At the center of Tenrou Island lay the final resting place of the First Master, Mavis.
Ancient trees towered overhead, their branches and leaves filtering the sunlight into dappled patterns on the ground, which was carpeted with a thick layer of fragrant moss.
In the middle of the clearing, an unremarkable, simple stone monument covered in green vines stood quietly.
Before it lay several bouquets of magical flowers that would never wilt.
There were no magnificent decorations, no oppressive aura, only a peace that calmed the soul and a faint sense of sorrow.
At this moment, Master Makarov stood before the stone monument.
His small figure appeared exceptionally solemn and dignified in the atmosphere of the First Master's grave.
Ace, Lisanna, Erza, Gray, Mirajane, and Elfman stood to one side.
Most bore injuries and their magic was unsteady, but their eyes were all incomparably bright and resolute.
In the distance, Gildarts leaned against a tree trunk, yawning.
Laxus stood with his arms crossed as a look of impatience crossed his face, though his gaze periodically swept over Ace, filled with undisguised scrutiny and battle lust.
"Everyone is here." Master Makarov surveyed the group, his voice steady. "First, congratulations on passing the first two harsh trials. The fact that you can stand here proves you possess the potential and will to become an S-Class Mage."
He paused, his gaze lingering on Ace for a moment with a hint of complexity.
"Now, I will announce the contents of the final trial for the S-Class Exam."
The Master raised his hand and pointed to the other side of the clearing.
There, a bright red flag embroidered with a golden fairy emblem was planted on a small hill about three hundred meters from the monument, fluttering gently in the breeze.
"Do you see that flag? That is the final proof of passage to S-Class," the Master said slowly. "The final trial is to reach the flag's location and successfully pull it out without it being destroyed. After ten minutes, the team to which the flag's owner belongs will be this year's S-Class Exam—Winner."
"However, the path to the flag will not be smooth." The Master's tone shifted, his gaze turning to Gildarts and Laxus.
"These two will act as the final 'gatekeepers.' They will intercept and test you one last time on your way to the flag. You don't need to defeat them—that's nearly impossible for you right now—but you must display strength, will, and wisdom sufficient to earn their acknowledgment in order to pass."
Upon hearing this, Laxus grinned, revealing his stark white teeth as his electric gaze once again locked onto Ace.
"After the trial begins, you may attempt to approach the flag from any direction or path. You can cooperate, you can compete; it's all up to your own abilities." The Master's tone grew heavier, his eyes sweeping over everyone.
"But remember, a Fairy Tail mage always puts their friends first. Competition is fine, but if anyone intentionally deals a fatal or crippling blow to a friend, I will not be lenient."
"Is that understood?"
"Yes, Master!" everyone answered in unison, their fighting spirit instantly ignited.
"Then... the final trial, now—begins."
The moment his voice faded, several figures shot out like arrows loosed from a bow, streaking in different directions.
Erza and Gray exchanged a look, tacitly choosing to circle around through the jungle on the left, attempting to avoid a frontal confrontation.
Mirajane and Elfman chose to advance through the rocky beach on the right, using the terrain for cover.
Gildarts stretched lazily and ambled toward the area where Erza's and Mirajane's teams were likely to pass.
It seemed random, yet he perfectly blocked the optimal routes.
And Laxus...
He didn't move at all.
He just stood in place, hands in his pockets, his gaze locked onto a single target—the figure who was preparing to cut into the woods from the front-right with Lisanna.
"Hey, newbie." Laxus's voice wasn't loud, but it boomed through the woods like thunder, carrying an unquestionable dominance.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Ace stopped in his tracks and slowly turned around. Lisanna nervously gripped his arm.
"Your opponent is me." Laxus raised his right hand, pointing his index finger at Ace as golden arcs of electricity danced at its tip.
"I'm not interested in the others. Either you fight your way past me, or you obediently crawl back. Choose."
It was a blatant provocation, a completely undisguised targeting.
"Ace-nii, we..." Lisanna looked at him worriedly.
"Lisanna, you fall back. Find a chance to get around with Kyubimon. Leave this to me," Ace said in a deep, unyieldingly firm tone.
"But—"
"Be good. This isn't a fight you can interfere in." Ace cut her off, his gaze never leaving Laxus.
He gently pushed Lisanna's hand away and took a step forward, facing the golden figure bathed in lightning alone.
"Heh, you've got some guts," Laxus sneered, lowering his hand as the lightning around him flared even brighter.
"Then let me see how many moves you can last against me."
'Heh.. then I'll choose a suitable opponent for you,' Ace thought, his consciousness sinking into the Magic that held his Digimon partner.
He could feel what seemed to be a deep space within.
In the deepest part of that space, in a dark corner he had deliberately sealed and suppressed, came a chaotic, violent roar filled with destruction and unwillingness.
SkullGreymon.
It was a power he couldn't control.
But using a dragon to fight a dragon seemed interesting, and right now, facing a powerful enemy of Laxus's caliber, he had few partners who could contend with him.
"Come, partner." Ace chanted silently in his heart, speaking to the presence in the darkness, and also to Lisanna and the others who might be frightened by this.
"I grant you the right to destroy once more."
He snapped his eyes open, a flash of dark red light streaking through the depths of his pupils.
His hands swept rapidly in front of him, performing a summoning formula that was a cross between this world's magic and the Digital Soul's summoning contract—a forced technique used to communicate with, guide, and control that dark power as much as possible.
"Awaken... King of Skeletons sleeping in the depths of darkness..."
"Answer my call and descend upon this world..."
"With my bond as your shackles, with my will as your guide..."
"Descend—SkullGreymon!"
On the ground before Ace, a viscous, writhing, dark gray Magic Circle suddenly spread out, emanating a thick, ominous aura of death.
The runes of the circle twisted like struggling skeletons, and at its center was a slowly rotating black hole that seemed to devour all light.
"ROOOOAAAAARRRR—!!!!"
A deafening roar filled with fury and the desire for destruction, erupted from the depths of the black hole.
The air around the First Master's grave suddenly turned bone-chillingly cold, and the light dimmed, as if even the peaceful atmosphere of the resting place was being tainted and repelled by this pure darkness and deathly aura.
Master Makarov's expression changed.
He took a step forward but then stopped, his small eyes fixed on the spreading dark gray Magic Circle, his gaze filled with shock and uncertainty.
The members present at the guild that day could never forget it.
The terrifying skeletal dragon was incredibly intimidating, making SkullGreymon's entrance instantly max out the feeling of pressure.
Lisanna's face turned pale.
She hugged Kyubimon tightly, staring in terror at Ace's back and the increasingly ominous Magic Circle before him.
A massive dragon claw, composed of nothing but pale white bones, suddenly shot out from the center of the dark gray circle, slamming into the ground and shattering the rock like tofu.
It was followed by another bony claw, which struggled to squeeze out of the Magic Circle before letting out an even more savage roar at the sky.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
SkullGreymon's terrifying skeletal body crawled out of the summoning circle bit by bit, fully descending upon this world.
Its colossal body, dozens of meters tall, was a staggering sight.
Upon its towering spine, bony protrusions stood menacingly, like missile silos. Its thick tailbone dragged behind it, cracking the rock wherever it swept.
"What the hell... is this thing?!"
The disdain on Laxus's face was finally replaced by gravity.
He narrowed his eyes, sizing up the skeletal dragon that had suddenly appeared.
After SkullGreymon descended, its "gaze" fell upon Laxus, who was emanating a strong aura of lightning.
Its instinct for destruction made it instantly lock onto this target!
"ROAR!" It let out a ferocious bellow, its massive bone feet beginning to move as it prepared to charge at Laxus.
"Interesting... This is good!" The lightning around Laxus exploded violently!
"I didn't expect a brat like you to be hiding this kind of trump card! A pile of bones? Good! Very good! My hands were getting itchy anyway."