Even among beastfolk, serpentfolk were a rather uncommon race.
After all, snakes and beasts were two completely different groups, and similar to winged humans, they had almost no place in the widely distributed urban areas of today.
But when it came to Monsters, the Monster Witches represented by the creature “snake” were all heavyweights—
Ophiuchus, Serpens, Hydra.
Su Tianqing alone knew of at least four snake-type Star Shadow Witches, each with different abilities, but all very powerful.
However, if these Witches were her opponents, it wouldn't be very pleasant.
“Whoosh!!”
“?!”
Fenrir tried to restrain the serpentfolk Witch in front of her with her wolf claws, but their speed was far beyond what Fenrir could keep up with, causing her to miss.
Cheshire Rabbit’s situation was similar, but fortunately, her invisibility gave her an absolute first-strike advantage, preventing her from being unable to touch them like Fenrir.
After all, they were also Star Shadow Witches. Although the full-powered Hellcat could fight them easily, they were still quite formidable opponents for two villainous Magic Girls without Star Shadow.
There was even a risk of failure.
“Crunch!!”
“?!”
Without noticing, Fenrir’s side was caught off guard by a serpentfolk Witch, and a strong snake tail swept out, striking a solid magic shield.
Bai Lili stood on the lawn, blocking in front of the two Golden-haired Fox Girls who were focused on manipulating the barrier, like a pure white wall.
“Watch your sides, they’re much stronger than those Monsters.”
“…Thank you.”
Fenrir had no time to respond to Bai Lili’s words, so she just casually thanked her and continued to engage in battle with the Witches.
Bai Lili intently watched the three people entangled with the Witches in the air, occasionally releasing a spell to assist in the fight, her attention more focused on the two behind her.
…She never thought she would fight alongside them one day. Bai Lili thought to herself.
But on second thought, she had once fought a Monster alongside Hellcat in Shanghai, which in a way counted as having experience fighting side-by-side.
Although that experience was completely useless in the current situation.
...
Compared to the fierce battle behind her, Su Tianqing faced a more complex situation:
Jörmungandr’s Gaze.
Without Bai Lili’s magic supply, Su Tianqing was forced to use her own body to provide magic, which also exposed her to Jörmungandr’s watchful eyes.
The magic interference from deep underground directly transferred to her, making Su Tianqing feel a terrifying oppressive force she had only experienced from Leviathan or Red Rose.
It felt like a mountain pressing down on her, making it hard to breathe.
It was even more terrifying than the golden snake eyes she had seen when analyzing the whale Monster!
“…Foolish little one.”
Su Tianqing seemed to hear the Star Shadow whispers from deep underground.
Star Realm Giant Beasts possessed complete sentience; Su Tianqing herself was well aware of this.
But Jörmungandr’s ability to communicate directly with her through magic… why did it feel so familiar…
“Trying to stop my advance by changing the barrier structure? What a naive idea.”
“Your manipulation of magic is as childish as an infant’s. This level of magic cannot possibly block my path.”
“Yes… I know this barrier can’t stop you…”
Su Tianqing muttered to herself in her mind, not caring if Jörmungandr could hear her thoughts.
“But I know one thing—I never expected this barrier to keep you underground.”
Everything she did was to answer the request of that Red Fox Girl who harbored a dream!
She poured all her effort into saving this city, even personally designing a dangerous and unconventional magic, displaying her talent with her ghostly gift, just to preserve her full power,
In order to gain even a tiny advantage in possible future battles.
She warned her of Jörmungandr’s existence, doing everything to delay Jörmungandr’s awakening, bringing a full decade of peace to Hong Kong City.
She had to respond to her expectations! Respond to her request!
“…”
Jörmungandr did not speak to her again.
Su Tianqing didn’t know if it had heard her internal monologue, but she only had one thing to do right now—
Before the Giant Beast broke through its restraints and reached the surface, she had to complete the legendary barrier Inari left behind.
To free her from the rift in time, transcend these ten years, and complete the greatest magic in history:
“Legendary Spell—Inari: Future Leap.”
With the magic supply from the main body’s Star Shadow, Xin Yuehu and Dandelion Fox Fox accelerated their modifications to the barrier by several times.
What would have taken a long time to manipulate was mostly completed in just a few minutes, with only a few final adjustments remaining.
But just at this final sprint, a violent earthquake suddenly struck!
The earth trembled and shook, and a deep roar came from deep underground.
“?!”
Xin Yuehu and Dandelion lost their footing and almost fell to the ground, only managing to stabilize themselves with Bai Lili’s support.
“An earthquake?!” Bai Lili exclaimed.
“The Star Realm Giant Beast has broken through the restraint barrier! It’s drilling a path to the surface!” Su Tianqing shouted in response.
“What…”
Bai Lili was stunned.
The restraint barrier she saw underground could never have been created in the current world; it could only have been a Star God from the Star Realm who personally sealed that Giant Snake.
The chains shining with Star Shadow light were enough to prove the barrier's robustness.
But if the Giant Beast could easily break through even that kind of barrier… could Inari’s barrier really hold it back?
“Hurry and take shelter, Xin Yuehu.”
Bai Lili said,
“That Giant Beast’s power is beyond our imagination. I will have the Observers go to the Star Realm to seek help. This is beyond what we can…”
“Just a little more, we can’t give up here! Inari’s barrier is the key to our victory!” Su Tianqing firmly refused.
Bai Li couldn’t understand the persistence of these two Golden-haired Fox Girls.
In her opinion, evacuating Hong Kong City and seeking aid from the Star Realm was the correct choice. They had to preserve their elite combat strength to the maximum extent to ensure they could counterattack the Giant Beast immediately once reinforcements arrived.
And Xin Yuehu was absolutely one of the top combat forces! Dandelion’s enhancement magic was also an indispensable asset!
Yet these two stubbornly manipulated the barrier Inari left behind, leaving Bai Lili frustrated and deeply confused.
“Just… this last transformation…!” Xin Yuehu gritted her teeth and said.
As if turning a key, she injected all of her Star Shadow magic into the transformed barrier, activating it entirely!
But what followed was not the hum of magic, but the distant, colossal figure breaking through the ground and seemingly reaching the sky!
“######!!!!”
The Star Realm Giant Beast, Jörmungandr, broke through the thick earth and reached the surface!
Millions of years of rage were unleashed and released at this moment. It roared and bellowed towards the distant sky, issuing furious provocations and howls to the Star Shadow.
Su Tianqing only felt intense dizziness.
She rarely experienced the feeling of magic depletion; such a strong symptom of magic deficiency appeared on her for the first time.
“Fox Fox!”
Noticing Xin Yuehu’s bad condition, Hellcat immediately gave up chasing the serpentfolk Witch and rushed to the Golden-haired Fox Girl, supporting her and saying with concern.
The roaring Giant Snake in the distance was indeed attention-grabbing, but nothing was more important than the safety of this Fox Girl in front of her!
“The Giant Beast has broken through the ground, Inari’s barrier has failed, we should evacuate quickly.” Bai Lili supported the unconscious Dandelion and said to Hellcat.
Nan Jiayu hesitated slightly.
Evacuate now?
Inari’s barrier failed to take effect, it couldn’t stop Jörmungandr. Now this Giant Beast, carrying millions of years of rage, has come to the surface, and it will inevitably unleash all the pain it has endured over these long years.
Protecting Tianqing’s safety was her top priority, even if it meant Jörmungandr—
“—The barrier failed?”
“…No.”
The Golden Fox in the Cat Girl’s arms murmured.
Borrowing a small amount of magic temporarily drawn from the surroundings, Su Tianqing was able to regain her main body’s consciousness, open her eyes, and take a deep look at the roaring Jörmungandr.
The Fox Girl pointed to the sky.
“Look there, she is there, she will never be absent.”
“She meticulously prepared all of this, just for this moment of starlight.”
“—Legendary Spell: Future Leap.”
“Barrier unfold!”
Beams of magic light shot into the sky!
The immense magic injected by Star Shadow finally completed a full cycle within Inari’s transformed barrier, not a single bit more or less, just enough to fully activate the barrier!
And this barrier, which was barely activated with the magic of two Star Shadow, finally displayed its truly magnificent effect!
A rift shining with Star Shadow light appeared in the air.
Jörmungandr turned its head in surprise to look at the rift,
The Red Fox Girl slowly floated out of the rift, opening her pale red fox eyes, looking at the Star Realm Giant Beast before her, which was filled with surprise and anger.
This time, she no longer wore that mysterious fox mask, appearing in her true form,
Magic Girl Inari,
Crossing ten years of time, coming to aid the future!