Chapter 197: The Vanishing City
"Ah! That's right! Hello! I'm Gildarts."
Gildarts Clive, the Ace of Fairy Tail, suddenly slapped his forehead as if realizing a grave error. He had been so caught up in the homecoming festivities and the reunion with old friends that he hadn't properly introduced himself to the guild's most prominent rising star.
Ren smiled, placing his tankard down on the wooden counter. He looked at the orange-haired mage who radiated an overwhelming, yet strangely comforting, aura of power.
"Hello, Gildarts-san. My name is Ren. I've heard legends about you ever since I first stepped foot into this guild. Seeing the state of the town—or rather, the way the town rearranges itself for you—confirmed that your reputation is well-deserved."
"Is that so?! Bwahaha!" Gildarts threw his head back and laughed, a booming sound that shook the nearby empty glasses. "You're a good kid! Honest and strong!"
Gildarts felt incredibly pleased by Ren's words. He wrapped a massive arm around Ren's shoulders, pulling him into a side hug that felt more like a bear trap. "It's rare to see young ones with such a good head on their shoulders. Not many people get that kind of nod from the Master, you know?"
He leaned in closer, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "So, Ren-kun, tell me... do you have a girlfriend? You're a handsome lad. If you're single, do you need me to introduce you to some cute girls? I know quite a few lively ones in the neighboring towns—"
Bang!
A wooden tray slammed onto the counter with terrifying force, cracking the varnish. A frothy mug of beer was shoved in front of Gildarts so hard that the liquid splashed all over his ragged cloak.
Mirajane stood behind the bar, her signature gentle smile on her face, but a dark, demonic aura rolled off her in waves.
"Ara, ara," Mira said sweetly, though her eyes were not smiling. "Gildarts-san, have a drink and cool down."
Makarov, sitting on the counter in his meditation pose, sighed and opened one eye. "Stop it, you fool. Don't lead the child astray. Mira is Ren's girlfriend."
"Oh?!" Gildarts wiped the beer from his face, his eyes widening in genuine surprise. He looked from the terrifyingly beautiful barmaid to the calm young man. "Impressive! Seriously?!"
He gave Ren a frantic thumbs-up, grinning broadly. "You landed Mira? The Demon? You really are a miracle worker, kid! She's a stunning beauty now, but she's got a temper!"
"I heard that," Mira chirped, her aura spiking again.
The three of them—Ren, Gildarts, and Makarov—settled into a rhythm of drinking and chatting. The atmosphere was warm, filled with the scent of alcohol and the murmur of the guild. Gildarts, having been away for three years on his Century Quest, was eager to catch up on the events he had missed.
As Makarov recounted the history, the mood dipped slightly.
"I can't believe that kid Laxus would do such a thing..." Gildarts murmured, staring into the amber liquid in his glass.
He had watched Laxus Dreyar grow up. He remembered the small, eager boy who looked up to his grandfather. He knew Laxus wasn't evil at heart, but the news of the 'Battle of Fairy Tail' and Laxus's subsequent excommunication weighed heavily on him.
"He was impatient," Ren noted quietly. "He wanted to prove the guild's strength in the wrong way."
"Yeah," Gildarts sighed, then shook his head to clear the gloom. He turned his gaze back to Ren, his expression shifting to one of serious appraisal. "However, hearing about the Phantom Lord war... Ren, you truly make me look at you in a new light."
Gildarts' eyes sharpened. "I knew Jose Porla. That guy was annoying, arrogant, and had a terrible personality, but his magic power was undeniable. He was a Ten Wizard Saint for a reason. For you to defeat him in a head-on clash..."
The Ace of Fairy Tail nodded approvingly. "You are truly an extraordinary young man. It's not just talent; it's guts."
"He was just a stepping stone," Ren replied humble, though he didn't deny the feat.
"Hah! Spoken like a true powerhouse," Gildarts grinned, his fighting spirit flaring up for a brief second, causing the air in the guild to tremble. "If we get the chance, let's have a spar sometime. I want to see this magic of yours with my own eyes."
"Alright!" Ren agreed readily, his own eyes lighting up. "I'd like nothing more than to test myself against the strongest."
Rumble—!
A clap of thunder interrupted their conversation, followed immediately by the sound of torrential rain hammering against the guild's roof.
Outside, the skies had turned a bruised purple-grey. The rain wasn't just falling; it was driving down in sheets, turning the streets of Magnolia into rushing streams.
"Carla! Carla, where are you?!"
Wendy Marvell rushed out of the guild's entrance, her small hands shielding her eyes from the downpour. She had lost sight of her Exceed companion moments ago.
"Carla, I finally found you!!" Wendy cried out, spotting the white cat shivering under the eaves of a nearby building.
"Wendy!" Carla scolded, shivering as she hugged her tail. "You'll catch a cold if you don't use an umbrella. Humans are fragile creatures."
"Carla, you're the same! You're soaking wet!" Wendy ran over and scooped the cat into her arms, trying to share her warmth. "Carla, we just joined the guild. I think we should try to get along with everyone. You've been distancing yourself..."
"There's no need for that," Carla turned her head away, her voice haughty but her grip on Wendy's sleeve tight. "As long as I have you, it's enough. I don't need those rowdy mages."
Wendy pouted, puffing out her cheeks. "Honestly! There you go again being stubborn."
Just then, the sound of heavy boots sloshing through puddles approached them. A tall figure wrapped in thick traveling cloaks and bandages walked through the heavy rain, stopping a few feet away. The magical pressure radiating from him was intense, silencing the sound of the rain for a split second.
"Who?" Carla hissed, her fur standing on end.
The figure reached up and slowly unwound the bandages covering his face.
"Wendy... it's me. I didn't expect you to come to this guild."
The face revealed was handsome, with blue hair and a red tattoo above and below his right eye.
"Jellal?!!"
Wendy gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief. Memories flooded back—memories of a kind boy who had saved her when she was lost and alone seven years ago. "It's really you!"
"This... what's going on?!" Carla flew out of Wendy's arms, positioning herself protectively in front of the Sky Dragon Slayer. "You should have been arrested! The Magic Council took you away!"
Carla had heard Wendy talk about 'Jellal' incessantly. However, she had also read the recent issues of the Weekly Sorcerer and heard Lucy's stories. She knew that Jellal Fernandes, the criminal who built the Tower of Heaven, had been defeated by Ren and Natsu and subsequently arrested.
"The one you're talking about isn't me," the man said calmly, his voice tinged with sadness. "Or rather, it's the me of this world. My identity is Mystogan of Fairy Tail."
"You... you..." Wendy stepped forward, ignoring the rain soaking her dress. Tears welled up in her eyes. "I've always, always wanted to see you..."
It didn't matter if he was Mystogan or Jellal. This face, this voice—it was her savior.
"I'm sorry I couldn't visit you," Mystogan said, looking away as if unable to bear her gaze. "But now is not the time to be happy about our reunion. Listen to me, Wendy. You must leave this city immediately."
His tone turned urgent, cutting through the emotional reunion. "This city is about to disappear!!"
"What?!"
Wendy and Carla froze. The thunder crashed overhead, underscoring the terrifying statement.
"What do you mean by that?!" Carla demanded. "What's this about the city disappearing?!"
"It's 'Anima'," Mystogan explained, gesturing to the swirling sky. "A super-dimensional magic. That magic has already locked onto this city. It is a portal to another world. Because the Anima is too immense, I can't suppress it alone. I have tried, but I failed. Its disappearance is unavoidable. At the very least, I must save you, Wendy. You possess the power of the Sky Dragon."
Wendy's face went pale. "What about Fairy Tail?! What will happen to everyone in the guild?!"
Mystogan closed his eyes, his expression grim. "Everyone... they will all die. Or worse, they will be converted into magical power for Edolas."
"How can that be?!" Wendy screamed, shaking her head violently. "No! I won't let that happen! I must go warn everyone!"
"Wendy, wait!"
But the small girl was already moving. With the speed of the wind, she activated her magic and sped back towards the Fairy Tail Guild.
Inside the guild hall, the atmosphere was drowsy. Because of the torrential rain, most members had decided to skip their missions for the day. Mages lay slumped over tables, cards were being played half-heartedly, and the ambient noise was a low hum of boredom.
Near the bar, Mira had changed out of her apron and into a modest outdoor dress. She looked somber, a stark contrast to her earlier cheerfulness with Gildarts.
"Ren-kun, I have something to do; I need to go to the church first," Mira said softly.
Ren looked up from his drink. He knew exactly what day it was. "I'll go with you."
He started to stand, but Mira placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "No need. It's a family matter. Elfman and I will go together. Elfman, let's go."
"Coming!" Elfman Strauss stood up from a nearby table. The usually loud and boisterous 'Man' looked surprisingly subdued. He grabbed an umbrella and followed his sister out into the storm.
Lucy, watching them leave, leaned her chin on her hand. "Why would Young Miss Mira go specifically to the church in this terrible weather?"
Ren swirled the ice in his glass, his expression unreadable. "Ah... Lisanna's death anniversary is coming soon."
"Lisanna?" Lucy blinked. It was a name she had heard mentioned in passing, usually accompanied by sad looks from Natsu or Happy.
"Mira and Elfman's younger sister," Ren explained quietly. "She died two years ago during a job. It was... a tragedy that broke them for a long time. Lisanna and Natsu were very close childhood friends. She even said she wanted to be Natsu's bride when she grew up."
"Bride?!" Lucy exclaimed, her eyes widening. "I never expected there was a girl who wanted to be Natsu's bride. That fireball?"
"They were children," Ren murmured. "But the bond was real."
Lisanna, huh...
Ren watched the doors swing shut behind Mira and Elfman. Given their intimate relationship, Mira had eventually opened up to Ren about the trauma of losing Lisanna. She believed her sister was dead, killed by Elfman's rampaging Beast Soul.
However, Ren knew the truth. As a transmigrator with knowledge of the plot, he knew Lisanna was still alive. She hadn't died; she had been sucked into an Anima portal and transported to Edolas, the parallel world.
Telling Mira now would be cruel, Ren thought. Without proof, it would sound like a sick joke or a false hope. I can't break her heart again.
He clenched his fist under the table. But I'm not the weakling I was when I first arrived. I have the power now. It's time to bring Lisanna back.
He imagined the look on Mira's face when he returned with her sister. That would be the ultimate gift.
Suddenly, the air pressure in the room plummeted.
Outside, the sky above Magnolia Town was changing dramatically. The dark, heavy rain clouds began to rotate violently. A terrifying magical energy converged directly above the town, forming a giant, swirling vortex. It looked like a bruised eye opening in the heavens, staring hungrily at the earth.
Wendy, breathless and soaked, burst through the guild doors.
"Everyone!!" she screamed, her voice shrill with panic. "This is bad!! Run! The sky—"
Before Wendy could finish her sentence, reality warped.
The space inside the guild twisted like a wrung-out towel. The wooden beams groaned and bent at impossible angles.
"What—?!"
"The floor!"
Outside, the phenomenon was even more terrifying. The buildings of the entire town began to twist, liquefy, and spiral upward. It was as if gravity had reversed and increased a thousandfold. The Cardia Cathedral, the shops, the houses, and the land itself were swept away, rushing towards the giant vortex in the sky.
In just the blink of an eye, the entire town of Magnolia completely vanished.
Silence.
Absolute, heavy silence.
Where a bustling town had stood seconds ago, there was now only a massive, barren crater in the earth. The rain had stopped, leaving only a damp, empty wasteland.
"No... no way..."
Wendy knelt on the bare dirt, staring blankly at the emptiness.
"The guild... it's gone..." she whispered, trembling. "The streets too... all of them... how can this be... what happened?! Is anyone there?!"
Her voice echoed in the crater, lonely and small.
Bang!
Suddenly, the earth exploded a few meters away. A hand broke through the surface, followed by a shower of dirt and rocks.
"Pwah!"
Ren's figure emerged from underground, shaking the dust from his hair. He looked around, blinking rapidly.
"Brother Ren!"
Seeing that Ren was fine, Wendy burst into tears of joy, rushing over to him.
"Wendy?" Ren looked down at her, then at the crater. "What's going on?"
Ren was genuinely confused. A moment ago, he had excused himself to go to the restroom in the back of the guild. He had felt a sudden wave of dizziness, a strange spatial fluctuation, and the next thing he knew, he was buried in the dirt.
Did I drink too much? he wondered. No, my alcohol tolerance isn't that low.
Hearing Wendy's voice grounded him. He crawled fully out of the hole and looked around. The guild was gone. The town was gone. Only dirt remained.
Just then, another bulge appeared on the ground nearby.
Boom!
"Hot, hot, hot!"
Natsu Dragneel's figure burst out of the earth, spitting out mud. He looked equally confused, his expression identical to Ren's.
"Ren? Wendy?" Natsu scratched his head, looking around with wide, dumbfounded eyes. "Where is this?"
He had been taking a nap on a bench in the guild. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them, he was being buried alive.
Wendy wiped her tears, pointing frantically at the sky where the vortex was fading.
"This... this is the guild!" she cried out. "We're standing where the guild used to be! A hole suddenly opened in the sky, and the guild and the streets were all sucked in!"
[Akarin Note:
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