Chapter 49: There's a fifth of the Four Heavenly Kings; how many are there among the Five Heavenly Kings?

After stepping out of the Outer Realm, there was indeed something unsettling affecting the mind, but the magic power within his body activated on its own to counteract it, leaving only a negligible residual effect... If anything, it could wear down one's spirit and cause faster fatigue.

But this feeling wasn't obvious—it was barely even noticeable.

This was the Abyss's influence?

The black fog?

Honestly, it was a bit hard to understand why adult magical girls couldn't resist it.

Lin Guang furrowed his brow, his eyes flashing with the memory of the three senior magical girls who had come to the rescue earlier.

Each of them had taken down that massive beast, suppressed and at least at the upper-rank dangerous species level, with a single strike as casually as if on a picnic.

Clearly, their magic power intensity far surpassed that of all the tenth-generation magical girls present, even having undergone a qualitative change—yet they couldn't resist such a mild influence... What did growing up really mean?

For now, he could only explain it as a "setting" within this trial mission.

But for some reason, Lin Guang had a gut feeling.

There was definitely something very important hidden behind this "setting."

However...

Just as she was thinking, the Hermit's Purple beside her burst into arrogant laughter, cutting off her train of thought.

"The time of judgment has finally come! To slay the Demon King and restore order to the world! My blood is boiling—this filthy world shall be purified by us!"

In the next instant, with a flash of purple light, she was the first to rush toward the staggering silhouette gradually approaching from the darkness.

"Hahahahahaha!!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

The massive scythe swung out, not only slicing the attacking puppet's body into pieces but also cutting through the trees in the forest like tofu, felling them in rows as they hit the ground with a dull thud.

"…………" *4

"She's chuunibyou when transformed, and deathly shy when not... Just like a diode."

"Whatever, I'm used to it by now."

Tang Keren sighed, pulling out a compact mirror from somewhere to check her idol-like makeup, then glanced at the silver-haired girl standing beside Su Fang through the mirror's light before asking:

"So, what's the plan next?"

She took out some foundation and touched up her makeup a bit. "I don't believe someone with your personality would send us off without any preparation."

Su Fang nodded vigorously as well.

Given Airwen's reliable personality, as if she'd have everything prepared, it was unthinkable that she would just go out unprepared.

And sure enough.

The silver-haired girl, gripping her scabbard, spoke: "Su Fang, at this position, can you sense the direction of the Fragments of Hope? And how many?"

For a moment, almost everyone's breath seemed to stop as they all turned their gaze to Su Fang.

Su Fang's expression also grew serious.

She took a deep breath, concentrated, and while tasting the oppressive atmosphere here, tried to sense that elusive guidance.

At that moment.

Buzz—

Under the four girls' gazes, a brilliant blue light ignited in Su Fang's eyes, and the gem brooch on her chest lit up in tandem.

Even though she hadn't started transforming, the glow became increasingly noticeable, forming a faint blue halo that radiated a gentle yet surging fluctuation, casting the girl's figure in an almost sacred light.

The surrounding black fog even seemed to recede slightly.

Even Hermit's Purple, who had already dashed into the black fog ahead, seemed to notice the light behind her, and the speed of her scythe's swing slowed.

"One, two, three, four, five..."

Su Fang's voice was imbued with magic power, giving it an ethereal quality, her wine-red hair floating from the inexplicable magic power fluctuations.

Her eyes seemed to pierce through the black fog, looking toward some intangible direction.

"Altogether... it seems there are still five pieces..."

She sounded a bit hesitant, as if trying to comprehend this indescribable sensation, and her description was vague too: "One small piece isn't too far, but it's also a bit far..."

"Three pieces are about the same size, all far apart from each other..."

"And the last piece is the biggest, but also the farthest..."

As Su Fang spoke, the blue light from the gem on her chest gradually dimmed, and her eyes returned to a clear emerald green. She looked a bit uneasy: "Ugh, I can't pinpoint exactly where each piece is, and each one only gives a vague direction..."

"That's already very good."

Airwen nodded encouragingly. "Just as I thought. In the Outer Realm, your sensing is clearer than inside."

"Ah, that's good!"

Su Fang let out a sigh, then noticed Lin Guang nodding at her from beside him. The slightly childish smile on her pretty face instantly brightened.

She reached up to tidy a few stray strands of hair by her ear, suddenly feeling two intense stares. Turning her head, she saw Tang Keren's delicate face flushed with excitement.

"So she really can determine the direction!"

"The Sacred Tree's prophecy really came true!"

She couldn't help but blurt out: "Geez... Don't get this young lady too excited, okay!"

Then, with a flash of purple light, Hermit's Purple had somehow returned to the group, the huge scythe's handle planted on the ground, and the eye not covered by her eyepatch was literally shining.

"Excellent! Then let us set forth at once, to reclaim the sparks of hope scattered in the darkness!"

And then, her head was thumped by a scabbard with a "dong."

"Ouch! My head!"

"Calm down first."

Airwen retracted her longsword, her dark eyes fixed on the depths of the forest shrouded in black fog ahead. "Our ultimate goal is indeed to collect all the Fragments of Hope."

"But charging in blindly is no different from seeking death."

"So before that, our top priority is adaptive training."

She glanced at Su Fang:

"Just now, you should have all felt it. Su Fang, as the Prophecy Maiden, has astonishing innate magic power and an extremely high ceiling, but her combat experience and Outer Realm activity experience are practically zero."

"But due to certain reasons, we don't have much time to slowly nurture her in this area."

Su Fang bit her lip, knowing what she meant.

The threat of the Abyss possibly attacking the town at any moment hung over them like a sword suspended above their heads, ready to fall at any time.

Every day they delayed meant a sharp increase in risk for Kazenari Town.

"So simulated combat is the best approach, at least to help her quickly adapt to the Outer Realm environment and her own powers."

"It's also a chance for everyone to get familiar with each other's abilities and combat styles."

"And, by the way, we need to do some simulation."

Pausing here, Airwen added: "In theory, the Fragments of Hope are part of the Sacred Tree's power, so monsters can't take them too far from the Sacred Tree."

"But 'far' is relative."

"While we don't need to go on a months-long expedition, and our goal is clear, reaching the farthest fragment—even with our current mobility—might still take a week or two."

"Magical girls have endurance that far surpasses ordinary people, but the Outer Realm's environment is harsh enough to drive a normal person insane. Plus, there's no safe zone. Every step consumes physical and mental energy."

"After a long trek to our destination, waiting for us..."

"Most likely, there will be a powerful demon beast 'guarding' the Fragment of Hope."