S-Class Exam

"Ugh... I feel awful... Why did we have to take a boat..." Natsu lay sprawled on the deck, looking half-dead as he spoke.

Makarov said speechlessly, "Tenrou Island... Island! Were you planning to swim here if you didn't take a boat?"

"I could've swum here..." Feng Lan lay on the floor, speaking weakly. "Laxus... I'm really fucking impressed with you..."

Leaning against the mast, Laxus said with difficulty, "I told you... we're sharing the hardship. I could've let you swim over."

Feng Lan said, on the verge of breaking down, "Then... blegh~ at least let me sleep for a while."

Laxus wore a wicked grin. "Hmph... The exam's about to begin. Didn't I electrocute you to keep you awake...?"

Feng Lan said tearfully, "Then I fucking thank you for that."

Lisanna lay in a chair, listlessly sipping juice. "Mira, it's so hot..."

With a popsicle in her mouth and sweat all over her face, Mira said, "What's going on with Tenrou Island? Even in summer, it shouldn't be this hot..."

Erza said with a look of disdain, "That's just how island climates are. I told you to read more books, you idiot..."

Mira bit off the popsicle in her mouth, then leaped in front of Erza. "What did you just say, you Iron Plate Woman!? Wanna fight!?"

Erza clenched her fists. "Bring it on! Like I'm afraid of you!"

Sitting beside Lisanna, Cana scooped out watermelon as she ate and remarked, "You two really have plenty of energy..."

Makarov cleared his throat. "All right! Stop messing around, we've arrived at Tenrou Island! Everyone, get off the boat!"

As soon as the boat came to a stop, Feng Lan and the other two Dragon Slayer Mages immediately rushed off. The others also rallied themselves and disembarked one after another.

Makarov slowly walked before the group. "Ahem! Now, I'll announce the contents of the exam:

It's actually very simple. Your four groups will soon be teleported to four different corners of Tenrou Island. You must search for your opponents on the island. I have also set up a magical barrier around an open area on Tenrou Island, and you cannot enter it. You must defeat your opponents before being teleported inside. Finally, the two victorious groups will face each other in a final battle. The winners will be promoted to S-Class Mages!

...Now then, the exam begins!"

As Makarov's voice fell, golden magic circles unfolded beneath the four groups of examinees, teleporting them to their predetermined locations.

Laxus's side

Freed looked around, then asked Laxus, "Laxus, what should we do next? Go find Feng Lan?"

Laxus shook his head. "No need. That guy will definitely make it to the finals anyway, and so will I. We just need to wait quietly for our prey to come to us..."

Erza's side

Erza patted the dust from her body. "All right, Cana. No time to waste, let's go."

Cana straightened a stack of cards and put them into her pouch. "Got it! I imagine everyone has gotten quite a bit stronger too!"

Mira's side

Lisanna energetically circled around Mira. "Mira, I'm ready!"

Mira cracked her knuckles. "All right! Let's go find that Iron Plate Woman!"

Tilting her little head, Lisanna asked, "Eh~ Didn't you say you wanted to find Feng Lan?"

Mira scratched her head awkwardly. "I don't want to get eliminated in the first round yet..."

Feng Lan's side

Natsu eagerly shouted at Feng Lan, "Bro! Hurry up and find someone to fight!"

Feng Lan said with black lines all over his face, "Whose exam is this, yours or mine... Still, I'm planning to get a little serious this time."

"Roar!" Just as Feng Lan and Natsu were talking, a leopard three meters long and two meters tall sprang out from the nearby brush.

Natsu had just been about to test his skills when Feng Lan pulled him back. "Wait. Leave fighting beasts to me... This is a good chance to replenish myself."

The leopard began to run like the wind, charging at Feng Lan. Feng Lan remained unhurried, firmly pinning the leopard down with both hands.

"Let's eat!" Feng Lan found a vulnerable spot and bit down.

"Roar!" The leopard struggled desperately, but Feng Lan held it down, leaving it unable to move. Before long, the leopard lost all signs of life, lying on the ground without a trace of color in its body.

Feng Lan wiped the bright red blood from the corner of his mouth, his expression extremely bloodthirsty. "Aha, not bad~ I'm getting a little excited."

Natsu, already accustomed to this, said somewhat unhappily, "Ah... Looks like there's nothing for me to do..."

Feng Lan patted Natsu's head. "All right. When we fight the others later, you can go first."

Using the senses of Dragon Slayer Mages, Feng Lan and Natsu could perceive their surroundings. However, they did not immediately go looking for people to fight. Instead, they searched the forest for beasts. Feng Lan would usually drain the blood first, and if Natsu was hungry, he would roast some meat for himself.

Natsu sniffed the air around them. "Feng Lan, that scent... It's Mira and Lisanna!"

Feng Lan rolled his neck, opened his eyes, and his azure pupils turned crimson. He gave a cold laugh. "Heh, perfect. I'm somewhat full now too... Let's go meet them!"

Mira's side

Lisanna complained breathlessly, "Mira, still no one? I'm so tired..."

Mira also said wearily, "Seriously, where did that hotheaded Iron Plate Woman run off to!"

"Rustle—" Just as Mira and Lisanna were talking, a sound came from a nearby tree.

"Who's there!?" Mira hurriedly shielded Lisanna behind her and shouted toward the source of the sound.

"There may not be a hotheaded Iron Plate Woman, but there are two ravenous dragons~" Feng Lan jumped down from the tree with Natsu and walked toward Mira.

Looking at Feng Lan, Mira thought, I'm doomed... I just bragged a few days ago... But after looking more closely, she asked, "Feng Lan, did your eyes... change color?"

Feng Lan smiled. "Ah... It's nothing. I just drained the blood of a few beasts earlier."

Looking at Feng Lan's crimson eyes, Mira felt a chill run down her back. "So this time... how much strength do you plan to use...?"

Feng Lan clenched his fists. "Fifty percent. Isn't that what you said?"

Mira smiled awkwardly. "Ha, y-yeah!"

Feng Lan waved a hand. "As we said earlier, Natsu, you fight Mira first."

Mira felt somewhat unwilling after hearing that, though she also felt a little lucky.

"I'm fired up! Come on, I'm not the same as before anymore~" Natsu said with high spirits.

Feng Lan picked Lisanna up and carried her to the side. Looking at Natsu and Mira as they prepared to fight, he said, "Natsu, get serious from the start."

"Full Body Take Over—Satan Soul!" Mira completed her Take Over in an instant and attacked Natsu. "Dark Spark!"

"Ember Dragon Mode." Natsu smiled faintly. "Ember Dragon's Roar!"