Chapter 111: Chaotic Mess…
Sky Island
Beneath the golden screen, four additional light screens appeared, each broadcasting the battle scenes from different arenas.
The members of Fairy Tail gathered eagerly around the giant screen, focusing their attention on the [Forest Arena].
"A white dragon!?"
"Is that the dragon who raised Wendy? The Sky Dragon!"
"I remember... her name is Grandeeney!"
"Wendy's opponent is Mystogan?!"
"Natsu, look! A dragon!"
Shocked gasps filled the air as the unexpected scene unfolded at the very start of the tournament.
Natsu stood dumbfounded on the grassy field, his expression blank.
"Where's Igneel?!"
Suddenly, his excitement surged, and he began scanning the crowd, searching frantically.
Soon enough, he spotted Nate.
Nate was chatting with Lucy, seemingly discussing something important. Unlike the other participants, Lucy, being a Celestial Spirit Mage, relied on her spirits to fight. Whether she could summon them in the [Magic Arena] was uncertain, even to Nate.
"So, if my summoning fails, I can't beat anyone?" Lucy was on the verge of tears.
To be honest, her pitiful expression was kind of adorable.
Nate reassured her, "What if it works?"
"'What if' my foot!"
Lucy clung to Nate's arm, her voice quivering as she begged, "Nate, think of something, please!"
'Do I look like Doraemon to you?' Nate thought to himself, immune to Lucy's pleas after all this time. "Look on the bright side. You still have a chance of success, so why not try now?"
Lucy pulled out a key from her waist and immediately realized the problem. She wailed, "This isn't even a real key! How could it possibly work?"
Their consciousness had entered the game, but the real Celestial Spirit Keys were still in the real world.
"Ah, you don't understand. You have to believe in the bond between you and your spirits," Nate chuckled.
"Don't laugh! It's not fair!" Lucy glared at him angrily.
"It's very fair. Think about it: the gods blessed you with stunning beauty. It's only reasonable that your luck gets reduced from time to time."
Lucy rolled her eyes, tempted to smack Nate with her little fists.
It sounded like a compliment, but somehow, it didn't make her happy.
Nate shrugged with a mischievous grin. "In the end, it's your fault for not studying magic properly, leading to this awkward situation. Isn't that true?"
"You could've bought a 'Mage's Handbook' from the bookstore for 79J. Maybe you should reflect on whether you've been diligent in learning new magic."
Lucy couldn't take it anymore. She pounced on Nate, threatening to bite him.
"Where are you even finding a 'Mage's Handbook' for 79J!?"
"Alright, alright, I'm just teasing," Nate said, trying to calm her down. "I know you're anxious, but give it a try. It might just work."
Lucy hesitated, unsure whether Nate was teasing her again.
"This key isn't real, and you think I can still summon?"
"Consider it a 'replica' made using Celestial Spirit energy," Nate explained. "It's complicated, but trust me and try."
'If it doesn't work, I'll ask the Celestial Spirit King to help,' Nate thought, recalling that he had added the king as a friend just yesterday.
Half-convinced, Lucy extended the key in front of her and recited the incantation:
"…Open! Gate of the Maiden, Virgo!"
A golden magic circle appeared, and Virgo emerged from the Celestial Spirit World.
"Princess, do you require my services?"
Upon arrival, Virgo immediately noticed something unusual about her surroundings.
"Where are we…?"
"I-I can't believe it worked!" Lucy exclaimed, her mouth agape in shock.
'How did this even happen?'
As it dawned on her, she realized Nate had been teasing her the whole time.
'Damn it! I fell for it again! That jerk!'
"Thank me later. I've worked hard to help you, you know," Nate chuckled, clearly amused.
Just then, Natsu came running over, completely ignoring Lucy and Virgo. He eagerly asked Nate, "Have you seen Igneel anywhere?"
"Grandeeney came out of Wendy's body. If she can appear, then Igneel should be able to, right?"
"It's possible. Maybe Igneel just doesn't feel like showing up," Nate replied calmly.
The client modifications he'd made should work fine—after all, Grandeeney had appeared.
Nate glanced at the [Forest Arena, where Grandeeney was instructing Wendy in Dragon Slayer magic, using Mystogan as a practice target.
Anyone might wonder how the pair ended up matched together. The answer? A little behind-the-scenes manipulation.
Nate had written the program himself, and tweaking it a bit was only natural. Just like how some lottery organizers might make small adjustments to the prize pool for personal reasons.
But there was more to it.
With 261 participants, someone would inevitably get a bye in the first round. Who had Nate chosen for this stroke of luck? None other than Mirajane.
"Igneel! Can you hear me?" Natsu shouted, calling out to the Fire Dragon King within him.
"Why won't you come out?"
"I miss you, Igneel!"
"Come out, Igneel!"
Perhaps annoyed by Natsu's shouting, a dragon's roar echoed from within him.
Nate, quick on his feet, grabbed Lucy and Virgo, instantly teleporting them away.
Just as they vanished, a fiery red glow emerged from Natsu's chest. The glow rapidly expanded, transforming into a massive fire dragon.
With Igneel's appearance, the entire weather on Sky Island seemed to ignite. The intense heat filled every corner of the arena.
Attracted by the commotion, the guild's participants turned their gazes toward Natsu.
"A-another dragon!"
"That must be Igneel, Natsu's father!"
"Igneel!"
Natsu was overjoyed, his face beaming with excitement.
"Grandeeney… What a reckless move," Igneel snorted, releasing a stream of fiery breath from his nostrils, clearly displeased with Grandeeney's bold behavior.
If she wanted to teach Wendy the Dragon Slayer's Ultimate Magic, fine, but couldn't she do it more discreetly? Now that Natsu had seen this, there was no way he would stay quiet, forcing Igneel to show himself.
"Igneel!" Natsu shouted, rushing to the fire dragon's feet and looking up at him with awe. "I finally get to see you again!"
"Natsu…" Igneel lowered his head, his large dragon eyes meeting those of his foster son.
After a brief pause, the Fire Dragon King grinned.
Though a dragon, Igneel's face displayed emotions almost like a human.
[Magic Arena, huh? That kid Nate truly is a genius mage!
"Natsu, since you're in this tournament, there's only one goal for us."
"Victory!"
"I, the Fire Dragon King Igneel, will not accept failure!"
…
Meanwhile, Nate had teleported Lucy and Virgo to a safe distance.
Even from afar, they could still hear Igneel's declaration of victory.
"So that's the father Natsu's been searching for…" Lucy muttered, her eyes widening in sudden realization.
"Wait a minute, Natsu is cheating! How are we supposed to fight him with a dragon helping him?!"
'You could always call the Celestial Spirit King,' Nate thought, feeling a bit exasperated. 'How did a simple tournament turn into this chaotic mess?'
Chapter 112: Arena Matching, Erza's Visit at Night?
Whether it was Igneel or Grandeeney, Nate could only shrug at the blatant interference by these two dragons. After all, Natsu and Wendy had one good father and one good mother on their side.
This ranking tournament was primarily for entertainment, with the main purpose being to test the speed of magic absorption. It was also an excellent opportunity for Nate to closely observe Dragon Slayer magic.
"Do your best, Lucy. Try to make it to the top 16," Nate said with a smile, encouraging her.
"The top 16? Me?" Lucy covered her mouth, feeling pessimistic. With so many powerful mages in the guild, how could she possibly fight her way into the top 16?
"Princess, do your best," Virgo earnestly encouraged her.
"Even you're saying that?" Lucy sighed.
"Princess, I've noticed that this environment is very favorable for us Celestial Spirits," Virgo said, extending her hand as her palm glowed with expanding golden light—the power of the Celestial Spirit.
Celestial Spirits had a unique advantage in the Magic Arena. As Lucy's summoned spirit, Virgo had also been granted a "Celestial Spirit Body" by the arena, just like the other participants. Compared to the outside world, both her magic and combat abilities were significantly enhanced here.
"Now that you mention it… it does feel different!" Lucy exclaimed, taking out her set of keys from her waist. "I think I can open another gate of the Zodiac, something I can't usually do outside!"
Virgo whispered quietly, "Nate-sama is letting you cheat, Princess."
Lucy's face turned a bit red, feeling slightly flattered by the special treatment. If Natsu had Igneel's help, then she had Nate's favor...
With that thought, Lucy's heart began to race.
...
Despite the size of Sky Island, it wasn't very large, roughly equivalent to thirty standard football fields. Even with over two hundred mages scattered across the area, it was still challenging to find someone.
Juvia aimlessly wandered across the grassy field, completely uninterested in the four ongoing matches displayed in the sky.
"Where is Nate-sama?" she muttered to herself as she searched for him. Suddenly, a figure appeared right in front of her—Nate had materialized out of nowhere.
Juvia blinked, wondering if she was imagining things.
"What's wrong? Weren't you looking for me?" Nate asked.
"Nate-sama!" Juvia excitedly threw herself into his arms.
Nate didn't push her away. Instead, he opened his arms and embraced her, pulling her close. Fortunately, everyone else's attention was focused on the matches or on Igneel, so their relationship remained undiscovered.
With a thought, Nate teleported them both to a secluded hill. They sat on the grass, Juvia happily leaning into his embrace.
"Nate-sama, I will do my best to clear any obstacles for you!" Juvia declared.
"Obstacles?" Nate asked, confused.
"Although our guildmates are our friends, in this tournament, they're all opponents. I'll defeat them all and make my way to you, Nate-sama! I won't lose to anyone!"
Nate couldn't help but chuckle. He didn't need Juvia's help to win—one snap of his fingers could wipe out everyone, including the two dragons. But he appreciated her dedication. Juvia was completely devoted to him, with her heart and mind entirely focused on him.
Unable to resist, Nate kissed her on the cheek. "You're so adorable. Keep it up."
"Yes!" Juvia nodded vigorously, her face beaming with happiness.
They sat together, watching the ongoing matches, enjoying a peaceful moment as a couple.
Out of the 261 participants, 130 matches had to be fought in the first round. Fortunately, most contestants weren't too strong, so the matches didn't take too long.
Except for Mystogan and Wendy.
"The Dragon Slayer Ultimate moves… I remember them being 'Shattering Light: Sky Drill' and 'Milky Way,'" Nate observed. Wendy had already mastered the Sky Dragon's Roar, and now she was learning the Dragon Slayer's ultimate techniques.
However, Dragon Slayers were known for getting motion sickness. Wendy had avoided it so far, but after learning these moves, she might start suffering from it, just like Natsu.
While Nate quietly observed the Sky Dragon Slayer magic, the match at the beach arena came to an end. Soon, Juvia was matched with an opponent whose name Nate didn't recognize.
"Nate-sama, it's my turn to compete," Juvia said as she reluctantly stood up, only to be instantly teleported to the arena.
Moments later, her image appeared on one of the screens floating in the sky.
"I know it's a bit unfair, but I'll make sure the stronger contestants don't run into each other too soon," Nate thought, opening the backend of the Magic Arena and manipulating the match pairings.
He created a whitelist, ensuring that no guild members he knew by name would face each other as long as there were still other contestants.
"Now, it's just a waiting game. At least until the top 32, the matches shouldn't be too intense. But we might not get to the top 32 today."
Juvia quickly returned after her match. As a former S-class mage of Phantom Lord, she was strong enough to easily make it into the top 16. She'd won her match in an instant with her 'Water Lock' magic.
Afterward, the two continued watching the matches.
Soon, Nate was also selected by the match system. His opponent took one look at him and promptly surrendered.
One match after another progressed. With the exception of Mirajane, every one of the 260 remaining participants fought once. In the end, 129 were eliminated, and 130 advanced to the next round.
...
It's worth noting that Wendy and Mystogan's match still hadn't ended. Their situation was unique—their battle wasn't the main focus. It was a teaching session by the Sky Dragon, Grandeeney. No one minded this, though; in fact, everyone was watching the lesson with fascination.
Getting to witness a dragon teaching Dragon Slayer magic was a rare opportunity—who needed anything more?
By evening, Nate announced that the day's matches were over and that the tournament would continue the next day.
"Tomorrow, everyone can participate from home; there's no need to crowd the guild's tavern," Nate said. "This tournament is just a friendly guild event. I hope no one gets discouraged if they lose. Just do your best next time."
"Remember, friendship comes first, and the competition comes second."
"I hope everyone has fun!"
As Nate's voice echoed across the arena, the participants erupted into cheers, chanting his name.
Two days later, with the number of contestants steadily decreasing, the matches began to intensify. Once the top 32 were determined, the Fairy Tail ranking tournament reached its boiling point.
...
Another day of matches came to an end.
That night, Nate returned to his apartment. Before he even entered, his Six Eyes detected a presence inside. He opened the door and found a girl with crimson hair sitting at his desk, a cup of chamomile tea (a gift from the Council) by her side.
"Nate, you're back."
"…"
Whose house is this again?
"Erza, what are you doing here?" Nate asked in confusion.
Erza replied seriously, "I'm here to teach you Requip magic, just as we agreed."
Chapter 113: Successful Requip, Night's Happening…
Nate didn't expect Erza to show up at his house that night to teach him magic. The gesture gave him a new understanding of her serious nature. He was pleasantly surprised that she remembered a casual remark he had made back at the Tower of Heaven.
"Shall we start now?" Nate agreed eagerly, closing the door and sitting across from Erza.
"Wait, there's something I want to give you," Erza said, extending her hands and calling out, "Requip!" In an instant, a silver suit of magical armor appeared in her hands.
"This is a new set of armor created by the 'Heart Kreuz' boutique, part of the 'Black Knight' series," she explained. "You helped me a lot last time, and just thanking you didn't feel like enough. So, I had this armor custom-made for you. Once you learn Requip magic, you'll be able to use it."
Erza smiled softly, leaving Nate momentarily speechless. There were so many things he wanted to say—like why the armor was called 'Black Knight' when it was silver.
"Wait, doesn't making armor take time?" Nate asked, surprised. "So, after we returned from the Akane Resort, you went to order this?"
Erza nodded. "It took three days. I just got the notification today that it was ready."
Nate felt touched. Erza's thoughtfulness really stood out. "Thank you for the gift."
He accepted the armor, inspecting it carefully. It had a prominent cross design with heart-shaped edges.
"This symbol… your usual armor has it too. Is it the company's logo?"
"Yes, most of my magic armors are made by that boutique."
Nate vaguely remembered the boutique from fashion ads in 'Weekly Sorcerer'. "Isn't that a fashion store? They make magic armor too?" he asked, amused.
Erza laughed. "Originally, they didn't, but after my earnest request, they agreed to help."
The word "earnest" made Nate imagine some intimidating scenes. He could picture the boutique reluctantly agreeing under the pressure of a strong-willed mage like Erza.
Sensing his thoughts, Erza added, "In fact, the armor they made for me became quite popular afterward, especially among younger women."
Nate thought, of course, anything associated with Erza, a star mage of Fairy Tail, would become a trend. "This is the second time you've given me a gift. I'll have to return the favor next time."
"Can I look forward to it?" Erza smiled warmly, glancing at Nate's left hand. She noticed he was still wearing the gloves she had gifted him before, which made her happy.
"You can expect it. So, shall we start the lesson now?" Nate suggested.
Erza nodded, but then hesitated. "Wait a moment…"
Nate wondered what else she had planned when she suddenly called out another Requip. With a flash of golden light, Erza had changed into a teacher's outfit—complete with a black suit, glasses, black stockings, and a bamboo ruler in hand.
"Nate, class is starting now," Erza said seriously, pushing her glasses up her nose.
Nate was stunned. "You really like role-playing, don't you?" he asked, eyes wide.
"I ordered this along with the Black Knight armor…" Erza's face reddened slightly, but she tried to remain composed.
"I love it!" Nate laughed. "Erza-sensei, please teach me Requip magic!"
Erza smiled shyly but cleared her throat. "Ahem, Nate, before we begin, you need to understand the principles of Requip magic," she explained seriously. "It's a magic that allows you to summon stored weapons, armor, and other equipment from another space and switch them during battle as needed. It involves spatial magic, but it should be easy for you."
Under her patient guidance, Nate quickly grasped the concept. Requip magic wasn't inherently difficult, and many mages used it. However, mastering it to Erza's level, where she had a large "Requip space" and could change equipment at lightning speed, was rare.
After just an hour, Nate successfully created his own Requip space. Thanks to his expertise in spatial magic, his space wasn't much smaller than Erza's.
Then, he gave it a try.
"Requip!" he called out, and a flash of white light surrounded him. A moment later, he had only managed to summon the helmet from the Black Knight armor.
"Seems like you've got it. Now, you just need to practice," Erza praised him. "Don't focus on speed at first. Make sure you successfully Requip, then work on quickening the pace."
This was just the beginning, Nate thought. Erza was clearly a Requip master.
"Let me try again."
Confident in his learning ability, Nate attempted another Requip. This time, he managed to send the helmet back into the Requip space and summon it again—though with a twist. He accidentally removed all his clothes except for the helmet.
"…"
Even Nate's usual confidence couldn't stop him from blushing. Erza gasped, covering her eyes with her hands, though her fingers were wide enough for her to peek.
"It's nothing, just a small mishap," Nate said, trying to maintain his composure. "The sword hasn't even been drawn, no need to be shocked. Requip!"
With a flash of silver light, Nate slowed down his pace and successfully donned the entire Black Knight armor.
Erza, still blushing, praised him, "You've got the hang of it! Exactly like that—keep practicing!"
Seeing her trying to maintain composure while blushing was adorable to Nate. He almost wanted to hug her.
"It's all thanks to your excellent teaching, Erza-sensei," Nate said.
"You're a fast learner, Nate."
"No, it's because you're a good teacher."
Erza smiled, laughing softly. She glanced out the window, noticing it was already late.
"Class is over. I should be going. Tomorrow is the top 32 tournament, Nate. You need to prepare."
"It's so late already. Why not stay the night?" Nate offered. "Can you even get back into the women's dorm at this hour?"
Erza froze on the spot. Nate saw her body tremble slightly.
"Well… it would be disruptive at this hour," Erza admitted, pushing her hair behind her ear.
"I only have one bed. If you don't mind…"
"It's okay. It's not like this is the first time we've slept together," Erza turned slightly, blushing. "But don't touch my panda again."
Nate was confused. When had he touched her? He had no memory of it.
Was it back at the Akane Resort while they slept? If so, he felt like he had missed out on something significant.
"I'm afraid of the dark. Can I hold you while we sleep?" Nate teased.
"Are you really afraid of the dark?" Erza seemed skeptical but nodded.
And so, they both washed up and went to bed together. The bed was small, making it a tight fit for two people, but Nate didn't mind at all.
Unlike last time, when he had hugged her from behind, this time they faced each other, holding each other as they fell asleep.
"Goodnight. We have the tournament tomorrow," Erza smiled, resting on the same pillow. "Nate, I guess even you have things you're not good at, like being afraid of the dark."
"Yes, I'm terribly afraid of the dark. And if you're willing to sleep with me during the day, I might even be afraid of sunlight," Nate joked, snuggling into Erza's shoulder.
She smelled wonderful.
Here's my —please check it out: /Bleam
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Chapter 114: Top 32!
On a September morning in Magnolia, the sun had just risen, casting a soft glow over the town as it stirred from its nightly slumber. Early risers began their day, and gentle sunlight filtered through the curtains, gradually waking Nate from his sleep.
"Hmm?" Nate blinked his eyes open, slowly becoming aware of his surroundings. This time, he woke up earlier than Erza. Last night, he had fallen asleep, snuggled into her embrace, soothed by her scent. Now, however, he found that Erza had shifted closer to him, and his right hand was wrapped around her waist, tucked into her pajama pants.
"Why does my hand have a mind of its own?" Nate thought, mildly exasperated. He distinctly remembered being well-behaved when they went to sleep. It seemed that whenever he slept with someone, his hands had a habit of holding onto something.
Carefully, he withdrew his hand and noticed that his magic power had grown.
[Magic Power: ]
Unknowingly, his magic power had reached six stars, a level comparable to Jura of the Ten Wizard Saints.
"Not bad," Nate thought with satisfaction. However, this time, it felt like his growth had slowed compared to before. As his magic power deepened, the rate of increase was clearly decelerating. Based on the current number of MagicNet users, it might take a month to reach seven stars.
"I need more users. The development of MagicNet cannot stop." With that thought, Nate glanced at the still-sleeping Erza in his arms. She looked peaceful, quite different from her usual disciplined demeanor, exuding a soft charm.
He felt the urge to kiss her.
Just as Nate leaned in to give her a quick kiss, thinking she wouldn't notice, Erza suddenly woke up.
"Good morning, Nate. What are you doing?" she asked, her voice steady despite the surprise.
"Uh... in my hometown, this is a morning greeting," Nate replied awkwardly, laughing. Since he was caught, he leaned in and gave her a light, quick kiss anyway.
Satisfied!
Erza's face turned crimson instantly, and her heart raced. She didn't believe a word of Nate's excuse about it being a "morning greeting."
"Don't do that again!" she scolded, getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom to freshen up. As she washed her face, her heart was still pounding.
Before, she had wondered, "Does Nate like me?"—with some uncertainty. But now, she was convinced: 'Nate definitely likes me!'
This realization led to another question: 'What should I do now?'
Erza splashed cold water on her face, trying to cool down her flushed cheeks. Having no experience with romance, she felt lost about what to do next.
Meanwhile, Nate, now dressed, received a private message.
Witch of Pain: "Good morning, dear little brother~"
Witch of Pain: "Jellal is awake. The council is about to put him on trial."
Jellal had finally woken up? Nate immediately thought of the Worms of Time he had planted in him. Closing his eyes, he focused and confirmed that there was feedback—the Worms of Time had successfully parasitized Jellal.
Now, with just a thought, Nate could control Jellal. Moreover, this control happened while Jellal was fully conscious. For instance, if Nate made Jellal run around naked, Jellal would believe it was his own desire and not due to external manipulation. He would even come up with reasons for it, thinking that running around naked had been a habit of his since childhood. Even if Jellal searched his memories, he wouldn't find any trace of manipulation.
'As expected, this is the forbidden of forbidden magic. Those afflicted can't even realize they've been parasitized,' Nate thought, marveling at the power of the magic. If the council ever found out, they would immediately classify it as forbidden.
He quickly replied:
Sigma Male: "Don't worry, I control him now. He won't expose you."
This was the purpose behind parasitizing Jellal—to help Ultear maintain her position in the Magic Council.
Witch of Pain: "Oh, please. Jellal could never be a threat to me. But I'm touched by your thoughtfulness~ How about I grant you a small wish?"
Sigma Male: "Next time, wear a bunny outfit!"
Witch of Pain: " ."
Sigma Male: "What will the council do with him?"
Witch of Pain: "They'll imprison him for life. In a way, it's my fault..."
Sigma Male: "True, you little witch!"
Witch of Pain: "Angry emoji. "Forget the bunny outfit!"
Sigma Male: "I can have him escape later. Consider it paying off your debt."
Witch of Pain: "Are you serious about letting him go?"
Sigma Male: "I have a role I can play under a new alias."
Nate didn't hide his plans from his number-one girlfriend.
Sigma Male: "By the way, my alias is 'Voldemort.' Keep that a secret."
Witch of Pain: "Shocked emoji!"
Clearly stunned by this revelation, Ultear didn't reply for a while. After some time, she finally sent another message.
Witch of Pain: "You've been hiding this from me for so long!"
Witch of Pain: "I have to go to the council now. We'll talk later!"
Witch of Pain: "Morning pajamas ."
Before logging off, she sent a selfie, playfully pulling her collar down to give Nate a peek.
Nate admired the photo for a moment before hearing Erza's footsteps approaching. He quickly stowed away the picture and closed the chat.
"I'm done," Erza announced as she walked out of the bathroom, now dressed in her everyday armor.
"Good. The tournament starts at nine. Shall we grab some breakfast?" Nate suggested.
Erza thought for a moment. "I know a nice dessert shop I frequent."
'Desserts in the morning?' Nate felt a slight toothache. "Maybe we could find something else?"
After freshening up, they left the apartment together. In the end, they still ended up at the dessert shop, and Erza bought a hundred pastries.
By nine, they had decided not to head to the guild and returned to the apartment to log into the game instead.
…
In the Virtual Arena, Sky Island was already bustling by the time Nate and Erza arrived. Even guild members who had been eliminated logged in just to watch the matches.
"It's just about to start," Erza said, looking up at the large screen.
[Fairy Tail Guild Tournament]
[Participants: 261]
[Remaining: 32]
[Round Five: Matching in progress...]
[Matching complete!]
Nate saw his name on the screen.
[Volcano Arena: Nate vs. Freed!]
Nate sighed. "Already?" The remaining 32 players were all top-tier, so strong competitors were finally about to clash.
"Don't underestimate him, Nate. Freed's strength is on par with S-Class mages. He's the leader of the Raijinshū," Erza cautioned, but Nate was already being transported to the arena before she could finish.
He appeared beside a fiery volcano, with molten lava flowing from its peak. The scorching red ground radiated intense heat, but his opponent was nowhere to be seen.
A voice seemed to echo from all directions: "Nate, the championship belongs to Laxus. My job is to eliminate you here!"
Nate chuckled. "You're playing hide and seek?"
With one punch, 'boom!', the volcano was triggered, and streams of lava shot hundreds of meters into the air, raining down like meteors across the entire map.
Chapter 115: Nate vs Freed
The top 32 matches had begun, with four battles taking place simultaneously. The scenes from each battlefield were displayed on four large screens on Sky Island, drawing the attention of both the eliminated participants and those still waiting to compete.
Erza looked up at the screen showing the [Volcano Arena, where most of the spectators were focused on Nate and Freed's fight.
"I think Nate will definitely win," one person said.
"Freed still has a chance, though his odds are slim," another replied.
"No way, I bet 1000 points that Nate wins!" Macao, always eager to start a betting pool, found plenty of takers. However, since everyone bet on Nate winning, the idea was quickly dropped.
Bickslow, with his long tongue hanging out, asked, "Can Freed win?"
"Are you saying something stupid? Of course, he can win!" Evergreen replied, though even she didn't believe her own words.
At that moment, a flash of golden light appeared, and Makarov arrived in front of the crowd.
"Master," Mirajane said in surprise, "You're here too?"
"Mira, how's the tournament going?" Makarov asked, his voice filled with curiosity. It was his first time in the game, and he was amazed by the realism of the virtual world.
"We're in the middle of the top 32 matches. Look at the first screen on the left—that's Nate and Freed's battle."
The old man looked up to see the intense scene unfolding in the [Volcano Arena]. A towering volcano was erupting, spewing molten lava into the sky before it rained down like a fiery meteor shower, threatening to engulf the land below.
...
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Balls of lava crashed into the ground, turning the [Volcano Arena] into a living hell. Lava flowed everywhere, leaving almost no safe place to stand. Amid this disaster, only the area where Nate stood remained untouched.
"Dark Écriture: Wings!" Hidden behind a rock, Freed quickly inscribed dark magic runes onto his body. Black wings of magic energy sprouted from his back, and he swiftly flew into the air. Gazing down at the lava-filled arena, sweat trickled down his forehead.
"Is this the power of Tremor Magic? He actually triggered a volcanic eruption!" he thought, thankful it was just a game world—such a thing in reality would be unimaginable.
"Done with hide-and-seek?" Nate raised an eyebrow as he levitated, flying up to Freed's level. He observed the captain of the Raijinshū, a group formed by Freed in admiration of Laxus.
"Eliminating me won't be easy. Show me what you've got," Nate said playfully—after all, it was just a game.
"You're strong, Nate! Laxus regretted losing to you last time. I wasn't there, but…" Freed, holding a rapier, spoke sternly, "I do have a chance. I've been watching all your matches since the first round. To defeat you…"
Freed pointed his rapier at Nate. Instead of an energy blast, magic script appeared in front of Nate, written in glowing purple runes.
"It's a script magic barrier," Nate mused, reading the words. Freed explained, "The rule of this barrier is that the strongest person in terms of magic power is not allowed to leave."
As he finished, Freed retreated several dozen meters.
"Interesting magic," Nate commented, reaching out to touch the invisible wall formed by the Dark Écriture. It felt solid—escaping wouldn't be easy for most.
With a casual punch, Nate struck the barrier. The air around them cracked as the force rippled outward, triggering the volcano to erupt again, sending rivers of lava across the map, staining the ground red.
Freed's expression shifted, clearly shaken. His barrier cracked at the point of impact.
"This guy… he's a monster," Freed thought in alarm. "Not even Laxus could break my barrier so easily, yet Nate almost shattered it with one punch!"
Acting quickly, Freed swung his rapier again, mending the barrier before it could collapse completely.
"It's no use. As long as the barrier isn't broken in one strike, I can keep repairing it!"
Nate was impressed by the magic's utility. The true strength wasn't in the barrier's durability, but in the rules that Freed could inscribe at will.
"It's a shame, though," Nate chuckled. "You've only written one rule? Why not more, like 'no breathing,' 'no magic,' 'no flying,' or 'no teleportation' inside the barrier?"
'If I could do that, I'd be one of the Ten Wizard Saints by now!' Freed inwardly cursed, but kept a straight face. "You're a sitting duck now, Nate! Take this!"
Freed waved his rapier, summoning the script: 'Dark Écriture: Pain!' The words shot toward Nate.
Nate's body glowed with pale white magic power, which quickly formed into a shield. The word 'Pain' collided with the magic shield and shattered instantly.
"Any other tricks?" Nate teased, relaxed. "There are over 200 people watching. Don't disappoint them."
Freed cursed inwardly again. 'Monster!' He had never seen anyone shatter his magic so effortlessly, not even Laxus.
Up above on Sky Island, the Fairy Tail members watched in stunned silence.
Levy gasped, "That's a magic shield… only powerful mages like the Master can create those, right?"
Even Makarov was impressed. "His control over his magic is more precise than mine."
He explained to the guild members, "Magic shields consume a lot of magic power, but Nate used just the right amount to block Freed's attack without wasting any. That level of control is extraordinary."
...
Back in the [Volcano Arena, Nate, feeling the fight was dragging, shrugged.
"Nothing else? What a shame." He split off a Thought Projection of himself, lowering its magic to three stars.
"There's a flaw in your rule. The strongest can't leave, but if I'm not the strongest, I can."
Leaving behind the projection, Nate's real body became a golden flash, covering the distance between him and Freed in an instant.
"A Thought Projection!?" Freed was stunned. 'Even a projection is counted as a 'person'? Damn it, there's a loophole in my rule!'
Before he could react, Nate's glowing fist smashed into his face. With a thunderous crash, Freed plummeted from the sky like a meteor, landing in the volcano's molten crater, sending lava splashing everywhere.
'Dark Écriture: Darkness!' As he fell, Freed quickly inscribed runes on himself, transforming his body into a demonic form. With a roar, he burst from the lava, charging at Nate like a black comet.
"Forbidden magic, huh?" Nate smiled, raising his foot to meet Freed's punch head-on.
Boom!
The tremor magic clashed violently with Freed's dark magic, creating a massive shockwave that tore through the volcano. However, the clash lasted only a second before Freed was overpowered, sent crashing down once more.
Nate darted forward, turning into a golden flash. Grabbing Freed by the head, he slammed him into the molten ground again.
Boom!
Another explosion of molten rock and lava followed.
Meanwhile, the spectators on Sky Island watched in stunned silence, their mouths agape.
Suddenly, new text appeared on the screen.
[Volcano Arena: Nate vs. Freed!]
[Winner: Nate!]
[Warning: The Volcano Arena has been destroyed. Repairs are in progress…]
Chapter 116: Ur vs Gray, Mirajane's Past
The information displayed on the large screen left the spectators in shock.
"So, the arena can actually be destroyed?"
Then, they witnessed an astonishing sight. It was as if time had reversed—the entire [Volcano Arena] rapidly restored itself. The collapsed volcano reformed, and the lava flowed back to its original state. Everything returned to how it was at the beginning.
[Map Restored]
The message appeared on the screen, snapping everyone back to reality.
"No wonder it's a game world—it just resets like that. Incredible!"
"Now I really want to try destroying a map myself."
"Can we break through the Sky Island beneath our feet too?"
"Should we try digging? Maybe we can dig through it!"
Nate had just returned to Sky Island from the [Volcano Arena] when he overheard the others excitedly discussing breaking the map.
The phrase "Three men make a tiger" certainly applied to the members of Fairy Tail, especially considering how many of them there were.
"Digging through the map? Stop it, you fools! Fixing the map uses up reserve magic!" Nate thought, feeling exasperated. Testing is indeed necessary—you can never predict what kind of wild ideas players might come up with. It seems like the durability of the maps needs to be strengthened after all.
"Nate, congratulations on advancing."
At that moment, Mirajane approached him. Nate turned to see her with a warm smile, and immediately forgot about the crazy plans to destroy the map.
"Good morning, Mira."
Mirajane shook her head, her tone slightly reproachful.
"I've been sitting out since the first round, advancing without playing a single match, and now I'm in the top 32. This must be your doing, right?"
Nate admitted, "Yes, it was me."
'When you have power, you can do as you please,' he thought.
"Why did you go out of your way to do this?" Mirajane asked, looking a bit helpless. "Are you planning to carry me all the way to the top 10?"
She had finally mustered the courage to participate, only to realize that Nate's favoritism had taken away any challenge. She felt a bit discouraged.
"Why not aim higher, like the championship?" Nate teased.
Mirajane replied, "Now that we're down to 32 participants, you won't be able to let me sit this one out."
"Is that so? Let me show you a little magic."
Nate glanced up at the screen, where the matchmaking system was running. He raised his right hand and snapped his fingers.
Snap.
[Beach Arena: Gray vs. Ur!
Mirajane followed his gaze, her expression puzzled. As the guild's icon, she could name nearly every member, but...
"Who's Ur?" she asked, wide-eyed and confused.
"You added a new player at the last minute?"
Nate chuckled. "That's where you're mistaken. Who said participants must be 'people'?"
A smile tugged at the corner of Nate's lips. "Congratulations, Mira. Lady Luck is on your side—you get another round off."
Mirajane rolled her eyes, half-amused and half-frustrated. "You... What am I supposed to do with you?"
Nate shook his head. "Relax, Mira. This is just a game. No one gets hurt, no one dies here."
Mirajane's expression shifted. "You know, don't you?"
"I heard a bit from others."
"Hmm… would you like to take a walk with me?"
Mirajane took a deep breath and turned to walk toward a quieter area. It seemed like she was finally ready to open up to him. Nate thought to himself that this interaction might raise his "relationship progress" by 10 percent. Without hesitation, he followed her.
Meanwhile, as the new matchups appeared on the screen, the spectators grew curious.
"Gray vs. Ur?"
"Who's Ur? Is she part of our guild?"
"Wait, there's no one named Ur in the top 32!"
"Hey, Nate! Nate! Something's wrong with the game!"
Some players started shouting for Nate, thinking there was a glitch.
Wendy, standing nearby, noticed that Gray was frozen in place, staring blankly at the screen. She asked softly, "Gray, are you feeling okay? Do you need me to heal you with magic?"
Carla gave her a sharp look. "Wendy, this is a game! How could he be sick?"
"Sorry!" Wendy blushed deeply.
Their conversation caught the attention of others, including Natsu and Elfman, who also glanced at Gray.
"What's up with him?"
Gray stared up at the name "Ur" on the screen, completely stunned.
'A coincidence?'
The guild doesn't have anyone named Ur, and she wasn't on the top 32 list!
'It can't be a coincidence… is there a problem with the game?'
Even as he tried to convince himself that it was a glitch, Gray couldn't help but clench his fists.
"Ur... was my master!"
"What?!"
The others were shocked. Before they could ask more questions, Gray was teleported to the arena.
...
[Beach Arena]
Ur stood in the shallow water, with waves lapping at her ankles. She casually stretched, a playful smile on her face.
Suddenly, a flash of golden light appeared in front of her, and Gray was teleported to the scene.
"Ah, my dear disciple, you've arrived," Ur said, smiling slightly.
"U… Ur!?"
Gray stared in disbelief. "That's impossible! Ur is dead! Who are you? Why are you pretending to be Ur?"
His shock quickly turned into anger.
He couldn't stand the idea of someone mocking the dead, especially not his master!
The woman standing before him looked exactly like Ur, down to her clothes and her youthful appearance, identical to how she looked the moment before she died. The only difference was her right leg—Ur had lost hers in the battle against Deliora to save him, but this woman's leg was intact.
"In the world of magic, anything is possible, Gray."
Ur finished her stretches and moved into a fighting stance, extending both arms forward, her left hand open and her right hand clenched into a fist.
"Let me see how much you've grown over the years, and whether you've brought shame to your master…"
'Ice-Make: Rose Garden!'
In an instant, an ice crystal flower bloomed above Ur, firing hundreds of ice bullets down at Gray like a rainstorm.
"This magic…!"
Gray was stunned—this was one of Ur's signature techniques, and it seemed even stronger than before.
'Could it really be her!?'
There was no time to think. Gray quickly erected a defense.
'Ice-Make: Shield!'
Using the same Ice-Make magic, Gray opened his arms wide, forming an ice shield in front of him.
Crash!
In the blink of an eye, a single ice bullet shattered the shield effortlessly.
Seeing this, Ur couldn't help but sigh, rubbing her forehead.
"Pathetic… have you really been training all these years?"
...
Elsewhere, Nate and Mirajane walked away from the bustling crowd.
"...That's how it is," Mirajane finished, her voice filled with guilt and sadness. "I wasn't strong enough. I failed my brother, and I couldn't save my sister either."
"I'm such… a useless sister!"
Her voice trembled as though she was about to cry.
Nate stopped walking and gently pulled Mirajane into a comforting embrace, patting her on the back. Though it wasn't the most appropriate thought for the moment, he couldn't help but feel that he'd wanted to hug her for a long time—ever since the first time they met.
He never imagined he'd achieve that goal in a game.
"Did you see a body?"
"Lisana's body disappeared, ascended…"
Mirajane buried her face in Nate's chest, tears streaming uncontrollably.
Nate thought for a moment. "If there's no body, then isn't it possible your sister might still be alive?"
"Alive?" Mirajane froze in place.
"In a world of magic, anything is possible."
/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 70 Chapters Ahead of Others!
Chapter 117: Top 16, One Shot
In the Real World, at the Apartment:
Nate's consciousness returned, and as he opened his eyes, he saw Erza still lying on the table, immersed in the game. Without disturbing her, Nate quietly got up and left the room.
To confirm his theory that "your sister might not be dead," Nate had arranged to visit the site with Mirajane.
"Let's get a vehicle first; it seems like the place is pretty far," he thought.
With that in mind, Nate returned to the magic vehicle dealership. The owner immediately recognized him as the customer who had bought the Obsidian Seventh-Gen bike for 4.2 million J.
Excited to see him again, the owner greeted him warmly.
Nate wasted no time, slapping his magic card on the table. "I'll take another one!"
The owner was stunned by his generosity. After spending another significant chunk of his savings, Nate rode his brand-new Obsidian bike toward the guild.
As he drove, memories of Mirajane's earlier story flooded his mind.
The story was simple.
Two years ago, during a mission to defeat the "King of Monsters," Mirajane made a critical mistake. In an attempt to cover for her, Elfman took in The Beast but lost control and attacked his sister, Lisanna.
Believing Lisanna had died, Mirajane found what she thought was her sister's body, only to see it ascend into the sky and dissolve into elements. From that point on, Mirajane's personality shifted—she changed from a rebellious girl into the gentle woman known for her kind smile.
At the same time, guilt over the incident rendered her unable to use her Take Over magic.
However, in truth, Lisanna hadn't died. A dimensional portal had opened at that exact moment, pulling her into another world.
'How do I travel to another world to bring Lisanna back?' Nate pondered. The easiest solution would be to wait for another dimensional portal to appear. But if he could learn the magic, he could travel to that other world on his own.
'Come to think of it, isn't Fairy Tail in that other world a dark guild?'
His thoughts wandered until he arrived at the construction site. Reconstruction work had been halted due to the guild's ongoing tournament. The site was quiet, with only Mirajane waiting for him.
Seeing Nate arrive on a magic bike, Mirajane looked surprised.
"Get on."
"Nate, do you even have a license for this thing?"
"Of course, don't worry."
Nate lied with a wink, thinking, 'Haven't I had this conversation before?'
Unlike Lucy's skepticism, Mirajane believed him completely. Without hesitation, she gracefully sat on the back seat, side-saddle due to her dress. Her legs crossed naturally, and her arms wrapped around Nate's waist.
"Are you sure we should do this?"
"Let's check it out. Maybe my Six Eyes can spot something."
Nate started the bike. "Help me navigate."
Mirajane, not arguing with his determination, complied.
Guided by her, they sped toward the destination, arriving in less than two hours.
The incident site was located on a mountain. Over the past two years, the environment had changed somewhat.
Mirajane led Nate to the edge of a forest, pointing to a spot beneath a tree.
"It was here. I was holding Lisanna when she ascended and disappeared before my eyes."
Nate pretended to examine the area carefully.
To his surprise, he did find something—traces of residual space magic.
"There's leftover spatial magic energy here."
Mirajane's eyes widened in shock. She stammered, "Really?"
"Yes, really."
Nate nodded. 'Even after two years, there's still magic residue here?'
He vaguely remembered the magic that had transported Lisanna—an advanced spatial magic called 'Anima.'
This magic could traverse subspace, creating black holes to siphon magic energy from the world of Earthland.
"Earthland" referred to the world Nate currently resided in.
And the world next door was called "Edolas."
Nate always remembered it because its name sounded similar to "Azeroth," a world from another story.
"Could Lisanna really be alive?" Mirajane whispered in disbelief.
"If she were dead, there would have been a body. Do you really think Elfman's attack could've turned her into pure elements?"
Nate walked over and hugged her gently.
"My guess is that spatial magic was activated nearby at the time, and your sister got caught in it, which is why she disappeared."
Mirajane trusted Nate's words wholeheartedly. Tears welled up in her eyes, streaming down her face in joy.
"But... where is Lisanna now?"
"Don't worry, we'll find her. Maybe we can ask around in the forum?" Nate suggested, already planning to have his alternate identity provide the answer.
This idea gave Mirajane a glimmer of hope, and she instinctively hugged Nate tighter.
"Thank you, Nate."
"Save your thanks until we find your sister."
Nate thought for a moment, then added, "There's still the top 16 tournament coming up. Cheer up because I'm not going to let you sit this round out."
Mirajane looked up at Nate, blushing slightly. She let go, wiping away her tears as she smiled again, her usual warmth returning.
With a playful tone, she said, "Next time, don't pull this again. People will start gossiping..."
At that moment, both of their magic rings flashed.
Nate opened his Magic Net to see a message from Gray.
Gray: "Nate, where are you? The next round is about to start!"
Gray: "And what's with this Ur business!?"
Nate glanced at Mirajane, who had also received a private message from Elfman.
Elfman: "Sis, the next match is starting. You've been paired with Mystogan!"
Elfman: "Surprisingly, Nate didn't help you get a pass this time."
Catching Nate peeking at her chat, Mirajane quickly turned off her screen, blushing.
"Don't look."
'Already saw it...' Nate thought, amused and curious about how the siblings talked about him behind his back. 'Maybe I should sneak a peek later using developer access!'
"The tournament is starting, which means we now have our top 16… or wait, 17 players."
Nate looked around and suggested, "Why not just enter the game here?"
Mirajane agreed; it was too late to rush back to the guild.
So, the two of them sat under a large tree and logged into the game together.
As for safety, Nate wasn't worried—he could always sense changes in the environment outside.
…
Sky Island.
Nate and Mirajane had just entered the game when they saw the information displayed on the large screen.
[Remaining Participants: 17]
...
[Round Six Matchmaking in Progress…]
[Matchmaking Complete!]
[Beach Arena: Lucy vs. Juvia!
[Forest Arena: Evergreen vs. Erza!
[Volcano Arena: Mirajane vs. Mystogan!
And finally…
[Desert Arena: Nate vs. Laxus!
As matches in the Beach and Forest arenas were already underway, Nate and Mirajane were teleported to their respective battle zones.
[Desert Arena]
The landscape resembled a boundless desert, barren and void of greenery.
"Hahaha, I thought I'd be facing you later, Nate!"
Laxus was already waiting, arms crossed, laughing loudly.
"Ever since I lost to you, I've spent time thinking about how to counter your 'instant movement.'"
"This time, I won't lose!"
After his bold declaration, Nate nonchalantly conjured a card between his fingers.
"Sorry, Laxus, but I'm in a hurry to catch Mira's match."
With a flick of his wrist, the card shot toward Laxus.
Laxus, confused but confident, easily caught the card.
"Hmph, when did you start using card magic? You think this weak attack will—"
Before he could finish his sentence, the card expanded into a golden magic circle. Laxus' pupils shrank in shock as he was sucked into the card.
In the same instant, the large screen on Sky Island updated with new information.
[Desert Arena: Nate vs. Laxus!
[Winner: Nate!
The spectators, who had been eagerly anticipating an epic showdown, were left stunned.
Three seconds? Five seconds?
'Did Laxus just get one-shotted by Nate with a card?'
Here's my —please check it out: /Bleam
—Currently, you can read 70 chapters ahead of others!
Chapter 118: Mirajane vs Mystogan
"Is this for real? Laxus got taken down by just one card?"
"Aye! That's Nate for you!"
"Hey, Cana, what do you think about this, since it's also card magic?"
Cana, looking unenthusiastic, sighed, "Why is there no alcohol in this game world? I can't get in the mood without a drink."
Everyone else: "..."
With a flash of golden light, Nate returned to Sky Island. From the moment he was teleported to the arena to his return, the entire match took less than five seconds.
It was a clean and swift victory.
At that moment, Nate held the card that had sealed Laxus between his fingers. Curious guild members crowded around to see the spectacle.
"Let me out!" Laxus was angrily banging on the surface inside the card.
"You bastard! That's cheating! How can this count as a loss? This seal can't hold me!" He opened his mouth, about to unleash dragon breath.
Nate deactivated the magic and released Laxus from the alternate space, then raised his hands innocently. "Don't blame me. The game judged that being sealed means you lost the ability to fight."
Laxus was about to let out a dragon roar, but it got stuck in his throat. He had finally figured out a way to counter Nate's teleportation, only to be taken down by Nate's newly learned card-based space magic. It felt too unfair!
"This doesn't count! Rematch!" Laxus demanded, his face darkening.
"I need to watch the rest of the matches. Next time, I promise."
"When's next time?"
'So stubborn. Do you really want to beat me that badly?' Nate sighed. "When the game officially releases, we can fight anytime."
"Deal!" Laxus reluctantly accepted and immediately logged out of the arena. Losing to a card in seconds was embarrassing, and he didn't want to stay any longer.
After handling Laxus, Nate turned his attention to the [Volcano Arena]. The match between Mirajane and Mystogan had just begun.
At that moment, Gray approached, looking agitated.
"Nate, what's going on with Ur? How did she appear in the game?"
Beside him, Macao nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Gray told us about his past. His master suddenly showing up in the game after she died..."
Levy chimed in softly, "Could this world actually be the afterlife?"
Elfman, with a serious expression, said, "Nate, my sister also passed away. Can you bring her back? I've always wanted to say sorry."
'Whoa, your imagination is wild,' Nate chuckled internally. "Didn't Ur tell you?"
Gray replied, "She fought me and then surrendered automatically."
'If Ur didn't tell you the truth, it's not my place to explain everything.' Nate considered for a moment. He could probably guess why Ur was being evasive. She had sacrificed herself to save Gray by using the ultimate ice-sealing magic, 'Iced Shell.' If Gray found out that Ur was now a ghost, he might develop a dangerous obsession with bringing her back to life.
Nate stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Gray, as for this matter… All I can say is, those who understand will understand. If you don't, then there's no point explaining it. There's too much at stake here, and knowing more won't help you right now."
"I'll just say, it's complicated. Even the Magic Net erased the records. So, it's one of those things—either you get it, or you don't."
Gray: "?"
'What is he talking about?' Nate patted Gray on the shoulder, speaking in a sage-like tone.
"You're not strong enough yet. When you reach the top ten in the rankings, I'll tell you."
Gray didn't understand much of what Nate said, but the last sentence was clear. Determination flared in his eyes, fueling a new motivation. He wanted the game's official release as soon as possible so he could climb to the top ten and learn the truth.
"I understand now! This must be a really big deal!"
"Thank you, Nate!"
'He's even thanking me.' Nate shrugged. "Let's just focus on the match."
He looked back up at the [Volcano Arena, where Mirajane had already transformed into her demon form.
'Did I miss something exciting?'
…
[Volcano Arena]
Mystogan, observing Mirajane, who had regained her powers, spoke calmly. "Congratulations."
In her demon form, Mirajane's demeanor was entirely different from her usual gentle self. She exuded a fierce, overwhelming presence.
"It's thanks to Nate that I've finally freed myself from my past," Mirajane said.
Mystogan drew a staff from his back, pointing it toward her. "Magic Staves: Sleep Magic!"
In an instant, Mirajane's eyelids felt heavy, but she was prepared. "It won't work. I've prepared for this and won't fall for your sleep magic."
With a wave of her hand, a dark magic circle formed in her palm. "Darkness Stream!"
From the circle, dark magic surged forth, forming claws that reached for Mystogan.
"Three Layered Magic Circle: Mirror Water!"
Mystogan quickly drew two more staves, chanting rapidly. Just before the dark claws struck, the triple-layered magic barrier reflected the attack back toward Mirajane.
'Boom!' The reflected blast hit Mirajane, enveloping the area in dust.
Mystogan drew two more staves, placing five in total before him. "Five Layered Magic Circle: Sacred Song!"
Five consecutive magic circles formed above Mirajane, raining beams of light from the sky, striking with precision.
Boom!
The explosion scattered lava in every direction, as though fireworks had erupted. But in the next moment, Mirajane's demon wings unfurled as she soared into the air, hovering above the battlefield.
"Evil Shower!"
Dozens of dark orbs materialized in her hands, bombarding Mystogan with rapid energy blasts, turning the terrain into a wasteland.
Mystogan moved swiftly across the molten ground, evading the onslaught from the sky.
Realizing she couldn't hit him directly, Mirajane stopped and brought her hands together, gathering immense dark energy between them.
"Soul Extinctor!"
A massive dark beam shot from the sky, piercing through the ground.
…
Back at [Sky Island]
[Warning: Volcano map has been destroyed. Match suspended, map repair in progress…
[Volcano Arena: Mirajane vs. Mystogan!
[Winner: Mirajane!
Upon seeing this, Nate couldn't help but shake his head. 'Damn it, the map got destroyed again!' And it's the Volcano map again! Even worse, the game system seems a bit glitchy—it just gave Mirajane the win by default? Clearly a bug.
The spectators were equally stunned. One of them exclaimed in surprise:
"Mi...Mirajane's 'Demon Form' is back!"
With a flash of white light, Mirajane and Mystogan were teleported back to [Sky Island]. Mirajane had reverted to her usual form, standing nervously with her fingers intertwined, apologizing softly:
"I'm sorry, Nate. I broke the map."
'I'll forgive you if you give me a kiss!' Nate thought mischievously but refrained, as they were surrounded by people.
Just then, two more arenas concluded their matches, and the large screen quickly displayed the updates.
[Beach Arena: Lucy vs. Juvia!
[Winner: Juvia!
[Forest Arena: Evergreen vs. Erza!
[Winner: Erza!
With that, two more contestants had entered the top eight.
…
(AUTHOR: Regarding Lisanna, after thorough research, some say there was no body, while others claim there was a body—specifically, the Edolas version of Lisanna. I've decided to go with the former explanation.)
Chapter 119: Natsu vs Wendy... Eh?! Igneel vs Grandeeney?!
Mirajane blushed slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed about accidentally breaking the map. After two years without using her powers, she couldn't help but feel a little excited, and in her eagerness, she went overboard. She hoped Nate wouldn't be upset.
Of course, Nate wasn't angry. After all, he had done the same thing earlier.
By now, the other two matches had also concluded, and Juvia, Lucy, Erza, and Evergreen were teleported back, still slightly dizzy from the transfer. Before they could fully recover, the large screen displayed the next set of matchups:
[Desert Arena: Wendy vs. Natsu!
[Forest Arena: Gray vs. Bickslow!
[Beach Arena: Elfman vs. Wakaba!
[Volcano Arena: Levy vs. Cana!
[Bye: Macao!
Some might wonder how both Wendy and Mystogan made it into the final 16, given that they faced each other in the first round. However, their match hadn't really been a fight. Grandeeney was teaching Wendy dragon magic the whole time, so Nate let them both move forward in the tournament as a draw.
As the new matchups flashed on the screen, Macao exclaimed in surprise, "I got a bye?"
Just as the eight selected contestants began glowing with a soft light, about to be teleported to their respective arenas, Nate clapped his hands.
"Pause!"
With a soft 'clap', the teleportation was interrupted, and the entire game world came to a halt. Everyone stared at Nate in disbelief.
'He just clapped and froze time in the entire game world? Is he a god?'
Nate smiled and explained, "Take a short break, everyone. I need to reinforce the arenas so we don't end up breaking them again."
Leaving everyone stunned, Nate disappeared from sight.
He started with the [Volcano Arena, which both he and Mirajane had previously shattered.
Standing at the edge of the volcano, Nate pondered how best to reinforce it.
"If you want to reinforce it, you just need to pour in more magic," Ur appeared beside him, offering her suggestion.
Nate shook his head. "I want to find a more efficient way to do it without using too much magic."
"But with all the magic absorbed over the past two days, we have plenty," Ur smiled.
Nate thought for a moment—she was right. Once the official version of the game launched, the magic collected from users would likely exceed any operating costs.
With that in mind, Nate summoned reserve magic from the depths of the network, infusing it into the volcano map. He didn't reinforce the objects on the map but instead strengthened the boundaries—the invisible walls around the map. Breaking through these boundaries was what had caused the maps to be destroyed during previous battles.
Watching this, Ur asked, "Even with the boundaries reinforced, powerful mages can still destroy parts of the map, right? Won't you still need to fix them afterward?"
"Breaking the map is part of the fun," Nate replied, turning to her with a grin. "Allowing players to indulge their destructive instincts is important too."
"Wouldn't it feel satisfying if you could use one powerful magic to destroy the entire map?"
Ur blinked, then smiled. "I guess so..."
She wasn't usually the type to cause chaos, but there was something exhilarating about the idea of unrestricted destruction—especially since it wouldn't have any lasting consequences. Once the battle ended, everything would be restored.
Nate continued, "When the official version is released, you'll be able to participate in ranked matches too, right?"
Ur was surprised. "You want me to rank among the top players?"
Everything Ur did in the game consumed magic, which came from the reserve stored in the deep network.
"That would require a lot of magic," Ur smiled mischievously. "Why are you being so nice to me? Do you like me?"
Nate rolled his eyes. "Your daughter asked me to look after you."
Ur's smile brightened. "Embarrassed, are you? Liking a beautiful master is nothing to be ashamed of."
'Ultear really is your daughter!' Nate thought, resisting the urge to snark. First, Ultear calls herself a "witch sister," and now Ur was calling herself a "beautiful master?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm blushing," Nate replied half-heartedly as he continued reinforcing the five maps' boundary walls.
Ur burst into laughter. "Too bad I can't reward you. Want me to take off my clothes so you can admire your beautiful master's figure?"
"When did you become my master?"
"Don't play dumb! You agreed to learn Ice Make magic from me."
"I agreed, but that doesn't mean you're my master. That's a non-equation."
Ur looked at him with a confused yet amused expression, baffled by his logic.
As they chatted, Nate completed the task of reinforcing the maps. Compared to creating the maps, reinforcing them was far more tedious, taking several hours. But with Ur keeping him company, it wasn't too bad.
Eventually, Nate returned to [Sky Island].
Natsu immediately ran over, asking, "Nate, is it done?"
"All set. You can go all out now," Nate replied, nodding as he resumed the game.
In the next moment, the eight selected participants were teleported away, and the four large screens displayed the different arenas.
Everyone's attention quickly shifted to the [Desert Arena].
"It's finally starting!"
"A showdown between two Dragon Slayers?"
"Wendy's a girl, though. Natsu might go easy on her, right?"
"That's Natsu we're talking about. What are you thinking?"
"…True, it is Natsu. He's not one to hold back."
[Desert Arena]
Natsu clenched his fists, flames bursting from his body as he faced Wendy with fierce determination.
"Hahaha, Wendy, let's have a Dragon Slayer duel!"
"Um… Natsu, I'm not really good at fighting," Wendy stammered, cold sweat dripping down her face.
The pressure from Natsu's fiery aura was intense, and the wind on the Desert seemed to blow toward him as if pulled by the heat.
Suddenly, a dragon's roar echoed through the arena.
Behind Natsu, flames took the form of the Fire Dragon King, Igneel. Just the roar caused a minor earthquake to shake the arena.
Wendy gasped in shock.
At the same moment, Grandeeney, Wendy's dragon guardian, appeared behind her.
"What are you trying to do, Igneel?"
"This is all your fault, Grandeeney!" Igneel's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Natsu, pay attention! This is how you do it…"
"Fire Dragon's Roar!"
A scorching column of flames shot toward Grandeeney.
Seeing this, Grandeeney muttered angrily under her breath.
Seeing that teaching Wendy Dragon Slayer Magic was going very smoothly, he thought about learning from her and also teaching Natsu in the process.
'Damn it, he's actually using her as a teaching tool!'
"Sky Dragon's Roar!"
A powerful gust of wind countered the fire, the two attacks clashing violently.
Meanwhile, the actual participants, Wendy and Natsu, exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of what to do next.
Back on [Sky Island, the guild members watching the match through the screens were equally stunned.
"What's going on? The dragons are fighting each other?"
Nate felt a sinking feeling in his chest.
'Oh no… they're going to break the map again, aren't they?'
Chapter 120: Top 8, Outdoor Camping
The two Dragon Slayer mages, Wendy and Natsu, watched as the Fire Dragon King Igneel and the Sky Dragon Grandeeney began to battle. Nate felt slightly worried about the map being destroyed again, but on second thought, he decided to treat it as a stress test.
On the screen, the dragons' roars clashed, transforming the entire environment. A blinding light was followed by a cloud of dust that obscured everything. The audience buzzed with excitement.
"Who do you think will win between the two dragons?"
"Natsu's dad seems stronger, right?"
"Damn, we can't see anything!"
"Wow, Igneel's roar is way stronger than Natsu's."
Everyone focused intently on the screen, not wanting to miss a moment. After a while, the two dragons emerged from the dust, with Wendy and Natsu riding on their backs. They soon engaged in an aerial battle.
Dragon Slayer magic, designed to fight dragons, demonstrated its full power in the hands of actual dragons. Nate couldn't help feeling a little envious. He wanted a dragon as a mount—it would be way cooler than his obsidian magic bike.
"I've got to catch one someday," he thought.
As Igneel and Grandeeney fought, they also gave battle advice to their children. For the dragons, the arena, a 500-meter cube, felt cramped—like swimming in a bathtub. But here, they could unleash their full power without restraint, something they couldn't do while confined within their Dragon Slayer hosts in the outside world.
Half an hour passed, and the other three matches had already ended:
[Gray vs. Bickslow] Gray won!
[Elfman vs. Wakaba] Elfman won!
[Levy vs. Cana] Cana won!
The only match still ongoing was between Natsu and Wendy. The winners and losers alike gathered to watch the dragon duel.
"It seems like Igneel is much stronger—he's the Dragon King, after all," Nate remarked, gaining new insights into Dragon Slayer magic.
On the screen, Grandeeney narrowly dodged one of Igneel's attacks and pulled back, saying, "This space is too small. I don't want to waste time with you."
She descended, gently placing Wendy on the ground before disappearing. Igneel followed suit, landing back on the desert floor.
Natsu stood on Igneel's back, laughing loudly. "Hahaha, Igneel won!"
"Wendy, now it's our turn to settle things! Take this—Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
Natsu leaped into the air, his right fist ablaze as he charged at Wendy. But Igneel swiftly pinned Natsu to the ground with one paw.
"This is how dragons fight. Remember it well, Natsu," Igneel instructed.
"Igneel, let go of me!" Natsu protested.
"One day, you'll need this power," Igneel added, with a warm, almost human expression.
Then, with a loud roar, Igneel turned into a ball of flames, slowly receding back into Natsu's body.
Natsu stood up, flames swirling around him as dragon scales appeared on his face. "This power... What was Igneel talking about?"
He scratched his head, unsure but happy to have fought alongside his father. Smiling, he turned back to Wendy.
Terrified, Wendy waved her hands frantically and bowed, quickly conceding, "I'm sorry, Natsu, I forfeit!"
…
[Desert Arena: Wendy vs. Natsu!
[Winner: Natsu!
With the result announced, both were teleported back to Sky Island.
Natsu, a little disappointed he didn't get to fight Wendy, immediately turned his attention to Nate. "Nate, fight me next!"
Nate shook his head. "When the official version launches, you'll probably become addicted to the arena, looking for battles every day."
He smiled and added, "Don't worry, if you match with me, we'll fight."
Nate then turned to the large screen, which displayed the remaining contestants: [9 players left].
He manipulated the match results once again. After all, someone had to get a bye in the quarterfinals, so why not him?
The new matchups appeared:
[Juvia vs. Cana!]
[Erza vs. Mirajane!]
[Natsu vs. Gray!]
[Elfman vs. Macao!]
[Bye: Nate!]
Natsu stood speechless, stunned by the blatant manipulation.
"I'll wait for you in the finals," Nate said with a grin.
Macao chimed in, "This tournament is full of rigging!"
Then, everyone was teleported into their respective arenas. The matches lasted a while, and the final four to advance were:
[Juvia, Erza, Natsu, and Elfman].
Mirajane and Erza, longtime rivals, had a spectacular fight, but in the end, Erza emerged victorious after Mirajane chose to concede.
"It's getting late, so let's leave the championship for tomorrow," Nate announced, checking the time. It was already evening.
"The finals will start at noon tomorrow. Don't miss it!"
With that, Nate logged out of the game.
…
Under a tree, Nate slowly opened his eyes. A moment later, Mirajane also woke up.
"Is it already this late?" Mirajane asked, surprised at how dark it had gotten. "Time always seems to fly in the game."
"That's because good times always feel short," Nate quipped, though Mirajane didn't catch the reference.
"Shall we head back now?" Nate thought for a moment before suggesting, "Or how about camping outdoors?"
"Camping?" Mirajane's eyes widened in surprise, her heart skipping a beat. The idea of camping outdoors with Nate felt unexpectedly thrilling.
"Sure!" she smiled. "But we didn't bring a tent. Are we going to sleep in a tree?"
'Is this a date?' she wondered, her heart racing.
Nate replied, "We can buy camping gear at the village at the foot of the mountain."
Mirajane laughed. "Then I'll take care of the food! Camping brings back memories. I used to camp outdoors a lot during missions."
"Really?" Nate was surprised.
"Of course! I used to be an S-Class mage," Mirajane said proudly, hands on her hips. "Do you have any camping experience?"
"Well, not here, but I've done some night fishing before with friends. Too bad we never caught anything, so fresh fish was rare."
Nate chuckled at the memory. "Alright, let's split up for now."
With that, Nate rode his obsidian bike down to the village to buy camping supplies, while Mirajane caught some wild rabbits and fished from a nearby stream using her magic.
When Mirajane returned to the tree, Nate hadn't arrived yet. She took out her magic ring and sent a message to her brother.
The Departing Traveler: "Elfman, can you head to the guild early tomorrow? I might be a little late."
Elfman: "Sis, you're always on time. What's going on?"
The Departing Traveler: "It's nothing… Just please go early, okay?"
Elfman: "Alright, I'll be there. But wait… you're not in the dorm or the guild? Where are you?"
The Departing Traveler: "I'm with Nate at the place where Lisanna disappeared… There's a chance Lisanna isn't dead."
Elfman: "WHAT?! Lisanna isn't dead?!"
Elfman: "Wait, you and Nate are outdoors? You're not coming back to the dorm tonight?"
The Departing Traveler: "Outdoor camping isn't bad once in a while."
Elfman: "Now I feel like challenging Nate to a duel!"
The Departing Traveler: "Sweat emoji. Don't be ridiculous, Elfman."
After a few more messages, Mirajane closed the chat and decided to post on the guild forum, hoping to find any clues about Lisanna's disappearance.
A little while later, Nate returned with a bunch of camping gear.
/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 70 Chapters Ahead of Others!