Molly vs. Moyan!

Molly walked to the window and leaped from the third floor, landing as lightly as a feather.

She circled beneath her younger sister's window, bent her knees, and sprang onto the nine-meter-high windowsill before climbing inside.

The light was still on.

Moyan sat on the bed hugging a stuffed toy. She had clearly been waiting for her.

When she saw Pale, Moyan's eyes lit up. She hurried off the bed and ran over, then lowered her head and nervously twisted the hem of her clothes.

"Lady Pale..."

Moyan's voice held a trace of unease.

"I... I have something to tell you."

"Go ahead."

Seeing how nervous she was, Molly felt a flicker of concern. Had something happened?

"When school let out this afternoon, I ran into two Black Defectors..."

Moyan gathered her courage and told her everything that had happened in the alley that afternoon.

That included how she had transformed into a Monster Demon and killed the two Defectors.

When she finished, she lowered her head, not daring to meet Pale's eyes.

"I'm sorry, Lady Pale. I killed them without asking you first. Will... will you be angry with me?"

Molly's heart softened at the sight of her fear. She asked,

"Were you hurt?"

Moyan paused, then looked up at Pale and shook her head.

"No. I'm fine."

"That's good."

Molly breathed a sigh of relief, but her gaze turned cold.

Those Defectors had dared to target her little sister. They were asking to die!

Thank goodness her sister had a Monster Demon contract and could protect herself. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

She held a finger to Moyan's lips and said gently,

"Come on, open your mouth. Take a little more today and replenish your magic."

"You don't have to, Lady Pale. I..."

"If I say take it, take it."

Molly cut her off, leaving no room for argument.

Warmth spread through Moyan's heart as she met Pale's earnest gaze.

She nodded, opened her mouth, and closed her lips around Molly's finger.

Warm magic flowed steadily from Molly's fingertip into her body.

Moyan narrowed her eyes in pleasure, like a lazy little cat.

She could clearly feel the magic inside her growing at a tremendous rate.

A few minutes later, Moyan released Molly's finger.

Color had returned to her cheeks, and the aura around her had grown considerably stronger.

A warm current circulated through her body.

Hum!

With a soft sound, a flash of dark purple light swept over Moyan.

She had broken through!

Feeling the magic brimming inside her, Moyan looked up at Pale in delight.

"Lady Pale, I... I broke through! And I awakened a new skill!"

"Oh? What skill?"

Molly's eyes lit up with interest.

"An Enchantment skill. I can turn things into monsters."

With that, Moyan walked over to the desk.

A potted rose bush stood on it, its flowers in full bloom.

Moyan took a deep breath and reached out. Her Monster Demon tail silently appeared behind her and lightly tapped the rose bush.

"Enchantment!"

Her sharp command rang out.

Dark purple light enveloped the potted rose bush.

The next second, something incredible happened.

The rose bush began growing wildly before their eyes.

The plant, originally only a few dozen centimeters tall, shot up to more than two meters.

Its delicate petals turned bloodred.

Sharp thorns sprouted along its green vines.

Each rose became a gaping maw filled with pointed teeth.

A two-meter-tall Man-Eating Flower stood before them.

The Man-Eating Flower swayed its enormous bloom and gave Moyan a docile, low growl.

"Wow!"

Molly stared at the Man-Eating Flower, unable to contain her amazement.

My sister's new skill is pretty impressive!

This Man-Eating Flower isn't all that strong, but if she enchants a few more, they'll be a huge help in a fight.

"Look, Lady Pale!"

Moyan lifted her chin proudly and made the Man-Eating Flower wave its vines.

"Not bad."

Molly smiled and nodded. Looking at Moyan, she suggested,

"Come on. Let's go to the park and have a match."

"It'll be a good chance to see just how powerful your new skill is."

"Okay!"

Moyan readily agreed.

She had wanted to spar with Lady Pale for a long time.

The park was silent and deserted late at night.

Moonlight filtered through the leaves, scattering patches of light and shadow across the ground.

Molly casually picked up a branch and hefted it, then smiled at Moyan.

"I won't use a sword. I'll fight you with this."

"Don't worry. I won't go all out. We'll stop short of hurting each other."

"Okay!"

Moyan nodded and took a deep breath. Her Monster Demon tail appeared behind her once more.

She tapped the flowers, grass, and trees around them in quick succession.

"Enchantment! Enchantment! Enchantment!"

Dark purple light flashed again and again.

Trees turned into Treants, waving their branches.

Small flowers became Man-Eating Flowers armed with venomous spines.

Vines became whips that could extend and contract at will.

In the blink of an eye, monsters surrounded Molly.

"Attack!"

At Moyan's command,

the Treants swung their thick branches down at Molly!

The Man-Eating Flowers opened their gaping maws and spat venom!

The vines slithered toward Molly's ankles like snakes!

Molly's eyes sharpened. With a turn of her wrist, she swept the branch out, a faint trace of Sword Intent riding its tip.

Thud!

The branch struck the Treant at the front, sending it flying. It hit the ground and turned back into an ordinary tree.

Molly moved with effortless grace. In her hand, the branch might as well have been a peerless sword.

Sword light flashed, and Sword Intent flowed.

Vine after vine was severed.

Man-Eating Flowers burst apart one by one.

Watching Molly dispatch her monsters with ease, Moyan grew anxious.

She hurriedly changed tactics, directing the remaining monsters to attack Molly from every side.

The Treants pinned her down from the front, the Man-Eating Flowers attacked from a distance, and the vines struck from hiding.

The tactic worked.

Molly was powerful, but she wasn't fighting seriously. With venom to dodge and vines striking from unexpected angles, she found herself tied down for a moment.

Moyan's control grew more practiced as the battle went on.

Under her direction, the monsters worked together more smoothly.

Now!

Moyan's eyes lit up. Seizing an opening, she sent a thick vine shooting forward like lightning to wrap around Molly's ankle.

Countless more vines surged in, bound Molly's hands and feet, and hoisted her into the air.

"Mm!"

Molly struggled, but the vines were surprisingly strong. She couldn't break free.

She felt a little helpless. She had underestimated her sister after all.

She looked at Moyan and smiled.

"Not bad. You're improving fast."

Seeing Molly suspended in midair, Moyan broke into an excited smile.

But her excitement soon gave way to uncertainty.

She had only wanted to spar. She hadn't expected to actually trap Lady Pale.

Just then, Lilith's voice sounded in her mind.

"Moyan, here's your chance!"

"Put a Monster Demon Brand on her now!"

"Then she'll obey your every command from now on!"

Moyan's gaze flickered.

The thought rose in her mind once more.

If she branded Lady Pale, Lady Pale would stay with her forever.

But when she saw the warmth in Molly's eyes, that moment of doubt vanished completely.

She shook her head and answered Lilith firmly in her mind.

"I won't do that."

Lilith sighed helplessly.

"You wouldn't brand your sister when I told you to, and now you won't brand Magical Girl Pale either. I really don't know what to do with you."

"Fine, fine. Have it your way."

With that, Lilith's voice disappeared.

Moyan looked at Molly, still hanging in the air, and hurried to apologize.

"I'm sorry, Lady Pale. I..."

"It's fine."

Molly smiled, unconcerned.

"Your new skill is powerful. Keep practicing, and it'll be a huge help to you someday."

She looked at the monsters around her. With a thought, a flash of silver-white light appeared, and Broken Sword materialized in her hand.

"Watch closely."

Molly's gaze turned sharp.

She raised Broken Sword, and her Sword Intent erupted at full force!

Swish!

A slash of silver-white sword light swept outward.

Every monster in its path was cut apart in an instant.

Dark purple light flickered, and they turned back into ordinary flowers, grass, and trees.

Moyan stared, her eyes wide.

So strong!

Was this Lady Pale's true strength?

Molly landed steadily, lowered her sword, and looked at her dumbstruck sister. She couldn't help smiling, delighted with herself.

Showing off in front of my little sister really is the best!

I wonder what kind of face she'll make when she finds out who I really am?

Heh heh heh...