Chapter 121: Expanding the Internet to Parallel World?
The moon hung high in the sky, while the night's galaxy shimmered like a glowing ribbon, dotted with countless stars. Nate, lacking camping experience, left the task of setting up the tent to Mirajane.
He busied himself gathering dry wood for a campfire. However, when it came time to light it, he realized he had forgotten to bring any fire-starting tools.
Thinking of Erza, Nate mused, 'If it were her, everything would have been perfectly prepared.'
After easily setting up the tent, Mirajane approached Nate with a smile.
"How did you usually start a fire when camping outdoors? Do you know any fire magic?" Nate asked.
"Nope, I only know Take Over Magic, Sleep Magic, and Transformation Magic," Mirajane giggled. "It seems there are things you're not good at too, Nate."
"I'm not good at a lot of things…" Nate sighed. 'Do you think I'm some kind of mage for everything?'
However, lighting a fire wasn't too big of a challenge. Even though he didn't know fire magic, he did know light magic. Crouching near the campfire, Nate extended his right hand, releasing a holy light from his palm.
"Is that… Fairy Law?" Mirajane stared, dumbfounded.
"That's right!" Nate grinned proudly as the divine light heated the dry wood, causing it to crackle and catch fire.
"Well? Am I a genius or what?"
Mirajane chuckled. "The Master would never guess you're using super magic just to start a campfire."
"Magic is meant to make life easier, don't sweat the details," Nate quipped, dragging over a tree trunk to use as a bench.
He then took out some jars and bottles. "I could only get these spices. Now, let's see your culinary skills in action."
"Just sit back and enjoy," Mirajane smiled as she started to cook.
Though the conditions were simple, her cooking skills weren't limited by the lack of kitchen tools. The wild rabbit was roasted over the fire, and the fish was made into a stew. Despite the basic setup, Mirajane's love for cooking shone through.
After their meal, Nate was full of praise. "The fish stew was delicious."
"I only used half of my skill," Mirajane replied modestly. "Maybe one day, if I retire from being a mage, I'll open a restaurant."
"I'll be your first customer," Nate said.
"If it's you, I'll let you eat for free," Mirajane smiled warmly. The two sat side by side, engaging in lighthearted conversation. Nate was curious about Mirajane's childhood, and she was more than happy to share stories.
The forest buzzed with insects, drawn to the campfire's light. The bright moon suddenly dimmed behind clouds, and a light rain began to fall, interrupting their conversation.
"Is it raining?" Mirajane looked up and quickly suggested, "Let's get inside the tent before we get soaked."
The two retreated into the tent to avoid the rain. The campfire outside was soon extinguished by the downpour. The tent wasn't very spacious, just big enough for two people to lie down. Nate turned on the magic crystal lamp, illuminating the small space.
The sound of rain pattering on the tent filled the air.
"Could you turn off the light?" Mirajane asked shyly.
Though she had camped outdoors before, this was her first time sharing a tent with a man.
"Do you really want it off?"
"Yes, turn it off."
Click.
Nate turned off the crystal lamp. Immediately, Mirajane turned her back to him and swiftly slipped out of her red dress before sliding into her sleeping bag, leaving only her head exposed.
"You can turn it back on now."
"…"
Nate was momentarily speechless. The darkness didn't hinder his enhanced vision—he could still see everything. He couldn't help but notice how great Mirajane's figure was, and her undergarments were quite cute as well.
Deciding not to turn the light back on, Nate undressed and slipped into his sleeping bag. The two bags lay side by side.
"Do you think we'll be attacked by wild animals out here?" Nate asked curiously.
"Not by wild animals, but maybe by magic beasts," Mirajane replied softly, reaching out from her sleeping bag to check the forum on her magic ring.
Nate turned slightly to face her. "Did you post the question?"
"Yeah, I've posted it, but I haven't received any useful responses yet," she sighed.
As a well-known forum moderator, Mirajane's post attracted a lot of replies, but none provided any concrete leads. Nate, however, quietly gave instructions to one of his Thought Projections.
…
At the same time, in Magnolia, Nate's Thought Projection was in a small room, diligently coding the livestream feature for the game. Suddenly, the avatar paused. Its previously lifeless expression became animated as it opened the forum, quickly locating Mirajane's post and typing a response.
Once done, the avatar resumed its task, continuing to work on the code.
…
"Don't worry, something will come up. The internet is full of resourceful people," Nate reassured her.
In the tent, Nate lay on his side, propping his head up with one hand, while Mirajane scrolled through the forum responses. Suddenly, a familiar name caught her eye.
[Voldemort:
"Hello, based on what you've described, I believe the person you're looking for might have traveled to another world. The world we currently inhabit is called 'Earthland.' In reality, there is another parallel world called 'Edolas.' You can think of it as an alternate dimension. Occasionally, the two worlds intersect, creating rifts in space-time that open gateways between the two dimensions. The person you're searching for likely encountered one of these rifts and disappeared through it."
Mirajane sat up in surprise after reading the reply.
"Nate! Nate! It's a message from Voldemort!"
Her voice was unusually excited. "Lisanna went to another world?"
Nate also sat up, replying, "If Voldemort says so, it's likely true. Your sister's alive."
Mirajane murmured, "But how can we bring Lisanna back from another world?"
'You're quick to accept the idea of parallel worlds,' Nate thought. 'Does Voldemort really have that much credibility?'
Then, a system message appeared before Nate:
[Mission: Expand the internet to another parallel world.
[Reward: Dependent on mission completion.
Nate perked up. 'Another mission? Expanding the internet to Edolas?' It didn't seem too difficult. The challenge would be getting to the parallel world. Though he could wait for the Anima rift to open, that might take months.
'Maybe I should contact Mystogan. He might have a solution.'
Here's my —please check it out: /Bleam
—Currently, you can read 70 chapters ahead of others!
Chapter 122: Mirajane's Popular Post
"Don't worry, now that we have a clue, we'll find a way eventually."
"Mm, thank you, Nate."
In the darkness, Mirajane softly expressed her gratitude, a gentle smile flickering in her beautiful eyes.
The account "Voldemort" had only appeared on the forum twice. The first time was to answer Natsu's question, and the second time was now.
Mirajane wasn't naive; her intuition as a woman made her suspect that Voldemort was Nate. How else could it be such a coincidence? Every time, the account seemed to solve a problem for Fairy Tail.
Although everyone on the Magic Net was limited to one account, Nate, as the developer, probably had special permissions—just like how he was able to arrange for her to pass four rounds of the guild's ranking tournament without fighting.
So, even though she had no concrete evidence, Mirajane believed that Voldemort was actually Nate. He didn't tell her directly and instead chose this roundabout way, likely for a reason.
Mirajane turned off the Magic Net and lay back down in her sleeping bag. She turned to face Nate and spoke softly, "If we find a way, I want to go to the parallel world and search for Lisanna."
"We'll definitely find her," Nate thought. Finding Lisanna shouldn't be difficult. As long as they found the dark guild Fairy Tail in the other world, they'd find her.
"Nate, would you go with me?" Mirajane asked.
"Of course. We'll treat it like a trip to another world."
"Really?" Mirajane's voice was filled with joy. "With you, I'd feel so much more at ease."
Boom!
Thunder rolled across the sky, drowning out Mirajane's voice as the light rain turned into a downpour. The sound of raindrops pounding on the tent made Nate worry about whether it would hold up. Still, there was something thrilling about camping in the middle of a storm.
"Achoo!" Mirajane sneezed quietly. "It's a bit cold," she whispered, her voice soft, as if they were sharing a secret.
Nate shuffled closer in his sleeping bag, almost touching her. "Do you want to share a sleeping bag? It'll be warmer."
Mirajane blushed. Although it was dark, Nate's Six Eyes could see it clearly.
"No… that's embarrassing…"
"Alright, just sleep, then."
The tent fell silent again, except for the sound of the rain and thunder. After some time, Mirajane whispered, "Nate."
"Still awake?"
"I'm cold."
"Do you want to come over?"
"…Okay."
With a rustling sound, Mirajane slipped into Nate's sleeping bag. The space, spacious for one, became cramped for two. The cool mountain air, combined with the rain, made the temperature drop even further.
Mirajane snuggled into Nate's arms, her warmth driving away the cold of the night.
"No funny business," she whispered shyly.
Nate thought to himself, 'My hands have a mind of their own.' He couldn't help but feel it was torture not to move. But he gently held Mirajane, feeling incredibly content. From the moment they first met, he had wanted to bring this woman home. Now, sharing a sleeping bag was a huge step forward.
"Mirajane, you smell nice."
"Go to sleep!"
Her face flushed, but she didn't push Nate away. Soon, she drifted off to sleep, her breathing steady and soft.
Nate, however, couldn't sleep. In fact, he was wide awake. 'This is torture!'
He quietly gave her a soft kiss before forcing himself to sleep.
…
The next morning, they both woke up feeling refreshed. Mirajane, in particular, was in a great mood after a restful night. Opening her eyes, she was greeted by Nate's face.
"Good morning, Nate."
"Morning…"
Mirajane chuckled. "Did you sleep well?"
'You slept great; I was awake all night!' Nate grumbled internally. 'Mirajane must have done this on purpose!'
Upon reflection, Nate realized there was no way Mirajane, with her magic, could have been cold. She must have done it to be close to him.
Mirajane smiled shyly, "Come on, let's get up."
The two of them dressed. This time, Mirajane didn't ask for the light to be turned off; she changed into her red dress right in front of Nate.
When they stepped out of the tent, the rain had cleared, and the air on the mountain was fresh and invigorating.
After packing up, Nate stored everything in his Requip space. They made their way to the nearby creek to freshen up before Nate started up the obsidian magic bike to take them back to Magnolia. Mirajane sat behind him, her arms wrapped around his waist, her feet playfully swinging as they rode.
Nate yawned as he drove, still feeling sleepy.
Mirajane giggled, "Didn't sleep well last night?"
'You really are a witch!' Nate thought, rolling his eyes. Suddenly, he felt a soft kiss on his cheek.
"Feeling more awake now?" Mirajane asked, shyly smiling.
"Can I get another one?" Nate teased.
"No! I'm too embarrassed," she replied, hiding her face against his back, her cheeks flushed. She had clearly enjoyed their outing.
…
Back in Magnolia, Nate dropped Mirajane off at the guild before heading back to his apartment to catch up on sleep. However, as soon as he walked in, he saw Lucy and Erza sitting in his living room, sipping chamomile tea that had been gifted to him by the council chairman.
"This tea is so good," Lucy said.
Erza nodded. "It's from the council chairman, gifted to Nate."
Nate was speechless.
'This is my house, right?'
Clearing his throat, he asked, "Is there a chance this is my house?"
"Nate, you're back," Erza said, surprised.
'Why are you surprised? This is my home!' Nate grumbled internally. 'And didn't you two drink all my tea?'
"Why are you two here?" Nate asked.
"I've been here since last night," Erza said seriously. "After we logged out of the game, I noticed you were gone, so I stayed here waiting for you."
'Oh, right,' Nate remembered. He had gone on a date with Mirajane, leaving Erza behind at his place.
"Sorry, I had some things to take care of with Mirajane," he explained, before turning to Lucy. "And what about you? Why are you here?"
"I brought you dinner last night, but you weren't home, so I stayed with Erza and ate it," Lucy said, blinking innocently. "Then I waited for you this morning, but you still weren't back, so I'm just having tea with Erza."
She paused before asking, "By the way, who's Lisanna?"
"Mirajane's sister," Erza explained.
"Mirajane has a sister? I've never met her," Lucy said in surprise.
"She's dead," Erza replied.
Nate sat down, exasperated. 'Are you two just going to keep chatting like I'm not here?'
"She's not dead. She's in another world," Nate said, taking a sip of his tea. "Didn't you see the post on the forum?"
Both Lucy and Erza exchanged confused glances before opening the Magic Net to check the forum. They quickly found the now-viral post from yesterday.
The thread Mirajane had posted, thanks to the response from "Voldemort," had exploded in popularity.
Chapter 123: Top 4, Edolas?
"A parallel world called 'Edolas'?"
Lucy widened her eyes in disbelief after reading Voldemort's reply.
"Is there really a need to be that surprised?" Nate squinted. After all, in the future, there would even be a future Lucy.
"But it's a parallel world..." Lucy marveled. The world of magic truly had all sorts of incredible phenomena. "So, Mirajane's sister didn't die but ended up in a parallel world by coincidence?"
Erza sipped her tea, slightly intrigued. "There are a lot of follow-up comments, but Voldemort remains as cryptic as ever."
That guy always had the attitude of "believe it or not," completely ignoring further inquiries.
Nate glanced over Erza's shoulder to see the posts and suddenly noticed a familiar username.
Witch of Pain: "Since he says so, it must be true."
A user replied: "How do you know Voldemort is a man? Do you know him?"
Ultear didn't bother responding to the follow-up.
Nate laughed awkwardly, thankful she hadn't blurted out something like, "He's my boyfriend."
Erza noticed the comment too. "Witch of Pain? Nate, do you know who this person is? If we ask her, we might learn Voldemort's true identity."
'Oh, I know her all too well...' Nate thought, taking a sip of tea, before quickly changing the subject.
"I'll ask when I get the chance. By the way, Erza, did you not go home yesterday?"
"I thought it would be impolite to leave without saying goodbye, so I waited for you to come back."
'You're too polite in all the wrong ways...' Nate thought, helplessly. He then turned to Lucy, who was still enthusiastically browsing the forum.
Her slender fingers typed quickly.
"Lucy, why were you looking for me?"
"Ah... well," Lucy seemed a bit embarrassed. "I was thinking about what you said before, and I wanted to ask if you could teach me another kind of magic."
"79Jl magic books?"
"There's no such thing as a 79J magic book!" Lucy rolled her eyes.
Nate teased, "You've already been eliminated. It's too late to start learning now."
It was like deciding to study hard the day after an exam—odd and unnecessary.
"Just because I was eliminated doesn't mean I can't learn! What if there's a next time?"
Clearly, Lucy was still upset about being knocked out of the competition.
Nate couldn't understand why she was so motivated. "I even gave you a boost, and you still lost."
Lucy immediately blushed. Though it was her first time hearing the word "boost," she easily understood its meaning.
The celestial spirits' battle abilities had been enhanced in the Magic Arena. Not only that, she could perform a "double summon," calling two spirits at once. Yet, she had still lost to Juvia.
She had a chance to win until Juvia, in a tight spot, suddenly shouted, "For Nate-sama, I absolutely cannot lose here!" and, "Juvia's love for Nate-sama will never lose to anyone!"
And with that, Lucy lost.
It was all Nate's fault! She was on the verge of tears. 'Why is Nate so popular? Even Juvia, an S-class mage from the former Phantom Lord, sees me as a rival!'
"So, the reason I lost is partly your fault. Please teach me another magic."
'Is this really my fault?'
Nate couldn't help but laugh. In Fairy Tail's world, magic was driven by willpower. When someone had strong enough determination, their power surged.
"Alright then, Lucy. Do you want to learn Requip magic from me?" Erza offered.
"Erza, your magic is too expensive..." Lucy exuded an aura of poverty.
Nate couldn't help but laugh. "Fine, I'll teach you a magic that's simple and easy to learn right now."
"Really?" Lucy's eyes sparkled.
"Just follow my instructions."
"Mhm, I'm ready."
"Erza, you help too."
"Me?"
"Yes, sit with Lucy."
Erza, though a little confused, followed the instruction.
Nate continued, "Magic is driven by willpower, so I want you two to assume your most natural postures."
Erza knelt, casually tucking her hair behind her ear.
Lucy sat in a duck-like position, hands between her legs.
"And now?"
"Both of you, smile."
"Smile?"
Lucy blinked in confusion. She exchanged glances with Erza, and they both smiled.
At that moment, Nate held up his hands, framing the scene with his fingers in the shape of a '7,' forming a square with both hands.
"Click." A flash of white light.
Both girls' smiles were captured in a photo.
"Huh?" Lucy was stunned for a moment.
Erza blinked in realization. "It's your photo magic!"
"How's that? Pretty useful magic, right? You won't even need a camera anymore."
Nate made two copies of the photo and handed them to Lucy and Erza.
"Darn it! Fooled again!" Lucy puffed up her cheeks. "I want to learn magic I can use in battle!"
Still, as she looked at the photo, she thought it was quite beautiful.
The photo was well-taken; after all, Lucy was very pretty.
Erza also smiled while holding her photo. "It's a good picture. Lucy, even photo magic, used unexpectedly, can be quite effective in battle."
Like how it had worked on her when sparring with Nate.
"Alright, I need to catch up on some sleep. Feel free to stay and drink tea, but keep it down," Nate said with a wave.
"I'm not leaving until you teach me real magic!" Lucy pouted, hugging her cup.
'Even if I teach you, can you learn it?' Nate thought, sighing internally. Most of his magic was too complicated for others to grasp, except for simpler ones like Card Magic, Telepathy, Thought Projection, or Soul Absorption.
"The final match for the championship is at noon. We can just wait here until it starts," Erza suggested with a smile.
"If you need to nap, I'll wake you when it's time."
'You're really not planning to leave, huh?'
Nate had no choice but to give in. It wasn't like he could kick them out.
"Thanks."
He walked over to his bed, laid down, and pulled the blanket over himself.
The room fell silent for a while.
Eventually, when it seemed Nate had fallen asleep, Lucy whispered, "He's taking a nap? Did he not sleep last night?"
"He probably spent the whole night with Mirajane searching for Lisanna," Erza guessed softly. "Let him rest."
...
At noon, the Magic Arena became lively again.
Today, the final championship would be decided, and even the guild's top members were eager to see the result.
Even Master Makarov didn't want to miss the match, and Laxus had shown up to watch as well. He was there to gather more information on Nate, determined to defeat him one day.
Only five contestants remained.
Today's match would take place on Sky Island.
Nate had temporarily remodeled Sky Island, designating a central area as the battlefield while setting up spectator stands.
Master Makarov personally took the role of referee, standing on a floating platform alongside Mirajane, who acted as the announcer.
"The final championship match is about to begin!"
"Contestants, please take the stage!"
Chapter 124: Elfman's Fighting Spirit!
The final five contestants were Erza, Juvia, Natsu, Elfman, and Nate.
"Hello, everyone," Nate greeted the group with a smile.
Elfman raised his right fist and shouted, "A man's goal is always the same—championship!"
For some reason, Nate felt a strong fighting spirit in Elfman's gaze.
Natsu stood with his hands on his hips. "Whether it's Nate or Erza, the winner today will definitely be me!"
Erza smiled slightly. "It's good to be motivated, Natsu, but I won't be holding back."
Juvia didn't give a speech; she just stole glances at Nate, her eyes filled with affection.
"Ahem..." Makarov cleared his throat and spoke into the microphone.
"The Fairy Tail guild ranking tournament has finally reached its most exciting stage—the championship! The five mages on stage are among the guild's best..."
Halfway through, Makarov's confidence seemed to falter. After all, Mirajane, who had regained her "Demon" powers, Mystogan, who had been eliminated due to a bug, and Laxus, who was instantly defeated by Nate's card magic—three S-Class mages had lost in rather strange ways.
"In any case, the next round will be the 5-to-3 match. Nate, you've made it this far, so no manipulating the match results!"
Everyone in the guild knew Nate had been tweaking the matchups. When the guild master publicly called him out, it caused a wave of laughter.
"Nate blatantly let Mirajane advance by giving her four consecutive byes!"
"Yeah, such a serious violation!"
"He's totally got something going on with her~"
Who was making that clicking tongue sound?
Nate scanned the crowd but saw a bunch of people imitating Happy: "He's totally got something going on~"
Mirajane, sitting at the commentator's desk, blushed.
Juvia's "love rival radar" activated, and her sharp gaze locked onto Mirajane with a five-star threat level.
Nate, brushing off the teasing, said, "The match results are fair. Whether you believe it or not, I believe it."
Makarov waved his hand, casting a magic spell that shot into the sky and exploded in a dazzling display of colorful fireworks.
"Matchups, begin!"
The large screen began cycling through the five contestants' portraits.
The first match was confirmed: Elfman vs. Nate!
The second: Erza vs. Juvia!
Lucky Natsu got a bye into the next round.
"Why am I the one with a bye?" Natsu was visibly disappointed.
Nate immediately said, "See, it's all luck! I didn't cheat!"
Just as he finished speaking, he and Elfman were teleported away.
Everyone quieted down to focus on the match broadcast on the large screen. Mirajane squinted, unsure whom to support. On one side was her younger brother, and on the other was someone she had feelings for.
"There's no way Elfman can beat Nate," Mirajane thought with a smile.
...
Sky Island, Duel Stage
Two beams of white light flashed, and Nate and Elfman appeared.
"Nate, this match is destiny!" Elfman's fighting spirit burned in his eyes, as if they were on fire.
Nate was confused, and a large question mark appeared above his head—literally. In this game world, such things were possible! Nate even planned to add more battle emojis in the future, like head-pats and thumbs-ups to make duels more fun. But for now, the question mark simply expressed his confusion, not mockery.
Elfman raised his right arm high. "A real man should settle things with his fists! If you beat me, I'll..." He faltered. After all, his sister and Nate weren't officially together, and the title "brother-in-law" was premature.
Nate, unaware of Elfman's inner turmoil, waved his hand. "Come on, Elfman. Use your full-body Take Over. No one gets hurt here, so go all out."
Hearing this, Elfman was reminded of the past—his full-body Take Over was what led to Lisanna's tragedy. But today, his sister had told him Lisanna wasn't dead!
"Thank you, Nate, and now…"
Elfman took a deep breath, and a dazzling golden light erupted from his body.
"Full-Body Take Over: Beast Soul!"
The golden light shone brilliantly, and his magic power surged.
The audience was stunned.
Mirajane, sitting at the commentary desk, tensed up instinctively but then remembered this was a game world.
"ROOOAR!" Elfman let out a loud roar.
As the golden light faded, standing before Nate was a massive beast with two horns on its head.
The beast stood ten meters tall, its body covered in reddish-brown fur. In addition to the horns on its head, a pair of sharp rhino horns protruded from its shoulders. Its long white hair and fangs gleamed sharply.
Nate's "Six Eyes" could see through the transformation.
"Stay calm and keep control," Nate muttered.
With that, Nate flicked his finger, sending a tiny white tremor sphere toward the beast's forehead.
Boom! The massive body staggered backward.
Elfman took a step back, steadying himself, and the wild look in his eyes gradually cleared.
"Ouch..." Elfman rubbed his head. The pain had brought him back to his senses. He glanced at Nate and wanted to thank him but didn't think it was the right moment.
"I'm coming for you, Nate!" Elfman shouted, leaping into the air and throwing a powerful punch down at Nate.
"It seems you've gained control of yourself. That wasn't so hard, was it?" Nate smiled. As the massive fist descended, he casually extended a single finger.
Their attacks didn't directly collide. Instead, Nate's magic flared before contact.
Boom!
A massive shockwave spread in all directions, and cracks spider-webbed from the point of impact.
"Alright, your problem's fixed. Time to end this."
With a smile, Nate summoned a white tremor sphere at his fingertip. The sphere expanded rapidly, swallowing the beast mid-air.
Elfman barely had time to widen his eyes before the powerful shockwave detonated.
Boom!
A blinding flash of white light, followed by a deafening explosion, shattered the entire duel stage.
Elfman, still in his beast form, was knocked out of the game.
The audience was left in stunned silence.
"Another one-shot KO?!"
...
Meanwhile, in Worth Woodsea
Deep within the vast forest, in a winding underground corridor, the leader, Brain, stood before a glowing screen, his face full of excitement.
"It worked! I've created the Dark Web!"
Brain looked at the interface of the dark web, almost an exact replica of the Magic Net.
"But it's all just for show..." Brain frowned. His dark web was based on his "Archive" magic, adapted for information transmission. However, despite capturing multiple targets, it was nowhere near the scope of the real internet. His magic could only cover a radius of five kilometers at best.
Compared to the entire continent... it was nothing. And the magic consumption was staggering; he couldn't maintain it for more than a few hours.
"Damn it, how did he make the Internet?" Brain punched the wall in frustration. Nate was a genius! The more Brain studied the Dark Web, the more he admired Nate. Most people knew the Magic Net was impressive, but Brain understood exactly 'how' incredible it was.
"It's practically a miracle of magic!" Brain muttered. "I have to meet him in person someday… but first, I need to get Nirvana!"
With that thought, Brain opened the Magic Net and entered the forum.
The hottest post caught his attention, and he clicked on it.
Immediately, he saw a familiar name.
"Voldemort...!"
Parallel world? Edolas? Time portals?
This guy really knows everything!
Brain's eyes lit up, and he opened his friend list, sending a private message to Voldemort.
Leader: I've created an internet for the dark world based on the Magic Net.
Leader: The Dark Web!
Leader: For the sake of the Dark Lord, are you interested?
Here's my —please check it out: /Bleam
—Currently, you can read 70 chapters ahead of others!
Chapter 125: Brain's Dark Web, Voldemort's Dark Web
[Sky Island]
The first match of the semi-finals ended in the blink of an eye.
"Elfman used Full-Body Take Over: Beast Soul, but unfortunately..." Mirajane, serving as the temporary commentator, struggled to find the right words to describe the match. The difference in magic power was too vast, and the outcome was clear from the start.
The result was displayed on the screen:
[Winner: Nate!
At the same time, the shattered duel stage quickly restored itself.
Returning to the contestants' area, Nate noticed he had received a private message from a familiar contact.
"A message from Voldemort?" Nate paused, then remembered, "Oh, it's from Brain, the leader of the Oración Seis."
Voldemort had only one friend on his account, and that was Brain. Previously, after being attacked by Racer, Nate had diverted their attention by providing them with information about Nirvana. He wondered if the Oración Seis had managed to locate it yet.
Makarov's voice rang out loudly, announcing the next match.
"The second match of the semi-finals: Erza vs. Juvia!"
The two familiar opponents were promptly teleported to the battlefield.
"Erza-sama, this is the third time we've fought!" Juvia said seriously. "For Nate-sama, Juvia will not lose!"
Erza felt a bit uneasy. This time was different from their previous encounters.
The first time was when she and Nate went on an S-Class mission to Galuna Island. The second time was during their battle with Phantom Lord. Both times, Juvia had mistaken her for a "rival in love."
Back then, Erza could confidently explain herself. But now... after realizing, "Nate definitely likes me," she couldn't so easily dismiss Juvia's emotions anymore.
"Uh... please, let's have a good match!" Erza said, choosing not to clarify things further.
"Requip: Sea Empress Armor!"
In a flash of golden light, Erza donned a light green armor and wielded a green ice sword.
Watching the match, Mirajane provided commentary.
"Erza's Sea Empress Armor enhances her resistance to water and can even nullify water magic attacks. This puts Juvia's water magic at a significant disadvantage."
"That's the brilliance of Erza. No matter the opponent, she can always adapt with the perfect armor."
"As expected from our guild's Fairy Queen," Mirajane added with a smile, having known Erza since childhood.
Back on the duel stage, Juvia was surrounded by swirling water, her magic power radiating from her body. She heard Mirajane's commentary.
"Even so, Juvia will not lose!" she declared.
...
While everyone was engrossed in the duel between Erza and Juvia, Nate was replying to the private message from Brain.
Within the game world created by the Deep Net, Nate didn't even need to type—he could respond simply through thought.
Voldemort: "Dark Web?"
Leader: "That's right! There's no room for us Dark Mages on the regular Magic Net!"
Leader: "I've been studying the Magic Net and, using my 'Archive' magic, I've created an internet for the dark world—the 'Dark Web'! But it's still in its early stages. I'd like to invite you to join me in developing it further. What do you say?"
Nate was initially surprised to hear the term "Dark Web." After all, even he couldn't fully control the Magic Net. How could an outsider develop something like the Dark Web? It seemed impossible.
However, Brain's explanation made it clearer.
Using Archive magic as the foundation for creating the Dark Web… it wasn't quite what Nate had imagined.
To Nate, the Dark Web referred to the hidden corners of the internet, inaccessible by conventional means—a forbidden zone of sorts. Brain's "Dark Web," on the other hand, was a mere imitation of the Magic Net.
Nate chuckled.
Voldemort: "I expected something grand from the leader of the Oración Seis. But that mess you've made—does it even deserve to be called a Dark Web?"
Leader: "You're not surprised, are you? You entered the Magic Net long before me, didn't you?"
It seemed Brain had misunderstood something. Regardless, he had given Nate an idea. The development of the Magic Net shouldn't only benefit legitimate guilds. If he nurtured the dark side too, the network could grow even stronger.
Rather than let Brain create a flawed Dark Web, Nate decided it was time to build one himself.
That way, the Magic Net could be divided into three layers:
1. Surface Net, accessible to everyone.
2. Dark Web, accessible through special means, perfect for dark guilds.
3. Deep Net, the true core of the Magic Internet.
With this plan in mind, Nate responded again.
Voldemort: "I've already tested your so-called Dark Web. It's useless."
Leader: "As expected! You've already tried it!"
Voldemort: "The creator of the Magic Net is a true genius. This magic has surpassed the realm of magic itself—it belongs to the domain of gods."
Nate shamelessly praised himself.
In this world, gods existed. For example, there was Ankhseram, the God of Life and Death, who cursed Zeref when he researched the R-System for resurrection. It was also why Nate had stopped Ultear from attempting to revive her mother, Ur, through the R-System—the wrath of Ankhseram was real.
Voldemort: "But even magic at the level of the gods has flaws. I've already found a loophole and created the true Dark Web."
Leader: "What do you mean?"
Voldemort: "Have you heard of the cuckoo bird? Cuckoos don't build their own nests; they take over those of other birds, like magpies."
Since the term "cuckoo's nest" didn't exist in this world, Nate had to explain it.
Leader: "Are you saying… you've hidden your Dark Web within the Magic Net itself?"
Voldemort: "You catch on quickly."
Leader: "That's brilliant! What a genius idea!"
Brain's response was exactly what Nate expected.
Leader: "So, what's the loophole? Where is this Dark Web of yours?"
Voldemort: "Why would I tell you?"
Leader: "..."
Leader: "Alright, what's the price?"
Voldemort: "You and the Oración Seis went to the Worth Woodsea, right? Have you found Nirvana yet?"
Leader: "Are you interested in Nirvana too?"
Voldemort: "The super magic that reverses light and darkness? I'm just curious."
There was a pause, as if Brain was considering something. After about ten minutes, a new message came through.
Leader: "Fine. We'll inform you when we find it."
Leader: "I'm intrigued by you as well. I'll be waiting."
Nate smiled, thinking it might be time to send out his Worms of Time.
Chapter 126: Champion! Fairy Queen!
Developing the Dark Web was a simple task for Nate. He only needed to copy the code from the Magic Net forum, make a few minor modifications, and set an "entry condition" for access. Satisfied for now, he set the project aside and turned his attention to watching the tournament.
Facing Erza's Sea Empress Armor, Juvia's water magic was at a significant disadvantage. Despite her determination to win, she couldn't shift the tide of the battle. Before long, she was defeated.
The result appeared on the screen:
[Winner: Erza!
No one was surprised by the outcome. Erza's victory was indisputable. Still, Nate felt a bit sorry for Juvia. She had tried her best, but the armor's advantage against water magic was simply too much to overcome.
Nate considered whether he should teach Juvia some new magic. With only water-based abilities, it was hard for her to face opponents who countered her. But what should he teach her?
As he pondered, Erza and Juvia were teleported back to the participant area. Juvia, visibly drained from expending so much magic, sat alone, dejected after her loss.
Meanwhile, Natsu stood up, brimming with excitement.
"Old man, hurry up and start the next round!"
Makarov shot him a glare. "For the final championship match, only three contestants remain. Let the match begin!"
The avatars of the three remaining contestants flashed on the screen, and the matchups were determined.
[Erza vs. Natsu!]
[Nate: bye.]
As soon as the results appeared, the entire audience's eyes turned to Nate.
Nate sighed. "I swear, I didn't rig the match…"
Mirajane stifled a giggle behind her hand.
"Hahaha! Finally, it's my turn! Let's fight, Erza!" Natsu exclaimed, clenching his fists in excitement.
In a flash, the two of them were transported to the duel stage, drawing everyone's attention to their fight.
Taking advantage of the moment, Nate invited Juvia to a voice chat. She was momentarily surprised but quickly accepted.
Juvia: "Nate-sama? I'm sorry... Juvia lost."
Juvia: "Waaah, I failed to live up to Nate-sama's expectations."
Her voice echoed in Nate's mind, thanks to the advanced voice chat feature that allowed direct mental communication.
Nate: "It's just a guild event. You did great."
Juvia: "But… (sulking)"
Juvia: "Juvia was hoping to face you in the match. Juvia feels so useless. (sad)"
Nate: "Wanna go to the outskirts tonight?"
Juvia: "Juvia will go! (surprised and happy)"
Rain Woman Juvia was easy to cheer up. Nate realized that just being with her was enough to make her feel content.
Nate: "You're so cute."
Juvia: "Juvia loves Nate-sama so much. As long as Juvia can be by your side, she's happy. (shy)"
There was no mistaking the sincerity of Juvia's emotions through the voice chat. Nate could truly feel her burning affection for him.
Nate: "I like you too. Just make sure to wear the bunny outfit."
Nate: "I'll teach you powerful magic, and next time, you'll definitely win."
Juvia: "The bunny outfit... It's so bold, Juvia has never worn anything like that before."
Juvia: "But for Nate-sama, Juvia will do anything! (determined)"
Sitting in the participant area, Juvia's face flushed red as she conveyed her true thoughts.
Juvia: "Oh my, how embarrassing~"
What followed was a flood of inappropriate thoughts, with Juvia clearly focusing more on the "bunny outfit" than on the promise of learning new magic. Nate realized she hadn't even registered the important part.
As Nate chatted with Juvia, he kept one eye on the match. Mirajane was commentating with full focus.
"Facing Natsu's fierce attacks, Erza has opted for the Flame Empress Armor. It increases resistance to fire, but will it hold up against Natsu's Fire Dragon Slayer Magic?"
On the battlefield, Natsu relentlessly attacked while Erza defended. They had fought over a hundred times before, and Natsu had never won. Erza was extremely familiar with his combat style.
Despite expending a lot of magic in her battle against Juvia, Erza still maintained the upper hand. After half an hour, when Natsu had burned through a significant amount of his magic, Erza began her counterattack.
She didn't use her Flame Empress Sword, as fire wouldn't harm Natsu and might even replenish his magic. Instead, she took advantage of an opening and hurled her "Piercing Spear." Though Natsu managed to block it, the sheer force of the attack sent him flying over a hundred meters, knocking him out of the arena.
Seeing this, Makarov chuckled. "Still too green, Natsu."
Mirajane nodded. "By using the arena's rules, anyone who falls out of the ring is automatically defeated."
[Winner: Erza!
As the result appeared, Natsu was teleported back to the participant area, looking dejected. When Erza teleported in as well, he immediately yelled:
"That was so unfair, Erza!"
Erza smiled calmly. "In my current state, I wouldn't be able to beat you in a life-or-death fight, Natsu. But this is a competition."
Natsu was left speechless, even the dragon inside him, Igneel, had no words.
The crowd began murmuring:
"Too bad, Natsu. You almost broke your losing streak."
"Haha, Erza still came out on top."
"So what's the score now?"
"It's Natsu's 109th loss."
At that moment, Erza turned her gaze to Nate. "Nate, it's just you and me now!"
Nate raised his hand immediately. "I forfeit."
Erza's eyes widened in shock. "Wait, why are you forfeiting? I fought this hard just to have another match with you!"
"Huh?" Nate was taken aback. "You could've just told me."
As the event's organizer, Nate had no intention of claiming the championship, planning to forfeit no matter who his final opponent was. But since the words were already out, the final result appeared on the screen:
[Final: Nate vs. Erza!
[Winner: Erza!
Fireworks exploded across Sky Island, celebrating Erza's victory.
"Congratulations, Erza, the Fairy Queen, for winning the first Fairy Tail guild ranking tournament."
Erza clenched her fists in frustration. She hadn't fought for the title but for the chance to spar with Nate again. The last time, she had lost to his photography magic. She had promised not to challenge him again, but this event had been her one opportunity to bypass that promise and fight him.
Yet, just as she reached the final, Nate had forfeited.
"Just you wait," Erza muttered, glaring at him before logging off in a huff.
Nate had a bad feeling, which was quickly confirmed.
Back in the real world, Nate opened his eyes to find Erza sitting on top of him, staring down intently.
"I'll fight you now," she said silently, her intent clear.
Nate sighed. "Fine, I'll spar with you. But could you get off me first?"
It was hard not to react with her sitting like that.
—
(Author: Mirajane's Magic Net username, "出发的旅人/The Departing Traveler," comes from the title of her theme song.)
(Bleam: I can't find the specific theme song but, it's probably Mirajane no Theme.)
Chapter 127: .avi, Urano Metria?
"Sorry!"
Erza's anger flared quickly but dissipated just as fast. After immediately apologizing, she awkwardly climbed off Nate and sat on the edge of the bed.
"I really want to spar with you again, but I promised I wouldn't challenge you anymore," she said, taking her verbal agreements seriously.
Nate sighed. "You've used up a lot of your magic power today. Even if we do spar, how about we wait until tomorrow?"
"Are you really willing to spar with me again?" Erza blinked in surprise.
Nate was curious. "Why are you so insistent on sparring with me?"
Erza thought for a moment before answering seriously, "Hmm… I guess it's because I want to learn from you."
"Learn from me?"
"Your magic power wasn't particularly strong when you first joined the guild, but now you've surpassed me," Erza said, nodding. "So, I think sparring with you might help me improve too."
Nate found the idea amusing. 'I gain all my magic power by taking advantage of others—I never meditate or train. Do you think you can level up by just relaxing like I do?'
"Do you want to fight in the game or in real life?" he asked.
"In real life!"
"In that case... before we fight, you'll have to agree to one condition."
Erza froze for a moment, recalling their first meeting, but then smiled. "No matter how many conditions, I'll agree."
Nate grinned. "If you lose, how about becoming my girlfriend?"
'A proper defeat deserves a cutscene—something dynamic like 'Fairy Queen Erza Defeated'.avi!'
"Huh?" Erza's face went blank with shock.
"Or, if you win, I'll be your boyfriend."
'Isn't that the same thing?!' she thought.
Erza slowly processed his words, and her face turned a deep shade of red. "I... I've never been anyone's girlfriend before. I don't know how to be one."
Her words came out stiff and awkward, as if she wasn't used to such conversations. However, her mind was racing: 'Should I agree? I was the one who asked for the spar, so it might be rude to refuse…'
Erza had never considered dating. Though she had admirers in the past, she dealt with them by simply beating them up.
Although Nate couldn't hear her thoughts, her expression revealed everything.
'What an adorable reaction', Nate thought, chuckling. "If you don't want to, we can still spar. No need to feel pressured."
"I'll agree!" Erza responded earnestly, her face reddening further. She then added seriously, "It has nothing to do with the sparring. If it's with you… I'd be happy to be your girlfriend."
She didn't dislike Nate—in fact, she quietly admired him. In her eyes, Nate was outstanding: handsome, powerful, kind, and admired by everyone. Her only worry was whether she, a woman who only knew battle, could be a good girlfriend.
'How can I be a good girlfriend?' she wondered.
Nate, meanwhile, was slightly taken aback by her genuine response. A sudden thought crossed his mind: 'If Erza finds out I have other girlfriends, will she try to kill me?'
He hadn't expected her to take it so seriously, especially when she said, "It has nothing to do with sparring."
'Stay calm, stay calm.'
"Well, let's start with a kiss," Nate suggested, grabbing her shoulders, ready to claim what was rightfully his as her boyfriend. This time, it was perfectly justified.
Erza stood there, completely still, waiting passively.
Suddenly, there was a small noise nearby.
Erza's eyes cleared instantly, and she shot to her feet. Lucy had woken up from her nap at the tea table, stretching and letting out a relaxed sigh.
"Ah~ Lying like that is tiring."
She turned and saw Nate sitting on the bed and Erza standing stiffly beside him. Blinking, she asked, "Erza, were you two about to fight?"
'No, we were about to kiss. If you'd stayed asleep just a bit longer…' Nate sighed internally, having forgotten Lucy was even there.
Erza, acting as though nothing had happened, said, "We've agreed to spar tomorrow. Lucy, I'll head back to the guild dorm now. See you!"
'It would've been so embarrassing if Lucy had seen us kissing!' Erza thought as she quickly left, mentally preparing to pick up a copy of 'How to Be a Good Girlfriend' on her way back.
Lucy watched Erza flee and tilted her head. "You guys are going to spar again?"
"Do you want to join?" Nate asked.
"No thanks. Even if I teamed up with Erza, we still wouldn't be able to beat you."
Suddenly, Lucy remembered something and ran over to Nate, clutching his arm while pleading, "Nate-sama, please teach me magic! I'm begging you!"
"Oh, right! You owe me a wish! I wish for you to teach me some powerful super magic!"
"Please, Nate-sama~ You're all-powerful!"
'This shameless girl! Do you think I'm some kind of magic vending machine?' Nate sighed. "A powerful super magic, huh?"
The softness of her touch was hard to ignore, and he couldn't help but feel a little troubled. Lucy had clearly mastered the art of using her charm to sway him.
'Am I really that easily swayed?' Nate thought.
'Yes, yes, I am,' he admitted internally.
After thinking for a moment, Nate said, "Actually, there is a super magic that might suit you."
"Super magic?" Lucy's eyes sparkled, and she hugged his arm tighter.
"Teach me, teach me!"
"Calm down." Nate smiled and continued, "It's called 'Urano Metria,' a celestial magic. It's a high-level spell from ancient times, using the power of the eighty-eight constellations for a full-area attack."
Lucy's face lit up with excitement. "Really? There's such a powerful magic that's perfect for me? Please teach me, I'll work really hard!"
"Don't get too excited. I don't know how to use it."
Lucy's joy faded instantly, and she puffed her cheeks in frustration. "Ugh! I fell for it again!"
'Lucy, how many times are you going to fall for this?' Nate thought.
With tears welling in her eyes, Lucy swore she'd put extra salt in Nate's food tonight.
"I don't know it, but I know someone who does," Nate said, enjoying teasing her. "You can ask the Celestial Spirit King. He'll definitely know."
"The Celestial Spirit King?" Lucy's jaw dropped. "That's the most powerful spirit in the Celestial Spirit World! How do you even know him?"
'That old guy's good friends with your mom. In fact, your whole Heartfilia family has deep connections with him,' Nate thought but simply said, "The Spirit King added me as a friend. I'll ask him about it for you."
"Oh, right! The Celestial Spirit World has Magic Net access now!"
Lucy finally remembered, though the idea of the Spirit King adding Nate as a friend still seemed surreal to her.
"Okay, it's a promise then. Don't back out!" Lucy said, staring at him intently.
"Got it. Now go, I'm busy."
"Thank you, Nate~" Lucy left happily.
Finally, the room was peaceful once more.
Here's my —please check it out: /Bleam
—Currently, you can read 70 chapters ahead of others!
Chapter 128: [Zeref's Dark Magic Tavern, Update!
After sending Lucy off, Nate finally had some time to organize his recent gains.
He sat at his desk and opened the programming tool provided by the Magic Net.
First, he reviewed the results of the [Magic Arena] guild tournament.
"Once the official version is released, the daily magic energy generated will surpass what was earned from internet fees before," Nate mused. "Games really are the best way to farm."
He couldn't help but praise how effective games were.
Nate then made some updates to the [Magic Arena] client, such as shutting down the competition servers and adding new battle expressions.
With that done, he began working on the [Dark Web].
If he wanted to be lazy, he could have simply copied and pasted the forum code from the Magic Net, but that wouldn't give it the right "feel."
Since it was the [Dark Web, it needed a specific aesthetic. It couldn't just be a regular forum; that would be too mundane.
It needed to feel like home to the dark guild members—inviting, like a place where they truly belonged.
Thus, Nate decided to create a virtual space: a "dark guild tavern," accessed through the deep web.
He named it [Zeref's Dark Magic Tavern].
The name seemed a bit long, but details like that didn't really matter.
With the idea in mind, Nate closed his eyes and entered the deep web.
He used a significant amount of his reserved magic power to create a new map: a lone island surrounded by mist, permanently shrouded in eternal night.
He then constructed [Zeref's Dark Magic Tavern] on the island. Despite the name, it wasn't a typical tavern but a cold, eerie, damp castle with a gloomy color scheme.
Nate spent the next few hours refining the details.
Under a blood moon, Nate floated above the castle, admiring his handiwork.
"I might be better suited as a 3D game designer than a programmer," Nate joked to himself.
His consciousness returned to the real world.
"Next, I need to create a 'portal' so the dark guild members can enter the tavern," Nate thought, considering his options.
The [Magic Arena] needed a client because it included many additional features like rankings and divisions. However, [Zeref's Dark Magic Tavern] was just an entry point, so it didn't need to be as complicated.
"A small icon should do the trick."
A moment later, Nate had the portal ready—a castle icon shrouded in darkness. With a click of the icon, users could transport their consciousness to [Zeref's Dark Magic Tavern].
Done!
"Should I have someone test it?"
After a brief thought, Nate opened his friends list and found the Witch of Pain's ID.
Sigma Male: [Zeref's Dark Magic Tavern]
Sigma Male: "Dear, could you click the image and help me test something?"
After sending the message, Nate didn't worry about it for the time being. He glanced out the window—it was already late.
At that moment, a private message popped up.
Sunny Doll: "Nate-sama, Juvia is already at the house in the suburbs."
Sunny Doll: "Bunny girl !"
Sunny Doll: "It's Juvia's first time wearing such a daring outfit, ."
In the photo, Juvia had obediently dressed as a bunny girl. Unlike Erza's black stockings bunny girl outfit, Juvia's was more playful and cute.
A white, tight-fitting bodysuit accentuated Juvia's figure, highlighting her alluring curves. The short-cut design showcased her long legs, emphasizing her charming silhouette.
"What an adorable little bunny!" Nate thought, pleased.
Sigma Male: "You look amazing!"
With a thought, Nate used Flying Thunder God and teleported to the mansion in the suburbs.
…
The next day, around 9 a.m., Nate arrived at the guild, refreshed after a night of extreme enjoyment.
Now that the tournament was over, everyone had returned to their daily routine of rebuilding the guild. The construction site was busy once again.
As soon as Nate appeared, many greeted him.
"Morning, Nate."
"Morning."
"Nate, I can't access the game."
"I've closed the tournament servers. Once the official version is released later, you'll be able to start ranked matches."
"Oh nice! The idea of dueling mages from across the continent is exciting!" one mage said.
Wakaba was thrilled. "I'm quitting card games. From now on, I'm going all-in on ranked matches. I'll be the first to reach 'King' rank!"
Macao, standing nearby with his arms crossed, scoffed. "There's no way you'll be the first."
"You won't know unless I try!"
"Because I'm going to be the first King!"
"Neither of you guys has any work to do, huh?" Nate thought, holding back his laughter. "How much did you guys make last month? Wakaba, is your wife going to beat you again?"
Magic guild members really were a bunch of slackers.
Looking up, Nate spotted the main guild building.
Makarov had transformed into a giant, hammering nails into place with one hand while holding a beam in the other.
"Master," Nate called.
"Nate, is that you?"
Makarov looked down, watching as Nate casually grabbed some tools, flew up to the beams, and began hammering alongside him.
The old man chuckled. "You're not really cut out for this kind of work. You don't have to force yourself."
"I'm part of the guild, too. I can't just slack off all the time."
Nate laughed sheepishly. It was clear he couldn't hide his laziness from the old man.
With that, Nate hammered a nail into the wooden beam.
Makarov shook his head and continued working while chatting with Nate.
"So, did you finish testing your [Magic Arena]?"
"Yes, thanks to the guild's help," Nate nodded. "I'll distribute the rewards during the lunch break and teach everyone the recipe for the magic recovery potion."
He decided not to limit it to just the top ten winners; anyone who wanted to learn would have the chance. After all, he felt a bit bad for Laxus.
Laxus had been unfairly eliminated by one of Nate's card tricks, dropping out in the top 32. And Mystogan had been kicked out of the top 16 due to a map bug.
As S-class mages, these two were undeniably among the top three strongest in the guild. They really needed this potion.
"Your generosity won't go unnoticed," Makarov said with a warm smile. Nate was a good kid, despite his laziness and penchant for slacking off. He still had a strong sense of belonging to the guild.
A magic recovery potion was a groundbreaking creation. Most people would guard such knowledge jealously, not share it with others.
"Oh, by the way, the Magic Council has finished sentencing Jellal. He's been stripped of his title as one of the Ten Wizard Saints and sentenced to life imprisonment."
Makarov then asked, "Did the council ask for your input on a recommendation?"
"What input?"
"Recommending a new member for the Ten Wizard Saints."
"I get to recommend someone? Oh right, I'm a Wizard Saint!"
Without a second thought, Nate blurted, "How about Erza?"
"Erza?" Makarov paused to think. "If the council gives our guild three Wizard Saints... they might not want to allow that."
"Then…"
Nate thought for a moment before recommending Ultear instead.
"You can recommend anyone you want, but the council still has to vote on it," Makarov said with a chuckle. Then, shifting the conversation, he asked, "By the way, when's the official version of the game coming out?"
Nate's expression changed slightly. "The old man wants to play too, huh?"
"Let's release it now."
Setting down his hammer, Nate opened the Magic Net's admin panel and began writing a patch note.
[Magic Net Alpha 0.6 Version Patch Notes]
Chapter 129: 0.6 Update, Erza's "Ultimate Guide of Love"
[Magic Net Alpha 0.6 Version Patch Notes]
A new game, [Magic Arena, has been added to the gaming section.
In this game, players can duel with mages from across the continent.
In the game world, players won't be injured or die.
... (Omitted large portions of the introduction) ...
The update announcement was simple and straightforward. Nate thoroughly explained the [Magic Arena] game, including details about the ranking system, matchmaking, seasonal mode, and rewards.
After reading the announcement, everyone clearly understood the game.
Nate pressed the sync button, and all connected users were temporarily disconnected.
"Magic Net's been updated!"
"Ranked mode is live!"
"Let's go!" someone shouted excitedly, and soon everyone at the construction site eagerly opened the Magic Net.
Nate wondered if the guild would ever be completed at this rate.
At that moment, a private message notification blinked in the upper right corner.
Witch of Pain: "Dear brother~"
Witch of Pain: "That thing you asked me to test last night was amazing!"
Sigma Male: "Were you able to enter smoothly?"
Witch of Pain: "I stayed in the castle all night, not sure what you wanted me to test."
Sigma Male: "If you were able to enter, that's all I needed to know. Just wanted to see if it worked."
Witch of Pain: "Is it our secret hideout for rendezvous? "
Witch of Pain: "But I waited for you all night, and you never showed up. I'm so mad!"
Sigma Male: "..."
'Did she really stay there all night just waiting for me?' Nate thought, feeling a bit guilty. 'I was busy with Juvia last night. How could I have found the time?'
He realized he might have a growing problem.
With more and more girlfriends, he needed to manage his time better.
Witch of Pain: "Oh well, I'm just a poor little witch that no one loves. Big "
It was rare for Ultear to act this coy with him. Amused, Nate sent her a voice chat request, and she answered immediately.
The next while was spent pleasantly chatting with Ultear.
...
Later, around noon at the underground tavern, Nate, as promised, taught everyone in the guild how to make the magic recovery potion.
Mirajane was the quickest learner, but others, like Natsu, struggled.
"Even Happy learned it! What were you listening to, Natsu?" Nate sighed.
He uploaded the recipe to the [Fairy Tail Family Chat] group, so any guild members could reference it whenever needed.
"If you still don't get it, feel free to ask me," he said.
Mirajane: "Everyone, make sure to thank Nate. This is a very precious potion."
A flood of "Thanks, Nate" messages followed.
Levy: " Sigma Male, Master, aren't you worried someone might leak this since it's public in the group?"
Gray: "If anyone leaks it, they'll answer to me!"
Evergreen: "No one will leak it. I'll turn them to stone if they try!"
Cana: "Wait, Levy, why are you calling Nate 'Master'?"
Levy: "I'm learning Magic Net programming from Nate, so he's my master now! "
Cana: "!"
Cana: "I want to learn too! Teach me that card magic you used to defeat Laxus. It was so cool~"
Cana: "If I ask, will you teach me?"
Laxus: "?"
Seeing Cana's message, Nate couldn't help but wonder why so many people wanted to learn magic from him lately.
He still hadn't finished teaching Lucy and Juvia, and now Cana was joining the list.
"Nate."
Erza's voice came from behind him. Nate closed the chat group and turned around.
"Can you come with me?" Erza smiled. "You haven't forgotten our promise, right?"
'Oh, right. The sparring match.'
Nate stood up cheerfully. "Sure, where do you want to go?"
Sparring in town wouldn't be ideal, as it could cause damage. The eastern forest wasn't suitable either, since destroying the forest would anger Porlyusica.
"Let's go to Galuna Island."
Nate took Erza's hand, causing her to flinch as if shocked.
"What's wrong? Can't I hold your hand?" Nate asked, puzzled.
Erza's cheeks reddened. "Well... it's just... I feel a bit nervous."
When they weren't in a relationship, she hadn't minded holding hands, but ever since agreeing to be his girlfriend, the simple act now made her heart race.
What a strange feeling...
Erza bit her lip but didn't dislike it.
"Isn't Galuna Island a bit far?" she asked.
"It's not far. We'll get there in an instant."
Nate firmly held her hand. Like most girls, Erza's hands were slender and soft to the touch.
With a thought, a golden magic circle appeared beneath their feet.
Erza blinked, and in the next moment, they appeared inside a cave.
"This is… the cave where Deliora is sealed?"
"No one will disturb us here," Nate said, pulling Erza closer, a smile playing on his lips.
Erza's body tensed up as she realized what Nate was about to do.
She thought back to the book she had bought the previous day.
Though it wasn't the 'How to Be a Good Girlfriend' guide she wanted, it was a book titled 'The Ultimate Girl's Love Guide'.
She had stayed up all night reading it, her face burning with embarrassment. But after finishing it, she felt confident she had a good grasp of romance.
Yet now, facing the real situation, she was panicking.
"Wait a second."
Erza gently pushed against Nate's chest to stop him.
"No kiss?"
"That's not it… Since I agreed to be your girlfriend, I'll let you kiss me if you want to."
Erza's expression was serious, though her tone was shy. "It's a girlfriend's responsibility to fulfill her boyfriend's desires."
That's what the book said, anyway.
With a flash of light, she switched into the black bunny girl outfit she had worn at the Arcane Resort Hotel.
"The armor earlier might've gotten in the way."
Smiling softly, Erza's demeanor shifted. Unlike her usual warrior self, she now displayed a much gentler side as Nate held her close.
'Such a wonderful woman—was she really a good match for someone like him?'
For a brief moment, Nate felt a twinge of guilt.
'No! Who's a scumbag here?' Nate corrected himself. 'I just want to give all the girls a warm home!'
"No bad girl gets wasted, no good girl gets let down."
"Can I kiss you now?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Can I touch?"
"Gently."
"If I tear your stockings, will you be mad?"
Erza's face reddened even more. She playfully punched Nate in the chest, pouting.
"Stop teasing! I'm already embarrassed…"
But her words were cut short as Nate leaned in and kissed her.
Last night, he had enjoyed one white bunny. Today, he embraced a black one.
Nate, the first person to break through Erza's armored exterior and reach her soft, vulnerable heart, held her close in the secluded cave as they shared a tender moment.
Chapter 130: Precht meet Makarov in [Magic Arena]
While Nate and Erza shared an intimate moment in the cave on Galuna Island, the world outside buzzed with excitement over the new [Magic Arena] feature introduced in the Magic Net 0.6 version update.
A large airship slowly cruised through the sky, soaring a thousand meters above the clouds. This was the magic airship of "Grimoire Heart," one of the three major dark guilds of the Balam Alliance.
Inside the ship, an elderly man dressed in black armor with a helmet featuring two horns and a fierce expression spoke slowly:
"The developments surrounding the Tower of Heaven are not what we anticipated. Jellal has been arrested and judged. Has Ultear made contact yet?"
Standing before Guild Master Hades were six mages—five men and one woman—all members of the Seven Kin of Purgatory.
A man with a sheep-like appearance spoke up, "Master Hades, even though the plan didn't unfold as expected, Ultear still has an opportunity to cause chaos."
Another young man, wearing black-rimmed glasses and with slicked-back hair, added, "Not only did Ultear fail to become the 'key' to unlocking Zeref's seal, but she hasn't accomplished anything significant."
A chubby man with a double chin muttered, "Well, she did do something... she voted against the Etherion cannon in the Magic Council."
Silence filled the room as their expressions darkened.
Hades frowned, pondering what Ultear's true motives were.
"Meldy."
"Yes, Master Hades?"
"Go to the Magic Council headquarters and meet with her."
"Understood, I'll leave immediately."
Meldy, a girl wearing headphones shaped like wings and a black cloak, turned and silently left the room after receiving her orders.
"You may all go now," Hades instructed the remaining Kin of Purgatory before slowly raising his right hand. A silver ring adorned his middle finger.
He poured magic into the ring, but instead of the familiar forum interface, a version update announcement appeared.
Hades glanced at it with interest. "Version 0.6? It won't reach full completion until version 1.0?"
Muttering to himself, he quickly scanned the contents of the announcement, narrowing his eyes.
"Magic Arena?"
With ease, he accessed the gaming section and saw the fourth game added to Magic Net.
...
In Fairy Tail's underground tavern, Makarov sat at the bar, also opening the [Magic Arena]. During the previous guild tournament, he had only participated as a spectator or judge. Now that the official version was live, he wanted to experience it firsthand.
Magic Net had already been remarkable, but the introduction of [Magic Arena] pushed the concept of magic to an unbelievable level.
"This goes beyond the concept of magic," Makarov thought. "Could that kid Nate actually turn super magic into a magic app…?"
God? Could Nate be a god? Makarov chuckled at the idea.
Clicking on the [Magic Arena] icon, the familiar interface appeared. However, unlike the beta version, the "Join Tournament" button was gone, leaving only "Ranked Matchmaking."
"There should be a 'Friend Battle' option. I'll mention it to Nate later," Makarov mused. He thought of an old friend, a former member of the Ten Wizard Saints who had once belonged to Fairy Tail. It would be fun to spar with him in the arena.
After clicking the matchmaking button, a safety reminder popped up, advising players to be mindful of their well-being while playing. Makarov clicked "Confirm" and entered the queue.
After about a minute, a notification appeared:
[Searching for an opponent with similar strength...]
[Match found!]
[Would you like to enter the game?]
[Confirm/Cancel]
After confirming, Makarov felt his consciousness separate from his body. Darkness surrounded him, and when his vision returned, he found himself on the Sky Island map.
[You have entered the Sky Island Arena.]
[Enjoy the game!]
Two floating lines of text burst into flames and vanished. Makarov's gaze focused on his opponent.
Unlike the beta version, the official release displayed some key information above the opponent's head.
[Player Nickname: Precht]
[Rank: Bronze Mage]
[Wins/Losses: 0/0]
Both players were new to ranked matches, with no previous games played, and thus both had the lowest rank, Bronze.
However, when Makarov saw the opponent's name, he froze in shock.
"Precht?!" Makarov exclaimed, staring at his opponent.
"Well, well... my first opponent is you?" Hades was equally surprised. Though Makarov's nickname was "Fairy Tail's Grandpa," that face was unforgettable.
"You're… Master Precht!" Makarov was stunned.
"It's been a long time, kid," Hades smiled. "Seeing you reminds me of forty-eight years ago, when Mavis entrusted the position of guild master to me, and I, in turn, passed it on to you."
"Forty-eight years have passed, and I see you've grown old."
Makarov was reeling from shock. Forty-eight years... The former second guild master, who had left, saying he would "wander the world," looked just as he had back then.
"I never imagined we'd reunite in a game, Master Precht," Makarov said, taking a deep breath. "I thought you'd been long buried."
"We've both grown old," Hades replied with a faint smile. "But these young ones today are terrifying. Creating such an unbelievable magic, and one of them is from your Fairy Tail."
'Your Fairy Tail?' Makarov's brow furrowed.
"This chit-chat is over. Let me see if this magic works as well as the announcement claims… without anyone dying!"
Hearing this, Makarov's face grew serious. He immediately raised his hand, chanting:
"Sweep away the darkness,
Rain of Light!"
Dozens of arrows of light shot forth, trailing golden streaks as they flew toward Hades.
Hades sneered. "Too weak, kid!"
He chanted as well:
"Devour the light, Eternal Shadow!"
A shield of darkness formed before him, absorbing all the light arrows in an instant.
Makarov's expression shifted. "Your magic… it's dark magic!"
...
Back in the cave, after their intimate moment, the rain had stopped.
Erza leaned against the cave wall, her long legs trembling slightly as she caught her breath, her cheeks still flushed.
Nate wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his lap as they sat on a nearby rock, savoring a quiet moment together.
"Looks like we'll have to postpone the sparring until tomorrow, Erza."
Erza, resting her arms around Nate's neck, stubbornly replied, "It's just a little injury… I'm fine!"
'Why is she so insistent?' Nate thought, amused. 'It's not like I'm going anywhere—we can spar anytime.'
Here's my —please check it out: /Bleam
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