This time, the scene in the entrance hall was even clearer than before.
Towering city walls gleamed with a cold, metallic sheen under the starlight, and the air was thick with the pervasive scent of rust.
Bai Zhiqiu glanced down at herself, noting she was still clad in her witch attire, not the pajamas she had worn to bed that night.
“Beep~——Beep~——”
A piercing alarm once again shrieked across the night sky.
Bai Zhiqiu looked up, witnessing the cloud whale, bearing the castle on its back, tear through the clouds anew.
The magical girl, too, made her move once more, using a game controller to fend off the cloud whale.
Countless demonic beasts roared as they surged towards the defensive line.
“They’re here!”
Bai Zhiqiu gazed ahead, watching as a demonic wolf smashed through a warrior’s shield on the city wall, sending the soldier flying.
Immediately after, the wolf bared its sharp claws and lunged at Bai Zhiqiu.
‘It won’t cause me any harm, because last time…’
‘No! This time, I can feel it!’
The wind stirred by the demonic wolf’s claws swept past Bai Zhiqiu’s ear first.
“Bang!”
The demonic wolf was kicked off the city wall, crashing into the horde of beasts below with a pained shriek.
Bai Zhiqiu, having acted in haste, lost her balance and landed squarely on the city wall.
The moment her rear met the solid stone of the wall, a searing pain instantly shot through her entire body.
“That hurts!”
Bai Zhiqiu gasped, sucking in a sharp breath, then stood up from the ground, rubbing the injured spot to ease the throbbing ache.
‘Wait! How can I feel pain in a dream?’
This realization struck her like a thunderbolt igniting a powder keg, exploding with a sharp roar in her mind.
“This isn’t a dream…” Bai Zhiqiu murmured to herself, staring at her hands as the thought crystallized.
‘But if it’s not a dream… why am I here? Shouldn’t I be sleeping in my bed…’
While Bai Zhiqiu was still reeling in confusion, a dark crimson streak of light pierced through the defensive line, sweeping past the city wall.
It was the Blood Empress!
The instant she saw that streak of light, Bai Zhiqiu’s muscles tensed, and without a moment of hesitation, she decisively spread her wings to pursue the figure.
‘This isn’t real… This isn’t real… I already killed the Blood Empress! I already killed the Blood Empress! I even learned her wings! But if it’s a dream, why does it hurt!’
Bai Zhiqiu dared not gamble; knowing the immense disaster the Blood Empress’s appearance would bring to Nandou, she absolutely had to intercept that figure!
Whoosh!
Her small, devilish wings, identical to the Blood Empress’s, flapped furiously, propelling Bai Zhiqiu forward in a rapid chase.
‘Almost there, just a little more effort…’
Bai Zhiqiu soared through the air, flapping her wings in pursuit of the Blood Empress’s trail, on the verge of catching up.
Noticing her pursuer, the Blood Empress initially paid it no mind.
After all, besides the cloud whale, no one could outpace the Blood Clan’s [Wings of Blood]; if someone could, it could only be…
“Stop! I told you to stop!”
After Bai Zhiqiu’s desperate chase, she finally flew in front of the Blood Empress, blocking her path.
“Interesting,” the Blood Empress remarked, hovering mid-air as she scrutinized Bai Zhiqiu.
‘Wings of Blood identical to my own. It seems it was a success…’
“Interesting, my foot! Prepare your last words, Blood Empress!”
As the Blood Empress’s gaze swept over her, Bai Zhiqiu felt a shiver of dread run through her, and an ominous premonition swelled within her.
“Blood Empress? Is that what humans call me?”
Hearing Bai Zhiqiu’s words, the Blood Empress chuckled, revealing a benevolent smile.
“My name is Yin. Of course, some people call me Yinbao! You can call me that too, if you like!”
Her last words were even slightly upturned, making Yin’s voice sound utterly harmless, like a girl next door, with a hint of deliberate cuteness.
With that, Yin dispelled her hovering state and gently descended to the ground.
Seeing Yin land, Bai Zhiqiu did not remain airborne either, as the Wings of Blood were quite mana-consuming; even her brief, rapid pursuit had depleted nearly a quarter of her mana.
Gazing at the white-haired loli, who was only a slightly downgraded version of herself, Bai Zhiqiu’s eyes were filled with wariness.
Had she been an ordinary human girl or a magical girl, Bai Zhiqiu would have instantly latched onto her.
After all, who could refuse a beautiful white-haired, red-eyed girl, especially one who was deliberately trying to be cute?
But alas, she was a monster, a demonic creature, the instigator of the Nandou incident!
“I’ve told you my name. Among the Blood Clan, one’s true name generally isn’t shared with others, you know! So, could you tell me yours?”
“Bai Zhiqiu!”
“Bai Zhiqiu, huh… A lovely name.”
Hearing Bai Zhiqiu’s reply, Yin seemed lost in thought for a moment, idly running a hand through her silver hair.
“Alright then! We’re acquainted now! Can you let me go? I have a very important matter to attend to up there.”
Evidently, the ‘up there’ Yin referred to was Nandou.
“Then I apologize! You’re not leaving! I’m keeping you here today! This time, I won’t give you a chance to go up there and cause destruction!”
“Hmm… Sometimes I really don’t want to resort to violence! But I suppose there’s no other way!”
As she spoke, a long scythe with a burning black blade materialized in Yin’s hand, and a tremendous aura of pressure emanated from her, instantly dispelling any trace of her previous cuteness.
“[Oblivion’s Scythe]… You should still recognize it, right?” Yin mumbled inexplicably.
With a fierce swing of her scythe, several blood blades immediately rained down, surging towards Bai Zhiqiu.
The next moment, the blood blades slammed into the ground, kicking up a massive cloud of dust.
However, this did not harm Bai Zhiqiu.
“[Gate of Realms]”
The gate reopened, and Bai Zhiqiu’s speed instantly accelerated eightfold, allowing her to approach Yin like a phantom.
“This ends now! Higanbana Envoy—Wither!”
A black longsword appeared in Bai Zhiqiu’s hand, and she intended to plunge it into Yin’s heart without hesitation.
“Too slow!”
In a flash, Yin dodged Bai Zhiqiu’s strike.
“[Oblivion—Void]”
As Yin’s lips parted slightly, the flames on her scythe intensified, severing Bai Zhiqiu’s longsword.
“H-how is that possible!”
Witnessing her sword being cut in two, terror flashed in Bai Zhiqiu’s eyes.
Her sword possessed the [Indestructible] characteristic, so how could it be cleaved in a single blow…?
“Nothing is impossible… Indestructible is indeed formidable, but this [Oblivion’s Scythe] also possesses its own unique characteristic: [Unyielding].
My apologies! It just happens to be your perfect counter!”
With that, Yin immediately swung her long scythe towards Bai Zhiqiu’s neck.
Faced with a mortal threat, Bai Zhiqiu hastily leaned back.
“You fell for it!”
Yin lifted her scythe upwards, striking Bai Zhiqiu’s Gate of Realms with precise accuracy!
Having accomplished this, Yin nimbly flashed behind Bai Zhiqiu, catching her by wrapping an arm around her waist.
“Since you’re so unwilling to let me leave, I suppose I’ll reluctantly keep you company!”
As she spoke, a smile that sent a shiver of fear down Bai Zhiqiu’s spine bloomed on Yin’s face.
The next moment, Yin placed her hand on Bai Zhiqiu’s almost flat chest.
“You pervert! Don’t touch me!”
Bai Zhiqiu resisted with all her might, but alas, the brutal shattering of her Gate of Realms had inflicted a considerable backlash upon her.
This made her struggles appear utterly futile and laughable!
Ignoring Bai Zhiqiu’s resistance, Yin, after feeling the thrum of her heart, pressed Bai Zhiqiu against the wall once more.
“I… S-stop, stop… *sniffles*… *smooch*… *smack*…”