Emerald Court.
At the bottom of World Tree Realm, black qi permeated, representing Disaster Beast chaotic magic power continuously spreading. Vilena, the adult fairy responsible for defense, frowned tightly because the opponent's offensive was actually slowing down.
She solemnly ordered: "Release a round of ordinary bombardment spells to probe the way."
"Yes, ma'am." The fairy warriors beside her lightly waved jade fingers, outlining brilliant radiance. White-hot torrents directly involved the distant shore.
Rumble!
How could attacks from the highest-tier magic creatures be simple? Almost in one encounter, explosion clouds stretched like a city cluster, easily obliterating Disaster Beasts hiding behind layers of magic shields, even eliminating hidden commanders along with them.
But it was too easy—normally it shouldn't be this simple. If Aurora were stationed here, probably flapping wings once would be enough to disperse legion-scale fairy magic.
Vilena murmured: "The situation is very strange."
The adjutant asked: "This kind of aura-concealing barrier is similar to dark fairy methods. Those guys might be causing trouble."
"Must reconfirm the specific timing of the next catastrophe in the human realm. We also need to mass teleport there while space barriers are weak..."
Just as the guardian fairies were puzzled, they saw golden armored figures flying from the lush tree tops above—unique characteristics of guardian knights, representing first-class elites directly protecting Emerald Court palace. This force's deployment proved matters were extraordinary.
Leading them was Julius, who exchanged distant glances with Vilena, both seeing gravity in each other's eyes.
Things weren't good.
Only heard the guardian fairy captain announce: "We misjudged. Actually Disaster Beasts have already deployed part of their catastrophic swarm forces to the human realm. Both sides have probably already engaged in warfare. I received Her Majesty the Queen's orders to observe destiny magic reactions at the border... If battle conditions further deteriorate, fairies will consider delaying descent time."
"At least from the magic power I sense, those Holy Relics completely don't understand truly utilizing relic power—far from it. Estimate more bad luck than good."
Anxious Julius immediately deployed long-range observation spells.
A single-eye totem appeared in the void, mist dispersed, suddenly clear, revealing a massive star in the distant shore.
Looking carefully, there were even star ships blessed by gravity relics shuttling between several planets, but human development of those frontier areas was limited to resource acquisition. Currently Mars and Europa were just forward base level, responsible for providing large amounts of ore to the homeland or directly striking Disaster Beasts from outer space.
Only their homeland, that blue cradle, had truly intense magic reactions.
Ding!
Unexpectedly, the number of awakened magic reactions was dozens of times more than imagined. Though hazy, blurred and hard to locate, the quantity was definitely substantial.
What exactly happened?
This time it was the fairies' turn to be confused. Originally prepared for heavy human civilization losses, result was they were lively and energetic.
Vilena, experienced in border defense, declared: "No mistake. Thinking carefully, I've often observed magical girl fluctuation reactions before. Seems they're quite active—this epoch's performance can be called historically supreme. Should worry about Disaster Beasts instead."
"That's still useless. Now it looks like Catastrophic Disaster Beasts are preparing to pass through space barriers. Once that guy shows power, they simply can't block it."
"What to do?"
"Must broaden space channels." Julius worried enough to bite her nails. "If spatial first magic Door Key were normal it would be fine, but that fool lost control upon awakening and threw herself into coordinate turbulence... This time there's simply no one over there to receive fairies."
The fairies were at their wits' end, increasingly anxious—after all, if lips are gone, teeth will be cold.
World Tree especially needed positive magic nourishment. Human and magical girl energy was most excellent quality. If they suffered devastation, it would be like the tree losing water—becoming a life-or-death moment in minutes. Traitor fairies hoped to abandon World Tree for free-spirited lives, wishing the land they saw as representing cramped imprisonment would quickly be destroyed. Both sides were incompatible as fire and water.
"Wait!" Suddenly Julius made a silence gesture. "Why do I sense a familiar space fluctuation?"
"What do you mean?"
"Most of you probably didn't experience the recent accidental intrusion incident..."
Before finishing, space fluctuations became increasingly intense. This wasn't a form of contact, more like actively transmitting and recording spatial information to attract attention, like scouting stones.
Vilena suddenly understood: "Do you mean the affinity-talented magical girl? I see, Hermit Island once connected with World Tree. Both sides' space coordinates can mutually verify to improve calculation efficiency. This way our going to the human realm becomes convenient. But how does she know it would work?"
Her question also expressed many fairies' doubts.
Space-time, destiny, creation and other attributes all involved magic miracle cores, infinitely approaching world truth—easy to quote but difficult to understand.
In summary, perhaps you possessed such power but without proper thinking you could never produce correct answers. For example, using space fluctuations to conversely contact Fairy Realm belonged to truth knowledge that would be contaminated and difficult to know. Someone might have leaked information to magical girls.
"Not strange—everyone has secrets."
While the two fairies conversed, they worked with subordinates to record space coordinate information. The more they looked, the more shocked they became, because this data was all precious enough to support teleportation arrays.
The uninvited magical girl was repaying the life-saving grace from when Hermit Island was rescued. Both sides understood each other without any face-to-face communication.
As calculations proceeded, they also somewhat understood why the other side could do it. No sophisticated operations existed—purely using domain magic to wrap spatial and temporal magic energy, stirring up coordinate residue fluctuations from back then. The parties involved might not even know if it would work, but tried without hesitation. Actually very dangerous, because you didn't know if this would create space-time turbulence. After all, such magic was dangerous to both users and enemies.
Yet they still forged ahead without looking back—knowing there were tigers on the mountain but heading toward Tiger Mountain anyway.
As long as you did this, you'd definitely feel life threats from space-time turbulence, so fairies admired the magical girls on the other side.
Moments later.
Magic fluctuations stopped abruptly. Disaster Beasts' invisible magic power interrupted contact midway, but it was already enough.
Vilena said excitedly: "Actually daring to take such risks. Seems this epoch produced quite a few notable figures. As long as they safely survive, they'll definitely accomplish great undertakings. Humans are always like this—heroes emerging one after another."
Julius nodded: "So we absolutely cannot disappoint this hard-won intelligence. When the time comes, I'll personally lead teams to intercept Catastrophic Disaster Beasts."
Emerald Court was about to get busy—this counted as an expansion war.
...
Hermit Island.
Around an array pattern stood Hibiscus, Nan Zhiyi and Sakagami Anri respectively. The moment magic fluctuations ended, terrifying reverse shockwaves struck.
Without delay, gray took over the world as Sands of Time slowly flowed.
The silver-haired girl grabbed both's shoulders and rapidly retreated. After all, magic turbulence from forcibly breaking through space barriers was definitely serious—dared not be careless. In just 1 second of pause, they left the affected range.
Crack!
The small beach where fairies left traces completely turned to scorched earth, unusable. On the other side, Nan Zhiyi, who created high-concentration closed magic environments, also slowed magic operation.
Sakagami Anri, whose magic was depleted, tilted her head and fell directly. About to hit the ground, Hibiscus caught her with quick eyes and hands. Just planning to inquire about the situation, she saw the girl in her arms drowsily falling asleep, murmuring at her lips: "Senior, did I complete the mission?"
"Don't worry, I can feel fairies have already recorded coordinate data. No problem."
The next moment, having just used spatial power, she completely fell fast asleep.
Magical Girl Rose, possessing spatial magic, leaning toward defense—arguably one of the top protective positions in all works, combining strong attributes with high pressure resistance.
Using spatial magic for defense was impregnable. Similarly, if making it reverse barriers and work with time magic to erode array traces fairies left back then, it could trigger information fluctuations. To prevent excess magic interference, they used even better-performing domain magic for protection. Currently everything looked smooth.
Nan Zhiyi withdrew Small Universe and took Anri from Hibiscus's embrace, applying healing spells to her. The girl's magic reactions clearly rose.
She breathed a sigh of relief: "This child is steady and persistent. Whatever she's ordered to do, she gives full effort—also prone to taking risks. Must be tiring with a leader like you who has wild imagination."
"Good thing she's okay."
The silver-haired girl helplessly spread her hands.
In the original storyline, Rose belonged to the Management Bureau, later reaching strategic-level assessment. Fewer than ten official girls received that honor. Theoretically speaking, by rank she was second only to supreme leader Imperial Flower, on the same level as Corn Poppy, West Prefecture Begonia and others. Therefore her potential was quite high. Character-wise equally commendable—serious, reliable, lively and playful, once serving as mentor to many juniors. Undoubtedly talented—now Anri belonged to the Salvation Church. Wasn't this wonderful?
Fortunately having spatial magic could provide magic information, or really wouldn't know what to do. Now could only do human affairs and know heaven's fate.
Nan Zhiyi placed Rose girl's head on her own lap while casting healing spells and asked: "Do you think fairies received information just now?"
"Don't worry, they always keep specialized intelligence observers."
"Regardless of how Catastrophic Disaster Beast Aurora itself will be, we at least have to deal with Black Tide—that cat demon form Disaster Beast with strong speed and power, born for killing."
Hibiscus nodded: "Right, it belongs to Disaster Beasts specializing in combat aspects. As one of the direct commanders, it's more threatening. But I also have corresponding preparations for this battle. If you're really worried, I can demonstrate first."
Magic Advancement Stone Fragment.
Fine crystals appeared in her hand, but immediately a palm-sized gorgeous barrier appeared—exactly Rainbow Fortress.
Nan Zhiyi was immediately dumbfounded, never expecting such special relics could preserve magic effects and utilize them—equivalent to having an extra card out of nowhere.
Little did she know system gifts were definitely premium products. Previously Hibiscus had guessed magic advancement stones' strong resonance with targets could temporarily preserve effects. Though having one-time use, high load, weakened version and other series of drawbacks, none of that mattered before improvements from multiple magic types.
As long as she asked magical girls to input energy into that fragment, she could store and manifest it at some moment.
"What's the cost?" Nan Zhiyi was most concerned about this.
"I'll grasp the proper measure."
"Be careful. Anyway, I'll first send Anri to the medical room to rest."
"See you later."
Hibiscus remaining on site carefully lifted spatial magic. Low-power demonstration wouldn't make advancement stones shatter, but if used for combat-level output, they'd definitely become powder in minutes. Moreover, she didn't have many advancement stones to begin with.
Or from another angle, from start to finish she should rely on her own power to advance, only using Regalia advancement stones to supplement that weak spot. Actually she was doing exactly this.
Fundamentally required magical girls' own strength. As long as sufficiently powerful, what about mere Catastrophic Disaster Beasts? You're not even qualified for late-stage plots.
Hibiscus sighed—after all, currently the highest realm among magical girls had only refreshed to Seedling Stage. Far from enough.
Next stage: Growth Stage.
Besides basic 3 major elements' leaping improvements, would begin "transformation permanence"—even able to maintain equipped form 24 hours a day. In this situation, body qualities would continuously improve subtly. General methods and even low-tier magic would hardly take effect. Starting from Growth Stage, ordinary assassination, surprise attacks and such would almost exit high-end stages. Those instantly effective, one-round decisive victory killing judgment skills would actually weaken.
Thus Growth Stage magical girls basically ignored Disaster Beasts' human wave tactics, because weak attacks simply didn't break defense—killing line was however many came, however many died in seconds.
Most importantly, this stage could maintain cognitive barriers, almost living as "phenomena in ordinary people's eyes"—sounded very mysterious.
Hibiscus didn't know specific situations but it was definitely quite formidable. According to her knowledge, afterward were respectively Blooming Stage, Fruiting Stage and Withering Stage. Each level represented life level leaps—truly transcendent improvements.
But intelligence stopped here.
If asking netizens for details would trigger knowledge poison.
However she could ask about other things, like: "Fellow netizens, updated again. I've sent space coordinate information to Emerald Court, but not sure if successful?"
Hibiscus incidentally attached a Hermit Island beach photo. Back when fairies remotely stopped Tranquil Waters and Concealing Wind, a magic strike hit this spot, also leaving space magic fluctuations. Just unclear if this level would work. Don't let her confident search for reinforcements fool you—actually uncertain.
【This water, this beach, consistently tropical island scenery. What exactly does OP do for work?】
【That would naturally be——rising unicorn company Chairman in pharmaceutical industry】
【@Hyacinth: Rest completely assured. Facing Disaster Beasts, humans and fairies belong to common front. Latter will 500% participate in battle. Transmitting coordinate information makes them arrive earlier and more stably, also equivalent to containing Catastrophic Disaster Beast harm】
【Actually Boss Mu could completely choose letting things drift, letting catastrophe further expand then establishing magical girl order on ruins】
【Indeed some fanfiction writes this way】
【No, don't forget Hyacinth has another identity in new worldline simulation: fairy affinity holder. She's actually charming the entire World Tree Realm】
I'm not, I didn't, don't speak nonsense.
Hibiscus witnessed netizens' topic again turning to "Hyacinth going all out to help fairy descent. Though also for self-interest, selfless actions still moved fairies, winning entire Emerald Court's approval"—too exaggerated. Shouldn't need to, right?
If fairies casually interpreted magical girls' goodwill with rose-colored filters, could you really be the good partners from background settings?
She forcibly corrected the topic: "Is there any way to make Holy Relics take on more combat missions?"
Always felt like magical girls were the ones making efforts so far. Admittedly, there were reasons she struck mercenary companies to rescue companions while weakening opponents' tech trees, but you should at least hold main battlefields.
If you had even a bit of use, it wouldn't be completely useless.
【Rest assured. Didn't say everything before. In original storyline, early-stage officials maintaining suppression of magical girls had another important factor: after magic enrichment, relic effect upper limits greatly improved—simply everyone getting patch strengthening】
【In a sense, in eras when magic power re-prospered, first to eat red dividends belonged to Holy Relics, since they'd long deeply fused with magic power itself】
【Think carefully and you'll understand. Just national machinery power weakening wasn't enough for mercenary rise—those guys themselves also strengthened】
【Under mutual growth and decline, Holy Relic power in Mercenary Alliances and military would tower over violent agencies】
【New fans expressing: This cheaty?】
【Can't simply summarize as "lying down eating version patches," because many Holy Relics originally hid trump cards, never using full power. Moreover in simulation worldline's existing battles they haven't used complete liberation. Real thorough life-death battle consequences hard to predict. Anyway never underestimate human official power. Global resources extracted by long-ruling regimes simply aren't what you can easily imagine】
【Waiting for strengthening】
【You're cheating aren't you, reported, don't target my Boss Mu. Angry punching.jpg】
【Going to team-build under Holy Relic fans, Time Priestess fans' charm moment】
【We villain fans are too cultured】
【Holy Relics: Light scholars are already crafting phantom god "undergraduate Time Priestess," openly breaking balance, result we slightly strengthen and get called cheat dogs】
【Alliance isn't weak—after all defeated Catastrophic Disaster Beasts twenty years ago. Though losses were heavy, victory was victory. So leadership also knows Holy Relics hid power—won't move without pressure. But this causes gradually rising contradictions between both sides, instead causing continuous internal consumption】
【Fight then, just fight like this. Fight until frontlines have no provisions, Liaodong front collapses completely, we're all finished】
【Quincy II: We'll all die by women's hands】
【Having them hold the front is also good. From post-catastrophe war to fairy descent gap period indeed belongs to Holy Relics, plus fairies' distant power projections only serve to search Disaster Beasts, guide magic development, act as counselors...】
【Wait】
【You noticed too? Actually what Hyacinth is doing isn't just fairy assistant work? Even doing better—the Church has already established organization】
【As long as magical girls are willing to try management themselves, would it be others' turn? Sociology +10】
【Don't say it, really don't say it, indeed so】
【What will this lead to?】
【Who knows such distant matters—no need to worry. Though fairies are definitely trustworthy, not without self-interest. Moreover must be deeply trapped in World Tree civil war contradictions—pros and cons. No point calculating now. @Hyacinth, we're just talking. You maintain original plans】
Hibiscus wasn't surprised by new intelligence. Actually just from logical judgment she already knew some causes and effects. If Holy Relics weren't strong enough, how could they temporarily dominate world order and become new privileged class after catastrophic wars?
She couldn't help wanting magical girls to reach that level, but accumulation wasn't enough yet.
Holy Relics seizing power and standing at peaks actually represented results of human officials' years of transfusion and nourishment—internal adjustments within ruling groups, like meat rotting in the pot.
But magical girls started from zero—regarding influence, historical origins, reputation, they differed vastly from the former.
Bluntly speaking, a bunch of heretics who should be excluded. Putting herself in their shoes, even Hibiscus would choose suppression if sitting in the same position. After all, established power systems no longer welcomed new challengers. Since I got on the vehicle, naturally had to close the door.
Natural law.
Hibiscus wasn't interested in new intelligence about Holy Relics strengthening—expected, rather wished they'd power.
Since so, plans unchanged—still let allied forces handle large-scale frontal battlefields. When fires bloomed everywhere, only they could strike around to suppress sparks. Magical girls would focus on decapitation battles.
High-tier Disaster Beasts would produce a rare material: Magic Crystal.
Sounded familiar—that was right. Because Hermit Island's previous epoch ruins had plenty of similar materials, with effects of storing magic effects more durably.
Hibiscus felt it was very similar to system reward so-called "advancement stones," or simply the same thing.
This was interesting now.
In summary, obtaining high-tier Disaster Beast magic crystals could repair and strengthen island arrays or improve Thousand-Li Viewing Mirror performance—many benefits, definitely couldn't hand over. Scale and combat methods determined the Salvation Church must adopt tactics striking high-value targets. Moreover at that time, suggestions like "strike Catastrophic Disaster Beasts" would definitely generate with rich rewards.
Actually she'd already gained quite a harvest now.
[Completed suggestion "Risk Disaster Beast Detection Attempting Contact With Fairy Realm" Reward: Small Magic Advancement Stone ×1]
Just now she indeed felt some massive power forcibly blocking magic fluctuations—might come from some formidable individual. Fortunately advancement stone was obtained. If using it as core, should be able to store more magic effects or extend time limits.
Hibiscus understood fighting Black Tide would definitely trigger Aurora intervention. Must prepare for war with Catastrophic Disaster Beasts, mobilizing all resources for insurance.
Additionally.
[Completed suggestion "Share Catastrophic Event Intelligence With Mercenary Alliance" Reward: 60 Free Attribute Points]
As usual evenly distributed to five-dimensional attributes. Almost simultaneously she felt heat flowing from inside out throughout her body—surging and endless, from heart to fingertips full of power. The silver-haired girl suddenly clenched fists with explosive sounds—pure physical strength clearly improved.
Magical girl comprehensive strength used "weak point improvement system"—important not to be lopsided, or would eventually suffer someday. Improving anything was better than improving foundations.
After meditating briefly, the silver-haired girl stretched and moved her muscles, finally digesting suddenly enhanced power, or feared leaping three feet high and flying straight through ceilings. So should prepare for next training.
As for future major company rises, completely nothing to fear—anyway the Church had bet enough. At this moment Jin Ruochu was preparing for this.