Impossible!
With Kelly's rhetorical question, Xiang Yunwei and Nelu became even more confused. Logically, domain magic could indeed be deployed first to trap opponents—a combat method unique to this type against others. But when the same types simultaneously deployed Domain Seal, they'd definitely clash like explosive detonation.
After eliminating all impossibilities, only one option remained: Domain Projection had wrapped around Domain Seal.
At the same time, El Dorado's dome cracked and peeled fragments, reflecting beyond it a fisheye lens view of a classroom—or rather, more like the interview room from earlier.
Seeing this, Nelu covered her face with a smile: "Impressive enough. I thought I was very vigilant, but your Church is indeed professional."
As fellow domain magic users, she understood most clearly that victory was decided. If she mastered projection, she could return to direct confrontation, but she didn't. So opponents could directly shatter domain edges from outside—the reason they didn't was to avoid backlash damage while giving newcomers opportunities to release suppressed magic. Nelu appreciated this kindness and simply meditated in place to adjust magical circulation.
Xiang Yunwei murmured: "This is Seedling Stage operational level. For life sublimation's required 2 elements, you've achieved half."
"I want to use stronger power to repay my companions."
Kelly had always hated how the weak little girl she once was yielded to mercenary company pressure and even helped them. Though everyone let bygones be bygones, she wouldn't let go—this unwillingness became driving force for advancement.
Magical Girl Iris wanted to stand independently. After catastrophe war baptism, she'd found a new path.
This surprise attack to suppress newcomers' magic and avoid rampage risks drew inspiration from Senior Dandelion—specifically "how to gain domain combat advantage against roughly equal or stronger beings." The approach was first imprison, then defeat, with specific operations using maximum-degree domain projection to deceive and cover ultra-large ranges through surprise attacks.
What scene would the Small Universe domain expanded to its limits present? Unimaginable, yet from Dandelion's words and manner, she still felt unable to contain hypothetical enemies. Catastrophic Disaster Beasts?
Just as Kelly pondered, opposite Nelu had already adjusted from the surprise attack, making magic tend toward stability, while Char also recovered from her money-obsessed state.
"Well done."
"I made a fool of myself—quite difficult to suppress on my own."
"But I still don't understand why you can use fake gold coins. Could you explain if it's convenient?"
Nelu manifested a handful of gold coins from thin air, casually flipping them at her fingertips: "I said life forms attracted to gold gradually transform into gold—equivalent to petrification dormancy. Similarly, applying magical power to some stones can briefly manifest golden properties."
"Right, there should be limiting conditions. Otherwise you could single-handedly destroy the gold standard economy—that turbulence would probably rival successful Catastrophic Disaster Beast invasion."
"Moreover, my maintenance time is very short—I've just reached Triple Awakening."
Before finishing, Nelu proactively withdrew El Dorado domain. Otherwise, forcing it until natural collapse would feed back certain damage—not a pleasant feeling.
Kelly suggested: "Domain scale, intensity, and effects are all good, but you should have seen Senior Dandelion and others' combat footage, right? Domain magic can shapeshift, control interior, external compression... This aspect still needs training. Of course, can't blame you—after all, you lack systematic training."
"So I can join?"
"Of course. The Church welcomes every member dedicated to guarding civilization and maintaining ethnic group interests."
The two girls shook hands tightly, dropping their guard.
"Still quite dizzy." Char, seeing surroundings return to the interview room, scratched her head. "But it feels nice—like traveling in some wonder. Miss Nelu, your magic is very interesting."
"...Most people would say I'm mentally ill or a fraud. This is the first time I've heard such an evaluation."
Xiang Yunwei helped support Char while checking her phone: "Headquarters sent news—collective dinner is about to start. We can't be absent. Let's teleport."
Hearing this, Nelu looked completely confused about the meaning but still followed the two workplace seniors, leaving headquarters and driving to a private island off Ningfeng Harbor coast: Fireworks Island. The bright Five-Color Narcissus Company logo proved ownership, yet it was more secluded than imagined. Despite complete facilities like helipads, garages, manors, ports, it lacked vitality—quite the luxurious atmosphere of tycoons buying big toys then abandoning them.
She arrived directly at a basement beneath an old military base site, clearly carved with totems.
Kelly proactively explained: "Spatial relic, Thousand-Li Viewing Mirror, helps us travel freely between different cities. But no amount of explanation beats firsthand experience. Get ready—"
Though words were warning, the teleportation array had already activated. Immediately Nelu felt like being thrown into a washing machine—topsy-turvy and dizzy beyond measure.
Buzz!
After harsh buzzing, the group arrived at palm tree beaches.
Even Magical Girl Water Lily's constitution left her shaking her head from the first teleportation experience, barely surveying surroundings—clearly a grand party scene with fragrant aromas everywhere.
Looking closer, much livelier than imagined: the famous Hyacinth surrounded by deceleration fields was playing eagle-catches-chicks with companions. Once caught, they'd freeze frame-by-frame for photo sessions—clearly a chase game playing out on the beach.
Using publicly recognized strongest magic that made countless people tremble sleeplessly for "statue" games was indeed novel.
On the other side, a golden dragon in the sky carried those below Triple Awakening for cloud-riding flight experiences, causing loud exclamations.
The chattering scene left Nelu stunned—expecting some serious meeting but finding an amusement park instead.
This counted as a unique game belonging to Magical Girls. Indeed, for a Church averaging under 20 years old, playing around was more suitable—made herself seem weathered.
Char was first to run over shouting "Senior Imperial Flower, I haven't gotten on board yet."
Remaining Xiang Yunwei and Kelly introduced the newcomer. Worthy of being first-batch widely recruited Church members, they conveyed adult reliability.
Buzz!
Nearby teleportation array flashed light—clearly all Clover members, led by Elsa who waved at the just-arrived group: "Good day, everyone. Seems we're quite fated—all last-batch arrivals."
Her beaming smile left Nelu slightly stunned—as fellow Magical Girls, she felt from her heart that the other was beautiful.
"Welcome. You've worked hard traveling far."
A girl in white-green Regalia came to greet them—exactly Dandelion, strongest domain magic user, Salvation Church's number two figure. Soon everyone was chatting happily under her atmospheric control.
Nelu was completely reassured. Right, Hermit Island definitely deserved being called a new home.
❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀
Sands of Time, relative flow rate!
Hibiscus used deceleration fields to once again capture several Magical Girls slow on the uptake in chase games. They all became frame-dropping in movement, even leaving collapsed expressions while companions immediately took photos. This cycle became party scenery with everyone having great fun.
Don't look at the girls' smiling faces—actually she was most tired. Fortunately after a week of high-intensity training, otherwise might not hold up.
But before long, even Magical Girls tired of statue games, having to rest first—showing Sands of Time's low-power operation endurance.
Hibiscus actually used maintaining only 2-meter radius around herself with 2.5x flow rate changes—steady stream testing effects as game segments. Unexpectedly the host still had energy while players were exhausted.
Beep!
System already gave notification:
[Completed suggestion: Continuously perform "One Thousand Time Magic Training Sessions." Reward issued: Small Regalia Advancement Stone ×1]
[Completed suggestion: Hold "Salvation Church Welcome Party." Reward issued: Sands of Time New Stage Knowledge]
Much faster than imagined. Unknowingly, Hibiscus had actually consumed time magic at high intensity a full thousand times. No, perhaps flow rate changes themselves counted as efficiency improvement. As for gathering Church members, that was already part of the schedule. Actually most system tasks echoed current events for automatic completion. Thus she obtained two key items.
The silver-haired girl sat on the ground and carefully examined them. Small Regalia Advancement Stone manifested and was worn, sufficient to consolidate the glove Regalia new breakthrough results she'd just completed.
Grasping magical power allowed magic to undergo inconceivable changes, even completely different ones.
Just stacking numbers and intensity wouldn't work—also needed operation.
For example, Regalia advancement let Hibiscus change time slash into zigzags and curves rather than the former straight-forward attacks without flexibility. Seemingly similar power but threat level improved greatly—targets harder to dodge or defend against.
Similarly, could "centering on herself" to change relative flow rates also become flexible? Like palm contact surface flow rate changes to strip them away—should be doable.
Next time encountering breakthrough bank vault combat environments, she could choose either time slash precision cutting or stripping internal objects.
Much more convenient.
Hibiscus was very satisfied with Regalia improvements—after all, this route was crucial for Sands of Time users.
But specific changes to skills still depended on magical knowledge:
Unlike previous knowledge absorption causing splitting headaches, mental power touching next-stage Magical Girl Hyacinth effortlessly consumed massive information volume. Knowledge about Sands of Time new development effects was clear in her chest. Right, roughly matching exchanges with herself and netizens, but clearer.
Thoughts flowing freely, clear as mirrors. Many early-stage time magic operations that couldn't be realized kept flashing in Hibiscus's mind. Nothing in the world is difficult for those with determination.
At the same time, she felt surging power erupting from inside out, becoming pressure. Unknowingly, everyone's gazes focused on her.
Salvation Church Leaders naturally received attention, especially since the silver-haired girl's magical power was now surging—hard not to notice. That pressure didn't give threatening aura but made blood boil, unable to resist witnessing some event.
They had premonitions but hoped for definite answers—after all, Magical Girl sublimation wasn't simple, easily causing accidents.
Especially Magical Girls who'd witnessed Hibiscus suffer massive Knowledge Poison damage to obtain Catastrophic Disaster Beast information worried more. At this moment Nan Zhiyi stopped conversations with newcomers, Jin Yulu descended from the sky returning to original form, constantly gorging Jin Ruochu also looked serious. Church members naturally worried yet couldn't suppress longing for Magical Girls' new levels. If witnessing firsthand, at least beneficial for their own future sublimation.
The time was ripe.
Immersed in magical torrents, Hibiscus met everyone's gazes and decisively declared: "Nice weather—perfect for showing you Magical Girls' new stage—"
"Growth Stage, representing vigorous vitality. We'll trend toward magical life forms."
Before finishing, the silver-haired girl's entire body steamed substantive magical power. She needn't suppress but let rolling outflowing energy take over her body, flowing through limbs and bones with cool sensation—more powerful than before, keen hearing and sight, myriad phenomena clear. Senses alone rivaled mental scanning.
Internal changes made Hibiscus completely understand the gap. At this moment her physical qualities rivaled transformation state—no wonder it somewhat counted as permanent residence.
Invulnerable to blades and spears, immune to water and fire, immune to poisons—these were just basics. General phenomenon influences and abnormal status abilities would also encounter weakening or negation.
Very good.
This was security for handling emergencies.
External surging pressure acted on physical levels, even crushing earth and stone. With Magical Girl Hyacinth as center, ground cracked inch by inch. That substantive power was like blade dance chaos—surrounding companions had to retreat.
As if responding to Hibiscus's turbulent heart, this pressure stirred island wind and cloud changes. Wind howled, clouds scattered. Within breaths, earth seemed to fade.
They all felt an intense presence with heartbeat echoes in their ears.
Previously only Origin-powerful, incomparable Disaster Beasts gave Magical Girls such atmosphere. Now Hyacinth's Origin reached the same realm, comparable to beasts famous for this. This represented unfathomable vitality, recovery, and stamina. Perhaps time magic's high consumption impression should end from Growth Stage—or rather, common sense never could measure strongest Magical Girls. She almost single-handedly supported the world's first supernatural society's deterrent power.
Moreover, everyone knew Hibiscus's fundamentals were always stronger than same levels, even repeatedly cross-level fighting and winning.
Hyacinth interpreted "life level different from combat power." Now her life level caught up too—how much stronger starting from this point?
Roar!
Hundreds and thousands of domesticated Disaster Beasts on Hermit Island howled skyward, responding to their overlord's power. Originally they worshipped strength in their bones, moreover this person controlled the island's control core—truly deserving. Even with ordinary Disaster Beasts' dull wisdom, they realized one thing:
This era's first Growth Stage Magical Girl was born.
Hibiscus felt the commotion was a bit too big, exhaling deeply to slightly slow magical circulation. At this moment she could control freely—thanks to solid foundations from previously walking all 3 elements together, avoiding rampage loss-of-control risks.
She surveyed surroundings, under everyone's attention making an OK gesture: "Done. Everyone relax. This is my personal progress and also ethnic group interests."
"Long live the Church!"
Magical Girls were ecstatic with continuous cheers—for Senior Hyacinth, for this atmosphere, also for a more magnificent future.
Hermit Island's entire welcome meeting entered white-hot stages with everyone congratulating Hibiscus's Growth Stage breakthrough.
This theoretical knowledge expert had already created technique rules, 3-element training methods, rampage suppression, life level sublimation guidelines. She personally practiced throughout—undoubtedly Magical Girls' pioneer. Having her walk at the forefront was deeply reassuring.
For newcomers, not only weren't they scared but became more calm. Indeed worthy of reputation—the Church Leader's strength matched her achievements, truly irreproachable.
So she completed the catastrophe war's great achievements at Seedling Stage?
Genius!
Though Hibiscus repeatedly stated "because of preparations in all aspects plus large luck components," clarifications didn't affect this battle's value. Even as follow-up joint forces' poor performance raised its status higher. Comparing goods meant discarding them—clearly Magical Girl Hyacinth brought the world unshakeable heroism. Newcomers already influenced by these voices witnessing this magnificence naturally submitted wholeheartedly.
Nan Zhiyi applauded hardest, eyes full of pride toward the silver-haired girl. In her view, this Growth Stage breakthrough specially timed the moment.
Combining kindness and authority—during recruitment the Church provided generous treatment, but couldn't let some become too proud creating playhouse atmospheres. Might as well have the Church Leader give a warning demonstration: we're always serious.
"Everyone just keep playing." Seeing herself nearly being thrown up, Hibiscus quickly announced continuation.
Though she indeed meant to time it, originally expecting at most stabilizing Regalia and Origin. Unexpectedly, Sands of Time advancement drove the Growth Stage to natural progression.
Everything was accumulated strength.
In the original work, Time Priestess was one of the highest character completion, complete arcs, most comprehensive materials—so intelligence was also complete. Facts proved feeling stones to cross rivers was indeed fast.
Putting down one wish, Hibiscus could finally sit on beach recliners to rest. Don't look at her impressive momentum—actually magical power remained minimal.
Sands of Time's new skill Temporal Cross-Section was ready to deploy, but the girl temporarily held back. Without sufficient skill, don't easily use ultimates—moreover mana bars weren't enough for experiments.
"Dr. Mu, want to eat my grilled meat?"
Somehow Jin Ruochu suddenly ran over with iron skewers grilling on the ground, cumin aroma wafting.
Of course she didn't forget to share with Nan Zhiyi and numerous newcomers. The other ate while complaining: "Hard to say this type is your doing. Moreover many places are burnt—heard this easily causes cancer."
"I'm also trying for the first time."
"You don't need to worry," Hibiscus said frankly. "General illnesses have nothing to do with magical life forms anymore. Though it sounds somewhat horrifying, everyone's already non-human."
Nan Zhiyi stroked her forehead with a bitter smile: "Was just planning to introduce these newcomers to you, but you open with explosive news. Don't scare the juniors. Anyway, Nelu, Char... all come over to greet. Everyone get to know each other."
Church head steward faithfully fulfilled responsibilities, building bridges for the organization. The earlier newcomers developed belonging, the better.
Both naturally understood tacitly—if Magical Girl Hyacinth served as signboard, then specific operations relied on Magical Girl Dandelion.
Self-introduction meeting went smoothly with everyone initially building relationships.
Salvation Church's core was currently history's first, scale's largest Magical Girl Organization, already forming platform effects. Just community attributes sufficed for recruitment, let alone numerous halos. Therefore this adaptation step was instead easy. They were happy finding a foothold, and being willing to join the true core Church proved readiness for combat without fussiness.
"Instructor, how did you suddenly reach the Growth Stage?" Impatient Jin Yulu's eyes sparkled: "I just touched the threshold, feels still too far."
"Steady progress and go with the flow."
"Won't work. Actually I feel current widespread hunting lacks challenge. Should find a more soldier-training place, just letting everyone adapt to each other's magic, avoiding learning on battlefields."
"Running to far-off places would make network signals worse!" Jin Ruochu seemed regretful but didn't clearly oppose.
"I vote yes. Indeed should collectively train once—treat it as post-vacation rehabilitation exercise," Nan Zhiyi said.
Hibiscus nodded then pulled Elsa over asking: "How's Management Bureau status? Have you encountered further provocations lately?"
"Everything's normal."
"No Magical Girls getting confused and finding you?"
"Indeed a few. I introduced them all to the Church. But continuing this way isn't long-term. If wanting to proactively advance establishing branches everywhere, best through Management Bureau levels. At minimum should find headquarters site selection making plans seem reliable rather than the current wandering atmosphere."
Elsa hit the nail on the head about current status. Pie-drawing and strategic probing phases had passed—no need for more empty frameworks. Might as well properly operate the Management Bureau to look decent.
She had job demands for expanding the Management Bureau, but decisions were correct—should be more serious.
According to current intelligence, after previous series of tense confrontations, military and mercenaries switched tactics: dividing family assets.
More precisely, targeting every relic's responsibility relationships, ownership rights, historical inheritance for allocation—insisted on making sense of everything. Admittedly, intensity was less than direct proxy fire fights, but signals were equally terrifying. This was equivalent to spouses dividing property—relationships completely shattered.
What about later?
Especially Winter Company connecting with the Management Bureau shook originally the most powerful, steady-sitting officials, also greatly stimulating the military. Both sides had a strong gunpowder smell—history headed toward the future Hibiscus knew. No, even because of her activity, it accelerated progress and increased intensity. Hard to imagine consequences.
"Those guys will fight sooner or later... Then we indeed should find openly declarable headquarters."
"Or put differently, there's one key position that must be firmly held. If given to other forces I'm uneasy, so even without development, must get it."
When Magical Girl Hyacinth decisively judged something, it was definitely certain. Actually she never directly prophesied but revealed bits and pieces from daily words, avoiding Knowledge Poison triggers. Everyone thought so—this represented the helmsman once again guiding Salvation Church direction, just like the organization's protective escort throughout. If the last high-level meeting decided Church business operations, this time decided establishing Management Bureau headquarters.
"The position I mentioned is in the Arctic Circle."
Hibiscus was too lazy correcting everyone's misunderstanding and simply added: "After finishing rest we'll depart. Once there you'll know."
Everyone nodded agreement, consistently believing in the Church Leader's judgment.