Torrential rain poured down, shrouding the entire city of Beijiang in a curtain of gray-black.
A flowing streak of light ran through the waterlogged streets, her white combat outfit starkly visible against the rain.
Lin Lu ran while pulling out her phone, dialing Hoshino Hikari’s number.
“Hey! Hoshino Hikari, what’s your position? I’m on my way.”
“Beijiang District Central Square! There’s a huge crowd gathered here, and the rift is right above the square. We’re organizing the evacuation to Headquarters. Come straight here!”
“Got it.” Lin Lu hung up and picked up speed.
Overhead, the sky was horrifyingly dense with black rifts.
No Shadow Beasts poured from the rifts, only black mist slowly flowed out, like some kind of countdown.
No one knew how much longer it would be before powerful Shadow Beasts would come gushing forth.
When she reached the central square, the sight before her made her pause.
The square was packed with a sea of people.
Elderly, children, young adults.
Without exception, each face bore tension and fear.
Some were on the phone, anxiously communicating with family members who were elsewhere.
Hoshino Hikari stood on the fountain platform in the center of the square, struggling to maintain order.
“Everyone, stay calm! Move in an orderly fashion in the direction we’re guiding you! Elderly and children first! Don’t push!”
Lin Qingqing was on the other side of the crowd.
Green vines sprouted from the ground, weaving into a temporary fence that divided the crowd into nine channels.
Minazuki was at the edge of the square.
Blue runes materialized in the air, transforming into barriers that blocked the black mist drifting from the rifts.
After all, if ordinary people were exposed to this stuff for too long, it could cause physical harm.
Lin Lu charged into the square, a silver light glowing from her body.
“I’m here to help!”
“Sister Lu!” Hoshino Hikari shouted to her, “You and Minazuki take the first group of civilians! People are already waiting at headquarters to receive them!”
Because there were so many civilians and their personnel were limited, they could only escort in batches.
And others were still arriving one after another, so Hoshino Hikari and Lin Qingqing had to stay and hold the fort here.
“Okay!”
Lin Lu turned and ran to the front of the crowd.
Minazuki also walked over to Lin Lu’s side.
“Follow me! Elderly and children in the middle! Everyone else, keep up!”
The crowd began to move, like a slow-flowing river.
Lin Lu walked at the front, Frost Feather Streaming Light held in her hand, its blue glow illuminating the path ahead.
The rain grew heavier, thunder rumbled overhead, and lightning illuminated the entire city.
Fortunately, nothing unexpected happened on the escort route.
When they reached Headquarters, a long line had already formed at the entrance.
Staff were registering information and distributing supplies.
During the second escort trip, Lin Lu noticed Minazuki.
She stood at the edge of the square, blue runes flowing around her.
She looked calm and focused.
She was always watching the crowd and the others arriving in a steady stream.
It suddenly made Lin Lu remember that Minazuki had a younger sister.
‘Could it be that her sister wasn’t with her when the rifts appeared?’
“Minazuki!” Lin Lu called out.
Minazuki turned her head, asking with a hint of confusion, “What is it?”
“Speaking of which… where’s your sister? I haven’t seen her.”
Hearing Lin Lu mention her sister, Minazuki froze for a moment, then smiled, “She’s… fine. Very safe.”
Lin Lu nodded, then changed the subject as they walked, “The evacuation seems a bit too smooth, doesn’t it? Don’t you think…”
“Is that so…” Lin Lu saw a rare smile appear on Minazuki’s face. “Isn’t that a good thing? As long as we get all the civilians to Headquarters, everyone will be safe.”
“Ah… I’m not saying it’s bad… I just have a bad feeling about it.” Lin Lu scratched her head, feeling like she was being overly suspicious.
With Headquarters’ defensive strength and the number of Magical Girls staying behind, protecting the civilians should be more than enough.
Minazuki smiled at Lin Lu and said, “I promised my sister I’d take her to the amusement park. You… don’t overthink it.”
“Haha… It’s probably just me being paranoid.” Lin Lu laughed it off, then glanced at Minazuki and didn’t say anything more, focusing on escorting the civilians.
***
Meanwhile, at one of the Triangle Vertex points, the largest rift, like a giant opened eye, spanned above an entire building.
Black mist poured down from the rift like a dark waterfall.
At this moment—
A red sports car drifted sideways on the road, stopping not far from the rift.
Hong Huang got out of the car.
“So that’s it… There’s no formation at the three vertices, but rather, these are the locations of the three largest rifts.”
Her red trench coat flapped loudly in the rain.
Raindrops instantly evaporated into white mist the moment they fell near her.
No Shadow Beast emerged from the rift, but a familiar figure stood there.
Silvery-white long hair, a white trench coat, a faint smile at the corner of her mouth.
Changmeng.
“Long time no see.” Her voice came from within the black mist, like a night wind through treetops, “Hong Huang.”
Hong Huang gripped her longsword tightly.
Changmeng tilted her head, looking at her.
“What a fucking coincidence… Changmeng, what exactly are you trying to do?”
Changmeng tilted her head, smiling, “Guess~”
“I don’t have time for guessing games.” Hong Huang raised her longsword, “Since you won’t say, then I’ll just have to let you experience the blade in my hand.”
“I’m just passing through here myself. I don’t have time to play with you.” Changmeng chuckled.
She turned and, before walking into the black mist, waved her hand.
“If you really want to play, someone will keep you company. I must excuse myself.”
“Stop!!”
A black figure shot out from the black mist, one hand blocking Hong Huang’s attack.
Hong Huang immediately swung her blade towards Changmeng, a wave of flame following the slash.
It was a girl, wearing a black robe.
After reaching up to remove her hood, she revealed short black hair and dark red eyes.
“Hong Huang.” The girl said expressionlessly, her voice devoid of emotion, “Your opponent… is me.”
Hong Huang’s pupils contracted.
When the girl blocked her strike, she already knew this person’s strength was likely equal to hers, or perhaps even slightly above.
“Who are you?”
“Xu Ling.” The girl thought for a moment, still without a trace of emotion, and added, “A friend of Changmeng’s.”
“Fr… friend??”
Hearing this, Hong Huang’s mouth twitched.
‘Those freaks have friends? Was this Xu Ling out of her mind? Talk about an eye-opener.’
Changmeng’s figure had already vanished into the black mist.
Hong Huang wanted to give chase, but Xu Ling stood motionless in front of her.
“Move.” Hong Huang said.
“No.” Xu Ling pointed her hand towards Hong Huang, “Changmeng said to leave this to me.”
Hong Huang wasted no more words, her longsword slashing down.
Xu Ling didn’t dodge.
She simply raised her hand.
A thick, viscous black mist, substantial as tar, flowed from her palm, forming a shield.
The flaming blade struck the shield, emitting a piercing screech.
Hong Huang’s pupils shrank sharply.
She quickly intensified the flames on her blade and yanked it back.
The shield surface, like a swamp, tried to swallow her sword.
“A good blade.” Xu Ling said, “But… it seems it can’t break my defense.”
She also swung her hand backhandedly.
The black mist transformed into countless fine needles, shooting towards Hong Huang.
Hong Huang sidestepped to avoid them, her longsword sweeping horizontally.
Flames consumed the black needles.
Xu Ling took a few steps back, the smile at the corner of her mouth deepening.
“Interesting.” She said, “Again.”
The two fought fiercely in the rain.
***
At the Beijiang Highway Entrance, a black Maybach sped through the torrential downpour.
Inside the car sat a woman with long black hair styled in a wolf-cut mullet, wearing a black women’s suit with a tie.
In her hand was a tablet computer, the screen displaying a live surveillance feed of Beijiang City.
“Beijiang City is so hospitable! The welcome party they prepared for me is quite grand!” She murmured, a slight curve forming at the corner of her mouth.