The Gap Between Worlds

With a casual wave of his hand, Jiang Bai caused the spatial cave that had bound Queen Lucy to vanish instantly.

Lucy, now free, nearly lost her balance, but thankfully Levy caught her just in time.

She was breathing heavily, her face still pale. The look in her eyes as she looked at Jiang Bai had changed from disdain and provocation to deep apprehension and a hint of fear.

"Alright, now you can tell us the way to the kingdom," Natsu said casually, leaning closer.

My companions are still waiting for me.

"Yes!" little Wendy chimed in eagerly.

"If we don't hurry, everyone in the guild... might be turned into magic!"

Upon hearing this, the crowd, who had just been shocked by witnessing Jiang Bai's bizarre strength, fell silent once again.

Somberness and pessimism were etched on everyone's face.

"Although it might not be the best way to put it..."

Looking at the group of "one of our own" in front of her, the larger Wendy hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help but speak up to offer some advice.

"But I still advise you to give up. Although... you, Jiang Bai from another world, do have some strength, the kingdom is truly powerful."

Her voice was filled with helplessness.

"Based on what you've said, none of you can use magic right now, only Jiang Bai can fight."

"But... the other side also has Jiang Bai Warren, we see no hope of victory."

"Initially, many magic guilds united to resist, but without exception, they were all defeated by the Royal Army. In the end... only we are left, barely clinging to life."

"We're barely escaping right now. If it weren't for Warren (for clarity, Jiang Bai in some parts of the Edolas world will be called Warren) secretly holding us back, we would have been gone long ago."

Jiang Bai laughed after hearing this.

"Isn't that perfect?"

He shrugged and said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Tell us where the kingdom is, and I'll wipe them out for you. You won't have to worry about being hunted down anymore."

"Hey! You idiot, didn't you hear me?!"

Queen Lucy, who had just recovered, was immediately enraged again upon hearing Jiang Bai's arrogant remarks.

"We already told you, you can't beat us!"

Jiang Bai was truly speechless.

Don't you even know whether you can win or not?

Even if there's another version of myself in this parallel world, so what? The power ceilings of the two worlds are simply not on the same level.

This is similar to Yoriichi Tsugikuni. He was born to be the pinnacle of his world, having never received any training since childhood, and became the strongest in the world the first time he held a sword.

However, if you let this "strongest" fight any Ultraman in the Ultraman universe, even a civil official, he wouldn't be able to win.

This is a difference in worldview level, and it has little to do with personal effort.

"Alright, just tell me how to get there." Jiang Bai was too lazy to explain any further.

Queen Lucy wanted to offer some further advice.

Just then, Edolas Mirajane, who had been silent all along, suddenly stepped forward and stood between her and Jiang Bai.

She looked deeply at Jiang Bai, her gentle eyes flashing with a complex light.

"I don't know why, but I just believe what you said about 'being able to take on an entire nation single-handedly'."

"So, I wanted to ask," her voice trembled slightly, yet remained unusually firm.

"If you win and rescue your companions, what... what will you do to Warren?"

This is what she cares about most.

Jiang Bai glanced at Mirajane, who was filled with worry about "another version of himself," and understood.

He gave her a reassuring answer.

"No, I still appreciate who I am in this world."

Of course, that's what he said, but Jiang Bai was still determined to observe Warren carefully when he met him.

Look at yourself in this world. Are you a fellow transmigrator like yourself, or a native-born local?

Hearing Jiang Bai's promise, Edolas Mirajane visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

Her tense body relaxed, and a genuine, relieved smile appeared on her face.

Okay! I believe you!

She raised her hand and pointed in a direction far away.

"The road to the kingdom is over there! At your pace, it should take about five days to get there."

Thanks.

Jiang Bai nodded, then glanced at Lisanna, who was surrounded by Edolas Mirajane and Elfman and was still somewhat downcast.

"Lisanna, I'll leave her in your care for now."

"I'll come back and take her away after I've sorted things out."

Having received directions from Mirajane, Jiang Bai and his group did not linger.

Natsu charged ahead, as excited as a primary school student about to go on a school field trip, with Wendy and the two cats following behind, while Jiang Bai walked at the very back at a leisurely pace.

Watching their figures gradually disappear into the distance, Queen Lucy finally couldn't help but shout in their direction.

"Hey! Get out of here! And if you do, you'd better never come back!"

His voice was filled with impatience and a hint of determination.

After shouting, she turned around, expecting to see everyone's relieved expressions.

However, reality was completely the opposite of what she had imagined.

No one in the entire guild was happy.

Everyone kept their heads down, silent, the atmosphere terribly oppressive, and their faces were filled with worry and confusion.

Hey! What are you all doing?!

Queen Lucy felt inexplicably irritated by the sight.

Why do they all have that expression? We've evaded the Royal Army's army again!

She walked over to the still-glittering Magic Crystal and patted it.

"Besides, this guy even filled up our Magic Crystals, enough for us to escape many more times. Isn't that something to celebrate and be happy about?"

No one answered her.

Finally, it was the petite Levy sighed, raised her head, and spoke for everyone.

"Lucy, you know we can't keep hiding like this forever."

"Magic... will eventually run out."

Levy's words were like a needle, piercing through everyone's carefully maintained optimism.

"And... that Jiang Bai guy was really strong..." a guild member whispered.

"Yeah, just a casual strike and you were done for, Lucy," another voice chimed in.

"If it were him... maybe..."

A bold idea quietly sprouted in the minds of some people.

But soon, this thought was suppressed by an even stronger fear.

"Impossible! Have you all forgotten the kingdom's power? Have you forgotten Jiang Bai Warren?" a voice immediately retorted.

"But... judging from his expression, it seems like he's telling the truth! He's so confident!"

"Hmph, I think that's just blind arrogance stemming from a lack of real experience!"

Affirmation, denial, hope, despair...

Various complex and contradictory voices mingled within the guild, leading to endless debates.

Queen Lucy felt like her head was about to explode as she listened to these arguments.

These people's thoughts are also a reflection of her own inner struggles.

Reason told her that going against the kingdom was tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock; Jiang Bai and the others were just going to their deaths.

But after personally experiencing Jiang Bai's unfathomable strength, a faint glimmer of hope rekindled in her heart.

Just in case...

What if he really can pull off a miracle?

"Ahhh!!"

Overwhelmed by a torrent of conflicting emotions, Queen Lucy finally couldn't take it anymore. She clutched her head and let out a sharp scream.

Then, to everyone's astonishment, she suddenly turned around and ran out of the guild without looking back.

"Lucy! Where are you going?!" Levy shouted urgently from behind her.

Lucy didn't stop, but threw back a sentence from afar, a sentence whose arrogance and bravado were obvious to everyone.

"I'm going to witness those guys get wiped out by the Royal Army with my own eyes! So I can collect their corpses!"

Upon hearing this lame excuse, the previously oppressive atmosphere in the guild suddenly lightened considerably for some reason.

As everyone watched her disappearing figure through the doorway, they couldn't help but laugh.

"Lucy is still the same as ever, not honest at all."

"That's right," Levy shook her head helplessly, but a doting smile remained on her face.

"What a sharp-tongued but kind-hearted guy."