Epilogue- I Want to Become Stronger (End of Volume 1)

As Tidal fell from the sky—defeated, unconscious—Raging Flame shot forward instinctively.

She had to catch her senior.

But when she reached the predicted impact point at full speed…

Her calculation was wrong.

“—SENIOR!”

Her outstretched hand fell short.

The blue figure plummeted like a missile—hurtling toward the ground.

Raging Flame could only watch—helpless. Despair flooded her chest.

Why can’t I even do this one thing?

She squeezed her eyes shut.

One second. Two. Three…

But the horrific crash never came.

Slowly, Raging Flame opened her eyes—relaxing her tense face.

And saw this:

Just ten meters above the ground, the towering Sky Being cradled Tidal in a princess carry.

Tidal’s face was deathly pale. Raging Flame couldn’t even tell if she was still alive.

This moment—facing the killer of her parents—she’d imagined countless times.

But now, all her rehearsed lines, all her fantasies of vengeance… shattered instantly.

“I… can’t move…”

Raging Flame trembled in midair, paralyzed.

Though distant, those sharp, piercing eagle eyes cut through space—shattering her resolve.

“Unnamed magical girl.”

At the sound of that commanding voice, the Sky Being gently tossed Tidal upward.

The arc was perfect. Raging Flame only needed to reach out—instinct taking over—and she caught her effortlessly.

She frantically checked Tidal’s breath—just like she’d seen on TV.

Thankfully, Tidal was breathing—calm, steady. She wasn’t dead. Just exhausted beyond consciousness.

“Then…”

The Sky Being turned toward Heilou.

“S-stop!”

Seeing her enemy prepare to leave, Raging Flame shouted without thinking.

In her mind, the Sky Being—the monster who destroyed the passenger plane, killing her parents and hundreds—should be pure evil.

Yet here it was—appearing, not harming anyone, even saving Tidal.

Reality defied fantasy. She was lost.

But her hatred didn’t fade.

Even as confusion gripped her, she imagined lunging from behind—driving her greatsword into the Sky Being’s heart.

“Restrain your killing intent, unnamed magical girl.”

Without turning, the Sky Being spoke—then flapped its wings once.

A gust of wind pinned Raging Flame in place—her attack frozen mid-motion.

When she finally stabilized herself…

Both the Sky Being and Heilou were gone.

Realizing something was wrong, she looked toward Bai Mian.

Gone.

“Xiao Mian…”
“XIAO MIAN!”

Raging Flame cried out, scanning desperately. But there was no sign of her friend.

“They’re up there!”

Huang Xing arrived with the others—Second Ring and Fourth Ring regrouping around her.

“Look!”

Following Huang Xing’s finger, Raging Flame saw them—Heilou and the Sky Being, wings spread, hovering high above—looking down like gods.

Bai Mian dangled limply in Heilou’s grip—powerless, lifeless.

“Catch me.”

Raging Flame tightened her grip on her sword—ready to charge.

But then—a cold hand gently grasped her arm.

“Don’t go.”

She thought it was Huang Xing.

But when she turned—

Tidal’s eyes were open. Weak, but awake. She shook her head slowly.

“This time… we have to let them go.”

Earlier, overwhelmed by rage, Tidal had rushed in recklessly—leading to swift defeat and near-fatal collapse.

Miraculously, perhaps because Rosetta had cursed Heilou, or perhaps because they never intended to fight… no one had died.

But Tidal knew this was luck.

If Heilou and the Sky Being had decided to kill… if she’d been unable to protect everyone…

She didn’t want to imagine it.

Shame and fear gnawed at her.

Say it harsher. Make it stick.

With a weak voice, she continued:

“Stop. You can’t win.”
“As cruel as it sounds… this time, we just got lucky.”

Hearing this, Raging Flame’s shoulders slumped—deflated. Her greatsword dissolved back into magic, returning to her soul gem.

Even Nikkou and Violet Lightning—the most defiant among them—said nothing.

Heilou’s power was unfathomable. The Sky Being—a Class-A [Onslaught] aberration—was equally terrifying.

During their battle, even standing in the shockwaves had taken everything the Leaf-ranks had.

Defeat crushed them. Teeth clenched. Fists white-knuckled.

“Well done, as a prelude. You tried hard… Miss Nightmare Li.”

Heilou raised her hand, gazing at Bai Mian’s blank, unconscious face—smiling cruelly.

“Then—”

She amplified her voice with magic—addressing the group below.

“Farewell, defenders of the city—symbols of love and justice.”
“When we meet again… it may well be the day this city dies.”
“So struggle. Fight. Do your best.”
“Overall… I’m quite fond of you all. Hehehe…”

The voice—evil yet beautiful—echoed in every ear.

As the two vanished, black feathers drifted down like ash.

The blue sky returned—pure, untouched.

“…Xiao Mian.”

Raging Flame reached toward the horizon—then let her hand fall.

No one spoke. The silence was suffocating.

For a moment, Raging Flame felt utterly alone—as if standing on that rooftop again, with Bai Mian gone. Numb. Hollow.

Then—

A hand gently stroked her head.

No words. Just warmth. Comfort.

“Senior… I know. I know.”

Raging Flame whispered, repeating the same phrase like a mantra.

“I know. Senior. So…”

She looked down—until the world blurred before her eyes.

“It’s not fair… I can’t accept this…”

Tears streamed down her face—falling like rain.

In that moment, she understood.

And in that understanding, she realized something else.

Tears weren’t just for humiliation and despair.

They could also be the beginning of a vow.

“I…”

At first, a whisper.

Then, facing the direction they’d vanished, she declared—like an oath:

“I WANT TO BECOME STRONGER!”