Pasha, battle-hardened, had never been as shocked as today. Who could imagine that in a moment of distraction the world stopped—completely lifeless. The usual sounds of wind and breathing all disappeared. Immense loneliness surrounded her, as if gripping her heart so it couldn't beat.
More terrifying was that in such loneliness, someone was back-to-back with her. A top Holy Relic like her had no awareness at all.
Who?
The time stopper?
Thoughts flashed through her mind instantly, but Pasha chose the safest statement: "You might have something you want from me. Lady Hyacinth. Minase Kaori believes you will save her."
"Of course, we made an agreement, moreover she sent a distress signal."
The reason Hibiscus rushed here urgently wasn't just worry, but guessing there must be flaws left by Quincy here—possibilities for victory.
Taking the photo, she saw delicate handwriting on the back: Lady Pasha, please use this photo for missing person news reports. Sister Hyacinth will definitely come looking.
Plus a snow woman turned into Thumbelina was cheering, magic power showing the master's location. Really hard on her—summoning magic wanting to ensure summons stayed long-term required enormous magic power, making users fall unconscious... but in that situation it might be good.
Anyway, whoever blocks me dies.
Their exchange was completed in just an instant—time had barely passed 5 seconds.
"Remember well, beware causal relic: Oracle Book. If Prophecy Books predict detailed events related to oneself within two days from microscopic perspective, then Oracle Books can achieve prophetic self-fulfillment from macroscopic perspective. Combined, they become situations where events develop completely under one's control... Really impressive. I said so much yet remained safe."
"If there were problems, you wouldn't bet on me, right?" Hibiscus asked with certainty while smiling.
"You're more the prophet."
"Goodbye."
No sooner had Pasha heard this than she felt confused, guessing she'd also been time-stopped. What terrifying magical power! Couldn't think how to counter it.
She clearly felt time stopping while Hyacinth left, so why did everyone still seem stunned...
Looking around, the press conference was quiet, because the councilman sitting at the podium actually had his back of head facing numerous cameras. Really rude, but his body remained upright. Then vertebrae made teeth-aching crisp sounds as his back of head slowly drooped, revealing neck flesh in spiraling twisted state.
People around initially didn't dare believe, moving closer immediately made scalps tingle.
"Ah——Murder!"
Following a female reporter's scream, the scene descended into chaos. No time to cut signals—countless people witnessed the disgraceful scene:
They cried, shocked, dazed, even pushed and trampled each other. Someone adjacent to the councilman directly fainted unconsciously. Facing absolute power, ordinary people had no chance—when elephants step on mice, they don't bother with ant nests underfoot.
Though the killer had left, powerful magic activation often brought pressure. People getting scared easily fainted.
The current scene was completely undignified—truly unsightly, but adequate as farce.
Pasha grimly covered her ears, sighing at the chaotic scene, finally taking deep breaths to suppress laughter. Really terrible—almost burst out laughing immediately. Good death, well done. Who told you to give neither me nor the Church face?
Politicians? Statesmen? Times had long changed. Since the Disaster Beast invasions, human civilization's main theme became naked violent order—you're just a bunch of stewards.
The killer: Hyacinth. Effect was shocking enough:
At this moment TV screens broadcast live execution of Councilman Shifang, twisted like a spinning top in front of millions.
According to "who benefits is suspect" principle, anyone could tell it was connected to Salvation Church.
But so what? Public view, countless cameras focused, groups of bodyguards, various security perimeters outside press conferences... Armed-to-the-teeth defenses were like paper, clean and efficient direct execution.
Throughout, the killer never appeared—could be viewed as century-level magic performance.
Certain authorities should lose sleep tonight, definitely reflecting whether their security was much stronger than Councilman Shifang's. Even ten times stronger, could it compare to killers moving freely in time stops? Right—certain mechanisms must exist, like specific duration, scope, activation conditions... Maybe limited, maybe not. Dare you bet?
Bet lives?
Those most precious about life were such people. After this deterrence they definitely wouldn't act rashly—indeed a perfect flawless performance, perhaps more effective than nuclear bombs.
Because nuclear explosions might not reach cowards hiding in shelters, but killers hidden in time definitely could.
Pasha cupped her chin recalling just now's details.
Time magic performed before her eyes again, revealing more mechanisms. Like maintaining contact should avoid being stopped, but obviously other tricks existed beyond this. Step back—even restraining magic didn't mean solving magical girls.
Recalling Hyacinth and companions' Island 24 performance: zero-distance melee with Boss Disaster Beasts, magic power output rivaling bombers based on pure output.
Only rookie magical girls like Minase Kaori were easily targeted and subdued.
Young people, sigh~
Pasha liked viewing problems developmentally. On surface, mercenary companies and official forces colluded to suppress magical girls, but don't forget Disaster Beast pressure always existed—external enemies wouldn't disappear due to infighting. Moreover, little sisters with Church backing didn't lack shelter. Even if you could provide social welfare sugar-coated bullets, it couldn't compare to peace of mind among similar kinds—decided by genes in social animals.
She patted the pale-faced female secretary beside her: "Don't be afraid—just twisted necks. If it were me I'd definitely cut off his head and put it in his arms for photos."
"Boss, you must be joking, right?"
"People who haven't experienced Holy Relic uprising events half a century ago won't share my feelings—really regrettable." Pasha shook her head: "Back to business—ignore this mess, quickly return to headquarters, prepare all liquid funds, plus call several hedge funds. I'll organize, everyone makes money."
"Bottom-fishing Eagle Company assets? Honestly, I don't think Salvation Church's few people can defeat America's second-largest mercenary giant."
"I don't believe it either, but I'm actually a madman who gambles at key moments."
Pasha laughed heartily, striding away from the press conference site with a bloody stretcher being carried out nearby.
...
Los Angeles suburbs, Eagle Company Laboratory Center.
Monitoring hall displayed various containment rooms' conditions—girls in snow-white backgrounds wearing light blue patient gowns with restraints. According to different magical expressions there were merely imprisoned, agreed to cooperate, kept anesthetized, or completely bound dangerous types, plus numerous Disaster Beasts.
Though countless screens existed, currently travel-worn returning Quincy, Gallup, and headquarters security captain Dennis only stared at TV broadcasts.
"Murder!" Heart-wrenching screams from thousands of miles away made people shiver.
They'd seen death often.
But they'd been staring at screens from the start, everyone could guarantee absolutely no details missed, yet the person died anyway—matching Prophecy Book contents.
Reason for not warning was another relic: Oracle Book. If effects achieved according to Prophecy Books accumulated large amounts of "historical inertia," when wanting to rewrite you could completely follow your thoughts. Like previous 3 events—sleeping well, eating breakfast, buying kites—achieved step by step. The 4th event wanting to fly could easily accomplish. Actual operation was naturally more difficult, but theoretically easily feasible.
For example, kidnapping Salvation Church-related Minase Kaori, allowing revenge against connected Councilman Shifang—two things achieved.
But very risky!
Prophecy books giving prophecies simultaneously displayed "danger levels" or "suggest you immediately rewrite" through text colors, but Oracle Books insisted on accumulating such danger to transform into victory—so combining two relics seemed creating possibilities but actually gambling.
This Prophecy Book's "Quincy wars with Salvation Church" theme content was entirely red—blood-dripping red, striking with piercing feeling.
When Catastrophic Disaster Beasts attacked it was only light red.
Relic managers said they'd never encountered such situations—felt mottled paper's red characters would flow black-red blood next moment.
Just this performance shocked leadership, making them more wary of magical girl organizations. After all, in divination relics' view, targets even faintly exceeded the first Catastrophic Disaster Beast. This battle was extremely dangerous—should they really oppose them?
Quincy was equally puzzled: clearly divining myself warring with the Church, yet dangerous to this extent. Could the opponent's organization vanguards rival army groups?
Or was Salvation Church betting heavily on one throw? Unnecessary—why abandon their hidden advantage? Incomprehensible, but soldiers' honor and bloodiness made him unable to retreat.
Absolutely no desertion.
Continue following relic rules according to original plans—prophecy participants personally participating in restraining events and creating fate's magic power.
Already accumulated twice historical inertia. Next event: laboratory attacked.
Paying inertia to forcibly establish goal: capture all attackers. For this Eagle Company had made series of preparations.
Three events corresponding to Prophecy Book's 3 contents—intelligence revealed by relic-managing officials. Users naturally couldn't lie flat accepting fate. Previously Eagle Company also set numerous mechanisms and traps, but with Quincy's personality only hoped for assistance. Key was fighting on home ground could unleash more relic power—laboratories lacked nothing but Disaster Beast remains as fuel.
He'd always had an unspoken secret avoiding Prophecy Book and Oracle Book control—kept as trump card. That was destructive sound waves actually being another power:
Spirit Word Technique.
Through research and targeted stimulation, magical girls could also activate some spells, but currently relics had higher limits with unfathomable power. Even Salvation Church large-scale invasion needn't worry.
Quincy closed the TV instructing: "Remember two things—maintain distance and enhance defense or regeneration, otherwise can't survive time magic."
Dennis answered: "Everyone injected short-term enhancement drugs, plus controlled Vanguard Disaster Beasts assisting—definitely sufficient."
"How about the people I brought?"
"Minase Kaori remains unconscious—doctors recommend not attempting awakening."
"Let her stay in wards—if anything happens I must completely break with Pasha." The masked man rubbed his forehead sighing: "If not for completing Oracle Book contents, I wouldn't want to tangle with that troublesome old witch."
Gallup said quietly: "Pasha understands mercenary companies rarely directly war—will guess national backing, then think toward causal relics."
All three nodded unanimously, certain the other party had seen through.
After so many years as colleagues, plus life-and-death work nature, who was reliable was obvious at glance—Pasha counted as super first-rate.
"...So that guy not directly pursuing also counts as accommodation. Regardless, she wants to witness the Salvation Church's strength? Rather let girls receiving protection promises get frightened." Quincy sneered: "Pasha's thinking is cold, just seems gentler in style. Anyway I accept this concession—after capturing Salvation Church people with new experimental subjects, naturally can return Minase Kaori to her. So everyone perform better—colleagues and superiors are watching."
"Orders received."
With one command, the entire Eagle Company top to bottom began acting, preparing intensively to meet enemies.
Quincy returned to his office, dismissing attendants, finally taking out mottled parchment from inner pockets—clearly written upcoming attack details including personnel, methods, key targets... Worthy of Prophecy Books. Next moment its pages scattered in wind.
According to this relic's mechanism, managers at most saw rough contents—detailed parts must be given to involved parties, opened only at final moments to see clear text.
Intelligence at heart gave more confidence.
But he was still worried about being countered, because Prophecy Books and Oracle Books seemingly forcibly regulating futures actually had reduced effects on high magical targets.
This thing was like scripts—allowed writing but couldn't be outrageous. Most important was actor cooperation, especially protagonists.
The protagonist was Quincy.
Others might slack off, but only he must exert 120% effort to maximally guide events toward relic-divined conclusions, ultimately capturing attackers. Having just read opponent intelligence, his forehead sweated.
Playing really big—worthy of targets making Prophecy Books issue unprecedented red warnings.
Magical girls had considerable potential—masters everywhere, extraordinarily gifted. Eagle Company's catches were just small fry. In comparison, Salvation Church controlled somewhat grown magical girls whose current displayed strength shocked the world—single-handedly changing era directions.
So Quincy was extremely desired. He also guessed opponents had intelligence channels countering prophecy—then simply clashed directly.
...
Los Angeles International Airport.
The moment she stepped off the plane onto another city's soil, Hibiscus heard system notification sounds:
[Begin fulfilling suggestion "Rescue Magical Girls Imprisoned In Eagle Company Laboratories" Reward: Jin Yulu affection unlocked, Minase Kaori affection unlocked, new technique materials: Presence Reduction, Magical Girl Training Knowledge: Regalia Portion, organizational cohesion greatly improved]
This system reward was completely different from the past—pure text descriptions lacking quantification. Such abnormal performance made Hibiscus alert, because it indirectly indicated extremely high difficulty.
Affection was old news—in a sense representing fortune's protection.
She guessed that because she was deeply trusted by currently few magical girls, fairies good at sensing emotional magic were willing to trust and even help her. Perhaps someday this would have unexpected uses.
Technique rewards were most practical.
Magical girls relying solely on themselves could master at most techniques like floating spells, hypnosis spells, healing spells, rarely mastering all. But Hibiscus could now teach everyone a new technique—and as the name suggested, very helpful for daily life, counting as life tips. Additionally, Regalia training methods were equally important. Currently netizen-shared so-called exercise routines actually should count as Origin training methods—adding Regalia would complete the set.
Hibiscus had clearly seen this system pattern: a complete training program for new species was gradually being systematically established.
Netizens with original storyline perspectives also couldn't figure out specific technique knowledge—coincidentally supplemented by the system, mutually assisting with no blind spots, practically perfect.
"Hey! Hibiscus, over here." Nan Zhiyi in the departure hall waved hello.
"Let's go."
The two went together to the luxurious hilltop mansion in Los Angeles. Thanks to the young lady's shopping spree during Edo battle, even across the Pacific they had a foothold—from now this would be combat headquarters.
Entering the underground warehouse, they saw Jin Ruochu and Jin Yulu copying cat-like drawings of teleportation magic arrays—part of the plan, after all they needed escape preparations.
Hibiscus glanced a few times, finally confirming it was usable.
She reached out pointing remotely, magic power flowing like silk threads toward the magic array, weaving a mirror's shadow.
"...This time I input more magic power to the Thousand-Li Viewing Mirror to improve performance, expanding range to a whole city. So theoretically it can connect directly from every Los Angeles corner to the underground warehouse. But must be in stable, high-concentration magic environments, plus real-time parameter calculations. Let's discuss together shortly."
No sooner spoken than the silver-haired girl distributed recovery mana, health recovery, and enhancement potions of 3 types, 3 bottles each for emergencies.
Though diluted with relatively poor effects, and non-system masters had "drinking medicine" flaws, better than nothing—it counted as a trump card.
There was another.
Hibiscus showed everyone a photo. Fellow magical girls immediately recognized the Thumbelina-version snow woman containing concentrated magic power and weak mental signals—probably some kind of switch.
"Summoning magic, Hundred Demons Night Parade. Her restraint abilities must also be included in plans..."
"Why do you all look relieved?"
Jin Ruochu spread her hands smiling: "Finally someone who's not strongest magic—otherwise I'd think my causal magic created the world's storm center."
"Though far from strongest, it counts as first-tier ability, especially useful in group combat."
This wasn't false—honestly, currently Salvation Church entirely lacked army combat abilities, relying purely on magic barrages against large enemy numbers.
Fine against brainless Disaster Beasts, but humans better understood organization, coordination, even coordinated attacks, easily forming systematic combat to forcibly bridge gaps—this had to be guarded against. Though using magic pressure to clear small fries was an option, magical girl same-tier Origins were far inferior to Disaster Beasts, very difficult to achieve. Moreover opponents definitely took resistance drugs, so this plan was excluded—large-scale restraint relied on Hundred Demons Night Parade.
"So nighttime action?" Nan Zhiyi asked.
"No, don't think it has weaknesses based on literal meaning. Weaknesses are for overcoming—like placing in high-energy environments equals nighttime. See, conditions circle back, right?"
Hibiscus smiled knowingly with her, immediately understanding one step of battle plans. Their tacit performance left the other two completely puzzled.
Playing the "hearts have a connection" routine? Damn causal relics making everyone speak in riddles.
The silver-haired girl then pointed at them: "Jin Yulu, assault demolition expert—you must block enemy high-end combat power in early stages. Jin Ruochu, rescuer—ensure every cell opens smoothly and gets their cooperation."
"What about you? Don't specifically pick the most dangerous work again." Nan Zhiyi asked with concern.
Hibiscus said meaningfully: "Don't worry, I won't participate..."
Woo!
Suddenly alarm signals echoed over the city, followed by broadcasts indicating Anti-Disaster Beast drills beginning—guard units would patrol streets but wouldn't affect traffic.
Los Angeles had entered alert status—densely populated areas must evacuate, public facilities reduce operation, entry-exit restrictions, important locations strengthen guards... Obviously Eagle Company mercenaries closely coordinated with regular military in battle formation, quite determined for decisive battle atmosphere.
Four people looked at each other knowingly—enemies came prepared this time.
They didn't think mighty Salvation Church lacked even Prophecy Book intelligence, completely unhiding intentions, not fearing alerting enemies.
Knowing you're coming, this battle was unavoidable.
Eagle Company would rather Los Angeles become a sea of fire than let attackers escape—already blocking retreat routes.
Hibiscus said quietly: "Visa processing being so easy was for inviting you into the trap. Ready? Already experienced Prophecy Book relics' power? Perhaps every step so far was within opponents' expectations. Immediate withdrawal still possible—after all I admit next I also have gambling elements. Our opponents control powerful relics plus series of resources—this battle isn't equal..."
Before finishing, the three unhesitatingly nodded. Most anxious was Jin Yulu: "Just do it—such evil organizations should be completely crushed."
"Hibiscus, after boarding your pirate ship, I never planned to get off."
Jin Ruochu scratched her head carefully saying: "Actually I prepared lots of short-selling funds targeting Eagle Company, betting 70% of company assets—consider it accumulating fortune... If we withdraw, our funding chain will explode on the spot."
The pink-haired girl's statement made companions palm their faces—So you left even fewer escape routes? Acting as our blocking detachment?
If you don't attack Eagle Company, creditors will attack you.
"So not only must we win but win beautifully. Prepare mentally—action tomorrow."
Hibiscus definitively declared.