The giant beast that Wisteria had transformed into slowly turned around. Its purple eyes held nothing but indifference for its prey as it closed in on Arbiter step by step, radiating an overwhelming pressure.
Bai Ci held up Violita, her entire body tense, yet she was utterly powerless.
She possessed no combat ability, and Violita's mobility was impaired. The two of them could only watch helplessly as the beast's shadow gradually enveloped Arbiter.
As for the information displayed on the Rain's Message panel, it was a tangled mess with no starting thread. How could she possibly turn that faint anomaly into a way to save Arbiter?
“Wi—” Bai Ci wanted to try negotiating.
If she could just get him to talk, even if she couldn't convince him to change his mind, simply buying a little time to give Arbiter a moment to catch her breath would be useful.
But before she could finish her sentence, the giant beast had already raised its massive claw, swinging it viciously down toward Arbiter's chest.
That single strike was enough to tear Arbiter's body to shreds.
Right at this critical moment, a stirring, bright melody suddenly echoed in everyone's ears.
The rhythm was upbeat, and the drumbeats were powerful and resonant. Amidst the passion, there was a subtle glimmer of hope, carrying a resilient spirit that refused to yield—perfectly matching the current scene.
Most peculiar of all, it was impossible to tell where the music was coming from. There was no fixed sound source; it simply drifted down, light and even, across the entire battlefield.
It was just like a scene from an anime. At the most critical and dangerous moment, a character's exclusive BGM would kick in right on cue, silently infusing the protagonist in a desperate situation with strength.
The moment Arbiter heard the music, the panic and exhaustion in her heart vanished instantly, replaced by a profound sense of calm.
She was all too familiar with this melody. It was Yan Zheng's skill.
A warm, powerful force flowed along with the melody, slowly pouring into her exhausted body and gradually soothing the aches in her limbs.
Even the wand she had dropped—its once-extinguished red gemstone—lit up again, radiating a soft yet resolute glow.
With a slight twitch of Arbiter's wrist, the wand seemed to come alive, rising from the muddy puddle and landing securely in her palm.
Almost the exact instant her hand closed around the wand, she braced her arm and thrust it horizontally in front of her, precisely blocking Wisteria's descending claw.
“The power of courage overflows.” Along with Arbiter's chanted words, a halo of light once again flared around her. Unlike the previous pink, this time it was a faint, vibrant green shimmer.
She continued to chant, “In the name of the abyss, bearing the responsibility of destiny, Magical Girl Arbiter, evolve—”
The green halo erupted instantly, completely enveloping her figure.
Within the light, her long hair was tied back into a high ponytail with matching ribbons at the ends. Her pink Lolita dress gradually faded away, replaced by a brand-new outfit.
The style of the clothing was similar to before, but it was far more elegant and ethereal. White feather accents adorned her cuffs and hem, and even the bow at her waist had changed to dark green.
It was a green Magical Girl outfit.
The evolution was complete in the blink of an eye. Aside from the visual differences, Arbiter's body felt lighter than ever, and her speed had more than doubled.
Seeing this, Wisteria swung his claw again, but Arbiter nimbly dodged every single attack with a quick sidestep.
Having missed several consecutive attacks, a hint of anxiety gradually crept into the giant beast's eyes, and its low growls grew increasingly frantic.
Green... It's not the wood element, but the wind element, which symbolizes speed.
Bai Ci even found herself with the spare mental capacity to analyze such trivial details, her mindset completely different from her previous panic.
“What is this?” Violita leaned against Bai Ci, unable to hide the astonishment in his eyes.
This was his first time seeing power manifested in such a form.
Unlike the cold, chaotic power obtained from peering into the abyss, this girl, who mentioned the abyss in every breath, wielded a force that was so pure and warm.
Was there truly such a kind yet cruel deity in this world, choosing a girl like her to act as its proxy?
Violita did not know.
But everything he witnessed tonight was destined to repeatedly shatter his understanding of the world.
“I don't know,” Bai Ci said, shaking her head slightly, her gaze never leaving Arbiter's figure. “But it's a good thing, regardless.”
In her mind, however, she was rapidly calculating. This was likely Yan Zheng's skill.
Judging by Arbiter's reaction, she was clearly extremely familiar with this skill, yet the melody obviously didn't originate from Arbiter herself.
There was no one else it could be besides Yan Zheng.
Arbiter sidestepped another pounce from the giant beast, using the opportunity to widen the distance. Gripping her wand tightly, she chanted her spell aloud.
“Bloom, flower of hope filled with courage, and bind all the dark minions before me!”
As her chant concluded, a green halo erupted from the tip of her wand, transforming into countless slender yet resilient ribbons of green light. They rapidly coiled around Wisteria's limbs and body, binding him tightly.
Even the wolf-like beasts and vine figures, which had been forced to sit on the sidelines due to Wisteria's dominance, were subjected to the same ribbon binding without exception.
She made sure to spread the love.
The giant beast struggled frantically, roaring in an attempt to break free from the ribbons, but they only wound tighter and tighter.
Even when it tore at them with its sharp claws, the light from the severed ribbons would instantly reform a second later, making escape utterly impossible.
“Follow me.” Arbiter did not linger for a second, nor did she seize this opportunity to attack.
Taking advantage of the moment the giant beast was bound, her figure flashed, and she quickly retreated to the side of Bai Ci and Violita.
At this moment, the stirring music was also drawing to a close, the melody growing fainter.
It seemed Yan Zheng's skill duration was about to end. They had no time to waste.
“With destiny as the key, and hope as the guide—Astral Shift!”
Arbiter gripped her wand. A green halo spread from her body once more, resonating with the residual melody in the air.
Within the halo, a glowing portal etched with complex runes slowly emerged.
The moment the portal opened, a gentle suction pulled at them. Before Bai Ci and Violita could react, they were gently enveloped by an invisible force. Their feet left the muddy ground as they floated toward the portal.
Just then, the bound Wisteria suddenly erupted with power, forcefully snapping several ribbons. He charged madly toward the portal, followed by a few wolf-like beasts that had also broken free.
Arbiter unleashed a gust of wind, driving back the leading wolf-like beasts.
Immediately after, she turned and quickly leapt into the portal.
The instant her figure vanished completely into the portal, it rapidly shrank before disappearing entirely into the rainy night.
Leaving only the giant beast that Wisteria had become, standing where the portal had vanished, roaring at the pitch-black night sky.
The roar was filled with raw indignation and resentment.
“So hungry...” The giant beast slowly lowered its head, speaking in human tongue. “Mine...”
It paused, a flash of confusion and urgency crossing its purple eyes, yet it ultimately failed to utter a complete sentence. Is that... mine?
Is it mine?
Can it be mine?
Why can't it be mine?
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