South Pacific Theater Command.
Beside the airfield, a large military transport plane bearing the rcenary Alliance emblem took off, representing the successive return of Bull, General Sid, Pasha, and Philona to their respective positions. They still had more political affairs to complete and couldn't stay at the frontline base indefinitely.
Accurately speaking, New Zealand was no longer really the front lines. Currently, large amounts of supplies were being transferred to the outpost base under Josh's command—the strategic buffer zone had advanced a major step.
Aside from military forces led by Croft remaining to guard the base, various parties were gradually withdrawing or rotating, giving quite a sense of people leaving and buildings emptying.
At the other end, a giant icebreaker entered the port flying Antarctic research station flags, though everyone knew its true origin.
The Witch and Trident had already boarded the ship. Though New Zealand's climate was pleasant, being responsible for clearing large numbers of Disaster Beasts daily was exhausting enough. Coming out for a stroll, they found the Antarctic Relic Treasury relatively more leisurely—better to go early and return early.
Kale pointed remotely: "Lady Snow Maiden, your ride has arrived."
"You're not leaving?"
"...I won't hide it from you—the Holy City Association contacted for a remote confidential communication initiated by the two people in the reentry capsule, concerning actions against the Church."
Even the usually cold and expressionless Snow Maiden was slightly stunned. You call this confidential? Everything that could be said was said.
Stationed in Antarctica for years didn't an she didn't understand politics. Obviously, all ancient Holy Relics nominally belonged to the Holy City Association, but close official relations made you look like a loyal dog to other colleagues—naturally not considered one of their own. Therefore, the Antarctic faction was excluded—important matters didn't consult you, much less reveal them. Of course, the Pharmacist, the power behind half the Pacific theater, also had ill intentions and should be guarded against.
Among ancient Holy Relics, herself, the Pope, and the Gentleman were people of official forces, or simply had relations with the rcenary Alliance—the Association wasn't too reassured.
Snow Maiden pretended not to hear the deliberate leak and turned to another topic:
"I heard magic power concentration increased again. Doomsday theories are erging everywhere—many people think the great extinction is about to begin. Relic fusers might beco those who successfully pass through, so they're seeking to purchase various scattered ordinary relics everywhere. So are even bold enough to ask to steal from my post..."
"The world's in chaos."
"Chaos aside, the human camp at least has basic order. Originally rcenaries were splitting, then barely settled. The Church with splitting risks made outstanding contributions—everyone objectively poses threats yet all maintain the collective, hoping organizations consider the big picture."
Though Snow Maiden's face showed no expectation as she said this—rely expressing a position—she held no hope for colleagues.
Kale shook her head: "Ancient Holy Relics pursuing longevity and liberation are destined for hardship. Many people persist to now on one breath—everyone walks tightropes."
"In my view, Lord Pharmacist belongs among those with conscience, not soone who casually releases Knowledge Poison to relieve herself by creating disasters—that kind of behavior is truly irresponsible."
For powerful Holy Relics, occasionally actively releasing Knowledge Poison could reduce erosion.
But others would certainly suffer for it.
tic infection more terrifying than nuclear radiation was deadly when it spread, often causing great destruction, but they had to endure it facing the Holy City Association.
"Conscience? Who in this world can still be called conscientious? At most better at empathy." Kale changed the subject: "I can guess what they want to discuss... What do you think of the Salvation Church? Guardian of the Antarctic Treasury."
"A rare group of normal people in a mad world."
After this decisive answer, Snow Maiden waved farewell. Her pure white, spotless figure strode aboard the ship without looking back, gazing into the distance.
Following her gaze, Kale saw the Fallen Zone's perpetual black clouds had dimd.
Only the central area remained.
Even though the deep layers still held large numbers of resistant Disaster Beasts, it didn't prevent the strategic situation from tilting toward humanity. Regardless, everyone had accomplished so real work.
Putting aside distracting thoughts, she returned to a conference room at the Pacific base where remote video preparations were complete. All irrelevant personnel had been cleared, with an illusionist laying down techniques ensuring no leakage. Within a hundred-ter radius, not a soul remained, nor any possible surveillance equipnt. Legally, the Holy City Association was a completely independent organization with no obligation to report information—everyone even kept a hand against each other. Yet cooperation projects weren't lacking, highlighting an awkward coexistence.
After crackling sounds, a bearded uncle in a spacesuit appeared on screen, showing a hearty laugh: "Long ti no see, Lady Pharmacist."
Codenad Chariot, a powerhouse controlling fairy remains from ancient ruins, once forced into self-isolation on the lunar base due to overly violent Knowledge Poison contamination—a quite dangerous figure that even Magical Girl Kale couldn't neglect.
"It's been well."
"May the Sun God bless you." The person beside him hadn't removed his helt, but Pharaoh's hoarse voice was distinctive. "I'm here to observe. You two chat first."
Chariot got straight to the point: "This eting was arranged by the King."
Even his voice carried awe for this figure—naturally the Holy City Association's leader, whose main body still slept in the earthbound headquarters Vatican, yet could transmit information and wisdom in all directions through powerful ntal force. Obviously, this most ancient Holy Relic, famous for far longer than the Disaster Beast invasion, was becoming active.
In seventy years, only two things had alard the King: the catastrophic Disaster Beasts, and the Holy Spear was temporarily entrusted to the military by him.
Only half a year after the Aurora battle, he was making arrangents again—showing the level of attention. Perhaps the ancient wise one who had slept long was also noticing the sudden changes in Planet Gaia's situation.
"Lord Pharmacist, our mission this ti is to track possible traces of fairy descents—that is, the area Lord Death God is responsible for. Exciting, isn't it? More and more clues—perhaps we can obtain the power of the World Tree Realm."
"You want to act together?"
"No. Though fairies are strong, crossing over will certainly weaken them. Besides, we're not lacking either—current forces are sufficient."
"...What exactly are the 'current forces'?"
"Sorry, I can't disclose that." The communicating Chariot maintained a friendly smile throughout but decisively refused when encountering key questions—firm and resolute.
He continued: "Connecting these fairy appearances, the King believes they have allied relations with the Church—it's necessary to investigate those Magical Girls. Hmph, the military people are already afraid, but we all know where the Church first appeared. Ningfeng Harbor hides many secrets. That's your jurisdiction."
No need to be too explicit—obviously soone was dissatisfied with Magical Girls erging from the Pharmacist's managed area.
Kale responded as if not hearing the suspicious undertones: "So you an you want to initiate an investigation?"
"Far more than that—best to catch a few tongues."
The Holy City Association's upper echelons clearly held a biased hostile attitude toward the Salvation Church, even not ruling out capturing several mbers for interrogation—they were already hinting at it, proving they had completed combat power deploynt.
From fragntary information, Kale roughly estimated currently directly deployable ancient Holy Relics at about 10.
As expected.
She answered: "Leave investigating the Church to . A small Ningfeng Harbor can't hide people."
"Lord Pharmacist, I must emphasize again." Chariot's expression was unprecedentedly serious. "The organization wants not promises but concrete results. How long have those military waste investigated? Result: nothing, even signing surrender-style treaties? This represents the Association's influence weakening—are we letting stupid politicians think they have a second choice to start playing balance gas? We need to tear off the Salvation Church's mask and completely expose them publicly."
"In that case, I need more combat power."
"According to organizational understanding, you should have reliable connections of your own. Use those people first—it's just investigation anyway. If there are concrete results, we'll reinforce."
"...You've investigated quite thoroughly, but rember to consider surface power changes. Many words aren't as effective as before."
Kale understood Chariot was hinting at discoveries of Ranger traces and verbally fought back.
As a Magical Girl group hidden in long years, they were actually more mysterious than the Church's mysterious organization banner—always keeping low profiles, unable to be high-profile anyway. So the Holy Relics' knowledge was definitely very limited and couldn't intimidate her.
But disgusting.
Clearly a drive-the-wolf-to-devour-the-tiger plan to make you prove yourself? This indirectly reflected cracks in mutual trust, hiding daggers behind smiles.
In the Holy City Association's view, Kale was rely slightly better than Snow Maiden, that loyal dog—but buried too many secrets. If you accomplished the task, everything could be overlooked. If not, everyone couldn't be friends anymore.
Chariot replied: "You say tis have changed—yes, but we also have our own plans. Pharmacist, the organization will proceed to the next era. Don't fall behind."
"What do you an?"
"The Ningfeng Harbor matter is yours. Rember, this is the King's command."
As soon as he finished speaking, he waved farewell, then the screen flickered and lost connection. From start to finish, she didn't know where the reentry capsule was heading, giving Kale no chance to ask further questions.
After crackling dead tones, the small conference room fell completely silent—perfect quiet for solitary ditation and thinking.
Monts later, she pushed open the door. The illusionist guarding outside went rigid, imdiately asking: "My lord, what's the Holy City Association's attitude?"
"...Possibly through divination thods, background investigations, or intelligence networks, they believe I have forces behind , leaning toward Magical Girls. So they arranged an investigation about Ningfeng Harbor. It's indeed a dilemma—I don't want to lose surveillance on these conspirators since I haven't figured out their real goals."
"They got anxious seeing Hyacinth's performance?"
"Eighty percent." Kale sneered: "I also feel it—Blooming Stage very likely represents ancient Holy Relic liberation limits. Though not ruling out individual monsters among Holy Relics, it's close. Noticing they're about to be abandoned by the era, these people are becoming increasingly hysterical."
"Then the Salvation Church needs to be careful. Regardless, they only have one Blooming Stage Magical Girl."
"Take the Container back to Kunlun Mountain base. After that, 'I' will personally visit the Taklamakan Desert. We'll et again within a week."
Thud!
As soon as she finished speaking, the usually vigorous Kale fell backward to sleep, without a trace of life—the relic without possession completely returned to its container nature, becoming a piece of human-shaped mutton jade that continuously shrank to palm size.
This represented her complete departure from ancient Holy Relic state while her true main body acted.
After securing the container, the illusionist hurried toward the airfield where the military plane to Kunlun Mountain was prepared for imdiate departure.
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Deep in the Taklamakan Desert, wind and sand battered, piling into moving hills.
Atop one hill walked a girl wearing round sunglasses and a light green qipao that harmonized with the environnt. Where she passed, pressure crushed paths into thoroughfares. This made it convenient for Magical Girl Hydrangea behind her to drag luggage: a coffin.
Thick iron chains wrapped around her waist, the other end tied to a golden nanmu coffin. Such massive weight was easily pulled along as she humd ancient mountain songs while traversing sand dunes.
"Why put in a coffin when I asked you to take to see big sister?" Kale kicked away the jewel-encrusted coffin. "Are you trying to curse to death?"
"You know I like choosing opposites—this is wishing you longevity. What a pity to waste a prince's coffin though."
"I heard there are Disaster Beasts lingering in the desert."
Kale stretched and stood up, while Hydrangea simply severed the iron chain and abandoned the coffin—destined to beco an unsolved mystery in the future.
They were both gradually recovering from self-sealed power states, often troubled by aftereffects that made them drowsy, so they had to take turns traveling. Hence one person with the strongest origin qualifications and one who could always precisely locate targets joined hands to seek the Ranger Organization's leader.
Their boss avoided the desert to prevent magic from losing control and harming innocents, or perhaps due to social anxiety—regardless, she was very hard to find.
Roar!
A giant worm burst from the sand on the other side, its massive maw lined with saw teeth. This was a Disaster Beast that had lurked in the desert's remote areas for long periods, difficult to eradicate. Sensing the vigorous aura of two Magical Girls, it couldn't help but surge out.
"Blind thing." After cursing, Hydrangea flicked out a chip with her fingers.
Bang! The Disaster Beast shattered into pieces of at, its ten-plus-ter body becoming blood rain filling the sky—not a single intact piece of flesh could be found.
"Seems you haven't gotten rusty, but things are about to get lively."
As Kale spoke, worm after worm burst from the desert—sowhat influenced by Hydrangea. Causality magic Equivalent Exchange could accumulate chips to manifest power fitting current circumstances. As always, it carried the vague chanisms characteristic of this type, making the user more important. In the gambler miss's hands, it leaned toward direct one-for-one kill judgnts, precise target divination-type abilities, and highest-tier healing capabilities...
If the user didn't pay with their own flesh for exchanges, using "treasured items" to generate power required additional paynt of misfortune—like the increasing Disaster Beasts at this mont.
Kale and Hydrangea looked at each other and sighed. It seed eting their leader would be delayed.
"Causality magic Magical Girls are all unlucky."
"Have you t others of my type?"
"Details later—we need to quickly find the Transient Realm's location and let her make decisions."
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Taklamakan Desert.
A hunt and counter-hunt battle was unfolding here. Over dozens of worm Disaster Beasts launched attacks on high magic power beings they hadn't seen in ages. The starving monsters had gone mad, even disregarding the Growth Stage Magical Girls' pressure to charge forward.
"Roaaar—"
They gave their all trying to bite off even a piece of flesh, but the power gap was too vast.
Having returned to her main body, Kale was happy to engage in rehabilitation exercise. At this mont, she moved among Disaster Beasts—often a light palm strike shattered internal organs and killed instantly. Invincible in attack and defense, her powerful and special origin provided absolute suppression even against Disaster Beasts. Two hundred years of tempering since awakening had refined her skills to perfection, always finding weak points for devastating strikes.
Regalia transformation form! The next mont, armor-like attire wrapped her entire body, completely resonating with her origin in perfect harmony, achieving 120% output.
Boom! With one strike, Disaster Beasts in underground caves a hundred ters deep shattered. The already sweltering desert was stead by Kale's origin—the world boiled, and clouds appeared in the clear sky.
She specialized in Regalia and origin—two elents as a Magical Girl.
Summoning magic Soul Possessor seed like the rare "self-summoning" type that could affect the user herself to enhance physical might, but was actually difficult to develop.
So forget it.
After abandoning magic developnt, Kale instead found talent in other directions, taking her strength to new heights.
Moreover, don't forget that Soul Possessor magic provided enhancent in both ntal and physical aspects. Lurking in relic containers while her main body resided in volcanic lava, separately training body and spirit brought her to the pinnacle. When both returned to the main body, the feeling was incredibly refreshing—perception fine to the minutest detail, as if embracing the world.
"Lord Hydrangea, I've already found the path to breakthrough."
"Good. Actually, I have the sa feeling—partly thanks to your big battle in the Fallen Zone raising magic power concentration."
"You talk like we failed."
"Not long ago, I used my life to divine whether thods exist in the world to halt or reverse magic power revival. Guess what? I'm still alive and well, so objectively, your suppression of the Fallen Zone didn't bring revival deceleration."
While speaking, she casually flicked out a chip that consecutively pierced three Disaster Beasts—blood rained down.
Magical Girl Hydrangea didn't enjoy combat, basically dealing with things half-heartedly. Even so, no Disaster Beast escaped her attacks.
Causality magic Equivalent Exchange's simplest usage involved paying costs for "conceptual guaranteed hits"—unbeatable in gambling, ensuring every strike in battle found enemies for grand slams. Therefore, she only needed to stroll through the desert with casual strikes to clear all enemies—never missing.
Monts later, corpses littered the ground.
The two showed no signs of exertion from this minor episode—such encounters didn't warrant stopping for Growth Stage Magical Girls, though scattered Disaster Beasts lurked in the desert, they posed no threat to them.
Kale couldn't help asking: "Are you sure of the direction? Boss has never been to the desert's deepest parts before."
"You still don't trust my divination? Don't worry—this indirectly proves Wisteria senses more active magic power and is hiding. She's very shy."
"Also, there's sothing I want your opinion on..."
Hydrangea listened seriously to the full account of this Holy City Association coercion and inducent.
Everyone was smart—with the ancient Holy Relic organization's power, they certainly captured so traces of the Ranger Organization, thus clearly testing their attitudes.
Little did they know their side was just a group of free-spirited individuals. Aside from Kale, Hydrangea, leader Wisteria, and swordsman Peach—four Growth Stage mbers who could be called experts in today's world—the remaining Seedling Stage and even three-awakening mbers probably couldn't withstand Holy City Association pursuit. Moreover, they lacked systematized training like the Salvation Church—combat experience and thods were all wild Magical Girl level.
If Holy Relics enlisted official forces for determined encirclent, Rangers would likely suffer heavy losses.
Very dangerous!
After chewing over the current situation, Hydrangea murmured: "Solo survival is no longer viable in these tis. Let's find backing."
"...You're right. Actually, one reason I actively participated in the recovery battle was to connect with the Salvation Church. Their leader Hyacinth is indeed the number one prophet—she directly saw through my identity and certainly knows about the Ranger Organization."
"What! That amazing?"
Even the self-proclaid diviner Magical Girl Hydrangea was dumbfounded. Putting herself in that position—who could see through fate while separated by the True Self Realm Transient Realm's shielding?
After all, Wisteria's power possessed certain ti attributes. Anyone she contacted and protected could greatly disturb observation thods. Logically, ordinary divination shouldn't yield results, yet the Salvation Church Leader pierced through heaven and earth with one word?
"Right. Though Hyacinth likely knows vague information, she also possesses both strength and leadership."
"Let's discuss with big sister shortly—we're almost there anyway."
As she finished speaking, Hydrangea pointed ahead where desert dust settled, the sky cleared, and mirages faintly appeared on the horizon.
From afar, it looked like flowers in mirrors, moons in water—seemingly fragile at a touch yet containing amazing energy.
Domain magic: Transient Realm.
Essentially a paradise, ideal realm, or mobile fortress existing in a different phase from normal Planet Gaia spaceti, reflecting the master's heart seeking to escape reality and yearn for peace. Of course, when fighting, Wisteria was no less than any first-tier opponent. Enhanced by her True Self Realm, she was practically an immortal cultivator—imnsely powerful. Within a 300,000-kiloter radius of desert, not even Disaster Beasts above common species were born.
Ding!
The mirage wasn't distant after all—ripples appeared before Kale and Hydrangea as the master had already opened the door, welcoming old friends' visits. They sensed the other's barely containable joy.
The two were slightly stunned, inevitably surprised. If in actual combat a Domain magic expert pushed the door directly to your face before revealing themselves, wouldn't that provide overwhelming advantage?
After not seeing each other for long, super-shut-in Magical Girl Wisteria had changed again.
Noticing this, Hydrangea laughed: "We have to travel the world and experience battles to grow stronger—she just needs to bury herself at ho. People really aren't equal."
"If you also want to beco an autistic, isolated, friendless, family-less, ignored, unpopular, unnoticed, unvalued person... you could permanently join the Transient Realm."
"Confird—it's her."
Whenever hearing such rapid-fire self-deprecation, Kale couldn't help laughing, but being more conscientious than colleagues, she wouldn't directly mock seniors and held back for now.
They walked shoulder to shoulder into the realm as the desert returned to normal.
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