"I know this magic," Mira said with a cold smile. "One of the Nine Demon Gates used it too. But with your level of magic power, claiming you'll destroy demons is… laughable."
Bloodman's empty sockets glowed. As a demon of Zeref's Book, his power came from curses, not magic. And compared to Mira's growing strength, his aura felt shallow. Her taunt stung deeper than she knew.
"You insolent girl…" Bloodman growled. He despised humans, bowing to no one but Death itself. Yet this woman's mocking tone filled him with rage.
"Very well—then I'll show you despair beyond the Nine Demon Gates! Toward Yomi… toward the underworld… the dead shall march!"
His body warped into a black specter. The skeletal remains scattered across the ground began to writhe, rising as ghostly soldiers with skull heads and shadowy bodies.
Chains of bone wrapped around Mira's legs, pulling tight.
"Third Seal—Skull Burial!!!"
The skeletal horde swirled like a vortex, threatening to drown her in a tide of death.
Mira's eyes narrowed.
"Looks like I'll have to get serious."
"Full Body Take Over—Soul of Hades!!!"
In a flash, her form shifted. Armor encased her, a mask veiled her face, and black wings spread wide. It was the image of Mard Geer, the ruler of Tartaros—known as the demon closest to END.
Though Mard Geer had been limited by his own creation, Mira was not. With her overflowing magic power, she could wield his abilities at a level far beyond the original.
Bloodman sneered. "Mard Geer? A failed experiment of His Majesty Zeref. You think using his likeness will let you challenge me, the Grim Reaper? Pathetic."
"Grim Reaper or not," Mira retorted, her voice echoing through her demonic mask, "even death itself can die. Remember this moment."
Her aura surged, black and violet smoke pouring forth, laced with wailing spirits.
"Ultimate Curse—Memory of Death!!!"
The skeleton army shrieked as the smoke touched them, dissolving into nothingness. Even Bloodman's spectral body quivered.
"No… no!! Impossible!! How can a demon of the Nine have this power?! His Majesty never spoke of such a spell!"
Mira's eyes gleamed. "The demons of Zeref may be creations, but they live—and living beings evolve. This was Mard Geer's ultimate curse, forged for one purpose: to kill Zeref himself."
The smoke consumed Bloodman, swallowing his screams.
BOOOOM!!!
The explosion shook the battlefield. When the haze cleared, not even ashes remained. Bloodman, the Grim Reaper, had been erased.
For a heartbeat, the field was silent.
Then—
"He's gone…!"
"That monster is dead!!"
"She killed one of the Twelve Shields!!"
The Ishgar coalition erupted into cheers. The shadow that had cost them so many lives was finally lifted.
"Nicely done!" Gajeel grinned.
"Miss Mira… she's that strong?!" Lily muttered in shock. He'd always seen Mira as the guild's smiling barmaid, not a warrior.
Levy smiled proudly. "That's the Mira I know."
Erza's eyes softened. "As expected of Mira."
"Mira-san is amazing!!" Wendy cheered, raising her hands high.
"Of course," Carla added, "she's an S-Class mage of Fairy Tail."
Around them, guild members were just as stunned.
"As expected of my girl!!" Ichiya shouted dramatically—only for his Blue Pegasus teammates to clamp his mouth shut. Everyone knew now: Mira was Su Yan's girlfriend. Joking about her was the same as asking for death.
"Unbelievable…" Yukino whispered. "In just a year, she's become someone I can't even recognize."
"This is Fairy Tail," Rogue said with awe. "Their strength keeps rising higher."
Sting clenched his fists, fire in his eyes. "Incredible… Then we'll push ourselves harder too!"
With Bloodman's defeat, the northern battlefield blazed with renewed morale. Ishgar's forces roared in unison, their spirits lifted by Mira's victory.