In the Midst of Danger

As one of the basic Spell Formula, the Magic Barrier is a required course for the vast majority of Mage, and even magical girls.

Barriers have many uses. First, they can be used for defense to block magical attacks from others. Second, they can create enclosed spaces, which are very practical for trapping enemies, protecting oneself, soundproofing, or serving as experimental sites.

The massive Magic Barrier currently surrounding the orphanage is also an application of this Spell Formula.

However, Tian Sheng couldn't do that. Even someone at the level of Controller Stage couldn't make Magic Barrier cover such a huge complex of buildings; it would have to be the work of an entire group.

It must have been a group of people chasing after him.

He selected a die that appeared to be of the newest quality from the dice in his hand, and as he held it in his palm, a subtle magical power surged within it, causing fine, shimmering patterns to appear on the die.

The black-robed man behind him also emitted a burst of light, and then several crimson, seemingly burning magic bullets shot out from his hands, heading straight for Tian Sheng's head.

At the same instant, just as the magic bullet was about to hit, Tian Sheng handed the dice behind him, and in the blink of an eye, a regular hexagonal Magic Barrier suddenly unfolded behind him.

Several magic projectiles struck the Magic Barrier behind Tian Sheng, instantly creating cracks and producing a sharp, tooth-grinding sound like metal being torn apart.

The Spell Formula used by the man in black robes is called Flame Bullet, a common energy-based shaping attack Spell Formula. It is considered to have relatively high destructive power among Spell Formula of the same level, and its power far exceeds that of ordinary small-caliber firearms.

During the confrontation, both of them could clearly see that, apart from the Flame Bullet that hit the barrier, the Flame Bullet that missed crashed into the walls of the adjacent corridor, easily creating several deep craters.

The two Spell Formula remained locked in a stalemate behind Tian Sheng for less than two seconds. In the end, the Flame Bullet extinguished, but his Magic Barrier also shattered.

Boom!

The Spell Formula's structure was shattered at the closest point to his body. The intense impact of the Explosion Flame Bullet propelled Tian Sheng beyond his original running speed, sending him flying into the air. He then began to tumble uncontrollably.

It seems that's all for now.

As he soared through the air, he suddenly realized this.

Once I land, the two people behind me will surely be ready to unleash their next Spell Formula, and at that point, neither I nor the little girl on my shoulder will be able to escape.

He didn't know that those people's target was Bai Jingxuan, but that didn't stop him from hoping that this child, whose short ten years of life were filled with misfortune, would live on.

In terms of Spell Formula, he was a complete novice, hardly Mage; but in real life, he was a caregiver at this orphanage.

His duty as a caregiver told him that these children, who had ended up here because of misfortunes in their lives, deserved a happy future.

So he used his last bit of strength to release his grip in mid-air, choosing a relatively low angle to throw Bai Jingxuan off his shoulder.

After a while, he landed first, fell to the ground, and grimaced in pain.

Bai Jingxuan, who was not far away, was slightly better off. She landed on her side and rolled several times along the corridor before stopping.

She raised her head, blinked her eyes amidst her dusty face, and looked at Tian Sheng with some surprise.

"Your illness shouldn't have lasted this long, right?"

Tian Sheng, lying on the ground, forced an awkward smile at Bai Jingxuan, "Don't let my efforts be in vain, run!"

Bai Jingxuan then realized that she had regained some feeling in her legs.

However, compared to regaining sensation and lightness in her legs, she felt her heart become incredibly heavy in an instant.

She is a sensible child; she knows what she should and shouldn't do.

Even though she was unwilling, she understood the current situation, comprehended Tian Sheng's meaning, and knew that turning around and leaving was the best thing she could do for him.

"Thank you."

Without hesitation, she said softly, then pushed herself up from the ground with both hands, scrambling to her feet and stumbling away into the distance.

Behind him, Tian Sheng grinned as he watched her leave, then clenched the dice in his hand, his face hardening, and resolutely unleashed the next Spell Formula behind him.

The futile battle has begun once again.

Hearing the intense clash of Spell Formula behind her, Bai Jingxuan almost turned around, but she restrained herself and gritted her teeth to keep running.

Before long, she finally reached the stairwell on the other side of the corridor.

It was here that she encountered another unexpected person.

"... Moko?"

She saw a pink cat-like Fairy outside the corridor glass, banging on the window and opening its mouth wide as if shouting something.

Without time to hesitate, she opened the window and let Moko in.

"Xiao Xuan! Whew... I finally found you, run!"

Moko burst in through the window, shouting excitedly at first, then pausing to catch his breath before continuing, "I heard their conversation! They're after you!"

It delivered an outdated message in an excited tone.

"Okay, I understand."

Bai Jingxuan, equally panting but completely unfazed, nodded.

"Huh? You already know?"

Moko was stunned at first, looking somewhat embarrassed, then straightened his face and said seriously, "In short, the entire orphanage is now sealed off by Magic Barrier, so escaping is unrealistic, but we can find a place to hide first!"

"Where can we hide?" Bai Jingxuan asked, somewhat confused.

"Hey? Don't you know where to hide?"

Moko froze again, a hint of embarrassment on his face, but he quickly regained his composure and said seriously, "Let's just run! Those guys are going to catch up again! The sounds of the fight will attract other bad guys!"

It is correct on this point.

It was also attracted by the sound of the Explosion.

Upon discovering that the orphanage had been sealed off, Moko's first thought was to go back and find Bai Jingxuan. However, on the way, he overheard the conversation of the men in black robes and learned that their target was his friend.

In a panic, it rushed to Bai Jingxuan's room, only to find it empty. It could only wander around like a headless fly, searching for the girl.

Furthermore, the magical energy fluctuations generated by Mage throughout the orphanage completely confused its already weak perception abilities.

It even thought the girl had been captured by those people and wanted to explore a more dangerous area. If it hadn't been for the Explosion, it wouldn't have found this place.

Unfortunately, as a Fairy without any fighting ability, even if it successfully reunited with Bai Jingxuan, it wouldn't have any power to protect her other than providing that outdated information. After a brief exchange, it could only advise Bai Jingxuan to find a safer direction to escape.

So, after finding a direction, they ran together towards the third floor.

They ran all the way to the third floor, but seeing people running down the corridor, they had no choice but to go to the fourth floor.

Bai Jingxuan was still running, but the scene in the corridor before her eyes gradually lost its meaning.

The way Tian Sheng had just rescued her from the crisis brought back memories from much further back.

Her thoughts were no longer on the welfare home, but back to three years ago, to the disaster that changed her life, to the noise, screams, and the excruciating pain in her left eye, when she felt those arms embracing her from the air.

Amidst fear and chaos, that is the safest haven.

She could even remember the girl in the pink tutu who came into view when she tried to open her right eye wide to see what was happening.

Is that the legendary magical girl?

"Are you alright? Can you hold on a little longer?"

The girl's hair color was similar to the color of her dress, a reassuring cherry blossom pink. She looked at him with a worried and concerned expression, and with one hand outstretched, several strange patterns that were barely visible to the naked eye flew out from her hand and landed on his left eye, which was already numb with pain.

Then, Bai Jingxuan felt that she was no longer in pain.

She was in a daze and didn't know what to say, so she could only nod slightly to the girl, but she couldn't even say thank you.

"Then, just wait a little longer, and you'll soon be able to relax."

The girl placed Bai Jingxuan, whom she was holding, on a slightly flatter surface. "If you're scared, just close your eyes."

Then, she rose into the air again amidst a pink glow.

Bai Jingxuan did not close her eyes. Although she was scared and felt dizzy from blood loss, she still stared intently in the direction the girl had left, wanting to see how things would turn out.

She saw the girl fly in front of the monster, she saw the girl use radiant magic to block the monster's attack, and she saw a fancy magic wand appear in the girl's hand.

Then, she heard the righteous words spoken by the girl in pink:

"Magical Girl, Flower Card Authentication Number 41055, Sakura, Mission Initiated!"

That was the last scene she remembered before she fell into a coma.

The scenes in her memory began to blur, and Bai Jingxuan's pace gradually slowed down.

She stopped running, her speed gradually decreased, until she finally stopped in place.

Moko that no one was around. He turned around and saw Bai Jingxuan standing motionless. He immediately turned back and asked with some concern, "What's wrong? Did your illness flare up?"

"Little Fairy... Moko."

Bai Jingxuan's thoughts gradually returned, she emerged from her memories, and the scenery before her became clear again.

The memory left to her by that pink-clad magical girl during the crisis was like a seed, forever buried deep in Bai Jingxuan's heart.

Three years have passed, and the seed has been covered in dust and even lost its vitality several times, but now, in another crisis, she has found it again and picked it up.

I was once just an ordinary victim of Aberrant Beast attack, looking up at the magical girl's light from the ground, gazing at my own savior.

And now, everyone in the welfare home is also in crisis: the director, Uncle Tian, the caregivers, the other children, and the elderly... How many of these people who have helped them and lived with them on a daily basis desperately need such a savior?

It's time to make a decision, and it's time to step forward.

She took a deep breath and spoke, feeling an unprecedented clarity in her mind:

"Please tell me, what do I need to do to become a magical girl?"