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The Moon Temple was shaking, and some kind of impact from underground seemed on the verge of overturning this ancient structure.
Everyone resting inside the temple felt the ground beneath their feet surge like a raging sea, rising and falling, making it impossible for them to stand steadily.
"What's happening down there?"
"Mira and Noah, they... should we..."
Before Lucy could finish her worried words, Natsu, in his eagerness, had already rushed to the entrance of the underground passage, only to be firmly held back by Richard's large hands.
"Don't be impulsive, fiery youngster. With the strength of the Guild Master and Mr. Noah, there are probably few in this world who can contend with their combined power."
Natsu did listen to Richard's advice, mainly because the tall man was simply too strong, and he couldn't break free immediately.
In the brief moment of this struggle, the tremor from underground instantly intensified by several degrees, and everyone, unable to adapt, fell to the ground.
Just then, Midnight, who had been silently sleeping soundly, suddenly opened his eyes. His sleepiness vanished without a trace, and his wide eyes were filled with horror.
"Not good! Get out of here!"
Aside from Noah, Roubaul, and Mira, Midnight was the strongest among everyone present, but his terrified expression was as frightening as if some abyssal beast had opened its maw underground.
Everyone instantly realized the seriousness of the situation. Minerva, sensing the danger, almost immediately activated her Territory, wanting to transfer her companions out.
However, in the next second, a massive black energy beam—as thick as ten people embracing—burst through the temple floor from below, and a huge surge of Magic Power erupted from underground, directly scattering Minerva's magic.
One by one, floor tiles were ripped up and sent spiraling by the impact of the black energy flow, carried upward into the sky where they turned to dust.
If Midnight hadn't timely used his magic to distort the space where everyone stood, and Richard hadn't raised an earth magic defense, their fate would likely have been no different from those floor tiles.
A figure slowly emerged within the soaring stream of energy.
Demon Mira was wreathed in deep purple electrical arcs. Her skin was pierced by black thorns emerging from within her body, and the gushing blood solidified into a blood crystal crown in mid-air, suspended above her head.
Her demonic wings flapped violently, tearing the surrounding air, and the soaring energy beam instantly disintegrated, returning to her body.
An indescribable chaotic aura made the pupils of everyone present contract violently.
"Mi... Mira..."
Looking at the white-haired girl's mismatched eyes—one black and one white—filled with indifference, Lucy's voice trembled. Just moments ago, Mira had been happily dragging Boss to see Noah.
How could she have transformed into this state after only a few minutes?
Hearing Lucy's voice, Mira tilted her head and gave her a playful smile. Although the smile was as gentle as a spring breeze, Lucy only felt a chilling coldness that penetrated to her bones.
Instantly, Lucy, who was well-read, realized something.
"You're not Mira."
"Who are you?!"
Responding to Lucy's questioning was Mira's right index finger gently pointing forward. A dark magic ray, as thick as a water bucket, erupted, its power so immense that tiny spatial cracks appeared in the air.
The immense Magic Power pressed down on Lucy so hard that she couldn't even hold the Celestial Spirit keys in her hand, and her body stiffened, unable to move under the pressure.
Just as Lucy thought she was finished, a powerful burst of firelight cut through the darkness. The violent collision between the two created a massive shockwave that sent Lucy flying.
A warm chest pressed against the girl's back. Lucy turned her head to see that the person who had caught her was Natsu, and she exclaimed, "Natsu! What are you doing here?"
Natsu was confused by Lucy's reaction. Where else would he be if not here? Had Mira scared Lucy out of her mind?
Looking at the clear foolishness in the boy's eyes behind her, Lucy immediately understood that Natsu's astonishing wisdom was at work again. "What are you thinking? I mean, was the fire magic that saved me yours?"
"No, I didn't have time to react just now. That fire magic came from underground."
It wasn't Natsu. Among their group, he was the only one who could use fire magic. Lucy remembered that Noah had once displayed the ability to change magic attributes.
That's right, the person who saved her was...
"Ro... Roubaul-sama! Why is it you?!"
Lucy looked at the short, thin old man who appeared from the firelight, surprised and a little embarrassed.
Roubaul didn't understand why the young people were reacting so strongly. He was, after all, a Thought Projection that had existed for four hundred years. Was it so surprising that he saved her?
Speaking of surprise, Roubaul's expression grew serious as he looked up at the white-haired young man who had appeared in the sky at some point and was confronting Mira.
Where did this boy learn his magic—Myraid Projection?
"Mira's Satan Soul is out of control."
"Let's retreat first. Staying here will only cause trouble for Noah."
Hearing Roubaul's words, everyone was startled, especially the members of the New Oración Seis, who knew firsthand how powerful their new Guild Master was.
That berserk Demon Mira—she's really that strong? Even Roubaul can't handle her?
Just as everyone was evacuating the ruined temple, they suddenly heard a shriek from inside. The space behind Mira tore open like a curtain, and thousands of dark tendrils shot out from it.
Noah's Dragon Slayer Magic transformed into ten flying blades, which he sent forward to meet the tendrils.
Changing five times in a second, those Dragon Slayer Blades, under Noah's control, almost instantly switched to different magic attributes for attack. Working together, they severed a large number of tendrils.
With unparalleled control, Noah quickly closed in on Mira. He could feel Mira's original consciousness being invaded by the rampaging Satan Soul.
It was just like the first time they met, when Elfman was controlled and went berserk after using the Beast Soul.
"Mira, wake up!"
"Hehe."
Noah's words were met only by a sinister laugh.
The demonic wings that exploded from Mira's back whipped up a hurricane, completely destroying the shattered temple, and at the same time, dense black mist erupted as her demonized claws lunged at Noah.
With a single swipe, she easily broke Noah's Dragon Slayer Magic.
Three deep, bone-exposing claw marks on his arm caused a burning, excruciating pain. Noah quickly escaped the surrounding black mist and looked at Mira with great surprise.
His Dragon Slayer Magic had suddenly become much weaker, which was why Mira was able to injure him.
Balance, weakening... This was the effect of Soul Scale's Magic Power. But how could Mira possess this ability?
Without dwelling on it, Noah took a deep breath. The orange-red Dragon Slayer Flames in his hand extinguished, and purple Devil Slayer Flames ignited fiercely.
Consuming a mouthful of pure Devil Slayer Flames, and with the physique granted by Dragon Slayer Magic, the wounds on Noah's arm healed at an astonishing speed.
Both Dragon Slayer and Devil Slayer Magic could consume magic of the same attribute. Noah, who mastered both of these magics—by having Dragon Slayer consume Devil Slayer and Devil Slayer consume Dragon Slayer—almost became a self-sufficient perpetual motion machine.
Previously, out of concern for hurting Mira, Noah hadn't used Devil Slayer Magic immediately, but now it seemed he had overthought things.
Mysterious evil energy, a berserk Satan Soul, and the special effects of Soul Scale's Magic Power—these three combined were indeed somewhat troublesome.
A fierce wind suddenly rose. Noah slowly exhaled. It was no longer time to hold back.
"Mira, be careful. I'm getting serious."