Desperate Pursuit and a Glimpse of Fate

Guided by Izha’s magic, Chloe meticulously scanned the night sky, methodically searching for the elusive mastermind.

Only one remained.

Above the dense grey clouds, a peculiar blue gleam shimmered faintly, vaguely outlining a human figure. Upon closer inspection, a dense mass of dark energy became strikingly apparent.

In her perceptive state, she couldn’t clearly discern the opponent’s exact appearance, only sense the subtle undulations of their energy. Though the dark energy surrounding this figure was denser than that of typical demons, it lacked the usual violent aura, appearing far more stable. Perhaps this was the defining energetic characteristic of a witch, distinguishing them from mere demons.

Having pinpointed the target’s location, Chloe swiftly ceased the secret art’s invocation, opening her eyes as her true senses returned.

A pungent, acrid smell instantly assailed her nostrils.

The very next second, a black fragment whizzed past her eyes.

“Did you find that guy?”

Red-haired Aurora was relentlessly smashing the swarming demons with her fists; judging by the robust red magic emanating from her, she was clearly still brimming with energy.

“I have.”

Without another word, her golden eyes locked onto the position. Chloe half-crouched, drawing her bow to its fullest extent. Condensing nearly all her remaining magic into a single arrow, she unleashed it with explosive force, the sheer impact propelling her small frame back several steps.

The arrow, wreathed in golden flames, pierced the night sky. Many demons seemed to sense its terrifying threat and initially opted to evade it; yet, as if compelled by some unseen force, they suddenly veered, charging directly towards it like moths drawn to a flame.

Observing the increasingly dense swarm of demons, Chloe couldn’t help but feel a surge of worry. The magic she’d expended on this single arrow wasn’t substantial, and if it were to be consumed by these creatures, it likely wouldn’t inflict enough damage by the time it reached its target.

Sure enough, just as the arrow was about to pierce the dark cloud where the witch was hidden, its speed had already diminished significantly.

The witch, concealed within the dark cloud, darted out, trailing a stream of dark energy as she left the pursuing light arrow far behind. Seeing the arrow failing to catch the witch, Chloe’s heart burned with anxiety.

She knew she had to act. Now that she bore the burden of a sinner’s name, she felt an even greater imperative to atone and make amends. This attack had undoubtedly caused significant casualties. If this culprit were allowed to escape again, it was conceivable that similar incidents would recur in the future.

With a determined clench of her jaw, Chloe used the light arrow as a guide and dashed after the witch.

“Chloe! Don’t go!”

Aurora, realizing the girl’s intention, was about to stop her when several demons suddenly appeared behind her, charging directly towards Izha, who was continuously casting wide-area control magic. She had no choice but to turn back and continue defending their position.

As she gazed along the sparkling, starlit trail, the golden figure had already vanished into the distance. Aurora gritted her teeth, clenching her fists, and swung a punch in frustration at a nearby demon. Its black head instantly burst open, dark energy scattering everywhere.

“That idiot! Damn it…”

Chloe was merely a Tier-One magical girl; even with the blessing of demon-slaying power, confronting a witch capable of orchestrating an attack of this magnitude remained exceedingly perilous.

Izha, whose eyes had remained closed, suddenly spoke. “Don’t worry, I can feel it. Reinforcements are on their way.”

“I only hope they arrive in time…” Aurora remained deeply uneasy; she had no desire to lose another teammate in such a short span of time. That seemingly frail, blonde girl, once in danger, gave off the impression that she could shatter like glass at any moment, a profoundly worrying thought.

Anxiety gnawed at her.

Halfway through her pursuit, Chloe suddenly realized the recklessness of her actions. Not only was she unaware of her opponent’s true strength, but her own magic reserves were also hovering near rock bottom; even a slightly stronger opponent would be incredibly difficult to handle.

‘At the very least, I can buy some time…’

‘It doesn’t matter if I die,’ she mused. ‘After all, I was supposed to die to atone for my sins anyway… Better to die a meaningful death.’

Imbued with a grim resolve to face death, Chloe continued to quicken her pace. Her meager Tier-One magic was utterly insufficient for flight, so she could only sprint across rooftops. While her speed was considerable, pursuing a flying witch proved incredibly difficult.

The witch, conversely, seemed to be toying with her, much like walking a dog, consistently maintaining a certain distance. She neither attempted to escape outright nor stopped to engage Chloe directly.

‘It was as if she were deliberately leading me somewhere…’

Suddenly, the witch, still pursued by the light arrow, lowered her flight altitude, allowing Chloe to gradually discern her appearance.

Once she saw clearly, Chloe’s heart lurched, her sprinting steps faltering, almost tripping her.

“Xiaolan?”

Chloe had expected some unknown, wicked old witch; she never imagined it would be Xiaolan, a classmate she was not unfamiliar with, yet couldn’t call truly familiar.

‘According to my memory, it hasn’t even been a month since Xiaolan became a witch,’ she thought. ‘Such a short time to transform someone into a witch capable of orchestrating massacres without a shred of guilt.’ Chloe’s detestation for the dark energy deepened.

In the witch’s expressionless face, she seemed to glimpse her own future.

Initially locked in a desperate pursuit, Chloe suddenly found herself adrift in confusion.

‘If there truly was no way to resolve the issue of the erosion,’ she pondered, ‘would I too become like that? Randomly slaughtering humans, transforming into a witch who could smile even as blood splattered?’

‘If that were truly my fate, then I’d rather die before it comes to pass.’

Her body’s instincts continued the pursuit, yet her mind had drifted far away.

A sudden glimpse instantly snapped Chloe back to reality. On the dark street, flashes of combat erupted, and amidst the rising dust, she saw those red eyes.

She felt she had seen them before.

A scene buried deep in her memory surfaced: amidst the ruins of the school, these very eyes had pierced through the smoke and dust, gazing at her. A nameless fury surged within her.

She remembered someone dying because of it, but she couldn’t recall their name or identity.

The starlit trail of magic halted. Chloe stood at one end of the street, glancing at the witch who had also paused in the sky. She drew her bow, aiming at the massive demon locked in combat with another magical girl.

Chloe recognized the girl as her captain and could see that she was clearly at a disadvantage. After several exchanges, Nelly, adept at tactical combat, could occasionally inflict minor wounds on the bear-like demon, but these barely posed a threat to it. More often, Nelly was simply dodging the demon’s relentless attacks, each forceful blow she withstood making her wince.

An idea sparked in Chloe’s mind.

She drew her bowstring, aiming at both Nelly and the demon. She trusted that the more agile Nelly would react faster than the demon.

‘Let me at least be of some help…’