Su Tianqing had a very clear understanding of herself.
Ben Hu is a villain, a villain certified by the secret codex, a very standard villain.
Although she usually acts very much like a righteous person, and her attitude towards the masses is also very righteous, Ben Hu is definitely a villain.
The fundamental purpose of a villain's activities is, one, to reach the so-called peak of a villain Magic Girl in the secret codex, and the other is to satisfy her inner desire for fun.
Fun, always fun.
Only by finding interesting and enjoyable things can life become valuable and colorful.
For example, now—after experiencing several comic exhibitions in a row, even she felt aesthetic fatigue; although the Firefly Comic Exhibition was grand in scale, she always felt something was missing.
Not fun enough.
That’s right, it’s not fun enough.
Magic Girls just sing, dance, and perform a magic show, and that’s it?
Buying merchandise to support the righteous ones’ activities is enough?
This won't do, absolutely not.
Just as Cheshire Rabbit said, Magic Girls are not always just brave in battle and lively and cute in front of people; they also have moments of terror, decadence, timidity, and fear.
And as a villain Magic Girl, she is the only one who can appreciate this rare scenery!
It's rare for so many Magic Girls to gather at the Firefly Comic Exhibition, and there's even an old senior, Red Rose, an antique; if everyone just casually signs autographs and sells merchandise, it would be a huge waste of such a once-in-decades grand gathering.
“So, as long as you, Senior, are willing to come, I guarantee you’ll have a hearty fight with Red Rose!”
When the familiar was contacting Mercury herself using the Star Realm Magic Core, Su Tianqing said this to her.
Although she didn't know Mercury's own attitude, she readily accepted the projection of the Magic Core, projecting the form of Star Shadow into this stadium.
This was the azure Magic Girl before her eyes.
“Mercury?”
Red Rose had no idea her old acquaintance would appear here, but she immediately looked towards her.
“It’s truly been a long time, Red Rose.”
The azure Mercury said softly, her words overflowing with Star Realm Magic, as if merging with the slowly healing Star Realm Rift behind her.
Looking at the people’s astonished expressions, Su Tianqing’s smile became even more uncontrollable.
Excellent, exactly this expression! Only this can bring the most fun!
Red Rose alone was naturally not interesting enough; since there were righteous ones, the villain Magic Girls also needed to step up, and Mercury was the best choice.
...Actually, it was because she was the only villain Magic Girl senior she knew.
But why did Senior agree to her contact so readily? She had never even met her before; theoretically, she shouldn’t have agreed to such a grand display for a junior she was meeting for the first time.
Could it be that this senior was also watching her live stream? Golden Fox couldn't help but guess.
“...What, after so many years, are you afraid to fight me now, Red Rose?”
Mercury said with a smile.
Red Rose said nothing, silently gripping the magic staff in her hand, and her performance costume also transformed into her ceremonial attire amidst the fierce flames and burning magic, lifting this fifty-year-old veteran into the air, and raising the giant sword entwined with flames towards Mercury.
The famous scene, previously only seen in paintings and old photographs, seemed to reappear before their eyes, and people once again burst into enthusiastic cheers, applauding the two long-separated arch-rivals.
Just as Su Tianqing was about to join in the shouting, the familiar, holding the secret codex, suddenly sent her a message—
“Crisis Event: Eternal Star Realm Rift Syndrome”
“Suppress the Star Realm Rift on Red Rose, find a way to close it”
“Reward: 2000 ancient divine code stone”
...What?
Suppress Red Rose?
Seeing this task, Su Tianqing couldn’t help but look up at the fiery red Magic Girl holding the flaming greatsword.
I say, secret codex, aren't you ranking Ben Hu's position too high?
Isn’t this a king-road style Magic Girl world! Red Rose’s aura clearly screams king-road of king-road! The level of a former hero!
Do you know why the Red Warrior in sentai series is always the most reckless and brave? Because theoretically, if he’s reckless enough, he can smash through all opponents!
Now look at who this crisis event requires suppressing.
Red Rose, the world's first Magic Girl, mastered a series of high-level magic, even controlling her Mindscape World as if it were her arm, plus her color, which couldn't be redder; no one would dare deny that she is the Red Warrior of the Magic Girl world!
“Little Fox, can you hear me?”
A somewhat familiar voice entered Su Tianqing’s ears; Golden Fox immediately pricked up her ears to find the owner of the voice, but couldn’t find her.
“Don’t look, I’m floating in the sky. Didn’t you summon me here?”
“Senior Mercury?” Su Tianqing responded in her mind.
“Mhm.”
“Although I don’t know where you got the Star Realm Magic Core, since you can summon me from beyond the Star Realm, it means you need my power right now.”
“In other words… you’re here to help Red Rose completely close the Eternal Star Realm Rift, right?”
Eternal… eternal what? What Star Realm Rift?
Su Tianqing was completely bewildered, her tail wagging constantly.
No, no, Senior, you’ve got it wrong. Ben Hu just purely wanted to summon you to watch the fun!
Though she could do the secret codex task along the way.
“No need to answer me.”
“Listen, I’ll find a way to trick Red Rose into high altitude later. At that time, you must find a way to subdue her, and absolutely must not let her escape back into her Mindscape World, understand?”
“...Mhm, I understand.”
Although she didn’t understand what the senior was saying, Su Tianqing vaguely realized that something was not quite right and quickly replied.
There will be fun, definitely a lot of fun. Su Tianqing thought.
“You’re about to collapse, aren’t you, Red Rose?” Suddenly, Mercury spoke.
The cheering and applauding people suddenly froze, all looking at the fiery red Magic Girl.
Red Rose said little, only silently gazing in the direction of the azure girl.
Mercury continued:
“More than twenty years ago, when you chose to retire, I came to find you, but you still chose to bear everything alone. Do you think you can suppress it for a lifetime with your power, Red Rose?”
“...It’s better than letting it explode at that time.”
Red Rose replied softly.
Listening to their enigmatic conversation, Su Tianqing's aversion to riddlers suddenly reached an extreme.
Don't speak in riddles, you two! If you're going to fight, hurry up and fight!
Senior, didn't you just tell Fox Fox to subdue Red Rose? Then why are you two dilly-dallying and talking so much nonsense!
Fox Fox is still waiting to watch the show.
But upon closer thought, there was indeed a lot of interesting information hidden in their brief conversation.
But Ben Hu hates riddlers the most! Since you two are unwilling to speak plainly, let Ben Hu give you some intensity!
Su Tianqing’s gaze turned to the depths of her magic space, looking at the row of top-tier Monster combinations specially customized for her to face Red Rose directly.
It was time for these Monsters to make their appearance.
Facing the universally acknowledged strongest Magic Girl, Ben Hu also had to show her true strength.
Senior Mercury! I’m here to help you!
The familiar Fox Fox opened a gap in the magic space and threw out all twelve Monster capsules!
“Bang boom!!!”
The light of magic bloomed in the air.
Red Rose suddenly froze, looking at the twelve dark shadows that appeared out of thin air around her, and her gaze intersected with the twelve pitch-black girls.
“Witches?!”
“One, two, three, four… twelve… twelve Witches…?!”
The astonished cries of people and Magic Girls rose and fell.
Nan Jiayu also quickly shielded Golden Fox behind her, her temples covered in cold sweat.
She had witnessed this scene before.
One night after a live stream in Rong City, Fox Fox had shown her her proudest creation—
“Kitty, look, these are the super-powerful Monster combinations that Fox Fox just made!”
“I call them…”
Nan Jiayu looked at the twelve pitch-black Witches surrounding Red Rose, and murmured the name of this Witch combination:
“Star Shadow Witches… 【Twelve Zodiac Constellations】.”