“Now broadcasting the evening news. At 3 p.m. today, the Aberrant Beast attack in downtown Jing’an City has been resolved.”
“According to insiders, the remains of a Kingdom-Class Aberrant Beast were found deep underground in the East District, causing widespread panic across society.”
“Could this be the sign of the next impending ‘Magic Disaster’? We now go live to our on-site reporter…”
After the sandstorm passed, the streets were filled with mud and sand, making vehicle passage difficult.
This sandstorm was exceptionally rare.
Normally, sandstorms would stop upon reaching the northern part of Zhonghe Province, but this time it swept across half of the province, affecting many farmers in central Zhonghe.
“The sandstorm perfectly covers our operation,” Tianlang muttered to herself.
Under the cover of darkness, many shadows moved swiftly between buildings.
Since traffic in the city center had not yet resumed, only sparse lights flickered here and there. Their concealed figures in the sky were nearly impossible to detect.
Tianlang hovered above the pitch-black skyline. She pulled out a radio. A voice crackled through it: “First Special Operations Team, we’ve arrived at the target location!”
“Good. Do not reveal your position. Slowly descend along the rooftops to the target floor,” Tianlang instructed the team through the radio.
“The Second Special Operations Team is ready,” another voice responded.
“Excellent. Stand by and wait for my command.”
Tianlang took out a pair of binoculars equipped with intelligent analysis functions—the Scan Binoculars—and scanned the interior of the Magic Control Bureau Building, marking her mission target.
After locking onto her target, she landed on the glass exterior of the target floor, where a group of Magical Girl Squad members awaited her.
Through the glass wall, she could see a small conference room. Her target was inside, attending a meeting.
“Cross the exterior wall,” Tianlang ordered.
The squad members placed four small devices on the glass, forming a rectangle. Suddenly, the glass within the rectangle vanished.
Tianlang and the assault team quickly slipped through the opening and entered the building.
“Second Special Operations Team, cut the power.”
At Tianlang’s command, the entire building plunged into darkness.
Before anyone inside could react, the assault team silently killed them.
However, Tianlang’s target seemed to sense the abnormality and immediately entered combat mode.
She ignited a ball of magical flame. Bai Lingluo materialized a halberd, noticing five or six girls approaching her.
“Who are you?” Bai Lingluo demanded.
Tianlang revealed her face, having removed her mask. In the faint glow of magic, her features showed a beautiful curve.
Bai Lingluo raised her halberd. “One more step and I won’t hold back!”
Before she could finish speaking, Bai Lingluo lowered her weapon and collapsed, unconscious.
“Second Special Operations Team, well done.”
The light from the scene attracted other Magical Girls inside nearby buildings, but without exception, they too fell unconscious like Bai Lingluo.
“Take her away,” Tianlang ordered several squad members.
A strong girl lifted Bai Lingluo onto her back.
Tianlang and the Special Operations Team prepared to leave.
“Report! An unknown target is approaching your position from outside!” the Second Special Operations Team radioed Tianlang.
“Understood.”
Tianlang turned toward the incoming direction. The glass exterior wall shattered in an instant.
A nimble girl flew in, wielding a massive scythe.
“You take the target and leave. I’ll handle her,” Tianlang instructed the squad.
Drawing a large-caliber handgun from her trench coat, Tianlang confronted the girl.
“Who are you?” Tianlang asked.
“I’m Lan Xi, a Magical Girl under the Shengli Group.”
“Tch, unaffected by the Dream Realm. So you’re a lackey of the Shengli Group. In that case, I won’t hold back either.”
Tianlang raised her gun and pulled the trigger.
The gunshot pierced the night. The bullet broke through Lan Xi’s Magic Shield, but she reacted swiftly, dodging the heartshot by a hair.
“Bullets that can penetrate Magic Shields? Your backing is indeed formidable,” Lan Xi said as she swung her scythe to attack.
Tianlang moved with equal speed. Lan Xi’s wide-sweeping attacks missed, and Tianlang countered with pistol shots while evading.
A magical slash from Lan Xi tore a huge gash in the outer wall of the Magic Control Bureau Building, letting moonlight flood through, illuminating the gleaming weapons of the two combatants.
Tianlang constantly leapt, only to find Lan Xi’s scythe sweeping the spot she just vacated moments before.
They darted through various offices, each strike scattering countless sheets of paper.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three consecutive shots struck the scythe, shattering the magic-constructed weapon.
“Heh, how about this?”
“Is that all?”
Lan Xi summoned a scythe once more.
She swung it again. The weapon tracked Tianlang’s movements, splitting into several parts midair to attack from multiple directions.
“Interesting. Then I’ll show you some real skill.”
Tianlang pressed a button and vanished from sight. Lan Xi’s scythe attacks hit nothing.
As Lan Xi hesitated, Tianlang suddenly appeared in front of her and fired at her head.
The bullet pierced through Lan Xi’s raised arm, but just before hitting her skull, it was stopped by a special barrier.
“Ugh… One arm’s useless now.”
Tianlang wasn’t convinced and kept firing until her magazine was empty, but every bullet froze midair.
Noticing something suspicious about Lan Xi’s uniform, Tianlang decided to test it.
She approached the injured Lan Xi, who was struggling to stem the bleeding, and engaged in close-quarters combat. Tianlang’s fist struck Lan Xi’s chest, knocking her to the ground.
Blood seeped from Lan Xi’s arm, staining both the floor and her uniform.
“This barrier must have an effective range, right?”
Reloading her weapon, Tianlang slowly stepped closer to the fallen Lan Xi, pressing the gun barrel against her forehead.
“Lackey of the Shengli Group, die.”
Tianlang pulled the trigger.
“Combat Mode, full release…”
The bullet did not pierce Lan Xi’s head as expected. Instead, it struck the floor.
Tianlang looked outside the building as a crimson light drowned the moonlight, illuminating the night sky.
Lan Xi’s counterattack erupted instantly. Countless red illusions surged into the Magic Control Bureau Building’s interior, causing continuous explosions.
Wherever her attacks struck, the space was torn apart—there was nowhere to hide.
When Lan Xi ceased her assault, the scene before her was a ruin, thick smoke billowing.
She could no longer locate her opponent and wouldn’t let her guard down until certain of their demise.
Her caution was justified. Tianlang stood on a higher floor, observing Lan Xi’s actions.
“There’s no need to continue fighting. The objective has been accomplished.”
The earlier Special Operations Teams had long since left the scene. Tianlang decided to retreat.
“It’s a pity I couldn’t finish you off myself, lackey of the Shengli Group.”