The Floral Domain and a Motorcycle Ride

Saint Lily clutched her staff.

She now found herself in a Hollywood-esque showdown with the Werewolf Calamity Beast.

This was a battle of endurance and magical power.

For her, it was simple.

She would activate her shield, absorb an attack, then use Stone Aegis to sustain her Flower Shield once more while mitigating damage. Life Aegis would follow, restoring her health and granting resilience, allowing her to withstand two to three hits even after her shield broke, making her difficult to knock down.

After several cycles of buffs and debuffs, she would lose roughly a quarter of her health. Then, she could reactivate her shield. During this period, her health loss would diminish to a mere fifth. Once Life Aegis concluded, she would simply continue with Stone Aegis, maintaining the relentless cycle.

As for attacking?

Saint Lily had abandoned any offensive approach. Without other protective enchantments, she couldn’t match the creature’s speed; her chances of being hit would drastically increase, and she would easily fall into its rhythm, shattering her carefully constructed cycle.

Crucially, her own attack power was too low for her to harbor any hope. Her sole objective was to stall, to hold out until reinforcements arrived.

Optimistically, she estimated she could last a little over twenty minutes. Surely, that would be enough time for help to reach her.

Yet, as if mocking her naivety, the moment her shield shattered and she cast Life Aegis, the Werewolf Calamity Beast reared its wolf head, letting out a roar. It was… even stronger?

What was happening?

Saint Lily looked up, only to see a blood-red moon wheel hanging in the sky, appearing there at some unknown point.

*Rip!*

The massive wolf head clamped down on her shoulder, an unavoidable strike.

Beyond the searing pain, she distinctly felt her life force draining away, an uncontrollable weakness spreading through her.

Saint Lily gripped her staff, a white light flashing as she unhesitatingly tapped the wolf’s head. “Seal.”

A flower seal bloomed.

*Boom!*

The wolf’s head recoiled in pain, freeing her. Saint Lily’s decisive action had saved her from a worse fate, but this single strike had consumed most of her accumulated magic, meaning her defensive cycle could no longer be sustained. Far more terrifying than the Calamity Beast’s newfound strength, she now had no means to retaliate.

Thanks to the lingering effects of Life Aegis, she remained lucid, yet her body protested relentlessly, its movements severely restricted.

But…

The Werewolf Calamity Beast had already reacted. No, with its eyes now fully crimson, it had descended into complete madness.

‘There’s… truly no way out?’

She tightened her grip on her staff, yet as she watched the werewolf lunge at her, claws bared, could she only surrender to despair?

She closed her eyes.

‘I’m sorry, Ruoruo. Big sister will have to spend the night out here.’

Then, in the very next instant, her body felt light. She was being held.

???

Saint Lily opened her eyes, staring blankly at the girl with black hair and crimson eyes.

“You… what happened to you?”

“Hmm…” Red Spider Lily seemed to be in high spirits, amused by Saint Lily’s surprised expression. She chuckled softly. “If I’ve just rescued a beauty, what kind of reward do you think would be appropriate?”

“Eh?”

Around them, a sea of red flowers bloomed, their crimson hues complementing the blood moon above, revealing an eerie beauty.

The girl amidst this floral expanse was not overshadowed by the magnificent scenery. Her presence transformed the wondrous landscape into a mere backdrop; if a painting were to depict this, she would be its focal point, the undisputed mistress of the flower sea.

“Red Spider Lily.”

“Eh?”

“My name. I don’t believe I’ve introduced myself yet, have I, Saint Lily?”

“Ah… Red Spider Lily… could you also be…”

“Indeed. This must be the Floral Domain, a power only accessible after one has bloomed…” Saint Lily could not suppress her astonishment. It was truly astounding. “So…”

“Roar!” The entity beside them, wrapped like a zongzi in the petals of the derived Red Spider Lily, let out a furious roar. The shattered petals, like silk ribbons, gently settled, becoming scattered flower mud that nourished the flower field. In stark contrast, despite the blood moon’s enhancement, the creature now appeared weak, wobbling far more than before.

“Senior, it’s coming! Please let me go,” Saint Lily urged, snapping out of her shock as she witnessed the scene.

“Yes, it’s coming,” Red Spider Lily said with a smile. “Hehe~ It’s not running away, but walking towards me?”

The werewolf watched. Its weakening power also signaled the return of its sanity.

It was afraid.

“Then how about you come a little closer?”

*Awoo~*

The Red Spider Lilies at their feet swayed, harmonizing with the girl’s soft laughter. It was a bizarre sight, the girl standing before them yet seeming omnipresent.

Escape was impossible.

It… it knelt. It chose submission. Beneath the blood moon, the proud wolf bowed its head.

“Is that so… You’re truly pitiful. Is this your choice? You wish to become my servant? Then I shall grant it to you~”

“Awo!”

“Senior! Don’t be fooled by it!”

Two voices rang out almost simultaneously. In the very next moment, the overjoyed werewolf had its mouth covered by a single petal, and then, in its eyes filled with terror and disbelief, one petal after another followed.

They enveloped it, consuming it whole.

“Hmm, become my servant, but not a living one.” Red Spider Lily stated calmly.

[D-rank Calamity Beast eliminated. Karma Points +500.]

[Acquired 1 drivable F-rank Ghost Wolf (can be consumed for growth).]

‘Eh, truly, I intended to do good, but who knew you’d turn out to be my good fortune?’

‘Your body became flower fertilizer, your soul can still be driven, and in the end, I even got Karma Points, praising me as a good person.’

‘Honestly, if I don’t encounter such a selflessly devoted being next time, what will I do?’

‘Thank you for your generosity, amen!’

****

[Rescued Saint Lily. Karma Points +100.]

‘……That’s a bit cheap, eh~’

[Karma Points +20 +30 +10 +20 +40…]

“Senior, thank you, thank you.”

Red Spider Lily nodded at the other’s gratitude, which seemed genuinely heartfelt, none of it below 10 points. This appeared to be a good source, worth cultivating a good relationship with.

With a thought, she decided to press her advantage.

“Your injuries?”

“Ah! It’s fine, Senior. I have healing methods. I just need a little time to recover my magic.”

“Red Spider Lily.”

“Eh?”

“Senior Red Spider Lily?”

“Red Spider Lily.”

“Mm.” Red Spider Lily nodded in satisfaction, a smile gracing her lips. “Saint Lily, I dislike magical girls, but with you, I think we can get along well~”

‘Xiaoqian, help me redeem a motorcycle. Make the logo a Red Spider Lily!’

[Understood!]

The motorcycle boasted a black and red chassis, emblazoned with a Higanbana logo that blurred the line between petals and scattered night flames.

“Where’s your home? I’ll take you back~” Red Spider Lily put on her helmet, then tossed one to Saint Lily.

“This… isn’t it unnecessary?”

“Rule number one of driving: safety first. Unsafe driving leads to tears for loved ones. How can you not wear a helmet? Let me fasten it for you.”

“Eh?”

“Besides, I just bought this, so it’s definitely for showing off. As my savior, you can’t refuse to give me face, understand, Miss Lily~”

“In that case… I’d be honored to comply…”

Saint Lily climbed onto the motorcycle with Red Spider Lily, wrapping her arms around her waist from behind. As the engine roared, a breeze brushed Saint Lily’s cheek.

Perhaps she was somewhat sensitive to the cold, so she nestled a little closer.

“Red Spider Lily, thank you for today.”

“You should thank yourself. If not for you earlier, I wouldn’t have saved you. And that, truthfully, was me deceiving you.”

“Red Spider Lily must have her reasons. And even if she didn’t save me, she wouldn’t have left the Calamity Beast unchecked, right?”

“Red Spider Lily is a good person.”

‘……’

‘The wind is quite noisy today~’