The dark Magic Girl stood at the edge of the stage.
Her quad-linked magic cannons pointed directly at the Demon Lord Fox Fox at the top of the high tower, as the revived hero, donned in new armor, launched a desperate counterattack against the Demon Lord.
“The fallen hero has risen once more, and this time, her former companions stand by her side, their wills firm and their power strong, ready to banish the evil Demon Lord.”
“‘Oh, what a powerful and beautiful figure you are, Hero,’ the Demon Lord said.”
“‘Since you have gained new power, can you save your former companions?’”
The narration continued to recite.
Iris glanced sideways, the sky-blue girl knight still stood before the castle gate, but the brilliant Star Shadow on her body also revealed an unsettling possibility:
Magical Girl Hyacinth ☆ Star Shadow
“To think…”
Hua Ling was slightly surprised, swiveling one magic cannon to aim at Hyacinth, while the remaining cannons remained locked on the Demon Lord Fox Fox.
“Heh heh, aiming your cannons at your former companion, you truly don’t hesitate in the slightest.”
“…”
The girl did not reply, spreading her magic perception.
Star Shadow could comprehensively enhance a Magic Girl’s various powers, and her perception was greatly strengthened. Hua Ling could keenly sense all the familiars around her, and at the same time, she could feel three powerful magical presences—
The first was Hyacinth, who was closest. She had activated Star Shadow while under Xin Yuehu’s control.
The second was the Demon Lord Fox Fox at the top of the high tower. She had also unleashed her Star Shadow.
But this third magical presence…
“Rumble, rumble…”
A low rumble came from not far away.
A dark figure emerged from the castle’s shadow behind Hyacinth, holding a terrifying razor in each hand, her eyes shining like the starry sky.
“【Star Witch · Musca】”
“And your companion, Hyacinth · Star Shadow.”
Villain Fox Fox said with a smile.
“Come, Iris, let me see what you can do.”
“Your former companion, plus a Witch, and my army of familiars… Even if you have Star Shadow, it must be very difficult to break the current situation, right?”
“…”
Iris said nothing, looking down at the Golden Fox still unconscious in her arms.
“…A Magic Girl is born to protect.”
The girl murmured to herself,
“No matter how powerful the opponent is, as long as the belief in protection remains, as long as the person who needs protection is still before my eyes, I will not retreat.”
“Facing my true self, letting go of my past obsessions—this is what she taught me.”
“I am no longer afraid of you, Razor Freak.”
As soon as she finished speaking.
All magic cannons simultaneously swiveled their muzzles, pointing directly at the Razor Witch beside Hyacinth, and the cannon fire flared!
Magic Girl Iris, full broadside!
“!?”
“Boom! Boom! Boom!”
The cannon fire exploded, the Razor Witch was unable to dodge, frantically raising her razors to defend but was unceremoniously repelled, her razors also shattered!
“Bang! Crash!”
Razor Freak crashed through the stage scenery, smashing into the backstage curtain, creating a chaotic mess, leaving behind a heap of debris and ruins.
The theater was silent for a moment.
Su Tianqing unhesitatingly activated her flight magic, carrying Nightingale, who was still asleep beside her, into the sky, attempting to escape from Iris’s cannon fire coverage.
Her single volley could directly send a Witch flying! Who would dare stand foolishly and trade blows with her??
Not to mention, Ben Hu’s position for trading blows in the nearby camera view was still on the left!
“Do you think it’s that simple to deal with?”
Demon Lord Fox Fox floated into the sky with a wicked smile, her magic shockwave breaking through the theater ceiling and flying into the sky amidst the drizzling rain.
Iris quickly soared to pursue, but as soon as she came outside, she was met by the enormous razor reflecting a chilling cold.
“Clang!”
Magic cannons formed, their shields and barrels blocking the razor’s slash, the grating sound of metal clashing made one’s teeth ache.
The previous volley had not defeated the Razor Witch, but it had indeed weakened the magic on her body. This razor strike didn’t even leave a mark on the magic cannon’s shield.
The girl tightly held the Golden Fox in her arms, controlling the magic cannons to fire in turns, forcing the Witch back.
“Iris!”
Bai Ling immediately saw Iris breaking through the theater roof and quickly rushed towards her.
Fox Spirit also followed closely, flying to the girl’s side.
Although the two Observers were very interested in Iris’s Star Shadow, there were several strong enemies at hand, so they naturally had no time for joking around.
“How is Dandelion doing?”
“She’s fine, just fainted.” Iris said softly.
Fox Spirit immediately began sprinkling magic particles to aid recovery onto Dandelion, working very diligently, even using her tail to help.
The Golden Fox’s injuries began to heal at a visible speed.
Bai Ling was also about to join in, but then she saw Hyacinth, who had flown overhead at some unknown point, and quickly shouted loudly:
“Watch out above!”
“!!”
A sense of crisis came from above!
“Buzz!”
“Ugh!…”
Hua Ling instinctively raised her magic cannons, two linked magic cannons catching Hyacinth’s greatsword jump-slash. Amidst the clanging explosion, they managed to forcefully withstand the powerful chop!
But Iris’s body also sank, nearly being smashed down on the spot, and she quickly unleashed magic to maintain her flight spell.
“Hyacinth…!?”
Bai Diao (White Sable) recognized the Magic Girl in front of her and quickly flew to the controlled Hyacinth’s side, calling out to her loudly:
“Hyacinth! Wake up!”
“The one in front of you is Iris! Not your enemy!”
Bai Ling tried to awaken the girl from the Qian Si Puppet’s control.
But the Qian Si Puppet’s magic was not so easily dispelled. Even though the Observer’s calls were all heard by Hyacinth, the girl knight made no move to relent, instead increasing the downward force of her greatsword.
“Ugh…”
Hua Ling struggled to hold on.
She was not a close-combat type to begin with; forcibly blocking Hyacinth’s greatsword with her magic cannon shields was already her limit, let alone this was Star Shadow Hyacinth.
How exactly could she be awakened?
Her and Dandelion’s purpose was to rescue them, but Hyacinth had completely fallen under Xin Yuehu’s control, showing no signs of waking up, and was even swinging her terrifying greatsword at her.
When they were companions, Iris didn’t have a real sense of Hyacinth’s greatsword, only thinking her greatsword chops were very powerful.
But when they became opponents, the oppressive feeling brought by the greatsword was truly terrifying.
“No need to call her anymore… She is completely under Xin Yuehu’s control now, and she won’t respond to you…”
The Golden Fox in the girl’s arms suddenly said softly.
Magic Girl Dandelion opened her eyes, finally waking up thanks to Yue Tianxin’s unremitting efforts.
“Dandelion? You’re finally awake!” Hua Ling looked down at Dandelion in her arms in surprise, joy mixed with some worry, “Are your injuries okay?”
“I’m fine… just, some minor injuries…”
The Golden Fox replied with a smile, but the pain on her face was still impossible to hide,
“Iris, I have a way to dispel the magic on Hyacinth… But, you have to find a way to calm her down first…”
“You have a way? W-What way?” Bai Ling quickly flew back to Iris’s side, saying in surprise.
Dandelion looked deeply at the Bai Diao (White Sable) in front of her.
“…【Reverse Enhancement Magic】.”
“Reverse Enhancement…”
Bai Ling said blankly, seemingly having never heard of this strange magic.
“Ugh… Never mind! What are the activation conditions for this magic? Are they very strict?”
“At the very least, Hyacinth can’t continue to wrestle with Iris like this; she needs to calm down.”
“…In short, just defeat her, right.” The girl murmured to herself.
The next second.
The third magic cannon appeared in front of Hyacinth at some unknown point. Four dark cannon barrels pointed directly at the Magic Girl whose greatsword was held by the magic cannons, magic power accumulating!
“Sorry, Hyacinth.”
“Please—rest for a bit!”
Quad-linked magic cannons, zero-range volley!