"Still want to fight, Lucy?" Loki spun the keyring with one finger.
"Even without keys and weapons, giving up isn't my style," Lucy said, clenching her fist and assuming a fighting stance.
"Alright then." Loki put the keys back into his pocket.
Seeing his move, Lucy thought it was her chance and charged forward without hesitation: "Lucy—Flying Kick!"
This move worked great on small fry, Lucy could basically take one down with each kick.
But now she was facing Loki.
As Lucy launched her flying kick, Loki precisely caught her ankle and lifted her upside down.
"Ahh!!!"
Here, there were no anti-gravity clothes or hair; Lucy's golden hair hung down as she was lifted upside down, and the heavy weight on her chest also fell.
The change in weight direction made her small swimsuit seemingly unable to bear the weight.
On the other side, Mest, who was in a fierce battle with Gray, was 'distracted' reasonably by Lucy's scream.
"Oh yeah!"
As an Ice-Molding Mage, Gray followed his combat instincts and delivered a Friendship Face-Breaking Fist, without using any Ice Magic.
"Wow…" Mest couldn't even mentally question why a mage had such strength before he was sent flying.
He crashed with a thud against a pillar next to the Fighting Banner, and his vision went black.
Mest suddenly remembered that last year when he infiltrated, he also suddenly lost consciousness… Would he sleep until the exam ended again this time?
His head slumped to one side, and he completely fainted.
"Mest!" Lucy was shocked, as Gray walked over with a mischievous smile.
"You can still surrender now."
Determined, Lucy said, "No way!"
"Then there's no helping it," Gray said, clapping his hands, "Ice-Make: Shackles!"
A set of ice shackles locked Lucy's hands and feet firmly; no matter how she struggled, she couldn't break free and could only flail helplessly on the ground.
Gray and Loki exchanged glances and each grabbed one of her feet.
"Hey, hey… what are you guys doing… ah… no… hahaha… haha… stop it!"
Lucy's soles were attacked, and she couldn't stop laughing as her body writhed.
Even after tears came to her eyes from laughing, she still tried to hold on, but ultimately she couldn't take it anymore: "Haha… I… hahaha… I give up!"
The door to the next stage opened, and only then did Loki and Gray let her go.
Lucy was almost out of breath, wiping away tears while complaining, "You two went too far!"
"Sorry, sorry, I couldn't bear to be too rough with you," Loki said, taking out the key and trying to placate her in a boyfriend-like tone.
Lucy wasn't having it. She snatched back the key and hung it on her belt, determined to get back at them someday!
Gray also chuckled, "Sorry, because we're opponents, I'll apologize later. Mest is your responsibility now too."
"Ah, right, I have something for you, as a token of apology." Loki pulled out a short black stick and handed it to Lucy.
Lucy pouted, "What's this?"
"The Extendable Whip of the Star Spirit Realm, the River of Stars from the Eridanus Constellation. I've wanted to give it to you for a long time," Loki said, waving goodbye and leaving with Gray, "It should suit you well."
"River of Stars?" Lucy swung it forcefully, and the blue and gold intertwined whip extended from the handle, reaching the wall opposite the cave and cracking the stone.
"Awesome!"
Lucy slightly sensed that this River of Stars could also be considered a Star Spirit, similar to the Bootes Constellation Kayle used by the Angel of Oracion Seis, except it seemed not very intelligent and couldn't speak.
But the remarkable thing was, the River of Stars didn't need to be summoned with a key, didn't occupy a summoning slot, and could remain in the Human Realm indefinitely.
"This is great!" Lucy loved the new whip so much she couldn't let it go, only shouting toward the cave after Gray and Loki disappeared from sight, "Why didn't you give it to me before the fight!"
…
Gray donned the floral shirt Loki threw to him, rubbing the spot on his face where Mest had punched him, "We've taken so long; we might be the slowest team."
"There's nothing we can do about that; it's not like this stage ranks us," Loki said, "Besides, it's already lucky to win against Mest."
Gray said, "That's true, but it still feels like he should be stronger."
"Yeah, after all, in the past… Huh?" Loki was puzzled, "Have I sparred with him before?"
Gray replied, "How would I know? Rhode said he's pretty strong, he just had bad luck last exam and met Mystogan."
Loki nodded. With Rhode's endorsement, he didn't bother to think further about what didn't add up.
"!!!"
Suddenly, the ground shook, and the two stopped, looking at each other in shock.
"That feeling just now… was it Magic Power?" Loki asked, incredulously.
"Yeah." Gray swallowed, nodded with difficulty, "Feels like Kildas might have snapped."
"Just with Magic Power…"
"Whoever ran into him is really out of luck."
…
Route E.
Kildas unleashed his full Magic Power, his hair standing on end, and his cloak billowing upward.
He used no magic at all, yet his Magic Power alone made the ground shake throughout all the routes of this stage's venue.
Natsu collapsed to the ground. Usually reckless, now with Kildas's aura, he lost all courage to fight.
Just feeling his Magic Power, seeing his gaze, made Natsu sweat rivers, and any hint of fighting spirit that arose was quickly quashed, affirming he couldn't win.
No hope of victory.
Pure fear.
Natsu was so terrified that his whole body trembled. For the first time with a rival right in front of him, he lacked even the courage to throw a punch.
"I lost."
Even Natsu couldn't believe it; clearly, his Magic Power and stamina were enough to keep fighting, yet he could utter words of surrender.
"Natsu…" Hapi gazed at Natsu with heartbreak, tears welling in his eyes. He knew how much this exam meant to Natsu, how much effort he put into becoming S-Class.
But Natsu was crushed by sheer aura, forced to concede defeat—a thought of how pained Natsu's heart must be was beyond Hapi's imagination.
Conceding meant another year of striving for this chance.
"Very well." Kildas reined in his Magic Power and aura, smiling gently.
"You're different from ordinary mages, Natsu.
"You seem to never lack courage; you dare to fight any enemy, which is both your strength and your weakness.
"More than the courage to press on, what you need now is a true understanding of fear.
"Only by understanding fear can you understand your weaknesses, and then you can become stronger, more considerate.
"Lately, you've often been setting Rhode as your target, haven't you? I've heard from the President that kid has always been anxious, always afraid since joining the guild.
"He's known his weaknesses all along, so he's worked hard to grow stronger. He's always worried about others' 'weaknesses,' so he often wants to offer help, to bring others back safely."
In the past, Kildas might never have understood why a single beast could change Rhode so much.
But after nearly losing half his life from a single playful strike of the Black Dragon, Kildas realized many things.
"Raise your head, fear is not shameful. It's something you must understand on your path to becoming S-Class, and now, you've understood it.
"Therefore, you pass.
"Go on, go face the next challenge, go surpass everyone you want to surpass, go become an S-Class Mage!"
"Kildas…" Natsu's body still trembled, his head lifting only to reveal tear-soaked cheeks.
"Keep your confidence up, but don't think clearing my stage is all there is; more tests await!"