However, when Hibiscus and Dandelion prepared to transform and return, they hid back just upon leaving the ruins.
Holy Relic aura.
As an important distant supply port in the Fallen Zone Center battle, considerable garrison forces were definitely stationed to prevent another embarrassing situation of Disaster Beasts cutting supply lines. So Holy City Association dispatched core combat power to respond—that person suddenly breathed, actively absorbing large amounts of contaminated magic power.
Good method. For powerful magic users it posed no harm, besides contamination couldn't compare to Knowledge Poison erosion—quickly encountering assimilation.
"Stationed troops begin evacuation, quickly direct sheltering."
"I bought 20 minutes."
"Beware short-term magic outbursts attracting scattered Disaster Beasts—maintain reconnaissance."
The entire city busily moved in orderly fashion. They probably didn't need much concern, besides randomly appearing now would easily expose them. Directly appearing as Magical Girls Hyacinth and Dandelion would become big news, wouldn't it?
Actually they had many methods to bypass directly—easily done. But being blocked like this, they suddenly didn't want to move, simply staying to witness tranquility amid chaos.
The ruins were quiet.
Originally filled with construction machinery sounds, people coming and going, occasionally cement pillar breaking crashes—now finally peaceful.
With their keen perception, they could hear each other's breathing and heartbeats—hearts racing, stirring ripples. Leaving Small Universe domain for reality reminded them of that kiss, even making Dandelion blush—this shy movement made it more obvious they had history.
Feeling she'd found peace of mind and planned to return, but still wanted to be alone.
Damn times, always full of disturbances. Perhaps because they always liked using Causality magic to manipulate fate, when making daily wishes they often didn't go as desired, just like now...
Just as she felt regretful, suddenly Hibiscus took her hand, fingers interlocking, palm warmth.
Pause.
The world lost color, only gray-white remaining. And Hyacinth just held her childhood friend's hand crossing endless flowing sand, symbolizing time and distance flowing.
The domineering strongest magic could freeze the world, yet left final gentleness allowing companionship.
Dandelion followed her steps.
Similar to instant movement principles within Small Universe domain, during Sands of Time flowing, distance seemed shortened. In a blink they crossed the chaotic ruins, surrounding people's busy figures frozen, two girls not belonging to this world passing through—these were different parallel lines.
"We've arrived." The moment Hibiscus spoke, colors returned.
The caught-off-guard black-haired girl stumbled forward onto her back, finally catching her breath, simply resting her chin on her friend's shoulder to look around.
"...Old district, we used to come play here often, but it's become a heavily contaminated area. What's interesting? You don't understand romance at all. Besides some childhood filter, what's good about this rundown past?"
"It's the future." The cold correction made Dandelion fall silent, then sigh deeply.
Right.
Energy from Fallen Zone Center was surging out—sooner or later it would transform the world into the scene before them, roughly the same.
"Actually I don't think it's too terrible. Before I always avoided this place, as if unwilling to recall terrifying memories." She sat on the ground and patted her knees. "After all, these legs were infected with dark illness in the old district, becoming physically weak from then on. Also, that night with the cat demon, if you hadn't appeared I'd at least be disabled."
"Hibiscus, you guided me to channel magic power and changed this fate. What I hate isn't any place, but tragedies—you've already completely overturned them for me."
She pointed at her own eyes smilingly: "When your pupils waver urgently doing something, it's probably because of Time Prophecy, right?"
"In just one year you've changed how many fates..."
Dandelion didn't expect answers, immersing in results and enjoying spoils Hibiscus brought was enough.
Her intuition about her childhood friend was always accurate—no hiding existed. Even the most miraculous Sands of Time magic user could be guessed correctly, and she was willing to believe she would continue changing more fates.
Hibiscus sat beside her.
She naturally lay in the former's embrace, simply changing position to side-pillow on the soft thigh, gazing at the old district.
Disaster Beast erosion occasionally showed martial erosion destruction effects, so considerable buildings had settled. Submerged in sea, floating with much garbage, once-towering steel forests looked like wasteland, the nation underfoot belonged to weeds.
When song and dance flourished, people deliberately ignored it—decadent sounds could always mask.
When chaotic world omens were strong, people's gazes were attracted, fearing the future would look like this. Where would Planet Gaia go? Magical Girls couldn't escape questioning.
Tension captured Dandelion, until hands flowed magic power through hair strands...
"Let me comb your hair—might feel better."
"Thanks. Speaking of bringing me to the old district, do you mean you've accepted the future and are encouraging me to make peace?"
"No, you completely misunderstood. My changes aren't that great—infection areas still exist, disasters too, but your heart is different. That's what I'm proud of, nothing more."
"Really good at talking."
Upon saying this, Dandelion indeed had to admit her perspective changed. Even if Magical Girl Hyacinth hadn't shaken so many fates, she'd let those around her keep burning hearts, not becoming cold and lifeless. Otherwise they'd be like Ranger organization members—worn smooth by hardships.
Probably no time to experience time's passage—more likely dying unnatural deaths.
Don't think she handled affairs with eyes and ears everywhere daily—actually Dandelion claimed she wasn't strong, having worthy, dependable firm backbone made walking forward worthwhile.
Truly, even losing Hyacinth, she was confident maintaining the organization, but no need to step forward anymore.
"Let's train once after returning." Dandelion looked straight into her companion's eyes smiling: "I feel Small Universe changes growing stronger—soon, this awakening caused by you...and the era you blew the horn for."
She turned toward the sea level.
Whoosh!
Wind from the other shore brought even vaster magic power—that Holy Relic was already struggling. Fortunately most people had entered shelters.
The sky was dyed gray-black, as if about to fall with equally dim rain curtains.
Anyone who'd participated in Fallen Zone battles would probably be shocked, even heartbroken, not knowing would think Disaster Beasts had finally invaded the civilized world to annex everything—that would undoubtedly bury all things without suspense.
"A pair of lovers embracing under doomsday scenery—very artistic, maybe could shoot a movie poster."
"Even you joking confirms it's really bad."
"This time you misunderstood—you healed me, Hibiscus. Let's go back. Whatever future you know, we'll still change fate all the way."
Magical Girl Dandelion stood up, instantly condensing regalia. Next moment the domain enclosed and transferred them both.
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Original Fallen Zone edge, Hermit Island temporary station.
A lightning bolt fell from the sky—clearly a red-haired Magical Girl Tulip with hair exploded like a hedgehog, just returned from the Fallen Zone. She surveyed the area and announced: "Indeed infection factor leakage. No need for me to specifically explain—they've come."
Above the sky, a wisp of black smoke passed, following atmospheric circulation toward different directions, leaving South Pacific region in a blink.
"Should immediately notify high levels." Before Minase Kaori finished, transmission array flashes came from Glacier Island direction.
Thud!
Spatial disturbance threw the pink-haired girl out hard, face-planting. But Jin Ruochu had no mind to care about her misfortune, staring gravely at ocean anomalies instead.
"I sense strong misfortune aura—maybe the whole world will be unlucky."
She patted her head, looking puzzled.
"Strange, my own luck is increasing, so where did I transfer what misfortune?"
"When weren't we unlucky? Planet Gaia hasn't been peaceful since welcoming Disaster Beasts—soldiers come, generals block; water comes, earth dams." Jin Yulu emerged from the transmission array.
Having been guiding newcomer training at Glacier Island the moment before, they immediately returned, knowing Hermit Island still stayed at Fallen Zone edge, hurrying to check the situation. Staying here was because they guessed something might happen—sure enough.
That energy was thunderously hissing.
Former Disaster Beast activity-generated storm circles belonged to two-way defense, also ensuring excessive internal magic power wouldn't spread rapidly.
Now the situation was different. After multiple Fruition Stage combat power rampaging, energy increased rather than decreased, because their resonance was inherently strengthening the environment.
So it wasn't hard to understand current liveliness.
Magical Girls could see rolling torrents better than ordinary people—endless flows heading toward world corners. Energy dissipation when war just ended was trivial; now it was pouring years of accumulated sediment into the world in one go.
"Looking on the bright side, I feel Blooming Stage shackles loosened slightly." Jin Ruochu shrugged.
Seeming relaxed, she'd actually returned home recently, applying fortune protection plus special medicine to her old father and brother—barely having confidence to face it. But this didn't represent most situations. Because she knew making ordinary people able to resist contamination was very difficult, so she worried most.
Just consolation.
Other Magical Girls carefully sensing indeed discovered magic level changes.
Words weren't wrong, but everyone was more concerned about situation changes. Imaginably, this level of large-scale dissipation belonged to terrifying wide-area disasters. Even diluted by South Pacific, it wasn't manageable. Ordinary people's physical functions weakening was certain. Worse cases would have organ failure—Salvation Church had researched similar symptoms, very clear about serious consequences.
Kale said: "Remember the prescriptions I gave you before? Combined with special medicine should prevent excessive first-wave deaths."
"From a sociological perspective, the critical care burden is greater." Hydrangea tossed ancient coins: "I calculated—this time there'll be a 30-million-level major infection."
A country's magnitude.
Causality magic equivalent exchange was quite reliable for vague general direction divination. Precisely because everyone knew this they were tense. With a world population 5 billion, so many patients short-term wouldn't be easy, inevitably producing order upheaval.
They were powerless to stop it, only watching infection factor torrents drift in all directions.
The surface seemed to have forms that could be grasped—actually? It was the entire Planet Gaia world sending new environmental signals from inside out.
Tulip murmured: "Actually I often saw similar scenes during Departure Island period, just concentrated and digested within Fallen Zone interiors."
"So it was inevitable." Jin Yulu answered.
Not cold-blooded, but stating facts. Besides, she truly had no attachments.
Soon Elsa also returned through the transmission array, bringing official response plans: large-area temporary hospital construction. Actually no more effective methods existed—had to tough it out. Currently besides Five-Color Narcissus medicines, almost no radical treatment solutions existed.
Meanwhile.
Obelisk high-level members who'd just returned to Egypt walked out of the base. This air was refreshing for Magical Girls—too long, finally feeling unprecedented comfort, feeling the world become vast.
Anemone stood on the balcony overlooking the Mediterranean with a smile, ordering a controlled Magical Girl to bring a tray loaded with wine.
"Don't refuse from your heart—accept my control threads, and your power will grow stronger. Without quick improvement, how can you keep up with world changes?"
Hearing this, the maid's eyes dimmed as her body further developed puppet characteristics.
Other companions were long accustomed, except Erina showing repulsion. They took wine glasses and drank deeply, feeling mouth sweetness accompanied by substantial magic power flowing through bodies—so intoxicating.
Water Tower Flower's hair suddenly curled around a phone. After answering briefly and hanging up, she relayed:
"Pharaoh hopes you protect the people."
Dozens of arms extended from Anemone's gothic dress regalia, pulling silk threads fleetingly. Then hundreds of thousands in Cairo closed doors and windows, infection factors in air weakened. Some who'd been crying in pain on streets finally looked relieved.
"Though effortless, it's not long-term solution. Eventually many will die from this—the price of change."
"Can be slightly more active afterward—go to lunar crater underground ruins. Something 'relic' I need is stored there to help us through Great Disasters."
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Jerusalem, Holy City Association surface headquarters.
Numerous codename Holy Relics busily drew techniques, energy center clearly being Dark Fairy molts.
They'd gotten desired spoils. Plus magic concentration rising was perfect for improving efficiency, using this to stabilize internal erosion. Facts proved this method indeed made them considerably more comfortable.
Never mind immortality—not suffering was burning incense.
Pope sitting in a side chair gazing at magic contamination traces suddenly focused—their most solitary member actually willing to meet: "Demon, didn't you disdain Association methods and completely join officials? Specially coming to visit and see us off?"
The red-robed man shook his head.
"I just chose paths similar to Snow Maiden helping foolish politicians, but we have friendship—must remind you Ring of Levitation caused trouble."
"Expected. Many won't allow Earth-Moon orbit controlled by a shell person—better to kill her."
Holy City Association naturally expected that the moment gravity cannons fired would attract storms. Unfortunately Sleeping Beauty had to suffer criticism. Whether she had such consciousness was another matter—anyway very troublesome.
Suddenly a white-robed woman hearing the conversation hurried over—Poet Ancient Holy Relic.
"Pope, it's your compromise that let sharks smell blood and swarm. Now Sleeping Beauty is our strongest—must protect the ace."
"Still waiting? The only possibility for her to regain consciousness lies in ruins excavated together with the Ring of Levitation and resurrection ceremonies."