Chapter Summaries

Kana fought Laxus in the first S-Class Promotion Exam match, using Gildarts’s advice to attack at close range and eventually awakening a powerful new spell. Laxus recognized her will but told her she still had to defeat another recognized challenger to qualify as an S-Class Mage.

• Allen announced the start of Kana and Laxus’s battle after the other examinees moved away from the arena.
• Kana charged Laxus with Crushing Magic, exchanged powerful punches with him, and decomposed the damage to her swollen right hand.
• Laxus struck Kana down with Great Generator, but Gildarts stayed back after Makarov reminded him to let her fight on her own.
• Kana drew on Gildarts’s teaching and unleashed Ura Hades, but Laxus blocked it with Roar of the Thunder Dragon as Allen contained the resulting explosion.
• Laxus helped Kana to her feet, recognized her will, and told her she had to defeat another recognized challenger before she could advance; Kana vowed to be the first to become an S-Class Mage.

Sorano and Yukino prepared to face Ultear in the S-Class Promotion Exam, and Allen explained that the goal was to show their strength rather than defeat an opponent with Ten Saints-level power. Sorano began the battle by using Armor Evolution.

• After Kana's match with Laxus, Allen treated her while Gildarts anxiously checked her injuries, and August fled after the guild teased him about finding a partner and having a child.
• Sorano and Yukino discussed how to counter Ultear's magic, and Allen told them that Ultear's Second Magic Source gave her combat power on the upper level of the Ten Saints.
• Allen urged the sisters to fight without losing confidence, and they regained their battle spirit when he mentioned Laxus.
• Allen examined Tyrannomon and Garurumon, praised their condition, and reminded the sisters that reaching Perfect Form required strong bonds and willpower as well as data.
• As the exam began, Sorano faced Ultear in the arena and activated Armor Evolution.

Sorano fought Ultear in the S-Class promotion exam, using Armor Evolution and increasingly powerful fire attacks before Ultear defeated her with Absolute Zero. Allen ended the battle and announced that Sorano had earned Ultear’s recognition and qualified for the next stage.

• Sorano used Armor Evolution to merge with Tyrannomon and attack Ultear, who countered with ice magic and a blizzard.
• Sorano activated Armor Evolution: Burst Mode and briefly suppressed Ultear, but Ultear froze her with Absolute Zero.
• Sorano broke free, unleashed her final move, Mu-shiki, and was frozen again when Ultear countered with Icebound Barrier.
• Allen stopped the battle, and Ultear released Sorano and Tyrannomon from the ice.
• Sorano admitted Ultear was still stronger, and Allen announced that Sorano had qualified for the exam’s next stage.

After Sorano and Ultear's battle ended the day's exam, Allen let everyone spend their remaining time as they pleased. As the others headed off to explore, fish, or forage, Allen returned to his tent and took something out.

• Sorano and Ultear's battle ended, bringing the day's exam to a close.
• Allen announced that everyone could arrange the rest of their time themselves.
• Natsu and the others cheered and set out to explore Tenrou Island.
• Wendy and Lisanna went with Lucy and Kana to forage for seafood, while Macao and Wakaba returned to their usual fishing spot.
• Allen noticed that Ultear and the others looked bored, then went back to his tent and took something out.

Yukino fought Jellal in the S-Class Mage Promotion Exam, using her Armor Evolution with Garurumon to push her speed and power to the limit. Jellal defeated her but approved of her effort, while Natsu and Gajeel left the battle thinking about how to counter fast opponents.

• Allen announced the S-Class Mage Promotion Exam battle between Yukino and Jellal, and Yukino used Armor Evolution to merge with Garurumon.
• Yukino and Jellal exchanged rapid attacks, and Jellal recognized that Yukino had reached advanced S-class strength but was straining under the evolution.
• Yukino increased her speed and attacked with Flame Claws and Garuru Roar, but Jellal blocked her strikes and wounded her with Six Stars.
• Yukino used Foxfire against Jellal's Nine Thunder Stars, but she exhausted her magic and was knocked away, splitting from Garurumon.
• Allen checked Yukino, and Jellal indicated that she had earned his approval; Sorano and the others gathered to help her and Garurumon.
• Natsu and Gajeel worried about facing fast enemies, and Allen advised them to rely on attacks with greater range.

Mira and Erza fought in the S-Class Mage promotion match, with Erza's Dragon King Sword overcoming Mira's ranged attacks. Mira then achieved Full Body Assimilation with Ophanimon and prepared to continue the battle.

• Allen and Ultear discussed whether Mira or Erza would earn S-Class recognition, and Allen weighed Mira's progress against the sisters' abilities.
• Allen began the promotion match between Mira and Erza, and Mira activated Full Body Reception: Gatomon.
• Mira used Star Flash and Star Fall, but Erza's Dragon King Sword cut apart the beams and her Time Metal Armor remained unharmed.
• Erza pressed Mira into close combat, where Mira struggled to keep up despite her agility and Goldramon's claws.
• Mira achieved Full Body Assimilation: Ophanimon and challenged Erza to round two.

Mira fought Erza in her Ophanimon takeover form during the S-Class examination, but Erza broke through Mira’s strongest attack and won. Mira passed the examination despite collapsing from the strain, and Allen restored the damaged shore.

• Erza attacked Mira, who blocked the strike and countered with Holy Arrow: Star Flash and Holy Light: Star Fall.
• Erza and Mira exchanged attacks while Allen used Arc of Time to contain their destructive shockwaves.
• Mira unleashed Holy Arrow: Starfall Aurora, but Erza broke through it with Sealed Dust Absolute Thought Slash and defeated her after Mira ran out of magic power.
• Erza stopped her final strike before it hit Mira, and Mira collapsed after leaving her Ophanimon takeover state.
• Allen checked Mira, confirmed she was exhausted, and restored Tenrou Island’s shore.
• Macao and Wakaba lamented losing their bets, while Allen noted that Mira’s combat power had reached the level of the Ten Saints.

Allen announced a rest day before the S-Class Mage battles, and the guild members made plans for the day. Natsu searched Tenrou Island for the giant bear and reached the Fairy Tree, but Allen stopped him before he could climb it.

• Allen announced that the guild would rest the next day before holding pair battles to determine the next S-Class Mage.
• Natsu and Happy went into the forest to find the giant bear, while the others split into groups to search for them.
• The island’s guardians avoided Natsu because Allen’s enchantment protected Fairy Tail members and kept the guild’s secrets hidden from them.
• Natsu reached the Fairy Tree and prepared to climb it, but Allen grabbed him and stopped him.

Allen brought Natsu back after catching him near Fairy Tree and promised he could learn its secrets after becoming an S-Class Mage. Inspired by Natsu’s ambition, Lucy, Wendy, and Lisanna chose to seek extra training with Erza.

• Allen caught Natsu near Fairy Tree, sent him back to camp, and told him he could learn the place’s secrets after becoming an S-Class Mage.
• Natsu blamed his friends for alerting Allen, and Allen ended their argument by assigning the boys extra training and exam papers.
• Lucy encouraged Wendy and Lisanna to work hard so they could close the gap with their stronger peers.
• Lucy, Wendy, and Lisanna asked Erza to lead their extra training, and Erza gladly agreed.

Natsu and the others endured Erza’s extra training before Kana and Yukino faced off in the S-Class promotion trial. Kana disrupted Yukino’s Armor Evolution at the start, but Yukino completed the fusion and countered Kana’s attack.

• Erza punished Natsu and the others with extra training, then made them complete another hour after they arrived late to morning training.
• Allen drew the first match between Kana and Yukino, while Mira was matched against Sorano.
• Yukino and Garurumon reviewed their battle plan during the preparation hour, while Allen told Gildarts to let Kana make her own decisions.
• Allen started the match, and Kana used Disassemble to slow Yukino and Garurumon’s Armor Evolution.
• Yukino completed the fusion, dodged Kana’s Crushing Fist, and attacked her arm; Kana dodged and swept at Yukino’s legs.
• Yukino leaped back, rolled, and hurled chunks of stone at Kana.

Kana and Yukino fought evenly until Yukino used Foxfire and Crushing Magic to turn the match in her favor. Yukino then followed their prepared plan, keeping Kana off balance with rapid feints and attacks as the spectators saw Kana fall behind.

• Kana lured Yukino into attacking and staggered her with an Impact Wave before countering with Crushing Fist.
• Yukino used Flame Claws and Foxfire to pressure Kana, who disassembled the flames and defended against a direct blast with a Crushing Magic shield.
• Garurumon reminded Yukino to follow their original plan, and Yukino began appearing behind Kana to launch Foxfire attacks.
• Kana realized Yukino was using weak Foxfire blasts as feints, but she could not tell which attacks were powerful and was forced to react repeatedly.
• The spectators recognized that Yukino had gained the advantage by exploiting her superior speed and agility.

Kana defeated Yukino in their Tenrou Island battle by using Crush Fountain to limit Yukino’s movement before landing Ura Hades. Afterward, Allen reviewed both fighters’ choices as they prepared for Mira and Sorano’s match.

• Yukino’s repeated attacks slowed as her stamina waned, but Kana failed to notice and struggled to break the deadlock.
• Kana charged at Yukino, then stopped and unleashed Crush Fountain, forcing Yukino to dodge eruptions of magic from the ground.
• Kana appeared behind Yukino and struck her with Ura Hades, knocking her unconscious and securing the victory.
• Allen carried Yukino and Garurumon to the beach, raised Kana’s hand, and announced Kana as the winner.
• After Yukino woke, she and Kana praised each other and promised to fight again after growing stronger.
• During lunch preparations, Allen reviewed the recording and criticized Yukino’s early close-range choice while praising Kana’s ability to seize an opening.

After Yukino reflected on the limits of her techniques, Allen and Ultear spoke with Mystogan about the guild’s strength and their plans to visit Edolas. Mira and Sorano then began their S-Class promotion battle, with Sorano charging Mira after overcoming the pressure of her opponent’s Perfect Form.

• Yukino realized her techniques covered too small an area and began planning new ones.
• Allen and Ultear found Mystogan alone, and he praised the guild’s powerful mages and promising candidates.
• Allen said he would issue a mission about Anima after the exams so the guild could resolve the matter and visit Edolas.
• Macao took bets on Mira and Sorano before Allen started their battle.
• Mira and Sorano entered their strongest forms, and Mira waited while Sorano adjusted to the pressure of Ophanimon’s Perfect Form.
• Sorano charged Mira, who raised a hand and cast Holy Light: Star Flash.

Mira’s promotion match against Sorano shifted in her favor as she overwhelmed Sorano’s Tyrannomon form with Ophanimon-enhanced abilities. The Ankhseram God then took control of Sorano and transformed her into Zombie Tyrannomon, leaving Mira and Allen to face the threat.

• Mira blocked Sorano’s Super Flame, restrained her claws and horn, and threw her to the ground when Sorano tried to attack at close range.
• Sorano broke free by firing Jet Flame at Mira’s feather-like ribbons, then attacked with flame-covered claws while Mira dodged.
• Mira countered with a punch that sent Sorano flying, and Allen sensed a destructive aura that did not belong to her.
• A red light enveloped Sorano, and the Ankhseram God’s influence transformed her into Zombie Tyrannomon.
• Allen sent the spectators away and left Mira to fight Zombie Tyrannomon while he stood by.

Mira fought Zombie Tyrannomon after Sorano and Tyrannomon’s consciousnesses were forced into slumber, using Holy Magic Power to weaken the giant Digimon and get close enough to awaken them. The battle continued as Zombie Tyrannomon detonated a tracking missile near Mira.

• Allen sent everyone back and entrusted Mira with defeating Zombie Tyrannomon and restoring Sorano and Tyrannomon.
• Zombie Tyrannomon charged at Mira, who evaded it and fired Holy Arrow: Star Flash as it launched Annihilation Hunter Bird.
• Allen shielded the battlefield from the resulting blast, while Mira protected herself with Holy Shield and saw that Zombie Tyrannomon had taken little damage.
• Mira dodged a tracking missile, then charged through its explosion and attacked Zombie Tyrannomon with Holy Light: Star Fall, whose holy power injured it.
• Mira kept attacking and evading Zombie Tyrannomon until it launched another Annihilation Hunter Bird and detonated it near her.

Mira defeated Zombie Tyrannomon with Holy Arrow: Flying Star and helped purge the corrupted data, restoring Sorano and Tyrannomon to Sorano and Koromon. Allen gathered everyone beneath the Fairy Tree to discuss guarding against the Ankhseram God and studying the black smoke he had collected.

• Zombie Tyrannomon attacked the injured Mira, but she pierced its Digital Core with Holy Arrow: Flying Star and finished it with Starfall.
• Allen told Mira to use her Holy Magic Power to awaken Sorano and Tyrannomon, and she cleared the last of the black smoke from the core.
• Allen collected the black smoke as Zombie Tyrannomon split into Sorano and Koromon, while Mira collapsed after ending her reception of Ophanimon.
• Yukino asked Allen why Tyrannomon had devolved into Koromon, and Allen explained that it would recover after the erroneous data was cleared.
• Allen brought everyone back to camp, then gathered the Guardians beneath the Fairy Tree and explained how the Ankhseram God had corrupted Tyrannomon.

Musa explained that the red beam had magnified the evil within their hearts, so he and Arya developed Mental Defense Magic to resist its effects. He demonstrated the magic for everyone.

• Musa stepped out from among the guardians and said the red beam had magnified the evil side within their hearts.
• Musa explained that he and Arya had developed Mental Defense Magic based on Nature Magic and Wisdom Magic.
• Musa said the magic was generally suited for beasts but could be improved.
• Musa cast Mental Defense Magic in front of everyone.

Allen reassured the Fairy Tail guild members about the coming danger and redirected Mira and Kana to rest before the decisive battle. When Natsu asked for special training, Allen assigned him to Zeref, while Acnologia was transformed into a pulsing egg by the Ankhseram God.

• Allen calmed the guild members’ fears, and Natsu’s brawl with Gajeel and Gray helped lift the tense mood.
• Allen told Mira and Kana to rest and prepare for the next day’s decisive battle.
• The Ankhseram God enveloped the sleeping Acnologia in red light, transformed it into an egg, and sent its soul into slumber as its power grew.
• Natsu asked Allen for special training so he could graduate, complete a year of missions, and compete for the S-Class Mage advancement exam.
• Allen asked Zeref to train Natsu, and Zeref agreed to make him stronger.

Mira and Kana prepared for their anticipated battle, while Gildarts worried that Kana might be shaken by a loss. The chapter left off as Gildarts reflected on how unexpectedly powerful Digimon seemed to be.

• The next day arrived, and everyone looked forward to Mira and Kana's battle despite expecting the result to remain unchanged.
• Kana got up early to warm up, with Gildarts nearby.
• Gildarts worried that Kana's confidence would suffer because she had long been a strong contender for first place.
• Gildarts recalled that he had expected Mira to need another year to catch up with Kana, then wondered at Digimon's power.

The guild members returned from Tenrou Island to Magnolia after their holiday, while Layla decided to settle in Magnolia so she could play mahjong with them. As the New Year approached, Lucy worried about her lack of progress, and the other students planned to apply for graduation and seek growth outside school.

• Allen and the others packed up Tenrou Island and sailed for Hargeon, where Kana won a mahjong game against Ur as Gildarts fretted about Kana becoming a gambler.
• The guild members disembarked in Hargeon and boarded vehicles arranged by Layla, whom Jude hurried to greet.
• Layla decided to live in Magnolia long-term so she could play mahjong whenever she wanted.
• After returning to the guild, Lucy worried that she had made little progress compared with Mira and wondered what she should do next.
• The students planned to apply for graduation after the New Year and travel outside to overcome their bottleneck.