"Yes," Erza said, stepping closer to Mirajane and closely examining her wooden, demon-like arm. Her tone was confident.
"It's definitely Take Over magic. It allows you to host a demon's power within your body. The demon you took over back then must have been incredibly strong. Its power was likely weakened from being sealed for so long, which is why you were able to take it over directly."
She paused, her gaze on Mirajane softening with a hint of admiration. "Of course, it could also be your extraordinary talent and compatibility with Take Over magic, allowing you to absorb a demon far beyond your strength at the time."
"After taking it over, your magic power shot straight to the level of an A-class mage. If you form a contract with Roger…"
Erza's eyes flicked to Roger, then back to Mirajane, her voice tinged with anticipation. "It probably won't be long before you step into S-class territory."
Erza crossed her arms, her gaze on Mirajane now mixed with admiration and a faint spark of battle lust.
Once she reaches S-class, I'll finally have a worthy opponent.
Natsu goes down in one hit, and Roger only spars with me in swordsmanship and basic magic… My Eight Extremes Fist hasn't improved in ages!
She couldn't help but pout inwardly, thinking of how everyone in the guild scattered like rabbits at the mention of sparring with her.
She was already holding back! If she weakened her strength any further, the fight would lose its meaning. Only a truly intense, powerful battle could make someone grow stronger at lightning speed!
"Contract?" Mirajane caught the unfamiliar term, her voice laced with curiosity.
Erza gave a concise explanation of contract magic—its essence, effects, and some basic magical knowledge, along with the benefits of joining a guild.
Mirajane's eyes lit up. "So, if I form a contract with Roger, my power will grow rapidly?"
"Exactly," Erza nodded firmly.
"What about Lisanna and Elfman? They don't have magic yet—can they still join the guild?" Mirajane's thoughts immediately turned to her siblings, her gaze settling on them.
"Of course," Erza replied. "Generally, if the older sister has magic, there's a high chance the younger siblings have latent magic in them too."
"Once we get to the guild, we can use specific methods to guide their training and awaken their own magic."
Relief washed over Mirajane. She took a deep breath, stepped in front of Roger, and stood tall. With a solemn bow, her silky white hair slipping over her shoulders, she said, "Please, I'm begging you—form a contract with me!"
Her voice was soft but unwavering.
No longer hiding or fearing, she was reaching out, determined to seize the power to protect her family.
Seeing her embrace the strength she once viewed as a 'curse,' unlike in the original story, Roger's eyes gleamed with approval.
"Alright," he replied simply.
[Ding! Acquired Take Over Magic: Satan Soul]
[Ding! Magic has mutated. Effect altered: When using Take Over magic to absorb a demon, its power can now be fully integrated.]
The system's notification had barely sounded when a sudden change erupted!
A massive, ominous black-purple magic circle blazed to life beneath Mirajane's feet, enveloping her in an instant. A torrent of wild energy exploded outward like an invisible tsunami!
"Careful!" Erza shouted, her scarlet magic power flaring like tangible flames, forming a solid shield in front of her.
With one swift motion, she pulled Lisanna and Elfman behind her, protecting them firmly.
Her red hair danced wildly in the surging magic, her brows furrowed as she stared at Mirajane in the center of the magic circle, her voice tinged with shock. "Her magic power… it's skyrocketing!"
"Mira-nee!" Lisanna, shielded behind Erza, cried out in panic. Her small face paled as she saw Mirajane's pained, contorted expression within the magic circle. "What's happening to her?! Is the demon she took over fighting back?"
"No!" Erza's voice was firm, her magic shield trembling slightly under the onslaught of energy.
"The moment she completed the Take Over, the demon was destroyed! I'm not sure what's happening, but her own magic source is expanding at an insane rate! It's growing so fast it's beyond what her body can handle—that's why she's in so much pain!"
BOOM!
An even greater wave of magical pressure slammed outward like an invisible hammer! The already crumbling walls groaned under the strain, dust and debris falling in cascades.
The air in the room seemed to solidify, heavy and suffocating.
Crack! Shatter!
The few remaining glass panes in the windows shattered instantly! Sharp fragments, carried by the magical shockwave, shot out like arrows, whistling into the dark forest outside!
In the woods, Wagg, hobbling along with his crutch, suddenly felt a searing pain tear through his backside!
He whipped around, horrified to see a jagged shard of glass embedded deep in his rear! The agony made his eyes bulge, and he let out a pig-like scream.
"OWWW!!!"
Instinctively, he glanced back toward the 'demon's lair'—
In the dim light, a blinding, deep purple glow erupted from the dilapidated house like a volcanic explosion! The destructive force of the light banished the surrounding darkness in an instant!
"Mother of—!!!" Wagg's soul nearly left his body, the overwhelming fear eclipsing the pain in his backside.
Scrambling, he grabbed his fallen crutch, ignoring his bleeding wound. Driven by sheer survival instinct, he hobbled frantically on his uninjured leg, stumbling and lurching like a rabbit with a lit tail, disappearing into the dark forest in a blink.
Inside, the magical storm raged on! The energy swirling around Mirajane grew stronger, wilder!
The grotesque, wooden demon skin on her right arm began to peel away at a visible pace, as if erased by an invisible force, revealing the smooth, fair skin of a young girl beneath.
With every inch of her arm restored, the magical pressure radiating from her doubled in intensity!
When the last trace of wood vanished from her fingertips, her pale fingers trembling slightly—
BOOM!!
The raging magic around Mirajane froze, as if paused mid-motion.
In the next instant, a terrifying, condensed pillar of purple magical light, like an unchained dragon, roared upward, blasting through the roof!
Crash!
The decayed roof tore apart like paper, flung skyward! The thick purple beam pierced the heavens, smashing into the cloud-laden sky!
The heavy clouds parted as if sliced by a giant sword, revealing a starry night sky through a massive hole!
The beam lasted only a few seconds before receding like a retreating tide, shrinking and vanishing completely into Mirajane's kneeling form.
The light faded. Mirajane knelt on the ground, gasping heavily, sweat beading on her forehead and nose. Strands of damp white hair clung to her cheeks, her chest heaving.
[Ding! Gained 50,000 Magic Power. Acquired Form: Satan Soul. Acquired Crystal Magic.]