3000-word chapter. I'll be releasing one chapter a day for the next two days.
“Monster alert! Monster alert!”
“All students, please proceed to the shelter immediately! Repeat, all students, please proceed to the shelter immediately!”
A piercing broadcast and alarm blared across the campus.
Students stared blankly at the live stream.
On the screen, the sky-blue Magic Girl was falling from the sky, her shattered ceremonial dress fluttering around her, leaving specks of starlight in the air, like scattered dust.
“Hyacinth…”
“Was she… hit…?”
People watched the falling Magic Girl in astonishment, their minds blank, and at the same time, the blaring Monster alert brought their horror to a peak.
The Magic Girl had been shot down.
This meant that the last barrier against the Monster had been broken, and Rong City was about to be engulfed by the gloom of the Jellyfish Monster.
The Magic Girl team from the neighboring city would not arrive for another twenty minutes, and twenty minutes was enough time for this Star Realm Jellyfish to level the entire CBD area!
The thought of fleeing consumed everyone, and Rongcheng Medical College was no exception.
“Let’s… let’s run too!”
Roommate A said tremblingly, no longer interested in petting the fox, and tugged at Nan Jiayu and Su Tianqing who were in front of the screen.
The two turned their heads blankly and exchanged glances with their roommate, as if they didn't know what was happening.
Run? Why run?
Nan Jiayu muttered to herself.
This Monster was clearly created by Xin Yuehu! Have you ever seen a Monster that talks? And it's even reciting lines from the villain in “Magical Girl ☆ Alice,” which was just broadcast last week!
As for Su Tianqing…
Fox Fox was still mind-controlling the Jellyfish to recite its lines when it was suddenly interrupted, the Jellyfish’s half-recited lines forcefully cut off, and it wiggled its fox ears blankly twice.
“Ah… should we run now?…” the Golden Fox hesitated for a moment, then whispered.
“Of course! If we wait until that Monster attacks, it'll be too late!”
Roommate B made a decisive move, scooped up the Golden Fox who was bewildered in front of the screen, flung open the door, and motioned for everyone to follow.
.
Nan Xiaofeng struggled to open her eyes.
—Her limbs wouldn’t obey her, and her entire body ached as if it had been run over by a road roller.
Her head was also dizzy, all her magic power had been mobilized to recover from her injuries, and her body had fallen into a temporary state of magic power depletion.
But even with all her magic power continuously healing her injuries, it would still take a long time to recover from such severe wounds.
After a brief moment of daze, Nan Xiaofeng remembered what had just happened.
She had been hit by the Jellyfish Monster's magic beam, and her magic shield and ceremonial dress were instantly shattered.
If Nightingale hadn't cast another layer of defensive magic on her at the critical moment, she would probably have been completely pierced by that beam.
In the sky, her two companions were trying their best to approach her, but every attempt to get closer was blocked and interrupted by the Jellyfish's tentacles.
Nan Xiaofeng wanted to say something, but she couldn't even muster the strength to speak.
“Hyacinth!”
Lin Muyao anxiously called out to Nan Xiaofeng, while simultaneously casting healing magic on her.
But the Jellyfish’s tentacles could steadily interrupt the healing magic, and even give her a whip lash, forcing her to hastily defend herself.
“Damn it… Iris! Can you block those tentacles?!”
“I’m trying my best!”
Two beams of magic cannons swept through the air, followed by a dozen pure white magic missiles, temporarily repelling the approaching tentacles, buying Nightingale a window for a healing spell.
Potent magic power was injected into the magic wand, and the healing magic was steadily cast upon Nan Xiaofeng, making her feel much lighter.
But Nan Xiaofeng still couldn't stand up, only staring blankly at the sky.
A strong sense of powerlessness filled Nan Xiaofeng's heart.
—Am I really that weak?
Such a thought lingered in the girl's mind.
As a senior, she always lost to Xin Yuehu, and couldn't even protect her new companions.
Could she be considered a qualified Magic Girl?
Could she protect the people she wanted to protect?
“Hyacinth…! Hyacinth! Are you alright?!”
The White Sable Spirit flew to Hyacinth's side and said nervously to the girl.
Nan Xiaofeng struggled to turn her head from the rubble, looked at the White Sable Spirit who was sprinkling magic particles on her, and was momentarily stunned.
A deafening roar echoed in the sky:
“What a weak attack! Just like that sky-blue little fellow, be shot down by me!”
The Star Realm Jellyfish mocked wantonly, and several magic beams struck Nightingale and the other, weaving a large net with the Jellyfish's tentacles!
Without Hyacinth as a shield, Iris's firepower advantage instantly vanished, and in a blink of an eye, she was surrounded by several dark shadows.
Nightingale was even more deeply embroiled in a tough battle, trying to use magic shockwaves to drive away those tentacles, but with little effect.
Nan Xiaofeng stared blankly at the battlefield in the sky.
Her companions were firmly suppressed by the Jellyfish Monster, and the tentacles had already begun to destroy roads and some buildings on the ground, raising constant dust.
She had to defeat it, she had to protect the city and her companions, this was the duty of a Magic Girl.
But… could such a weak self truly continue to be active as a Magic Girl?
“…Bai Ling.”
Hyacinth asked the White Sable Spirit beside her in a daze.
“I'm here! Don't be in a hurry to speak, I'm trying to replenish some magic for you!”
“…Bai Ling, tell me, am I truly qualified as a Magic Girl?”
The White Sable Spirit suddenly froze, blinking its eyes.
“Huh?… What foolish talk! If you weren't qualified, why would I have chosen you at first glance! You are the Magic Girl with the highest aptitude in all of Rong City!”
“But even if you say that, when I face them… why do I always…”
Nan Xiaofeng's empty eyes made Bai Ling suddenly freeze, even stopping the action of sprinkling magic particles.
This isn't good.
After being tormented by Xin Yuehu for so long, Hyacinth was starting to doubt her own Magic Girl beliefs!
Magic exists by relying on belief and spirit. Once Hyacinth loses this will…
No! I must think of a way!
But just as Bai Ling was about to rush up and slap her, a phone rang suddenly.
Nan Xiaofeng froze, looking at the pocket inside her ceremonial dress.
A call?
Who would call her at a time like this?
The girl blankly pulled out her phone, focused on the contact name on the screen, and was suddenly stunned.
The contact was Tianqing Jie.
“Hello? Xiaofeng?”
A worried voice came from the other end of the phone,
“Xiaofeng, are you alright? I saw on TV… that you were hit by a Monster, you… are you… now…”
The voice on the other end of the line sounded incredibly flustered, making Nan Xiaofeng afraid to answer.
After a struggle, Nan Xiaofeng finally said softly:
“I… I’m fine, Tianqing Jie… it’s just a minor injury…”
“You didn't look fine just now! You were hit by such a… such a terrifying beam… How could you be fine?!”
The voice on the phone carried a hint of blame, and even started to cry,
“Xiaofeng, run quickly! Everyone says that Monster is very powerful, you must protect yourself!”
Run?
This single word made Nan Xiaofeng suddenly freeze.
“Xiaoyu and I are in the shelter on the east side of Rong City. I secretly found a hidden place to call you… Ah! I’m here, coming right over!…”
“Xiaofeng, you must not push yourself! When you encounter danger, you must—”
“At a time like this, you still have time to make calls?”
The Star Realm Jellyfish’s voice, accompanied by strong magic interference, immediately turned the call into static.
Nan Xiaofeng's pupils constricted sharply.
Is that Jellyfish's hearing that good? It can hear from so far away…?
“Eastern shelter?… Haha, how interesting, it seems your friends are hiding in that place.”
“Then, let’s go check out that place next. I hope to find something interesting.”
“…!!!”
How could this be! Can it hear clearly from this distance?!
Tianqing Jie and Jia Yu Jie are in danger!
She had to pull herself together! She had to stop this Monster!
—But she was merely its defeated opponent. Even if she stood up again in this state, how could she intercept it?
Iris and Nightingale were surrounded, clearly about to be attacked and shot down,
The Star Realm Jellyfish looked towards the east side of the city, a cunning smile appearing in its evil eyes.
“Xiaofeng! Pull yourself together!”
Bai Ling quickly said loudly to the girl beside her,
“Think of your friends! You can definitely stand up!”
“Try that, the one I told you about! Star Shadow!”
“…!”
In a trance, Nan Xiaofeng remembered what Bai Ling had told her not long ago.
Bai Ling had told her about the existence of Star Shadow and its detailed transformation method.
This was the advanced form of Magic Girls, a new stance that only experienced Magic Girls with unwavering belief could transform into.
This belief had to surpass all previous beliefs, it had to be unshakeable, and it had to receive the favor and recognition of the stars.
Could she do it?
…She had to try!
To protect her companions, she had to succeed!
Nan Xiaofeng reached into the Star Realm Rift towards the stars, as if to grasp the stars in her hand.
To wish upon the stars, to call out to the sky, to summon the attention and favor of the constellations, to drape the starry sky over herself!
Magic Girls were born to protect, and she also had family and friends she absolutely had to protect!
“—Answer me, O Stars!!”
A moment of silence.
Heaven and earth seemed to pause in that flash of light. Everyone in Rong City looked up in unison, gazing at the blue pillar of light that shot into the sky!
“What?! It’s actually…!?”
The Jellyfish Monster very cooperatively recited the standard villain lines, but its words were filled with irrepressible joy.
When the blue pillar of light dissipated, the sky-blue Magic Girl stood up from the ruins, her entire ceremonial dress completely renewed!
Her knight-like light armor was replaced by a light and airy ribbon dress, the pleated skirt billowed without wind, and the striking ribbon bow behind her fluttered gracefully.
“You won’t take another step from here! Ugly fellow!”
The sky-blue Magic Girl raised the magnificent and beautiful greatsword in her hand, its blade seemingly reflecting the brilliant starlight!
Magic Girl Hyacinth · Star Shadow!