Chapter 60: Diamond Star Fist!
"Hah? Then bring it on!"
Mirajane's sudden challenge didn't faze Erza one bit.
In fact, she looked eager—this was a fight she'd been curious about for a while.
Everyone in the guild said Mirajane was strong.
A prodigy in Take Over Magic, a top candidate for S-Class.
As someone who was also labeled a magical genius, Erza couldn't help but feel the itch to measure herself against her.
It wasn't about pride.
It was… inevitable.
They were too similar—two lone girls, magically awakened, emotionally guarded, and thrown into the same guild at nearly the same time.
"Vmmmmm!"
Mirajane's magic surged around her in a wild vortex.
It was clear—she'd been holding it in for days.
Her demon arm gleamed ominously, and her aura darkened into a deep violet haze.
"ERZA! Today, I'm gonna beat you so bad you'll think twice before stalking me to the bathroom!"
She raised her demonic arm, grinding her teeth in barely-contained rage.
"Sssssssshhh…"
Moen inhaled sharply through his teeth. Damn, she just said something truly unholy.
But… it also explained everything.
She wasn't just annoyed—she was furious.
And Moen knew, deep down, yeah... that did sound like something Erza might actually do.
Erza… you're way too literal, Moen groaned inwardly.
In hindsight, he probably should've warned her about boundaries.
Like, say, bathroom boundaries.
"It was Moen who told me to do it."
Erza replied calmly—completely unfazed, as if she hadn't just dropped a social nuclear bomb.
She felt no guilt at all.
She'd been carrying out Moen's request as instructed.
And clearly, it had worked.
"Wait, hold on!"
Moen quickly stepped in, trying to do damage control.
"Mirajane, I only told her to keep an eye on you so you wouldn't sneak off. I definitely didn't mean... y'know, everything!"
His face was dead serious—he didn't want his mission misunderstood.
It was never supposed to involve toilet surveillance.
That was not part of the plan.
"…"
Mirajane's cheeks flushed with color.
She didn't reply, but she didn't look as mad anymore either.
Erza tilted her head slightly, confused.
What's he explaining?
Isn't that what I did...?
"Are we fighting or not?"
Erza's voice cut through the awkward moment, eyes shining with anticipation.
"Of course we're fighting!"
Mirajane snapped back, adjusting her posture.
She had issued the challenge—she wasn't about to back down like some coward.
"Please don't fight…"
Lisanna gently tugged at her sister's sleeve from behind.
Her voice was soft, pleading.
Elfman also looked uneasy.
It was great that Mira-nee had finally returned to her usual self…
But "usual" also meant… brawling.
"Let's save it for another day, Mira," Moen spoke up, stepping in as the voice of reason.
"You've only just accepted your magic. It'd be better to wait until you're fully in control. You wouldn't want to lose to Erza just because you weren't ready, right?"
Bulls-eye.
Mirajane hesitated—because she really didn't want to lose to Erza.
Not like this.
"…You're right. If I win now, it won't mean anything."
She nodded begrudgingly.
To Moen's relief, Erza also nodded in agreement.
"Moen's right. A victory like that… wouldn't be fair."
"You're right," Mirajane said, seizing the perfect chance to step down without losing face.
"Let's settle this properly another time… But don't go thinking you'll definitely win!"
Her tone was casual, but her pride was clear—Mirajane wasn't the type to bow out entirely.
She understood Erza's actions came from good intentions, even if they'd been way over the line.
Still, the comparisons.
Always being measured against Erza…
She couldn't help wanting to win—just once.
"Whummmm—"
As Mirajane's magic dissipated, something incredible happened.
Her demon arm vanished.
Completely.
"H-Huh?! What's going on…?"
She stared at her arm in disbelief.
It looked normal—human.
But then she concentrated.
With just a thought, magic surged again—and this time, something entirely new responded.
"Vmmmm!"
Her body began to transform—not just her arm.
"Full Take Over —Satan Soul!"
Violet magic engulfed her.
Her hair flared upward, wild and blazing like a crown.
Dark demon wings burst from her back, a long tail swayed behind her, and her hands morphed into clawed gauntlets, covered in scaled armor.
Even her clothes changed—revealing, light, fitting of her demon form.
Not that it mattered.
With her slim frame and tomboyish build, there wasn't much for her to "reveal."
"She really is strong…"
Erza's expression hardened.
This wasn't just guild gossip—Mirajane was the real deal.
Full-body Take Over was no small feat.
"So this… is the demon's power."
Mirajane looked at her hands—no, claws—marveling at the sheer energy coursing through her.
It was her first time fully entering this state.
But it didn't feel unfamiliar.
It felt… natural.
"Magic is born from the heart," Moen explained, stepping forward with a calm smile.
"You hated your magic, rejected it—and that's why you couldn't control it. You couldn't even turn off your demon arm. But now… you've accepted it. So it's accepted you in return."
He watched her carefully, almost proud.
Some people are just monsters when it comes to magic, he mused.
No training, no theory—just awaken and dominate. Talk about pay-to-win.
"…So that's how it works."
Mirajane finally understood.
She had chosen to protect her family with this power—and in return, the magic had embraced her fully.
Only now had she truly become its master.
[Ding! Quest "Mirajane's Inner Knot" Completed]
Progress: Help Mirajane accept her power — Complete.
Claim reward?
A system window popped up in Moen's mind.
He finally breathed out, relieved.
Seriously, system. Could've popped up five minutes ago and saved me all that stress…
Still grumbling internally, Moen mentally clicked [Claim Reward].
[Congratulations! Skill Unlocked: Diamond Star Fist!]
A rush of knowledge flooded his brain—everything about the technique downloaded directly into his mind.
And Moen had only one thought.
Yup… Bronze Saints are definitely busted.