Discord: discord .gg /eHuxNeZfyS [Come chat with me]
pat.reon: Keanu_Eugene [Read ahead & support me]
You.tube: @KeanuEugene [Giving away all my writing knowledge]
CHAPTER START---
Oberon bursts through the door to the upper deck, feeling the scorching afternoon heat on his exposed wounds while hovering above the deck.
"Did anyone else feel th—" the words die in his throat when he sees everyone at the front of the ship, staring at the massive island in the distance. "Wow…"
He hovers over to the other competitors, ignoring Laxus and Master Makarov, who are standing atop the captains' quarters area, dressed in casual beach clothes. "Welcome to Tenroujima Island, Fairy Tail's sacred and secret land."
Oberon floats higher above the ship to get a proper view, standing on the top of the mainmast and drinking in the sight.
Tenroujima is a dozen times the size of Magnolia, filled with jagged cliff sides and large wood and stone structures, appearing as if absurdly large mangroves and vines grew and were partially petrified around the island.
However, the island is split into multiple levels. The second level from the ocean is its own plateau within the first, hundreds of meters higher on its own set of sheer cliffs, sporting a large lush forest with evergreen trees.
The third and final level is similarly concentric, with waterfalls flowing down to the lower levels from it. However, there is a massive tree growing out of it, with roots thicker than Kardia Cathedral spreading down and throughout the entire island, permeating the stone and land of each level.
These massive roots feed the gargantuan tree rising miles high into the sky. The trunk is two large roots in a helix pattern connecting at the top, blooming into an oddly organized canopy of evergreen leaves just as wide as the entire island.
As the ship sails closer on the eerily still seas, they all silently appreciate the sight, feeling a sense of serenity and reverence until they see a small wooden dock in the distance.
Oberon hops off the mast and joins the others near Master Makarov, looking up at the man and Laxus with renewed excitement for the upcoming trials.
"This island is super weird," Oberon says. "Awesome, but weird."
Makarov smiles. "Tenroujima Island was bought by Fairy Tail after our first master won the 4th trade war for Fiore. She was a brilliant tactician, The Fairy Tactician, and this is where she was born.
On the other side of the island, up on the middle level, you'll find the abandoned ruins of her small village. Back then, this island was desolate and abandoned, so she got it at a low price from the crown.
Now it is considered our holy ground, and if anything should truly threaten the Fairy Tail guild, this island is where the S-Class Wizards can bring everyone for safety. The Ethernano in the air is too intense for regular humans or animals, acting like a toxin for most because of the concentration.
That's one layer of the defense. The second is the Barrier Magic that protects this area. A variation of the Fairy Sphere Magic. It keeps the entire island and the surrounding ocean territory hidden from the world. No matter how advanced, nobody can find this island unless invited.
And only those with the specified authority or the rank of S-Class within Fairy Tail can perform such an action. The Barrier makes the ocean currents and winds stop within it, hence the year-round heat and lack of waves or fish. Even now, the Barrier guides this ship since otherwise, we'd have to row.
It also makes the island itself invisible to those who aren't welcome and does a few other things. But any further information is restricted to the S-Class Wizards, so if you win the trial, then you'd have access to it. The final part of every promotion trial takes place here, every time. It is the most difficult part of the trial, and only one of you can complete it."
They all share uneasy looks, then settle back into their uneasy alliance.
But Oberon is unbothered and oblivious while floating above his competition. "How did the Barrier connect to me?"
Makarov raises a brow. "What do you mean?"
"I'm immune to Invasive Magic, but I could feel it reaching me, is that part of the Barrier too?"
Makarov gestures to the Fairy Tail emblem on his own chest. "Our Guild Emblem is special, it connects us on a level beyond Magic, in spirit and heart, to each other and to Tenroujima. That's how the Barrier knows who to grant access too, but as I said, any more information is S-Class restricted."
Oberon nods, oblivious to how disheartening his words are as he says, "alright, I'll ask later." He hears a few people below him grumbling and gives them an apologetic look.
Makarov chuckles before ordering everyone to get ready for the trial while the ship approaches the docks.
Oberon finishes dressing his wounds and pulls on his usual clothes, aside from the jacket, and meets everyone down on the wooden docks. While he's only wearing his boots, shorts, a t-shirt, and his belt, which hosts his two card holders at his side, everyone else seems ready for intense camping. Carrying large bags with bedrolls and even climbing equipment.
"Finally," Laxus says as his motion sickness disappears, enjoying the feeling of solid footing below him. "I really really hate boats."
"Yeah you are pretty useless at sea," Oberon laughs at his friend.
Master Makarov claps to get everyone's attention, silencing the small conversations forming. "Everyone, with me!" he commands before turning and walking further inland.
They fall into step behind him while Laxus walks at his side, leading them deeper into the rocky terrain. The dull moss-covered rocks are painfully ordinary, but their eyes can't help but drift upward. Past the house-sized roots winding above, around, and sometimes below them along the trail, to the ridiculous tree towering over the entire island.
"I better there is a cool sword up there," Oberon mutters.
Makao shakes his head. "Why would there be a sword in the tree?"
"Because that's exactly where I'd hide a cool sword."
"You can explore the island later," Makarov says. "I'm going to explain the first part of your trial now."
They all focus as he leads them through a narrow opening through a field of boulders, encroaching on the forest further inland.
"Tenroujima Island is home to many Magic Beasts. Some are ordinary, others are particularly powerful or dangerous. The high levels of Ethernano in the air boosts their growth and reproductive rate, so don't let your guard down. Most of the things on this island are carnivores since they naturally avoid harming the Tenroujima Tree.
Many of them have resistance to Magic or even Magics of their own, so look out for that as well. Along with that, surviving on the island itself is the main part of your trial. However, we won't be camping. We'll be leaving one hour after sundown. The longer you take on the first trial, the less time you have for the second.
The second trial ends at sundown, regardless of circumstances. And trust me, you don't want to be in the forest when the dangerous creatures come out at night. Each layer of the island grows more dangerous as you get higher and more inland, except for the massive cave system running all through the island. Those are always deadly.
Each of you will pick one cave entrance and venture through it, overcoming whatever is on the path. Some of these caves will have nothing, others will be flooded or filled with monsters, maybe even dangerous plans or gas, and likely some traps too since Gildarts has been here all day planning."
Macao and Wakaba frown, recalling how their last S-Class Trial ended.
Makarov leads them around a corner to a wall of tunnel entrances, each leading deep into the cliff side of the second level of the island. "Some of these will also force you into large chambers where you'll be trapped by a Barrier. The Barrier won't fall until one one person is left standing, be it by submission or surrender."
"So either we get lucky with the easy route, or we fight the island and each other," one of the women competing says. "This seems a bit too easy, Master."
"Well the second part is nearly impossible to pass," Makarov shrugs as he sits on a nearby rock while Laxus prepares a box of chopsticks. "Besides, if you're really unlucky you'll bump into Gildarts within the caves."
Everyone, including Oberon, groans at that. "I should have known," the woman says.
"The island has wonderful herbal hot springs that help you heal, so don't be afraid to rough him up," He gives them a devious smile while they all glare at him, not in the mood for his sarcasm.
"Can I try out those hot springs after?" Oberon asks. "But, this place is already so warm, are there regular ones too?"
"Yes, there are. Now, everyone draw a number," Makarov says, gesturing to Laxus's box of sticks. "Part of life is being lucky, and you won't survive as a S-Class without luck, no matter how much Magic loves you. So starting now, let luck decide your path…"
CHAPTER END---
Discord: discord .gg /eHuxNeZfyS [Come chat with me]
pat.reon: Keanu_Eugene [Read ahead & support me]
You.tube: @KeanuEugene [Giving away all my writing knowledge]