A battle that wasn't too intense.
After the remaining civilian workers at the dock and port were fully evacuated, Hellcat finally let loose and fought the Ripper.
Su Tianqing stood on the rooftop, observing the battle and evaluating the Ripper's strength.
It must be said that for this guy to be able to fight Catcat to a standstill, its strength had indeed improved significantly.
At least it was several times stronger than when the Hyacinth Squad kicked it to death yesterday, and it was also more in line with its current magical status.
"Magic Girl-level magic density, excellent combat skills, and the special ability to safely revive after being defeated."
"How interesting… But where does its magic come from? Why is it connected to Aurora's magic?"
Muttering her internal questions softly, Su Tianqing seized the opportunity, and Inari's analysis magic was activated again, looking at the Monster being brutally beaten by Catcat and Rabbitrabbit working together.
A series of magic messages appeared in her mind, forming a gradually clear network.
No matter when, Su Tianqing would deeply marvel at Inari's magical talent.
More than ten years ago, when the Magic Girls in the world were still using magic missiles and magic cannons to fight, Inari was already developing such precise magic.
Look at these extremely detailed magic messages in front of her; it was unimaginable how strong Inari would be after she tamed the vast magic of Star Shadow.
...But.
While waiting for the analysis magic to integrate the information, Su Tianqing noticed something quite strange.
The Ripper's magic structure was fundamentally different from any Monster or Magic Girl she had ever seen.
Even Jörmungandr and Leviathan's magic was more organized than its; it was simply a chaotic aggregation of magic!
"...But then again."
Su Tianqing said to herself,
"If it really is as chaotic as it literally appears, then why can it operate as a Monster?"
That's right, it didn't make sense.
Magic was orderly; even magic cannons and magic missiles were quite orderly existences; chaotic magic simply couldn't coalesce and could only dissipate into the air.
"...secret codex, any hints?"
Thinking and thinking but still unable to figure it out, and not having a brain as good as Inari's, Su Tianqing placed her hopes on the secret codex.
Silence.
As unreliable as ever at critical moments.
It seemed the secret codex was out of the question, so Su Tianqing decided to use some unconventional methods.
Call for backup!
After confirming that Catcat was using an oversized Steel gauntlet to relentlessly pummel the Ripper into the ground, Golden Fox pulled out her communication divine code stone and connected to someone's magic communication.
"...Hmm? Hello there, Xin Yuehu."
On the other end of the divine code stone was a Red Fox Girl, staring curiously at the divine code stone's light screen.
"Good evening, Inari, I have a rather strange question I'd like to ask you, could you answer it for me?"
"Oh dear... As long as it's not a very complicated question, I think I can, what is it?" Inari asked curiously.
Su Tianqing suddenly felt like a student who, after graduating, encountered a problem and her first reaction was to contact her former mentor, usually receiving guidance after a scolding.
But she and Inari were comrades! Of course, she could receive kind guidance from Inari!
But when Inari finished listening to what Su Tianqing said, concealing the Monster's name, she also fell silent.
"Wait a moment... Xin Yuehu, this matter is a bit troublesome, I might need to do some basic verification, can you wait for me?"
"I don't think so, Catcat Rabbitrabbit is about to beat that Monster to death."
Su Tianqing looked down at the pink-haired berserker who was joining the battle with a Rabbit hammer, cackling, and said.
Catcat was caught off guard by the Ripper at their first encounter, but after adapting to its rapidly increasing strength, she immediately mastered the technique.
"Then I'll think of a way."
A rustling sound of a pen scratching came from the other side of the communication divine code stone, as if someone was calculating something.
When Inari held up the small notepad in her hand, the dense numbers and words written on it made Su Tianqing's tail stop behind her.
A string of complex and obscure magical terms tumbled out of her mouth, and Su Tianqing felt as if she was listening to an advanced math class, and she was the one who had dropped her eraser.
Fox Fox was dazed.
Fox Fox's universe.
Fox brain overloaded.
"—In short."
The Red Fox Girl saw the Golden Fox's embarrassment and decided to go straight to the conclusion,
"That's not a regular Monster, it's more like a 【Star Shadow】."
Star Shadow.
Hearing this term, Su Tianqing suddenly understood.
You should have said that earlier! Ben Hu is very familiar with this!
Iris had once entered the dark Star Shadow state!
In that state, Iris's combat power exploded, capable of suppressing normal Catcat by herself, giving a sense of being three times stronger when 'darkened'.
"But why would a Star Shadow exist independently? Shouldn't she transform into this state herself?"
"This might be related to her transformation method; I need further theoretical verification. I'll contact you tomorrow."
"Then I'll leave it to you."
Communication terminated.
Almost at the same moment Inari disconnected the communication, several magic trails streaking across the sky appeared in Su Tianqing's field of vision.
The Hyacinth Squad arrived!
"Xin Yuehu! You—"
Hyacinth subconsciously wanted to utter her usual classic line.
But halfway through her words, she saw a rather subtle scene in the port plaza:
Hellcat, wearing a pair of exaggeratedly large Steel gauntlets, was brutally beating a black Monster covered in blades, together with Cheshire Rabbit, who was wielding a large hammer.
Fenrir was sitting on a small stool, eating snacks and watching the show, while Golden Fox was huddled on a nearby rooftop, looking on from afar.
And beside Gray Wolf Girl, a strange blonde Magic Girl was timidly looking in the direction of Catcat and Rabbitrabbit, appearing very fearful.
Just then, Cat Girl punched the Monster's head into the ground, and Cheshire Rabbit followed up with a hammer blow, instantly shattering it into magic particles that scattered.
"...What are you doing here?"
Realizing that she seemed to have arrived at a rather significant scene, Hyacinth didn't rush forward to fight but instead spoke up to ask.
It wasn't until the sharp-eyed Iris carefully observed the unfamiliar blonde Magic Girl that she exclaimed in surprise:
"Hyacinth, look, isn't that... Jack the Ripper we're looking for?"
"... ... ..."
The two sides stared at each other, and the atmosphere fell into an awkward silence.
"…Xin Yuehu, have you really embarked on a path of crime?" Hyacinth said with a complicated expression.
"Hey! What are you saying! This is a misunderstanding!" Golden Fox's ears trembled with anger as she shouted.
"What misunderstanding! I saw you all with Jack the Ripper with my own eyes!"
"Listen to me exp—"
"I won't listen!"
"...Catcat, take her down."
"Understood."
"Hey! Why are you resorting to violence when you can't win an argument!? Wait!!"
The sound of Hell Shrike tearing through the air came from the sky, followed by Hyacinth's wails, Iris's sighs, and Nightingale's helplessness.
No one was hurt today.
Except for the Ripper, and Hyacinth.
