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 at the edge of a cliff. He truly could not understand why an herb that replenished magic power grew on top of a glacier.

Where did you even get your nutrients from?!

Beside him lay a giant python with a huge lump on its head. It had originally been guarding the Warmwater Grass, only for a bandit to suddenly appear, beat it up without a word, and steal the grass.

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

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

So Qian Guang had decided to beat them up before collecting the herbs. At least then they would know he was strong. The weak were prey to the strong, and treasures should belong to him, saving him the trouble of dealing with them going berserk afterward.

"Alright, next I need to find the giant python's shed skin... emmmm."

The moment he said that, Qian Guang noticed that the giant python beside him looked very similar to the one on his mission request.

Qian Guang took out his request form and compared them carefully. There were still some differences. The snake in front of him was prettier.

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

"Is this you?"

Qian Guang showed the giant python the picture on the request form. The python took a closer look. Wasn't that what it had looked like before shedding its skin? It hesitated, not knowing what this person wanted with it.

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

The giant python immediately shook its head like a rattle-drum.

Qian Guang did not suspect anything, since they really did not look quite the same. "Then do you know it?"

The giant python continued shaking its head.

But Qian Guang did not believe it this time. You looked so alike, and you said you did 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 that no matter how it answered today, it would be doomed.

It nodded lightly.

"Bang!"

"Didn't eat enough? Put some strength into it, like when you shook your head just now. Where does it live? I need to talk to it. It isn't your wife or husband or something, is it?"

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

The giant python shook its head again. It did not have hands, so it could not do that to 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 grim. Terrifying waves of magic power erupted from his body, sending the giant python flying as his face darkened.

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

He pushed his magic power to its limit, wanting to get there faster. Unfortunately, the magic was not fully perfected, and no matter how hard he pushed it, it still needed some time.

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

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

The previous Beast King situation had been manageable. At least 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 problem? Then he could not be sure of the outcome. Besides, could the story truly not be changed?

Was there really a pair of hands controlling this world?

Silvermoon Forest

Mirajane knelt on the ground. A light rain fell from the sky, as though it were weeping.

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

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

No one knew why 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 accompanying villagers. After fighting the Beast King as well, she had already exited Satan Mode and was severely injured.

To protect his sister, Elfman had voluntarily taken in the Beast King. The Beast King standing before her now was Elfman after taking it in. The immense magic power had made Elfman lose his mind, and he roared at Mirajane, who was kneeling on the ground.

"Elfman! Snap out of it!"

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 attack.

A blue bird flew toward Mirajane, transforming into Lisanna as it landed.

"Mira! I've already sent the townspeople to take shelter. What happened?"

"Run, Lisanna."

"It was all because I was too careless. Elfman took in the Beast King to protect me."

"How could this happen? Brother Elfman, what's wrong with you?"

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

Hearing this, Lisanna slowly walked toward Elfman.

"Lisanna! Come back! I can sense that guy is extremely violent."

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. She only smiled. "Brother Elfman, what's wrong?"

"I'm your little sister, Lisanna."

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

"Brother Elfman would never forget us."

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

But Elfman had completely lost his mind. Roaring, he tried to slap Lisanna away.

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

"Slap!"

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

"Lisanna!!!"

Mira's face was filled with terror and fear.

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

"Roar!!!"

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

In the distance

Lisanna and Dumb Dumb lay in an open clearing. Dumb Dumb pushed itself upright.

"Lisanna!"

It was not injured, but the light had already vanished from Lisanna's eyes. She struggled to turn her head.

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

Qian Guang had arrived!

The instant Qian Guang arrived, he saw Lisanna.

"Lisanna!"

He rushed to her side, Healing Magic continuously glowing in his hands.

The wounds Lisanna had suffered from 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. This little angel was still thinking about Brother Elfman. She was afraid Brother Qian Guang would blame him because of her.

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

Qian Guang kept nodding. Rainwater ran down his face and dripped onto Lisanna as he focused solely on saving her.

"Brother Qian Guang, remember to take Brother Elfman home. I love..."

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

"Lisanna!!!"

Mira arrived as well. Seeing Lisanna radiating golden light, she rushed over.

"No, no, no! Stop!"

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

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

Lisanna continued speaking amid the golden light, but Qian Guang could not hear a single word.

He stopped using Healing Magic. Because of the golden light, his magic was completely useless.

He raised his head to the sky. His Mangekyō instantly lit up, and he sensed intense spatial fluctuations above.

Super Subspace 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 her!

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

Lisanna looked at Brother Qian Guang, who was crying blood tears, and Mira, who was weeping so hard she was about to faint. She silently said her farewell.

Goodbye, Brother Qian Guang, Mira, Brother Elfman. I was very happy.

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

But he would definitely bring her back! Definitely!

"Ahhhhhhh!"

Mira could not accept this reality after all and fainted.

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

"I'll bring her back. I promise! When that time comes, we'll all be together again!"

Dumb Dumb was heartbroken too. It blamed itself. Lisanna was supposed to be under its protection, yet it had failed to protect her and lost its best friend.

For the first time in however many years it had lived, this turtle felt sorrow. It felt utterly useless. Why could it only defend? And why could it only defend itself?

A large hand noticed its grief and gently rubbed its head.

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

"Ahhhhhhh!"

It could not endure any longer and burst into tears. "Lisanna!"

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

A long time later

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

Qian Guang activated Kamui with 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 easy to imagine 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. Even if he sometimes bullied him, it had only been to change his personality sooner.

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

Qian Guang looked at Elfman's heart-wrenching expression and even used a little Sleep Magic to let him rest more comfortably.

"Sleep. Everything will be alright."