"It's too late."
Staring at the fist closing in on him, every hair on Ivan's body stood on end.
BOOM!
Before Ivan could process anything else, Ide's fist slammed viciously into his face. The overwhelming force distorted Ivan's cheek instantly.
"Blurgh."
Ivan had intended to counterattack, but faced with Ide's Crushing Fist, his brain short-circuited on impact.
The massive shockwave that followed launched Ivan's body like a cannonball, sending him flying until he crashed like a sack of garbage deep into the endless desert.
"Sorry, Master."
"Ivan's mouth was just too foul. I couldn't control myself for a second there, so I used a bit too much force."
After one-shotting Ivan, Ide turned to Makarov and apologized.
Though, if given the chance to do it again, Ide would absolutely punch Ivan in the face with full force again.
"It doesn't matter."
"Ivan has thick skin."
Makarov knew his son Ivan's character all too well. To make Ide this angry, Ivan must have threatened him with Telepathy Magic somewhere Makarov couldn't hear.
Ivan was a repeat offender. He had threatened Gildarts the same way in the past, only to be beaten half to death by Gildarts right there at the exam site.
BOOM!
Meanwhile, on the other side, the moment the battle started, Ur raised her hand and unleashed Ice-Make Magic, instantly freezing Wakaba solid.
"You still need training, Wakaba."
After insta-killing Wakaba, Ur didn't forget to offer a few words of advice.
"Big sis, unfreeze me first."
"I'm freezing to death here."
Wakaba shivered and pleaded with Ur.
"Unfreeze?"
"I don't know how to do that."
"Just stand there obediently for a few hours. Let the sun thaw you out."
Ur waved her hand dismissively, acting helpless.
She was only responsible for freezing people, never for thawing them.
"Empyrean: All-Crush!"
After Ur defeated Wakaba, Gildarts similarly one-shotted Macao, blasting him high into the sky.
"Hey, hey, hey."
"Is that really magic you should use on a comrade?!"
Makarov watched Ide, Ur, and Gildarts—who clearly had no concept of holding back—and complained loudly.
"Master, you know I tried my best to hold back."
"If I had used Crush Magic on Macao just now, he would have been shattered into magic particles."
Gildarts shrugged helplessly.
"Fine."
"Anyway, this year's S-Class Wizard Promotion Trial ends here! Let us congratulate Ide and Ur Milkovich. You both passed."
Makarov sighed. He decided not to dwell on whether Gildarts should have gone easier as an examiner. Instead, he smiled and announced that both Ide and Ur had successfully passed the trial.
"I refuse!"
To his surprise, both Ide and Ur shook their heads simultaneously.
"Eh?"
"Why?"
"Isn't it a good thing to let both of you pass the S-Class trial?"
Makarov was stunned. He never expected Ide and Ur to reject his goodwill.
"Guild rules are rules."
"Since it was agreed that only one person can pass the S-Class trial each year, then only one person can pass."
Ide and Ur said in unison.
"So what do you plan to do?"
Makarov looked at them numbly and asked.
"Keep fighting."
Ide and Ur cracked their wrists, eager to battle.
"Ide, let me see just how much stronger you've become since joining the guild!"
As Ur spoke, the look in her eyes sharpened with battle intent.
"I won't hold back."
Ide took fighting seriously. He told Ur the truth.
"Bring it on!"
Naturally, Ur didn't want Ide to go easy on her. Going all out was the greatest respect one could show to an opponent and a rival.
"But before that, there's one thing we need to take care of."
Just as the tension between Ide and Ur peaked, Ide suddenly turned around. His gaze locked onto the forest in the distance, and he called out coldly, "Hey, old man! You've been spying on us for long enough. It's time to come out, don't you think?"
Inside the forest.
"Did you see that, Mavis?"
"The future of the Fairy Tail guild we built is limitless."
An old man who looked remarkably like a withered piece of broccoli, leaning on a cane, watched Ide, Ur, and Gildarts with a gratified expression. A smile played on his lips, and his eyes were filled with kindness.
This person was none other than Warrod Sequen. He was one of the four founders of Fairy Tail alongside Mavis Vermillion, Precht Gaebolg, and Makarov's father, Yuri Dreyar. Currently, he ranked among the top of the Ten Wizard Saints and was revered as one of the Four Gods of Ishgar, a wizard standing at the pinnacle of the continent.
Yes, the reason Makarov set the trial location in this desert was at Warrod's request.
Even Makarov's announcement that two people could pass this year was secretly decided by Warrod.
Warrod viewed Ide, Gildarts, and Ur as the future of Fairy Tail... right up until he heard Ide disrespect him.
"Old man?!"
Warrod was bewildered. He stared blankly at Ide outside the forest, thinking, "Ideally, this kid actually found me? Incredible. Truly a promising youth."
"Still not coming out, huh?"
Just as Warrod decided to step out and reveal his identity, Ide drew the rapier at his waist and slashed a pitch-black shockwave toward the forest.
"Ah..."
Before Warrod could even emerge, he saw a ferocious black slash tear through the earth, hurtling straight at him.
"Can't dodge this one."
Warrod, distracted for just a moment, was blasted flying by the slash.
"What?"
"Someone was really hiding in the forest?"
"Damn it, I got here first, but I didn't sense him?!"
Ide's action drew Ur and Gildarts' attention. Without hesitation, they immediately unleashed their magic in Warrod's direction.
In an instant, ice and crushing magic flooded the forest.
Warrod: "Yup, the future of the Fairy Tail guild is doomed!"
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
As for Makarov, seeing this scene unfold, he was completely dumbfounded.