The old man was clearly about to say something important, and the onlookers slightly straightened their postures.
This old man didn't need to raise his voice; everyone in the Guild was willing to quiet down for him.
Makarov scanned the crowd a few times and slowly began, "Today, I have an announcement to make."
"Our Guild has a new S-Class Mage."
The old man paused deliberately at this point, and as expected, the onlookers erupted in low murmurs, looking around and asking questions to those they knew.
"An S-Class, who is the old man talking about?"
"Is it a new recruit?"
"They didn't just pick up another powerful character, did they?"
"An S-Class?"
Ezreal sat steadily, his expression normal, and Mira and Erza around him also had normal expressions, indicating that the Master must have mentioned it to them beforehand.
However, Ikaruga, Elfman, and others all looked puzzled.
Makarov pulled a letter and a rhomboid golden token from his Pregnant, with the large characters "Punishment" written on it.
"He single-handedly wiped out the Dark Guild, Skull Gang, and received the 'Punishment Knight' token issued by the Magic Council!"
"Let us welcome the Guild's new S-Class Mage, Ezreal!"
Makarov shouted, a kind smile on his face, looking at Ezreal.
Ezreal smiled and stood up, walking slowly to Makarov's side amidst the initial surprise and then enthusiastic applause of those around him, taking the golden token from the old man's hand.
Ezreal glanced at it twice; it was indeed made of pure gold, with "Punishment" written on the front and his name on the back.
Ezreal secretly weighed it a couple of times and thought, the Council is still rich; this token weighs a full half-pound.
Makarov held the letter, shook it, and said to everyone, "Ezreal will serve as the instructor for the Fairy Tail Mage training program, specifically for Light Magic, Summoning Magic, and group combat. Does anyone have any objections?"
The onlookers applauded, no one saying no, and even the usually aloof Laxus was applauding with the Thunder God Tribe.
Moreover, ever since Makarov announced that the new S-Class was Ezreal, a hint of relief had appeared in his eyes.
Ezreal's close friends applauded even more vigorously, Marcus and Natsu Grey's hands were red from clapping.
Makarov turned and handed the letter to Ezreal.
After Ezreal took it, he realized that the letter was an "Fairy Tail Mage Training Instructor Appointment Letter."
Holding the letter, he bowed slightly to Makarov, and then Ezreal bowed slightly to the onlookers, saying softly, "I have quite a few Summoned Beasts. If they are killed, they can be revived after a period, so everyone can go all out in practical sparring without holding back. I am honored and happy to be able to help you all."
Makarov took over from Ezreal, continuing, "Ezreal's S-Class qualification was not obtained through internal assessment. I assigned the task of eliminating the Skull Gang to him as a promotion mission."
"This method of promotion carries more life-threatening risks than the Guild's internal assessment. But he completed the promotion mission unscathed, relying on his own strength, and received high praise from the Magic Council. This fully proves his strength."
At this point, Makarov paused, his gaze sweeping over Laxus, finding his expression unchanged and completely without any extra movements, which slightly surprised him. Then, he scanned the few boisterous young Mages in the Guild.
For example, Gray, Natsu, Elfman... Makarov continued, "However, if any of you believe that Ezreal's strength is insufficient to be an S-Class Mage of the Guild, you can all challenge him in this practical training session today. The winner can also become an S-Class Mage!"
As soon as Makarov said this, the Guild members immediately became excited.
"Old man, are you serious?" Natsu practically jumped up and asked.
"Master, a man! His word is his bond!" Elfman shouted, raising his fist.
Mira smiled, cupping her face, and said, "Oh, everyone is very energetic."
Erza smiled and agreed, "Indeed, everyone is very motivated!"
"Hey, hey, hey, why are you so optimistic? Can you really beat him?" Cana, who had just stepped down, couldn't help but roll her eyes.
Gray, who had also just stepped down, quickly calmed down after a moment of excitement in his eyes.
Marcus, standing with Natsu, also had a calm expression.
Ikaruga sat in her chair, her expression unchanged, showing no signs of excitement at all.
Their relationships were all quite good, and they understood Ezreal's strength very well.
Cana, Ikaruga, and Marcus had all journeyed with Ezreal through the Asgard Mountains.
They knew exactly how strong Ezreal was.
As for Gray, when he wasn't clashing with Natsu, he was still very rational and quick-witted.
He had just barely managed to draw with Cana's Frost Spirit on the field, and that was with Cana not even fully engaged.
He couldn't even defeat Cana, let alone Ezreal.
Judging from Natsu and Marcus's battle earlier.
Gray now even felt that he might not be able to win against Marcus.
Although Cana's voice was not loud, everyone around her were Mages, sharp of hearing and sight, and they all heard clearly.
The originally noisy atmosphere slowly quieted down.
Except for Natsu and Elfman, those two hot-headed Mages who were still excited, most people had calmed down.
Makarov smiled and patted Ezreal's shoulder, saying, "EZ, you're not afraid of a challenge, are you?"
Ezreal smiled, stepped forward, and said softly, "Of course not, old man."
Ezreal spread his arms, and behind him, ten gigantic white energy vortices opened in the air, rotating clockwise.
Six Shadow Worgen strode out, their eerie green wolf eyes fierce and wild.
The Worgen stood behind Ezreal, lined up in a row, and knelt on one knee.
Two massive, heavy Red and Blue Stone Golems, wielding giant weapons, also emerged, their bodies trembling and splitting, transforming from two into 24.
Like a row of white Stone Men, the Red and Blue Warriors, with wide eyes, stood silently behind Ezreal, and a second later, knelt on one knee.
The 24 gigantic white Stone Men knelt on the ground, and the ground trembled slightly.
Immediately after, from the last two white vortices, a five-meter-tall, one-eyed Stone Man with a Gray rocky body but emanating blue light from within, emerged from a vortex and landed to Ezreal's right.
A seven-meter-tall Treant, with a crown of flames burning on its head, a body and limbs composed of vines, roots, and branches, and scales made of leaves, a robust physique, and majestic eyes, descended from a vortex and stood to Ezreal's left.
Ezreal snapped his fingers, and the ten dimensional portals slowly dissipated. A faint white light glowed in his eyes, and with a gentle smile on his face, he softly asked, "Please, who wants to go first?"