Chapter 159: Li Qing’s Rearguard Covers the Retreat

“—Kill them all, every last one❤”

That syrupy trailing note had not yet faded.

“BOOM—!!!”

Lin Yu felt a blinding burst of crimson light explode across her retinas.

A scorching heatwave slammed straight into her face!

Fast!

Too fast!

The red giant kneeling on the ground, at the very instant those words fell—

Crushed the concrete beneath his feet and transformed into a crimson meteor,

Blinking forward as if by teleportation, appearing right in front of everyone!

“BOOM—!!!”

Chen Bing was the first to react.

She stepped forward hard, smashing the 【Great Wall】 heavy shield in her hands violently into the ground!

“Deploy—【Wall of Sighs】!!!”

Woom—!

A dark gray psionic light curtain surged outward, instantly becoming an absolute barrier.

Yet—before that iron fist burning with bloodfire…

“Crack—!”

No stalemate.

No clash of strength.

That fist, wrapped in the divine power of 【Khorne】, was like a red-hot knife slicing into butter—

With no resistance whatsoever—

It tore straight through the shield they were so proud of!

“Wh—”

Chen Bing’s pupils shrank to pinpoints.

She didn’t even have time to dodge before the still-surging punch smashed straight through her abdominal psionic armor!

“Pssh—!”

Blood mixed with shattered organs erupted from her back!

That thick, brutal arm—

Had forcibly… pierced straight through her abdomen!

“Urgh… cough…”

Chen Bing lowered her head in disbelief, staring at the hand buried in her stomach.

Only now did the agony reach her brain, twisting her always ice-cold face into a contorted mess.

How… was this… possible…

So easily…

“Ice Sis…”

Lin Yu’s mind went completely blank.

She had seen blood.

She had seen death.

But in her understanding, magical girls were basically playing with god mode on.

And yet now…

That invincible big sister—

Was hanging from Luo Shaotian’s arm like a broken rag doll?!

“Wow~ Uncle, nicely done!”

From behind came the nauseating cheer of “Fake Lulu.”

She clapped her hands like she’d just watched a spectacular circus act, smiling sweetly.

“You went straight in with one thrust~ So nice… Lulu kinda wants to experience that feeling of being penetrated too~❤”

“…うるさい（Shut up）—!!!”

A furious shout ripped through the air.

Yano Hotaru’s eyes instantly flooded with blood, her black gothic skirt whipping wildly in the wind.

【(Blade Mode)】—Maximum output!!!

The floating units at her sides instantly recombined, forming two crystalline blades!

Her figure blurred as she became a streak of black lightning, slashing straight at Luo Shaotian!

At that moment, a beastlike cruelty flashed across Luo Shaotian’s twisted face.

“Grr.”

With a low growl, he yanked out his blood-soaked arm, grabbed Chen Bing by the ankle—

And used the magical girl as a convenient human weapon, hurling her brutally at Yano Hotaru!

“Wh—?!”

Yano Hotaru’s expression sank.

Her slashing motion was forcibly halted midair!

“Tch—!”

She had no choice but to retract her blades and spread her arms, trying to catch the flying Chen Bing.

“Bang!”

She caught her.

But at the very instant her view was blocked by Chen Bing’s body—

The red giant used that cover to close in like a phantom!

“THUD—!!!”

Yano Hotaru’s once-flat abdomen—

Caved in horrifyingly beneath a bloodfire-burning iron fist!

The power of that punch was so great it burst straight through her body.

Behind her, a white sonic boom cloud exploded outward!

“Gah—”

A mouthful of blood mixed with stomach acid and shattered organs sprayed from Yano Hotaru’s mouth, splattering all over Luo Shaotian’s face.

And yet—

Even the agony of her organs being pulverized did not stop this A-rank ace from thinking.

In Yano Hotaru’s unfocused eyes, a vicious glint flared to life!

“—!!!”

She poured every last shred of strength into a savage slash—

“Shk—”

That strike was lightning-fast, sharp as paper-cutting steel.

So fast that blood didn’t even have time to spray.

The terrifying, demonic red giant stiffened violently.

Then—

That ferocious head dropped like an overripe honey melon.

“Gurgle…”

It rolled across the blood-smeared ground, finally stopping at the small feet wearing loafers.

The massive headless body swayed, then collapsed with a thunderous crash, kicking up a cloud of dust.

“Haha— haha—”

Ha… ha…

Clutching her stomach, Yano Hotaru trembled as she tried to stand, only for her legs to give out as she collapsed beside Chen Bing.

The two aces leaned against each other, drenched in blood, their breaths as faint as candles in the wind.

They couldn’t go on anymore.

“Is it… over…”

Lin Yu stared blankly at the headless corpse, then at her seniors lying in pools of blood.

“Did we win?”

“We… won?”

But…

Why was there not the slightest bit of joy in her heart?

Instead, it felt so clogged it made her want to vomit.

She looked at the severed head on the ground, still frozen in Luo Shaotian’s grotesque expression.

That was her brother…

Killed just like that—by their own side?

“Eh… that’s it? He’s dead already?”

At that moment, a disappointed, syrupy voice shattered the silence.

“Fake Lulu” didn’t even bother lifting her eyelids.

She raised the loafer-clad foot and stepped straight onto Luo Shaotian’s still-steaming head.

Grinding the flesh beneath her sole as if extinguishing a cigarette.

“How useless~”

She pouted, kicked the head with a look of pure disdain.

“You were cursing so enthusiastically just now… and this is it? All bark and no bite? I haven’t even gotten to enjoy myself yet~”

“Trash like this… dying is what he deserves anyway~”

“You—!!!”

Lin Yu’s eyes instantly turned red.

“You actually—”

“Junior…”

Just as Lin Yu was about to lose control and charge forward, a warm hand gently patted her shoulder.

Lin Yu jolted and turned around.

Only to see Li Qing standing behind her—at some unknown moment.

Lin Yu had never seen this expression on her senior’s face before.

Gentle…

Calm…

Carrying a resolute determination that pressed straight ahead…

“Q-Qing Sis?”

“Shh—”

Li Qing raised a finger and gently pressed it to her lips.

“Don’t talk. Listen to me.”

Those foxlike eyes that were always half-lidded were now fully open, clear as a still pool.

“In a moment… I’ll count to three.”

“You take Ice Sis and Hotaru-chan, and run with everything you’ve got… okay?”

“Eh?”

Lin Yu froze.

“Why? Luo Shaotian is already—”

[Idiot.]

Li Qing shook her head, a bitter smile curling her lips.

“Have you never watched a horror movie? When does a boss fight ever end that easily?”

“That real monster…”

Her gaze passed over Lin Yu, landing on the distant “Fake Lulu” still playing with the head.

“Hasn’t even lifted a hand yet.”

“But…”

“No buts. Let me borrow this.”

Before Lin Yu could react, Li Qing had already smoothly taken the crystal prop bow from her hands.

She stepped forward, placing herself in front of Lin Yu.

That petite back—

At this moment, seemed incomparably tall.

“That 【Sparkle☆Psionic Arrow】 skill…”

Li Qing muttered to herself as she slowly drew the bowstring.

“Back then it was just a transitional skill. Everyone said it was flashy but useless…”

“But… sometimes, it’s actually pretty handy.”

Woom—

With her movement, an immense surge of psionic energy far beyond Lin Yu’s imagination began to gather toward the bow.

“Actually… I can use 【Intent Overwrite】 too…”

“I’m just not very good at it yet, but…”

“At a moment like this… maybe I really can pull it off!”

Bright pink light ignited in her twin ponytails, flickering like flames as her hair danced in the raging energy flow.

At that instant, Lin Yu panicked.

That figure felt unfamiliar—

Yet also…

Like a true, legendary magical girl.

Li Qing didn’t turn around.

Her voice drifted lightly in the wind, yet was unshakably firm.

“So… Lin Yu!”

She called her by name, her tone stripped of all joking.

“Take them—”

The moment the words fell.

The bow was drawn full, like a crescent moon.

“—”

TWANG—!

A thunderous explosion rang out!

That shot was no longer an arrow—

But a pink dawn capable of tearing through the darkness!

A colossal pillar of light, carrying sacred might, blasted straight toward “Fake Lulu”!

BOOOOOOM——!!!!!

A horrifying explosion erupted in the center of the exhibition hall, blinding light devouring everything.

Shockwaves roared.

Smoke and dust filled the air.

After a long moment, Li Qing still held her firing stance.

She lowered the bow and turned back worriedly.

On her pale little face bloomed a relieved smile.

Thank goodness…

That idiot…

Finally made a decisive choice for once.