Five days passed in a flash.
The S-Class candidates who had been undergoing special training all this time finally reached the day of their departure for Tenrou Island.
As expected, Doranbolt still managed to recruit the easily persuaded Wendy as his partner, using the flimsy excuse of being Mystogan's apprentice.
The cautious Carla and Panther Lily were highly suspicious of this identity, but Wendy, wanting to repay Mystogan's kindness, still agreed to team up with him.
Seeing that Wendy wouldn't listen to her advice, Carla once again got angry and acted tsundere, refusing to even bid her farewell before their departure.
Led by the Guild Master, the S-Class candidates first traveled to Hargeon Port, then boarded the large sailing ship rented by the guild, setting a direct course for Tenrou Island.
The ship moved at a decent speed, soon approaching the waters surrounding the island.
What was strange, however, was that despite it being the coldest period of winter, it shouldn't have been this hot even at noon.
The scorching sun hung high in the sky, its burning rays pouring down like molten lava on everyone's skin.
The ship's cabin was stuffy and sweltering, while the deck at least had some wind... albeit hot wind.
So all the members moved their beach chairs to the deck.
Simultaneously, everyone changed into bikinis and swimwear suitable for the hot weather, lounging lethargically across the deck.
Lucy was sprawled on her beach chair in an undignified posture, eyes closed like a salted fish.
Sweat streamed down her face like rain as she mumbled deliriously:
"It's supposed to be winter, why is it so hot... I feel like I'm going to turn into an ice pop and get eaten by the gluttonous Happy..."
Hearing Lucy's ramblings, Happy lay flattened on the table like a shriveled fur pancake, but still managed to retort.
"You'd probably taste terrible."
Levy fanned herself with a small hand fan, reminding Lucy, "Lucy-chan, that posture is really embarrassing..."
Lucy, having lost all capacity for rational thought, gazed down at everyone like a headless deity, unfazed.
Cana sighed and said, "I heard this specific area has this kind of climate year-round due to the ocean currents."
Wendy immediately broke down. "Ehhh~~"
Lisanna, wearing an adorable purple swimsuit, pressed the iced drink she got from Gray against her cheek and asked curiously.
"Juvia, aren't you hot wearing so much clothing?"
Juvia calmly replied, "Juvia is made of water."
"More importantly..."
Juvia wriggled over to Gray's side with literal hearts in her eyes, excitedly exclaiming with considerable lewd enthusiasm.
"Gray-sama's naked body is super hot instead!"
Gray had stripped down to nothing, lying face-up on his chair complaining about the weather.
Doranbolt watched the eccentric members with speechless disbelief, feeling a deep sense of absurdity rising within him.
'Are these really the people who have the Council higher-ups losing sleep?'
'With such mediocre combat readiness, they all seem quite ordinary.'
'Would anyone really be willing to join this kind of guild?'
The even more pathetic Dragon Duo were clinging to the ship's side, vomiting so badly they couldn't tell east from west.
Levy patted Gajeel's back while frowning and said, "Really now, why does Gajeel get seasick too?"
Gajeel's face was deathly pale as he couldn't even manage to speak.
Natsu said with a tearful expression, "It's all because Wendy refused to cast Troia on us... Ugh..."
Loke comforted him helplessly. "Well, she's Mest partner now."
Wendy apologized guiltily. "Sorry, Natsu-san..."
Evergreen chuckled. "No need to apologize. The competition is about to start, so we can't all be this friendly."
"Be a man!"
"Stop shouting randomly!"
The two sitting together looked like a troll and a fairy, creating quite a bizarre contrast.
Just then, Lucy, who had been lying back on the beach chair, opened her eyes and vaguely saw the outline of an island.
She immediately perked up.
"Oh! I can see it now!"
Everyone quickly became alert, gazing at Tenrou Island appearing in the distance.
Tenrou Island had a unique appearance—the center and higher areas were dominated by an enormous tree covering a vast area, with two layers of forest below.
From afar, it looked like an island within an island.
"Look, that's our guild's sacred ground!"
"There's an island on top of the island, and such a huge tree!"
"Incredible! I can feel the air around this island is filled with Magic Power!"
The younger members chattered excitedly.
At that moment, Makarov, standing on the ship's upper deck, began to speak:
"It is said that fairies once existed on Tenrou Island."
"At the same time, it is also the final resting place of our guild's first master, Mavis."
As Makarov solemnly recounted the island's history, Gray couldn't help but point at him and complain.
"What's with that outfit again?!"
The old man was currently wearing a child-sized floral shirt and beach shorts, which clashed sharply with his serious tone.
Lucy silently complained about Gray.
'Does someone who isn't wearing any clothes have the right to say that?'
"Blame this hot weather..." Makarov pulled out a small fan to cool himself before continuing. "Next, I will announce the content of the first exam."
"The first exam?"
"Generally, the annual exam is divided into several stages."
Doranbolt took the opportunity to explain the "guide" he had researched to the newcomer Wendy beside him.
Makarov pointed at the signal smoke rising in the distance and said, "See that smoke on the shore? The first step is to reach there. There are eight pathways, but only one exam team can enter each."
"As for the opponent configurations at the end of each pathway, they are as follows."
With a wave of his hand, Makarov summoned a light screen displaying a simplified map of the pathways, along with headshots and labels for the S-Class Mages.
Five of the pathways were connected to the label "Fierce Battle," each featuring the headshot of an S-Class Mage.
Two other pathways merged into one, marked with the character for "Duel."
And the final pathway led smoothly directly to the exit, labeled "Calm."
"Ankh and Gildarts... their faces are labeled with 'Duel,'" Gray analyzed the routes seriously.
"There's also a 'Calm' route. Does that mean..."
Makarov explained earnestly. "Among the eight pathways, five are difficult routes requiring candidates to pass the combat tests of the S-Class Mages."
"There are also two pathways where teams will meet and duel, with the winner advancing—the 'Duel' routes."
"Plus the final route—the 'Calm' path—where no combat is required, allowing direct passage through the first exam!"
Makarov waved his fan, his voice impassioned as he declared:
"The key to the first exam lies in formidable combat power, and..."
"Luck!"
All the members turned to stone on the spot, unable to believe their ears.
A one-in-eight chance relying on luck?! How were they supposed to gamble with their heads on the line?!
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