Fairy Tail's Demon God

Chapter 23: Archipelago of the Scourged, Part 1

Currently, most of the guild members were on a ship, headed towards the Archipelago of the Scourged. These members included the following: Mirajane, Elfman, Erza, Natsu, Gray, Wendy, Lucy, Juvia, Gajeel,  and Levy. Ryuga wanted to train the members that were already decently strong first; that way, he could assign them to train the others accordingly. Some of these members asked why they were taking a ship, instead of using some other sort of faster transportation. He simply stated that they would find out, and ended it there.

Once they were about 2 Kilometers away from the first island in the archipelago, the ship's captain slowed down the ship and demanded that they turn away.

Captain: "This is as far as we can take you. We refuse to go any closer to those islands."

Gray: "What!? What do you expect us to do? Swim there!?"

Needless to say, many of the other members were also perplexed. Ryuga, calmly, stood up off a crate that he was sitting on and pat Gray's shoulder.

Ryuga: "Yes. That is what I expect, and that is what you will do."

Gray: "W-What? Really?"

Ryuga: "Yes. This is the first part of your training. Swim to the first large island of the archipelago." A few members had worried looks on their faces. "What? Scared of a little water? It should take you less than an hour to complete. Let's count it as a race, shall we? Whoever can get the first place will get a prize."

Captian: "Are you crazy!? Humans cannot swim in these waters! They are filled with sea monsters that can grow to the size of this very ship!"

Elfman: "Sounds manly! I'm going to get that first place!"

He quickly took off his shirt and jumped overboard, diving into the water. Some of the members, like Lucy and Wendy, were sitting there with their mouths agape. Others, like Natsu and Gajeel, were right behind him.

Natsu: "I'm gonna get that first place!"

Gajeel: "It will be me!"

They both jumped off the boat, splashing into the water. Soon, everybody except Lucy and Wendy had jumped off and started swimming. The two still on the ship looked frightened as if they were about to be eaten by a large monster or something. Well, that wasn't too far from the truth. They were leaning over the ship looking down at the water, sweating nervously.

Ryuga: "Good luck."

He tapped their backs lightly, and they fell off the ship, plunging into the water.

Ryuga: "Guess I should join them."

He jumped off the ship, and when he landed on the water, a small, footprint-sized layer of ice was formed under him. He continued to walk like that, watching over the members.

For the first few minutes, it seemed to be going well. Gray was swimming with large strokes, confident that he was one of the faster swimmers of the group. He soon yelped when something brushed across his foot. Childish laughter was heard, and Gray rolled his eyes.

Gray: "Natsu, seriously. You're trying to pick a fight now of all times?"

He looked behind him, only to see a couple of the other guild members lagging behind, and no Natsu to be found. He heard the childish giggle again and felt a shiver run up his spine. He quickly turned around once again in the water but could see no one close to him. Swallowing what little saliva he had, he decided to look down into the water.

When he looked down at the water, all he could see was a slightly bluish tint and his own reflection. He, once again, forced spit down his throat and decided to go under the water to try to look.