Chapter 36: Dragon Quest

Pride strolled through the air, blood-red Higanbana flowers blooming beneath her feet.

She held a script in her left hand, her right lightly gripping a baton, approaching Venus.

The Higanbana-shaped baton gently lifted Venus’s chin, tilting her face upward.

“Hm~ The intensity in your expression when you strike is stunning.”

Pride nodded, satisfied, circling Venus to inspect her closely.

Her baton tapped lightly across Venus’s body.

Firm arms, toned legs, rounded hips… and those naturally perfect little rabbits.

“Isn’t a female knight’s chest a bit too large?”

Pride asked, her eyes on Venus, seeking an answer.

Venus could only move her eyes, locking onto Pride, this fearsome witch.

Pride, a newly born witch.

Her power: manipulating objects or people at a distance, as long as they were willing.

She also wielded time-stopping magic, its strength and range still unknown to officials.

Venus, a transcendent-level magical girl, neared half-step calamity level in close combat.

To freeze her at full power—Pride’s strength exceeded her expectations!

Was this the might of an infinite witch?

Gazing into Pride’s blood-red eyes, Venus saw an endless sea of blood surging toward her.

It dragged her under, drowning her alive.

“Shining Venus, don’t try to peer into my heart. You’ll lose yourself and be corrupted.”

Pride placed a hand on Venus’s shoulder, snapping her awake.

“Now, answer my question. Your response will earn you different rewards.”

Pride’s lips curved slightly; this magical girl was exquisite!

Radiant like the star Venus, guiding the lost in the night!

As Pride spoke, Venus found she could speak again.

“What do you want, witch?”

“No, that’s not the answer I want.”

Pride infused magic into her baton, lightly striking Venus’s pert hips.

Smack!

“Ugh!”

The seemingly gentle tap brought unbearable pain.

Venus bit her lip hard, refusing to cry out, even as blood seeped from her lips.

“Forgot my question?” Pride tapped the baton against her palm. “I’ll ask again: Is a female knight’s chest too large?”

Venus hesitated. Should she answer?

What if she got it wrong and the witch struck again?

One hit was already too much; another, and she’d surely cry out!

With so many people around, being spanked was humiliating enough!

Making pained noises would ruin her as a magical girl!

But she had no choice!

She couldn’t fight a witch!

“Yes.”

Venus gritted her teeth, forcing out the word. Pride clapped, smiling.

“I like obedient children. Your reward: a hug.”

Pride pulled Venus into her arms, gently ruffling her hair.

Her emotionless blood-red eyes flickered with feeling.

Joy, and madness.

“Time’s up. The hero-versus-dragon story begins. Everyone, to your places.”

Pride floated back, and everyone’s actions reversed like a rewound film.

The crowd reentered the mall, fallen rubble rose to reform undamaged buildings.

Augustus was forced back to his hiding spot in a building.

Venus returned to the sky, poised in flight.

Pride stood at the highest point, overseeing the stage below.

Her blood-red lips parted slightly.

“Hero versus dragon, commence.”

“Long ago, an evil wizard sought power at all costs, sacrificing countless lives to gain the darkest force.”

“He created a creature called the ‘evil dragon,’ a supremely powerful being.”

The polluted dragon soared, wrecking the city as before.

“The wizard ordered the dragon to ravage the city. People fled in panic, causing stampedes.”

The crowd poured out of the mall, trampling each other in the chaos.

“Fortunately, they suffered only minor injuries.”

“A hero named Venus arrived in time, battling the dragon.”

“Venus, mighty in strength, gradually overpowered the dragon, but was ambushed by the hidden wizard, struck down by a dragon’s claw.”

“Venus fought fiercely, her spirit unyielding, fearless even against two foes.”

“The righteous hero will triumph, and the evil wizard will fall to her spear.”

Pride’s words dictated their paths.

Augustus’s eyes bulged; his mighty polluted dragon was being toyed with like a puppet!

He couldn’t accept it!

Crack!

His mask splintered, revealing his enraged, twisted face to Pride.

“The vile wizard, furious, prepares to fight for his life.”

“Venus unleashes her strongest strike, thwarting the wizard’s schemes.”

Venus charged up on the spot, while Augustus, under Pride’s control, appeared gravely wounded.

The mighty dragon collapsed, its fate sealed by Pride’s script.

Venus sprang forward, a golden flash, her sharp spear piercing Augustus’s chest.

Agonizing pain, life draining away.

Fear of death, hope for life.

Augustus broke free of Pride’s control, screaming.

“Ah!”

“Impossible!”

“Polluted dragon!”

He unleashed all his magic, pouring it into the dragon.

The dragon surged upright, wounds healed, its power spiking to calamity level.

“Hahaha! Calamity-level aura—calamity level!”

“Even a witch can’t stop this! A newborn witch can’t change the world!”

“You’re not fully grown. This calamity-level dragon will teach you the cost of mocking the Tarot Society!”

Augustus descended into madness, his magic spiraling out of control, linking with the dragon.

He was corrupted!

Snap.

Pride gently closed her script; this puppet show was over.

Everything regained freedom. Venus instantly distanced herself from Augustus, and the crowd fled to safety.

“Cost?” Pride’s icy voice echoed. “You don’t want to know the price of defying a witch.”