Chapter 10: Free-for-All
"I've looked it up," Noah explained to Cana. "This area is affected by a warm ocean current, so the climate is like this all year round. We just have to bear with it for a bit."
"But it's still so hot!" Cana complained, fanning herself furiously. Laxus, also dressed in beach attire, was covered in sweat.
"I can see the island!" a guild member shouted.
Everyone turned to where he was pointing and saw a strangely shaped island on the horizon. It was a large island, with a clearly visible waterfall. The most peculiar feature was the enormous, thick tree in its center, with a canopy so large that it formed a small, separate island in the sky. The entire island was a spectacular and bizarre sight, one you wouldn't easily forget.
"What a strange shape!"
"So that's Tenrou Island?"
"Are we finally here?"
"There's an island on top of an island?"
"I can't wait to get on shore, it's so hot out here!"
"It is said that fairies once lived on that island," Makarov announced, stepping forward to introduce the place. "Furthermore, it is also the place where Fairy Tail's first Guild Master, Mavis Vermillion, rests for eternity."
"The first Master's resting place... somehow, that feels fitting for our guild's sacred ground."
"Alright everyone, prepare to make land!" Makarov commanded.
He directed the ship to dock at a spot on the island, and everyone began to disembark. Gildarts was already on the shore, waiting for them. The members were overjoyed to see him, crowding around to talk to him.
Cana stood in a corner, watching Gildarts with a conflicted expression. Noah walked over to her. "Just talk to him after the exam is over. Don't overthink it."
"But..."
"Alright, no more hesitating. It's settled."
Once everyone was ashore, they set up tents and other camping equipment, preparing to cook the food they had brought. Everyone had come with the intention of camping out and watching the S-Class Trial.
Makarov called the three participants over and led them to a clearing far from the campsite. "We have a long time until lunch," he told them. "Let's start the free-for-all now. Once we have a winner, we can all eat lunch together."
"Alright! Let's settle this!" Noah replied excitedly.
"I won't lose to you, Noah! And Macao, you better not lose either!" Wakaba shouted.
"Jerk, I'm not going to lose! You're the one who better not lose to Noah, Wakaba!"
"Seniors, you can save your breath," Noah declared. "I'm going to take you both down."
"Bring it on!" the three of them shouted in unison.
"Banish the darkness! Rain of Light!" A golden magic circle appeared in front of Noah, unleashing a barrage of light arrows that rained down.
"Purple Rain!" A purple magic circle materialized before Macao, firing a volley of flame bullets forward like a downpour.
"Smoke Assault!" A green magic circle flashed in front of Wakaba as smoke billowed out, forming into several fists that shot forward.
The three attacks flew towards the other two opponents, colliding in mid-air and creating a massive explosion. Smoke billowed out, obscuring the space between them.
Macao raised a hand, and a purple magic circle appeared. "Purple Flame Net!"
Countless strands of purple fire shot into the smoke like ropes, heading for Wakaba and Noah to bind them.
Noah focused golden magic power onto the tip of his index finger and flicked his hand. "Dodon Ray!"
A golden beam of energy shot out, severing the incoming flame ropes. Wakaba, however, was caught by them. But when the ropes tightened, he dissolved into a puff of smoke. A crowd of Wakabas then appeared behind Macao—it was his "Smoke Illusion" technique.
"Taking hits isn't my style! Watch out, seniors!"
Golden light glowed on both of Noah's index fingers. The next second, countless beams of light shot from his fingertips, attacking both Macao and Wakaba.
"Purple Rain!" Macao hurriedly cast a counter-spell, clashing with Noah's light barrage. Wakaba, meanwhile, used his many clones to hide his true position, but the smoke clones were being destroyed one by one by Noah's and Macao's attacks.
Noah and Macao both dodged to the side to avoid any of the other's attacks that weren't blocked.
Suddenly, from among the few remaining smoke clones, a dozen smoke fists emerged, flying towards Noah and Macao.
Macao abandoned his attack on Noah and quickly leaped to the side, using his purple flames to disperse the two fists he couldn't dodge. Noah also stopped his assault on Macao. He gathered magic in his hands and punched out, directly shattering the incoming smoke fists. The force of his blows blew away the remaining smoke in the area.
"Look out, seniors!"
A golden magic circle appeared on both Noah's left and right. Two golden beams of light shot out simultaneously, aimed at Macao and Wakaba. The two men scrambled to the side, the sheer force of the Light Cannons warping the air and distorting their faces.
"You've got to be kidding me with that power!"
The beams exploded behind them, and the resulting shockwave blasted them from behind, blowing their hair straight forward.
"That power is terrifying! We have to team up, Macao!"
"You're right. If we don't work together, we'll lose quickly," Macao agreed.
"I'll bind him, you attack! Purple Flame Net!" Macao thrust his hand forward, and several ropes of purple fire shot from a magic circle towards Noah.
"Smoke Assault!" Wakaba's magic circle flashed, and a dozen smoke fists appeared, attacking Noah from all directions.
"Light Cannon!" Noah fired two blasts directly at Macao and Wakaba. The attacks in front of the beams were instantly disintegrated. Noah himself then leaped backward, dodging the remaining attacks.
"Dodon Ray!" While still in mid-air, Noah began his counterattack, firing a continuous stream of beams from his fingers. The dense barrage forced Macao and Wakaba to dodge frantically, and the constant explosions once again filled the area with smoke.
The thick smoke blocked everyone's vision, and they all paused their attacks.
When the smoke finally cleared, a massive magic circle was floating in front of each of the three combatants. All of them had been charging up an attack.
"Noah, you're so young yet so strong, and you don't even look tired. We probably can't beat you. Let's settle this with one final move!" Macao said, his breathing slightly ragged. The battle had already consumed a great deal of his magic and stamina.
"I agree! Let's end this with one last attack!" Wakaba said, also panting. He looked at Noah, who seemed as fresh as when they started, and couldn't help but feel a little hopeless.
"Alright then. Be careful, seniors!"
As Noah spoke, the magic circle in front of him pulsed, and a colossal beam of golden light shot out.
"Heaven's Sundering Light!"
A torrent of purple fire surged from Macao's magic circle.
"Purple Flame Torrent!"
A gigantic fist made of smoke emerged from Wakaba's magic circle.
"Giant Smoke Fist!"
The three attacks met in the air, creating a powerful impact that sent a massive shockwave expanding outwards. After a stalemate that lasted only a few seconds, Noah's attack overwhelmed the other two. It blew through their attacks and shot straight out into the ocean.
The column of light carved a deep trench into the surface of the sea, extending far into the distance until it disappeared over the horizon.