Magma Dragon King Chapter 64 (Patreon)

Hey friends and fans! Kairomaru is bringing you another chapter of Magma Dragon King! After the First Trial of the S-Class Promotion Exams, Makarov moves the candidates right into the second trial! Instead of combat, there’s a different criteria entirely for this next trial, one that requires an entirely different skill set…but still a bit of luck as well!

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So, without further delay, please enjoy.

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Chapter 64 – Second Trial

Makarov smiled at his ‘brats’ as the next group emerged from the caves and into the forest clearing behind them. “It seems this wasn’t your year.”

Gray sighed at that, rubbing the back of his head. “We were close…”

Loke shook his head once. “Not really. Natsu didn’t bust his out strongest spells.”

“You okay, Al?” Bisca asked with a gentle smile.

“Yeah…” Alzack gave her a small smile. “I was really hoping to become S-Class though.” He clenched his right hand out of sight of the others. ‘If I became S-Class…then I could tell Bisca how I feel without fear.’

Natsu laughed brightly. “It was fun! Bisca was the closest to being S-Class though!”

Bisca blushed pink as Makarov gave her a proud smile. “I just knew we needed to work together. That’s all.”

“Wait…did you guys pass already?” Gray pointed at the examinees that were already in the clearing.

“Yep!” Wendy gave a smile and a ‘peace’ sign.

Mest nodded with a grin. “Got lucky this year!”

“Wendy and Mest were lucky enough to get the ‘Peace and Quiet’ route.” Makarov explained with a little chuckle. “Juvia and Ur passed in a ‘Battle’ route against Cana.” Juvia smiled at passing the first trial, while Ur simply grinned and waved at Gray, clearly teasing her disciple. “Levy and Gajeel got by Gildarts in a ‘Fierce Battle’ area.”

“NO WAY!!!” Gray, Loke, Alzack, and Bisca all cried out, their eyes wide in shock and disbelief.

Levy beamed at the new arrivals. “Gildarts gave us some really good advice too!”

Gajeel looked off to the side with a grunt. “I’ll beat that old man one day.” But everyone saw his left arm wrapped lightly around Levy’s waist, and how close the two were being…a clear sign of how happy the couple were to have passed the first trial together.

“Lisanna and Lucy managed to match Erza…” Makarov said, the old man’s face a strange mix of proud at their accomplishment, and near disbelief that any of the Fairy Tail members that weren’t S-Class could achieve such a feat.

“WHAT?!” Gray gaped at that news, looking over at Lisanna and Lucy, both women looking adorably smug at the Ice Make Mage’s shock.

“Mhm!” Lisanna grinned and stuck out her tongue a little.

“Hahannn~” Lucy hummed out with an adorable little smirk.

Bisca looked thoughtful for a moment. “But by process of elimination that means Elfman and Evergreen had to have fought…Mira…”

Most of the examinees shivered, picturing Mira’s Satan Soul form and the power they knew she was capable of.

“Those two had some bad luck…” Loke sighed, knowing from experience just how hard Mira could hit.

A rustling from the forest on one side of the clearing got everyone’s attention.

“Hold it one minute!” Elfman’s voice called out right as he and Evergreen walked into the clearing, both scuffed up and clearly having taken a beating. “We’re here! We defeated big sis!” He wobbled slightly on his feet, Evergreen quick to take hold of his arm and help support him.

Evergreen nodded, her normal air of superiority around her, despite her roughed up state. “We’ve passed the first trial!”

“What?!” Makarov couldn’t hide his shock at that. ‘Surprise after surprise today. These brats are really growing up.’ He thought with some grandfatherly pride for the ‘youngsters’ of Fairy Tail.

“How’d you get past Mira?” Alzack couldn’t help but ask, not seeing any way that Elfman and Evergreen could’ve pulled it off.

Elfman subtly flinched before looking to the side. “I can’t say! As a man!”

Evergreen seemed almost smug. “All I’ll say is that we took advantage of a momentary distraction.”

‘What the hell did they do?’ Went through the minds of most of the examinees.

“Ahem!” Makarov coughed into his fist to clear his throat and get everyone’s attention. “In any case… These five teams pass the first trial!” The Light Magic screen appeared before everyone again, showing the simplified ‘map’ of the first trial. The failed teams were crossed out with a red ‘X’ along the paths, while the five passing teams were at the top with the words ‘Passed the First Trial!’ above them. “So we will now start the second trial.”

“Bring it on!” Gajeel said with a wide grin, clearly hoping to fight against one of the other teams.

Levy sighed at Gajeel’s eagerness for another fight, but the little smile on her lips made it rather cute.

Lisanna nodded, her blue eyes bright with excitement. “I’m ready, Master!”

“Juvia will do her best.” Juvia said with a nod, her cheeks lightly pink as she imagined what kind of ‘reward’ Natsu might give her for becoming S-Class.

“I somehow doubt it’s another battle.” Ur said with a thoughtful look on her face.

Lucy also wondered what the next trail would entail. “Will it have the same theme of ‘luck’, Master?”

Mest gave a short nod to Makarov. “Please tell us the second trial, Master.”

“I’ll do my best to help out.” Wendy pumped herself up cutely, both fists raised in front of her.

“I’ll pass the second trial like a man!” Elfman declared, one fist raised, even though he was still being partially supported by Evergreen.

Evergreen let out a ‘hmph’. “Stop moving so much, you fool! You’re heavy!”

“The second trial is to find the location of the First Master, Mavis Vemillion’s, grave.” Makarov said simply, a look of respect for the founder of their Guild clear on his face. “The time limit to find it is six hours.” He revealed that, unlike the first trial, the second one would end whether any of the teams made it or not. “I’ll be waiting there for you all while paying my respects.” Makarov told the five remaining teams. “The trail begins now.” With that he disappeared in a brief flash of light, leaving them all to figure out where the grave was.

“Let’s go, Levy!” Gajeel pointed in the direction that Makarov had been standing.

“Gajeel, we don’t even have any clues or ideas about where the grave is!” Levy said, slowing Gajeel’s desire to chase after where he thought Makarov had gone.

The five teams quickly split up, taking off in whichever direction they thought was correct.

“Uh… What’re we supposed to do?” Gray asked no one in particular.

“You’ll follow me to the rest area.” Cana said with a little wave, a small wooden cup in her hand that was filled with a fruity alcoholic drink.

Bisca blinked and tilted her head. “When did you get here, Cana?”

Cana took a sip of her drink. “I was just behind the treeline, waiting for Master to start the second trial.” She said with a grin before turning and walking off. “Follow me, you guys.”

Without anything else to do, Gray, Loke, Alzack, and Bisca all followed behind Cana towards the rest area that had been set up.

-Lisanna and Lucy-

“ROOOAAARRR!!!” A massive lizard-like creature roared out as it chased after Lucy and Lisanna, its huge jaws opened wide, filled with large fangs, and snapping at them as they ran.

“What the hell is that thing?!” Lucy cried out as they ran through the forest. “Some kind of dragonkin?!”

Lisanna shook her head once as she ran. “No, it’s not! I don’t smell the familiar scent of a dragonkin from it!”

The snapping jaws tore through trees like they were little more than paper. The huge lizard creature closing the distance little by little. The vicious beast didn’t realize that its ‘prey’ was running away from it to SPARE the lizard’s life, instead of fleeing in panicked fear.

Normally, Lisanna would’ve dealt with the creature already. But she wanted to save her strength as much as possible, both to find the grave and for whatever the next trial might be.

-Levy and Gajeel-

Thump

Thump

“Dodos…” A massive creature that looked like a cross between a whale and a dinosaur walked through the thick forest, towering over the treetops. The creature’s every step lightly shook the ground from its weight as it plodded along.

Levy and Gajeel were both hiding behind a large boulder to keep out of the strange creature’s sight. While it wasn’t a dragonkin, based on its scent, it was massive and had a mouth full of sharp teeth, along with forward-facing eyes, indicating that it was, indeed, some type of predator.

“What the hell is up with this island?” Gajeel asked, peeking around the boulder to watch the immense creature plod along.

“I-I think I might’ve died if I’d ever come here before now…” Levy was sitting with her legs pulled to her chest and her arms wrapped around them. She’d never seen a creature like that giant thing in any book that she’d ever read!

-Juvia and Ur-

“Kaw!”

“Kaw!”

“Kaw!”

“Kaw!”

A flock of huge birds cawed and screeched at the two women as they flew towards them, sharp beaks and talons ready to tear into the Mages.

“You’re too noisy.” Ur said cooly, placing her hands together.

In midair, between flaps of their wings, all of the birds found their bodies encased in blocks of ice. The entire flock fell to the ground, no too heavy to fly, now they squawked in panic as they flapped around on the ground, trying to right themselves and get on their feet.

“Juvia feels like this island is much more dangerous than it appears.” Juvia said, looking at the strange parrot-like birds and noticing they had reptilian tails as opposed to tail feathers. “But she will overcome it and become S-Class for Natsu-sama!” Her eyes were practically hearts as she fantasized about the praise and ‘rewards’ that Natsu would lavish on her afterwards.

“Down girl.” Ur laughed as she started walking again. “We still have to find this grave first.”

-Elfman and Evergreen-

“SQUEEEAAALLL!!!” A massive wild pig with fangs in its huge mouth chased after the worn out pair of Mages.

Elfman wished he was in a bit better condition so that he could beat this beast up. “This way, Evergreen!” He pointed to the right and the narrower path through the trees.

“Shut up! Don’t order me around!” Evergreen shot back, even as she ran where Elfman pointed.

The huge pig beast squealed and snarled as it smashed through two trees to continue the pursuit. “BUUUHHHIIII!!!”

-Mest and Wendy-

“Please move!” Wendy slammed a kick into the bottom of the jaw of a strange creature with a rotund body, long neck, and an oddly-shaped head with two antennae on top. The wind swirling around the kick rocked the creature’s head backwards, a few teeth going flying, before it was lifted off its feet and then slammed into the ground a few meters away.

Mest blinked at how quickly and easily Wendy had taken down the strange beast that he’d never seen before. “Uh… N-Nice work!” He smiled, a little strained, at the Dragon Slayer woman.

Wendy smiled back at him. “No problem!” She was just glad that she could help out since they hadn’t needed to do anything during the first trial.

“Do you think this thing might know where the grave of the First Master is?” Mest asked curiously. ‘What better place to hide a secret of Fairy Tail than on an island that’s normally behind powerful wards that make it unfindable, and at the grave of the First Mastwr, no less!’

“Are you really asking it that?” Wendy asked, thinking it was a bit silly.

The creature shocked both of them as it twitched and spoke. “I have no idea…” Then it lost consciousness and went still.

“IT SPOKE?!” Mest and Wendy cried out at the same time.

Truly Tenrou Island was absolutely filled with strange creatures that existed nowhere else.

-Rest Area-

“Evergreen is pregnant with Elfman’s baby?!” Erza cried out in shock at what Mira had just said. The redhead was standing before a pot of soup that she was stirring with a ladle, wearing nothing but a black bikini with a white apron over it. Her cheeks had turned a dark pink at the thought of having children.

Mira waved it off with a little smile. “No, no, that’s just what Evergreen said to shock me and divert my attention for a second. Then Elfman hit me with his strongest attack, while making my own spell kinda blow up in my face.” She was rather proud of how strong her little brother had become, and it was her fault for being distracted during the fight.

“O-Oh, I see…that makes sense.” Erza got out after a second, she stirred the large pot of soup again, her cheeks still pink as she glanced over at Natsu.

“Besides, I made it clear that I’M going to be the first of the Strauss siblings to have children.” Mira said with a giggle, looking over at Natsu with a cute grin.

Natsu smiled at both of his Mates warmly. “I wouldn’t mind.” He hugged Cana into his side, the two sitting next to each other at the large table set up in the rest area.

Cana smiled softly, gently nuzzling Natsu’s neck and breathing in his scent for a moment. “I could be convinced…” She looked at her second fruity drink. “Would have to abstain from my drinks for a year or so…that or turn them straight into magic power the instant they touched my stomach.” She playfully mused on what it would be like to be pregnant with her and Natsu’s first child.

“Ch-Children…” Bisca’s cheeks were dark red as she and Alzack kept glancing at each other, their eyes meeting and making them both look away over and over again.

“I-I mean…maybe someday…” Alzack stuttered out, his own face getting rather red.

Out of view of the others, beneath the table, Bisca’s hand slowly moved and found Alzack’s hand moving towards hers at the same time. The two Guns Mages looked at each other as their hands met and their fingers gently laced together. While they might not be able to come right out and say it to each other yet, the two confirmed that they both felt the same way for each other.

“Ugh… Can you not?” Gray rolled his eyes at Natsu and the girls talking about their lovey-dovey lives.

“Shut it, icicle prick!” Natsu shot at Gray, his amber eyes sharp, the pupil slitted even more than normal.

Gray ‘tsked’ at Natsu and looked around the large tent. “Are Freed and Bickslow still asleep?”

Cana snickered at the question. “Those two lightweights are still passed out drunk!” She’d been the one to put both passed out men onto the cots in the recovery tent.

“Where did Happy, Carla, and Lily go?” Mira asked, noticing that the three flying cats had seemingly wandered off shortly after they’d all arrived.

“I’m not sure.” Erza looked a little concerned. “It’s a little odd for them to all wander off at the same time.” She set the ladle down and untied the apron, letting it fall off her body, revealing her black bikini. “I’ll go look for them.”

Natsu pecked Cana’s cheek. “I’ll come with you, Erza.” He stood up after Cana returned the peck with her own.

Mira stood up, admiring Erza’s sexy body for a second. “We’ll hold things down here.” She easily slipped her foot out of her sandal and picked up the fallen apron with her toes, lifting it up enough to easily grab it with her hand and slip it on herself. “Tell them the food is ready when you find them.” She grinned, knowing how to get Happy’s attention after years of living with the blue cat.

“We will.” Natsu agreed with a grin, his eyes roaming up and down Erza’s bikini-clad body, much to the redhead’s delight.

With a purposeful sway in her hips that made her booty bounce with each step, Erza left the tent, feeling Natsu’s eyes on her ass the whole way. Natsu followed her out and took her hand in his. The two looked at each other and leaned in, sharing a long kiss as they pressed themselves flush together.

“Hah…” Erza exhaled hotly once their lips separated. “Let’s go find Happy, and the others…”

“Think we can sneak away for a bit while everyone else is eating?” Natsu asked with a low rumble in his voice, his hands resting on Erza’s hips.

Erza grinned sexily and kissed Natsu again, looping her arms around his neck, molding her body against Natsu’s firmer muscles. “We can make that happen~” She agreed against his lips, feeling her body heat up.

Natsu smiled and the two gently rested their foreheads together, just enjoying being close while the S-Class Promotion Trials were underway. “Maybe it’ll be time to think about the future soon.” He murmured into Erza’s ear softly, making her let out a soft moan. “I wouldn’t mind being a dad.”

“Natsu…” Erza breathed out with warm little purr. The thought of becoming a mother made her smile happily. Their home had been expanded already, the subconscious desire between all of them was obvious and had been for a while. ‘And the pitter patter of little feet would only make our home warmer and more loving.’

The two shared a shorter kiss before pulling away from each other. There would be time to have a long and important family talk once they made it back home to the Dragon’s Den. With their feelings settled again, the two took off into the forest to search for Happy, Carla, and Lily.

-Tenrou Island-

“Where could they be?” Carla fretted as she flew through the air with Happy and Panther Lily. They’d been trying to find Wendy by going to the clearing that everyone had gathered in after the first trial, but they had no idea which direction she’d taken off in with Mest.

“They couldn’t have gone too far.” Happy assured her, trying to keep Carla from worrying any more than she already was.

Panther Lily tried to scan the area, but large portions of Tenrou Island were covered by thick forests, the canopy completing hiding what was beneath. “You know Wendy the best, Carla. Which way do you think she’d go?”

Carla shook her head. “That girl is too helpful for her own good. She’d probably let Mest pick the direction and just follow him.”

Happy perked up as an idea came to him. “Let’s circle the island once. If the others are searching for the First master’s grave, then they’ll have to fight some of the weird animals on the island! We can just follow the sounds as soon as we hear them!”

“That does work…but it also only gives us a one-in-five chance that it’ll be Wendy and Mest.” Panther Lily said as he considered the plan.

“For once the Tom Cat says something I agree with.” Carla would take the chance in hopes of finding Wendy faster. She flapped her white Aera Magic wings once and shot off to the right, planning to do a counter-clockwise circle of the island.

Happy flew after her quickly. “Carla! Wait for us!”

Panther Lily scanned the forest below for just one more moment, but seeing no signs of anyone, he flapped his own wings and flew after Happy and Carla. “Hopefully we find them quickly.” There was no telling what Mest was up to if he really wasn’t a member of Fairy Tail.

-Elfman and Evergreen-

“How long is this thing going to chase us?!” Evergreen cried out as the massive pig creature was still forcing its way through the trees to try and catch them.

“A man can’t run from an enemy!” Elfman said, though he kept running, knowing his magic power hadn’t recovered enough for him to waste it on the pig creature.

Evergreen snapped at Elfman as they dashed between the trees. “Shut up! Can’t you keep quiet for one minute?!”

They entered a clearing with a rocky cliff on one side, and the lack of trees gave the pig beast the chance it needed to lunge at the two.

“SQUEEEAAALLL!!!” The pig creature lashed its sharp cloven hoof at Evergreen and Elfman, looking to pin them down so that it could finally eat.

“Watch out!” Elfman tackled Evergreen to the side, carefully wrapping his arms around her as he rolled across the ground.

The pig creature’s attack missed and it snapped at the rolling pair, missing again, before they rolled down a small hill and into a narrow tunnel in the cliffside. “BUUUHHHIII!!!” It scratched at the rocky tunnel, trying to pursue, but it was simply too large to fit into the tunnel.

“Whoa!” Evergreen cried out as she and Elfman rolled along the dirt floor until they reached the bottom of the tunnel and spilled out onto grass and plants, the sunlight shining down on them again.

Elfman groaned, having taken nearly all of the rolling and collisions with his larger body while protecting Evergreen. “Ow…” He groaned out, gently holding Evergreen against his large, muscular chest.

Evergreen blushed, her body flush against Elfman’s, feeling the pleasant contrast of her soft curves molding against his firm muscles. “Eh…?” She blinked as she realized what she was doing, and then pushed Elfman away. “Hey…what do you think you’re doing?!” She sat up onto her knees with pink cheeks. “I only said what I did to Mira in order to win! It was part of the plan! You aren’t thinking ‘Maybe she has a thing for me are?’ Are you?! Because if you are…!”

“I wasn’t thinking anything like that.” Elfman said flatly, inwardly thinking that Evergreen was kind of cute when she was flustered like this. “But I have to hand it to you! I would’ve never thought up such a naughty lie!”

“Don’t call it naughty, you perv!” Evergreen’s pink blush deepened to red, neither of them realizing how close their faces were as they had their little back and forth.

A sudden rustle of the thick grass was heard, followed by a soft voice. “People?”

Evergreen and Elfman both whipped around to look at the speaker instantly, not recognizing the voice at all.

The young man in question didn’t look more than eighteen or nineteen at most. He had short black hair, dark eyes, and light skin. There was a pendant hanging around his neck, and he wore a high-collared black robe with gold trim, along with a large, flowing white toga draped around his torso.

“Is that…people? People…? On this island…?” The unknown young man muttered to himself, seemingly surprised by the presence of Evergreen and Elfman. “At least here, I thought that there wouldn’t be anybody…”

Elfman stood up quickly. “Who the hell are you?!”

Evergreen shot to her feet as well. “Only guild members are allowed on this island!”

“Guild?” The young man repeated before looking down. “I see… This island is managed by a guild.”

“Hey, creep!” Elfman took a step forward towards the intruder.

“NO!!!” The intruder shouted, raising his hand up to halt Elfman’s approach. “You can’t come near me!”

Elfman stopped and looked confused at the young man’s sudden panic. “What’re you talking about?” He shifted to his left to put himself between the intruder and Evergreen.

The young man shook his head once. “I get it! I’ll leave! So please, don’t even try to come near me!”

“What’s with this guy?” Evergreen questioned, looking warily at the intruder.

“Can we just leave him alone?” Elfman asked, knowing that no one but Fairy Tail members should set foot on Tenrou Island.

The intruder suddenly held his head with both hands, as if he was beset by a headache or migraine. “N-No! Not now… It’s coming…” His pained tone and worry made both Evergreen and Elfman even more confused. “Death Predation…is coming…”

A black miasma erupted from the young man’s body and spread rapidly in all directions. Elfman and Evergreen watched as the smoke-like blackness moved over the thick grass and plants on the ground, and the instant it touched them, they withered and turned to dried out husks that fell to dust almost instantly.

“GET DOWN!!!” Natsu roared out as he seemingly fell from the air and pushed Elfman and Evergreen onto the ground, the land itself sinking almost three feet as well, allowing the wave of blackness to pass over the three of them without touching the three Fairy Tail Mages.

“N-Natsu…” The intruder uttered out, a single tear falling from each eye as he looked at the Magma Dragon Slayer.

“WHO ARE YOU?!” Natsu roared at the stranger that had killed every living thing around him with that lethal magic. Trees had withered to dried out husks, all their leaves turned to dust. The grass and plants on the ground were nothing but dust mixed into the dirt now.

Evergreen got her wits back first. “N-Natsu? What’re you doing here?” Given the situation, she wouldn’t mention the fact that he was practically mounting her with his hand pushing her head against the ground.

“D-Don’t startle me like that…” Elfman said, looking at Natsu with a grunt.

Natsu didn’t take his eyes off the intruder. “I was looking for Happy, Carla, and Lily…then I caught a whiff of something sick…” He relaxed slightly, letting Elfman and Evergreen up. “…it was this guy’s magic.”

Evergreen looked at the dead landscape all around. “This guy is no ordinary Mage.” She shook just slightly, seeing the lethality and range of the stranger’s magic.

“I don’t know who you are, but this island belongs to our guild!” Natsu said loudly, still not taking his eyes off the stranger for even a second. “Don’t intrude in our business!”

“You’ve …grown up, huh?” The stranger said softly, but was easily heard in the lifeless silence around them. He raised his head to look at Natsu eye-to-eye. “I’ve been looking for you, Natsu.”

In a blink, Natsu’s fist was slamming into the intruder’s face. The young man went flying, bouncing off the ground three times. “WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!” Natsu roared out, bearing his fangs at the stranger threateningly.

“He hit him?!” Evergreen had barely seen Natsu move!

“Just like that?!” Elfman didn’t understand the sudden aggression. The intruder hadn’t made any moves to attack…he’d only said Natsu’s name.

The intruder twisted his body after the third bounce. ‘I see…’ He righted himself and landed on his feet. ‘Not yet, it seems… Not yet… Natsu can’t possibly break me.’ But he had felt the pain…still felt it, in fact. It was more than he’d felt in quote a while.

Natsu glared at the stranger, something instinctual registering the man as a threat. “I don’t know who you are! Say your name!”

‘I don’t want to kill anyone else… And the only one who can stop me is Natsu… But he can’t do it yet!’ The young man felt two more tears escape, even as the throbbing pain in his head faded and vanished in mere seconds.

“I-Is he crying?” Elfman questioned, wondering what was up with this strange intruder.

Evergreen glared at the man. “What a creep…” Everything about the guy was giving her bad feelings.

“Unn…” The stranger held his head again, his body starting to shake. “Run…” He warned the three through the seeming pain he was in.

“That black wave again?!” Elfman’s eyes widened in panic.

Evergreen took a step backwards instantly. “That magic sucks out life!”

Natsu waved his arm and stomped his feet on the ground. “Get away from here!” The land rumbled before shattering and a massive geyser of lava erupted between them and the intruder. The height, width, and depth of the wall of lava was nearly a match for the rocky cliffs nearby.

Elfman wrapped his arms around Evergreen and ran four long strides before hitting the dirt, carefully shielding her with his larger body.

“Kah!” The stranger cried out as another wave of black miasma expanded from him in every direction. When the smoke-like blackness hit the immense geyser of lava, it was burnt up by the powerful Dragon Magic, stopping it from passing through and reaching those beyond.

Natsu let the wall of lava fall back into the new chasm in the ground. Looking around, he saw no trace of the intruder, and even sniffing the air didn’t give him a scent to track.

Elfman slowly sat up, Evergreen still lying on her back beneath him. “Are you okay?” He asked her, eyes wide and breathing rapid from reacting to the danger without thinking.

“Y-Yeah…” Evergreen breathed out with a little nod. “You?” She asked breathlessly.

“I’m okay.” Elfman said with a smile.

The two stared at each other for a moment longer before snapping out of their moment.

Evergreen sat up and looked around for the intruder. “Where’d he go?”

Elfman stood up and looked towards Natsu. “Are you okay, Natsu?!”

“I’m okay, but where’d he go?” Natsu looked around for any trace, but it was like the intruder had simply vanished into thin air.

-Elsewhere on Tenrou Island-

The intruder laid back against a tree. With a forlorn sigh, he raised his hand toward the sky. ‘I am still being rejected by the world…’

-Mest and Wendy-

While they were traversing a rocky area, Wendy smiling at some of the smaller animals of Tenrou Island and the pretty flowers that grew here and there, Mest suddenly stiffened up as sweat beaded on his forehead and ran down his face.

‘So those guys…are coming to the island too?’ Mest thought as a mix of emotions swirled inside him, his heart beating faster at what…or more specifically, WHO, was approaching Tenrou Island.

-Grimoire Heart’s Airship-

The large vessel flew through the clouds above the ocean, heading in a straight line towards Tenrou Island. Already a small preemptive strike force had been sent ahead to make ready for their arrival. Everything was going according to plan, despite the many setbacks that had cropped up over the last few months.

Ultear—dressed in a revealing tiger-print robe-like dress that left her entire back bare, showed off her shoulders and cleavage along with a good amount of side-boob, and showed off her legs up to her thighs, with matching detached sleeves—smiled as she rolled her crystal ball down her arm. “We’ve finally found him. Though it seems he’s still sleeping.” She rolled the crystal ball across her hands and up her other arm. Her long, dark purple hair was in twin tails that swayed slightly from her movement, the black choker around her neck contrasting with her dress.  “It appears the time has come, Master Hades.”

The old man with the horned helmet and dark cloak over his shoulders, that sat on the throne-like chair in the command deck smiled at his plans finally reaching this point. “That man…descended to the ancient ground… Mastered the Black Arts… Birthed tens of thousands of demons…and pulled the world into chaos. The most evil and powerful force in the history of the magical world…” Everyone standing before Hades straightened up just slightly. “…Zeref the Black Wizard.” The Guild Master’s eyes sharpened and his voice was filled with absolute authority. “Let us begin! Prepare to set foot on the Fairy Island!”

“Yes, Master!” The six Mages before him, along with the dozens and dozens of cloaked members further back, all chorused.

“The time is here at last! The legendary Black Wizard, Zeref, is reborn!” Hades declared loudly for all to hear. “All the keys are safely in my hands!” He clenched his right fist in front of himself, recalling the struggle it had taken over the past months to obtain the last of them. “And we will awaken the thing that sleeps within him!”

Ultear spoke up, her expression giving nothing away. “But master, there is one problem. The strongest of all the guilds in Fiore…Fairy Tail. The guild that destroyed the Oracion Seis, one corner of the Balam Alliance. The main members of Fairy Tail are all gathered on that island right now.”

“And?! What about them?! They’re nothing!” A man with wild, long blonde hair and equally wild red eyes questioned. “We’ll take those fools…and turn them all into ashes!” He ignited himself in dark black fire while cackling like a mad man.

“Bah! We must not make light of the enemy!” An anthropomorphized goat man said sharply. “I was born for this day!” He declared while placing his hand on his chest.

The largest man among the six Mages tired to speak, but only stutter horribly. “I-I-I-I-I-I…”

The man next to him spoke for him. “With it released…”

“Uh weh… I-I-I-I…” The large man continued to stutter.

“…our desires…” The man next to him continued, before speaking what he knew the much larger man wanted to say. “This will be a merciless war for our guild. Our fragmented hearts should quake at the thought.”

The large man finally managed to speak. “Iwasthinkingtheexactsamething!” But it came out in such a rush that it was nearly incomprehensible.

“You talk too fast!” The blond Fire Mage yelled at the much larger man.

The youngest of the six Mages, a pink-haired girl that couldn’t be much older than twelve or thirteen at most, spoke up. “Translation: I was thinking the exact same thing.”

Ultear stood beside the youngest and gave her a small smile. “Can you fight, Meredy?”

The pink-haired girl looked blankly for a moment. “Fight…yes.” She said, her expression barely changing.

“Interesting!” Hades said as he stood up from his throne-like chair, his black cloak billowing around him. “Yes, very interesting! They do not yet know the meaning of the word darkness! The absolute darkness hidden in the depths!” He spread his arms wide, a dark smirk on his face. “Tonight, the demons and fairies will play! Will we feast in glory, or be feasted upon?” He looked straight ahead, over top all of the gathered Grimoire Heart members and through the massive window where the horizon still hid Tenrou Island. “We’re coming for you! Fairy Tail!”

-End Chapter-

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The second trial has begun, but no one has any clue where to even start looking for the grave of the First Master!

Meanwhile, at the Rest Area, the ones that’ve failed to pass and the S-Classes that don’t have anything to do for the second trial take a moment to rest and recuperate.

But things get a little lovey-dovey as talks of the future and potentially children come up. Erza, Mira, Cana, and Natsu all seem quite fond of the idea of becoming parents. Alzack and Bisca are finally letting each other know that they have the same feelings for one another too! Gray isn’t interested in romance and asks them all to change the subject. Way to pour ice on the warm and fluffy moments! Boo~

But the departure of Carla, Happy, and Panther Lily has been noticed, so Erza and Natsu go out to try and find the three Exceeds.

The said flying cats are looking for Wendy and Mest! Carla to try and protect Wendy. Happy to help Carla, and the Guild. And Panther Lily to help the Guild, and to use force, if necessary.

Elfman and Evergreen discover an intruder, one with a lethal and seemingly uncontrollable magic! Natsu arrives in the nick of time to save them! A quick altercation ensues, and the stranger seems to know Natsu…but everything about the guys gives off a bad feeling, an instinctive danger.

Meanwhile, Grimoire Heart are making their move! Hades claims that it’ll be demons versus fairies…but he seems to have forgotten about the Dragons that dwell among those fairies!

As Fairy Tail and Grimoire Heart are about to clash, just how will things go…and what terrifying being will take notice of the battle?

Keep reading to find out!

Until I get your reviews, later!