"Gift pack for beginners? Open it!"
Lock made his decision instantly.
[Opening… Congratulations to the Host for obtaining a B-rank lottery! Entering system space…]
A cold mechanical voice echoed in his mind. The world around him froze in an instant — colors drained away, leaving only translucent blue.
The falling ornament, Kyoka's terrified face, Lock's lunging form — everything hung motionless in time.
He stood alone in the glowing azure void, as if his soul had left his body.
"…Is time stopped?"
[Negative. Master Host is in the System Space. Time outside flows normally — your thoughts have merely accelerated by millions of times.]
Lock nodded slowly. "So, like an accelerated world…"
But he shook his head — that didn't matter right now. The real problem was the collapsing ornament above Kyoka.
"What does this B-rank lottery mean?" he asked.
A translucent interface appeared before his eyes. Familiar faces from Fairy Tail flashed across the screen.
[The System's functions include lotteries and exchanges. It records every magic from Fairy Tail and aims to cultivate the Host into the most versatile and powerful mage!]
Lock's heart pounded. He forced himself to calm down and listen carefully.
He glanced at his suspended body in the real world. His form was awkward — diving too hard, his balance unstable. In that reckless motion, he'd have fallen before even reaching Kyoka.
[There are four categories of magic: Super Magic, Lost Magic, Forbidden Magic, and Ordinary Magic.]
[Super, Lost, and Forbidden magic can only be obtained through the Exchange Function.]
[A B-rank lottery guarantees one Ordinary Magic.]
[An A-rank lottery grants three Ordinary Magic spells.]
[An S-rank lottery bestows all of one Fairy Tail mage's Ordinary Magic — guaranteed at least three spells.]
Lock nodded as he recalled the structure of Fairy Tail's magic system.
Super Magic — the most powerful, legendary spells, like the three Fairy Magics of the Fairy Tail Guild.
Lost Magic — long-forgotten arts, including Dragon Slayer Magic used by Natsu, Wendy, and Gajeel.
Forbidden Magic — dangerously powerful spells with severe side effects, like Ur's "Iced Shell," which freezes both the enemy and the caster.
All of these were extraordinary — and it made sense they could only be exchanged, not drawn.
Still, even "ordinary" magic included many formidable ones.
Gildarts' Crush Magic.
Mirajane's Take Over Magic.
Lucy's Celestial Spirit Magic.
Erza's Requip Magic.
Gray's Ice-Make Magic.
Lock clenched his fists. "Ordinary magic or not, I'll take anything right now — as long as it saves her."
"How do I earn lottery chances or exchange points?" he asked.
[Exchange requires Fame Points. Your recognition and reputation in society are converted into these points.]
[Lottery chances are granted by completing System Missions tied to this world's events or through significant personal experiences.]
Lock looked at the corner of his interface — 500 Fame Points.
He frowned. "Where'd those come from?"
[From your parents — deceased Pro Heroes. Their fame has been transferred to you, Host.]
So that was it. His parents' legacy.
And in this world filled with Pro Heroes, fame was everything. The most famous were those atop the Hero Billboard Japan Chart, ranked twice a year. Heroes of every age — from young to old — all competing for the spotlight.
"Heroes, huh…" Lock murmured. He understood now — if he wanted more points, becoming a Pro Hero was the surest path.
But right now, none of that mattered.
"Start the B-rank lottery!"
[Initiating draw…]
The screen spun rapidly, cycling through every mage in Fairy Tail.
[Congratulations, Host! You've obtained the magic High Speed, used by Jet!]
[High Speed: Ordinary magic. Concentrate magical power into the legs to achieve extreme running speed.]
As the words appeared, an electric rush filled Lock's mind. Memories — training, sensations, battle instincts — everything Jet had experienced with High Speed flowed into him.
Jet, a member of Fairy Tail's "Shadow Gear" team, might not be the strongest in combat, but his speed was unmatched. In Fairy Tail's annual endurance races, he was always the first to cross the finish line.
Lock's eyes lit up. "Perfect timing."
[Sub-Mission Triggered: Save Kyoka Jiro. Reward: One B-rank lottery ticket.]
The System's voice faded — and the world snapped back into motion.
Color returned. The ornament continued its deadly fall.
But Lock was already moving.
He steadied himself, channeling magic power into his legs.
"High Speed!"
A glowing blue magic circle formed beneath his feet, ancient runes spinning within its light. A powerful gust whipped through the air as his body blurred forward —
—faster than lightning.
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