novelraw Chapter 205: The Magical Girl's Fall, Transcending the Divine!
Chapter 205: The Magical Girl's Fall, Transcending the Divine!
Whether it was for Silver Lotus, Peony, or even Susan and Keke, the girl greeting them in front of them.
All of them showed expressions of surprise and complexity.
Only An Shiyu wore a look of utter confusion, "Wh-what's wrong? Who is this?"
The Golden Calamity Dragon King in the distance rolled over, turned around, and flew away. South China, which had been gleaming with golden light, plunged back into darkness.
Only the moonlight remained bright and clear.
"Magical Girl Hyacinth."
Susan said calmly, "The previous Magical Girl captain of the Beihai Disaster Control Bureau, also the very first Magical Girl captain."
An Shiyu immediately nodded, secretly taking a few steps back.
The relationship between them seemed quite complicated.
Although she really wanted to go find Jiang Si, she couldn't just leave Keke alone.Not knowing yet whether this Magical Girl Hyacinth was friend or foe, An Shiyu could only stand obediently to the side, waiting for these Magical Girls to resolve their own issues.
Just in case, she woke up Mujin, who was still sleeping.
If a fight broke out, she could protect Keke.
"Senior Hyacinth!"
Yiyi finally spoke up, "You... you're alright now?"
This was also the reason the others had been so shocked and unable to speak for a long time.
Because Hyacinth had appeared in her transformed state.
But, everyone knew that due to her damaged seed, Senior Hyacinth's Magical Outfit would have issues when she transformed, and her mana aura would also be unstable.
Yet now, Hyacinth's condition appeared to be in peak form.
"Of course."
Hyacinth said, even spinning around once to show off her Magical Outfit and power to everyone, "I know, to you all, power is everything. Without power, one isn't worthy of standing before you, right?"
"That's not it..."
"No need to feel ashamed." Hyacinth tilted her head slightly, revealing a smile that, to the Magical Girls of the Beihai Disaster Control Bureau, seemed somewhat dark. "I think so now too. Power is everything. To reclaim my own power, I would give up everything."
Everyone fell silent for a moment.
Silver Lotus clutched her chest, taking a deep, gasping breath, her eyes slightly reddened.
Even Susan and Peony showed expressions tinged with pain.
The Hyacinth of the past wasn't like this.
She would never have constantly talked about power or put it first.
Senior Hyacinth.
Has she fallen?
No one wanted to face this fact, but the girl before them, having regained her power yet being completely different, forced them to think this way.
"Have you... joined the Witch Association?"
Faced with Silver Lotus's question, Hyacinth thought for a moment, then still smiled and said, "I did indeed operate within the Witch Association for a period of time."
Everyone gasped in shock.
The first Magical Girl captain of the Beihai Disaster Control Bureau, the very first Magical Girl.
Had actually defected to the Witch Association!
"Why?!"
The one who erupted wasn't Silver Lotus, nor Susan, but rather the usually somewhat lazy Peony, filled with disbelief and anger. "You once said you would never forgive the Witch Association! How could you join a place like that! Have you truly betrayed us!?"
"I said, for power, I can use any means necessary."
"You weren't like this before!"
Mujin sighed.
A betraying senior reappearing before them, yet having to fight her.
For a Magical Girl, no matter when, this is an unavoidable cruel situation.
She quietly ordered An Shiyu to move forward a bit, planning to step in for these juniors.
But then she heard Hyacinth speak again, "However, I truly cannot forgive the Witch Association, so I left."
The Magical Girls, who just moments ago were filled with righteous indignation and even on the verge of tears, stared dumbfounded at this once-admired senior.
Somewhat at a loss.
"Th-then..." Silver Lotus whispered, "Can you come back?"
Hyacinth shook her head, "In order to become a Magical Girl again, I left the Witch Association and then joined the Saint Hall. Now I am a member of the Saint Hall's Demon Squad."
The atmosphere, which had just eased, instantly grew tense again. Silver Lotus's expression turned grim once more, "The Saint Hall, the Demon Squad!"
Peony, who had just been agitated, had just relaxed after her outburst, only to hear such shocking news. For a moment, she seemed stunned.
Susan supported her friend beside her.
Her relationship with Hyacinth back then wasn't overly close, so hearing this news now was still manageable.
She just felt regret.
If only she had joined the Azure Cloud Sect.
Keke, holding the panda girl, looked confused, "What organization is the Saint Hall?"
"Back in the Heart Image Remnant, they seized many relics from the Mirror Kingdom. And in Anyang City, they attacked the Magical Girls maintaining stability there, even killing people. It's a mysterious and dangerous organization!"
They were even wanted by the Disaster Control Bureau.
Not just the Bureau; the Witch Association didn't have a good opinion of the Saint Hall either, because these people had also killed a bunch of witches.
They belonged to an evil independent organization that stood with neither side.
As soon as Yiyi finished speaking, Keke raised her hand, "Wait, wait, Yiyi. Last time you told me about the Azure Cloud Sect, you described them the same way. Our Disaster Control Bureau really likes to label independent organizations as terrorists at the drop of a hat..."
"I'm serious!" Yiyi said, then looked back at Hyacinth, "Senior, why did you join such an organization?"
Hyacinth looked helpless, "Yiyi, you haven't changed much from before."
"You should answer my question first!"
"Keke has been at the Bureau for less than half a year and is already much more mature than you." Hyacinth praised Keke while saying, "Of course the Disaster Control Bureau demonizes independent organizations. The Azure Cloud Sect back then is now an official partner of the Bureau, isn't it? Don't be so tense, Yiyi."
Silver Lotus also calmed down, "So the Saint Hall is good, right? Senior."
"The Saint Hall is, of course, not a good organization either."
"..."
For a moment, everyone was speechless. Silver Lotus even stomped her foot, "Then why did you say I'm immature! If the Saint Hall isn't good, then it's bad!"
"It's not that simple, good or bad." Hyacinth looked with amusement at the stomping Silver Lotus. "The Saint Hall operates based on missions. There's no inherent good or bad, only mission rewards."
"That still makes them bad! Doing anything for profit, that's what a villain is! Isn't that what you taught me back then?"
"That's what I said, but people's views always change with experience." Hyacinth sighed with a serious expression. "The Saint Hall is just a neutral organization, only wanting to complete missions, with no other intentions. It shouldn't be judged as simply good or bad."
"I'm not interested in whether you are good or bad now."
Susan interjected, cutting off Silver Lotus's impending follow-up questions. "You retired a long time ago. Suddenly appearing in South China, I don't care what you want to do or what your goals are. Please don't use the name of the Beihai Disaster Control Bureau's Magical Girls in the future, to avoid misunderstandings."
Even Silver Lotus was startled, looking back at Susan and whispering, "Isn't that... too cold..."
"It's necessary." Susan said expressionlessly. "For the sake of the Beihai Disaster Control Bureau, we must cut ties."
Peony also nodded, "Although I feel terrible too, there's no other way. After all, Senior Hyacinth is no longer the Senior Hyacinth of the past."
Hyacinth twirled a strand of her hair around her finger, murmuring, "I am no longer the original me?"
Then she turned sideways, her expression hidden, her tone somewhat sorrowful, "Perhaps that's the case. But, is this my fault? Didn't I do well enough back then? Yet, what did I receive in return?"
The expressions of the Bureau members all froze.
Everyone lowered their heads.
An Shiyu, though she didn't know why everyone was lowering their heads, seeing them all do so, obediently lowered hers as well.
No one could deny Hyacinth's contributions. Without Hyacinth, the other Magical Girls at the Beihai Bureau wouldn't have grown.
Even Keke, who joined the Bureau after Hyacinth retired, had received help from Hyacinth.
However, no one saw that, taking advantage of everyone bowing their heads, Hyacinth, standing sideways, bent over slightly.
Peeking at everyone's expressions, the smile at the corner of her mouth was almost impossible to conceal.
Teasing juniors is just too much fun...
Making them think I'm a villain, then watching their conflicted expressions.
I've always wanted to try doing this.
Everyone really is such good kids, each one looking so adorably conflicted.
"There's no other way, I don't want this either, Senior Hyacinth." Unexpectedly, it was Peony, who usually loved slacking off the most, who raised her head. Hyacinth quickly suppressed the smile at her lips. "We are just... opposing the current you, for the sake of the you from the past."
The Hyacinth of the past viewed the responsibility of the Bureau and Magical Girls as heavier than anything else.
She would never be like this now!
"Whatever."
Hyacinth waved her hand, "I didn't come here to reminisce with you all. Anyway, one of the Saint Hall's missions this time is to take that panda girl."
As she spoke, she pointed at the girl in Keke's arms. "Hand her over, and I won't make things difficult for you."
Silver Lotus and Susan immediately stepped in front of Keke.
An Shiyu was also ready to have Mujin replace her at any moment.
However, Keke just raised her hand, "Leia... oh, you might not know her name. She's called Leia. Leia is my good friend. May I ask why you want to take her?"
"Because she is from the old world."
Silver Lotus and the others were shocked, immediately looking at the panda girl.
Keke wasn't particularly surprised, as she had also seen there was no one inside the panda suit earlier.
She just asked somewhat sadly, "Is that true? Leia?"
Leia didn't hide it either, just nodded, "Mhm, I didn't mean to deceive you..."
Hyacinth then said, "Didn't mean to deceive them, yet deliberately infiltrated the Magical Girls. Regardless, people from the old world are inherently a danger. Keke, hand her over to me. I'll handle it."
Taking a deep breath, Keke steadied the panda, "I know, Senior Hyacinth must have your reasons for doing this. But Leia isn't a villain right now. Of course, I know that just because she hasn't done anything bad now doesn't mean she won't in the future. So, for the sake of South China, it's still better to observe her carefully. This point, even as Leia's friend, I cannot ignore."
The panda head immediately drooped.
Hyacinth smiled, "Well said. But hand her to me. Our Saint Hall will handle it properly."
"But, Senior Hyacinth."
Keke still held Leia tightly. "Similarly, as a friend, I cannot let her face unknown dangers. What if she comes to harm at the Saint Hall? I would definitely regret it. No matter how you guarantee it, as a friend, I have the obligation, and I should keep her by my side. I will watch over her properly, protect her, take responsibility for her. I won't let her hurt others, nor will I let her get hurt!"
Susan and Silver Lotus, who had been somewhat wavering, immediately became firm.
Mujin even snatched control from An Shiyu and started applauding, "Well said, junior! I like people like you!"
Mujin strode to stand in front of Keke, "Sorry, kid. Our Keke has already decided to personally monitor this old world member. She has the ability and is willing to take responsibility. So, I'll have to ask you to go back, otherwise I won't be polite."
Hyacinth watched for a long while, finally just hanging her head and sighing dejectedly, "Fine."
Just as everyone thought Hyacinth was going to give up, they heard her say, "Looks like I lost to you again, Ruo Yun. As expected, a retired Magical Girl doesn't carry much weight anymore. You handle it."
"If you weren't just trying to scare people for fun, how could you fail? Can you be of any use, Senior?"
"Ah, sorry. Hyacinth is just that useless. I'll leave the rest to you, capable Captain Ruo Yun."
Silver Lotus really wanted to explain that it wasn't like that, that they didn't distrust Hyacinth because she was retired.
But seeing the Magical Girl who walked out from behind Hyacinth made it difficult for her to explain further.
And Hyacinth's expression of trust and intimacy only made Silver Lotus feel somewhat displeased.
She must be the one who seduced Senior Hyacinth into falling!
Ruo Yun held a remote control, looking from a distance at the panda girl.
"Either come over yourself, or die together."
"Magical Girl Mujin, I know you're powerful. I've prepared one hundred and sixty-nine Buddha's Fury Lotuses here. You can try opening your space. Try and see if your Sprout-ranked Magical Girl body can guarantee your space won't be blown into a chaotic storm amidst one hundred and sixty-nine Buddha's Fury Lotuses."
.......
"My sister's consciousness is still outside!"
Looking at the just-sealed mirror space, Ailin fiercely kicked at it.
But she kicked empty air, almost falling.
The old woman ignored her, just surveying their surroundings.
Unlike other withered old worlds.
This old world was pitch black, the ground covered in black blood so thick it seemed congealed.
The old woman had been here before.
Back then, this world was also withered, covered in gray-white dregs everywhere.
Until the sisters from the Curse Realm, Ailin and her sister, came to this old world.
The curse rapidly spread, the entire old world was swallowed by the curse, and everyone else in the old world died within it.
Yet Ailin, the culprit, and her sister, survived.
And the curse on their bodies grew less and less.
To the point that Ailin could now even use dregs to transform.
When the old woman stepped into this place, she could clearly feel something cold and terrifying climbing from the soles of her feet all over her body.
Upon entering here, one was inevitably infected by the curse.
She possessed neither a Personal Reality that could transcend the world, nor the witch power to resist the curse.
Entering here with Ailin already represented her death.
But, for the Black Mountain Realm, for the people who trusted her.
She no longer cared.
As long as she succeeded.
The Black Mountain Realm would have a way to survive, to save everyone!
"Once you succeed, you'll have plenty of time to look for your sister!"
The old woman visibly weakened. "Your sister is much safer outside. South China is full of Magical Girls everywhere. Even if they catch her, they won't kill her."
Hearing this, Ailin finally calmed down.
Although the old world always resented the South China Magical Girls for being troublesome.
One point had to be admitted.
That was the kindness of the Magical Girls.
Even the Mirror Kingdom, which had nearly slaughtered South China empty, was ultimately given a path to survival by Magical Girl Mujin.
Though whether they could survive depended on themselves.
Not to mention her sister never did anything bad.
As long as she didn't do bad things, at worst, it would be imprisonment and control.
"The problem now is we need a safe place. The curse here is too severe... cough... the contamination will damage the Dream Core... cough!"
Ailin grabbed the old thing and flew up.
A boundless expanse of black liquid enveloped the entire world.
With the flow of the liquid, it seemed as if the entire world was constantly pulsating.
Like some living creature.
Numerous curses infecting the world, transforming it into a Disaster Beast...
The old woman had heard such talk, which was also the reason the Curse Realm was driven out by the Old World Alliance.
In the endless black world, they soon saw a particularly conspicuous flat area.
It was a very clean small island.
In this world utterly polluted by curses, having such a clean island was truly like finding a pure land in a sea of filth.
When the old woman stepped onto the clean ground, she was even somewhat moved.
The area around the island was surrounded by some kind of Magical Girl power, isolating it from the curse infection.
"Is your sister's body also here?"
"Don't ask unnecessary questions."
"Heh, no need to be so tense with someone who is already destined to die."
The old woman chuckled as she spoke, following Ailin to a grassy area on the island.
As Ailin took out the Dream Core, the old woman finally quieted down.
"The Dream Core can strengthen Personal Reality because it is an aggregate formed from fragments of miracle and hope power. If used ordinarily, the miracle power within the Dream Core dissipates after strengthening the Personal Reality."
"According to research from our world, when the Personal Realities of two Magical Girls merge, simultaneously receiving enhancement from the Dream Core, different Personal Realities can fuse under the influence of the miracle power. Accompanying the fusion, a new power is generated, a kind of simplified domain similar to a Mental Landscape."
"This simplified domain isolates the Magical Girl from the world, free from the constraints of the world's rules, so there's no need to worry about the world reclaiming the power of Full Bloom."
"The collision of two Magical Girls' Personal Realities, plus the Dream Core permanently fixed within the simplified domain, will grant mana not inferior to that of a Full Bloom Magical Girl." The old woman coughed again, this time even spitting out blood. "Mana originates from the transformation of emotions and wishes by the Personal Reality. The power of the Dream Core acts as a catalyst, accelerating the transformation by the Personal Reality. As long as it succeeds, one can become a Full Bloom Magical Girl, something those guys never anticipated!"
"At that time, whether it's you, your sister, or even my Black Mountain Realm, we can all head to the new world!"
A hint of excitement also faintly appeared in Ailin's pupils, but she quickly suppressed it.
"The biggest problem now is, there's only one Magical Girl, me. Where do we find a second Magical Girl?"
"There is one. We have two Magical Girls."
The old woman revealed a decaying smile, then opened her hand.
A dimmed green seed lay quietly in her palm.
"I was once a Magical Girl too." The old woman coughed up another pool of blood, her face instantly aging several times over. "It's just that the miracle of a Magical Girl has a time limit, especially after our world died. Although I lost the ability to transform long ago, my Personal Reality is still preserved quite well."
Ailin narrowed her eyes, looking at this smiling old woman on the verge of death before her.
Jade Fox.
The legendary Magical Girl of the Black Mountain Realm, who saved her own world countless times. Even after losing her Magical Girl power and becoming an old woman, she still tirelessly worked for her world.
"What is it?"
"This is your goal?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying, why are you helping us so much?" Ailin looked at her indifferently. "You want to find a Full Bloom path for yourself, don't you?"
"Risk and opportunity are equal."
The decrepit Jade Fox wasn't anxious either. "Perhaps you can still find a new method for Full Bloom, perhaps not. You can choose for yourself. I'm about to die; I can't force you to do anything."
"But I can guarantee that the chance for Full Bloom using the Dream Core is only this once. Other than me, no one knows how to achieve Full Bloom with the Dream Core. Without my guidance, if you rashly try to fuse Personal Realities with another Magical Girl, the outcome will either be death or loss of transformation power."
Jade Fox smiled slightly, "Or are you afraid? Afraid of being devoured by this old thing's Personal Reality? Will you admit that your wishes and will are far inferior to mine, a dying person?"
"No need to provoke me like that."
Ailin snorted coldly. "I just think it's remarkable that you're willing to go this far for the Black Mountain Realm."
"You yourself aren't so indifferent towards the Dangerous Curse Realm either."
"Besides..."
Boom!
Just as Ailin wanted to say something more to lower the risks.
The entire world shook!
The island beneath their feet even sank slightly, as curses began to spread onto the island.
Both of them simultaneously looked up at the sky.
The originally intact, pitch-black sky now seemed to be raining down filthy curses!
A crackling fissure suddenly appeared in the sky, then continuously spread and expanded!
"What's happening!"
The old woman finally showed some panic.
Ailin looked up, about to stand, when another violent tremor hit!
As if the entire world had been struck by something, making it almost impossible to stand steadily.
Then, the fissure in the sky was finally smashed open!
A majestic, golden head abruptly crashed in from the outside!
That colossal, yet somewhat sacred and majestic dragon head indifferently looked down upon everything within the world.
Then it opened its mouth, unleashing a full-throated roar!
The curses throughout the world began to boil, as if turning into magma, constantly splashing and leaping!
As if welcoming their deity!
"What is that thing?!"
"I don't know!"
"It must be Jialan's doing! I knew cooperating with these backstabbing witches from the Witch Association wouldn't go smoothly!"
Did she send this to test the results of their Full Bloom attempt?
Ailin took a deep breath, looking at the terrifying Disaster Dragon.
She lowered her head, took out the Dream Core, and handed it to the old woman.
The old woman, originally panicked, gradually calmed down after receiving the Dream Core.
The aura of death grew heavier, yet the old woman seemed to relax instead.
She raised her head, looking at the terrifying Golden Calamity Dragon capable of destroying heaven and earth.
It was slowly squeezing into the world, as if the entire world couldn't contain him.
She then thrust her hand into her own chest, directly pulling out her aged heart.
"Come."
Heart's blood dripped onto the Dream Core. Jade Fox grabbed Ailin's hand, looking up at the invincible Disaster Dragon.
"Let us transcend the world, transcend, the divine!"