Chapter Summaries

The Edolas Fairies lost their magic power but regained their resolve, while Ornn Shuster and the guild staged a Demon King attack that helped Coco defeat the invaders and rally the citizens. As the Fairies prepared to leave Edolas, the Master revealed his role in the scheme and departed inside the golden light, leaving them to help Coco rebuild the capital.

• The Royal Army fled after losing its magic power, and the Edolas Fairies accepted that they could live without it as the Asland Fairies began returning home.
• Ornn Shuster and the guild attacked Edolas’s capital in disguise, and Gajeel convinced the citizens that the Demon King had come because the King stole Asland’s magic power.
• The Demon King defeated Prince Jellal and struck down his own disguised subordinates, but Coco used the chaos to knock him unconscious and reassure the citizens.
• The citizens praised Coco and vowed to rebuild the capital, while the Master revealed himself to Fairy Tail and asked them to help her.
• The Master dissolved into golden light and joined the departing barrier, and Lucy warned the others not to draw attention as someone added another seal around it.

Happy and the others returned to Asland, where they reunited with Shakart and the Exceeds and learned that the city had recovered. The Emperor brought the Exceeds to Erus, granted them a new settlement called Exceed Territory, and established how it would be governed.

• Happy, Gray, Irene, and the others returned to Asland and found Negus, Shakart, and Viola waiting for them.
• Negus confirmed that the city and its residents had returned to normal, while Natsu and the others emerged from the bushes in a tangled heap.
• The Emperor offered the Exceeds a place to settle, and Shakart chose a location in the Northern Province where they could rebuild their home.
• The Emperor brought Shakart and the Exceeds to Philiers, then introduced them to Erus's officials at the palace.
• The Emperor declared the new settlement Exceed Territory, on the same level as Northern Province and answerable directly to the central government, with Exceeds and appointed officials sharing its administration.

The Emperor received reports on the fronts, the Exceed Territory, and the Magic Council’s plans, then ordered naval forces to prepare for deployment. Meanwhile, Fairy Tail carried on amid guild banter as dragons across the continent sensed a powerful figure awakening and heading for Ishgar.

• The Emperor assigned Dalitz and Charlie to organize officials and supplies for the Exceed Territory, then heard that the fronts were stable and General Hail was recovering after an argument with Daphne.
• The Emperor learned that Number One had met Yukino and that the Osprey Plan was progressing, while the Magic Council’s Tabby Cat was secretly meeting with Lahar and Dorbalt ahead of the Tenrou Island operation.
• The Emperor ordered Number Three to contact Fried and monitor the Magic Council, then instructed the standing and newly formed naval divisions to train for deployment and the reserve divisions to fill their ranks.
• At Fairy Tail, Blue Meow Meow learned that Big Sister and Panther Lily were siblings, and Happy got caught in a guild brawl before the members joked about Laxus and their plans to visit Big Sister.
• In the Northern Continent, Ignia sensed a familiar presence awakening and heading toward Ishgar, then explained the situation to Melk and the hooded woman.
• At an ancient castle near the Aursdai Ice Field, Skullion and his companions discussed the powerful new dragons and decided to let others test the waters before planning how to deal with them.

A black-haired youth unleashed deadly black mist on an island, while the Emperor traveled with Pink Ball to Magnolia, where a crash and Sordil’s return led to chaos at Fairy Tail. Pink Ball joined the guild and set out with the Emperor and Kana for special training to help Kana make a comeback.

• A black-haired youth woke on an island, killed the attacking wolves with black mist, and sensed a mysterious presence stirring within him.
• The Empress told Ace and Lilia that the Emperor had gone to inspect the Obsidian Gold Dragon production line, while the three generals tried to hide that Pink Ball had been taken away for training.
• The Emperor and Pink Ball argued over who should steer their wind boat, which then plummeted toward Magnolia as its defenders activated Sordil Mode.
• The crash piled Fairy Tail members together, and Sordil announced his return before Lucy attacked Gray over the resulting mess.
• Mira stamped a Fairy Tail emblem on Pink Ball, who asked whether food was free, and she left with the Emperor and Kana for special training.
• Ice Mummy realized the training could lead to an S-rank assessment.

Fairy Tail announced the nine groups for its S-Class Mage Promotion Exam on Tenrou Island, where only one examinee would earn promotion. The exam was set for a week later, with Sordil, Gildarts, Mira, and Laxus involved, leaving the participants to choose partners and prepare for a notoriously difficult challenge.

• The guild members explained that the promotion exam took place every two years after Sordil added assessments for inactive S-Class Mages, and they teased Churchill about causing the change.
• The next morning, Great Guild Master announced Tenrou Island as the exam site and revealed that Sordil, Gildarts, and an obsessive copycat would be among the judges.
• Great Guild Master named Natsu Dragneel, Gray Fullbuster, Juvia Lockser, Elfman, Kana Alberona, Fried Justine, Levy McGarden, Leena Huttling, and Mest Greader as the examinees.
• Great Guild Master said the exam would begin in a week and that only one examinee would advance; the white-haired big sister began explaining the rules.
• The examinees discussed choosing partners, and Gray mocked Happy's combat ability while Happy and Negus argued with him.

Gray chose Loke as his partner for the S-Class Mage exam, while Lucy reluctantly agreed to team up with Leena after being confronted with a ledger of her debts. A week later, the candidates reached Tenrou Island and learned that the first exam would put them through a brutal series of trials.

• Gray revealed that he and Loke had agreed to be partners, while Aquarius and Virgo were unavailable because Sordil had taken them away.
• Leena asked Lucy to partner with her and used a ledger of Lucy’s debts to persuade her to accept.
• A week later, the candidates gathered at Harujion Harbor and boarded a ship for Tenrou Island, where Sordil and Laxus prepared the exam.
• The Guild Master explained that candidates had to cross a lightning zone and illusion-filled region, survive three minutes against a gatekeeper, and claim a token from one of four chests.
• The candidates learned that the chests were guarded by powerful mages including Gildarts, Laxus, Mira, and Erza, then set off to begin the trial.

The fleet received a secret order to sail for Tenrou Island as the Fairy Tail teams struggled through magical barriers and tests. Fried and his partner reached the second level, where Fried found Laxus waiting with a meal prepared for him.

• The Third Fleet commander read the classified order and sent the fleet toward the waters outside Fiore, to Tenrou Island.
• Fried and his partner trapped Natsu, Happy, Lucy, and Leena behind a barrier before escaping with Levy and Gajeel's help.
• The Thunder God Tribe team reached the second level and entered one of several identical passages.
• Fried found himself facing Laxus, who offered him food and reassured him that he understood Fried's desire to help.

The Fairy Tail examiners watched the candidates face illusions of what they cared about most or feared most, while Gray’s encounter with a young Erza drew teasing from the others. Freed and Bickslow then planned to reunite the Thunder God Tribe with Elfman’s group so they could endure the next assessment stage.

• Gray met a young Erza in the illusion, but he refused to fight back as she attacked and grew into the adult Fairy Queen.
• The examiners teased Erza about what Gray’s illusion revealed, then Erza and the demon flew off to fight while Gildarts chased Laxus away.
• Jilia and Shakamuni Head ordered their airship to conceal itself and cross the Erus Empire quickly, following the Guild Master’s warning not to provoke it.
• The Guild Master explained that the candidates’ illusions showed what they cared about most or feared most, and the examiners went to relieve Erza and the others.
• Freed woke Bickslow from his illusion of a perfect Laxus, and the two decided to seek out Elfman’s group and reunite the Thunder God Tribe for the next stage.

The examinees began their advancement trial against the Emperor, who quickly overwhelmed the first teams. Elsewhere on Tenrou Island, a black-haired youth sensed a familiar aura and sent a magical orb through the forest, while the remaining examinees prepared their next tactics.

• The examinees drew cards to decide who would face the Emperor first, and Juvia's, Levy's, and Mest's teams advanced as the vanguard.
• A black-haired youth sensed a familiar aura, debated whether to investigate, and sent a black orb through the forest using magic.
• The Emperor defeated Gajeel and Lisanna in under fifty seconds after countering their coordinated attacks.
• Juvia became distracted by a simulated Gray and was eliminated, then Levy was knocked out by the Emperor.
• The spectators watched the first teams fall and questioned whether the remaining examinees could last even three minutes against him.

Lazy God defeated Wendy and Mest in the S-Class Mage exam and sent the Thunder God Tribe into battle, where his counterattack overwhelmed the second squad. Meanwhile, the guild members suspected Mest had been altering their memories, and a mysterious black orb reacted to someone awakening on the island.

• Mest asked to forfeit, but Lazy God made him and the Sky Dragon continue fighting or take responsibility for the guild's internal affairs with Laxus.
• Panther Lily, Sherry, and Negus realized their memories of Mest were suspiciously vague and decided to watch him without alerting the Guild Master.
• A black orb sensed someone awakening beneath crimson clouds, worried about Old Suo, and hurried back to prepare for the possibility that Acunologiya would be defeated.
• Lazy God beat Mest unconscious and knocked Wendy out, eliminating their squad from the exam.
• The Thunder God Tribe attacked Lazy God as the second combat squad, but he countered with silver mirrors that unleashed a barrage of energy arrows.

Sordil's squads fought to pass his trial while observers watched and wagered on the outcome. Meanwhile, Magic Council gunboats spotted an approaching military fleet, whose commander identified them and ordered the fleet into combat readiness.

• Pink Ball's squad used scattered attacks and guerrilla tactics against Sordil, while his three Thought Body doubles helped him pursue them.
• Fried and the others regrouped and planned to focus their attacks on different targets to interrupt Sordil's pursuit.
• Thunder Dragon, the Fairy Queen, the Orange-haired handsome uncle, Mira, and Crimson wagered on whether Natsu's team or Fried's team would have more members pass.
• A Magic Council officer spotted an unidentified military fleet and ordered surveillance increased while headquarters checked Fiore's warship movements.
• The opposing fleet identified the Magic Council gunboats, deployed in Formation 318, entered Level One combat readiness, and accelerated toward the target waters.

Kana and Elfman's group advanced after the exam timer expired, while Fried's group was eliminated. Elsewhere, a black-haired youth detected a familiar scent near two fleets and concealed them before leaving to search for him; the next arena battle began with Lazy God facing Natsu's team.

• Lazy God attacked the test participants, but Kana escaped in silver armor and Elfman and Fried were eliminated before time ran out, allowing Kana and Elfman's group to advance.
• A fleet led by Lord Lahar encountered an unidentified force, and a black-haired youth recognized a familiar scent near the opposing formations.
• The youth marked and concealed the black fleet, then left, urging Natsu to grow stronger because his big brother could barely endure any longer.
• Lazy God resumed the arena test, and Natsu, Leena, Gray, and their allies launched attacks against him.
• After the blast, Loke dodged a beam and negotiated with Lazy God over the cost of repairing his suit.

Lazy God fought Leo and the exam candidates on Tenrou Island while a fleet from the Erus Empire blocked the opposing ships from approaching. After Natsu, Gray, and their allies briefly caught Lazy God off guard, he struck back and prepared to face Natsu and the blonde beauty’s final charge.

• Lazy God bought Supreme membership from Leo during their fight, then used the membership to blast Loke into the Earth’s crust and send him back to the Spirit World.
• An Erus Empire officer showed the opposing fleet documents authorizing their presence on Tenrou Island and ordered the ships to stay put, backed by the guns of fifty warships.
• Gray and the blonde beauty bound Lazy God with ice and sound attacks while he was distracted by tiny Natsus, but he soon counterattacked and knocked Gray unconscious.
• Mira, Gildarts, and the others realized that Natsu had caused Lazy God to lose focus during the fight.
• Lazy God wounded Gray and the blonde beauty with a silver arrow of light, then faced their final attack as Natsu and the blonde beauty charged him.

Natsu, Gray, and Leena faced Lazy God’s final test, combining their attacks until he agreed they had passed. Meanwhile, Jilia and the other Dragon Slayers attacked the Black Dragon, who survived their strongest moves and plunged toward them.

• Natsu was shocked by the lightning hidden in Lazy God’s rocket attack, and Leena rescued him before confronting Lazy God with her sword.
• Lucy summoned Sagittarius to distract Lazy God, giving Leena time to attack; Lazy God defended himself and offered to let the group pass if they endured his final attack.
• Natsu, Gray, and Leena combined their Dragon Slayer techniques against Lazy God, and both Natsu and Lazy God were left gasping after the clash.
• Lazy God admitted the group had passed, but Yellow Meow Meow revealed that the test time had already expired; Lazy God then warned them that the next four testers were even crazier.
• Jilia attacked the Black Dragon while Shakamuni Head, Nebal, and the other Dragon Slayers tried to restrain and defeat him.
• The Black Dragon swallowed Jilia’s breath attack and endured the Dragon Slayers’ strongest techniques; as they prepared to leave, his massive shadow came crashing down toward them.

Black Dragon attacked Armored Dragon, Sticky Dragon, and Blade Dragon, while the promoted candidates continued to Tenrou Island’s next test and argued over who would train them. Meanwhile, a new group arrived on the island and the Empress learned of unusual military movements, suspecting the Emperor had caused trouble again.

• Black Dragon battered the three dragons into the sea, then left after firing on the water for a quarter of an hour; a Purple-Black Light Orb arrived afterward and continued searching for Natsu and the others.
• Yellow Meow Meow sent the promoted candidates toward the second test site, while the eliminated participants debated whether to leave or stay and cheer them on.
• Gray, Natsu, and the others realized that Laxus, Mira, Gildarts, and Erza had bet on their match; Bartender Girl accepted Thunder Dragon’s challenge, and Lucy went with the blonde beauty toward the final mountain path.
• Lazy God searched Tenrou Island for Zeref, while Mest answered a distant call and hurried away.
• Lord Azuma and two companions entered Tenrou Island through a crack in a tree trunk, then sent the other two to gather intelligence on Fairy Tail as he restored his magic power.
• Silver Moon, Bill, and Purple Rogue told Empress Irene about powerful auras in the north and the unauthorized departures of two fleets; Irene learned the Emperor and Pink Ball were on Tenrou Island and chose to wait before sending a Heavenly King.

Erza and Crimson fought while Lucy and Virgo tried to retrieve the treasure chest, and the other teams battled their opponents across Tenrou Island. Lazy God accidentally ran into a Grimoire Heart member near the Tenrou Tree, but the stranger escaped before he could catch him, so Lazy God decided to warn the Master.

• Erza and Crimson paused their duel to discuss their strength and their shared admiration for someone, then resumed fighting as Lucy and Virgo moved to take the treasure chest.
• Natsu charged Gildarts without waiting, was knocked back, and then fought on as Happy and Natsu coordinated their attacks.
• The Thunder Dragon and the bartender girl exchanged attacks, while Pink Ball dodged lightning but missed her chance to claim the treasure chest.
• The little fairy and the manly man tricked Satan by spitting red ink at her and pretending they planned to marry, then knocked her out and went to retrieve the chest.
• The commotion disrupted the other battles, allowing the bartender girl and Natsu to launch combined attacks against their opponents.
• Lazy God accidentally struck a Grimoire Heart member near the Tenrou Tree, failed to catch him after he fled, and decided to notify the Master.

Kana and Pink Ball fought the Thunder Dragon to claim a clue, while Leena defeated Erza and Natsu continued battling after securing a treasure chest. Gray received an unexpected envelope from Lazy God, leaving Kana and Pink Ball to realize they might have missed the real clue.

• The Thunder Dragon broke through Pink Ball and Bartender Girl's defenses, but Bartender Girl retrieved and opened the treasure chest; its contents disappointed both women.
• Leena destabilized space to prevent Erza from summoning her armor, defeated her, and discovered that the supposed clue was only two words.
• Natsu fought the orange-haired man even after Blue Meow Meow obtained the treasure chest and the stage was cleared.
• Lazy God returned and gave Gray an envelope after Gray asked for a ride back to the guild.
• Kana and Pink Ball noticed Gray's envelope and suspected Lazy God had given him the real clue.

Kana, Evergreen, and the others pieced together the clues for the exam’s next stage while Makarov and Lazy God learned that Grimoire Heart had appeared on the island. The exam continued, but Lazy God returned to the guild and warned everyone that Gray, Natsu, Elfman, Wendy, and the others could be in danger.

• Laxus explained that every group’s clue card held part of the real clue, and Kana, Evergreen, Leena, and Gray compared their cards before realizing they had to wait for Natsu to get his clue.
• Lazy God told Makarov he had encountered a strong member of Grimoire Heart, and Makarov ordered him, Gildarts, and Laxus to search the island while the exam continued.
• Erza told the gathered guild members that Gildarts had defeated Natsu and that Natsu and the others had begun the exam’s second stage.
• Lazy God returned to the guild, where Fairy Queen stopped him and asked whether something had happened to Makarov.
• Lazy God warned the guild members that Gray, Natsu, Elfman, Wendy, and the others could all be in danger, then explained what he knew.

Lazy God organized the guild members to respond to Grimoire Heart’s arrival on Tenrou Island, while Azuma escaped one encounter only to be discovered and blasted by Laxus and Gildarts. The chapter ended with Erza encountering another Grimoire Heart member and the Magic Council fleet preparing to appeal to Micahlo for help against the Erus fleet.

• Lazy God told Mira and the others that the promotion exam would continue, then set out to find Seki and the others while Erza went to alert Natsu and bring Wendy back.
• Azuma hid inside an ancient tree after fleeing Pitiful Suo, but Laxus and Gildarts found and attacked him while looking for food.
• Lazy God arrived and learned that Laxus, Seki, Fried, and Bickslow claimed to have captured an outsider, but Azuma had vanished before they could show him.
• Erza encountered a Grimoire Heart member and struck with Evil-Slaying Spear, but the opponent disappeared in the ensuing blast.
• Bunny Head rejected a rash attack on the Erus fleet and ordered his communications officer to report the situation to Lord Micahlo.

Tabby Meow and the Magic Council’s allies reacted to a crisis involving Erus, while Colverman and Lahar’s forces moved toward Tenrou Island. On the island, Panther Lily and the other cats tried to protect Wendy, but Azuma attacked, and the approaching fleets deployed defenses as the conflict began.

• Tabby Meow and the purple-haired beauty decided to meet Chairman Ogg, while Colverman received orders to send a coded reply.
• Irene gave Ogg a telegram and sent Athena with him to support his trip.
• Blue Meow Meow and the other cats followed Happy and Sherry toward Wendy, with several of them secretly arranging to profit from the situation.
• Panther Lily’s group confronted Mest and Azuma near Wendy, and Dorbalt revealed that he was a Magic Council investigator before Azuma attacked.
• Colverman ordered his ships to form a V and deploy defensive barriers as they advanced toward Tenrou Island.
• After learning that the fleet was moving, Lahar ordered his forces to follow and set up defensive barriers and surveillance magic.