Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Ur vs Gray, Mirajane's Past
The information displayed on the large screen left the spectators in shock.
"So, the arena can actually be destroyed?"
Then, they witnessed an astonishing sight. It was as if time had reversed—the entire [Volcano Arena] rapidly restored itself. The collapsed volcano reformed, and the lava flowed back to its original state. Everything returned to how it was at the beginning.
[Map Restored]
The message appeared on the screen, snapping everyone back to reality.
"No wonder it's a game world—it just resets like that. Incredible!"
"Now I really want to try destroying a map myself."
"Can we break through the Sky Island beneath our feet too?"
"Should we try digging? Maybe we can dig through it!"
Nate had just returned to Sky Island from the [Volcano Arena] when he overheard the others excitedly discussing breaking the map.
The phrase "Three men make a tiger" certainly applied to the members of Fairy Tail, especially considering how many of them there were.
"Digging through the map? Stop it, you fools! Fixing the map uses up reserve magic!" Nate thought, feeling exasperated. Testing is indeed necessary—you can never predict what kind of wild ideas players might come up with. It seems like the durability of the maps needs to be strengthened after all.
"Nate, congratulations on advancing."
At that moment, Mirajane approached him. Nate turned to see her with a warm smile, and immediately forgot about the crazy plans to destroy the map.
"Good morning, Mira."
Mirajane shook her head, her tone slightly reproachful.
"I've been sitting out since the first round, advancing without playing a single match, and now I'm in the top 32. This must be your doing, right?"
Nate admitted, "Yes, it was me."
'When you have power, you can do as you please,' he thought.
"Why did you go out of your way to do this?" Mirajane asked, looking a bit helpless. "Are you planning to carry me all the way to the top 10?"
She had finally mustered the courage to participate, only to realize that Nate's favoritism had taken away any challenge. She felt a bit discouraged.
"Why not aim higher, like the championship?" Nate teased.
Mirajane replied, "Now that we're down to 32 participants, you won't be able to let me sit this one out."
"Is that so? Let me show you a little magic."
Nate glanced up at the screen, where the matchmaking system was running. He raised his right hand and snapped his fingers.
Snap.
[Beach Arena]: Gray vs. Ur!
Mirajane followed his gaze, her expression puzzled. As the guild's icon, she could name nearly every member, but...
"Who's Ur?" she asked, wide-eyed and confused.
"You added a new player at the last minute?"
Nate chuckled. "That's where you're mistaken. Who said participants must be 'people'?"
A smile tugged at the corner of Nate's lips. "Congratulations, Mira. Lady Luck is on your side—you get another round off."
Mirajane rolled her eyes, half-amused and half-frustrated. "You... What am I supposed to do with you?"
Nate shook his head. "Relax, Mira. This is just a game. No one gets hurt, no one dies here."
Mirajane's expression shifted. "You know, don't you?"
"I heard a bit from others."
"Hmm… would you like to take a walk with me?"
Mirajane took a deep breath and turned to walk toward a quieter area. It seemed like she was finally ready to open up to him. Nate thought to himself that this interaction might raise his "relationship progress" by 10 percent. Without hesitation, he followed her.
Meanwhile, as the new matchups appeared on the screen, the spectators grew curious.
"Gray vs. Ur?"
"Who's Ur? Is she part of our guild?"
"Wait, there's no one named Ur in the top 32!"
"Hey, Nate! Nate! Something's wrong with the game!"
Some players started shouting for Nate, thinking there was a glitch.
Wendy, standing nearby, noticed that Gray was frozen in place, staring blankly at the screen. She asked softly, "Gray, are you feeling okay? Do you need me to heal you with magic?"
Carla gave her a sharp look. "Wendy, this is a game! How could he be sick?"
"Sorry!" Wendy blushed deeply.
Their conversation caught the attention of others, including Natsu and Elfman, who also glanced at Gray.
"What's up with him?"
Gray stared up at the name "Ur" on the screen, completely stunned.
'A coincidence?'
The guild doesn't have anyone named Ur, and she wasn't on the top 32 list!
'It can't be a coincidence… is there a problem with the game?'
Even as he tried to convince himself that it was a glitch, Gray couldn't help but clench his fists.
"Ur... was my master!"
"What?!"
The others were shocked. Before they could ask more questions, Gray was teleported to the arena.
...
[Beach Arena]
Ur stood in the shallow water, with waves lapping at her ankles. She casually stretched, a playful smile on her face.
Suddenly, a flash of golden light appeared in front of her, and Gray was teleported to the scene.
"Ah, my dear disciple, you've arrived," Ur said, smiling slightly.
"U… Ur!?"
Gray stared in disbelief. "That's impossible! Ur is dead! Who are you? Why are you pretending to be Ur?"
His shock quickly turned into anger.
He couldn't stand the idea of someone mocking the dead, especially not his master!
The woman standing before him looked exactly like Ur, down to her clothes and her youthful appearance, identical to how she looked the moment before she died. The only difference was her right leg—Ur had lost hers in the battle against Deliora to save him, but this woman's leg was intact.
"In the world of magic, anything is possible, Gray."
Ur finished her stretches and moved into a fighting stance, extending both arms forward, her left hand open and her right hand clenched into a fist.
"Let me see how much you've grown over the years, and whether you've brought shame to your master…"
'Ice-Make: Rose Garden!'
In an instant, an ice crystal flower bloomed above Ur, firing hundreds of ice bullets down at Gray like a rainstorm.
"This magic…!"
Gray was stunned—this was one of Ur's signature techniques, and it seemed even stronger than before.
'Could it really be her!?'
There was no time to think. Gray quickly erected a defense.
'Ice-Make: Shield!'
Using the same Ice-Make magic, Gray opened his arms wide, forming an ice shield in front of him.
Crash!
In the blink of an eye, a single ice bullet shattered the shield effortlessly.
Seeing this, Ur couldn't help but sigh, rubbing her forehead.
"Pathetic… have you really been training all these years?"
...
Elsewhere, Nate and Mirajane walked away from the bustling crowd.
"...That's how it is," Mirajane finished, her voice filled with guilt and sadness. "I wasn't strong enough. I failed my brother, and I couldn't save my sister either."
"I'm such… a useless sister!"
Her voice trembled as though she was about to cry.
Nate stopped walking and gently pulled Mirajane into a comforting embrace, patting her on the back. Though it wasn't the most appropriate thought for the moment, he couldn't help but feel that he'd wanted to hug her for a long time—ever since the first time they met.
He never imagined he'd achieve that goal in a game.
"Did you see a body?"
"Lisana's body disappeared, ascended…"
Mirajane buried her face in Nate's chest, tears streaming uncontrollably.
Nate thought for a moment. "If there's no body, then isn't it possible your sister might still be alive?"
"Alive?" Mirajane froze in place.
"In a world of magic, anything is possible."
~~~
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