News Spreads, Demon Mira

Chiba, along with Ultear and Wendy, continued their escape.

The wound on his chest healed quickly. After all, as someone similar to the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, he had that much regenerative ability.

Then, they were in a constant state of fleeing.

Enraged, Qilin mobilized all the Frog in the Pond to surround and kill Chiba and his group, but Chiba's stealth abilities were simply too strong, and they couldn't catch up at all.

Subsequently, Qilin spread the news about Chiba and Ultear, portraying Chiba as a monster who could cause immense destruction without using magic, and who would cause great damage wherever he went.

As a result, some highly righteous mage guilds and mages joined the hunt for Chiba.

And so, two months passed.

Two months have passed, and still no one has seen any trace of Chiba and his group. It's as if the three of them have vanished into thin air.

Meanwhile, over the course of two months, the matter gradually escalated and spread throughout the country.

Magnolia.

Magnolia, a magical commercial city since ancient times, far surpasses the prosperity of ordinary towns. But everyone knows that it is all thanks to a magic guild in the city.

Fairy Tail!

"Ha ha ha! Gray! You lost this time!"

On a wooden table, a boy with cherry-red hair stood, laughing wildly.

He had a white checkered scarf around his neck, and it was hard to imagine how... well... strange it was to wear such a scarf before winter had even arrived.

"Huh? You little rascal, is it really possible to cheat like this?"

At another table stood a shirtless boy. He had short black hair and a handsome face, but his expression looked extremely displeased.

"Are you questioning me, you slanted-eyed pervert?" Natsu jumped onto Gray's table, almost face to face with him.

"What did you say, you droopy-eyed bastard?" Gray's tone was equally unfriendly.

"Fight, fight, fight!"

The surrounding mages raised their glasses, laughing and encouraging the two to fight.

The tavern was noisy and bustling.

"Sigh, those two still love to fight as much as ever..."

A blue-haired girl sighed.

"Levy, I've chosen a mission with pretty good pay. What do you think? Interested?"

"Damn Toroi, I was the one who discovered this quest first!"

The two men next to them were also fighting.

The blue-haired girl sighed and continued reading the book in her hands.

"Lisanna, they're so noisy! Can't they just quiet down and read a book for a while?"

In a corner, a burly, white-haired young man held a book in his hands and said...

Beside the white-haired boy stood a petite white-haired girl, who was resting her chin on her hands, watching Natsu and Gray locked in a fierce fight, and giggled, "I think it's great! This is what Fairy Tail should be like!"

"Hehe, it's good to be young..." A man smoking next to the counter chuckled.

"That's right, Natsu seems to have gotten stronger again." A drunken man next to him also chuckled.

"Bang!"

Suddenly, a chair came crashing down.

The chair rolled over on the counter until it reached a corner.

"Boom!"

It was the sound of a fist hitting a wooden board.

"Macao, I think we should go to work."

"I think so too..."

The smoking man and the drunk man got up at the same time and slowly left.

Because they sensed something ominous.

Beside the counter, a scantily clad, curvaceous white-haired girl slowly rose to her feet.

She walked up to Natsu and Gray, who were locked in a fierce fight, and stopped in her tracks.

A dangerous smile appeared on the girl's pretty face. She put one hand on her hip, raised her chin, and laughed, "Since you all like to fool around so much, I'll play along. It just so happens that Erza isn't here."

Natsu and Gray exchanged awkward smiles.

Then...

Bang! Bang!

After a good beating...

"Still dare to litter, you little brat?" A delinquent girl sat on the table, crossed her long, slender legs, and said with a smile.

The two bruised and battered boys said in unison, "We'll never do it again."

People burst into laughter.

Beating up others and getting beaten up—this is the daily life of Fairy Tail.

Of course, only the very top-tier individuals are qualified to avoid being beaten up.

For example, Erza, Laxus, Mira.

Oh, and there's also Gildarts's been out of contact for years.

Night.

Fairy Tail Girls' Dormitory.

In the bathroom, a white-haired girl is taking a bath.

After being separated in 776, Mira and her younger siblings joined the guild by chance, and under the guidance of Guild Master Makarov, she officially mastered the power to Take Over Magic.

Awakened magic is always incredibly powerful. In just a few months, she went from an ordinary person who knew nothing to Mira, the "Demon" known to everyone in Magnolia.

Perhaps due to her Demon Factor nature, Mira's personality is completely different from before. She is assertive and irritable, a far cry from the gentleness Chiba showed her when they first met.

Or perhaps, she was disgusted with that weak and incompetent version of herself.

"Splash~"

Water glided across the girl's skin, her eyes tightly closed.

Only when she is alone in a room like this does she begin to revert to her former self.

And... the longing for someone.

Where are you?

The girl murmured softly.

The water continued to flow, but there was no other sound in the room.

The next day.

Fairy Tail was still full of energy in the early morning, but without exception, they were much calmer than yesterday.

The reason is... Erza is coming back.

Erza, the "Disciplinary Committee Member" of Fairy Tail and Mira's arch-rival, also enjoys immense popularity within the guild.

Of course, this reflects the awe others have for her.

Just like the nickname "Demon" Mira, Erza also has her own nickname.

Titania!

"Wow, three A-Class missions, Erza's got real skills!"

On the counter, a small old man holding a wooden cane that was much taller than himself seemed to be saying in admiration.

At the counter, a girl in armor with crimson hair tied in a scorpion braid smiled modestly, "Not at all, I'm far inferior to you, uncle."

The old man, of course, knew who she was talking about. He shook his head and smiled, "That kid Gildarts wasn't as good as you at your age."

Erza smiled, then, as if remembering something, asked, "Guild Master, are you aware of any recent news about the Dark Guild?"

The old man took a sip of his drink and said somewhat drunkenly, "The Dark Guild? Isn't that the so-called 'Lava Monster' that's been causing all this commotion lately?"

"Hmm... I heard it's a monster who doesn't use magic. I also heard Mira is very interested in people who can control elemental power without using magic, so I brought the wanted poster back with me," Erza said.