Thump thump!
Powerful heartbeats like war drums, hammering sounds striking everyone's hearts—even they couldn't help anticipating the new life about to break from its shell.
As everyone wished, the eggshell quickly cracked open, then seemed to become liquid, re-enveloping the pure white figure standing up—clearly Magical Girl Protea in dragon-person form, different in that her transformation was more slender with golden scales decorating only key areas.
Additionally, a pair of antlers, fangs and sharp teeth, vertical pupils, and scale patterns at the eye corners remained unchanged.
The iconic thick tail dragged behind, lightly sweeping to turn the eggshell into liquid that was absorbed into her body without waste.
"It's Pokémon mega evolution!" Jin Ruochu's eyes lit up.
Hibiscus asked: "How do you feel?"
"The general Blooming Stage experience matches your description exactly. The difference is I don't need that bulky transformation from before—more like wearing light armor but lighter yet sturdier... The biggest change is cyclical ability, producing resistance more efficiently. Not just resistance—even countermeasures. Defensive counterattack indeed suits me better."
While speaking, Jin Yulu actively demonstrated her surface scales switching between ice and fire. If previously she adapted to cold and heat, now she actively neutralized and digested them.
The strongest Mythology magic World Serpent was already troublesome—now her power had reached new heights.
More tanky.
One thing she didn't mention but all Blooming Stage understood—this stage began with massive magic power propulsion, enough to bring magic to new levels.
As long as you were willing to use it extravagantly, it would definitely respond to all your imagination.
Previously Magical Girls needed to research different development routes and choose one, because the greatest trial-and-error cost was insufficient magic power support. After reaching Blooming Stage, difficulties were easily resolved—the mana bar was long enough, mana recovery fast enough, almost never lacking.
This let the already comprehensively strong Mythology type reach its peak.
"Thank you for bringing me back, Lord Tulip." She said sincerely.
The red-haired girl answered: "Just treat me to a meal."
"Right, we should interrogate the prisoner we brought back." Jin Yulu looked around trying to find his figure.
Everyone's gaze focused on a human-shaped charcoal object. Hydrangea beside it kicked, shaking off ash flakes—obviously affected by high-speed lightning, his already unconscious injuries worsened.
"Should we save him?"
"We need to pry some intelligence from Mist's mouth now." Hibiscus nodded. "But maintain minimal rescue—enemies who board the island cannot live."
Her single sentence decided on silencing regardless, and the other Magical Girls didn't object. The entire hall contained no saints—everyone had crawled from mountains of corpses and seas of blood, absolutely not allowing any flaws.
Hydrangea cut her palm, fresh blood trickling to water the Holy Relic's entire body.
"With my blood I exchange for his healing—"
Instantly the human charcoal's burned skin peeled away revealing intact flesh, life force continuously recovering, heartbeat growing stronger.
But just a taste—Hydrangea under Hibiscus's orders didn't heal further, immediately closing her palm wound to stop. Obviously her ability leaned toward conceptual restoration, including clothing and equipment, minimizing losses. No wonder it was called wish-granting, because Equivalent Exchange mechanisms could fulfill so much when played well—of course, that also meant easily paying high costs.
Simultaneously, multiple Blooming Stage Magical Girls' pressure firmly locked onto Mist. Originally attempting resistance, he couldn't move at all, only able to glare angrily.
"I want to ask about Holy City Association's action objectives. No rush to answer—think carefully, we'll follow procedure."
Temporal Cross-Section!
Hibiscus lightly waved, cutting off one of his little fingers and stuffing it in his mouth. Jin Yulu beside grabbed his neck and lifted him, shaking before swallowing the finger.
Time cutting's brief freezing made both finger and stomach painful—the strange mixed sensation was far more cruel than simple torture, making even the trained Holy Relic sweat profusely.
"Think clearly—next I'll cut something more different to feed you..."
"Oh my, how embarrassing. Should us girls avoid this?"
Jin Ruochu covered her face pretending shyness like a snake dance, making it unclear if she was expectantly suggesting or truly embarrassed.
"If not for dirtying the living room, I'd definitely have you give him cholera."
"Ebola could also be tried."
"—Wait!" Mist shouted in panic: "I never said I wouldn't answer! Ask quickly if you have questions—who starts with torture right away? You should at least test the prisoner's resistance."
"I think you're quite the tough guy."
"You misjudged that, Lord Hyacinth."
After this exchange, the Magical Girls couldn't help laughing, thinking they'd indeed encountered something strange. But they never relaxed vigilance because this person wasn't honest.
Since regaining consciousness, he'd been secretly accumulating Knowledge Poison for possible eruption. For Holy Relics this was rarely fatal, but for them it was different—he might even create a massacre on the island. But since the Church Leader didn't expose this, no need to interrupt—intelligence was important.
"So what are the action location, force deployment, and timing?"
"Our action target was chosen as South Africa, with at least 4 ancient Holy Relics participating. They say there are ways to mobilize previous catastrophic Disaster Beast corpses. As for timing, I really don't know—this information is all strictly classified by the King."
"What abilities does he have?"
"Don't know, and there's definitely Knowledge Poison protection, but at least it's clear the King controls the Holy Spear relic."
Hibiscus pressed: "Why make such a fuss over Changfeng Group? What clues did you use to lock on?"
"Actually the Oracle Book divined that descending fairies are related to previous catastrophic Disaster Beasts, possibly leaving remains, so we investigated all connected companies and individuals..."
"No need for nonsense."
Hearing this, the silver-haired girl waved dismissively. By now the whole sequence was clear—the truly key questions got three "don't knows," disappointing.
Better to communicate more with Kale and ask the think tank.
With this thought, Hibiscus said faintly: "Mr. Mist, put away your toxin charging. Help me give the King a message—we'll meet within a week. Go quickly, walk toward 2 o'clock direction to leave Hermit Island."
"You won't kill me?"
"Get lost."
The surviving Holy Relic quickly turned and ran, also instinctively releasing Knowledge Poison.
Then a pair of scale-covered hands plucked off his head like picking an apple, while high-speed flowing iron sand swords dismembered the body, blood and flesh everywhere.
In the final moment, hope faded from Mist's eyes as pupils focused—unexpectedly old opponents saw him off...
Splash!
Holy Relic Mist's minced flesh became a pile on the floor. After all, in transcendent fields where everyone had regeneration abilities, Jin Yulu and Tulip had no choice but to thoroughly dismember. Since they brought this prisoner, they should handle it completely.
Everyone's evaluation of Magical Girl Hyacinth's meticulousness rose another level.
The Salvation Church clearly had crushing advantage over enemies, yet she still lied without batting an eye to make him lower his guard before the killing blow—stable to the extreme.
A cunning hunter and far-sighted leader—the opposing enemies would be strange not to have headaches.
"I'm more concerned about Kale's whereabouts now." Wisteria, silent for long, suddenly spoke: "It's already dawn. Previously she said she'd suppress the Ningfeng Harbor incident—how specifically? Hydrangea, don't you know?"
"A quick calculation tells me she probably used her Pharmacist identity to actively draw boundaries with Holy City Association, thus covering for the Church."
Beep!
Jin Ruochu turned on the TV and pointed at the screen: "Just watch and see, right?"
She also pulled Hibiscus to sit beside her. Seeing this, Nan Zhiyi followed, resulting in the two flanking the silver-haired girl, who had to focus on morning news.
The first scene showed a press conference with Pharmacist in the main seat speaking passionately:
"Last night, West Pacific Theater forces executing missions had friction with Holy City Association headquarters forces, causing military conflict between both sides. This should be attributed to headquarters' complete lack of prior notification, resulting in unnecessary misunderstanding. Moreover, their people acted quite roughly—currently several locations have suffered major losses. We've collected sufficient on-site evidence..."
She immediately displayed a series of evidence.
Including but not limited to Changfeng Group's tragedy, violent coastal martial law dispersal, and even more explosive news:
"Just 30 minutes ago, a base somewhere in Kunlun Mountains was attacked with important items stolen. My theater suffered 51 casualties—this is an act of war."
Deliberate speaker, attentive listener—for those in the know, this was equivalent to announcing the answer.
The Oracle Book was taken.
Hearing this, the Magical Girls exchanged glances with conclusions in their hearts. Worthy of being the veteran largest-scale transcendent organization—originally they'd planned consecutive schemes from the start, misdirection wrapped in another layer. Ningfeng Harbor and Kunlun Mountain actions were basically simultaneous.
Originally they watched Pharmacist's performance to decide whether to forcibly seize the Oracle Book. That night's attack cases gave the answer—obviously one theater's power stood in line.
When hesitation brings chaos, Holy City Association immediately ordered advancing plans to take first-game advantage.
"Didn't anyone ask about last night's magical phenomena?" After watching reporters question for a while, Nan Zhiyi was puzzled. "Did you Causality types act?"
Jin Ruochu shrugged: "No, and I'm certain Elsa didn't perform information manipulation either."
Hibiscus answered: "We communicated beforehand."
She had to admit Kale's years of deep cultivation in military-political circles was quite impressive—borrowing Holy City Association's momentum to build her own connections. At crucial moments, even such big commotions were forcibly suppressed. Worthy of management ability praised by netizens—indeed remarkable, no wonder she maintained Rangers and a theater.
Admittedly, this was a sacrifice betting political career and reputation, but at least didn't give ancient Holy Relics further opportunities to launch public opinion—instead launching first offensive:
Mudslinging.
Objectively they indeed caused big problems—regardless, dozens of innocent Changfeng Group victims died without excuse.
Even if Hibiscus tended to overestimate a super organization, details proved grassroots personnel quality was too poor, with insufficient upper-level restraint.
You bullying civilians might scare civilians, but knowledgeable powerhouses would laugh at the picture—this composition couldn't fight half a disadvantageous battle. Not only lacking deterrence but making a laughingstock. If Association-controlled grassroots forces were expedition army good family sons, they could restrain when fighting. If they were a bunch of trash lowlife gangster troops, don't blame the Church for being merciless.
"Such things exist! Simply disgracing military honor." Jin Yulu frowned.
"The world's truly high-quality soldiers are all controlled by armies, and must be frontline troops." Hydrangea said bluntly: "The rest are stinking fish and rotten shrimp with weapons harboring killing intent."
"They hurt my family and attacked the company—this account must be settled properly." Rarely, Jin Ruochu was also furious.
Simultaneously the screen changed:
"United Army Command issued a statement: Unrelated to this matter, received no intelligence before occurrence, hope involved parties can calmly handle disputes."
"Mercenary Alliance also expressed no relation, condemning attackers and consoling victims."
"Pacific United Theater believes attention should focus on Fallen Zone base construction..."
Everyone had their own headaches. In a sense, the military caught in the middle was most wronged—offending neither side was good. This wasn't over—frontline Fallen Zone aftermath still unfinished, some powerful Disaster Beasts needed elimination, scattered small Fallen Zone patches awaited siege tactics, yet the rear exploded?
They went numb hearing this.
South Pacific frontline main decisive battle passed, true, but didn't mean Anti-Disaster Beast combat completely ended—still needed maintaining fire suppression to slowly eliminate the core circle.
More urgently than ever praying for a stable rear, hoping no trouble—yet Murphy's Law though late arrived. Long-accumulated contradictions finally erupted in Ningfeng Harbor, facts before the world's eyes:
Around some strategic element, Salvation Church and Holy City Association fought hard, both sides forming grudges.
World first and second transcendent organizations faced off with drawn swords.
Who would stop them?
To outsiders, both belonged to super ancient organizations with years of heritage—deep foundations, immeasurable, both possessing world-destroying abilities.
Now Hibiscus could indeed admit she counted as an old organization, because merging Rangers gave the Church "thousand-year-level cultivation" in one leap, sitting firmly in historical treasure status. Anyway, they counted as genuine, unmixed advertising.
Regardless, Magical Girls confronting ancient Holy Relics made world situations tense.
Even media always enjoying excitement stayed silent, never daring to name names—everyone knew they both had tracking and revenge precedents.
Therefore various evaluations mainly called for peace, fearing bloody battles causing lose-lose situations. Unfortunately, Salvation Church and Holy City Association lacked direct public channels, leading both to appear stable and unmovable like pines—like calm before storms.
"...Nothing valuable."
Nan Zhiyi was very dissatisfied with the nervous commentator on TV—afraid of what? His words also leaned toward not favoring the Church.
"Kale has completed her work." Hibiscus said: "She diverted attention."