Chapter 20 - Wizard Saint Trials

Ace walked into the ship in Hargeon Port with Mirajane and she walked towards the other S-Class wizards while Ace walked to stand with Lucy, Wendy and Max

They boarded a ship and it set sail for Tenrou Island. Although Mavis was no longer there, the spell that protects all Fairy Tail members was still active there, which made it the perfect place for the S-Class Trials.

To their surprise, not only were the Fairy Tail members there on the ship, but also several members of the Wizard Saints and Magic Council, namely Draculos Hyberion, Wolfheim, Warrod Sequen and Jura Neekis were there as well as Jellal of Crime Sorciere were there as well waiting.

“Welcome Ace. There has been a change of plans. While Lucy, Wendy and Max will still be going for the S-Class Trails, you will instead be taking another trial instead, together with Laxus, Erza, Natsu and Gray. This is a trial to become one of the Wizard Saints, representing Fairy Tail” Gildarts said.

“What? A trial to become a Wizard Saint?” Ace asked, stunned but yet not surprised. Natsu, Gray, Erza and Laxus already knew about it.

“Yes. Originally, they asked me to join, but as Guild Master, together with the dimensional crisis that is happening all over, I cannot take up the responsibility” Gildarts explained.

“Furthermore, even I can tell that you are hiding your true power. You or one of the others would best serve the guild for the greater good if you win, rather than just take up missions for Fairy Tail. After all, you will always still be part of the guild” he continued.

The rest of the S-Class mages were also stunned. It was a great honor to be selected.

“Yes, we are here to test you, as to fully understand what you can offer” Draculos said.

“Yeah! I’m all fired up now!” laughed Natsu, his fist burst in flame.

“Yeah yeah. Wait till we get on shore. I don’t want to swim back” Gildarts said as he knocked Natsu out with a chop to his head.

Ace grinned and looked at the rest. They were all beaming and smiling at him, feeling proud one of their own would be nominated for a Wizard Saint.

As they landed, Mirajane kissed him and wished him luck as she disappeared while pushing Makarov on his wheelchair, joined by Juvia, Gajeel, Freed, Evergreen, Bickslow and Elfman to help administer the S-Class test.

The rest, including Laxus, Erza, Natsu and Gray stayed behind with Gildarts and the Wizard Saints.

“Alright. This test is simple and straightforward. Draculos, Wolfheim, Warrod, Jura, Jellal and myself will watch you battle each other in round robin matches, and the most powerful among yourselves will have a final test against one of us. The most powerful will be our representative as Wizard Saint.

The matches started off with Natsu vs Laxus, then Erza vs Gray and so on.

Natsu actually managed to beat Laxus, drew with Gray and lost to Erza and Ace

Gray drew with Natsu but lost to Laxus, Erza and Ace

Erza beat Natsu and Gray but lost to Laxus and Ace

Laxus beat Erza and Gray but lost to Natsu and Ace

Ace actually beat everyone of them reasonably easily, so overall the decision was clear.

In every match, Ace showcased a different ability to beat his opponent.

Against Natsu, he used his [Space] portals to ensure Natsu ended up hurting himself, not even leaving a scratch on Ace.

It was really comedic as every punch Natsu threw entered a portal and exited next to his face, punching himself.

Every dragon roar was redirected harmlessly into space. Every attack ended harmlessly as Ace stood still with his arms behind his back.

Natsu obviously didn’t give up, so eventually Ace created a large rocking ship arcade machine and teleported Natsu onboard. Immediately, he turned green and thus the victor was clear.

Against Gray, he used his [Time] abilities to change time by rendering all of Gray’s ice abilities useless.

Every ice creation he shot at Ace, like Ultear, he accelerated the ice into nothingness.

“This… it’s like my fight with Ultear” Gray exclaimed.

Gray instead wanted to cut himself to freeze his blood like he did with Ultear, but Ace suspended him in time.

Thus, he won against Gray effortlessly as well.  

Against Erza, he used [Domain] to neutralize all her armors and weapons and trap her with vines that came out of nowhere while she was powerless.

Like her battle against Marin Harrow, all Erza’s armors and weapons from her [Requip] magic was neutralized.

Furthermore, a combination of Uosuke’s [Terrain Effect Magic] and Rustyrose’sa [Arc of Embodiment] turned the area into a incredible obstacle course, finally pinning her down helplessly, giving Ace the win.

Against Laxus, he put him to sleep with his [Soul] magic. He didn’t even want to fight with Laxus.

By the time Laxus woke up, he knew the fight was over.

The representatives from the Magic Council, being Wizard Saints themselves were completely shocked.

“I would like to have a go” said Jura as he stepped up onto the fighting area

“Be my guest” Ace smiled, inviting him up.

“Well, be on guard!” Jura said as he attacked with his Earth magic

At first, Ace countered Jura with earth magic of his own, countering everything Jura threw at him with a exact duplicate of his own.

Then, he started adding in Natsu’s fire dragon-slayer magic, then Gray’s Ice demon-slaying magic. By now, Jura was on the back foot, and Ace seemed to be enjoying himself.

As Laxus’s lightning dragon-slaying magic started enveloping Ace’s body, preparing to attack, Jura gave up.

“I give up. You’re too strong” he said to the shock of those in attendance.

Jellal stepped up next. “I want to try as well” he said

Ace smiled and nodded as Jellal started to attack with his Heavenly Bodies Magic

Ace matched him move for move, not losing out at all to any of Jellal’s magics.

Eventually, Ace subdued him by using [Disjunction] on Jellal, negating all his magical abilities.

“I yield. You are magnificent” said Jellal in admiration.

“I believe you quite easily may be the most powerful mage of the Wizard Saints” said Draculos

Ace simply nodded and smiled. “I don’t really know how powerful I have gotten. Once I copied Rufus’s [Memory Make], together with my [Magic Drain], I have yet to reach my limits” he answered.

“You know what kid? I’ve never sparred with you!” Gildarts said as he powered up.

Ace smiled at him and powered up himself, matching exactly the level of power Gildarts was demonstrating.

The whole area around them started shaking as the observers, all S-Class members started backing away. This fight may very well destroy the whole island.

“Ok. Lets stop for now. I concede. It looks like the decision is unanimous” Gildarts said, giving up.

Ace powered down as well and smiled. “Thank you guild master” he said.

“Ace, I think by now joining us is a mere formality. Welcome to the Magic Council and becoming one of the new 10 Wizard Saints” Warrod said with a smile.

Everyone else started congratulating Ace. His rise from initially being only a [Requip] mage to what he was now has been nothing short of meteoric.

“Come, lets go see the results of the S-Class Trials” said Makarov