My ex-girlfriend is a magical girl junior?

Chapter 181 The Code Name Officially Inherited

"—What did Xingshuang leave behind?" Jiying repeated the answer in a low voice, his voice slightly hoarse from shock.

She subconsciously furrowed her beautiful eyebrows, sat quietly in place, and tried to digest the enormous amount of information contained in those words.

"You mean, Starfrost, whom Starstring called a legend, has already—sacrificed herself?"

【Yes】

The system's response was concise, cold, and devoid of any emotion.

Jiying's heart sank suddenly.

Although she had anticipated this the moment she asked the question, she still felt an indescribable heaviness when the system confirmed her worst guess.

—That being revered as a figure of faith and legend by Hoshino and many other magical girls, that dazzling, sun-like magical girl who single-handedly slew a calamity-level Void Beast—

—He really has sacrificed himself?

"When did she sacrifice herself?"

[Before entrusting this power to the host]

Before her sacrifice, she used her last strength and a portion of her soul as the core to create this system, and—it attached itself to you, the host.

The system calmly stated this harsh truth.

"Why me?" Ji Ying's brows furrowed even more, her voice filled with confusion. "I have no memory of her whatsoever. How does she know me? Could it be—"

A long-overlooked fact suddenly came to mind—her rebirth time was not the same as Yuqing's.

Yuqing transmigrated to this world at the beginning of summer vacation and quickly became a magical girl, while she herself only woke up from her coma a few days before the start of school at the end of summer vacation.

There was a difference of nearly two months in between!

"During those nearly two months, I—met her?" Ji Ying's voice trembled slightly as a bolder guess took shape in her mind.

"And then, for some reason, this memory of mine—was erased?"

This time, the system did not respond, and the prolonged silence itself was an answer.

Jiying immediately pressed, "Did Xingshuang erase my memories? Why would she do that?"

This system cannot answer this question.

"Can't answer?"

Jiying repeated the sentence in a low voice, but did not ask any further questions.

She could tell that the system wasn't deliberately concealing anything, but rather, as it had previously stated, it was subject to some inescapable constraint, which forced it to give this answer.

It seems that the missing part of my memory, and the truth behind the legendary Starfrost's sacrifice, must be hiding some extremely important secret.

And this secret is not something I should know right now.

Ji Ying took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the urge to explore the truth in his heart, and instead asked another question that he was also very concerned about: "Then what was the reason for guiding me to transform in the beginning, and for issuing those missions afterwards?"

Why did you stop posting after that?

Even with your immense potential, ending this protracted war with the Void Realm is not something one person can accomplish alone.

【Lord Xingshuang — I hope this system can guide you, host, to pay attention to the growth of those younger generations who also possess potential】

[This will allow them to gradually grow stronger under your protection and guidance, becoming effective allies who can fight alongside you in the future against the Void Realm.]

[As it turns out, you, the host, did those things on your own initiative without any deliberate guidance from this system.]

"So that's how it is?"

The system's explanation plunged Ji Ying into another brief silence.

Then she murmured to herself, her voice filled with uncertainty: "End the war with the Void Realm—is this what Starfrost expected of me?"

"Why would she think I could do it? What exactly is this so-called enormous potential I possess?"

Yes, this is what Lady Starfrost expects from her host.

The system once again gave an affirmative answer.

[As for potential, this system said a long time ago that your talent as a magical girl is top-notch.]

Furthermore, you are simultaneously compatible with both ethereal energy and magical power, something that has never been achieved by any individual before.

"But—I don't really feel any real connection to my talent," Ji Ying said, somewhat confused.

[From the moment of your first transformation, it took you, host, less than a week to go from an ordinary person who knew nothing about magic to mastering your own unique spells and becoming a full-fledged Crescent Moon Magical Girl.]

[Within the kingdom, even those magical girls considered to have the highest talent can only achieve something similar to what you do.]

[Furthermore—a considerable number of magical girls in the kingdom fail to master their own unique spells throughout their lives, remaining trapped at the Stardust level; such examples are not uncommon.]

Unique technique —

Upon hearing this word, Jiying immediately recalled the basic knowledge about magical girls that the system had previously transmitted to her—

Each unique spell is a one-of-a-kind manifestation born from the intertwining and resonance of the magical girl's own will, soul qualities, and magical laws.

It is an extension of power, a manifestation of will, and a prototype for a higher level of "law".

"One's own will and soul—a unique manifestation—"

Jiying silently repeated this sentence to himself, and instantly realized a certain fact—

"Star String" is undoubtedly a technique unique to that "Legendary Starfrost". I was able to master and use it so easily only because I inherited her power. This does not fully represent my talent.

Since Starfrost was a powerful Sun-level magical girl before her sacrifice, she must have possessed "magical armor" and even a higher form of control over the laws. However, I am still far from reaching that level.

And correspondingly————

Jiying's gaze unconsciously fell on his palm, recalling that night when he successfully constructed the "Star Strings," and simultaneously, something awakened from the depths of his soul—

That "thing" that appeared as an irregularly shaped object, radiating strange spatial fluctuations like shattered glass, was her truly unique technique.

The fact that a person possesses two unique techniques means that she has the astonishing potential to master two "laws" simultaneously.

In addition, it possesses the ability to simultaneously connect with ethereal energy, granting it a transformation similar to that of a Void Realm Apostle.

—So that's how it is—is this the real reason why that legendary figure, whom I've never met, chose to entrust everything to me before his life ended?

When Ji Ying recalled the first time she transformed into Xing Shuang, the system told her, "The host's talent as a magical girl is top-notch," and she couldn't help but reveal a slightly bitter smile.

Yes, she inherited the powerful strength of that legendary magical girl and possesses what is said to be a unique, top-tier talent in history —

But what about himself? When facing Mirror Lord, an apostle from the Void Realm who was not good at direct combat, he could only manage to achieve a draw despite his best efforts, and even temporarily lost the ability to transform into Starfrost.

The legendary Starfrost who placed all her hopes on me—had she really not misjudged me? Did I truly have the ability to meet her expectations and end this war that had dragged on for who knows how long?

To be honest, Jiying felt very insecure at this moment.

Moreover, putting aside the uncertain future after inheriting this power, the current troubles alone are enough to give her a headache.

She could already clearly imagine the enormous trouble she would face if she continued to use the name "Starfrost" when dealing with magical girls from other regions—

Every junior who idolizes that legendary magical girl, upon hearing their own code name, would probably, like Hoshino today, express the strongest doubt, or even—hostility, towards themselves.

Should we change the code name?

The thought flashed through his mind for a moment before being rejected by Jiying.

She shook her head helplessly.

Putting aside whether doing this would make Liuli and Yinxue feel strange, the more important thing is that since I have already inherited her power, it is only right that I should also inherit her name.

Otherwise, it would be the greatest betrayal of this legendary magical girl whom he had never met, yet on whom all his hopes were placed.

Ji Ying slowly stood up, walked to the broken window frame, and gazed through the fine rain towards the distant city silhouette shrouded in gray mist. The chaotic thoughts in his heart gradually became clear.

Even after learning this shocking truth, even with such a heavy burden of responsibility and expectations, her initial goal remained unchanged.

Defeat all enemies who dare to threaten their daily lives, protect the city, and ensure that those they care about can continue to live peacefully and happily.

This fundamental goal, which she has adhered to since her rebirth, remains unchanged and will never change.

As for the goal of "ending the long war between the Void Realm and the alliance of humans and magic kingdoms"—it was far too grand and distant for her to pursue for the time being.

But perhaps, after this, she will need to do some additional things.

For example, try to understand what kind of past that legend has passed away.

For example, try to accomplish some things that she didn't have time to do.

Even—if necessary, to impersonate her.

This is not only the awareness one should have when inheriting this power, but also a belated tribute to the legend who dedicated himself to protecting the worlds of humanity and Esmeralda.

Thinking of this, Ji Ying took a deep breath. The confusion and self-doubt that arose from the truth in her heart had been quietly replaced by a heavier sense of responsibility and determination.

She picked up her phone, which had been carelessly placed aside, unlocked the screen, and prepared to contact the patrol officer who had left in a huff, as promised.

She planned to explain her choice to the other party and—by the way, learn more about the past of that "legendary Starfrost".

However, the moment she unlocked her screen, a text message from Xingxian caught her eye.

The message was simple, but it caused Ji Ying's dark red pupils to contract instantly, and she couldn't help but feel worried. [Xiao Ying, I received Yue tide's distress signal and am on my way to the location where the signal was sent. I've shared the coordinates with you.]

"—What?!"