Just as the Disaster Beast support team grieved, they suddenly saw Magical Girl Tulip's charred face show a smile, two rows of white teeth indicating the master's vitality as surging life force reignited.
Her body was self-healing. Just moments ago hanging by a thread, now swaggering before Death's door preparing to return.
"Bunch of idiots, trying to curse me to death? Move quickly."
Hearing this, they began a series of primitive yet effective rescue work like trained countless times, purely on instinct:
Green Parrot lifted mutated coconuts, letting energy-rich juice pour over the wounded's surface—every drop containing high nutrition. Besides this, Fat Otter spewed a fountain—it was among the few Disaster Beasts with healing-type Origin energy.
The remaining Gray Wolf transmitted magical power extracted from collected dried tumor meat to Tulip—these reserves represented life essence from Disaster Beast after Disaster Beast, with the best effects.
Crack crack!
Charred skin rapidly peeled away from the girl's body like eggshell revealing intact parts.
Tulip's figure was slightly petite with modest curves, indeed fitting a malnourished living environment from childhood—no wonder she liked compensating with gluttony.
Next, her flowing red hair regrew, very straight with each strand pointing different directions, faintly threaded with electric arcs providing stimulation feedback to her body—immediate effect. Then facial features: a pair of eyeballs emerged from empty eye sockets, full of spirit. Subsequently decorative eyelashes and eyelids showed smiling expression, then nose, mouth, and corresponding skin regenerated and recovered.
Tulip supported her half-body with both hands, looking at her empty, agonizing lower wound, saying coldly:
"Accelerated regeneration, cellular recombination."
Before words ended, spinal vertebrae grew section by section, extending pelvic bone, thighbone, and foot bones. Arteries built at visible speed along with capillaries weaving orderly, finally wrapped by muscle fiber and covered with lamb-fat jade skin.
She wiggled pink little toes, each stretching safely—sensation returned to her lower half.
Standing and walking two steps—no problem. Through elemental magic's pseudo-magnetic field stimulation at cellular level, Tulip recovered from death's threat.
Having walked through death's door made the red-haired girl laugh heartily toward heaven.
"Just those stinking fish and rotten shrimp, even united, can't keep me down—instead losing a heap themselves."
Green Parrot respectfully offered a banana leaf grass skirt. She accepted and wrapped it around her trim midriff—fully restored.
"You all did well." Tulip surveyed the circle, saying quietly: "If any of you had thoughts of taking advantage during weakness, you'd fill my empty stomach."
Three Disaster Beasts prostrated immediately: "Long live Island Master!"
Don't respond—just praise. Appropriate confusion favored relationship development. Like now, the red-haired girl opened her palm, offering a handful of pure crystals.
"Picked up some stuff fighting that dead crab—good things. Divide them up."
Seeing this, they weren't polite, immediately crunching and munching while staying alert. After all, crystal-grade magical solid matter required at least Vanguard Disaster Beasts to produce—not guaranteed. Imaginable how crazed the boss went.
No wonder—just her fierce battle with the hegemon's aftereffects could destroy countless Disaster Beasts. That domineering power was unquestionable.
The island master grew stronger. Obviously just Seedling Stage half a year ago, wandering one island at most. As this one ate more, fought more bravely... now achieving Growth Stage. Purest nourishment and training pushed Magical Girl power to constantly climb peaks. As human, alienated and assimilated by this hellish Fallen Zone, then reversely oppressing surrounding Disaster Beasts.
Once the island master was curious about her background, wanting to leave, but hegemon Armor Cannon blocked a large area.
She was rather happy instead. Not leaving—just getting stronger here.
"Let's go back."
Tulip waved, leading three pets to Departure Island's leeward beach where buildings stood in rows. But looking closely—broken bricks and tiles, ruins and debris, ivy and vines decorating walls, not one house leak-free, only a few magazines and faded billboards telling of civilization traces.
Once this was a resort, extremely prosperous. Withered neon lights, carousels, and beach volleyball courts proved everything—then it must have been bustling with voices.
When Disaster Beasts rapidly invaded, the resort was devastated, people unable to evacuate becoming hill-top tombstones.
Many among them survived by hiding for periods but couldn't endure disease, Disaster Beasts, and psychological pressure. Even reproduction over the years was doomed to extinction.
The grave-tender was the last person.
As a child, she remembered being cared for, but later no living people remained. Only by fleeing and hiding everywhere could she barely sustain herself until suddenly gaining power...
Tulip picked up fruits to distribute to tombstones—actually she didn't understand the meaning, just seeing such remains and following suit, incidentally expanding it.
This was the cemetery the red-haired girl personally built for solace—possibly containing her parents.
She walked to a tombstone, slowly sitting and leaning against it. Obviously cold stone, yet giving her body inexplicable support—rare relaxation as eyelids grew heavy, only managing to murmur: "In a sense, I've already found my birthplace..."
"But an inhuman world isn't home. The homeland I want is beyond the storm."
"What do you think?"
Three monster followers looked at each other, unable to answer. Even with some intelligence didn't mean they understood humans' ineffable emotional threads—incomprehensible.
Disaster Beasts indeed had some sociality, but mostly just being ruled by stronger individuals—obedient, listening to commands. Actually, more common was individual fighting, scattered like sand. So never understanding social animals' collective emotions—playing music to cows.
"Island Master, I, Gray Wolf King, will accompany you."
"I once heard human voices—why don't I sing for you?" Green Parrot stretched its neck high: "Children with mothers are like treasures~"
Otter covered its eyes, unable to watch two companions—at this moment it just wanted to be invisible and rest.
The red-haired girl dismissively waved: "Consider my rambling nonsense then. Anyway, I'm very tired and must rest to replenish energy. During this time, that dead crab might act—be careful..."
Just moments ago, the invincible Magical Girl Tulip now leaned against a tombstone sleeping peacefully, gentle expression representing sweet dreams.
"Dead?"
Gray Wolf patted Green Parrot's head.
"What are you thinking? Didn't you just witness how tough Island Master is?"
Otter similarly agreed: "Just this level of injury—sleep it off mostly healed, provided no disturbance. Otherwise, the situation's uncertain."
They knew nature's cruelty. After life-death struggles, many Disaster Beasts stirred restlessly, attempting to reap fisherman's benefits. Even the basically intact crimson island continuously echoed battle sounds—their side probably couldn't stay out either.
Challenging hegemons cost dearly, possibly attracting the other 3's attention after defeating one—very troublesome.
Fallen Zones were far more complex than before. After humans suddenly sent several super firecrackers, years of power balance broke, the entire core area rapidly slaughtering, devouring, grabbing territory. Finally establishing 4 hegemon positions—but that didn't mean only they were high-tier Disaster Beasts. Quite contrary, powerful Disaster Beasts kept appearing. Moreover, even they couldn't clarify the deeper brewing shocking energy's true nature...
Monsters weren't gentle enough to let failed challengers leave safely. So far, Tulip was the only withdrawal case.
"Is it over?" Otter yawned heavily.
"I'll rest in treetops, help you guard meanwhile."
Red-eyed Gray Wolf glanced at the beach: "Mm, thanks. Speaking of which, don't you find it strange? Obviously Armor Cannon won—why didn't it personally pursue to devour the powerful enemy?"
"You ground-runner and sky-flier simply don't understand water dangers. Liquified infection disease scares even Disaster Beasts, plus many small creatures inside."
Fat Otter's sinister voice drew two companions' attention:
"Deep water here long mutated—not mentioning how much infection factor melted in, every creature lays eggs inside. Parasites, microorganisms—don't be too lively. Many fellows got hollowed out yet carried empty shells acting. Right, powerful Disaster Beasts aren't afraid, but that massive body is hard to clean. Who wants to feel skin constantly attacked, eyes, nostrils, mouth always having small things trying to drill in..."
"Stop talking."
Even normally loud-clamoring Green Parrot couldn't help trembling, dropping several feathers—even colder.
"What Fatty described seems called Fallen Zones by humans, and they plan recapture? Joke." Red-eyed Gray Wolf disdained: "The real natural barrier is the ocean itself. If these things Fatty mentioned flowed into normal oceans, that would be terrifying—ecology would be rapidly transformed. If I'm not wrong, they're one driving force behind high magical power, right?"
"Completely correct, Doggy sir. You're Departure Island's first wisdom."
"Fat guy, even adding 'sir' can't change my dislike. Whatever, rest well." It fell asleep immediately.
1 hour later.
Departure Island's periphery echoed successive low roars as bold Disaster Beasts waded over, attempting snacks. Locals weren't outdone—both sides faintly confronted. The former hoped to profit while the island master stood alone; latter defended territory rejecting any outsiders. Neither yielded, baring fangs, pressures clashing with gunpowder smell.
"Boss Doggy, what do we do?" Otter covered eyes, asking timidly.
"I told you not to call me that... whatever, you're right to remind. Must organize interception—absolutely can't let invaders disturb Island Master's recovery. Delay—only she can protect the island."
Three Disaster Beasts rushed to the beachhead at top speed. After all, they also emphasized morale—if too many got devoured, they'd certainly scatter like birds and beasts. Must stabilize the situation.
However, enemy invader reinforcements also arrived—wave after wave of at least 3-meter giant claw crabs.
"Terrible."
Green Parrot circling overhead brought bad news: "Huge bunch, so many—estimated several hundred dead crab spawned youngsters coming over. This number means blood-washing Departure Island, using us as nutrients for the new batch's growth."
Responding to its words were successive crab legions crossing waves, pairs of claws flashing coldly, sharp and threatening.
More terrifying was many showing vanguard and leader life reactions. Normally timid Gray Wolf couldn't help hesitating, eyes wide in disbelief.
This was annihilation warfare?
Green Parrot suddenly screeched: "Can't avoid it—fight, feed, put enemies on the dining table, or you'll be tonight's excrement."
Departure Island's leeward beach was completely surrounded by invader armies, watertight. These Disaster Beasts without exception showed greedy eyes, drooling atmosphere about to emerge, wishing to devour everything.
Gray Wolf gritted teeth: "That dead crab specially starved the army awhile, turning them all into attack-only madmen."
"Roar—"
Invader armies launched first attacks, directly clashing with defenders.
They demonstrated top-tier Fallen Zone group standards—full-body seamless shell coverage plus Disaster Beasts' naturally powerful Origin regeneration made them the most fearsome tank units. When these starved crabs rushed into Departure Island Disaster Beast groups, giant claws swinging, many targets forcibly clamped and devoured. Scenes extremely bloody, dyeing beaches red.
At this moment, relatively intelligent Disaster Beasts including Gray Wolf, Green Parrot, and Otter felt uneasy, but blood surging, they didn't shrink from battle—Disaster Beasts were born thus.
"Mere seafood dares bully us!"
Led by the three elites, they plunged into battle, blood level climbing another tier. Neither side had formations, order, or command—only purest melee mixed with feeding.
Disaster Beast battles lacked technique—devouring and combat coexisted, mutually biting then swallowing.
They constantly replaced each other's flesh then stood up again—you in me, me in you.
Fallen Zones never lacked endless battles. As Departure Island continuously whipped up bloody storms, Disaster Beasts within 10 kilometers grew restless, roaring toward heaven, showing fangs and claws. Once either side showed collapse, they'd swarm attack.
Hum!
Suddenly overwhelming pressure swept over—a leader Disaster Beast raised its head screaming.
Origin suppression was very effective between Disaster Beasts. Instantly, Departure Island defenders felt cold, even experiencing blood backflow illusions.
Impossible—even breaking heaven, they couldn't oppose such monsters. Moreover, 3 un-enraged leaders remained. This represented regional hegemon's will to hunt challengers to the end, never letting any live. Realizing this, they despaired, bodies involuntarily trembling.
Hard-built morale collapsed at one corner. Even Gray Wolf couldn't stop it—warnings to "keep resisting" were futile.
Finished—losing this way today meant the island would be blood-washed.
"You came to deliver dinner?"
The same high, arrogant voice accompanied an electromagnetic cannon hitting the pressure-releasing leader Disaster Beast—one strike breaking armor, cooking it from inside out with a meaty aroma that seemed tender and delicious, stunning all Disaster Beasts present.
They had some instinctive memory cognition of Magical Girls—Growth Stage shouldn't directly kill instantly. This was special magic enhancement making her single-attack lethality threatening to hegemons.
So she should be weak, right? Why?
Next moment, Tulip's lightning-wreathed figure stood atop the giant crab's corpse.
She crouched at the shell's breach, opening her mouth wide to suddenly inhale. Crab roe fell toward her throat under invisible force, swallowed completely with nothing left.
Coming up to eliminate a leader of Disaster Beast was shocking enough—the key was terrifying feeding efficiency. Mixing in Fallen Zones required not just fast killing but fast eating. Being able to fight and devour represented the strongest among strong—these dual attributes were fully embodied in the red-haired girl.
"Long live Island Master!"
Gray Wolf led the cheer: "Eat them all—"
"Our boss arrived—shocked, right? War's just beginning. You'll end up as dishes."
Departure Island's Disaster Beasts roared endlessly, ferocity completely unleashed. At this moment, they were truly worthy wolf packs under the alpha's leadership, about to create a feast.
"You really give me face." The red-haired girl picked up a severed limb, gnawing while saying: "Now for a full meal."
Tulip stood atop the empty crab corpse, facing subordinates with raised waving hands, back to hundreds and thousands of invaders without care. Obviously full of openings, yet momentarily no one dared step forward. Most ordinary Disaster Beasts couldn't move at all—bodies stiff, blood cold. In their eyes, the red-haired girl's figure towered sky-high, that pressure approaching peak state competing with hegemons for the throne.
No one could always stand at full strength, but you could recover fast enough.
Another leader Disaster Beast swung giant claws, thunderously smashing over with fierce force that carved a hundred-meter groove through the beach, raising a sandstorm.
Before coming, they'd received hegemon intelligence: target weakness was defense, fragile flesh, no close combat skills—just guard against lightning-like speed to handle electromagnetic cannons...
Like hell!
The fierce force from its jaw and shell-cracking sounds made the Disaster Beast understand—the hegemon's so-called intelligence was based on being a monster himself.
This strike left it seeing stars. Fortunately, two other companions surrounded it, forcing the enemy back.
Facing seemingly impenetrable attacks, Tulip easily flashed through gaps. As the smallest presence, she moved among all sides, casually hunting ordinary species while dodging Boss Disaster Beast. Her "casual" actions were actually electromagnetic cannon after electromagnetic cannon, with lightning striking along each shot's path.
Not only that, Disaster Beasts increasingly felt their bodies becoming magnetic poles attracted to the ground, growing heavier as many individuals were mysteriously slapped flat by force fields.
"Time to increase output—Regalia activation!"
Before words ended, a thunder ring hair ornament above her head descended, energy surrounding her limbs. Both hands covered by black fingerless gloves, feet in short boots, torso in a sleeveless one-piece short dress. Overall style was form-fitting and simple, also unrestrained and free.
Most distinctive was that flowing red hair reaching full body length, standing up like a hedgehog under static electricity—incredibly arrogant and majestic.
Tulip—strongest elemental magic holder, full Regalia transformation state.
The lightning-wreathed figure resonated with heaven and earth, moving freely as all attacks occurred in an instant. Most Disaster Beasts only witnessed a pale blue streak, then limbs flew, blood flowed like rivers, burnt smell permeated—hundreds of Disaster Beasts died in the blink of an eye.
The beach she passed carbonized and crystallized, unmovable by wind, unstoppable by water—invisible force fields already shrouded the island.
"Only I visit your homes. Daring to disturb me makes you snacks."
Her right hand lightly traced, magical power externally cutting a line. That simple motion actually separated 10 kilometers of coastline from the main island—numerous invaders caught off guard.
"Magnetic pole repulsion."
With mocking laughter, this coastal mini-island rose higher and higher. Disaster Beasts with no flight ability were greatly alarmed—falling from current hundreds of meters would cost at least half their lives. Worse was surrounding magnetic field turbulence with thunderous activity, bodies paralyzed and immobile—clearly in a strong magnetic environment. They feared one possibility: were they being made into electromagnetic projectiles?
Spiritual-attribute Disaster Beasts attempted attacks at the critical moment but were precisely targeted and blown up—seemingly anticipated.
"I want to show some creativity with a new move." Tulip pointed at her temple: "By the way, I can also read minds and counter-reconnaissance."
Next moment, she vanished from Disaster Beasts' mental perception.
Seeing the red-haired girl again, she was extracting iron from sand grains—fine particles rotating and accelerating at high speed, magnetization condensing frightening power casually grasped by their master.
She gripped the scepter like Zeus unleashing power. At this moment, thunder within hundreds of kilometers cheered and leaped for joy.
Surrounding Disaster Beasts witnessing this scene were almost numb. Since this island master grew strong, spectacular scenes continued endlessly. They couldn't help wondering what great commotion she might create in the future?
"Fly!"
At her command, the coastline island shot toward Crimson Island, clouds rolling back to form a cylindrical tunnel with internal magnetization acceleration—weightless, vacuum environment where all life completely died and became new magnetic materials. Cycling repeatedly, constantly accumulating high pressure—who dared estimate what was brewing inside?
Simultaneously, Tulip's magnetic iron sword suddenly swung out, her whole body like a drawn bow at full moon, shooting an arrow, bursting with power.
The surging sword caught up with the projectile—all this happened above Crimson Island as the island split and clouds scattered.
White-hot light seized all vision, like doomsday.
Power reflected in the nine heavens was clearly visible for hundreds of miles. Those Disaster Beasts calculating opportunistic gains all crouched low—this wave was untouchable, too powerful to provoke, only avoidable.
Some debris with severed limbs fell to the hegemon's island, but the other side showed no reaction—obviously accepting the current situation.
Thunder gradually scattered, wind stopped, rain ceased. In thick dust, the red-haired girl's expression unchanged as she lifted the largest invader Disaster Beast corpse, breaking it in half with a crack before the entire island's eyes.
"Eat them."
Before words ended, Tulip embraced her spoils and feasted heartily—more impactful than any Disaster Beast's feeding because this tiny individual visibly digested a super-large life's energy at visible speed. This scene was simply...
"Long live Island Master!" Surviving Disaster Beasts cheered endlessly.