Dragon Tomb

Overall Rankings

Fairy Tail – 61 points

Mermaid Heel – 40 points

Sabertooth – 35 points

Blue Pegasus – 32 points

Lamia Scale – 30 points

Quatro Cerberus – 15 points

"As expected of Fairy Tail—so far ahead of second place!"

"Sabertooth's really fallen from grace. Their 'strongest' title only mattered when Fairy Tail wasn't around."

"Who knows who'll win in the end?"

"It has to be Fairy Tail. They're unbeatable."

Back at the Sabertooth hotel, the entire guild gathered in tense silence. Guild Master Jiemma sat on a sofa, and before him stood Sting Eucliffe and Rogue Cheney—fresh from their defeat and downcast as if they'd just been expelled.

"Sting. Rogue. Explain yourselves," Jiemma demanded.

Rogue bowed his head. "I have nothing to say. We failed completely… their strength far exceeded my expectations."

Jiemma's eyes blazed. "Is that all someone from the 'strongest guild' can come up with? How dare you disgrace our name!"

A surge of magic crackled around her, and Sting and Rogue were thrown back, hitting the floor.

"Get up, you worthless slugs!" Jiemma snapped.

"My guild doesn't need weaklings—expel them both! Remove their guild crests! I want no trace of such failures here!"

Exceed Lector trembled, but he stepped forward. "Please, Guild Master, Sting and Rogue did their best. Failure only makes us stronger—next time, Sting will have learned enough to match the Fire Dragon's might."

Jiemma glared down at him. "And who are you to speak? A kitten with no rank!"

Lector pulled back his coat to reveal the Sabertooth emblem on his back. "I'm a member of this guild, too."

Fury contorted Jiemma's features. "No one's allowed to bear our crest if they're weak—die!" She thrust out her palm, releasing a blast of magic.

BOOM!

Lector vanished in an instant. Sting screamed, "Lector—!"

"Stop this!" Sting cried, rushing forward, but it was too late. Lector was gone.

The guild members watched in horror—Lector was no mere pet, but a sentient life. The loss left them stunned.

"Silence, Sting," Jiemma sneered.

Angry beyond reason, Sting punched Jiemma square in the chest. His magic armor cracked, and he flew back, coughing blood.

A hush fell over the room. Then Minerva, standing to the side, broke into a cold smile. "As it should be."

Below the arena, Gajeel led a small group through a hidden passage.

"Why only us?" Natsu asked, glancing at Wendy by his side.

"Don't ask—just follow," Gajeel said.

Happy guessed, "'Is this dragon-slayer business?" Gajeel had summoned only Dragon Slayers.

Levy piped up, "What's going on?"

Lucy laughed nervously. "We're curious too."

They emerged into a vast underground cavern strewn with gigantic skeletons.

"Is that a dragon's skeleton?" Wendy gasped.

Gray frowned. "Too big for any normal beast."

Natsu's eyes widened. "This… this is the Dragon Graveyard!"

They looked around in awe. Bones of countless dragons—some black, some white, others so ancient their shapes were barely recognizable—lay piled in silent testament.

"Dragons have been gone for only fourteen years," Gajeel mused, "yet these remains predate even that. They must be millennia old."

Happy shivered. "Do you think Igneel's here?"

"Don't joke," Carla warned, but her voice trembled.

Natsu stared reverently at the bones. "No… Igneel was one of the last. These fell long before our time."

Gajeel nodded. "Whatever brought them here… I wanted only to show you. Be ready—for the real challenge lies ahead."