Chapter 116: Pain, Meow?

Xiaoxi never expected Yeli Lan to be afraid of something like this.

The Rich Girl looked brave enough on the surface, so could it be that she was the type who appeared as a commanding lady but was actually timid and afraid of ghosts inside?

Xiaoxi didn’t think much of it. Not long after Yeli Lan got into bed, Xiaoxi finished her work as well.

But as soon as she turned off her computer and stood up, Xiaoxi suddenly grimaced, holding her waist as she gasped sharply.

“What’s wrong, Xiaoxi? Feeling weak?”

Seeing Xiaoxi’s pained expression and how she was supporting her waist, Yeli Lan shook her head in dissatisfaction.

She hadn’t even done anything yet and Xiaoxi was already this weak? How could Xiaoxi possibly endure anything stronger in the future?

“It’s nothing. It’s just that during the battle today, my Magic Power consumption seemed unusually high? Strange… why would that be…”

At that moment, the effect of the Magical Power Shielding Device had vanished, and sensing the Magic Power channels inside her body once again, Xiaoxi keenly noticed that her energy seemed somewhat depleted.

Yeli Lan patted the bed nervously. “Th-this kind of little thing, don’t overthink it. It’s not a big deal. Just go to sleep already, okay?”

But in Yeli Lan’s eyes, half of Xiaoxi’s Magic Power had been drained, and Xiaoxi only realized something was wrong after such a long time.

If Xiaoxi could even make a mistake sensing the Magic Power inside her body—a basic skill—it meant Xiaoxi’s strength was probably among the weaker D-rank Magical Girls.

What Yeli Lan didn’t know was that Xiaoxi hadn’t noticed the problem clearly because… the amount of Magic Power she was absorbing was just too little.

Out of concern for not draining Xiaoxi completely, Yeli Lan had only absorbed about half the usual Magic Power of a D-rank Magical Girl during the day.

But even the total Magic Power of a D-rank Magical Girl was insignificant compared to Xiaoxi’s reserves.

Moreover, enough time had passed for Xiaoxi to have recovered about seventy to eighty percent of the lost Magic Power.

So when the sensing returned, the amount drained was truly not enough to alert Xiaoxi.

In fact, even if Yeli Lan absorbed Xiaoxi’s Magic Power every day, it would still be difficult to completely drain her.

Xiaoxi changed into her pajamas and got into bed, but her mind was still occupied with the Divine Summon Order’s files she had just sorted through.

She hadn’t told Yeli Lan, but today she had been so serious not only because she wanted to catch the Blood Moon Witch, but also because she suspected there were fugitives from the Divine Summon Order still at large.

The Magical Power Shielding Device the Butcher pulled out today had raised alarm bells for her.

It was normal for Divine Summon Order technology to occasionally appear in the Underground Black Market, but this device should never have reappeared—because all technology related to Magical Power Shielding Devices had already been destroyed by the Association.

The sole purpose of this technology was to sever the connection between Magical Girls and their own Magic Power channels, so the Association would never have kept such a thing.

Yet the technology and all related data had been completely destroyed, and the Butcher still managed to pull out a Magical Power Shielding Device.

This proved one thing—the inventor of this technology was still alive.

But that shouldn’t be possible! Xiaoxi knew this technology was invented by one of the Twelve Divine Envoys of the Divine Summon Order, but those Twelve Divine Envoys should have all been killed—eliminated by her and her teammates!

Even now, Xiaoxi still remembered the great fire that had thoroughly burned down the Divine Summon Order. She didn’t believe anyone could have survived that blaze, but…

Recalling the device in the Butcher’s hand today, which was even more compact and convenient than the ones she had seen during the Great Chaos Era, Xiaoxi realized the technology had clearly been upgraded.

Perhaps the Twelve Divine Envoys hadn’t all died after all, and they might be recuperating and preparing to act again.

Along with the Blood Moon Witch still remaining at large without a trace, Xiaoxi had reason to suspect the Blood Moon Witch was likely colluding with the surviving Divine Envoys.

The Twelve Divine Envoys and the Blood Moon Witch had frequent contact; every time the Blood Moon Witch appeared, a Divine Envoy would be by her side.

But Xiaoxi knew the Divine Envoys were there as a kind of “insurance.”

Their presence was meant to prevent the Blood Moon Witch from losing control and breaking free from the Divine Summon Order’s grip.

Xiaoxi didn’t know exactly how the Twelve Divine Envoys controlled this volatile powder keg that was the Blood Moon Witch, but since they had such close contact, it was very possible that the two had resumed cooperation.

Damn it, where the hell was the Blood Moon Witch hiding now? How could she conceal herself so well… Xiaoxi lay on the bed, anxiously sighing as she hugged Yeli Lan tightly.

……

Yeli Lan stood amidst a haze of smoke and gunpowder.

Her expression was cold, flanked by two skeletal Divine Envoys draped in black robes. Behind them were a throng of Divine Summon Order Believers.

“Saintess, please, for the great cause of the Divine Summon Order, eliminate the enemies of the Divine Summon Order,” one Divine Envoy said with a slight bow, showing great respect toward Yeli Lan.

The black robe he wore was stained with blood, and its edges were trimmed with gold, appearing both holy and eerie.

Not far ahead floated three Magical Girls. Yeli Lan merely shook her head coldly, her expression as frigid as ice.

“Ah, Saintess, for the great wishes of the Divine Summon Order, these are unavoidable necessary sacrifices. You must not disappoint the Believers behind you,” the Divine Envoy said, bending his waist even lower. His loose robe concealed a subtle movement.

Yeli Lan’s delicate eyelashes trembled slightly, and a flicker of pain appeared on her porcelain doll–perfect face.

But even so, she only bowed her head, hiding her emotions deep within her eyes, unwilling to act.

At this moment, the three Magical Girls had sensed the abnormality on this side and attacked the Divine Summon Order’s group in midair.

“Sigh, Saintess…”

The Divine Envoy sighed, while the Believers behind watched their revered Saintess suddenly bend over, trembling slightly, seemingly enduring some immense torment.

“Even while bearing great suffering, the Saintess still wishes to save us Believers,” another Divine Envoy turned to explain to the congregation, but by now Yeli Lan could no longer hear his words.

So painful, so painful, so painful, so painful, so painful…

The intense agony tore through her body, dragging her consciousness into a bottomless quagmire.

The sound of her blood flowing and heartbeat was clearer than ever.

The last thing she heard before her awareness faded was the murmur from her own lips.

“It is death, it is scarlet, it is the blood moon hanging high.”

“Mourn — eternal night has fallen, none shall be freed.”

……

When Yeli Lan regained consciousness, all three Magical Girls had been defeated.

The last conscious Magical Girl was held by her neck with one hand, suspended midair like a mere chicken.

The girl was clearly struggling for breath, growing weaker with each futile attempt to break free.

Yeli Lan could feel the fragile bones and flesh beneath her grip—just a little more force, and the girl’s life would be extinguished.

A sudden urge to cry overwhelmed Yeli Lan. Silent tears slid down her cheeks.

She summoned all her strength to control the hand choking the other, desperate not to release it.

She didn’t want to do this. She didn’t want to hurt anyone. She was already suffering so much…