In the Wetland Park near Changhong Road
The magical girl gripped her emerald green crystal wand tightly, hovering in the sky, her expression grave as she gazed at the woods shrouded in nightfall.
Her deep blue hair flowed like the clear ocean in elegant twin tails, while her dark green dress, slick and shimmering like polished jade, billowed just below her knees.
Snow-white stockings adorned her slender legs perfectly, and the sleeveless gown left her petite, rounded shoulders completely bare.
In the woods, fireflies danced gracefully among the trees, and summer cicadas sang sweetly, painting a picturesque scene that captivated the senses.
Yet when disaster beasts intruded, it transformed into a deadly trap, lurking like a predator in the dark, waiting silently to ensnare its prey and consume it whole.
Years of martial arts practice made her acutely aware of the chilling aura of danger lurking around her.
"Xiao Qing, don't rush. Wait for Xiao Xue and me before we act," came a steady voice through her Bluetooth earpiece, belonging to Chen Yuyi, the captain of their Jianlan magical girl squad.
"Okay, I'll wait for you."
Words were one thing, but actions spoke louder. The foreboding sense of danger gnawed at her unease.
She didn't believe that she, a newly transformed magical girl deemed an S-level talent by Xiao Ai, would fear a mere meteor-level disaster beast.
In the past, meteor-level beasts might have been formidable, but since the Third Black Tide Crisis, human technology had greatly advanced.
Often, there was no need to deploy magical girls; humanity could handle such threats on their own.
This was her first mission, and she was determined to make it a flawless debut.
Chanting incantations, Bai Youqing slowly descended onto an open patch of ground, feeling safer landing on solid ground than being an exposed target in mid-air.
On the other hand, she began to wave her wand, casting a spell that emitted a brilliant green light to illuminate the dark surroundings, ensuring her safety.
However, it was evident that her scouting spell had little effect; the cold sense of danger only intensified.
The silent wetland park was filled with pleasant air, infused with a faint floral fragrance that was intoxicating.
Taking a deep breath, Bai Youqing called out.
"Xiao Ai?"
"I'm here. What music would you like me to play, master?" came the reply.
"Music for battle, not silly nonsense! Do you have any way to detect the disaster beast's traces?"
"Yes, and there are many."
At her call, a small, green glowing sprite emerged from her Green Ivy Star.
Magical sprites that guided the transformation of magical girls were referred to as "Seeders." Typically, the World Tree dispatched only one guide per city. Bai Youqing later learned that the sprite Xiao Ai was not sent by the World Tree.
"Alright, just suggest the simplest one, and I'll handle it."
Bai Youqing felt a surge of joy, surprised that the usually slothful sprite had a practical use after all.
"Deep Abyss Tracking Technique, Disaster Beast Insight Technique, Abyss... I know many!" The small green sprite listed off a series of names like a menu but paused after five or six, looking disdainful.
"Unfortunately, these spells require either more mana or a higher level. I can't help with that."
"So, is there anything I can actually use?"
After pondering for a moment, the sprite tilted its head and spread its small hands: "Nope."
"Xiao Ai, you're such a useless sprite! Just slightly better than my useless brother," Bai Youqing said, forming a minuscule mocking gesture with her thumb and index finger.
"... While I might not be the worst in your eyes, I'm still furious! If this week doesn't include two little puddings, I might not calm down!"
The little green sprite whirled in the air, clearly agitated, yet her gaze kept darting toward the forest with concern.
"Honestly, I suggest you exit the wetland park now and wait for your teammates. Most of the protagonists in stories like yours, who try to act tough like you, end up ambushed by disaster beasts, turning into mere plush balls."
"Fine, I understand."
Bai Youqing was reluctant but chose to heed the sprite's advice.
She, Bai Youqing, prided herself on being someone who listened to counsel.
Having barely taken a few steps, the sense of danger and fear within her surged sharply, even though her path was clearly an exit.
The further she walked, the stronger the floral scent in the air became, amplifying her rising sense of crisis and dread.
It felt like a soda bottle filled with mint candies that suddenly exploded.
What followed was an overwhelming emptiness and silence.
The cicadas' songs that had been lingering in her ears vanished, and her Bluetooth earpiece went dead.
Xiao Ai, who had been beside her, suddenly disappeared, as if she had been erased from existence.
It felt as if she was the only one left in this desolate world.
...
In the real world, a strange creature draped in a mysterious cloak emerged slowly from the grass. Standing at 1.6 meters tall, it bore a striking resemblance to a goblin.
Its skin was a pallid blue, and it clutched a lantern-like object in its skeletal hands, the lantern emanating a faint glow.
Upon closer inspection, the glow drifted steadily toward Bai Youqing's location.
The specks of luminescence were ultimately inhaled by her, rendering her immobile.
As more of the glowing particles entered her, fear escalated on her face, her expression turning increasingly terrified. Xiao Ai's frantic calls in her ear did nothing to rouse her.
"ROAR!"
A disaster beast, severely wounded by Bai Youqing, burst forth from the wetland forest.
Its entire body was coated in foul muck, its feet caked with damp soil, clearly having concealed itself in the mud to avoid detection by Bai Youqing.
"Xiao Qing, the disaster beast is out!"
"Bai Youqing! Wake up quickly!"
"Bai Youqing, your browsing history has been uncovered by your brother!"
"I'm so done! If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have followed the newbie out."
Seeing the approaching disaster beast, Xiao Ai grew anxious, the green star light blinking brightly against the dark forest, darting in another direction.
It seemed she was trying to draw the beast's attention.
The mud-caked disaster beast hesitated for a moment. Compared to the unmoving ugly creature, the flickering green light sprite in the air seemed much more interesting.
Just as it prepared to change direction, the Abyss Listener lurking nearby became alarmed, looking somewhat exasperated.
"Fool! Come back! Your target is that green ugly female creature!" (Abyss language)
"ROAR!"
The disaster beast could not comprehend its companion's words, but it was compelled to obey due to the other's higher rank.
Its bloodshot eyes, glowing with crimson light, reluctantly shifted direction, ignoring the sprite in the air as it charged toward the magical girl in the center of the path.
In that moment, Bai Youqing, trapped in a dreamlike state, sensed the danger, especially upon hearing Xiao Ai's last desperate warning, prompting her to struggle harder to awaken from the dream.
She attempted to chant a spell to fly into the air, only to find her incantation had suddenly failed. A faint purple pattern enveloped the open area around her.
The cloaked disaster beast stood nearby, chanting some spell. Undoubtedly, her sudden plunge into a dream and the failure of her spell were its doing.
Even though she could see its position was only ten meters away, a mere sprint, she found herself unable to harm it.
The moment she opened her eyes, she was greeted by the sight of the massive disaster beast, its claws raised menacingly toward her, its proximity less than two meters away, and the viscous fluid dripping from its mouth was all too visible, filled with a cruel brutality.
Bai Youqing yearned to fight back, but it was too late.
"Am I going to die?"
The thought flashed through her mind.
At that moment, she first thought of her brother, not of the anime she watched the night before about magical girls.
Liars, all of them!
The disaster beasts were nothing like the chaotic forces portrayed in the anime; they had intelligence and set traps, luring magical girls into their demise.
Moreover, these beasts had no affection for magical girls, and her brother's phone contained nothing but lies!!!
But ultimately, the terrifying claws of the disaster beast did not land on her, abruptly halted by an unseen force.
A long scythe, exuding thick black mist, intercepted the beast's claws.
Brown vines tightly wound around the scythe, atop which bloomed a violet flower, its light purple mixed with pure white, beautiful and pure. However, the black mist surrounding it made it appear eerily enchanting.
Just as Bai Youqing aimed to see the identity of her rescuer, a harsh blow struck her from behind, knocking her unconscious.
The little green sprite suffered the same fate.
With the arrival of a purple figure, the green sprite didn't even have time to react before a series of spells forcibly sent it back to Bai Youqing's Green Ivy Star, clearly the newcomer did not want their identity revealed.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Princess of the Demon, Illusory Butterfly." (Abyss language)
The swirling purple butterflies dissipated, revealing a new magical girl.
No, compared to the previous magical girl, she resembled a fallen one.
Her attire stood in stark contrast to the delicate and dignified look of a magical girl. Clad in a stunning deep purple gown, her graceful curves were on full display. She wore sheer, light purple stockings that hugged her legs, with black lace trimming at the tops.
She appeared both alluring and dangerous, her beautiful face concealing sharp thorns within.
Magi Princess Huandie was the last of the Magi to descend during the Third Black Tide.
One of the four great Magi of the Abyss.
Magi Princess Huandie did not speak. Instead, she extended her right hand, encased in silky black gloves, to grasp the elongated scythe of the Grim Reaper, twirling it elegantly in the air.
Boom!
The massive, grotesque disaster beast was cleaved in two, its enormous head falling straight to the ground, raising a cloud of dust before transforming into a wisp of black smoke that drifted toward Huandie.
Yet not far away, the Abyss Listener remained motionless, its terrifying visage maintaining a posture of utmost respect.
"Princess Huandie, welcome to your arrival."
"Get lost! Don't think I won't kill you!"
A cold killing intent filled Magi Princess Huandie's face, her gaze icy as she fixed it on the goblin-like Abyss Listener nearby. The Grim Reaper's scythe trembled slightly in her grip, as if she was barely keeping it under control.
"Princess Huandie, Lady Tianluo sent me to deliver a message to you."
As soon as the words left the Listener's mouth, the lantern in its hand suddenly flared up, glowing brightly against the night.
In the next moment, a strange yet familiar voice echoed in Huandie's mind:
"Dear sister, I know you are in a rebellious phase right now, with your own views and thoughts on many matters. But as your sister—
At least for a while longer, I still want to tell you that the arrival of the Abyss is unstoppable and far more complicated than you might think.
No matter how you feel at the moment, I hope you can seriously consider your future and that of your loved ones. Although you may not appreciate my advice, I still want to give you a chance…"
Before the voice could finish, the pale purple aura of the Abyss erupted violently around the young woman.
In an instant, a shadow appeared before the Abyss Listener, raising the scythe high. Thick black mist swirled around the blade, and without a moment's hesitation, it came crashing down.
Before the Abyss Listener died, it emitted not a single cry of despair.
Its gaze remained fixed on Magi Princess Huandie, a look that seemed to mock yet also show pity, ultimately transforming into a thick wisp of black smoke that flowed into the dense black mist surrounding the Grim Reaper's scythe.
As the scythe's entwining vines held violet blooms, a subtle change occurred: the purple deepened slightly, while the pale white diminished.