That's more like it.
Precisely because magic power attribute growth would enhance magical performance, Hibiscus allocated all rewards from this round to it, treating it as preparation for the upcoming battle against the Special Plant Disaster Beast, since even netizens had said it was troublesome.
Feeling the massive energy washing over her body, she let out a long breath, even her control over the island's core improved somewhat.
Time and space magic users harmonized with the central formation's core Thousand-Li Viewing Mirror, so it was equivalent to upgrading the captain's steering ability.
With a thought, the clouds in the sky dispersed somewhat, and the air became slightly cool.
The Magical Girls immediately felt the originally rather hot tropical marine climate island become refreshing, as if this independent ecosystem actively incorporated some Arctic cold air for neutralization. Most importantly, there was no conflict whatsoever—the two great withering period permanent magic effects embraced the new environment and made it their own. All this was achieved under the island master's precise control. Habitability increased, even the tamed Disaster Beasts cheered joyfully.
Hibiscus picked up the radio and broadcast: "Everyone don't worry, I've slightly adjusted the island's temperature. It should be more comfortable."
"Excellent!"
"I'm an Alaskan and couldn't stand it anymore."
"Fight! Damn Disaster Beasts, I can still battle them for another ten hours."
Church members gave unanimous praise. Actually, they didn't know Senior Hyacinth had just mastered the function of regulating Hermit Island's specific climate temperature—it wasn't that it didn't exist, but rather that it wasn't easy.
The user's magical resonance had to highly integrate with the Thousand-Li Viewing Mirror for it to work. This was the real high threshold—other Magical Girls couldn't use the complete version.
Hibiscus thoroughly confirmed that the real core of Hermit Island's central formation operation lay in the spatial relic.
Only your special attributes could make such a massive target come and go freely. Of course, the rolling magic power from the underground city also contributed greatly, but that wasn't something that could be investigated now—treat it as nonexistent.
The silver-haired girl clenched her fist, her Regalia gloves creating slight ripples—that was dense magic power aura, with both sides resonating.
I see.
Special species and high-tier Disaster Beasts could deduce rough magic types through active magic power resonance. Similarly, her abundant magic power could now be used for reconnaissance.
In a sense, it was like "smell"—detecting a group of high-density gathered Disaster Beasts from afar. So Manjusaka's chosen route was correct. Perfect, they were on the right path.
But the numbers were probably more than imagined, even making Hibiscus feel uneasy.
What she had to face were the final remnants of affiliated Disaster Beasts that arrived after catastrophe Disaster Beast Aurora broke through the world barrier—desperate straits would unleash true ferocity and brutality. But soldiers would meet with generals, water with earth—at worst, the full Salvation Church would clash head-on with them. This battle concerned the Management Bureau's foothold and was also an excellent secondary base, since eggs shouldn't be put in one basket.
Last time's fierce battle with affiliated Disaster Beast groups involved coalition forces, relics, fairies, and various other factors—not enough substance. This time would be a real sword-to-sword clash.
Hibiscus connected to the island broadcast:
"Everyone, I've further confirmed the target location. Expect about 4 more days of voyage, and we should encounter a large-scale cluster led by special species. Everyone maintain your routine and take care."
As captain, she should paint pictures and notify promptly, otherwise crew members would develop psychological problems.
Hearing the news, the Magical Girls weren't nervous but rather excited—they'd been waiting for this definite announcement.
After brief excitement, Dandelion immediately ordered preparations for supplies, in case the barrier would actively close completely and no longer teleport—they had to stockpile materials.
Dawn, Hermit Island residential area.
The alarm clock woke Stephanie. Wearing only a camisole, she yawned and stretched her graceful curves—harmonious, beautiful, and powerful. Flower fragrance filled the air, and the dim sky gave a relaxed atmosphere.
Though called apartments, the 100 square meter space was definitely large enough. This comfort and cleanliness was quite useful for Stephanie, who came from poverty.
Even the furniture was uniquely chosen in different styles—no identical apartment rooms existed.
The person responsible for architectural planning and design was Senior Hyacinth—truly multi-talented. Who knows how much money was spent on building from flat ground with such exquisite decoration. Reportedly, the usually frugal Senior Dandelion said the funding chain was once dangerous, showing the value of Hermit Island's infrastructure construction.
"Get up, Joan."
"We have supply duty rotation today—"
She pounded hard on the opposite bedroom door, immediately hearing dream talk, then a creaking sound as the girl who wouldn't even remove her lab coat opened the door.
"Stephanie, can't it be later? I finished new drug evaluation yesterday and stayed online with Senior Manjusaka very late. Haven't gotten healthy 6 hours of sleep—need to make up 108 minutes and 29 seconds."
"Triple Awakening Magical Girls can go a week without closing their eyes. You just like sleeping."
While speaking, she slapped her roommate's face with a wet towel, pushed her into the bathroom, and handed over a toothbrush with toothpaste already squeezed on, supervising Joan's washing.
Daily routine.
According to Salvation Church regulations, apartment residence couldn't be less than 2 people, with 3-person, 4-person options available, even encouraging visits and casual sleeping over. But those responsible for each other were definitely registered roommates. So Stephanie took great care of Joan, who got along well with her but had a slow personality. Others might think a girl from North American lower-class immigrants and a European middle-class top student would lack common topics, but actually their different worlds and the Magical Girl topic's similarities and differences were enough to forge friendship.
After brief washing, they put on waterproof clothing and took fishing gear out. The so-called supply mission was simple—fishing.
Arriving at the beach, they saw Magical Girls who'd arrived first had already cast nets. Without borrowing any fishing boat power, through sheer force, they covered a radius of one kilometer with large amounts of sea fish thrashing about, but it still wasn't enough.
Joan transformed into a white winged horse unicorn, neighing proudly to attract countless marine creatures to rush forward one after another. This was a hidden usage: summoning nature's spirits.
Of course, it wasn't one-sided taking—actually the Church paid out more bait.
Besides, a thousand people total couldn't eat much supplies. Most fish slipped through the large net holes.
"Pull the net!"
With the command, Stephanie tensed her body and yanked hard. Tons of struggling sea fish lost their strength under her and many companions' brute force pulling. The struggling force enough to overturn small fishing boats was suppressed purely by human power, so the Church had confidence for long ocean voyages without docking.
Just finishing one net pull without time to wipe sweat, Stephanie saw Joan running over quickly waving her catch. "It's Barents Sea cod. I'll cook for you today."
Barents Sea?
Unknowingly they'd reached here—the prosperous fishing ground under the North Atlantic Current.
Compared to Joan's anticipation for delicious food, Stephanie now began thinking about the itinerary. Seems Senior Hyacinth chose the Arctic route of the Eurasian continent, adopting a circuitous method to search for magic power reactions as extensively as possible. With 3 days left, the destination might be around Greenland.
"Everyone, this round of fishing ends. It might attract Disaster Beast attention so everyone continues standing guard. During this time you can try fishing."
Leader Nelu announced the next arrangements.
Though just recently joined, her years of maritime experience served as the voyage's first advisory support. From ocean currents and star signs to deep-sea fishing, she knew everything. Much equipment was purchased under Nelu's advocacy—otherwise everyone would've started eating canned food three meals a day long ago, unable to enjoy fresh, natural, high-quality sea fish.
Learning work was done, Joan simply lay on the beach looking at the sky. For this grade-skipping pharmacology graduate student, besides professional fieldwork, everything else was uninteresting.
Stephanie sat down casually and began fishing, hoping to embrace the joy of harvest again.
"We're cruising at 30 knots now, about 55 kilometers per hour—exactly the standard swimming speed of cod," Joan said flatly. "But they'll soon be unable to keep up. Don't expect to get lucky."
"Just passing time."
While speaking, Stephanie skillfully threaded the fishing line and cast the hook—flowing movements proving it wasn't her first time.
"...Why do you seem to know a little of everything."
"You know, I'm from Colombia—crime paradise, smuggling holy land. If you and your whole family trekked through Central American rainforests once, you'd become a survival master too. Still managing."
"Because those who didn't become masters died. You're true practitioners of social Darwinism—North America's favorite to exploit."
Joan knew her roommate's general background. Like many from failed countries typically seeking better places—understandable, people flow upward. But finally reaching the border only to be captured by mercenaries who detected magical talent, with all family members detained in immigration facilities, was indeed unlucky enough. Such institutions were racist frontline bases—despite similar appearances, they'd suffer greatly due to origins.
Comparatively, she was rather ordinary. Among Magical Girls, she could be called having a complete family and smooth academics. Her biggest setback was just being captured by mercenaries once.
Actually, Joan somewhat envied her companion's complex background—normal origins lacked topical appeal here.
For example, Nelu gained fame immediately upon joining.
With halos like refugees from a fallen nation, captain of the Arctic Tern, and the Church's first traveler, she attracted much attention. Everyone often chatted with Magical Girl Water Lily.
"You're right. We newcomers were severely taught lessons, especially those lab guys who really didn't treat people as human. I suspected I might be dissected alive. Fortunately, the Church buried those bastards in ruins." Stephanie felt quite vindicated.
Joan continued asking: "What was the matter when you applied to extend leave recently?"
"Nothing important. I contacted Senior Hyacinth to settle the immigration bureau side. Family got legal status and jobs—everything's finally settled."
"Coincidentally, my previous research group had patent conflicts with a company that hired a bunch of legal sharks. They wanted to completely acquire an achievement through contract traps. My master's thesis topic would probably be scrapped, and the court was bought off and wouldn't resolve it... But like you, just saying hello settled it. Their legal department head even wanted to treat me to dinner."
Both showed expressions of sudden realization. Turning around, the Church didn't just help themselves—members with troubles got comprehensive support.
Hyacinth was the godfather.
"I know the immigration bureau side was resolved through company relations with some congressmen—probably just one sentence's worth of effort. But I won't forget this kindness."
"Actually, my family couldn't afford all the tuition during my master's program and had to owe money. But after Senior Hyacinth heard, she paid it all at once. When the research group encountered problems outside coursework, she settled those too. Corporate internships and future work were naturally no problem. My parents were happy but also anxious. Hearing it was all one person's doing made them more worried. The adult world is wary of help that can't be repaid. They'd rather their daughter's young boss was divinely capable, but unfortunately they felt inadequate. So they let me wander around with the Church."
Stephanie murmured, "If one person helped me solve imprisonment, identity, education, and work while letting family enjoy blessings, even if someday she felt the president was incompetent and should be replaced, I'd do it without hesitation."
"Many people think like you." Joan patted her chest. "Count me in—I'm the Church's person for life."
"Always talking about 'for life' like Senior Manjusaka."
"Probably because we played games together last night. I've been infected."
"Don't play games so late, or we can play together... could you teach me?"
Stephanie asked somewhat timidly. Seeing this, her roommate first froze then nodded like a woodpecker—having another common topic would be wonderful.
The Church operated based on vast interpersonal networks. Low-level monetary exchanges were looked down upon. From the beginning, Hyacinth expended effort in the direction of personal favors, with everyone helping each other to form an interest group. Though young, their social strata weren't low.
Charging into battle was the lowest usage.
This leader hoped everyone would be positioned at key locations. Now every investment cultivated an elite for the future. Making money was really too simple for the Church—buying priceless devotion was worthwhile. Not to mention Stephanie and Joan who'd received great kindness—other Magical Girls who found belonging would spontaneously make huge contributions to the organization.
Both are determined to break through to the Seedling Stage quickly and become core strength.
The Church's current operation had a layer of "avoidance" meaning because the organization overall was too uneven compared to Holy Relics—they had to quickly make up for shortcomings.
While they chatted, the sea boiled with roaring sounds. A lone Disaster Beast following the scent found them, baring fangs and claws at the numerous Magical Girls on shore, attempting to attack.
However, the armed fishing Salvation Church wasn't afraid at all. Facing the unwelcome guest, they simply greeted it with magical bombardment.
Boom!
Violent magic bombardment killed the Disaster Beast instantly, but simultaneously ice crystal flowers grew from the corpse wounds, with cold air dissipating.
A first awakening member immediately fainted, their entire skin covered with frost.
At the same time, all Magical Girls present felt magic power within their bodies becoming sluggish—breathing, blood flow, and heartbeat all slow as if lagging. The next moment after the incident, time magic had covered the entire field to prevent expansion.
No one in the entire Church was unfamiliar with Magical Girl Hyacinth's methods. Starting with a deceleration field proved things probably weren't easy to handle.
From the silver-haired girl's expression, those hit by frost effects were difficult to heal. Her grave expression showed that simply using Sands of Time to delay power spread was far from enough—the weak still faced life-threatening danger.
Time Stop!
The world that had been slow suddenly became gray-white in Stephanie and Joan's eyes, with only silver fine sand flowing slowly. A sense of great loneliness surrounded them entirely, and why was everyone motionless while only they could move?
Hibiscus kept touching both their shoulders and said: "No time to explain. Quickly apply healing and purification to everyone—maximum power, wide range."
Before she finished, elemental magic and mythology magic activated simultaneously.
Healing Rain and purifying light were released to maximum extent, covering large areas. When the time freeze resumed, the sinister cold wind was canceled out.
The Magical Girls who'd just been frozen with life force rapidly draining stood up dazedly. That experience was like encountering petrification—coming back to consciousness completely unharmed, only lingering fear remained. Many who'd resisted the first wave of attacks were equally dazed, immediately understanding it might have been time stop. Only Hyacinth could race against death to seize rescue time—divine skill.
Everyone broke out in cold sweat, endlessly thanking Hibiscus, Stephanie, and Joan—otherwise consequences would've been unthinkable.
The crisis came fast and left fast. The ice crystal snowflake tree full of mystery withered from the Disaster Beast corpse at visible speed, turning to snowflakes and completely disappearing.
"This is Ice Flower's ability," the silver-haired girl introduced. "Though I don't know much intelligence, plant types can indeed spread abilities like this. Everyone avoid it."
Finishing, Hibiscus used telekinesis to lift the Disaster Beast corpse and closed the barrier.
"Senior, is there anything we can do?" Stephanie volunteered.
"Don't worry. The opponent isn't targeting Hermit Island but should be spreading widely. You pay more attention and maintain magic."
"Understood."
Hearing this, Stephanie channeled most of her magic power to Healing Rain. A jade-green cloud floated in the sky looking quite strange, but could provide support at any time. Elemental magic could merge with natural phenomena—showing her superior magical control.
The girl nervously clenched her fist. Thanks to following Senior Imperial Flower's instructions to maintain Origin protection as much as possible, otherwise she might've been defeated in one encounter.
Startled Joan returned from unicorn form, wiping forehead sweat and saying: "Actually ambushing!"
"After all, powerful Disaster Beasts possess intelligence."
"According to materials and literature, for them, life level evolution equals humans going from gorillas to Magical Girls. Our memory and calculation abilities exceed ordinary people, so gaps between Disaster Beasts are huge, especially special species that are hard to categorize."
"You researched this?"
"Just conveniently grabbed some intelligence during the Eagle Company attack incident."
"Still thinking of that in such situations—worthy of you." Stephanie stretched and patted off dust. "Fishing duty should be ending early. We need to go to the warehouse to prepare today's lunch and dinner."
So-called rotation supply duty was actually handling logistics, like now including them in a batch of Magical Girls going to the warehouse area to prepare the day's food materials.
A thousand members wasn't many or few, plus some small-scale animal husbandry including dairy cows, pig pens, chicken coops, and ducks. After people eating and horses drinking, supply pressure was considerable. After all, the Salvation Church had to ensure headquarters possessed certain self-sufficiency. Without complete resource circulation, logistics demand was huge—even feed alone equaled a military unit.
The so-called warehouse area was actually container mountains stacked on open ground, not considering retrieval convenience but maximizing space saving.
Anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft missiles even towered around. Though Hermit Island's barrier eliminated air defense needs when active, seniors always had excessive crisis awareness.
Crack crack!
Containers opened via levitation technique, then short flights via the same method sufficed for transporting materials. Most were canned goods, vacuum packages, long-preservation foods—definitely unbearable eating too much. But Magical Girls hadn't eliminated three-meals-a-day habits, and this maintained morale.
Fortunately, they'd only really started eating canned food for two days.
Originally, external coordinate teleportation hadn't closed and could provide fresh food, but going deep into fallen zones next required reducing spatial fluctuations, so complete closure.
Hermit Island now resembled an aircraft carrier strike group diving into deep ocean, entering radio silence and cutting all contact, relying entirely on self-sufficiency. Fortunately, they'd prepared for rainy days—current supply was adequate.
Some of them handled sorting materials and went to kitchens to prepare, while others fed livestock.
Splash!
Stephanie rolled up sleeves, skillfully scattered feed into pig pens while checking health by touching them, leaving Joan stunned.
Instead, her reluctance to get too close seemed affected, with some resistance in her heart.
Noticing the awkwardness, Stephanie proactively explained: "Ordinary people indeed aren't good at pig raising. I once worked at a ranch and understand some basics. Maybe I can apply for ranch manager position."
"How many jobs have you done?"
"Couldn't call them jobs. Actually, I never received proper education from childhood, always doing various odd jobs to supplement family income, but none required talent for high-class work."
"Pig raising isn't simple. In Denmark you need certification for pig raising—many people earn more than course slaves like me."
Speaking, Joan flipped into the pen to learn from her partner, using water hoses to bathe these big cuties. The factory immediately filled with pig grunts—they seemed quite comfortable.
"Key is environment. I once felt the past was disgraceful, but communicating with everyone in the Church, I discovered I wasn't special—everyone has their difficulties. Coincidentally, my abilities can be useful in new environments." Stephanie smiled brightly. "Matthew's Gospel says, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The Church is my second home."
"Right, I remember you introduced yourself as a high school student at the welcome meeting?"
The girl's face reddened as she whispered: "Academic credentials were solved by asking Senior Dandelion for tutoring and pulling strings. I never even went to my mother school but got the diploma."
Joan smiled teasingly and stopped asking.
Both continued working seriously but felt their distance had closed considerably. Even without speaking, there was an atmosphere of understanding. Right—the Salvation Church's greatest selling point was never helping with anything, but a sense of community belonging that easily made people drop guard and pour out their hearts, thereby increasing understanding.
Having experienced various troubles, they could gather safely here under the same roof—undeniably fortunate.