The next day, the prosperity of Rong City's CBD area was no longer what it used to be.
In fact, Rong City doesn't have an urban division called CBD; this abstract concept of a district encompasses the entire core area of the city, truly the heart of Rong City.
And it was precisely such a bustling core area that was unusually quiet today.
There were no vehicles on the road, every towering office building was empty, and even the usually lively commercial district was deserted.
Today, the entire Rong City was on holiday for one day.
Hospitals were an exception.
Office workers who usually punched in on time had received the news early and were now lying in bed or on the sofa at home, watching TV.
Students were also gathered at school or at home, enjoying this sudden holiday.
And the instigator of all this—Su Tianqing—was obediently sitting in a room in the Rongcheng Medical College's female dormitory, delicately eating a bowl of steaming tremella soup.
"Ah-woo...chew chew chew..."
"Tian Qing Tongxue, is the tremella soup delicious?"
"Mmm mmm mmm!" Fox Fox gave a thumbs up, wagging her tail happily.
Roommate A showed a satisfied smile like a doting mother; feeding the little Fox Fox was a great success.
Roommate B, not to be outdone, pulled out two vacuum-sealed large chicken drumsticks from her drawer.
Roommate C took out a large bag of potato chips and a large bag of potato sticks.
Roommate A immediately started scooping a new bowl of tremella soup into a small pot, but was immediately held down by Roommates B and C.
You, kid, are serving hot food on such a cold day! Foul!
Su Tianqing did not notice the feeding competition among the CP leaders behind her, only wondering why there were so many snacks on Jia Yu's table.
It was 8:30 AM.
Golden Fox had received news from the school early that morning, instructing all students to gather on campus, ready for collective evacuation at any time.
So she had run to Nan Jiayu's dorm early, and on the way, in a corner at the bottom of the dorm building, she caught a Pink-haired Rabbit Girl pacing around, not knowing where to go.
Without anyone knowing, the villain trio quietly assembled in female dormitory 403.
"I didn't expect to get an extra holiday today, huh."
After finishing the tremella soup, gnawing on a chicken drumstick, and munching on potato chips, Su Tianqing remarked with emotion.
"Yeah, I've been feeling so tired during classes lately, it's really nice to have a chance to relax," Nan Jiayu replied, nodding.
Socially anxious Xia Taotao huddled in the corner, not daring to speak a word.
Adding Roommates A, B, and C, everyone's attention was focused on Nan Jiayu's laptop screen.
"Giant Monster Attack in Rong City CBD! Live Coverage!"
Almost everyone in Rong City was watching this live broadcast.
The Hero Association had prepared drones for full-course tracking and filming, and countless heroes were all in position, ready to expand the evacuation area at any time.
And above the evacuated CBD area, a terrifying rift seemed to tear the sky, revealing the shimmering flow of stars, vaguely showing a terrifying giant figure moving through the rift.
"Star Realm Rift!"
Seeing the scene in the video, the discerning Xia Taotao immediately cried out in alarm, drawing the attention of everyone in the dormitory.
Feeling the suddenly gathered gazes, the socially anxious Rabbit immediately curled into a ball, her Rabbit ears flattening against the top of her head.
"Tao Tao classmate knows about that?" Su Tianqing asked in surprise.
Even she had only learned the true appearance of the Star Realm Rift from the knowledge in the secret codex; she hadn't expected Xia Taotao, this Magic Girl enthusiast, to know even this.
"I just happened to hear about it before..."
The Rabbit Girl said timidly, also serving as a stuttering narrator for everyone.
While Xia Taotao was explaining, Nan Jiayu's azure cat eyes were fixed on the Star Realm Rift on the live broadcast screen.
Is this thing really the doing of Xin Yuehu? Nan Jiayu wondered.
Because this rift was simply too large!
What kind of magical power could maintain such a huge rift? Not to mention there was a terrifying giant Monster hidden within the rift.
If that little Fox Fox could truly create such a scene, then she was absolutely the Magic Girl with the most immense magical power in history, bar none.
"Look! It's Hyacinth!"
Suddenly, Roommate B pointed at the screen and shouted.
In the corner of the screen, a sky-blue trail of magic power streaked across the sky, accompanied by two equally striking trails.
Hyacinth Squad arrived at the scene!
"I knew they would come!"
"Go, Magic Girls! Defeat that guy!"
The live stream's bullet comments flooded the screen, cheering for the Magic Girls' reinforcement.
Su Tianqing also contributed a bullet comment.
But apart from Golden Fox, the other two villains did not show much emotional fluctuation; instead, they felt a bit worried.
...With their strength, can they really deal with a Monster of this scale?
But then, Catcat Rabbitrabbit simultaneously recalled the villain's operational philosophy as stated by Xin Yuehu:
"Fun! Fun! Still fun!"
"Catcat Rabbitrabbit, don't you also really like Magic Girls? When you see their brave and fearless figures, don't you feel incredibly happy!"
—Actually, I'd rather go up there and fight them myself. Nan Jiayu originally wanted to say this.
But considering Xin Yuehu's own very subtle attitude towards Magic Girls, and that she could also gain a lot of fun by following Fox Fox, Nan Jiayu did not voice her opinion.
As for a certain socially anxious Rabbit...
—If I play with Fox Fox, not only will I have a real tail pillow, but I can also see the Magic Girls in a disheveled state that no one has ever seen before. Xia Taotao thought to herself.
As long as Lady Fox Fox tells me to go east, Rabbit will definitely not go north!
The Rabbit Girl silently made up her mind, deciding to follow Golden Fox from then on.
"What is that?"
Someone said this, and everyone's gaze in the dorm simultaneously focused on the Star Realm Rift.
From that sky-tearing, shimmering rift, countless translucent jellyfish tentacles emerged!
Feeling the magical connection established with the Star Realm Jellyfish, Su Tianqing immediately began to grin wickedly in her heart.
Come on, Magic Girls.
Show your Star Shadow and defeat my giant Monster.
...
At the same time.
On top of an office building in the CBD area, the Magic Girls stopped at the top floor, looking up at the sky.
The three of them each gripped their magic wands tightly.
"I heard that a Star Realm Rift also appeared in Rong City more than ten years ago, and at that time, Senior Red Snow and her team stopped that Monster," Nightingale said, swallowing nervously.
"But this... this guy in front of us..."
"Is much larger than the Star Realm Jellyfish back then..." Iris murmured to herself.
"That guy... It's too big...!"
Even Bai Ling trembled as she muttered to herself.
Everyone looked up at the giant jellyfish gradually descending from the sky, and including Bai Ling, everyone's pupils contracted in shock.
Only a Monster with an exceptionally huge amount of magical power has the ability to tear open the barrier between the Star Realm and the present world, forming a rift called a Star Realm Rift—this is what Senior Observer told me.
But no one could have imagined that this guy could tear open such a huge breach!
This was the most exaggerated rift she had seen since she became an Observer!
The Star Realm Jellyfish fully emerged from the rift.
Its translucent bell reflected starlight, and its oral arms and tentacles could almost reach the ground from over two thousand meters high, swaying slowly.
Just floating there, it brought an unprecedented sense of terrifying oppression!
"Are we... going to fight it...?" Nightingale tentatively asked.
No one answered; all three of them were unsure.
"But we cannot retreat!"
Hyacinth spoke, her magic wand transforming into a greatsword, her eyes fixed on the giant jellyfish in the sky, cheering on her companions,
"Until reinforcements arrive, only we can stop this big guy!"
Hearing this, Iris and Nightingale were startled at the same time, the worry on their faces disappearing, and they nodded firmly.
..."That's right! We must hold on!"
Nightingale's eyes became a few shades more determined; although she still felt some fear in her heart, she immediately prepared all her auxiliary magic.
Iris also summoned a magic cannon beside her, ready to unleash its power.
"I'm going in!"
"Iris! Nightingale! Cover me!"
The sky-blue Magic Girl flew into the sky, leaving a comet-like trail of shining magic, under the cover of several magic cannon volleys—
She launched a surprise attack on the Star Realm Jellyfish!