Friends (3)

In shock, Raging Flame’s weapon slipped from her grasp, clattering heavily to the ground.

In truth, the moment she recognized the figure before her, she’d already lost the will to fight.

As if disappointed in its master’s surrender, the soul gem automatically de-transformed her.

The flames around her, the flowing twin tails, the vibrant red battle dress—everything that made her a magical girl—scattered like foil caught in a storm, vanishing into the night.

White light dispersed. You Xi’s fragile human form was now fully exposed before Bai Mian—the aberration.

“This… can’t be real.”

Witnessing it all, Bai Mian’s pupils dilated grotesquely, then snapped shut. It was as if the face before her wasn’t her friend’s, but something monstrous, unreal.

Seeing her reaction, You Xi already knew the truth.

But like an ostrich burying its head in the sand, she mechanically repeated the lie.

“You… you’re Xiao Mian, right?”

“…No! I’m not!”

Bai Mian frantically pulled her hood back over her face, hiding in the shadows.

“I… I…”

She stammered, unable to form a single coherent sentence.

Shock. Confusion. Regret. Despair. The storm inside her erupted in a scream.

—Don’t look!

She raised trembling hands, burying her face.

“Please… don’t look…”

Through her fingers, muffled sobs escaped.

Bai Mian wept.

If she could, she’d wish that final strike hadn’t hesitated—that it had split her in two.

Her best friend was a magical girl, a symbol of love and justice. And she… had become an aberration. She couldn’t face this cruel, absurd reality.

—Move, idiot!

Just as both girls drowned in despair, a sharp voice cut through the sky.

Huangxing arrived, chasing her teammates, bow raised.

She was ready to fire—but hesitated because of You Xi.

From her angle, You Xi was the biggest variable.

Huangxing couldn’t be sure if the enemy had regained mobility. If it just fled, fine. But if it used You Xi’s human body as a shield… A chill ran down her spine.

“…Ugh, seriously!”

Unable to attack, yet unable to ignore her teammate’s danger, Huangxing hovered, frustrated, stomping the air.

“What’s wrong with you? Why’d you de-transform?!” she snapped at the girl below.

From Huangxing’s view, the combo had been flawless—her trap, Raging Flame’s finish. Just as she thought it was over, Raging Flame froze.

Then, she de-transformed—exposing her vulnerable human form to the aberration.

At first, Huangxing thought the hooded figure had countered at the last second, defeating Raging Flame and ruining the kill.

But that wasn’t it. Now, she saw You Xi seemed physically unharmed—just silent, head down.

…What’s going on?

Confusion swirled in Huangxing’s mind. But just as she needed answers, her teammate stood motionless, like a hollow shell.

Looking at the enemy, the hooded aberration seemed just as dazed, lost in some unknown reason.

What was happening? Did these two share some secret she didn’t know? No way—how could a magical girl and an aberration be connected?

Huangxing was baffled.

After a moment, she decided to save You Xi first. The rest could wait for Senior Tidal.

With that, she gathered her remaining magic. She’d dive fast, snatch You Xi before the enemy reacted.

Just as she moved, a massive surge of magic approached from behind.

The searing pain—like standing under the summer sun’s scorching disk—made her think of the blazing orb in the sky.

—Senior Tidal!

Seeing her arrive, Huangxing instantly felt reassured.

Using the time her juniors bought, Tidal had recovered briefly. Now, she had enough strength to move.

But when she reached the battlefield, she found her niece had de-transformed—facing the aberration in a… standoff? Was that the right word? Both girls looked soulless, leaving Tidal utterly confused.

“…What happened?”

She glanced at Huangxing, who shrugged, equally lost.

“I don’t know… B-but I’ll get You Xi first.”

“Alright. You go. I can’t get close right now.” Tidal said.

She was still in magic-release mode. Approaching a normal human could physically harm them.

“Got it.”

With senior’s approval, Huangxing dove down at top speed.

Before impact, she slowed to avoid injury.

Adjusting her stance, she scooped You Xi into her arms and rose back into the sky.

“Phew~ Close one.”

Though there’d been no real danger, Huangxing felt a thrill of triumph.

“Well? Aren’t you gonna thank me?” she said, glancing at You Xi.

But the girl just hung her head, staring blankly at the air.

“What’s with that look? I just saved you, you know?” Huangxing complained.

For some reason, seeing You Xi so broken made her feel uneasy too.

Hmph. Whatever. Not my problem, Huangxing thought.

The air was cold up here. She shifted slightly, using her body to block the howling wind.

“…”

Seeing her niece was safe, Tidal raised her magic wand, aiming the colorless crystal at the hooded figure—Dreamfiend.

Was this the Nightmare Fiend’s new form? Tidal didn’t know.

Regardless, given the enemy’s apparent resilience and regeneration, she wouldn’t hold back. She’d use a saturation attack—vaporizing every molecule of Dreamfiend.

With that decided, Tidal focused. Soon, the normally white magic particles accelerated, burned, and turned blue.

At her will, the high-density particles flowed toward the wand’s crystal. Finally, the once-clear gem filled with deep blue light.

The moment was ready.

Tidal took a deep breath. But as she raised her arm—

A piercing scream tore through the air.

“Senior! No, don’t!”

She turned. You Xi, tears streaming, was reaching toward her.

“What are you doing?! You’ll fall! We’re in the air!”

Huangxing held her down, but You Xi struggled, stretching her hand toward Tidal, as if to stop the attack.

“That’s not an aberration,” she sobbed.

“That… is my friend.”