Chapter 5 : Abyssal Beast (2)

Mu Xi’s petite frame was swept along by the panicked crowd, like a fallen leaf tossed in a raging tide, stumbling this way and that.

“Ah… Don’t push me…”

Her feeble protest was instantly drowned out by the deafening wails and shoves all around.

The piercing air-raid siren shrieked like a dying beast, tearing at the city’s nerves and announcing with brutal clarity the arrival of disaster—Abyssal Beasts were attacking.

Everyone surged desperately toward the nearest Refuge Entrance, like sheep driven by an invisible whip.

Mu Xi could only drift with the current, pushed forward against her will.

She had once been the Magical Girl Crystal Orchid, hailed as the strongest, meant to stand on the very frontlines against catastrophe.

But after that rainy night, “Crystal Orchid” and her companions had long since perished together, leaving only an empty shell called Mu Xi behind.

She was terrified of transforming.

That Starforged Armament felt like a key to the gates of hell; she feared that if she donned it, the tainted self within would break free of its shackles and devour what little remained of “Mu Xi”.

At last, she squeezed through the crowd to the Refuge Entrance, but the line crept forward at a snail’s pace.

Suddenly, a horrifying, inhuman roar tore open the sky overhead!

People looked up in terror.

A monstrous beast, its form like a gigantic stag beetle, loomed above—its massive forelimbs, sheathed in thick Chitinous Exoskeleton, hammered down savagely on the city’s protective shield!

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

With every blow, the pale blue Energy Barrier quaked violently.

Web-like cracks spread out in an instant, filling the air with the groans of a structure buckling under unbearable strain.

Then came a shattering crash, as if ten thousand panes of glass exploded at once—the barrier broke apart completely!

An Abyssal-class Abyssal Beast had descended upon Red Sea City!

Its countless compound eyes gleamed with a cold, cruel light, greedily scanning the tiny figures fleeing below.

With a sudden snap, its enormous elytra unfolded, releasing a high-pitched buzz.

Despite its hulking bulk, the monster pivoted with shocking speed, swooping toward a new target—Binfen District!

Mu Xi’s heart was seized by a cold, giant hand!

That was where Yurou School was!

With trembling hands, she fumbled for her phone and quickly dialed her younger sister’s number.

“Du…du…du…”

No one answered!

She dialed again—still no answer!

Cold sweat instantly soaked her back.

She tried to reassure herself: Xiao Rou must already be in the refuge…

Maybe she lost her phone…

There are Magical Girls there; the evacuation should have finished long ago…

Who was she kidding!

That monster’s oppressive aura—by her experience as an Abyssal-Class Magical Girl—was absolutely top-tier Abyssal-class, maybe even one step from Howling-class!

That newly-appointed Magical Girl, Lily of the Valley?

Mu Xi had seen her battle footage—a hundred more like her wouldn’t hold off a single charge from that creature!

At least two seasoned Abyssal-class would be needed just to stand a chance at subjugation!

“Damn it! Answer the phone!”

Mu Xi’s voice trembled with sobs as she hit redial for the fifth time.

The only reply was the cold, busy tone.

Despair twisted around her like venomous vines.

No!

Mu Xi bit down hard, and her frail body erupted with astonishing strength!

She stopped moving with the flow and became a fish swimming against the current, forcing her way through the crowd, sprinting full tilt toward the direction of the Abyssal Beast—Binfen District!

Don’t die! Yurou! Please, you mustn’t die!

You’re all your sister has left!

That thought burned in her chest like a wildfire, driving her toward the area soon to become a living hell.

Meanwhile, above Binfen District.

Lily of the Valley, Dandelion, and four other Magical Girls hovered in the air, about five kilometers from the hulking monster.

A biting wind whipped at their skirts and hair.

“Block it here! Reinforcements are on the way—one Abyssal-class, three Blooming-class!”

The leading Blooming-class Captain barked the order, her voice distorted by the roaring wind.

Mu Yurou gripped her Magic Staff so tightly her knuckles turned white, staring up at the mountain-like horror looming above.

Heavens… How could such a monster be something Magical Girls can handle? Terror made her hands tremble around her Magic Staff.

At that moment, a warm hand settled firmly over hers.

Huang Xi’s golden hair danced in the wind, amber eyes filled not with fear but with pure trust and companionship.

“Don’t be afraid, I’m right here with you.”

“Mm!”

Mu Yurou drew a deep breath, forcing her panic down, and nodded firmly.

The monstrous insect radiating destruction drew closer and closer.

All six Magical Girls began channeling their magic!

Streams of light surged around them.

Countless tiny, fuzzy white lights lit up first beside Huang Xi, appearing like millions of Dandelion Seeds materializing out of thin air, swirling around her in a gentle dance.

She swept her delicate hand: “Go!”

The white lights surged toward the giant insect, striking its armored shell, but only sent a few sparks flying, scraping off a little debris—as if tickling an elephant.

Enraged, the Abyssal Beast let out an earth-shattering shriek.

Its massive mandibles opened wide, rows upon rows of razor teeth exposed, belching a foul wind as it lunged straight at the Magical Girls!

“Vmm—!”

From the tip of the Captain’s Magic Staff, a blindingly white Energy Beam, as thick as a barrel, erupted forth and slammed into the creature’s chest-abdomen joint!

A shrill hiss filled the air as the shell was instantly bored through, exposing twitching flesh and severed sinew!

Yet at the edge of that ghastly wound, pinkish flesh buds squirmed and wove together at a visible speed!

Regeneration filled the hole in moments—within a few breaths, the gaping wound was already mostly healed!

Worse, the monster’s tail swelled grotesquely, ballooning out like a massive sac, and with a wet “pop,” it sprayed countless sticky white Eggs!

The Eggs pelted down on the streets below, where evacuation was still incomplete!

“Crack…crack…”

Teeth-grinding crunches sounded one after another.

The Egg shells split open. From within burst innumerable, nightmarish Insect Monsters, each a full head taller than an Adult Male, encased in glossy black Chitinous Exoskeleton!

They swung their scythe-like Scythe Limbs, screeching shrilly as they lunged at citizens who had frozen or stumbled in panic!

Screams exploded across the streets!

“Damn!”

The Captain’s pupils shrank—she snapped her orders instantly.

“Lily of the Valley! Dandelion! Get down there! Protect the civilians! Take out the small monsters! We four will hold this thing off!”

“Yes!”

“Understood!”

The two of them became streaks of light, diving toward the street below, now a battlefield in chaos!

Below, hell was unfolding.

Crying, screaming, desperate howls—all tangled together.

People fled like headless flies, with three freshly-hatched, savage Insect Monsters hot on their heels, Scythe Limbs clattering against the asphalt with chilling “da-da” sounds.

A middle-aged man, shoved by the frantic crowd, stumbled and fell heavily!

Looking back in terror, he saw a monster raising its gleaming, scythe-like limb high, aiming straight for his head! Death rushed at him!

“Shoo—!”

A Starlight Spear, formed entirely from dazzling Starlight, tore through the air with a sharp whistle, striking like divine judgment! With a muffled “thud,” it pierced straight through the monster’s head! Foul green fluid and shattered shell sprayed everywhere!

A petite figure flashed by like the wind.

Mu Yurou grabbed the stunned man’s arm, yanking him up with urgent clarity: “Run!”

Awakening as if from a nightmare, the man scrambled for the nearest cover, half crawling, half running.

Mu Yurou quickly looked up, scanning the street across.

More Eggs were cracking open, black shapes surging out like a tidal wave.

Compound eyes glinted red as they shrieked and rushed their way—so many that her scalp prickled.

“Each one’s just Miao-class, but there’s so many…”

Mu Xi’s brows furrowed tightly, her gaze grave.

“Just small fry! Who cares how many!”

A clear shout came from above as Dandelion landed lightly by Mu Xi’s side, kicking up a puff of dust.

Her Magic Staff glimmered, and countless white Dandelion Seed-like lights glowed again, swirling around her like the Seed Zone of a planet, radiating warmth tinged with peril.

“Let’s go! I’ll cover you!”

Huang Xi’s eyes shone with fighting spirit.

“Mm!”

Mu Yurou nodded forcefully, body tilting forward, ready for battle.