Chapter 8: Forced to Transform?

A Heavy Load

Three days later, on Nanda Street near Xiaoxi’s home…

Xiaoxi struggled down the road, lugging two huge bags of groceries.

Xiaoke had texted her, saying she was coming for lunch and to make extra food.

So, Xiaoxi gritted her teeth and spent her meager WeChat balance on a pile of ingredients and snacks.

She had to spoil her little sister, didn’t she?

Xiaoke loved cola chicken wings.

She’d need to grab a bottle of cola from the shop downstairs…

Xiaoxi mentally checked her list, but spotting a bench, she plopped down, exhausted.

If she wasn’t broke, she’d have taken a cab.

Carrying heavy bags under the blazing sun was torture!

Wiping sweat from her brow, she closed her eyes for a quick rest.

But within a minute, a massive explosion jolted her awake.

A Sudden Monster Attack

At the nearby intersection, a pitch-black monster, two or three people tall, was smashing everything.

The explosion came from it crushing a car.

Another monster?

Xiaoxi frowned.

Normally, monster cocoons took ages to hatch.

Why were they popping up so suddenly lately, always in the city?

Her first instinct was… grab her groceries and run!

No way she could afford to replace them if the monster wrecked her bags!

Besides, like the café incident, she trusted the Magical Girl Association’s efficiency.

No one was hurt yet.

But then, a blurry figure dashed out from the roadside.

They dropped a box, rushed against the fleeing crowd, and transformed mid-sprint.

Soon, they were fighting the monster.

That fast?

Xiaoxi glanced at the box on the ground.

Probably a magical girl on break, nearby by chance.

But seeing the transformed girl, Xiaoxi’s brow furrowed again.

No distinct features, wielding a standard Association-issued magic wand.

Clearly a rookie, barely a D-rank magical girl.

The Association shouldn’t let newbies face monsters alone.

They needed at least a higher-ranked magical girl to lead.

Yet, Xiaoxi scanned the sky.

No reinforcements arrived.

The crowd had mostly fled, leaving the rookie struggling against the monster.

A Dire Situation

She’ll lose—Xiaoxi’s experience told her instantly.

The monster’s mana fluctuations marked it as at least C-rank.

A greenhorn couldn’t handle it alone.

Damn it, is the Association slacking?

Xiaoxi cursed inwardly, watching the struggling figure.

The girl wouldn’t last long.

Her hand instinctively touched her chest.

Should she transform?

Right here?

Right now?

She’d sworn off magical girl business.

But…

Xiaoxi clenched her fists.

Letting someone die gnawed at her conscience.

A Desperate Fight

“[Little Red Riding Hood], if you can’t hold on, evacuate the crowd and retreat! A rookie like you shouldn’t face a monster alone!”

“Eight monster attacks hit Xiahai City at once. All our magical girls are deployed. No one can back you up. Got it?”

The stern voice of Chief L crackled through the comms.

But the magical girl, codenamed Little Red Riding Hood, didn’t respond.

She dodged a car hurled by the monster, stubbornly channeling mana into her wand for a counterattack.

Retreat?

No way a magical girl could flee like that!

Still, she lacked experience.

Facing the towering monster, her hands trembled on her wand.

Another attack came.

Dark mana surged in the monster’s mouth.

Sensing danger, Little Red Riding Hood halted her spell.

It’s going big!

Trying to dodge, she tripped over something and crashed to the ground.

Done for…

As the dark beam loomed, despair flashed in her eyes.

Her body froze, and she shut her eyes.

She wasn’t a veteran.

This was her first solo monster fight.

All her training tactics vanished in the heat of the moment.

The beam shot toward her…

Huh? No pain?

Squinting, she saw a massive starlight shield blocking the attack.

Before she could react, a dazzling starlight beam pierced the monster’s head, ending the fight with brutal precision.

The Idol Appears

Then, Little Red Riding Hood saw a sight she’d never forget.

A graceful figure descended before her.

Flowing silver hair, a white-and-gold dress adorned with starlight, and a star-shaped magic wand.

She couldn’t mistake her idol.

It was Eternal Star!

One thing was jarring, though.

Eternal Star landed with arms spread… holding two huge bags of meat, veggies, eggs, milk, and snacks.

She looked like a mom fresh from a supermarket spree.

Was Eternal Star… grocery shopping?

The absurdity hit Little Red Riding Hood hard.

“Little Red Riding Hood? What’s the situation? Respond!”

She ignored the comms, took a deep breath, and blurted out excitedly—

“Senior Eternal Star! I’m your biggest fan!”

Oh no.

Xiaoxi’s heart sank.

This was the worst-case scenario.

“I’ve loved you for years! I know all your battles,” Little Red Riding Hood’s voice softened.

“But why have you been gone these three years…”

“You’re not hurt, right? Any pain?” Xiaoxi cut her off, helping her up.

“No, thanks to you, Senior. You got here just in time…”

Little Red Riding Hood calmed down, realizing her outburst.

Her face was still flushed with excitement.

But then, her gaze fell on the object that tripped her, and she gasped.

“Crap!”

She rushed to check the box she’d dropped.

It was what tripped her—her own fault.

Xiaoxi followed, concerned, and saw it was a large cake.

It had been squashed when Little Red Riding Hood fell, half-collapsed.

The cake had some blessing written on it, but only “Wish” and “Joy” were still legible.

“No, no! My sister’s cake is ruined! This cost a fortune!”

Little Red Riding Hood’s voice dripped with regret.

“This shop’s ten-inch cakes are so expensive! Throwing it out is such a waste, but it’s unusable now…”

Xiaoxi couldn’t follow her wild train of thought.

But she saw her chance to escape.

If she stayed, the girl would pepper her with questions.

Worse, if the Association’s backup arrived…

Xiaoxi had no desire to face them.

A Quick Getaway

While Little Red Riding Hood mourned her cake, Xiaoxi quietly turned into a streak of starlight and slipped away.