The Puppet Weir

"Yes, why? Because they're high and mighty? Because the minority obeys the majority?" Ailiya whispered, her voice seemingly filled with magic. "But they're just a bunch of cowardly fools! Because they can't control us, because we're different from them, so they try every means to eliminate us."

"Our wrath... will surely burn them to ashes..."

"Burn out...?"

"But have you ever thought... what will you have left after you burn everything?" Mira's gaze remained fixed on the spot where the wheelchair had been, not on Ailiya beside her. "Trees burning in flames may be spectacular, but after they're completely consumed, all that's left is a pile of charred remains. Is this the future you want?"

"What did you say?" The illusion shattered, Ailiya sat in her wheelchair, her face grim.

"I said... you don't understand what the future is." Mira stared at her, saying calmly, "You don't understand why your sister wouldn't let you destroy this village, you don't understand why your sister wanted you to give up your hatred. She wanted you to live with dignity, not to live as a demon, hiding in a dark corner, barely surviving. Your future... should be a future filled with light..."

"You have no idea how much your sister loves you..."

"Shut up!" Ailiya roared like a lion with its mane bristling.

Mira suddenly laughed, "I also have a lovely little sister, she always calls me 'Sister Mira, Sister Mira.' But I think, if I were your older sister and she were you, and Lisanna wanted to replace me because she felt I didn't suit her, how terrible would that be? How heartbroken I would be?"

She took a deep breath and said, "But I know there's no 'what if.' When I became a demon, she said, '[Mira is Mira,' and never thought of me as a demon. My personality has changed a lot, but she never considered whether I was still the same person after the personality change. She has always been my sister..."

"No one can replace anyone else. Even if I Take Over your sister in, I am still me, not anyone else. My sister's name is Lisanna, not you," Mira said.

Ailiya's face was so dark it was almost dripping with water. She sneered, "I can't believe Demon like you would say the same thing as my sister. What do you mean no one can replace someone else? That's all bullshit! If that's the case, then why did my father abandon my mother?! And why did he pursue other women?!"

"Your father?" Mira frowned, completely failing to understand what she was saying.

But Ailiya seemed to be talking to herself, her face contorted in a grotesque grimace—such a lovely face contorted with such a terrifying expression, like an angel fallen into a demon. "That bastard Bolunte! After I destroy this village, he'll be next!"

Mira exclaimed in surprise, "You mean Bolunte?!"

She had certainly heard this person's name before; she had heard it from Chiba. He... seemed to be the mastermind behind Tianna's death!

Ailiya gave a mocking smile, seemingly mocking the woman buried in the rainy night. "A naive woman falling in love with a scumbag, it's a cliché plot. But that woman was too foolish, so foolish that she refused to believe it even after hearing that a scumbag was pursuing a little girl."

"Speaking of which... is that little girl dead? I heard she was stabbed dozens of times. The man you like seems to be nothing but scum. And a useless piece of trash who can't protect anything at all," Ailiya mocked Mira.

Mira's face vanished, all expression disappearing, becoming chilling... like a true demon.

"You'd better not mention Tianna in front of him. With your Genjutsu abilities, you pose little threat to him," Mira said coldly.

"Heh... I'm actually looking forward to it..." Ailiya smiled, her gaze icy. "But until then, you probably won't get to see me fight him."

As soon as she finished speaking, the girl in the wheelchair stepped out. She was dressed in a plain white dress, with long, wavy sky-blue hair cascading down her back. Her delicate face was expressionless, like... a doll.

"Sister... go and defeat her..." Ailiya looked up, smiling brightly.

The girl forced a smile, making her seem almost alive. "For... my... beloved little sister, I will take care of... you..."

Mira broke out in a cold sweat.

Damn, she's a siscon and a pervert! Is she making these disgusting dolls just to scare people?

One against two? This time she had no companions, no Lisanna, no Elfman, and no Chiba.

But there are always some paths you have to walk alone, with no one to rely on.

The Mira who only relied on others is gone; now she is... the Demon Mira!

"The Satan Soul!"

With a low shout, Mira entered the form of the Satan Soul!

Under the night sky, the white-haired girl transformed into a ferocious demon, her eyes burning with a fiery fighting spirit!

It's been so long since I felt this surge of excitement...

"Still haven't found it..."

On a hill somewhere, Chiba used Life Magic to heal his injuries while muttering to himself.

"We've searched everywhere, but we can't find her..." Erza walked up from behind, her brows furrowed. "Where could she have gone?"

"We have no choice but to keep searching..."

Chiba stood up, a deep unease lingering in his heart. He asked in a low voice, "Where are the people from the other two guilds?"

"Jura is lying in wait in the mines, but it seems he hasn't found Ailiya. And those Phantom Lords... they've vanished into thin air," Erza said.

"They probably don't dare to come back..." A murderous glint flashed in Chiba's eyes. "If I see them again, even with the binding force of this world, I'll make them leave something behind."

"Rustle..."

The rustling sound of grass being trampled underfoot filled the air, and someone walked up behind them.

Chiba glanced back and asked calmly, "What are you doing here?"

The woman who arrived was dressed in a simple white dress, with her signature long, wavy sky-blue hair and slender figure; she was Weir.

"Don't even think about... stopping... Ailiya..." Weir said haltingly.

"What do you mean?" Chiba frowned.

"Kill... everything... that... hinders... Ailiya..."

"Hmm?" Chiba noticed something was wrong and turned around.

The once normal Weir began to demonize, with sky-blue scales and a sky-blue tail. But strangely, she only had one sky-blue tail and one hand that turned into a claw; the rest of her body remained in a normal human state.

"No! She's not Weir!" Chiba suddenly shouted, cold sweat beading on his face.

"It's a doll!" Erza said coldly, having already transformed into her Heaven's Wheel Armor form.

What the hell is this thing? It feels disgusting!

"Chiba, go find Mira quickly. I'll handle this." Erza raised her sword and said, "Only you can protect her."