Triple-Core Processor Ceruno

(Ceruno)

"A replica of Vega Crystal."

Miluno pointed into the distance at the Shuttle Tower behind her, which was covered in Black Mud and looked like a chocolate popsicle.

"Where did this Crystal come from? The 'Supreme Council' forces must have used it to break through the world's limitations, but it's Crystal made to imitate your magic after all. Why don't you try absorbing it?"

Her proposal was very attractive.

The Artificial Crystal simulating the Vega Crystal —even though I already have the genuine version inside me, that doesn't stop me from using the pirated version at the same time, right? Maybe if we combine them, I can become even stronger?

"Then I'll give it a try."

Phoenix also advised:

"Ceruno, you'd better think it over carefully."

"No, there's not that much time to think about it."

Normally, he would hesitate, but every bit of strength he had now was precious. With that thought in mind, he absorbed the opaque pink Crystal in the pickup truck.

If the car hadn't been still moving forward, I would have thought time had stopped.

Apart from the Crystal merging into my body, nothing else happened.

After this brief awkward moment, SpiCa explained, "Ceruno, the Crystal of Artificial Magical Girl are embedded in their chests. Their Base Body have special interfaces that allow them to use the power of the Crystal. Simply absorbing the Crystal into their bodies probably won't allow them to use them."

The Association has already conducted preliminary research on Artificial Magical Girl.

"You should have said something sooner! I don't have any of those kinds of things on me..."

"If there's no interface, we can create one."

Mono pounced on me and hugged my waist. I was still a little unfamiliar with her Werewolf Witch clone, and I wasn't used to being hugged like this.

"It might hurt a little, let me connect you~"

She licked her fingers and then wiped her saliva on my chest.

It's a bit disgusting.

Then he reached out and said, "Okay, give me the Crystal."

"Mono, it's not like you can just stick it on and call it a day."

"I know, the so-called interface is nothing more than the magic circuits embedded in the body! Dark Energy can also replace it... Don't worry, it won't Contaminated Crystal."

Mono removed the Artificial Crystal from his body, examined it Past, and then pulled out two thin threads of Dark Energy from it, bringing them closer to me.

"Ceruno- chan, I need to thread a string to connect the Star Crystal and the Artificial Crystal. It might hurt a little..."

Hiss--

I could feel the black line piercing my skin, bypassing my sternum, and connecting to the Star Crystal inside my chest cavity.

Fortunately, the excruciating pain quickly subsided, and the Artificial Crystal clung tightly to her chest, just like those Artificial Magical Girl.

"Ceruno- chan, your Star Crystal's adaptability has increased again, hasn't it?"

Sirius's good news came to my head.

"While it's not exactly a qualitative change, using Artificial Crystal in parallel with Star Crystal for magical calculations not only increases the amount of magic power transferred, but also improves your magical calculation efficiency... It's like adding a memory stick!"

Except for the last sentence, I didn't understand anything.

Does adding more RAM really improve my performance?

Although her girl idol-style dress remained unchanged, her Crystal gun staff had become more powerful, with a sharp metal frame appearing around the original ruby spear tip, making it a more direct attack weapon than a spellcasting staff.

That's a bit like Dad...

"SpiCa, are we just going to charge out like this?"

The edge of the barrier was not far away, so Chris, the driver, asked a question.

"No, let Ceruno and the others return to the base first. We'll wait here. If they stop first, there's no need to risk Miluno's life."

Leave the barrier and have Miluno teleport to the "The Other Side" to shut down the enemy's wormhole.

This is their plan.

The outskirts are vulnerable to attacks from Monster or witches, but there are four witches in this pickup truck. Even if all the existing Monster and witches attacked together, they might not be a match for us. If we don't consider the Black Mud, we currently have an absolute advantage.

Brainwashing magic is a nightmare as an enemy, but it feels quite safe as a teammate.

Miluno sighed:

"Does this Black Mud look like it's about to stop? I think it's it's itching to fill this Witch Domain."

He finished speaking.

As if some mysterious force was at work, the wormhole spewed out two puffs of Black Mud like a water dragon whose water had been cut off, and then stopped completely.

"..."

Miluno was speechless for a moment, and I couldn't help but laugh:

"You have such a sharp tongue."

"What does this have to do with me? Don't make unfounded connections."

Miluno vehemently denied it, then added, "But these are all good things, aren't they?"

Although the reason is unknown, it is certainly a good thing that the Black Mud of the "Great Will" is no longer flowing in.

Miss SpiCa shook her head and sighed.

"Sigh, all we can say is that the situation hasn't worsened. We just don't know how to deal with this huge Dark Energy."

Perhaps influenced by the Black Mud, she also seemed a bit pessimistic.

"Chris, go back to the branch and have the lab prepare 'that'."

Miss Chris nodded and replied:

"Okay, then I'll drop you off at the next stop."

"Miss SpiCa, what do you mean by 'that'?"

She replied, "Our 'territory'."

Our field?

Before I could understand the situation, Miluno asked in surprise:

"Huh? The research department has already mastered the technology of the Witch Domain?"

"Well, we only have one prototype so far. Whether it succeeds or not, we have to bite the bullet and go for it. Even if the wormhole on the 'The Other Side' disappears, we need a cage to contain this behemoth. This part of the 'Great Will' must not be allowed to spread into our world."

If such a large amount of Black Mud were to spread, the Corruption Rate would increase by an unknown percentage point. Not only the Old District, but the entire Skyreach City would become an uninhabitable dark city.

"Ceruno, we'll need your help later, but for now, go to the shelter and help stop this Black Mud."

After saying that, Miss SpiCa got out of the car with the Modified Witch.

Phoenix picked me up from behind again.

"Ceruno and I will head back to the base now; the evacuation of the civilians should be completed by now."

"SpiCa and I will stay here."

Miluno pulled Mono off the car and said, "Although the Black Mud has stopped flowing, the ones that accumulated before will still create shadows. If the shelter's defenses are under pressure, you can set off a firework in the sky."

"Alright! Follow my signal."

Phoenix responded and then lifted me into the air.

The reason why Miluno and Miss SpiCa were unwilling to go to the shelter was because of the horns on their foreheads, which were a symbol of witches and would give a bad impression, or even cause panic, to the civilians and magical girls who had not yet evacuated.

Thump--

"Oops!"

Phoenix cried out in pain.

She flew too high and crashed straight into the dome of the barrier... The top was almost transparent and indeed couldn't be seen in the night.

Why are you flying so high?

If it's encased in my protective shield, it might be possible to fly out of the barrier...

"Ceruno, look carefully down below."

Phoenix spoke seriously, and I looked down at the shrinking Old District below.

The Black Mud did not stop moving because the flow had stopped; it continued to crawl towards the refuge.

It seems it's too early to relax now.