Chapter 101: Three Projects
Makarov agreed with Nate's idea of developing a magic app, though he found it a bit hard to believe. Even though the Magic Net was already quite impressive, turning a powerful magic like "Fairy Law" into something like a purchasable magic item that anyone could use? That sounded almost like the work of a God of Magic!
"If you can pull that off, I'll teach you our guild's other two Great Fairy Magics as well," Makarov said with a hearty laugh, even offering a real reward.
Fairy Tail's three legendary magics: Fairy Law, Fairy Glitter, and Fairy Sphere.
"Master, you said it! No take-backs!" Nate smiled, accepting the challenge.
Nate knew that Makarov likely didn't know the other two magics himself, but they were certainly passed down in the guild, probably through magic texts. That would be just as good!
With a tangible reward in mind, Nate felt a surge of motivation—he was even ready to code the app himself! He glanced over at Wendy and Carla, who were being entertained by Mirajane. Other guild members had also gathered around Wendy, curious about the newcomer. Not wanting to disturb them, Nate found a quiet corner and opened the Magic Net's development tools.
"Hm... How should I approach this?"
While the idea was exciting, the technical side wasn't easy, and Nate found himself a bit stuck. He started mentally going over his project list:
1. Developing a live broadcast feature that combined visuals, audio, and text—a sort of "live streaming" function.
2. Creating a new game.
3. Building the magic app.
The first task was relatively straightforward. Similar magic already existed in the world, and Nate just needed to adapt it for the Magic Net. The main challenge wasn't the functionality itself but whether the Magic Net's magic reserves could handle large-scale video streaming.
"I could increase the magic cost for users while they're watching streams," Nate mused, "but weaker mages might run out of magic pretty quickly. If that happens, it could cause dissatisfaction."
Nate rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe I could 'redistribute' the magic load? Have users with stronger magic share the cost with weaker users to keep things balanced. That dynamic balance… would be tricky to manage."
"I'll have to test it myself by hosting a few streams once the feature is live."
With that, Nate put the first project on hold and turned to the second one: the game.
So far, the Magic Net only offered three simple games, like Mahjong and Poker, which were fun but limited. Nate wanted to develop something bigger this time—a new game he already had a name for: Magic Arena.
The inspiration came from Fairy Tail's infamous tendency to solve everything with fights. Since everyone loved battling so much, why not let them fight online instead?
"I'll use the Deep Web's power to create a virtual environment—a battleground for duels," Nate thought. "Users' minds could enter the virtual world to fight without worrying about property damage. I'll also introduce a ranking system: Bronze Mage, Silver Mage, Gold, Diamond, Master, and finally, King! The top 10 players in the King rank will earn the title of 'Ten Wizard Saints.'"
Nate was confident that Magic Arena would become wildly popular. Not only would it offer a fun experience, but it would also provide him with a wealth of information about various magic types, helping him grow his own understanding. On top of that, it would allow him to collect even more magic power.
And then, there was Ur. "Ur's stuck in the Deep Web all day; she must be bored out of her mind. This will give her something to do—maybe she'll even enjoy climbing the ranks."
Of course, Nate would need to include a feature that prevented users from stripping off their clothes. Knowing Ur, she might start taking things off mid-fight.
But there was a major problem with the game: ensuring player safety. Since players would be entering the game as mental projections, injuries were inevitable. While physical harm wouldn't affect their real bodies, mental damage was still a risk. If Nate couldn't figure out how to prevent that, the game would be too dangerous to release. People playing a game and ending up hurt—or worse, dead—wasn't a risk worth taking.
He'd been mulling over this issue since he first thought about the game, but he hadn't yet found a solution.
"What's got you looking so serious?" Levy suddenly sat across from Nate, her curiosity piqued.
Her eyes brightened as if she'd figured it out. "Oh! Are you trying to decide between Mira and Erza?"
Nate: "..."
Seriously? The first thing that comes to mind is gossip?
"Come on, tell me!" Levy pressed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "You and Erza went to the resort together a few days ago, right? Did anything happen?"
Does a kiss count? Nate thought wryly. "I'm thinking about the new game."
"Game?" Levy looked disappointed. "That's all?"
Wow, you're really into gossip, huh? Nate was a bit exasperated. Levy had always been curious about his relationships, first with Mirajane and now with Erza.
"Don't be stingy! Tell me!" Levy insisted, leaning forward. "I haven't even told Mira about you and Erza going on a trip together, so you can trust me. But seriously, who are you going to choose?"
"Why can't I have both?"
"Eh!?" Levy's eyes widened in shock.
Nate sighed. "I'm seriously focused on the game development right now. There's a big problem I need to solve. Can you help me think of something?"
He quickly explained the concept of Magic Arena.
Levy's excitement over gossip vanished, and her eyes lit up with intrigue instead. "That sounds so cool! When can we play it? You have to finish it soon! I'll keep an eye on you to make sure you don't slack off."
Nate chuckled. Levy's enthusiasm was infectious, but her excitement didn't solve the safety issue.
"I'm stuck on the part where players' spirits enter the game. If they get seriously hurt, it could have bad consequences."
Levy nodded, understanding the concern. "I see… So, that's what's troubling you."
She furrowed her brow, thinking hard. Then, suddenly, her face lit up again. "What about celestial spirits?"
"Celestial spirits?"
Nate's eyes widened, starting to see where she was going with this.
Levy nodded eagerly. "Celestial spirits can't die, no matter how badly they're hurt. They'll just return to the Celestial Spirit World when their energy runs out. Maybe you could create something similar for the game. Players could temporarily transform into 'Spirit Bodies' when they enter. If they get hurt, they'd be kicked out of the game rather than injured in real life."
You're asking me to invent a whole new type of magic, aren't you? Nate thought. This girl has a lot of faith in my abilities.
Still, Nate wasn't sure whether to feel flattered or exasperated. "Levy, do you really think I can pull this off?"
Levy smiled brightly. "Of course! I believe in you, Nate. Maybe you could even base it on the same principles as Thought Projections."
Then, as if realizing she had drifted away from her main interest, Levy returned to her favorite topic: gossip. "So, about Mira or Erza—which one are you going to pick? Come on, spill!"
Nate just shook his head, laughing inwardly. 'I'm not telling you anything!'
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Chapter 102: Celestial Spirit Body
Creating an entirely new type of magic… a "Celestial Spirit Body"?
Nate sighed. "Isn't that a bit too much to ask?"
Then again, when he thought about it, he realized how impressive he must seem to others. Internet Magic, Six Eyes, Flying Thunder God—all of these were magics he had created himself. No wonder Levy had such high expectations of him.
It felt good to be admired, but could he really pull this off by himself?
"What are you talking about? You're Nate, a mage of Fairy Tail! Don't say you can't do it!" Levy clenched her fists, cheering him on. "I believe in you! Show us your determination!"
This felt like the perfect moment for some epic background music, and a classic shout of "We are Fairy Tail!" would fit right in…
Nate rolled his eyes inwardly. "Fine, I'll try."
"Not just try—work hard at it!" Levy urged.
"Alright, I'll give it my best shot."
"Go for it!" Levy cheered again, then suddenly shifted the conversation. "By the way… are you 'really' planning to date both Erza and Mira?"
Why was she back to gossip again?
Nate didn't even know what to say.
"I don't have experience with that kind of thing, but maybe you should ask Loke? He's got multiple girlfriends at once!" Levy giggled and walked off, turning back a few steps later to give him a thumbs-up. "I'm rooting for you, Nate!"
Is she cheering for me to create a new magic or to date two women at once? Nate thought, finding Levy's personality rather amusing.
Speaking of Loke, Nate remembered that while he hadn't interacted much with him, he knew enough about the guy. Loke was actually Leo of the Celestial Spirits' Zodiac, the leader of the Twelve. Due to certain circumstances, he had been exiled from the Spirit World and had been living in the human world under the alias "Loke" for three years. During that time, he had become a popular figure, even making it to the top of "The Wizard I'd Like To Be My Boyfriend" rankings in 'Sorcerer Weekly'.
"Maybe Loke could help me with researching this 'Celestial Spirit Body' magic."
Nate opened his contact list, only to realize that he didn't have Loke's contact info. Using his developer privileges, he looked up Loke's details, but it showed him as offline.
"He's not at the guild and hasn't logged in. Is he out on a mission?" Nate sent a friend request and added a message:
"Loke, it's Nate. I need to talk to you. Get back to me when you can."
After waiting a bit and receiving no response, Nate decided to let it go for now.
"If Loke's unavailable, I'll just ask Lucy instead."
Closing the Magic Net, Nate got up and walked toward Lucy, who was chatting with Wendy and Carla, surrounded by a crowd of curious guild members. Lucy was seated next to Wendy and asked with curiosity, "So, Wendy, Natsu can eat fire because he's a Fire Dragon Slayer. As a Sky Dragon Slayer, what do you eat?"
"Air," Wendy answered.
Mirajane, with her usual innocent smile, said, "Air? I thought it would be the sky."
"How would you even eat the sky?" Carla muttered dryly.
Nate laughed, adding, "I could probably punch a hole in the sky. Maybe the sky 'is' edible, Carla."
Carla scowled. "Hmph!"
Nate turned to Lucy. "Lucy, I need a favor. Can you come with me for a minute?"
Lucy blushed slightly at his request, instinctively feeling a bit flustered. "What is it?"
"It's important."
Nate turned and headed outside the guild's temporary bar, prompting Lucy to follow him. As they left, Happy, with a mischievous grin, teased, "They're totally into each other!"
Wendy blinked in confusion. "I thought Nate liked Erza?"
Mirajane watched them leave with curiosity as well.
…
Nate led Lucy to the construction site. It was midday, and everyone was on break for lunch, so the area was deserted. He sat down on a stack of wooden beams in a familiar spot where he often relaxed.
"Lucy, can I—"
"No!" Lucy immediately crossed her arms over her chest and took a step back, looking alarmed.
Nate was baffled. "?"
Wait, I haven't even finished my sentence! What's with the overreaction?
"I was going to ask if I could touch—"
"Don't even think about it, you pervert! No way, Nate!"
Lucy's face turned bright red as she furiously rejected him. "Just because you're my creditor doesn't mean you can take advantage of me!"
Nate's eye twitched. "…Can I touch your 'Celestial Spirit'?"
Lucy froze. "…"
The two stared at each other for a good five seconds. Lucy's ears turned crimson as she realized her misunderstanding. She was so embarrassed she could have dug a hole in the ground and disappeared into it.
It was Nate's fault! Ever since he'd seen her naked, she couldn't help but think weird things whenever she was around him.
"It's the… Celestial Spirit?"
"What else did you think?" Nate shot her a disapproving look. "You're the one who's always thinking weird things."
It's your fault for saying things that could be misinterpreted! Lucy thought, giving him a frustrated glare as she slapped her face to cool herself down.
"You want to see my Celestial Spirit? Are you trying to learn Celestial Spirit Magic?"
"No, I'm trying to create a new kind of magic, and I need to study Celestial Spirits for that," Nate explained. "Can you summon one for me?"
Lucy, feeling relieved that it wasn't anything inappropriate, pulled out her keyring from her waist, which had five golden keys and several silver ones.
"Which one do you want to see?"
"Can you summon all the Zodiac spirits at once?"
Lucy scoffed. "Do you think I'm some high-level mage? I can only summon one Zodiac spirit at a time."
That's right, Nate remembered that Lucy could eventually summon multiple spirits, but right now, she was still too weak for that.
"I have five Zodiac keys: Aquarius, Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, and Sagittarius," Lucy explained, holding each key up. "Aquarius is a bit temperamental, though. If I summon her here, she'll probably get mad."
Nate recalled the Celestial Spirit Aquarius. She was tough, always carrying a huge water jug, and when she attacked, she often dragged Lucy into it. Still, she was fiercely loyal to her master.
"Let's go with Virgo," Nate decided.
Lucy nodded, raising the Virgo key and summoning the spirit. "I am the one who connects the paths to the Celestial Spirit World. Heed my call and come forth! Open the Gate of the Maiden, Virgo!"
A golden magic circle appeared on the ground, and from it emerged Virgo, a maid-like spirit with pink hair and blue eyes, her hands adorned with iron shackles.
"Is there something you need, Princess?"
"It's not me, it's him," Lucy said, motioning toward Nate.
Virgo curtsied gracefully. "Ah, Nate-sama. I've heard quite a bit about you from the Princess, especially at night."
Lucy, her face bright red, rushed forward to cover Virgo's mouth. "What are you saying!?"
"It's true, though~"
Ignoring the commotion, Nate activated his Six Eyes and began closely observing Virgo's spiritual structure.
Chapter 103: Magic Net in Celestial Spirit World
Through his Six Eyes, Nate observed the fundamental difference between Lucy, a human, and Virgo, a Celestial Spirit. Inside Virgo, two distinct sources of magic were present: one from Virgo herself and another drawn from Lucy. Typically, Celestial Spirits used their summoner's magic to stay in the human world. However, Nate couldn't see Virgo's "soul," suggesting she was a unique, energy-based entity.
After a moment of contemplation, Nate extended his hand. "Virgo, can I hold your hand?"
Seeing alone wasn't enough—he needed direct contact to fully understand her nature.
Lucy, curious, let Virgo step forward. "What exactly are you trying to do, Nate?"
Virgo, placing her hand in Nate's, said earnestly, "Please, do as you wish, Nate-sama."
'Don't make it sound like I'm about to do something inappropriate… this is purely academic research!'
Nate couldn't help but feel Virgo's words had a double meaning, likely influenced by her "naughty" master, Lucy.
He closed his eyes and focused on Virgo's unique nature. Without using Six Eyes, she felt almost identical to a human—her hand was as soft and delicate as a young girl's. Nate channeled his magic into Virgo's fingers, but it was quickly rejected.
"Ah!" Virgo made an emotionless yet theatrical sound of surprise.
"What happened?" Lucy asked, wide-eyed.
"Nate-sama's magic entered me, Princess," Virgo said, blinking. "But I rejected it."
"Don't reject it," Nate said, slightly exasperated. He could push through her defenses, but that would hurt the spirit.
"I'm ready for whatever comes," Virgo added.
"…"
Nate was speechless.
After carefully probing Virgo's body with his magic, Nate began to understand the nature of Celestial Spirits. They were energy-based beings, fundamentally different from humans despite their appearance. Their energy clearly originated from the Celestial Spirit World, and even if Virgo were killed here, she would only return to the Spirit World and regenerate.
Nate withdrew his hand and nodded. "Thank you, Virgo. I think I understand now."
"I'm glad I could help."
"Can I visit the Celestial Spirit World?" Nate asked.
"No, Nate-sama. Just as spirits cannot live long in the human world, humans cannot survive in the Celestial Spirit World," Virgo replied.
"I just want to take a quick look. Can I stay for a little while?"
"No way!" Lucy grabbed Nate's arm in alarm. "That's way too dangerous! Don't be reckless!"
She was genuinely worried that Nate's bold ideas might get him killed.
Seeing Lucy so opposed, Nate thought for a moment and decided not to push the issue. Though he was confident, there was no need to make Lucy panic.
"Thanks for your help. Here, take these," Nate said, handing Virgo a pouch filled with a hundred first-generation magic rings. "I think Celestial Spirits can use the Magic Internet too. Want to give it a try?"
Virgo, intrigued, accepted the gift and looked to Lucy for approval.
"Can spirits really use it?" Lucy asked, surprised.
"Try it and find out."
Nate was 99% sure it would work, having thoroughly studied Virgo, but there was always that 1% chance of something unexpected.
Virgo, visibly excited, slipped on one of the rings without hesitation.
"Use your own magic, not Lucy's," Nate advised.
"Understood."
Virgo followed his instructions, and the ring activated.
"Welcome to the world of the Magic Internet," the system prompted. "Please choose a username. This cannot be changed, so choose carefully."
Seeing it actually work, Lucy's mouth dropped open in shock. She quickly rushed to Virgo's side, adopting the role of an experienced internet user.
"Don't use your real name, Virgo! Trust me on this."
Virgo paused, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. "Why, Princess?"
"It's just better that way!" Lucy said, too lazy to explain in detail. "Let me help you pick a cute name!"
Virgo erased her initial choice and typed in a new one: I Am Virgo.
Nate blinked. "?"
What an odd username. Who names themselves that? Was she shortening "I Am Virgo of the Zodiac"? It certainly hid her identity well, in its own quirky way.
"It's… memorable," Nate muttered under his breath.
"Does this work, Princess?" Virgo asked.
"Just add me as a friend," Lucy said, feeling a little embarrassed by the username.
She quickly opened her own Magic Net account and added 'I Am Virgo' as a friend.
Virgo accepted the request, and Lucy immediately sent her a message.
Gotta Earn Money: "Awesome! Now we can chat on the Magic Net, Virgo!"
Virgo was surprised. "Even across worlds?"
"Yes!" Lucy's eyes widened in amazement. She turned to Nate and asked, "Does the Magic Net reach the Celestial Spirit World too?"
"I'm not sure yet. Have Virgo return and send you a message to test it out," Nate replied with a smile. This was exactly why he had given her the rings—expanding the Magic Net to the Celestial Spirit World was part of his plan.
Lucy nodded and instructed Virgo, "Go back to the Spirit World and try messaging me from there."
"Understood, Princess. Goodbye, Nate-sama," Virgo said, curtsying once more before disappearing in a soft glow of golden light.
"Why is Virgo more respectful to you than to me?" Lucy grumbled.
"How should I know?" Nate shrugged. "Has she messaged you yet?"
"She has! She has!" Lucy exclaimed as a new message popped up.
I Am Virgo: "Princess, I've returned to the Spirit World safely. Can you see this?"
Gotta Earn Money: "I can see it!"
Lucy's excitement was evident from the triple exclamation marks. "Nate, this is incredible! The Magic Net works across different worlds! Now I can talk to my spirits anytime!"
"Tell Virgo to share the other rings with the rest of the Celestial Spirits," Nate said with a chuckle. "You've helped me a lot, Lucy."
With the Magic Net now extending to the Celestial Spirit World, Nate could tap into the unique magic power there—let's call it "Celestial Power." This would allow him to create bodies for players in the new game, 'Magic Arena'. These bodies would act like Celestial Spirits, meaning that even if players "died," they wouldn't suffer any serious harm.
With this problem solved, Nate felt triumphant.
"I really am a genius!"
Chapter 104: Magic Arena, test
"Lucy, you really helped me out this time," Nate said with a smile.
"Really? I don't even know what you're planning," Lucy replied, half engaged in conversation with Virgo, who was busy distributing the remaining rings to the other Celestial Spirits.
"So, what exactly are you working on?"
"I'm developing a new game."
With no reason to keep it secret, Nate explained the concept of 'Magic Arena'. It would bring together mages from across the continent in a virtual network where they could duel using their magic without worrying about killing their opponent or being killed themselves.
Victors would gain ranking points and climb the leaderboard, while losers would have to keep practicing. At the end of each season, participants would receive rewards in the form of Magic Net points, depending on their rank. Those who made it into the top ten would earn the prestigious title of "Ten Wizard Saint," which would be displayed permanently under their Magic Net username.
For Nate, the idea seemed fairly ordinary—just something that came to him naturally. But for Lucy, it was nothing short of revolutionary. The flurry of new terms and concepts left her wide-eyed and speechless.
"That's... amazing!" she exclaimed. "It sounds like so much fun! You're saying I can compete with mages from all over the continent without even leaving my house? The Magic Net can really do something like that?"
Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she gazed at Nate, full of admiration.
Suddenly, Lucy's expression turned mischievous.
"So, I really helped you a lot, huh?"
Nate could easily tell what this spoiled young lady was thinking just from her expression. Deciding to play along, he nodded. "Yeah, I owe you big time."
"How do you plan to thank me?" Lucy asked eagerly, her face filled with anticipation. "Can you grant me a small wish?"
She even made a tiny gesture with her thumb and forefinger, as if to show how small her request would be.
Nate chuckled to himself. 'A finger-sized wish, huh?'
"Alright," Nate agreed.
"How about waiving my 16 million debt...?"
"Request denied!"
"Why?" Lucy pouted, clearly displeased. "You just said you'd do it! Where's your credibility?"
"Next request," Nate said, giving her a sideways glance. Sixteen million was a massive sum, at least for Lucy. While Nate didn't particularly care about the money, he wasn't willing to give up the excuse of having her cook for him under the guise of debt repayment.
"Hmm… let me think."
After a moment of serious thought, Lucy still couldn't come up with a suitable request.
Seeing her struggle, Nate offered a suggestion. "You seem pretty hung up on me seeing you naked before. How about this—I'll let you see me naked to make it even?"
"Who wants that, you idiot!?" Lucy shouted, her face flushed with embarrassment as she ran off, leaving behind one final remark: "You owe me a favor, Nate! I'll claim it when I think of something, and no backing out!"
Nate chuckled to himself. Lucy's reactions were always so amusing. Was that why he enjoyed teasing her so much?
Shaking off the thought, Nate refocused on building the 'Magic Arena' framework. His Thought Projection had already completed most of the work. Now, with Nate taking over, he figured he could finish it within a day.
…
Coding was a tedious task, and before Nate realized it, evening had arrived.
Back at the guild, everyone had taken a liking to Wendy. Levy had eagerly assumed the role of tour guide, showing Wendy and Carla around Magnolia during the afternoon. She even invited them to stay at the girls' dormitory for a few days.
Wendy loved the lively atmosphere of Fairy Tail, even though it could get a bit noisy at times. She agreed to stay, and Carla, of course, had no choice but to follow.
By evening, Wendy had made several new friends, including Nate.
Meanwhile, in his apartment, Nate typed the final line of code, completing the 'Magic Arena' client.
The client was just a front-end interface for now, primarily to introduce the game's mechanics. In the center of the screen, the words 'Magic Arena' were displayed in large, stylized font. Below that, there was a matchmaking button, allowing players to queue up and be randomly matched with opponents of similar rank.
"The client is done. Now all that's left is… the battle arenas."
Nate smirked. Creating a few battle maps would be easy, especially with his absolute control over the Deep Web.
Just as he was about to dive into the Deep Web, a notification popped up.
[User "Celestial Spirit King" has sent you a friend request. Accept?]
"Huh?" Nate blinked in surprise. 'The Celestial Spirit King?'
Was this for real?
Unfortunately, the Magic Net didn't have a tracking feature. Otherwise, Nate would have loved to know where this "netizen" was logging in from. Curious, he clicked "Accept."
Soon after, a message arrived.
Celestial Spirit King: "Young one, your magic is quite intriguing."
Celestial Spirit King: "Cross-world communication with no barriers—I am impressed."
Sigma Male: "You flatter me, Celestial Spirit King."
Celestial Spirit King: "There is no need for modesty. Throughout human history, there have been mages like you who have pushed the boundaries of magic. Your contributions stand among the best."
Sigma Male: "Are you really the Celestial Spirit King?"
Sigma Male: "I thought the Celestial Spirit King was massive. How are you even wearing a ring?"
There was a long pause. Nate assumed his playful jab had caught the King off guard.
After a while, another message came through.
Celestial Spirit King: "Young one, why don't you visit the Celestial Spirit World?"
Celestial Spirit King: "Time flows differently there. One day in the Celestial Spirit World equals a month in the human world."
Celestial Spirit King: "Your magic not only connects two realms but also bridges the difference in time. I am most curious and await your arrival in the Celestial Spirit World."
'How am I supposed to know how that works?' Nate thought, mildly exasperated. The time difference was real, so it seemed this was indeed the Celestial Spirit King. But Nate himself wasn't sure how his magic negated the time discrepancy between the two worlds.
His Internet Magic was a system reward, and he hadn't fully mastered its intricacies yet. If he had, there wouldn't be any need for these Magic Net rings—they could simply toss these outdated login devices in the trash.
"An invitation to visit the Celestial Spirit World, huh? I'll find time for that," Nate replied, promising he'd visit when things settled down.
Lucy would probably be thrilled to hear about this. But right now, Nate had more pressing matters—finishing 'Magic Arena'.
With that thought, Nate focused his mind and entered the Deep Web.
He found himself once again in the icy, snow-covered landscape, standing before the familiar wooden cabin.
"Ur?"
The door creaked open, and Ur stepped out, dressed in nothing but her undergarments.
"Nate, what's up?"
Hands on her hips, Ur seemed genuinely happy to see him. To be honest, she found it quite boring here, so even just a chat with Nate was a welcome change.
"I've created a fun game," Nate said with a smile, explaining the concept of 'Magic Arena'. "Come on, let's test it out."
With a snap of his fingers, they were instantly transported to a new arena. Waves gently lapped against the shore as Nate and Ur stood ankle-deep in the water, the horizon stretching endlessly before them. Around them, streams of binary code (0s and 1s) converged, expanding the battlefield.
"You're using the Deep Web as the dueling stage?" Ur remarked, once again amazed by the power of the Internet. Nate's inventive ideas never ceased to surprise her.
"You and I both have about five-star magic power right now," Nate said, beckoning her with a smile. "Come on, use your Ice-Make Magic and try to beat me."
Chapter 105: Nate vs Ur
Ur didn't think she stood a chance against Nate.
In the core of the Deep Web, Nate had access to hundreds of stars' worth of magic power. Who could possibly defeat that? Here, Nate was almost omnipotent—transcending the concept of a mere mage. It wouldn't be a stretch to call him a "god."
"I won't cheat, just a regular sparring session to test whether using magic here feels the same as in the real world," Nate said, playfully shrugging as if to say, "Trust me."
If he cheated, there wouldn't be any point to the test. With a snap of his fingers, he could take Ur out in an instant.
"Oh? Well, if I win, do I get a reward?" Ur asked with a sly smile.
"What kind of reward are you thinking of?"
"Hmm… haven't decided yet."
"..."
Nate sighed inwardly. 'Why are you and Lucy both handing me blank checks to fill in later?'
"Alright, but think carefully. This kind of opportunity doesn't come around often."
As the two chatted, the battlefield began to generate.
Nate didn't make the map too large. For one, there was no need, and secondly, if it were too big, would the players end up just playing hide-and-seek? The battlefield was a 500-meter cube, with an invisible boundary marking the edges.
Ur tested the shallow waters beneath her feet, which, though artificial, simulated the sensation of real water perfectly.
"Giving me the advantage by choosing a water environment, are we?" Ur smiled as she lifted her head, then added, "I've decided! If I win, you'll have to let me teach you Ice-Make magic—and you can't refuse."
"You're still stuck on that?" Nate wiped away imaginary sweat.
The thought of himself suddenly stripping off clothes, like Ur did when using her Ice-Make magic, was rather embarrassing.
"So no backing out!" Ur laughed, striking a combat stance.
She extended both arms forward, her left palm facing up, her right fist placed atop her left hand. A surge of magic surrounded her, making her resemble a Super Saiyan powering up. Her magic was an intense blue-white, and the surrounding seawater began to freeze in response to the overflow of energy.
"Wait a second," Nate interrupted.
"Hmm?" Ur paused, her magic half-cast.
Nate reached out and pulled a glowing ball of golden magic from the seawater, which flew directly into his hand. "This is a special kind of magic from the Celestial Spirit World—I've decided to call it 'Celestial Magic.' With this, I can create a vessel similar to a Thought Projection..."
"A 'Celestial Body'," he said, his eyes narrowing in concentration. The Celestial Magic in his hand split in two, with one portion flying toward Ur.
Curious, Ur watched as the glowing energy expanded before her, stretching like dough until it took on a human form. It quickly morphed to resemble her, down to the finest detail.
"A Celestial Body?"
Ur examined her double. To her trained eye, this was a clever application of Thought Projection magic.
"Just think of it as a second layer of skin," Nate explained as a second version of himself materialized beside him. He demonstrated how to integrate with the Celestial Body simply by touching it. The glowing form merged with his physical body, leaving a faint golden aura around him.
"What's this for?" Ur mimicked his actions, marveling at the sensation as the Celestial Body blended into her.
It didn't enhance her magic power, but it gave her a subtle feeling of protection. Even more interestingly, it conjured a full set of clothes over her, replacing the undergarments she had been wearing earlier.
"It's for protection," Nate explained.
Ur flexed her hand experimentally. Though the Celestial Body didn't make her stronger, it provided a sense of security.
"Alright then," she said, raising her head to meet Nate's gaze. "Can we start now?"
"Sure. I'll give you three free moves," Nate replied with a smile, motioning for her to begin.
"Really?" Ur raised an eyebrow, smirking.
With a swift movement, she shifted her right leg to the side and crossed her arms in front of her.
Boom!
A blue-white aura erupted around her, creating a magic circle at her feet. Simultaneously, six more magic circles appeared around Nate—above, below, and on all sides.
Nate blinked, slightly stunned. "Wait a minute… Isn't this the forbidden magic 'Iced Shell'?!"
The same magic Ur had used to seal the demon Deliora.
"Are you crazy?" Nate shouted, wide-eyed.
Ur chuckled. "I'm basically a ghost now. There's no harm in using it here."
Without a physical body, Ur was free to unleash the forbidden magic without consequence.
"Unfortunately, it won't be as powerful, but still—'I win, Nate!'" Ur yelled triumphantly, her voice echoing as her magic intensified.
"Iced Seal!"
In an instant, Ur's magic condensed, transforming her into a stream of blue light that shot toward Nate. The six magic circles around him lit up simultaneously, releasing a blinding glow. When the light finally subsided, the entire ocean had frozen solid. And within the ice stood Nate, trapped inside a massive block of ice.
'Crazy woman… no wonder her daughter's nickname is 'The Witch.' They're cut from the same cloth,' Nate thought, mentally sighing.
Fortunately, they were in the Deep Web, where everything was a simulation. Otherwise, breaking free from 'Iced Shell' would require the "Moon Drip" magic.
"How about that? Doesn't this mean I won?" Ur's jubilant voice echoed in Nate's mind.
Nate replied telepathically, "You're still conscious?"
"Of course! You're just frozen; it's not like I'm dead."
Nate was speechless. Did she really want to win that badly?
"Hurry up and admit it—I've won," Ur said smugly. "No cheating! You said you'd give me three free moves!"
Nate was at a loss for words. 'Iced Shell' wasn't strong enough to hold him—without her physical body as a sacrifice, it was nowhere near as potent as when she used it to seal Deliora. Breaking free wouldn't be difficult, especially since this was all just a simulation.
Still, if he broke out, it would feel like cheating.
"Well? Have you surrendered yet?" Ur's voice grew more delighted by the second. "Go on, call me 'Sensei'!"
"Not happening."
Nate suddenly understood—Ur just wanted to hear him call her "Sensei." No wonder she was so determined to win.
'She's exactly like Ultear,' Nate thought with a sigh. 'One likes being called 'Sister,' and the other wants to be called 'Sensei.''
"This half-baked forbidden magic can't trap me," Nate said, his magic surging. Tremors ran through the ice as cracks spread across the surface, growing wider with each second.
With a loud 'crack', the ice shattered.
Ur's voice echoed from all directions, "You cheated! You promised three moves!"
"Yeah, I cheated. What are you going to do about it?" Nate shot back.
With a snap of his fingers, Ur reappeared before him, grinning mischievously.
"Come on, just say it… 'Sensei'~" she teased.
Chapter 106: Beta Testing
In the end, Ur didn't get her wish. She wouldn't be hearing Nate call her "Sensei" today. However, Nate did agree to learn Ice-Make magic from her, so it wasn't a total loss.
After that, they moved on to the real testing of the duel maps. Nate had created five maps in total: [Beach, [Desert, [Forest, [Volcano, and [Sky Island]. Each map was roughly the same size, and it didn't take him much effort to create them.
Nate and Ur battled on all five maps, and by the time they were finished, it was already late at night.
"If I didn't know better, I'd swear these places were real!" Ur marveled as they returned to the cozy cabin in the icy wasteland. "The visuals, the touch, the smells... everything feels so authentic!"
Even though she had been in the Deep Web for quite some time, she still couldn't grasp how it all worked.
"Humans are easily fooled by their senses, especially their sight," Nate said, thinking about some of the AAA games from his previous life, which had reached a level of graphical realism that could trick the eye. A virtual world created with magic was even more immersive. Unless someone had abilities like his Six Eyes or similar magic, it would be nearly impossible to tell the difference between the virtual and the real.
"So, is the test done now?" Ur asked.
"The map tests are done. Tomorrow, we'll test the app and see if others can enter this world through their rings."
The process of pulling a user's consciousness into the Deep Web via the Magic Net rings needed extensive testing to ensure stability. Nate couldn't predict whether there would be unexpected bugs. He also needed to test how quickly magic power could be collected during battles.
Although the magic used in the duels was simulated by the Deep Web, the magic consumed was real. As advanced as the Deep Web was, it still required energy to function. The magic consumed by players during battle would partly sustain the simulation, while the rest would be absorbed into the Deep Web's magic reserves.
"Tomorrow, I'll invite the guild members to help with the testing," Nate said. Then he remembered Gray and smiled. "You might even see your second apprentice."
"Gray?" Ur was surprised.
"Don't want to see him?"
"No, I do. I'll personally check to see if he's improved over the years," Ur replied, her lips curving into a playful smile. Gray would definitely be shocked when he saw her.
"You're not worried about being found out?" Nate asked, curious.
"I'm just a game avatar, not the real me. Ur is dead," Ur said with calm acceptance, even planning to disguise herself as an NPC.
Nate thought it wasn't a bad idea. Still, the problem of how to revive Ur remained on his mind. 'Why won't the system just reward me with resurrection magic?' he sighed inwardly.
Realizing it was late, Nate bid Ur goodnight and left the Deep Web.
...
Back in reality, Nate finished washing up and went to bed, but not before replying to a few messages. One of them was from Mirajane.
The Departing Traveler: "Nate, I heard from Lucy that you asked for her help in making a new game?"
The Departing Traveler: "Honestly, why didn't you tell me? Poking Face emoji."
The Departing Traveler: "Is there anything I can help with? Smile emoji."
The Departing Traveler: "I've gotten really good at Mahjong!"
Hmm? Nate was suddenly wide awake, amused by Mirajane's messages. The time gaps between them suggested she hadn't seen his replies yet.
"Did she actually go ask Lucy about it?" he thought, then replied.
Sigma Male: "It's already done… the beta version!"
Sigma Male: "I'll need your help tomorrow, Mira!"
After sending the message, Nate closed the Magic Net and went to sleep.
...
The next morning, Nate arrived at the guild's temporary tavern early. As expected, Mirajane was already there, wiping down the tables with a cloth. When she saw Nate, her face lit up with a gentle smile.
"Good morning, Nate."
"Morning."
"You were up late last night, huh? I only saw your reply this morning. Staying up late isn't good for your health, you know," Mirajane scolded softly.
Starting the day by seeing Mirajane's smile was certainly a good way to brighten it. Nate walked over to help her arrange the tables and chairs.
"It was just a one-time thing. I stayed up late to finish the new game, but normally, I go to bed on time."
Mirajane laughed lightly. "What would you like to eat today?"
She only asked out of habit, as she already knew Nate's preferences by heart.
As she moved toward the kitchen, she suddenly paused and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Nate, I forgot to replenish the ingredients yesterday. I'll have to go to the market to buy some."
"I'll go with you," Nate suggested.
"You're coming too?" Mirajane thought for a moment before smiling brightly. "Alright, let's go together."
With that, the two left the guild, with Mirajane carrying a basket from the kitchen. Nate enjoyed their early morning walk, thinking how Mirajane would make a perfect wife and mother. 'What would the kids be named?' he mused.
"I heard from Lucy yesterday that the new game is called [Magic Arena]?" Mirajane asked as she walked on the side furthest from the river, clearly interested in the game.
"I was just about to tell you," Nate smiled. "The beta version is ready, but I want the guild members to help test it out, just to be safe."
Nate explained the details as they walked, then sent her the game's app through the Magic Net. Mirajane opened it, watching as a progress bar slowly filled up.
"How can I help?"
"Just notify everyone so we can do some ranked testing together."
"It sounds like a lot of fun…" Mirajane's expression changed slightly, clearly thinking about something—or someone.
Nate noticed this shift. 'Maybe I should tell her that her sister is alive in another world?' he thought, but wasn't sure how to broach the subject. Before he could come up with a solution, Mirajane had already shaken off her melancholy and smiled brightly again.
"I've got an idea," she said, raising a finger. "Why don't we make it an event?"
"An event?"
"Yes, like a guild-wide ranking competition!" Mirajane clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling. "Let's find out who the strongest mage in Fairy Tail really is!"
'You, Mira. You're the true genius here,' Nate thought with admiration.
Chapter 107: Competition, Beta Test Start!
Regarding Mirajane's suggestion, Nate thought about it seriously and realized it was a great idea. Since the game needed testing anyway, organizing a guild ranking competition would only heighten everyone's competitive spirit.
However, since it was going to be a competition, there should be some prizes, even if they weren't trophies or other fancy items—something worthwhile should be offered.
"What kind of prizes should we have?" Nate asked Mirajane for her opinion.
"I think even without prizes, everyone would still be eager to join," she said with a smile.
"Well, that's true..." Nate agreed. Natsu would definitely be the first to sign up, followed by Gray, Elfman, and others. The title of "The Strongest Mage of Fairy Tail" was enough to attract participants.
But Nate still felt that having a prize would make it more rewarding.
"How about the recipe for a magic recovery potion?"
"Magic recovery potion?" Mirajane blinked, unfamiliar with the concept.
"It's the result of my recent research. You can store unused magic power in potion form and then drink it when needed to recover a large amount of magic."
Nate explained simply, then smiled. "I was planning to teach this to the guild members for free, but since we're holding a competition, why not make it the prize?"
Mirajane nodded in approval. "That's a great idea. I agree!"
She then added with admiration, "I've never heard of a potion like that before. You're amazing, Nate."
As they talked, they arrived at the marketplace. Early in the morning, the market was lively, and Mirajane, being a regular, was quickly recognized.
"Miss Mira, shopping again today? How about some freshly baked bread?" a plump woman with bright red lipstick asked with a smile. Spotting Nate beside her, she teased, "Oh, is this your boyfriend?"
"Ah, good day, Mrs. Millgana." Mirajane's face flushed as she smiled. "Nate is a new member of our guild."
She introduced Nate, saying, "She's Wakaba's wife, Mrs. Millgana."
Wakaba's wife? Nate immediately understood, recalling how often Wakaba would complain about his wife. 'She's definitely... well-endowed,' Nate thought.
"You're Nate?" Mrs. Millgana was surprised. "My husband often talks about you. That magic ring he has—didn't you give it to him?"
Nate assumed she was referring to the Magic Net ring and nodded.
"Everyone in the guild has one. It's just a small gift, no need to think much of it," Nate replied modestly.
But Mrs. Millgana enthusiastically pulled a few loaves of bread from her basket and insisted that Nate take them.
"Oh, that Wakaba! He doesn't have any manners. He took your gift without even thanking you. Here, take this as a token of my appreciation," she said, handing him the bread.
"Uh... thank you," Nate accepted the bread, unsure of what else to do.
Mirajane stood nearby, watching with an amused smile. 'Nate is really popular wherever he goes. How interesting.'
Mrs. Millgana patted Nate's hand and whispered, "Good luck. I think Mirajane likes you."
Nate: "..."
In every world, it seemed like older women loved to play matchmaker. Surely, Mirajane heard that, right? S-rank mages have excellent hearing, after all!
With his Six Eyes, Nate didn't even need to look. He could sense Mirajane blushing while maintaining her calm, smiling expression. 'She looks really cute like that,' Nate thought.
"Well, I won't keep you two. Goodbye, Mira. If my husband bothers you again, let me know, and I'll give him a piece of my mind!" Mrs. Millgana said, satisfied as she left.
"Did Wakaba bother you?" Nate asked, curious.
Mirajane laughed and mimicked Wakaba's voice: "How about we go on a date, Mira?"
She really nailed the voice! Nate couldn't help but laugh, thinking she could win first place in a mimicry contest.
"And she saw that?" Nate asked.
"Yes," Mirajane chuckled, squinting her eyes with amusement. "Mrs. Millgana showed up at the guild that day, and the next day, Wakaba had a swollen eye."
Nate smiled, realizing the barmaid had a playful, mischievous side.
"How about going on a date with me, Mira?" Nate teased, repeating Wakaba's words.
Mirajane paused for a moment before laughing and nodding, "Sure. You said you'd treat me to dinner last time, but you still haven't followed through."
Wait, when was that? Nate thought for a moment, recalling that it was the day he went on a train ride with Erza. That was about two weeks ago.
'I really forgot,' Nate realized, embarrassed. "I promise, next time!"
...
After finishing their shopping, Nate and Mirajane made their way back to the guild. The marketplace, or rather the shopping street, was full of all kinds of shops: bakeries, grocery stores, liquor shops, and seafood stalls, to name a few. Mirajane seemed to know every shopkeeper well. She didn't need to pick out items herself; the vendors always gave her the freshest produce and even threw in extras.
'Good-looking people really are welcome everywhere,' Nate thought. Mirajane's good looks and kind personality won her favor wherever she went.
As their bags grew heavier, Nate ended up carrying more to help out.
"Oh, I almost forgot! We're running low on beer in the guild," Mirajane remembered.
Nate glanced at his already full hands and considered using his card magic to store everything inside cards. But doing so wouldn't let him show how "tired" he was.
"Don't worry," Mirajane smiled, "They deliver beer directly to the guild."
"Delivery?" Nate suddenly had an idea. "We should get everyone in Magnolia to start using the Magic Net. Then, we can offer online shopping and home delivery!"
"Place orders online and have them delivered to your door?" Mirajane's eyes lit up. "That sounds so convenient!"
"It is, isn't it? You know all these shopkeepers well, so I'll leave the promotion to you," Nate said with a grin.
Mirajane laughed, "Alright, but how will you thank me?"
"Dinner?"
"You still owe me one."
"Then... how about a trip to Akane Resort?"
"It's a deal! No more forgetting this time," she agreed.
The thought of Mirajane in a swimsuit popped into Nate's mind, making him excited for the future.
...
After finishing their shopping, Nate and Mirajane returned to the guild. The temporary tavern was already bustling with people.
"Morning, Mira! Morning, Nate," people greeted as they entered.
Nate responded politely to everyone, while Mirajane went behind the bar to prepare a couple of beers.
She turned to Nate and said, "Help me out for a bit. I'll make you some breakfast afterward."
After working together for about ten minutes, things finally settled down, and Nate got to enjoy his breakfast.
Standing behind the bar, Mirajane opened the Fairy Tail Chat Group on her Magic Net.
Mirajane: " Everyone, Nate has finished a new game. Come try it out!"
Mirajane: "[Magic Arena: Beta Version]"
Mirajane: "This one's different from the others. You're all going to love it!"
Mirajane: "I'm also proposing a guild event: a ranking competition to determine who's the strongest mage in Fairy Tail. Who's signing up?"
Laxus: "?"
Here's my Please Check it out:
/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 70 Chapters Ahead of Others!
Chapter 108: Grandeeney is Joining?
Early in the morning, the normally calm guild chat group exploded with activity after just a few words from Mirajane. Suddenly, the chat was buzzing with excitement.
Gray: "Fairy Tail's strongest mage?"
Cana: "What's this new game?"
Lucy: "Huh? SigmaMale Nate, is the game you mentioned yesterday already finished today? That was fast!"
Levy: " SigmaMale Did you solve the issue with players getting hurt?! "
Natsu: "What game? What strongest mage?"
Elfman: "A real man never backs down! Sis, I'm joining!"
Happy: "Aye! Can I join too?"
Macao: "Sounds fun, count me in."
Everyone eagerly signed up, and the excitement rippled through the chat like a tidal wave. The initial "?" from Laxus was quickly buried in the flood of responses.
...
Fiore Kingdom, in a certain town.
Laxus's elite team, the "Raijinshū," had just raided an underground black market.
"Your boss is from the dark guild Bull's Horns, right? Tell us where your higher-ups are!" Bickslow demanded, grabbing a black market worker by the collar. His armored mask distorted his voice, and his long tongue, branded with the guild symbol, flicked out as he spoke.
"He's already passed out. You were too rough," Freed commented, his long green hair falling over his serious expression.
"Forget them for now," Evergreen, standing nearby, scrolled through the guild chat on her Magic Net. She raised her eyebrows in surprise and said, "Nate's developed a new game called [Magic Arena]. Looks like there's going to be a competition to determine who the strongest mage in the guild is."
That instantly grabbed the attention of the entire squad.
"Strongest? Well, that's obviously Laxus!" Bickslow declared without hesitation, glancing over at Laxus.
Laxus was seated atop a pile of unconscious mages, lounging casually. He grinned at the mention of "strongest."
"Time to head back?" he asked.
"But what about the mission?" Freed asked, slightly hesitant.
"We'll pause it for now," Laxus said, rising from the pile of bodies and striding out of the black market. As he left, he sent a private message to Nate.
Laxus: "Didn't expect to get a chance this soon. You're participating, right?"
Sigma Male: "I'm not participating; I'll be a referee."
Laxus: "What?! If you're not competing, what's the point of the tournament?!"
Laxus: "You better join!"
Sigma Male: "..."
...
In the guild's underground tavern, Nate wore an expression of mild exasperation. 'Just because I won once, you want another fight, huh?' he thought to himself. 'One match leads to another...'
Laxus: "I'm on my way back, so don't run off."
Sigma Male: "You don't have to come back for the tournament. You can participate remotely."
Sigma Male: "The matches are held in a virtual space on the Magic Net…"
Nate had to explain how the new game worked. Laxus didn't respond for a while, likely stunned by the concept.
Just then, a voice sounded behind Nate.
"Good morning, Nate."
"Good morning, Nate-san."
Nate turned around to see Levy, Wendy, and the white cat, Carla.
Levy looked excited. "Nate, you really figured it out?"
"Huh? Figured what out?"
"The Spirit Body! You mentioned it yesterday!"
Nate nodded. "I had to get a bit creative, but yes."
"As expected of you," Levy said with admiration, sitting down beside him. "How did you solve it?"
"Well, I have to thank you for the inspiration," Nate said with a smile.
Just then, a voice echoed in Nate's mind. It was the dragon, Grandeeney.
"Nate."
"Telepathy? Is this Grandeeney?" Nate's eyes flashed with surprise as he responded mentally. Grandeeney was the first dragon to initiate a conversation with him.
"Yes, it's me. I have a favor to ask."
'When a dragon asks for a favor... it's probably no small matter,' Nate thought to himself.
"It's not too troublesome."
"Grandeeney, can you read minds?"
"I just figured you'd think that."
"Well, tell me what it is. If it's too much, I might not be able to help."
Grandeeney's voice continued in his mind: "Your Magic Net is quite fascinating, and this [Magic Arena] you created is truly impressive. I'd like to ask if you could allow Wendy to participate in your guild's competition."
Nate was surprised by the request. 'That's it?' He had thought it would be something huge, like asking him to take down the Black Dragon.
"That's simple! I can help with that. In fact, having Wendy help test the system would be doing me a favor."
"Thank you for your help," Grandeeney replied gratefully. "There's something else. I wasn't able to teach Wendy the secret techniques of Dragon Slayer magic. I hope I can use your Magic Arena to pass on the knowledge she needs."
Wait, what? Nate paused for a moment. 'Does that mean Grandeeney wants to enter the Magic Arena too?'
"Grandeeney, do you want to join as a competitor?" Nate asked cautiously.
"Due to certain reasons, I can't leave Wendy's body for now. But your Magic Arena transports the spirit to a virtual world, correct?"
"Yes, but…" Nate hesitated. He hadn't programmed the system to allow a dragon's spirit to enter without a ring.
"I'm not trying to compete," Grandeeney chuckled. "I just want to use the Arena to teach Wendy her magic."
Nate understood. Grandeeney wanted to act as a mentor for Wendy inside the virtual space, free from the dangers of the outside world.
"I see. That's a small favor. I'll make the necessary changes," Nate said after considering it.
"Thank you, Nate."
After thanking him, Grandeeney ended the telepathic conversation. Nate mused to himself, 'If Grandeeney's joining, maybe I should invite Igneel too.'
No one around Nate knew about the mental conversation he just had. Levy, noticing him pause, suddenly smiled.
"Wendy, do you want to participate in our guild's event?"
"Huh? Me?" Wendy was taken aback. "But I'm not a member of Fairy Tail, and… I'm not really good at fighting."
"That's fine. You won't get hurt," Nate reassured her, patting her gently on the head. "And besides, you'll get to see Grandeeney."
Wendy's eyes widened in shock. "!?"
Note: About Freed's name, I remember it being Freed, not Fried, but the fandom says Fried Justine. WTF? Oh well, "Fried" sounds stupid, so I'm sticking with "Freed." That's all.
Chapter 109: Prizes Announcement and Registration
After Nate explained what Grandeeney had asked of him, Wendy was eager to participate in the competition. However, in order for Grandeeney to join Wendy in the [Magic Arena, some preparation was necessary.
Nate opened up the Magic Net's programming tool and added the required functionality to the test version of the client.
Levy sat beside him, watching with curiosity. It was the first time she'd seen Nate coding, and it sparked her interest.
"Do you want to learn?" Nate paused and asked.
"Can I?" Levy was surprised. "I'm just a bookworm. I got curious seeing you writing something."
"If you want to learn, I can teach you programming," Nate offered, thinking for a moment. "You're skilled in using Solid Script Magic and translating ancient languages, right? Coding isn't much different from that, and the Magic Net's programming tool is pretty user-friendly."
Though he couldn't say the same for everyone. If it were Natsu, Nate figured he'd never be able to teach him. But Levy, on the other hand, might quickly grasp the basics. If she did, he could pass off some simple tasks to her and relax a bit more.
"Would you really teach me?" Levy's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Nate—no, Master, please teach me!"
She ran off quickly and returned with a glass of water.
"Master, please have some tea!" she said, though it was clearly just water.
Nate chuckled. "Alright, sit next to me. Let's get started."
"Yes, Master!" Levy laughed and obediently took a seat beside him, fully focused on learning.
'She really has the potential to be a programmer,' Nate thought with amusement, imagining that someday she might not appreciate the amount of work he'd give her. He continued coding while explaining things to Levy.
"What are you working on now, Master?" Levy asked.
"I'm writing a tournament program."
"A tournament program?"
"Yes, we have a lot of people signing up. The original match-making system doesn't suit a large competition, so I'm creating a temporary tournament mode."
This function wasn't too complicated. Basically, it would assign a number to each participant after they registered. The system would then pair them up for matches, with the winners advancing and the losers being eliminated. The process would repeat until a final champion was determined.
...
By around 10 a.m., the temporary guild tavern was packed with members, nearly overflowing. Everyone had heard about the upcoming event and gathered at the guild to participate.
Master Makarov, having heard about the [Magic Arena] from Mirajane, was amazed at how innovative it sounded. Nate was always full of surprises, and even Makarov was curious to experience the game himself.
"When does the tournament start, Gramps?" Natsu, ready for action, stood with one foot on a table, shouting, "The title of Fairy Tail's strongest mage is as good as mine!"
Just as he finished speaking, a bolt of lightning struck him, leaving Natsu charred and twitching on the ground.
"You're too green, Natsu," Laxus said as he appeared at the entrance.
Everyone turned to look and gasped.
Macao whispered, "Laxus… and the Raijinshū."
"Hey, everyone!" Evergreen waved, her eyes scanning the crowd before landing on Erza. "It's lively in here, Erza. Are you participating too?"
"The title of strongest mage obviously belongs to Laxus, but I'm not giving up the title of strongest female mage to you."
Erza's lips curved into a slight smile. "Is that so? But I can't imagine a scenario where Nate loses."
She had been there the last time Laxus and Nate fought.
"Exactly! Nate will never lose!" Juvia chimed in seriously.
Evergreen was momentarily stunned. 'Who's this girl?' she thought. She hadn't been around for a while, and it seemed like there was a new cute girl in the guild. 'Great, another competitor for the Miss Fairy Tail contest next time.'
Nate, feeling a bit helpless, wondered when he had said he was participating at all.
Makarov, seated at the bar with his magic staff, announced, "The tournament will begin at noon. Until then, it's registration time."
He turned to Mirajane and asked, "How many people have signed up so far?"
With a smile, Mirajane replied, "Master, we already have over 200 people registered."
Makarov was momentarily stunned. There were only about a hundred people in the tavern, meaning nearly half were registering remotely.
"Laxus, now that you're back, why don't you sit down?" Makarov suggested.
Laxus, along with his three bodyguards, entered the tavern, but there were no seats available, so they stood near the door.
Crossing his arms, Laxus asked, "Mirajane, what are the rules for the competition? Let me say this upfront—every member of the guild must participate. Anyone who doesn't will have to deal with me!"
Though Laxus directed his words at Mirajane, his eyes were fixed on Nate.
Nate felt a headache coming on. If he participated, the prize he had set up would lose its meaning. The winner's prize was the "Mana Recovery Potion Recipe," but if he won, no one else would get it.
Nate leaned toward Mirajane and whispered, "If I participate, we'll need to change the prize."
"What should we change it to?"
They whispered for a while before Mirajane smiled and announced to everyone, "As for the prizes for this event: The first place winner will receive 10,000 Magic Net points. Second place will get 5,000, and third place 3,000. From fourth to tenth place, each will get 2,000 points!"
She continued, "And for everyone else who participates, there will be a consolation prize of 1,000 points!"
"Additionally, the top ten participants will also receive the Mana Recovery Potion Recipe."
"These prizes are all provided by Nate, so make sure to thank him!" Mirajane added with a cheerful smile.
The crowd erupted in excitement.
"Oh wow, Magic Net points!"
"Thanks, Nate!"
"But what's a Mana Recovery Potion?"
Nate explained the potion he had developed, and everyone listened in shock. Even Laxus seemed amazed. Such a powerful potion being offered as a prize? And everyone in the top ten would get it!
The members couldn't help but think to themselves, 'Nate really should be guild master!'
"Mirajane, make sure to post this in the chat too," Nate reminded her. "Especially the registration deadline, which is noon. That's important."
Mirajane nodded and immediately shared the information in the guild's chat group.
"Everyone in the guild has to participate… does that include me?" she asked softly.
"You too," Nate said with a smile. 'If I'm participating, you have to join as well. This is the perfect chance to address Mirajane's issue with fighting.'
With the rules and process explained, the tavern buzzed with anticipation.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was noon. The tournament was about to begin.
/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 70 Chapters Ahead of Others!
Chapter 110: Matches, Mystogan vs Grandeeney?!
"12 o'clock!"
As soon as the clock struck noon, the eagerly waiting members of the guild shouted in unison.
Natsu was the first to open the [Magic Arena] and click "Join the Tournament."
A long list of instructions popped up, but he ignored them and scrolled straight to the bottom.
[Your tournament entry number is 1.]
[Matching process initiated. Do you want to enter the Magic Arena?]
[Confirm/Cancel]
"Hahaha! I'm number one!" Natsu shouted excitedly, as if he'd already won the championship.
The moment he clicked [Confirm, his head slumped down, and he collapsed onto the table.
"Natsu?" Happy yelled, "Oh no! Natsu's dead! Nate killed him!"
Nate rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"Are you stupid?" Carla scoffed. "He just entered the game."
'Seriously,' she thought, 'didn't the group chat explain everything?'
She sighed, placing her little paw on the [Confirm] button.
"Natsu already went in? He sure is fast."
"I bet he didn't read a single word of the instructions."
"A real man never backs down! I trust Nate—[Confirm]!"
One by one, more people clicked [Confirm]. Some slumped over the tables, while others simply fell to the floor.
'Why bother coming to the guild to do this? Wouldn't it be better to just lie in bed at home?' Nate mused.
Soon, only a few conscious people remained. The once lively guild had become eerily quiet.
Laxus, sitting cross-legged by the door, looked up at Nate with a grin. "I'll be waiting for you in the game."
With that, he clicked [Confirm, and his head immediately drooped.
Juvia, Erza, Wendy, Carla, Lucy, and others soon followed, entering the game world.
Finally, only three people were left.
Mirajane chuckled softly, "If a dark guild attacked right now, Fairy Tail would be wiped out."
'Mirajane sure knows how to make a cold joke,' Nate thought, shaking his head. "Don't worry. If there's any danger, they'll wake up immediately. You can even give them a nudge to test it."
Makarov laughed and added, "You two go on ahead. I'll keep an eye on the kids."
"Thank you, Master," Mirajane said, casting Nate a glance before pressing [Confirm] with her delicate hand, hesitating for just a moment. Then, she slumped onto the table as well.
'Not having a live streaming feature right now is kind of inconvenient,' Nate thought. 'If we could stream the matches, people wouldn't all have to dive into the [Magic Arena] at once.'
For now, though, that feature wasn't available, so Nate had to make do.
"Master, I'm heading in," Nate said, closing his eyes as his consciousness entered the game.
...
In Magnolia's eastern forest, near the secluded cabin of Polyushka, Mystogan sat beneath a tree, gazing calmly at the game's instructions.
[Important Notes]
Your consciousness will enter the [Magic Arena, and your physical body will be in an unguarded state in the real world. Please ensure your surroundings are safe to avoid any accidents.
If you sense danger from the outside world, exit the game immediately.
This is a test version of the app and does not represent the final quality.
If you encounter any issues, please report them to the developer immediately.
Thank you for your cooperation and participation.
"A virtual world constructed by magic?" Mystogan murmured softly. "An impressive magic, Nate."
[Your tournament entry number is 261.]
[Matching process initiated. Do you want to enter the Magic Arena?]
[Confirm/Cancel]
Mystogan clicked [Confirm, and his head gently drooped as he leaned against the tree, falling into a light sleep.
Creak—
The door to the cabin opened, and Polyushka stepped outside. Seeing Mystogan asleep by the tree, she muttered irritably to herself, "Why come here? Why do humans love fighting so much?"
She raised her right hand, and on her index finger was a Magic Net ring.
"Mana Recovery Potions… That boy even knows alchemy?"
...
Magic Arena, Sky Island.
Calling it an island was a bit of an exaggeration; it was more of a floating platform, about 500 meters in diameter.
When Mystogan opened his eyes, he was momentarily confused by the surroundings.
"So this is the game world?" he murmured, looking around.
Fairy Tail members were scattered across the platform, all with similarly bewildered expressions.
The ground, the grass, the clouds, and the sun in the sky—it all looked so real.
If he hadn't known this was a magic construct, it would have been difficult to distinguish between this world and reality.
"Is this really a game world?"
"How is this even possible?"
"Incredible, Nate! This is unbelievable…"
Voices of astonishment echoed from all around. Mystogan felt the same way.
For a moment, he even suspected that the ring had teleported him to some remote location on the continent.
But that wasn't the case. He could still feel his body in the real world, resting in a light sleep. He knew he could wake up at any time.
Suddenly, a golden light flared in the distance.
Mystogan looked up to see a massive golden screen appear. On the screen, a list of information was displayed.
...
[Fairy Tail Guild Tournament]
Participants: 261
Remaining Participants: 261
Round One Matching in Progress…
Matching Complete!
[Seaside Arena: Bickslow vs. Jet
[Desert Arena: Macao vs. Vijeeter
[Volcano Arena: Happy vs. Reedus
And…
[Forest Arena: Mystogan vs. Wendy!
...
Mystogan saw his name paired with his opponent's and was stunned.
Wendy? Could it really be the Wendy he knew?
As the thought crossed his mind, the scenery around him shifted. The Sky Island vanished, replaced by a dense, verdant forest.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
Not far from him stood a young girl with long, deep blue hair—a 12-year-old girl.
"Grandeeney… Grandeeney, where are you?" the girl called out anxiously.
Mystogan froze. It really was the Wendy he knew.
He hesitated for a moment, then took a step toward her, calling out, "Wendy, it's been a while. I'm…"
Boom!
Suddenly, a brilliant white light burst from Wendy's chest.
The light quickly expanded, forming into a large silver-white dragon.
"Grandeeney!" Wendy exclaimed joyfully.
"The match has begun, Wendy," Grandeeney said softly, her gaze fixed on Mystogan. "It's time to teach you the Dragon Slayer's Ultimate Secret Technique."
Wait a minute!
Mystogan was utterly confused. Wasn't Wendy supposed to be his opponent?
Where did this dragon come from?
'Am I really supposed to fight a dragon?!'
Here's my —please check it out: /Bleam
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