“Are you trying to get yourself killed?!”
A tidal wave of magical energy exploded through the room, launching the bed, blankets, electronics, and glass into the air like shrapnel.
The chaos resembled a full-on detonation.
At the very center of the storm stood Ellera.
Calm and composed, she raised her right hand.
A flash of orange light flared.
Three Realms, Ten Directions.
That was all.
A magical girl’s full-force blast, poured out with everything she had, was instantly neutralized and compressed into a small, floating triangular crystal in Ellera’s palm.
By now, Zhou Xi had already donned her spirit armor, standing protectively in front of Luo Zining.
Her palms were slick with sweat as she stared at the woman who had effortlessly thwarted her sneak attack.
She’s terrifying—absurdly powerful.
“Little Red, wake up!”
“Mm… huh?”
Luo Zining blinked groggily, the tension in the air sharpening her blurry gaze into clarity.
“Zhou Xi-senpai? Are you okay?!”
“Transform now! We have to force a breakout!”
That was what she said, but in truth, Zhou Xi didn’t believe they had a real chance of escaping unscathed.
Ellera, now recognizing Zhou Xi’s outfit, dispelled the orange crystal and commented casually, “No wonder you’re so striking—it’s because you’re a magical girl. How did you find me… ah, of course. A locator device.”
She mentally scolded herself—she hadn’t hunted in years and had completely forgotten to remove a target’s locator before capturing them.
Still, this worked out perfectly.
She had been agonizing over how to return the troublesome Luo Zining, and now the Magical Alliance had come knocking.
Might as well hand her over and wash her hands clean.
“Ellera!!”
Zhou Xi’s voice trembled with fury.
“Do you remember me?!”
“Do we know each other?”
Ellera tilted her head.
“You once humiliated me so badly I’d recognize you even if you turned to ash.”
So it was one of the magical girls she’d toyed with before.
Let me think…
Ellera squinted at Zhou Xi’s face.
It did feel oddly familiar.
But even after several seconds of hard thinking, she still couldn’t place her.
“Uh… sorry, I’ve played with so many magical girls over the years, I really can’t remember. But I do have a vague impression of you… Wait, give me a few more minutes, I might recall!”
Her forced contemplation only stoked Zhou Xi’s rage.
Zhou Xi had been hoping to stall for time to recover her mana, but now she was ready to explode.
“Seven years ago! The western shore of Xixue River!”
“…Oh!”
A spark of memory flashed across Ellera’s face as realization dawned.
“Right, right! You were the one who fainted and wet yourself from fright, weren’t you?”
“You—!”
Zhou Xi flushed red with anger, her blood practically boiling.
“Zhou Xi-senpai?!”
Behind her, Luo Zining stood stunned.
Who would have thought this seemingly reliable, steady senior had that kind of past…
Wait, should I even be hearing this?
I’ve just heard my senior’s entire black history! What if she holds a grudge later?
Zhou Xi was now burning with humiliation and wrath. She sneered coldly.
“I can’t believe you actually forgot everything and treated me like some woman you could throw money at for a good time. You’re unbelievable, El! Re! La!”
Ellera looked a little awkward.
True, that part was on her.
But wasn’t Zhou Xi also partially at fault?
“I asked if you were in a… special line of work, and you said yes?”
“I’m a magical girl. Isn’t that special enough?”
“…You’ve got a point.”
Ellera had no comeback.
Fine, it was her fault.
Very well, then!
Since you came to me, don’t blame me for taking full advantage!
Now that she knew Zhou Xi was a magical girl, Ellera’s gaze changed again—predatory, dangerous.
A smirk curved her lips.
“Then, as an apology for forgetting you, why don’t we reconnect physically~? That might help jog my memory~”
Zhou Xi laughed in fury.
“If you forgot me so thoroughly, then I’ll carve myself into your memory with strength! So deep you’ll even dream about me!”
Flashes of magic lit up the room like dozens of flashbangs.
A fierce battle erupted.
Luo Zining desperately wanted to escape.
Wait! What’s with this situation, Zhou Xi-senpai?
Weren’t you supposed to hate the Aurora Witch with every fiber of your being?
Why do you sound like a scorned ex-lover?!
“Ellera! I’m not the same as I was back then! I’ve grown stronger—you think you can still beat me so easily?!”
“Really? Looks to me like the only thing that’s grown stronger is… this part~”
“Eek—?!”
Orange and pink light intertwined as Ellera taunted while gracefully floating back.
Zhou Xi stumbled, clutching her chest, her face burning crimson.
So fast—I can’t even see her move!
She didn’t have this kind of speed seven years ago!
Zhou Xi’s heart trembled.
She shouted, “Little Red! Run now! I’ll hold her off with everything I’ve got—you mustn’t fall into her hands!”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Zhou Xi-senpai! I’m not leaving you behind!”
Even though Luo Zining was still inexperienced, she could tell Ellera’s power far exceeded their expectations.
Together, they might have a sliver of hope—but alone, they were doomed.
“Little Red!”
“Senpai, don’t underestimate me. I know how bad things are. Even if you stay to cover me, I probably wouldn’t make it out.”
“…Then what do you propose?”
“I have this.”
Luo Zining touched the necklace around her neck.
The two of them began loudly and awkwardly scheming in plain sight, leaving Ellera dumbfounded.
But as she watched their back-and-forth, Ellera’s expression darkened.
It reminded her of memories she’d rather forget.
“Seems you really care about this junior of yours.”
Clapping her hands, Ellera pointed at Zhou Xi. “Here’s the deal: you stay, and she goes.”
“What?”
Zhou Xi froze. The energy she’d gathered slowly dissipated.
Had Ellera… not noticed the divine particles inside Luo Zining?
She thought for a second it might be a trick—but with Ellera’s strength, there was no need to play such games.
In a flash, Ellera appeared beside Zhou Xi.
Her arms slid around Zhou Xi’s waist.
Their mingling scents filled the air.
“You want to protect your precious junior, right? And you know what I want. For her safety… you’ll cooperate, won’t you?”
“Mm….!”
Zhou Xi didn’t resist.
She didn’t even try to push Ellera away.
Her body tensed, her chest rising and falling wildly as if she were truly considering it.
“Zhou Xi-senpai! Don’t listen to her!”
Luo Zining cried.
How could she ever face others again if she used her senior’s body to escape?
Zhou Xi steadied herself, then asked calmly, “If I cooperate… she goes free?”
“Yup~”
“…Little Red. Go.”
“Zhou Xi-senpai! I can’t do that! This isn’t what magical girls stand for!”
Ellera smirked, stroking Zhou Xi’s cheek.
“Looks like your junior wants to witness your humiliation firsthand.”
“Little Red. Go.”
Zhou Xi met Luo Zining’s gaze, unwavering.
“You just want to humiliate me, don’t you?”
“—!”
Luo Zining’s eyes brimmed with tears.
She bit her lip so hard blood dripped down her chin.
Fine then… I’ll forcefully merge with the divine particle.
Maybe that’ll—
Wait, what?
She suddenly caught a glimpse—
Zhou Xi’s eyes.
That barely hidden trace of… shyness?!
Oh.
Well, alright.
Whatever makes you happy, senpai.
Best wishes.
I’m out!
Luo Zining—escaped, safe and sound.
“She left fast, didn’t she?”
Ellera hadn’t expected her daughter to bolt so quickly after just a few words.
Sure, I said she could go, but couldn’t you at least put up a token protest?
Since when did I raise such an ungrateful little brat?
Forget it.
Now that the burden’s gone, it’s time for my moment to shine!
“Fate works in funny ways,” Ellera mused, glancing at the terrifying set of ‘training tools’ Zhou Xi had pushed into the room earlier.
“Back then, you fainted at the sight of these. You were too soft, so I let you go out of mercy. Didn’t even use them.”
“….”
Zhou Xi glared silently.
“What’s your point?”
“Ufufu~ nothing much. Just thinking—you brought these yourself this time. Wouldn’t it be thrilling to be violated by your own gear?”
Ellera’s slender fingers slipped into Zhou Xi’s mouth, teasingly.
“Or… would you prefer I be gentle?”
Zhou Xi’s answer didn’t matter.
Ellera was just asking out of politeness.
She hadn’t had this kind of fun in years.
Gentle?
What even is that?
“If you’re not saying no… I’ll just take it as consent, okay?”
Again, just a formality…
Meanwhile, far away, the monitor showing the physical and mental vitals of the magical girls began to spike wildly, drawing the command room’s attention.
Zhao Xin sat stiffly at the table, urgently trying to contact Zhou Xi and Little Red through their channels.
“Do you read me? Please respond.”
……
……
Still nothing.
Zhao Xin refused to give up.
“Little Red! Little Red! Do you hear me?”
……
“Commander Zhao, Commander Zhao! Can you hear me?”
?!
Zhao Xin bolted upright in her chair and grabbed the mic.
“Little Red?! Is that you?!”
“It’s me.”
“Thank goodness!”
She clutched her chest in relief.
She had already requested emergency aid from Magical Alliance HQ, but there’d been no reply.
It showed even HQ was hesitating on what to do.
After all, this was the Aurora Witch.
Sending ordinary magical girls would only add to her fun.
Zhao Xin pressed on.
“What about the divine particle?”
“I have it.”
“Good…”
It was like being pulled from the depths of a flood—her whole body sagged with exhaustion.
“And Zhou Xi? Her vitals are all over the place—has she been interfered with?”
“Uh! Zhou—Zhou Xi-senpai is… locked in fierce combat with Ellera!”
“What? In her condition, she’s still able to—ahem… wrestle with Ellera?”
Zhao Xin wasn’t naive.
She had once been a victim of Ellera herself and had a rough idea of what Zhou Xi was going through.
…Once Zhou Xi returns, she’s getting a promotion, paid leave, and a long, long recovery break.