Training

As they arrived back at Magnolia, they've first checked out the Guild. It was chaotic as ever with one difference. They had a new member within Fairy Tail. The new member was roughly at the same age as Ryu and Masaru and was fighting with Gray until Erza stopped both of them and hit both of them. Ryu and Masaru then both went to the new member to say "Hi" and welcome him to the Guild. They were answered with a smile and the new member asked:"Hi I'm Natsu, what are your names?" Ryu and Masaru then both said their names and Ryu asked, even thought he already knew the answer:"So Natsu what is your magic?" Natsu then said:"I have the Fire Dragon Slayer Magic and I learned it from my father." Ryu then nodded and said:"I'm Ryu and that's Masaru. I use Lightning God Slayer Magic and he uses Lava/Magma magic."

After talking to Natsu, Ryu and Masaru went to Makarov to report for their mission and after then they went home to their apartment. At the apartment Ryu said:"I think we need to get stronger cause the missions are not as easy as we assumed they would be, I foolishly thought, that my hiding and stealth skills were great and no one would notice me but then was forced to an one vs many fight. This time I was lucky that they weren't so strong but next time I don't know if I will survive such a situation so I have to train to be prepaired." Masaru the nodded and added:"Well to be faire, next time we shouldn't split and together we are stronger. We were strong enough to land a hit on Gildarts!" But Ryu said:"Yeah, BUT he was caught by surprise, he didn't move, he didn't use his magic and I broke both my legs and an arm so we shouldn't say we land a hit on Guildarts, he basically invited our fists to his face."

Masaru:"Yeah, you're right, from tomorrow onwards, we will do it like this: One or two weeks mission, depends on how long they take and one or two weeks training as hard as we can."

Ryu:"Ok lets start with one week training from tomorrow."

The next month they were training and working at this rhythm and the whole Guild was quite impressed by their mission complete rate as it was one of the best of the Guild, only outshined by Guildarts who's just a monster.

At the end of the year, everyone was tensed as the participants of the S-Rank competition will be announced. As everyone was present in the guild hall, Makarov then came out and said:"Hello my fellow Guild members. I assume you all know why I am standing here and talking and talking while looking at your stupid faces which can't wait anymore to know who will be the participants in the S-Rank competition on Tenroujima. So there are five contestants this year, but will there be a new S-Rank mage in Fairy Tail. But you should know, from this four, there will be only one or in worst case zero new S-Rank mages. And the contestants are: Laxus, Erza, Cana, Ryu and Masaru. You five will come with me and Guildarts on Tenroujima next week and each of you will take another Fairy Tail member, who is either S-Rank, nor another competitor, as your teammate in this competition."