Chapter XXVII: Mest
Concerns and Revelations
The Watchers Arrive
High above Tenrou Island's waters, two small figures cut through the air with determined purpose. Panther Lily's wings beat steadily as he carried both himself and Carla toward the sacred island, his serious expression reflecting the urgency of their mission.
"I still think we should have stayed at the guild," Lily said, though his tone suggested he understood why they were here.
"Something's wrong about this trial," Carla replied, her precognitive abilities flickering with fragments of troubling visions. "And something's definitely wrong about Mest Gryder."
As they approached the island's shoreline, Carla explained what had happened the previous week. Mest had approached Wendy with a request that seemed reasonable on the surface but had triggered every one of Carla's protective instincts.
"He told her he was Mystogan's disciple," Carla continued, her white fur bristling with agitation. "Said he needed a partner for the S-Class trial and that Mystogan had mentioned Wendy's abilities before he left the guild."
Lily's expression grew thoughtful. "That's... unusual. In my experience, Mystogan rarely took personal interest in individual guild members' development. And he certainly never mentioned having disciples."
"Exactly! But Wendy believed him because she still feels guilty about what happened during the Nirvana incident. She thinks she owes Mystogan somehow, so she agreed to help his supposed student."
They landed on Tenrou's beach, both Exceeds immediately feeling the overwhelming magical pressure that permeated the island. But underneath the natural power, there were other energies—darker, more subtle currents that made Carla's precognitive abilities react with increasing urgency.
"We need to find them quickly," she said, her small paws clenching with determination. "My visions are getting worse. I see destruction, loss, someone crying over something terrible..."
Route B - An Unexpected Encounter
Deep in Tenrou's forest, Mest and Wendy had encountered their opposition for the first trial. Gray and Loke stood blocking their path, both displaying the confident competence that had made them successful candidates themselves.
"Well, well," Gray said, ice magic already crystallizing around his hands. "Looks like we get to test ourselves against a Dragon Slayer. This should be interesting."
"Indeed," Loke agreed, his celestial magic creating geometric patterns of light around his position. "Though I have to admit, I'm curious about your partner, Mest. There's something familiar about you, but I can't quite place what it is."
Mest's expression remained carefully neutral, though something flickered in his eyes at Loke's comment. "Just a guy trying to prove himself worthy of S-Class status. Nothing more."
The battle that followed was intense and evenly matched. Wendy's Sky Dragon Magic provided incredible support capabilities, her roar attacks and healing abilities complementing Mest's surprising speed and tactical awareness. Gray's ice magic clashed dramatically with Wendy's wind-based attacks, creating spectacular visual effects as frozen projectiles shattered against hurricane-force gusts.
Loke's celestial magic added a third dimension to the conflict, his light-based attacks creating complex geometric barriers and offensive patterns that forced both opponents to constantly adapt their positioning.
But the turning point came when Gray and Loke demonstrated the kind of teamwork that made them both effective guild members. Working in perfect synchronization, they managed to separate Mest from Wendy, isolating each opponent to face a two-on-one disadvantage.
Mest found himself overwhelmed by the combined assault of ice and celestial magic, his speed advantage negated by the sheer volume of attacks he was forced to dodge. Within minutes, he was unconscious on the forest floor.
Wendy, meanwhile, faced a different kind of defeat entirely.
"You know," Gray said conversationally, pulling something from his pack, "we heard about your weakness from some of the older guild members."
He produced a jar of pickled plums, opening it with theatrical menace.
"No!" Wendy gasped, her Sky Dragon magic immediately destabilizing as her most irrational fear overwhelmed her tactical thinking. "Please, anything but pickled plums!"
The sight of her most dreaded food rendered the young Dragon Slayer completely helpless. She collapsed to her knees, trembling with genuine terror at something most people would consider a harmless snack.
"Sorry, Wendy," Loke said apologetically, "but an advantage is an advantage in trials like this."
Route A - A Shocking Revelation
On the opposite side of the island, Mirajane's battle with Elfman and Evergreen had taken an unexpected turn. Her Satan Soul transformation had proven overwhelmingly effective against both opponents, her demonic magic easily countering their combined Beast Soul and Fairy Magic abilities.
Just as she prepared to deliver the finishing blow that would end their trial participation, Evergreen called out desperately.
"Wait! Mira, there's something important you need to know!"
The urgency in Evergreen's voice made Mirajane pause, her demonic form flickering slightly as curiosity overrode her combat focus.
"What could be so important that you'd interrupt a trial battle?" Mirajane asked.
Evergreen looked at Elfman, who nodded with determination despite his battered condition. "We're getting married."
The effect was instantaneous and dramatic. Mirajane's Satan Soul transformation completely dissipated as she stared at the couple in shock, her mouth falling open in complete surprise.
"You're WHAT?!"
That moment of distraction was all Elfman and Evergreen needed. Working together, they managed to overwhelm the stunned S-Class mage with a combination attack that left her unconscious on the forest floor.
"I can't believe that worked," Elfman said, gently lifting the unconscious Mirajane.
"I can't believe it took us this long to tell her," Evergreen replied with a mixture of relief and embarrassment.
The First Trial Results
At Tenrou Island's central clearing, the passing teams began to gather as the first trial concluded. Master Makarov stood before the assembled candidates and their partners, his expression carrying both pride and concern as he prepared to announce the results.
"The first trial is complete," he announced, his voice carrying clearly across the clearing. "The passing teams are: Natsu Dragneel and Happy, Gray Fullbuster and Loke, Lucy Heartfilia and Cana Alberona, Levy McGarden and Gajeel Redfox, and Elfman Strauss and Evergreen."
A cheer went up from the successful candidates, though several of them looked surprised by some of the results.
"Wait," Gray said, his memory oddly fuzzy about something important. "What happened to that guy... Mest? I remember fighting him and Wendy, but I can't seem to recall anything specific about him."
"Now that you mention it," Loke added with a frown, "I had the strangest feeling I knew him from somewhere, but I can't place where or when we might have met."
The confusion was troubling, but before anyone could investigate further, Makarov continued with the second trial's parameters.
"Your next challenge is to locate the grave of Mavis Vermillion, the first master of Fairy Tail, somewhere on this island. You have six hours to complete this task."
As the teams dispersed to begin their search, nobody noticed Mest and Wendy emerging from the forest. Wendy's eyes were red from crying, her defeat having struck deeper than just trial disappointment.
"It's my fault," she said miserably. "If I wasn't so stupid about pickled plums, we could have won."
"Hey," Mest said gently, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Fear is part of being human. What matters is that you tried your best despite it."
His kindness seemed genuine, but there was something in his expression that suggested layers of complexity beyond what Wendy could perceive.
"You know," he said, his tone becoming more thoughtful, "since we're already here, would you like to explore the island? I've heard there are incredible secrets hidden in places like this."
Wendy's natural curiosity overcame her disappointment. "Really? What kind of secrets?"
"The kind that change how you understand the world," Mest replied cryptically. "Come on, let me show you something amazing."
Growing Suspicions
On Tenrou's shoreline, Carla and Panther Lily were making their own disturbing discoveries. The more they investigated, the more questions arose about Mest's true identity and intentions.
"I've been thinking about what he told Wendy," Lily said, his tactical mind working through the inconsistencies. "Mystogan was many things, but he was never the type to take on disciples. His magic was too personal, too tied to his own specific circumstances."
"And there's something else," Carla added, her precognitive abilities showing her fragments of conversations and interactions that didn't quite add up. "I've been trying to remember when Mest actually joined the guild, and I can't find any clear memories of his arrival or early interactions with other members."
The implications were troubling. If Mest wasn't who he claimed to be, then Wendy was alone on a dangerous island with someone whose true intentions were completely unknown.
"We need to find them," Carla said with growing urgency. "Now."
The Examiners' Camp
At the S-Class mages' temporary base, the defeated participants were regrouping and processing their elimination. Mirajane sat with Erza, Juvia, and Lisanna, still somewhat stunned by the revelation that had cost her the battle.
"They're getting married," she repeated for the third time, as if saying it would help her accept the reality. "My little brother is getting married, and he told me by using it as a battle tactic."
"It was certainly... creative," Erza observed diplomatically.
"Creative?" Mirajane laughed, though there was genuine happiness underlying her exasperation. "It was the most Elfman thing he could possibly have done. Combine a major life announcement with proving his manliness in combat."
As the conversation continued, both Erza and Juvia began to feel uneasy about something they couldn't quite identify.
"Has anyone seen Mest and Wendy since the first trial ended?" Juvia asked.
The question created a moment of silence as everyone realized they couldn't account for the eliminated pair.
"They should have reported to the examiners' camp by now," Erza said, her tactical instincts beginning to activate. "All eliminated participants are supposed to remain in designated safe areas."
Without discussing it further, both S-Class mages began moving toward the forest to search for the missing pair.
The Second Trial Begins
Across Tenrou Island, the successful candidates were discovering that finding Mavis Vermillion's grave would be far more challenging than simply searching the terrain. The island seemed alive with magical creatures, all of them hostile to intruders and apparently designed to test the limits of even experienced mages.
Natsu and Happy found themselves pursued by giant plant monsters that seemed immune to fire attacks. "This is stupid!" Natsu complained as they fled through the canopy. "How are we supposed to find a grave when everything on this island is trying to eat us?"
"Maybe we should go higher?" Happy suggested, his wings straining to carry them both above the reaching vines and snapping jaws. "The grave might be at the top of the big tree!"
Meanwhile, Elfman and Evergreen had become separated from the other teams during a particularly intense monster attack. As they tried to reorient themselves, they stumbled into a clearing where they encountered someone who definitely wasn't supposed to be on the island.
A young man with dark hair and clothing stood in the center of the clearing, his back turned to them. There was something profoundly sad about his posture, as if he carried the weight of tremendous loss.
"Excuse me," Elfman called out carefully, his Beast Soul magic automatically activating in response to the stranger's unknown threat level. "This island is restricted. You shouldn't be here."
The figure turned, revealing a face that was young but marked by experiences far beyond his apparent years. His expression showed confusion, then recognition, then something that might have been panic.
"A guild controls this place?" he asked, his voice carrying an odd mixture of hope and despair.
"Fairy Tail," Evergreen confirmed, her Fairy Magic creating defensive barriers around both her and Elfman. "Who are you, and how did you get here?"
The young man's expression crumpled with what looked like genuine anguish. "I can't... I shouldn't be here. I need to leave before..."
Before he could finish the sentence, something terrible happened. Dark energy erupted from his body in waves, spreading outward like a plague that killed everything it touched. Plants withered instantly, small animals collapsed and died, even the very air seemed to become poisonous with the touch of whatever power he carried.
Elfman and Evergreen would have been killed instantly if not for a blur of motion that tackled them both out of the death wave's path.
Natsu Dragneel rolled to his feet, his Fire Dragon magic flaring protectively around all three of them as he faced the source of the attack.
"Hey!" he shouted at the dark-haired stranger. "What's the big idea attacking people like that?"
But when the young man looked up at Natsu, something unexpected happened. Tears began streaming down his face, and he spoke a single word that carried the weight of years of pain and longing.
"Brother?"
Natsu stared at the stranger in complete confusion, having no memory of ever seeing him before, while high above them in their concealed positions, the Clive family's protective perimeter suddenly blazed with alarm as they detected the same dark energy signature that Carla's visions had warned them about.
The real trial was about to begin.
The Brother's Shadow
High Above Tenrou - The Clive Family Perimeter
The concealed observation post erupted into controlled chaos as the dark energy signature blazed across every detection system Uruk had deployed. Magical alarms screamed warnings while holographic displays showed the deadly aura spreading outward from the island's interior like a cancer consuming everything in its path.
"That's it," Gine said, her ki flaring to life with protective fury. "That's what Carla saw in her visions. Whatever that thing is, it just tried to kill our people."
Teilanne's crimson aura expanded defensively as she analyzed the energy readings. "It's not fully hostile," she observed with maternal intuition that cut through the tactical data. "There's pain in that signature, not malice. Whatever's happening down there, I don't think it's intentional."
"Intentional or not, it nearly killed Elfman and Evergreen," Gildarts said, his crash magic beginning to resonate with barely contained power. "And if Natsu's in direct contact with whatever's generating that energy..."
"He is," Uruk confirmed, his analytical displays tracking magical signatures across the island. "Three guild members are currently in immediate proximity to the unknown threat. Protocol suggests immediate intervention."
Gine was already moving toward the edge of their concealed platform, her protective instincts overriding all tactical considerations. "Then we intervene. Family protects family, and that includes everyone wearing a Fairy Tail mark."
"Wait," Teilanne said, her hand catching Gine's arm with gentle but unbreakable maternal authority. "Before we reveal ourselves, we need to understand what we're dealing with. That energy signature... it feels familiar somehow."
The observation caused everyone to pause and focus more carefully on the readings. There was indeed something recognizable about the dark power, though none of them could immediately place where they might have encountered something similar.
"Zeref," Gildarts said quietly, the name falling like a stone into still water.
The identification sent chills through the entire family. They all knew the legends, the warnings, the absolute prohibition against seeking out the Black Wizard whose very presence was said to bring death to everything around him.
"If that's really Zeref down there," Teilanne said slowly, "then this situation is far beyond anything the S-Class trial was designed to handle."
"Which means the kids need backup whether they know it or not," Gine replied, her emotional volatility transforming into focused determination. "Zeref or not, nobody threatens our guild on our watch."
The Uncomfortable Question
As the family prepared for potential deployment, Uruk's analytical nature compelled him to address the elephant in the room that had been overshadowed by more immediate concerns.
"Gine," he said, his screens still tracking magical signatures across the island, "before we potentially engage in combat operations, we need to resolve the Laxus situation. If we encounter him during whatever's about to unfold, your emotional state could compromise mission effectiveness."
Cumber, who had been maintaining silent vigilance at the perimeter's edge, turned his attention to his sister with the protective concern that defined his relationship with everyone he considered family.
"The emotional conflict you've been carrying will become a tactical liability if left unresolved," he said in his characteristic direct manner. "Better to process it now while we have the luxury of planning than to be forced to deal with it during crisis conditions."
Gine's initial impulse was to deflect or dismiss their concerns, but the gravity of what they were facing made emotional honesty necessary. She sat down heavily, her usual restless energy momentarily subdued as she forced herself to confront feelings she'd been avoiding.
"I've been thinking about it," she admitted, her voice carrying the vulnerability she rarely showed. "What I would actually say to him if we meet face-to-face again."
"And?" Teilanne prompted gently, her maternal instincts recognizing that Gine needed to verbalize her thoughts to fully process them.
"I keep imagining all these dramatic confrontations," Gine said, her hands clenching and unclenching as emotional energy flickered around her. "Angry speeches about how he left without talking to me, or demands that he explain why he thought running away was better than staying and working through things together."
She paused, staring at her hands as if they might provide answers to questions she'd been avoiding.
"But the truth is, if I saw him right now, I think the first thing I'd do is hug him. Not because I forgive everything or because I want to pretend nothing happened, but because I've been terrified that something would happen to him while he was away and I'd never get the chance to tell him how I really feel."
The admission carried the weight of months of suppressed anxiety and longing. Her brothers recognized the emotional breakthrough for what it was—Gine finally acknowledging that her anger had been masking deeper fears about loss and abandonment.
"And how do you really feel?" Cumber asked, his direct approach providing the framework Gine needed to organize her thoughts.
"I'm in love with him," she said simply, the words carrying the clarity of absolute truth. "Not the childhood crush version, not the idealized fantasy I built up in my head over the years, but the real person. Including his flaws, including his tendency to make terrible decisions when he's trying to protect people, including his inability to believe he's worth caring about."
Uruk's screens flickered as he processed the emotional data, but his response was purely brotherly rather than analytical. "That level of emotional clarity should actually improve your tactical effectiveness rather than compromise it."
"How do you figure that?" Gine asked, genuinely curious about her brother's reasoning.
"Because uncertainty creates hesitation," Uruk explained, his scholarly mind breaking down emotional dynamics into understandable components. "But if you know exactly what you want and why you want it, decision-making becomes much more straightforward. You're not going to waste time second-guessing yourself or trying to figure out your priorities in the middle of a crisis."
"Plus," Cumber added with brotherly pragmatism, "if you know you love him, then protecting him becomes a simple tactical imperative rather than an emotional complication. You're not fighting with mixed feelings—you're fighting for something you value."
The perspective reframed everything in terms Gine could work with. Instead of seeing her feelings for Laxus as a potential weakness or distraction, she could approach them as another form of protective motivation.
"So when we encounter him—and we will encounter him," she said, her voice gaining strength and conviction, "I tell him exactly what I just told you. No games, no pretending I'm not affected by seeing him, no trying to be the 'cool girl' who doesn't care. Just honest communication about where I stand and what I want."
"And if he's not ready to hear it?" Teilanne asked gently.
"Then that's his choice to make," Gine replied with the kind of emotional maturity that surprised all of them. "I can't control his reactions or force him to process his feelings on my timeline. But I can control my own actions, and I choose to be honest instead of letting fear or pride make my decisions for me."
The declaration marked a significant evolution in Gine's approach to both relationships and conflict. Her brothers recognized that their little sister had grown into someone capable of handling emotional complexity without losing her essential fire and determination.
Confrontation with the Black Wizard
Below them on the island, the situation escalated rapidly. Through their surveillance systems, the Clive family watched as Natsu confronted the mysterious figure with characteristic directness.
"Who are you?!" Natsu demanded, his fire magic flaring around his clenched fists. "What's with all this death magic, and why did you call me brother?!"
The dark-haired young man looked up with tears streaming down his face, his voice barely above a whisper. "Natsu..."
The sound of his own name spoken with such familiarity and sorrow triggered Natsu's combat instincts. Without hesitation, he launched himself forward, his fist connecting solidly with the stranger's face in a blow that should have sent any normal person flying.
Instead, the young man simply absorbed the impact, stumbling back only slightly before straightening again. His expression showed no anger at the attack, only deeper sadness.
"It seems you're not ready to destroy me yet," he thought to himself, fresh tears beginning to fall. The realization that even Natsu—his greatest creation, designed specifically to end his cursed existence—couldn't fulfill that purpose filled him with renewed despair.
As his emotional state spiraled deeper into anguish, the black aura around him began to intensify. The Death Predation activated involuntarily, spreading outward in waves of lethal magic that consumed everything in its path.
"Run!" Elfman shouted, grabbing Evergreen and retreating as fast as his Beast Soul magic could carry them.
"Natsu!" Happy cried out, his wings beating frantically as he tried to escape the expanding death wave.
But Natsu, standing closest to the source, was caught directly in the magical storm. The dark energy engulfed him completely, and for a terrifying moment, it seemed as though Fairy Tail's most determined member had been consumed by forces beyond mortal comprehension.
When the death magic finally dissipated, Natsu stood exactly where he had been—alive, unharmed, but fundamentally changed. His beloved scarf, the white fabric that had been his constant companion since childhood, had turned completely black, as if touched by the same dark forces that surrounded the mysterious stranger.
"What the hell..." Natsu muttered, staring down at his transformed scarf in confusion and growing alarm.
He looked up to demand answers, but the clearing was empty. The young man who had called him brother, who had somehow survived his punch and demonstrated power that killed everything it touched, had vanished without a trace.
Family Reaction and New Threats
High above, the Clive family watched the encounter with growing alarm as they processed what they had just witnessed.
"Did that death magic just... not affect Natsu at all?" Uruk asked, his analytical screens showing readings that defied logical explanation.
"The scarf changed color," Teilanne observed, her maternal instincts detecting significance in details others might miss. "That's not normal magical resistance. Something fundamental just happened to him."
Gine's protective fury blazed hotter as she processed the implications. "Someone just tried to kill Natsu with death magic, and now he's walking around with a cursed scarf. I don't care what kind of mysterious connection they might have—nobody gets to experiment on our family."
Before anyone could respond to her outburst, Uruk's early warning systems erupted with new alerts. His screens displayed a massive airship approaching from the north, its magical signature unlike anything in Fairy Tail's databases.
"We have incoming hostiles," he announced, his scholarly composure giving way to tactical urgency. "Large vessel, unknown configuration, carrying multiple high-level magical signatures. This isn't part of the trial."
Gildarts' expression hardened as he recognized the implications. "Grimoire Heart."
The name sent chills through the entire family. One of the three members of the Balam Alliance, Grimoire Heart represented the kind of threat that entire nations struggled to contain.
"What would they want with a guild trial?" Cumber asked, though his tactical mind was already working through the possibilities.
"They're not here for the trial," Teilanne said grimly. "They're here for whatever just happened between Natsu and that boy. If that really was Zeref..."
The Devils Descend
Aboard the approaching airship, Hades stood at the bridge with his subordinates arrayed around him like instruments of destruction. The ancient mage's single visible eye gleamed with anticipation as he gazed down at Tenrou Island.
"Master Hades," Ultear said, her time magic allowing her to sense the magical disturbances that had just occurred on the island below. "Zeref's power signature just flared and then vanished. He made contact with someone."
"The Dragon Slayer," Zancrow added with manic enthusiasm, his God Slayer magic resonating with the residual energy traces. "The flame brain actually survived direct contact with death magic. That's either really impressive or really stupid."
"Both," Rustyrose observed with artistic appreciation for the dramatic irony. "Which makes this situation far more interesting than we originally anticipated."
Hades raised his hand for silence, his ancient wisdom processing tactical variables that his subordinates couldn't perceive. "The presence of Fairy Tail complicates our mission, but it doesn't change our objective. Zeref must be awakened to his full power, and if these fairies stand in our way..."
His magical aura expanded ominously, causing the very air around the airship to darken with malevolent energy.
"Then the Devils will destroy the Fairies," he declared with absolute conviction.
Trials Continue Amid Growing Danger
Despite the mysterious encounter, the S-Class trial continued across Tenrou Island, though the participants remained unaware of the approaching threat. Near the island's southern shore, Lucy and Cana had been analyzing Master Makarov's clues about the location of Mavis Vermillion's grave.
"Think about it logically," Lucy said, her celestial magic allowing her to sense the flow of magical energy across the island. "The first master wouldn't be buried in some random location. She'd be somewhere significant, somewhere that represents what Fairy Tail means."
Cana's card magic flickered as she attempted divination, though her emotional state continued to interfere with her usual accuracy. "The heart of the island... the place where our power comes from..."
"The base of the great tree!" Lucy exclaimed with sudden understanding. "That's where the island's magical energy is strongest. That's where she has to be!"
Neither of them noticed Gray and Loke following at a discrete distance, the ice mage and celestial spirit having decided that cooperation might serve them better than direct competition.
Levy's Crisis
Meanwhile, in another section of the forest, Gajeel had just finished demolishing a massive forest creature that had been threatening him and Levy. His Dragon Slayer magic left the battlefield looking like a war zone, with iron spikes and debris scattered across the clearing.
"Was that really necessary?" Levy demanded, her frustration with her partner finally boiling over. "All you ever think about is fighting! You never consider what I might want or need or—"
"If you want my attention, get big and strong," Gajeel interrupted with characteristic bluntness. "I don't have time to babysit weaklings."
The words hit Levy like a physical blow. Without saying another word, she swung her bag directly into his face and ran into the forest, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Gajeel stood there for several seconds, touching his cheek where the bag had connected and looking genuinely confused about what had just happened.
It was his confusion that saved both their lives.
Two figures emerged from the treeline where Levy had fled, their dark clothing and malevolent magical auras immediately identifying them as hostile. Kawazu and Yomazu, members of Grimoire Heart's advance team, had been preparing to eliminate the separated guild members when Gajeel's heightened senses detected their presence.
"Fairy hunters," he growled, his iron magic responding to the threat with lethal intent.
The battle erupted instantly, with Yomazu's sound-based magic creating devastating sonic attacks that shattered trees and left deep gouges in the forest floor. Gajeel's iron dragon scales deflected most of the damage, but he realized that Levy, somewhere ahead in the forest, would be completely defenseless against this level of attack.
For the first time in years, Gajeel Redfox ran not toward a fight, but toward someone who needed his protection.
The Hunt Begins
High above the island, the Clive family watched as magical signatures indicating hostile intent began appearing across Tenrou Island. Their protective perimeter, designed to handle external threats, was about to be tested by enemies who were already inside their defensive zone.
"Grimoire Heart has deployed ground teams," Uruk reported, his screens tracking multiple infiltration points. "They're targeting our guild members systematically."
"Then we drop the concealment," Gine declared, her ki blazing as she prepared for combat. "I'm done watching from the sidelines while our family gets hunted."
"Agreed," Gildarts said, his paternal instincts overriding all tactical considerations. "The mission parameters have changed. We're now in active protection mode."
The Battle for Survival
In the forest depths, Levy's heart pounded as she faced off against Kawazu while the deafening sound of Yomazu's Orient Solid Script magic threatened to shatter her eardrums. The similarity between his magic and her own gave her the key to counter it.
"Solid Script: Silence!" she called out, her letters manifesting in the air and neutralizing the overwhelming noise.
With the sound barrier broken, she could finally focus on her opponent. Kawazu's magic created a barrage of explosive eggs that peppered the forest floor around her. She responded with her own script magic, burning the projectiles before they could detonate.
"Solid Script: Fire!"
Meanwhile, Gajeel found himself struggling against Yomazu's enhanced sword techniques. Each slash seemed to carry magical properties that allowed the blade to cut through his normally impenetrable Iron Dragon Scales.
"What the hell is this sword made of?" Gajeel growled as another cut opened across his arm, drawing blood that should have been impossible to spill.
"Anti-dragon steel," Yomazu replied with cold satisfaction. "Forged specifically to penetrate dragon hide and scales. Your protection means nothing against our weapons."
The battle raged with increasing intensity. Levy found herself overwhelmed as Kawazu's egg attacks multiplied, coming from multiple directions faster than she could counter them. Several explosions caught her off-guard, sending her tumbling across the forest floor.
Gajeel's situation grew equally desperate. The relentless sword strikes were taking their toll, each cut weakening his defenses further. His iron magic, which had never failed him before, seemed inadequate against these specialized enemies.
After a particularly devastating combination attack, Gajeel fell to one knee, breathing heavily as blood seeped through gaps in his damaged scales.
"Levy," he called out, his voice strained but determined. "Get out of here. Warn the others about these bastards."
"I'm not leaving you!" Levy protested, her own magical energy nearly depleted from the constant defensive casting.
"Go!" Gajeel roared, his dragon pride warring with his genuine concern for her safety. "This is my fight!"
Levy hesitated, torn between her desire to help and the practical reality that she was more liability than asset in this particular battle. Finally, her tactical mind won over her emotions.
"Solid Script: Iron!" she called out, creating a massive chunk of pure iron near Gajeel's position. "Use this!"
With that, she turned and ran toward the center of the island, hoping to find other guild members who could provide backup.
Gajeel immediately consumed the iron Levy had created, feeling his strength return and his wounds begin to heal as the metal replenished his magical energy. His scales reformed, stronger than before, and his eyes blazed with renewed determination.
"Now you've done it," he growled at his opponents. "Nobody threatens my partner and lives to brag about it."
The memory hit him suddenly—the day Master Makarov had invited him to join Fairy Tail despite everything he'd done to the guild. The old man's words echoed in his mind: "Everyone deserves a path to tomorrow."
With explosive force, Gajeel launched himself at Yomazu. His iron magic had evolved beyond simple defense—now it carried the weight of his determination to protect what he'd found worth protecting.
"Karma Demon: Iron God Sword!"
The devastating attack shattered Yomazu's anti-dragon blade and sent the Grimoire Heart operative flying backward to crash unconscious against a tree. Gajeel stood victorious for a moment before collapsing from exhaustion.
Reinforcements Arrive
Levy returned with Erza and Juvia just as Kawazu was preparing to finish off the unconscious Gajeel. Erza's presence immediately shifted the tactical balance.
"You picked the wrong guild to hunt," Erza said coldly, her magical aura flaring as she requipped into her Black Wing Armor.
Yomazu, barely conscious but still defiant, struggled to speak. "The Seven Kin of Purgatory... are coming. You cannot stop what has already begun."
Erza grabbed him by the collar, her authority brooking no resistance. "Your goal. What does Grimoire Heart want with Tenrou Island?"
Under the pressure of her interrogation techniques, Yomazu broke. "Zeref... the Black Mage... he's here on this island. Master Hades seeks to awaken his full power."
The revelation sent chills through all three women. Erza immediately fired a red signal flare into the sky, warning all guild members of the threat.
"One of the Seven Kin is already among you," Yomazu added with malicious satisfaction before losing consciousness completely.
The Mest Mystery Deepens
Elsewhere on the island, Carla and Panther Lily had finally tracked down Mest and Wendy. The Exceeds' arrival was perfectly timed, as Mest had been leading Wendy deeper into the island's interior with increasingly suspicious purpose.
"Wendy, come here," Carla called out firmly, her precognitive abilities screaming warnings about the man claiming to be Mystogan's disciple.
"Carla? Lily? What are you doing here?" Wendy asked in confusion.
"We came because something's wrong," Lily replied, shifting into his muscular battle form and drawing his sword. "Stay away from him, Wendy."
Mest's carefully constructed facade began to crack as he realized his deception had been discovered. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm here for the S-Class trial, same as everyone else."
"Are you?" Lily challenged, his blade pointed directly at Mest's chest. "Because I've been thinking about what you told Wendy, and there are too many inconsistencies in your story. Mystogan never took disciples. He barely interacted with guild members beyond mission requirements."
"And I've been having visions," Carla added, her white fur bristling with protective fury. "Visions of deception, of infiltration, of someone who isn't what they claim to be."
Wendy looked between the three of them in growing confusion and alarm. "What's going on? Mest, tell them they're wrong!"
But Mest's expression had changed completely. The friendly, slightly nervous exterior had vanished, replaced by something cold and calculating.
"Perceptive," he said quietly. "More perceptive than I anticipated."
The Destroyer Revealed
High above the confrontations, the Grimoire Heart airship continued its approach to Tenrou Island. But as it drew closer to the landmass, new magical signatures began appearing on their detection systems—signatures that made even Hades pause with concern.
"Master," Ultear reported, her time magic allowing her to sense the flow of temporal energy around the island, "there are other powers here. Powers that weren't in our intelligence reports."
"Impossible," Zancrow scoffed, his God Slayer magic making him overconfident in their ability to handle any opposition. "What could possibly threaten the combined might of Grimoire Heart?"
His question was answered when five figures suddenly materialized in the sky directly in front of their airship, their combined magical auras creating a barrier that forced the massive vessel to halt its advance.
Gildarts floated at the center of the formation, his crash magic creating spatial distortions that made the air itself seem fragile. Beside him, Teilanne's crimson aura blazed like a miniature star, her Saiyan heritage evident in the raw power radiating from her compact frame.
Uruk hovered with screens and analytical displays surrounding him, his magical technology already working to penetrate the airship's defenses. Cumber maintained a position that allowed him to protect his family members while preparing for offensive action. And Gine...
Gine's ki blazed with protective fury that made her seem like a force of nature unleashed. Her blonde hair flickered between gold and its natural color as her emotions threatened to trigger transformations beyond even her considerable control.
"Grimoire Heart," Gildarts called out, his voice carrying clearly across the distance between them and the airship. "You are not welcome on Tenrou Island. Leave now, or face the consequences."
On the airship's bridge, recognition dawned in Hades' ancient eyes. "Teilanne the Destroyer," he breathed, the name carrying weight that made even his subordinates step back in alarm.
The Balam Alliance had files on every significant magical threat in the world. Teilanne Clive—the Saiyan warrior who had single-handedly destroyed an entire dark guild fortress, whose power had grown exponentially since bonding with Gildarts Clive—was considered a catastrophic-level threat that even the Alliance's combined might would struggle to contain.
And now she floated before them with four other family members whose power readings were climbing toward levels that defied conventional magical measurement.
"So," Teilanne said, her voice carrying the kind of cheerful menace that had earned her fearsome reputation, "which one of you wants to explain why you're hunting our family?"
The battle for Tenrou Island was about to escalate beyond anything Grimoire Heart had prepared for.
To be continued in Chapter 28: Makarov Strikes; The Battle of Tenrou Island!