As the fog grew thicker and the magical energy reactions of the monsters intensified, a black-clad figure appeared not far away.
Xiaoxi was taken aback. The fishing trip had worked… but was this the fake [Eternal Star] the Divine Summon Order had disguised? Why didn’t it look anything like her?
Logically, to appear convincing, this impostor should be dressed with distinctive features, making it obvious at a glance that she was Eternal Star, right?
While she was thinking, the monster had already noticed Xiaoxi’s presence. It let out a roar and pounced. The black-clad figure also moved, rushing over.
“Xinglan, on my side—”
“I found Eternal Star! Xiaoxi, she’s on my side… Oh no, that jerk is trying to run! I’m chasing her now!”
Xiaoxi’s words were cut off by Ye Xinglan’s hurried interruption.
As the call ended, Xiaoxi stood there stunned. Ye Xinglan had already found Eternal Star and was chasing her? If that was the case… then who was the one on her side?
By now, the monster had been easily dealt with by the black-clad person, who was continuing to walk towards her.
Alarm bells rang loudly in Xiaoxi’s heart, and she instantly launched an attack!
This black-clad person was far too suspicious. Even if she wasn’t the fake Eternal Star, she’d knock her out first and take her back to the Association!
Xiaoxi didn’t hold back with this strike.
The magical power of an S-Rank Magical Girl formed a powerful pressure.
Xiaoxi had originally thought she could finish the opponent in one move, but the attack was actually blocked by the other’s magical energy barrier.
A muffled boom echoed through the empty street, the fog around the two of them dispersing slightly from the impact.
In that split second of contact, Xiaoxi caught a glimpse of a startled look in the other’s eyes, behind the obscured face.
She could steadily block her attack even while being ambushed? Was this person that strong?
Both of them were momentarily stunned by the unexpected situation.
After a moment, the black-clad person reacted first, immediately turning to flee!
Xiaoxi could sense another powerful, unconcealed magical energy reaction coming from another street not far away.
It seemed Ye Xinglan had really run into the impostor over there.
In an instant, Xiaoxi considered many possibilities. Was the Divine Summon Order using a diversion tactic?
Was this black-clad person responsible for holding her back, while the fake Eternal Star lured Ye Xinglan away?
“Astrologer, have your people go support Xinglan first. I can handle things here on my own!”
Worried about Ye Xinglan’s situation, Xiaoxi couldn’t help but quicken her pace.
However, the black-clad person seemed to have rich combat experience, fighting while retreating.
During the chase, Xiaoxi exchanged a few more blows with her, all of which were steadily blocked.
This black-clad person’s strength was at least A+ to S rank!
Moreover, the other party seemed to be deliberately hiding her identity.
When fighting Xiaoxi, she only used the simplest magical energy attacks and defenses, not using any skills at all—logically, by the time one reached this level of strength, whether a Magical Girl or a Monster, they should have long since awakened their own unique abilities.
This made Xiaoxi even more certain that this suddenly appearing black-clad person was problematic.
Not long after, the Astrologer’s voice came through the communicator: “The impostor escaped using space magic. Miss Ye Xinglan is already done over there. Xiaoxi, where are you now?”
By this time, Xiaoxi had already chased quite a distance.
After quickly surveying her surroundings and reporting her location, the black-clad person seemed to realize she couldn’t shake Xiaoxi off like this and actively stopped.
A golden light began to spread outwards from her body.
Was she getting serious now? That suited Xiaoxi just fine.
But just as she attacked again, the Astrologer’s voice in the communicator suddenly crackled with static, as if being interfered with.
The power of Xiaoxi’s punch also diminished considerably.
She was shocked to find her own magic circuits becoming clogged, as if suppressed by something.
Over the next few exchanges, although Xiaoxi could forcibly endure this uncomfortable feeling of suppression and trade blows with her opponent, she didn’t gain any advantage.
After fighting for about fifteen minutes without understanding what the other’s ability was, Xiaoxi still let the black-clad person seize an opportunity to escape.
How strange. Was there such a mysterious and troublesome person within the Divine Summon Order?
Xiaoxi didn’t force the chase further, preparing to turn back and meet up with Ye Xinglan.
Who would have thought that halfway there, she would run into the little rich girl, who looked extremely anxious.
“Xiaoxi! You’re okay, that’s great!” Ye Xinglan’s eyes lit up as she hugged her. “I called you so many times just now and you didn’t answer. I thought something had happened to you…”
Xiaoxi pulled out her phone and only then noticed over a dozen missed calls from Ye Xinglan.
Even the Astrologer’s communication had been cut off at some point.
Was this the ability of that person just now?
Recalling the feeling during the fight with the black-clad person, it wasn’t just the magic circuits in her body; even the magical energy diffused in the air seemed to have slowed down… Was that some kind of special magical barrier?
“You scared me to death. If something happened to you because of me, I’d never forgive myself…”
Ye Xinglan looked terrified, tightly gripping Xiaoxi’s arm and not letting go.
She circled Xiaoxi, checking her over several times before finally sighing in relief.
Xiaoxi also learned from Ye Xinglan what had happened on her end.
It turned out that not long after Xiaoxi took action, one of the tentacles Ye Xinglan had deployed discovered the figure of [Eternal Star].
She had originally intended to pull off a surprise ambush, but who knew she would be discovered.
And in Ye Xinglan’s own words, “That turtle’s grandson must have felt guilty when she saw me! She ran as soon as we met!”
Naturally, Ye Xinglan gave chase without a second thought.
But not long after, the two of them happened to run into a group of Magical Girls on night patrol.
Seeing this, that Eternal Star used space magic to escape.
Ye Xinglan pouted, muttering, “I was just a little bit away from catching her. When did that jerk learn space magic…”
Xiaoxi felt relieved internally. It seemed her guess was correct.
‘Almost catching her’ was probably just Ye Xinglan’s misconception.
If they hadn’t run into the reinforcements the Astrologer sent, that impostor would have definitely lured Ye Xinglan away to who knows where.
“But that trip just now at least confirmed one thing for me!”
“What?”
Ye Xinglan’s tone was mysterious.
Xiaoxi thought that after the encounter, Ye Xinglan had finally realized that Eternal Star was a fake.
After all, the Blood Moon Witch knew her so well.
“You suspected there might be an impostor, right? I confirmed it. That Eternal Star is definitely the real deal!”
Xiaoxi: “?”
Xiaoxi blinked. “You… are sure? You didn’t mistake her form or aura?”
“Of course! I, the dignified Blood Moon Witch, would never mistake that jerk!”
And so, Xiaoxi fell silent. If that person was Eternal Star, then who was she?
Xiaoxi hadn’t expected the Divine Summon Order’s disguise to be so masterful, actually capable of fooling Ye Xinglan.
It wasn’t that she cared about someone impersonating her, it was just… if Ye Xinglan had recognized the impostor herself, then Xiaoxi could have considered confessing her identity. But now, like this…