Cherreads

Chapter 10 - Chapter 10 Melee

"I've looked into it," Noah said, trying to sound reassuring as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. "This area stays like this all year because of the warm currents. Just bear with it it'll pass soon enough."

"But it's still too hot!" Cana complained, fanning herself with both hands. Laxus, standing nearby in beach attire, wasn't faring any better sweat rolled down his face in steady streams.

"We can see the island now!" a guild member suddenly shouted from the rail.

At once, everyone turned to look where he was pointing.

Sure enough, in the distance, a distinctive island slowly came into view.

It was large much larger than most islands they'd seen its shoreline marked with glistening waterfalls that tumbled into the sea. But the most striking feature was the colossal tree in the island's center, its trunk so thick it looked like the foundation of a fortress. Its canopy spread wide enough to resemble a small floating island of its own, crowning the land in vibrant green. The sight was so unique, so majestic, that it seemed etched into the mind the moment it was seen.

"Its shape is incredible!"

"Is that… Tenrou Island?"

"Have we finally made it?"

"Hey, is that… an island on top of the island?"

"I don't care what it is let's get ashore before we melt!"

Makarov chose this moment to speak, his tone carrying both pride and reverence. "It's said that long ago, fairies lived upon this island. And more importantly it is the resting place of Fairy Tail's First Guild Master, Mavis Vermillion."

"The First Guild Master's resting place… it really does feel like a sacred ground," one member murmured in awe.

Makarov's eyes softened. "A place worthy of her… and of the guild she built."

He then clapped his hands, snapping everyone out of their thoughts. "Alright, everyone, prepare to disembark!"

The ship glided to a stop at a small docking area, and one by one, the guild members made their way down to the shore.

Standing there, waiting since the early morning, was Gildarts. His familiar, towering figure drew instant cheers from the crowd. Members hurried over, eager to greet him.

Off to the side, Cana lingered in the shadows, her gaze fixed on Gildarts with a complicated expression.

Noah approached her quietly. "After the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial is over, just go and acknowledge him. Don't overthink it."

"But…" Cana hesitated, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.

Noah gave her a small, firm smile. "No buts. It's settled."

After everyone had set foot on Tenrou Island, they busied themselves setting up camp pitching tents, arranging cooking gear, and unpacking the food they'd brought along. Though the atmosphere was lively, it was clear everyone also had a shared purpose: to witness the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial.

A short distance away, Makarov gathered the three participants Noah, Macao, and Wakaba and led them to a wide, flat clearing far from the noise of the camp.

"There's still plenty of time before lunch," Makarov said, his voice carrying the weight of tradition. "We'll begin the free-for-all now. Once we have our winner, we can all eat together."

"Alright let's settle this!" Noah's eyes gleamed with excitement.

"I won't lose to you, Noah," Macao said, cracking his knuckles. "And Wakaba, you'd better not lose either!"

"Bastard, I'm not losing to anyone!" Wakaba shot back, smoke curling from the corner of his mouth. "If anything, you're the one who'll fall first, Macao!"

The two veterans glared at each other before Noah cut in with a confident smile. "Two seniors or not, I'll be the one defeating you both."

The tension snapped like a pulled bowstring.

"Bring it on!" they all roared in unison.

Noah moved first. "Banish the darkness Light Rain!" A golden magic circle flared to life before him, unleashing a volley of radiant arrows that fell like a shimmering downpour.

"Purple Rain!" Macao countered instantly. A violet magic circle erupted before him, spitting flaming bullets that rained forward in a scorching barrage.

"Smoke Assault!" Wakaba bellowed. A green magic circle swirled into being, belching out thick clouds of smoke that coiled and twisted into massive fists, each one swinging forward with crushing force.

The battle for the right to challenge Gildarts had begun.

The three attacks shot toward each other and collided mid-air, erupting in a blinding explosion. Smoke billowed instantly, shrouding the battlefield in a dense, shifting haze.

Macao's voice rang from within the smoke. A purple magic circle flared before his palm.

"Bubble Net!"

Countless ropes of searing purple flame shot forward, cutting through the haze toward Noah and Wakaba, aiming to bind them both.

Noah's eyes narrowed. Golden light gathered at the tip of his index finger. With a sharp upward motion, he called out,

"Hole-Hole Wave!"

A beam of golden magic sliced through the air, severing the incoming flame ropes in one sweep.

Wakaba wasn't so lucky at least at first. The fiery ropes coiled tightly around him, but before they could fully constrict, his body dissolved into smoke and vanished.

In the next heartbeat, a cluster of Wakabas emerged behind Macao his signature Smoke Illusion.

Noah's lips curved into a grin. "Taking a beating isn't my habit, senior. You'd better be ready!"

Golden light flared at his fingertips, and in an instant, a barrage of thin, piercing beams shot out, streaking toward both Macao and Wakaba.

"Purple Rain!" Macao retaliated, unleashing a volley of flaming projectiles to intercept Noah's spears of light.

Meanwhile, Wakaba wove between the chaos, letting his smoke clones absorb stray attacks. But one by one, the copies were blown apart by the unrelenting blasts from Noah and Macao's magic.

Both men shifted quickly, sidestepping to avoid the strikes the other hadn't blocked.

Suddenly, a dozen massive smoke fists burst out from the remnants of Wakaba's clones, lunging toward both opponents.

Macao broke away from his clash with Noah, leaping aside while purple flames swirled around him. Two of the fists came dangerously close he blasted them apart at point-blank range.

Noah also disengaged, magic coiling around both fists before he slammed them forward, shattering the incoming smoke constructs in a violent gust that blew away the last of the lingering haze.

"Be careful, senior!" Noah's voice came sharply. Two golden magic circles spun into existence at his sides.

Boom! Twin pillars of golden light roared forth, tearing toward Macao and Wakaba.

Both dodged in time, but the force of the blasts distorted their faces in the wind.

"The power's no joke, is it?!" Macao shouted as the twin beams detonated behind them, sending another shockwave forward.

"This is ridiculous. We'll have to team up, Macao!"

"You're right. If we don't, we're done for," Macao agreed grimly.

"I'll bind, you attack! Bubble Net!" Purple flame ropes whipped out once more, streaking toward Noah.

"Smoke Assault!" Wakaba's magic circle flared, summoning a storm of giant smoke fists from all sides.

"Light Cannon!" Noah fired back without hesitation, golden beams ripping through the purple ropes and smashing into both men. The projectiles in front of him evaporated under the assault, and Noah vaulted backward to evade the rest.

Still airborne, he extended both hands.

"Hole-Hole Wave!"

A hail of golden beams erupted from his fingertips, raining down relentlessly.

Macao and Wakaba scrambled to dodge, explosions bursting around them in rapid succession. Smoke and dust swirled thicker and thicker until the world seemed nothing but gray.

The assault halted. Silence fell.

As the smoke cleared, the three mages stood in the open once more each framed by a massive magic circle. The air between them crackled with raw energy.

"Noah…" Macao's breathing was heavy, his voice edged with respect. "You're young, but unbelievably strong. You haven't even slowed down… We probably can't beat you. Let's settle it in one final move."

"I agree," Wakaba said between panting breaths. "One last strike."

Noah gave a short nod. "Alright then, seniors be ready."

His magic circle pulsed, expanding and contracting before erupting.

"Divine Rupture!"

Macao's purple magic surged.

"Purple Flame Torrent!"

Wakaba's smoke condensed into an enormous construct.

"Smoke Giant Fist!"

The three ultimate attacks collided mid-air, the impact shaking the ground beneath their feet. A roaring windstorm ripped outward, tearing at the earth and trees.

For several tense seconds, the powers clashed evenly until Noah's golden beam began to push through, swallowing the other two attacks in a blinding flare.

The combined force burst apart, Noah's magic tearing into the ocean with a deafening roar.

The sea split open in a deep, glimmering chasm that stretched far into the distance before finally vanishing into the horizon.

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