"This mission will still be led by me. Elfman, you'll support—don't overdo it," Mirajane said as she loosened her wrists, her tone steady, though concern for her younger brother flickered in her eyes.
"I'll handle the frontal assault and keep it occupied. Elfman, hold the line and provide support. Wait for Lisanna to return."
Elfman clenched his fists, puffing out his chest as he tried to appear dependable. "Don't worry, Sis! I'm a man—I'll protect you and Lisanna!"
Mirajane smiled softly and patted his broad back, her eyes full of trust.
"Be careful. Don't get too close to the Beast King. Wait for my signal before attacking—we'll combine our strength with Lisanna's when she returns. We'll defeat it and all go home safely."
"Got it, Sis! I'll do my best!" Elfman shouted.
The two stopped less than twenty meters from the Beast King. At that moment, the creature was violently ramming its massive body against a rock wall, its brute strength and magic shaking loose a rain of falling stones.
Sensing their presence, the Beast King suddenly turned. Its savage purple eyes locked onto Mirajane and Elfman.
It threw its head back and let out a deafening roar. Its massive claws slammed into the ground, splitting the earth with a series of cracks.
"Damn—it spotted us. Move!"
"Take Over—Satan Soul!"
Mirajane's expression sharpened. At her command, dense dark magic surged around her as a magic circle swept upward across her body.
Her form transformed instantly—
Her white hair flared upward, with strands falling before her brow. Long, pointed ears emerged, and a jagged dark mark slashed across her right eye. Her lips darkened, revealing sharp fangs, her eyes deep as an abyss.
A dark, form-fitting battle suit wrapped her body, edged with golden spikes. Her arms and hands were covered in fine scales, with fin-like protrusions along the sides. Black bat-like wings unfurled behind her, and a long, scaled tail swept the ground with a low hiss.
A terrifying, demonic aura radiated from her, oppressive and overwhelming.
With Satan Soul fully unleashed, Mirajane shot into the air. Dark energy gathered in her hands as countless black sparks rained down like a storm, targeting the Beast King's eyes and joints.
Explosions rang out one after another, bursting into sprays of blood across its tough hide.
She didn't stop.
"Super Violent Barrage!"
A massive dark vortex formed above her as she thrust both hands forward. It slammed into the Beast King, violent magic tearing at its body, attempting to bind it in place.
At the same time, Elfman roared and activated his Take Over magic.
"Beast Arm—Iron Bull!"
Magic surged into his right arm, transforming it into a massive, iron-like limb. He kicked off the ground and rushed to the Beast King's side.
Drawing his arm back like a bowstring, he unleashed a full-force punch straight into the creature's abdomen—one of its softer spots.
The impact was immense. The flesh caved inward, drawing a pained roar from the Beast King.
It lifted a massive leg to stomp him flat—but Elfman dodged with surprising agility.
Mirajane seized the opening, intensifying her assault. Magic surged, sand and debris filled the air, and the siblings' coordination pushed the Beast King back step by step.
But it was still an ancient magical beast.
After enduring repeated attacks, it erupted in fury. With a thunderous roar, terrifying magic burst from its body, shattering Mirajane's dark vortex.
It swung a massive claw like a battering ram toward Mirajane in midair.
The speed was too fast.
She couldn't fully evade. The claw grazed her wing, instantly disrupting her magic. With a muffled groan, she fell straight to the ground.
"Sis!"
Seeing Mirajane in danger, Elfman's rationality snapped under the weight of panic and fear.
The urge to protect her burned through him like wildfire.
Ignoring his limits, he charged forward recklessly, leaping onto the Beast King's back. Grabbing one of its horns, he roared:
"Take Over—Beast King Soul!"
An overwhelming surge of power flooded into him from the horn.
His body swelled violently. Bones creaked under the strain, fur erupted across his body, and he transformed into a monstrous form akin to the Beast King itself.
But his strength wasn't enough.
His body couldn't handle it.
The overwhelming power devoured his consciousness in an instant.
Elfman became a rampaging beast.
With no distinction between friend or foe, he began smashing everything in sight.
It all happened too fast.
Mirajane, who had just regained her footing, didn't even have time to react.
"Elfman! Snap out of it! Don't let the Beast King take over your mind!" she shouted anxiously, clutching her injured arm.
But it was useless.
His eyes glowed with savage purple light—there was nothing left but destruction.
"Mirajane!"
At that moment, Lisanna descended from the sky, landing and reverting from her blue bird form.
"I've evacuated all the villagers," she said quickly, then froze as she took in the scene. "What happened? Where's Elfman?"
"Leave—now, Lisanna!" Mirajane urged urgently. "It's my fault—I underestimated it. Elfman tried to protect me and forced a Take Over beyond his limits…"
Lisanna's face went pale. "How… how could this happen? What will happen to him?"
"We have to snap him out of it. Otherwise… he'll be completely taken over," Mirajane said, her voice tense as she desperately tried to think of a solution. Her Satan Soul had been forcibly interrupted—she couldn't reactivate it immediately.
"Elfman… what's wrong? It's me—Lisanna…"
Lisanna stepped forward, forcing a smile through trembling lips.
"Elfman! Wake up! Let's go home!"
She spread her arms, tears welling in her eyes as she reached out to the rampaging monster—her voice trembling, yet filled with trust.
Mirajane's pupils shrank.
"Lisanna, what are you doing?! Get back here!"
The berserk Elfman raised a massive claw and swung it toward her.
Mirajane's eyes widened in terror.
If that hit—
Lisanna would die.
"NO! LISANNA—MOVE!!"
Mirajane screamed, forcing herself to run forward despite her injuries.
And just then—
A blue, ice-like katana shot through the air from afar.
It slammed into the massive claw with tremendous force, knocking Elfman back several steps. The attack narrowly missed Lisanna—passing less than half a meter from her, the sheer wind pressure whipping her hair violently backward.
"Lisanna, have you lost your mind? Trying to appeal to a monster that's already lost its reason?"
"And you, Mirajane—careless and overconfident. How many lives do you think you have to gamble?"
A cold voice rang out.
The sisters turned toward the sound—
And saw Arlen walking toward them, his expression indifferent, his steps unhurried.
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