Chapter 165: FTRJ: Chapter 165

“I think I should go look for them. I’m very worried about Wendy.” Finn stood, his gaze filled with deep concern. “In that case, I’ll go wit

“I think I should go look for them. I’m very worried about Wendy.”

Finn stood, his gaze filled with deep concern.

“In that case, I’ll go with you,” Erza said, rising to her feet.

Finn nodded in agreement.

“Then Mira, Juvia, and Lisanna will stay here. If Mest and Wendy return,” Finn paused, his expression turning serious.

“Subdue Mest immediately and await the Master’s decision!”

“Leave it to us!” Mirajane replied confidently, nodding in agreement.

“Let’s go then,” Finn said, gesturing for Nancy and Erza to follow as he departed from the temporary base.

Meanwhile, Wendy and Mest were walking through the forest. Wendy was deeply self-reproachful over their earlier failure in the trial. Tears welled up in her eyes, causing a pang of sympathy in those who witnessed her distress.

“Wendy, don’t worry about it,” Mest said soothingly. “If it doesn’t work out this year, there’s always next year. You’ve already done exceptionally well!”

“Re…really?” Wendy looked up at Mest, her tear-filled eyes questioning his words.

Mest offered a reassuring smile. “Absolutely.”

He then turned his gaze towards the deeper recesses of the island.

“Now then, Wendy,” Mest began, his voice laced with a hint of intrigue, “this island is known as Fairy Tail’s sacred ground. Do you happen to know the reason why?”

“Huh?” Wendy blinked, momentarily distracted as she wiped away the tears that had welled up in her eyes. After a moment of reflection, she responded. “It’s because this island serves as the final resting place of the guild’s first master, Mavis Vermillion, isn’t it?”

Mest nodded in confirmation. “That is indeed one of the reasons,” he replied, his voice laced with a hint of mystery. “However, that is not the sole reason for its sacred designation.”

“It is said that this island is normally concealed by an incredibly powerful barrier,” Mest continued, his voice laced with a hint of awe.

“Regardless of the potency of the magic employed, it is said to be impossible to locate the island without prior knowledge of its location.”

“Eh?” Wendy exclaimed, her voice laced with surprise as she heard this information for the first time. Her curiosity was immediately piqued.

Mest continued to divulge information about the island’s enigmatic nature. “It is rumored that a significant and closely guarded secret of the Fairy Tail guild is concealed somewhere on this very island.”

Mest then turned his gaze towards Wendy, his expression one of casual suggestion. “So, what do you say, Wendy? Shall we embark on an adventure to uncover this mystery?”

A gradual smile spread across Wendy’s face, her earlier sadness dissipating. The prospect of an adventure held a significant appeal for Wendy, especially considering her youthful and adventurous nature.

…

In the sky, not far from Tenrou Island, a colossal, dark red magic formation propelled a massive magic airship through the clouds.

This was none other than the formidable dark guild, the Devil’s Heart!

Aboard the airship, Hades, the Devil’s Heart’s master, gazed upon Tenrou Island, his eyes gleaming with intense excitement as the island drew closer.

“This moment has finally arrived!” Hades exclaimed triumphantly, his voice filled with unrestrained exhilaration. “The long-awaited day of the legendary Black Mage Zeref’s resurrection!”

Hades raised his right hand, his fist clenched tightly, as if he were grasping some tangible object.

“All the necessary keys are now in my possession,” Hades declared, his voice laced with a hint of grim determination. “We must now devise a means of awakening whatever lies dormant within Zeref’s slumbering form.”

“Master Hades,” Ultear’s voice cut through the air, her tone laced with a hint of caution. “There remains one significant obstacle to consider. The majority of Fairy Tail’s most powerful members are currently congregated on that very island.”

Upon hearing the name of the formidable Fairy Tail guild, Hades let out a scornful chuckle, his expression one of utter contempt.

“Fairy Tail?” Hades sneered, his voice laced with derision. “They have yet to witness the true nature of darkness, the absolute darkness that lurks within the deepest recesses of the abyss!”

Hades rose from his throne, his arms outstretched as he closed his eyes, his body radiating an aura of immense power.

“We are the illustrious Devil’s Heart!” Hades declared, his voice echoing with confidence. “Today, it shall be the demons who shall engage in a playful dance with these so-called fairies!”

Hades’s fists clenched, his body emanating a palpable aura of malevolent magical energy.

“Let us witness whether it is we who shall devour our opponents, or whether we ourselves shall be devoured,” Hades declared, his voice laced with a hint of grim anticipation.

“The moment of truth has arrived, Fairy Tail!” Hades roared, his voice echoing through the airship.

Ultear remained silent, stepping back without a word. Her eyes were closed, her thoughts seemingly lost in contemplation.

Behind Ultear, a young woman named Meredy fixed her gaze upon Ultear, her lips pressed together tightly, her expression one of silent determination.

…

On Tenrou Island, the participants, having heard the instructions for the second trial, dispersed in a flurry of activity, embarking on a haphazard search for the elusive grave.

However, Tenrou Island was also home to a significant population of large, powerful beasts. The participants were hesitant to engage these creatures in combat, considering that the sheer number of beasts, coupled with the uncertainty of victory, would likely result in the unnecessary expenditure of their precious magical energy.

Consequently, the participants found themselves engaged in a frantic race against time, desperately searching for the first guild master’s grave while evading the relentless pursuit of the island’s formidable fauna. The air was filled with the screams of the participants as they fled from the beasts.

Erza and Elfman found themselves in a similar predicament, pursued relentlessly by a colossal creature resembling a wild boar. Their pursuit eventually led them to a wide-open clearing.

Despite the precarious situation, Erza and Elfman displayed no hint of panic. Instead, they continued their earlier argument regarding the first stage of the trials.

Rustle—

The sound of rustling vegetation emanated from behind them, causing both Erza and Elfman to turn their heads instinctively.

A man emerged from the dense undergrowth, his appearance shrouded in an aura of mystery. His hair was black, and his all-black attire was adorned with white strips of cloth. His overall demeanor exuded a profound sense of melancholy. His eyes lacked any discernible sparkle, yet they conveyed a palpable sense of sorrow.

“A… person… I find it rather surprising to encounter another individual on an island such as this,” the man remarked slowly, his voice laced with a hint of astonishment.

“Who are you?” Elfman demanded, his voice laced with suspicion.

“Only members of our guild are permitted to enter this island!” Erza added forcefully, her voice laced with a tone of authority.

“A guild, you say?” the man replied, nodding slowly in acknowledgment. “So, it appears that this island is under the jurisdiction of a guild…”

Observing the stranger’s peculiar behavior, Elfman took a step forward, his intention being to apprehend the mysterious individual.

However, at that very moment, the man in black let out a cry of terror, his hands outstretched as if to ward off Elfman’s approach. “No!” he screamed, his voice filled with a mixture of fear and urgency.

“You absolutely must not approach me!” the man pleaded, his voice laced with a hint of desperation. “I shall depart immediately. I implore you, do not come any closer!” Although his words sounded like a desperate plea, there was an underlying tone of warning in his voice.

Erza and Elfman exchanged a brief glance, their expressions filled with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

“Something about this situation feels rather peculiar,” Elfman commented, his voice laced with a hint of unease as he observed the man’s increasingly distressed state. “However, is it truly wise for us to simply ignore him?”

“No… no… it’s beginning to manifest itself!” the man cried out, his head clutched tightly in his hands, his voice reduced to a strained whisper.

“The Death’s Hunt… it’s approaching!” the man exclaimed, his eyes widening in terror as his dark pupils transformed into a vibrant crimson hue.

“Flee… for your lives!” the man bellowed, his voice filled with desperate urgency.

WHOOSH!!

A surge of intensely dark energy erupted from the man’s body, enveloping him completely. The falling leaves that came into contact with the dark energy instantly disintegrated into nothingness.

The dark energy expanded outwards in a semi-circular pattern, transforming everything within its reach into a cold, lifeless monochrome palette of black and white.

As the dark energy swept across the clearing, the surrounding trees and vegetation withered and died instantly upon contact.

“Get down!!” a roar suddenly echoed through the clearing.

Natsu, appearing seemingly out of nowhere, lunged forward, forcefully pushing Erza and Elfman to the ground, shielding them from the encroaching darkness.

Far off in another part of the forest, Finn abruptly halted his steps, his gaze fixed intently upon the distant clearing, his expression one of grave concern.

“The aura of death…” Finn muttered, his voice laced with a hint of apprehension.

Observing Erza’s continued efforts to locate Wendy, Finn realized that she had not sensed the ominous presence that he had detected earlier.

“It appears that someone has encountered grave danger in that direction,” Finn stated, his voice laced with a hint of urgency.

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