Lisanna's "death" is something that has been bugging Alex's mind ever since Mira gets promoted to S-Class. After all, he doesn't know the exact time this event will happen. He only knows it will happen when Mira is already an S-Class.
As for the time, he only knows it happens 2 years before the main story starts on X784, so it should happen this year, on X782. But he doesn't know the exact time, only the reason why it happens, which is an S-Class job, a subjugation of a powerful beast that Elfman Takes Over later.
So Alex has been looking at every S-Class job that's posted in the Guild to make sure he doesn't miss it when that job is posted. Then, it's finally being posted a few weeks after Gildarts left for the 100 Years Quest.
Alex doesn't do anything to that job though and he doesn't even take any jobs after that job is posted. He lets it there until Mira takes it. When she takes that job, he also takes a job that's located near the Strauss' S-Class job.
His job is also a subjugation job, the most common type of S-Class jobs. But his subjugation target is a Dark Guild. They aren't Zeref Worshippers though, just a Dark Guild full of dangerous criminals who do all kinds of illegal jobs.
Their base is located near Mira's job's location, in the exact same direction. But the Dark Guild's base is located further from the King of Beast's location. So Alex can follow the Strauss siblings' route and they won't be suspicious.
Alex actually could prevent them from taking that job, but he prefers to let them do it. Of course, he wants to save Lisanna because he doesn't know if she will survive like in the story because many things have changed now.
However, he also doesn't want to take the siblings' chance to grow, especially Elfman. After all, that King of Beast's soul is very powerful. This is a chance for Elfman to get such a powerful soul for his transformation.
But that doesn't mean he wants to harm them, that's why he follows them secretly. Besides, he also wants to see if his actions so far can change the bad "fates". He has helped the siblings get stronger by training with them many times and giving them advice, so he wants to see if everything he did has any effects.
Alex's team is moving far behind Mira's team so the siblings don't know that his team is behind them. Even his teammates, Wendy, Carla, and Meteor don't know that they are on the same route with Mira's team.
With Alex's great tracking skill, following the siblings from a very far distance is not a difficult task. He can see their footsteps clearly and know what they were doing just by looking at their faint footsteps.
After a rather long journey, Alex's team finally arrives on the town that requests for the Beast subjugation job. Alex's team decides to spend the night there because it's almost dark and they are surprised to meet the Strauss siblings there.
Well, Alex isn't surprised at all, obviously, but he needs to fake it. Elfman asks why they are here, so Alex tells him that their job is located near the next town, so they have the same route.
"A Dark Guild subjugation, huh? Isn't that too dangerous for Wendy, Carla, and Meteor?" Lisanna looks worried.
"It's a dangerous job, without a doubt. But do you know that these 3 have done more S-Class jobs than any of you?" Alex smirks at Mira, making her fuming.
They forget that Alex often brings these 3 on his S-Class jobs even before Mira becomes an S-Class. Technically, the 3 kids have finished more S-Class jobs than the Strauss siblings even though Alex did most of the work in those jobs.
"Ugh, no need to rub it, man." Elfman feels defeated.
"Well, good luck on your job. We'll stay here for a while to make some preparations, so you can ask for our help anytime." Alex waves at them while leaving with a smirk, making Mira even more pissed.
Alex's team really prepares things in that town like supplies and getting information about their target. But Alex also keeps observing the Strauss siblings from afar to make sure he won't miss them when they finally go to fight the beast.
As he expected, the Strauss siblings go to fight the beast right away that night. They don't even rest first even though they've just traveled a very long distance. The fatigue from their long trip might also be a factor of their failure in the story.
"You 3, can you stay in the hotel by yourself tonight? I have a bad feeling about the Strauss siblings' job. They don't even rest and go to do their job right away even though they must be tired. Even I won't do that because fighting a powerful opponent when you're not at full power is dangerous. I need to make sure they will be fine, so wait for me in the hotel."
"We understand. Please return safely with them." Wendy agrees right away because she knows that it really can be dangerous.
Alex always makes sure they are at full power before starting their job. They always rest and eat properly so they'll have full energy when they fight. There was a time when they disobeyed Alex on this matter and they almost got into a big trouble, but thankfully Alex was there, so now they never disobey him when working.
After sending the kids to the hotel, Alex leaves to follow the Strauss siblings. He tracks them and finally finds them in the rocky valley. They are already fighting The Beast that actually is stronger than Alex thought.
It actually has more magic power than Mira at full power and as a beast, its physical power is undoubtedly strong. Now Alex can understand why Elfman can't control this beast for a long time.
While the trauma of "killing" Lisanna also affects it, the power of this Beast is also a big factor in that. A strong Beast like this obviously has a strong will and even when its power is reduced after its soul is being Taken Over, it will still put up a very strong fight.
Alex hides and watches the siblings fight The Beast. They really are having a hard time fighting it. Their fatigue really affects their power, as he has thought. They can't use their 100% power, after all.
Also, The Beast is very tough and durable. Their attacks don't injure it as much as they should be. Its body is really tough and it must have a good magic resistance, so their spells are causing less damage. It's called the King of Monsters for a reason.
While it doesn't seem to be able to use magical attacks, its physical power is truly monstrous. Its enormous magic power must've been used to enhance its physical power. That's why its body is very tough and its physical strength is very high while it can't use magical attacks.
Eventually, the Beast overpowers them because currently, the only one who can really put up a fight against it is Mira. But even she can't cause significant damage to its tough body and she is also not in full power because of her fatigue.
Then just like in the story, the 3 of them run out of magic power and their Take Over Magic wears off. Mira lasts the longest, but she alone can't handle the Beast and she also runs out of magic power soon.
As she is the last to fight it and as the one who injures it the most, the Beast is the most enraged at her. So it targets her immediately when she falls on her knees after running out of power. Its injuries don't seem to hinder its movements that much, showing how tough this Beast is.
Then suddenly, Elfman jumps toward the Beast as it walks toward his sister. He tackles it even when he isn't transformed and before the Beast can attack him, he uses his Take Over magic on it to capture its soul.
The Beast has gotten weak, so Elfman can Take Over its body and soul immediately. But because he himself is also very weak now with very low magic power, he can't fully control the Beast after Taking Over its body and soul.
Elfman merges with the Beast and transforms into it. But because the Beast is still stronger than him, it becomes the one in control of the body. It starts rampaging again because it just follows its beastly instinct.
Elfman still tries to fight it, but its instinct makes it want to destroy anything and kill anyone in sight. Mira can only watch helplessly as Elfman loses control. She knows he tries to save her by Taking Over that Beast and it makes her feel even more miserable.
Then suddenly, the uncontrolled Elfman sets his sight on her again. The Beast still has a very deep grudge against her who injured it the most. So it moves to attack her, but suddenly, Lisanna stands in front of the uncontrolled Elfman to stop him.
Obviously, he won't listen because he isn't in control. The Beast Elfman raises his hand and swings it very strongly at Lisanna. Mira screams in horror, telling Lisanna to move away, but Lisanna is already too tired to move fast enough.
*BAM!*
The Beast Elfman's attack lands, but not on Lisanna. A dark-skinned hand catches the Beast's big hand and stops it right before it hits Lisanna. Alex suddenly appears in front of Lisanna and stops the uncontrolled Elfman's attack.
"Good grief, why do I always need to take care of your mess even when I have my own job to do?"
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Ch. 140. Battle of Tenrou