Chapter 44: Red Spider Lily Prison

Ten thousand meters in the air, Pride hurled Lilith outward, and a massive flower bud appeared in her trajectory.

Lilith was swallowed by the bud, its ferocious magic instantly enveloping her entire body.

She couldn’t struggle; her puppet threads were useless against a witch’s absolute power.

Inside the Higanbana bud, Lilith saw a sight she’d never witness in her lifetime.

She couldn’t recall why she was here, wandering aimlessly down the street.

Vaguely, she remembered she was out to do something.

What was it?

Right—I’m here to take revenge for Augustus!

That damned Pride Witch, daring to kill the man I love—she deserves to die!

Lilith’s furious face twisted, but then a drop of water hit her nose.

She wiped it away, her fingertips stained with bright red.

Drip, drip!

The sky began to rain.

The azure sky turned blood-red, scarlet rain falling steadily.

The water carried an indescribable scent—sweet.

The fragrance of Higanbana, mixed with the metallic tang of blood.

The blend made Lilith cover her mouth, retching.

The crimson rain hit the ground, and scarlet buds sprouted like mushrooms after a storm.

Nourished by the rain, the buds bloomed into beautiful Higanbana flowers.

Countless thorny vines swayed nearby.

As if welcoming Lilith’s arrival.

The Higanbana glowed vividly red, eerily striking under the dark red sky.

The ground cracked, deep chasms forming.

Wailing echoes rose from the fissures.

Thorny vines shot from the Higanbana’s cores, swiftly dragging Lilith into the sky.

“What’s happening?!” Lilith was shocked and terrified.

The vines danced in the air, piercing her body.

From calves to thighs, from forearms to upper arms.

Then her torso, even her organs.

Lilith wanted to scream in pain, but vines wrapped around her mouth, silencing her.

She could only whimper to vent her agony.

The rain grew heavier, her vision blurring.

She saw it!

Countless others like her in the sky, all pierced by these eerie vines and hoisted upward.

Hell—this had to be hell!

Lilith’s body trembled uncontrollably; she was wrong.

Witches and magical girls weren’t on the same level—her abilities couldn’t restrain a witch before transformation.

Was she too weak?

Would she die?

Augustus, Augustus…

She deeply regretted her actions; Augustus’s death had fueled her rage.

Blinded by anger, she hadn’t considered the vast gap in their strength.

She knew her opponent was a witch.

She shouldn’t have lumped witches with magical girls—she’d lost.

Utterly powerless, she’d lost.

The sky split open with a massive crack, accompanied by shattering sounds.

The rift widened, revealing a giant blood-red eye.

Pride’s eye.

The enormous eye stared at the dying Lilith, its cold gaze mocking her ignorance and folly.

Witches are immortal, all-knowing, all-powerful.

Since their creation, no witch has ever been killed.

They cannot die.

They are the world’s most terrifying beings.

Even a dragon that could raze mountains would hesitate before a witch.

The giant blood-red eye slowly closed, and Lilith lost all signs of life.

Back in reality, Pride watched the massive bud dissipate, her eyes devoid of emotion.

Killing Lilith was like crushing a tiny ant.

Clap, clap, clap!

Applause came from behind, along with a lazy voice.

“As expected of Pride—impressive~”

Greed’s voice sounded near Pride’s ear, warm breath brushing close.

Pride spun around, putting distance between them, her cold face full of displeasure.

“Don’t just come near me like that.”

Greed flew after Pride, stopping three meters away.

“My lovely Higanbana~ You’ll break my heart saying that~”

“After all, I’ve been working hard these past few days, helping those fragile magical girls with all those pollutant incidents~”

“We had a deal: I help with pollutants, and you go on a date with me.”

Looking at Greed’s face, Pride felt a surge of anger—maybe because Greed had kissed her against her will.

Yuri stuff? Pride hated it.

“I’m glad you’re keeping our deal. As for the date, next month hasn’t come yet.”

“Hasn’t it?” Greed feigned confusion, then acted enlightened. “Oh, I get it! You’re saying next month’s not here, but this month’s date quota hasn’t been used, right?”

“Pride, you’re so good to me~”

Greed didn’t let Pride respond, flashing to her side, linking arms, and pressing her cheek to Pride’s forehead.

Pride’s expression soured to the extreme.

She tried to break free, but Greed’s magic restrained hers.

Among veteran witches, Pride was a rookie, clueless about wielding witch powers.

Her current control over magic came from her time as a magical girl.

She could manipulate magic but hadn’t mastered Pride’s authority.

Once she could wield Pride’s authority, she’d be a true witch.

Transformed or not, she’d have Pride’s power.

The only difference was that transformation added a filter, hiding her true identity.

“Someone’s coming. No time to mess around—dating talk later.”

“Mm-hmm~”

Greed was thrilled Pride didn’t outright reject her.

They quickly left, and soon a magical girl appeared, glowing with golden light, holding a shining golden spear.

Venus.

She’d emerged from Pride’s shadow and officially took over the city’s defense until Jasmine and Rose were reinstated.

“Strange, such a massive magic surge, but nothing’s here?”

Venus scanned the area, even circling it carefully, finding no clues.

In the end, she returned to the Flower Shop, puzzled and empty-handed.

Ran Huang and Shu Long were arguing over whether jasmine or rose flowers were prettier.

Only Little White greeted Venus.

“Good work. Find anything?”

“A magic surge rivaling a calamity, but no trace of anything.”

“…”