A map?
Even Pasha, who had mentally prepared herself, couldn't help but be surprised. The veil covering her pretty face trembled, while Philomena and the secretary beside her looked at each other in equal confusion. What the hell? They'd imagined bombs, nerve gas and such—result was a piece of paper!
"Those people would never do meaningless work. There must be some deeper meaning."
The nun spread the map on the table, revealing its full scope—clearly a world map marked with different regions corresponding to Disaster Beasts, scale, type and other information...
Most incredible was that every time point was in the future, not even bothering to include this year's already-occurred attack incidents.
If you're real, what's the Prophecy Book worth?
Pasha pointed at the North Atlantic: "Blackwind Wing will launch large-scale attacks in 48 hours. This event is closest and can verify truth or falsehood. Anyway, we've also observed frequent Disaster Beast activity requiring proactive strikes—might as well make the strike range more precise."
Philomena shook her head: "This intelligence directly negates academia's definition of Blackwind Wing as neutral, while accurately providing scale, numbers and such. Who's the informant?"
"Classified."
"I see, I understand."
Who could fool whom between longtime partners? Just a little understanding of Winter Company's recent ambiguous cooperation with the Salvation Church made it clear—their reciprocal gesture was normal, especially since the package's coincidence-filled delivery method was itself an identity card. Only that miracle association gathering countless extraordinary individuals could deliver things to mercenary headquarters without trace, everything perfectly timed, making one doubt its authenticity yet unable to not believe the prophecy.
Europe didn't have as many rumors about the Church, but Philomena had heard plenty.
First, they weren't to be provoked—Eagle Company's bankruptcy was precedent, with Quincy having just won the resurrection match, his fate clear to see.
Second, Pasha had once specifically investigated supernatural incidents in Ningfeng Harbor, later proven related to magical girls. Moreover, both sides had formed some comradeship in the Edo battle—having contact was normal.
She glanced at the map and said: "No need to wait for verification. The North Atlantic will definitely have attacks. The spore magic reactions there are intense—I sense Disaster Beasts."
Pasha was slightly startled: "You've already released perception seeds?"
"Of course, been preparing since August. After all, I need to ensure strengthened vigilance around headquarters."
"Seems the map's usefulness is limited..."
"No, seeing it I understand which direction the specific magic sources are in and where to focus attacks, not to mention they predicted future attack locations." Philomena said meaningfully: "Don't act like the map's useless so you can keep it for yourself—finders keepers."
She put her arm around the nun's shoulders with an atmosphere of good friends asking for treats.
Seeing the map, neither could sit idle. The next two weeks' Disaster Beast attack locations, timing and scale were all laid bare—they had no choice but to act.
"...Actually I really want to call the treasury and ask if the Prophecy Book is missing or was swapped?" Pasha sighed. "But I know better that the Prophecy Book can't do this, or rather humanity currently can't afford fuel sufficient to support this effect. So the Church must control some powerful divination relic, or that kind of magical magic."
"Rule out the former first—relics have certain uniqueness, prophecy aspects are already occupied. The Church is a magical association. Using magic to achieve goals is quite normal." Philomena nodded.
The Salvation Church's mysterious impression deepened another layer.
Logically, an organization continuously active and even appearing before media should be stripped bare, but it became increasingly unfathomable.
Rather, precisely because of their consistent style of continuously refreshing perceptions, both mercenary leaders believed firmly.
The map matter couldn't be delayed further. Even setting aside disaster beat attack foresight, they should add a new vigilance target: Blackwind Wing. This guy was spreading infection disease.
After exchanging glances, longtime partners Pasha and Philomena understood each other's decision.
Both jointly initiated emergency meetings. The timing was perfect—mercenary headquarters had currently assembled most combat power to deal with explosive infection disease, gladly accepting their intelligence sharing. They didn't mention anything about the Salvation Church and issued gag orders plus trace erasure, purely using map information as intelligence.
No need to release everything at once—first taking out the North Atlantic portion would do, and Blackwind Wing would depart from that battlefield toward inland high altitude.
Should they believe it?
Of course.
Though both appeared evasive and secretive, mercenary bosses always hid various strange information channels—habits die hard. If you told me directly and openly, I'd worry about traps instead. No one questioned intelligence sources because Pasha and Philomena had sufficient credibility.
More importantly, there was no time. If overturning academia's longstanding "Neutral Disaster Beast" assessment of Blackwind Wing meant what? Large-scale infection was taking root on the continent.
In the spacious, solemn conference room, after Pasha and Philomena spoke in turn, long silence followed by voting.
Better safe than sorry—mercenary alliance leadership made judgment:
"According to reliable intelligence sources, special Boss Disaster Beast Blackwind Wing confirmed Origin attribute destruction, characterized as sky magic power, current main killing method is spreading infection disease sources. Unfortunately, we didn't realize in time, but there's still remedial opportunity. Hope everyone reduces going out or takes protection, we'll freely distribute resistance drugs to delay the major outbreak..."
Intelligence was also shared with military forces, who unhesitatingly began taking action. Who cared about sources—win this battle first.
Admittedly, mercenaries and military had accumulated many contradictions over the years, even gaps, but no one wanted to quibble when facing great enemies. Regardless, cooperation between both sides exceeded contradictions. Facing common enemies, they had the same goal:
Stop Disaster Beasts.
Previously like headless flies spreading searches, joint forces didn't know which ocean corner Disaster Beasts specifically lurked in. Now finding you meant a good bombing.
Scouts composed of reconnaissance aircraft, submarines and warships confirmed intelligence accuracy.
Disaster Beasts had just crossed space rifts and were adapting to new environments. Estimated scale over 4000, direct contamination area exceeding 100,000 square kilometers.
Headquarters' first reaction upon receiving news wasn't surprise—as long as enemies were located, there were always methods. Previously just locating randomly appearing space rifts was headache enough, let alone life-death struggles. Often missing opponents' vulnerable periods meant hard confrontations. This time was truly satisfying.
Unfortunately bad news followed:
Though Pasha brought large amounts of resistance drugs plus new miracle drugs, and Philomena deployed perception networks, neither could prevent a black shadow from escaping ocean into sky.
The largest and fastest flying Disaster Beast on record this epoch rushed toward inland, spreading death.
...
Switzerland.
Yeta in her rental apartment hung up the phone after reporting safety to family, then the girl lay face-up on the sofa with a bitter smile. The former were in Paris, she came here for university, but honestly the distance wasn't far—both in infection disease outbreak zones were the same.
Increasingly acute senses let her easily hear neighbors, corridors and upper/lower floors making noise from people suddenly collapsing, with ambulances roaring past from time to time...
Invisible magic power from Disaster Beasts was too harmful for ordinary people.
Yeta sat up and stretched, supporting her face in her hands, dazed. Just started university and classes were suspended, everywhere chaotic, streets continuously had fully armed soldiers marching toward the ocean, air filled with murderous atmosphere. Not psychological effect—she truly felt that faint mental power scanning.
Something was in the high sky!
During this period, above cloud layers kept passing magic reactions that made hearts palpitate. Out of fear she dared not even glance upward.
Locking was mutual—once she tried understanding unidentified flying objects, that guy would definitely visit, while fighter jets falling from the horizon told of its terrifying power.
"...What exactly are magical girls like?"
Yeta ended her daze and pointed remotely. The water cup on the coffee table automatically floated and flew over slowly, landing steadily in her hand. Next moment, a trace of blue light flashed in her eyes while her palm crackled with sparks like electric shock.
Elemental system, Swift Thunder. Thanks to this power, she recently made approaching mercenaries return empty-handed.
As a journalism major quite attentive to various information, she'd long guessed Eagle Company's exposed "suspected kidnapping" scandal was actually related to magical girls. Ordinary people couldn't figure it out, but since confirming herself as a magical girl, she understood trouble would come sooner or later. Fortunately mercenary investigation methods seemed to explore high magic reactions by region, then organize blood tests, examinations and such for careful screening—this left loopholes.
You know there are targets in the city, sending people to investigate. Fine—what if as soon as you get off trains, planes or cars, you're directly electrocuted unconscious?
Yeta used speed and relatively covert attack mechanisms to make mercenaries get struck by lightning one by one.
No deaths—hoped they'd know when to quit.
Eagle Company obviously trusted force more. After several clashes they sent more troops including Disaster Beast fusion reaction users. Even the girl couldn't help feeling anxious—opponents came aggressively prepared for complete capture.
Then Yeta was caught between advance and retreat, not knowing what to do. Escape? Fight? The former exposed identity, the latter had too many variables—blocked on both sides.
She would be shackled by these people, restrained more strictly than treating mental patients and escorted away, finally becoming test subjects.
Fortunately the world-shocking Los Angeles battle that followed was decisive. The girl witnessed the entire news broadcast: on screen, the black-red ceremonial dress girl physically destroyed the invincible company before everyone, towering buildings becoming building blocks, even mastermind Quincy suffering public execution.
Hyacinth was magnificent and domineering—probably historical heroes were no more than this. So magical girls were organized.
After Eagle Company's fall, crisis resolved.
Yeta even witnessed mercenary alliance spokespersons publicly declaring: "Will never proactively antagonize the Church and damage human unity, solemnly apologize, promise to respect victims' rights, definitely reform in future with strict supervision. Additionally, hope to establish consultative cooperation with your side..."
Look at that humble attitude—scared witless perhaps?
Though not participating, the girl felt blood boiling, warmth surging in her heart. Though she'd done nothing, she became a beneficiary—flattered.
Yeta viewed the Los Angeles battle as a social movement—hardline magical girl organizations struggling together to gain rights.
She realized that in unknown corners, such associations had long taken root and sprouted, reportedly thousand-year heritage with history full of their shadows, once dominating dynastic rise and fall. Watching clouds roll and unfurl, until Disaster Beast invasion they acted from civilization's standpoint, yet were internally fought and calculated against by those with ulterior motives, forced to retaliate and warn... Previously the girl thought rumors were nonsense, now believed firmly.
Hyacinth, my hero.
Salvation Church, a historically long and great organization.
Unfortunately good times didn't last. Soon after the Los Angeles battle, Yeta felt "Magic Awakening Syndrome" attacks getting worse, even affecting normal life, delaying studies, feeling terrible all over, not daring to go to hospitals. Besides, going wouldn't help—could only endure.
She knew her own situation—if Swift Thunder magic rampaged out of control, consequences would be unthinkable, probably destroying city power grids and causing massive fires.
Therefore she had to spend long periods in suppression and worry, almost despairing.
But hope visited again.
Beep!
Yeta turned on TV to a fitness routine program, plus several channels broadcasting s, even radio stations mentioning a few sentences. Ordinary people didn't understand, but girls with magic talent could recognize at a glance what matched their internal energy flow—just following along easily cleared magic power and reduced rampage risk.
As magic power manipulation further improved, she even comprehended techniques like levitation spells and hypnosis spells with ease.
The advertisers behind this must be the Salvation Church—the organization trying to help magical girls. This was also a goodwill signal, just as Hyacinth said she'd find everyone.
Action-oriented Yeta wouldn't just wait for them to come knocking. She immediately began investigating TV program groups, advertisers, fund flows and other traces with journalism major truth-seeking spirit, digging thoroughly, then found nothing.
As expected.
For some reason, actions that should have left massive traces left no tails. Whenever she investigated somewhere, clues broke off—complicated and unclear, as if some destiny-like power forcibly cut off Salvation Church investigations.
Right—if even she could find out, news would be flying everywhere already.
Yeta shook her head, putting away chaotic thoughts, holding her breath and calming her qi while learning TV program fitness routines to exercise—this was already routine.
Crack!
Suddenly uncontrolled azure arcs escaped around the girl, light piercing, magic power surging—signs of magic rampage. Not right—she'd always carefully controlled it, shouldn't be...
At the same time, a cry came from outside the window, pressure aura unique to Disaster Beasts sweeping all directions. It was it! This guy actually used large-range magic power manipulation to fish.
She, unfamiliar with her own magic power and hovering on the edge of losing control, immediately exposed herself—mental power already locked on.
Next moment, wind poured into the room and immediately exploded!
Yeta was dumbfounded. Everything happened too fast—previous moment worrying how the unidentified flying Disaster Beast would act, result was the opponent remotely detonating her home, watching helplessly as wind carried shockwaves toward her.
Unfortunately too slow!
At the critical moment, fully operating Swift Thunder raised her reaction, thinking and dynamic vision comprehensively. The explosion was merely frame-by-frame video playback.
The girl calmly jumped out the window, landing steadily and slightly slowing elemental magic operation.
Sure enough, a series of explosions behind her, flames quickly sweeping one floor and spreading around—many people already suffered. City garrison reaction wasn't slow either, sounding alarms. Entire sky echoed sharp, piercing warnings predicting Disaster Beast attack—and not ordinary ones.
Yeta raised her head to look, streams of light rising whoosh whoosh from the horizon, anti-air firepower rushing toward targets vowing to eliminate monsters.
But they couldn't reach opponents at all—that thing was too high, still unidentified. So how did it affect a magical girl's loss of control from so far away? Had it planted foreshadowing early?
At this thought the girl's pupils contracted, couldn't help covering her mouth.
Wrong!
The opponent's target was never a single magical girl but all life forms. Magic factors dispersed in air mixed with large amounts of "viruses" causing ordinary organisms to inhale excess and directly trigger rejection reactions—infection disease principle. Truth revealed—no wonder large-scale symptoms occurred frequently this period with countless patients. You were causing trouble. From difficult-to-defend super-high altitude, conveniently dropping viruses—whoever got hit faced near-certain death.
Sure enough, with cries echoing, many passersby around fell unconscious, the city gradually losing vibrant blood and life essence.
At the same time, alarm sounds spread layer by layer across the entire continent—headquarters confirmed Disaster Beasts were specifically spreading infection disease.
Whether mercenary alliance or garrison forces faced dilemmas:
North Atlantic space rift battles were ongoing, 70% of the main force committed, the remainder had to defend their homeland against war spillover—where could they spare hands?
Step back—even dividing forces couldn't handle a "sky carrier" target with ultra-high mobility, ultra-wide area attacks, and flying Disaster Beast escorts around it. So the options were actually simple.
Rumble!
Streams of light rose from the horizon toward high sky, pouring out maximum power to form containment, at least causing drive-off, or letting Blackwind Wing rampage would have unthinkable consequences.
Yeta witnessed human firepower spectacle for the first time.
Meteors flew from ground to clouds, exploding into mushroom clouds of fire, overflowing ash filling air with burning sensation, lungs scalding. But Disaster Beast counterattacks were equally strong—in her view, dark magic power and wind struck missile groups directly, making them explode one after another, always hard to create results.
Conversely, more and more civilians were injured. The apartment building that had been home became a blazing torch, everything visible was apocalyptic.
The girl wanted to tremble—should she be afraid? Yet magic power surging from her body was excited.
Crazy—simply insane, actually eager to try against such powerful Disaster Beasts!
"I can't just wait."
Even without acting, Yeta felt faint mental power scanning—the opponent never forgot locking onto her like hunter to prey. Hard battle unavoidable.
She'd already guessed the invisible high-altitude monster was the famous Blackwind Wing—identification codes didn't lie. These past days Disaster Beast organizations continuously warned of its danger level, telling people to avoid it. So that's how it was.
Those people had long received intelligence understanding that former neutrals were spreading death everywhere, but to avoid panic or fluke psychology only issued warnings.
Warnings were meaningless to numb people.
Yeta shook her head, dismissing excess thoughts, fully focused, holding breath and calming qi. Next moment she ran wildly toward suburban hillside forests. Clearly not using magic or magic power enhancement, just physical qualities let her leap and shuttle between buildings, wind blowing her cheeks—even the girl herself didn't realize she was getting faster and faster. Magic power resonating with Disaster Beasts was transforming her body, Magical Girl Awakening process hitting accelerated.
While moving she indeed felt a mental power scanning approach—the black speck in the sky gradually moved.
Bet right!
Thousands of ordinary lives couldn't compare to one magic life—therefore Disaster Beasts couldn't refuse delicacies. Once she actively left crowds, locking targets became easy.
Yeta hid in shrubs gasping, heart pounding, fragrant sweat dripping. Only after slightly calming did the girl realize the current danger. What am I doing? How did I inexplicably decide to be bait? Don't want to live?
"Roar!" Right then two pterodactyl-like Disaster Beasts dove from sky, sweeping through forest patches in single passes with roaring.
"Damn, so fast!" Yeta cursed and ran.
However she was ultimately a beat slow—Disaster Beasts swept past her back leaving claw marks, blood spattering, burning pain sweeping her whole body.
Soon lost the pain.
Origin rapidly operated to offset two Disaster Beasts' attacks—otherwise this strike would pierce heart and lungs. After injury it also repaired wounds and forcibly suppressed pain to avoid affecting combat power, everything evolving to become a war race. But first-time experiencing such trauma, Yeta couldn't move, watching helplessly as Disaster Beasts extended claws to grab both her arms respectively. Strong pulling sensation struck, mental alarms blaring.
"You won't bring your boss a broken piece, will you." Facing death threats, Yeta released thunder—white light illuminated forest, arcs burning everything.
Even Disaster Beasts with strong physical toughness briefly paralyzed—mere ordinary species immediately fell smoking.
The girl watched two monsters slowly fall yet still felt lingering fear—after all, these guys had almost torn her in half just now, too dangerous. She should escape but couldn't muster strength, only watching dark clouds hang low in sky, oppressive force descending with rolling pressure.
Blackwind Wing revealed its form—a black peregrine comparable to automobiles, sharp gaze fixed on Yeta with greed.
Finished—can't escape, will be eaten.
Boom!
Suddenly a golden dragon extended from cloud layers, roaring as it crashed over. Facing sudden attack, the Disaster Beast braked sharply and changed direction, barely dodging, but its guardian ordinary Disaster Beasts weren't so lucky—immediately smashed to pieces. The unsuccessful golden dragon continued pursuit while Blackwind Wing dared not underestimate, deploying high-speed maneuvers as both erupted explosions in sky.
Yeta's eyes lit up, murmuring: "Lady Imperial Flower... doesn't that mean Lady Hyacinth is also here?"
"You guessed right."
The travel-worn silver-haired girl emerged from forest, waving hello.
Good thing she didn't miss it—found her, one of the apostles, Magical Girl Edelweiss.