Chapter 186: Senior, Your Barrier Is Really Getting in the Way

Phoenix tilted her head. "It's essentially a strategic reserve force, the highest-level, closest thing to true magic power that we can mobilize... But whatever, it's not like there's a future anymore anyway!"

"In short, with this, you can hold out as long as possible when you enter Full Bloom."

"Great!"

Zihan burst out laughing, then looked out the window, ready to smash through it and fly out. "In that case, I'll go outside and immediately set—"

"Hey, are you an idiot? Don't go."

Phoenix sighed. "Even if you genuinely defend the city, you won't be able to wait for Airwen until the world ends."

"Huh?"

The crimson bird spoke seriously. "She's already acquired the Abyss's authority, so her current goal should be to completely take control of the Sacred Tree."

"That way, she can gather all the world's origin power, claim the entire Soul Gem, and seize control of this 'Utopia.'"

"So, Airwen will definitely head to the Place of Origin."

"That's the origin of the entire Sacred Tree, the 'control console' of 'Utopia,' or rather the work backend, a space akin to the origin realm."

Amber explained, "Su Jingyan used to work there, creating this world alongside us. That's where all the Fragments of Hope we've collected so far are stored, along with the Sacred Tree's main body... And of course, the parts of the Abyss within the Soul Gem that can't be purged are also there."

"It used to be tightly sealed off; neither the Abyss nor the Sacred Tree was willing to open any passage leading to it, so the Permission-Holders on both sides couldn't get in."

"But I can sense that Airwen, in order to enter, has already opened its gates."

"So, go."

Phoenix's wings, blazing with golden flames, flapped forcefully once more, and countless dazzling golden light particles swiftly wove and reconstructed themselves before the girls' eyes.

The next moment, a golden doorframe materialized in front of the potted plant.

Looking straight ahead, the interior of the door was dotted with countless tiny specks of light. Various colored points of light moved slowly and magnificently within it, appearing profoundly intricate and splendid.

Phoenix gazed at the door, a hint of helplessness in her voice. "I'd love to go with you all... but Amber and I can't leave here."

"If the two of us leave too, the barrier outside probably won't hold for even ten minutes."

She said firmly, "We have to guard this place."

"Kazenari Town has truly carried us, and all the precious memories of the previous magical girls. We absolutely cannot let it be destroyed so easily."

Amber also shook her head. "Besides... we might be countered by Airwen. If our speculations are correct, she's the 'legitimate one' of this world. Our authority could be stripped away in an instant, and that would only be a burden to you all."

"..."

Phoenix took a deep look at Lin Guang and entrusted her solemnly, "Airwen... I leave her to you all."

Amber's lips curled into a smile. "Make sure to ask her what she truly feels, for our sake too."

Staring at the golden door before them, the four girls had already tightened their grips on their weapons.

The crimson magical girl stood at the very front, her expression blank as she felt the increasingly scorching pain from the Soul Gem on her chest.

—This was actually a sensation she'd never experienced before.

In the past, this murky Soul Gem had seemed constantly malfunctioning. Aside from storing magic power, it wouldn't even assist with transformations.

During Lin Guang's first eighteen deaths, it had never failed to "hold her back."

But starting from the 3333rd cycle, it had occasionally sent burning heat pulses, as if hinting at something.

Perhaps it was because, this time, she would truly face the final boss of this S-Rank Trial head-on.

The mastermind behind this world might have already fully surfaced.

And this would undoubtedly be the final period of the entire story, with no more chances to start over.

Everything—this heavy chain of cause and effect stretching across 3,333 whole cycles—had to be completely resolved today.

Lin Guang's sweet yet indifferent face bore an expression and gaze far more serious than ever before.

And on the surface of her body, something was faintly beginning to rise, signifying that her nerves and magic power had already been stretched to their absolute limit.

Static Spirit Outfit mode had been activated.

This meant that all unauthorized foreign objects or attacks would be completely repelled outside the Spirit Outfit's force field.

A person who wanted to win wouldn't have a smile on their face.

But at that moment.

Suddenly, that familiar voice came from behind.

"Se~nior, your barrier is really getting in the way."

Behind her, Su Fang's voice came, carrying a hint of lighthearted teasing.

The crisp sound pulled the red-haired girl back from her thoughts.

She slowly turned her head.

There stood the blue-haired girl, flashing her a bright smile as she lightly raised her right arm.

Zihan and Tang Keren were also smiling.

"..."

Lin Guang was momentarily stunned.

Then, the corner of her mouth involuntarily curled up into a tiny arc.

"...Then bring it on."

The force field of her Spirit Outfit around her suddenly dissipated.

Once the barrier of defense was withdrawn, the warmth of her companions flowed in.

Tang Keren stepped forward first, her warm hand gently patting Lin Guang's left shoulder, her smile blooming like a flower. "Don't lose to that person, okay."

Zihan stepped up, patting her right shoulder, the arc of her mouth carrying a wild edge. "Let that lost one blinded by the Abyss truly witness the bond among us, shining like stars!"

Su Fang walked up to Lin Guang, also extending her hand, earnestly patting her shoulder, her eyes incredibly clear:

"Senior Mengmengxiang."

"Together, let's bring back Dad, and Senior Airwen!"

Even Amber and Phoenix, who had been standing by, stepped forward.

Amber gently stroked Lin Guang's back. "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Go witness the final truth."

Phoenix flew over and softly patted her cheek with her soft wing. "I've bet everything on you girls, so don't disappoint me."

The previously suffocatingly tense atmosphere lightened slightly amid this string of warm touches.

Tang Keren withdrew her hand, clasped both hands behind her back, leaned forward slightly, and grinned as she looked at the girl before her:

"Mengmengxiang, will you win?"

Lin Guang's gaze swept over the lively faces before her, her crimson eyes bright.

—Truth be told, even against an Airwen without any authority, Lin Guang in the past wouldn't have dared say she was 100% sure of victory.

Let alone now, when she seemed to have awakened and acquired all the authority of the Abyss.

Without a doubt, she was the strongest magical girl in Kazenari Town's history.

Not only that.

If their earlier speculations held true, then her predecessor, even in the outside world, might have been one of the strongest magical girls in history.

Yet at that moment, the crimson magical girl only spoke in a calm tone:

"If the opponent is her, it will indeed be a bit tricky."

—But.

Lin Guang slightly curled the corner of her mouth and gave the only answer:

"I'll win."

As her words fell.

Without looking back, she stepped forward into the golden door.

And the girls followed her inside, heading toward their final destiny.