Chapter 151: Live Stream (5), Hug
"I've come back to life?"
Ur's expression was one of disbelief as she glanced at Nate.
Nate was equally surprised and reached out to pinch Ur's cheek—it felt real, soft, and warm.
Could his Zanpakuto actually have such a function?
Under his Six Eyes vision, Ur's body appeared completely composed of magic power, not flesh and blood like an ordinary human. Technically, she was in a special spiritual state. This unique form felt just like a physical body—solid, warm, and with the sensation of flowing blood.
Nate thought for a moment. "This doesn't exactly count as resurrection. It's not a transition from 'death' to 'life' but rather a deeper progression within the realm of death."
If this were actual resurrection, she'd already be cursed by the god Ankhseram.
"So, this isn't revival?" Ur asked, looking down at the sword in her hand, Sode no Shirayuki—a truly mysterious magic item. Had Nate found this to bring her back to life?
"Right now, I have flesh and blood," she said, feeling deeply moved as she gripped Sode no Shirayuki tightly. "I'm no different from any other person."
"There are some differences," Nate smiled. "Unlike an ordinary person, your body won't age. Your aging will slow down tremendously."
Ur's eyes widened. "Isn't that even better?"
She didn't know how she could ever repay this kindness. Nate had collected her soul fragments on Galuna Island, allowing her to survive as a spirit. He had helped reconcile her relationship with her daughter, bringing them back together, and now he had, in a way, fulfilled his promise to bring her back to life.
Nate may not see this as true resurrection, but to Ur, it absolutely was. And it was even more extraordinary than resurrection into life—she would have time far beyond that of any ordinary person.
For a kindness this immense, even a lifetime of gratitude wouldn't be enough. Feeling her heart swell with gratitude, Ur blushed slightly as a thought formed in her mind.
"Would you… mind being with me?"
"Pardon?"
"You've been so good to me, so I can only offer myself in return," Ur said, suppressing a hint of shyness but smiling warmly. "How many children would you like?"
"..."
Wait, how did we suddenly jump to talking about having kids?
Nate was at a loss for words; they hadn't even held hands.
"Let's get back to what we were doing. I understand you're feeling emotional," Nate replied helplessly, thinking about the extra 300% reward he had yet to collect. He didn't have time to flirt with Ur right now.
Were you intrigued when I mentioned 'offering myself'?
Ur smirked, thinking that even after all this time, she still had her feminine charm. Spending so much time together, sometimes even lounging around in her underwear, she was well aware of Nate's gaze. His attention, after hearing her offer, had instinctively landed on her chest.
Did you want to touch?
Ur chuckled inwardly, though she didn't feel offended. Being seen as an attractive woman by Nate made her feel delighted.
"Nate, tell me where that scoundrel is. I want to settle this once and for all."
"Ask Ultear," Nate said, pulling out a silver ring and handing it to her.
Ur had a Magic Net account, but she couldn't wear a ring as a ghost; accessing the network required being in the Deep Web space. But now, things were different.
"This sword I gave you, Sode no Shirayuki, matches your ice magic perfectly."
Nate began explaining the sword's powers as Ur slipped the ring onto her left ring finger. She thought for a moment and, deciding quickly, wore it there—a finger that, in Fiore, symbolized marriage or a devoted partner.
Ur had already resolved to spend her life repaying Nate's kindness, even if he didn't fully accept it. In her heart, Nate was the man she wanted to be with for the rest of her life.
"Thank you, Nate."
Ur, now equipped with Sode no Shirayuki and her new ring, smiled gratefully and left to find her daughter.
Nate thought to himself, "Are they going to kill Brain? And if so… who will I use for the livestream?"
He decided it was time to speed things up and quickly clear out the smaller enemies.
"Jenny."
Nate called out to Jenny, who was focused on broadcasting Natsu and Cobra's aerial battle to the viewers.
"Nate?"
"There's a change in the streaming plan. Aim the camera at me now," Nate said, rising slowly into the air.
"I'm clearing the field!"
…
Meanwhile, Ultear walked step by step toward the Oración Seis hideout, her eyes cold and filled with fierce resolve. Ever since she reconciled with her mother and learned the truth, she'd been waiting for this moment.
Brain.
He was the catalyst of her suffering, her mother's tragedy, and their years of misunderstanding.
Her anger blazed, and her magic surged, reaching the edge of her control.
Just then, her ring glowed softly. She checked her Magic Net messages, and an unexpected one appeared:
Ur: "Ultear, where are you?"
Mom?
Ultear froze, quickly typing back.
Witch of Pain: "Mom, I'm about to get revenge. I'll kill the man who deceived you!"
Ur: "Nate has revived me. Don't be hasty."
Revived? Mom had been revived?
Ultear stood in place, speechless, until her mother messaged her again.
Ur: "Let's meet, and I'll explain. Where are you?"
With newfound hope, Ultear sent her location, and soon, the two reunited.
"Mom?"
Ultear stared at her mother in disbelief, tears streaming down her face. She could feel it—this wasn't the same spirit she had encountered before. Ur had returned with a flesh-and-blood body.
Like a fledgling returning to its nest, she threw herself into her mother's arms, crying with joy.
"Be happy now, Ultear. Don't cry," Ur whispered, stroking her daughter's hair, though her own tears fell.
They looked like twins, but in reality, they were a mother and daughter embracing in the middle of the forest, their shared cries growing louder and louder.
…
Elsewhere, Nate floated above the battlefield, donned in his Wizard Saint robe, appearing once again in the livestream.
He smiled at the camera and spoke softly, "Apologies to all viewers. The sudden attack by the Oración Seis disrupted our original broadcast plans."
"But no worries, this is merely a minor interruption."
"Now, I will personally deal with the Oración Seis."
Chapter 152: Livestream (6)
Jenny directed the livestream camera to focus on Nate, capturing him with the intense battle between Natsu and Cobra unfolding in the background.
"Hello, viewers! I'll be providing live commentary on the battle!"
She pointed excitedly. "On one side, we have two members of the Oración Seis: Racer and Cobra. Racer has been knocked down by Nate's attack and is temporarily out of action. But Cobra, besides being the Poison Dragon Slayer, also uses sound-based magic. He can hear the thoughts and intentions of anyone around him, allowing him to predict Natsu's every move! It looks like Natsu's at a disadvantage—but don't worry, Nate is here~"
Natsu, hovering in the air, heard her and yelled, "I'm not losing, got that?!"
He clenched his fists, intending to say something to Happy, but Cobra cut him off, his voice smug.
"Happy, take me to full speed. I'll start with Fire Dragon's Roar and come at him from his blind spot!"
Even as the thought crossed his mind, Cobra read it effortlessly, causing Natsu to growl, "That's cheating!"
"I heard everything. It's useless. You won't get close to me," Cobra boasted, standing calmly with his arms crossed.
Unlike Racer, whose magic weakened when exposed, Cobra's sound abilities had no such flaw.
[So he can hear people's thoughts?]
[That's so overpowered! How can Natsu beat that?]
[Come on, Natsu! Show him the spirit of Fairy Tail!]
[What if he tries not thinking about anything?]
[But how can you fight without thinking?]
[Actually, he just needs greater speed and strength to break through.]
Jenny smiled at the comments. "No need to worry. Trust in Nate~"
…
Racer lay on the ground, bleeding and immobilized from Nate's previous attack, which had sent him flying over a hundred meters. The impact had damaged his internal organs, and any movement sent sharp pain through him.
"Don't move, or I'll intervene," a cold voice warned nearby.
Racer glanced sideways, his eyes widening in shock.
"Meredy?"
Why was a member of the Seven Kin of Purgatory here?
Meredy extended her right hand, conjuring a set of crystal-like swords that hovered around her, all aimed at Racer.
"My magic is impossible to defend against, so you'd best stay down," she stated coldly.
…
In the sky, a flash of gold appeared as Nate joined Natsu.
"Need a hand?"
"Huh?" Natsu huffed, "I've got this!"
Nate chuckled. "I'll help, just to make it fair."
He glanced over at Cobra, who looked uneasy. The Wizard Saint Nate—also the creator of Magic Net—was under orders from Brain not to be harmed.
"Want to hear my thoughts?" Nate asked, snapping his fingers. "Too bad."
With a loud 'snap', the air around Cobra trembled violently in a straight path.
'BONG!'
Suddenly, Cobra's ears rang painfully, and blood trickled down.
"Ahhh! My ears!" he cried.
Natsu blinked in surprise.
"His sound magic is gone!" Happy yelled. "This is your chance, Natsu!"
Without hesitation, Natsu nodded.
"Let's go full speed, Happy!"
"Aye, sir!"
With Happy at maximum speed, they charged at Cobra. Natsu's "Fire Dragon's Sword Horn" attack struck Cobra squarely, sending him flying off his serpent companion.
Cobra spat out blood, clutching his damaged ears, and shouted, "Cubellios!"
The purple serpent managed to catch him mid-air, but Cobra gritted his teeth and gave the order to retreat.
"That's enough. Fall back!" he commanded as Cubellios flew away into the forest.
The livestream chat exploded.
[What happened? How did Cobra suddenly get hit?]
[I just saw Nate snap his fingers…]
[What just happened?]
[Jenny, explain!]
"You're asking me? I don't know either!" Jenny laughed awkwardly but kept the excitement alive. "It's all thanks to Nate's magic!"
Meanwhile, Nate became a streak of golden light, instantly catching up to Cobra.
Cubellios came to a screeching halt mid-flight as Cobra, looking terrified, opened his mouth to unleash an attack.
"Poison Dragon's Roar!"
Cobra's cheeks puffed as a red-brown magic circle appeared before his mouth, sending a blast of poison directly at Nate.
Nate observed calmly. This Poison Dragon's Roar was indeed stronger than Natsu's usual attacks.
"Enough with the roars. They just expose how desperate you are."
Nate raised his hand, and the blast disintegrated before it reached him, dissipated by his sheer magic pressure.
Cobra felt a pang of fear. This was the strength of a Wizard Saint. The sheer force of Nate's magic negated his attack entirely.
"Cubellios, get us out of here!" he yelled, realizing he was hopelessly outmatched.
But Nate was unfazed, fanning away the lingering poison.
"Oh, I forgot—you can't hear right now."
With that, Nate turned slightly and sent a punch in Cobra's direction.
'BANG!'
The force of the punch traveled faster than sound, and in less than a second, the shockwave hit Cobra, piercing his chest. He let out a strangled gasp, coughed up blood, and lost consciousness as he plummeted to the forest below.
The livestream captured the entire scene, and for a moment, the chat fell silent.
Then, one comment broke the pause:
[Nate is like a One Punch Hero!]
And the screen quickly filled with similar comments.
Chapter 153: Livestream (7)
As Cobra fell unconscious, the Oración Seis assault officially came to an end.
Shortly afterward, the magic airship ascended into the sky, carrying the Allied Forces toward the Oración Seis headquarters. Cobra, along with the captured members Angel and Racer, was brought on board as a prisoner. The three were placed in a corner on the deck, guarded by Meredy.
Racer couldn't help but glance at his companions. Angel, however, looked completely at ease, cradling a cup of hot tea as she quietly played mahjong by herself, seemingly unfazed by her status as a prisoner.
"You still have the mood to play games?"
"What else am I supposed to do?"
Racer was speechless. Angel's treatment as a prisoner seemed much better than his—she hadn't even had her ring confiscated and was drinking tea comfortably.
Meanwhile, Jenny was still enthusiastically live-streaming, proudly introducing the magic airship they were on.
"This, everyone, is the famous Blue Pegasus Magic Bomber, Christina!"
"Huh? Someone asked if it had just been destroyed?" Jenny seemed puzzled as she read the chat. "Not sure myself, but I think Nate might know."
She paused, then chuckled. "Now we're heading to the Oración Seis base to take down the remaining three members!"
"With a little time before we arrive, let me introduce the Allied Forces fighters." Jenny then dashed over to Ichiya.
"Here he is~~ this is Blue Pegasus's strongest mage, the one and only Ichiya Vandalay Kotobuki! He's also the leader of our guild's task force, Trimens."
"Ichiya, anything you'd like to say to your audience?"
As soon as the camera focused on him, Ichiya adjusted his white suit and struck a charming pose, addressing his audience in his signature smooth voice. "Ichiya, at your service, always here just for you, men!"
Jenny blinked, momentarily at a loss. Despite being in the same guild, sometimes even she struggled to handle Ichiya's self-confidence.
The chat exploded:
[Jenny, can you show us someone else?]
[Ahhh, my eyes! My eyes!]
[If I close my eyes, the voice isn't so bad… ONLY the voice!]
[Where's Nate? I want to see Nate!]
Reading the chat, Jenny rolled her eyes and was about to mention the other "Blue Pegasus hotties" when Ichiya, catching sight of the comments, grinned. "After our recent victory over two more of the Oración Seis, we're now heading toward the remaining members. Be sure to watch for my heroic moves in battle, men~"
Jenny inwardly sighed; she knew it was Nate who had defeated them, but apparently, Ichiya had forgotten the entire sequence of events after being knocked out by Racer.
Elsewhere on the ship, Natsu was bouncing around, full of excitement. "Wendy, your magic really worked—I'm not seasick anymore! Hahaha!"
"That's great…" Wendy replied with a wobbly smile, barely able to stand from her own motion sickness.
"Why can't healing magic work on the caster?" Happy asked.
"Why would it?" Carla scoffed. "Does your Natsu eat his own fire?"
"No," Happy replied instantly.
"Exactly, and the same principle applies to Wendy's magic."
At that moment, Nate approached Wendy, gently patting her on the head in encouragement. "Hang in there; we'll be there soon."
"Nate…," Wendy mumbled, her eyes nearly spinning in dizziness.
Just don't throw up, Nate thought, quickly holding her steady.
As Wendy found herself leaning on him for support, she seemed to feel a bit better. Nate then opened his Magic Net interface, checking the livestream stats.
[Current Viewers: 32,827]
That was about 90% of the entire user base. Nate nodded in satisfaction, feeling he was close to his target of 98.9%.
Suddenly, from the northeast, a surge of ominous magic power rose into the sky.
"Is that… could it be Nirvana?" Hibiki, who was piloting the ship, looked shocked.
The dark energy had a sinister feel, sending chills down the spine of anyone who sensed it.
"Nirvana?"
Nate raised an eyebrow, just as a private message notification popped up. It was from his alt account, which he opened to see:
Leader: "The object has been located, Voldemort!"
Leader: "I assume you're watching the stream?"
Leader: "Soon, the world of light will fall. Sit back and enjoy the show!"
Voldemort: "I just did a fortune reading for you—you're in for some trouble."
The idea of Nirvana, a powerful magic that could invert good and evil, intrigued Nate. "Hibiki, head toward the direction at ten o'clock."
"Understood, Nate!"
With that, Hibiki adjusted Christina's course. The magic airship raced toward the dark light rising on the horizon, quickly covering the distance through its direct path in the air.
Before long, the team reached the source of the sinister energy and gathered on the deck to look below.
"Ultear?" Jenny blinked in surprise, thinking she saw double. "Wait… there are two of her?"
That's her mother, Nate thought, amused. Though the resemblance was striking, anyone who knew them both well enough could tell that Ur was a bit more mature. Then again, confusion was understandable for those unfamiliar with the two.
"They're fighting the Oración Seis." Hibiki's expression grew serious as Jenny quickly adjusted her camera, broadcasting the scene below.
"Looks like we have a front-row seat!"
Hoteye raised his hand and activated the magic of 'Liquid Ground,' his eyes glowing with a golden light.
Instantly, the earth began to soften, becoming pliable like sand, bending under his command.
However, Ultear merely extended her hand toward the enchanted sand, summoning a grayish-silver magic circle that instantly froze the shifting ground, shattering it in an instant.
"Out of my way!" Ultear said coldly. "Your magic is meaningless before my Arc of Time."
Nearby, Ur wielded her 'Sode no Shirayuki' blade as she faced Midnight, her manner noticeably gentler than her daughter's.
"Could you step aside?" she asked politely, "I have some unfinished business with your leader."
Midnight stood still, his eyes fixed on her. "You want to see my father? He's in the process of unsealing Nirvana and can't be interrupted. I'll be your opponent instead."
With a taunting smirk, he beckoned her forward.
In response, Ur unsheathed Sode no Shirayuki—a gift from Nate she hadn't yet used. Testing it on Midnight before confronting Brain seemed appropriate.
"You're Brain's son?" she asked, her face darkening at the thought. "He should never have been allowed to have a child."
Filled with rage over how Brain had deceived her, Ur whispered the magic's release phrase, "Dance, Sode no Shirayuki."
At first, the sword appeared ordinary. But as it absorbed Ur's magic power, it began to emit a brilliant white glow, transforming into a snow-white blade with a long, flowing ribbon attached to the hilt.
'So cold…'
Midnight shivered, surprised to find a thin layer of frost forming on his skin, even from a distance.
…
Up in the air, Jenny live-streamed the intense battle to thousands of viewers.
[Such a beautiful sword!]
[Who is that woman?]
[It's Ur!]
Some viewers recognized Ur, and Nate noticed a familiar name in the comments. 'It has to be Gray,' he thought with a smile.
Chapter 154: Livestream (8), 98.9% Viewers!
At the Fairy Tail Guild Tavern
Gray shot to his feet, eyes fixed on the livestream showing Ur. A look of disbelief spread across his face.
"Ur! She's really alive!"
He recalled the last guild ranking match when Ur had appeared to spar with him. After gauging his abilities, she had yielded and vanished. Later, when he'd asked Nate about it, Nate had simply told him to reach the top rank before revealing the truth. Since the official release of [Magic Arena, Gray had been fighting for ranks whenever he could, now standing at 6 wins and 0 losses—though still stuck in bronze.
Seeing his teacher alive again filled Gray with both shock and joy.
...
Someone else shared his feelings—Lyon.
"Ur! That's my master…Ur!" he muttered, dazed.
How could she be alive? Lyon had witnessed Ur casting the Forbidden Magic, 'Iced Shell'. He had seen Deliora sealed away and had even spent three years on Galuna Island trying to undo the magic.
"Your master?" Ichiya mused. "Ur… that name does sound familiar, men~."
"Master Ichiya, she was a powerful mage from a decade ago. She sealed the northern demon Deliora, causing quite a stir at the time," Hibiki, master of Archive Magic, added.
Ichiya nodded, remembering. "Yes, and Ultear had once mentioned being Ur's daughter. But I thought she had died?"
Ignoring their puzzlement, Nate turned to Jenny, the reporter. "Jenny, make sure you get my best angles. I'm off to handle the leader of the Oración Seis."
With that, Nate transformed into a streak of golden light, shooting toward the dark pillar in the sky. As he arced gracefully through the air, Jenny's camera followed, locking onto him and broadcasting every moment.
"Hibiki, direct Christina to follow him!" she shouted, updating the livestream title to:
[Magic Net Creator vs. Oración Seis Leader—Who Will Win?]
...
Underneath the Black Beam
Brain raised his hands, focusing as he worked to unlock the seal on 'Nirvana'. As a former director of the Bureau of Magical Development, such a seal was a trivial matter to him.
"Hmm?" Sensing something, Brain looked to the sky and saw a golden light approaching at great speed. In moments, Nate landed in front of him.
Brain chuckled as he saw him. "I've wanted to meet you for quite some time, Nate. Your Internet Magic is like a 'Divine Art'—a step into the realm of the Gods."
Nate studied Brain, noting his dark skin, white hair, and robe, his face marked with ominous black tattoos. 'Six Eyes' revealed that Brain's magic power was roughly 5.5 stars, nearly six—a touch stronger than Laxus.
"How long will it take to release Nirvana?" Nate asked.
Brain smirked. "Three minutes."
With a dramatic flourish, he opened his arms, approaching Nate eagerly. "Nate, a talent like yours shouldn't be confined to a mere guild. You belong on a grander stage! In three minutes, Nirvana will be here, and the world will be mine! Join me, and we can reshape it together."
Nate shook his head. "Not interested."
Brain's smile faded. "Why not? What's Fairy Tail got that's worth staying for?"
The guild's warmth? The simple, peaceful life? Makarov's trust? Or maybe… a few pretty faces?
A hundred thoughts ran through Nate's mind, but he simply laughed. "I'm broadcasting this live, Brain. What do you think the audience wants to see?"
"…"
Brain frowned. The clear rejection meant there was no room for negotiation. He would have to use force.
"I won't kill you, but your talent must serve me!" Brain declared, raising his staff as dark green energy gathered in the skull-shaped top.
In an instant, the staff pointed directly at Nate.
'Dark Rondo!'
A whirling wave of dark magic shot forth, but Nate, assessing it with a glance, teleported instantly.
Teleportation magic? Brain quickly sensed the shift in magic energy, swinging his staff to attack Nate's new position on his right side. But Nate had anticipated this, catching Brain's dark magic with his hand.
"What?!" Brain was stunned.
Nate smirked, "You almost managed to track my teleport. Impressive." His left hand shot out, seizing Brain's head.
'It's Breathtaking!'
A powerful surge of force exploded. Brain's body buckled as his head was smashed into the ground, creating a massive crater. Nate looked down at him calmly.
"The audience loves flashy magic," he said. "I heard you developed hundreds of magics while working at the Bureau. Show us something impressive."
Brain freed himself from the ground, backing away as he wiped a trickle of blood from his mouth, his expression grim.
"The title of a Saint isn't just for show, it seems!"
"Come on, something flashy," Nate encouraged. "Otherwise, I might just crush your heart."
Nate extended his right hand in a claw shape, then clenched his fist tightly.
'Grasp Heart!'
Thump, thump, thump—
Brain felt his heart's rhythm halt suddenly, a deadly chill spreading through him.
In a panic, he leapt backward, barely dodging the invisible pressure that had frozen the area where he had been standing moments before. The pent-up energy exploded, sending a powerful shockwave across the terrain.
Cold sweat beaded on Brain's brow. 'What was that magic?'
For a moment, he had genuinely thought he was going to die. Crushed from a distance? How?
In shock, Brain extended his left hand and shouted, "Fine, you wanted flashy magic? Feel the power!"
'Square of Self-Destruction!'
Nate looked up to see a dark green magic circle forming above him, growing larger by the second. 'Six Eyes' instantly deciphered its structure and purpose: to draw in and pulverize everything within its radius, ending in a massive explosion that could level a mountain.
"Nice. I like it," Nate said, sketching a circle in the air. 'Square of Self-Destruction!'
A matching magic circle formed above Brain's head.
"Impossible!" Brain cried. "You copied it… just by watching?!"
He had taught this magic to Jellal before, but that was with hands-on instruction. Jellal had learned it quickly, but Nate—Nate had just watched it once!
Brain could hardly believe it. He snarled, "Die, you arrogant kid!"
Two identical magic circles erupted simultaneously, lighting up the sky with blazing intensity.
The force of the explosion shook 'Christina' in the sky, making the ship tremble violently.
"What… what terrifying power!" Ichiya gasped, gripping the railing.
Everyone gaped at the devastation below, while Jenny made sure to broadcast every detail to the tens of thousands watching the livestream.
When the light faded, all that remained was a massive crater, hundreds of meters wide, exposing the barren earth below.
"Is Nate alright?" Jenny murmured anxiously.
High above the pit, a golden light flickered, and Nate appeared, standing calmly in mid-air, his Saint's robe billowing.
"The only issue with that magic is the slow casting time," Nate mused. "Its power is solid, though."
'Six Eyes' scanned the surroundings, searching for Brain. Just then, a system prompt appeared.
[Bonus Mission: 98.9% viewer engagement achieved!
[Bonus Reward: Base reward x300%.
[Mission complete!]
[Rewards Randomized...Randomization Complete!]
[Zanpakutō: Senbonzakura, Zanpakutō: Murciélago, Zanpakutō: Kyōka Suigetsu]
Chapter 155: Livestream (9)
300% Base Reward — Three Zanpakuto!
Nate grinned, realizing the task had been easier than anticipated. The system had transformed the three Zanpakuto into magical items similar to his 'Sode no Shirayuki.'
Among them, the powers of 'Kyoka Suigetsu' were truly fearsome. Its ability, "Perfect Hypnosis," allowed him to control an opponent's five senses, making them perceive whatever he desired—appearance, texture, even scent. Nate intended to keep this blade for himself.
As for 'Murciélago' and 'Senbonzakura'—both potent, yet more complementary than essential for him—he decided they'd be more useful to strengthen his companions.
"Murciélago could go to Mira. And Senbonzakura..." After a moment's thought, he decided to give it to Erza, whose Requip magic relied heavily on both weapons and armor. This blade would be the perfect boost to her abilities. Having recently received a magical armor set from her, this could serve as the ideal gift in return.
Just then…
A deep rumble sounded from below. Nate looked down as the ground heaved, and a disk-shaped city emerged from beneath the surface. Massive legs extended from its edges, lifting the city like a colossal, crawling creature. The livestream chat erupted with countless comments:
[What is THAT?!]
[An underground city? It looks almost... alive!]
Jenny, ever the professional host, took note of the intense viewer curiosity and explained, "This is 'Nirvana', what the Oración Seis has been seeking—an ancient, forbidden magic that can shift the balance between light and darkness."
[Magic? It looks like a whole city—is it really magic?]
[Light and darkness shifting? What does that even mean?]
Jenny, glancing at the rapid-fire comments, clarified, "Nirvana has the power to transform the virtuous into the wicked and vice versa. In simple terms, it can turn good people bad and bad people good." She explained that it was developed by the Nirvit tribe four centuries ago as a way to maintain balance in a war-torn world. After 400 years, it has resurfaced.
…
At the tower's pinnacle, in Nirvana's central control room, 'Brain' stood with his staff on the platform, gazing over the ancient city before him. He didn't turn around as Nate materialized behind him in a burst of golden light. Arms outstretched, Brain declared, "Behold, Nate! This is Nirvana, a city of ancient civilization."
Brain activated the control system, lighting a circle of golden hexagons around the platform, which culminated in a giant sigil resembling a phoenix at its center.
Nate pushed his Six Eyes to their limit, rapidly analyzing Nirvana's core as he asked, "Are you planning to conquer the world with this?"
Brain chuckled, turning to face Nate. "First, I'll destroy one guild: Cait Shelter."
Nate internally rolled his eyes, amused at Brain's confidence. Did he really think that Nirvana was unstoppable?
"You think you'll succeed?" Nate challenged.
Brain sneered. "Not long ago, I made a pact with Hades, the master of Grimoire Heart." The arrangement was simple: Grimoire Heart would assault the Magic Council, seizing what they wanted while the Oración Seis would take control of Nirvana. With the council in disarray, they wouldn't risk launching an Etherion strike on Nirvana."
He extended his hand. "Nate, I value your skill—join me."
Beneath them, Nirvana began to stride toward the northeastern part of Worth Woodsea, each step spanning an incredible distance.
Nate couldn't help but laugh softly.
"What's so funny?" Brain's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
Without a word, Nate focused magic power into his fist. One star… two stars… three stars!
"Earthquake!"
A thunderous crack resounded as his punch hit the ground, sending tremors like white spiderwebs racing through Nirvana's six massive legs.
"Stop!" Brain shouted, panicked.
But it was too late. The city shook violently as all six legs shattered, causing the disk-shaped metropolis to plummet back to the ground with a resounding crash.
Brain stumbled, nearly falling, and glared at Nate, his eyes bloodshot with fury. "You… you wretch!"
"Time's up for you," Nate said, retracting his Six Eyes, having finished analyzing Nirvana's core. "Thanks—I've gained a bit of new knowledge about magic."
"Requip!"
With a flash of light, Nate summoned a katana into his hand. "Shatter, Kyoka Suigetsu."
Brain, cautiously observing, realized that Nirvana wouldn't be damaged so easily—it had a self-repair mechanism. He still believed he could fend off the assaulting forces and proceed with his plan.
But then…
'Squelch!'
A blade pierced his chest, and only then did Brain's eyes widen in disbelief, pain flooding through him as Nate appeared right in front of him, blade embedded in his torso.
A clone?
Brain looked past Nate, back toward the spot where he'd been standing moments before, now dissolving like burnt paper into ash.
"A… A hypnotic illusion!" he spat, blood trickling from his mouth. This illusion magic was far stronger than anything he had used—there was no hint of it until it was too late.
Nate withdrew Kyoka Suigetsu, flicking the blood from its blade. Brain clutched his wound, his staff clattering to the ground as he staggered back and collapsed.
In the livestream chat:
[?]
[What just happened?!]
[Why did Brain just stand there, waiting to get stabbed?]
[Illusion magic?]
[Is he dead? Is the Oración Seis completely done for?]
Nate paid no attention to the flood of comments. His mission was complete, so the broadcast no longer mattered.
He glanced at Brain's fallen staff, chuckling. "It's common knowledge that whenever there's a 'Four,' there's always a fifth, right? So why wouldn't the Oración Seis have a seventh?"
With that, Nate raised his foot and stomped on the skull at the top of the staff.
'Bang!'
Startled, the staff jerked back, hovering in the air as its green crystal eyes glowed nervously. "Wait! Wait!"
In a panic, the staff's voice echoed from its skeletal head, "Nate-san, I'm innocent! I swear, I'm not some hidden seventh member!"
Chapter 156: Livestream (last), NPCs?
Brain's staff was considered the unofficial "seventh member" of the Oración Seis, though it never acknowledged this itself. In the magic world, it's not unusual for creatures and objects to speak — even a staff.
"Mercy, please!" The staff bowed desperately, bending low, its skull head clanking against the ground with a series of loud thuds.
"I remember you serving as the strategist for the Oración Seis," Nate remarked, grabbing the staff firmly. He couldn't quite recall its name; it wasn't exactly powerful, after all.
"No, never! I'm just a poor, trapped soul sealed within the staff, known as Klodoa! Master Nate, please spare me!" Klodoa pleaded in a panicked tone.
Nate chuckled. "You're not still holding out hope that Brain will break your seal and that his other personality will awaken, allowing you all to make a comeback, are you?"
At this, Klodoa fell silent, realizing Nate had seen through everything.
Brain wasn't the true leader of the Oración Seis; that role belonged to his alternate personality, "Zero." Zero was far stronger than Brain, with a level of magic power that rivaled the Wizard Saints. He could even be a match for Nate himself, the newest Wizard Saint. If Zero could awaken, there might still be a slim chance to turn the tables.
"He's dead. He won't be awakening," Nate said flatly, pushing the staff's skull face down toward Brain's lifeless body.
Klodoa's spirit shuddered as it finally took in Brain's condition. Brain lay on the ground, staring lifelessly up at the ceiling, his left hand gripping a stab wound in his chest.
"He's... dead? Impossible! Just one stab to the chest shouldn't be fatal! But… Brain's soul… it's gone!"
Klodoa's shock was cut short as Nate squeezed the skull, shattering it in his hand.
Just then, a magic airship, Christina, descended from the sky, and everyone gathered in the main hall. Jenny pointed her live-stream camera directly at Brain's face.
"Dear viewers, the leader of the Oración Seis is… sleeping peacefully," she announced.
[Uh, he's definitely dead, right?]
[Jenny, I think your understanding of 'sleeping' might be off…]
[As expected of the Magic Net's Creator, Nate-sama! The Oración Seis leader didn't stand a chance!]
The screen filled with celebratory comments, along with many fan messages professing their love for Nate.
Natsu and the others approached Nate as Carla, who was flying nearby, asked in confusion, "Why would Brain want to control Nirvana and attack Wendy's guild?"
Because, Nate thought with some amusement, Nirvana was created by your guild master... it just turned out to be more powerful and disastrous than expected.
"Ask your guild master," Nate replied, patting Jenny on the shoulder and gesturing toward the camera.
Smiling at the endless stream of congratulatory comments in the chat, Nate said, "Hello, everyone. I'm Nate."
"To the Magic Council members watching this broadcast, please send a cleanup crew."
"That concludes today's broadcast. See you next time!"
Whether or not there would be a "next time," Nate wasn't sure, but he decided to keep the audience hopeful.
After ending the live stream, Nate thanked Jenny. "Thanks for all your help, Jenny."
"No need to thank me! I actually found it a lot of fun. Will the broadcast feature be added in future updates?" Jenny asked, her face lighting up with excitement. She loved being in the spotlight, and when Magic Net's updates rolled out, she was determined to try live streaming again.
"Version 0.7 will be released soon," Nate replied, adding, "There'll also be a significant interface update. The forum-style layout is starting to feel outdated with all the new features."
"Can't wait to see it!" Jenny beamed.
At that moment, Lyon interjected, "By the way, Nate, there are still two Oración Seis members we haven't dealt with and Ur!"
"You all stay here and wait for the Council's cleanup team. I'll go check," Nate said before shooting off in a flash of golden light.
…
When he arrived near Ur and Ultear, he found that the battle was just finishing. Ultear had defeated Hoteye, while Ur had frozen Midnight with a single slash.
"Nate!" Both women greeted him warmly.
Nate said, "Brain is dead. Sorry I didn't leave you a chance to settle things yourselves."
Upon hearing of Brain's death, Ultear and Ur exchanged glances. Ultear stepped forward, affectionately looping her arm through Nate's.
"Thank you, darling, for avenging both me and Ur," she said, her tone playful but sincere. Though she would have liked to land the final blow herself, her boyfriend doing it for her was almost as satisfying.
"And thank you for bringing Ur back to life!"
With that, Ultear wrapped her arms around Nate's neck and gave him a warm kiss, right in front of her mother.
Nate thought, 'Your mom's watching, you know...' He chuckled inwardly, glad there was no live stream to capture the moment. He returned Ultear's kiss, placing a hand around her waist.
Ur simply looked on with a gentle smile, saying nothing to interrupt. In truth, she had known for quite some time about Ultear and Nate's relationship. She and her daughter often chatted on the Magic Net; there was no way she wouldn't know.
After a minute, Ur, hands on her hips, cleared her throat. "Alright, don't you think you two could save the affection for private?"
Ultear squeaked in surprise, pulling away from Nate with a flushed face, momentarily forgetting her mother's presence.
"M-mom!" she said, blushing furiously.
Nate realized that Ur seemed entirely unsurprised by their relationship. Thinking back, he realized that her earlier remarks about "offering herself" must have been a joke.
Turning to Ur with suspicion, he asked, "You knew all along, didn't you?"
Ur caught his eye and smirked. "I did."
"So, when you joked about... offering yourself, was that just to mess with me?"
Ur laughed, "You got it. Now, can you send me back to the Deep Web?"
"Already?" Nate asked, surprised. "You're free to move in the outside world now."
"I like that place. I'd like to stay there a bit longer," Ur replied, smiling. "Not welcoming me back?"
"Don't you want to see Lyon?" Nate asked.
"He's grown up; he doesn't need me," Ur replied lightly. "Now hurry, before others show up."
Nate granted her access to the Deep Web, and in an instant, she vanished, though her weapon remained behind. Spirit bodies could enter the Deep Web, but physical items couldn't.
As he picked up the Zanpakuto, he turned to Ultear and asked, "So, when did your mom find out about us?"
"Quite a while ago," Ultear replied with a mischievous grin. "Right after you whisked me away to that hotel."
'Was that a trick?' Nate thought, feeling as though he had been played.
"Alright, let's haul these two out of here," he said, glancing at the unconscious Hoteye and the frozen Midnight.
Ultear promptly refused. "No way! You do it yourself. I only let my little brother touch me," she teased.
Nate could only sigh, suspecting she just wanted to avoid the heavy lifting. He created a thought projection to help carry the bodies back to the airship.
All six of the Oración Seis had been dealt with:
Angel: captured.
Racer: captured.
Cobra: severely wounded, unconscious.
Hoteye: unconscious.
Midnight: frozen and unconscious.
Brain: dead.
…
By evening, the Magic Council's Enforcement Unit arrived. After thanking Nate and the others for their help, they took custody of the Oración Seis.
Afterward, the group boarded Christina and headed to Wendy and Carla's guild, 'Cait Shelter'.
Inside the ship's lounge, Nate closed his eyes, his consciousness diving into the Deep Web.
…
In a dark, empty space, Brain opened his eyes.
"Where... am I?"
His staff, Klodoa, also awakened nearby.
"This is the 'Soul Cage.'"
A male voice echoed in the void, and Nate materialized before them. With a wave, the darkness peeled back to reveal a prison constructed from streams of zeroes and ones, confining Brain and Klodoa separately.
"Nate!" Brain looked down to touch his chest but found no wound. He was here as a soul, not a body.
"No need to be alarmed," Nate smiled. "Consider this the talent pool for NPCs in my games. Enjoy your stay."
"Game? What do you mean?"
Brain tried to ask more, but Nate disappeared, leaving them in the surreal emptiness of their new prison. Brain's heart sank.
Chapter 157: Arriving at Cait Shelter
Killing Brain and imprisoning his soul had been a casual decision for Nate. He figured that in the future, he might develop larger games, and having NPCs with fixed personalities could prove useful.
"For now, I'll keep him locked up for a while," he thought, leaving the 'Soul Cage'. With a thought, he transported himself to the snowy world where Ur lived.
Amid the endless snow and ice, a small wooden cabin stood alone, quiet and isolated. Snowflakes drifted softly from the sky, glittering like countless silver particles, blanketing the ground in pristine white.
Nate was curious about what Ur had mentioned earlier—something about "devoting herself completely." He had to find out exactly what she meant; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.
He walked up to the front of the cabin, stepping carefully through the snow, and opened the door. But the cabin was empty. Ur was nowhere in sight.
"Where did she go?" he murmured.
His gaze swept the room until he noticed the back door, slightly ajar. Curious, he walked over and opened it, finding himself in the small yard behind the cabin.
In the yard, there was an open-air hot spring surrounded by a border of smooth river stones. The contrast was striking—the gentle snowfall overhead and the steaming hot spring below.
Ur was relaxing in the hot spring, her head resting on a stone, a small white towel atop her head. She seemed utterly at ease.
Because her back was turned to him, she didn't notice his arrival until she heard footsteps approaching. Turning her head with a slight smile, she asked, "Oh? You're here! Care to join me in the hot spring?"
"A hot spring in the middle of a snowfall… quite an unusual preference you have."
Nate was momentarily speechless. He didn't recall creating an open-air hot spring for Ur—had she done this on her own?
"It's very relaxing! Come on in~"
Ur smiled and reached over to pull Nate in. He noticed that, unsurprisingly, she was unclothed; after all, who wears anything in a hot spring?
Suddenly, he found himself being tugged into the warm water. To his surprise, bathing in a hot spring amidst falling snow did have a unique charm.
The water was a little warmer than his body temperature, creating an interesting sensation—warm below, with a hint of chill above.
With a thought, Nate let his clothes disappear, and he settled beside Ur, soaking in the snowy atmosphere.
"It really is comfortable."
Ur chuckled, "I used to do this a lot when I was training in Ice-Make magic. It's a great way to relieve fatigue, and it even helps with practice."
"Did you make this hot spring yourself?"
"Of course. Just finished it earlier. I'd only just started soaking when you arrived."
After a pause, she smiled brightly. "As a ghost, I couldn't do this, but now that I'm alive again, I'm determined to enjoy snow-covered hot springs as much as possible."
"You seem to know how to enjoy yourself." Nate considered this, knowing it was all simulated by the deep network. "Next time, we could experience a real snow-covered hot spring outside."
"Sounds great. Let's go together."
Ur's gaze sparkled, like blossoming flowers, as she shuffled closer to him, their shoulders touching.
"Why did you come to see me…?" She pretended to think, playfully inching even closer until their arms brushed and he could feel her warmth.
"When does my beautiful sensei plan on 'devoting herself completely'?"
Ur let out a laugh, clearly amused by Nate's straightforwardness. "I already knew about you and Ultear, and I know about Juvia, too. Ultear told me everything—I was just pretending not to know."
"You're serious?"
Ur's expression softened as she whispered, "You've been so good to me… how else can I repay you?"
Then she shifted, straddling his lap, her arms looping around his neck as they sat face to face.
"But let's keep it between us," she whispered, a shy yet mischievous smile lighting up her face.
Nate was momentarily shocked.
"Do you really not mind that I'm a bit… let's say, complicated?" he asked.
Ur looked at him seriously, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "You're a good man, Nate."
She hesitated and then said softly, "But I want our first time to be in the real world, alright?"
"Then why sit on my lap like this…?"
"You can kiss me," she replied, closing her eyes.
"Can I… touch, too?" he asked.
She opened her eyes, glancing at him with gentle reproach. "Just remember—this is our secret."
Nate chuckled, pulling her closer. He wouldn't forget.
...
On the airship 'Christina', in the lounge, Jenny walked in carrying a tray of fruit juice. Seeing Nate resting on the sofa, she tiptoed over, carefully placing the juice down.
She wondered, 'He did almost everything in the fight against the Oración Seis. He must be exhausted. Is he dreaming? A pleasant dream?'
As she stood to leave, Nate opened his eyes.
"Thank you."
"Oh! I didn't mean to wake you…"
Nate couldn't help but think, 'Not your fault—I was forced out…'
"It's fine. I've had enough rest," he replied, reaching for the juice and taking a sip.
He then opened the Magic Net's programming tool. The streaming function was fully tested and running smoothly, though its high magic energy consumption was a concern.
Previously, he had set it up so that those with more magic contributed more energy, while those with less contributed less, just enough to keep it running. But this approach wasn't yielding any magic points.
Jenny, who'd been watching, was curious.
"What are you working on?"
"Improving the live-stream feature."
"Making it so people can give rewards during a stream."
Intrigued, Nate explained the concept, and Jenny's eyes lit up.
"Can it make money?"
"Possibly… So, you think people would give tips?"
"Definitely!" she nodded enthusiastically. "Do you know how valuable Magic Net points are now?"
Hearing this, Nate decided to integrate a reward system into the streaming function, using points instead of cash. With a bit of added code, he could let people show their appreciation through tips.
An hour later, Ichiya entered the lounge, announcing that they had arrived at the Cait Shelter Guild.
Chapter 158: The Truth, New Members?
Following Nate onto the deck, he saw that everyone else was already gathered there.
Lyon looked at Nate with hesitation.
"You want to ask about Ur's whereabouts, don't you?" Nate could see the question written on his face.
After a moment, Lyon replied, "Your master said you've already graduated from her teachings."
"She often plays [Magic Arena]. If you reach the King rank, you might even get matched up with her."
King rank?
Lyon's gaze sharpened. Only two hundred people could hold that rank, with spots fixed so that one could advance only if another fell. As it stood, there wasn't even a single mage at the Gold rank yet, let alone King. But Lyon was determined; he felt certain he'd make it there eventually.
"I understand. I'll reach King rank," he said with determination, choosing not to press Nate further about Ur. His new resolve was to surpass his master by facing her himself in the arena.
The group disembarked from the airship, where members of Cait Shelter awaited them below.
Wendy, one of their own, cheerfully introduced everyone. "This whole village is our guild, Cait Shelter."
"It's a small guild," she explained, "so we don't get major requests, but we're known for our textile products!" Her voice brimmed with pride as she spoke of her home of seven years.
The guild master, Roubaul, stood before them with his hands clasped behind his back, his posture slightly bent with age.
"Fairy Tail, Lamia Scale, Blue Pegasus, and dear Wendy and Carla…" Roubaul began. "Thank you all for defeating the Oración Seis and stopping Nirvana. On behalf of the regional guild alliance, I offer you my deepest gratitude!"
Nate smiled and observed Cait Shelter's members with his Six Eyes. As he suspected, they were all projections, created entirely from Roubaul's memories.
Ichiya stepped forward, his rich voice captivating, "Master Roubaul, this victory against the Oración Seis wasn't an easy feat. But through the strength of friendship among comrades, we triumphed!"
His three 'brothers' from Blue Pegasus clapped in support, each one calling him "teacher," "brother," or "master" in turn.
Carla rolled her eyes. "Why do they keep calling him different titles?"
Ultear chuckled softly. "He's really taking all the credit for himself."
Nate watched with a faint smile, amused by the show.
And Ichiya wasn't finished.
Each word was punctuated by the chorusing cheers of his team, and soon he had even roped in Wendy and Happy, who clapped along to the dance until Wendy turned red with embarrassment. The guild members of Cait Shelter, however, remained impassive.
The energetic atmosphere cooled as Roubaul cleared his throat.
"Everyone," he began gravely, "you must have many questions about Nirvana and the Nirvit Tribe."
The playful mood was replaced by solemnity.
Ichiya's tone grew serious. "Yes, why was Cait Shelter the Oración Seis' first target after they acquired Nirvana?"
There were closer guilds between Worth Woodeea and Cait Shelter's northeast edge, such as Blue Pegasus, but they had chosen to target Cait Shelter first.
Roubaul, sighing heavily, replied, "I apologize sincerely for all of this."
Natsu scratched his head. "Doesn't bother us at all, right, Happy, Nate, and Ultear?"
Happy gave an enthusiastic "Aye!"
Ultear looked at Nate knowingly, sensing the truth as he did, while Wendy offered a gentle smile. "Master, I'm not bothered either."
Roubaul's expression softened with affection as he gave Wendy a long, meaningful look. "What I have to say… concerns you, Wendy."
The look in his eyes made Wendy feel uneasy.
Then Roubaul turned to Nate. "Sir Nate, once you've heard what I have to say, I'll have a favor to ask of you."
Nate nodded. "I can tell right away that you're a spirit. And I sense you've reached your limit."
The others were surprised by his revelation.
Roubaul shook his head. "There's no need for you to help me, Sir Nate."
"To see mages of your talent rise in this age reassures me that Nirvana will not fall into evil hands."
Nate had nothing to say. He didn't want to interfere, save for his live streaming task. With or without him, other Wizard Saints would handle Nirvana. Brain's plans to act as judge over light and dark were nothing but fantasy.
"Please, let me explain."
Though Nate already knew, the others listened in stunned silence as Roubaul revealed everything.
First, Roubaul was not a descendant of the Nirvit Tribe—he was one of them.
Second, he had created Nirvana four hundred years ago.
Third, he intended it to prevent war, but the powerful magic had a dark side.
"The more darkness Nirvana turns into light, the more darkness it stores," he explained. "And that darkness… eventually turned inward upon my people, the Nirvit Tribe."
Roubaul was the only one left. "My body vanished long ago. I exist now only as a spirit, redeeming myself… or perhaps waiting for someone to destroy Nirvana once and for all."
He looked at Nate and smiled as if freed. "My task is finally complete…"
Nate felt a pang of understanding. A person could live so long that they welcomed the end.
Roubaul had the option to continue existing, but he declined it.
"Master…" Wendy's voice trembled, seeing faint particles of light drifting from Roubaul's form.
"Don't be sad, Wendy," Roubaul reassured her.
With him went all the spirits he'd created over the years, each one leaving a parting smile for Wendy and Carla.
Tears streamed down Wendy's face as each member disappeared. "No! Don't go, please! I love this guild… I love everyone!"
Nothing could stop it.
As Roubaul himself began to fade, he explained the last hidden truth. "I've kept something from you, Wendy. Seven years ago, a young man named Jellal brought you to me."
"He looked at you with sincere eyes, and I couldn't refuse. But Wendy, he wasn't the Jellal of this world. I believe he was from another."
With a final kind smile, Roubaul whispered his goodbye. "Live happily with true friends, Wendy and Carla. Farewell."
The last of him dissolved into particles, returning to the ether.
"No!" Wendy's heart-wrenching cries filled the silence.
Nate knew Roubaul wouldn't accept help, and he couldn't force him to stay in the mortal world. He knelt by Wendy and gently patted her head. "He's gone to a better place, Wendy. One day, you'll see him again."
"Really?"
"Really." Nate nodded, speaking sincerely. He wasn't lying—he believed in the spirit realm beyond this world.
After Roubaul disappeared, Cait Shelter dissolved as well. Wendy and Carla returned to Blue Pegasus' ship with them, saying tearful goodbyes to the home and family they had known.
The ship made a stop at Lamia Scale the next day, leaving Lyon and Sherry before finally reaching Magnolia.
Back at Fairy Tail, the guild threw a lively celebration to welcome them back.
The next morning, Master Makarov introduced two new members:
"Everyone, this is Wendy, and this is Carla."
"Hello, everyone…"
Beside Makarov, Gajeel spoke up awkwardly. "I'm Gajeel the Iron Dragon. Nice to meet you all."
Chapter 159: When a guy kisses a girl, his hands tend to wander
The guild had learned about the situation with Cait Shelter during last night's celebration, so no one was surprised to see Wendy and Carla joining them.
However, Natsu's reaction to Gajeel's arrival caught everyone off guard.
"Gajeel!"
"Well, well, the Fire Dragon. We meet again," Gajeel grinned.
Having once caused damage to Fairy Tail, joining the guild now felt a bit awkward for him. But seeing Natsu all fired up actually felt familiar—and maybe even a bit comforting.
"Why is Gajeel from Phantom Lord here?"
Everyone turned to look at Master Makarov, who chuckled warmly and explained, "After last night's party, I noticed this guy lurking around nearby, so I brought him in."
"Old man…"
Natsu clenched his fists, flames flickering around his throat.
"Calm down, Natsu," Makarov said, hands behind his back. "Phantom Lord has disbanded. Let's leave the past in the past."
"No matter what you say, old man, I'm not accepting him without a fight!" Natsu leapt forward, aiming a "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist" straight at Gajeel.
"Gajeel!"
"Do you really think I'm just going to stand here and let you hit me, Fire Dragon?" Gajeel smirked, launching his own counterattack with "Iron Dragon Sword."
The two immediately began brawling with full intensity.
Seeing this, a few of the other members couldn't resist joining in. They couldn't let a new recruit act so cocky, after all.
"Partial Takeover: Beast Arm!" Elfman shouted, raising his right arm. "Natsu, I'll back you up!"
"Can you guys take it outside? So noisy…" Gray muttered, casually removing his shirt and cracking his knuckles, his ice magic chilling the air.
Macao rose from his seat, casting a magic circle in his palm and shooting out purple flames. "Purple Rain!"
Wakaba joined in, blowing smoke rings that morphed into fists. "Smoke Crush!"
The peaceful morning shattered as the guild erupted into an all-out brawl, with magic flying in every direction.
Makarov's mustache twitched with annoyance as he considered transforming into a giant to get these kids under control. But then he thought of something and sighed, "I'll leave this to you, Ultear."
Having someone in the guild who could control time was incredibly convenient.
"Leave it to me, Master," Ultear replied with a smile.
Wendy, watching the chaotic battle, was a bit shaken. "Ah, they're going to get hurt!"
Happy, entirely unfazed, sighed, "Aye… it happens all the time."
"This is one seriously noisy guild," Carla muttered, looking exasperated.
Mirajane covered her cheek with one hand. "Oh dear, it's happening again."
Just then, a chair came flying out of nowhere, aimed at the bar. Nate caught it by one of its legs just in time.
"Mira, do you have some weird ability that attracts flying objects?" he asked, amused.
Mirajane laughed, covering her face a bit sheepishly. These things did seem to happen to her more often than she liked to admit.
…
As Natsu and the others continued their brawl with full enthusiasm, exchanging blows and kicks that landed with solid impact, the guild hall was in chaos. "You're all more destructive than a pack of huskies," Nate thought to himself. Staying out of the scuffle, he realized that if he joined in, a single punch might reduce the guild to rubble.
Finding the noisy guild hall unsuitable for coding, Nate returned to his apartment, where he planned to work on version 0.7 updates. Along with the main feature, a live-streaming section, there were plenty of minor adjustments to make.
Time flew as he wrote code. By noon, a knock sounded at his door.
"Come in," he called, pausing his work. Seeing Lucy enter in a black-and-white maid outfit made him chuckle.
"Today's the maid version of Lucy, huh?"
Looking as cute as ever, Lucy skillfully placed a prepared lunch on his table.
"I didn't see you at the guild, so I guessed you'd be here working away. But no skipping lunch!" she chided, adding, "Really, without me looking after you, I'm sure you'd end up with stomach trouble."
"Yes, yes, such a caring helper," Nate thought, amused as he picked up his chopsticks.
"Oh, wait!" Just as he was about to dig in, he remembered something and looked up at her. "Is that 200,000-Jewel kiss deal still valid?"
"Huh?" Lucy's face flushed instantly. She gave a flustered huff, "N-no way! That was just a joke!"
"Really? So, my gift was just a joke too then." Nate sighed in mock disappointment. "What a shame—I went to all that trouble finding a super magic that would suit you."
A super magic?
Lucy's eyes widened, momentarily glaring at him in annoyance. "How could he just tease me like that?" she wondered. And yet… if that gift really was some super magic, she kind of wanted it…
Lucy hesitated, her face flushed as she mumbled, "A… kiss… but you can't tell anyone!" She imagined people finding out she had sold a kiss to pay her debt—it'd be too humiliating!
Nate smiled inwardly at her shyness, setting down his chopsticks as he leaned closer. "Then this'll just be our little secret."
As his hands cupped her cheeks, he said softly, "Ready?"
Lucy's nervous excitement got the better of her; she shut her eyes tightly, her whole posture frozen, save for the slight tremble of her lips.
Chuckling softly at her reaction, Nate leaned down, pressing his lips against hers.
At that moment, Lucy felt a wave of warmth and an unexpected feeling of comfort. Her first kiss had taken her by surprise, but this time she was fully aware of the experience. The sensation from his lips seemed to fill every corner of her mind.
"So, kissing a boy can feel this nice?" she wondered dreamily, "Or is it just because it's Nate?"
Lost in thought, Lucy suddenly felt his hand wander, giving her chest a gentle squeeze.
"Ah!" she gasped, pushing him back with an embarrassed expression as she clutched her chest. "What was that for?!"
"Believe it or not, that was my hand moving on its own," Nate joked, scratching his head. "When a guy kisses a girl, sometimes his hand just… wanders."
"Yeah, right! Baka Nate!" she huffed, her face flaming as she retreated to the door in a flustered exit.
Amused, Nate watched her flee. "She's pretty adorable when she's shy," he thought.
Moments later, a message notification popped up from her on the Magic Net.
Gotta Earn Money: "Left It's 38,697,000J now!"
"Of course she'd remember to deduct her lunch! So was that shyness all just an act?" Nate laughed and typed back.
Sigma Male: "Alright, let's deduct another 5,000 for today's kiss."
Gotta Earn Money: "But you touched my chest! Add another 10,000!"
Sigma Male: "I only touched one side. That's just 5,000."
Gotta Earn Money: "Shut up, you idiot!"
Nate chuckled, noting that her remaining debt was now exactly 38,597,000J.
After finishing lunch, he thought, "Thanks to my supervision, her cooking has improved a lot."
"Wonder if she'll be back for dinner," he mused, shaking his head as he resumed coding.
By evening, Nate had completed the updates. After carefully reviewing the new version, he published it along with an announcement.
[Internet Magic Alpha 0.7 Update Announcement]
Chapter 160: 0.7 Magic Net Update
[Magic Net Alpha Version 0.7 Update Announcement]
1. Added a new feature to the Magic Net: [Magic Net Live Streaming].
2. Introduced [Video Chat] functionality.
3. Added a [Friendly Battle] mode to the [Magic Arena, allowing players to invite friends for battles without affecting rank points for the room host.
4. Enhanced the Magic Net login interface for a more visually pleasing experience.
5. Resolved issues in [Magic Net Express Delivery, so no need to worry about receiving [Explosive Lacrimas] unexpectedly.
6. Addressed long wait times in the [Magic Arena] queue, which is now functioning normally.
…
Most mages earn their living by completing guild requests, but Jenny Realight doesn't need to. As the poster girl of Blue Pegasus, she doesn't take on guild tasks yet still receives a base salary as a staff member. Additionally, as a top model for 'Sorcerer Weekly', she frequently gets promotional requests from fashion brands to showcase new trendy outfits. So, Jenny never lacks funds.
Instead of living in the girls' dormitory at Blue Pegasus, she purchased a three-bedroom apartment nearby.
Currently at Jenny's home...
Fresh out of the shower, wrapped in a towel, Jenny sliced a plate of fruit in her open kitchen to enjoy before bed. On the counter, her Magic Net interface was open, showing her ongoing chat with her friend, Mirajane.
Suddenly, her Magic Net connection cut out.
Rather than being frustrated, Jenny smiled in excitement.
"Did Nate push a new update?"
Sure enough, when she reconnected, the version update announcement appeared.
She carefully read through it, particularly interested in the new features.
"So many new things! We can live stream now?"
Closing the announcement, she quickly noticed that the interface had changed.
Instead of going directly to the forum, she was greeted by a [Desktop Interface].
It felt like sitting at a magic workstation, with various magic items spread across the desk, each representing a different feature.
For example, a crystal ball labeled [Magic Net Live] sat in the upper right corner, while a bookshelf filled with books represented the [Library].
In the lower right corner, a cute penguin icon opened [Friends].
Exploring the interface thoroughly, Jenny couldn't help but laugh, amused and pleased with the improvements.
"It's so much more visually appealing. Using Magic Net now feels like sitting at a desk full of magic items. Each item represents a different feature."
What really caught her interest, though, was the live streaming feature.
Jenny clicked the crystal ball and entered the live streaming section. As the update was fresh, no streams were live yet.
"I'll be the first to try this!"
Glancing down, she noticed her bare toes peeking out from under her towel—clearly not ideal for a first stream.
Setting down her fruit knife, she hurried to her bedroom, changed into a red evening gown, and set up in her living room, eager to explore live streaming.
Of course, she made sure to message Nate right away.
…
Upon completing the 0.7 update, Nate finally let out a sigh of relief.
After sitting for so long, he stretched with a satisfied hum.
"All that's left now is finishing the magic app!"
Just as he was about to head next door to have dinner with Lucy, he noticed a notification from his friends. Several messages were waiting.
Levy, Juvia, Erza, Cana, and Jenny…
All from the girls.
Juvia's message was her usual nighttime check-in, complete with a cute photo of herself in a nightgown. Erza had sent a message encouraging him to rest well after his hard work.
He replied to both, taking the time to respond thoughtfully.
By the time he finished, half an hour had passed. Reassured, he moved on to the rest of his messages.
Levy: "Master, this update is amazing! We can even video chat now!"
Levy: "I tried it out with Lucy—it's working great!"
Sigma Male: "What were you talking about?"
Levy: "Our writing! Lucy's working on a novel. I'm really eager to read it, but she wants to finish it first."
Lucy writing a novel? Nate vaguely remembered something like that.
An idea struck him.
Sigma Male: "You've been learning to code for a while now, right? Here's your next assignment."
Levy: "I barely know anything! "
Sigma Male: "Don't underestimate yourself! Try building a function where writers can publish their novels on the Magic Net."
Levy: "!"
Levy: "Got it, Master! I'll work hard! "
A diligent apprentice was truly useful.
Nate chuckled and moved on to the next message.
Cana had said she'd been feeling restless lately and wanted a drinking buddy.
Drinking with her, though, was risky...
He replied to ask what was bothering her, but she must have already fallen asleep—likely passed out from drinking—as there was no response.
Finally, he got to Jenny's messages.
Jenny: "Nate, I'm live right now!"
Jenny: "Come check it out!"
Jenny: "I see you're online! If you don't answer, you're a puppy! "
Live? Intrigued, Nate opened up the streaming section, surprised by what he saw.
In just half an hour, there were already over twenty live streams active.
Not only that, but they had a good number of viewers, some streams attracting dozens, while others had over a thousand.
Unsurprisingly, Jenny Realight's stream was the most popular, with over three thousand viewers.
The number was genuine, too; Nate hadn't added any artificial boosters.
"Maybe she's still riding the wave of popularity from when she live-streamed the Oración Seis showdown?"
With curiosity piqued, Nate clicked into Jenny's stream.
Jenny was happily greeting her audience, smiling warmly.
Noticing her background, he saw she was streaming from her living room couch.
Jenny looked stunning on camera, dressed in a red evening gown with a flawless, sophisticated look.
"Good evening, everyone! I'm Jenny Realight, mage of Blue Pegasus," she announced cheerfully.
"If you have any tasks or requests, you can head to the Blue Pegasus section on the Magic Net and submit them online. It's super convenient~"
Promoting her guild in the middle of the night?
Nate chuckled—only Jenny would think to turn her livestream into a guild ad.
After looking at her gift leaderboard, he noticed it was empty.
"Not a single gift? Poor Jenny," he thought. "Is it because people are too stingy with their points?"
Amused, he clicked on the gift tab, selected the most expensive one, and hit send.
Immediately, a dazzling special effect of holy light spread across the screen amid the chat.
[User "Sigma Male" sent a Super Magic Gift: Fairy Law!]
The sudden effect stunned the viewers, and Jenny's eyes went wide with surprise.
"A super magic gift?" she said, delighted. "That's a thousand points!"
The chat erupted.
[That's ten days' worth of sign-in points!]
[You could sell those points for so much!]
[Sigma Male? Nate!?]
It didn't take long for the audience to realize who Sigma Male was.
Suddenly, the screen filled with messages like, "I want one too!" and "Nate, send me one too!"
Amused, Nate thought he might need a side account for future streams.
Seeing Jenny's stunned reaction, he couldn't resist teasing her.
Sigma Male: "Streamer-chan, aren't you going to thank your top fan? "
/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 70 Chapters Ahead of Others!