Chapter 158: FTRJ: Chapter 158

“Give the order, proceed to Fairy Island; Zeref rests there.” “Yes, Master Hades!” … Tenrou Island, Fairy Tail’s sacred grounds. Due to its

“Give the order, proceed to Fairy Island; Zeref rests there.”

“Yes, Master Hades!”

…

Tenrou Island, Fairy Tail’s sacred grounds. Due to its unique location and the influence of atmospheric convection currents, it enjoys perpetual summer weather, making it a surprisingly comfortable vacation spot.

Finn, an S-Class mage and one of the examiners for the trials, had already arrived on Tenrou Island, preparing for the upcoming assessments.

In a quiet passage, fireflies illuminated the darkness. Finn and Nancy sat waiting, bored.

Nancy stroked her chin, a look of anticipation on her face. “I wonder who will choose this path.”

Finn shrugged nonchalantly. “Whoever it is, let’s get it over with and go home.”

“True,” Nancy agreed, wagging her tail and gazing towards the tunnel entrance. “They should be arriving soon.”

As Nancy predicted, a Fairy Tail ship was slowly approaching Tenrou Island from the sea.

Onboard, the participants studied the map beside Makarov, wiping sweat from their brows—nervousness or heat, they couldn’t tell.

Makarov had just explained the rules: eight paths on the island; each team chooses one, and only one team can take each path. Five paths were guarded by current S-Class mages. Two paths connected; one was a straight path. If they encountered an S-Class mage, they had to defeat them or gain their approval to pass.

No one, except Natsu, expected to defeat an S-Class mage. The two teams that chose connecting paths would meet and fight; only the winner could advance. The team that chose the straight path wouldn’t fight.

Makarov explained, “This tests strength and luck!”

Hearing about the luck element, Lucy looked excitedly at Cana. “If it’s luck, we might have a chance!”

“There’s only a one-in-eight chance of getting that path,” Cana sighed.

“Theoretically, seven teams could pass the first stage,” Erza mused.

“Worst case, only two teams pass…” Levy said, despairing.

Gajeel, however, was confident. “No matter who the opponent is, I’ll beat them to a pulp. Don’t worry!”

Levy’s partner was Gajeel. After not being selected, Gajeel found Levy and promised to help her become S-Class. Levy, having no other choice, chose him. Gajeel was strong, and he’d apologized for his past behavior.

“Alright, get ready! The exam begins!” Makarov announced, seeing everyone understood the rules.

“But we’re still at sea,” Gray said, confused, looking at the distant Tenrou Island.

Makarov didn’t explain, only offering a cryptic smile.

“Because the first ones there get to choose the route!” Lucy realized Makarov’s strategy.

But before they could react, Freed had already cast a spell on the ship.

“Don’t worry, the spell will break in five minutes. Take your time,” Freed said, his dark wings spread, flying towards the island with Bickslow on his toy.

“Damn it, he used magic!” Natsu pounded on the invisible barrier created by the spell.

“Master, is this allowed?” Gray asked Makarov, who was fanning himself.

“It’s not a race. How you get there is up to you,” Makarov said nonchalantly, continuing to fan himself.

…

Finn and Nancy were waiting in the passage marked ’D’, sitting silently on the ground.

“Is this really the right way to go?”

Suddenly, a voice echoed through the quiet passage. Finn and Nancy exchanged a look.

“Looks like we have company,” Nancy said, her gaze fixed on the tunnel entrance. She wanted to see who was unlucky enough to encounter Finn. She knew Finn was one of the strongest in Fairy Tail, and in the previous two S-Class exams, he hadn’t allowed a single person to pass.

“It’s fine, it’s random. I trust my luck,” another voice responded.

The sound of footsteps grew closer, steadily approaching Finn and Nancy’s position.

A smile played on Finn’s lips. He recognized the voices.

“Lisanna, then Juvia,” Finn mused, a hint of nostalgia in his tone. “A perfect opportunity to assess Lisanna’s progress over these past few years.”

Finn slowly rose to his feet, patiently awaiting the arrival of the approaching team.

The two didn’t keep Finn waiting long, appearing before him almost immediately. Illuminated by the soft glow of the fireflies, Lisanna’s eyes first fell upon Nancy, who was excitedly waving a small paw in greeting.

However, Lisanna found herself unable to return the cheerful gesture. In that instant, a chilling thought seized her mind.

As the fireflies danced and flitted upwards, their faint light illuminated the figure standing before them. The smile playing upon Finn’s lips sent a shiver down their spines, feeling far more menacing than welcoming.

“No… no way…” Juvia’s blue eyes widened in disbelief, her pupils constricting sharply. She instinctively covered her mouth with her hand, her face registering a look of utter shock and disbelief.

“It’s… Finn…!!” Juvia whispered, her voice filled with a mixture of terror and astonishment.

“Well, well, Juvia and Lisanna. Fancy meeting you two here,” Finn remarked calmly, his voice devoid of any hint of surprise.

He then began to walk towards a section of the passage where the light was more intense, his aura growing stronger with each deliberate step.

A wave of palpable fear washed over Juvia and Lisanna.

“Although you’re both girls, it makes things a bit difficult,” Finn said, a hint of internal conflict evident in his tone. “However,” he continued, his voice regaining its firmness, “this is the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial.”

“And I assure you, I won’t be showing any mercy,” Finn declared, his voice resonating with unwavering resolve.

An immense pressure, as heavy as a mountain, bore down upon Juvia and Lisanna, causing beads of cold sweat to form on their foreheads.

“Lisanna, does Finn have any weaknesses?” Juvia asked, forcing herself to remain calm, her voice barely a whisper. Even the most formidable mage possesses vulnerabilities; finding those weaknesses is key to victory.

“Finn… he essentially has no weaknesses,” Lisanna replied, wiping the sweat from her brow, her voice laced with a hint of despair. After a moment of intense contemplation, she admitted defeat. “With our current abilities, defeating him is simply an impossibility.”

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