Chapter Summaries

Rhode and Elfman found Peter dying beneath the ruins of Monotropa and learned that Mar and Vina were in danger in the northern forest. As Elfman went ahead to rescue them, Rhode stayed behind to face Rustiros of the Seven Kin of Purgatory.

• Rhode and Elfman uncovered Peter, who used Rhode’s magic to briefly regain strength and asked them to save Mar and Vina in the northern forest.
• Peter died, and Elfman covered his body before Rhode reminded him that rescuing the targets mattered more than defeating their enemies.
• Rhode and Elfman rode north on a river crab, where Rustiros introduced himself as a member of Heart of the Demon and revealed his immense magic power.
• Rustiros summoned Belkhasus of Swift Thunder, and Rhode’s Azure Carved Golem met the creature in battle.
• Rhode ordered Elfman to continue toward Mar and Vina while he held Rustiros off, and Elfman left after they urged each other to stay safe.

Rhode fought Rustiros while their summoned creatures battled nearby, and both men discovered that their magic and combat abilities were remarkably similar. As Rustiros summoned two more Guardian Sacred Beasts, Rhode had also learned that help was on the way, though the battle was already underway.

• Rhode sent Stone Beetles, Sharp Beak Birds, and Shadow Wolves to support Elfman's escape, while his Crimson Mark Treant fought Rustiros's Belfast of the Gale.
• Rhode and Rustiros attacked each other with sword and feather projectiles, then revealed that both could fly and block attacks with magic.
• Rhode recognized that Rustiros's magic resembled Summoning and Requip Magic but lacked their usual spatial fluctuations, while Rustiros challenged him with his supposedly infinite imagination.
• Through a river crab, Rhode learned that Worm had contacted Fairy Tail, and the Master promised to send assistance while the town official contacted the Magic Council.
• Rhode's treant defeated Belfast, prompting Rustiros to summon Alcotik of Ice and Antarktik of Blizzard to attack it.

Rhode battled Rustiros, whose Lost Magic, Arc of Manifestation, let him conjure creatures, cannons, and weapons. After Rustiros wounded him, Rhode transformed into a Swamp Toad and poisoned his opponent, leaving Rustiros injured and trapped as the Sharp Beak Bird attacked again.

• Rhode summoned a Crimson Mark Treant to help fight Rustiros's ice monsters, then learned that Rustiros used the Lost Magic Arc of Manifestation.
• Rustiros manifested cannons and bombarded Rhode's summoned creatures, forcing Rhode to retreat underground in his Ancient Stone Beetle form.
• Rustiros attacked Rhode underground with a giant iron spike and a clawed arm, badly wounding Rhode's arm and shoulder.
• Rhode grabbed Rustiros's transformed arm and used Receive: Swamp Toad, poisoning him with venom that corroded his Black Sword and Golden Shield.
• Rustiros washed the venom from his arm, but the poison continued to hurt and numb him as he insulted Rhode's form.
• The Sharp Beak Bird fired Feather Daggers, and Rustiros discovered that something had clamped onto both his feet.

Rhode fought Rustiros through the air, then became trapped inside a rising tower created by Rustiros’s magic. He summoned the Canyon Vanguard, which struck the tower and sent cracks spreading toward him.

• Rustiros summoned Kuriba and pursued Rhode through the air while Rhode dodged and attacked with Feather Daggers.
• A shotgun blast wounded Rhode, and Kuriba caught him in its jaws.
• Rhode transformed into the Crimson Mark Treant, cut through Kuriba from within, and clashed with Rustiros in midair.
• Rustiros trapped Rhode inside a stone wall as it rose into the form of Dingir Tower.
• Rhode summoned the Canyon Vanguard, which charged into the tower and cracked it.

Rhode destroyed Rustiros's Dingir Tower and rammed him with the Canyon Vanguard, then ran out of magic and lost sight of Elfman. Elfman found Mar and Vina, but as they fought through pursuing soldiers, Rhode's summoned monsters vanished and Elfman feared something had happened to him.

• Rhode escaped the collapsing tower, entered the Canyon Vanguard's cockpit, and ordered it to ram Rustiros, who was struck and hurled into the bushes.
• With his magic exhausted, Rhode fell to the ground and realized his vision of Elfman had been cut off as his summoned monsters returned to Summoner's Rift.
• Elfman found Mar and Vina after defeating a searching squad, showed them Peter's bloodstained clothing, and told them their village had fallen.
• Mar initially refused to believe Elfman, but Vina recognized their father's clothing and joined him in fleeing the forest.
• Soldiers pursuing the siblings attacked, and Elfman and the siblings fought while retreating with help from Rhode's monsters.
• The monsters suddenly attacked and vanished, prompting Elfman to fear Rhode was in danger and resolve to reach him.

Zancro hunted Mar and Vina for Kabelico while Elfman helped the siblings fight off their pursuers. After Zancro attacked them with black flames, Mar and Vina charged him despite Elfman’s warning, and Zancro launched his Blade of the Fire God.

• Zancro burned a messenger alive for calling his enemies strong, then sent his squad after Elfman and the siblings.
• Elfman used a magic book to unleash a barrage of spells and opened a gap through the encirclement.
• Zancro’s black flame struck as Elfman, Mar, and Vina tried to escape, burning Elfman’s back as he shielded the siblings.
• Zancro admitted he had burned the siblings’ village, prompting Mar and Vina to charge him against Elfman’s warning.
• Zancro swung his hand and fired his Blade of the Fire God at the charging siblings.

Elfman protected Mar and Vina from Zancro, but Vina was fatally wounded when Mar’s broken spear pierced her. Enraged, Elfman unleashed his Full-Body Takeover: Beast Soul and charged Zancro as their attacks collided.

• Elfman fought Zancro and carried Mar and Vina away, but Zancro’s black flames overwhelmed them.
• Elfman shielded the siblings from Zancro’s Fire God’s Roar and collapsed after protecting them.
• Mar stood against Zancro, who beat him and used the broken spear to stab Vina.
• Zancro pulled the spear from Vina and raised it to strike again, but Elfman’s transformed fist sent him crashing through a tree.
• Elfman activated Full-Body Takeover: Beast Soul and charged Zancro with Beast King’s Fist as Zancro unleashed Fire God Kagutsuchi.

Elfman defeated Zancro once but was too exhausted to fight again, so Rhode arrived and used a bluff to help the group escape. Zancro revealed himself as a God Slayer Mage and was left raging as the others fled underground.

• Elfman roared at Zancro’s lackeys, then urged Mar to bandage Vina while Zancro recovered and challenged him again.
• Elfman prepared to fight with only two Explosive Magic Crystals left, but Rhode’s crystals exploded around Zancro before Rhode arrived.
• Zancro absorbed the flames and revealed that he was a God Slayer Mage, while Elfman realized Rhode might also be nearly out of magic.
• Rhode pretended to summon a powerful fire, then used two Stone Beetles to carry Elfman and Mar underground while he escaped with Vina.
• Zancro realized Rhode had tricked him and slammed his hands into the ground in fury.

Rhode rescued Elfman, Mar, and the gravely wounded Vina, but Zancro’s men kept pursuing them as they tried to escape. When Happy arrived and attacked the pursuers, Rhode realized their companions had come to help.

• Zancro ordered his subordinates to search the forest after his black flames failed to flush out the group.
• Rhode led Elfman, Mar, and Vina through underground tunnels, then checked Vina and gave Mar medical supplies to treat her.
• Rhode told Elfman that Rustiros had escaped after cutting off his poisoned arm, and Elfman explained how their mission had gone wrong.
• Rhode and the others evaded the search for over an hour while he used magic to help their injuries heal, bringing Vina out of danger.
• The pursuers spotted the group, but Happy arrived, knocked two men unconscious, and gave Rhode hope that their companions were nearby.

Rhode and Elfman reunited with Happy, then Mira, Erza, Kana, and Natsu arrived to help fend off Heart of the Demon’s attackers. Zancro learned that the Council was preparing a major operation and reluctantly ordered a retreat, while Rustiros remained unconscious after losing an arm and being poisoned.

• Rhode and Elfman found Happy, but three pursuers interrupted their reunion before Mira arrived in a Magic-powered carriage and knocked them down.
• Mira collapsed from overusing her magic power, and Rhode used the Crown of Insight to help her recover while Erza and Kana joined the group.
• Rhode explained that Rustiros and Zancro were members of the Seven Kin of Purgatory and warned that Heart of the Demon might send reinforcements.
• Erza, Kana, and Natsu handled several waves of attackers while Rhode, Elfman, Happy, and the others watched over Mira.
• Zancro received his master's order to retreat because the Council was preparing a large-scale operation, and he learned Rustiros had returned unconscious, poisoned, and missing an arm.

After Grimoire Heart abruptly withdrew, Rhode and the Fairy Tail group met with the Council team led by Lahar and arranged for Mar to search his village for survivors. Lahar questioned Rhode and Elfman before they left with Vina, while Doranbolt revealed that he had already dealt with their memories.

• Mira treated Elfman, Rhode, and Vina as Natsu and Happy returned with a branch burning with Black Flame.
• Rhode’s river crab scout found Grimoire Heart’s camp abandoned and ablaze, and Erza proposed taking the injured to a nearby town.
• Lahar sent two Council squads with Mar to Monotropa to search for survivors and protect him.
• Rhode gave Lahar an account of the attack, discussed Grimoire Heart’s possible goals, and promised to send the Council a detailed report on the Seven Kin of Purgatory.
• Rhode declined Lahar’s offer to care for Vina and left with the Fairy Tail group for town.
• Doranbolt told Lahar that he had dealt with their memories, and Lahar invited him to help interrogate captured Grimoire Heart members.

After escaping the battle, Rhode, Mira, Elfman, and the others traveled to a town inn, where Mira and Elfman discussed Elfman’s Beast Soul and his guilt over Lisanna. Rhode slept from exhaustion and woke at dinner, flustered when Mira teased him about worrying over Vina.

• Kana drove the injured group to the small town while Natsu, Erza, and Happy stayed with the black flames on the River Crab.
• Mira reassured Rhode that Elfman could stand on his own, and Elfman praised Rhode for helping them escape before Rhode fell asleep against Mira’s shoulder.
• Elfman told Mira that he had used Full-Body Take Over: Beast Soul, and Mira encouraged him to accept himself and live on with them for Lisanna’s sake.
• Kana brought the group to the inn, where Elfman carried Rhode inside and everyone settled into their rooms.
• Rhode woke at dinner and asked about Vina and Elfman, while Mira teased him about Vina’s beauty and Rhode worried aloud whether he was still wearing clothes.

Rhode and his companions learned that Vina and Mar would rebuild their community elsewhere while investigating Grimoire Heart and the Tear of Cries. On the return journey, Rhode tried driving a Magic-powered carriage with Mira beside him, and Kana protested his dangerous driving.

• Kana teased Rhode about supposedly sleeping with his head on Mira's lap, and Mira joined in the joke.
• Vina woke and thanked Rhode and Elfman for saving her, while Mar told her that more than a dozen children had survived the village's destruction.
• Mar and Vina decided to accept the Council's protection and settle elsewhere until they learned Grimoire Heart's purpose, and Rhode accepted their payment.
• Rhode promised to help the siblings and look for information about Grimoire Heart and the Tear of Cries.
• Rhode asked Mira to teach him to drive the Magic-powered carriage and squeezed her into the driver's seat beside him.
• Kana banged on the carriage window and accused Rhode of dangerous driving as he struggled with the controls.

Rhode and the others returned safely to Magnolia, celebrated with the guild, and helped the Council identify Heart of the Demon members. The chapter ended with Lahar revealing that an attack had freed all the prisoners being transported.

• Rhode drove the magic-powered car back to Magnolia, then hugged Mira and thanked her for looking after him.
• Kana teased Rhode and Mira, while Natsu went home with Happy to protect the ember he had preserved.
• Rhode, Mira, Elfman, Erza, and Kana returned to the guild and reported their encounter with Heart of the Demon to Makarov.
• Makarov held a banquet to celebrate their safe return, while Mira sent Rhode and Elfman to rest without drinking.
• Rhode worked with Laxus to draw portraits of the enemies and monsters they had encountered.
• Lahar told Rhode and Makarov that the transport team had been attacked and all the captured prisoners had disappeared.

Rhode gave the Magic Council detailed intelligence about the attackers and secured a paid Designated Mission for himself and Laxus. Back at the guild, he approved a modeling job for Gray and Loki while Mira and Elfman visited a grave.

• Makarov asked Lahar whether the attackers had caused casualties, and Lahar said they had stripped everyone of their magic power before vanishing.
• Rhode handed Lahar detailed reports with portraits, magic illustrations, and recorded dialogue, and Lahar praised the intelligence.
• Rhode warned that the attackers might learn new magic and asked the Council to compensate him and Laxus for preparing the reports; Lahar offered them a Designated Mission.
• Makarov encouraged Rhode to do his best in the upcoming S-Class Exam, leaving Rhode puzzled because it was still months away.
• Gray apologized for missing the chance to help Rhode and Elfman, then asked Rhode to approve a modeling job he planned to do with Loki.
• Rhode approved Gray and Loki’s request while Mira and Elfman were away visiting a grave.

Grimoire Heart celebrated its successful rescue of captured members and discussed its plan to pursue a great world of magic. Meanwhile, Rhode and Elfman gained fame after the mission, and Rhode became suspicious when Elfman hinted that he should keep resting; the chapter ended with Rhode demanding to know what was going on.

• Kabelico reported to Hades that Grimoire Heart had rescued its captured members with Azuma's help, while leaving the Council members unharmed.
• Azuma asked to fight Fairy Tail's strongest members, but Hades told him to wait until their long-cherished wish was fulfilled.
• Rhode and Elfman gained public reputations as the Fairy Tactician and Beast King, and Elfman began training to master Beast Soul and full-body Take Over.
• Rhode worried that his new fame would attract enemies and decided to keep training while recovering from his recent battle.
• Rhode noticed that Mira had been acting strangely, then questioned Elfman after he urged Rhode to rest longer.
• Elfman avoided Rhode's gaze, and Rhode demanded that he explain what was really going on.

Mira revealed to Rhode that she could use Take Over Magic and transform her arm into a demon claw. The chapter ended with Rhode reacting with delight, while Mira had feared he would be disgusted or afraid of her.

• Elfman told Rhode that Mira had kept him away because she thought he needed more rest, and Rhode wondered whether something was wrong with her.
• Mira admitted to Elfman that she had not yet told Rhode about her demon form because she feared his reaction.
• Rhode returned to the guild and heard Gray explain how he and Loki had turned a menswear modeling job into a profitable showcase that drew crowds.
• Mira asked Rhode to sort out the guild accounts and promised to show him something after closing time.
• In the courtyard, Mira transformed her arm into a demon claw and revealed her Take Over Magic to Rhode.
• Rhode reacted with delight at learning Mira could use Take Over Magic.

Rhode encouraged Mira to accept her Take Over form and assured her that he would love her as she was. Mira then revealed her complete Satan Soul form, leaving Rhode stunned but eager to stay by her side.

• Rhode reassured Mira that her transformed appearance would not change his feelings, and they held hands and embraced.
• Mira asked whether Rhode was ready to see her complete Satan Soul form and warned him that it might frighten him.
• Mira transformed, revealing immense magic power and a cold, queenly appearance with demon wings and a tail.
• Mira appeared before Rhode and pinched his chin, then asked whether he had been scared.
• Rhode admitted that Mira's sudden magic power had frightened him, and Mira returned to normal and teased him about his punishment.

Rhode and Mira grew closer after taking an important step in their relationship, sharing a tender moment before he went home. The next morning, they arrived at the guild visibly happy, and Laki realized something had happened between them.

• Rhode carried Mira home, and they talked about her helping intensify his training starting the next day.
• At Mira's doorstep, they confessed that meeting each other was wonderful, and Rhode kissed her forehead after Mira agreed to trade her owed forehead flick for it.
• Rhode woke from a vivid dream about Mira and questioned whether their kiss had been real before asking Worm what it thought.
• Rhode arrived at the guild refreshed and smiled at Mira, who sent him to clean while she handled the counter.
• Laki noticed their behavior and asked if something had happened; neither Rhode nor Mira denied it, and Mira promised to tell her later.

Natsu returned to the guild after training and challenged Gray, but their fight stopped when Mira confessed her feelings to Rhode. Rhode accepted, and the guild celebrated as they embraced.

• Natsu returned to the guild and proudly told Gray he had learned to eat black fire.
• Natsu and Gray argued and began fighting, while other guild members watched.
• Mira gave Rhode a bouquet of white roses and asked him to go out with her.
• Rhode happily accepted Mira's confession, and she leaned against him as he embraced her.
• The guild erupted in cheers and whistles while Rhode and Mira blushed at the attention.