Some were surveying the battlefield, others resting in place, while Porcelain Moon was reporting the combat results.
“Basically, all the Extradimensional Beasts we could see have been dealt with. The follow-up squads can enter now. As for the witch-type enemies, I haven’t discovered any so far,” Porcelain Moon said.
“Based on the current electromagnetic conditions inside, we haven’t found any remote-controlled bombs. If there were wired bombs, we probably would have detected them by now.”
“I’ve checked most areas. The enemy likely won’t resort to collapsing the cave. Besides, I’m capable of protecting others in such situations.”
Porcelain Moon glanced around, confirming there were no issues, and was about to order the squad to withdraw.
Kong Ling crouched in front of the smoldering corpse of the Duke-Class Aberrant Beast, staring at the burning body.
“This is my first time seeing an Aberrant Beast in this form. I’ve heard from predecessors that some Aberrant Beasts come in all sorts of strange shapes with various abilities—just like us Magical Girls,” she said.
“Kong Ling, don’t get too close. Aberrant Beasts release small amounts of toxic gas when burning,” Ying Xian warned from behind.
“Got it.”
Kong Ling took to the air and looked back from a high vantage point, noticing the ground gradually being covered by a flowing black substance.
“By the way, do all Aberrant Beasts produce this black substance after death?”
Ying Xian looked toward where Kong Ling pointed.
“What is that?”
She quickly jumped back as the black liquid nearly touched her feet.
Porcelain Moon was very familiar with this substance and felt a foreboding unease.
“Look! That Duke-Class Aberrant Beast isn’t dead yet!” sharp-eyed Xiao Si pointed out.
The beast’s body was covered in purple-black matter, and from the flames rose a pitch-black humanoid figure.
“All members, prepare for combat!” Bai Lingluo shouted.
Porcelain Moon sensed something was wrong and took up a combat stance.
The girls intended to strike first. Several magical energy blasts and slashes surged toward the pitch-black figure.
But the effect was unsatisfactory. The figure seemed unaffected, continuing to solidify its body.
“Fall back! I’ll handle this.”
Porcelain Moon rushed to the front, forming a magic circle.
At that moment, Bai Lingluo’s voice stopped her.
“Porcelain Moon, sister, we can do this. Trust us.”
Seeing Porcelain Moon move ahead, Bai Lingluo followed her lead.
“But… this time is different. The enemy’s strength is still unknown,” Porcelain Moon said anxiously.
“Porcelain Moon, haven’t you always said to trust your teammates? Please believe in us!” Bai Lingluo said confidently.
“Yeah, trust us,” Kong Ling chimed in.
Lin Xing flew past Porcelain Moon and said, “We’re already really strong. We can defeat it, no problem!”
“Tian Lan and Ziyuan are strong too. Don’t underestimate them. The three of us can handle a Duke-Class Aberrant Beast easily!” Lin Shuqing added as they advanced together.
“Ye Liu, let’s go! Li Jing, don’t fall behind. Summon Yuan Dududu to cover us!” Xiao Si said, raising her huge sniper rifle and aiming.
Chen Lisi constructed a magic framework similar to Porcelain Moon’s, though much smaller, but she still exerted all her strength, firing a magic blast in her best condition.
“Porcelain Moon senior, how’s my performance this time?”
On the battlefield.
“Porcelain Moon, sister, you saw that, right? With us here, you don’t need to step in.” Ying Xian spoke before vanishing into battle.
“……”
Facing this scene, Porcelain Moon recalled previous battles where the girls’ tacit coordination held off wave after wave of attacks.
Ultimately, under their close cooperation, the Empire-level Beast Chi You was defeated. Their fighting figures were forever imprinted in Porcelain Moon’s mind.
[Porcelain Moon, trust us, live well…]
Something was wrong………………
Porcelain Moon slipped into a daze.
The ending of that battle was a tragedy.
When she came to, Bai Lingluo’s body had been blasted backward, collapsing beside her and rolling over, covered in wounds.
“Bai Lingluo! Are you okay?!”
[Qing Yun! Are you okay…]
“Cough cough… Porcelain Moon sister…”
Bai Lingluo’s hands shielded her abdomen. Porcelain Moon noticed blood flowing uncontrollably.
She fainted from the pain.
“This isn’t right……………… it shouldn’t be like this……………” Porcelain Moon was stunned.
Next to her, several more bodies appeared.
Kong Ling’s upper body was severed, Ying Xian’s corpse had only the head remaining, and the lower half was charred to coal.
The girls’ screams and groans echoed around Porcelain Moon.
“Help!!!” Lin Xing shouted, wrapped and swallowed by the black substance.
[Chi Lian Captain, where are you!? Help!!!]
Ye Liu and Lin Shuqing’s bodies were pierced by a black tentacle, hanging suspended in midair.
“This kind of death is truly ironic.” Chen Lisi still smiled at the last moment, even though she no longer felt her remaining body, severed by a dark red magical slash.
[This kind of death… never thought I’d die like this someday, how ironic. Porcelain Moon, are you watching?]
“No!” Porcelain Moon shut her eyes, unwilling to witness this living hell.
Yet blood still seeped into her vision.
“Save me! Save me… ahhh!!!”
The burning body’s face was unrecognizable but it used its last strength to lunge forward, collapsing before Porcelain Moon.
Porcelain Moon stepped back.
At this moment, she was like a helpless girl, powerless in the face of a world falling apart.
But someone was still fighting the black humanoid.
That was Miao Ke’er.
She held a large silver sword, fighting desperately alongside her knight.
“Die! I will… avenge Kong Ling and Ying Xian!”
She swung her sword in close combat against the black figure.
The figure was forced back by her attacks and countered with black tentacles, but the Silver Knight blocked them.
Sacrificing itself, the Silver Knight created an opening for Miao Ke’er, who stepped on its dissolving form to slash at the black figure.
But she missed.
The black figure reformed right behind her……………
“Miao Ke’er, watch out behind you!!!” Porcelain Moon shouted, screaming hoarse, but it was already too late.
Miao Ke’er’s blood splattered, raining through the sky, the entire world bathed in crimson.
“Ah!!!”
Porcelain Moon knelt in a pool of blood, too exhausted to watch any longer.
“Why……………. did I choose to trust them……………”
She sobbed.
The black figure approached Porcelain Moon.
It revealed its face.
Porcelain Moon looked up and saw the unmistakable gas mask of Tianlang.
“Hahaha!!! A proud seven-foot man, crying like a little girl. Do you deserve to be a man? This body suits you perfectly.”
Porcelain Moon clenched her fists and grabbed Tianlang’s clothes, throwing a punch that missed as Tianlang reappeared behind her.
“So, all this is a dream!?”
“I thought you weren’t that stupid. Haven’t you seen this exact scene before? So why didn’t you notice it this time?”
Tianlang lifted a charred corpse, admiring the death’s horror.
“Or have you already lost the courage to face the past? You’re such a coward.”
“That’s enough!!!”
Porcelain Moon charged again, but the result was the same; her fists hit empty air.
“Is that all you can say?”
Porcelain Moon hated the girl before her, only wanting her to disappear, so she charged again.
But this time, she collided with an invisible wall.
“Does it hurt? I mean, the pain in your heart?”
This wall of the soul separated them.
“What’s the point of what you’re doing… You pose no threat to us in reality.”
Porcelain Moon’s hair was disheveled, and she glared at Tianlang with intense hatred, as if trying to pierce through the invisible wall.
“Fun, huh? I just wanted to see what a crazy woman you look like. If it weren’t a dream, I’d take a photo.”
“When you’re done playing, end this ridiculous nightmare quickly!”
“Nope~ I still want to see you get mad~”
Porcelain Moon couldn’t imagine what face was behind that gas mask.
“Well then, keep watching. You won’t have the chance later.”
Porcelain Moon slumped down, calming herself, with blood still flowing beside her.
“So, you want to kill me? How cruel~ Didn’t expect the usually gentle big sister to be this cold. Want me to comfort you in Bai Lingyi’s form? Hahaha!”
“I’ll give you one last chance—don’t mention her.”
“Hahaha! Getting worked up. Seems like her name really hits a nerve, huh?”
Porcelain Moon closed her eyes, trying to ignore her.
But in that darkness, her image lingered.
“To reward you for completing this game, I’ll give you exclusive info~ Wanna hear it? It’s free if you don’t!”
Tianlang laughed madly beside Porcelain Moon.
“Speak. I’ll play along.”
“That’s right, get motivated. This is the right attitude for a game~”
“Ahem! Listen carefully, beneath Jingan City, there’s a Kingdom-Class Aberrant Beast……………”
“What!?” Porcelain Moon shouted.
“Don’t interrupt me; that’s rude. This Kingdom-Class Aberrant Beast is currently dormant. If it wakes up, I can’t imagine what will happen.”
“It’d be best if you and your squad go defeat it. Alone, you might not win. After all, you said you had to trust your teammates, right?”
Porcelain Moon fell silent.
“Hey hey hey, don’t just stare. Answer me!”
Tianlang kicked her, but still no response.
“Fine, boring. I’ll let you go.”
The dream dissolved, and the voices of the girls returned.
“Porcelain Moon sister? Are you okay? You suddenly fainted. Was it lack of oxygen?”
“Could it be carbon monoxide poisoning? Kong Ling, you know some medicine, think of a cure!”
“Carbon monoxide poisoning? Let me think… Some patients show cherry-red lips………………”
“No, she’s awake already?”
“Porcelain Moon sister?”
“Let me rest a moment…” Porcelain Moon said weakly.
Bai Lingluo gently lifted her up and began retreating outside the cave.
“Porcelain Moon sister, please don’t get hurt! If something happens to you, I don’t know what I’d do……………”
“I’ve always been so scared of losing you again………………”