Magical Girl Dandelion's grand magic show ignited the whole venue. Everyone could only applaud in shock.
Star tracks! Only camera long exposure capturing stellar trajectories could produce such photos, now directly restored under Small Universe magic. This shock of being enveloped by brilliant stellar rotation, the impact of vastness and smallness on the soul—unforgettable for life.
The timing was perfect. Arctic night had just arrived, the horizon still seemed to have traces of light, star sky scenery incredibly real, vastness combined with dreams, lingering resonance.
Moments later, star tracks slowly disappeared.
Throughout, Hibiscus's gaze stayed on that North Star—it disappeared last. Luxury-grade magic was fleeting.
Dandelion lifted her skirt hem slightly, bowing as if a song had ended: "My gift philosophy emphasizes feeling. Diamonds are just carbon crystals, gold gets tarnished, but a wonderful experience accompanies life. I give you this starry sky celebrating victory, Student Hibiscus, and everyone."
"Thank you. Your domain magic has less killing intent than before, more romance. This is really good."
"What was it before? You're the one who discovered my unique taste."
Hearing this, Hibiscus laughed heartily without explanation, eyes full of emotion. In the original work, the Salvation Church's grand steward saw no one else, aloof, sitting in a wheelchair like a throne issuing orders. Never mind gifts—wouldn't mention others either. Now willing to dedicate a spectacular performance with full magic power for herself and everyone—Magical Girl Dandelion's heart had become more open.
Originally Small Universe usage leaned toward large-scale enclosure, but now she seemed more skilled at projection usage. True Self Domain changes symbolized the heart—precious.
"Too cheating," Manjusaka ran over dissatisfied. "Sudden entertainment performances—I didn't have time to take photos."
"How about it? Not bad right?"
Dandelion's mouth curved upward. The pink-haired girl pouted. Though they seemed to often bicker and compete, their relationship was actually good. Should say both handled business affairs—one internal, one external—often liked comparing achievements.
"I can summon real stars, and you can customize sizes."
Hibiscus quickly crossed her hands in stern refusal: "Your starting point is good, but I suggest you don't start."
The group played around jokingly, making the campfire evening atmosphere even more heated. Especially Dandelion's performance opened everyone's thinking—various novel ideas began displaying:
Minase Kaori summoned Hundred Demons Night Parade's little monsters as waitstaff serving tea and water, even instinctively learning to barbecue.
Her magic seemed to have new changes. Somehow they'd all become moe-style art—big eyes, chubby, very cute appearance, soft to touch, small size giving no threatening feeling. The polar night environment perfectly suited the mechanism. This time Magical Girl Red Spider Lily's kill count ranked top, playfully called:
Polar Night King.
Was there a possibility: as long as Minase Kaori kept flying staying in the night hemisphere, she'd be invincible?
"Roar!" Suddenly monsters collectively howled skyward, growing even larger before everyone's eyes, comparable to ordinary Disaster Beasts, quite army-like, with magic power reactions and intimidation superior.
"Congratulations on reaching Seedling Stage."
Jin Yulu's reminder made the girl in question widen her eyes in confusion. How did she feel nothing while summoned creatures got stronger? Who exactly leveled up? Like monster army idle farming experience for self-cultivation while the master was relegated to corners.
Hibiscus saw more clearly—these summoned creatures actually produced mental reactions, proving certain autonomy. Understanding cooperation would be quite troublesome. Worthy of T1 level.
The Salvation Church's first summoning magic breakthrough to Seedling Stage excited everyone. Importantly, it could be played with for long.
Cute monster mascots became a landscape of the evening party.
Others showing breakthrough signs included several people. For example, after Anri Sakagami mastered space magic barrier deformation, she reached the Regalia accessory activation stage. Through mental assistance, combat power would improve to another level. Space magic Rainbow Fortress seemed defensive-oriented but actually had more applications. Magical Girl Rose had partial talent in Regalia with unlimited future potential—reaching Seedling Stage was just one step away.
Magical Girl Edelweiss, Yeta, also showed Swift Thunder evolution, shifting from previous speed toward wide-area damage—elemental magic's signature.
First attack speed support lived up to reputation.
She personally preferred daily life, liked making big news with seniors but insufficient usual training. Taking this opportunity to supervise reaching new realm was fine. Future Church would have another wide-area group attack expert.
Another candidate was naturally Magical Girl Butterfly Orchid, Miyuki, who was already skilled in combat with thick foundation and rapid advancement.
During the Five Leaf Clover team period, talent alone made her second only to Elsa's strength. After systematic cultivation awakening potential, her level should be much stronger than the original work.
Besides this, Triple Awakening members now totaled 30—quite a portion were wild types who reached certain levels like Nelu finding organizational family. Many others just lacked systematic training, needing slight guidance. Moreover, contacting Disaster Beasts would increase Magical Girl magic activity.
So-called "awakening" was "awakening" because it was natural. Actually lying down worked too.
They lagged not in talent but age and insufficient foundation. Requirements of just Triple Awakening weren't difficult, and everyone was first-generation Magical Girls with talent.
Truly talented in large numbers.
Hibiscus increasingly felt cultivation game achievement.
Netizens liked playing games as collectors. Now she was gathering top Magical Girls from both Management Bureau and Salvation Church sides—a masterwork. But potential was potential—still needed time. The window period was crucial. The Arctic was far from those disputes, an ideal place for rest and recuperation. Without completing the entire organization's combat structure, don't think about causing trouble.
As the atmosphere grew increasingly heated to white-hot, Hibiscus called out: "Everyone, isn't magic very interesting?"
"Of course!"
"We find it fun, more people covet it, so let's not forget urgency. Don't forget this war is closely watched."
The silver-haired girl hinted meaningfully. Everyone knew Arctic Theater constantly monitored situations closely. Though the Salvation Church intended to show muscle, being constantly watched was indeed annoying—this was due to insufficient strength.
"Starting tomorrow we'll open teleportation coordinates maintaining normal supplies, but intensive training won't change. We need initial Glacier Island construction and magic power improvement—the faster the better."
"You represent a brand new future. I look forward to the great achievements you'll create."
Hibiscus raised her wine glass, drawing the night to a close amid celebration.
......
The second day after the Ice Flower War.
After completing the most difficult task, the entire Salvation Church relaxed—finally could catch their breath. Actually, Hibiscus had constantly manipulated Hermit Island's high-speed travel, fighting Disaster Beasts whenever encountered, always mentally tense leading to Ice Flower battle, inevitably accumulating fatigue.
So her so-called "starting intensive training tomorrow" actually meant slightly exercising to confirm everyone's Magical Girl power progress then beginning busy Glacier Island construction.
However, three companions who'd just advanced to Growth Stage but remained unstable made Hibiscus change plans.
Pop pop pop!
On the beach, the silver-haired girl sat cross-legged supporting her chin with one hand, watching Manjusaka, Jin Yulu, and Dandelion whose intimidation scattered uncontrollably. Somehow after sleeping, all three were like this. Nearby Magical Girls also stayed far away, fearing seniors might accidentally knock people unconscious with intimidation.
"Don't worry. Like straining muscles from exercising hard the day before, every Magical Girl faces loss of control risk during major breakthroughs."
"Then why has Doctor Mu always been fine?"
"Should be different constitution."
Hibiscus glossed over without deep discussion. Actually should credit the system's status panel enhancement.
She simultaneously walked Regalia, magic, Origin three-element paths with mutual supplementation and unity, directly eliminating rampage risk. This was the correct Magical Girl life sublimation path—what side effects? Loss of control was essentially instability from choosing 2 of 3 elements. Additionally, every breakthrough her basic attributes far exceeded same level, with stronger self-control. Powerful yet worry-free.
"Delaying further will cause endless problems." Hibiscus stood up patting dust off. "Perfect for joint training—let's fight and release excess magic power."
Manjusaka looked left and right, confused: "Are we having a melee?"
"Three of you against me alone."
This statement caused dead silence. In everyone's eyes, several people should be same level—how could one fight multiple? Admittedly, time magic was troublesome, but three strongest magic users could definitely contend. Logically, such disparate comparison should quickly defeat the isolated side.
"Remember the three elements I told you about? And why I don't lose control? Because I advanced taking the full route."
"Trinity mutual circulation and supplementation. Words are useless—let you experience it personally is best."
Magical Girl Hyacinth proactively revealed the tip of her power iceberg. Though many had guessed, personal confirmation was still shocking. Only Magical Girls understood how difficult advancing with all 3 elements was.
You had to spend extra energy training one you weren't skilled at, research its advancement, and coordinate with the other two elements. Multitasking—how was it possible?
Divine skill!
But exactly divine how required witnessing.
"Come on, I've been waiting forever. Last time's sparring wasn't satisfying—let's redo it."
Before finishing, Jin Yulu transformed to half-beast form. Facing stronger opponents, she dared not carelessly expand injury areas while strengthening defense.
Next moment Dandelion deployed domain magic but only felt magic flow without star projection signs. Simultaneously Manjusaka glowed with magic power, also without magic activation traces. Compared to mythology type that definitely changed form, they adopted another method.
Stop!
Hibiscus mercilessly started with time stop. The world instantly lost color, seamlessly transitioning to gray-white. Next moment she separately charged Origin three times for 5 seconds each, then used 1 second each hitting three people's chest areas. Compared to simple vital points, here could better obstruct magic flow. Charged strikes from Growth Stage Magical Girls were definitely threatening enough. Anyway, healing magic and recovery potions existed—might as well go all out testing.
Distant Magical Girls only felt momentary trance as Manjusaka, Dandelion, and Jin Yulu rapidly retreated dozens of times, no shockwaves yet stronger intimidation.
All three had churning organs, rampaging Origin echoing through bodies bringing pain.
"Incidentally, rules are one person bleeding means elimination." Hearing this, they gritted teeth.
Hibiscus raised her right hand—clearly fractured exposing white bone piercing skin, but oddly no bleeding. Delivering this strike was also uncomfortable. Forget the hardest World Serpent—the remaining Small Universe actually projected inside Dandelion forming defense, while Fortune and Misfortune summoned luck reducing damage.
Everyone was thinking countermeasures.
The silver-haired girl suddenly shook her fractured wrist back to original form, regeneration complete. Effects weren't ideal. As battle levels increased, simple world pause could hardly attack.
Sands of Time magic skills couldn't stack usage—at least currently impossible. Companions had already guessed this, otherwise using Time Slash in gray-white world would immediately end combat.
Sparring also gave her some new ideas, but opponents wouldn't give opportunities.
Having just survived time magic's most essential usage with certain consumption, now was the time for full effort!
Next moment Dandelion released domain centered on herself. To others, incredibly fast speed had gaps for Hibiscus—she lightly jumped away. However, she shouldn't have slipped underfoot, entering Small Universe without obstruction.
"Manjusaka..."
"I've always wanted to test domain strength with you, Student Hibiscus. Help me out." Dandelion also within the domain showed excited smile.
To improve pressure resistance, users preferably stayed within domains. So this was the strongest magic series' highest treatment.
Hibiscus was immediately captured by gravity, thunderously falling onto a meteor.
She lay spread-eagle on the ground—not unwilling to move but pulled by amazing suction making movement difficult. This was the first time experiencing powerful control skills. When Origin violently erupted helping the silver-haired girl slowly sit up, vast endless starry sky filled meteors ahead, one after another rushing forward, covering and colliding with lightning speed.
Boom!
Dandelion wanted to test whether Small Universe could actually confine Hibiscus—not just domain level but specific restriction. Therefore this suppression move held nothing back.
Disappointingly, amid cracking sounds all meteors shattered, a figure suddenly pressed forward.
She caught a thrust punch with both hands blocking, Origin Condensation level magic power collision and friction. Just brief contact made Dandelion's heart tighten—simply unfathomable magic power.
Bad—Hyacinth's Regalia was actively resonating with Origin for feedback enhancement!
"Now understand trinity?"
Hibiscus glanced aside, changing condensation to inner compression, conversely blasting Dandelion away. This instant she actively supported a golden dragon's full-speed collision.
Small Universe could actually maintain enclosed entry without notice.
Strongest mythology magic collision wasn't simple—anyone would suffer. Almost the moment Jin Yulu collided head-on with Hibiscus using World Serpent, she ached all over.
But this couldn't stop Hyacinth's Regalia from glowing at all. In an instant, under the Small Universe starry background, it trailed a brilliant magic power contrail, forcibly withstanding the World Serpent and pushing back.
Telekinesis from the hair ornament, magic power distortion from gloves grasping the serpent's head—all held firm.
Above the starry sky were two flowing flames colliding and grinding against each other, neither giving ground. The World Serpent that had gained first strike advantage couldn't take her down temporarily, forced into a stalemate.
"Just how tough are you!" Jin Yulu was greatly shocked.
"I should be asking you that."
Next moment, Hibiscus's glove Regalia began collapsing—obviously the World Serpent was constantly adapting, making magic power hard to grasp. But she'd bought time.
She gathered all her magic power and pointed toward the boundless starry dome, using the last bit of precise control before Regalia collapse to release magic with full force. Must break through for me—Temporal Cross-Section—
Sensing this strike, Dandelion immediately contracted the Small Universe domain but was a beat too slow.
On Hermit Island's beach, Magical Girls clearly witnessed a hemispherical body covering 3 kilometers radius, yet it instantly collapsed with escaping thunder intimidation tearing through clouds.
Like a pressure cooker reaching its limit then releasing, that eggshell cracked, shattering like glass in all directions. From it leaped a giant dragon and a figure trailing harp-string-like radiance, both entangled in bombardment—impossible to see clearly. Simultaneously, wave after wave of heat swept over, ice sheets melted, sky caught fire, snowflakes became rain then evaporated mid-air. Rumbling explosions rivaled last year's army group-level artillery strikes against catastrophe Disaster Beast groups in the Arctic.
They had to retreat far to the forest belt.
The combat level demonstrated by Growth Stage Magical Girls stunned Church members—this scale was even more exaggerated than the previous battle against Ice Flower.
Indeed, those flower fields that had just grown on Glacier Island all prostrated themselves, not daring to move even in the wind.
"Did you think this could eliminate me? Think again."
The Small Universe domain's outer shell shattered but didn't completely collapse—instead actively recalled by Dandelion. Simultaneously, the girl's eyes, nose, and ears emitted sizzling white smoke, sweating profusely yet her aura hadn't dropped at all, growing stronger in battle.
Hibiscus in the air suddenly accelerated in flight, pulling away from the relentlessly pursuing Jin Yulu, looking concernedly at her childhood friend—after all, fearing that strike had been too heavy.
No problem?
No, credit to the user contracting the domain in advance to avoid complete collapse, abandoning collision point protection to enhance other areas' strength. But breaking domains often made masters bleed from seven orifices. How had Dandelion bypassed this cost mechanism?
Probably pre-planted triggered healing curses, plus her continuous magic output concentrating Origin on regeneration throughout, forcibly offsetting the cost.
Understanding this, Hibiscus was impressed. Magical Girls who grasped the method also benefited greatly. The seniors were crazy enough—one training battle with endless methods emerging. Strength wasn't just hard power—comprehension, insight, and imagination were equally important. So domain magic could be fearless of shattering costs.
"Well done. You types who can maintain firepower with magic are really convenient."
Time magic consumed too much.
Though Hibiscus's magic power far exceeded ordinary people, she had to catch her breath more. Especially unable to maintain mythological transformation like Jin Yulu before her, constantly fighting and enjoying it.
So she had to use other two elements' methods to support time magic skill gaps, conversely forcing Magical Girl Hyacinth to grow into an existence with no weaknesses. Even with skills recovered now, she planned to test another method.
Hibiscus faced the serpent head directly, embracing it with both hands. Regalia had already recovered, rolling magic power gathered to one point under manipulation.
"I should warn you—be careful, this will hurt."
"Bring it on."
Before finishing, Jin Yulu grew porcupine-like spikes all over, fiercely stabbing the Regalia. She also adopted new methods—originally planning head-to-head breakthrough to show strength, but facing the strongest Magical Girl, couldn't play house. Therefore she actively changed form. Since ramming didn't work, simply switch to better-penetrating hair spikes. Just drawing one drop of blood would settle victory.
On the ground, new Small Universe domain was also spreading—Dandelion's intimidation returned to the battlefield, gravity pulling both sides close, temporarily unable to separate.
She stood beside Manjusaka, who had a serious expression with hand on her shoulder, plotting something...
Meanwhile, Hibiscus covered a scale with both hands, transmitting magic power. The flowing massive serpent body seemed about to flip the scale up—if successful, definitely bleeding profusely. But she was also being pierced by hundreds of long spikes. Comparing willpower? Perfect then.
Both girls roared fiercely, abandoning defense for full attack, neither yielding. They were excited beyond control, able only to vent their passion.
Suddenly earth-shattering whistling came from overhead, boundless gravity capturing Hibiscus.
"Take care."
Jin Yulu facing upward slightly froze, actively retreating, actually returning to human form and letting herself fall toward the sea.
At this moment, the sky was covered by a meteor, the originally deep sky even darker. From Hibiscus's perspective, she couldn't see the end—this couldn't be explained by mere dozens of meters.
Its surface friction generated rolling heat, flames reaching sky, rough surface actually becoming smooth in atmosphere, crystalline carbonized material revealing hunter-like ferocity.
From satellite perspective, one would detect a single large meteor falling toward the North Pole—completely against common sense. Yes, this was Small Universe magic and Fortune and Misfortune magic's joint work, delivering a big gift from outer space to Hibiscus.
"You think highly of me. Then you won't be disappointed."
Feeling gravity's capture, she openly spread her arms in welcome. Fully recovered Sands of Time was ready for full power output—
Temporal Cross-Section.
Dimensionless mirror fragments swept past the kilometer-diameter meteor. Where cut, flames extinguished and even lost momentum. Its essence was destroying target temporal stability—though maintaining accelerated motion, no longer threatening. Not finished—dozens of mirror fragments carved up the meteor, disintegrating and peeling from bottom before everyone's eyes.
The crisis targeting Hibiscus wasn't resolved. Obviously she was under misfortune status now—any dodging might be scratched by splashing stone fragments.
Therefore she neither dodged nor evaded, transforming into flowing light flying toward the meteor, ascending to ninth heaven along with that calamity, disintegrating together.
After thunderous roar, ice seas boiled, accumulated stone debris filled the ocean creating reefs. Rain fell from sky, wetting the silver hair of the girl standing atop the reef peak.
Unharmed, Hibiscus swept aside her forehead hair with a light smile: "What's next?"