Chapter 74: The Breakthrough

The swan beast’s maneuverability was hardly its strong suit. Despite its immense wings, their vast span made it incredibly difficult for the creature to adjust its position and evade damage.

Consequently, the swan typically resorted to its own magic to counteract Su Muxue’s spells.

“Screech!” A shriek swept past, and a ripple of purple magical energy spread out.

Following the missiles and torrents, the swan beast once again unleashed new magic.

This attack bore a striking resemblance to the decisive blow from the previous battle. So similar, in fact, that the reserve magic users instinctively recoiled, creating a wide circle around the ripple.

Fortunately—

Yet, the swan’s third spell was merely a straightforward application of magical energy. As the ripple expanded and washed over the girls, it only caused their spirit armor to sizzle and crackle.

Su Muxue’s and Yan Xiyu’s spells, however, were directly shattered. Under the intense tremor, the ice shards emitted a grating ‘screech’ before decisively fragmenting into countless pieces, which were then pulverized into dust by the lingering shockwave.

The low-temperature magic, previously attached, was thus abruptly released. Without direct contact, even its terrifying chill could only futilely freeze fragments of purple magical energy after being shattered, forming scattered shards of ice suspended in the air.

But this was precisely what Su Muxue needed.

Su Muxue aimed her fingertips at the swan, her eyes narrowing as she targeted the ice fragments scattering from the shattered shards. Her magic, already imbued within the icy mist, required no incantation. A subtle smile played on the white-haired girl’s lips as she mouthed a single word:

“Bang.”

The trigger of her unique magic was pulled.

A pillar of ice erupted abruptly from a denser cluster of ice fragments, surging with lightning speed towards the wound Bai Aili had previously inflicted on the beast’s wing.

With no time to dodge, and in a moment of desperation.

The swan tilted its head back, its wings contracting as it absorbed the surrounding magical energy, unleashing a ripple of power designed to shatter the ice pillar.

Yet, this was clearly only the genesis of the girl’s assault.

“Now, do you see it clearly?”

Su Muxue murmured, then repeated her tactic. It was the ‘low temperature’ she had seemingly wasted at the outset that had drastically reduced the air temperature around the swan beast, causing moisture in the air to condense.

Furthermore, Yan Xiyu had not remained idle, continuously replenishing the ice shard magic that served as a crucial casting medium.

Consequently, Su Muxue’s casting range was extended, allowing her to accelerate the release of low-temperature ice pillars without reservation.

The girl’s pristine white skirt billowed and danced amidst the frenzied surge of magic, as successive layers of ice pillars, tinged with ethereal purple, intertwined.

They formed a barrier between the increasingly agitated swan and the magical girls, coalescing into a dynamic cage that seemed to shatter and reform incessantly.

Fang Xiaobai and the other supporting magical girls couldn’t help but gape in astonishment at the sight.

“Is—is this still a Tier 3 magical girl?”

Fang Xiaobai was so utterly astonished that she nearly severed her connection to her unique magic.

Certainly, conjuring a single ice pillar was no arduous feat; for Fang Xiaobai, it was effortless. Yet, for Su Muxue to wield them with such fluid grace, employing them to stall an enemy, was a display of skill on an entirely different plane.

Su Muxue heard this, turned her head, and glared at Fang Xiaobai. Her forehead was already slick with fine beads of sweat, and her voice was edged with a slight gasp.

“Don’t forget the arrangements in the plan.”

Fang Xiaobai replied solemnly, “Don’t worry.”

She had not permitted herself a moment of relaxation.

Moreover, the plan was steadily progressing. The only remaining question was: what exactly was the beast’s unique magic?

Fang Xiaobai couldn’t help but recall the grim fate of her previous teammates, a memory that instinctively creased her brow.

What she sought was the precise instant the magical beast unleashed its unique magic.

****

“Mmm.”

The narrative began during the preceding round, as the battle against the Bat Serpent raged fiercely. Amidst the chaos, Fang Xiaobai was engrossed in observing the conflict.

The coordinated efforts of Lin Xiaoxiao and Su Ling, alongside the expansion of their suppression formation, all served as invaluable references for Fang Xiaobai.

Coincidentally.

Fang Xiaobai, who had initially intended to conserve her magical energy for the subsequent battle, found herself, in her complete absorption, inexplicably activating her unique magic, [Overlooker’s Eye].

Consequently, Fang Xiaobai’s vision became, without her conscious intent, suffused with a myriad of colors, each denoting a distinct flow of magical energy.

Just as she realized her accidental activation and prepared to deactivate the spell, the girl’s body was seized by a sudden tremor.

Because:

A chilling aura, one that sent shivers down her spine, manifested within the magical energy. Fang Xiaobai observed a sudden ‘anomaly’ in the Bat Serpent’s magical flow, as if it were concentrating at a specific point.

Clearly, it was absorbing magical energy.

Immediately thereafter, Su Ling’s ‘magic’ abruptly shifted in color. Though the flames still blazed, it was clear upon their release that they were destined to inflict no harm upon the Bat Serpent.

And then, a second chilling sensation enveloped her.

Even before Xu Yanqing, Fang Xiaobai had discerned the Bat Serpent’s second, subtly concealed, magic:

[Serpent Devour].

This also inspired Fang Xiaobai.

The vast majority of magical beasts’ spells involved the manipulation of ambient magical energy.

Therefore, if she could observe the magic at close range, might she uncover precisely how the beasts absorbed magical energy when casting their spells?

To take it a step further: if they could disrupt this magical absorption, wouldn’t they transform a dangerous and enigmatic ‘enemy’ into little more than a large, vulnerable target, possessing only its physical form and common spells?

It was, in fact, Su Qingyao’s words that ultimately compelled her to integrate this concept into their tactical strategy.

As she stood amidst the vast throng, her gaze fixed upon that gentle, fragile figure, and softly uttered words laden with gravity.

She was also deeply contemplating the absolute necessity and profound value of ‘intelligence’ as the very core of any combat engagement.

If such a plan succeeded, it would naturally be a good thing.

Even if it failed, it would merely mean accepting the risk of injury, just like Lin Xiaoxiao and her companions.

While her reasoning might border on sophistry, in Fang Xiaobai’s estimation, her approach was entirely worth a trial.

“If transcendent battles are inevitably heading towards a choice.”

Fang Xiaobai’s gaze flickered slightly as she looked towards the direction from which Su Muxue was approaching.

Then, this was her choice.

‘Let’s try. Can I use my magic to find a viable “breakthrough”?’

“What did your mother say?” Fang Xiaobai inquired of Su Muxue, whose eyes held a faint, distant glimmer. The latter simply nodded.

For some reason, Su Muxue seemed quite excited.

“Mom said to let us try.”

No wonder.

Fang Xiaobai instantly grasped the joy radiating from Su Muxue. Opening her mouth, she declared:

“Then let’s go try it.”

Unconsciously, the corners of her mouth curved upward into a subtle, knowing smile.

****

Finally, it seemed the swan-shaped entity had reached the absolute limit of its endurance in this form.

After Su Muxue unleashed yet another ice pillar, Fang Xiaobai, who had maintained her magical observation of the distant beast, was suddenly struck by a familiar, chilling sensation that crept up her spine.

The magical beast had, at long last, run out of patience!

“I see it!”

At last, Fang Xiaobai cried out, her voice ringing clear and loud.