The closer to the Canopy, the stronger the sense of oppression in the air.

Gray-black web-like patterns covered the area above the school, like an inverted spiderweb. Countless tiny nodes were hidden along the edges of the buildings and within the shadows, pulsating slowly.

“How disgusting…”

Orange-gold brilliance flowed across Jiang Wanfeng’s body, and the marigold crest on her chest glowed faintly.

Her original school uniform was replaced by a dress interwoven with gold and orange. Small, neat golden trims adorned her waist and cuffs, while the skirt lacked any complicated decorations, looking as refreshing as a summer sky.

Her long golden hair was tied up high, and the ends of the girl’s hair faded into a bright orange as if ignited by the evening glow. A few stray strands hung by her cheeks, adding a touch of heroic spirit to her already delicate features.

Lulu clung to Jiang Wanfeng’s shoulder and said quickly:

“Umu, according to my calculations, as long as we destroy the main node here, a flaw will appear in this Barrier. By then, the outside world will at least be able to pick up some of the Calamity reactions.”

“This attack is obviously premeditated. Only by breaking this Barrier can we allow outside support to reach here!”

Jiang Wanfeng nodded.

Following the direction Lulu pointed, she raised the pair of golden ring blades in her hands. With a flash of orange-gold light beneath her feet, she shot straight up into the air.

However, just as she was about to reach the top of the Canopy, a woman’s voice suddenly rang out from the side.

“This is a No-Fly Zone, little girl.”

Jiang Wanfeng’s pupils contracted.

Dozens of black threads descended from the Canopy.

She immediately swung her ring blades, sending out an orange-gold slash that severed the black threads in front of her. But in the very next instant, more black threads entangled her from the side.

Those threads were so fine they were almost invisible, yet astonishingly tough.

Jiang Wanfeng was caught and pulled by them, causing her body to abruptly lose its balance.

Bang!

She plummeted from mid-air, crashing heavily into the lawn next to the academic building!

The ground cracked beneath her.

Jiang Wanfeng let out a groan. A dizzy Lulu finally managed to struggle to her feet and hurriedly shook Jiang Wanfeng.

“Xiao Feng! Xiao Feng! Get up, hurry!”

In mid-air, Veil Weaver slowly walked down, stepping along a black thread like a hunter strolling across a spiderweb.

Jiang Wanfeng gasped for breath and struggled to her feet, watching the woman who was leisurely walking toward her.

The wind blew the hood off the woman’s head, revealing a pale yet bewitching face. Her lipstick-traced lips curled into a seductive arc, but her smile offered not a trace of warmth.

She was so beautiful that, had the power exuding from her not felt as pitch-black as ink to Jiang Wanfeng’s senses, Jiang Wanfeng would almost have been unable to believe that the woman before her was actually—

“A Mutant…”

Jiang Wanfeng’s expression shifted several times, even appearing somewhat stunned.

In SAVE’s publicity and as common knowledge, Mutants were practically synonymous with brutality and madness. She had never imagined that she would one day fight a Mutant who was clearly rational.

But now was not the time to think about such things…

Jiang Wanfeng inhaled and raised her hands, sending her ring blades flying out.

The orange-gold wheels of light carved arcs in the air, slashing at Veil Weaver from both the left and right.

Veil Weaver merely lifted her fingers—

Two black threads materialized from thin air and gave a gentle flick.

The ring blades’ trajectories were forcibly deflected. They brushed past Veil Weaver’s body and flew off into the distance, slicing through several railings.

Jiang Wanfeng stomped the ground, turning into a streak of orange light as she lunged forward.

The ring blade returned to her palm, and its blade-like light slashed toward Veil Weaver’s neck.

Veil Weaver turned slightly to the side as black threads appeared out of thin air, wrapping around Jiang Wanfeng’s ankle.

Her dash was forced to a halt.

Veil Weaver pressed a palm against her shoulder.

The seemingly gentle strike slammed Jiang Wanfeng right back into the ground.

“Ugh!”

Jiang Wanfeng let out a muffled groan in pain.

Lulu flew around frantically in the air, but unable to do anything, could only glare fiercely at the lofty Veil Weaver.

Looking at the Mutant, who was in no rush to pursue and simply wore a relaxed expression as if toying with her, Jiang Wanfeng clenched her jaw and wanted to charge again.

However, the sluggish sensation coming from her limbs made Jiang Wanfeng’s heart skip a beat.

Jiang Wanfeng looked down, only to realize that at some point, fine black threads had already wrapped around her calves, wrists, and waist.

They did not tighten immediately, but instead clung lightly to her body like spider silk.

Veil Weaver leaned forward slightly, her eyes filled with predatory amusement.

“Once these threads completely entangle your limbs, you won’t be able to run away.”

Her voice was soft, as if comforting a lost child.

“So run.”

“Flee in despair, crying your eyes out.”

“Let me thoroughly enjoy the thrill of hunting my prey.”

“Hurry… Hurry…”

Jiang Wanfeng’s pupils contracted bit by bit. Facing a powerful opponent with seemingly no way to win, formless fear seemed to turn into a pair of hands, quietly gripping her heart.

“I…”

Her breathing grew rapid. She wanted to say something, but found her lips and teeth trembling so much that she couldn’t speak a word.

Is it going to end here…?

But… But…

“Xiao Feng! Don’t be swayed by her words! Her voice contains magic that affects the mind!”

Lulu was jumping up and down in frantic anxiety.

But no matter how it called out, it couldn’t stop Jiang Wanfeng’s eyes from gradually turning hollow, nor her trembling from growing more violent.

“N-no…”

Jiang Wanfeng had lost all awareness of her surroundings, plunging completely into a nightmare…

A dimly lit room.

A cold, rainy night.

Unfamiliar adults, endless arguing, arguing, arguing…

“I… I don’t want to…”

Clutching a stuffed toy, Jiang Wanfeng stood in the corner of the room, trembling as she tried to say something to the adults.

But when the adults stopped talking and all turned their eyes toward her, she couldn’t say a single word. She could only watch as their backlit silhouettes stretched and grew larger and larger in her vision…

Growing even larger…

The dark shadows became so massive they seemed ready to swallow her whole.

Just like now…

“No…”

Jiang Wanfeng sobbed out her final, powerless words. Slumping to the ground, she waited for the end to come…

“You people are scaring my Little Sister! Get out of here! I’m not going anywhere!”

Through her tear-blurred vision, a young boy stood in front of her, loudly reprimanding them.

Then he turned around, held her hand, and smiled at her:

“Don’t be afraid.”

“We’re going home.”

Jiang Wanfeng’s fingers slowly clenched tight.

An orange-gold light lit up from her palm.

Veil Weaver narrowed her eyes.

“Oh? You actually managed to break free?”

Jiang Wanfeng looked up, her confusion having vanished without a trace.

“Xiao Feng!” Lulu cried out in pleasant surprise.

In the air, Veil Weaver asked with interest:

“Can you tell me how you did that?”

Looking at the Mutant, Jiang Wanfeng’s voice was as cold as ice.

“Because I have already run away once, I won’t run away this time; because I want to protect this place, I must defeat you.”

She stood up, her ring blades closing together in front of her, transforming into a circular shield resembling a marigold, and the light radiating from her body grew brighter and brighter.

“You Mutants wouldn’t understand.”

—It’s First Bloom! Xiao Feng has actually touched the threshold of advancing to First Bloom!

If Xiao Feng succeeds in advancing, she might actually have a fighting chance!

Lulu almost cried out in joy, but its good mood didn’t last long before vanishing entirely.

Because after a brief silence, Veil Weaver laughed.

First, a soft chuckle.

Then, her laughter grew increasingly delighted.

“How wonderful, Magical Girl.”

“You are always so radiant.”

“So radiant that…”

The black threads on Jiang Wanfeng’s body suddenly tightened.

She frowned, feeling a faint prickling pain across her skin.

—Something was seeping into her body through the threads.

“So radiant that one can’t help but want to destroy you,” Veil Weaver said softly.

“My threads are coated with a newly formulated nerve agent, originally prepared to stabilize the Mutant transformation process.”

“But now, I have a much more interesting idea.”

She raised a finger, and the fine black threads climbed up Jiang Wanfeng’s arm like living creatures.

“Let me transform you, bit by bit.”

“I will let you watch yourself turn into a monster with a completely clear mind, and we’ll see if you can still spout such words then.”

An eerie gleam flickered in Veil Weaver’s eyes.

“This is my first time trying to transform a Magical Girl into a Mutant.”

“So, please do struggle with all your might.”

“Entertain me a little.”