The Stolen One

(Sun Yao)

Even though Miluno had trampled Betelgeuse into recyclable waste, it inexplicably reappeared behind me.

Not only that, she also snatched my wand when I wasn't looking and held a dagger to my neck...

Oh no, I'm a hostage now.

Miluno was somewhat wary, and she remained standing there, not daring to make a move. Miss Sirius, on the other hand, was much bolder. A scorching laser beam grazed my ear and blasted onto Betelgeuse's face, also scorching my already curly hair.

Betelgeuse dissipated quickly after being hit, but soon reformed itself behind me, becoming as good as new.

It must be eliminated in one fell swoop, otherwise this will happen.

Even if they are eliminated, new individuals will appear, so it's only a temporary solution.

This isn't right.

Although it's called a clone, I never saw her constantly reassemble herself like this back on Nabu Island, and she could even create another clone after one was destroyed.

Is this related to the wormhole that's opened up in the sky?

Although no enemies were sent, it directly strengthened her connection with the original entity " on the Other Side"?

Or perhaps...

"Betelgeuse! You've come here too, haven't you? Stop hiding and show yourself!"

Sirius, who had been grumbling and cursing, suddenly had clear and bright eyes.

A complex expression flickered rhythmically in his pupils, beautiful and dazzling, like a precious gem, yet inspiring awe.

Beneath the guise of a pretty idol lies the first and largest Star Crystal to arrive on Earth.

Doppelgangers began to appear on a large scale.

Each one was identical to the clone behind me; the Hunter Witch's robot army had taken over the helipad.

"Even if you become a witch, you still can't shake off this dark and wicked habit?"

Sirius cursed angrily, raised his hand and shot a beam of light from his arm into the sky, followed by a devastating barrage of lasers from the clouds bombarding his clones on the field.

After shining their own light into the sky, it scatters into countless light arrows, which then materialize and fall back down, using gravity acceleration to increase the destructive power of a wide-range attack.

It is not only fast, powerful, and has a wide kill range, but it can even be guided at the terminal.

"As expected of Miss Sirius! She really was hiding her true strength all along... Wow!"

The robot clone behind me was clearly the focus of attention; it was instantly riddled with light arrows and turned into a honeycomb, which startled me.

However, before she collapsed, she passed my wand to another clone, as if passing a baton.

Knowing I can't use magic without a wand, are you determined to separate me from my wand?

Betelgeuse's strength did not diminish much. Each clone skillfully dodged the Light Arrow Rain and manifested a variety of weapons to counter Sirius and Miluno. Even if a clone was destroyed by Sirius, Betelgeuse could quickly replenish its forces.

This formation is similar to the overwhelming mechanical arms on Nabu Island, but the fully functional clones are clearly more troublesome than mechanical arms, being agile, flexible, and capable of coordinated attacks.

The most troublesome thing is that we don't know her real location, so we can only face this endless stream of enemies.

By concealing her true location and relying on an endless stream of puppets to wear down her opponents, the witch possesses an astonishing amount of magical power. Even Miss Sirius would likely find it difficult to sustain a prolonged battle against her...

"We'll help too!"

A chain climbed up the wall from below, and the magical girl in the black jacket rushed up the chain.

First, a chain whip strike sent the clone in front of him flying, then a King-Slaying Thrust pulled him towards another one...

Bang--

A magical girl named Sky Lock was kicked off the building by her clone.

But it was blown back by a strong gust of wind.

"Fenghua! Thank you!"

"Don't underestimate them; these are not mere grunts."

The magical girl in her kendo uniform also rushed up the chains.

Faced with the numerous clones on the rooftop, she sheathed her katana, closed her eyes, and assumed an iaido stance.

"Secret Sword... ARASHI!"

Pushing the tsuba with his thumb, what was drawn from the sheath was no longer a sword, but a surging storm.

The invisible wind could even blow away heavy robots, causing them to be burned through by the laser rain in mid-air.

"... So strong."

"If I draw my knife indoors, I can't guarantee I won't hurt you."

She deftly sheathed her sword, her eyes still closed as she spoke.

I asked again, "Miss Fenghua, could you please retrieve my wand? Otherwise, I won't be able to participate in the battle."

"Ceruno, a warrior should never lose his weapon, even in death."

I was lectured by the cold-blooded swordsman.

"Ah, yes..."

But in the blink of an eye, the katana that Miss Fenghua had tucked into her waistband was snatched away by another clone robot.

"..."

"Miss Fenghua, the sword has been..."

"..." (covers face)

The atmosphere was a little awkward.

Is Miss Fenghua a comedic character who seems strong?

She didn't speak, but a blush could be seen between her fingers.

"You want to get your wand back, huh! You'll have to watch me!"

The restored Sky Lock swung its chains and blasted away the incoming rocket.

"My chains can extend indefinitely; taking something is a piece of cake for me!"

The chain she swung from her other hand snaked through the robot army and swiftly darted toward my wand...

Then, it fell to the ground.

If the backend is cut off, the frontend will lose its momentum.

"That... seems a bit flimsy?"

"... After all, it was generated by magic."

It seems I'm not getting my wand back.

"It's okay... at least we shouldn't hold Sirius and Miluno back..."

Spending time with Miluno makes me forget that ordinary magical girls aren't that strong. Robots like these that can materialize weapons would be a tough opponent for them in a one-on-one fight.

I stepped back against the wall and looked towards my father on the Other Side of the sky.

He didn't look at me.

Instead, he stared at my wand... a wand?

Thanks to the secret relay of the robot army, my Ruby Wand is almost ready to be delivered to my father.

But why?

When Betelgeuse stole the wand, I was puzzled. She could have easily killed me with one strike... why?

What does Dad need my wand for?

He placed his Past mother aside, and neither Sirius nor Miluno noticed... Even if they had, it would have been useless, as they were being held back by an endless stream of clones.

An ominous premonition, a nameless panic.

My heartbeat felt like a heavy hammer, pounding against my eardrums.

Dad got the wand, and some kind of box-shaped device materialized in front of him. He finally glanced at me and put the wand into it...

Feeling of despondency.

My body felt like it had been thrown into the deep sea, so heavy I couldn't lift my hands.

Then...

I've turned back to normal.

He reverted to his former, yet now unfamiliar, masculine self.

But the old man took out a pink Star Crystal from the box.

"Hey! Are you alright? Why did you turn back?"

Sky Lock helped me up from the ground and said, "You look so frail, but you're actually a boy?"

They didn't even have the strength to speak, and Sky Lock and the others didn't notice the subtle movements on the Other Side, but I saw it very clearly...

My father incorporated my Star Crystal into his own body.

Oh, I see.

I finally understood my father's purpose.

He wanted to use my Star Crystal to take his mother to the Other Side.