Mirajane heard Ankh's mumbling, secretly gripped her demon arm, and whispered, "What magic?"
Ankh did not answer her question, because in his perception, the footsteps beside him were getting closer and closer.
He had no choice but to step forward and embrace Mirajane's delicate body with open arms.
"Wait... what are you doing!" Mirajane was startled by Ankh's sudden action, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she reprimanded him in a low, annoyed voice.
Ankh channeled his magic into his palm, and a small magic circle immediately appeared from the air, descending to envelop the two embracing figures.
The two exposed to the light gradually became transparent, and from the perspective of outsiders, nothing could be seen.
The group of thugs who came to hunt Mirajane looked around in confusion, but failed to notice Ankh and her, who were right under their noses.
[This is an assassination magic, after all... but you're not using it like that.]
Ankh's lips curved slightly; as long as it was effective, that was all that mattered.
Besides the main studies of Titan Gravity, Terror, and God Slayer Magic—powerful super-magics—Seram had also taught him some practical minor magics, which Ankh had learned well.
The softness in his arms seemed to tremble slightly, Ankh's young face flushed, and he silently removed his hand from where it shouldn't have been.
Seeing the pursuers retreat in confusion, Ankh cleared his throat twice, released Mirajane, and said, "Sorry."
Mirajane jumped away like a startled white rabbit, her cheeks adorned with a cute blush, but she still spoke with great caution, "Why did you help me?"
Ankh looked meaningfully at Mirajane's arm and said, "Because you are not a demon, you are not my target."
Mirajane bit her lip, tremblingly raised the arm she detested so much, her eyes welling with tears, and said, "I... I'm not a demon?"
Ankh sighed, walked directly in front of her, gently held that hand, and said, "This is Take Over, a very powerful magic."
"You were the one who dealt with the demon in the church earlier, weren't you?"
Mirajane's hand was held by Ankh, and she did not deny it, whispering, "I don't know why, but after that day, I became like this."
Ankh examined Mirajane's arm and explained:
"You probably unconsciously used your magic to Take Over the demon from the church. The demon has become your power and has, to some extent, transformed your body."
Mirajane's body trembled violently, and she quickly clasped Ankh's hands with both of hers, eagerly asking, "Then can I go back to how I was?"
Ankh nodded and said earnestly, "I can teach you to control your magic and retract the demon's form, but this power cannot be severed."
Hearing that she could return to normal, Mirajane finally breathed a sigh of relief, but a moment later, her face turned pale as she self-mockingly said:
"I don't care for this power that everyone hates..."
Ankh's brows furrowed at these words, but he said nothing, his internal magic slowly guiding Mirajane.
Before long, the demon-like arm gradually shrank and transformed, returning to its fair and delicate skin.
Mirajane, overjoyed and tearful, tightly gripped her arm and sobbed out her thanks, "Thank you..."
From the current perspective, Mirajane's will is not firm. How could such a delicate young woman possess the strength of a future S-class Mage?
In the original story, Mirajane, guided by the Guild Master and to protect her younger siblings and their support, willingly accepted the demon's power, which also made her very strong.
But now, Mirajane's problem has been solved by him in advance, and the Mirajane sisters will not even be ostracized and forced to wander.
Will that future Demon still appear?
Ankh lowered his eyes, beginning to ponder his next plan.
First was the matter of this village; he suspected the sudden appearance of the church demon was related to the mysterious village chief, and he had to control that old man beforehand.
Next was Mirajane; Ankh planned to take her back to the guild, but before that, he needed to give her some tests.
Ankh glanced at the bag of things Mirajane was holding and asked in confusion, "Food?"
Mirajane nodded, a hint of a smile finally appearing on her face, and said, "Food for my younger siblings."
Ankh had a flash of inspiration, and a dark, inscrutable glow emanated from his red eyes, then he smiled somewhat strangely, "Alright, see you in a bit."
With that, Ankh turned and left without looking back, leaving Mirajane with only a mysterious silhouette.
Mirajane caressed her restored arm, looking at the vanished Ankh, her mood somewhat complex, and she softly murmured:
"Mage... Ankh..."
[So, you're not going to kill that woman?]
Seram seemed a bit displeased, saying sullenly in his mind.
[That thing called a demon has a smell that I really detest. It clearly looks like a species artificially created out of thin air by some means.]
Ankh listened to Seram's voice and chuckled, "There's no benefit in killing Mira. Didn't you say before that a demon's soul is useless to us?"
[Of course, what kind of garbage Take Over magic? It's just a means for lower races to forcibly use the power of higher races.]
Ankh was already used to Ankhseram's domineering thoughts, but this time he said thoughtfully:
"We are incomplete gods, and there's indeed no need to covet the power of demons, but what if we were to Take Over a god as well..."
"Ah!!!"
Before Ankh could finish his thought, a tragic wail suddenly came from inside the church ahead!
It was the old village chief's voice!
Ankh gritted his teeth, and the gravity beneath his feet propelled him, launching him away.
Ankh waved his hand, crushing the church wall and dramatically entering the interior, immediately spotting the village chief twitching on the ground.
The village chief's body was covered in dense wounds. Ankh squatted down to check his breath, then sneered:
"I originally thought the church demon was the village chief's sole doing... but now it seems there must be a force behind him."
"Since you're here, why don't you come out and show yourself?"
As soon as his words fell, a chilling gust of wind instantly swept across Ankh's neck, and a green-glowing dagger stabbed down with precision.
"Petty tricks."
Ankh scoffed disdainfully, merely tilting his head slightly to dodge the poisoned dagger, then a greater force descended from behind him.
"Ugh ah!!"
The terrifying gravity instantly crushed the assassin behind Ankh, directly creating a deep pit in the ground.
Ankh turned around, just about to grab the guy for questioning, when a scorching flame suddenly burst out fiercely from his side, instantly engulfing both of them.