“Intelligence reports say there are enemy accomplices inside this warehouse. Everyone, be careful!” Kong Ling said.
After Bai Lingluo left, Kong Ling took her place.
“I’ll scout ahead first!” Lin Shuqing flew to the top of the warehouse and quickly disappeared from sight.
“I’ll go too. My ability should be useful; I’ll check inside the warehouse,” Ye Liu said as she activated her Invisibility Ability and slipped inside.
Xiao Si also left the group. She said, “I’ll find a high ground to set up a fire support point. Li Jing will come with me to protect me.”
“Well… everyone has their own plans. Let’s do it that way then. We’ll decide on the next step after Ye Liu comes back,” Kong Ling said helplessly.
Soon, the sound of fighting came from inside the warehouse.
“It’s Ye Liu fighting something. Let’s go support her!” Lin Xing hurried back from the warehouse entrance.
She had been curious and approached the warehouse, but the sound of battle startled her.
The group pushed open the doors and entered deep into the warehouse.
On a patch of open ground, there were clear signs of a fight. Ye Liu lay unconscious on the ground.
“Who did this?”
Kong Ling quickly moved forward to help Ye Liu, checking her vital signs.
Fortunately, Ye Liu was only unconscious.
There were many bruises on her body—likely from close combat with the enemy. This fit Ye Liu’s fighting style perfectly.
It seemed the Shengli Group’s combat uniforms didn’t offer much protection against hand-to-hand combat.
“Everyone, be on alert! The enemy is likely hiding in the shadows!”
“Wait.” Chen Lisi sensed something was wrong.
“Where did Lin Shuqing go?”
Before anyone could react, a milky white gas seeped out from the ventilation ducts, quickly filling the space.
“Careful, this gas is—” Kong Ling didn’t finish before she collapsed.
One by one, the others also lost consciousness.
Only one person remained standing.
Miao Ke’er stood alone among the unconscious girls, wearing a pre-prepared gas mask.
“Sorry, Kong Ling…” she whispered.
She lifted her head.
Lin Shuqing watched everything unfold from above.
“You go support the Silver Knight; I’ll handle this here.”
“Okay.”
The milky gas quickly dissipated, and the environment returned to normal.
Miao Ke’er approached Kong Ling gently, stroking her tenderly with reluctance. She took off her mask and softly kissed Kong Ling’s forehead.
“This is enough… Kong Ling, we’ll meet again someday.”
Miao Ke’er set Kong Ling down and moved toward her mission target—Lin Xing.
Her task was to take Lin Xing away.
When she lifted Lin Xing in her arms, she sensed the lurking hunter-type beast’s aura ready to strike from the shadows. She quickly put Lin Xing down, leapt away from the unconscious girls, and flew into the air.
A sharp red dagger stabbed at her from behind. Luckily, Miao Ke’er’s Silver Knight appeared just in time, raising its shield to block Ying Xian’s attack.
Ying Xian swiftly changed position, using momentum to leap up and threw her dagger down at Miao Ke’er from above.
Miao Ke’er turned and caught the dagger thrown at her. She forcefully threw it back, and the dagger pierced the ceiling.
Without a doubt, Ying Xian’s strike had intended to kill her.
“Miao Ke’er, aren’t you afraid of me?” Ying Xian sneered as she pulled her red dagger out from the ceiling.
“I’m no longer afraid. I’ve made my choice. There’s nothing left to fear,” Miao Ke’er said firmly.
“Then come. Let’s finish our unfinished battle.”
Ying Xian’s figure flashed as she sped toward Miao Ke’er. Miao Ke’er extended her hand, summoning numerous Puppet Soldiers along Ying Xian’s attack path to slow her down.
Faced with the Puppet Soldiers, Ying Xian decided to flank. She sped up and bypassed Miao Ke’er’s defenses to strike from the side.
The sneak attack failed; the Silver Knight’s defense was impeccable.
With its other hand, the knight raised a great sword and unleashed a Magical Slash. Ying Xian was struck and slammed heavily to the ground.
“Ying Xian, don’t you want to ask why I’m doing this?” Miao Ke’er asked as Ying Xian struggled to get up.
Ying Xian looked unhurt; the Shengli Group’s combat uniform provided excellent cushioning.
“What’s there to say? Since you chose to oppose us, you must be prepared to fight to the death… Combat Form, Power Release!”
Ying Xian unleashed her full power.
“Fighting here will affect the unconscious…” Miao Ke’er had no choice but to fly out of the warehouse, waiting for Ying Xian to follow.
She was faster than expected. The red dagger pierced through the shield, breaking it.
As Ying Xian tore apart the Silver Knight, Miao Ke’er saw Ying Xian’s fierce expression… but she felt no fear, only a lightness in body and mind.
“Combat Form, Power Release…”
Miao Ke’er summoned another Silver Knight, but this time she merged with it, donning silver armor and wielding a longsword.
“Come fight me, Ying Xian.”
***
One year ago.
When Miao Ke’er pushed the rubble off her body and stood among the ruins, Ying Xian fought off the approaching beasts for her.
“Why did you save me…?”
Ying Xian said nothing and fought silently.
“I’m sorry, sister in black clothes, I’m not a magical girl yet. I can’t help you…”
After Ying Xian eliminated all the beasts nearby, she returned to Miao Ke’er’s side.
Her body was covered in wounds, but she showed no sign of fatigue.
“It’s nothing. It’s what I should do.”
Ying Xian prepared to leave.
“Wait, sister, may I ask your name?”
“My name isn’t important. You can call me Ying Xian. I’m a B-Class Magical Girl.”
“Ying Xian, you’re amazing! I’m Miao Ke’er. Um… don’t find this strange; you probably haven’t heard this name much. My parents wanted me to be a cute girl.”
“Hmm, that surname is indeed rare.”
Seeing Ying Xian struggle to move on her injured legs, Miao Ke’er felt heartbroken.
“Ying Xian, you’re so badly hurt. Please rest a bit.”
“No, I still have a mission to finish.”
Ying Xian struggled to fly up, turning back to say, “Someone will come to rescue you later. I’ve cleared the beasts nearby. You stay here; I’m going to save others.”
With that, Ying Xian flew toward the sky.
“Magical girls… are amazing. I want to become a magical girl like her.”
When Miao Ke’er’s heart was about to awaken, a mirror appeared before her.
In the mirror was a cute girl with a body similar to her original size—pink short hair naturally hanging down, red pupils half-opened, wearing an elegant white dress like a sleepy doll.
A staff member said, “You’ll live in this body from now on. Changing back to your original body won’t coordinate well with this stronger one.”
“I understand.”
Miao Ke’er stood long before the mirror, admiring her strong yet adorable body.
“Great! I’ve also become a magical girl!”
“I’ll protect everyone!”
“Is that Ying Xian? She’s with another girl… Should I go say hi?”
Miao Ke’er watched two girls talking behind the door.
After hesitating for a long time, she pushed the door open.
“Ying Xian, hello!”
Ying Xian looked confused. “Who are you?”
“I’m Miao Ke’er. I’ve become a magical girl!”
Miao Ke’er happily showed her new self to Ying Xian.
“Wow! Miao Ke’er, you’re so cute! I’m Kong Ling, nice to meet you!”
Kong Ling hopped over and took Miao Ke’er’s hand.
Ying Xian wasn’t surprised by Miao Ke’er’s new body.
“Miao Ke’er, becoming a magical girl isn’t just about wanting to be one. Many give up halfway—can you face those terrifying monsters alone?”
“Can you stay calm in crisis and make the right decisions? Can you, like a soldier, sacrifice yourself when necessary? Being a magical girl means having power and responsibility.”
Miao Ke’er was speechless facing Ying Xian’s questions.
“Hey hey hey, Ying Xian, how can you treat our new member like that! Miao Ke’er is an A-Class Magical Girl. A-Class Magical Girls are very strong.”
“That’s different, Kong Ling. Having power but not knowing how to use it only causes chaos. Every magical girl should understand that.”
“Sigh, Ying Xian, you always get serious at times like this. I can’t deal with you. Miao Ke’er, don’t mind Ying Xian’s words.”
“Magical girls should shout cute and righteous slogans, defeat evil, and have a kind heart. That’s enough. Don’t worry too much.”
“Here, I’ll give you the Magic Girl Experience Code. As long as you don’t violate these rules, you’re free.”
Miao Ke’er took the Code.
“I think Ying Xian’s right.”
She looked at Ying Xian.
“I’ll study hard to become a qualified magical girl! Ying Xian, I want to learn from you!”
“In battle, pay attention to your surroundings. Avoid narrow, dark places and watch for enemy ambushes. The sky is usually safest, but be wary of hunter-type beasts’ magical cannons.”
“Understood!”
“Next, I’ll personally show you how to dodge enemy magical cannons.”
“Ying Xian, you’re already an A-Class Magical Girl! You’re so much stronger than me. I haven’t even fully mastered my special ability yet.”
“Miao Ke’er, in a great team there is no strong or weak—everyone complements each other. You must understand that.”
“So, Ying Xian means I’m important too?”
“Exactly. You hold off a lot of small fry beasts, covering my operations.”
“Thanks for valuing me, Ying Xian! I’ll keep working hard!”
Miao Ke’er silently vowed to become as excellent a magical girl as Ying Xian.
“Ying Xian, why do you torment those defenseless beasts? You could have wiped them out all at once.”
“Just for fun. The beasts invaded our home and killed countless people. I’m just making them pay.”
“That’s too cruel. Maybe they were forced to invade…”
“Miao Ke’er, you’re too kind, too naive. There are many villains who do evil without reason. Killing them isn’t enough. We must make them suffer endless torment until they die exhausted. That’s true justice.”
Miao Ke’er raised her Magical Rod, destroying the beasts dying on the wall.
“That’s not justice…”
“Ah! Why are these people blocking our way?”
“Miao Ke’er, they’re just a bunch of rioters. Soon someone will clear them out and restore order.”
“But they look so pitiful. They seem to have many unmet demands.”
“Their demands are unreasonable. Don’t look at them or listen to what they say.”
“But…” Miao Ke’er turned away.
“They remind me of my parents…” she whispered. Ying Xian didn’t hear.
“Those firefighters are so pitiful. I heard several were burned to death…”
After the operation, they stood before the burning ruins.
“Yes, but it’s their duty—just like ours. Fighting beasts is our responsibility. Sacrifice is normal. I’ve seen too many deaths over twenty years. One or two deaths are just a small statistic.”
Kong Ling suddenly appeared.
“What are you two talking about?”
Miao Ke’er answered softly, “Nothing…”
During a brief encounter between the two, memories flashed by like a revolving lantern.
Miao Ke’er blocked Ying Xian’s slash with her sword; their weapons locked midair.
“Ying Xian, I’m sorry to you too…”
Ying Xian sneered, “Coward. Don’t dare to take responsibility for what you’ve done?”
The swords separated and clashed again.
“No, it’s not like that…”
Sparks flew, light flashing.
“Then why betray us!?”
Ying Xian accelerated her slashes, making it harder for Miao Ke’er to keep up.
“My world is different from yours, Ying Xian!”
Ying Xian’s relentless attacks revealed her weakness. Miao Ke’er seized the opportunity and struck, knocking Ying Xian out of the sky.
“I have my own justice!”
Ying Xian bounced a few times on the ground, regaining balance.
“So… Miao Ke’er, you’ve grown. Since you’ve chosen your path, see it through without regret.”
Ying Xian smiled, noticed by Miao Ke’er.
“Foolish Miao Ke’er.”
Miao Ke’er smiled back.
“Thank you, Ying Xian. I won’t disappoint you!”
The two clashed fiercely again.
“From behind!?” surprise flashed across Ying Xian’s face.
Miao Ke’er’s Puppet Soldiers seized Ying Xian, restricting her movements. Ying Xian struggled, but more Puppet Soldiers grabbed her limbs, immobilizing her.
“When did you learn such excellent combat skills?”
“I’ve been training my abilities to fight you, Ying Xian. I finally defeated you!”
She picked up the red dagger dropped on the ground and put it away.
“Consider this a memento from Ying Xian!”
The battle ended with Miao Ke’er’s victory.
She had conquered the Ying Xian she once feared—and her own inner demons.
“Miao Ke’er, do you know you’ve committed a crime punishable by death?” Ying Xian said sternly, restrained by the Puppet Soldiers.
Miao Ke’er, turning her back, said, “I know, but I don’t regret it. I think my parents would understand.”
“That’s good. Just one piece of advice, Miao Ke’er—don’t go seeking death, okay? If you die, Kong Ling will be heartbroken. I can’t bear to see her cry.”
“I understand.”
“Then run!”
Miao Ke’er knocked Ying Xian unconscious.
She returned to the warehouse, picked up Lin Xing again, and walked into the darkness.
“Ying Xian, I hope we never meet again on the battlefield…”
“And please, protect Kong Ling well!”
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