Crisis After Crisis!

(Bai Ziye)

The Sky Branch was ambushed by "the Other Side".

I received this devastating news from Yin Lu as soon as communication was restored.

SpiCa urgently dispatched vehicles from the site to take everyone back to the branch building.

Because of their special status, Liu and Achernar were not allowed to stay on site, so they followed us and stayed in the car to keep an eye on Halley.

The latter was at least sensible.

Since Ceruno extracted her Dark Energy, she has offered no further resistance.

But a more accurate statement is that she gave up.

I've stopped thinking about anything.

Despite my leg problems, I still followed Yin Lu and the others into the elevator.

Upon reaching the Research Level, a chaotic and disorderly scene unfolded before my eyes.

"How cruel..."

Ceruno's soft murmurs were insufficient to describe the horrific scene before her.

Neither the hallways nor the laboratories have any intact walls, not to mention the interior furnishings. All the regular lighting is destroyed, and currently there are only some dim emergency lights available. The Association's staff are working to salvage the situation under these conditions...

Rescuing people;

They are also working to salvage the data.

Everywhere you look, there are scorch marks from the explosion.

The air was thick with the pungent smell of gunpowder... and the stench of blood.

In order to complete the detection equipment for Dark Energy, the research department has been working day and night these days, and it's impossible that no one was here when the attack occurred.

"Doesn't the branch have any remaining personnel to fight?" I asked.

Yin Lu, who led the way, replied, "There are magical girls on guard, but they are usually stationed on the top and bottom floors. The wormholes are opened from high above, so no one expected that the inside would be infiltrated. By the time the magical girls on guard reacted, the attackers had already escaped."

In other words, the attack did not last long.

Sirius sighed, "This kind of attack method is probably Betelgeuse... She disguised herself to pass through security, and then used magic to create weapons and explosives."

If she is Hunter Witch, she can indeed appear in both the stadium and the branch simultaneously.

"But how did she get in?"

The branch prohibits outsiders from visiting; even a wild magical girl like me cannot enter without a guide.

"I don't know how she got the access permit, but that's not important... Now that A-Ji is guiding us on the 'The Other Side,' it won't be difficult."

Ceruno's expression darkened when SpiCa said that.

The operation unfolding " on the Other Side" at the stadium was just one link in a chain of schemes.

Taking advantage of the absence of Sirius and SpiCa from the Association, arrange for the Betelgeuse infiltration branch to carry out a terrorist attack.

"What is her purpose? Is it to hinder our research?"

Yin Lu hesitated for a moment before answering truthfully, "Miss Anjie, who was being held in the Research Level, has also been taken away. The research department has suffered a severe blow; not only have researchers been injured or killed, but a lot of data has also been..."

SpiCa raised her hand to indicate that she didn't need to continue.

He simply asked, "Where did they escape to? The wormhole is above the stadium; it shouldn't be possible to open wormholes continuously on the 'The Other Side'."

"They used our Wormhole Generator."

"That guy A-Ji, still has a backup plan here..."

SpiCa seemed to remember something and pressed his temples.

"This branch is no longer safe."

She turned her back to us and looked through the research materials on the table, which were still in relatively good condition.

"To be precise, the defense system of the Association, and even the world, is outdated. With the offensive from 'the Other Side' escalating, we must make changes."

"'Change,' it's quite rare to hear that word from you. So, what are you planning to do?"

With his arms crossed, Sirius found a relatively clean wall to lean against.

"A-Ji knows our operating model too well. There will be many more 'opportunities' like today for him. I have reason to suspect that all the troubles we have encountered recently are related to him."

Ceruno shrank back again.

What her father did had absolutely nothing to do with her...

SpiCa replied, "That's right, we must establish a completely new system, one that even A-Ji doesn't understand."

"A new system? Easier said than done, it's not something that can be accomplished in a short time."

Sirius's sigh made SpiCa shake his head.

"I've already told you about my plan, Sirius. Even though you and A-Ji disagree, it doesn't mean I haven't made any preparations."

What are you planning to do?

Sirius raised an eyebrow.

SpiCa glanced at me and Ceruno.

"Let's talk about your 'idol group' plan."

TimeMazine!

Accompanied by Ceruno.

I had a full body checkup, including an examination to determine the extent of Dark Energy contamination...

The medical report showed that not only was there no trace of Dark Energy in my body, but the Crystal was even larger than it was during the last checkup.

I was completely unaware of it, but the Dark Energy within the Witch Domain seemed to have been completely "consumed" by the Morning Star Crystal.

Yeah, I even gained weight after eating.

What exactly is the origin of this formidable Crystal of mine?

"Miluno, I've come to visit!"

Wearing a hospital gown, Heat Haze kicked open my ward door, and Falcon followed her in with a grin, swinging his little braid.

Not being at the stadium, nor having witnessed the tragic events that had occurred to the branch, these two were completely unaware of the severity of the situation.

"Why is it your right leg again? It's even more injured than mine! Don't always rely on your strong recovery ability to act recklessly!"

She was quite worried about me.

"I only thought it looked serious. I've already taken the potion, and after a nap, I should be fine... Is your throat better?"

She tilted her head back.

There are still some unsightly burn scars on my throat, but they will disappear sooner or later.

"When I came here, I thought I was going to be mute for life, but I never expected that we magical girls could even heal non-regenerative organs like our vocal cords."

So she didn't know about this?

She plopped down on the edge of my bed and then rubbed Ceruno's head with her hands.

"Is this all there is to the Supernova Idol Festival?"

"Don't touch my head."

Ceruno was lying next to me, brushed away Heat Haze's hand and sighed, "Such a big incident happened at the stadium, with more than 50,000 people falling into a coma. Although there haven't been any deaths or injuries yet, now is not the time to continue with any Idol Festival, is it?"

The stadium was converted into a temporary hospital, and a large amount of supplies and medical staff were brought in to care for the unconscious people.

Of course, the extent of any remaining Dark Energy should also be checked.

Ceruno's magic can indeed filter out Dark Energy, but it is helpless against Dark Energy that has already penetrated the Star Crystal.

In other words, at this stage, she doesn't have the ability to "cure" herself and Aunt Yuehan...

And then there's Halley now.

However, the strength of her magic depends on her own belief, and whether she can completely purify the Star Crystal in the future... no one can say for sure.

Ceruno suddenly straightened up and took out her phone.

It was just a short message, but it brought a relieved smile to her face.

"Mom and Yezi are both... safe and sound!"

Wait, I'm not here!

How come they're all safe and sound?