The Search for the Grave and an Uninvited Guest

As the first assessment came to a close, Makarov cleared his throat, walked up to everyone, and wore a mysterious smile.

He loudly announced the content of the second exam:

"Congratulations to everyone who passed the first test! Now, I will announce the content of the second test!"

"It's very simple! All you need to do is find the grave of Mavis Lyon, the first guild master of Fairy Tail, on this island!"

"Attention! Time limit: only six hours! Jiang Bai and I will be waiting for you at the cemetery!"

"What? It's just about finding a place? That's too easy!"

Upon hearing this, Natsu immediately perked up and didn't take it seriously at all.

"Happy! Let's go!"

"Ai!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the man and the cat transformed into a streak of light, the first to rush out and disappear into the dense jungle.

The other groups of members who passed the assessment were not to be outdone, and they all set off, heading deeper into the island.

In the blink of an eye, only Makarov and a group of eliminated members remained at the meeting point.

"Alright, now that my task is complete, I'll be taking my leave."

Gildarts stretched, looking like he was about to make a run for it.

"Huh? Uncle, aren't you going to stay a little longer?" Jiang Bai looked at him with some surprise.

"No," Gildarts waved his hand, a competitive smile on his face.

"I plan to go back and pack up, then continue with my unfinished 100-Year Quest. I can't let you steal all the limelight."

Hearing this, Cana, who had been in a good mood just moments before, couldn't hold back anymore.

She mustered her courage and shouted loudly at Gildarts's retreating figure:

"Hey! Our daughter failed her exam, aren't you, as her father, going to stay and comfort her?!"

Gildarts's steps froze instantly.

He slowly turned around, and when he saw his daughter's eyes, filled with a mixture of grievance and expectation, he was completely melted.

His tongue even transformed into the shape of a heart for a fleeting moment.

"Oh my! So... so my little Cana is so reluctant to leave her dad!"

He rushed back to Cana, tears welling in his eyes, and said, "Alright! Then Daddy will stay! I'll keep a close eye on Cana's friends and see who will become the final S-Class!"

On the other side, Lucy walked up to Makarov and whispered, "President, are we eliminated people supposed to go directly to the first president's grave to gather? Or... can we go find it ourselves?"

"Of course!" Makarov nodded, but still added a reminder.

"However, this island is still very dangerous, are you sure, Lucy?"

Upon hearing this, Lucy's face immediately showed a hint of fear.

"It's alright!" Cana walked over, put her arm around Lucy's shoulder, and said boldly.

"Why don't I just go with Lucy? It'll be a good way to clear my head!"

Seeing this, Makarov agreed to their request.

However, reality is always cruel.

"Lucy--! Why did we choose to travel alone?!"

From the jungle came Cana's mournful howl filled with regret.

Not long after the two left the main group, they were "luckily" confronted by a huge, ferocious-looking monster native to the island, which was now relentlessly pursuing them with heavy steps.

"Stop talking!" Lucy shouted breathlessly as she ran.

"Save your energy! Find a chance to shake it off!"

On the other side of Tenrou Island.

Natsu and Happy were flying around in the air, bumping into things like two headless flies.

"Damn it! This island is huge!"

Natsu, looking at the unchanging jungle below, shouted impatiently, "At this rate, six hours will be up in no time!"

"Natsu," Happy flapped his wings, then suddenly a brilliant idea struck him.

Do you think the first chairman's tomb will be built in the most prominent place on the entire island?

You mean...?

Natsu was taken aback by what he heard, and then followed Happy's gaze to the towering tree in the distance that seemed to pierce the clouds and was so huge that it defied logic.

"Very likely!"

Natsu's eyes lit up instantly, and he hugged Happy, shouting joyfully:

"You're such a great partner, Happy! You're so smart!"

"Hey!" Happy puffed out his little chest proudly.

"I'm quite smart too."

At the same time, Jiang Bai, who was leisurely walking towards the cemetery with Makarov and his group, suddenly stopped.

He turned his head and looked in a certain direction from the jungle.

"Old man," Jiang Bai said to Makarov,

I think I've spotted someone interesting. I'll go check them out.

"Hmm?" Makarov, somewhat puzzled.

"Tenrou Island has always been protected by hidden magic, how could outsiders possibly come up here?"

He pondered for a moment, then said, "Kid, go check the situation. If it's just an ordinary person who stumbled in by mistake, escort him out safely. If not... then hand Magic Council over to those guys in the council."

"Old Master," Jiang Bai said, a playful smile playing on his lips.

"That guy, those useless idiots in the Magic Council probably can't handle him."

Upon hearing Jiang Bai's tone, Makarov knew things were not simple, and his expression immediately turned serious.

"Then what are you waiting for?! Hurry up and deal with it! What if the other kids in the guild run into it?"

Hi hi~ Got it~

Jiang Bai responded lazily.

The next second, his figure vanished into thin air.

When he reappeared, he had arrived at a secluded clearing in the woods.

A young man with black hair and black eyes, dressed in a somewhat retro black robe, stood there quietly with his back to him, seemingly lost in thought.

"I thought," the young man said without turning his head, his voice carrying a hint of ethereal loneliness.

"There shouldn't be any talented people on this island."

Jiang Bai, hands in his pockets, slowly walked up behind him and said in a tone so calm it was almost casual:

"Excuse me, this is our territory now. So, could you please leave this island?"

Jiang Bai paused, then added the last word.

"Zeref."

The young man with black hair, the legendary black mage Zeref, wanted to say that he would leave immediately after hearing the first half of Jiang Bai's sentence.

However, when those last two words clearly reached his ears, his body suddenly stiffened.

He slowly turned around, and for the first time, an incredulous look of astonishment appeared in his deep, black-hole-like eyes.

"Oh?"

Zeref looked at the smiling, unremarkable black-haired youth in front of him, his voice filled with inquiry and confusion.

"There are actually people in this country... who can recognize me?"