Impossible!
The Magical Girls clearly witnessed Fortune and Misfortune, Small Universe—two strongest series magic joining forces to pull a massive meteor in direct assault on Hyacinth. This sparring seemed like a life-or-death battle to everyone, heart-stopping, yet the person involved used actual actions to answer whether this counted as serious? Completely intact.
Hibiscus's intimidation, magic power reaction, life aura, and presence hadn't diminished at all. The magic power consumed one moment quickly recovered the next.
Her fists condensed Origin, ready to deliver powerful attacks anytime.
Sands of Time's gap period only meant magic couldn't output continuously—what did this have to do with using the most basic methods? As long as the blue bar was long enough, she could still use Origin enhancement. At this moment, she still had fighting strength.
"You've all been actively attacking together. This time it's my turn."
Hibiscus's figure disappeared from her original position, directly pouncing on the gasping Jin Yulu, but was coincidentally blocked by Manjusaka, who had relatively more stamina and was the fastest to react.
"So heavy!"
"You'd better be careful."
Origin Condensation penetrated Regalia defense, pressing the pink-haired girl to half-kneel on the ground. The glacier beneath her feet thunderously collapsed and disintegrated, stirring up angry waves with loud crashes. At this moment she realized it was the glove Regalia's precise magic power manipulation—twice the result with half the effort, strike efficiency more exaggerated than imagined. However, Manjusaka had no time to think further as Hibiscus delivered another knee strike to her embrace, the force like a head-on collision with an aircraft.
But the next two to react engaged each other like afterimages, momentarily evenly matched.
Every time they swept past a glacier, they stirred up giant waves, disturbing countless ice crystals to scatter, heat evaporating into torrential rain. Footsteps responding to raindrops crossed paths, fists and feet facing each other, locked in struggle. In ultra-high-speed combat comparison, neither Manjusaka nor Hibiscus could take down the other.
"Clearly I'm the one who's been practicing since childhood, right?" the pink-haired girl said indignantly.
"Too slow. Haven't you noticed I'm cheating?"
0.01 second pause.
Seizing the opportunity, Hibiscus swept Manjusaka's legs, making the distracted girl fall. Now she finally realized the frequently flickering vision during this close combat was extremely finely sliced time stops. Fortunately, she happened to slide along the glacier to dissipate most of the force. Seeing this, the silver-haired girl wasn't discouraged either, light hidden in her hands.
Whoosh! White-hot bombardment light flow crossed the sky. Even though Manjusaka barely blocked it, she was blown away.
Not only that, at the moment when old strength was exhausted and new strength hadn't generated, Hibiscus seamlessly connected a 1-second time stop to avoid the domain rising from underfoot. Unless projected, she wouldn't be caught.
The moment the gray-white world ended.
Jin Yulu in half-beast form punched toward Hibiscus, fierce as wind, like mountain pressure, only managing to raise her arms with shoulders as shields to block. The moment of contact, she understood this was a strike staking everything on ending it. The strongest mythology that had just opened all thermal sensing, smell, vision wouldn't miss the opportunity.
Barely blocking the first wave, but her footing gave way underfoot, misfortune struck again, while gravity pulled Hibiscus involuntarily off balance.
Before her, the nearly two-meter-tall dragonoid's layered scales on her arms accumulated power progressively—clearly a heavy cannon strike.
Gamble once more, Sands of Time reactivate.
Sensing Hibiscus's unusual magic power flow, Jin Yulu delivered her punch with even more fierce force.
Boom!
The silver-haired girl was blown away. At this moment, a drop of sweat flowed down Hibiscus's forehead. This was the first time someone had pounced right after Sands of Time effect ended. Had she adapted to that fleeting moment of confusion? If not for her superior reaction speed, she would've definitely been injured. Before she could think clearly, her body had already been embedded in the glacier, fierce winds scorching the ground along the way, parting the ocean, clouds in the sky scattering to reveal brilliant starlight.
No wonder in that decisive battle clip from the original work, the Time Priestess didn't use world stop against Imperial Flower—because it was meaningless and would instead expose flaws.
Hibiscus sprang up from the glacier with a carp leap, casually patting dust off her shoulders. Though her Regalia was tattered, she never truly got injured or bled. This scene left Magical Girls dumbfounded. Little did they know the enhancement from Origin protection fusing with Regalia—this entire battle she'd converted the other two elements entirely to defense.
"So after experiencing this so many times, you've gotten used to the pause?"
"Correct. Don't casually use time stop in front of me, or it'll hinder your combat techniques."
Before finishing, Jin Yulu's voice caught, staring blankly at her right arm where a barely perceptible scratch oozed blood. According to rules, she'd already lost, but when exactly?
"When you double-transformed, one scale was like a door panel—how could I break through? Only human proportions could find gaps. Just one Time Slash."
Hibiscus smiled, extinguishing a thread in her hand with a drop of crimson falling.
"I'm convinced."
Jin Yulu understood real combat would definitely be different circumstances, but rules also represented complex battlefield scenarios, so she lost wholeheartedly. Not to mention the opponent had maintained three-against-one throughout. Quite the opposite—she'd struck with full force in human form multiple times without creating results.
Mythology type specializing in frontal combat couldn't break defense for so long, turning two-person duels into mutual tickling wars. Now she still lacked sufficiently powerful spears in human form.
Damn, how could she forget—don't treat herself as human. That punch should've dislocated all joints to shoot the force out.
"...Seems you already have new ideas."
"Mm."
On the other side, Dandelion fished Manjusaka out of seawater. After misfortune began acting up, she was blown away by Hibiscus's light cannon then chased by sharks for a while, now angrily expressing she wanted shark fin soup for dinner tonight.
After all the commotion, three newly advanced Growth Stage Magical Girls finally vented magic power, avoiding loss of control risk.
Heavy rain paused, snowflakes returned, waves calmed, but the burning sea surface and meteor-turned reef still left Magical Girls unable to forget—truly exaggerated.
Their gazes toward Senior Hyacinth held only shock. That battle just now displayed Regalia, magic, Origin undoubtedly all meeting Growth Stage—trinity really existed. Moreover, under multi-faceted enhancement, individual comparisons often won out, otherwise impossible to rely purely on defensive power like activating one type of magic. Fighting three-against-one and winning, that composed appearance seemed to still have reserves.
"Don't just watch the excitement," Hibiscus urged. "The timing is good now. Try to let everyone advance more."
"I want to develop new magic skills!"
"Practice on Disaster Beasts then."
Facts proved the Church welcomed this enthusiastically. For them, more advanced Magical Girl spectacles had already been displayed—that grand scene surpassed all earnest persuasion. After all, who didn't want to fly through heavens, escape underground, move mountains and fill seas?
The domesticated Disaster Beasts on the island felt regretful—once these energetic little ancestors started causing trouble, there'd probably be daily explosions keeping them sleepless.
Hermit Island entering joint training rhythm had increasing supply demands daily. After all, substantial nutrition should be replenished after exercise, and with barriers open, transportation lines could be reestablished.
As the entire Salvation Church's helmsman, Hibiscus had to review an important matter:
Procurement.
Supplies were lifelines—absolutely couldn't shortchange organization members. Though quite a few Magical Girls had reduced food intake, they still maintained three-meals-per-person daily standards. According to Jin Yulu: "Abundance is a state—existence itself has value." After all, most people felt secure with bumper harvests, so warehouses must be filled. People regard food as heaven—first procurement item was naturally grain.
What truly required Hibiscus's careful confirmation was the financial list. Alcohol was naturally excluded, as were non-durable items.
More remarkably, there were even waste materials, harvesters and such—so really planning to farm on the island? Still, she approved procurement. Farming was also relaxation—since there could be such hobbies, might as well try.
Food procurement was simplest yet occupied the most.
An island's people eating and horses drinking wasn't simple, and the larger the scale, the harder to hide. Future direct procurement under Management Bureau name might be more convenient.
Times were different now—could transport to Fireworks Island then directly transfer to Hermit Island. Now had to send containers through 10-meter diameter spatial passages.
Ordinary Magical Girls couldn't provide such strength, fortunately could use domesticated Disaster Beasts to help slightly. Process was simple—rent warehouses at purchase locations, transport materials there, actually having Disaster Beasts help through spatial teleportation. Simple and efficient.
Another category was daily necessities—miscellaneous and varied without unified standards.
Besides tissues, toothbrushes, toothpaste and such routine items, there were reimbursable "needed consumer goods" as compensation for being unable to go out shopping personally.
Hibiscus's list included but wasn't limited to game consoles, audio systems, magazines, etc. Clearly leaving opportunities to fleece the organization, but everyone didn't request overly expensive items—even saying "want a car" was negotiable. Anyway, these were handled by purchasing agents, then consolidated and teleported together.
And there were always extras.
For example, broken apartment TVs could be replaced with luxury large color TVs, but always over-purchased with leftovers distributed by lottery.
This small money meant nothing to the fabulously wealthy Church.
Result was everyone frequently hauling large items home. Magical Girls who hadn't disclosed their situations answered "part-time work company boss giving everyone lottery prizes," shocking family members—way too frequent. Couldn't explain with good luck—purely too large quantities. What company was so rich? Could withstand such waste? Even knowing Five-Color Narcissus Pharmaceutical's cover would cause amazement—truly conscientious.
Hibiscus approved all these daily necessities procurements—total amounts didn't match one day's profits anyway. Who told her business was so profitable, practically monopolizing special medicine markets?
Moreover, recent income increased daily.
Thanks to "Salvation Church at war with Arctic Disaster Beasts" news, people feared infection spillover, demand surging further.
Besides, Manjusaka made industrial adjustments, beginning to create exclusive physical therapy, prevention shots, nutrition packages and such services. Lowest tier threshold required 990,000 membership fees.
She understood friends in upper society too well. Special medicines without stratified consumption made everyone feel unsafe, even looked down upon. But package some irrelevant supplements, add value storytelling, and they sold easily. Expensive meant good, good meant expensive—one willing to hit, one willing to take—perfect.
Couldn't be bothered with poor people's small money—earn from whoever had wealth.
Through Manjusaka's operations, mass-market special medicines actually became cheaper because civilian versions became marketing costs, counted as "advertising fees." The more people using cheap goods, the more it satisfied luxury members.
Products entering luxury goods business logic could make even pigs fly, let alone these being the same thing throughout—nearly zero cost, purely story marketing.
After starting to earn rich people's money, the company became wealthy as if operating a money printer.
Hibiscus, looking at rows of numbers, had long become desensitized to money, so naturally approved procurement with bold strokes.
Our family got rich.
Actually, whether Manjusaka or Dandelion only controlled one business direction. Only the boss understanding the overall industry knew how wealthy the entire Salvation Church truly was.
Relying solely on Five-Color Narcissus Company for industry definitely wasn't enough. Actually Hibiscus hadn't mentioned she'd always been "gambling"—for example, operating hedge funds, asset management companies, financing institutions, etc. Borrowing Manjusaka's peripheral luck plus boldness, and knowledge of future Disaster Beast attack locations for low-price bottom-fishing then post-event speculation.
Invincible, victorious in every battle. She spent more effort avoiding media exposure as "stock god" than actual stock trading.
If business went poorly, launching a war to adjust situations could earn big money.
Controlling stock prices got you charged with financial crimes; controlling stock prices through war drew no accusations.
Dealers never lose.
Hibiscus already sat in one of the world's few "dealer" positions, sharing fate with the global economy—making money from everything, also losing money. So expanding to the entire Salvation Church's wealth, including financial assets, was astronomical figures. In summary, pure numbers couldn't measure commercial empires. Now Magical Girl Organizations' economic interests led the forefront, comparable to a nation.
So she approved a long procurement list without psychological burden. Seeming expenditures, some manufacturers might relate to herself—money circling back to pockets.
After completing this work, the silver-haired girl stretched, walking out of the office to clearly see mushroom clouds rising from the beach.
Rumble!
Following the sound, indeed Magical Girls were attempting most basic magic power beams. Even Jin Yulu wasn't skilled in this area, only letting everyone practice freely with little progress.
She held her forehead sighing: "So do you have any experience to teach?"
"First tell me the current stage."
"I'm teaching those below Triple Awakening to master self-protection methods as much as possible. Origin is the best choice, but forming magic power attacks isn't easy. Perhaps you're more skilled—after all, our first learning magic power release was taught by you."
Besides the troubled Jin Yulu, other Magical Girls looked expectant—everyone wanted to witness Senior Hyacinth's knowledge.
Who understands this! Hibiscus thought it was troublesome, but reconsidering seemed wrong. Don't forget the system had rewarded technique knowledge several times with accompanying experience insights. Besides, netizens mentioned low-level Magical Girl Origin combat plans more than once. Using levitation spells to block bullets also came from battle theorists.
Some originally transitional methods suggested to Hibiscus might be worth trying.
"So you need combat methods mainly relying on Origin that can be used at first awakening, second awakening stages?"
"Exactly. Very professional question."
Hibiscus automatically ignored Magical Girls' admiring words, instead beginning careful consideration. Indeed, even second awakening actually lacked sufficient magical combat capability for most. Early stages were even more hopeless—not everyone had strongest series available from first awakening.
Jin Yulu's guidance direction was correct, but she hadn't experienced such stages either, almost skipping grades, resulting in knowledge vacuum in the Church.
Civilization strengthened through experience transmission. Not filling this gap would definitely cause suffering later.
Speaking of which, system-rewarded technique knowledge and netizen-mentioned methods were already theory-practice combinations—perfect for testing.
Hibiscus decided immediately: "Don't practice magic power release. Though effective, consumption is unsustainable for you. Change approaches—low-cost, high-yield methods, namely techniques."
"You should know the Church's ability to remove infection is due to special healing curse usage, right?"
Everyone nodded.
Mentioning this, Magical Girls felt reverent—everyone generally believed this invention came from Hyacinth, actually true she used it first. Very effective against infection, immediate cure without aftereffects, more convenient than treating colds. Five-Color Narcissus Company established from this was truly conscientious among conscientious, called civilization's light. Otherwise, catastrophe invasion plus magic enrichment catalyzing infection might've replayed the Black Death.
Greatness had unremarkable beginnings—technique improvements.
"Good to know. You must learn to use healing curses on yourselves—also an improved usage, permanent regeneration effects. Keep it running so sudden attacks can recover some injuries, serving as weakened Regalia versions in early stages. I'll tell you the secrets now..."
Hibiscus spoke of abilities combining system rewards, netizen suggestions, and personal experience. After repeated refinement, knowledge was simple and comprehensible, everyone's eyes immediately brightening.
Indeed feasible.
Experts knew quality immediately. This way, passive-triggered healing curses could handle many threats.
"Senior Hyacinth, don't we have active attack methods at this stage?"
"Of course they exist. Practice levitation spells well—sufficient proficiency lets you simultaneously serve as barrier defense and telekinesis-like effects. Also, don't think hypnosis curses are useless. Grasping timing to inflict momentary mental confusion is enough. Listen carefully to my key points..."
Hibiscus taught experience while summarizing her own pre-Triple Awakening gang combat. Anyway, sufficient for handling small-scale light firepower.
Her problem-solving came effortlessly.
If Jin Yulu, Manjusaka, and Dandelion were all protected by Hibiscus for rapid transition to Triple Awakening, she belonged to wild, self-reliant growth purely alone.
So these personal experiences and related knowledge could guide everyone. Magical Girls hearing her teachings suddenly understood—so many wonderful uses existed for usually looked-down-upon techniques. Wasted learning. For some mediocre magic, its effects were even more direct.
Little knowing techniques' further levels were mastered by fairies—actually this system had unlimited potential, not inferior to any abilities.
"...Anyway, these are what you can currently use."
Moments later, Hibiscus ended the temporary classroom. Not only had she shared considerable knowledge, but also because Elsa returning from the teleportation array in the distance waved, signaling. She who'd returned to handle Management Bureau operations should have new results.
"Thank you, Senior Hyacinth."
"I want to experiment with levitation spell stopping effects now—find a gun."
"We don't have low-mental-power subjects to test hypnosis curses here."
Everyone's enthusiastic discussion relaxed Jin Yulu somewhat. Still, her direct superior had many methods. Now she understood the lack of corresponding training methods for low-tier Magical Girls.
However, the current expert-filled Salvation Church could completely protect early newcomers. No need for missions—just peacefully pass first and second awakening. As long as staying on Hermit Island meant safety. Though wild Magical Girls definitely still existed worldwide, systematic cultivation ensured Church suppression.
Hibiscus walked to Elsa's side, seeing the girl proudly smile while displaying land deed documents, even versions from several countries.
"Went smoothly?"
"I slightly lobbied and they agreed to provide property certificates. There'll be land belonging to Management Bureau private property, and Glacier Island registered as a private island. If it moves, it can also be viewed as a cruise ship. Though legal principles never matter, having legal principles makes things much more convenient."
"So can we consider the Management Bureau site selection settled? You did well."
"Actually, it didn't take much effort." Modest words glossed over Elsa's running around, actually her increased bandages proved magical costs. "Speaking of which, boss, when are we hiring?"
"Can't rush. I always thought large-scale recruitment after fairy descent would be better. Now having Church systems is sufficient. The Management Bureau should target some special cases."
"Special cases?"
"For example, giving people who mind Church military operations somewhere to go. After all, can't let talent drain away."
Hibiscus's seemingly casual remark defined the Management Bureau's nature.
Only the Church had organization, discipline, even ability to launch large-scale wars. The Understaffed Management Bureau wasn't allowed—military power must belong to core organizations.
Elsa immediately nodded agreement. As a political family descendant, she immediately understood the connections, agreeing without exposing, neither affecting relationships nor implementing superior decisions. Actually, she had no interest in organizational power—controlling the Management Bureau sufficed. The real backing strength was the Church.
In Magical Girl Chrysanthemum's view, Hyacinth was founding leadership. This team would only rise with the tide in future—rushing to divide power was foolish.
"Also another special case: Magical Girls who've already exposed identities."
"How many?"
"I don't know, but we should clarify one point. Actually Eagle Company's direct custody route was just one method. Official or mercenary forces secretly recruiting Magical Girls already existed. And the Los Angeles battle will promote this faction's development. After all, I harshly taught custody factions but temporarily took no measures against appeasement factions. With volume advantages, finding Magical Girls isn't difficult for them."
Hibiscus spoke facts. Some Church newcomers reported officials probing them indirectly. Seeing situations turn bad, they quickly came to surrender, also representing another group joining other camps.
Elsa pondered momentarily, suddenly understanding: "So the Management Bureau actually gives them a choice. My mission is actually poaching."