Tongmen City Ring Express Railway, inside a certain carriage
The train sped along, the city lights outside stretching into streaks of flowing light.
Inside the carriage, the lights were bright, passengers either looking down at their phones or resting with their eyes closed, creating an atmosphere of a calm journey.
Tian Aixing sat alone by the window, her body leaning slightly against the glass.
Her eyes were closed, long lashes fluttering as her pupils darted rapidly—she was in a state of intense concentration.
She hadn’t transformed, as her ability was somewhat special—information-based, allowing her to use it without Transformation.
In fact, not transforming was the optimal choice in this situation, letting her blend inconspicuously into the crowd for reconnaissance.
In a vision imperceptible to normal people, countless Ming Snakes weaved through a distant amusement park.
Her intangible senses, like a delicate web, scanned the amusement park repeatedly, trying to cut through the interference to lock onto Rose and Si An’s location.
The interference was too strong, like a thick fog blocking Tian Aixing’s vision… she needed to focus even more…
She immersed all her mind and spirit into this distant reconnaissance, minimizing her awareness of the physical environment around her.
***
A figure cautiously walked along the aisle.
It was a young woman dressed very plainly, but her hair was dyed in exaggerated streaks of color, chewing gum with a somewhat distracted gaze.
This artistic style clashed with her roguish aura, making her even more conspicuous.
She was A Li—or rather, the Disaster Knight.
She casually approached Tian Aixing’s seat.
“Is it her…?” she whispered, pulling out her phone to glance at the photo Rose had sent her.
The photo showed a woman with dark circles under her eyes. A Li quickly compared it a few times and confirmed she was the person Rose wanted her to find.
To be honest, she wasn’t really brave enough to kill on command, but if this magical girl named Tian Aixing didn’t die, she would be the one to die. She had no choice but to do this.
A Li flicked her wrist, and an inconspicuous glass vial containing black viscous liquid appeared in her hand.
Without hesitation, her fingers clenched tightly.
“Crack!”
The glass shattered instantly!
The black viscous substance, as if alive, suddenly expanded upon contact with air, rapidly spreading up A Li’s arm.
“Ugh—!” A Li let out a short, suppressed groan, whether from pain or excitement, no one could tell.
The black substance instantly covered her entire body, forming a streamlined bio-organic armor.
Sharp protrusions sprang at her joints, her fingers transformed into claws, and a smooth V-shaped faceplate covered her face.
The Disaster Knight had appeared.
This sudden, terrifying transformation happened in the blink of an eye.
The surrounding passengers hadn’t even reacted in time—they only saw a person suddenly engulfed by strange black matter, transforming into a monster!
***
A strong sense of danger and evil aura finally snapped Tian Aixing out of her deep scan.
She snapped open her eyes, and before her was a black claw already transformed, radiating sharp killing intent as it lunged straight at her!
“What?!” Tian Aixing’s pupils constricted sharply.
Extremely shocked, her instincts honed from long training saved her life.
She had no time to think or transform—reflexively, she threw her body sideways to dodge.
The claw slammed heavily into the backrest of the seat.
The backrest shattered on impact, shards scattering like broken glass, but A Li’s entire hand was trapped.
Still unfamiliar with the full power of the Disaster ability, this slight obstruction bought Tian Aixing some precious time to assess the situation.
Someone had ambushed her! And she hadn’t detected it?!
***
Seeing the first strike failed, A Li immediately followed with a punch.
But Tian Aixing had enough reaction time now.
She raised the silver-white suitcase, placing it between her body and A Li’s fist.
The suitcase was clearly made of an extraordinary material—it blocked the Disaster Knight’s attack firmly, without a trace of shattering.
Though Tian Aixing absorbed the lethal blow, the tremendous impact still violently hit her body.
“Cough!” Tian Aixing felt as if her chest had been struck by a heavy hammer, her whole body flung backwards by the force.
“Clang—boom!”
She slammed hard against the sturdy inner wall of the carriage, the loud noise even denting the paneling.
For a moment, time seemed to freeze.
Embedded in the high-speed train carriage, Tian Aixing’s head buzzed painfully.
The Disaster Knight didn’t stop her assault.
Her fist struck again hard on Tian Aixing’s suitcase!
“Snikt!”
Her power forcibly shattered the window of the speeding train!
Glass instantly exploded! The fierce wind rushed into the carriage!
Amid the terrified screams of passengers, Tian Aixing’s figure flew out of the train like a severed kite!
***
But at this critical moment, Tian Aixing endured the intense pain and dizziness, swinging out her right hand to throw a grappling hook.
It latched precisely onto the edge of the train roof.
Her body swung dangerously in midair before she managed a difficult flip and staggered onto the speeding train’s rooftop.
The fierce wind swept over her, making it hard to stand steadily.
The roof trembled violently beneath her feet.
Almost the instant she landed, the black figure agilely vaulted out of the shattered window, landing steadily at the other end of the roof.
The black faceplate gleamed coldly under the shifting city lights.
The two faced each other across the long roof, the raging wind whipping around them.
***
Tian Aixing clutched her aching chest, breathing heavily, a trace of blood at the corner of her mouth.
Her Communicator had been damaged and lost during the collision, leaving only the roaring wind and train’s hum in her ears.
She was completely isolated on this high-speed battlefield.
And her opponent clearly wouldn’t give her a chance to catch her breath.
Beneath the Disaster Knight’s faceplate, her eyes were cruel and mocking.
She slowly raised her claws, pointing at Tian Aixing and making a provocative gesture.
The howling wind tousled Tian Aixing’s slightly messy hair.
The carriage beneath her feet shook continuously as the train raced forward.
She clutched her still-throbbing chest and quickly scanned the rapidly passing scenery on both sides.
Jumping off? At this speed, it was pure fantasy.
***
The Disaster Knight, fully transformed, seemed very satisfied with the current situation.
She didn’t immediately attack but flexed the black armor around her neck, producing sharp “click” sounds.
A Li looked down at the brightly lit carriage below, a triumphant voice echoing through the faceplate.
“Heh heh heh… Magical Girl, it looks like you’re in quite a bad spot, huh?”
A Li said, “The Tongmen City Ring Express runs at 250 kilometers per hour.
“At this speed, no magical girl could come to your aid.”
***
“Tch.” Tian Aixing wiped the blood from her mouth and dropped to one knee, still holding the suitcase.
“Who sent you? Rose and the others?”
“Does that matter?” Mentioning Rose caused A Li to lose a bit of composure.
“What matters is that I can kill you anytime right now.”
She raised a claw and casually pointed at the floor beneath them.
“How many people are on this train…? Hundreds? Thousands? All ordinary civilians.”
She stepped forward, the scrape of her metal boots against the roof like nails on a chalkboard, malice thick in her tone.
“Tell me, if I just punched a hole through this roof right now or knocked you flying into the carriage below… how many would die?
“You so-called righteous magical girls—could you just stand by and watch them die because of you?”
She spread her hands, as if displaying a perfect masterpiece.
“Now, what can you do? Surrender obediently? Or gamble that you can move faster than I can tear through this tin can?”
A Li basked in the thrill of total control, believing she held the ultimate trump card.
Using innocent lives as leverage intoxicated her, blinding her to Tian Aixing’s next move.
***
Tian Aixing slowly straightened, lowering the hand from her chest.
The panic on her face faded, replaced by an extreme calmness.
The wind carried her words clearly across to her opponent:
“Rose sent only you to deal with me?”
She took a deep breath—not from fear, but like a beast gathering strength before the strike.
A Li froze.
This magical girl wasn’t begging for mercy as she had imagined.
Tian Aixing produced a Transformation Crystal.
“Well, I really was underestimated.”