Chapter 165: The Exam Begins
Chapter 165: The Exam Begins
Of course, they had to go. The tickets were bought, and everyone had gathered. It wouldn’t make sense to switch to a carriage at the last minute.
While Makarov was concerned, he hoped that once they boarded the train, the group would behave themselves...
Ideally, that’s what he hoped for. In reality, things were quite different.
Once they boarded the train, a clear perimeter formed around the nine of them. All the other passengers instinctively kept their distance from these peculiar individuals.
Rod suspected that if they had brought a few more people, they could have enjoyed a private compartment without even needing to occupy all the seats.
After realizing her opponents were such an eccentric bunch, Cana felt much more relaxed. Now, she was quietly observing Mest.
Mest, who was gnawing on the seat back, sensed Cana’s gaze and grew wary.
Did she notice something odd? Is my acting not convincing enough? Mest bit into the seat even harder.
Joi was showing off his muscles to his companions. Despite the lack of warmth in the carriage, he remained shirtless, leading some to wonder if he had trained with Gray.
Miji’s eyes roamed over the other contestants, as if she was itching for a fight at any moment.
Marcus and Joi were chatting happily, with Marcus even pinching Joi’s muscles to verify their authenticity.
Willem observed quietly, keeping an eye on Marcus to ensure he didn’t spill any secrets.
Wang Qiangji remained silent as usual, leaning back against the seat without a word.
Rod, on the other hand, was feeling sorry for the guild master.
The old man was extremely focused, much like a teacher leading a group of elementary school students on a field trip, constantly on edge to prevent any mishaps.
However, while teachers worry about their students, Makarov was concerned about everyone else.
The train clattered along the tracks, heading northeast into increasingly colder regions.
Most of the trees along the railway were already withered and yellow, with only a few evergreens like pines and cypresses retaining their green color.
On closer inspection, even the evergreens had a different hue compared to summer.
The train passed through Onibus Station, Kunugiga Station, and Oshibana Station. The scenery outside the window gradually became more desolate, and Willem’s expression grew increasingly tense.
Rod asked, "Willem, are you feeling unwell?"
"Nothing, nothing," Willem replied, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead. "We’re just getting close to that place."
Marcus, being straightforward, laughed and said, "Haha, you forgot? Willem is afraid of heights. We’re approaching the Grand Canyon, and the train will cross a bridge."
"Right!" Cana clapped her hands and teased, "How about giving up the exam now? The test site is right in the Grand Canyon, you know."
"Don’t joke around! I finally got this chance..." As the train crossed the bridge, Willem closed his eyes, sweat dripping from his forehead. "Besides, the exam is inside the canyon, not on top of it!"
The railway bridge stretched straight across the canyon. Rod looked out the window and saw a unique landscape of towering mountains or rock pillars, depending on how you viewed it.
To him, it resembled a stone forest, but with a more desolate and perilous atmosphere.
Some books claimed this area was formed by a prehistoric earthquake, while others suggested it was shaped by millions of years of erosion.
The least popular theory was that it was once the battlefield of two dragons, which had been transformed by nature over time.
Rod thought the least scientific explanation might be the most accurate—assuming Natsu and Wendy’s stories about being raised by dragons were true.
The group got off at the first station after the bridge, Kuroba Station.
Makarov led them back a few kilometers to the edge of the canyon and then north for a few more kilometers.
The north wind was already blowing this time of year, and the gusts near the canyon seemed particularly strong. Everyone instinctively pulled their coats tighter.
Rod and Cana walked quietly at the back of the group, carefully observing the terrain.
Miji complained, "Are we on a field trip or something?"
Willian's legs were still trembling, and he had to lean on his partner, Marcus, for support. "Who... who would want to go hiking in a place like this?"
Marcus sighed. "If we're already struggling now, how are we going to manage during the exam?"
"Once we get to the bottom, it'll be better..." Willian asked, feeling uneasy, "President, how much further is it?"
"Right here." Makarov pointed to a peak in the center of the canyon, where a Fairy Tail flag was planted. "That's where the exam starts.
From there, to the north, there's a natural maze, and at the end of the maze, there are three exits, each marked with our guild's flag."
Kana glanced at Rod, guessing correctly. A maze? This is a sure win; we could just fly over it.
But then again, in this situation, Mest's spatial magic would be more advantageous.
"The specific rules are as follows: there's a magic array at each of the three exits, and you need a special 'key' to open them.
There are only three keys, and they are scattered throughout the maze.
Your task is to sign your names on the notice board at the starting point, then find the three keys within the maze and enter through the different exits."
Marcus asked, "Can only one team enter each exit?"
Makarov nodded. "That's right. Once a team enters an exit, it will close, so at most, only three teams can pass this stage."
"Th-th-then... President, how are we supposed to get down?" Willian had a bad feeling about this.
Makarov replied, "You'll have to figure it out yourselves."
Willian's face turned pale. This was definitely not good news.
Mirajane, wearing her tiger-claw gloves, tapped her hands together and asked, "President, if we can't find the keys, can we take them from others?"
"You can. Until you reach the exit, there's no prohibition against taking keys from others," Makarov said, taking out eight signal flares and distributing them. "Because the environment below is complex and you might encounter dangerous creatures, you can use these flares to call for help at any time.
However, using a flare means you are giving up the exam. I will come to your aid immediately. Any other questions?"
"Yes, there's a crucial question." Rod raised his hand and asked, "The keys... what do they look like, and how big are they?"
"About this size," Makarov transformed, turning into a wooden sign shaped like the Fairy Tail emblem.
After a moment, he transformed back. "They look like that, and they are roughly the same size as what I just showed you."
A wooden sign taller than a person. A large target is easier to find, but carrying it around would be cumbersome, especially if you need to fight while holding it.
It seems we'll need to avoid others once we find the keys and quickly head to the exit.
Everyone made their own judgments, and Makarov waved his hand. "Now, the first stage of the Fairy Tail S-Class Mage Promotion Exam begins!"
"Summon, Crimson Beak Birds!"
Two large Crimson Beak Birds appeared, and Rod and Kana each mounted one.
The birds took a few steps, leaped off the cliff, and flew toward the flag in the center of the canyon.
"Using birds to fly is too much of an advantage! Let's go, Joey!"
"Right!"
Mirajane and Joey ran to the edge of the cliff, leaped to a lower rock face, and then agilely continued their descent.
Mest placed his hand on Wang Qiangji's shoulder, and the two instantly disappeared, reappearing at the bottom of the valley.
They then continued to teleport, moving even faster than the flying Crimson Beak Birds.
And the last team...
"Come on, Willian! We're falling behind!" Marcus tried to drag Willian along.
But Willian clung to a rock, nearly in tears. "No, it's too high!"
Marcus was exasperated. "Do you even want to take the exam?"
Willian was on the verge of tears. "At least give me a moment to prepare!"
(End of Chapter)
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