“We are proceeding deeper into the mine shaft. So far, everything is normal.”
Hyacinth’s voice came through the communicator.
Su Tianqing sat calmly on the villain’s rooftop, a magic light screen unfolded before her. On the screen were the four members of the Hyacinth Squad, currently moving through the mine shaft.
By using a camera familiar enhanced with an invisibility spell, she could observe every move of the Hyacinth Squad.
“Forming an elite squad to enter the barrier and conduct an investigation, that’s certainly something they would do,” Nan Jiayu commented.
“But in terms of safety, this is also their best option right now.”
“Yes, if I put myself in their shoes, I’d probably make the same decision,” Su Tianqing replied.
The combat power of a Star Shadow is vastly different from that of an ordinary Magic Girl. When facing a Star Realm Giant Beast, sending the Star Shadow in first is absolutely the correct choice.
“Then, it’s time for us to discuss our course of action.”
“Rabbit, Doggy, what do you think we should do now? Wait here for Hyacinth and her team to gather intelligence and return triumphantly?”
After speaking, Su Tianqing waved away the magic light screen monitoring Hyacinth and her team, then turned to look at the Rabbit and Wolf duo waiting nearby.
Xia Taotao stood by the edge of the rooftop, lost in thought, while Fei Yelan sat obediently in a chair, spacing out.
The Rabbit Girl quickly spoke: “...Though it’s a bit impolite, I just don’t think it’s very reliable, especially Hyacinth.”
Xia Taotao showed no mercy to Hyacinth, stating her thoughts directly.
In fact, Su Tianqing also felt that the series of plans from the righteous Magic Girls was a bit too risky.
After all, Ben Hu already knew there was a Star Realm Giant Beast hidden beneath Hong Kong City, and naturally understood what kind of Monsters Hyacinth’s investigation would ultimately encounter.
Three Star Shadows want to scout a Star Realm Giant Beast?
What a joke! If it were that simple, Ben Hu would have already sent two waves of Zodiac Twelve Witches to blow up Jörmungandr!
That’s why Ben Hu vehemently disagreed with Inari during yesterday’s memory reading.
“Then let’s take on the backup mission.”
“Once Hyacinth and her team enter the barrier, that’s when we’ll begin our operation.”
Su Tianqing said.
Her plan was actually very simple:
Use the camera familiar to provide positioning, and continuously observe Hyacinth and her team’s status and progress.
Once they confirm the Star Realm Giant Beast’s location or directly engage in conflict, Ben Hu will use the teleportation magic, improved with Inari’s magical techniques, to directly appear before Jörmungandr!
Then, let the Witch Squad tie down any miscellaneous Monsters Jörmungandr might summon, and have Cat Cat enter Black Hole Cat Punch mode to deliver a Cat Cat Face-Ride to that big fat snake.
Punch its big teeth out!
“How about it! How’s my plan? Rabbit, do you want to go with Cat Cat?”
After explaining the plan she had just come up with, Su Tianqing looked at her companions with anticipation.
The battle-crazed Cat Girl was eager to try, and the D-S Rabbit smiled, itching to challenge the Star Realm Giant Beast immediately.
But only Fei Yelan seemed nervous.
“Um… can I ask a question?” The Gray Wolf Girl raised her hand awkwardly.
“Yes, Doggy, ask away.”
Although she really wanted to immediately retort, “I am a wolf!”, Fei Yelan still followed Su Tianqing’s words and asked her question.
“I remember Fox Fox, you told us about Inari-senpai’s memory. She said, ‘I am the key to fighting Jörmungandr.’ What does that mean?”
“Ah, that…” Su Tianqing paused for a moment.
Doggy’s question came at just the right time; Ben Hu had completely missed this crucial point.
Greedy Wolf Star.
This star, which had accumulated vast magical power for tens of millions of years, was Inari’s secret weapon against Jörmungandr in her plan.
But how could Doggy establish a connection with the Greedy Wolf Star? Could she withstand such immense magical power?
...Su Tianqing immediately thought of the last Inari item she had collected.
“Inari’s Glasses Case”
This was something kept in the same safe as that classified document from the Infrastructure Department, containing the only memory Ben Hu had not yet read.
It was also the last clue Inari left behind.
“Then let me see what memories are inside this item. Perhaps Ms. Inari will provide some meaningful information.”
No sooner said than done, Su Tianqing immediately released the memory magic within the glasses case.
...
As always, a brief dizziness,
Then, what came into view was a dim, dark underground tunnel.
The tunnel walls were supported by sturdy wooden stakes to prevent collapse, but the end of the tunnel already showed signs of water seepage and decay, clearly a long-abandoned mine tunnel.
However, the traces of decay over time did not affect the movements of the Red Fox Girl,
She stood before the broken rock wall at the end of the tunnel, her magic wand lightly waving, as if outlining a precise magic barrier.
“If everything goes according to plan, Hyacinth and her team should find this barrier at my location,” Inari whispered, as if speaking to Su Tianqing, and yet also to herself.
“This is the passage barrier to Jörmungandr’s location. I have placed multiple protections here to ensure it won’t be detected by Jörmungandr, nor triggered by any other irrelevant personnel.”
“You really did foresee Hyacinth and her team’s actions,” Su Tianqing sighed.
“Yes, but this is also the limit of what I can foresee,” Inari replied.
Her movements of outlining the barrier with outstretched arms gradually ceased. She wiped a fine sweat from her forehead and let out a long breath.
“Phew! ...Now everything is complete.”
“This is the last memory I leave for you, Miss Xin Yuehu.”
“I know why you came to find me. Fei Yelan is currently filled with confusion. The Greedy Wolf Star has not focused on her; that star remains as arrogant as ever.”
“After our last discussion, I carefully considered your perspective, Miss Xin Yuehu.”
“My perspective?” Su Tianqing tilted her head.
“You mean, you also think three Star Shadows aren’t enough?”
“Yes,” Inari nodded.
“That giant beast has been dormant beneath Hong Kong City for countless years. My barrier only prevented it from gathering that last portion of magical power. Its strength is by no means something ordinary Magic Girls can contend with.”
“Even a Star Shadow, which draws magical power directly from the starry sky, would find it difficult to fight it without a larger force.”
“Which means, only by utilizing the immense magical power of the Greedy Wolf Star can Jörmungandr’s power be weakened to the greatest extent, bringing it to a level where it can be defeated by a Star Shadow!”
At this, Inari looked back at the rock wall behind her, then turned to face Su Tianqing directly.
“I apologize, this is the last information I can give you, Miss Xin Yuehu.”
“The Law of Time limits my foresight into the future. I cannot see certain crucial nodes, as if a thick mist veil has covered them, and I cannot clear it no matter what.”
“So, I plan to use some more aggressive methods.”
...“What method?”
“I have designed a theoretically feasible variant on the Harvest Magic barrier.”
“As long as you transform the barrier into the variant form I give you in the future, and then drive it with your Star Shadow’s immense magical power, I can accomplish a feat that transcends the limits of magic.”
After a brief pause, Inari whispered: “I will, through this barrier, travel to the future where you are.”
...“Can it really be done? How do I do it?”
Silence.
Inari smiled bitterly and shook her head.
“I cannot tell you here, Miss Xin Yuehu.”
“The Law of Time constrains me, and naturally it constrains you too.”
“I cannot directly receive any information from you that attempts to transcend the law, and similarly, you cannot hear the message I am about to say.”
“We need a messenger between us, a messenger who can connect the two of us.”
—“Zi Ying Shi.”
Upon hearing this name, Su Tianqing trembled.
Nan Gong Zi Xuan, the true form of the Magic Girl Zi Ying Shi, Inari’s sworn sister.
She really liked her younger sister. According to Zi Ying Shi, she even regularly sent her living expenses every month.
“By having Zi Ying Shi as the link between us, I can transcend the Law of Time and transmit this final message, which is constrained by the law, to you.”
...“Let us together transcend the constraints of time, Miss Xin Yuehu!”