Fear is a human instinct.
For most people, the most primal source of fear is darkness, which is why within Jingtong’s spatial magic lies an endless void of black.
There is no one in this world who has never felt fear, so even the tiniest shred of hidden terror within the heart will be caught by Jingtong and manifested within the mirror’s surface.
Not everyone has the courage to face their own fears.
Xiaoxi grew anxious, wanting to catch up to Jingtong and interrupt this magic, but it was already too late.
The black mist condensed into human form, stepping out from the mirror and blocking her and Ye Xinglan’s path.
In the mirror before Ye Xinglan, a tall figure draped in the Divine Summon Order Shenshi’s robe was reflected.
Its face was hidden beneath the robe and could not be distinguished.
Or perhaps it didn’t even have a face at all.
What Ye Xinglan feared most wasn’t a tangible entity—this enemy was nothing more than a symbol, condensed from her fear of the Shenshi or the Divine Summon Order itself.
Ye Xinglan’s expression remained unchanged.
Was this truly what she feared most in her heart?
So this is all?
Ever since breaking free from the control of the Divine Summon Order, and with Xiaoxi by her side, she no longer felt as afraid of that part of her past.
“Stay back, Xiaoxi. I’ll handle this thing!”
Ye Xinglan sensed that the two enemies summoned by Jingtong were extremely strong, far beyond what Xiaoxi could handle.
She shielded Xiaoxi behind her.
The other clump of black mist before her changed shape, as if reflecting in a mirror.
From within the mist, a girl identical to her stepped out.
Bare feet, long hair, a blood-red scythe… The only difference between her and Ye Xinglan was the dullness in her eyes, and the lack of expression on her face.
The one who emerged from the mirror was another Blood Moon Witch.
Ye Xinglan was suddenly stunned.
She turned around in disbelief, but Xiaoxi’s gaze avoided hers.
So this… was what Xiaoxi feared most in her heart?
What Xiaoxi feared most… was her?
Countless questions surged up inside Ye Xinglan at that moment, but she forced them all back down.
No matter what, dealing with the crisis before them was most important right now.
“…Xinglan, something seems wrong with Qiuli!”
“Mm, go help her. I’ve got things covered here.”
Their teamwork remained tacit as always.
Yet as they spoke, neither looked at the other.
Xiaoxi bit her lower lip, forcibly suppressing her turbulent thoughts, and hurried toward Qiuli.
She and Ye Xinglan had been busy chasing after someone just now, not paying attention to Qiuli.
Logically speaking, Qiuli’s ability was specialized in countering spatial magic.
Even if Jingtong locked her inside a mirror, Qiuli should have been able to break out with ease.
But just now, when Xiaoxi glanced back, she noticed something was off.
Qiuli, trapped within the mirror, had her eyes tightly shut, her expression twisted in pain…
That’s right, whatever Qiuli feared most should have manifested as well.
What was she fighting against now?
But the problem was that, apart from Qiuli, there was nothing else in the mirror space.
Jingtong’s spatial magic was complex and powerful, and she’d locked Qiuli in her own Mirror-in-Mirror space.
If Xiaoxi really were just a C-rank Magical Girl, there would be nothing she could do to help.
She glanced in Ye Xinglan’s direction.
Confirming that the Rich Girl’s attention was entirely focused on the enemy, Xiaoxi relaxed and decided to show her true strength.
With two solid punches, she shattered the mirror.
From the cracks, a powerful suction surged forth.
Without hesitation, Xiaoxi stepped inside.
It was better to fight in a separate space anyway—at least she wouldn’t have to worry about hiding her strength from Ye Xinglan!
In a blink, Xiaoxi crossed the mirror and entered another mirrored space.
Here, only a small patch of darkness existed, like a solitary prison cell.
Qiuli lay not far away.
Her body, along with her bushy squirrel tail, curled tightly into a ball, with several wounds marring her exposed skin.
Xiaoxi grew alert.
What exactly was attacking Qiuli?
Why couldn’t she see anything?
But rescuing her was the priority.
Xiaoxi had no time to ponder.
She intended to help Qiuli up and leave this isolated space first, then figure out how to heal her.
Yet just as her fingers were about to reach Qiuli—still several dozen centimeters away—they snapped back as if scalded by electricity.
What’s going on?
Xiaoxi looked at her fingertips, where a thin, long cut had appeared.
The pain was like a shock, yet also like a lash, but there was still nothing around Qiuli.
It was as if some invisible field enveloped her entirely.
Xiaoxi recalled the faceless Divine Summon Order member that had emerged from Ye Xinglan’s fear…
Of course! Jingtong’s mirrors could only manifest what each person feared most, but not all fears had tangible forms!
Which meant she couldn’t even approach Qiuli…
Xiaoxi pondered briefly, then closed her eyes and focused.
Light enveloped her body.
Xiaoxi shifted into Eternal Star’s form, and as the light dimmed, the valiant [Sirius] transformed into a gentle Magical Girl with soft blue hues.
Eternal Star, [Polaris] form.
Xiaoxi rarely used this form, since Polaris’s powers leaned more toward the [Coordination] aspect of a Magical Girl’s magic.
And in their Mu Xingge Squad, they already had Muxingge.
Besides, it wouldn’t make sense for the squad’s main combatant to play support.
But at a time like this, Polaris was just what she needed.
Dreamlike aurora light covered Xiaoxi’s arms.
Once again, the invisible assault continued.
Even the Polaris barrier creaked and crackled as if crystalline ice were shattering.
Judging by sheer strength, Qiuli’s manifested fear seemed even more formidable.
It looked like the Third Shenshi truly wanted to eliminate the troublesome Qiuli here and now.
Xiaoxi gently held Qiuli’s hand and closed her eyes.
The fantastical aurora flowed from her arm into Qiuli, and in that instant, a flood of images appeared, laying bare Qiuli’s intangible fear before Xiaoxi.
Through physical contact, Xiaoxi saw into the deepest reaches of Qiuli’s heart.
——
Silent midnight.
Within North Blossom City, Qiuli’s figure flickered like a ghost outside the Tianqi Church.
Qiuli’s expression back then was even colder than it was now, her eyes devoid of light.
After scanning her surroundings, a short dagger condensed from magic appeared in her hand.
She drew a light cut in mid-air, slicing open space itself.
On the other side of the rift was the interior of the Tianqi Church.
This was her unique ability, [Slash of the Void].
But this move wasn’t meant for attacking; it allowed her to instantly cut open space and teleport within a certain range.
No matter how tight the defenses, mechanisms, or even the most impenetrable spatial magic, before her ability, they were all as fragile as paper.
As long as she wished, she could use this power to infiltrate anywhere.
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