Hibiscus had to admit that facing two opponents wielding the strongest magic of their series was sowhat tricky, but she still planned to push herself to see what she could achieve without using Regalia or Magic Power Internal Compression.
Thud!
She suddenly swept her leg horizontally at lightning speed, hitting Jin Ruochu's waist, but it landed as a light, floating strike.
"This is bad." The girl understood in an instant but still flew backward.
Hibiscus hadn't dealt substantial damage—her fierce force stirred up gale winds that threw her out of the battle center without ever triggering the damage transfer chanism. As long as you used your brain, there was no such thing as invincible abilities. Behind bypassing chanisms was pure violence that could stir up hurricanes with re punches and kicks. In an instant, the abandoned district's buildings howled endlessly, the night tide receded montarily, and birds and beasts dwelling here fled one after another.
Seeing this, Jin Yulu had planned to temporarily retreat, because losing a teammate for repositioning would easily lose pressure and lead to defeat, but from the corner of her eye she saw Nan Zhiyi's domain approaching.
It was that move of resisting area damage through domain expansion. Indeed, staying in the Small Universe ant not fearing ti flow effects.
Jin Yulu gained confidence and decided to maintain close combat.
"Are you sure?"
The girl's golden pupils t Hibiscus's sharp gaze. The latter suddenly moved sluggishly, then flickered a few tis becoming faster—apparently in so unstable state... Wait, sluggishness had activated but the range was very small, maintained only between the two of them.
Ti acceleration actually ford extrely strong repulsive force fields on the outer edges, like objects of different speeds colliding and creating friction. Its power was continuous and comparable to shields.
The 2x acceleration force field directly pushed Jin Yulu back. Hibiscus, steady within it, strode forward with great montum, forcibly slamming her into a building wall. Even with the girl's scale armor enhancent, she couldn't resist. She heard a light comnt: "You lie down for a while."
Hibiscus suddenly stepped forward, the force field violently throwing her into support pillars, consecutively collapsing several with thunderous noise.
She only dared use the 2x acceleration version—anything higher risked causing deaths.
Almost as Jin Yulu exited the battlefield, the starry sphere on the other side expanded in front of her. Needle against wheat, narrow paths where only the brave win. The domain's black exterior shell collided head-on with the ti distortion shell, fierce winds brewing thunder. Just one contact caused the floor they stood on to collapse with thunderous crashes, dust rising and echoing long.
Though the two who had exited the battle recovered thanks to Magical Girls' excellent physical qualities, they currently couldn't intervene in the battlefield.
The magic power gap between both sides was too large.
Jin Ruochu felt that constraint about to be broken—no mistake, that power wasn't distant.
She imdiately sat cross-legged and held her breath in concentration. Having heard Dr. Mu say that causal magic emphasized enlightennt and cultivating the heart, she who had clarified her path could completely go further.
Jin Yulu crossed her arms and quietly observed the battle, waiting for results.
Currently, Hibiscus and Nan Zhiyi could be called the first and second Magical Girls. Though both at Triple Awakening level, their understanding and control of magic power far exceeded her own—she was actually the most behind. But no need to rush. World Serpent magic focused on accumulating strength for explosive release. Besides, her Origin strength was strong enough from this period of competition—this long-distance race was still early.
Crack!
Suddenly fine cracks appeared on the starry sphere's surface, like an eggshell about to break—quite a dangerous signal for domain magic.
The user would definitely suffer certain backlash, since closed usage was quite domineering and ca with costs.
Suddenly the next mont, the Small Universe completely released, the expanding energy that spread instantly actually stirred the ti acceleration. Seeing this, Hibiscus was slightly stunned then smiled: "Actively closing the domain while releasing compressed magic power—indeed not bad. At critical monts it's enough to escape the battlefield."
"But my current target is moving forward."
Standing in the ruins' center was one in a light, fluffy white-green dress like a blooming flower, surrounded by flickering dandelion starlight.
Magical Girl Dandelion, full transformation state.
During the 3-day rest period, Nan Zhiyi had never stopped training—continuously opening and closing Regalia, maximizing then weakening magic... With Hibiscus's demonstration as precedent, her path was very clear and everything went smoothly.
If she could only use that form to amplify magic in the underground warehouse battle, now she could engage in actual combat.
"Co at ."
Hibiscus smiled lightly and spread her arms, seamlessly completing her outfit in an instant—black dress and red cloak, silver hair dancing like harp strings. The dark atmosphere she exuded was alluring, unfathomable, and boundlessly vast.
Magical Girl Regalia had no cases of failed deploynt. In a sense, it was the strongest crowd control removal thod—when magic effects were weakened, only direct confrontation remained.
Next they simultaneously stepped forward, instantly engaging in close combat at zero distance. Endless strength, boiling blood, gasping breath, dripping sweat—even taking a hit didn't hurt. Their speed increased as if draining the surrounding oxygen. At this mont, Nan Zhiyi and Hibiscus saw each other's exhilarated smiles—truly refreshing, this was the domain that could contend with Disaster Beasts.
Black and white lights shuttled between buildings, collapsing falling stones, rolling thunder, dissipating clouds, tides unable to mask their might.
Boom!
Monts later, the white light finally fell. Nan Zhiyi was seen half-kneeling on the ground gasping, her Regalia that had been flowing with fla-like magic power now damaged and unable to fight.
"...Do you even have any weaknesses?"
Hibiscus slowly descended before her. Though her Regalia was also sowhat damaged, her aura remained undiminished. She smiled lightly: "I've been training Origin and Regalia recently—quite unlucky for you."
As the two spoke, they heard magic power suddenly surge not far away—it was Jin Ruochu.
"Could she have already achieved Triple Awakening!"
Before she finished speaking, a stream of light entered the battlefield. The girl was seen with long pink hair in twin tails, wearing a French academy-style princess dress, a shoulder cloak fluttering in the wind. Short skirt with lace ruffles, bare smooth legs in red round-toe shoes with white bows on the foot surface. Surrounding flower petals seed to lift the girl, everything rejoicing as the silent ruins welcod the new complete Magical Girl.
Identification code: Cherry Blossoms Everywhere. Regalia na: Manjusaka.
In many people's eyes, the undisputed number one at the end of the original storyline.
Jin Ruochu slowly clenched her fists. Her five fingers in white gloves were delicate yet transmitted trendous power, materialized magic power like thunder and lightning baring fangs and claws.
She reached up to comb her right-side twin tail, smiling proudly: "Is this enough for your island?"
"Still too green. Get your endurance trained up—don't all be burst types."
Hearing Hibiscus's complaint, Nan Zhiyi beside her laughed awkwardly and tilted her head down. Fighting at full transformation state with full power for the first ti was too draining, especially after three days of self-training. The Dandelion girl finally collapsed.
But she was quickly carried by Jin Yulu to safety.
Nan Zhiyi said thanks, after all who knew whether an airhead young miss and a hot-blooded battle maniac would hold back when fighting—probably would tear down the house.
Jin Yulu placed her on a rooftop with good visibility then said: "Don't just lie there—explain Regalia key points to ."
"Has your Origin reached standard?"
The girl's pupils turned golden as she clenched her fists, magic power flowing out in threads. The materialization was sufficient proof of high level. Well, the forr special forces captain with solid basics had beco even stronger after awakening magic.
"All geniuses. But I'm not as generous as Hibiscus when teaching people. The company trains you hoping you won't job-hop in the future—I want a promise."
"I left the Counterasure Bureau because I was hurt."
"Of course I understand."
"As long as you don't betray , I can go to hell with everyone."
"That's a perfect score answer."
Nan Zhiyi and Jin Yulu looked at each other and smiled, shaking hands tightly. Though they had little interaction and even so wariness, after brief contact the barriers disappeared. They understood each other as comrades worth entrusting their lives to. No ti for idle thoughts—the situation was urgent, keep everything simple.
"Actually I'm also learning while practicing. You found the right person for key points—those two never take notes."
She pointed at the distant ruins construction site: "Next I'll tell you related experience as much as possible, but watching together is equally important. Let's witness Jin Ruochu and Hibiscus's understanding..."
Boom!
The silver-haired girl had just dodged a falling rock when she was punched head-on. Fortunately she blocked with her arms in ti or she'd have gotten her face scratched.
Jin Ruochu opposite carefully retracted her fist. As the magic caster, she also had to dodge a broken gas pipeline that might spray her face and cause explosions. Actually she was more disheveled than Hibiscus. No choice—once fully focused on battle, Fortune and Misfortune balance easily went out of control. Indiscriminate strikes were a causal series characteristic that had to be experienced.
The two seed evenly matched but actually there was a "third party" on the battlefield—bad luck. Stones flew from ti to ti, feet slipped, even gas explosions.
Regardless of lethality, wasn't it just disgusting?
Hibiscus picked up a leaf to catch bird droppings falling overhead then threw it aside, even the magic user herself was annoyed. But she still patiently said:
"Very good. As long as you maintain composure and don't rush, the enemy will definitely be the anxious one. People often make mistakes when busy."
"Screw the chanism, I'll fight you to the end."
Jin Ruochu charged forward aggressively then slipped and nearly fell.
"You know what? Though ti series is rarest, causal series has the lowest activity. Factually speaking, the causal series you see are rare as phoenix feathers." Hibiscus kicked a banana peel to Manjusaka girl's feet, making her fall face-first. "Because uncontrollable characteristics make them prone to backlash. Users must be careful."
"I'll help you adapt to this power. Rember, the key to Fortune and Misfortune is balance. Though it can't be turned off, you can suppress it from accumulating bad luck during battle."
Splash!
Suddenly the ground beneath Hibiscus gave way, revealing a cavity. At the critical mont she maintained flight, making this move ineffective. But when the moonlight illuminated "thane pool" in the darkness below, the silver-haired girl frowned slightly.
"Thank you for the reminder. Indeed, even fate has parts I can grasp." Jin Ruochu snapped her fingers, striking sparks.
In an instant, the thane pool that had accumulated for years let out a roar.
Suddenly light and fla erupted into the air, brilliant as daylight scattering ash, the shockwave destroying surrounding buildings and causing a chain of collapses like a demolition office passing through.
Jin Ruochu fell to one knee with a thud, gasping heavily. This strike was her enduring the indiscriminate misfortune since the battle began, transforming it into "misfortune targeting one person" while not introducing specific variables of "you" or ""—whoever was more suitable to take this hit would take it fully. Facts proved she bet correctly.
Causal magic couldn't be controlled but could be guided.
Accumulating luck with courage regardless of friend or foe made the magic power even stronger. A re thane explosion couldn't create a mushroom cloud.
"You scared ." The spotless Hibiscus slowly floated down from the collapsed cavity, behind her the earth cracked, buildings collapsed, the city fell into deathly silence amid burning ash.
Flas reflected a smile on her face—passionate and bloodthirsty.
"Ti magic again—even zero-distance sneak attacks can't hit you?"
"I'm the type of villain that even the protagonist's teammates sacrificing their lives to self-destruct can't stop at all."
"Can't you use a better taphor?" Jin Ruochu struggled to support her body. "Fight again—"
She lay powerless on the ground.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing at all." Hibiscus crouched down and poked the girl's pink tender cheek that seed ready to squeeze out water. "You overtaxed your stamina. First ti Triple Awakening and you fought recklessly—your body is protesting. Rest well, you did better than expected and deserve praise."
Jin Ruochu grinned, wanting to make a proud declaration but lacking even the strength to speak. Her whole body ached and was exhausted—she couldn't help wanting to sleep.
anwhile, Jin Yulu returned to the battlefield carrying Nan Zhiyi.
"How do you feel, Captain Jin?"
"Very exciting. I saw a broader world and deepened my understanding of magic. Honestly, we as students and teacher might not be suitable since everyone's magic series don't overlap at all—limited reference value. But as co-training partners we're qualified. I'm very happy, very honored. The only pity is Miss Jin and President Nan should still have fighting spirit but lack physical strength."
"...No, I don't." The exhausted Dandelion girl shook her head.
However, Magical Girl Manjusaka showed an eager expression watching Hibiscus, who imdiately understood—she had planned this anyway.
As a wicked smile appeared on her lips, the atmosphere tensed.
"I said this is devilish training, right? Who supports, who opposes? Say it loudly."
"I strongly support." Jin Yulu raised her hand.
The other two wanted to express opinions but magic power pressure perated the ruins after the great battle, making their weak bodies unable to speak. Let her do as she pleased. Democratic vote? What vote—whatever.
Hibiscus took out a bottle of mineral water, dividing it into three cups and raising them high toward the moonlight, laughing loudly: "Revive, my companions!"
The diluted mana recovery potion forcibly pulled them from exhaustion to vigor.
"Boss—no, Instructor, you're amazing! This way we'll have the world's number one army."
Feeling the mana recovery potion's power, Jin Yulu completely changed from her usual composed deanor, nearly dancing with joy. She had always hoped for a body that could withstand non-stop training to reach the pinnacle. Now her wish was realized by magic and her superior—her heart surged.
Jin Ruochu, who had been enthusiastic before, stood up feeling everything but magic power was still weak, her expression imdiately falling. Nan Zhiyi beside her wasn't much better.
"Continue."
Hibiscus issued the demonic command.
...
Pacific Fallen Zone, Island 24 Alert Zone Periter.
Lightning flashed and thunder roared, heavy rain poured. A research vessel arrived at the target location surrounded by warships.
In the deep rain curtain, only the captain's room had lights. Under the fluorescent lamp shadows on Gallup's face, he yawned: "Captain Brunhilde, we've been rocking for 7 days. When can we arrive?"
"Not far now. And don't call captain—it's Doctor or Professor. I just happen to enjoy sailing."
The secretary said: "Mr. Gallup needn't be anxious. After excavating the space relic and completing the agreent with Miss Pasha, you can naturally return to Eagle Company."
"I'm not anxious, just have a bunch of ssy mories in my head. Whether they're real or fake, sotis I can't even distinguish people standing in front of . I only know where I belong, where I'm going, and endless busy work..."
He flipped through the notebook in his hands and sighed.
The secretary fell silent.
Well, this involved knowledge poison scattered after intensive relic use—ordinary people couldn't easily discuss it.
Actually Gallup wasn't sure either. The notes only ntioned that if he felt dizzy and confused, it indicated he'd experienced ntal backup "resurrection" from a clone body, but the cost was as seen—the unstable period would last quite a while. No matter, except for key mories before and after death, everything would gradually return. Plus the body instinctively avoided factors that historically caused death to evade risk.
Worthy of a ntal-type relic. Even if not true resurrection, it preserved much important information. Of course, user Pasha was indeed crazy enough.
Just as he was lost in thought, the searchlight changed to indicator lights—preparing to dock.
The captain laughed heartily: "We've arrived, but there's scrap tal everywhere. Looks like they got beaten up badly again."
"No, look more carefully."
Gallup pointed at the distant sea surface where the white wasn't foam from waves but countless bloated Disaster Beast corpses—hundreds and thousands, blood staining the sea, probably half a swarm's worth eliminated.
Though definitely accumulated over years, seeing nearby salvage ships working continuously showed especially high numbers recently, with correspondingly heavy losses.
Worthy of being one of the Disaster Beast front lines—even the air reeked of blood.
The secretary whispered: "This mission is to confirm the possibly existing Island 24.5, codena Hermit. Archaeological excavation suggests ancient use of space relics stored there. For convenience, the rcenary company will cooperate with official military forces. If the project succeeds, we'll obtain a national treasure for the front lines, and Island 24's siege situation can be alleviated..."
Before he finished, the ship had docked.
They entered Island 23's temporary station, an area equivalent to only 5 football fields, mainly built by land reclamation. Looking around, airports, barracks, hospitals, and everything else were complete.
Such distant ocean operations with Disaster Beasts constantly watching—hard to imagine the construction difficulties. But humanity indeed needed strongholds at the fallen zone's edges.
Dr. Brunhilde stepped forward to greet them: "Hello, I'm Winter Company's communications director Brunhilde, specializing in information fields and Disaster Beasts."
"No need for formalities—we're all familiar faces. But I'm not the one receiving you."
The receiving officer saluted then stepped aside.
Whoosh!
The originally calm Island 23 was suddenly hit by strong winds and flying sand. Even the night ocean's humid air couldn't suppress this invisible force. From the smoke walked a military-uniford woman with colonel shoulder insignia. The colonel raised her head, revealing blood-red eyes without whites or pupils—just pure chill that made people shudder. The previous mont she was leaving the barracks, the next she appeared before the doctor, but her gaze was fixed on soone behind him.
"Welco everyone. The Disaster Beast communication frequency interception technology you possess is indispensable for this operation."
"You're too kind. Compared to everyone's bloody battles, this level isn't much." The doctor wiped cold sweat from his forehead.
The famous Colonel Josh, long-term garrison commander of this war zone, also bearer of relics. Heard she was beloved by subordinates and liked recruiting talent to gather elite forces. Most importantly, she was apparently very interested in magic power talented individuals including Jin Yulu...
"Eight days ago, my transfer order was sent to Ningfeng Harbor Counterasure Bureau. Result—the person in charge wasn't there, the good seedling also wasn't there. Guess where they went?"
The colonel pointed at Gallup.
"Your stupid subordinate's rash actions made miss a good warrior."
"That guy already lost his life. No need to be unforgiving, and I've already lost those mories. But I can listen to what compensation you want."
"Those who should pay the price have paid. I'm not the type to hold grudges, just reminding you to learn your lesson and restrain your subordinates. As for compensation, it's simple—give 500% effort. Adjutant, brief them on the situation."
"Yes sir..."
The delayed voyage far exceeded the rcenary company group's expectations:
To explore and detect the Hermit Island that existed but remained invisible, untouchable, and unreachable, establishing an outpost was necessary—this step was understandable.
The military didn't seek to conquer Disaster Beast-occupied Island 24, just hoped for an extrely convenient forward position for further investigation. However, Disaster Beasts beca unprecedentedly active with frequent fleet attacks, numbers surging over threefold, even including two Vanguard Disaster Beasts. In short, the investigation seed indefinitely postponed.
Professor Brunhilde sighed: "I thought it was stable here before coming—really bad timing."
"Any other thods?"
"Colonel, I don't want anyone taking risks either, but the fallen zone's unstable magnetic poles create poor information conditions. Only detecting frequency positioning from Island 24 can accurately locate Hermit Island."
"I'll do my utmost to help." Gallup volunteered. "The poison mist ghost mask is suitable for large-scale killing. Battlefield combat is my specialty—I'll definitely clear a path for everyone."
Josh nodded approvingly: "The strategy is basically set. Prepare for total assault on Island 24, scheduled for one week from now..."
"Report!"
Suddenly a soldier rushed over: "The Disaster Beast swarm is actually dividing forces! Surrounding cities are facing danger."
Everyone's faces darkened. They all knew large cities had adequate defenses and could handle scattered Disaster Beasts after strengthening vigilance. The key was the underlying aning. Excessive Disaster Beast numbers in the battle center were overflowing, threatening high-density population areas. Stragglers would directly bring dia pressure and attention, adding pressure. If civilian casualties occurred, it would count as their dereliction of duty.
After brief consideration, everyone looked at the colonel. Only the front line's highest commander could make judgnts. In these treacherous tis, they had to decide for themselves.
"The plan remains unchanged, but we must give our all—with determination to fight until ammunition and food are exhausted." Josh declared resolutely.
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