Taking on the Tiger
(Ceruno)
Through the window, I saw a tiger-striped catwoman standing in the courtyard with her hands on her hips, holding a huge golden hammer and cursing.
"Looks like we're too late; someone has already got the Crystal."
Is this magical tiger-striped cat one of the three people Dantai Zhengchu mentioned?
Quanyin was angrily trying to leave when Dantai Zhengchu stopped her.
"Wait, don't go out yet."
"If I don't go out, she's going to break in!"
"You girls, don't get involved in this. Let me go and meet her... cough cough... Ah Xue, use your disguise to make me look like a magical girl."
Dantai Xue was not entirely at ease.
"Father, my magic cannot cure your illness."
"I know, all I have to do is fool him a little."
A burst of Flowlight spiraled around Dantai Zhengchu's withered body.
Ta-da! A sickly but beautiful girl has appeared!!
Dantai Xue also pulled out a JK school uniform from behind her back...
Supported by Grandpa Gong, Dantai Zhengchu (JK. ver) walked unsteadily out of the main room, leaning on a cane.
"You Tiger Cub, you're still as rude as ever after all these years... cough cough... what, do you think you're all that now that you're a woman?"
Dantai Zhengchu's voice wasn't loud, but it was just right; we could barely hear him through the window.
A streak of white hair peeks through his flowing black hair, resembling snow-white temples. The changes in gender and age haven't altered Dantai Zhengchu's aura; he can even exude a commanding presence in a sailor uniform. Before his illness, he must have been a man as powerful as a dragon, right?
Her magical girl appearance is just a disguise; she is essentially an ordinary person. Yet, she remains calm and composed when facing Fake Magical Girl whose abilities far surpass hers. This composure alone is extraordinary.
In contrast, the brown-haired tiger-striped catgirl carrying a long-handled giant hammer on her shoulder was still making a ruckus.
"Stop talking nonsense! I heard you got the Crystal too, right? Fight us like a man, the loser becomes our underling, and we'll take back what's rightfully ours!"
She wore a strapless top and a short skirt, with tiger stripes matching her short, ear-length hair, making her look like a silly, chubby girl.
"Rude and foolish, were you instigated by someone? I don't feel like I've been taken from anyone."
"Huh? I 'Tiger Lord only coming to see you because I think highly of you. If you still want to put on airs, don't blame me for being impolite!"
The Fake Magical Girl, nicknamed Tiger Cub, picked up a giant golden hammer taller than herself and smashed it head-on at Dantai Zhengchu. The latter pushed aside the old man who was helping him up, but he had no chance to dodge.
"Well..."
But Dantai Zhengchu could only sigh.
Clang--
The powerful blow struck JK's forehead, but it didn't budge an inch.
"Tiger Cub, is this all there is to your 'rudeness'?"
My magic enveloped Dantai Zhengchu's body, forming a protective barrier of repulsion. One or two attacks like this wouldn't break through my defense; simple physical attacks are the easiest to defend against.
The continuous attacks were effective, but Miss Tiger Cub was clearly taken aback by this effortless attitude.
"W-what kind of magic is this?!"
"Now it's my turn."
Even though he had only weakly raised his hand, Tiger Cub took a large step back to create distance, as if being touched by that hand would kill him.
Didn't she realize that her opponent was actually quite weak?
The bluff was so effective thanks to Dantai Zhengchu's overwhelming presence from beginning to end. Tiger Cub was completely psychologically manipulated and had now placed himself in a vulnerable position...
She is indeed vulnerable.
She probably never imagined that behind the fake magical girl Dantai Zhengchu, there were four real magical girls hiding.
I'm going to teach her a lesson!
Dantai Xue muttered to herself, channeling her magic to entangle Tiger Cub. The latter tried to resist but couldn't disperse the white light spiraling towards him.
I initially thought this was a support spell useful for infiltration and reconnaissance, but looking at it now, it seems to be effective in actual combat as well. A spell that can manipulate the appearance of enemies at will within its capabilities might be quite powerful.
And so, the already petite tiger-striped catgirl became even smaller; her tiny frame made it difficult for her to even wield the long-handled golden hammer...
"Damn it! What did you do to me?!"
"Even after transforming, all he knows is brute force... cough... cough cough..."
Although Dantai Zhengchu was not injured, her health was not good to begin with, and after talking so much, she coughed and fell forward, landing under the eaves.
Dantai Xue tried to rush out, but Quanyin held her back.
"Calm down. If you leave now, your uncle will have worked for nothing."
He was still wearing my protective shield, so he wouldn't get hurt from the fall. The key thing is that this fall completely destroyed the composed aura he had been maintaining...
"Ha, so he was just putting on a brave face all along!"
Tiger Cub's attitude became arrogant again.
This guy's nature is truly despicable; he wouldn't even let go of a clearly weakened opponent.
Grandpa Gong was very rational. He helped Dantai Zhengchu up without saying a word, and the latter stood up and reached out to Tiger Cub again.
"You're being used without even realizing it. Even if you have power, how could you possibly be a match for the Association... Our era is Past. You'd better behave yourself."
"This is an opportunity."
Dantai Zhengchu was also annoyed by his old friend's stubbornness, and even swore at him.
"What a load of rubbish! You're just a tool being used to create social unrest, an accomplice to 'the Other Side.' If you're still so stubborn, let me wake you up."
Is this the line for the game-winning shot?
I quickly picked up my wand and waved it through the screen window of the bedroom.
"What are you up to now... huh?!"
Tiger Cub, mouth agape, clutched his throat in pain and knelt down, panting heavily.
The expanding Bubble Membrane on her body surface blocked out oxygen.
Even a magical girl can't survive on magic alone. She tried to breathe heavily but couldn't inhale any oxygen. Her oxygen-deprived brain caused her consciousness to gradually fade away, and she eventually collapsed helplessly in the courtyard.
Of course, I couldn't actually kill her.
As she lay dying, he still gave the oxygen back to her.
"Ha--ha--, you, what exactly are you...?"
Gently pressing down the hem of her pleated skirt, Dantai Zhengchu sat down on the stone steps in front of the main house, her legs tucked together gracefully, leaning to one side.
"Calm down and think about it. If we make a big fuss, who will ultimately benefit? The Association? The police? Neither. It's those devils on 'the Other Side'."
The tiger-striped catgirl looked like a dog that had fallen into the water, somewhat disheveled.
But he still dropped the golden hammer and crawled to the side of his old friend.
"I know you haven't had a good time these past few years, but I can't forget the attack twelve years ago. In the face of absolute power, the violence we talk about is a joke... Our enemy is not here."
"Alright, alright, I'm not messing around with you anymore."
Tiger Cub seemed to have calmed down a bit, Dantai Zhengchu asked:
"Where did your Crystal come from?"
"When I woke up this morning, a woman suddenly appeared by my bedside and asked me if I wanted power, in exchange for turning into a young girl. I didn't agree at the time, but she left me the Crystal. I thought I'd pick it up and take a look, and in the blink of an eye, it turned into this."
Wait, this morning?!
"There's hope."
I tugged at Dantai Xue's sleeve and whispered:
"Let's go to her house quickly! Do you know where she lives?"
Dantai Xue nodded solemnly.
"No, I don't know this person. I'll go ask my father..."
"No need! Just have your dad hold her off!"
Quanyin- nee grabbed her again and smiled at me:
"I know where she lives, I'll take you there!"