**Chapter 3: Monster**
Soon, Ren and Mirajane were standing behind the Fairy Tail guild.
The area here was spacious, backing onto the inland lake, making it perfect for duels.
Mages in the guild would inevitably have conflicts.
But guildmates were still companions in the end; when there was a conflict, a fight usually settled it.
Natsu and Gray often fought here.
"Go! Mirajane! Show the new guy how tough you are!"
"Go newcomer! Don't lose!"
The spectators were cheering for both sides.
Master Makarov acted as the referee.
"Start!!"
"Take Over: Satan Soul!"
Mirajane shouted loudly, using her Take Over magic.
Her body instantly transformed into the appearance of a demon.
Her white hair spiked upward, and her ears became pointed and long like an elf's.
A pair of black demon wings appeared on her back, her arms turned into powerful demon claws, and a long, scale-covered tail extended from behind her.
"Oh oh! There it is!"
"Mirajane's Satan Soul form!"
"She's using her ultimate move right from the start!"
"I wonder what kind of magic the newcomer will use?"
Ren was also quite amazed watching Mirajane transform. He had only seen her transformation in the anime; seeing it with his own eyes felt completely different.
"Not drawing your sword?" Mirajane asked with some annoyance, seeing Ren standing with his hands in his pockets.
Ren shook his head. "Not needed."
The sword hanging at his waist was mostly for show. His swordsmanship was currently a mess; it was better not to use it at all.
However, in Mirajane's eyes, this looked like Ren was looking down on her, deeming her unworthy of his blade.
"Damn bastard! Then don't blame me for not holding back! Take this!"
Mirajane stomped her foot, her body rushing toward Ren at high speed, her demon claws swiping at his body.
The moment the claws were about to touch Ren, he remained standing in place with his hands in his pockets, as if he hadn't reacted in time.
"It's over!" Many people thought as they watched the scene.
*Whoosh!*
Ren's figure suddenly vanished, then instantly reappeared behind Mirajane.
"?!"
Aside from Master Makarov, everyone else was shocked.
"Space magic?"
Makarov spoke up, "No, it's high-speed movement footwork."
Mirajane was startled to find her attack had hit nothing, but she adjusted quickly.
Her scale-covered tail cut through the air, striking toward Ren.
Ren raised his arm to block.
*Bang!*
Standing in place, Ren blocked Mirajane's tail attack steadily and seemingly effortlessly.
"He blocked it?!"
"Impossible?!"
Mirajane's physical constitution after using Satan Soul was no joke; it was comparable to a monster. Her tail sweep could shatter boulders.
Yet this boy named Ren blocked it with his bare hand.
Immediately after, Ren grabbed Mirajane's tail with one hand and threw her forcefully into the sky.
Mirajane lost her balance and was flung into the air.
"So strong!"
"He threw Mirajane!"
"Damn it!" Mirajane flapped her demon wings to stabilize her body. She was getting angry; she had actually been thrown.
She aimed to become the guild's strongest mage. To be thrown by a newcomer was a huge loss of face.
Hovering in the air, Mirajane opened her palm and aimed at Ren below.
*Vwoom!*
A dark, complex magic circle appeared in front of her palm.
"Darkness Stream!"
Mirajane shouted. From the magic circle, dark claws emerged and rushed toward Ren.
Ren raised his left hand. Red spiritual pressure solidified in his hand, and he punched it forward.
"Bala!"
The red spiritual pressure bullet shot toward Mirajane, colliding with her Darkness Stream.
*Boom!!*
The Bala and the dark claws clashed, creating an explosion that caused both to dissipate.
The others weren't surprised by Ren's energy bullet, as using energy attacks was the simplest and most intuitive form of magic in this world.
Mirajane flapped her wings and dove toward Ren at high speed.
*Whoosh!*
Ren's figure vanished again.
*Boom!!!*
The ground where Ren had been standing was smashed to pieces by Mirajane.
*Vwoom!* Ren appeared behind Mirajane, red spiritual pressure gathering in his palm.
"Bala!"
Just as Mirajane's body was turning around, Ren fired the Bala.
*Boom!!*
"Ugh... Ahhh!"
Mirajane cried out in pain and fell to the ground.
"Damn it!"
Mirajane was preparing to get up and fight Ren again when she suddenly froze.
Ren had appeared in front of her without her noticing, the index finger of his right hand pointing at her forehead.
Emerald green light was constantly gathering, forming a small sphere of green energy.
Although the energy ball wasn't large, Mirajane could feel a fatal threat radiating from it. Her instinct for danger kept her from daring to move a muscle.
Master Makarov's expression changed upon seeing this; he was about to end the duel.
Ren flicked his finger, pointing it toward the inland sea instead.
"Cero!"
*Hum~! Shoooom————!*
A beam of emerald green energy erupted from Ren's index finger.
*BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!*
A terrifying explosion erupted on the distant surface of the sea.
"Whoaaaa!"
"Aaaahhh!"
The shockwave from the explosion spread in all directions. The Fairy Tail guild area was significantly affected, causing people to scream involuntarily.
It took a good while for the shockwaves to settle down.
Aside from Master Makarov, everyone in the Fairy Tail guild stared with wide eyes, their faces full of shock and disbelief.
"Mon... Monster!"
Someone uttered the sentence, resonating with everyone in the guild.
Where on earth did the Master pick up such a little monster? That destructive power was too terrifying.
Mirajane could be considered a little monster herself; even the adult mages in the guild were no match for her.
Who knew the Master would pick up an even more terrifying one? Perhaps only the Master and Gildarts could rival this kind of power.
Mirajane looked shocked, completely dazed.
She usually looked down on boys, feeling that none of her peers could fight.
The only person among her peers she considered a rival was Erza.
So when Ren claimed he would become an S-Class Mage, she decided to teach him a lesson. She never expected Ren's strength to be this terrifying.
If that attack just now had landed on her, she knew she would have been severely injured, if not killed.
"I... I lost!"