Three days later.
The purple-haired magical girl stood in the midst of a messy warehouse, frowning as she picked up a metal shard from the ground.
The mark on the shard puzzled her; it belonged to the organization “Serpent’s Fang,” but their territory did not include Xinghai City.
Could it be that “Serpent’s Fang” is trying to extend their reach here?
“Using the aura of magical creatures as weapons, these guys really are…”
Xiao Mo’s expression became more serious as she recalled the strange weapons used by the enemy in the recent battle.
Throughout history, every experiment trying to control the power of magical creatures had failed.
Countless past failures have shown that the power of magical creatures cannot be controlled.
Yet, some people still refuse to believe this taboo and continue to touch this forbidden domain.
One of the duties of magical girls is to find these madmen and send them to prison for judgment.
“Miss Rosemary, that magical girl has appeared again.”
A combat officer from the Magic Department, dressed in a black uniform, walked up to Xiao Mo and pointed toward the main door.
Xiao Mo looked up and saw the angelic girl in pure white, just as expected.
“That person has a sharp tongue, but her heart is as soft as tofu. If you talk to her more, she will recognize you,” Xiao Mo recalled the director’s assessment of Bai Ye.
Although her senior had coldly told her before that she had disappointed her, Bai Ye was still by her side, constantly watching over her.
A warmth spread in Xiao Mo’s heart, and she stepped toward Bai Ye.
As Xiao Mo approached, Bai Ye remained motionless in her original position until Xiao Mo reached her side, at which point she raised her eyelids to look at Xiao Mo.
“Senior Bai Ye!”
Bai Ye did not respond but turned and began to walk outside.
Her pace was not fast, and Xiao Mo could easily keep up with her.
Is she letting me follow her?
Xiao Mo wondered.
In the past, Bai Ye had always disappeared before her eyes in a flash of light, but this time, Bai Ye didn’t vanish, which meant she was intentionally allowing Xiao Mo to follow her.
Xiao Mo hurried to catch up with Bai Ye, her gaze filled with both anxiety and curiosity toward the familiar yet unfamiliar senior.
She didn’t know where Bai Ye was taking her, nor what Bai Ye wanted to do, but she was willing to trust that Bai Ye would never harm her.
After walking with Bai Ye into a secluded corner, Xiao Mo saw Bai Ye stop.
Have we arrived?
Xiao Mo was about to ask, but suddenly, a white magic circle appeared beneath her feet.
Her vision was engulfed by intense light, and with a sudden, dizzying sensation, Xiao Mo collapsed to the ground.
“If I were a bad person, you’d be dead already.”
A cold voice came from beside her. Xiao Mo turned her head and saw only a pair of small, delicate feet wrapped in transparent crystal shoes, wearing white socks embroidered with star and flower patterns.
She couldn’t take her eyes off them until a dissatisfied cough came from above.
“Get up.”
“Mm.”
Xiao Mo realized her behavior had been a little strange and quickly got up from the ground.
Looking around, she realized she was standing on the rooftop of a tall building.
From this height, it felt as though she could see everything in Xinghai City.
This is… the rooftop of Xinghai Tower?
“Senior, why did you bring me here?”
“Right now, you’re too weak.”
Bai Ye walked past Xiao Mo and stood at the edge of the rooftop.
She raised her right hand and made a fist toward the horizon, speaking softly, “To become a true magical girl, you’re not yet qualified.”
Xiao Mo remained silent.
She knew Bai Ye was right.
She still had a long way to go before she could truly be considered a magical girl.
In the four stages of a magical girl’s growth — budding, blooming, initial bloom, and full bloom — magical girls in the first two stages are referred to as “novice magical girls.”
Only when they reach the initial bloom stage can they drop the “novice” label and become true magical girls.
Right now, Xiao Mo was still in the budding stage.
Although she had awakened some of her powers during recent battles, she was still far from reaching that level.
“Senior, maybe I’m not strong enough now, maybe I haven’t earned your recognition yet, but I will keep working hard, and I will make you truly acknowledge me!”
Pressing her hand to her chest, Xiao Mo stepped forward and mustered the courage to shout at her idol.
She would work hard, and she would make Bai Ye witness her determination and courage, earning her genuine recognition!
Bai Ye still didn’t look back, but she didn’t continue to discourage Xiao Mo.
Instead, with a melancholic tone, she asked, “You can still turn back, return to the life you’re familiar with. Why fight for your life on this battlefield that shouldn’t belong to you?”
“Because I want to protect the people I love. I don’t want a day to come when everyone is in danger, and I can only cry and hide in a corner, watching the people I love die because of me at the hands of terrifying monsters!”
Xiao Mo’s voice grew louder, tears shimmering in her eyes.
“I know, there are so many magical girls in the world, and if I’m not here, maybe the world won’t change much. But I just want to do my part to make the tragedies in this world fewer, to let fewer people experience the kind of life-and-death separation that I did!”
“Senior, it was you who saved me back then, and now, I want to be like you and save those who need me!”
So… this is what she’s been thinking?
Luo Shuangyue sighed quietly in her heart.
There are people in this world who, after being drenched in the rain, don’t want others to suffer the same pain.
Xiao Mo is like that, and so are those magical girls.
“Since that’s the case, let me see your determination,” Luo Shuangyue turned around and cast an overwhelming gaze at Xiao Mo.
“In ten minutes, fly around the entire Xinghai City ten times!”
“Eh?”
Xiao Mo was momentarily stunned, then quickly realized that this was the challenge her senior had set for her.
If she could pass this test, Bai Ye’s opinion of her would definitely change!
“I’ll do it right now!”
The purple-haired girl transformed into a streak of light, soaring into the sky.
After the purple-haired girl left, the white-haired girl’s radiance immediately receded, and her magical girl attire disappeared as well.
Bai Ye disappeared, leaving behind a white-haired girl who was gasping heavily while clutching her chest.
“Huff… even without using my powers, I can only last this long.”
After catching her breath, Luo Shuangyue retrieved a set of disguised tools from a corner of the rooftop.
Next, she would have to disguise herself as Bai Ye to meet with Xiao Mo.