Chapter 10: As a Magical Girl, it’s quite normal to have feelings, right?
Bang!
The slap aimed at Linglan was intercepted by a hand wearing a purple translucent glove. After deflecting this attack for her junior, Xia Mo stared at the Dark Butterfly in front of her, speaking each word deliberately.
“She is my junior. If you want to hurt her, you’ll have to get through me first!”
“Then I’ll knock you down first and then teach this ignorant brat a good lesson.”
Luo Shuangyue didn’t think she could possibly lose to a magical girl who was still healing from old injuries and was definitely weaker than her.
She could defeat Xia Mo, even when she was at her peak; taking down a half-injured Xia Mo would be an easy task.
With such thoughts, she swung a fist toward Xia Mo’s arm that was protecting her, wanting to return Xia Mo to her original form in the shortest time possible.
However, compared to a few days ago, she had held back quite a bit, and her strikes had become more measured.
Even in this relaxed state, Luo Shuangyue was still able to press Xia Mo back. Although she had restrained her strength, Xia Mo was not in a position to use her full power either.
As for the extra help that Xia Mo had this time… to be honest, Luo Shuangyue didn’t see Linglan as a threat at all; a little Initial Bloom-level magical girl who could be captured by Jiuye!
“Your weak and ineffective attacks are so easy to see through. With performances like this, you might as well go home and be a little girl!”
Dodging the magic missile shot by Xia Mo, Luo Shuangyue lunged toward her, grabbing her arm and executing a classic shoulder throw that sent her flying.
After the throw, taking advantage of the unstable Xia Mo in mid-air, Luo Shuangyue summoned five magical missiles, intending to teach Xia Mo a good lesson.
Whoosh!
A white beam struck Luo Shuangyue’s back, causing her to stagger.
“Don’t act like I’m not here!” The white magical girl, wielding a magic wand taller than herself, charged at Luo Shuangyue with a fearless momentum.
Pure white magical beams bombarded Luo Shuangyue, forcing her to keep retreating.
It seemed that Linglan had suppressed the Dark Butterfly?
Xia Mo, who had just regained her balance, bore a grave expression. She didn’t believe that the Dark Butterfly would be so easily suppressed.
“Linglan! Be careful!”
“Too late!”
Just when she appeared to be suppressed, Luo Shuangyue revealed her fangs. With a gentle flap of her ghostly butterfly wings behind her, she soared above Linglan’s head.
Gripping the scythe she had been reluctant to use against Xia Mo, a fierce gleam flashed in Luo Shuangyue’s eyes as she swung the blade down toward Linglan.
“Die for me!”
Clang!
Pure white petals transformed into a barrier, blocking the descending blade. A glimmer of surprise crossed Luo Shuangyue’s eyes; a new Initial Bloom-level magical girl had actually withstood her fury-filled strike?
How is that possible?
“Dark Butterfly, this is my determination to protect my senior and everyone else!” Linglan raised her magic wand high above her head and spoke loudly to the Dark Butterfly.
“Didn’t you say our beliefs were laughable? Well, it’s just this laughable belief that blocked your attack!”
“Annoying, it only blocked one strike. Don’t get too cocky!” Luo Shuangyue growled.
The flames of rage spread within her, causing her to nearly lose her sanity.
The blade in her hand slashed toward the pure white flower shield like a storm, with every strike causing the shield to tremble; every strike seemingly capable of tearing the bothersome shield apart.
But by the time Luo Shuangyue shattered this shield, she had already wasted enough time to affect the outcome of the battle.
“Sorry, this time we win.” The shield shattered, and despite Linglan’s pale face, she revealed a brilliant smile, spreading her arms wide like a white petal drifting down from a branch.
At that moment, Luo Shuangyue no longer had the luxury to continue her pursuit.
“Linglan, I felt your belief! Let us join together and let our enemies know the power of a magical girl!”
A dazzling light erupted from Xia Mo, her magic wand, now filled with energy, aimed toward Luo Shuangyue; this time, she had the initiative.
This opportunity to attack was won by Linglan at all costs; she could not disappoint her, nor let her adorable junior down!
“Behold, the light of our belief!”
A massive purple beam soared toward Luo Shuangyue and, just before hitting her, was blocked by a pair of massive butterfly wing shadows.
Crossing her arms in front of her, Luo Shuangyue gritted her teeth to resist the light cannon released by Xia Mo.
The power contained in this brilliance exceeded her expectations; caught off guard by the force of this light cannon attack, even her strength equivalent to that of an Initial Bloom Magical Girl was useless.
After all, magical girls are incredibly idealistic beings, and their powers cannot be quantified at all.
An Initial Bloom-level Linglan could block the enraged Dark Butterfly, buying time for Xia Mo to unleash her light cannon, which was not difficult to imagine.
The purple glow pierced the sky, forcing the gray Dead Butterfly down to the ground.
With solid ground beneath her feet, defending against the light cannon wasn’t so difficult for Luo Shuangyue. She raised her head, glaring at the purple magical girl with her blood-red eyes and cold voice.
“Your magical power won’t last much longer, will it?”
“…” Xia Mo didn’t respond, merely silently boosting her magical output.
The Dark Butterfly wasn’t wrong; she really was nearing the point of burning out.
If this last bit of magical power couldn’t defeat the Dark Butterfly, then she wouldn’t be able to protect those she wanted to protect.
Scenes flashed through her mind: her two adorable juniors, the brother and sister next door, her classmates…
Countless images rushed by until finally, a white figure appeared before her.
That day, she had saved a girl cornered by magical beasts from the ruins, giving that girl, on the brink of mental collapse, a new hope to rely on.
As a magical girl, I want to become like Senior Bai Ye, a magical girl who can protect everyone!
I cannot fall here; I want to tell Senior Bai Ye, the child you saved has lived up to your expectations!
You can be proud of saving me!
“Dark Butterfly! I absolutely will not abandon the path of a magical girl! If you want to stop me, then bring it on!”
“I will make you understand my determination! Let that laughably weak determination of yours defeat you!”
Xia Mo roared loudly, the purple light surrounding her suddenly deepened.
A brand-new, powerful force slowly surged from within her body.
“What?!” Luo Shuangyue looked at the cracks appearing on her butterfly wing shield, her expression suddenly becoming extraordinary.
A breakthrough right before the battle?!
“You’re cheating…”
The purple magical torrent smashed through the shield and engulfed Luo Shuangyue, whose face conveyed sheer disbelief.
