The Heir of Flowers

Blades and resilience clashed relentlessly.

The black nodachi cut through the air, each strike against Tidal’s shield sending shockwaves rippling outward—whirlwinds spiraling, shaking the trees of the park with a rustling chorus.

“Damn it… damn it… DAMN IT!”

Like a rabid hound refusing to let go, Eru pressed forward, teeth bared. Yet no matter how hard she swung, her blade couldn’t even graze a single strand of Tidal’s hair.

Just break it!

Eru gritted her teeth, glaring at the tiny blue girl with pure hatred.

“I’ll kill you!”

But the one at the eye of the storm didn’t so much as glance at her.

Tidal remained turned slightly sideways, her expression grave as she stared toward the distant overpass. It was clear—her real battlefield wasn’t here at all.

This detachment only enraged Eru further.

“Fine then…”

Eru made up her mind. She halted her assault and stepped back twice.

Historically, Flower Duels rarely ended in injury. Most magical girls respected the unspoken rule: fight for pride, not blood.

But now, fury had overwhelmed Eru’s already volatile mind.

She was about to break that rule.

Magic particles around her began rapidly purifying, compressing—a telltale sign a magical girl was preparing to fight for real.

“…Sister, that’s enough. You’re crossing the line.”

Yue Zhen stepped forward urgently, trying to stop her.

“Shut up! If you try to stop me, I’ll cut you down too!”

Eru shoved her sister’s warning aside. Then, she poured every last drop of her remaining magic into her nodachi.

A stench of scorched metal filled the air.

At some point, the black blade had turned translucent red—like a freshly forged branding iron pulled from the furnace.

Surrounding steam, unable to withstand the heat, evaporated instantly into wisps of white mist, rising into the night sky.

“You old hag—I’ll see how cocky you are now!”

Eru swung her crimson blade. Where it passed, the air itself seemed scarred with red trails.

“…?”

Finally, sensing true danger, Tidal shifted her attention back to the duel.

Facing the blazing weapon, she spoke calmly:

“It’s time.”

“What? Now?”

Eru had expected either fear or mockery. Instead, Tidal offered a bizarre ceasefire declaration.

“I mean,” Tidal said, pointing toward the overpass, “this isn’t the time for us to be fighting each other.”

“Don’t screw with me!” Eru roared. “Even if you beg now, I won’t stop!”

“Oh. Is that so?”

Tidal sighed.

So this sister was different—unlike Yue Zhen, she wasn’t someone words could reach.

Now that she understood that, the rest was simple.

She raised her magic wand.

Since the duel began, this was the first time Tidal had drawn her weapon.

She had no interest in beating up children.

But for a bratty, out-of-control kid? Sure. She wouldn’t mind playing parent for a minute.

“Great Senior… please show mercy. Flower Duels are meant to end gracefully.”

Knowing she couldn’t stop what was coming, Yue Zhen could only plead on her sister’s behalf.

“Don’t worry,” Tidal assured her. “I don’t plan to kill her.”

In that instant, Eru let out a thunderous roar.

Driven by blind rage, she charged forward, swinging her weapon like a meteor.

“Power level… should be just about right here.”

Tidal murmured to herself.

Honestly, for her now, not killing an opponent was far harder than doing it.

—Whoosh!

A beam the thickness of a wrist shot from the colorless crystal.

“…?!?”

From Eru’s perspective, all she saw was a flash of light from Tidal’s wand.

Then—like being sucked into another dimension—her consciousness flickered out for several seconds.

When her vision returned, Eru saw the clear night sky above.

Memories flooded back.

She remembered—the beam had struck her nodachi.

Her soul weapon, overloaded, shattered into magic particles and dissolved into the air.

My soul weapon… destroyed?

It had been three years since she became a magical girl. Eru had never even imagined such a thing was possible.

“Sister… it’s over. Let’s go home.”

Yue Zhen approached, offering a hand to the fallen Eru.

How could this happen…?

Humiliation. Despair. The loss of her soul weapon.

Emotions crashed over Eru like waves.

Her nose stung. The night sky blurred before her eyes.

“Wahhh…”

First came quiet sobs. Then, without shame, Eru burst into loud, wailing tears.

“How is this fair?! Why is this old hag so strong?!”

She cried, pounding the ground.

“What kind of Flower Duel is this?! It’s just bullying! Waaaaah!”

Seeing this, Yue Zhen’s face twisted in embarrassment. She rushed to help her sister up—only for Eru to thrash like a child denied a toy, kicking and rolling across the dirt.

“I don’t wanna! My sword’s gone! Give it back! Compensate me!”

“It can be repaired, Sister…”

As soon as Yue Zhen grabbed her arm, Eru yanked free.

“This is unfair! I don’t want it! How can someone be this strong?! How am I supposed to win?!”

“…”

Watching her opponent sob uncontrollably, Tidal felt a pang of guilt. Sure, Eru was rude—but still. Beating up a crying kid? That wasn’t cool.

“U-uh… is she okay?” Tidal cautiously approached.

“Don’t come any closer!” Yue Zhen snapped.

One sister wailing on the ground like a tantrum-throwing toddler. The Great Senior inching closer.

Yue Zhen covered her face, ears burning red with embarrassment.

“Please… don’t look,” she begged.

“My sword! My beautiful sword! You bully! I’m reporting you to Magic Kingdom! I’ll sue you for harassment! Waaah!”

Everyone—Lao Lin, Mo Li, even the unconscious Baiyan—was utterly speechless.

They stood in stunned silence, watching Eru writhe on the ground like a slippery eel.

“Enough! Sister!”

Unable to take it anymore, Yue Zhen used magic to subdue Eru, then forcibly de-transformed her.

White light flashed.

Eru’s magical girl form vanished.

Before them stood a small girl with twin tails, face smeared with tears—pitiful, helpless. Impossible to reconcile with the fierce warrior from moments ago.

“I’m so sorry everyone had to see that…”

Yue Zhen gave a deep bow, then hoisted her sister onto her back.

Eru continued whimpering, muttering curses under her breath.

“In any case… the Fourth Ring has lost. As agreed, the Nightmare Fiend is yours. Goodbye.”

With that, Yue Zhen carried Eru away—vanishing into the night like she was fleeing a crime scene.

After the chaos settled, Tidal didn’t relax.

Because she knew—the real trouble was just beginning.

“Lao Lin.”

She glanced at him. He nodded, leapt onto Mo Li’s shoulder, and whispered something in her ear.

Mo Li’s face paled. She looked at Tidal with deep concern.

“Senior…”

“I’ll be fine. You two leave. Now.”

“But… but…”

Mo Li bit her lip, then fell silent. She walked away slowly, glancing back again and again—until Tidal was just a shadow in the dark.

Soon, the park was empty—just Tidal and the sleeping Baiyan.

The farce was over. Night returned to its quiet stillness.

“Been watching long enough. Aren’t you going to come out?”

Tidal took a deep breath and called into the darkness behind her.

Wind stirred. And with it, a soft, mocking laugh drifted through the air.

“How was it? Enjoy playing with the kids, Senior?”

A figure emerged—holding a parasol, exuding calm elegance.

Colder than moonlight. Deeper than shadow.

“No… I should call you properly.”

Tidal turned fully, voice steady.

“…Heir of the Flowers.”