Plunderer

“…Do I really look that much like Magical Girl Huangxing?”

As she spoke, a white mist suddenly rose around “Huangxing.”

The wind blew it away—and her figure vanished.

In her place stood Lao Lin, grinning mischievously.

“Your appetite’s gotten bigger, huh?” Lao Lin mused.

“This is ‘the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.’”

“Damn it! A trap,” Mengyan growled.

Baiyan realized the deception instantly and braced to flee.

But before she could channel magic, a crushing pressure slammed into her, freezing her in place.

“C-can’t… move?!”

It felt like gravity had multiplied tenfold.

Baiyan felt like even shifting her eyes drained all her strength.

“Stay still. Don’t move.”

A voice came from above—soft, yet carrying absolute authority.

Baiyan clenched her teeth, forcing her head up.

As her hood slipped, a cold blue halo entered her vision.

Tidal, in full magic-release mode, hovered like the sun reigning over the night sky.

That radiance made Baiyan forget her fear for a moment.

“We’re done,” Mengyan muttered.

This was the Field Phenomenon of massive magic release. The tiny blue girl was flaunting the gap in power. In other words—intimidation.

“Is there any way out?” Baiyan asked.

“None,” Mengyan replied immediately, frustrated. “We’re on different tiers. Against that monster…”

“So we just wait to die?”

“Not quite. Clearly, they don’t want my life. They want yours. So let’s play it by ear.”

As they strategized, Tidal slowly descended.

At the same time, she reined in her released magic—until it was completely sealed.

The blue glow faded. Starlight and moonlight returned to the earth.

With the Field gone, the gravity returned to normal. Baiyan gasped like a diver finally breaking the surface.

“You’re Baiyan, right? I’ve heard about you from You… Raging Flame.”

“Baiyan? Hahahaha.” Baiyan laughed wildly. “I’ve already discarded that name.”

By the way… what’s the relationship between Mengyan and Huangxing?

Don’t act so cool, you brat.” Tidal shot her a glare. “That line might work on someone like Raging Flame—but not on me. I’ll give you two choices.”

“Come with us willingly.”

Tidal raised her magic wand, pressing the colorless crystal under Baiyan’s chin.

“Lao Lin.”

“What?”

“Just to confirm—can we forcibly separate them after knocking her out? No side effects?”

“Well…” Lao Lin hesitated, sounding uneasy. “She’s still a child…”

“Senior…”

Huangxing, who had been told to wait at a distance, quietly stepped forward.

“Violence… isn’t really necessary, right?” she said awkwardly, as if pleading for Baiyan.

“Cough.”

Seeing herself mistaken for someone who enjoyed beating up kids, Tidal cleared her throat and lowered her wand.

“I was just scaring her,” she explained.

“Enough. Are you mocking me?”

Faced with their casual, almost playful attitude, Baiyan felt the pain of being looked down on—again.

“I refuse. I’ll live on like this—this version of me,” she declared.

“…Bai Mian.”

Huangxing called her name.

Baiyan turned, eyes full of confusion.

Why did this person call her so naturally? Did she know her?

She scanned Huangxing from head to toe—but couldn’t place her.

“Don’t bother guessing.”

Huangxing gently touched the soul gem on her chest.

In an instant, she transformed back into Mo Li.

Baiyan, who had just stopped resisting, suddenly raised her arm—dark-purple magic gathering in her palm.

Now, more than words, she wanted to express her hatred for Mo Li through violence.

At the last moment, Tidal grabbed her wrist, forcing her hand upward.

—Whoosh!

The dark beam shot into the distant night sky.

—Eeek!

Mo Li screamed, curling into a ball, hugging her head.

After a moment, realizing she was safe, she slowly stood up.

“Wh-what was that for… suddenly attacking…?”

Mo Li looked at Baiyan with fear—only to be met with a face twisted in pure, bloodshot rage.

“Why you?! Why you?!”

Baiyan screamed.

“Why are you by You Xi’s side?! How can someone like you become a magical girl?!”

“And me… aaaa… I became… an aberration…”

Two crimson tears streamed from the corners of her wide, tearing eyes.

“Bai… Bai Mian, You Xi… she…”

“Shut up! How dare you say that name?!”

Mo Li had finally gathered the courage to speak.

But the moment she mentioned You Xi, Baiyan’s fury crushed her like a tidal wave—leaving her speechless.

“Are you here to humiliate me again?! You beast! It should be you on trial! You! Unforgivable! I’ll never forgive you!”

Her face twisted with hatred—transforming into a demonic visage, unrecognizable.

Tidal silently gripped Baiyan’s wrist. From her violent resistance, she felt endless anger and despair.

“I’m… I’m sorry…”

Mo Li burst into tears, not even knowing why she was apologizing.

“I’ll never forgive you… never…”

“Sorry, please stop… sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

“You’re nothing like You Xi. You don’t deserve to be a magical girl. I curse you. I curse your fall—may you burn in hell like me! I… I curse you…”

“Mo Li… I curse you…”

Until Lao Lin stepped in and magically put her to sleep, Baiyan only repeated curses and hatred. Mo Li stood frozen, unable to do anything but cry.

The air grew heavy. The chaotic scene suddenly stilled.

Tidal could faintly hear Mo Li’s sobs and Baiyan’s heavy breathing.

“…Hah. Dying dogs bark the loudest.”

Suddenly, a cold, sarcastic voice cut through the quiet night.

“Sister, sister… no cursing,” came a gentle, chiding tone.

Tidal turned. On two distant streetlights stood two magical girls.

“What? Why be polite to prey?” the red-clad one said, resting her blade on her shoulder. She crouched atop the light, glaring down with arrogant disdain.

In contrast, the one likely the “younger sister” had already returned to the ground.

After scanning the battlefield, she bowed deeply to Tidal.

White plumes, a diagonal sash, and a silver-knuckled saber at her waist—she looked less like a magical girl, more like a majestic medieval royal knight.

“My sister can be harsh. Please forgive her, Great Senior.”

“Oh? That’s the Great Senior? Then standing up there is rude.” The red magical girl leapt down.

She said the words—but her stance, her expression, showed zero respect.

“This A-rank is ours.”

“The elder sister means… could the Fourth Ring please handle this Nightmare Fiend?” the white-clad girl explained.

…

Tidal didn’t answer. In her mind, she’d already classified them as crystal-hunting bandits.

Her silence apparently annoyed the red one.

“Hey, you old hag—what do you even need a magic crystal for?”

“We’re stuck at Three Leaves, one step from Four Petals! Damn it, can’t the senior show some mercy to the—ow! Yue Zhen, why’d you kick me?!”

“The elder sister means,” Yue Zhen said with an apologetic smile, “that a veteran warrior like you likely has no need for such crystals. So we humbly request that you grant this precious magic crystal to us. The Fourth Ring will forever remember your kindness.”