"Ugh, it's so hot… what the hell is this weather?"
Under a clear blue sky, the blazing sun hung high above as a massive ship bearing the Fairy Tail emblem sailed across the vast ocean.
On deck, Wakaba lay sprawled in a chair, shirtless, wearing gray shorts and flip-flops, drenched in sweat as he complained—his pipe, as always, never leaving his mouth.
"Seriously, what kind of weather is this? It's supposed to be winter, right? Did the seasons flip or something?" Macao, dressed exactly the same, complained in the exact same posture.
The two really were inseparable.
"By the way… Arlen, Laxus—you guys aren't hot? And you too, Gildarts. Why are you still wearing that cloak?" Macao asked.
"I'm fine," Arlen shrugged, lounging calmly.
Beside him, Ur lay back in a deck chair as well, sipping chilled beer. She wore a black bikini, her figure boldly on display.
Laxus stood at the bow, eyes closed, music playing through his headphones, completely ignoring the conversation.
"I'm used to it," Gildarts said casually. "I've been to deserts hotter than this."
"This is due to ocean currents," Rob explained as he walked out with his cane. "The climate here stays like this year-round."
"So how much longer until we reach Tenrou Island?" Wakaba asked.
"We're already close," Rob said with a smile, tapping his cane lightly.
The moment he said that, everyone perked up—even Laxus opened his eyes.
In the distance, an island slowly came into view.
Even Arlen, who had been resting with his eyes closed, looked up.
Tenrou Island.
A place overflowing with immense magical power, difficult to detect from the outside. Its structure was unique—almost like two islands layered together, crowned by a massive tree that seemed to pierce the sky.
"Whoa… is that another island on top?" Wakaba said.
"That tree is enormous…" Macao muttered.
"Even from here, I can feel the magic in the air," Ur said, impressed. "No wonder it's called sacred ground."
"Legend says fairies once appeared there," Makarov added, standing atop the railing. "It's also where our First Master, Mavis Viviamilio, rests."
He cleared his throat.
"Alright. Since we're about to arrive, I'll explain the rules of the exam."
Everyone focused on him.
"This exam has two parts."
"First: within one hour, you must defeat or kill five giant beasts on the island."
"Second: you may challenge either Ur or Gildarts. If you earn their acknowledgment, you pass."
"If more than one candidate is recognized, the final decision will be made through combat between them."
"That's all. Do your best."
Excitement surged through the group.
Soon, the ship slowed near the shore—still several meters away—but no one waited.
They jumped.
"I'm going ahead," Laxus said, turning into a bolt of lightning and shooting toward the island.
"I'll be off too," Arlen said, using anti-gravity magic to fly inland.
"Damn it! You two are cheating!" Macao yelled while swimming frantically.
"Stop whining and move!" Wakaba snapped, already rushing ahead.
"Such enthusiasm," Ur laughed.
Arlen and Laxus landed almost simultaneously.
They exchanged a glance.
"You'd better keep up," Laxus smirked. "This S-Class title is mine."
"We'll see," Arlen replied calmly. "Just don't fail the first round."
With that, they split off in opposite directions.
Both were completely confident.
The forest was vast—not too large, but far from small.
Finding five giant beasts within an hour was no easy task.
Arlen walked calmly through the trees, seemingly without direction.
Then—
He found one.
"…That's a big rabbit," he muttered, watching a five-meter-tall purple rabbit lying on its back, snoring loudly. It even had a pouch on its belly.
Without hesitation, Arlen cast a gravity spell.
The rabbit suddenly felt immense weight crushing it, unable to move.
Before it could react—
BOOM.
Arlen's punch slammed into its head, knocking it out instantly.
With a swift slash, he cut off one of its claws as proof and moved on.
Elsewhere, Laxus faced a massive blue wolf.
Lightning crackled around his body as the wolf snarled, its fur scorched black in places.
"ROOOAR!"
The wolf lunged.
"Lightning Spear."
A golden spear of lightning formed in Laxus' hand and shot forward.
BOOM.
It pierced the wolf's skull, sending its body flying into a tree.
Dead.
Laxus calmly pulled out a fang.
"I need to move faster," he muttered. "Victory is mine."
He vanished in a flash of lightning.
Meanwhile…
"Where the hell are the beasts?!" Macao groaned, frustrated.
Then—
Rumble…
The ground shook.
He turned—
—and his face froze.
Wakaba was sprinting toward him at full speed.
Behind him?
A pack of drooling blue wolves.
"What the hell did you do?!" Macao shouted, immediately turning to run.
"How should I know?! I only saw one at first!" Wakaba yelled back.
And so—
Across Tenrou Island, a ridiculous scene unfolded:
Two grown men sprinting for their lives…
Chased by a pack of savage wolves.
A real-life survival chase.
Absolutely tragic.
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