The Power of Demon Annihilation

“Aurora, please don’t!”

Another magical girl, seated beside her, reached out to grasp Aurora’s hand, her eyes reflecting a profound struggle.

Aurora, startled by the touch, turned back with an incredulous gaze, then, gritting her teeth, forcefully flung the hand away.

“I, too, disagree.”

Another magical girl rose to speak, her serene expression perfectly complementing her blue eyes and hair.

“Izha! How could you agree to this as well?”

“Captain,” the blue-haired girl began, her voice still calm, “did you not once say that the four of us would remain together, even in death? Yilan sacrificed herself just months ago—have you truly forgotten all of that?”

Despite her tranquil tone, the weight of her words was undeniable.

Could it be… are they truly intending to thrust her into Yilan’s former team, to usurp her place? It was a truly dreadful decision, one that neither the remaining squad members nor Chloe herself could possibly accept.

“I merely…” Nelly attempted to defend herself, but the collective reproach from her teammates had already begun to fray her resolve.

“Enough, Nelly,” Ke Lan interjected. “Allow me to explain. Izha, Aurora, both of you, please sit down and compose yourselves.”

“How can you expect us to calm down when this concerns a fallen comrade?” Aurora’s fury, already ignited, refused to be easily quelled.

“Enough! Sit down!” Ke Lan, usually so composed, slammed her hand firmly onto the table. Her gaze, now filled with the gravitas of a superior, radiated the commanding authority inherent to her role as supreme commander.

This particular aura, Chloe had only ever encountered it emanating from Tia—that undeniable, authoritative power. Was it merely a testament to their long-standing friendship that they were so alike? Yet, there was a subtle distinction: one’s authority stemmed from raw power, while the other’s was born of official rank.

Though still seething with indignation, the commander’s words were undeniably an order. Aurora, her lips pressed into a thin line, reluctantly took her seat, crossing her arms and then her legs, her sharp eyes fixed intently on Chloe.

The blue-haired girl, Izha, hesitated for a brief moment. Once she saw her teammate settle, she too gracefully took her seat, hands folded neatly upon her lap, much like a refined young lady. Her eyes, as clear and pure as the azure sky, also cast their gaze upon Chloe. Nelly, the captain positioned between the two, also surveyed Chloe with a curious gaze. When their eyes accidentally met, Nelly offered a faint, fleeting smile. Yet, the melancholy in her eyes clearly betrayed that her true feelings aligned perfectly with those of her two teammates.

Under the relentless scrutiny of three pairs of eyes, Chloe found herself on the verge of tears. This decision has nothing to do with me! Please, do not direct your resentment at me; if there’s scolding to be done, please continue to direct it at Ke Lan!

Taking a deep breath, Ke Lan spoke with a reproving tone, “Do any of you have an issue with Chloe? Allow me to inform you, then, that Chloe is currently residing with your senior, Tia. Tia has already embraced her as her own sister. If even Yilan’s own sister is willing to accept her, why then can’t any of you?”

Tia sees me as her sister? Chloe found that statement rather imprecise; it truly ought to be qualified with “sometimes.” After all, a normal sister would never engage in such acts with her sibling. Nevertheless, Tia had, at the very least, consented to the decision to have Chloe fill the vacancy in Yilan’s team. Though she hadn’t explicitly stated it, the mere act of bringing Chloe here without objection served as tacit agreement.

Upon hearing this revelation, all three magical girls were visibly astonished. Yilan, when she was with them, frequently spoke of her sister. She would sometimes lament her sister’s excessive caution and at other times joyfully recount the warmth of their everyday lives together. It was a shared understanding among the three teammates that the bond between the sisters was exceptionally profound.

The day after receiving the devastating news, the three of them had gone to Yilan’s home, hoping to offer solace to Tia. Though they themselves were engulfed in profound grief, they knew that Tia must be suffering the most. Regrettably, upon reaching Yilan’s doorstep, they discovered the house utterly vacant. After waiting for the better part of a day, there was still no trace of Tia. They had no idea where she had gone, but they were certain that she must have sought out some secluded place to grapple with her immense sorrow. Yet now, the commander was asserting that Tia had calmly accepted Yilan’s passing. How could such a claim possibly be believable?

“Senior Tia, is this truly the case?” Aurora, known for her inability to conceal her emotions, directly questioned Tia. In truth, their hearts had already furnished an answer, particularly after they had inadvertently observed Tia’s subtle, affectionate gestures—the occasional tender stroke of Chloe’s hair, the playful pinch of her cheek.

Tia silently lowered her head, and with slender, graceful fingers, she gently traced a path from Chloe’s left cheek to her right. The ticklish sensation compelled Chloe to instinctively grin, her lips parting slightly. Evidently, no further verbal confirmation was required.

“This is an inevitability,” Ke Lan declared. “Your squad represents the elite of the Watchtower. I cannot permit you to remain diminished in combat effectiveness for an extended period due solely to the sacrifice of one member. In this regard, your captain has performed admirably.” She concluded with a nod towards Nelly, who sat in the center. While her words sounded like commendation, they only caused Nelly to lower her head further. She silently clenched the hem of her skirt, her knuckles visibly white.

Cloaked by the heavy curtains, the room remained dimly lit. In the silence that followed, the mournful howl of the wind from outside the high-rise permeated their ears, akin to the sorrowful wails of vengeful spirits.

Observing that her two other teammates had fallen silent, Ke Lan proceeded to elaborate on the decision. “Chloe’s weapon, like Yilan’s, is a bow. However, she possesses a unique quality. With her integration, your squad’s combat capabilities will undoubtedly surpass what they once were.”

Special? How is it that I’m unaware of any particular combat specialty I possess? I can’t even defeat a mere tentacle monster that Tia could effortlessly crush. How could I possibly make this team stronger?

“Commander, please enlighten us.” Nelly, ever the most composed, was the first to address this point. Given her responsibility for the entire squad, it was imperative that she understood the unique attributes of any new member.

“She possesses an ability that, to my current knowledge, is shared exclusively by Chloe and Tia.”

“Senior Tia’s ability? Could it be…” All three pairs of eyes widened in unison.

While not particularly distinguished among the many formidable magical girls based solely on the intensity of her magical power, Tia’s true renown stemmed from her unique magical attribute, known as the Power of Demon Annihilation. This inherent power, capable of utterly suppressing dark energy, served as the Watchtower’s crucial trump card against demonic entities and was, moreover, the single most dreaded aspect for witches.

“Precisely. Chloe also possesses the Power of Demon Annihilation.”

Huh? What Power of Demon Annihilation? Could it be the faint golden flames that cling to my arrows when I shoot? She had previously noticed that whenever she casually fired an arrow, without consciously employing any specific skill, a wisp of flame would inexplicably manifest on the shaft. These flames would make the monsters shriek in agony and, seemingly, proved remarkably difficult to extinguish.