Whoosh whoosh!
Rapidly passing spatial turbulence beside them inevitably caused goosebumps, like being in a storm's eye center, but more deadly and strange.
Ahead, Edwina's magic opened routes, two people following closely with full alertness.
Critical crossings were never easy, full of unknowns—perhaps inexplicably hitting some spacetime disorder. If thrown into torrents, unknown what strange phenomena would occur?
"Do you spacetime types deal with this daily?"
Pale-faced Jin Ruochu dramatically hugged the silver-haired girl's shoulders, openly absorbing Hyacinth's fragrance, skin contact bringing warmth.
"Indeed, if too violent it creates dangerous turbulence."
"Have you thought about grandfather paradoxes, parallel worlds, time reversal etc.?"
"Don't know."
Originally possessing time magic's strongest, Hibiscus had authority to speak, but daily communication with otherworld netizens counted as what? Incomprehensible. Since so, indeed couldn't reach conclusions, unable to satisfy curious young lady's questions.
How hadn't she thought about it? But Sands of Time's flowing order didn't represent other world existence, or insufficient strength?
Suddenly Edwina turned back: "Universe is vast, definitely not just human, fairy, Disaster Beast three-party worlds—endless and wonderful, right? I favor universe vastness position theory. But do neighboring alternative possibility worlds exist? Only Her Majesty can answer."
"Really someone who can answer?"
Jin Ruochu widened her eyes. This answer itself had value—if so, Fairy Queen should be full of wisdom knowing past and present.
"Right, once seen you'll believe without doubt."
While they spoke, passages quieted, ahead suddenly opened showing vibrant green life—clearly World Tree's root position. Guard fairies along the way waved greetings, peaceful scene.
But internally was wariness toward Disaster Beasts—quite lively behind barriers, occasionally transmitting roars.
Edwina pointed: "Often Catastrophic Disaster Beasts carry swarms attacking this position. Not safe—periodically fighting around barriers."
World Tree Realm wasn't peaceful as imagined—unexpectedly learning they'd been fighting upon arrival. Even Hibiscus and Jin Ruochu were slightly stunned. No wonder fairies were martially abundant—trained through practice.
The group flew straight toward canopy layer, shuttling through giant tree centers.
Looking up couldn't see the top—worthy of supporting world's name, itself counted as vast world.
Small residents thrived inside, warmly greeting familiar faces, not xenophobic, appearing very hospitable.
Continuously fairies joined.
They introduced themselves: "I'm protocol officer handling your specific reception," "I'll provide technique support," "We'll discuss itineraries with you"—seeming casual but actually well-organized, proper ceremonial nation.
Ordinary guests indeed didn't warrant such high specifications, but both sides had multiple interactions, just cooperated solving major events—hosts naturally wouldn't shortchange.
Canopy layer—this name was fitting, purple and red flowers.
Suddenly Jin Ruochu grasped Hibiscus's hand: "As a child I saw such flowers in mother's room. After withering, never found again—not in field guides either. Let's look later."
"Okay."
Now festive music pierced the sky—fairies playing all sorts of strange instruments.
Though unclear about instruments' meanings, undoubtedly symbolized World Tree civilization levels—they had their own cultural heritage.
Air magic concentration far exceeded Fallen Zones. Much material transport relied directly on technique operations, thus belonging to internal rapid delivery logistics. Moreover, other details showed Emerald Court's prosperity.
Flower carpets paved roads, extending under two Magical Girls' feet.
Entire canopy layer residents peeked out—hundreds of thousands, such attention even battle-hardened Hibiscus and Jin Ruochu became somewhat solemn.
"Coming." Edwina reminded.
Approaching a familiar face was Julius, the other side a fully armored fairy with flaming wings behind.
The former greeted while introducing: "Guardian Knight Commander Orseya."
"Greetings, Hyacinth and Manjusaka. Long admired. Heroes guarding worlds deserve courtesy anywhere—even at Emerald Court everyone knows Church's distinguished military service. Honestly, you should be the strongest generation of Magical Girls. We'll create greater achievements."
Both sides shook hands.
Next, hosts led guests into Emerald Court—a super-large city with stone sculpture structure, interspersed tree root support. Logically mismatched with fairy sizes, but they seemed to love magnificent things.
So Hibiscus and Jin Ruochu walking on stone roads were also spacious.
Wide enough for airplane runways, ordinary-sized Disaster Beasts entering could also maneuver, naturally also leaving more space for technique carving.
They proceeded on flower carpets throughout, mainly discussing Disaster Beast combat experiences with Orseya, fairies occasionally offering flower wreaths—seemingly welcoming customs.
Honestly, World Tree Realm's courtesy exceeded any Church received on home soil.
Fairies stood as world allies.
Situations were very clear, successfully achieving strategies transferring partial military pressure, plus Magical Girls actually withstood pressure.
Couldn't just open second battlefields without responsibility—must invest resources in Planet Gaia to disperse Disaster Beast attention.
Emerald Court's courtesy partly came from strategic needs, partly from guilt. For Hibiscus and Jin Ruochu it didn't matter—everyone's calculations were openly displayed. Mutual benefit—cooperation had been pleasant so far.
The group reached white arched dome buildings.
Orseya turned back: "Itinerary arrangements are settled. Since you don't object, we'll interrogate traitors later—now we must discuss next steps."
"Naturally."
Actually Hibiscus also held considerable intelligence needing fairy confirmation, plus information about Holy Relics and final strongest magics from them, requiring verification item by item.
Entering building halls revealed huge compasses, surrounding layers of circular rings spinning, surfaces inscribed with countless runes.
Jin Ruochu whispered: "Instinct tells me that represents misfortune prophecies—situation very bad..."
"Straight to the point, according to our destiny divination calculations, Great Disasters will leave Disaster Beast world—destruction for all of us approaches."
Indeed explosive enough!
Fairy race style was always straightforward and frank, clear love-hate, distinguishing good-evil, not playing subtlety—directly telling honored guests doomsday came. Strongest Disaster Beast individuals, called Great Disasters, would leave nests.
Orseya continued explaining: "Actually another name—anciently called Great Disaster Beasts."
"Sounds plain but strikes essence—it involves vast enormous energy of one world. Once active brings destruction."
"Its motivation is harvesting rapidly growing peak magic worlds. As you see, both our sides qualify—gluttons coming out seeking food to fill bellies."
Trying to narrate lightly couldn't change destructive facts.
Even Julius and Edwina were startled—just returned to such explosive news? Reliable? When they witnessed soldiers tightly closing doors, they understood this required secrecy. Secrecy meant absolute truth—catastrophe among catastrophes was coming.
Era's end!
Young generation fairies were unfamiliar, inevitably uneasy, instinctively looking toward Magical Girls.
Salvation Church's two representatives remained calmly thoughtful, probably long prepared psychologically. Right—people growing amid Disaster Beast near-zero distance threats had long accepted.
"...Your calculations aren't so serious, at least year-scale units."
Professional Jin Ruochu hit the point, Knight Commander also nodded.
"Right, but our time concepts differ. For fairies it's imminent—besides, who can guarantee no early arrival?"
"How to deal with it?"
"Hard to call dealing—attempting Great Disaster's fall is like assassinating Fairy Queen—fantasy. Such levels represent vastness, only avoidance."
Hibiscus continued: "Actually you mean previous era methods? Though indeed suffering destruction, left legacies—those relics. Such avoidance isn't what we want—should seek permanent enemy solutions."
Unexpectedly Orseya agreed.
"Emerald Court has no standing to forcibly change Church strategy directions. You'll understand it's undefeatable—realizing before death isn't late. Then try coming to Emerald Court, we'll provide shelter. This is historically unprecedented promise, in Queen's name."
Though Hibiscus doubted whether World Tree could withstand it, she still accepted kindness and thanked.
Avoidance was shameful but useful—if could avoid she'd never be stubborn.
But don't forget how netizens repeatedly emphasized this era's specialness—many established avoidance plans probably useless.
Theme post discussions hadn't directly clarified this issue, but tone was clear—don't expect escaping disaster. Disaster Beasts would hunt to the end, destruction spreading everywhere causing absolute silence.
No choice.
"Hyacinth favors confrontation? Fine, many of us are the same. Rest assured, fairy Guardian Knights will also fight with full strength before then."
Superior's statement made Julius and Edwina instinctively straighten—mighty Emerald Court's first-scale military group wouldn't leave outsiders weak impressions. Telling you could hide was allies' duty, confronting was fairy courage—no conflict.
"...I think this time's Great Disaster Beast will differ from past ones."
"Your intuition matches some diviners'—specifics we'll discuss when interrogating Meredith. She should know some inside information."
Orseya revealed sideways that Emerald Court hadn't interrogated early but waited for Church.
Learning together, facing together.
"Speaking of which, I've always wanted to understand information about Disaster Beasts above widespread catastrophic levels. Or corresponding Withering Stage intelligence... We can provide compensation for exchange." Hibiscus proposed. "Like Mantle's core crystal."
"It's precious so Church keep it. As allies you're valuable enough, so Emerald Court willingly provides support, especially intelligence."
Two Magical Girls immediately became obedient students listening:
Disaster-class all guarded contaminated world homeland—most suitable for them, unwilling to move easily unless the strongest ruler drove them. But undoubtedly, such life levels represented a complete fusion of destruction, creation, spirit three Disaster Beast element magic powers. Called mobile small worlds, eternal existence, not borrowing spacetime turbulence passages to travel everywhere.
Once such-level Disaster Beasts deployed, easily tearing root barriers, war would occur in canopy layers.
For fairy races, shameful losses were basically brought by Disasters—many still had nightmares, unable to sleep.
Why was Emerald Court built so large?
One reason was convenient rapid evacuation to prevent strong contamination energy retention.
"But so far Disasters haven't attacked here, because me and guards act—never allowing enemies beyond Her Majesty's sight." Matter-of-fact tone represented Orseya's strength.
Carefully sensing Knight Commander's energy reactions would find vast as smoke and sea, sinking within couldn't touch bottom, like drowning, unimaginable released might.
How did the original storyline Time Priestess attack all the way to face Fairy Queen?
How valuable was that?
No wonder occupying Phantom God ranks—so Magical Girl limits weren't low either? Strongest magics still not fully excavated. Unexpectedly even original growth situations could fight to such levels. Empathetically thinking, anyway Hibiscus now didn't know how to break Emerald Court's iron walls.
"...Actually discussing these is too early now. First reach Withering Stage then talk—you'll experience more deeply."
Orseya didn't hide recognition and appreciation for Hyacinth and Manjusaka, certain both would quickly reach Magical Girl power's highest stage. What might the rarest and most difficult advancement magic types display?
"Sorry, we understand little about Magical Girl Withering Stage—everyone's quite different. Three element advancement you should know about."
"We have only one tip—withering means embracing spirit-flesh sublimation with abandonment resolve."
Besides this, fairies couldn't provide any interpretation.
Lest mislead.
How didn't the Emerald Court want a deeper understanding of the world's most mysterious miracle parts? But research was limited. If directly asking about Withering Stage magic, they'd know more—after all, many cases. Or directly ask the Queen, but unfortunately still sleeping.
After momentary quiet, Jin Ruochu finally couldn't help asking:
"Your Excellency, do you know why I've had a fairy magic affinity since childhood? This actually weakened my body for a long time."
She always felt uneasy, but when nearby Hibiscus grasped the pink-haired girl's left hand with interlocked fingers, the latter's mood calmed.
"Powerful fairies also have some magic contamination—just contaminated your mother."