Epilogue- Want to Become Stronger (3)

“Of course it was through hard work—just like you once did.”

The voice that answered wasn’t Tidal’s.

It was a mature, alluring woman’s.

At the same moment, a fierce wind tore through the calm sky.

Roses swirled into a vortex—spinning like a tornado—before Rosetta stepped forth from its center.

“Senior Rosetta.”

Recognizing her, Heilou’s expression shifted to one of cold realization.

Then came a storm of emotions—fear, fury, disgust—etched onto her porcelain-white face.

“Long time no see, Xiao Hei Lou. Are you enjoying life in the [Tea Party]?”

Rosetta crossed her arms, speaking with false warmth.

“Thank you for your concern, Senior.”

Despite the rage burning inside, Heilou composed herself—curtsying politely.

“Have you come to aid the Flower Heir? That would be… overstepping boundaries, wouldn’t it?”

“You’re mistaken. I’m just here to observe.”

Rosetta glanced at the giant octopus corpse and Bai Mian lying on the ground, then sighed softly.

“Still doing this? How foolish. Huimei would be heartbroken.”

“Saint Daphne would fully support me,” Heilou snapped, her voice sharpening. The mention of that name had shattered her composure.

“And you—your actions are the true folly. If you fear aging so much, why not join the [Tea Party]? We have countless ways to discard the flesh.”

She smirked, eyes glinting with cruelty.

“But if you wait too long—if you become a toothless old hag who can barely walk—you might find there’s no turning back.”

Rosetta’s expression darkened—then softened.

“You’ve gotten quite talkative. Tell me… do you even remember me? I’m flattered. I thought you’d forgotten everyone except Huimei.”

“I could never forget an important senior,” Heilou sneered. “Heh. Just confirming—you won’t harm your cute junior, right?”

“No. Because it’s unnecessary.” Rosetta shook her head, gesturing to Tidal beside her.

“I spent a week training her to fight you. Once you feel the gap in talent… maybe you’ll finally wake up from your delusion, Xiao Hei Lou.”

“The Flower Heir has grown stronger,” Heilou admitted. “But not nearly enough to defeat me. To win—”

“YOU’RE THE MASTERMIND BEHIND THIS ATTACK?!”

Nikkou cut her off, raising her wakizashi, blade pointed straight at Heilou.

“Damn it! We wasted all that effort on that octopus for nothing! I didn’t come here empty-handed—I’m taking something from you!”

“Yes, Sister.” Tsukishake drew her golden sword.

Beside her, Frosttail summoned her massive silver knight phantom.

“Everyone still have strength left?”

Frosttail pulled out her standard one-handed sword from her shield.

“My last move’s unusable today. But since Senior’s here, I’ll just support,” Violet Lightning said, smirking as she gripped her spear.

“Cover fire is on me,” Mieni adjusted her glasses, summoning her final reserve of magic arrows.

“Rosetta can’t fight… but I never said I wouldn’t.”

Tidal stepped forward, placing herself before the group.

“You have more experience. We have numbers. Isn’t that fair?”

“One Flower Heir. Five Leaf-rank or higher. And…”

Heilou glanced at Raging Flame and Huang Xing at the back.

“These two? Ignore them.”

Seeing the enemy resort to overwhelming numbers, Heilou finally showed hesitation.

“So cruel… Is there no peaceful solution?”

“Peace? FanDou Paradise is nearly destroyed!” Frosttail snapped.

They’d been on a team-building trip—now their vacation lay in ruins. All four Second Ring members wanted to take their anger out on Heilou.

“Seniors, please be careful. She’s extremely dangerous,” Huang Xing warned.

“…And you—don’t rush in, okay?”

She turned to Raging Flame.

Raging Flame ignored her, eyes locked on Bai Mian below—filled with worry and urgency.

“…Are you even listening to me—?”

Huang Xing tried again.

Raging Flame didn’t respond. Her gaze hadn’t wavered once.

Is this what it feels like?

Words and feelings—so small under this endless sky. A girl’s quiet heartbeat, her tender emotions… vanishing like a whisper in the summer wind, unnoticed.

A bitter ache filled Huang Xing’s chest.

In that moment, the girl beside her—her profile—felt farther away than the clouds on the horizon.

“Everyone… ready?”

Frosttail’s voice cut through the tension.

All eyes—except Huang Xing’s, still lost in sorrow—locked onto Heilou.

“Don’t look at me like that… Even if you beat me, I won’t drop any mana crystals,” Heilou laughed.

“We’re not after rewards. This is a personal operation against you,” Frosttail stated.

“Oh? How scary.”

Heilou sighed—then her crimson eyes flashed with mocking disdain.

“Sorry. I lied.”

In that instant, it felt as if gravity itself had changed.

An unbearable pressure crushed down on every magical girl present.

Tidal stared into the distance, expression grim.

“Everyone—something’s coming.”

Before she finished speaking—

SCREEE—

A deafening sonic boom ripped through the air.

An unimaginable hurricane exploded across the battlefield.

Only Tidal stood firm.

The five Leaf-ranks struggled just to maintain their positions.

Raging Flame and Huang Xing were thrown backward, tumbling through the sky like leaves.

When the wind finally subsided, they opened their eyes—staring at the source of the storm.

A humanoid aberration—over three meters tall.

Yet despite its monstrous nature, it radiated beauty.

Its proportions, its musculature—perfect, almost divine.

It had human limbs, a human torso—but its head was that of a white eagle. A sharp beak gleamed with menace. Its predatory eyes exuded absolute dominance.

But the most striking feature was the pair of wings behind it—black and white, vast and powerful.

Only such wings could have created that hurricane.

Descending silently from above, the creature landed beside Heilou—standing in silent, regal authority.