On the bustling streets of Prosperous Street in Tongmen City.
Lu Yuan raised her hands in front of her chest, instinctively tugging at the collar of the casual jacket she had thrown on before heading out, as if that would grant her some semblance of safety.
The reason she kept her hands there wasn’t because she was wearing something revealing. On the contrary, she had already canceled her transformation, dressed in ordinary jeans and a hoodie, wrapped up snugly from head to toe, yet she still felt as if she was wearing nothing at all.
The memory of skin still lingered, as if the touch of Qing’s fingers remained—the light, teasing strokes, like she was still being touched by Qing’s… her…
“Ugh!!”
At the thought of Qing’s hands on her body, Lu Yuan’s cheeks flushed uncontrollably.
It wasn’t that she hadn’t touched those places herself before, but the difference between her own hands and someone else’s was immense.
“Damn it… pervert! Psycho! Don’t let me run into you again!” she hissed under her breath, her footsteps quickening as she just wanted to get home, bury herself under the covers, and forget everything.
***
Just then, her phone vibrated. The screen lit up with a message from Xiao Lin.
[Miss Lu Yuan, monitoring shows a C-level Disaster energy reaction at the plaza 300 meters southeast of your current location. The fluctuations are minor but confirmed. The nearest squad will arrive in 5 minutes. Are you available to confirm nearby? If inconvenient, please ignore and we will dispatch others.]
This type of message was usually broadcast to a group. Whenever a Disaster appeared, Headquarters would send alerts to all Magical Girls near the area to ensure the quickest possible eradication.
“Tch, what a nuisance.” Lu Yuan clicked her tongue irritably but her body had already instinctively turned toward the indicated direction.
She was a Magical Girl; this was her duty. Besides, it was only a C-level. Clearing it out wouldn’t take much time. And since she was already fuming, venting a little would be better than going home with a belly full of anger.
Lu Yuan put a Communicator on her ear and connected to Headquarters.
“Hello, this is Magical Girl Lu Yuan. I’ve received Headquarters’ message and am preparing to take on the C-level Disaster.”
“Received. I am Xiao Lin, the Headquarters operator. I will provide you with information throughout. Please stay safe.”
Since she wasn’t acting with the squad this time, the information relay fell temporarily to the operator Xiao Lin.
“Pleasure working with you,” Lu Yuan replied.
***
She quickly turned into a less crowded side street and found a concealed corner.
A few seconds later, a barely perceptible glimmer flashed, and Lu Yuan reappeared at the street corner, now wearing a black lace battle suit. The sleek black sniper rifle silently materialized in her hands.
She crouched low, moving swiftly as she tracked the coordinates from Headquarters.
“Miss Lu Yuan, the plaza is just ahead. Please be alert and locate the target,” Xiao Lin’s voice came through the Communicator.
“Understood,” Lu Yuan responded.
Soon, Lu Yuan locked onto the target near the edge of a small open-air plaza.
It was a slender humanoid Disaster wrapped in countless black bandages, its limbs ending in sharp hooked claws.
Lu Yuan took a deep breath and found a good vantage point to lie prone and observe the Disaster’s behavior.
Its aura was faint but strangely focused. Unlike other low-level Disasters that mindlessly wrecked everything, this one moved slowly as if searching for something.
The recent Disasters had all been odd… none were like the ones before that just knew how to kill and destroy. This one was no different, looking around the plaza as if it had a purpose.
As if… it had evolved.
Lu Yuan shook her head. That kind of thing was for the higher-ups at Headquarters to figure out. It wasn’t her concern. Her job was simply to deal with the Disaster.
***
“Target acquired: C-level ‘Stalker’. Commencing clearance,” Lu Yuan reported softly into the Communicator, raising her rifle to aim for a lethal shot.
“Received. Fire when ready,” Xiao Lin replied.
However, just as she pulled the trigger, the Disaster seemed to notice something and suddenly turned sharply toward an exit on the opposite side of the plaza.
There, a familiar black sedan had just stopped. The rear door opened, and a girl with pale cyan hair lowered her head, stepping out accompanied by her Agent.
Qing and Liu Zhe?
Lu Yuan recognized the two emerging from the car.
The Disaster let out a sharp, piercing shriek, completely ignoring Lu Yuan’s raised rifle behind it, transforming into a shadow and lunging at Qing with astonishing speed! The attack was not random—it was a precise, premeditated pounce!
“What?!” Lu Yuan’s pupils shrank as she instantly swung the rifle around.
“Bang!”
The bullet whistled out, striking the Disaster’s lower leg with deadly accuracy, piercing a hole that temporarily slowed its movement.
The Disaster, impeded, roared in fury but stubbornly tried to circle around Lu Yuan, eyes locked onto Qing, who still hadn’t realized the danger.
Lu Yuan’s heart jolted. She understood immediately!
This Disaster’s target had never been random destruction—it was Qing!
Why? Why would a Disaster single out an individual human like that?
Lu Yuan didn’t understand, but there was no time to figure it out now.
“Stop spacing out! Get out of the way!” Lu Yuan shouted, warning the terrified Liu Zhe and the still-dazed Qing, while dashing toward Qing’s side.
The sniper rifle shifted into a rifle as Lu Yuan advanced, firing continuously and forcing the Disaster back, unable to close in.
“Ugh!”
A bullet pierced right through the humanoid Disaster’s brow. It staggered, attempting to attack again, but after a few more precise shots from Lu Yuan, the monster howled and dissolved into a puddle of liquid.
The fight ended quickly. A C-level Disaster posed no real threat to Lu Yuan.
***
She put away her rifle, first making sure the Disaster Core was completely shattered, then hurried over to the limp Liu Zhe and the quietly standing Qing.
“Are you hurt?” Lu Yuan asked with concern, despite the fact that these two had just recently lied to and harassed her.
“No, no injuries,” Liu Zhe said, pale and trembling.
“Why would a Disaster specifically target you?” Lu Yuan asked Qing after confirming they were unharmed.
Qing shook her head, clearly confused as well.
At that moment, her Communicator buzzed again. This time, Xiao Lin’s tone was noticeably tense and bewildered.
“Miss Lu Yuan! The situation’s not good! Two more minor Disaster energy signals just appeared nearby. Their movement patterns show their targets are very specific.”
“Just like the one before, they seem to be coming straight for you! Headquarters advises you to stay put. Information on Disaster weaknesses and attack strategies has been sent to your phone! Support is en route—please be careful!”
Lu Yuan pulled out her phone and checked the message Xiao Lin had sent.
Not again? Two more? How many Disaster Containers had Rose buried in Tongmen City?
While Lu Yuan focused on her phone, the puddle of liquid left behind by the destroyed Disaster suddenly stirred subtly.
It slowly, silently moved toward Qing’s feet.
Qing glanced down at the small slime-like Disaster and beckoned to it.
The little slime saw Qing’s gesture and, like a well-behaved child obeying its mother, leapt up and attached itself to Qing’s leg, gradually merging with her.
Having done this, Qing looked around. No one noticed her small movement.
A faint smile curved the corner of her lips as she let out a soft laugh.