Black Winged Demon Reappears

"I'll deal with these guys."

Everyone turned to look at Qi Yan.

"Mr. Qi Yan... you..."

The king looked at Qi Yan with some astonishment and suspicion. There was simply too little information on Qi Yan, but the king felt that Qi Yan was at most an S-Rank Mage, comparable to a Nine-Star Swordsman.

For this mission, Miss Erza had also been the one taking the lead.

Yet now Qi Yan claimed that he would deal with five Nine-Star Monsters. It was truly hard to believe.

"I can deal with five Nine-Star Monsters, but I may not be able to participate in the battle afterward. Not only will I be unable to protect you, I may even need you to protect me. At that time, my combat strength may not even be comparable to an ordinary soldier's."

Qi Yan looked at the king as he spoke.

Seeing that Qi Yan did not seem to be joking, the king immediately patted his chest and promised, "Don't worry, Mr. Qi Yan! After you defeat the Nine-Star Monsters, even if it costs me my life, I'll keep you safe!!"

The other four monsters would be handled by the other four Nine-Star Swordsmen. The real trouble was these five Nine-Star Monsters. He did not know what ultimate move Qi Yan possessed that could kill Nine-Star Monsters, but it clearly came at a tremendous cost.

Even if he could not eliminate all five Nine-Star Monsters, as long as he killed two or three of them, the Sobeia Kingdom would certainly be able to win this battle with its strength.

Qi Yan nodded, then strode to the edge of the city walls.

"Full Takeover!! Ulquiorra Cifer!!"

As Qi Yan's voice rang out, his body began to change.

The black clothes on his body became a high-collared, long-sleeved coat with a white front and black base. He wore white hakama trousers below, secured by a wide black sash. A Zanpakutō was tucked into the sash, along with black socks and white shoes.

His skin turned slightly pale, his eyes became green, and green tear streaks appeared beneath them. A white horned helmet covered the left half of his head.

After Qi Yan transformed, the king immediately felt an overwhelming pressure coming from him.

"So strong!"

Seeing Qi Yan in this form, the king understood why Qi Yan had been able to take on an SS-Rank mission with Erza.

He knew Qi Yan's magic was Take Over Magic, but he had not expected there to be such an enormous difference before and after the takeover.

In his usual state, Qi Yan looked utterly ordinary, at most a rather handsome young man.

But after transforming, the pressure he gave off was not the slightest bit weaker than those Nine-Star Monsters.

But could he truly defeat five Nine-Star Monsters?

Qi Yan's transformation did not stop. He knew that dealing with one or two Nine-Star Monsters would not be a problem for him now, but facing five at once was somewhat beyond his capabilities.

If those five monsters broke through, the destruction they caused would be impossible to estimate.

Qi Yan slowly drew his sword and quietly chanted:

"Seal away, Black Winged Demon!"

"Buzzzzz—!!"

Black Spiritual Pressure shot into the sky from Qi Yan's body.

The previously cloudless sky was instantly covered in dark clouds, plunging the entire world into darkness.

Then, a vast number of black raindrops fell from the sky.

The disturbance immediately drew the attention of everyone and every monster.

"Black rain!"

Everyone was deeply confused when they saw the black rain.

The black downpour struck their faces and bodies, but there was no wet sensation. The black raindrops dispersed the moment they made contact.

"No... this isn't real rain... it's liquefied magic power!!"

Soon, the strange phenomenon vanished, and the sky returned to normal.

Qi Yan's appearance changed once again.

His clothes became a white full-length robe, and he wore a white double-horned helmet. His black hair grew longer, the tear streaks on his face became darker, and most striking of all, a pair of enormous black bat wings like those of a demon appeared behind him.

This was Ulquiorra's form after First-Stage Resurrección.

At this moment, Qi Yan radiated a terrifying aura.

Everyone around him, including the Nine-Star Swordsman king, felt immense pressure. Their bodies nearly trembled uncontrollably, as if a horrifying monster stood before them.

"Is that... Qi Yan?!"

Even Erza was somewhat uncertain when she saw Qi Yan's current appearance. This was the first time she had seen him transform using Take Over Magic.

Qi Yan did not waste any words. He could maintain this state only for an extremely short time. For the sake of his reward, and for the mission, he had to eliminate all five Nine-Star Monsters within that time.

"Chirp chirp—!!"

The Nine-Star Monster Three-Headed Frost Bird let out a bird cry, spread its wings, and flew toward the city walls. As it flew, the freezing breath it spewed from its mouths froze everything it touched.

"Ahhhhh!"

"Waaaaah!"...

The numerous swordsmen scattered in terror at the sight, but their speed could not match the frost breath. In the blink of an eye, they were engulfed and frozen into ice sculptures.

Qi Yan looked at the approaching Three-Headed Frost Bird and said calmly, "I'll start with you!"

"Moonlight Sword!"

Swish—!

Qi Yan spread his right hand, and a Spirit Particle spear glowing with cyan light appeared in his grasp.

Qi Yan stepped forward with his left foot and assumed a throwing stance.

"Go!"

The next second, Qi Yan hurled the Moonlight Sword directly at the Three-Headed Frost Bird.

Whoosh—!!

The Moonlight Sword shot toward the Three-Headed Frost Bird at tremendous speed.

With three heads and six eyes, the Three-Headed Frost Bird could observe in every direction. No movement could escape its sight, and Qi Yan's thrown Moonlight Sword naturally did not go unnoticed.

The Three-Headed Frost Bird immediately opened its mouths and spewed freezing breath, intending to freeze the Moonlight Sword.

But it had greatly underestimated the Moonlight Sword.

Bang—!

The Moonlight Sword passed straight through the freezing breath.

Splat—!!

The Moonlight Sword pierced through the Three-Headed Frost Bird's body.

"Chirp chirp—!!"

The Three-Headed Frost Bird opened all three mouths and wailed in agony. The sound made everyone's hearts tremble.

Qi Yan softly uttered, "Explode—!"

Boom—!!!

The Moonlight Sword formed from Spirit Particles immediately exploded.

A terrifying explosive shockwave erupted in midair, releasing a blue spherical glow that rapidly spread outward.

"Ahhhhh!!"

"Waaaaah!!"...

Everyone and every monster below lost their footing. Many people and monsters were even sent flying by the impact. Even those atop the city walls had to exert all their strength just to steady themselves.

Before long, the blast subsided, and the Three-Headed Frost Bird was nowhere to be seen in the sky.

Three heads that had not yet been completely shattered lay on the ground.

"The Three-Headed Frost Bird... is dead?!!!"