"Really, Chase? You can really help me control the power of the Beast King's Soul?!"
Elfman's eyes widened, his voice trembling with excitement. He often spoke of being a man, of strength and courage, but deep down, he was still haunted.
Haunted by fear.
Though Lisanna's "death" had hardened his outer shell, every night when the guild fell quiet, he would find himself alone in the dark, thinking back to that stormy day. The day he lost control. The day the Beast King inside him rampaged.
He still couldn't face that power. Fear and guilt gnawed at him. He would curl into a corner, trembling silently, helpless in the grip of memories.
That shame, that self-hatred for his weakness, only grew stronger after Mira returned from the Island of Demon Ruins.
His sister had overcome the shadows of the past. She stood tall again, proud and powerful.
But he he had not moved forward. He was still the coward cowering in fear.
What tore him apart wasn't just the distance opening between him and Mira it was that he couldn't protect her. Not truly. Not with this half-broken power.
That's why he needed to master the Beast King. Even if it was born from evil, even if it terrified him, he needed it.
But he couldn't risk it. A failed reception meant disaster possibly death.
Maybe Mira saw through his pain. Maybe that was why she arranged the "date" with Chase in the first place.
She believed in him.
That man who had once saved her.
That man she trusted, without reason, with the blind faith of a partner.
"I'm not one hundred percent sure," Chase admitted. His voice was calm but firm. "The most important thing is..."
He met Elfman's desperate gaze and said with gravity, "It still depends on you. Whether you can conquer your fear."
The truth was, Chase's method was brutally simple.
One word: fight.
Just like Mira had overcome her trauma and once again received Satan Soul, Elfman needed to confront his nightmare head-on.
The difference was, Chase was here now.
And Chase had grown stronger strong enough to suppress the Beast King if anything went wrong. He was confident of that.
This was not just for Elfman. Chase also saw it as an opportunity to test his latest acquisition the Right Wrist of the Sealed One.
As that thought crossed his mind, a faint glow pulsed at his fingertips.
In the next moment, his right arm was wrapped in intricate dark gold patterns. The light gathered at his wrist, coalescing into the image of a broken chain.
An immense wave of magic pressure surged from it.
It felt ancient. Terrifying. Unrelenting.
Elfman staggered slightly, his instincts warning him of the danger.
"That's… reception?!" he exclaimed. "How is that even possible?!"
"Hey, you lying cheat, Baches! I've never seen you use this before!"
Even Elfman was stunned. Loki, still sprawled on the ground, couldn't help blurting it out.
"While the appearance might look similar," Chase replied calmly, clenching his powerful bronze-colored right fist, "strictly speaking, this still counts as card magic."
He turned his wrist slightly, the dark gold markings shimmering under the light. "You could call it... an Equipment Card."
What he didn't say aloud was the real question lingering in his mind.
Could the Right Wrist of the Sealed One alone be enough to suppress the full wrath of the Beast King, without relying on any other cards?
That was something even Chase didn't know yet.
He took a step forward, his boots crunching the stone beneath him, and raised his fist with a smirk. "Come on, Elfman. Show me what it really means to be a man!"
There was a fierce light in Chase's eyes. His fighting spirit burned bright and untamed.
That energy, that certainty it lit a fire in Elfman's heart.
For a moment, he hesitated. But then, he clenched his fists, letting go of all the fear and regret that had bound him for years.
This would be the first step toward his future.
"Full-body reception! Beast King's Soul!"
Elfman shouted with all his might, thrusting both arms high.
A deep crimson magic circle erupted beneath his feet, pulsing with raw energy.
A suffocating dark light enveloped him.
His muscles bulged and expanded at a terrifying pace. His skin turned rough and thick like armor. Sharp, curved horns twisted out from his forehead. His once soft white hair whipped violently in the magic-laced wind.
Roar!!
With eyes like burning coals, Beast King Elfman let out a thunderous roar that shook the surrounding trees.
But there was something wrong.
His expression, twisted in rage, wasn't completely sane. A shadow of madness clouded his gaze.
"Hey... that's not good."
Loki, who had quietly relocated behind a large tree dozens of meters away, peeked out with a wary expression. His voice trembled slightly.
"He's not in full control."
"It's to be expected," Chase said, his voice steady.
He exhaled deeply and shifted his right foot back, raising his glowing wrist in front of him like a shield.
Across the field, the Beast King's eyes narrowed.
As the ruler of beasts, the Beast King could not allow such a direct challenge.
With a guttural snarl, he crouched low and exploded forward.
Whoosh!
His massive body blurred with speed, charging at Chase like a locomotive.
"Well done!"
Chase didn't flinch. He leaned forward, throwing his right fist with all his strength.
Bang!!
Fist met fist.
A violent shockwave exploded from the impact, sending waves of pressure through the earth and trees. For a second, the world seemed to freeze.
Then the ground beneath Chase's feet cracked open like glass.
Elfman roared and pressed forward, but Chase stood firm, teeth gritted, as his legs skidded backward from the force.
Two long gouges tore through the earth where he slid, dust flying in his wake.
"So this is... the power of the Beast King."
Chase shook his right arm, the muscles twitching from the impact.
"It's... heavier than I expected."
After all, Chase had taken down one of Spectre's Element Four during his very first appearance.
Even if Spectre's so-called S-Class mages were a bit overrated, there was no denying one thing: full-body reception of the Beast King's soul came with an undeniable increase in destructive power.
Just as Chase was catching his breath, a dark shadow suddenly loomed above him.
Boom!!
Beast King Elfman, fists clenched and muscles bulging, came crashing down from the air with a brutal overhead slam.
The ground where Chase had been standing shattered instantly, forming a deep crater as shards of stone and clouds of dust burst outward.
But the center of the impact was already empty.
In a flash of movement, Chase flipped backward several times with cat-like agility, landing on the riverbank stones and springing off them like a loaded spring.
In the very next instant, he was back in the fight.
Crack!
One fierce punch caught the Beast King off guard and sent his massive body flying into the river with a deafening splash.
Crash !!
Water exploded into the air like a geyser, soaking everything nearby.
But before the mist could settle, a ferocious roar rang out.
Rumble...!!
The river surface suddenly split apart, revealing Beast King Elfman standing in the exposed riverbed mud, veins bulging and eyes burning red.
It resembled Mira's stunning display back on the Island of Demons when her reawakened Satan Soul split the tide in a single motion.
But this wasn't magic that carved open the waters. It was raw, unrestrained power.
Still, this Elfman wasn't in control.
"A battle between men must be full of passion! Come on, Elfman!!"
Chase shouted with a wild grin, his magic rising again as he charged.
The two clashed in the middle of the riverbed like titans, fists colliding with bone-cracking force.
Oh la oh la oh la!!
Every strike sent shockwaves echoing through the area.
Stone shattered beneath their feet.
Spiderweb cracks spread rapidly across the riverbed, swallowing stones and shaking the air.
"Damn it..." Loki muttered from behind a distant tree, completely stunned by the sight.
"Just how strong is this guy Chase?! He's matching the Beast King... with only his own body and that single arm?!"
He could hardly believe his eyes.
Even if Elfman's strength had been dulled a little by magical instability, the Beast King was still a force only S-Class mages were meant to handle.
And yet Chase had held back his strongest card magic.
He hadn't even summoned his deck.
Still, he wasn't being pushed back.
In fact, he was winning.
As the battle raged, Chase began to feel a strange warmth burning in his right wrist the Right Wrist of the Sealed One pulsing with an ominous, ancient glow.
Its effect was activating.
Continuous Enhancement: Attack Power Increases with Combat
The longer he fought, the stronger his blows became.
By the end, Chase's right arm had gained enough strength to completely suppress the raging Beast King.
Boom!
A final uppercut drilled straight into Elfman's gut, stopping the beast in his tracks.
The monstrous figure trembled.
And then, with a pained grunt, Beast King Elfman crumpled to his knees, breathing heavily.
The fight was over.
Chase stood there, chest heaving slightly, his body scratched and bruised but victorious.
"...So even now, he still can't fully control it..." he muttered, quietly.
He looked at Elfman's collapsed figure and exhaled slowly.
Not with disappointment.
But with resolve.
They were getting closer.
They just needed one more step.
Chase's words seemed to strike a deep chord within the Beast King.
Elfman's expression twisted brows furrowed, teeth clenched, sweat dripping. It was as if two wills were wrestling for control inside his massive, beastly frame.
Seconds passed in tense silence.
Then, a shadow fell across Chase.
Beast King Elfman rose again.
His body trembled slightly. His right fist, still clenched tightly, lifted slowly into the air.
Chase stood his ground.
"To be honest, Elfman..." he said calmly, meeting the glow of those beast-red eyes without flinching. "I've always believed in your manliness."
He raised one hand, and a dim glow spread across his wrist.
With a quiet hum, the Right Wrist of the Sealed One faded into light particles, vanishing as Chase deactivated its effect.
Then he stepped forward.
Right into Elfman's strike zone.
"Hey! Chase! Are you crazy?!"
Loki's voice rang out in panic. From behind a boulder, he stared wide-eyed as Chase walked directly into the path of a crushing beast punch.
Too close.
Too fast.
There was no time to dodge.
Whoosh !
Beast King Elfman's massive fist came down with hurricane force, distorting the air and sending shockwaves rippling through the ground. Stones flew. Water trembled. Dust clouds exploded outward.
Loki could only watch in stunned disbelief.
And then
The fist stopped.
Less than a finger's width from Chase's head.
Time froze.
"Ch...s..."
The sound came out hoarse, nearly a growl. But it was unmistakably Elfman's voice.
His face twisted again, and suddenly
Tears welled up in his crimson eyes.
"I... I did it," he choked, voice cracking with emotion. "I beat him... I beat that damn monster!"
His beastly fists dropped to his sides, his knees buckled, and the fierce glow in his eyes began to fade.
Chase smiled softly.
"Welcome back, Elfman."
As the wind died down, Chase quietly reached behind his back and slipped a glowing trap card just in case back into his deck sleeve.
He never had to use it.
After some well-earned rest, Elfman cautiously attempted full-body reception again. This time, his hands were trembling but not from fear.
From relief.
Each time he transformed, he remained in control.
His mind was clear.
The shadow of the Beast King no longer consumed him.
By the fifth try, he let out a laugh of pure joy and bolted off down the road, leaving only a trail of footprints behind.
"I've got to tell Mira!"
His silhouette faded into the golden light of the sunset.
Back on the riverbank, Chase and Loki stood in silence.
"...Well," Loki muttered, eyeing the cratered earth and shattered stones, "I guess the result was worth it. But this much damage... The master's gonna get an earful from the city council again."
Chase, utterly relaxed, raised a hand and waved it dismissively.
"No need to worry. The destruction isn't on Fairy Tail's tab this time."
"Huh?"
"I deposited 100 million Jewels with the mayor's office last week." Chase flashed a carefree grin. "Told them to deduct any damages or fines directly from it."
Loki blinked. Then gave him a deadpan thumbs-up.
"...You really have self-awareness, don't you?"
The next second, Loki suddenly realized what had just been said.
His eyes widened as he exclaimed, "Wait! What did you say? One one hundred million?!"
"Hahaha, just a small goal." Chase chuckled, crossing his arms confidently. "You'll understand when you become an S-Class wizard."
A hundred million Jewels sounded outrageous to most people, but to Chase, it wasn't that big of a deal.
With his unique Duelist Soul and its explosive card mechanics, he needed to keep battling to grow stronger. And what better way than to accept S-Class commissions jobs that almost guaranteed dangerous enemies and magical beasts?
Fight, grow, and profit.
That was Chase's mantra.
Thanks to this approach, Chase had become the wizard with the most completed S-Class jobs in Fairy Tail every year.
Mira often teased him, calling him the "Model Worker" and "King of the Grind."
"S-Class…" Loki muttered.
He lowered his head and stared at the shimmering surface of the river. His reflection wavered with the water, broken and uncertain.
He remembered the promise he'd made with Gray.
The two of them had agreed to form a team Loki would assist Gray in claiming the title of Fairy Tail's strongest candidate.
But…
His clenched fists trembled slightly.
With this fading body… can I even last until then?
He was a star spirit. One who had broken a sacred contract.
A fallen star could no longer shine. It could only fall.
Chase noticed the shift in Loki's mood. His sharp eyes narrowed.
"…You've really never considered going back to the Celestial Spirit Realm?"
Loki didn't answer right away.
He just stared at the river. The cracked lenses of his glasses glinted, obscuring his expression completely.
But Chase already knew.
He had known for a year now Loki wasn't just any wizard. He was a Celestial Spirit. One who had violated the taboo of breaking a contract with his Celestial Spirit Mage.
"I broke the contract… and that's a sin that can't be forgiven," Loki murmured at last. His voice was low, filled with guilt and exhaustion. "No matter what happens, I'll bear the consequences."
Chase looked at him, silent for a long moment.
He wanted to say something maybe offer comfort or a solution. But in the end, he held back.
This wasn't something he could solve.
Only Lucy could reach Loki's heart.
Only the Celestial Spirit Mage who held his key… could release him from his guilt.
Trying to interfere would just complicate things.
So, Chase stuffed his hands into his pockets and looked up at the sky.
Yeah. I'll just leave this troublesome part to Lucy…
She can worry about it herself.
By the time Chase returned to the guild, all of Magnolia was draped in darkness.
A faint glow spilled from the slightly ajar front doors, and through it, Chase caught sight of a slim figure in black tights dancing atop the wine counter with odd, erratic movements.
"Yo, Chase, you're back?" the dancer greeted without pausing a step. "Where are Loki and Elfman? Did you enjoy your little date?"
Virgin fired off three questions in a row while continuing her bizarre routine. She never stopped moving.
This girl was practically addicted to dancing.
She danced during battles, danced while people flirted, even danced during commission briefings. At this point, it wasn't surprising she could never save enough money to study abroad in her dream destination Minstrel, the mecca of dance.
In some ways, Chase thought to himself with a faint smile, she'd get along just fine with that Uchiha Madara next door.
"They went back to their own places," Chase replied, glancing around the otherwise quiet guild. "Pigita, are you on night duty?"
"Yes, Chase! Want to dance with me?"
"You should try asking Erza for that kind of thing."
"..."
Pigita was immediately speechless.
Erza? Dance? That's not dancing, that's a devil's lullaby!
Everyone who had ever danced with Erza had either puked or passed out on the floor without exception.
A true cradle of pain.
While making small talk with Pigita, Chase's attention subtly shifted upward toward the ceiling above.
To the dimly lit second floor of the guild.
There, in front of the S-Class mission board, stood two sneaky figures: a boy and a cat.
Natsu and Happy.
The pair were huddled close together, whispering in hushed tones.
"Natsu, which one should I pick?" Happy asked.
"Hmm… since it's your first time, just choose the one that looks the easiest."
"Then how about this one Karuna Island? There's even a Celestial Spirit Key listed as an additional reward. Lucy would love that!"
"Sounds good!" Natsu grinned. "Then it's settled we're taking this one!"
"Love~!" Happy chimed in cheerfully.