Chapter Fifteen: Diligently Studying the Layout to Save the Situation

The upper part of the Disaster Response Bureau building rapidly transformed, a massive turret emerging from within the floors, unleashing terrifying firepower upon the disaster beast. In an instant, the sky was completely engulfed!

Yet, as the smoke cleared, the crimson disaster beast remained unharmed, still charging relentlessly toward the four falling figures. Its icy red eyes glanced coldly at the Disaster Response Bureau building before it opened its mouth and spewed a terrifying blaze.

A yellow ripple appeared around the building, swallowing the flames—likely a magical barrier created by a magical girl.

During his descent, Jiang Si still had the presence of mind to observe the interaction between the bureau and the beast. Disaster beasts rated C or below could be harmed, even suppressed, by modern weaponry. While such weapons couldn’t kill them outright, sufficient firepower could immobilize them. But at B-level, modern arms had little effect; only the power of magical girls could be relied upon. Most modern materials couldn’t even withstand attacks from B-level beasts.

“Everyone, be careful!” Although the beast’s fiery breath failed to harm the building, it didn’t relent and continued charging toward the four.

Silver Lotus shouted and, abandoning her disguise, pulled out the Miracle Seed embedded in her key. Holding it high, she faced the massive beast as if confronting a mountain.

“Dance, Cherry Blossoms of Fantasy!”
“Transform!”

A flurry of pink petals whirled around Silver Lotus like a tornado. The colossal beast, which Jiang Si called the Flamebird, crashed into the swirling petals as if hitting a spring, its massive body bizarrely rebounding backward.

This was the magical girl’s most practical and universal invincibility frame during transformation—immune to damage and capable of knocking back nearby enemies. Unfortunately, transformations and reversions were limited, preventing continuous toggling to exploit the invincibility.

The swirling petals converged on Silver Lotus at the center. Her pink gown, adorned with elegant ribbons, fluttered in the wind like a blooming flower. The blue butterfly-shaped bow on her head fluttered its wings as if alive, but a closer look revealed it was just a ribbon.

Post-transformation, Silver Lotus ignored the knocked-back disaster beast and swiftly flew downward, cradling her sister. Though a bit distant, Jiang Si calculated that with a well-timed push from the nearby mountain beside the bureau, he could reach Silver Lotus mid-air.

Having chosen his landing spot carefully, with the mountain just beside him, a kick off the slope was no problem. His well-trained body wouldn’t betray him, though the high-speed fall might cause fractures. It was a minor concern.

Taking a deep breath and bracing for pain, just as he was about to kick the mountain, his right hand was grabbed. His descent slowed; the other person, to avoid pulling his arm off from inertia, fell a considerable distance alongside him before stopping his fall.

Looking up, Jiang Si saw his already transformed sister, her flaming red gown waving like fire in the wind. Riding a broomstick, her expression was cold and indifferent as she gazed up at the disaster beast.

Newly sprouted magical girls couldn’t fly, so the bureau provided them with broomsticks that could be controlled with magical power—convenient tools reminiscent of Harry Potter.

“Can you not cause me trouble?” she said.
“Oh.”
That was the extent of their sibling exchange.

Nearby, Silver Lotus, after rescuing Yin Luo and about to call Jiang Keke for help, turned to see Keke already holding Jiang Si and breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily, she had taught Keke how to summon a broomstick while Jiang Si was captured earlier.

It was standard for new magical girls to learn broomstick summoning and control upon entering the bureau.

Though the siblings often exchanged harsh words, they helped each other when it mattered. After all, they were family.

“Keke, take him to the platform area!”
“Understood, Captain.”
The title came naturally.

Silver Lotus, a budding magical girl close to flourishing, could fly on her own without a broomstick. Holding her sister carefully, she swiftly reached the platform and gently set Yin Luo down. Turning around, she saw Keke casually toss Jiang Si beside the platform, causing him to nearly faceplant.

If only her attitude were a bit gentler…

Before Jiang Si could dwell on this, the disaster beast above let out a piercing cry, its flames splattering like molten lava!

Silver Lotus immediately drew her wand, summoning countless petals to shield the station from the flaming projectiles.

Though the bureau’s magical barrier stood firm, the mountain beneath began to tremble under the fiery assault.

“Keke, let’s lure it out to the deserted outskirts to deal with it. Sister, once you send Jiang Si out, return to the bureau immediately to prepare. Jiang Si, remember, don’t go to the outskirts; as long as you head home, you’ll be safe!”

Transformed, Silver Lotus was taller and carried a fierce aura, reminiscent of Susan—direct and efficient. After assigning tasks to the three, she and Keke flew toward the beast.

Jiang Si glanced up at the resolute Silver Lotus, feeling a strange mix of admiration and surprise.

Transformation changed her completely—he’d seen many magical girls in Qingyun Sect, but none changed so drastically.

Interestingly, transformations affected height differently—his own transformation into Ziyuan made him shorter, while Silver Lotus grew taller.

The reason remained unknown.

He glanced sideways at Yin Luo, who had been gazing blankly toward her sister’s departing figure since Silver Lotus left.

“Not coming?” he asked.
“Sorry, I was distracted,” Yin Luo replied with an apologetic smile, leading the way. “My sister is amazing, isn’t she? It’s like she’s a completely different person.”

“Yeah.”
“She used to rely on me a lot. When she first became a magical girl, her family didn’t want her joining the bureau—they thought she should focus on school. So Silver Lotus came to me, crying for help. No matter the trouble, she would confide in me back then.”

She spoke as if reminiscing.

Jiang Si thought she was a bit too familiar too quickly.

Yin Luo’s expression then grew wistful. “But ever since becoming a magical girl, she’s gradually stopped relying on me. She’s gotten stronger. She used to follow behind me, but now, I’m the one chasing her back…I can’t catch up…”

“I also want to become a magical girl,” she added quietly.

She seemed a bit older.

Jiang Si guessed Yin Luo was in her twenties, though he wasn’t skilled at judging age by appearance. Still, she seemed somewhat mature.

Usually, magical girl candidates who received Miracle Seeds were young—mostly middle or high schoolers—with some exceptions, but not many.

For Yin Luo to get a Miracle Seed would be difficult, though not impossible. After all, if his own wish was strong enough, she might obtain one too.

“Enough about that. It’s ugly for an older sister to be jealous of her younger one, isn’t it?” she said.

“Nothing much,” Jiang Si replied calmly. “I have a sister too. When she became a magical girl, it naturally felt threatening.”

“Haha, but our troubles seem different. Your relationship with your sister is a bit worse,” she teased.

Reaching the wall between platforms nine and ten, Yin Luo used her key to open a passage.

“Alright, go quickly. Remember, don’t go to the outskirts. Be careful on the way.”

“Goodbye.”
Hearing this, Yin Luo gave a wry smile. “Hope we meet again.”

Jiang Si didn’t notice the odd smile. After exiting the secret platform, Yin Luo led him through twists and turns before finally leaving the convoluted path to the bureau.

It seemed some magical design prevented outsiders from finding the way without a guide.

Shortly after, he saw a streak of pink and red light blaze across the sky, followed by the fiery bird bursting from the clouds.

Apparently, there was more than one entrance to the bureau—one above the sky as well, though likely inaccessible to ordinary people.

Clutching the Miracle Seed and gazing at the swirling magnificent magic within, Jiang Si understood Yin Luo’s envy. Watching these transforming magical girls without possessing such power would surely stir jealousy.

B-level disaster beasts were rare, encountered only a few times in three years—definitely not to be missed.

The power of the Wailing Seed was undoubtedly abundant.

…

“Sorry, Keke, throwing you at a B-level disaster beast right away. Other team members are dealing with beasts elsewhere; I checked, and none can get through.”

“It’s fine.”
Keke gripped her broomstick tightly, her hands sweating. “If I plan to become a magical girl, I’m mentally prepared for this risk.”

“Well said!” Silver Lotus gave a thumbs-up. “Let’s work together and take this guy down! Follow me, Keke—fly downward!”

“Yes, Captain.”

Silver Lotus flew upward, while Jiang Keke flew downward, causing the beast to hesitate momentarily.

Then it flapped its wings violently, and a dark crack spread from its crown downward, swiftly splitting its body in two.

Silver Lotus glanced back, stunned. It looked as if someone had cleaved it in half.

But in the next moment, both halves burst into flames, regenerating the missing parts.

Two fiery disaster birds emerged!

Even worse, their strength remained almost unchanged. Both halves were still B-level in power.

Silver Lotus was horrified and immediately tried to regroup with Keke, riding on petals.

Her original plan had been to split the beast to draw it away from Keke, letting her support from a safe distance while Silver Lotus engaged in a chase.

As a rookie magical girl with little combat experience, facing a B-level beast on her first mission was unreasonable. As captain and senior, Silver Lotus sought to protect Keke.

Unexpectedly, the beast split into two fully powered selves, ruining her plan and putting Keke in danger.

B-level beasts required experienced magical girls to handle. Keke, still a novice, was ill-equipped.

“Keke, come back!”

Silver Lotus’s urgent command was obeyed without question. Keke pulled on her broomstick to return, but the two flaming birds were faster.

Silver Lotus, flying freely without a broomstick, was agile and easily dodged the collisions. Keke, however, was less skilled, barely managing to fly with the broomstick. Although she tried to evade, she was struck.

Tumbling through the air, Keke felt dizzy. Fortunately, the broomstick was responsive, flying back from above. After regaining some composure, she grabbed the broomstick with her right hand, swaying in midair, wand in her left hand. She couldn’t climb back onto it immediately.

Below, the flaming bird that crashed into the woods set the trees ablaze.

The bureau had pre-warned that the area was uninhabited, so no innocent bystanders were at risk.

Still, the fire could spread to the city if left unchecked.

Silver Lotus wanted to protect Keke but was forced to dodge another sudden attack from the other flaming bird, which swooped down rapidly.

Blazing flames exploded behind it. Even with petal protection, Silver Lotus staggered, nearly falling.

The pink petals quickly enveloped the bird behind her. Before the petals could ignite, Silver Lotus clenched her fist fiercely.

Petals pressed against the beast, causing blood and flames to scatter.

Below, Keke looked up in awe at her captain’s power.

So strong. Could she become like this?

“Watch out below! Keke!”

Silver Lotus’s warning snapped Keke back. She looked down just as the bird crashing into the woods burst out again, racing toward her at breakneck speed.

Too fast!

At the same time, the other flaming bird, squeezed by petals, charged again. Though its flames dimmed, it still entangled Silver Lotus.

The petal shield hovered about two meters above, but the bird’s flames were already reaching Keke.

The heat scorched her clothes. Though a fire magic user herself, the flames she conjured with her wand seemed feeble and laughable in front of the beast.

Her wand’s flames were instantly burned out.

She could only watch helplessly as the beast collided with her…

“Boom!”

The once invincible beast crashed into the ground like a meteor!

Only then did Silver Lotus’s pink petals arrive, enveloping Keke protectively.

Keke quickly dispelled the petals around her and looked ahead in surprise at the figure blocking her way.

“Teacher Ziyuan!”