Crack crack!
Flickering whooshing sounds by her ear, then Minase Kaori felt her body grow cold as she involuntarily fell. Fortunately, a flying demon caught its master mid-air, otherwise falling into the Hegemon Disaster Beast's absolute home field would equal death.
She panted and coughed up blood, looking down to find shoulders, thighs, and abdomen all had varying degrees of penetrating wounds.
"Damn it, this guy's attack efficiency is too fast."
This scene reminded her of sparring with elemental magic Swift Lightning holder Ietta. In exchanges, the opponent always struck first with paralysis effects, but Light Anemone was even more troublesome. So far she hadn't caused substantial damage because that surface was covered with terrifying magical power, protecting the main body without dead angles—was that why it dared fight solo? But there must be some flaw...
"A mere little fly—where do you plan to run?" Before finishing, Light Anemone's tentacles contracted and gathered, its entire body rising flamboyantly from the sea.
High-tier Disaster Beasts were already powerful, let alone enhanced by countless kindred flesh supplements. Another super-wide-range attack would unfold.
"Full summon—"
Minase Kaori suddenly roared, corresponding to Hundred Demons Night Parade falling from sky, including herself diving straight toward the enemy with gravitational acceleration.
Crashing hard from hundred-meter altitude onto sea surface—even Growth Stage Magical Girls had to consider damage, but now all dangers were cast aside. Magical Girl Red Spider Lily's mission was covering retreat, guarding west coast flanks—absolutely couldn't cause more sacrifices.
Will and magical power infused summons, drawing forth further power. At this moment her pressure actually made Light Anemone feel locked-on threat.
"Good, little fly—since you're seeking death, I welcome it too."
Golden torrents and demon legions crashed hard together, both sides giving no quarter with mighty momentum. Friction-generated shockwaves scattered everywhere, stirring towering waves.
The instant of contact, Minase Kaori sensed the enemy's unfathomable magical power content, yet didn't retreat but advanced. Even the incomplete state of advancing while injured didn't delay anything—as Senior Imperial Flower said, battlefields must face all situations.
Thud!
In explosion sounds, the miko outfit figure fell powerlessly. This time even demons were exhausted beyond rescue.
Light Anemone wouldn't miss opportunities. Light spheres appeared around it—with its attack speed, sufficient to open several more holes in the target. This time it would aim properly at vitals like heart and brain...
Just as it concentrated, suddenly alarm bells rang in its heart—different from the listless target before, like a fierce beast targeting it.
"Sunset Hot Wind!"
The sea surface was somehow covered by starry sky, the dome replaced by a massive star with surface-burning fire serpents and magma suffocating, wrapping solar winds pressing down to crash directly on the Disaster Beast's surface. Seawater boiled with continuous explosions. Hissing steam even filled skies forming dark clouds, washing all directions with torrential rain—catching a drop would reveal scalding rainwater.
Rain curtains automatically avoided the white-green Regalia Dandelion girl. She held Minase Kaori horizontally—the latter bloodied yet still managing a grateful smile.
"Don't rush to thank me. You're too badly hurt—use the save file quickly."
Crushing the transparent paper meant reading body state. In moments, Magical Girl Red Spider Lily recovered completely without half an external wound.
Thump!
She was exhausted all over, involuntarily half-kneeling while murmuring: "Non-magic holder usage consumes too much. Sorry... I might drag everyone down."
Nan Zhiyi patted her shoulder saying: "Then go rest. You did very well, Kaori. You withstood the most dangerous time without disappointing anyone's expectations. Rejoin the rear—everyone's worried about our big hero."
Since veteran Growth Stage was commanding, Minase Kaori shouldn't be presumptuous. The Church was a team with intimate cooperation—when being decisive was needed, be straightforward.
When gazes refocused on the sea surface, the golden giant anemone shed a layer of skin for rapid regeneration, severed tentacles growing even more. Wisps of light magical power flowed around its body, reviving again. Simultaneously, fury-filled pressure locked onto Magical Girl Dandelion with gnashing roars echoing in air:
"How many years? You actually injured me! And it hurts so much—you taste this too—"
"What!"
Before finishing, a massive chalk planet swept forth. Seeing the situation, it fired a light beam fiercely scattering the target.
But behind debris was Nan Zhiyi's figure. The girl's magical power synthesis blade suddenly surged, spinning once to cleave dozens to hundreds of tentacles. Blood dyed seas while remnants were quickly devoured by the Disaster Beast.
"Fighting me, you have no time to worry about injuries. Dead means no more pain."
Could dignified Hegemon Disaster Beasts suffer repeatedly? In rage, Light Anemone howled skyward. Flowing light rain washed oceans, sky, and land—only destruction remained.
Reckless furious attacks even Nan Zhiyi hadn't expected. Caught off-guard, her arms and waist-abdomen had penetrating wounds, with hit areas burned by high temperatures suppressing regeneration efficiency. Ordinary Magical Girls might panic completely, even making fatal errors. But she acted like nothing happened, dodging and weaving—follow-up pursuing flowing lights couldn't catch up as both sides rapidly opened kilometer-level distances.
Very troublesome—worthy of hegemons.
Nan Zhiyi's expression unchanged, she actively destroyed burned wound parts with magical power, then rapid regeneration followed without affecting combat, momentum still strong.
"Can't let you be arrogant." She raised one hand in dharma seal gesture, saying coldly: "Domain closure—"
Before finishing, a 5-kilometer diameter starry sphere enveloped both sides.
Such massive high-intensity confrontations drew attention. Island Magical Girls could only look up—after all, Growth Stage currently counted as supernatural tier peaks. Rashly interfering would only drag things down, plus domain closure resembled colosseum arenas, very dangerous.
Military aspects were trapped in losses just caused by Light Anemone, unable to support. More and more wounded distracted energy.
Dangerous gap periods formed!
Closed domains continuously changed shapes with rumbling sounds while hundreds to thousands of Disaster Beasts surfaced in waters below. Turns out hegemons didn't lack groups—they were deeply hidden underwater.
Groups joined hands attacking domain shells, desperately launching attacks. Many monsters were caught in gravity tears yet still charged. Finally under internal-external opposing forces, cracking sounds rose and fell. Ultimately this starry space crashed thunderously like withering petals—definitely backlashing users.
First came Light Anemone's mad laughter: "You'll be severely wounded by magical costs while I guarantee killing..."
It carefully sensed, discovering Nan Zhiyi showed no weakness—no, rather like exquisite magical power operation actively releasing domains effortlessly.
"Sorry, our team coordination is superior."
"Nine Heavens Dragon Fall!"
Above firmament, a World Serpent broke through clouds via super-high gravitational potential energy in air friction, crashing toward targets.
Jin Yulu had thoroughly perfected this move through repeated training battles with the Church's first combat force—purely using kinetic energy and physical quality attacks. Only she could accomplish this—furious strikes risking herself.
Within 10 kilometers, all could see a flame-bathed World Serpent spinning like tops with accelerated gravity effects, like slapping down mountain peaks.
"You're crazy!"
Even Light Anemone was scared, immediately preparing to flee yet discovering Nan Zhiyi activating planetary force field capture—a miniature Jupiter making it immobile. Too fast—this Magical Girl actually switched freely between domain closure, projection, and transformation.
Battlefield opportunities lasted only instants. One beat slow meant even Hegemon Disaster Beasts couldn't dodge.
World Serpent and Light Anemone had intimate contact—the former's pressure destroyed its bodily structures layer by layer while thermal energy was completely stuffed in without remainder.
Hell-like experiences made even monsters involuntarily wail skyward.
"Pluto's Frost."
Nan Zhiyi decisively used Small Universe magic's new-tier skills. Most bitter cold winds formed extreme contrasts with recent solar winds. Instantly sea surfaces froze with mountains snowing, heaven and earth thoroughly cold. Fully 70% energy slammed hard into Disaster Beast bodies, naturally also affecting Jin Yulu herself, but Imperial Flower's uniquely wild laughter proved her great satisfaction.
Don't underestimate the World Serpent's resistance. Collateral friendly fire? Nonexistent—friendly fire was for collecting resistance, fighting more courageously.
As Disaster Beasts today, sufficient bragging material—receiving domain-type and mythology-type two strongest magic treatments counted as top-tier service. Ordinary high-tiers would have died countless times, yet Light Anemone still desperately supported, forced to gamble everything.
It unreservedly mobilized all internal magical power, surrounding light flows materializing.
If previous attacks counted as short-term bursts fleeting instantly, now completely became extremely sharp cutting and penetrating light torrents, indiscriminately striking surroundings.
Light Domain!
Giant anemones seemed to shift main bodies from translucent to fully transparent, refracting countless rays. Surging tremendously with undiminished momentum, hundreds of kilometers radius witnessed sky seemingly gaining another sun—dazzling and scorching.
Facing Hegemon Disaster Beasts' desperate strikes, even Jin Yulu and Nan Zhiyi had to avoid edges. Most importantly, they worried about Hermit Island suffering involvement.
Looking back, countless flowing lights automatically diverted paths like becoming background decorations—Jin Ruochu helped.
"If you dare come to cultivation ground depths, you'll be our meals."
Leaving resentful voices, Light Anemone disappeared.
Winds and waves calmed.
Though two Magical Girls tried tracking for pursuit, opponents' sea travel speeds exceeded expectations while maintaining concealment without traces. Rather straightforward escape, caring only for itself without bothering brought Disaster Beasts. Once bosses withdrew, they scattered like birds and beasts. Even distant eager monster legions retreated—couldn't provoke, fled.
Even Fallen Zone depth hegemons ruling areas suffered losses—approaching for materials themselves? Seems Hermit Island couldn't be provoked, at least basically walking sideways in core zones.
"Are we somewhat winning dishonorably?" Jin Yulu cupped her chin, murmuring.
"What warfare lacks gang-up environments? You simply want to challenge Hegemon Disaster Beasts alone." Nan Zhiyi saw through her companion's thoughts at a glance: "Anyway, we protected headquarters. That side should also be finished..."
While speaking, double-headed shark Disaster Beast corpses slowly floated over under telekinetic control—victors had emerged.
Hibiscus was very happy now.
[Completed Suggestion "Gain Magical Girl Kale's Trust" Reward: 120 Free Attribute Points] were fully allocated, basic skills advancing further.
Facts proved easier than imagined. As she expected, for Magical Girl communications, nothing was more efficient than fighting side by side. Though both sides held many secrets, at least one point was certain: entrusting backs to you was right.
With new attribute point enhancements, Hibiscus gained more confidence and glimpsed remaining tasks.
The other was [Suggestion "Enter Fallen Zone Depths" Reward: Medium Magic Advancement Stone Fragment ×1] related to Sands of Time's new stage.
Worth risking.
After this battle, the Church gained one Growth Stage Magical Girl—well done, Minase Kaori, adding weights to scales.
Watching her neighboring companion's smug spring expression, even Kale marveled. After all, usually Magical Girl Hyacinth was unassuming—rarely expressing joy so directly. Obviously some unknown gains existed...
Aura grew stronger—why exactly?
Never in her lifetime had she imagined someone's pressure surging dramatically while fighting before her eyes, already leading veteran Growth Stage Church backbone significantly, let alone Hyacinth always having 3 complete elements. Right—when fighting together, Kale was informed of this point, no longer doubting the strongest Magical Girl title. Well-deserved, none other—this talent and diligence truly crowned the era.
Precisely because she specialized in Origin elements, she better understood what 3-element simultaneous advancement represented. From the beginning, Hyacinth targeted transcendent boundary goals.
How many in the Rangers organization could match current Church high-end combat power?
Kale realized she unconsciously compared but had no basis. Simply, too many years without meetings—who knew how much stronger members became during current magical power revival? At most, speculating...
Organization leader never slept, should be active around western desert areas for readily deploying True Self Domain without affecting others.
That gambler should be more fun-loving, practically applying causality magic—after so long, already fed up.
Magician definitely still touring everywhere.
...Others like swordsman should have developed deaf-to-outside-affairs types, still busy with personal matters. Guessing was useless—Rangers organization was too loose. Except leaders, nobody knew total numbers, abilities, behavioral styles, etc. Compared to professional, militarized Church, clearly just hobbyist groups.
Shaking her head to dispel excess thoughts, Kale suggested: "Fleet has losses—I must discuss with Josh. Also duty-bound."
"Won't hide from you—my Origin can adjust to match different targets for healing, even longevity extension, so medical personnel."
Hibiscus nodded—naturally she knew this intelligence, otherwise Pharmacist wouldn't have such special status.
"Don't worry—my people will handle support." The silver-haired girl pointed at many soldiers on decks receiving Church support group healing enhancements: "Additionally, I sense spatial relic charging is completed. We're about to begin jumping—let's cross this difficult stretch in one breath."