Clap clap clap
Sharp applause cut through the girls' hype. They whipped around—Roger was up, grinning, giving 'em slow claps.
"Congrats," he said, voice dripping approval. "You just aced the S-Class exam."
"P-PASSED?!" Kana froze, then pure ecstasy hit. She pumped her fist sky-high, screaming: "HELL YEAH—!! I FINALLY—FINALLY MADE S-CLASS!!!"
She grabbed a still-dazed Lucy's wrist. "Move it! Roger's illusions run on funky time—bet we're the first out!"
"We bolt to the exit, strike the chillest pose, and watch the others drag their sorry asses out looking like losers!"
"?!" Lucy's brain lagged. "That's… it?"
"Just—poof—S-Class? No fanfare?"
Kana rolled her eyes. "What, you want Erza and Mira—or Roger—rolling out a cake?"
"NOPE!!" Lucy flailed. "Fighting Erza for cake = death. Let's bounce!"
Their bickering faded down the tunnel. Roger chuckled, waved the couch and drinks back into system storage.
He didn't follow. Turned the other way, out the cave. Wings popped—whoosh—straight to the island's heart, that blazing golden canopy of the Tenrou Tree.
Landed on a fat branch, overlooking the lush island. Right hand up, palm to the tree.
Purple runes poured from his hand like living vines, wrapping the trunk tight. "Last trigger spell locked in."
Cold glint in his eye: "Not sure if Heartfilia's goons crash the party—but if they do…"
"They're gonna love the surprise gift bags I rigged across this rock."
Wings vanished. He hopped down.
"Now for the real mission—tracking that ghost Black Wizard, Zeref."
"That contradiction curse from Ankhseram, God of Life and Death… got me curious."
"Hope he's still chilling on Tenrou like in the manga."
Meanwhile, north shore—dense bushes. Two shady figures sneaking.
A yellow dog in red samurai armor, standing upright—Youmaz. Gripping his katana, eyes scanning. Whisper: "Hades' orders: hunt Fairy Tail members. Bleed 'em dry."
"Gather intel first. Pick off loners or weaklings."
"If we blow cover, the guild's heavies scrap us like trash!"
"Quit yapping the obvious!" Kawazu the rooster flapped, tense. "Caprico said Fairy Tail's elites are all here!"
"Even Lord Azuma's snuck in—we gotta be extra—"
Buzz!
Ground hummed faint magic. Animal instincts screamed.
Too late—BOOM!!
Deafening blast. Flames and smoke swallowed them.
Smoke cleared: two charred wrecks. Fur/feathers fried curly, half-gone, skin blackened—like coal-dipped plucked chicken and dog.
Air reeked of burnt protein.
Cough cough—Kawazu hacked smoke. "T-Trap?! They onto us?! Fairy Tail prepped?!"
"No way!" Youmaz gritted through pain, slashing detector runes. No more bombs. Gasping: "Coincidence! Ultear's intel: they're here for S-Class."
"That trap? Exam prop!"
He crept forward—Buzz!
New pulse. They leaped aside.
Purple text floated: [Trigger Spell · Clothesplosion: All non-living attachments (clothes, armor, weapons) in range—BOOM.]
"SPELL!! DAMN!! First buzz was bait—this is the real one!!"
Youmaz panicked, prepping defense—Buzz—BOOM!!!
Armor, katana, even his water flask flashed white—EXPLOSION!
Shrapnel storm. Kawazu behind him—shnk shnk shnk—pierced by armor chunks. Blood fountain. Short screech—down, twitching, dead.
Youmaz at ground zero: shredded, smoking. Eyes wide in rage. Defense rune fizzled.
"N-No… never even saw the bastard… wiped?"
"Which… sneaky… son of a—"
Head lolled. Dead.
Heartfilia's scout squad—dead before the fight. Pathetic.
Roger sensed the trigger. Paused.
"Already boarding Tenrou?"
System panel up—scanned logs.
"Low magic drop, weak trigger… yep, manga's chicken-and-dog duo won the booby prize."
"Scouts here means Azuma's lurking too."
Thought. Pulled a translucent screen—Q-version guild icons.
Locked everyone on-island. Ancient script magic—voice straight to brains:
'All hands: Hostiles on Tenrou.'
'Likely dark guild—Devil's Heart.'
'Dumping Seven Kin intel via script.'
'Camp: 1-3 on guard. Exam paused—prioritize smashing intruders.'
Chaos in the mind-link.
Natsu roared: 'The hell?! Pause the exam for sneak-thieves?!'
'Don't care who—flame 'em to ash! I'm pushing to round two!!'
Kana: 'Nuh-uh, Natsu~ Listen to the proctor~'
Natsu: 'NO WAY! You bragging you passed?!'
Kana: 'Didn't say shit—but beg a senior for tips, I might bless ya~~~'
Gray: 'Tch! Failed the final every time—fake senior! Finish legit, idiot!!'
Kana: 'Jealous? Tsk tsk—luck and skill, can't touch this! Ah ha! AHAHA!!'
Natsu: 'DAMMIT! S-Class or bust!! I'll crush the pests and keep climbing!!'
Elfman: 'Kana and luck in one sentence? Unreal.'
Kana: 'The hell you mean—'
Mind-chat turning into a shitshow—Roger sighed, cut the link.
"This crew…" He smirked, then dumped Seven Kin dossiers island-wide.
About to move—brush ahead rustled. Weird magic closing in.
Not strong… but death vibes.
Corner of his mouth twitched. "Jackpot—Black Wizard Zeref."
Bushes parted. Black-robed, black-haired dude stepped out. Pale, tired, distant.
Saw Roger—startled. "Someone… on this forgotten rock?"
"Thought this was my final quiet spot."
"Usually is," Roger said, friendly smile. "Fairy Tail's sacred ground. Only here for S-Class exams."
"Fairy… Tail?" Zeref's eyes glazed. Flash of a tiny, bouncy blonde.
"Mavis founded it, right?"
"Bingo. Mavis Vermillion—our First Master." Roger locked eyes. "You know her… cursed Black Wizard—Zeref."
"You know the god's curse?" Shock hit Zeref.
Name's common. Curse details? Rare as hell.
Never met this kid. Mavis spill?
About to ask—face twisted in agony. Hands to head. Evil curse surging wild.
"RUN—NOW!" He forced through teeth, shaking. "I can't—hold—ARRGH!!!"
Black death gas erupted like a dam break.
Grass, bushes, leaves—withered to ash in seconds.
Roger blitzed back, safe distance. Hand up—milky beam.
[Purify]
White vs black—hiss like water on hot oil.
Black slowed, edges fraying—but white dimmed fast.
Roger fired another. Death gas neutralized.
"Can counter it…" Roger mused.
Manga: Ultear sealed Death Hunt in a crystal with Arc of Time.
If she can, it's not invincible. Right power, right method—curb or cancel.
Zeref slumped, panting. Looked up—stunned, a flicker of hope.
"You… neutralized Death Hunt?"
Voice weak but urgent: "That spell?"
"First time seeing it."
"Mavis told you 'cause of this?"
Eyes lit: "Can it… lift my curse?"
Roger shook his head. "Nah. Barely handled the spillover. Root? Way beyond me right now."
Hope snuffed. Zeref sagged, weary.
"Sorry… four centuries, first counter. Got excited." Heavy apology.
Turned, back lonely. "I'll leave. No more accidents."
"Wait!" Roger called.
Zeref paused, curious. "What?"
"Got questions."
"Just… questions?" Zeref eyed him—pure curiosity, no greed.
Roger shrugged, teasing: "What, expect me to fangirl over world-breaking power or grill you on lost magic?"
"No world-dom plans. Zero interest in that baggage."
Zeref blinked… then a ghost of a smile. First in forever.
"You're… weird."
"Four hundred years—nobody just asks."
Felt… light. Plus the counter—loneliness cracked a bit.
"Shoot." He nodded, calm. "Curious what you wanna know."
Roger organized canon: "First—God Slayer Magic."
"Who invented it? Gods?"
"Really slay gods like the name?"
"Dragon Slayers turn magic into dragon power—God Slayers turn it into god power?"