Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master-Chapter 258: Like

Ugly? What was ugly about this? Is it ugly like Gromp take over?

When Mira revealed her Take Over transformation, Rhodes was stunned, not with fear, but with sheer joy.

And that reaction was what finally gave Mira the courage to look up.

What she saw in Rhodes' face wasn't fear or revulsion, just pure, unfiltered light. A joy so genuine it made all the years of guilt, the scars, the nightmares... fade a little.

"You... you don't find it scary?" Mira asked, her voice trembling. "I look like a totally different person like this."

Rhodes instantly understood what she meant. He remembered when he first tried learning Take Over. Mira had reacted similarly. The trauma from her childhood still lingered, even if she never talked about it.

So Rhodes raised his left arm, transforming it into various monster forms, a rock-hard hand, a clawed beast's limb, a frog's webbed fingers, and finally a massive crab claw.

"No matter what the outside looks like, you're still you, and I'm still me," he said with a soft smile. "You've always been the one I like, Mira. That hasn't changed."

He held up his paw-like wolf hand and grinned sheepishly. "If you're worried I'd be scared of you... how about this? Try pressing the paw pad. If I run away, I lose."

Tears welled up in Mira's eyes, glimmering with the same crystalline light that once made her look terrifying, but now only made her look beautiful.

She reached out, hesitantly pressing her fingers against the rough pads of Rhodes' transformed claw.

He didn't flinch.

Instead, he reached forward and clasped her demonic hand in his own, holding it tight like it was the most precious thing in the world.

Mira twitched slightly at the touch, but he didn't let go.

She looked into his warm, encouraging eyes, slowly curling her fingers until they were holding hands properly.

Rhodes couldn't help it, he grinned wider than he had in a long, long time.

Then he took a step forward and wrapped Mira in a hug with his free arm, still keeping her transformed hand firmly in his own.

Her cheek pressed softly against his chest, and her hand rested gently on his shoulder.

The position was awkward, their postures mismatched, but Rhodes didn't care.

He nuzzled his cheek into Mira's hair and whispered softly into her ear, "If you're afraid I only liked the you from before... then I'll start falling for who you are now."

As Rhode's wolf claws reverted to their normal form, he gave Mira's demonic hand a gentle squeeze.

"Anyway, I've caught you now, there's no running away."

"Yeah," Mira replied quietly. Her right hand shimmered with light, slowly returning to its human form. With no magical transformations between them now, they were truly holding hands, flesh and warmth, heart to heart.

As if in perfect sync, their fingers gently explored, then laced together, locking tight.

Today's physical training session? Delayed.

But in its place, something far more important grew stronger, a shared resolve to protect each other.

And that bond someday, it would become a strength greater than magic.

Rhode didn't know how long they stood there, holding each other in silence. Eventually, Mira gave him a little push on the chest, and he finally let her go, albeit reluctantly.

She stepped back with her hands clasped behind her back, her expression playful. "Remember what you just said."

"Of course," Rhode nodded, watching her carefully. "Wait... are you about to show me the full form of Satan Soul?"

"This time, it might actually scare you," Mira said with a half-smile, half-worry. "And it's not just about the looks."

"If I get scared..." Rhode blinked. "Then... you decide what to do with me."

"That's what you said," Mira grinned, stepping back further. Her playful look faded as she drew in a deep breath and straightened up, her expression becoming focused and serious.

A surge of magic flared around her.

The air itself seemed to tremble as power radiated from Mira's body. Her skirt and hair whipped in the sudden wind, and even Rhode instinctively took a step back.

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"This is..." he whispered, stunned. He had expected something impressive, but not this. The sheer pressure in the air made his heart race.

Then, in a blinding flash of light, the transformation was complete.

Mira's long white hair stood up like a flame, wild and untamed, as if it were alive. A black line traced across her forehead and down the right side of her face, slicing over her eye and down her cheek to her chin. Her lips were blood red, matching the dangerous aura she now exuded.

The red dress she usually wore had changed into a daring, dark outfit—edged in obsidian black and crimson. Two large demon wings stretched from her back, and a sleek black tail curled behind her.

But even more startling than her appearance... was the shift in her presence.

The gentle beauty who had been smiling sweetly just moments ago had vanished, replaced by someone else entirely.

Rhodes wasn't even sure whether she moved her feet or simply vanished and reappeared, but in the blink of an eye, Mira was hovering right in front of him, elevated just slightly above, suspended in the air with her wings spread wide.

She looked down on him, eyes cold and expression unreadable. The sheer force of the magic pressure made Rhodes' breath catch. For a heartbeat, he couldn't believe this was the same Mira.

And then her fingers gently pinched his chin, lifting his gaze toward her.

Her face, so close now, was breathtaking in a completely different way. Fierce, commanding, untouchable.

Rhodes felt his pulse quicken. There was even a tiny part of him that... hoped she'd be a little bolder.

But instead of any unexpected kisses or teasing, Mira's voice dropped, cool and imperious. "You were scared just now, weren't you?"

Still holding her hand, Rhodes sighed, giving in with a sheepish grin.

"Yeah, you got me. That sudden spike in magic power was a lot to handle, and the whole chin-grab thing? Way too bold. I wasn't ready."

Mira chuckled as she landed gracefully on the ground, allowing him to keep her hand in his. Her confident smile bloomed, proud and playful.

"Hmph. Then be prepared to receive your punishment later."

That look of satisfaction, having shown her power, having surprised him, it clearly made her day.

She'd always been the strong one, but now she'd reminded them both: she could protect him too.

"Okay, okay," Rhodes muttered, laughing under his breath. "What kind of punishment are we talking about?"

He had hoped that after Mira's recovery, life would slow down a bit. Maybe even squeeze in some guilt-free snacks. But now?

Now all he could think about was that chin-grabbing moment.

If he didn't step up his game, Mira was going to completely outpace him in every way, and not just magically.

This wouldn't do.