The vast sea spread out endlessly.
A sailing ship carrying the Fairy Tail S-Class candidates was moving forward slowly.
"Ugh..."
Natsu was leaning over the railing, his face pale, looking half-dead. He was continuously vomiting into the beautiful, clear ocean water.
"Natsu, pull yourself together..."
"Remember what you told me? We can't let anyone look down on us!"
Happy, Natsu's loyal partner, fluttered his small wings nearby, encouraging him repeatedly.
"Aye~"
But by this point, Natsu had essentially "become Happy."
Other than repeating "Aye," he didn't have the strength to say a single other word.
"Hahaha..."
"Natsu is truly pathetic; he can't even overcome something as simple as a vehicle!"
"If that's all he's got, then he shouldn't have come to participate in Fairy Tail's S-Class Mage Exam this year."
Freed, dressed in his red knight outfit, mocked Natsu while watching his pitiful state.
"Exactly!"
"Natsu is so weak..."
"Unlike our Laxus, who wouldn't be defeated by a mere vehicle."
Bickslow stood beside Freed, both of them laughing at Natsu's seasickness, while taking the opportunity to flatter Laxus.
"Uh..."
Unfortunately for Bickslow, his attempt at flattery missed the mark.
"Ugh..."
Laxus was sitting alone in the corner of the ship, trying to maintain his composure. His stomach was burning, and he felt the contents of his breakfast trying to come back up.
Even the milk he'd drunk earlier that morning was already pushing up into his throat.
"Hold it together, Laxus, you have to hold it together..."
"You can't let anyone know that you're also seasick."
Laxus' face turned pale like Natsu's, his hands slick with sweat. How much he wanted to hold onto the railing and vomit—but he couldn't. He was the unbeatable Laxus, after all.
Resolutely, Laxus suppressed the turmoil in his stomach, using his magic to keep the urge to vomit at bay.
Laxus was tough on others, but he was even tougher on himself...
"Why do I feel like Laxus also looks uncomfortable?"
Bickslow glanced at Laxus's pale face, then at Natsu vomiting over the side. No matter how he looked at it, Laxus seemed just like Natsu. He must be seasick.
"Impossible..."
"Laxus would never get seasick."
"This must be a side effect of Laxus training even while on the ship."
"Just what I'd expect from Laxus—even while resting, he's improving himself."
Freed shook his head firmly, his eyes filled with admiration for Laxus.
"R-really?!"
Bickslow looked puzzled as he turned towards his dolls.
"So noisy! The exam is about to start, and these guys still can't calm down."
Gray sat on the deck, looking towards the noisy group of Natsu and the others, and muttered with a sigh.
"Absolutely. They're so immature."
Lyon nodded vigorously, seemingly agreeing with Gray.
"Gray, Lyon, your clothes..."
Cana, holding her tarot cards and seemingly divining something, looked up momentarily and saw the two—each with their clothes scattered all over the deck. She sighed and reminded them.
"Damn..."
"Forgot to put them on again."
Gray and Lyon both looked down and realized they were stark naked. Their expressions turned slightly panicked as they quickly gathered their scattered clothes.
"Hurry up and put them on already!"
Cana shouted at Gray and Lyon, who had picked up their clothes but weren't putting them on.
"Sorry!"
"I blanked out for a moment there..."
"I forgot how to put on clothes. Besides, it's so hot here..."
"Feels like I'm about to melt."
Gray looked at Cana, speaking seriously.
"Hey, hey, hey..."
"Gray, you didn't get hit in the head by Natsu last time you fought, did you? Giving you some cognitive impairment?"
Cana looked at Gray with a hint of concern.
"Cana, you're overthinking it..."
"Gray just forgot how to put on clothes because it's been too long since he did. Plus, it's incredibly hot here. It's winter, so why is it so hot? It's ridiculous..."
Lyon glanced at Cana and explained for Gray.
What can be said?! Lyon, after all, was Gray's senior.
Other than Gray's parents or their master, no one understood Gray's habits better than Lyon.
"And what about you?"
"Did you forget how to put them on too?"
Cana looked at Lyon, who also wasn't wearing any clothes.
"Watch your words..."
"I'm not like Gray, that idiot. I didn't forget how to put on clothes."
"I just figured that, since we'll have to take them off to fight soon anyway, I'd save myself the trouble of putting them on now."
Lyon smiled, speaking seriously.
"Master, when the S-Class Mage Exam ends, we should put these perverts in the Magic Prison, BLACK VOX!"
"There's no benefit to keeping them in Fairy Tail..."
Cana looked at Lyon, her face filled with disbelief. She had met her fair share of perverts, but never one like this.
"Are you kidding me? I'm not a pervert..."
Gray, who had finally dressed, looked at Cana with indignation.
"That's worth considering," Makarov nodded while fanning himself. "I always felt the cute girls were scared away by Gray and Lyon."
Yes, after hearing Cana's suggestion, Makarov pondered for a moment and found some truth in it.
Perhaps it was because Gray and Lyon were always stripping naked in the guild, that Fairy Tail wasn't attracting any cute, shy girls.
In truth, in Makarov's mind, the adorable girls were all scared away by the guild's "harmonious" and "friendly" atmosphere.
"Master, please don't stir the pot..."
Gray and Lyon both turned to Makarov, their voices heavy.
---
On the other side of the ship, Mirajane's group, Erza's group, and Ultear's group stayed out of Natsu, Gray, Lyon, Cana, and Laxus's arguments.
These groups were either resting or strategizing for their upcoming battles on Tenrou Island.
It was incredibly hot here, so they kept calm, knowing that a clear mind brings a cool heart.
---
Hours passed.
The ship, emblazoned with Fairy Tail's emblem, came to a sudden halt in the middle of the sea.
"We're here."
At that very moment, Makarov, who had been sitting at the ship's bow, suddenly opened his eyes and looked straight ahead. He saw a massive island shrouded in mist and called out loudly to the S-Class candidates on board.
"Boom!"
Right after Makarov spoke, all the S-Class candidates stood up simultaneously, releasing terrifying auras...
One after another, powerful magical energies clashed in the air, producing a piercing hiss. Everyone was ready to start fighting at any moment.
"Wait a minute, all of you..."
"I haven't finished explaining the rules for this year's S-Class Mage Exam."
"It's not time for you to fight just yet."
Makarov waved his hand, interrupting the candidates before they could start fighting even before landing on Tenrou Island.
"Master, you say that..."
"But if I just take out all the competition here and now, then I don't need to listen to any more of your exam rules, right?!"
Having revived after the ship stopped, Laxus's eyes were sharp like an eagle's. Surrounded by golden lightning, he seemed ready to take on everyone present.
"Heh..."
"If you really think you can take down everyone in an hour..."
"And reach Tenrou Island and pass all the examiners' challenges afterward, then sure, you don't need to listen to my rules."
"But if you can't fulfill those requirements, or if you're unsure, then you'd better listen to what I have to say."
Makarov crossed his arms, exuding a commanding presence.
"Tch~"
Laxus frowned, clicking his tongue in frustration. The idea of taking down everyone here within an hour, then clearing all the examiner's challenges on the island, was pure fantasy.
"Since it can't be done..."
"Let me explain this year's S-Class Mage Exam."
"You can see the island behind me..."
"There's a fire burning below the island. Your first task is to head to the fire and extinguish it. Afterward, eight cave entrances will appear."
"The caves are divided into Battle Paths and Struggle Paths."
"The Battle Paths involve fighting against the active S-Class mages of the guild!"
"The Struggle Paths involve competing against other S-Class candidate teams."
"Only the winners will proceed to the next round."
Makarov explained the battles that awaited the candidates.
"Um..."
As Makarov finished passionately explaining the rules for the S-Class Mage Exam, Eresh, who had remained silent, raised her delicate hand.
"Eresh, do you have any questions? Feel free to ask..."
Makarov smiled kindly at Eresh.
At that moment, Makarov still didn't understand the severity of the situation. He thought that perhaps, being a dragon, Eresh might have a harder time comprehending things.
"Master, what you're saying is..."
"If I can take down everyone on this ship within an hour and take my sister to Tenrou Island to pass the examiners' challenges, then Erza can pass the S-Class Mage Exam, right?!"
Eresh smiled innocently, just like Makarov, and asked seriously.
"Eh..."
Makarov stiffened at her words. He seemed to forget that his previous condition had been set based on Laxus's capabilities!
Although it was a challenging requirement, it wasn't impossible for at least one person present...
More precisely, it wasn't impossible for a certain dragon present.
An overwhelming pressure settled over the entire Fairy Tail ship.
Even the once-clear sky had grown overcast, as though shrouded in a mist that covered everyone on the deck.
"Hey, don't get too full of yourself!"
"I thought you were different from Erza—that you were a good kid!"
"But saying you can take us all down in an hour is ridiculous!"
"No matter how much you pretend to be a lady, you're the same as Erza at heart."
Mirajane seemed infuriated by Eresh's words, her eyes ablaze as she shouted.
"Heh..."
"So you think you can take us all down in an hour, huh?"
"I'd like to see if you can do it—or if you can't even handle me."
Laxus stood with his arms crossed, golden lightning crackling around him. He looked down at the much smaller Eresh, his voice filled with arrogance.
"Yeah, yeah..."
The others joined in, egging her on.
"You've misunderstood."
"I don't need an hour to defeat you all~"
"One move is enough..."
Eresh's eyes glinted like jewels, suddenly narrowing into something wilder, almost predatory.
"Uh..."
In just that instant, the dragon slayers Laxus and Natsu each took several steps back, finding themselves pressed against the deck's railing. The look in Eresh's eyes had eliminated any trace of disdain, replacing it with astonishment.
That kind of presence—the ability to instill such fear and threat with just a look—was something far beyond ordinary. The sense of menace Eresh gave off was unprecedented.
"Laxus, what's wrong?"
Freed, who wasn't a dragon slayer and hadn't sensed the shift, looked at Laxus, confused.
"..."
Laxus didn't answer right away. His heart was still pounding uncontrollably, as if it might leap out of his chest.
"There's something off about that woman."
"Her strength is nothing ordinary..."
"She might even surpass Laxus and Erza."
Finally, the others noticed Laxus and Natsu's unusual behavior, growing wary. They fixed their eyes on Eresh, watching her intently, not daring to drop their guard.
"Eresh, this is my S-Class Mage Exam..."
"If it comes down to it, don't intervene."
As the tension in the air thickened, Erza spoke up, breaking the stiff silence.
Yes, Erza was stopping Eresh from stepping in.
After all, Erza was the one competing in the S-Class Mage Exam this year. She couldn't let her partner do everything for her.
Eresh was her ace in the hole, to be used only if necessary.
Besides, Erza was also curious about how far she could go on her own.
"Alright, Sister."
Eresh nodded, withdrawing her presence.
"Everyone, I'll see you on the island."
With that, Erza equipped her Black Wing Armor, transforming into a dark flash that flew towards Tenrou Island.
"Farewell."
Eresh followed, rising into the air, leisurely drifting after Erza as they headed for the island.
"That aura—there's no mistake. It's a dragon!"
"Happy, take me after them. I have questions I need answers to..."
After his initial shock wore off, Natsu lunged forward, leaping into the sky, shouting for Happy.
"Aye~"
Happy darted to Natsu, grabbing his shoulders and transforming into his wings, carrying Natsu towards Tenrou Island.
"Interesting..."
"Is it because Happy's alive that Natsu doesn't get sick?"
Behind them, Laxus stared thoughtfully.
"Laxus."
Freed looked at Laxus nervously, afraid something was wrong with him.
"Sigh..."
Laxus took a deep breath.
If Natsu was right, that girl claiming to be Erza's sister, Ian's daughter, was indeed a dragon.
Which meant Ian and a dragon had... That's something.
"Damn, it's the S-Class Exam—not the time for thoughts like this."
Shaking his head, Laxus turned to Freed, saying, "We have no time to waste. Let's go. We can't let Natsu beat us there."
"Understood..."
"Dark Ecriture: Wings!"
Freed nodded, casting his Dark Ecriture magic, giving them both wings.
"Whoosh!"
With a roar, Freed and Laxus shot into the sky.
"Damn, Erza, wait for us..."
"Take Over: Satan Soul!"
"Take Over: Beast Soul, Giant Bird!"
Mirajane, unwilling to fall behind, activated her Satan Soul, turning into a demon form with wings. Her brother, Elfman, transformed as well, and they flew together.
"Ultear, let's go!"
Lisanna also transformed into a bird, grabbing Ultear's shoulders to help her take flight.
"Sorry, dear juniors, I'm off."
Ultear waved to her juniors, Gray and Lyon, as Lisanna carried her off.
"Gray, grab my BABY~"
Bickslow snapped his fingers, and his wooden doll flew in front of Gray.
"Got it."
Gray didn't hesitate. He grabbed the handles on either side of the doll, which then carried him into the sky under Bickslow's command.
"Really, is there anyone who can't fly?!"
Bickslow laughed at Lyon and Warren, who were left on the deck.
"What do we do now?"
Warren turned to Lyon.
"Heh..."
"Watch and learn."
"Ice Make: Ice Dragon!"
Lyon posed dramatically, creating a winged ice dragon.
"Amazing!"
"With wings, this thing can definitely fly, right?!"
Warren was excited.
"Of course..." Lyon said proudly, then sighed. "Unfortunately, it can only fly alone, it can't carry anyone yet. I haven't developed an Ice Make spell capable of taking someone to the sky."
"Then why make it?!"
Warren was baffled.
"We can ride it to swim across."
Lyon grinned at Warren.
"Nice."
Warren had no words.
---
Elsewhere...
By the time Natsu arrived on Tenrou Island, Erza and Eresh were already gone. But that didn't deter Natsu—he sniffed the air, picking a cave, and strode in.
"Is this okay, Natsu?"
Happy followed nervously.
"No problem..."
Natsu was confident.
The scent here was similar to Erza's—clearly, she had entered the Struggle Path.
He'd reunite with her soon enough and ask Eresh his questions about dragons. He wanted to know where his father Igneel had gone!
"Erza, I know you're here! Come out!"
As Natsu rushed into the cave, activating its combat mechanism, he and Happy saw someone emerge from the light—a young man with short black hair and a brown coat.
"Yo, Natsu..."
"Didn't expect you to find me here~"
"Seems we're destined to meet."
The young man stretched his stiff body, cracking his joints, and greeted Natsu cheerfully.
"Can we go home now?"
Happy smiled bitterly, already resigned.
After all, this cave's examiner was Ian himself.
---
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