The countryside, west of Magnolia.
Freed Justine, clad in a blood-red robe and holding a Western longsword, stood atop the remains of a shattered bridge. His cold gaze fell upon Mirajane Strauss and her brother Elfman below.
Among the Thunder God Tribe, Freed was the strongest—not only in swordsmanship but in rune magic, the art of inscribing powerful spells. The barriers that had trapped even Master Makarov and others back at the guild were his handiwork, a masterpiece of precision and power.
"Elfman," Freed spoke dispassionately, "you have already been defeated once by Bickslow. You are disqualified from continuing. You no longer have the right to fight."
If one looked closely, they would see Elfman's upper body—naked, battered, and scarred—evidence of a brutal battle fought just moments before.
Still, Elfman's spirit blazed. "Stop talking nonsense! If you're a real man, then accept my challenge!"
Mirajane, well aware of her brother's stubborn pride, quickly grabbed his arm, pleading, "Forget it... Let's go back to the guild first."
But Elfman shook her off roughly, eyes burning with fury, like a wild beast locked in a deadly standoff.
"There's no point communicating with someone who cannot abide by the rules," Freed said, his voice tinged with disdain. Shaking his head slightly, he turned his back to leave.
"STOP!!"
In a flash, Elfman broke free of Mirajane's grasp and charged forward, muscles bulging with rage. Freed's dismissive attitude had struck a nerve deep within him.
"Be careful! He's as strong as a quasi-S-Class mage!" Mirajane shouted, but Elfman, blinded by fury, could hear nothing else.
"Beast Soul: Take Over—Soul of the Beast King!!"
A magic circle flared beneath Elfman's feet. His already massive body swelled even larger, skin hardening like iron. His features twisted into the feral form of an orc-like beast as he lunged at Freed, teeth bared and claws outstretched.
Take Over Magic—the powerful transformation magic Mirajane, Elfman, and Lisanna had once studied together when they first joined Fairy Tail. By temporarily absorbing the strength of monsters, the user's own power could be greatly amplified. Those who had mastered it could even take on the souls of demons themselves.
Facing the raging beast, Freed remained impassive, only sighing lightly. "Obsessive."
Just as Elfman brought down his massive arm to strike, Freed dodged effortlessly to the side. His sword traced delicate arcs through the air, and in a flash, glowing purple-black runes engraved themselves onto Elfman's arm.
"What...?"
Elfman cried out in confusion. He tried to wipe the mark away with magic power, but it clung to his flesh.
"Dark Écriture: Agony," Freed intoned coldly, sheathing his sword.
One of Freed's pupils shifted to a sinister purple hue, gleaming like a devil's eye.
"Once defined by Dark Écriture, every nerve in your body will suffer endless torment."
No sooner had he spoken than Elfman collapsed to one knee, his face contorted in unbearable pain. Every fiber of his body screamed as if it were being torn apart.
"AAAAAHHH!!"
With a final howl, Elfman's Beast King form crumbled, leaving him on the ground, barely conscious, in his human shape.
"Elfman!!"
Mirajane's face paled with horror. Without hesitation, she rushed forward—but Freed had anticipated it. A pre-placed rune trap activated, freezing her in place mid-stride.
"Elfman can't fight anymore! Please... let him go!" she begged, tears brimming in her eyes.
Freed remained unmoved, his voice mechanical. "Do you wish to continue?"
Despite his body twitching from overwhelming pain, Elfman gritted his teeth and roared, "Continue!!"
Freed's cold gaze deepened. Taking it as permission, he unleashed his full might. His sword danced faster, carving runes into the very air.
"Panic!"
"Fear!"
"Pain!"
Each dark word etched into Elfman's flesh further distorted his face with agony, yet he still refused to fall completely, pounding his fist into the earth to stay upright.
Mirajane watched helplessly, despair tightening around her heart.
"Please... please, let's just go back to the guild," she sobbed. "Don't hurt him anymore..."
Freed ignored her desperate cries. His blade wove its deadly script faster.
And then—the final stroke.
"Death."
The word was soft, almost a whisper, but in Mirajane's ears, it sounded like a hammer shattering glass.
Her heart seized.
"Die...?"
The death rune surged forward toward Elfman—
—but before it could touch him, a violent gust of wind howled through the bridge.
Freed instinctively leapt back just as a figure streaked past, grabbing Elfman mid-air.
"Wha—Ken?!"
The rune struck the figure—Ken—squarely on the arm, but to Freed's shock, it had almost no effect. Ken's skin shimmered with metallic toughness, his Steel Skin magic already in place.
The death magic barely caused a scratch.
"What was that? A mosquito bite?" Ken muttered dryly.
Holding the unconscious Elfman, Ken landed heavily on the shattered bridge, panting from the effort.
"Damn... this guy's as heavy as three Erzas put together..."
Finally, Freed's expression shifted from cold detachment to grim seriousness.
Ken wasn't just any Fairy Tail mage. Even Laxus regarded him with respect.
Meanwhile, Ken's face held an unusual expression—not anger, but something closer to sympathy.
"You really picked the wrong fight," Ken said softly.
Freed frowned, confused, until Ken's gaze shifted toward Mirajane.
There, trapped by the runes, Mirajane's sorrow overflowed. Her magic—long dormant—awakened with a terrible force.
A massive gray-black magic circle flared to life beneath her feet. Waves of demonic energy poured out, disintegrating Freed's rune spell in an instant.
Freed's eyes widened in horror.
"What... what terrifying magic power!"
Only once before had he felt pressure like this—from Laxus himself.
Ken let out a low, mournful sigh.
"You really didn't know, huh? Years ago, she had another title."
S-Class Mage—Demon Mirajane.
Once, her strength rivaled even Titania Erza's. Once, she was wild, ruthless, a storm in human form.
But tragedy had changed her. After Lisanna's death, Mirajane's fierce spirit had been buried, replaced by a gentle smile and a soft heart.
Until now.
Until the threat of losing her last family member reawakened the Demon inside.
Ken shook his head, almost pitying Freed.
"The magic that's been sleeping... has finally woken up."
(Next Chapter: Demon's Awakening: Mirajane's Wrath)