Because the Nirvit tribal land had limited rooms and relatively crude facilities, the allied forces were distributed by guild. Larger guilds got larger rooms, smaller guilds got smaller rooms.
Fairy Tail naturally got the biggest room. Even so, five people still felt a bit cramped.
Happy: "What about me? I do not count?!"
When Chase returned from Robaul's place, his guildmates, having already bathed, had changed into very distinctive tribal clothing.
According to Wendy, the Nirvit tribe seemed to be very skilled at making clothes. The fabric was soft and comfortable, and the designs were very innovative.
At least Lucy and Erza, being girls, were quite satisfied. They were currently admiring themselves in the mirror.
Dark Magician Girl, who had slipped out of the card space, was also among them. The three beautiful girls in exotic clothing gathered together, making for a quite stunning sight.
Unfortunately, the men in the room could not care less. Natsu and Gray were arguing over whose defeated Oración Seis member was stronger. Happy sat in a corner, drooling, happily muttering about whether Carla had ever stayed in this room as well.
Yes, the perverted cat was confirmed.
Chase picked up the noisy Natsu and Gray, one in each hand, and tossed them aside. He then kicked the perverted cat out of the way and walked over to the three fashion-loving girls.
"Chase, you are back! Look, look! Is it cute?"
Lucy immediately showed off her new clothes, lifting the hem and happily spinning in place.
"Hehe. I have to admit, Lucy's outfit is cute. But compared to me, it still falls short~"
Dark Magician Girl held up a peace sign to her cheek and playfully winked at Chase.
Compared to their closeness and openness, Erza, who usually acted like the big sister, seemed a bit unnatural. She lowered her head and asked softly, "W-well? What do you think?"
Under the expectant gazes of the three women, Chase looked them over seriously. After a moment of thought, he slowly spoke.
"Clothes like this... are no good for fighting."
Lucy: "..."
Dark Magician Girl: "..."
Erza: "..."
You damn card freak! So THAT is what you were thinking about! x3
Chase completely ignored the looks of disdain directed at him. Without batting an eye, he said, "By the way, Lucy. I did not have a chance to mention it earlier because we had to deal with Nirvana. Someone asked me to bring you a few things."
In this situation, where praising any one of them would offend the other two, changing the subject was obviously the best choice.
Praising them all? That would get him killed even faster!
"Someone asked you to bring me something?"
For some reason, an unbearable face suddenly appeared in Lucy's mind. "It is not some weird perfume, is it? No way. I refuse!"
Erza and Dark Magician Girl also shuddered, frowning with expressions of disgust.
Truly worthy of Ichiya, a virus unto himself. That trauma really runs deep.
With that thought, Chase's expression became serious. "If that guy dared to harass our guild's girls like that, he probably would not live to see the sun rise tomorrow."
Hearing this, the three women nodded vigorously in agreement.
Knowing Chase's personality, rather than helping someone "deliver a gift," he would be more likely to just throw the perfume bottle right in Ichiya's face.
"Then who is it?" Lucy asked.
"To be precise, they are Celestial Spirits."
With that, Chase reached into the air and pulled out three golden keys from a card that had appeared in a magic circle.
"Because Sorano was arrested and imprisoned, violating her contract with them, they want to come work for you."
"The keys to Gemini, Aries, and Scorpio?!" Lucy immediately recognized the three keys that had once pushed her to her limit.
"How strange. Is stupid Lucy really that popular?" Natsu walked over.
"Aye~ Other than her figure, she has no other good qualities~" Happy observed with a serious look.
"Should I take that as a compliment?!"
Lucy immediately turned red-hot, transforming into her toothy-grinned demon form.
Whether it was being called an idiot by a clueless fool or being criticized by a perverted cat who could not walk straight whenever he saw a female, she could not accept it.
Just as she was about to explode, a golden magic circle suddenly appeared before her. Dazzling light condensed into four figures.
"Anyway, Lucy, we would like you to be our new owner. Hmm, hmm~" Gemini, floating in the air, rhythmically bobbed their simple limbs.
"Ooh! Let us fight alongside you, Aquarius's boss!" Scorpio said coolly.
"Sorry... is it really not okay?" Aries's voice was soft and timid, her eyes darting around.
"I have no problem with it!"
The unexpected development left Lucy at a loss. "But getting three new Zodiac spirits all at once..."
"Three?" Aries looked confused.
"The proper term is 'three bodies,'" Scorpio corrected seriously.
"Well, for example, Loki looks more like a person. I do not like being talked about as if I were a thing."
Lucy's words, spoken almost instinctively, made Gemini and the others even more determined to follow her.
"Master. Please take care of us from now on!"
"No, I am the one who should be asking for your guidance. Gemini, Scorpio, and Aries!"
With Chase and the others as witnesses, Lucy signed three Celestial Spirit contracts all at once. She carefully and joyfully held the three keys in her palm.
Having gained such reliable comrades before even receiving her reward from the Council made Natsu and Happy envious. They remarked on how lucky Lucy was. They remembered the same thing had happened on Galuna Island.
Gray, for his part, responded by stripping off the tribal clothes he was wearing. This was his way of showing his jealousy and envy.
Of course, even without this incident, he probably would have stripped anyway.
Though the way they showed their feelings was a bit insincere and unsightly, their guildmates were still genuinely happy for Lucy and her new spirits.
"Speaking of which, Chase. You seem to have successfully obtained Nirvana's blueprints, right?"
Recalling Robaul's strange behavior earlier, Erza hesitated for a moment before voicing her doubt. "Master Robaul... seems to be more than just a descendant of the Nirvit tribe."
"And the mages of this guild... they feel strange too."
In the original story, Erza's mind had been a tangled mess because of the amnesiac Jellal. She had not had the energy to notice such details.
But now, with peace of mind, the skills of a seasoned Fairy Tail S-Class mage were on full display. Unlike Natsu and Gray, who noticed nothing unusual.
"As expected of Erza. I really can not hide it from you."
Since the truth would be revealed soon anyway, Chase saw no point in keeping secrets from his guildmates.
"You are right. Master Robaul is the one who created Nirvana four hundred years ago. He is now nothing more than a Thought Projection held together by his remaining magic power."
"And the mages of Cait Shelter, with their own independent personalities, are also his creations. All just illusions."
At this, Erza's pupils dilated in shock.
Lucy and the others, who had known nothing, were similarly stunned by this outrageous, explosive revelation.
"Th-the entire Cait Shelter is fake?! Chase, you... you are joking, right?" Lucy felt her breathing quicken.
Just moments ago, the mages here had kindly brought them clothes and reminded them to cover up because it would get cold at night!
All those living, breathing people were just false Thought Projections?
Being timid by nature, she immediately thought of ghosts. Goosebumps stood up all over her body.
"Technically speaking, there are actually two living people here. Wendy and Carla."
"I do not know the exact reason, but Master Robaul probably created Cait Shelter so that Wendy would not be lonely."
Chase's serious tone convinced Lucy that he was not just trying to scare her.
"I see. A guild that exists for just one person..." Erza sighed heavily, understanding.
"But, but!"
Lucy's first thought was of Wendy's innocent, adorable face. Her voice was filled with sadness. "Would a truth like this not be too cruel for Wendy and Carla?"
"From the way Master Robaul spoke, he will probably reveal everything tomorrow, at the latest."
Chase spread his hands, showing he was helpless. "So there is nothing we can do. This is a reality she has to face."
"How could this be..."
The sadness in Lucy's eyes deepened.
"Decision made. We are kidnapping Wendy and taking her back to Fairy Tail!" Natsu suddenly spoke, surprising everyone.
"Aye~! I am all for it!" Happy was excited at the thought of working in the same guild as his goddess.
"Wait, Natsu! You can not just be so unreasonable!" Lucy was shocked.
"As much as I hate to admit it, that idiot fireball's idea might actually work this time," Gray said seriously.
"Alright! It is settled then!" Erza was decisive and quick.
"That was fast!"
Chase smiled as he pulled out a pink sack. "If we are going to kidnap the adorable Wendy, we will need this."
"Chase, you are a monster! And where did you pull that pink sack from?!"
"Who are you calling an idiot, you emotionless ice block? Want to fight?!"
"Yeah! If Chase had not stopped me earlier, I would have already crushed you under my foot!"
"Why are these two fighting again aaaaaah!!"
Amid Lucy's sharp complaints, everyone reached a consensus: let Wendy join Fairy Tail!
The not-so-peaceful night passed quickly.
As Chase had said, the next morning, Robaul led the entire village to the main square to meet with the allied forces.
After expressing his gratitude on behalf of the guild alliance to those who had defeated Oración Seis, before the village idiots like Ichiya could even start taking credit, Robaul's expression turned serious. He began recounting the history of the Nirvit tribe and Nirvana, revealing the entire truth.
Because Chase had warned them in advance, Fairy Tail was relatively calm. The other guilds, however, stood frozen in shock.
The sounds of tearful cries touched everyone's hearts.
Watching her familiar companions disappear one by one, Wendy called out their names again and again, her voice shaking with tears, begging them not to leave.
But no matter how much she missed them, people and things that never truly existed would eventually return to nothingness.
"Do not cry, Wendy. You have real comrades by your side, do you not? The future has only just begun."
"Young Chase, and everyone else. Thank you so much. I leave Wendy and Carla in your care."
As Robaul, a gentle smile on his aged face, began to glow, the once lively square suddenly fell silent.
"Master!!"
Wendy shouted, running forward. But the only thing her hands touched were the specks of light dispersing in the air.
The emblem of Cait Shelter on her right arm also faded away.
Even the usually strong Carla could not hold back the tears blurring her vision. She silently turned her head away.
"That pain of parting from those you love... let your comrades fill that void."
Erza walked slowly to Wendy, who was kneeling on the ground, and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Come. Come to Fairy Tail."
Lucy, Ur, Minerva, and the others also came forward to comfort Wendy, giving warmth to the girl in sorrow.
Seeing Wendy gradually calm down, Chase finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Not very good at handling such emotional scenes, he followed the plan he had made the night before. He approached Jura and earnestly asked this Ten Wizard Saint to help dismantle the unnecessary parts of Nirvana.
Jura's eye twitched. He immediately sensed something suspicious.
Fairy Tail mages were most famous for causing destruction. Chase was the best of them. Did he really need help just to dismantle Nirvana?
There was clearly something else going on.
But guessing the true intentions of this battle-maniac, Chase, Jura ultimately agreed.
Having witnessed Chase's terrifying magic power firsthand, he knew his chances of winning were slim. But as a Ten Wizard Saint appointed by the Council, surrendering without a fight was not his style.
Perhaps, deep down, Jura also really wanted to cross fists with a monster like Chase, to push himself to become stronger.
And so, the two men, their fighting spirit overflowing, made their way to the ancient city atop Nirvana, which was parked just outside the village.
After studying the blueprints, Chase learned that Nirvana's core was the magical crystals scattered in its six legs. The central area, which had been used for housing, could be completely removed.
"Well then, I look forward to our match, Mr. Chase."
"Likewise. Please do not hold back, Mr. Jura."
The moment their greetings ended, the magic circles for Chase's Card Magic and Jura's rock magic lit up almost simultaneously.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The two terrifying magical forces collided. Shockwaves swept across the entire city, causing explosions to bloom above Nirvana.
The violent presence quickly drew Natsu, Gray, Lyon, and Sherry. They watched this Ten Wizard Saints-level fierce battle from a distance, cheering on their respective comrades.
Gray and Lyon, fellow disciples, argued fiercely.
In the end, even Wendy, having regained her spirits, joined the spectators. Though her appearance and behavior seemed weak and soft, her heart was incredibly strong.
BOOM!!
A massive explosion echoed across the battlefield.
Chase and Jura simultaneously unleashed their ultimate attacks at each other. The resulting energy storm completely leveled the ancient city.
As the thick smoke gradually cleared, everyone looked up. They saw Jura, his clothes tattered, lying spread-eagled in a deep crater. His filthy face showed both admiration and a hint of frustration.
"You really are ridiculously strong. I am defeated," he sighed deeply.
"You still need more practice, Mr. Jura," Chase said with a grin, reaching out a hand.
In a proper fight, he never held back.
Doing so would be disrespectful not only to his own cheats but also to Jura, who had willingly accepted the challenge.
It was just a shame he had not gotten a new card from Jura.
"Of course. Next time, I will be the one challenging you!"
A smile also appeared on Jura's lips. He raised his hand, grasped Chase's, and let the younger man pull him up.
"Ahaha! Anytime!"
With that, Chase pulled out a Nutrient Z from his cards and handed it over.
Jura did not hesitate. He took the drink and downed it in one gulp.
Feeling his depleted magic power quickly replenished, even he could not help but stare in shock. "You even have cards like this?"
"It seems I lost even more thoroughly than I had imagined..."
***
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