Lin Weiwei drove the vehicle, her eyes occasionally sneaking a glance at the rearview mirror.
Under the moonlight, Liuli, the Moonlit Witch, one of the current S-rank magical girls, was once a supernova magical girl eleven years ago.
Back then, magical girls didn’t have a systematic structure like now—no unified academies for learning and growth.
Every magical girl who became famous in those days had fought their way out from piles of monsters.
For example, there was a magical girl nicknamed the Melee Mage.
Her famous saying was, “All living creatures feel pain, but monsters do not.”
Her methods were extremely decisive and violent.
The bloody scenes of her Bafenguānglún skill could silence crying children.
This magical girl still fights on the front lines to this day.
It’s said she’ll be coming near C City soon to attend a Conference.
The fact that Liuli, the Moonlit Witch, still had her name in that era—and at her age—was a source of pride.
But ten years ago, the Starry Sky Witch, Flora, utterly humiliated her.
Flora, hailed as the answer of the era, now has almost all information about her vanished for unknown reasons.
Only a few know that among all A-rank and higher magical girls at the time, she publicly declared several supernova magical girls as her children’s bodyguards or held other relationships.
Only Liuli, the Moonlit Witch, was declared a dog.
No matter how many times Liuli resisted, Flora easily suppressed her.
In front of those supernova and veteran magical girls, she declared Liuli could only ever be a dog—at most licking her child’s feet, not even qualified to climb into bed.
This phrase spread widely in the A-rank magical girl circles back then. Even many B-rank magical girls knew, making it Liuli’s most infamous label and joke.
Later, Flora died, most information vanished, and Liuli became S-rank. No one brought up the matter again.
Unexpectedly, now that Flora’s child has appeared, Liuli actually follows her.
Did the once-proud supernova really become a dog?
And Flora’s child, Luo Tianyou, is truly beautiful.
The two of them together actually look quite fitting.
Of course, these were just Lin Weiwei’s inner thoughts.
She wouldn’t dare say them out loud.
The vehicle entered a temporarily sealed suburban road, a faint sense of oppression lingering in the air.
“We’re here.”
Lin Weiwei stopped the car outside the security line, got out first, and opened the door for the two in the back seat.
Luo Tianyou carried Liuli out of the car.
About a kilometer ahead, a semi-transparent pale golden sphere covered a vast wasteland.
Dark purple lightning occasionally snaked across its surface, causing the barrier to shudder and emit a low hum.
Within several hundred meters around the barrier, the ground was blackened and cracked, devoid of life, filled with the stench of sulfur and ash.
Dozens of fully armed Bureau personnel guarded the security line.
Upon seeing Liuli and Luo Tianyou, they immediately stood respectfully, awe and curiosity in their eyes.
“The situation is far worse than expected.”
Liuli raised her head from Luo Tianyou’s arms, her golden eyes locked onto the distant barrier.
Her childish face bore an incongruent seriousness.
“The seal should last at least three days without reinforcement. How did the erosion advance so much overnight? This shouldn’t be happening.”
She signaled for Luo Tianyou to set her down.
Luo Tianyou did so, and Liuli marched forward on her short legs, pulling Luo Tianyou with her, Lin Weiwei following closely behind.
The closer they got to the barrier, the stronger the oppressive feeling became.
The chaotic magic in the air also grew more tangible.
When they reached about fifty meters from the barrier, Liuli’s expression nearly froze—her gaze darkened as she scanned the surface.
She stopped, lifting her free hand, and drew several complex magical runes in the air, sending them flying toward the barrier.
Ripples spread across the surface, the trembling calming slightly, though the dark purple lightning remained lively.
“The core seal is about three hundred meters underground. This surface barrier is only for isolation and warning. But there’s something else inside interfering with the seal. We must enter the core to reinforce it.”
While maintaining the flow of runes, Liuli explained to Luo Tianyou and Lin Weiwei.
“Enter inside?” Lin Weiwei’s face changed. “My Lady, Kili’er is inside. If we must go, we can wait for other S-rank magical girls for support. Director Zhou Zheng has already requested reinforcements. An S-rank magical girl has responded and should arrive this afternoon—”
“I know. But if the seal isn’t reinforced, it will break within an hour. There’s no time.”
Liuli shook her head.
“Kili’er was shattered and sealed by me. With the current environment inside, an A-rank magical girl should suffice. Most importantly, there’s an unknown foreign object in the barrier. We must clear it.”
“But… you said there’s a foreign object interfering with the seal. It could be Kili’er’s trap or another monster. That makes it even more dangerous…”
“No buts. Unless you can evacuate the entire city within an hour.”
Liuli spoke calmly, her gaze lingering on the barrier.
This responsibility was hers.
If she had forced herself to endure and reinforced the seal on-site without sleep, this wouldn’t have happened.
An entire city’s life couldn’t wait an hour.
Liuli’s voice remained steady.
Her golden eyes fixed on Lin Weiwei, and the latter swallowed all further protest.
“Lin Weiwei, execute the order. Have all non-combat personnel and ordinary Bureau members retreat immediately.”
“You, and the other B-rank magical girl in C City, stay and establish a Secondary Stabilization Barrier on the perimeter. Be ready to assist at any moment.
Also, inform Zhou Zheng of the situation and let him decide—either begin evacuating citizens farther away now or bet on this one hour.”
“Yes… Lady Yuexia.”
Lin Weiwei bit her lip.
She knew there was no better option.
The Bureau squads in the distance began orderly withdrawal, leaving only a tall, ponytailed, determined-looking middle-aged woman who approached Liuli and saluted.
Codename: Yitie.
Specializing in defense and barriers, she was the other B-rank magical girl of C City.
“Luo Tianyou.”
Liuli turned, looking at the silent girl beside her.
“To reinforce the seal core, we need to guide and stabilize the unique magic formed by our fusion. In my current incomplete state, I can’t do it alone…”
She gazed at Luo Tianyou’s violet eyes, slightly widened with tension, and said nothing more—just waited quietly for her answer.
Luo Tianyou’s heart pounded, a chill running down her back.
She stared at the ominous barrier ahead.
Inside was the S-rank monster that once nearly destroyed the city, along with unknown foreign entities.
The apocalyptic scene remained vivid in her memory—even Liuli at full power could only seal it.
Go in?
She wasn’t a true warrior.
She was just a fake magical girl.
She wasn’t unafraid.
That would be a lie.
Her gaze landed on Liuli’s petite form.
This woman had nearly exhausted herself to protect the city, becoming like this.
Now, knowing the danger, she still insisted on going in.
Because of the city’s lives.
Because it was her responsibility.
If she didn’t go, the seal would break, Kili’er would return, and the city—and countless people like Li Huayu, who had just glimpsed hope—would be plunged into hell again.
Luo Tianyou squeezed her eyes shut and opened them.
She gripped Liuli’s small hand tightly.
“Let’s go.”
The corners of Liuli’s lips lifted ever so slightly, then straightened again.
“Hold my hand tight. Don’t let go. Once we’re inside, obey my every command. I’ll bring you back alive.”
“I promise.”