Internet Magic in Fairy Tail

"Is it over?"

The guild members, who had retreated far away, looked toward the lakeshore in the distance, but they couldn't clearly make out what had happened due to the distance. They only saw a brilliant flash of light followed by a hundred-meter-long rift splitting the lake.

The magic fluctuations from afar began to diminish, and everyone sensed that the battle had likely been decided.

"Who won?"

"Nate won!" Happy, with wings sprouting from his back, flew higher to get a better view. He could vaguely see Nate still standing.

Everyone was stunned. Nate had won?

"Is Erza okay?"

"Nate's magic power isn't stronger than Erza's, but he still won?"

"Magic power alone doesn't determine the outcome of a battle. Anything can happen during a fight."

"But that was some terrifying sparring—the landscape itself has changed!"

...

By the lake.

Erza's Black Wing Armor was shattered, leaving her in just black undergarments. She lay on her back, more bothered by the frustration in her heart than the physical pain in her body.

She had been careless—and lost because of a photo magic spell, of all things.

Regret gnawed at her. She now wished she hadn't agreed to Nate's terms. She still had many stronger armors she hadn't even used.

"Are you alright, Erza-senpai?"

Suddenly, Nate's face appeared above her, blocking out the harsh sunlight.

"Don't call me 'senpai,' call me Erza."

Erza sighed, repeating herself for the third time. A flash of golden light engulfed her as she switched back into her usual, more familiar armor.

Without her armor, she felt uneasy.

When she tried to stand, the pain in her abdomen was too intense, forcing her to bite her lip to endure it.

"You shouldn't move," Nate said, offering his hand to help her up.

"Thanks."

Erza thanked him, but as she tried to walk, a sharp pain flared up from her stomach. She stumbled, almost falling.

Nate quickly supported her, thinking to himself: 'Maybe I hit her too hard.'

But he didn't have much choice. Without going all out, he couldn't have broken her Black Wing Armor to secure his victory.

Wait, Black Wing Armor?

He suddenly worried—was she going to ask him to pay for the damages?

"Sorry to trouble you, but could you carry me to the infirmary?" Erza gritted her teeth, trying to walk on her own but finding it impossible. She felt frustrated with herself, thinking she was too weak.

"Carry you?" Nate considered it and agreed. "Fine, but you can't ask me to pay for the armor."

"Pay for the armor?"

Erza looked confused.

'Why would I ask for compensation?'

Was it about the Black Wing Armor?

She couldn't help but chuckle. "Don't worry, I'm not going to make you pay. Why would you think that? I'm the one who suggested the spar, and any damage to my armor is my responsibility."

'Ah, so she really is an understanding person,' Nate thought, relieved.

He carried Erza on his back, but soon noticed two hard objects poking him now and then.

'So tough!'

In more ways than one, Erza was indeed a hard woman.

Nate couldn't help but be reminded of how some guys would suddenly brake while riding bikes with girls behind them, just to get close. But all he got to feel was the unyielding toughness of armor.

...

After carrying Erza back to the guild's infirmary, Nate gently laid her down on the bed.

"Thank you for carrying me back," she said.

"No problem. After all, I'm the one who injured you." Nate pulled out a silver ring and placed it on the bedside table. "Here, take this magic ring as an apology."

"This is the magic item that lets you access the internet, right?"

Erza curiously inspected the ring. She had noticed that nearly every guild member wore one.

At that moment, Mirajane entered, carrying a medical kit.

"Your arm is swollen, Erza."

The moment she entered, Mirajane noticed the swelling on Erza's right arm, where it wasn't protected by armor. Her shoulder down to her arm was clearly red and inflamed.

As she opened the medical kit, Mirajane said to both of them, "Honestly, you two—there was no need to go that hard for a simple spar."

"Sorry to trouble you, Mira," Erza thanked her.

Mirajane smiled warmly. "Let's get that armor off, shall we?"

Then, turning to Nate with a teasing smile, she added, "Nate, are you staying to watch? Erza's figure is quite impressive, you know."

"…"

Nate laughed awkwardly and left the infirmary.

He returned to the guild's pub, found a large table, and resumed his coding. The sparring match with Erza had been a minor detour, and he quickly put it out of his mind.

The pub was still lively, with people buzzing about the recent battle.

"Nate."

Just as he was contemplating his next lines of code, Natsu came bounding over, full of excitement.

"Who won between you and Erza?"

"Aye, it was Nate!" Happy chimed in, landing on the table. "Natsu, you got knocked out with one punch, and while you were out cold, Nate won the fight."

"Dang it! I didn't even get to see it!"

Natsu clenched his fists, his eyes igniting with literal flames.

"Alright, Nate, now it's my turn! Let's spar!"

Nate sighed inwardly. Couldn't he just write his code in peace?

This guild was lively—maybe "too" lively.

Happy waved a paw dismissively. "Natsu, you'll just get knocked out again."

"No, this time I'll be serious!"

Natsu, as stubborn as ever, refused to back down.

Across the room, Lucy was sitting with Cana, chatting. She glanced over and saw Natsu challenging Nate again.

"Natsu really doesn't fear getting beaten up, huh?"

"It's always like this," Cana replied, sipping her drink, already a little tipsy. "He used to challenge Erza all the time as a kid, and he never won."

"Same with Gray. He challenged Erza and got pummeled. Even Loke tried to court Erza once and got half-killed."

Lucy's head filled with black lines, already picturing the scenes in her mind.

'No wonder it's Erza.'

"Speaking of which, Mira and Erza didn't get along when they were younger. I'll let you in on a secret—Mira might seem gentle and kind now, but when she was younger…"

Lucy's ears perked up, sensing gossip. She leaned in eagerly as the two girls started whispering.

...

"Looks like we're done here."

In the infirmary, Mirajane finished tending to Erza's injuries, smiling as she looked at the bandaged warrior.

"It's rare to see you like this. Nate really didn't hold back, huh?"

"You can't blame him. I'm the one who asked for the spar. In that situation, the only way he could win was to go all out."

Erza, always considerate, defended Nate.

Her entire body was wrapped in bandages, with only her left arm free to move.

"Rest well, Erza. With injuries like this, it'll take at least a week to recover."

"Got it. Thanks, Mira."

As Mirajane left, Erza found herself alone in the infirmary.

She stared at the ceiling for a while, then suddenly remembered the internet ring. Reaching out, she picked it up from the bedside table.

"This is the magic that's going to revolutionize the magic world…"

"Let's see what it's all about."

Her expression became serious as she slipped the silver ring onto her middle finger.

When she activated her magic, a screen appeared before her eyes.

[Welcome to the Internet World.]

[Please enter your Internet nickname.]

[Nicknames cannot be changed later, so please choose carefully.]

[Nickname: ______]

Looking at the floating interface in front of her, Erza fell into deep thought.

It wasn't powered by magic… and yet it wasn't magic text either.

'How is this even possible?'

Even a magic item like the Light Pen, which can write text in mid-air, produces magic characters.

"Incredible magic…"

Erza muttered quietly before typing in her nickname with one hand.

Fairy Queen.

No, calling herself the Fairy Queen felt a bit too embarrassing.

She quickly deleted it and retyped.

Knight!