Jose sat in the command room with a gloomy expression, his aged fingers tapping the armrest with an ever-quickening rhythm.
He could feel the magic power of the Purgatory Break gradually slowing down.
Of the Element 4, only Juvia remained. If Juvia hadn't fallen in love with Gray at first sight (or rather, lusted after his looks) and held back at the critical moment...
Gray would have had a hard time defeating Juvia. Her overall strength was enough to be promoted to S-Class in Fairy Tail; none who awaken their own magic are weak.
The battlefield between Natsu and Gajeel was also quite intense. The two dragons ended up fighting in mid-air, their Iron Fists and Fire Fists colliding. The shockwaves made the fortress walls tremble.
"Fire Dragon, is this all you've got? This great one is indeed the strongest dragon!" Gajeel's iron fist slammed into Natsu's face, a wild grin curling at the corner of his mouth.
"You block of iron! If you've got guts, stop hardening your body!" Natsu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, flames surging on his fists.
When Riyao watched the anime, he found it quite strange. Given Jose's level of madness, sending Gajeel to attack Fairy Tail members should have resulted in direct kills, rather than Gajeel just severely injuring them and hanging them in the park.
When Gajeel led the team to capture Lucy, he didn't deal a killing blow either. However, his two subordinates were truly out for blood, nearly killing Loki and Reedus.
The attack on Levy's trio seemed more like a warning, letting Fairy Tail know that this wasn't just a minor squabble, but that they were playing for keeps.
Gajeel, this iron-headed dragon, wasn't as bloodthirsty as he appeared deep down; he was more like a battle-hungry brute who didn't deal death blows.
Dragon King's choice, truly reliable.
Jose was simply too arrogant. Phantom Lord's overall combat power couldn't possibly defeat Fairy Tail; he just thought that as one of the Ten Wizard Saints, he could wipe out the entire guild. He underestimated Fairy Tail's cohesion, and even more so, those lunatics who would risk their lives for their comrades.
Bang!
The door to Jose's room was kicked open. The heavy metal door panel flew out like a piece of paper, hitting the opposite wall with a deafening crash.
Mirajane and Riyao didn't bother with Gray and Natsu's battles, heading straight for Jose. The two stood side by side at the door, one demon and one Celestial Spirit, their momentum like a rainbow.
Sitting on his throne with his legs crossed, Jose wore an elegant smile on his aged face, as if he were hosting visiting guests rather than facing enemies who had stormed into his headquarters.
His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, his tone composed: "I didn't think you could make it this far. Riyao, join Phantom Lord. Whatever Makarov can give you, Phantom Lord will only give more."
Riyao looked at Jose with a smile, hands in his pockets and head tilted, his tone playful: "Join Phantom Lord? Are you joking? After today, there won't be a Phantom Lord left. Attacking a fellow Light Guild like Fairy Tail is one thing, but you were actually bold enough to attack the Council."
Jose's smile vanished, his aged face instantly turning gloomy as he said coldly, "What are you talking about? When did I ever attack the Council?"
Mirajane scratched her head, her eyes full of confusion. That small tuft of hair on her forehead swayed gently with her movement; that puzzled look paired with her demon form was strangely cute.
Riyao gave a brilliant smile, pulled a map from his pocket, and spread it out before Jose. His finger traced an arc on the map as he gestured, "Take a guess, where did that Jupiter you just fired end up?"
Jose, who had been fairly calm, followed Riyao's finger. When he saw the location Riyao was pointing to, his expression became spectacular—first pale, then ashen, and finally turning the color of pig liver.
His fingers suddenly tightened, and with a 'crack,' the stone armrest was crushed by his bare hands.
"How dare you! How dare you! I'm going to kill you!"
Jose stood up from his throne, his entire magic power beginning to run wild. Dark purple energy burned around him like fire, his aged face twisting into a mask of rage.
Mirajane saw the place Riyao was pointing to; it was none other than a Council branch.
Satisfying! Two birds with one stone.
And while he was at it, he'd mess with the Council that usually acted so annoyingly.
Mirajane smiled even more brilliantly than Riyao, a joyful light flashing in her eyes, her lips curling into a dangerous arc.
Jose's face was at its worst as his magic power poured out. Dark purple energy surged from his body like a tsunami. The entire room trembled, dense cracks appeared on the walls, and the light fixtures on the ceiling shattered to the floor with a clatter.
"Today, you all die here!"
The magical pressure caused both Riyao and Mirajane's expressions to change. The air became heavy and viscous, as if filled with molten lead, making even breathing difficult.
This was the pressure of a veteran of the Ten Wizard Saints. Magic power doesn't decline as the body ages; it only grows stronger, like an old wine—the older it is, the more potent it becomes.
"Mira!"
[Lyra Form: Star Dress]
Riyao's body transformed into a pale gold light. He didn't disappear, but rather flowed like water onto Mirajane, merging into every inch of her skin. Golden patterns spread from Mirajane's chest, winding around her arms, waist, and legs like vines.
Mirajane's original purple skin-tight battle suit was replaced by a black-and-gold battle skirt under the enhancement of the Star Dress.
A normal Star Dress only grants unique attack methods, but Riyao was no normal Celestial Spirit; he had his own source of magic power.
As the magic power of the two merged, Mirajane could freely use Riyao's Life Magic and the Earth-attribute magic brought by his Celestial Spirit body, and even utilize Riyao's magic power and the Hundred Battles Technique.
Mirajane raised her hand to release magic. A pale gold light surged from her palm, colliding with the dark purple magic in the air.
[Life Magic: Hundred Battles]
[Enchantment Magic: Magic Power, Strength, Defense... Full Boost]
Layer after layer of buffing magic covered Mirajane like armor. Her aura instantly skyrocketed, and the runes on her black-and-gold battle skirt glowed with a piercing light.
Mirajane's wings unfurled, and she instantly charged to Jose's side, her speed like a bolt of black lightning. She delivered a spinning side kick, her slender leg carrying terrifying power, the tip of her foot piercing the air with a sharp whistling sound.
Jose raised his hand to release a barrier. Dark purple magic condensed into a thick wall, blocking the heavy side kick. However, the shockwave still forced him back half a step, and a numbing sensation traveled up his arm.
"What on earth is this?! Riyao is a Celestial Spirit?!" Jose's arm felt slightly numb. He looked down at his faintly trembling fingers, finding it all too absurd.
A Celestial Spirit and a Demon merging their magic power—what kind of monster was this?
Mirajane tilted her head, a hint of playfulness flashing in her eyes, her lips curling into a cruel smile.
"Wait until you're dead, then we'll tell you by burning paper!"
[Soul Extinguisher]
Crack, crack—cracks rapidly spread from the point of contact, and the entire barrier collapsed like shattered glass.
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I Escaped Konoha, Then Returned as the Senju King
Konoha, Year 52.
Chiba awakens the memories of her past life—and with them, a destiny tied to the long-faded Senju clan.
With the help of a mysterious system, he successfully awakens the legendary Wood Release. Yet instead of seeking power within the village, her first decision is to escape Konoha altogether.
Two years later, he returns.
Stronger. Unrecognizable. Unstoppable.
From this day forward, the Senju name will rise once more.
Because only the Senju are meant to stand at the top of Konoha.
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You can find the book on my profile.