Ace, Mirajane, and Lisanna pushed their way up the rugged mountain path.
The terrain was getting nasty, just like their mood.
According to the map—and the info they'd beaten out of the bandit captives—the Iron Fang Bandit Gang's main camp was hidden up ahead at Eagle Beak Rock.
It was a classic fortress spot: easy to defend, hell to attack.
They didn't get far before a mob of bandits swarmed out from a blind spot.
There were about twenty or thirty of them, armed to the teeth and looking desperate.
"Hmph. Nothing but rabble." Mirajane didn't even flinch.
A cold glint flashed in her eyes as dark magic exploded from her, unleashing the heavy, suffocating pressure of the "She-Devil."
She waved a hand, and a wave of darkness crashed into the front line like a physical wall, blasting the bandits into the cliffs before they could even scream.
"Animal Soul: Cat!"
Lisanna clasped her hands, a magic circle flashing.
Her nails sharpened into claws, her ears twitched, and her pupils narrowed into vertical slits.
She moved instantly, weaving through the chaos like a stray shadow. She dodged clumsy sword swings and retaliated with precision, her claws striking joints and pressure points to drop enemies without wasting energy.
Ace hung back. He scanned the battlefield, ignoring the chaos and looking for the bigger picture—formations, hidden mages, or any sign of that "Dark guild" remnant the Master had warned them about.
Honestly, it wasn't even a battle and more like a cleanup crew.
Against a powerhouse like Mirajane and with Lisanna's speed, these bandits didn't stand a chance.
Mirajane dusted off her hands, looking bored.
She stared coldly toward the peaks. "Let's keep moving. We'll crush the main camp in one go."
They quickly cleaned up and pushed deeper into Eagle Beak Rock.
The deeper they went, the more fortified it became—crude watchtowers and barricades lined the path, but they were all abandoned.
The bandits had retreated to their final hole.
They finally reached a massive cave at the base of a cliff, sealed tight with a heavy wooden gate.
Shadows moved frantically behind it.
"Looks like the rats are all in the trap," Mirajane said, a cruel smile touching her lips.
Suddenly, the wooden gate was smashed open.
A massive man stepped out, flanked by his elites. He had a hideous scar across his face and dragged a double-bladed battle-ax that looked heavy enough to split a house.
This was "Rock Crusher" Barton.
The magic radiating off him was heavy—he was definitely in a different league than the grunts.
"So, you're the three brats wrecking my operation?" Barton's voice boomed like a bell.
"Save the breath," Mirajane snapped, magic flaring around her hands. "You're already dead."
She prepared to charge, but Ace stepped up.
"Garurumon!"
A blue-white magic circle expanded, and Garurumon materialized in a flash of light, his metallic claws digging into the dirt as he growled at the bandit leader.
"Oh? A Summoned Beast? Now that's interesting." Barton didn't look scared, he looked hungry instead.
He licked his lips while lifting his axe.
The fight exploded instantly.
Garurumon launched himself into the mob, moving like a silver bullet.
He tore through the formation, scattering bandits like bowling pins before unleashing a breath attack.
"Howling Blaster!"
Blue flames crashed into the crowd, sending bandits scrambling.
"Animal Soul: Wings!" Lisanna shouted.
A pair of swan-like wings burst from her back, lifting her into the air.
She used the height to her advantage, diving down to harass Barton or flapping her wings to send razor-sharp wind blades into the grunts.
It was going well, but Ace wanted insurance.
He raised his hand again. "Come forth, Leomon!"
A second circle, this one brilliant gold, lit up the cave entrance.
The majestic Lion Man stood tall beside Ace, looking every bit the God of War.
"Two of them?!" Barton's composure cracked.
He roared, swinging his giant ax to block Leomon's sword, sparks flew as steel met steel.
Surprisingly, Barton held his ground, matching Leomon's strength shove for shove.
The guy was tough—probably on par with someone like Natsu or Gray in terms of raw muscle.
"You damn brats!" Barton's eyes flashed with a vicious light.
He suddenly ignored Leomon's blade, twisting his body and funneling all his magic into his left fist.
"Rock Fist!"
A massive fist made of condensed stone shot through the air like a cannonball, heading straight for Lisanna.
"Lisanna, move!" Mirajane screamed, terror spiking in her voice.
Lisanna froze.
She didnt expect Barton to leave himself wide open just to target her.
She tried to pull up, but the rock fist was too fast.
Just as the impact was about to crush her, a golden blur cut across the air.
Leomon.
He had read the move the second Barton shifted his weight.
Pushing his speed to the limit, he intercepted the attack, placing his body directly between the girl and the rock.
BANG!
The rock fist exploded against Leomon's chest, sending stone shrapnel flying.
Leomon skidded back half a step, his golden fur dusted with debris, but he stood firm.
He was completely unharmed.
"What?!" Barton's jaw dropped.
His best shot didn't even leave a scratch!
"Ace's partner... Thank you, Leomon-san!" Lisanna breathed, her heart pounding as she flew up to a safer altitude.
"Protecting Ace friend is my duty," Leomon said calmly.
He turned his golden eyes back to Barton, but this time, the gaze was filled with cold fury!
"You bastard!"
Seeing her sister almost get taken out snapped Mirajane's last nerve.
Her magic erupted like a volcano.
"Satan Soul!"
Mirajane vanished and replaced by her Demon form.
Now, it wasn't a fight anymore but a beating.
Between Leomon's sword, Garurumon's speed, and Mirajane's rage, the Iron Fang Bandit Gang crumbled.
Barton fought desperately, but he was overwhelmed, bleeding from a dozen wounds.
"Damn it! If I'm going down, I'm taking you with me!" Barton's eyes turned bloodshot, his magic swelling dangerously for a suicide attack.
"Darkness Stream!"
Mirajane didn't give him the chance.
Dark magic coalesced into massive shadowy claws that surged forward, slamming into Barton with the force of a freight train.
"Gah—!"
Barton spat blood, flying backward and smashing into the cliff face.
He slid to the ground, his axe clattering away.
Mirajane landed, her demonic wings retracting slightly as she walked toward the broken bandit leader.
Her hand raised, ready to deliver the execution.
Ace, watching from the back, suddenly perked up.
'Wait. That's a high-level boss kill.'
'If i took him out, the System might drop a reward, maybe an evolution card? A stat boost?'
He immediately sent a telepathic command. 'Leomon! Now! Steal the—uh, I mean, finish him! Use your ultimate moves!'
Leomon didn't know what "kill-steal" meant, but he knew an order when he heard one.
He clenched his fist, channeling every ounce of his energy into a roaring aura of orange and gold.
"Fist of the Beast King!"
A massive energy wave shaped like a lion's head roared from Leomon's fist, streaking past a confused Mirajane and engulfing Barton completely.
BOOM!
The explosion shook the valley.
When the dust cleared, there was nothing left of "Rock Crusher" Barton but a scorched crater.
Mirajane stood there, her hand still raised for a strike that never landed.
She slowly turned her head, her eye twitching as she looked at Ace, who was whistling and looking at the sky.
Then she looked at Leomon, who stood stoically with his fist smoking.
A vein throbbed on her temple.
"A—CE—!"
Her scream echoed through the mountains.
She had done all the work whittling the boss's down, and this guy swooped in for the last hit?!
Ace rubbed his nose, pretending not to hear her, while internally screaming.
'System! System! Quick, what's the reward for taking out a bandit leader?'