Ur and Cana, Mirajane and Lisanna, immediately split into two opposing teams as Gildarts' words ended.
One second, they were good teammates; the next, they were adversaries.
Hah!
Women are unpredictable, Ur thought, watching the three girls before him shift from friendly to hostile in an instant.
Although Ur had long expected this battle, the speed and suddenness still caught him off guard.
"Feels like this year, Master Makarov is really breaking all the rules," Ur muttered quietly to himself, glancing at the amused Gildarts beside him.
"Still… the situation isn't too bad."
"You know, Ur, I've wanted to fight you for a long time," Mirajane said, already embracing the power of the Satan Soul. She transformed into a demonic girl, her magic surging, a thick tail thrashing behind her.
What?
Why wasn't Mirajane challenging Cana instead?
Sorry.
It wasn't that Mirajane underestimated Cana; her combat power was simply too low to be a real threat.
Ur: "…"
He felt a bit mentally drained.
A normal girl, yet all she ever thinks about is fighting people instead of dressing up—what is that about?
Whoosh!
Mirajane suddenly launched an assault like a cannonball, charging straight at Ur, leg raised for a kick.
Mirajane didn't intend to waste words. In her Satan Soul state, her instincts leaned toward violence and bloodlust, amplified over time by the demonic influence.
Bang!
Ur raised his arm to block Mirajane's kick. The impact of limb against limb produced a low, thunderous rumble.
Shhh!
The force pushed Ur several meters back. Incredible. Even with his immense physical strength, being shoved back like this showed just how powerful Mirajane had become.
She forced Ur to retreat with a single strike, but the recoil also pushed her back slightly, then she lunged again. Mirajane excelled at close combat—not because of skill alone, but because the demonic power gave her overwhelming physical might. In her Satan Soul form, both her body and magic were massively enhanced.
Bam!
Her leg came down like a war axe on Ur.
Ur raised both hands over his head and held the strike. The earth beneath him shattered under the massive force, forming a deep crater where he stood.
Ding!
A crimson magic circle appeared in his palm.
Ur never let an attack go unanswered. As he blocked Mirajane's strike, he immediately launched a counterattack. Two massive fire shockwaves swept past Mirajane's face toward nearby rocks. Explosions shattered the rocks into pieces.
Mirajane was pushed back by Ur's magic.
Seizing the opportunity, Ur tapped the ground with his palm. Countless deep-yellow magic circles ignited beneath Mira's feet.
Earth Magic, Infinite Rock Spikes.
Pew pew pew.
A swarm of spiked earth surged from the ground. Individually weak, their strength lay in sheer numbers. In seconds, the ground beneath Mirajane became riddled with spikes, leaving no foothold.
Whoosh!
Faced with this, Mirajane's demonic wings unfurled, forcing her into the air. But the moment she rose, an intense heat radiated from above. Instinctively, she looked up; her pupils shrank. Above her hovered a massive fireball, nearly ten meters in diameter. Its heat distorted the surrounding air.
Mirajane tried to dodge, but this was Ur's trap. Escaping easily was impossible.
Boom!
The fireball slammed down, turning the area into an inferno. Magic radiated in violent waves, like half a giant glowing sphere, with scorching winds whipping around.
"Huh?" Gildarts raised his cloak, shielding himself as he watched, astonished.
He knew Mirajane's strength, but Ur's sudden power surge shocked him. The last time he'd seen the kid, his abilities were average at best.
Elsewhere, Cana and Lisanna's battle was interrupted by the aftershock.
Their strength was insufficient; even standing firm was a challenge, let alone casting magic.
Cana used Magic Card, an ancient system of magical tarot cards. While versatile, its primary function was divination rather than combat. Lisanna's magic mirrored her sister's, Take-Over Magic: Animal Soul.
However, what Lisanna transformed wasn't as terrifying as Mirajane's. Currently, she had absorbed an animal spirit: a chubby pink rabbit, ugly but harmless.
Cana was still weakened from the alcohol but stubbornly pressed on against Lisanna, relying on her higher magic to remain competitive. Gildarts laughed, admiring their tenacity. He wondered if he would feel the same once he discovered Cana was his daughter.
The remaining flames dissipated, leaving a large crater.
At the bottom, Mirajane retracted her defensive wings, looking slightly disheveled. Being hit directly by that fireball, complete invulnerability was impossible.
She flapped her wings and landed before Ur.
"Ur, you really are strong. Without that, I would've failed this S-Class exam. Watch out—this next form, even I haven't fully mastered it."
With that, Mirajane released the Satan Soul. A surge of even more destructive magic erupted from her body.
"Take Over, Satan Soul: Demon God Halphas!"
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Next Chapter: Terrifying Destructive Power
Next Next Chapter: The Jerk
Next Next Next Chapter: The Notebook