The Unified Horde and a Glimmer of Hope

So many demons… is this normal…

The sheer number of demons filling the sky deeply shocked Chloe. What she found even more perplexing was how these creatures had uniformly concealed themselves above the clouds.

Unlike gregarious animals, demons typically preferred solitude; in fact, they seemed utterly oblivious to any kinship among themselves. To a demon, every other creature was an enemy, a characteristic that had significantly eased the magical girls’ burden in fighting them.

However, this current display defied all prior experience. United demons would prove exceptionally formidable, and the magical girls’ advantage in team combat would be severely diminished.

“This isn’t normal. Such discipline isn’t something demons are capable of. There must be an external force controlling them.” Izha’s eyes were tightly shut, her brow furrowed, and beads of sweat slowly trickled down her forehead. Simultaneously controlling such a vast number of demons was an immense trial for her. Fortunately, her magical energy should suffice until reinforcements arrived.

“Are you saying witches are behind this?” Chloe immediately thought of the witches, a group that had never truly revealed their full strength. Yet, possessing the same dark aura as demons, combined with intelligence, they would undoubtedly be a far more menacing force.

“I’m not certain, but beyond them, I can’t conceive of any other power with the motive to orchestrate such an attack… Can you use your secret art to scout again, just like before?”

“I can, but… my search range is quite limited…”

“I’ll guide you to search for anomalous areas. Just give it a try. Once we pinpoint the mastermind, the situation will become much more manageable.”

“Alright! I’ll give it a shot, but…”

As if sensing Chloe’s inner apprehension, Aurora stepped forward and declared in a resonant voice, “I’ll ensure everyone’s safety here. Go on, don’t worry!”

At the same time, she showcased her fists, which were wreathed in a crimson magical aura. Aurora’s hands were significantly larger than those of an average girl, and they were covered in various scars. Her arms boasted sculpted, flowing lines, and her sun-kissed skin exuded health and vitality.

Such a companion truly inspires a powerful sense of security…

Chloe suddenly thought of Tia. Perhaps it was due to the considerable weight of her longsword, for in their many close encounters, Chloe had observed Tia’s own remarkable musculature from very near, even noticing distinct abdominal muscles. While Tia didn’t possess Aurora’s almost overflowing sense of raw power, her elegant perfection represented another unique style entirely. At the very least, Chloe had experienced it firsthand.

Aurora hadn’t entirely let go of the matter concerning Yilan, but in the face of such peril, it was hardly the time to dwell on it. Gazing at the girl, who was a head shorter than herself, Aurora had initially found it impossible to connect her to Yilan. This girl’s blonde hair, golden eyes, and youthful charm starkly contrasted with the black-haired Yilan she remembered.

Yet, at this moment, a subtle tremor stirred within Aurora’s heart.

“Then I’ll leave it to you, Senior Aurora!”

It had to be said, the girl’s sparkling golden eyes were utterly captivating; even Aurora, a woman herself, couldn’t help but feel a surge of admiration. She had always believed her hidden, special feelings for Yilan were simply a unique reaction to a unique individual, not an indication of anything more profound. Now, however, that belief was beginning to waver.

Under the scattered starlight, the golden-haired girl’s flushed cheeks exuded a subtle allure. Whether from shyness or battle fatigue, her delicate, rose-petal lips seemed brushed with honey, rendering her exquisitely beautiful.

Aurora often took on the role of protecting her teammates. The demeanor of this new ally, for a moment, made her see a vision of the awkward yet polite face Yilan had worn when they first fought together years ago.

Unconsciously, Aurora’s face also grew somewhat flushed, though the color wasn’t particularly noticeable against her sun-kissed complexion. She quickly turned, assuming a defensive stance, and punched away a demon that had charged through the gap left by Chloe’s absent anti-air fire.

Then, turning her head slightly, she offered a gentle reminder, “Don’t push yourself if your magic is running low.”

“Mm.”

After a casual affirmation, Chloe knelt on the ground, resting on her calves, hands clasped tightly, and eyes closed. This posture was highly conducive to concentration.

As her consciousness once again detached from her body and drifted outward, entering a state of heightened perception, Chloe opened her eyes to find her surroundings enveloped by an overbearing crimson magical aura. Its source was Aurora, standing firm at the defensive perimeter.

Looking up, above the dark clouds, a striking cluster of blue magic glowed vividly against the night sky. Apparently, that was the guidance Izha had mentioned.

She soared off in the direction indicated.

Just moments before, Nelly had witnessed a particularly brilliant “shooting star”—one that had stubbornly withstood a barrage of Chloe’s arrows—successfully crash to the ground, gouging out a massive crater. Fortunately, it hadn’t landed on a building, or an entire structure would likely have been vaporized instantly.

Visually, that demon was at least Tier-Four. Meaning, it wouldn’t be weaker than her.

However, magical girls generally had a greater than fifty percent chance of victory against demons of the same tier, for while their raw power might be comparable, magical girls possessed intelligence.

Despite this, Nelly’s decision to break away from the team and engage alone was incredibly risky. Yet, large-scale attacks of this nature were both rare and exceptional. One couldn’t strictly adhere to regulations in such a situation. If reinforcements arrived only to deal with ground demons, it might even be considered a dereliction of duty.

The night provided excellent cover for Nelly, who excelled at solo hunts. She moved swiftly and effortlessly through the shadows of the densely packed buildings, casually slitting the throats of numerous smaller demons with her shortsword along the way. The dark, tainted blood adhering to her silver blade was flung off by inertia during her rapid movements, trailing an eerie crimson streak through the air.

Upon reaching the impact site, Nelly found only a colossal crater, with no trace of the demon. After a quick scan of her surroundings, she noticed a gaping hole torn through the second-story outer wall of a nearby mansion. Golden light spilled out, as conspicuous as a lighthouse on the sea, and a steady stream of relatively weaker demons poured into the breach.

The house itself, like a wounded, bleeding animal in the wilderness, emitted an alluring scent that drew in frenzied demons, eager to claim their share.

‘It’s likely there are no survivors left…’

‘But as long as there’s a glimmer of hope, a qualified magical girl must pursue it with all her might.’

‘Hopefully, the residents managed to hide… though for ordinary people facing demons, that’s almost impossible.’

Thus, Nelly had no choice but to temporarily abandon her pursuit of the Tier-Four-plus demon and instead focus on rescuing any potential survivors within the mansion.

Darting through the second-story opening like an arrow shot from a bowstring, Nelly wielded her shortswords in both hands like a dancer. A large swarm of demons clogging the entrance was ripped to shreds, black mist and foul blood splattering across the shattered walls.

Beyond the repulsive, burnt stench of the demons, the moment Nelly entered the house, she caught an ominous scent.

The metallic tang of human blood.

“Help!”