Starting as a Magical Girl, I Alone Shall Rule for Eternity

"You don't know how huge a victory party I threw for Beihai Disaster Control Bureau. Guess who didn't get an invite~"

"Beihai is such a thrill! Qīngluán!"

"I'm feeling a bit off, Qīngluán."

"Something's wrong with Beihai."

"The fog is so thick, I can't transform, help..."

Taking a deep breath, Qingying glanced at the last message Yingwei sent on her phone, then at Beihai shrouded in white fog.

In the afternoon, Yuanwei had sent one message and then disappeared. Qingying rushed over to check and discovered the entire Beihai was wrapped in white mist.

The headquarters and disaster bureaus in surrounding cities hadn't received any warning.

She immediately notified the Jiangming City branch about Beihai's situation, but Jiangming didn't have the manpower to send help right now.

She couldn't stay here long either. In recent years the Witch Association’s offensives in Jiangming City had escalated; Qingying, who rose to Blooming level at the same time as Yingwei, had been sent to support Jiangming about a year ago.

She still couldn't completely stop the Witch Association's actions there. Although she had cleared many Disaster Beasts, stabilizing Jiangming for a time, disaster control over Jiangming was becoming harder. The mayor, hungry for votes, had even started compromising with the witches, calling for cooperation to preserve the city's "peaceful development."

If not for Yingwei's distress call, Qingying would never have left her post in Jiangming.

Sending the message to Jiangming's Disaster Control Bureau was only to ask them to contact headquarters and request reinforcements.

But who knew when headquarters would actually send help...

Staring at the fog ringed around Beihai that neither spread nor dissipated, Qingying grit her teeth and tried to move deeper in.

Even though Yingwei always claimed to be the Disaster Control Bureau's strongest Magical Girl, there were actually several contemporaries she couldn't beat in actual combat.

Still, those strong in combat were weak in theory; those strong in theory were shredded by Yingwei in practice.

So Yingwei had become acknowledged as the Bureau's strongest Magical Girl.

In the Mental Landscape, Yingwei was truly one of the most gifted. Although Qingying had never lost to Yingwei in direct contest, her test scores were always a few points lower. Later Qingying never mastered the Mental Landscape, so she was labeled inferior by Yingwei.

Though Yingwei later opened a Mental Landscape and still never beat her.

Qingluán worried about her friend—could Yingwei's carelessness get her into trouble?

Even now, Yingwei was a Blooming Magical Girl, capable of handling A-level Disaster Beasts in North China by herself, but Qingluán always thought of her as a scatterbrained silly girl likely to get hurt.

So she couldn't quietly wait for headquarters to arrive.

Stepping into that cold white fog, she felt an obstruction in the flow of magical power.

She was slightly surprised.

Even after transforming she could still be affected.

No wonder Yingwei said she couldn't transform.

If she didn't transform ahead of time, that fog would likely lock magic entirely.

Visibility was extremely low; after about four to five meters, nothing could be seen.

The sun hanging in the sky couldn't pierce even a sliver of light; the heavens were only mist.

"Be careful, Qingying!"

A small white flying cat suddenly leaped onto Qingying's shoulder and sat there.

Most Magical Girls who reached Blooming separated from their Incubators, because Blooming girls no longer needed guidance. Those Incubators returned to headquarters or fell back into seed slumber.

A few refused to part—Qingying was one of them. From her first transformation she'd lived with her little white companion for nearly several years.

She couldn't bear to be separated from her Incubator, and let it stay with her.

Even if it wasted magic, the bond with Little White gave her strength.

"This Bai Mist doesn't just suppress our magic. I can sense danger in it itself, like unlit gunpowder."

Qingying's heart jumped. "So Beihai is in danger, with white fog everywhere."

Little White flicked its tail. "Don't worry. It's not easy for this mist to actually ignite, but whoever spread it may have other tricks. Be careful, likely the Witch Association—definitely not simple!"

"Hmm."

"And I can sense an A-level Disaster Beast's aura in Beihai."

"I felt it too. I don't know why headquarters didn't detect it."

While speaking, Qingying pulled out her magic wand.

Her wand wasn't like others'. As a Magical Girl from South China, her magic usage differed from the local girls here.

She drew a card from the card deck; an eyeball with wings appeared on it.

She casually slid the card into the black box on her wand, which clicked crisply.

Then a clear stellar chime sounded.

"Star Pattern Descends: Echo of Starlight."

The wand emitted a mechanical female voice, reciting the incantation.

A gorgeous teardrop-shaped crystal lit at the wand's tip; three layers of star rings unfolded around it, waves of light radiating outward.

The surrounding view rapidly fed back into her mind.

She intended to head straight to the Disaster Control Bureau, but the scan detected a familiar figure.

Startled for a moment, Qingying followed the wand’s guidance and went toward the station.

From outside the station to the waiting hall, the ground was littered with Disaster Beast husks.

Seeing the writhing vine Disaster Beasts, Qingying sat on her wand and flew up.

Soon, through the white fog, she found the familiar girl.

A fragile girl in white, holding a wand stained with blood.

The wand's front was shaved and sharpened like a sword. The girl coughed, looking unwell, leaning on the glass wall with the wand.

She even coughed up blood from the corner of her mouth.

At her feet were countless dead vine Disaster Beasts.

Behind the girl, the waiting hall was full of unconscious people.

"Bai Mei?"

Qingying blurted the name in surprise.

In Jiangming, besides the Disaster Control Bureau and the Witch Association, there was a neutral free Magical Girl group—the Azure Cloud Sect.

Qingying had arrived in Jiangming late and hadn't learned much about the sect.

She only knew that when the Witch Association besieged the Azure Cloud Sect's four Magical Girls, those four had escaped intact. Fearing the witches' chaos, Qingying had come to support them once.

She'd met Bai Mei briefly then.

The Azure Cloud Sect leader commanded the respect of those four girls; under her they had broken the Witch Association's encirclement and left Jiangming. Qingying had never met the sect girls again.

Back then Bai Mei hadn't acted; it was the other four who broke through.

Now, seeing Bai Mei, Qingying realized the girl was only a Sprout-level Magical Girl.

Among the four Azure Cloud Sect girls in Jiangming, two had been Seedlings.

Plain wand, plain outfit, even plain magic—no special attributes.

In all respects, a rather mediocre Magical Girl.

Bai Mei seemed surprised too, tilting her head. With eyes still closed she recognized Qingying. "Magical Girl Qingluán? Since last we parted, it's been one twelfth of a year, hasn't it? You're not guarding Jiangming—what brings you here?"

One twelfth of a year? Isn't that one month?

Qingying thought her wording odd but answered honestly. "Beihai is like this. Of course I'm here to support, and my friend Yingwei is in Beihai."

Little White hid behind her and shouted, "Qingluán be careful! She's not a normal Magical Girl. I sense she's using her Incubator as a battery to draw magic!"

This was why Disaster Control Bureau Magical Girls disliked Azure Cloud Sect girls.

Where Bureau girls treated Incubators as friends, Azure Cloud Sect disciples never formed bonds. They forced Incubators into seeds, preventing awakening, and stripped and used the Incubators' magic.

Treating Incubators purely as tools was too much.

Though uneasy in the fog, seeing an acquaintance guarding the waiting hall brought some warmth that quickly faded.

Qingluán couldn't accept people treating Incubators as tools.

Even if unwanted, they could hand them to the Bureau—Yingwei did just that because she thought herself perfect and didn't need a chattering flying cat in her ear...

But Qingluán wasn't an inexperienced Magical Girl; at sixteen she understood that even if someone used Incubators like tools, they still were protecting BH City.

Though she kept her distance, she spoke politely. "Regardless, thanks for what you did, Miss Bai Mei. Beihai is dangerous now; you should leave soon."

"Leave?"

Bai Mei trembled from coughing, wiping the crimson at her mouth. "You're wrong. Beihai is safe now. With my master here, there will be no danger."

Qingying frowned at the weak girl still trying to keep up appearances. "There is an A-level Disaster Beast in Beihai. It's not that simple."

Bai Mei only shook her head and straightened. For an instant she looked sharp—like a sword drawn—and Qingying's heart jolted.

"You underestimate my master, Miss Qingluán."

Qingying opened her mouth to retort, but Bai Mei raised her hand and pointed into the distance. Though her eyes remained closed she looked as if she saw something.

"Look, my master is going to act."

"With this thick fog, how can—"

Qingying turned, skeptical; the fog was so dense nothing could be seen. She was about to deny it, but in the next second the sky flashed with brilliant color!

A burning purple sun rose in Beihai's sky!

The dense fog boiled, purple flames penetrating the mist to illuminate the surrounding high-rises. Long shadows stretched over the two girls in front of the station, dancing with the flames. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Dazzling magic pierced the white fog. The terrifying pressure made Qingying grip her wand tightly; the teardrop crystal at its tip spun violently, as if about to shatter!

Little White clung to her neck, trembling.

"Xiao Qing! Xiao Qing! Run!"

The burning mist formed fingers that pressed down from the sky!

Like a purple sun falling!

Qingying did consider running.

Their station sat on the city's edge; that burning purple finger was in the center, perhaps hundreds of kilometers away.

She couldn't be sure—maybe only tens of kilometers.

When the purple finger pressed down, her body sank with it.

A sensation of being pinned by aftershocks immobilized her!

The scream and crash of collapsing buildings, like explosions, came clearly from afar. Shockwaves spread in layers, surging white fog toward them.

Under the Echo of Starlight, she could sense faint magical guidance in the shockwave, which avoided all the buildings.

Little White nearly flew off; Qingying gripped its collar. She sat on the wand in midair, steady.

When the blasts and shattering calmed, the rolling white fog returned and thickened; nothing could be seen.

As if everything that had happened was a momentary dream.

Qingying licked her dry lips and glanced at the station gate. A girl in simple white magical attire fluttered in the wind, so weak she seemed ready to topple.

"That's your master?"

"Azure Cloud Sect Sect Master."

Bai Mei turned her head. Though her eyes were closed, Qingying somehow felt the calm, proud gaze. "Bai Mei never lies. With her here, Beihai will be safe."

Qingying for a moment wanted to turn back to Jiangming.

She'd just seen a distant skyscraper flattened in an instant. Although the shockwave had raced to them, besides that one demolished building, almost nothing else was damaged.

Her Echo of Starlight remained active, so she could see that around the erased building there was no damage—no broken glass even!

For a Blooming-level Magical Girl, destroying a building is not difficult.

But to erase a single building in the city center without damaging surrounding structures—that is nearly impossible.

Such enormous power, how could it be controlled so precisely?

Moreover, under the fog's suppression, controlling magic was already extremely hard.

What kind of monster...

This thought filled her with fear, but she knew the Azure Cloud Sect wasn't the Witch Association. Though fearful, she didn't run.

"In a few days, the Sect Master will visit Jiangming City."

Bai Mei said suddenly. "Miss Qingluán, please don't let the Disaster Control Bureau behave disrespectfully."

Qingying stared at the vanished skyscraper, about to reply, when Little White on her shoulder, frozen with fear, nodded frantically like a pestle, "Yes, yes!"

Qingying instinctively asked, "What is she going to Jiangming for?"

Bai Mei didn't answer. Instead her aura suddenly sharpened.

Qingying felt a pang of regret—had she asked something she shouldn't?

Before she could apologize, Bai Mei drew her sword!

Qingying had no time for anger. She staggered back and raised her wand to block as magic formed, but the sword sliced along her nose!

A few strands of hair floated in the fog. Qingying sucked in a breath and touched her face and body.

That slash felt as if she had been split in two!

But there were no wounds—nothing. Only a vine fell from her waist, twitching before dying.

It had struck a Disaster Beast...

Qingying was shocked. Her Echo of Starlight had failed to notice the vines wrapping around her.

Even with her eyes closed, Bai Mei had seen them clearer than her Echo.

The sword strike was almost too fast to perceive.

A Sprout-level Magical Girl!

She might be even stronger than Yingwei.

"Cough cough..." Bai Mei coughed, covering her mouth, weak. Blood trickled from her lips. "Now we are even for the aid you gave Azure Cloud Sect before."

"Thank you."

The other's kindness eased Qingying's guard, and she grew concerned about Bai Mei's condition. "Are you all right? Do you want me to—"

As she moved to help, her shoulder suddenly went heavy.

Weird vines appeared on her shoulder!

"But what's left isn't my concern."

Magic within the vines exploded through her body. Qingying's face hardened; she glanced at Bai Mei who had stepped back.

You could have said that earlier!

She hurried to draw a card to insert into her wand's black box, but the compartment had been overrun with vines.

She had to abandon the card and began the incantation herself. "Star Pattern Descends..."

"Too slow!"

A frantic roar. The vines condensed into humanoid form, snatched Qingying's wand, and kicked her aside!

Qingying instinctively pulled Bai Mei, using magic to shield the weak girl!

They smashed through the glass wall behind them; Qingying released only before falling.

She rose, confirmed Bai Mei was safe, then glanced down and saw vines had grown all over her and Little White.

The vines were dismantling their magical outfits, seeping, trying to penetrate their bodies!

Gritting her teeth, Qingying drove off the vines with magic while protecting Little White and Bai Mei.

"A-level Disaster Beast..."

Though its aura had weakened, it was undoubtedly an A-level Disaster Beast.

Only an A-level could evade Echo of Starlight.

And even steal their magic.

She had been careless.

She'd relied too much on Echo of Starlight and dulled her danger perception.

Qingying looked at the stolen wand. Without it, her star-pattern cards were useless; her remaining magic couldn't sustain many spells...

"Hahaha, that's more like it! This is the level Blooming Magical Girls should have! I knew Blooming Magical Girls aren't that strong!"

A sharp deranged laugh carried over. Qingying frowned, unsure what the creature raved about.

Even without her wand she might not lose.

She took a deep breath to gather magic, but Bai Mei suddenly stepped forward, leaving Qingying's protective range and standing before the waiting hall entrance!

Qingying cried out, "Don't go! It's an A-level Disaster Beast! You can't handle it now!"

Bai Mei slowly shook her head. "A swordsman never retreats."

"You're too slow, cough cough, hiss..."

The sick girl's frail back belied a fierce, unyielding aura.

Qingying, intending to stop her, was strangely moved and found herself speechless.

Despite her illness she was like a drawn blade—forward, cutting through every hurdle!

She coughed blood again, a tear escaping her closed eye. Her face flushed; she wiped blood from her mouth. Her hand trembled but clutched the sword.

She inhaled deeply.

Why is this tomato sauce suddenly like spicy chicken noodle sauce!

She swore she bought ketchup.

Those packets were definitely ketchup earlier—why did they taste like spicy chicken noodle sauce now!

Her master said, as a sword cultivator, one must always appear weak.

Every sword strike should be followed by a cough of blood to convey unfathomable might.

This also lulls enemies into underestimating you—two benefits at once.

So she always hid ketchup in her sleeve and, after striking and coughing, would take a sip while covering her mouth.

She remembered buying ketchup this time, but when she sipped later it was spicy chicken noodle sauce.

Who packages those two sauces the same!

She checked the maker on the packet with Mind's Eye, to avoid the error.

Oh—it was Lady Bingtang's brand.

Looks like she clumsily took the wrong one.

Need water, need water, need water...

No time to dawdle helping Qingying!

"What a pathetic carrion dog. I'll cut it down with one slash, hiss..."

The vines converged into an androgynous humanoid that coldly stared at the two girls.

All the ground vines gathered; even the white fog began to be absorbed.

The Captain took a deep breath.

Strong! Beautiful! Immortal! That's why I chose vine Disaster Beasts!

As long as a wisp of mist or a vine remains, I can resurrect again!

Smirking, the Captain looked at the arrogant girl and said grimly, "Only a Sprout, and an early-peak Sprout at that—doesn't even reach mid-stage. Suicide."

Bai Mei blinked, inhaled, then nodded. "Not bad. It's rare an outsider knows the Azure Cloud Sect's cultivation divisions."

The Captain's pupils contracted. "Azure Cloud Sect?"

"You only spoke of four small realms and four small extreme realms, but you probably don't know further divisions. Under a small realm, there are nine revolutions each, up to the tenth revolution extreme. Only by refining or learning new abilities can one ascend to the next small realm..."

As she spoke, Bai Mei's flush faded and her tone calmed.

"But Bai Mei is dull. Pursuing sword Dao to the extreme, she knows only one stance. Thus she is trapped at early-peak Sprout and cannot advance."

The Captain double-checked, then smiled. "Don't worry. Unless it's Shion, Blooming is nothing more than ants before me!"

She wildly swung out masses of vines to devour them.

Qingying immediately shaped her magic; points of starlight formed a barrier to protect Bai Mei.

But Bai Mei sighed and gripped her sword.

Sharp sword qi erupted around her!

Whether vine or Qingying's magic current, they were severed on approach by the sword qi!

"No, your magic—"

The Captain recoiled in horror and stumbled back.

"You're not a Sprout!"

"Indeed not."

A pure-white Magical Girl in a near-powerless outfit, only a simple hairpin, stood with graceful presence.

"I am, unworthy though I am, Azure Cloud Sect's chief true disciple, Magical Sword Cultivator Bai Mei."

She drew her sword, an enchanting figure radiating unrivaled elegance!

"Early-peak Sprout."

Like sunset glow, blooming!

Magnificent sword qi surged forward, unstoppable! It cleaved and annihilated everything!

In one breath, it erased all the Disaster Beasts ahead!

"Nine thousand three hundred revolutions."

When the fierce sword qi dispersed and calm returned, a gust slowly smoothed Bai Mei's skirts.

Before the station lay a chasm like an abyss, cut onward to the unseen distance.

Qingying gaped at the mark. The Incubator on her shoulder gaped too.

A breeze stirred, the white mist rolled, a distant train whistle blew. The station returned to silence.

"Cough cough."

Bai Mei bent over, covering her mouth and coughing, breaking the quiet. Qingying looked over. Blood flowed again at her mouth; tearful eyes closed as if mourning the Disaster Beasts' end.

"Are you—are you okay?"

"Water..."