“If you really don’t know what to do, just listen to me. After I knock you down tomorrow and you go crying to your sister for a hug, it’ll definitely bring you two closer together.”
Having tossed her sister, now properly dealt with, back onto the bed, Luo Shuangyue said this to the dumbfounded Crimson Core.
Crimson Core’s expression stiffened at these words. “You want me to deliberately lose to you?”
The fight hasn’t even started yet, and you’re already so confident giving me advice on what to do after I fail? Show me some respect, will you?
I’m still a genius of the Magic Department, after all!
“Why would I think that? Do you think I’d need you to throw the match for me to beat you?” Luo Shuangyue gave a baffled look, as if she truly didn’t understand where Crimson Core was coming from.
Crimson Core realized Luo Shuangyue wasn’t bluffing—she really believed she would win.
Damn it, that was infuriating!
“You… I won’t lose!”
“Mm-hmm, then you better do your best. Give it your all but still lose to the Big Demon King—that way, your defeat will feel even more heroic.”
Wow, she really looked down on me that much! Crimson Core was furious and suddenly wanted to spar with Luo Shuangyue right now to show her how powerful she was.
“Lord Dark Moth sure is confident,” someone murmured.
“It’s not confidence,” Luo Shuangyue replied, pointing at Xia Mo. “What do you think of Rosemary’s strength?”
Crimson Core’s gaze landed on Xia Mo. Having fought her before, she knew Xia Mo’s level well.
Among Initial Bloom-class Magical Girls, Xia Mo ranked quite high. Even Crimson Core had to use her full strength to defeat her.
Given more time, Xia Mo might even surpass her.
So why was Lord Dark Moth bringing up this question? Was she trying to prove her point by using Rosemary’s strength?
After Crimson Core honestly expressed her opinion, Luo Shuangyue cleared her throat proudly and began recounting Xia Mo’s impressive battle record.
“On our side, Rosemary and I are old rivals. We’ve fought nearly ten times, and she’s never won once. Every time, I quickly cut her down.”
To put it more plainly, there was no skill gap between Xia Mo and Crimson Core, but there was a clear gap between Luo Shuangyue and Xia Mo.
So how could Luo Shuangyue possibly lose to Crimson Core?
“So, Crimson Core, just stay calm. Losing to me is no shame—there aren’t many Initial Bloom-class girls on the Lunar Base who can beat me.”
Luo Shuangyue wasn’t claiming to be invincible. After all, there were veteran Initial Bloom-class Mentors at the Lunar Base whose strength and battle experience far exceeded the newcomers.
Against them, she couldn’t guarantee a hundred percent victory.
“Is that so? Then we’ll see tomorrow!” Crimson Core’s competitive spirit was ignited by Luo Shuangyue’s words.
She vowed to face her at her very best.
Time passed quickly until evening the next day.
After a day of training, the Magical Girls didn’t return to the base to rest but instead arrived in small groups outside Training Field No. 1.
The news that the Magic Department’s girls would spar against the recently famous Lord Dark Moth had spread throughout the Lunar Base yesterday, adding some excitement to their otherwise dull cosmic lives.
With a good show coming up, everyone naturally came to watch.
Whether the Magic Department defeated Dark Moth to hold the throne or Dark Moth toppled them to prove her strength, it would be entertaining.
Because the battle took place in space, Training Field No. 1 was enormous—so vast that even from the edge, spectators couldn’t see the fighters in the center.
Many Magical Girls moved further in, seeking better vantage points.
The area was big enough; they could easily slip away after the fight started.
“Isn’t that Crimson Core from the Magic Department? Didn’t expect her to be the first to fight!”
“Didn’t you hear? Dark Moth arrogantly said yesterday that she wanted all the Headquarters Magical Girls to fight together, but after some negotiation, she relented.”
“Wow, Dark Moth’s confidence is crazy. The Headquarters girls aren’t easy to mess with.”
The Magical Girls whispered excitedly, but among them, three wore expressions completely different from the others.
Luo Shuangxing looked bored as she watched the two in the training center face off, quietly estimating how many moves her good sister would need to take down Crimson Core.
“Ten moves should be enough, right?” she muttered softly.
Hearing this, Xia Mo’s expression stiffened. Ten moves? That definitely wasn’t enough.
She herself had lasted more than ten moves against Luo Shuangyue before succumbing.
Since Crimson Core was stronger, she certainly shouldn’t last fewer moves.
Meanwhile, the other girl’s younger sister clenched her fists tightly.
After more than ten seconds of intense internal struggle, Frost Moon retorted in a dry voice, “Sister is really strong!”
Hearing others praise her sister made her feel insecure and unhappy, but when others belittled her sister, she couldn’t help but defend her.
Frost Moon was such a conflicted child.
Luo Shuangxing gave a mischievous smirk and draped her arm around Frost Moon’s shoulder. “How about a bet?”
“Eh?”
“If Dark Moth defeats your sister within ten moves, you’ll go comfort your losing sister.”
“And if my sister wins?” Frost Moon, stirred by Luo Shuangxing’s condescending tone, glared at the white-haired girl, asking with dissatisfaction.
If my sister loses, I comfort her. But if she wins? There should be punishment on both sides, right?
“If your sister wins, I’ll fly up and call Dark Moth a little trash fish,” Luo Shuangxing answered casually. “Fair enough?”
Fair…?
Though the punishments seemed even, Frost Moon sensed something was off.
But after thinking carefully, the punishments did seem equal after all…
“Okay!”
She nodded and accepted Luo Shuangxing’s bet.
Then Luo Shuangxing shouted towards Luo Shuangyue in the arena, “Dark Moth! Can you finish Crimson Core in ten moves? I believe in you!”
At that moment, Frost Moon finally understood what felt off.
Wait, what kind of relationship do Luo Shuangxing and Luo Shuangyue have?
Those two sisters would normally just fight if their emotions flared up.
Calling each other “trash fish” was no different from a childish tantrum.
But what about my relationship with my sister? These punishments aren’t equal at all!
But since she’d already agreed, all she could do was sincerely hope her sister wouldn’t lose too badly.
Hearing her sister’s voice, Luo Shuangyue sighed with mock helplessness, “Looks like I can’t hold back anymore.”
Crimson Core’s frustration deepened upon hearing this. So you weren’t planning to go all out before?
And you really intend to defeat me within ten moves?
You’re seriously underestimating me!
“Sister, good luck! Don’t lose to her!”
The voice from afar made the annoyed Crimson Core pause.
She looked up toward the sound and saw Frost Moon blushing as she waved her fists.
My sister… cheering me on?
It might have been the first time in a long time her sister spoke to her like this.
She was a bit dazed but quickly steadied herself. Bearing her sister’s hopes, she could not lose!
Xia Die, let me show you just how strong I can be when I have my sister’s support!
The fighting spirit burst forth from Crimson Core so fiercely that even Luo Shuangyue standing opposite frowned.
“Geez, already going into Soul-State?” Luo Shuangyue felt a bit out of place.
“You Magical Girls and your Soul-State… can’t you hold back on that?”
It was embarrassing.
And you go into Soul-State just from a little encouragement from your sister? Ultimate sister-complex much?
Why can’t I do stuff like that? Luo Shuangyue thought to herself.
She recalled Luo Shuangxing’s earlier words, but they didn’t give her even a bit of strength.
Sigh, guess I’m not a sister-complex type.
“Getting stronger, huh? Fine, let me enjoy this fight.” Black mist coalesced into a giant Scythe in her hand, Butterfly Wings unfurling behind Luo Shuangyue.
This fight, she would give her all… probably.
The Magic Department’s Magical Girls now pushed back the crowd to avoid interference.
A water-blue Magical Girl glanced at the time, then raised her hand high.
“Ten, nine… one! Begin!”
The two launched instantly.
Crimson Core’s Flower Cannon fired toward Luo Shuangyue but hit only empty space.
Next moment, countless butterflies gathered behind Crimson Core, and Luo Shuangyue mercilessly launched a sneak attack.
So fast! How did she do that? Crimson Core was startled by the blink of movement but reacted just in time, using her Flower Cannon to block the strike.
Clang!
The Scythe struck the cannon, sending Crimson Core flying.
The first strike failed, so Luo Shuangyue vanished into butterflies again, teleporting behind Crimson Core to strike with almost the same attack.
Crimson Core was ready; she formed a solid Magic Shield from her fiery Magic Power to block the attack.
Though successful in protecting herself from Luo Shuangyue’s storm of attacks, it left little energy for counterattacks.
“So fast! Does her teleportation not consume Magic Power?” The watching Magical Girls were dumbfounded.
Luo Shuangyue’s tactics defied everything they expected.
Such speed and ghost-like movement challenged their understanding.
Who else could teleport this frequently?
Not only was Crimson Core unable to grab Luo Shuangyue’s clothes, even if they all attacked together, they might not catch the agile Dark Moth.
“This is bad. Crimson Core is definitely going to lose.”
“Dark Moth is terrifying. Crimson Core has no way to fight back?”
The crowd believed Crimson Core was doomed.
But her situation was even more serious than they imagined.
She was, like Xia Mo, a cannon-type Magical Girl, while Luo Shuangyue was a close-combat assassin type—her perfect counter.
Cannons needed distance and safety to unleash their full power.
But before Luo Shuangyue’s blistering speed, such a safe environment didn’t exist.
From the start, Crimson Core was overwhelmed, unable to retaliate.
As for counterattacking… how?
Crimson Core couldn’t lock onto Luo Shuangyue’s position.
Though she could sense her shield being relentlessly attacked, the real Luo Shuangyue’s location was impossible to pinpoint.
To her, Luo Shuangyue appeared as afterimages, and the real one could be anywhere.
“Impressive. No wonder she’s so confident she can beat me.”
Crimson Core supported her trembling shield, sighing inwardly.
No doubt, she had already lost.
Luo Shuangyue’s power countered her too heavily. Facing an opponent like this, victory was impossible.
Just as she thought the fight would end this way, Luo Shuangyue’s storm of attacks suddenly ceased.
The butterflies gathered in front of her, and Luo Shuangyue, wielding her giant Scythe, leapt out of the void.
“This is too boring, isn’t it?”
“Huh?” Crimson Core pointed her cannon at Luo Shuangyue, confusion written all over her face.
But she didn’t fire. She wanted to hear what Luo Shuangyue had to say.
Since Luo Shuangyue stopped attacking on her own, firing now would be unsportsmanlike.
They weren’t mortal enemies. This was just a spar, no need to lose face just to win.
“My abilities are a bit too countering for cannon-types like you,” Luo Shuangyue shrugged and stated the obvious.
Having mastered Magic Ocean Stealth, distance was almost meaningless to her, especially in Magical Girl internal battles.
These Initial Bloom-class girls simply couldn’t stop her stealth approach.
Once she got close, the destruction she could unleash was huge.
Even a Magic Department genius like Crimson Core could only be defeated utterly by her.
But this made things dull for Luo Shuangyue.
“Come on, use your strongest move. Let’s clash head-on!”
She beckoned to Crimson Core with a finger.
First, show how easily she could beat Crimson Core, then voluntarily stop attacking, inviting Crimson Core to finish with her ultimate move.
Luo Shuangyue thought this was truly noble!