Chapter Summaries

Lucy and Wendy recovered as Fairy Tail prepared for the upcoming S-Class Exam, while the guild discussed who would take part and how the exam worked. Makarov asked Cain and Laxus to serve as examiners for an exam he planned to hold on Tenrou Island.

• Lucy cried out while Cain treated her and Wendy's injuries, and Elfman brought up the approaching S-Class Exam.
• Lisanna proposed teaming up with Elfman, but Cain explained that Elfman had likely already promised to team with Evergreen.
• Erza explained that S-Class Mages could take more difficult, higher-paying requests, while Cain said the exam's format varied and could involve teamwork.
• Cain suspended Lucy and Wendy's training until after the exam, and they returned to a unusually hard-working Fairy Tail guild the next day.
• Makarov asked Cain and Laxus to serve as examiners for the S-Class Exam and said he planned to hold it on Tenrou Island.

Cain accepted that the S-Class Exam would take place on Tenrou Island and returned just before Makarov announced the candidates. The exam was set for a week later, with Cain and the guild’s other S-Class Mages serving as examiners, and the candidates began choosing partners.

• Cain asked when the S-Class Exam candidates would be announced, then left home and returned exhausted the day before the announcement.
• Makarov named Natsu Dragneel, Gray Fullbuster, Juvia Lockser, Elfman Strauss, Cana Alberona, Fried Justine, Levy McGarden, and Mest Gryder as candidates.
• Makarov announced the exam would take place on Tenrou Island in one week, that only one candidate would pass, and that candidates could form pairs.
• Cana asked Cain to partner with her, but Makarov explained that Cain would be an examiner alongside Gildarts, Mira, Erza, and Laxus.
• Cana chose Lucy as her partner, while Gajeel offered to help Levy become an S-Class Mage.

The Fairy Tail members formed pairs for the S-Class Exam and traveled by airship to Tenrou Island. Makarov explained the exam’s paths and team matchups, leaving the contestants poised to begin.

• Levy chose Gajeel as her teammate, while Lucy paired with Cana, Natsu with Happy, Gray with Leo, Juvia with Lisanna, and Mest with Wendy.
• The guild members prepared for the exam over the following week, then boarded Cain’s airship as Makarov left Macao in charge of the guild.
• Gajeel suffered from motion sickness until Cain used holy light to make him feel better, and the group continued their journey across the sea.
• Cain warned Makarov to wait for help if danger arose, and the airship reached Tenrou Island.
• Makarov announced that each team would choose a path toward the examiners, and Erza explained that two teams would face each other before reaching them.

The S-Class test began on Tenrou Island as the participants set off along separate paths, while Cain rested and prepared to face them. Cana and Lucy encountered him on their route, leaving them bracing for a merciless battle.

• Makarov sent Cain's group ahead under a magic circle, then released the other participants and explained that he had erased the group's scents to foil the Dragon Slayers.
• Ultear contacted Cain, confirmed that their plan was underway, and later demanded more cultivation resources from Grimoire Heart's supplies office.
• Cain rested beneath a tree while the eight test participants advanced into Tenrou Island.
• Cana reassured Lucy that becoming an S-Class Mage was not essential, then took Lucy's joke about gaining more freedom around Cain seriously.
• Cain appeared on Cana and Lucy's path, and the two grew tense because they expected him to fight without holding back.

Cain tested Cana and Lucy in battle, while the other Fairy Tail members faced their own opponents. Elfman showed Mira his improved Beast King transformation, but Mira remained ready to fight.

• Lucy summoned Taurus, and Cana trapped Cain in ice before Taurus shattered the frozen decoy.
• Cana attacked Cain with lightning and steel drills, but he blocked her strikes and praised her growing skill as Lucy joined the fight with Virgo.
• The other teams met their opponents, while Levy's Team received a bye.
• Elfman activated his Berserk Transformation and charged Mira while retaining his sanity.
• Mira said Elfman had finally made her want to fight, then sent the massive Elfman flying past Evergreen.

Evergreen’s fake pregnancy claim failed to stop Mira, who fought back after Elfman attacked her. Elsewhere, Erza countered Juvia and Lisanna with Sea King Armor and Sword, while Laxus continued overpowering Fried and Bickslow.

• Evergreen claimed she was carrying Elfman’s child, but Mira realized she and Elfman had lied when Elfman struck her.
• Mira blocked Elfman’s Beast King Fist with her Satan Soul arm and unleashed a surge of magic power.
• Erza donned Sea King Armor and wounded Juvia with the Sea King Sword, which could strike her even in water form.
• Juvia restrained Erza with water ropes while Lisanna transformed into a Blue Bird and fired Arrow Feathers at her.
• Laxus sent Fried and Bickslow flying, prompting Fried to transform into a dark demon and Bickslow to fire a powerful magic beam.

Laxus defeated Bickslow and Fried, while Cain stopped Lucy and Cana’s attack and approved them for the second trial. He gave them the task of finding the first guild master’s grave on Tenrou Island, and Lucy tried to get Cain to reveal its exact location as Laxus arrived.

• Laxus countered Bickslow’s Shape Eye, knocked Fried unconscious, and told both men they would need extra training.
• Cain stopped Lucy and Cana’s Star Map Chronicle with Adamant Chains, then approved them despite their failure to defeat him.
• Gemini revealed that Lucy liked Cain, embarrassing Lucy and prompting her to send Gemini back to the Celestial Spirit World.
• Cain handed Lucy and Cana the second trial: find the first guild master’s grave on Tenrou Island, with the first to find it winning.
• Cana admitted she did not know the grave’s exact location, and Lucy pleaded with Cain for directions as Laxus arrived carrying Fried, with Bickslow behind him.

Cain and Laxus encountered Zeref on Tenrou Island during the S-Class Mage exam, and Cain rescued Natsu, Happy, and Laxus from Zeref’s deadly curse. After Zeref left, Cain warned Laxus that others would soon arrive.

• Cain healed Fried, then asked Laxus to accompany him because he expected trouble and needed help.
• Cain and Laxus explained the second S-Class Mage task to Natsu and Happy: the first person to find the First Master's grave would earn the slot.
• Zeref appeared, recognized Natsu with tears in his eyes, and unleashed Ankhseram's curse, which withered the island's plants.
• Cain's Purification slowed the curse, and he carried Laxus, Natsu, and Happy to safety before Zeref departed, urging Natsu to grow strong enough to kill him.
• Cain told Laxus that the man was Zeref, the progenitor of Black Mages, and warned that others would soon arrive.

Cain and Laxus learned why Mira had beaten Elfman and Evergreen, whose claim that they were expecting a child had been a lie. The group discovered Evergreen was not pregnant, while Gajeel and Levy continued their search for the First Master's grave.

• Cain and Laxus reached the temporary camp, where Wendy explained that she and Mest had run into Levy and Gajeel, and Wendy was treating the battered Elfman and Evergreen.
• Elfman revealed that Evergreen had claimed to be carrying his child while they fought Mira, shocking everyone and making Erza imagine having a child with Cain.
• Mira explained that she had been furious after getting excited about becoming an aunt, then cried when Elfman and Evergreen admitted they had lied.
• Erza wondered whether the pregnancy might be real, but Cain used Holy Light Magic to check Evergreen and found no baby.
• Gajeel complained to Levy that he had wanted to fight Cain and Natsu's group, then kicked stones until someone threw a rock at him.

Gajeel and Levy fought Grimoire Heart members Kawazu and Makazu on Fairy Tail’s sacred ground. They overwhelmed the pair with their magic and ended the battle with Gajeel’s Iron Storm.

• Levy recognized Kawazu and Makazu as Grimoire Heart members, and she and Gajeel decided to capture them for a bounty.
• Gajeel attacked Kawazu while Kawazu fired eggs that released fists, and Makazu used Word Magic to bombard them with noise.
• Levy silenced Makazu’s magic, while Gajeel blocked his Slash with an Iron Dragon Sword.
• Levy burned Kawazu’s eggs and drove him back with Arrow Rain as Gajeel pressured Makazu.
• Levy trapped Kawazu and Makazu in a Cage, and Gajeel struck them with Iron Storm after Makazu cut his way out.

Gajeel and Levy discovered Grimoire Heart on Tenrou Island as Hades arrived to attack Fairy Tail. Cain confronted Hades on the beach while Makarov headed there to defend the guild, and the chapter ended as Hades began testing Cain’s strength.

• Gajeel and Levy defeated the Rooster Man and the Armored Man, then sensed immense magic power surging from the beach.
• Angel's Heart flashed three times, and Cain warned Mira, Erza, and the others that Grimoire Heart was attacking.
• Hades arrived aboard a magic airship, unleashed his overwhelming magic power, and threatened to destroy Fairy Tail.
• Makarov sensed Hades's magic, vowed to protect the guild, and set out for the beach.
• Ultear, Meldy, Zancrow, and Rustyrose left the airship to begin the attack, while Bluenote stayed aboard.
• Cain shielded the beach from Hades's rain of black magic bullets, and Hades challenged him to prove his strength.

Cain fought Hades while Mira, Erza, and the others searched for Grimoire Heart's invaders. Natsu and Happy encountered Zancrow, whose God Slayer flames hurt Natsu, and Natsu attacked him in fury after Zancrow killed his own followers.

• Cain blocked Hades's chain hooks as Mira, Erza, and the others headed toward Tenrou Island to find the invaders.
• Natsu and Happy encountered Zancrow, who introduced himself as one of Grimoire Heart's Seven Kin of Purgatory and attacked with black God Slayer flames.
• Zancrow's flames burned Natsu, who could not devour them, but Natsu continued fighting and injured Zancrow.
• When Grimoire Heart grunts arrived to help, Zancrow called them trash and burned them to ashes.
• Natsu grew furious at Zancrow's contempt for his followers and unleashed a storm of flames.

Natsu overcame Zancrow by devouring the God's Flame and combining it with his dragon fire, but collapsed after defeating him. On the coast, Cain continued battling Hades and was caught inside a ring of magic circles after Hades's Dark Chains exploded.

• Zancrow absorbed Natsu's flames and attacked him and Happy with black God's Flame, but Natsu shielded Happy and survived.
• Natsu dodged Zancrow's Flame Blade and was trapped and burned by Flame God's Feast.
• Natsu devoured the God's Flame and combined it with his dragon fire to unleash Radiance of the Dragon God, defeating Zancrow before losing consciousness.
• Cain taunted Hades during their coastal battle, then focused on countering Hades's Dark Chains.
• Hades detonated the Dark Chains and formed magic circles around Cain, who realized he was surrounded.

Laxus defeated Rustyrose despite his Arc of Embodiment and headed toward Cain and Hades. Cain refused Makarov’s order to leave, insisting they fight Hades together before helping the others.

• Explosions shook Tenrou Island, and Erza, Mira, and the others worried about Cain as they hurried toward their enemies.
• Laxus intercepted Rustyrose, destroyed his summoned swords and Flesh Tank, and resisted the Imperial Tower’s explosion.
• Laxus knocked Rustyrose unconscious and turned into lightning to head toward Cain and Hades.
• Makarov intervened to help Cain block Amaterasu 100 Forms, then told Cain to support the others.
• Cain refused to leave and said he and Makarov should defeat Hades together first, since Erza, Mira, and Laxus had already gone to help the others.

Makarov confronted Hades and discovered that the master of Grimoire Heart was Precht, Fairy Tail’s former second master. After Makarov abandoned Fairy Law, he and Cain attacked Hades, but Hades repelled them with powerful magic.

• Makarov began preparing Fairy Law while Cain moved to stop Hades from interfering.
• Hades prepared Demon Law and threatened that both spells could kill the younger guild members, prompting Makarov to cancel Fairy Law.
• Makarov recognized Hades as Precht, Fairy Tail’s former second master, and tried to persuade him to leave.
• After Hades refused, Cain and Makarov attacked him with Holy Radiance—Apocalypse and other magic, but Hades endured their assault and drove them back with dark chains and a barrier.

Cain fought Hades while protecting Makarov, but Ultear suddenly betrayed Hades after declaring she had found her light. Hades flew to defend his damaged airship, leaving Cain to tend to the unconscious Ultear and wounded Makarov.

• Cain used Holy Light buffs to attack Hades at tremendous speed, but Hades pierced Makarov's collarbones with dark chains and detonated them.
• Cain kept Hades occupied with a relentless close-range assault until Ultear and Meldy arrived.
• Hades ordered Ultear and Meldy to kill Makarov, but Ultear stabbed Hades with an icy sword and said she had found her light.
• Cain attacked Hades as he unleashed a pillar of dark magic and knocked Ultear unconscious, but explosions aboard the magic airship made Hades fly off to protect it.
• Cain carried Ultear to Makarov and used Radiance to ease the old man's injuries while they joked about who would inherit the guild.

After Cain explained Ultear’s past to Meldy and Makarov, Hades ordered Grimoire Heart to retreat after suffering severe injuries. Mira confronted Azuma near the Tenrou Tree, while Laxus returned with Natsu and joined Cain’s group as they prepared to storm Hades’s airship.

• Cain explained how Ultear had been used as a test subject and manipulated by Brain, and Meldy reacted with sympathy before Ultear stopped her from reaching out.
• Hades revealed that Cain’s attack had badly wounded him, then ordered the airship repaired and Grimoire Heart to retreat.
• Mira found Azuma trying to destroy the Tenrou Tree, and the two began fighting.
• Laxus arrived carrying the unconscious Natsu, and Cain confirmed that Natsu had only fainted from conflicting magic power.
• Cain told Laxus that Hades remained aboard the airship and proposed that they storm it together after everyone regrouped.

Mira defeated Azuma after a fierce battle and destroyed the tree he became, then set out to help Cain. Meanwhile, Lucy and Cana faced Caprico, who recognized Lucy’s resemblance to Layla Heartfilia and demanded to know their relationship.

• Mira shattered Azuma’s attacks and survived his spell drawing on Tenrou Island’s magic, then defeated him with Soul Exterminator.
• Azuma succumbed to the backlash of Arc of the Great Tree and turned into an ancient tree, which Mira destroyed before heading toward Cain.
• Lucy and Cana encountered Caprico, who summoned Sanjiao Shin to attack them.
• Lucy summoned Taurus to face Sanjiao Shin, and Caprico recognized her resemblance to Layla Heartfilia and demanded to know how they were related.

Cana attacked Caprico with her fused Four Elements, but the explosion left her and Lucy vulnerable until Gray and Leo arrived. Caprico summoned his subordinates and lunged for Leo, intending to take over his body.

• Caprico learned that Lucy was Layla's daughter and threatened to make Lucy and Cana his puppets.
• Cana used her Four Elements attack against Caprico, and its explosion created a powerful blast that nearly overwhelmed her and Lucy.
• Caprico fired arrows at the weakened Cana and Lucy, but Gray blocked them with an Ice Shield after arriving with Leo.
• Caprico summoned his nonhuman subordinates, and Gray attacked them with Ice-Make Magic: Lancer.
• Caprico used the distraction to rush toward Leo and announced that he would take Leo's body.

Gray, Lucy, and Cana freed Leo from Zoldio’s control and learned how Zoldio had merged with Caprico after betraying his agreement with Layla. Lucy formed a contract with Caprico, while Leo and Caprico returned to the Celestial Spirit World to recover, leaving Gray wondering whether he could still pass the S-Class Mage examination.

• Leo helped Gray defeat Caprico’s humanoid creatures, then attacked Gray under the influence of the shadow that had struck him.
• Gray froze Leo’s legs, Lucy restrained him with the Starry River, and Cana used Cain’s Purification magic to drive Zoldio out of Leo.
• Zoldio revealed himself, then dissipated because he had violated a taboo by using Human Subordination to merge with Caprico.
• Caprico explained that Layla had entrusted Zoldio with his key and that he had promised to help Lucy if she became a Celestial Spirit Mage.
• Lucy confirmed Layla was her mother and agreed to form a contract with Caprico.
• Caprico and Leo returned to the Celestial Spirit World to recover, and Gray wondered whether Leo’s departure would affect his S-Class Mage examination.