure if she could gain recognition next year.
"It's fine. If not this year, then next year. If not next year, then the year after."
Moen smiled. Though he said that, if Erza still couldn't pass the S-Class Mage Exam by next year, he would start questioning the authority of the exam itself.
But then Moen thought again—by this time next year, he would probably already be an examiner. Questioning himself would be a bit ridiculous, wouldn't it?
"I will definitely pass the exam next year!"
Erza said with a serious expression. In her current condition, she truly couldn't continue any further. Being able to stand here and watch was already difficult—otherwise, she would never have given up.
"I'll work hard too!"
Mirajane gritted her teeth as she spoke. She would use this shame as motivation!
On this side, Erza and Mirajane had already begun preparing for the X780 S-Class Mage Exam, while on the other side, the X779 S-Class Mage Exam was also nearing its end.
The commotion from the battle here attracted everyone. Gray, Elfman, and the other veterans all arrived one after another.
Laxus was very efficient. With just a glance, he determined the general strength of the examinees. Without even giving them a chance to show their abilities, he directly and decisively defeated them.
Gray and Elfman were knocked down the moment they stepped up, it could be said they had no experience at all. And those A-Class mages who thought Laxus might have lower standards than Gildarts also experienced what it meant to face an "unsporting young man."
Laxus was far less polite than Gildarts. He didn't even bother exchanging pleasantries and directly eliminated them one by one. The expression on his face grew more and more impatient.
"Moen, you're the only one left."
While taking care of Cana, Erza looked toward Moen. At this point, everyone had already been eliminated, leaving only Moen as the sole remaining candidate.
"Then I'll head up."
Moen replied with a smile. At the same time, he gave Mirajane a look, signaling her to take care of Cana.
The purpose of doing this was to prevent Erza from suddenly slapping the unconscious Cana. Although Erza should have learned her lesson and understood that "slapping" was only a method to be used in emergencies, Moen was still a bit worried.
'Got it!'
Mirajane blinked at Moen, understanding his meaning.
There was already some tacit understanding between Moen and Mirajane. After all, Moen often went to Mirajane's home for meals and had practically become the fourth member of her family, he was like an NPC that refreshed at mealtime every day.
"Good luck!"
Watching Moen stand up and leave, Mirajane and Erza spoke in unison, causing Moen's steps to pause slightly.
After speaking, neither of them looked at Moen again. Instead, they glanced at each other and simultaneously rolled their eyes.
"..."
Moen said nothing. His steps forward were as firm as if he were heading to the battlefield.
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