Chapter 69: Ian: What?! Selene and I have a daughter?! And the Fairy Tail Gossipers!

In the passage where Warrod was:

"Wood Make: The Dam of Shy Love!"

Laki posed, her hands moving gracefully as she conjured countless wooden projectiles. Among them were sharp spears, crude wooden swords, giant cleavers, and even ornate tables and chairs...

Perhaps because her main job in Fairy Tail was to replace broken furniture, she seemed more adept at creating these seemingly mundane items than weapons.

Now, these ordinary furnishings transformed into handy instruments of battle, hurtling toward Warrod. Even Laki's magic, it seemed, was imbued with Fairy Tail's unique flair.

"Oh! Wood magic, how rare indeed."

"After several decades, to encounter a mage of the same element as myself within Fairy Tail... Perhaps this is fate?!"

"My return to the guild has been full of surprises!"

Warrod, staff in one hand, stroked his beard with the other, watching the incoming wooden barrage with a smile, making no move to counterattack.

"Truth be told, I'm not very good at fighting."

"But I am exceptionally good at manipulating wood..."

"So, young lady, it's your misfortune to face me."

With a casual wave of his hand toward the incoming projectiles…

The items created by Laki's Wood Make magic suddenly bloomed with vibrant flowers. Then, they descended, taking root in the ground, transforming into a small forest of trees.

"What kind of magic is this?"

Laki stared, bewildered. This was the first time her creations had gone rogue.

"Nature Magic: Green!"

Ultear, beside Laki, provided the answer.

Warrod, after decades immersed in magic, had stepped into the realm of the "Inhuman," a magical giant. While he claimed to be unskilled in offensive magic... that was only in comparison to others of his caliber. Against mages below the Inhuman level, he possessed overwhelming power.

His magic, "Green," was a culmination of countless wood and nature spells, a unified, single-attribute magic that stood at the pinnacle of its type. In the realm of wood and nature magic, Warrod was the absolute authority.

"Well, well, Ultear."

"It's been over a year, and you've grown stronger!"

Warrod turned his gaze to Ultear, sensing the surging magic within her.

"It's all thanks to your teachings that I have this power..."

Ultear smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescents, an image of gentle warmth that invited closeness... However, anyone fooled by this image would pay dearly. Her hands moved swiftly, shaping ice into a blooming rose garden.

"Ice-Make: Rose Garden!"

Without hesitation, Ultear unleashed her ultimate Ice-Make magic. Beautiful white roses filled the passage, launching an attack on Warrod.

"Spring!"

Warrod tapped his staff gently on the ground.

Instantly, the frigid passage, previously locked in winter's grip, thawed as if under a warm sun. The ice melted into life-giving water, seeping into the earth.

"No!"

Ultear's eyes widened in alarm. She realized what was happening. Launching herself into the air, she shouted to Laki, "Laki, get away! Don't touch the ground!"

"Huh?"

Laki was still trying to understand what was going on.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Before Laki could react, flowers erupted from the ground, their vibrant petals unfurling as vines snaked out, wrapping around her ankles.

"No!"

By the time Laki tried to escape, the vines had already ensnared her completely, blooming with bright flowers across her body. A breeze from outside wafted through the passage, carrying the sweet scent of blossoms.

"Now, it's just you, Ultear."

Warrod, having dealt with Laki, turned his attention back to Ultear, a playful glint in his eyes.

"You monster!"

Ultear landed, freezing the vines at her feet before glaring at Warrod.

"A monster, you say? You wound me, child."

Warrod feigned hurt, his body stiffening slightly.

"Ha..."

Ultear wasn't buying it. She watched him warily, knowing that one wrong move could be disastrous. She knew firsthand just how powerful this seemingly jovial old man truly was. She had witnessed him manipulating plant growth to travel vast distances across Fiore, each journey spanning thousands of kilometers. If that wasn't monstrous, she didn't know what was.

Meanwhile, in Ut's passage:

"Sister, I'm sorry..."

"Ur is too strong."

Elfman, transformed into a grotesque ice sculpture, stood frozen before Mirajane.

"Damn it..."

Mirajane knelt, sweat dripping from her brow. Since joining Fairy Tail, she had never felt so helpless. She could only watch as her brother was encased in ice, unable to offer any resistance.

"Is this the difference between a Wizard Saint and us?"

"Is it really this vast?!"

The disparity in power filled her with frustration.

"Give up, Mirajane."

"You're not ready for the S-Class exam..."

Ur stood with one hand on her hip. She hadn't even used a tenth of her power. If this was all Mirajane had to offer, she wouldn't let her pass.

"Looks like I have to use that..."

"I was saving it for Erza..."

Mirajane sighed. The situation was dire enough to warrant her trump card. But honestly, it would have been strange if she could easily defeat a Wizard Saint like Ur without it.

Gathering her magic power, a massive, purple magic circle appeared above her, radiating an oppressive aura. The sheer power emanating from it made even Ur narrow her eyes.

"This power... it feels familiar. Could it be...?"

Ur sensed something in Mirajane's overflowing magic.

"Yes!"

"This power comes from Deliora!"

"Take Over: Deliora Soul!"

Mirajane's voice resonated as she absorbed Deliora's soul. Unlike her previous partial Take Overs, she could now fully channel Deliora's power.

When the dust cleared, Mirajane stood before Ur, her body covered in blue scales reminiscent of Deliora, exuding a strange and mesmerizing beauty.

"You've grown, Mirajane."

Ur smiled, genuinely pleased by Mirajane's progress. She remembered when she first met the Strauss siblings in the village, ostracized for their inability to control their Take Over magic. Now, in just a year, the once-fragile girl had become a true force to be reckoned with. Even though Mirajane was only forcefully channeling Deliora's soul, not fully mastering its power.

"Thank you!"

Mirajane stretched, her joints cracking. Then, she lunged at Ur like a meteor, shouting, "Look out! Even I'm scared of myself in this state!"

"Heh..."

Ur raised her arms to block the incoming blow.

BOOM!

A shockwave erupted, forcing Ur back several steps.

"It worked!"

Mirajane's eyes lit up. Ur had finally moved. During their previous encounter, Ur had remained stationary, effortlessly pummeling Mirajane's Satan Soul form until she was forced to revert and then swiftly defeated Elfman. Now, she had managed to push Ur back, albeit only slightly. It was a victory nonetheless.

"Not bad~"

Ur rubbed her slightly sore arm, a smile playing on her lips. She was truly happy for Mirajane's growth. Seeing the once-lost child flourish in Fairy Tail filled her with pride.

However, it wasn't enough to defeat her. Not even this forced Deliora Take Over, or even the resurrected Deliora himself, could match her now. The children weren't the only ones who had grown stronger in Fairy Tail. Ur was far more powerful than she once was.

"Deliora, you've come a long way!"

"It was a shame we never fought back then..."

"Let's settle our score today..."

"It's time I showed you my true strength."

Ur released a chilling aura. Her magic, nearing the Inhuman realm, poured out, threatening to freeze everything. Even space and time seemed to distort under its influence.

"Uh..."

Now it was Mirajane's turn to panic.

"Ur!"

"Ur-senpai, Ur-nee..."

"Open your eyes and look! I'm not Deliora, I'm Mirajane..."

"Stay away from me!"

The usually stoic girl, for the first time in her life, felt true fear. Tears welled up in her eyes. She was just a thirteen-year-old girl. Fighting S-Class monsters was one thing, but facing such a monstrous opponent? That was simply unfair!

BOOM!

Ur, seemingly deaf to Mirajane's pleas, unleashed a wave of freezing magic, transforming the entire passage into a glacial wonderland.

Back in Warrod's passage:

"Ugh.."

Ultear, dangling from Warrod's vines, wasn't faring much better than Mirajane.

Thus, the first stage of the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial in all passages concluded!

What about Gray's passage, you ask?

While Gray and Lyon were locked in an Ice-Make battle, Bickslow used his Figure Eyes to launch a sneak attack on Warren, securing their victory. Unfortunately for Warren, even his telepathy couldn't prevent a direct, forceful attack in a one-on-one situation.

After the first round, both the victors and the eliminated gathered at the meeting point at the end of the eight passages.

"I now announce..."

"The teams that have passed the first round of the X778 S-Class Mage Promotion Trial!"

"They are..."

"Laxus Dreyar and Freed Justine."

"Erza Scarlet and Eresh."

"Gray Fullbuster and Bickslow."

"And Mirajane Strauss and Elfman Strauss."

Makarov, holding a document, announced the advancement of the four teams.

"Eh? Mirajane, you beat Mom and advanced?!"

Ultear was shocked. She couldn't imagine her seemingly invincible mother being defeated.

"I think it's because I used Deliora Soul. Ur basically pummeled me for three minutes straight, and then, since I was so durable, she let me pass..." Mirajane wiped away tears. Three whole minutes of brutal beating. Thank goodness for Deliora Soul's resilience; she thought she was going to die.

"Haha, is that so?"

Ultear giggled. That explained things.

"Speaking of which, Ultear, you seem to have been eliminated?" Mirajane asked, a curious look on her face.

"No way around it. That old geezer Warrod is too strong." Ultear shrugged, admitting defeat. She wasn't particularly attached to the S-Class title. There was always next year.

Besides the advancing teams, Cana and Lisanna, Natsu and Happy, Lyon and Warren, and Ultear and Laki were eliminated.

However, there was good news. Erza offered to train Cana and Lisanna in combat for the next year. Warrod took Laki as his apprentice, to further her skills in nature magic.

Only Lyon and Natsu seemed to have gained nothing.

However...

After comforting Cana and Lisanna, Erza and Eresh walked over together. Natsu rushed towards Eresh, exclaiming, "You're a dragon, aren't you? I'd recognize that aura anywhere!"

"Heh, yes, I am. So?" Eresh smiled, confirming his suspicions.

Natsu took a deep breath and bowed. "Please, tell me where Igneel is! He's my father! I've been searching for him."

"Your father is Igneel?"

"Are you talking about the renowned Fire Dragon King, Igneel?" Eresh asked, surprised.

"I don't know if he's the Fire Dragon King, but Igneel is definitely a fire dragon," Natsu replied.

"Then there's no mistaking it..."

"There's only one fire dragon named Igneel, and that's the Fire Dragon King."

"But I'm sorry, I don't know his whereabouts. He's been missing for four hundred years." Eresh shook her head sadly.

"Missing for four hundred years?"

"Impossible, I saw Igneel last year..." Natsu trembled, shaking his head.

"If you don't mind me asking, where did you see Igneel?" Eresh inquired.

"On this continent," Natsu answered honestly.

"Then I can't answer your question..."

"I only recently arrived in Ishgar. I don't know much about this place."

"But I can tell you this: If Igneel has been living on this continent, it's no different from being missing. This place is known as the Dragon Graveyard, a forbidden zone for all dragons in this world."

"That's all I can tell you for now. You're not strong enough to know more."

Eresh decided against mentioning Igneel's son, Natsu's brother, the Fire God Dragon, Ignia. Natsu wasn't ready for such information. She suspected Igneel's disappearance was part of a larger scheme involving powerful beings, and it was best for Natsu to stay out of it for now.

"I see."

Natsu looked disappointed.

"Natsu, I understand your desire to find your father..."

"I've been there."

"So, let me tell you this: Where there's a will, there's a way!"

"If you persevere, you'll find him someday."

"Just like I did..."

Eresh patted Natsu's head encouragingly. For dragons, time held little meaning. Perhaps Igneel was merely taking a nap, a nap that could last decades. Natsu had to keep searching.

"I understand. I'll never give up."

Natsu nodded resolutely. He would never stop searching for Igneel.

Eresh turned her gaze towards Ian on the platform. "Now, it's time for me to reunite with my father."

Meanwhile, Ian was with Erza.

"Well done, you passed the first trial. But don't get careless, the S-Class exam has just begun..." Ian patted Erza's head, his eyes filled with fatherly affection.

"Father, there's someone I want you to meet..." Erza leaned into his touch, a soft smile on her face.

"Your partner, I presume?" Ian seemed to have guessed. He was happy Erza had found a partner.

"Yes, her name is Ereshkigal."

"Ereshkigal?!"

Ian's mind went blank. Wasn't that the name of the Sumerian goddess of the underworld?

"Yes, it's a pleasure to meet you, Father. My name is Ereshkigal, but you can call me Eresh, my nickname. I'm your and the Moon Dragon God, Selene's, daughter~" A beautiful young woman descended from the sky, landing beside Ian. She curtsied gracefully, revealing her name and lineage.

"Eh?!"

Ian's jaw dropped.

"Whoaa!!"

Besides the stunned Ian, Gildarts, Warrod, Ur, Makarov, along with Laxus, Ultear, Mirajane, Elfman, Lisanna, and all the other Fairy Tail members present, whether participating or observing the S-Class trial, stared in wide-eyed surprise, ready to feast on the ensuing drama. Fairy Tail mages were always on the front lines of any good gossip!

"How shocking!"

Even Mavis's spirit, observing from the ethereal plane, joined in the collective astonishment.