Epilogue- Want to Become Stronger (2)

“It’s definitely her. That’s Bai Mian.”

Even without seeing the light-brown cloak clearly, You Xi knew—she could feel her friend’s presence like a whisper in her soul.

“Wait—wait!”

Seeing Raging Flame dive recklessly toward the ground, Huang Xing instinctively reached for her arm.

“Don’t go! The one who took Bai Mian… she’s definitely still around—”

The words “She’s nearby” never left her lips.

Raging Flame had already shot forward, trailing fire.

Huang Xing hadn’t witnessed what happened after Heilou abducted Bai Mian. But from Senior Tidal’s account, the silver-haired girl was overwhelmingly strong—even Tidal had been utterly defeated.

“…You idiot… That’s an opponent even Senior couldn’t beat!”

Torn between fear and loyalty, Huang Xing stomped her foot in frustration.

“I can’t stand you!”

Gritting her teeth, she followed the red streak into the sky.

“…It really is you, Xiao Mian!”

The moment the girl on the ground turned her head, Raging Flame confirmed it.

“Hold on—I’m coming to save you!”

She accelerated downward.

But then—she saw Bai Mian’s mouth moving. Shouting something.

Too far away. Her voice didn’t reach.

A flicker of doubt.

Then—

A swirling black mist appeared before her, blocking her path. It shifted shape constantly—gathering, dispersing—like a living thing.

Raging Flame sensed danger.

But she didn’t care.

Her best friend was right there.

She raised her greatsword, aiming the tip at the mist.

“Get out of my way!”

“Stop! You idiot! Don’t go!”

Huang Xing’s desperate cries grew faint behind her.

But Raging Flame was beyond reason now. She would charge through—shatter the mist, break through no matter what.

“——?!”

Just before impact—a sudden, violent force slammed into her side, knocking her off course.

Before she could react, a cold, clear voice cut through the air:

“Are you trying to die?”

“S-Senior!?”

Raging Flame looked up—only to meet Tidal’s furious, scolding gaze.

“……”

She shrank back instantly.

Since their first meeting, she’d never seen Tidal so visibly angry.

Tidal kept dragging her by the collar, flying higher. To her relief, the black mist didn’t pursue.

Only when they were twenty meters away did she release her grip, pushing Raging Flame aside.

“Senior!”
“Go back. Stay with the others.”

Tidal held out a hand, stopping Raging Flame from approaching.

“But…”

Raging Flame tried to speak—but one stern look silenced her.

What should I do?

Should I just obey and leave? But what about Xiao Mian?

She glanced at Bai Mian below—worry filling her eyes. Then back at Tidal, her expression turning pitiful, almost pleading.

“Senior…”

“Alright, alright… I get it.”

Unable to maintain her stern act under that look—half-sulking, half-begging—Tidal sighed. She softened her tone.

“I’ll deal with the enemy first. Then I’ll save your friend. Okay?”

“…Okay.”

Raging Flame nodded obediently. By then, Huang Xing had arrived too.

After one last glance at Bai Mian, they reluctantly retreated together.

Once they were safely away, Tidal raised her magic wand, eyes locked on the black mist.

It began to shift—expanding, reshaping—until it formed a massive silhouette against the sky.

From within, a melodic voice echoed:

“Heir of the Flower… we meet again.”

“Yeah. This time, I’m here to defeat you,” Tidal said flatly.

“…Of course. If you leave quietly now, I won’t stop you,” she added.

“Oh? Is that so?” Heilou chuckled.

As the black mass unfolded, the sky darkened—as if the sun itself had been swallowed.

“You know… I don’t hold onto memories much.”

With those words, [Fallen Heaven’s Wings] began to disintegrate—feathers scattering like ash.

Then, reanimated by magic, the blades regrouped—forming a dense, razor-sharp cloud that drifted toward Tidal.

“I told you before, didn’t I? I hoped to see a stronger you next time.”

Her voice was calm—almost playful.

“What I meant was… if you haven’t grown strong enough… it’s better not to appear before me again.”

“Because… you might really die.”

Heilou extended her hand toward Tidal—palm open, then slowly curling into a fist.

“—Wild Bite.”

At her command, the slow-moving cloud transformed—rushing forward like a hunting hound.

“If that’s all you’ve got… then there’s nothing to fear.”

Over the past three days—from Thursday until now—Tidal had faced similar attacks dozens, hundreds of times in Rosetta’s brutal training.

Now, as the black storm surged toward her, she didn’t dodge.

Instead, she raised her magic wand.

The colorless crystal filled with blue light—then, in an instant, heated to a blazing, molten orange-yellow.

—WHOOSH!

A searing beam erupted—piercing the black mist cleanly—and continuing onward, aimed straight at Heilou behind it.

Heilou twisted her body sideways—barely avoiding the beam.

“What?”

That evasion—pure instinct, honed over years of combat.

When facing Tidal’s attack, Heilou hadn’t thought “block.”

She’d instinctively chosen “dodge.”

That alone proved her mind had classified this strike as unblockable.

“I see…”

Understanding this, Heilou smiled—her ruby-red eyes gleaming with excitement.

This blue magical girl had changed completely since their last fight.

How?

“Impressive. In just a few days… how did you grow so strong?”