Carrying a bag of discounted evening market vegetables, Leon returned home and closed the heavy security door, shutting the world out once again.
During the afternoon’s sword training, Leon felt his spirit had once again condensed, and his condition had returned to its best.
The existence of the supernatural in this world was an obvious fact to Leon.
So, even if what Hall Master Chu had said was true, he was indeed extremely interested, but there was no need to urgently pursue such unsubstantiated rumors.
With the system right in front of him, completing the trial task at hand was definitely more important.
Therefore, Leon wasted no time and immediately immersed his consciousness into the system.
[YES] – The moment his consciousness descended, a wave of chill and the scent of blood washed over him.
A slender girl opened her eyes and stood up cleanly.
She ignored the nerve-stabbing pain that had faded to the point of being imperceptible and the approaching footsteps, focusing all her attention on the power within her body that was about to burst forth.
At this moment, this scorching power seemed to have undergone some kind of qualitative change, becoming a part of Leon’s consciousness.
The surging waves of fury transformed into an extension of her will, and no longer felt strange.
Following an instinct etched into her bones, she raised her hand, struck a pose, and a curve of confidence and anticipation mixed on the corners of her lips.
Her emotions were already burning fiercely.
“Smile, full marks.” “Fighting Spirit, one hundred percent.” “Burn the heart’s fire, crush their bodies—” “Are you ready?” (>ω·)~☆ Buzz—!
Crimson light erupted instantly, as if a small sun had been ignited within her body!
A massive torrent of Mana surged through her entire body with unprecedented smoothness, every inch of muscle, every bone humming with joy.
The girl’s beautiful, fair skin was covered by the cool Spirit Dress, and a turbid, dull, slightly cracked pendant rested quietly before her gently heaving chest.
The scorching Microphone Staff fell into that slender hand, and Sakura-colored hair dyed into a burning crimson, as her eyes lit up with the brilliant glow of gems.
This surging power within her body that was almost overflowing, and a body so light it seemed able to break free from the shackles of gravity…
She carefully savored this feeling of her emotions burning fiercely, and couldn’t help but let the corners of her lips curve slightly into a breathtakingly beautiful smile.
The transformation had indeed been a success.
The pain of dying eighteen times seemed entirely worth it at this moment.
If the Magic Rod was gone, then it was gone, but at least she was still a pro player.
And at this moment, those two dolls, so familiar they couldn’t be more familiar, finally arrived late.
She came back to her senses, her gaze sweeping over the two dolls that had just pounced near her, and without even bothering to make any complicated movements, she casually waved the microphone in her hand as if shooing away flies.
Whoosh—!
The microphone carried flames and immense power, and the two dolls couldn’t even offer a bit of resistance, being smashed into shards with splinters flying in the instant of contact.
With a movement of her body, Leon turned into a streak of crimson light and actively charged into the depths of the black mist.
What followed was a complete and utter stomp.
The monsters that once required careful tactics to defeat were as fragile as paper before a fully transformed and fresh Leon.
Butler, Maid, Apprentice Maid, Carpenter Doll, Stone Statue, Kedama…
No enemy could stop her in her tracks for more than a single second.
Each attack contained explosive power, leaving behind only a path paved with charred and broken remains wherever she passed.
Her physical capabilities were at least double those of her untransformed state, and the magical flames ignited by her every move greatly enhanced her power.
Though the flames formed from the mana released from her body were still somewhat unruly, their power was more than enough and they couldn’t harm her.
This all-around upgrade gave her absolute dominance over these long-familiar monsters.
However, Leon did not let her passion cloud her judgment.
She even deliberately conserved her mana.
Because…
Screwing up the easy part is something a pro player could never tolerate.
Finally, that elegant and rhythmic sound of footsteps entered her ears for the second time.
The Head Maid Doll was about to make her appearance.
However, just as that figure in the blue and white maid outfit with silver twin-tails stepped out of the black mist, her form not yet fully clear, she habitually began to curtsy, preparing to perform her opening greeting.
At that exact moment, the massive Microphone Staff seemed to awaken as a burst of spirited music erupted from it, piercing the silence of the forest.
And that crimson, slender figure appeared before her like a phantom, manifesting without warning.
In that instant, the Head Maid’s blank face seemed to freeze.
Her curtsy, only half-completed, suddenly stuttered and flickered backward in a series of frame-skipping jumps.
Without any warning, her speed surpassed the limits of visual perception, remaining undetectable even to the transformed girl.
But this time, the girl finally sensed that extremely faint and elusive surge of special mana within her.
Super-speed.
If the Head Maid had an ability, it was this and only this.
Upon activation, she would enter a state of extreme speed, but it could not be used continuously.
The last time, after transforming in a near-death state, the girl and her had been locked in a struggle for about a minute before a winner was decided, barely managing to kill her before completely exhausting her strength.
But this time, there was no need for such trouble.
Because the strategy had already been perfected during that one minute of struggle and the subsequent review.
The first acceleration: a flash-step to create distance.
The second acceleration’s dagger throw was forcibly blocked by the blazing trail of fire drawn by the staff in the girl’s hand.
The third was again a dagger throw, but the interval was noticeably shorter, and the number of daggers thrown was also fewer.
This meant that using this acceleration continuously placed a burden even on this foe.
At the exact moment the Maid was forced back by the third consecutive flash-step and finally could no longer accelerate continuously.
The girl’s uniquely shaped Microphone Staff was already pointed at her opponent.
Mana and surging emotions seemed to resonate as the words were chanted from her lips: “Fire!” In the next instant, her eyes couldn’t help but widen.
…Wait.
This power after the chant!
The next moment, a torrent of intense flames, which even she had not anticipated, surged out from the Staff’s head.
– In the dim woods.
“Hah…
hah…” The Magical Girl, clad in her deep blue Spirit Dress, stepped out of the black mist, gasping for breath, and reached the edge of the battlefield.
“That explosion and the music just now…” Behind her, the capable silver-haired girl followed closely.
Her right hand, encased in a tactical glove, had already gripped the hilt of the sword on her back, its phantom-like blade faintly reflecting light from within the scabbard.
Her voice was steady and serious: “Suhō, be careful.” The Magical Girl named Suhō was about to speak, but the sight before her left her speechless with shock.