"System, open my attributes panel."
"Ah!"
A transparent panel, visible only to Su Yan, appeared before him:
[Super Salted Fish Template System]
[Host: Su Yan]
[Observation Haki: 200 (Elementary)]
[Armament Haki: 600 (Intermediate)]
[Conqueror's Haki: 4400 (Top Level)]
[Devil Fruit: Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Azure Dragon Form]
[Azure Dragon Form (Activated). To unlock the next form, your own attributes must reach 8000 points.]
[Special Physique: 52%]
[Remaining Attribute Points: 63]
Studying the panel, Su Yan wasn't entirely certain whether he could defeat Acnologia, the Black Dragon. However, he was sure his current strength surpassed that of Kaido. Even Whitebeard—hailed as the "strongest man in the world" in One Piece—might not be his match now.
His thoughts turned to the reason he'd come to Fairy Tail in the first place, the looming threat of that black dragon capable of destroying the world.
"I never expected to head back to Tenrou Island again. Is this destiny?" he mused.
When he first arrived in this world, he'd found himself on Tenrou Island—the Fairy Tail Guild's sacred ground. Now, returning there for the S-Class exam likely meant facing Acnologia. He could have canceled the exam using his clout in the guild, but he had no desire to do so.
It wasn't about "following the original plot," because once Su Yan showed up, the story had already changed. What drove him was the chance to fight Acnologia directly, to measure their respective powers. If he proved stronger, he could protect Fairy Tail and possibly eliminate Acnologia in the future. If he was weaker, he'd learn exactly where he stood so he could plan how to grow further.
A life of drifting or a life of ease—it all hinged on the answer to his question: how strong was he, truly?
Of course, he wasn't reckless. Su Yan had at least some confidence. He glanced at the huge mace propped in the corner—an old weapon he hadn't used in quite some time. He rarely bothered lugging it around anymore, and the battles since then hadn't demanded it. This time, though, he felt he'd need it again.
…
A week flashed by.
All eight S-Class candidates gathered at Hargeon Port, then boarded a ship bound for Fairy Tail's holy land—Tenrou Island.
"It's so hot!!!"
"Why is it this hot in the middle of winter? I'm melting like ice cream…" Lucy groaned, sprawled out on a deck chair in her swimsuit. Sweat poured from every pore in her body. The temperature out at sea had climbed to around 45 degrees, as though they were all sitting in a steam bath.
"This is terrible. I'll taste awful…" Happy was similarly splayed out, looking drained.
Wendy tried to encourage them. "Hang in there, Lucy!"
Cana waved a fan idly. "It's always like this here—lots of convection currents."
Lisanna glanced at Juvia, who was dressed in thick winter clothing. "Aren't you burning up in that outfit, Juvia?"
Juvia's gaze never left Gray, who, as usual, had almost nothing on. "Not at all. If anything, Gray-sama's naked body sets me on fire even more…!"
The others were too used to Gray stripping to pay him much mind. He was an Ice-Make wizard, after all. If he tried cooling the entire boat off with magic, he'd waste precious energy, so everyone stayed sweaty and sticky together.
Natsu wobbled across the deck, seasick as usual. Loki spotted him. "Natsu!! Don't come near me!"
Natsu tried to steady himself. "Wendy… Wendy didn't use Troia on me…"
"She's Mest's partner now," Loki replied. "It's out of our hands."
Evergreen sniffed with disinterest. "Everyone's about to be enemies anyway. Why be so close now?"
"It's soooo hooooot," Elfman groaned.
Then Lucy's eyes lit up. "Hey, look—there's land ahead!"
"Cough, cough!"
"We're here!"
"That's Tenrou Island, then?"
Everyone rushed to the rail, gawking at the peculiar sight. The island was huge, with a massive tree growing in its center that formed a second smaller "island" of leaves above the main landmass.
Suddenly, Master Makarov's voice carried over the boat. "Long ago, people said fairies lived on that island."
"Master?" they said, turning. He stood at the mast in a beachy outfit stamped with the Fairy Tail insignia.
"It's also the final resting place of Mavis Vermillion, Fairy Tail's first master."
"Why're you dressed like that?!" Gray demanded, pointing at Makarov's rather casual attire.
"Because it's too hot!" the tiny old man barked back.
Lucy cast a side glance. "You're complaining about clothes to a guy who's practically naked?"
Makarov coughed. "Ahem—now I'll announce the first stage of the exam!"