Chapter 27: Unexpected Allies and a Monstrous Revelation

At the same time, a grim atmosphere pervaded the GSA operations room within the Aegis Tower.

Qin Lan stood before a colossal holographic screen, pointing to several marked locations displayed upon it.

“According to our monitoring, an individual with extremely peculiar energy readings has appeared in the western suburbs of Linhai City. Headquarters has tentatively designated it a ‘Special Type Void Beast’ and rated it a Level Two threat.”

The screen’s display shifted, and a surveillance video began to play.

Within the abandoned factory district, a snow-white shadow darted and leaped with agile grace through the factory buildings, moving with such speed that only a blurred outline was visible.

Only when it occasionally paused could one discern it was a creature resembling a cat.

“Squad Leader Qin, this one looks so adorable. It doesn’t resemble other Void Beasts at all.”

Lin Xiaolu couldn’t help but whisper.

Hua Mu’ai, seated beside her, let out a cold snort.

“Adorable? You’re far too naive. The more innocuous an appearance, the more lethal the venom it often conceals.”

“I’ve seen plenty, so don’t let yourself be fooled by such an exterior.”

Gu Qianqian, standing nearby, nodded vigorously in agreement, taking her words deeply to heart.

‘Senior is right!’

Qin Lan issued her command.

“Starfall Squad, deploy immediately! You must eliminate it!”

“Understood!”

Gu Qianqian and Lin Xiaolu instantly rose, their voices ringing out.

****

Linhai City’s western suburbs, abandoned industrial zone.

The air hung heavy with the scent of rust and dust.

The three members of the Starfall Squad had already reached their mission area.

“The target should be somewhere nearby.”

Hua Mu’ai closed her eyes, activating her battle instincts.

“The target is to the southeast, approximately one hundred meters away!”

Without a word, Gu Qianqian swept Hua Mu’ai into a princess carry.

“Hey, what are you doing!”

Hua Mu’ai, startled by the sudden movement, her face immediately flushed crimson.

“Senior, you don’t have Star Power right now, so you can’t run fast,” Gu Qianqian explained, quickening her pace by several fractions.

“Then you should at least carry me differently! This is absolutely unacceptable!”

She found it utterly mortifying, but the girl simply wouldn’t listen.

“Senior, stop fussing. This way, it’s easier for me to follow your commands and avoid delaying the mission!”

At this point, Hua Mu’ai decided not to argue further. After all, Gu Qianqian always managed to conjure up a pile of specious arguments, and besides, completing the mission was the most crucial task at hand.

Soon, they spotted the snow-white figure.

Yuena, sensing her pursuers, glanced back, a flicker of surprise in her pale pink eyes.

‘Could these be human magical girls?’

Through emotional perception, it was clear the others harbored ill intentions, yet she truly wished to avoid conflict with them.

Thus, Yuena pushed off with all four limbs, her entire body, like a white meteor, streaking through the tall grass.

“Trying to run?”

Gu Qianqian let out a cold snort, her Star Power flared beneath her feet, boosting her speed once more.

Hua Mu’ai, nestled in her arms, frantically directed her.

“Left! It’s gone into that abandoned pipe!”

****

“Keep up! Go through the gap beside it!”

****

“You idiot! I told you to go through the gap, not to crash straight into the wall! Now I’m covered in dust!”

[Warning: Target’s aura does not match known Void Beast database. Probability: 37%.]

[Estimated likelihood of being a Special Type Void Beast: 46%.]

[Continuing analysis…]

In her mind, the alerts from her battle instincts made Hua Mu’ai’s brows furrow slightly.

‘There’s definitely something strange about this creature.’

As the distance rapidly closed, Gu Qianqian could already discern the creature’s long white tail.

“Got you!”

She shouted, reaching out to grab Yuena.

Just then, a deafening roar erupted from a nearby factory building.

“Boom!”

The wall was smashed open by immense force, and a colossal beast burst forth, blocking their path.

It was a gigantic Void Beast, resembling a lizard, its body coated in slime and emanating a nauseating stench.

“Watch out!”

Lin Xiaolu raised her staff, her expression tense.

Gu Qianqian hastily slammed to a halt, shielding Hua Mu’ai behind her.

‘What in the world? This thing’s danger level definitely exceeds Level Two, doesn’t it?

Why didn’t the GSA detect it?

Could it have just appeared? This is troublesome.

Senior’s current state prevents her from using Star Power. If this is a Level Three Void Beast, there’s no way she and Lin Xiaolu, as novices, could ever defeat it.’

The Void Beast opened its gaping maw, spewing forth a wave of black energy.

“Vine Shield!”

Lin Xiaolu cried out, and several thick vines instantly materialized, blocking their path.

“Bang!”

The energy wave crashed into the vines with a resounding thud.

The vines held for less than two seconds before snapping, and Lin Xiaolu was thrown back, a trickle of blood escaping the corner of her mouth.

“Damn it!” Gu Qianqian gritted her teeth, coalescing a burning flower in her hand, which she hurled with force.

“Flame Rose!”

The flower exploded against the Void Beast’s body, but it only elicited a pained howl, barely inflicting any substantial damage.

“Qianqian, its weak point is its belly!”

Hua Mu’ai shouted in desperation.

She knew how to deal with the enemy, but in this damned form, she was utterly powerless! This sense of powerlessness was driving her to distraction.

The Void Beast, enraged, brought down its massive claw with a whistling gust of wind, aiming a fierce strike at Lin Xiaolu.

‘It’s over. There’s no way I can block this.’

Despair flickered in Lin Xiaolu’s eyes.

In that critical instant, a white shadow, like a streak of light, darted past, appearing directly beside the Void Beast. With a fierce impact, she actually toppled the colossal beast to the ground, then gracefully leaped, pressing her entire body against the Void Beast’s belly.

‘What is she doing?’

All three were utterly bewildered.

The very next second, the pale green, leaf-shaped mark on Yuena’s forehead suddenly flared, emitting a dazzling light.

To the three’s horrified gaze, the massive Level Three Void Beast rapidly withered, shriveling into nothing in the blink of an eye.

All of its dense Void energy surged into that tiny white creature’s body!

In less than three seconds, the Void Beast lost all energy support, transforming into a pile of dry black dust, scattering with the wind.

Gu Qianqian and Lin Xiaolu were dumbfounded.

‘What just happened?

That Level Two Void Beast actually devoured its Level Three companion?

Do Void Beasts fight amongst themselves?’

Before they could react, Yuena, unable to sustain herself, collapsed to her knees.

In the final moment, she couldn’t bear to watch the girl be killed by the Void Beast.

After all, in the distant past, magical girls had been allies, fighting alongside the fairies.

Perhaps there was some misunderstanding that caused them to harbor hostility towards her.

To save Gu Qianqian, that last attack had drained all of Yuena’s power; forcibly devouring such a vast amount of Void energy had exceeded her purification limits, and the side effects erupted instantly.

She was now too weak to escape.

It was only then that everyone truly saw the creature’s appearance.

She stood about an arm’s length tall, her entire body snow-white and covered in soft fur.

On top of her head were a pair of very long ears; her ear tips and eyes were a delicate pink, and a fluffy white tail trailed behind her, appearing incredibly soft.

The most distinctive feature was the pale green, leaf-shaped mark shimmering brightly at the center of her forehead.

Her appearance, by any measure, bore no resemblance to an evil Void Beast.

“Good opportunity, she’s injured too!”

Gu Qianqian snapped back to reality, gathering her Star Power, ready to attack Yuena.

‘Who cares if they’re fighting amongst themselves? They’re all enemies, and not a single one can be spared!’