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"I'll take care of these guys."
All eyes, including the King's, snapped to Qi Yan.
"Mr. Qi Yan… you..." The King stuttered, his surprise evident. He knew Qi Yan was an S-Class Mage, perhaps equivalent to a Nine-Star Swordsman. But five Nine-Star Demon Beasts? That was suicide.
Qi Yan spoke, his voice calm, yet weighted with warning. "I can deal with five Nine-Star Demon Beasts, but I might not be able to participate in the subsequent battle. Not only will I be unable to protect you, but I might even need your protection. My combat power will be less than a single foot soldier afterward."
The King saw the seriousness in his eyes. This was clearly a move of last resort, a devastating magic that would leave the caster utterly vulnerable.
The King immediately puffed out his chest and guaranteed, his voice ringing with resolve: "Don't worry, Mr. Qi Yan! After you defeat the Nine-Star Demon Beasts, I will protect your safety, even if it costs me my life!"
The King knew the other four beasts were being handled by the kingdom's best. Eliminating these five remaining overlords was the key to victory, no matter the cost to Qi Yan.
Qi Yan nodded curtly, then strode to the very edge of the city wall.
Full Take Over: Ulquiorra
"Full Take Over!! Ulquiorra Cifer!!"
As Qi Yan chanted, his body warped and reshaped.
His clothes dissolved into a high-collared, long-sleeved jacket, pure white on the outside and stark black within, paired with matching kimono-style skirt-pants. His skin paled to an unnatural white, his eyes flared emerald green, and two distinct, green tear-like markings appeared beneath them. A fragment of a white, horned helmet materialized, covering the left side of his head.
The King flinched, reeling back from the sudden, powerful oppressive aura that radiated from the transformed Qi Yan.
"So strong!" The King was stunned. He knew the theory of Take Over Magic, but the gulf between Qi Yan's normal state and this form was staggering. This was no mere Nine-Star power; this aura felt equal to the greatest threats they currently faced.
Yet, five of them?
Qi Yan knew he wasn't finished. This basic form could handle one or two, but five were too much risk. The city's survival—and his money—depended on an absolute, swift victory.
He slowly drew the Zanpakutō tucked into his obi and whispered a chant, his voice low and unsettling:
"Enclose it! black-winged great demon!"
Buzz — — — — — ! !
A deluge of black spiritual pressure shot straight into the sky. The clear, cloudless sky instantly became thick and overcast, plunging the world into an eerie twilight.
Immediately, large, heavy drops of black liquid began to fall from the sky.
"Black rain!" The human soldiers watched, confused.
The black downpour hit their faces and bodies, yet there was no wetness; the liquid simply dissipated upon contact.
"No… this isn't real rain… this is liquified magic power!!" a horrified swordsman cried out.
The anomaly was short-lived. The sky returned to normal, but Qi Yan's form had changed again.
His clothes became a white, full-body robe. The horned mask became a full, chilling white helmet with two immense spikes. His black hair elongated, and the tear-like markings deepened. Most terrifyingly, a pair of huge, black, bat-like wings, massive and demonic, unfurled behind him.
This was Ulquiorra's First Resurrección.
A presence of sheer, crushing terror radiated from him. Everyone nearby, including the King, felt a paralyzing sense of suppression. Their bodies involuntarily trembled as if they faced not a man, but a literal monster.
"Is that… Qi Yan?!" Erza, busy battling the Silver Moon Wolf, glanced over, uncertain she recognized the dark, winged figure.
First Judgment
Qi Yan wasted no time. His window for this power was desperately short.
"Chirp chirp — — — — — ! !"
The Three-Headed Cold Bird, one of the five remaining Nine-Star threats, shrieked, spreading its wings and soaring toward the wall. It spewed a torrent of freezing air that flash-froze everything it touched. Swordsmen scattered, screaming, but the chilling vapor caught them, instantly turning them into ice sculptures.
Qi Yan looked up at the avian threat.
"Let's start with you!"
"Moonlight Sword!" (Lanza del Relámpago)
He opened his right hand. A spiritual energy spear, emitting a pure, intense cyan light, materialized. He took one smooth step, adopting a throwing stance.
"Go!"
The Moonlight Sword was launched, a searing, emerald projectile rocketing toward the Three-Headed Cold Bird.
Whoosh — — — — — !!
The Demon Beast, with three heads and six watchful eyes, saw the projectile instantly. It opened its massive mouths and spewed a devastating breath of cold air, attempting to freeze the incoming weapon.
But it had catastrophically misjudged its foe.
Bang — — — —!
The Moonlight Sword blasted through the cold air as if it were nothing.
Pfft — — — —!!
The cyan spear of pure energy pierced the center mass of the Three-Headed Cold Bird.
"Chirp chirp — — — — — — ! !" The monster's three heads wailed simultaneously in unimaginable agony, a sound that shook the hearts of all listeners.
Qi Yan calmly whispered the command:
"Explode — —!"
Boom — — — — —!!!
The spiritual energy spear detonated. A terrifying, blinding blue spherical light erupted in mid-air, spreading instantly into a massive shockwave.
"Ugh ah ah ah ah ah!!"
"Wah ah ah ah ah ah!!" The ground forces, both human and beast, lost their footing. Many were violently thrown back by the sheer concussive force. Even those on the city wall clung desperately to the stone for stability.
When the blast subsided, the Three-Headed Cold Bird was gone. All that remained were three partially pulverized, steaming heads falling toward the earth.
"The Three-Headed Cold Bird… is dead?!!!!"