Chapter 55: Venus, as dazzling as the sun

Ten kilometers from the city center, high in the sky, a two-meter-tall female mech, shimmering with dreamy amethyst hues, hovered above the clouds.

Amethyst, a calamity-level magical girl, received orders to head to City A for support.

A hundred meters away, a woman toyed with her gloves.

“Tarot Society, Fourth Division Arcana, Natasha, codename ‘Judgment.’”

“My reputation’s that big? Even the oh-so-holy magical girls know my name. I’m flattered.”

“Hmph, I’m warning you—step aside, or when I make my move, you’re dead.”

Amethyst had a mission and no time for a clash with Judgment.

Both at calamity-level, neither could easily defeat the other in a short fight.

She needed to break through Judgment’s defenses quickly to provide support.

“Big talk for a little girl?” Natasha unleashed her magic, staining the white clouds black-purple. “Let’s see how tough that mech of yours is—and who dies first.”

…

Back in the city center, Lei Li barely moved, relying solely on his magical weapon, the [Human-Faced Tower], to completely suppress the three magical girls.

The towers, covered in countless wailing, screaming human faces, radiated endless negative energy.

The two ordinary-level newbies were paralyzed, barely able to stay conscious under the onslaught.

Atop each tower sat a massive head—human, animal, even pollutant.

Eighty-one human-faced towers encircled the trio.

The no-fly zone above left Venus with no escape, forcing her to confront Lei Li head-on.

Venus took a deep breath, eyes sharp, gripping her spear and charging.

Her spear gleamed with golden light, each strike powerful enough to pierce floors or shatter the ground.

But the attacks had no effect on Lei Li, only adding to Venus’s wounds.

Breathing heavily, Venus pulled back, staring at Lei Li, who hadn’t moved an inch.

She felt the vast gap between them but didn’t give up—her mind raced for a solution.

The Tower, known for its defense.

It also reflected 100% of damage back to the attacker—brute force was useless.

Her magic level couldn’t break the Tower’s defense limit; the stronger her attacks, the faster she’d fall.

Think—think fast.

There had to be a way to break through!

“Cough.”

Venus coughed up blood, nearing her limit.

Her next attack had to create an opening for Iris and Pansy to escape.

They couldn’t all die here!

Over two hours had passed since the building collapse.

Calamity-level magical girls weren’t this slow.

Unless they were intercepted.

The Tarot Society… more than one Arcana?

Venus’s heart sank. She glanced at the two girls, immobilized by the negative energy.

Regret hit her for bringing them on this mission.

She hadn’t expected an Arcana from the Tarot Society—just a typical pollutant.

“Done resting?”

Lei Li’s fleshy face jiggled with his sneer, disgusting Venus.

She closed her eyes, opening them slowly after a few seconds.

A theory formed.

Reflected damage required the attacker’s strike to hit the target.

So what counted as her attack?

The answer: attacks linked to her magic.

Venus channeled all her magic into her limbs, preparing for a final gambit.

Whoosh!

Turning into a brilliant golden meteor, she shot toward Lei Li. Seeing the fierce assault, he advanced instead of retreating.

“Hahaha, perfect! Let your own attack kill you!”

Laughing, Lei Li watched as Venus’s eyes trailed golden streaks.

She swung her spear at his face, but just before it connected, she let go.

The spear, carried by raw momentum, struck without her magic.

Bang!

Five or six teeth flew through the air as Lei Li clutched his mouth, screaming.

“Ah!!! My teeth! My teeth!”

The spear rebounded to Venus’s hand.

Her heart pounded—this was a heavy hit. If the damage reflected, she’d die!

But she couldn’t dwell on it.

Gripping the spear, Venus repeated the tactic, striking Lei Li’s head five more times.

“Ah!!! Damn it!!!”

Lei Li, furious that his prized ability failed, roared in rage.

He unleashed a massive wave of magic, blasting Venus away.

She crashed to the ground, sliding dozens of meters, her body riddled with injuries.

“I’m done with this. Since you love dragging it out, I’ll make you beg for death!”

Lei Li waved his right hand, and a finger-thick magic blast shot from a tower’s peak, piercing Venus’s shoulder.

She lay on the ground, too weak to stand or even cry out.

As more magic blasts came her way, Venus closed her eyes.

Her magical girl career was over.

She’d given her all, her only regret dragging the newbies into this.

She… was guilty.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The expected pain didn’t come, and the sound of the blasts hitting was off.

Venus struggled to open her eyes. Two small figures stood in front of her.

Iris held up her white parasol, with Pansy bracing her back, blocking all the attacks.

“No… run!”

Seeing a glimmer of hope, Venus pushed past her limits, snatching Iris’s weapon and charging forward.

“Venus, come back!”

“We’re done for—everyone’s going to die!”

There was still a chance!

Iris’s weapon was perfect for offense and defense, excelling in both.

Venus charged, parasol raised, deflecting all magic blasts.

Pouring her last magic into the parasol, she leaped high.

She closed the parasol, swatting away an incoming blast, closing the distance to Lei Li.

Standing before him, she aimed the parasol’s tip at his head.

“A final gift—hope you like it.”

A radiant red-gold magic blast, unique to Venus, erupted like the sun.