With the navigation chart in hand, Ur and Cana still needed a reasonably sized ship. After all, it wouldn't be easy for a small boat to safely sail across the open sea for such a long distance.
Although Ur had learned to fly, he wasn't confident carrying someone else for that long.
Fortunately, the dock wasn't short on friendly tour boats—provided, of course, that you had enough money to persuade the owners. And Cana, who could drink nearly thirty percent of all the alcohol in Fairy Tail in a year, clearly wasn't lacking in funds.
Emmmm!
Though after this exam, her future drinking budget might take a hit.
The distance to Tenrou Island was considerable. At the speed of the ship they boarded, it would likely take at least a full day to reach it. Once aboard, Ur borrowed a fishing rod from the boat owner and sat down to fish. From his relaxed demeanor, anyone who didn't know better would think he was just another tourist enjoying the trip.
Master Hook had used some unknown technique to turn black-and-green dragonhide into a stylish blue-and-white cloak. Not only was it striking, but as a magical item, the cloak itself was imbued with strong properties.
The tough, magical dragonhide had been treated with various rare materials, enhancing both its durability and magical defense. Most importantly for Ur, the cloak automatically adjusted to temperature—warm in winter, cool in summer.
Fishing in it, Ur felt so comfortable that he could easily fall asleep on the spot before even catching a fish.
Seeing Ur so at ease, Cana grew anxious, pacing the deck restlessly, but she didn't bother him, knowing it would serve no purpose. Besides, they were already ahead of the other teams.
"Ah young lady, I don't know what's troubling you, but since you're out here, why not relax a little?" A fellow tourist smiled kindly at Cana's worried expression.
Cana forced a small smile and replied, "Thank you." She then found an awkward seat and continued to fidget nervously.
Ur, meanwhile, had gathered a few people around him to fish, chatting casually with them while lazily responding to their questions, completely absorbed in the comfort of his dragonhide cloak.
Suddenly, Ur's float dipped under the water, then reappeared elsewhere, only to vanish again, swimming quickly into the distance.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! There's a bite, mister!" The nearby fishermen shouted, noticing Ur's lack of reaction. Ur calmly picked up the rod and gave a sharp tug.
Creak!
The rod bent into a perfect C-shape. The line tightened, but whatever was on the hook didn't budge—instead, it tugged the reel continuously.
"Huh?"
Ur finally becoming alert. This wasn't an ordinary fish; the strength transmitted through his arms suggested a massive creature. The old fishermen around him noticed the tension in the line and the rod, recognizing this as a rare, enormous catch.
"Hey, need some help, mister?" Naturally, any fishing enthusiast would be eager to tame such a giant. But Ur refused.
Though not a professional angler, Ur didn't mind letting them show off sometimes, but this creature wasn't something they could handle.
Creak… creak…
The rod groaned under the strain. Ur relied on endurance and technique to tire the monster, but even so, it felt like the rod could snap at any moment.
The veteran fishermen grew tense. They knew the sea held many unusual, dangerous creatures, far beyond human strength.
"Better let it go, mister! This one seems unusual!"
"Yes! Catching it could be more trouble than it's worth—just release it."
Despite their warnings, Ur smiled calmly. "Don't worry. I may not be a professional angler, but I have experience dealing with this type of catch."
Ignoring them, he focused entirely on reeling it in. The older men, recognizing they couldn't sway him, reluctantly stepped back, though worry remained on their faces.
Some had seen terrifying sea monsters firsthand, and one had even glimpsed a whale larger than an island while at sea. As the struggle continued, curious onlookers gathered, including Cana. The fishermen contemplated forcibly cutting the line to be safe.
At that moment, Ur's line suddenly slackened. The float shot rapidly toward them. Before anyone could react, a huge wave crashed over the deck.
Then a massive black shadow appeared, leaping into the air and lunging toward them. The experienced fishermen reacted first, ready to warn others—but before they could, Ur appeared, cloaked in blue and white. His cloak billowed, revealing a shining white longsword in his hands.
Ur's lips curved into a cold, deadly smile. "Heaven had a path, but you didn't take it. Hell comes knocking on its own."
Shing!
With a crisp, sharp note, Ur's Dark Dragon Fang flew from his grasp. He bent his knees, leapt, and cut the creature in half midair.
Crash! Splash!
The two halves of the monstrous fish crashed onto the ship and into the sea. Water splashed everywhere, soaking the crew once again. Ur sheathed his sword, calm as ever. The passengers finally reacted with screams of terror.
"Ahhh!!"
Amid the chaos, they saw the creature: half of a gigantic tuna, its sharp teeth bared, blood pouring from the severed wound.
Everyone froze, shocked by the creature's sheer size and rarity. Even veteran anglers were impressed; to ordinary people, such monsters belonged to legends.
Ur glanced at their fearful faces and smiled faintly. "Apologies for startling you all. To make up for it, I invite you to a 'monster feast.' Interested?"
The crowd exchanged glances. The idea of eating such a rare giant intrigued them, despite initial disbelief.
A well-dressed gentleman stepped forward. "I agree with this proposal. Since this gentleman is so generous, I've brought plenty of fine wine. Why not throw a grand party?"
The ship's captain, a burly man, added, "I agree. I'll provide cooking tools. This creature tastes exquisitely fresh—trust me, it's unforgettable."
The group's hesitation melted. Several volunteers stepped up to prepare the tuna, and soon everyone joined the festivities.
They cleaned the deck, hauled the remaining half of the tuna, and prepared it for cooking. The massive tuna was indeed a rare delicacy.
By the time night fell, the ship was filled with the aroma of perfectly cooked tuna. Even those who dressed elegantly eagerly devoured the feast.
The gentleman's wine selection was impressive, including rare brands from the 'Outer Continent,' which fascinated Cana, who was already quite tipsy. Ur wanted to remind her, "Don't forget we're here for the S-Class exam, not a party!"
He suspected Cana would likely just spill wine on him if he tried.
"Are you from Ishgar?" Ur asked a gentleman appearing behind him, sipping from a glass.
"No," he admitted. "I'm Pasfield, a trader between Ishgal and the Guiltina Continent. But you, the 'Dragon Slayer,' are here to enjoy yourself?"
Ur squinted. "Cut to the chase. Why are you after me? I'm not in the mood for nonsense."
Pasfield smiled. "I simply wanted to meet the great Dragon Slayer as a friend."
Ur shrugged. "Doesn't matter. If that's all, I'm leaving." He grabbed the still-drunk Cana and, with a burst of wind magic, formed green energy wings, propelling them into the air.
In an instant, they disappeared into the sky. The onlookers were stunned, questioning their own eyes.
Pasfield murmured in awe. "Fairy Tail, huh?" before turning to leave.
High above the sea, the cold wind blew across Cana's flushed face, but she had already downed at least three barrels of wine and was completely unaffected. Ur kept them at a distance from Tenrou Island, wary of the sudden appearance of Pasfield, though he sensed no real threat.
Soon, they approached the island, which appeared as a two-tiered landmass. The upper tier was the canopy of the mystical Tenrou Tree, a colossal ancient tree rumored to gather ambient magic and protect mages bearing the Fairy Tail mark.
Upon landing, they found others already there, waiting to form teams. Mirajane and Lisanna approached, noticing Cana's drunken state.
"What happened? Weren't you ahead of us? And why do you smell like alcohol?" Mirajane asked.
"Long story," Ur replied with a wry smile. "We attended a grand party on the way. The wine was excellent."
Ur himself had drunk a fair amount, though not as much as Cana. He was slightly tipsy.
Seeing this, Mirajane considered whether Cana would hinder them during the second stage.
Ur understood and said, "Give me ten minutes." He carried Cana to the shore and tossed her into the icy water.
"Ahhh!"
The shock sobered Cana significantly.
"Ur! You bastard! What are you doing?"
"You have ten minutes to sober up. We're here at Tenrou Island."
Cana nodded, finally grasping the urgency. "Five minutes!" She plunged in again.
After ten minutes, Ur, Cana, Mirajane, and Lisanna were ready. Following the guild master's rules, teaming up was advantageous, and although Ur's partners seemed unreliable, Mirajane still chose to work together.
Soon, they reached a fork in the road with three paths, each corresponding to a different S-Class examiner. They chose the middle route.
Not long after, a tall figure appeared: Gildarts.
"Yo! You guys got here first!" he greeted casually.
Mirajane, impatient, said, "Enough small talk! Tell us the mission!"
Gildarts grinned. "Simple. Since you're in a team, the two teams that entered here will battle. The winner passes the second stage."
The four froze. Mirajane's gaze at Ur and Cana grew approving, silently thinking. "These two teammates might actually be reliable!"
❖≔﴾═══════ﺤ
Next Chapter: Second Form
Next Next Chapter: Terrifying Destructive Power
Next Next Next Chapter: The Jerk