Mai Sui mustered her courage and stepped forward.
She recalled what happened when they headed to the top floor of the Demon King's Castle:
The moment they entered the gate, the surrounding toy soldiers suddenly came to life and attacked them.
The Magic Girl Cang Er voluntarily stayed behind to block them, getting submerged on the toy soldiers' floor, escorting the remaining few to the next level.
Immediately after, the snow Monster statues on the second floor attacked the group. The Magic Girl Liza tangled with the snow Monsters, drawing their attention away, allowing the three to proceed to a higher level.
And on the third floor, the Hellcat’s Star Shadow projection stood prominently before the door. The Magic Girl Bai Lili bravely lit up the Star Shadow to confront it, covering Mai Sui and Siyecao as they pushed through to the upper levels.
Facing the fourth floor's twisted barrier that only allowed one person to pass, Siyecao resolutely chose to maintain the barrier's stability herself, watching as Mai Sui rushed towards the top floor of the Demon King's Castle.
Now, Mai Sui herself stood alone, facing the final Fox Fox Great Demon King and the Rabbit co-pilot beside her, who wore a pleased smile...
“Lulu and the others, they are your companions, Miss Mai Sui, aren’t they?”
Mai Sui remembered what Siyecao had said to her,
“Companions are people you must protect. No matter what danger they encounter, you should face it together with them!”
“Only then can you be called companions! Only then does it count as the conviction of a Magic Girl!”
The echoes in her mind dissipated. Mai Sui stood firm, looking at the Golden Fox not far away, who was calmly observing her.
“...Xin Yuehu.”
Mai Sui uttered the opponent’s name, as if having made up her mind, and her magic cannon glowed with brilliant light.
“Oh, not only are you not running away, but you’re actively approaching Fox Fox?”
“Hyacinth Squad and Bai Lili Squad just discovered the secret of Fox Fox's Mindscape World, and they desperately sent you to the top floor of the Demon King's Castle, like a student still answering questions as the exam is about to end...”
“And how do you plan to rescue your companions, Miss Mai Sui?”
“...I will defeat you, and then rescue Lulu and the others,” Mai Sui said in a low voice, gritting her teeth.
Su Tianqing’s smile became even more pleased.
“How naive. However, I admire your courage.”
After speaking, the Golden Fox stepped back. Cheshire Rabbit set up her Rabbit Hammer and stepped forward, casting a scrutinizing gaze at Mai Sui.
“Rabbit, stop her.”
“—As you command.”
Cheshire Rabbit’s figure vanished instantly, leaving only a crescent-shaped smile in the air.
Mai Sui tensed up.
She knew Cheshire Rabbit’s move—her invisibility magic was superb, and coupled with this being Xin Yuehu’s Mindscape World, she couldn't find any trace of her at all!
And lurking while invisible to get close to the opponent, then launching a fatal attack from a blind spot with her exaggerated large hammer, that was the most troublesome aspect of this Rabbit Girl.
“Whoosh!!!”
The sound of the large hammer cutting through the air was close at hand.
Mai Sui hurriedly twisted the magic cannon in her hand, barely blocking the Rabbit Hammer from behind her, but she simply couldn't withstand its terrifying hammering force. It instantly shattered into a handful of magic dust.
“Quick reaction, huh,” the Pink-haired Rabbit Girl whispered softly.
The wheat-skinned Magic Girl waved out a magic missile, taking the opportunity to retreat a few steps, focusing on controlling a single magic cannon.
No one had ever seen Mai Sui use only one magic cannon, not even the three of them, Lulu included. But if Iris were present, she would clearly understand what Mai Sui’s current state meant:
“Fire!”
“Boom!!!”
The magic cannon fired as soon as it was raised, without any aiming motion. This single magic cannon shot straight towards Cheshire Rabbit!
“Clang boom!!!”
The magic cannon hit, blowing up a large cloud of dust.
Su Tianqing sat on the Demon King's chair nearby, observing with interest as her camera familiars filmed this rare one-on-one fierce battle.
With Cheshire Rabbit, full of magic power, facing Mai Sui, an experienced veteran Magic Girl, what kind of great battle would it evolve into?
As the dust cleared, Cheshire Rabbit was nowhere to be seen. Mai Sui didn't hesitate, immediately constructing a magic shield around herself. This was also her double-casting technique, which she used as video teaching material for Iris.
“When using two magic cannons simultaneously, Mai Sui’s firepower is excellent, but when she focuses on controlling one magic cannon, her excellent double-casting technique can bring a very significant tactical advantage.”
Su Tianqing recalled the evaluation of Mai Sui that her familiar Fox Fox had dug out from the Hero Association archives.
Although she was someone who sent both friend and foe flying when facing Monsters, her casting technique was absolutely not to be underestimated.
...
The fierce battle continued.
Cheshire Rabbit's sudden appearance from invisibility followed by a great hammer backstab. Mai Sui desperately used a magic shield to barely defend, as if her fighting spirit had reignited, completely discarding the terrible memories from Rong City, performing exceptionally well.
The two sides went back and forth, the light of magic cannons and magic missiles bursting forth instantly, only to be quickly shattered and interrupted by the Rabbit Hammer.
It must be said that all of Rabbit’s abilities were designed specifically against firepower-type Magic Girls, Su Tianqing thought.
Invisibility and short-distance instant teleportation, coupled with the Rabbit Hammer’s instant burst, made her an extremely perfect hammer assassin.
Although she was not as good as Cat Cat and Hyacinth in terms of sustained close-range suppression, for dealing with firepower-type opponents who lacked close-combat ability, she was a completely targeted configuration.
Yet, Mai Sui actually managed to hold on against such a highly targeted opponent!
“Boom!!!”
“Ugh...!”
With one swing of the Rabbit Hammer, Mai Sui immediately captured Rabbit’s appearing angle, desperately generating a magic shield to barely block it, while simultaneously twisting the magic cannon’s muzzle to force Rabbit to retreat and dodge with cannon fire.
“...Interesting.”
Su Tianqing smiled and murmured to herself.
Very interesting, too interesting.
The revitalized Mai Sui and Rabbit were fighting to a draw, and Mai Sui’s brilliant performance also brought immense amusement. She simply couldn't suppress the smile on her lips.
And Rabbit also seemed to be enjoying it quite a bit. After all, no matter how excellent Mai Sui’s state was, she was ultimately a firepower type. Being able to fight Rabbit to this extent was already an excellent state worthy of praise.
...However,
How long could her state of burning potential last?
Su Tianqing narrowed her eyes, her fox eyes filled with thought and deliberation.
The emergency-generated magic shield required a large amount of magic power, while Rabbit only expended the additional magic power from her Rabbit Hammer attacks. The expenditures of both sides were not on the same level at all.
Thus, as long as Rabbit maintained this rhythm of continuous invisible assaults and sustained consumption, Mai Sui would eventually become exhausted and tired, or even expose a weakness—
“Weakness.”
“!!”
As expected.
No matter how prepared Mai Sui was, no matter how experienced she was, Cheshire Rabbit’s tricky hammer attack angle still caught her off guard, exposing a fatal weakness.
The Rabbit Hammer swung!
“Thud!!!”
“Uwah?!”
Mai Sui flew backward, crashing onto the floor and rolling a few times, then lay on the ground, whimpering in pain.
“Ah ah... yes... that whimper...” The Rabbit Girl’s face showed an infatuated smile, completely immersed in it.
“Cry out, Miss Mai Sui, let me hear more, more, more sounds...!”
“How melodious, how alluring, you are simply... so...”
Cheshire Rabbit’s suddenly low murmur echoed in Mai Sui’s ears. The Rabbit Hammer dragged on the ground, emitting a heavy creaking sound, adding an even thicker sense of killing intent.
Mai Sui struggled to get up, but her body wouldn’t obey, falling to the ground, unable to move.
...It’s over.
Even if she used all her strength, she still couldn't defeat Cheshire Rabbit.
“Tap, tap, tap.”
The Rabbit Girl’s footsteps gradually approached.
Mai Sui looked at her three former companions tied to the courtyard pillars, her heart filled with unwillingness, but she could no longer stand up.
She saw Xin Yuehu’s pleased eyes, saw Cheshire Rabbit’s infatuated smile at the corner of her mouth. The magic power enveloping her body seemed to gradually recede, and her strength was slowly dissipating.
【...Interesting】
【Your will impresses me, Miss Mai Sui】
Unbeknownst to her, Mai Sui seemed to hear Xin Yuehu’s voice in her mind.
【Your will has surpassed Fox Fox’s Mindscape World, reaching the astral heavens, transmitting your will to her】
【Sure enough, that little fox wasn’t wrong about you. The magic Miss Dandelion left on you can even surpass Fox Fox’s Mindscape World】
Dandelion... Miss Dandelion...?
Mai Sui felt as if she had hallucinated a voice that absolutely shouldn’t be here, but she couldn’t help but cast her gaze towards the ceiling of the Demon King’s Castle.
Suddenly,
Vast magic power came from the horizon, magic from beyond the Mindscape World descended upon Mai Sui!
“What?!”
“Whoosh!!!”
Magic power erupted, and a powerful magic storm swept across the entire top floor of the Fox Fox Demon King’s Castle.
Cheshire Rabbit was forced back by this sudden magic impact, retreating to the Golden Fox’s side, looking at another golden figure breaking through the ceiling and descending from the sky!
“Miss Mai Sui! Stand up!!”
The fox-shaped Observer Spirit loudly called out. The golden Magic Girl floating in the air also raised her Dandelion Wand, injecting immense magic power from the stars into Mai Sui.
Magic Girl Dandelion, sparkling ☆ entrance!
Unparalleled enhancement magic descended upon Mai Sui. The girl only felt her body brimming with surging magic power, and even her formal dress underwent subtle changes, as if draped in flowing nebulae and galaxies!
【Enhancement Magic · Pseudo ☆ Star Shadow】!
“Miss Dandelion! You, how did you get here?!” Mai Sui said to the girl above her, incredulously.
This should be Xin Yuehu’s Mindscape World; there should be no possibility of intrusion from the outside! But why did Dandelion...
“I’ve fought Xin Yuehu many times; I’m very familiar with the structure of her Mindscape World,”
The Golden Fox Dandelion in the air said, gripping her wand tightly, her gaze firm,
“And Mai Sui, your will activated the message magic I left on you, guiding me to the crucial node of the Mindscape World, which is how I was able to break in!”
Mai Sui stared blankly at her, but quickly recovered from the shock, unfolding her magic cannon amidst the immense power brought by the enhancement magic!
The two magic cannons re-unfolded and assembled around her, forming two giant cannons with calibers like train cannons, pointing directly at the Fox Fox Great Demon King seated on the throne.
“Go, Mai Sui!”
“Oh oh oh oh oh!!!”
A passionate cry burst from Mai Sui’s lips.
But no one noticed that the Fox Fox Great Demon King on the throne had cast her gaze towards the intruding fox floating in the air, and both of them simultaneously revealed an imperceptible smile.
Magic Girl Mai Sui,
With a firm will, even a borrowed Star Shadow can shine brilliantly!
