After carefully investigating these strange Shadow Monsters, Fang Zheng discovered that, strictly speaking, they did not even count as living creatures. They were merely manifestations of residual fragments.
"Residual fragments?"
Hearing Fang Zheng's findings, the girls were all taken aback.
"That's right, emotional residue. I imagine you can sense it as well. These Shadow Monsters display extremely intense anger and aggression, but they are completely incapable of communication... Well, they're like computer programs. They only react to specific targets, while everything else falls outside their scope."
"So you mean these Shadow Monsters only attack Magical Girls like us?"
Little Black scratched her head in disbelief, while Fang Zheng shrugged.
"That does seem to be the case for now. Perhaps the two sides have something in common. But one thing is certain: these monsters are not after the things each of you is collecting. They are after you yourselves."
At that, Kero offered his own opinion.
"Couldn't they be reacting to magic?"
"I tested it with magic. Even when I cast spells directly in front of those Shadow Monsters, they showed no reaction whatsoever. But Sakura and Nanoha were attacked simply by appearing before them, without even casting magic. That proves it was their very existence that drew the monsters' attention."
"I've never seen monsters like these before..."
Yuno shook his head as he looked at the shadows on the screen.
"Couldn't they be something native to Earth?"
"What are you talking about?!"
Kero was immediately displeased.
"Clow Reed and I lived here for many years. If something like that had existed, Clow Reed would have dealt with it long ago. How could it still be around now? Don't tell me your Seed of the Holy Stone is behind this!"
"What did you say? If we're putting it that way, I