Lin Yuan's words quickly silenced the guild hall.
Natsu and Gray stopped arguing over the request, and Mira put down her glass and walked out from behind the bar.
"You said the cracks in Pine Needle Mountain lead to another world?"
"The spatial fluctuations are different from the boundaries of the Fairy Tail world," Lin Yuan said. "I cannot sense the environment on the other side of the rift, nor can I find any identifiable coordinates."
Makarov put away the ledger. "How long can the Space Lockdown you left behind last?"
"It will last until noon tomorrow at the latest. If the cracks continue to widen, the lockdown will be shortened."
"Can I just close it?"
"We can try compressing the entrance, but that can only close the crack in Pine Needle Mountain." Lin Yuan drew a vertical line on the table. "The power that created the crack comes from another world. Until we find the connection point on the other end, I can't guarantee that the spatial crack won't reappear elsewhere after closing the entrance."
Makarov frowned. The evacuation of Pine Needle Mountain had been completed, and even if the cracks reappeared, they might not fall into the uninhabited forests again.
What are you going to do?
"Enter the crack and check the situation on the other side."
Mira immediately slammed her hand on the table. "I'll go with you."
Lin Yuan shook his head. "You cannot enter that crevice."
"You want to handle this all by yourself again?"
"It's not because the other side is dangerous," Lin Yuan said, looking at her. "I can't guarantee you'll be able to cross the world boundary unscathed."
Mira didn't speak immediately.
Those around them also heard this. Lisanna, who had originally intended to walk over, stopped at the bar.
Lin Yuan continued, "When I first left the Fairy Tail world, the World Marker only protected my body. When I returned, Nameless was also re-assimilated by the World Marker, which is why he didn't disappear along with Aincrad."
He placed his sword on the table.
"World boundaries exclude life that doesn't belong to another world. World Marker allow my body to adapt to different rules, but they can't protect a second person at the moment."
"Even if you use your spatial magic to envelop me, it won't work?" Mira asked.
"It's possible in the Fairy Tail world. But once inside the rift, there's no way to pinpoint distance or direction. I have to use all my senses to fix my position while searching for an exit. If I try to maintain my coordinates, even a single spatial displacement could send us to two different places."
Mira gripped the edge of the table tightly.
"If you don't even know where the other end is, why do you insist on going in?" Erza asked.
Lin Yuan looked at her. "Because I only remember the coordinates of the world where Yui is, but I don't know how to open a path along those coordinates."
After he returned to the Fairy Tail world, the coordinates left by Yui remained. No matter how far apart they were, that location never disappeared.
But remembering the destination and being able to reach the destination are two different things.
"Staying in the guild and waiting won't suddenly teach me how to cross worlds," Lin Yuan said. "The rift in Pine Needle Mountain may not lead to where Yui is, but another world might have different spatial True Magic, and it might also allow me to further understand the boundaries of worlds."
"Or maybe there's nothing at all," Makarov said.
"I know."
"You might not come back for another two years, just like last time."
"I know."
Makarov looked at Lin Yuan without speaking for a long time.
The last time the rift appeared suddenly, no one had time to make a choice. Now, Lin Yuan has the opportunity to stay in Fairy Tail, but he is preparing to actively step into the unknown world.
"I cannot order you to risk your life for a rift whose destination is unknown," Makarov finally said, "Nor will I make investigating the rift your responsibility simply because you can cross the world's borders."
"Entering the spatial rift was not a guild request."
"So I'm asking about your own decision."
Lin Yuan did not hesitate.
"I'll go in."
No one spoke in the hall.
"What time do we leave tomorrow?" Makarov asked.
"After dawn, I will first reinforce the eight spatial traces before entering the rift. Once I pass through, the spatial magic left in the Fairy Tail world will automatically close the entrance."
"After entering the rift, will you still be able to send messages back using spatial markers?" Makarov asked.
"No. Once the entrance closes, the two worlds will lose their connection. I can only return to the Fairy Tail world by finding a new passage."
Makarov nodded. "I'll notify the nearby guilds tonight to keep an eye out for spatial anomalies within Fiore. We'll also station people at Pine Needle Mountain to prevent residents from approaching."
Natsu finally couldn't help but ask, "Really, we can't bring anyone?"
"Not now."
Lin Yuan picked up Nameless and fastened it back around his waist.
"So this time, only I can go."