Beast King! Lisanna

Ice Canyon

"Whew, it's freezing. I think this place would suit Gray—he could train and complete missions at the same time."

Qian Guang was collecting Warmwater Grass by the cliff. He really could not understand why an herb that replenished magic power grew atop a glacier.

Where the hell did you get your nutrients from?!

Beside him lay a giant python with a huge bump on its head. It had originally been guarding the Warmwater Grass, but then a bandit had suddenly appeared, beaten it up without a word, and stolen the grass.

The key was, if you were going to take it, then take it. Why did you have to hit me?

This was also experience Qian Guang had accumulated over years of gathering herbs. Every time these magical beasts guarding medicinal herbs saw the plants being picked, they would attack him like mad.

So Qian Guang had decided to beat them up before gathering the herbs. At least then they would know he was stronger. The weak were prey to the strong, and treasures should belong to him, so they would not go berserk afterward.

"Alright, next up is finding the giant python's shed skin... emmmm."

As soon as he said that, Qian Guang noticed that the giant python beside him looked remarkably similar to the one in his mission.

Qian Guang took out his request form and compared them carefully. They were still a little different. The snake in front of him was prettier.

He flew in front of the giant python, and it immediately curled itself up. It was afraid this human would beat it up again for no reason. Too brutal.

"Is this you?"

Qian Guang showed the giant python the picture on the request form. The python stared at it closely. Wasn't that what it had looked like before shedding its skin? It hesitated, not knowing why this person was looking for it.

Humans were said to be brutal. They caught snakes to soak in liquor and ate their meat!

The giant python instantly shook its head like a rattle drum.

Qian Guang did not doubt it, since they really did not look exactly alike. "Then do you know it?"

The giant python continued shaking its head.

But this time, Qian Guang did not believe it. You look so alike, and you're saying you do not know it? Were there that many giant pythons in this canyon?

"Hm? I'll give you one more chance. Say it again. Do you know this snake or not?"

As he spoke, he raised his fist threateningly.

The giant python hated that it could not speak. It did not even have tears. It felt like no matter what it answered today, it would not escape death.

It nodded lightly.

"Bang!"

"Didn't you eat? Put some of that energy you used to shake your head into it. Where does it live? I need to talk to it. It isn't your wife or husband or something, is it?"

Qian Guang gave its python head another bump as he spoke suspiciously.

The giant python shook its head again. It did not have hands, so it could not do that itself...

"Fine, but it looks like you know it. It's nothing, I'm not going to kill it. I just want to..."

Before he could finish, Qian Guang's expression suddenly turned grave. Terrifying waves of magic power erupted from his body, flipping the giant python away. His face darkened completely.

The spatial mark he had left on Dumb Dumb had been triggered! Mira and the others were in trouble!

He pushed his magic power with all his strength, wanting to get there faster. Unfortunately, the magic itself was not fully perfected, and no matter how much he pushed it, it still needed some time.

Qian Guang was terrified. Nothing could happen! Especially to Lisanna!

He did not know whether changing the story had caused Lisanna to run into some other trouble.

The Beast King from before was still manageable. At least the Lisanna on his side was still alive, and they would have a chance to meet again in the future. But what if it was some other trouble? Then he could not be sure of the outcome. Besides, could the story really not be changed?

Was there truly a hand controlling this world?

Silvermoon Forest

Mirajane fell to her knees as a light rain began to fall from the sky, as though it were weeping.

Before her stood a massive creature with horns, crimson arms, eagle-like claws for feet, blue-green skin across its chest, and a mouth full of fangs.

This was Mirajane's first S-Class mission—the Beast King!

For some reason, it had appeared in Silvermoon Forest. It seemed the cause of Silvermoon Forest's unrest was the Beast King.

Mirajane had expended too much magic power protecting the villagers traveling with her. Combined with her battle against the Beast King, she had already exited Satan Mode and was seriously injured.

To protect his sister, Elfman had voluntarily Taken Over the Beast King. The Beast King before her was now Elfman's transformed state after his Take Over. The overwhelming magic power had caused Elfman to lose his reason, and he roared at the kneeling Mirajane.

"Elfman! Pull yourself together!"

There was also a turtle beside Mirajane. It had helped her withstand a great deal of damage, but it could only endure attacks. It moved slowly and had no means of attacking.

A blue bird flew toward Mirajane and transformed into Lisanna as it landed.

"Big Sis Mira! The townspeople have already been sent to take shelter. What happened?"

"Run, Lisanna."

"It was because I was too careless. Elfman Took Over the Beast King to protect me."

"How could this happen? Brother Elfman, what happened to you?"

"If we don't wake him up quickly, the Beast King will consume him."

Hearing that, Lisanna slowly walked toward her Brother Elfman.

"Lisanna! Come back! I can feel that guy is extremely agitated."

Dumb Dumb shouted from a distance. It had just been sent flying and was now rushing toward Lisanna. It had to protect her.

Lisanna did not listen to Dumb Dumb's warning and merely smiled. "Brother Elfman, what's wrong?"

"I'm your little sister, Lisanna."

"Have you even forgotten Big Sis Mira? And Brother Qian Guang?"

"Brother Elfman would never forget us."

"Because Lisanna, Big Sis Mira, and Brother Qian Guang all love Brother Elfman the most."

But Elfman had completely lost his reason. Roaring, he tried to swat Lisanna away.

"Hey, Brother Elfman, let's go home together."

"Smack!"

Dumb Dumb arrived at the critical moment. It leaped up and tried to shield her with its soft underbelly shell. Both turtle and girl were sent flying!

"Lisanna!!!"

Mira's face was filled with terror and fear.

The drizzle had vanished, replaced by a torrential downpour—heavy and bleak.

"Roar!!!"

Elfman roared. His soul was grieving too, struggling to break free from the Beast King's restraints.

In the distance

Lisanna and Dumb Dumb lay in an open clearing. Dumb Dumb propped itself up.

"Lisanna!"

It was uninjured, but the light had already vanished from Lisanna's eyes. She struggled to turn her head.

The magic circle on Dumb Dumb's shell lit up!

Qian Guang had arrived!

The instant Qian Guang arrived, he saw Lisanna.

"Lisanna!"

He rushed to Lisanna's side, Healing Magic continuously glowing in his hands.

The wounds Lisanna had suffered in the fall gradually healed, but she was still weak and powerless.

"Brother Qian Guang?"

Lisanna could no longer see, but she had heard Brother Qian Guang's voice.

"I'm here! I'm here! Hold on, Lisanna! I'll heal you!"

"Brother Qian Guang, you came... Don't blame Brother Elfman."

After confirming it was Qian Guang, a faint smile appeared on Lisanna's lips. The little Angel was still thinking of Brother Elfman. She was afraid Brother Qian Guang would blame him because of her.

"Alright, alright, I'll listen to you. Stop talking first!"

Qian Guang kept nodding. Rainwater ran down his face and dripped onto Lisanna's body. Right now, he only wanted to save Lisanna.

"Brother Qian Guang, remember to bring Brother Elfman home. I love you the mos..."

Lisanna did not listen to Qian Guang. She continued speaking on her own, and by the end, her entire body began to glow with golden light.

"Lisanna!!!"

Big Sis Mira had arrived too. Seeing Lisanna radiating golden light, she rushed over.

"No, no, no! Stop!"

Qian Guang shouted as he saw the mark on Lisanna's arm continuously disappearing.

Big Sis Mira held Lisanna and wept bitterly, begging her not to leave.

Lisanna, glowing with golden light, kept saying something, but Qian Guang could not hear a single sound.

He stopped using Healing Magic, because his magic was completely useless due to that golden light.

He looked up at the sky. His Mangekyō lit up instantly, and he sensed an intense spatial fluctuation above.

Super-dimensional Magic [Anima]! Edolas!

Qian Guang continuously activated Kamui. He wanted to stop it! He could save Lisanna. He did not want to be separated from Lisanna!

Bloody tears streamed from Qian Guang's eyes, but he could not stop it. Lisanna's body was continuously fading away.

Lisanna looked at Brother Qian Guang, whose eyes bled tears, and Big Sis Mira, who was crying herself nearly unconscious, and silently bid them farewell.

Goodbye, Brother Qian Guang, Big Sis Mira, Brother Elfman. I'm very happy.

Qian Guang stared blankly at Lisanna, who had vanished from his arms. He still had no way to change the story.

But he would definitely bring her back! Definitely!

"Ahhhhhhhhh!"

Mira ultimately could not accept this reality and fainted.

Qian Guang gently caught Mira and sorrowfully stroked her soaked white hair.

"I'll bring her back, definitely! Then we'll all be together again!"

Dumb Dumb was also deeply saddened. It blamed itself. Lisanna had been the one it was supposed to protect, yet it had failed to protect her and lost its best friend.

For the first time, this turtle that had lived for who knew how many years felt sorrow. It felt utterly useless. Why could it only defend, and only defend itself at that?

A large hand seemed to understand its sorrow and gently rubbed its head.

"You did very well already. Thank you for protecting Lisanna. I'll find her."

"Ahhhhhhhhh!"

It could no longer endure it and burst into tears. "Lisanna!"

Qian Guang rubbed its head and silently comforted it. He could not fall apart.

A long while later

Dumb Dumb had cried itself exhausted and curled up inside its shell to sleep.

Qian Guang used Kamui while carrying Mira and Dumb Dumb.

He found the unconscious Elfman beneath a tree. He had already exited the Beast King form, and his body was covered in dense wounds. It was clear just how much suffering he had endured to break free from the Beast King.

Qian Guang sighed. He had never intended to blame Elfman. Over the years, he had long regarded Elfman as his younger brother. Though he sometimes bullied him, it was also to change his personality sooner.

He patted his head. "You did great. You worked hard. This happened because I didn't come with you. I was too careless."

Looking at Elfman's heartbreaking expression, Qian Guang also used a little sleep magic to make him sleep more comfortably.

"Sleep. Everything will be alright."

The Fairy Tail: Starting with Dual Kamui, by Qian Wei