A Worthy Adversary

This translation maintains the “Expert Translator” style, preserving the dark, gritty contrast between the naive Magical Girls and the brutal reality of the superhuman underworld.

Chapter 14: Now Matching You with an Opponent of Equal Skill

Even though her two companions seemed confident, Yi Ziling’s heart was heavy with unease. She had a nagging feeling that things wouldn’t be so simple.

Sensing her anxiety, Bai He’an continued to reassure her. “Don’t worry. I already managed to wound her that day. I only lost because I was careless and let her close the distance. I won’t make the same mistake twice.”

Jiang Yunshu chimed in as well. “Yeah, exactly! I only lost because I let my guard down. Next time, I’m going to make her pay. Don’t forget, since we became Magical Girls, we’ve never lost to anyone—except for Bian.”

Looking at their beaming faces, Yi Ziling gave a weak reply. “O-okay… then the three of us have to stay together.”

Bai He’an finalized the plan with a firm nod. “It’s settled. When the time comes, we hit her all at once and send Bian running with her tail between her legs.”

In the end, Yi Ziling kept her mouth shut. She still remembered the look on Bian’s face during their clash—it was as natural and effortless as if she were simply breathing or drinking water.

Had Bian truly gone all out that day? Could the three of them really win together? Yi Ziling didn’t know. But seeing the unwavering confidence of her friends, she buried her anxiety deep in her heart.

In truth, Yi Ziling was right. The “Three Little Ones” had overlooked a critical problem: while it was true they had never lost a fight until now, every “Monster” they had defeated was the bottom of the barrel—the “trash mobs” of the supernatural world.

Take the Eel Monster they had recently dispatched; given enough time and sufficient individual firepower, even Meng Shan could have handled it alone. The fact that the girls—who possessed overwhelming theoretical power—still made so many mistakes against such weaklings proved just how poor their actual combat experience was.

Long-term victory had numbed them, feeding them the fatal illusion that they were “strong.” Against a true predator, such an illusion would be lethal.

Later that evening, a figure moved alone through the city’s sewers.

He had serrated teeth, razor-sharp claws, a towering physique brimming with explosive power, and grey fur covering his entire body. He was undoubtedly the target Ran Jiuyi was hunting: Ken the Werewolf.

However, he was currently in a foul mood. The stench of the sewers, filled with the city’s waste, was unbearable for a being with his heightened sense of smell. The sludge had soaked into his fur; he had no idea how long it would take to wash the filth out.

If this had been ten days ago, he wouldn’t have stepped foot in a sewer even if his life depended on it. But after just one encounter with Ran Jiuyi, he realized that compared to death, the sewers were actually quite pleasant.

Holding his nose as he trudged through the muck, Ken grumbled, “Goddammit. Why did they choose a place like this? It’s like they’re trying to make things hard for a werewolf. Once I finish my evolution, I’m making them pay.”

Despite his complaining, he had a destination to reach. Finally, soaked to the bone, Ken arrived at the rendezvous point.

Five figures awaited him, dressed in ritualistic robes and wearing bizarre masks woven from milky-white branches.

The moment they met, Ken shouted impatiently, “It’s been three days! Where’s the stuff you promised?”

The masked figure in the center wordlessly tossed two items toward him. Ken caught them and looked: it was the ring they had promised, along with two perfectly intact vials of medicine.

Feeling the surging magical energy within the ring, his lips curled into a predatory grin. With this, he could evolve. Once he changed, he’d first kill that b*tch Ran Jiuyi who had been hunting him, and then he’d come back for these freaks who made him walk through the sewers.

He shook the two vials, confirming the glass wasn’t cracked and the liquid inside hadn’t decreased, before pocketing them with a gloating smirk.

“I don’t get why you’re giving me the medicine too, but as long as you deliver on your word, I won’t ask questions. Just know—the next time we meet will be the day you die.”

Leaving them with that threat, Ken vanished into the darkness.

“Is it wise to let him go?” one of the priests asked. “He will surely become our enemy.”

“Only if he lives long enough,” the central priest replied. “The one hunting him is no amateur. Even with that ring, his chances of survival are slim.”

“And what about the hunter?”

“No need for concern. Bian is only after two things: the medicine and Ken. Once she secures both, she won’t waste energy looking for us. Besides, we already have what we came for. Our part in this is over. Remember—all actions are for the sake of the resurrection of our God!”

In another city, a white-haired woman with a flawless figure strolled boldly into a laboratory.

She was elegant and lithe, her hair tied in a waist-length ponytail. She carried an air of slight laziness and a gentle, welcoming aura—like the kind older sister next door.

However, given the trail of blood and severed limbs behind her and the horde of Monsters surrounding her, she clearly wasn’t an invited guest, nor was she “ordinary.”

A piercing voice crackled over the intercom: “You’ve got guts, barging into our territory alone. You think taking out the guards outside means you’ve won? This is where our real strength begins!”

Surrounded by monsters, the woman remained unfazed. “I’m only here because you’re using technology you shouldn’t have,” she said calmly. “Hand over everyone who gave you this tech and destroy all related facilities, and I’ll leave. Otherwise, you all die.”

“Hahaha! What a joke!” The voice on the intercom laughed. “You think one girl can turn the world upside down? I’ve seen plenty of self-righteous Magical Girls like you! Just wait—once I’ve got you pinned to my bed, we’ll see if you’re still this arrogant!”

“There’s one—” At that tense moment, her phone began to ring.

Seeing the caller ID, the woman made a “time-out” gesture with her hands. “Hold on, hold on. Let me take this call.”

Without waiting for a response, she answered the phone. A woman’s voice came from the other end: “Hey, Cheng Ya. How’s it going on your end? Finished yet?”

Cheng Ya looked around; the number of monsters surrounding her seemed to have doubled. “I’m in the middle of it. Might take a while. Is something up, Alice?”

“You’re a bit slow. Did something happen? I have a small favor I need you to handle.”

“I found out the local government is in bed with the targets,” Cheng Ya said simply. “The number of targets to clean up increased, so it’s wasting my time. What’s the favor? Make it quick.”

Alice chuckled on the other end. “How troublesome. It’s simple: go talk to a certain Magical Girl about the effects of that Z5-type enhancement drug you researched.”

Cheng Ya refused immediately. “I’m not needed for something that trivial. Send someone else.”

“Don’t be like that. You developed the drug, so it’s only sincere if you’re the one to go.”

“Then you should go! You’re the one who signed off on its production,” Cheng Ya countered, preparing to hang up.

“Wait, don’t hang up yet!” Alice explained quickly. “This girl’s ability is somewhat similar to yours. If you collect some of her tissue samples for study, you might be able to perfect your own abilities. You’re lucky—you just found a way to enhance your power, and the perfect research material delivers itself to your door.”

Cheng Ya sighed. “Fine. I can’t believe you’re making me do this. Send me the data. I’ll head over once I’ve cleaned up this mess.”

“Hehe, I knew I could count on you. Looking forward to good news.”

Hanging up, Cheng Ya bowed slightly to the monsters. “Thank you for not interrupting the call.”

The voice on the intercom returned: “I was just stunned by whatever the hell you were doing. Anyway, what were you saying before?”

“I need to correct one error,” Cheng Ya said. “I am not a Magical Girl. I am a ‘Transcendent,’ similar to you lot. That’s what I wanted to say. Also, as a token of my gratitude, I will grant you a reward before I kill you.”

“f*ck! Keep your reward for yourself!” The man on the intercom finally snapped. “Get her! Kill her!”

Ten minutes later, Cheng Ya stood completely naked before the middle-aged man who had been speaking over the intercom.

Looking at the stunning beauty before him, the man felt zero desire. Cheng Ya’s pale skin was splattered with monster blood, and a mountain of severed limbs lay behind her. Even the final isolation door—which the man believed could withstand a nuclear blast—hadn’t lasted long against her.

Cheng Ya looked around. “Do you have any clothes that fit? Being naked all the time is a bit indecent.”

“Yes, yes, of course!” the man stammered. “There’s a room down the east corridor on the floor below—it’s mine. There should be clothes that fit, though they might not be your style. Do you want me to lead the way?”

“Thank you,” Cheng Ya said pleasantly. “But I don’t need your help. You can die now.”

The man collapsed in terror. He knew the monster before him was serious. Suddenly, grasping at a final straw, he shouted, “The reward! You said you’d reward me before you killed me!”

“Letting you die quickly is the reward,” Cheng Ya replied coldly.

The man’s hope shattered. He wept and cursed, “What kind of reward is that?!”

Cheng Ya said nothing. She transformed her right hand into a claw and began to slowly peel the flesh from her own left hand, strip by strip.

As the pieces of flesh fell, her expression became one of pure bliss, as if she were deriving an immense, heavenly pleasure from the gruesome process. Eventually, her left hand was stripped down to the white bone. The man watched, completely broken by the sight of her depravity.

“I love pain,” Cheng Ya whispered. “I want to share it with everyone, but I know others don’t enjoy it as I do. So, my reward to you is this: I will restrain my desires and give you a painless end.”

With a surge of regenerating flesh, her left hand returned to normal.

“So… be grateful for both my cruelty and my mercy.”