The Curse Power boiling around Seilah began to fluctuate erratically; she could feel that something had vanished forever.
It was the invisible bond she and Kyoka had woven over long years—nearly four hundred years of companionship, from the ignorance of their initial creation to the mastery of their respective Curses, and finally to standing together in the high ranks of the Nine Demon Gates.
When one side completely perishes, the other feels an emptiness as if their soul has been torn apart.
"No... it can't be..."
Seilah staggered back, the hem of her tattered kimono dragging messy marks on the ground. She clutched her chest, where sharp pangs of pain were radiating. "Kyoka-sama is so strong, and with Hell's Core, how could she possibly die..."
Mirajane keenly sensed the change in her opponent's state.
Facing an enemy who had invaded the guild's holy ground, she wouldn't show any mercy. The six fallen angel wings on her back snapped open, and dark magic condensed into countless sharp feathers.
"Assaulting Black Feathers!"
The pitch-black feathered arrows immediately poured down like a rainstorm, slicing through the air with a sharp whistle. Each feather contained powerful penetrating magic, overwhelming the distraught Seilah.
Seilah reacted instinctively, barely managing to prop up a Curse Power barrier, but with her mind in chaos, she couldn't maintain the defense's strength. The barrier was already covered in cracks before the first wave of arrows finished.
When the second round of arrows arrived, the barrier shattered completely, dissipating into a sky full of light specks.
Several feathered arrows pierced her shoulders, abdomen, and thighs.
Seilah groaned and fell to her knees. Dark purple blood welled from her wounds, dripping onto a torn page of a book that had drifted over at some point.
The blood droplets spread across the yellowed paper, looking much like withered flowers.
Mirajane slowly landed. The great demon wings behind her reverted to 'satan soul' and returned to her body as black mist. Her Lucifer demonic form also gradually dissolved, returning her to her usual gentle appearance.
"What? Do the demons of the book of zeref also feel sadness and grief?" Mirajane asked softly, her tone lacking mockery and instead carrying a hint of curiosity.
"Shut up!"
Seilah stared at the blood-stained page, her Voice hoarse. "How could you lowly humans understand the bond between me and Kyoka-sama!"
"As long as there is life, each will encounter their own bonds."
Mirajane replied calmly, taking two steps forward. "Demons are not superior. In fact, how many of you demons truly care about your comrades? If you die, will your guild master or the other members of the Nine Demon Gates care? How many will grieve for you?"
"I am different, because I truly have many comrades who care about me and are waiting for me."
These heart-piercing words made Seilah's body freeze.
The demons of the book of zeref were created from the start as Zeref's tools for suicide.
Tools do not need emotions, so in the bones of almost all demons, troublesome things like 'affection' and 'bonds' do not exist.
They only need to know how to kill.
Simply as tools, the fact that Zeref has lived to this era is enough to prove that the demons are all failures.
Failed creations, a failed sense of purpose.
"Our existence... really is a complete and utter mistake..." Seilah gave a miserable laugh, the light in her demonic eyes fading completely, like an extinguished candle.
The Underworld King's grand plan, the goal of resurrecting the strongest demon 'END', the ambition to dominate the world... none of it was worth her concern now.
The things that had sustained her for four hundred years were actually so fragile.
Her pitch-black skin began to fade, and cracks appeared in her horns. Seilah could no longer maintain her demonized state; her will to fight, and even her will to survive, rapidly weakened.
If I die, will I be able to see Kyoka-sama?
With one last small Hope, Seilah's body began to turn to ash from the feet up, revealing her original form: an ancient book with "Seilah" written on the cover.
One of the Nine Demon Gates, Ryougeten Seilah, gave up her life just like that.
Mirajane picked up the "Book of Seilah" that had fallen to the ground. Opening it, she found the contents were all in the distorted script unique to demons, appearing completely incomprehensible.
"Oh my, our guild's head manager has taken an interest in books."
A familiar Voice came from behind. Mirajane spun around and immediately saw Hope standing not far away. He was leaning against a tree, arms crossed, with his usual mischievous smirk on his face.
"Hope?! How did you get here?" Mirajane asked in surprise, her tense expression finally relaxing.
"I heard Grimoire Heart and Tartaros were planning to cause trouble on Tenrou Island, so I came to take a look."
Hope said casually as he walked up to Mirajane. "I happened to run into Tartaros' headquarters on the way and took them out while I was at it."
"This is a gift for you."
Hope winked at Mirajane and held out his hand. A miniature Magic Circle appeared in his palm, and within it, the faint silhouette of a demon soul could be seen.
As Mirajane looked at that demon soul, the 'Take Over' magic within her body immediately began to resonate, making her realize instantly that this was the one who had shaken Seilah... Kyoka.
Without taking no for an answer, Hope pressed the miniature Magic Circle containing the 'soul of kyouka' into Mirajane's hand, while simultaneously taking the book from her.
"So Seilah has already been taken down by you."
Hope flipped through the Book of Seilah, a glimmer of interest flashing in his eyes.
'Archive Magic', activate!
The translation function of the 'Archive Magic' magic worked rapidly. Those distorted demonic characters gradually transformed into understandable content in his eyes. Within a few minutes, he had read through Seilah's life.
Looking again at the soul of kyouka that Mirajane was receiving, Hope's expression became somewhat subtle.
Turns out they really were a pair of star-crossed... forget it, that's enough with the bad jokes.
However, with one mastering 'Enhancement' and the other 'Command Curse', and both being top-tier female demons in terms of looks and figure, Hope really was starting to wonder about the Black Wizard's mental state when he created Kyoka and Seilah.
"Let them be together," Hope said suddenly.
"Wh... what?" Mirajane was stunned for a moment.
Hope pointed to the Book of Seilah: "Of course, I mean you should Take Over her power as well. Kyoka was still thinking about Seilah in her final moments. Now, letting them die together—I really am a great philanthropist."
Mirajane tilted her head; this guy was acting crazy again.
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