This time, the sound of the tides was even greater than before. In just a few breaths, it carried the might of thunder, lightning, and rain, the heavy roar of the waves deafening!
Luo Zining lost her sense of direction in an instant.
What’s happening!?
But she had grown—quickly standing side by side with Xingyu and Manzhushahua.
“Let there be light!”
The kaleidoscope in the sky burst out with an intense flash, illuminating even the murky tides below. The massive claw that was reaching for them twitched and drew back.
Xingyu pinched her own hand.
Alright, it works. With the Xinling Xianzhu’s blessing, her strength was far above normal—she could face a dragon-level dimensional beast head-on without flinching.
But compared to herself…
Xingyu glanced at Manzhushahua.
“Haven’t seen this in a long time… your innate magic.” Xingyu murmured, “Yanyan Huanshixing…”
Manzhushahua said nothing. Her eyes opened wide, and wherever her gaze swept, countless illusions flickered in and out of existence. All things in the world seemed outlined in rough, wavering lines, bizarre mirages that for a moment left the attackers too stunned to approach.
Now, with only the two of them, there was no way to use the Zero-Rank magic again. Even if the other three returned, they wouldn’t use it either—they still had to conserve their strength to face the Black Candle Jingling.
“Little Red Riding Hood, act according to the situation.” Manzhushahua issued her command.
“Understood!”
Reality gave them no time for excessive communication.
Within the surging tide, an overwhelming pressure stirred Xingyu and Luo Zining’s hearts. Countless tentacles burst forth.
“A fine mother body… I’d love to see how deep your body truly is!” The master of the tentacles let out a crazed, twisted laugh, their aura making everyone start—dragon-level peak! Already, there was a hint of Luminous-level pressure coming from it!
Yet Manzhushahua showed no fear at all. With a sweep of her eyes, the tentacles darting toward her were instantly trapped by countless golden cubes of various sizes, unable to move.
The cubes twisted, and the tentacles were simultaneously severed into dozens of pieces.
“Impressive! I bet you had a hand in killing those useless ones before?”
The situation became all the more dangerous. Another dragon-level dimensional beast had joined the fray, and amidst the tides, even more unsettling changes made Xingyu and the others’ skin crawl!
As the phantom of the tide became more and more solid, a multitude of withered-wood-like worshippers appeared, all facing toward them in worship, accompanied by a deep, bone-chilling chant.
Seeing this, even Manzhushahua’s face grew solemn.
It matched exactly what the expedition team members had described!
Those withered worshippers floated cross-legged in the tides, increasing in number, their chanting growing louder and more overwhelming, making Luo Zining’s scalp prickle!
It felt as though they’d entered a demon-haunted realm, cut off from the world and spoken of only in legend.
“What are those things?!” “No idea.”
The only consolation was that those withered worshippers didn’t seem to affect the battle much.
Zhizhi and Xingyu, who had been outside returning to help, couldn’t get in at all—and outside, there were dragon-level dimensional beasts keeping them busy.
Putting aside the current predicament of Xingyu and the others, just looking at the enemy’s lavish lineup—if they could defeat all these dimensional beasts, the road ahead would no doubt become much easier!
Luo Zining knew she couldn’t intervene in such a high-level fight, so she could only support the two seniors, using her own divine particle abilities to harass the enemy.
And it worked—dragon-level dimensional beasts couldn’t ignore her interference.
She was just a bit haggard from being targeted.
Luo Zining lamented inwardly—if she awakened the next divine particle’s power, it had better be a defensive skill!
“How’s the seal holding?”
Manzhushahua turned, surprised to find the Zero-Rank magic’s seal loosening!
What could possibly shake a Zero-Rank magic!?
She could even sense magical fluctuations within!
She wanted to spare some attention to it, but with that peak dragon-level entity and the others pressuring her all at once, she couldn’t spare the strength.
“Little Red Riding Hood!”
Manzhushahua looked at Luo Zining, her meaning clear—draw all enemy fire.
No matter what, the seal on the Black Prison Jingling must not fail!
Luo Zining steeled herself, gritting her teeth. Silver light burst forth. Even knowing it might mean death, she didn’t hesitate.
The next instant, a storm of attacks battered her. She could only huddle with Xingyu, casting defensive magic, repeatedly brushing past danger by a hair’s breadth.
But the dragon-level dimensional beasts besieging them began to voice their impatience. “What’s going on?! Weren’t we supposed to let that thing out? Still not ready?!”
Manzhushahua seized the moment to flash to the bell tower sealing the Black Prison Jingling, only to find that the back of the several-dozen-meter tower now had a gap just wide enough for a person to pass.
Manzhushahua’s eyes flashed with sharp light. “It’s you!” “Oh? You know me?”
A figure inside spoke. Judging by the voice, it seemed to be a woman.
Behind her was a single blood-red wing, plunged straight into the Black Prison Jingling’s lifeless body, siphoning something from within.
The brilliance of First-Rank magic flickered at Manzhushahua’s fingertips.
“At this stage, you think I’d let you stop me?”
Golden patterns suddenly erupted from the figure, drawing a line on the ground. In Manzhushahua’s senses, the distance between them stretched infinitely, though it looked only a few steps away—it was now nearly impossible to cross.
“Divine particles!” Manzhushahua’s eyebrows shot up. She immediately recognized the origin of these things.
At the same time, she also recognized the source of the blood wing behind the figure.
That was the Xinling Xianzhu of the late magical girl—Chiyu!
Manzhushahua’s gaze grew colder.
Back when the Magic Alliance was developing new magic to enhance magical girls’ combat ability, the Xinling Xianzhu was its crowning achievement. As a top magical girl, Chiyu naturally participated in its development.
Of course, before her death, Chiyu also left behind her own Xinling Xianzhu, which was stored deep within Sidheim.
The Xinling Xianzhu is the manifestation of a Decem’s unique magic. As for Chiyu’s magic, to put it plainly, its power was to assimilate, adapt, and absorb!
It was with this magic alone—without relying on Zero-Rank magic—that Chiyu truly defeated and slew the Distant Sea Jingling, a genuine Luminous-level dimensional beast!
Manzhushahua could see what the person before her intended.
Clearly, this person wasn’t Chiyu, but she was trying to forcibly use Chiyu’s Xinling Xianzhu to claim the Black Prison Jingling’s power!
At the same time, Manzhushahua realized who this person was.
Several months ago, at the Border of Jiuming Sea, the Distant Sea Jingling was resurrected. The perpetrator, Wangchuan, had used magic, only to be taken down by Herrera.
Since then, Manzhushahua had investigated those connected to this incident, as the magic had been leaked.
During her investigation, the most suspicious person turned out to be Chiyu’s former guide and mentor on the path of magical girls—that mysterious magical being!
“You intend to recreate Chiyu’s miracle?!”
Manzhushahua said quietly.
Oh Herrera is going to be pissed