The screen shifted once again. A new system window appeared in front of Ren.
[Error: Transport Blocked]
"Captain, stop!" Asta stepped forward, unable to hide the nervousness in his voice. "He's not an enemy! He helped us!"
Yami didn't answer. He slowly drew his katana and pointed it directly at Ren. "Get on your feet, kid... or you die right here."
For a few seconds, no one inside Fairy Tail said a word. The magical pressure radiating from that man seemed to pass straight through the screen.
Gray was the first to break the silence. "How can we feel that much pressure from another world?"
Erza never took her eyes off the captain. "He's incredibly strong."
Laxus set his mug down on the bar and smiled for the first time since the scene had begun. "...That guy."
Everyone turned toward him.
"He's even stronger than the old man."
Makarov let out a small chuckle. "How disrespectful." He didn't say anything else.
The images continued to play. Ren dodged Yami's katana by mere inches as he retreated again and again. Every swing seemed capable of cutting through the air itself, and although Ren managed to stay alive, everyone could see he had absolutely no chance of defeating him in a direct fight.
Lucy pressed both hands against her chest. "He's surviving by a miracle..."
Mirajane nodded without taking her eyes off the screen.
At that moment, Luck appeared in front of Yami with a huge grin. Ren used the opening he had been given, took several steps back, and raised his guitar once more.
He closed his eyes for only a second before smiling with a hint of nostalgia. "I wanted to save this song for Laxus..."
The entire guild immediately turned toward the Lightning Dragon Slayer.
Laxus raised an eyebrow. "For me?"
Ren lifted his head and pointed toward Luck. "This song is for the lightning mage who's about to break his limits!"
The opening chords of Thunderstruck echoed across the battlefield.
Laxus remained completely still as he listened to the introduction. Little by little, a faint smile appeared on his face. "So the brat already had a song picked out for me..."
He calmly picked up his mug again. "I guess the brat knows how to recognize a real mage."
As the song built in intensity, several guild members began following the rhythm without even realizing it. Happy bobbed his head from side to side, Natsu pounded on a table to keep the beat, and even Gray found himself quietly humming along with a grin. For a brief moment, it felt as though Fairy Tail itself was accompanying Ren from another world.
Luck charged forward once more. Bolts of lightning illuminated the entire battlefield as he attacked Yami from every direction. Natsu threw his fist into the air, completely fired up.
"That's it! Hit him again!"
But the excitement only lasted a few seconds. Yami blocked the next strike with his katana and, with a single motion, sent Luck flying several meters away. The young mage rolled across the ground before finally stopping himself.
Gray frowned slightly. "Even that wasn't enough..."
Mirajane watched the screen carefully. Sweat was beginning to run down Ren's face, yet he kept playing without stopping. "He's reaching his limit too..."
Lucy lowered her gaze for a moment. "And even so... he won't stop playing."
The battle continued for a few moments longer. Luck attacked relentlessly, but even with Ren's music boosting his speed, none of his strikes could break through Yami's defense. The captain barely needed to take a single step back before forcing Luck to retreat once again.
The battle ended as abruptly as it had begun. Asta and Noelle immediately ran toward Ren to congratulate him, but before they could reach him, tiny particles of light began drifting away from his body. A new system window appeared before him.
[Transport Initiating]
Ren raised his hand in farewell as his body slowly began to fade away.
"Wait!" Asta shouted, taking a step forward.
"We didn't even get the chance to thank you!" Noelle added as she reached out toward him.
Then a voice echoed from the back."WAIT!!"
Everyone turned toward Klaus."THE TREASURE!!"
Ren smiled with that familiar mischievous grin. His lips moved just before he disappeared completely."Huh...? What treasure?"
Laughter immediately erupted throughout the guild.
Natsu was the first to double over laughing. "HAHAHA! He kept the treasure!"
Gray shook his head, unable to hide his smile. "After everything that happened..."
Even Makarov couldn't help laughing. "Good kid..."
The laughter slowly died down, but Mirajane never looked away from the spot where Ren had disappeared.
Erza noticed her expression immediately and walked over. "What's wrong?"
Mirajane took several seconds before answering. "Did you see that light?"
Erza looked once more at the place where the screen was beginning to fade and slowly nodded. "I did."
Mirajane lowered her gaze. "It was the same..." She clenched both hands tightly. "The same light that surrounded Ren when he disappeared in front of us."
Her voice trembled ever so slightly. "Do you think... Lisanna also...?"
Erza didn't answer right away. She simply wrapped Mirajane in a firm embrace. "I don't know." Several seconds passed in silence. "But if there's even a chance... we'll find it."
Mirajane let out a faint smile. "Thank you..."
They remained like that for a few more seconds before Mirajane spoke again. "It's just..."
Erza tilted her head. "Yes?"
"...your armor hurts."
Erza's eyes widened, and she immediately let go of her. "Oh... sorry."
A few laughs could be heard around the guild hall again as the screen finally faded away completely. No one commented on what they had just witnessed. There was no need.
They had all reached the same conclusion. Ren was still alive. And for them... that was all that mattered.
-------------
Author Notes.
Well I hope the interlude wasn't that boring or tiring.
Let's continue to the Arcade, Tell me which world did you enjoy more?
I really want to make One piece... but not a battle just the party. Or maybe just the end and the party.