"So what will happen if you actively release the Swift Canyon Crab Soul you just took over?"
Rhodes undid the Take Over magic and then tried actively releasing it.
"It seems like nothing happened. A third crab didn't appear."
Rhodes checked his own state, "But now I can't transform into that form anymore."
"I've never encountered a situation like this before." Makarov frowned, thinking. Normally, if you actively 'release,' another crab should appear.
"Try taking it over again."
"Alright." Rhodes followed the same steps as before—he summoned the crab and then took it over.
He successfully transformed, and the crab entered a dormant state once again.
After he canceled the Take Over magic, the crab recovered. And the next time he used Take Over magic, it was unaffected.
Even if he didn't actively release it, he could still summon two crabs.
Though, it was a bit inconvenient with the pendant.
In the Swift Canyon Crab form, the pendant was also protected inside his armor.
Rhodes figured he needed to practice using summoning magic without having to hold the pendant—just making physical contact should suffice.
"You... your summoning magic was already a bit strange, and now your Take Over magic is also odd."
Makarov couldn't make sense of it either. Then again, magic wasn't something with a fixed form to begin with.
Rhodes didn't want to be seen as some kind of weirdo, so he quickly said, "My script magic is completely normal."
Makarov shook his head. It wasn't normal—it was weak.
"In any case, pay close attention to your physical condition from now on. Once you're sure there's no problem, try taking over something else."
"Alright, Master. Then I'll go practice by the lake for a while!" Rhodes, still in his Swift Canyon Crab form, took a step forward to dash out.
However, in the next moment, a large hand grabbed him, "Fix the wall first!"
"Okay..." Rhodes undid the transformation.
Forget Take Over—Master always had one move to handle him.
Time to build the wall!
"If I can tear it down, I can build it! If it can be destroyed, it can be rebuilt!"
Rhodes, Fairy Tail's strongest rookie, muttered strange slogans as he took up the task of being a bricklayer.
He was much more proficient than last time.
...
"Rhodes? What happened to you?"
As noon approached, Mirajane noticed Rhodes looking a bit dusty, with mud stains on his clothes.
"I accidentally broke a wall and just finished fixing it," Rhodes said apologetically. "Can you wait a moment for me? I'll be back soon."
"No problem, we have plenty of time." Mirajane smiled, "If you let Natsu and the others lead you astray, the Master will get headaches."
"It was just an accident, really. See you in a bit!"
Rhodes quickly left the guild, and as soon as he was out, he used his crab armor and dashed away like lightning, leaving afterimages behind.
Mirajane covered her mouth, her eyes widening in shock, "Was that...?"
Outside the guild, two figures moved sneakily towards the entrance—one with thick eyebrows and big teeth, the other with a triangular head and square jaw.
Just as they turned the corner, they saw a dark green figure flash past, startling them.
Croft asked, "What was that just now? Something green seemed to run past."
"Someone must have learned a strange magic, probably that guy Kike," Nicky said. "Forget that, we need to see if Mirajane and Rhodes are still around."
Croft poked his head around the doorframe and saw Mirajane sitting at the counter, deep in thought.
"Good, Mira's still here—they haven't left yet!"
The two exchanged glances, "We made it in time—action!"
That Rhodes guy was too much—always taking Mira on walks or trips.
And today he even asked her out for a meal!
There were so many people in the guild who liked Mira—this was just cutting in line.
They needed to teach him a lesson!
So, by the time Rhodes had gone home, showered, changed his clothes, and returned to the guild to leave with Mirajane:
"Quack~"
"Quack~"
Two giant geese, about the height of a person, were waddling around in front of the guild entrance.
They stretched their necks, glanced at Rhodes, then spread their wings and craned their necks, "Quack! Quack!"
Rhodes looked puzzled at Mirajane, "Whose geese are these? They're huge. I didn't see them when I arrived."
Mirajane saw through the crude transformation magic immediately and guessed these two were trying to mess with Rhodes.
Normally, she might have smiled and said she didn't know, just to see how Rhodes would react.
But today, she had something she wanted to ask, and they were interrupting that, so her expression turned fearsome:
"Probably some ingredients Mr. Cook ordered. Just kill them."
Killing... intent!
The two disguised geese suddenly remembered that Mirajane used to be called "Demon Mirajane."
"Qu... quack!" They took two steps back in unison and turned tail, running away.
They reverted to their human forms a few meters away and continued running, realizing then that they should have canceled the transformation immediately to avoid being killed...
But it was just too embarrassing!
"That was Nicky and Croft, right?" Rhodes recognized the two. "What kind of game are they playing?"
"Probably trying to scare you," Mirajane said, "Happy said you'd cry if you saw geese, and now the whole guild knows."
"... Happy!" Rhodes gritted his teeth. That unreliable cat really went around spreading it.
However, remembering the two fleeing in panic, Rhodes couldn't help but laugh, "And they actually believed it."
False information works—it can even guard against your own comrades.
Mirajane didn't seem too talkative today, and Rhodes realized it after trying to start a couple of ordinary conversations:
"Something on your mind?"
Mirajane hesitated and asked, "The magic you used when you went home earlier—what was that?"
"You saw that? I was planning on telling you in a bit." Rhodes said, "It's a Take Over magic I just learned today. The full name should be 'Full-Body Take Over: Wild Creature Soul—Swift Canyon Crab.'"
As he spoke, Rhodes simply activated the magic, transforming into the armored form, "How is it? Isn't it cool?"
Mirajane seemed a bit dazed. This scene—she had seen it before:
"Animal Soul—Cat!"
"Beast Soul—Bear!"
"Big sister, look! Surprised, right?"
"It's the same magic as Mira's! With us here, you won't be lonely anymore, will you?"
Yes, it was back then.
Because she was afraid of being seen as a monster again, and having her brother and sister rejected by the guild members, she had intended to leave on her own.
Back then, Elfman and Lisanna had shown her the Take Over magic they had just learned in this same way.
"We'll always be together, even our magic will be the same!"
That's what Lisanna had said.
She was always so gentle and kind.
But...
Mirajane gently bit her lip, "Why did you suddenly decide to learn that kind of magic? People will think of you as a monster."
"Are there not enough weirdos in the guild?" Rhodes hadn't realized that Mirajane still cared about being thought of as a monster.
The malice of those villagers all those years ago had continued to affect her to this day.
Of course—five or six years ago, she was only twelve or thirteen, and had to be strong for her siblings. Maybe that's also why she kept competing with Erza after joining the guild?
Rhodes thought for a moment and said seriously, "More than appearances or what others think, what I want is power.
Right now, I want power that can protect myself and ensure I don't drag my teammates down when we team up.
Beyond that, I want enough power to protect everyone.
If people see me as a monster—well, I think this form is quite cool.
And when I'm strong enough to stand in front of those I want to protect, I think that back view will be even cooler."