The jungle of Tenrou Island seemed alive, humming with a quiet, ancient rhythm. The canopy above filtered sunlight into shifting beams of gold, while roots sprawled across the ground like veins carrying raw magic. The very air was thick with ethernano so dense even the less sensitive mages could feel it tingling in their skin.
Lucky stood in a small clearing, Erza beside him, her posture firm, her hand never far from her blade. Across from them, Wakaba adjusted his pipe nervously while Natsu bounced from foot to foot, flames licking at his fists.
A flicker of golden light shimmered above the battlefield, and suddenly, the projection of Makarov appeared. His small frame was larger than life, glowing faintly as his voice thundered across the arena.
"Fairy Tail brats! The island has spoken. Your first trial is upon you. Two teams will face off. The winners advance… the losers stay behind!"
The words struck like thunder. Fairy Tail against Fairy Tail brothers and sisters forced to fight, not as enemies but as rivals.
"On this battlefield: Lucky and Erza!" Makarov's projection raised a hand toward them."Against Wakaba and Natsu!"
Makrov couldn't help but be happy about the reward he got from the lucky roulette that made all of this possible.
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Tier: 4
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Item: Advanced 3d projector set
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Type: Item
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use: -
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Description: A Magical orb that projects and records a scene in a 3D form, and it allows the user to use any type of energy within themselves to create a smaller projection orb to show what is shown.
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Note: 1) Each small projector costs 10,000 Mana
Note: 2) Only ten small projectors can be made
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Gasps echoed from the distant projections that linked the guild hall to Tenrou's trials. Cheers, jeers, and wild bets erupted in Magnolia as the audience realized the first matchup.
Lucky's clones back in Magnolia scrambled around a chalkboard, writing in big bold letters:
MATCH 1: LUCKY & ERZA vs. WAKABA & NATSU
They immediately began taking bets on everything from "Who gets knocked out first" to "How long before Natsu pukes again."
Back on Tenrou, Wakaba exhaled a cloud of smoke, trying to look steady, but his eyes betrayed him. He glanced at Erza, already terrifying enough on her own, then at Lucky, calm as ever with his juice in hand.
'When did he have this juice?'
A thought crept unbidden into Wakaba's head:'Against Erza, maybe… just maybe, I could survive long enough to turn it and trick her. But against Lucky too… there's no chance.'
The doubt weighed heavily.
Natsu, of course, noticed nothing. He slammed his fists together, fire roaring so hot the grass under his feet began to singe. "YEAH! I'll crush you both! Bring it on!"
Lucky took a slow sip of his juice, watching Natsu with half-lidded eyes. "…Of course."
Erza stepped forward, steel ringing as a blade appeared in her hand, her armor shifting into gleaming red plates. "This won't take long."
Makarov's projection raised his staff, runes flaring around the clearing like glowing walls that sealed them in. His voice shook the air.
"Begin!"
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The moment Makarov's projection thundered "Begin!" the clearing erupted with noise and motion.
Wakaba, with a solemn face, said, "Ok, Natsu, here is the plan...."
Natsu, being Natsu, shot forward like a rocket, flames bursting around his fists. "FIRE DRAGON IRON FIST!" he roared, punching straight for Lucky's face.
Wakaba screamed in fear, "Wait..."
Lucky didn't even blink. A portal shimmered open between them, and Natsu's flaming punch disappeared into it then reappeared right behind him, hitting his own back with a loud BAM! Send him flying through the portal.
"Wha...?!" Natsu face-planted into the dirt, smoke rising off his vest.
Lucky sipped his juice calmly, the glass somehow not spilling despite the chaos. "…First lesson: always check your surroundings."
The guild members watching through projections in Magnolia burst out laughing."He punched himself!""Space magic is scary!""Put my money on Lucky!"
Even Wakaba winced. He lit his pipe with shaking hands, then blew out a thick stream of smoke. "Alright… Smoke Magic: Smoke Serpent!"
The smoke twisted and writhed into the shape of a massive serpent, its jaws snapping toward Erza.
Erza's armor flashed, shifting into an agile armor. With one sweep of her sword, she cleaved through the serpent, dispersing it into a cloud. She used the hoverboard as she leapt forward to fly, blade sparking.
Wakaba cursed under his breath and made hand motions, pulling the smoke back into shields that hardened like walls. Erza's blade smashed into the first shield, sparks flying as she cut through one layer after another.
"She's relentless!" Wakaba groaned. Sweat already trickled down his forehead.
"Don't worry, old man!" Natsu suddenly popped up again, fire blazing around his mouth. "FIRE DRAGON ROAR!"
A torrent of small flames roared across the clearing, trying to engulf Erza in a wave of fire. Trees crackled and grass turned to ash.
The Magnolia spectators gasped. "He got them! He actually..."
Then the smoke cleared.
Erza stood firm, armor now shifted into Adamantine Armor, her twin shields planted into the ground. Lucky stood casually beside her, juice still in hand, a faint shimmer of portal energy rippling around them where the flames had been redirected harmlessly into the sky.
Lucky raised his glass in mock salute. "Nice fireworks."
Natsu's jaw dropped. "Wha.... how?!"
One of Lucky's clones, lounging on a log behind the projection in Magnolia, muttered, "Boss is just flexing at this point."
Erza didn't wait for commentary. With a sharp cry, she dismissed her shields and switched into A prototype Heaven's Wheel Armor. Swords spun around her like a storm, gleaming as they filled the air.
She shouted, unleashing a rain of steel toward both Wakaba and Natsu.
Wakaba coughed and thickened his smoke into a dome, shielding himself. Natsu, instead of dodging, ignited his body, fists flying as he punched through incoming blades with reckless abandon. Sparks and flames burst with every clash.
"YEAHHH!" Natsu howled, charging through the storm straight at Erza.
Erza braced her sword, but before Natsu could collide, a portal opened under his feet.
"Wha... HEY!" he yelled as he tumbled through only to come out upside-down ten feet above Wakaba.
THUD!
"GAAAHHHHHH!" Both collapsed in a heap, Wakaba's pipe clattering to the ground.
Lucky finally set his juice down, stretching his arms lazily. "Are you two fighting us, or yourselves?"
The Magnolia crowd roared with laughter. Bets exchanged hands rapidly. The "First to hit themselves" pool was already being cashed in.
Wakaba scrambled upright, coughing smoke. "Damn it, Lucky, you little brat! You think this is funny?!"
"Yes." Lucky deadpanned.
Wakaba's veins popped. He inhaled deeply, then unleashed a massive wave of smoke that surged across the battlefield like a toxic fog. The world turned gray, vision dropping to near zero.
Erza's swords whirred defensively around her. "Stay sharp, Lucky. He's trying to separate us."
Lucky simply raised a hand. A glowing sigil flared in the air as he spoke calmly. "InstantScript: [Clear All Smoke In The Arena]."
The word materialized, glowing letters hanging in the smoky air before vanishing with a whoosh! Instantly, the smoke dispersed, leaving Wakaba exposed and blinking.
The guild back home erupted."huhhhhh?!""Show-off!"
Wakaba really wanted to cry, but before he could react further, Erza was already in his face, blade clashing against hastily conjured smoke shields.
Meanwhile, Natsu staggered back to his feet, hair singed and eyes burning. He spotted Lucky standing casually, portal energy flickering around his hand, and roared. "STOP IGNORING ME!"
He shot forward again, fists blazing hotter than before. "FIRE DRAGON CLAW!" He leapt, spinning with a blazing kick.
Lucky tilted his head slightly, a portal flickering open. Natsu shot into it like a comet and burst out behind Wakaba, the flaming kick barely missing the smoke mage's head.
"WHAT THE.... NATSU!" Wakaba shouted, ducking as his hair nearly got burned off.
"Sorry! He keeps messing with me!" Natsu barked.
Lucky finally chuckled, swirling his juice. "You're making this too easy."
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On the opposite side of the island clearing, another battlefield was erupting.
Macao wiped his brow, taking a defensive stance. Gray stood beside him, already shirtless, because of course he was. Both of them eyed their opponents warily.
Across from them, Cana stood with her deck of enchanted cards fanned between her fingers like a gambler about to rake in a fortune. Laxus leaned lazily against a tree, arms crossed, sparks of lightning crawling along his shoulders.
The tension was thick.
Gray narrowed his eyes. "Guess this is it."
Macao smirked. "Kid, remember, we're aiming to win. Don't hold back."
Gray flexed his fingers, ice already forming along his knuckles. "Don't need to tell me twice."
Cana snapped a card down dramatically. "Don't get cocky, boys. This deck's gonna wipe that smug look right off your face."
The ground cracked as Gray stomped forward, slamming his hands together. "Ice-Make: Lance!"
A volley of glittering ice spears shot across the clearing toward Cana.
"Pick a card," she muttered, flicking one from her deck into the air. The card glowed and expanded into a swirling red wave. "Card Red"
The glowing red card smashed the lances as if they were nothing, and the red energy wave kept expanding towards Gray.
Gray's eyes widened. "What the...?!" He had to dive out of the way as he didn't want to be hit with that.
The Magnolia crowd watching through the projection erupted."Cana's is stronger, isn't she?!""No fair, she's a cheat deck!""She's her father's daughter, alright!"
Macao puffed his chest, trying to draw attention away from his momentary nerves. "Purple Rain!"
He inhaled deeply, then cast a massive stream of Purple flames shaped like Purple balls, surging toward Cana.
Cana grinned, tossing another card. "Card Magic: Explosion Cards!"
The card shimmered, and the Purple Rain and cards collided together, causing an explosion to stop the entire spell. The fire scorching across the battlefield.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Macao shrieked, leaping backward as his own attack nearly set him ablaze. After all, he was too close. His eyebrows smoked, leaving him looking more ridiculous than intimidating, but his hair was perfectly fine because the fireproof hair gel was actually useful.
Gray clutched his stomach, laughing even while dodging another card strike. "Pfft...old man just roasted himself!"
"SHUT UP!" Macao roared, coughing smoke.
Cana twirled her deck between her fingers, her confidence skyrocketing. "The more you throw at me, the better the show."
Meanwhile, Laxus hadn't moved an inch. He leaned against the tree, his smirk wider than ever, watching Cana do all the work.
Gray finally turned his glare toward him. "Hey, Laxus! You just gonna stand there with your hands in your pockets while she fights for you?!"
Macao backed him up, pointing an accusing finger. "Yeah! What kind of teammate are you?!"
Laxus cracked one eye open, smirk still there. "The winning kind."
That smugness made both Gray and Macao grind their teeth in frustration.
Gray stomped forward, ice swirling into his hands. "I'll wipe that look off your face!"
Macao puffed more smoke, the two of them charging together.
Cana slapped another card down, the air glowing. "Card Magic: Explosive Draw!"
The card detonated in a burst of force, knocking both Gray and Macao back, tumoring into each other like bowling pins.
"OOOF!" they groaned in unison.
"Pathetic," Laxus muttered.
But Cana wasn't finished. She spread her arms wide, cards circling her like a magical storm. "Let's show them a little more, huh?"
The cards glowed, each radiating a different element: fire, wind, lightning, earth. With a flick of her wrist, they shot forward like a shotgun blast.
Gray scrambled upright, forming an ice dome around himself and Macao. The cards slammed into it one after another, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, cracks spiderwebbing across the surface.
"Cana's stronger than I thought," Gray muttered, sweat dripping.
Macao exhaled smoke nervously. "Of course she IS Gildrart's daughter, but if she's this tough, I don't even want to see what Laxus does."
Gray grimaced. "We're about to find out."
The dome shattered under the final blast. Gray stumbled forward, ready to counter...
And that's when the sky went dark.
Lightning crackled, the air buzzing with static. Laxus finally pushed himself off the tree, eyes glowing with electric fury.
"Had your fun, Cana?" he asked lazily.
Cana smirked, brushing her hair out of her face. "They're all warmed up for you."
Laxus stretched his neck, then raised one hand. The air vibrated as a thunderous magic circle formed above the battlefield. Bolts of lightning danced along the edges, the power so intense that even the Magnolia spectators leaned back from the projection.
Gray's eyes widened. "Oh crap..."
Macao's pipe clattered to the ground. "Ohhhh crap."
Laxus's grin turned savage. "Lightning bolt."
The sky split open.
A column of lightning crashed down onto the clearing, engulfing everything in blinding white and roaring thunder. The ground exploded, trees shattering, the shockwave ripping across the island.
When the smoke cleared, Gray and Macao were sprawled unconscious in the dirt, their clothes singed, hair standing comically on end like hedgehogs.
Laxus blew on his fingertips as though he'd just snuffed out a candle. "Too easy."
Cana slid her cards back into her deck, whistling. "Overkill, much?"
He smirked, lightning still sparking around him. "What, you wanted me to play around?"
Cana shrugged. "Not complaining. At least I get to walk away without being fried."
The Magnolia guild hall projection exploded with noise."Holy crap, Laxus!""He just nuked them!""Rest in peace, Macao and Gray. We will not forget your sacrifice!""Pay up! I told you he'd end it in one hit!"
Back on the battlefield, Laxus turned his gaze toward the deeper jungle where the other fight still raged. "Looks like we're next."
Cana smirked, shuffling her cards with a snap. "Good. I wanted to fight Lucky."
The battlefield still crackled with the aftershocks of Laxus's lightning. The air smelled of ozone and burnt wood. Macao and Gray lay sprawled out in the dirt, their clothes singed and hair spiked like wild porcupines. They groaned faintly, smoke rising from their bodies.
"...we… almost… had them," Macao muttered weakly.
Gray coughed, waving a charred hand. "Speak for yourself, old man. I think I'm medium rare right now…"
The magical projection hovering back at the Fairy Tail guild hall zoomed in on their sorry states.
"OOOOOH!" the guild shouted in unison.
"Gray looks like a toasted marshmallow!" someone hollered."Ten jewels says Macao's mustache doesn't grow back!" another laughed."Welp, they're out. Pay up, guys!" Lucky's clones, manning the betting chalkboard, rang a bell and started writing odds for the next fight.
Back on the island, Cana dusted off her hands, sliding her deck back into her belt. "Well, that's two down. Looks like we move on."
She turned to Laxus, who was still smirking arrogantly, lightning flickering lazily around his shoulders. He hadn't broken a sweat.
"That was overkill, y'know," Cana said, raising an eyebrow.
"Overkill's the only way to win," Laxus replied flatly. His golden eyes flicked toward the forest, where the faint booms and shouts of the other fight still echoed. His grin sharpened. "And it sounds like Lucky's having his fun with Wakaba and the brat."
Cana followed his gaze. The explosions in the distance made the sky flash, Lucky's portals distorting the battlefield with flashes of light. Even from afar, the magic density was thick.
Cana smirked, shuffling her cards. "Guess it's finally time to see who's going to be the new S rank in Fairy Tail."
Laxus's smirk widened. "Tch. Like there's ever been a question."
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The fight on their side of the island ended with Natsu face-first in the dirt, steam rising from his mouth, and Wakaba groaning while tangled up in one of Lucky's spatial bindings. Erza stood tall, sword gleaming, barely a scratch on her. Lucky, sitting on a rock, calmly sipped juice conjured from his storage.
The magical projection zoomed in on Wakaba's expression of despair.
"Damn it… I knew fighting Erza was already bad enough…" Wakaba wheezed. His eyes shifted toward Lucky, who wasn't even breathing hard. "But against him? Forget it. There was never a chance…"
Lucky's clones in the projection cheered, waving banners. "Boss! MVP! All according to keikaku!"
Back at the guild, bets were being exchanged with laughter and groans."I told you Lucky would play with them like toys!""Natsu didn't even last five minutes!""Drink up, losers!"
Erza sheathed her sword, stepping beside Lucky. "That's one team down."
Lucky shrugged. "Barely worth breaking a sweat. But the real test should be next."
Erza nodded. She could feel it too, the S Class shouldn't be this Easy.
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By fate or perhaps the island's will, the two victorious teams emerged from their separate paths and into the same clearing.
The massive clearing was ringed with ancient trees, roots curling like serpents into the soil. The air buzzed, heavy with ethernano. The ground itself seemed to hum in anticipation.
Lucky and Erza stepped from one side, calm and composed. Erza's armor glinted in the light filtering through the canopy. Lucky's clones flanked behind him briefly, cheering before fading away at his gesture.
From the opposite side came Laxus and Cana.
Cana cracked her knuckles, showing a confident smile. Laxus walked ahead of her, his very presence oppressive, arcs of lightning flickering with every step. His smirk widened when his eyes locked on Lucky.
The air between the two groups thickened instantly.
"You made it, huh?" Laxus said, his voice calm but dripping with superiority.
"Of course," Lucky replied, sipping his juice casually. "You didn't expect me to lose to Wakaba and a motion-sick salamander, did you?"
Natsu, back at the Beach, seeing the projection, shouted at the screen. "HEY! I heard that!"
The other who have lost erupted in laughter.
Laxus's smirk twitched, lightning buzzing louder. "Cocky as ever. This is where it ends for you, Lucky. You might've fooled the guild into thinking you're something special, but I'll prove I'm the one destined for S-Class. And like last time, this will be Quick."
Lucky raised an eyebrow. "Funny. I was about to say the same thing."
Cana stepped forward, sliding a card between her fingers. Her eyes were sharp, no trace of her usual drunken slouch. "Don't underestimate me either, Lucky. I'm not just here to ride Laxus's coattails. I have become stronger as well."
Erza stepped up beside Lucky, her blade drawn with a metallic shing. "Then you'll face both of us."
The clearing thrummed with tension. The magical projection back in Magnolia zoomed in, splitting screens between the two teams. Every guild member leaned forward, hearts pounding.
This was it.
The match everyone had been waiting for.
Lucky & Erza vs. Laxus & Cana.
The holy ground of Fairy Tail had chosen its battlefield.
And the storm was about to break.