Internet Magic in Fairy Tail (Re-upload)

Mavis circled Nate as if inspecting a rare creature.

"Amazing… Your magic power is so much stronger than it was on the ship!"

"I've read about almost every type of magic across the continent, but the way you cultivate your power, Fourth Master, is something I've never seen before."

Her petite face lit with wonder. She had a theory about Nate's method of strengthening—the Magic Net.

Perhaps the more people who joined the Magic Net, the stronger Nate's magic became. This method was completely different from that of traditional mages, and Mavis couldn't quite grasp its principles.

"I'm so curious!" Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

You're definitely Eru Chitanda in disguise, aren't you? Nate thought to himself before responding earnestly:

"I've simply spent the time others waste drinking and chatting on dedicated training instead! Every drop of my magic power is earned through hard work!"

Mavis covered her mouth, laughing softly. Since returning to the guild from Tenrou Island, she hadn't seen Nate train even once. He was either coding or on dates with his girlfriends.

"So grilling barbecue here is also part of your 'training'?"

"It's part of the plan." Nate sighed. "First Master, if you want to eat, don't just sit there staring—come help."

Mavis giggled. "I'm a ghost, remember? Good luck, Fourth Master~"

But when you're eating, you don't seem like a ghost, Nate thought. Unable to force the hundred-year-old little glutton to help, he ended up doing all the grilling himself while Mavis happily ate.

In the end, she devoured most of the beef skewers. Nate glanced at her stomach—it hadn't grown even a little despite everything she ate.

Does she have an interdimensional stomach?

Mavis blushed slightly. "Ahem… If only there were something sweet to go with this."

She looked at Nate expectantly. Rolling his eyes, Nate retrieved a strawberry cake from his Requip Space.

"Here."

"Thank you, Fourth Master!" Hugging the cake, Mavis gleefully dipped her slender finger into the whipped cream, savoring it with a blissful expression.

By now, the sky had darkened, and nearly an hour had passed since the exam began.

"Hm? Someone's here already?" Nate glanced upward, noticing a figure approaching.

A Charizard descended under the Tenrou Tree, and two figures leapt off its back.

"Natsu, Gray," Nate said approvingly. "Looks like you passed the first stage smoothly."

"Are you the examiner for the second stage?" Gray asked, holding up two white spheres. "When the spheres from the two partners collide, they reveal a map."

The magic map displayed six points, marking the locations of the six examiners.

Nate nodded. "Each examiner has a different test, but you chose me… Do you think I'll go easy on you?"

Well, you're right—I probably will.

"If we're going to challenge someone, we might as well pick the strongest!" Natsu said confidently, clenching his flaming fist.

"Nate, tell us, what's your test?"

"My test is simple—it's a test of your strength." Nate walked toward them, stopping ten meters away. "According to the second stage rules, I'll suppress my magic to five stars. As long as you can last without being defeated until I run out of magic power, you pass."

"That sounds easy enough." Natsu grinned, eager for the fight.

Is it really that easy?

Gray, less relaxed, warned, "Don't underestimate him, Natsu. This is Nate we're talking about."

"Let's go together, Gray!" Natsu shouted, charging forward.

Natsu let out a roar, gathering flames into his mouth. His cheeks puffed up before unleashing a fiery torrent.

"Fire Dragon's Roar!"

A crimson magic circle appeared, releasing a powerful wave of flames that surged toward Nate.

Without flinching, Nate activated a spell from his [Magic App].

"Fire Dragon's Roar!"

From Nate's mouth came an identical dragon's breath. The two streams of flames collided violently, creating a towering blaze that illuminated the night.

"What?!" Natsu's face was a mix of shock and frustration. "That's my magic!"

"Your Charizard knows it too—what's there to be surprised about?" Nate replied with a faint smile.

Mavis, seated beside the barbecue grill, watched the clash with great interest while nibbling on her strawberry cake.

The [Magic App] is remarkable, she thought, impressed. It perfectly replicated Fire Dragon Slayer Magic, but she noticed a flaw—Nate had to expend more magic power to match Natsu's level.

He's definitely holding back.

Of course, Mavis didn't think this was a problem. The purpose of the exam wasn't to defeat Nate but to test whether the examinees were ready to become S-Class mages.

"Natsu, calm down. I'll create an opening!" Gray called out, his voice cutting through the fiery chaos.

Gray pressed his right fist against his left palm, conjuring a swirl of icy energy. As he prepared his magic, Nate mimicked his posture.

"Wait…" Gray's expression twisted in disbelief. "The [Magic App] doesn't have my Ice-Make Magic in it!"

Ignoring Nate's mirroring stance, Gray activated his spell.

"Ice-Make: Battle Axe!"

He swung his arms wide, forming a massive ice battle axe that tore through the air toward Nate.

In perfect synchronization, Nate performed the same motion.

"Ice-Make: Battle Axe!"

A massive ice axe formed in his hands, identical in size and power to Gray's. The two weapons collided midair with a loud crash, sending shards of ice scattering.

Gray stared in stunned silence. Not only was the shape perfect, but the power was identical as well—the two spells canceled each other out completely.

Nate smirked. "I've always known Ice-Make Magic. I don't even need the [Magic App] for that."

"All thanks to Ur forcing me to learn it," he muttered under his breath.

"That's so cheap, Nate!" Natsu shouted. "Using our magic against us!"

Cheap? I'm holding back for your sake. Nate sighed internally before gesturing with a taunting wave. "Don't just stand there—come at me."

"Gray, let's go together!" Natsu yelled.

"Got it!" Gray responded. The two exchanged a quick glance and charged forward in unison.

Natsu ignited himself in flames, leaping toward Nate like a soaring dragon.

"Fire Dragon's Sword Horn!"

Gray, staying above, conjured a rain of ice spears that descended like a hailstorm.

Nate decided to abandon the mimicry. He clapped his hands together and slammed his palm against the ground.

"Ice-Make: Ice Dragon!"

The ground froze over as an enormous ice dragon rose from the earth, roaring as it charged directly at Natsu.

Boom!

The ice dragon shattered against Natsu's headbutt, but the Dragon Slayer didn't stop. He continued his attack, flames erupting around him.

Is my ice really that weak? Nate thought, annoyed. Why does not following the "standard form" reduce power so much? Even mid-battle, he couldn't help but critique the mechanics.

Stepping back, he narrowly avoided Natsu's fiery charge. At the same time, the rain of ice spears descended. Nate weaved through the icy barrage, dodging each spear with a fluidity that made it look effortless.

In moments, the battlefield was littered with frozen shards. Nate came to a halt, unfazed.

"Natsu, his Six Eyes are a problem!" Gray shouted, a note of urgency in his voice.

Gray quickly conjured an ice pillar, which Natsu blasted with flames. The clash released a massive plume of steam, engulfing the area in a dense fog.

"Do you really think a little steam can block my Six Eyes?" Nate said flatly, standing in the haze.

Through the mist, he locked onto the two sources of magic power. Flames ignited in his hands as he brought them together.

"Fire Dragon's Radiant Flame!"

A massive fireball erupted from his palms, its glow illuminating the fog. It streaked toward Gray with unrelenting force.

The next moment, a deafening explosion tore through the battlefield. The impact lit up the darkened sky, turning night into day.