Even if you're a corrupted magical girl, you still have to try to redeem yourself.

Yuki Yukino is still hiding in some unknown place, trying to seize Hayashi Mustard's power, and everyone is still searching aimlessly for Yuki Yukino's whereabouts in the city.

Aside from the passing of time, the girls felt no sense of progress.

"Damn it." Inuyama Tomoe clenched her fist tightly and swung it into the air. "What are we going to do now?"

"What should we do? Didn't you want to stop Yuuki Yukino? Then just go ahead. I've said it before, I won't care what you do. Even if you do stop her, I won't stop you." Lava Mountain Lantern answered frankly.

"Easier said than done. Where are we supposed to find Yuuki Yuki?" Tenrai Herika muttered to herself, but her voice was quite loud, as if she were speaking directly to Lava Mountain Lantern.

"Yuki Yukino? Isn't she right in front of you?"

Before Lantern of the Lava Mountain could finish speaking, almost all the magical girls looked as if they were facing a formidable enemy, immediately adopting a fighting stance, looking around to guard against Yuuki Yukino suddenly appearing from some corner.

Helica the Thunder God transformed instantly, with crackling arcs of electricity swirling around the warhammer in her hand, accompanied by thunderous roars.

Only Lava Mountain Lamp remained unmoved, even frowning slightly, but was amused and burst out laughing.

"There is no trace of Yuuki Yukino's magic around here," Koumori reminded him at just the right moment.

The girls soon realized that what Lava Lantern meant by "close at hand" was not what they thought.

This made the girls feel a little embarrassed. They looked at each other and toned down their exaggerated expressions.

"What?!" Helica angrily deactivated her transformation again: "Where exactly is Yuuki Yukino?"

Lava Mountain Lamp raised his eyebrows and looked towards the distant horizon.

Baqi followed the gaze of the lava lamp, but all she saw was a pitch-black night sky and the portal belonging to Yuuki Yukino that bloomed in the sky.

Yes, this is it!

The girls have always regarded Yuuki Yukino's portal as something like the black magic runes that Urobuchi Mashiro released in Nijiha City. Apart from hiding the monsters summoned by Yuuki Yukino, it only makes the people of Tsukimi City feel immense pressure.

But the answer has always been right there in the riddle, it's just that it's so dangerous that no one has been able to come up with such an obvious answer.

Baqi's paused gaze also served as a reminder to the others.

"No way..." Sakura Hanako opened her mouth and looked up at the sky as well.

“But it is indeed possible, and quite likely, it’s just that we’ve been overlooking her.” Mizuno Yu pondered for a moment, then nodded.

Hyakki Senyu also turned to Inuyama Tomoe, asking for her opinion with a simple question.

"Big sister?"

"Ah."

Inuyama Tomoe clenched her fist, and crimson magic, like a raging fire, enveloped the girl's entire body, instantly transforming her clothes into her magical outfit. A matchlock gun was now in Tomoe's hand.

“I’ll go too.” Helica Tenrai took a step forward and stood next to Tomoe Inuyama.

With these two leading the way, the other magical girls naturally made a surprisingly consistent choice.

Everyone went to Hoshimi City to stop Yuuki Yukino's atrocities. Now that Yuuki Yukino has returned to Tsukimi City and brought this kind of disaster to Tsukimi City, it is natural that everyone will not back down at this last moment.

Lava Lantern took a half step back, then looked up and watched as the girls in front of him transformed into colorful streams of light and flew towards the huge portal that had opened in the sky.

……

The feeling of passing through this portal was quite peculiar, like being pulled into a dream by Sumireko Yumehara, but even more peculiar, giving the girls a feeling similar to motion sickness.

Baqi might be able to get used to it a little better, but the others hadn't experienced it many times in total, and for a moment they felt as if their internal organs had been shaken to their core.

When everyone opened their eyes again, the scenery around them had completely changed.

Vast and empty, as if an endless world was unfolding before the girls' eyes, it was as if they were a little ant passing through an anthill for the first time, and seeing the scenery beyond the dark underground for the first time.

It was neither beautiful nor alluring; it contained nothing but endless emptiness.

Of course, there was also an obvious magical force lingering in the distance. Without a doubt, it was Yuuki Yuki's magical force, a force hidden by spatial fluctuations and imperceptible to the outside world.

Chapter 285 The Realm of No Return

They broke into Yuuki Yuuki's portal and arrived in a realm that belonged only to Yuuki Yuuki, intending to save Hayashi Keiko and prevent Yuuki Yuuki from obtaining that power.

The girls' plan was that simple, and it went incredibly smoothly until they met Yuuki Yuki, without encountering any obstacles.

That's right, there was no obstruction at all. There was nothing in that boundless space, making it even safer than the streets of Moonsea City outside.

"It's so quiet." Sakura Hanako looked around and couldn't help but sigh with satisfaction: "The Moon Sea City outside is in complete chaos, but there isn't even a single monster in the portal."

"Don't get too cocky. The safest place is the most dangerous place. Maybe Yuuki Yuuki thinks that as long as she's there, she's safer than any other familiar?" Tenrai Herika scolded softly, continuing to explore forward following the magical power she couldn't ignore.

"Aren't you saying it backwards? The most dangerous place is the safest place, right?" Baqi retorted, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

By now, the magical girls' hearts were pounding so hard they felt like they were about to jump out of their chests. Baqi's words did little to ease their minds.

Only Helica mumbled, "More or less," and then no one else responded.

The journey wasn't long; after walking for only a short while, Yuuki Yuki came out to greet them.

First, a massive, overwhelming force, as if a thousand troops were charging towards the magical girls, rushed towards them. The powerful magic seemed poised to crush the group that had entered the portal, causing everyone to be on high alert.

As that aura drew near, the girls raised their magic to its peak, preparing to deal with the magic that seemed to be charging towards them like a chariot.

But just before the magic could touch the girls, it suddenly stopped.

This feeling is unpleasant; it's like an arrow about to pierce you stopping just millimeters from your eyeball. Even if it doesn't actually harm your body, it's still not good for your heart.

As the magic dissipated, Yuuki Yukino appeared before the girls.

He was still wearing that demonic outfit, and he had that unfathomable face. He stood on tiptoe, hands behind his back, and scrutinized the group of girls with his narrowed eyes.

"You guys came back much faster than I expected."

Herlica, her face full of displeasure, was the first to rush forward, almost touching Yuuki Yuuki so tightly that their eyes met. Her words were unmistakably provocative: "So you really underestimate us, huh?"

"Hand over Senior Lin! We don't want to fight Senior Yuki!" Sakura Hanako was unusually firm. Faced with such a huge choice, even though she was reluctant, she was very clear about right and wrong.

"Yuki Yui, didn't you say you were trying to control the power within you? How come you've been manipulated by her now? Can't you be a little more sensible?" Miyashita Miya also spoke up angrily, not because Yuki Yui attacked her, but because Yuki Yui had truly been taken over by that power and had done such a thing.

The person who once acted recklessly is now on the side of Moonsea City and the magical girls. The person who brought her back to her senses has become the common enemy of all the magical girls in Moonsea City. This ironic scene brought Miya Miya's displeasure to its peak.

"And you? Don't you have anything to say to me?" Yuuki Yui spread her hands and turned to look at the other magical girls who were glaring at her.

Inuyama Tomoe gripped the musket tightly, the black magic markings rising from her body and being shattered by bullets fired from the musket.

Amidst the shattered light, Inuyama Tomoe, now a god, raised the cold blade of her spear with one hand and pointed it at Yuuki Enishi.

"What I want to say is the same as what I said in Hoshimi City: I have nothing to say to you until I beat you down."

Yuuki Yukina shrugged and then looked at the others.

It's like asking: Do you think the same way?

The girls remained silent, but the radiant light of divine liberation was their best answer.

A major war is both inevitable and imminent.

……

But the result: the magical girls suffered defeat.

Judging a magical girl's strength or weakness isn't just about magic power and abilities. Someone like Lantern of the Mist, who can break through giant bricks with sheer force, is undoubtedly powerful. And Sumireko Yumehara, who used her dream abilities to put magical girls into a deep sleep before everyone captured her, is also undeniably strong.

With her immense and astonishing magical power and the various familiars she has created, her skillful manipulation of time and space, and Yuuki Yuki's unpredictable and elusive fighting style, she is undoubtedly the most troublesome opponent they have ever encountered.

While it's not likely that Yuuki Yukari will defeat them in a short time, and the girls can hold out against her for a while longer, defeating her would be incredibly difficult for them.

However, in this empty space, no one knew if Lin Jiezi was in some corner, let alone whether this was a trap set by Yuuki Yuen to wipe everyone out in one fell swoop.

They knew nothing; the girls only felt that the magic power within them was being rapidly depleted in their battle with Yuuki Yuki.

After rushing to Hoshimi City, fighting Yuuki En, and then taking a long bus ride back to Tsukimi City, everyone was exhausted. It would be difficult to win against Yuuki En in such a physically and mentally drained state.

While everyone was thinking about how to defeat Yuuki Yuki, Tomoe was the first to realize that what everyone was doing was different from their goals.

That's right, the girls' victory condition is not how long they can hold out against Yuuki Yuki, nor how many times they can hit Yuuki Yuki, but to rescue Hayashi Mustard, who has been taken away by Yuuki Yuki to an unknown location.

If things continue like this, victory is impossible, and there is even a risk of casualties.

Ba Qi made a quick decision and shouted to the others, "Let's go! If this drags on, we'll all be left here, and no one will be able to stop Xiao Yuan!"

"We've come all this way, are we really going to leave?" Miyashita Miya asked, puzzled, barely managing to block Yuuki Yuki's fierce attack with her wings, which were already riddled with holes from Yuuki Yuki's sharp blade.

But just as Miyashita Mia was about to retaliate, she saw Yuuki Yuki suddenly disappear from her spot, leaving behind a monster with wings and claws, which temporarily entangled with Miyashita Mia in battle.

"If we keep fighting like this, we won't be able to save Lin Jiezi, nor will we be able to defeat Xiaoyuan. Xiaoyuan still has strength left, can't you see that?" Baqi swung out several light blades from her spear, temporarily forcing Yuki Yui, who was about to attack Sakura Hanako, back, and shouted sharply.

Baqi's reminder also woke up the girls.

Yuuki Yukino's strength is indeed not that great—but it's not enough for her to fight on equal footing with everyone for so long.

Unless, of course, this was also within Yuuki Yuki's expectations, and reality is unfolding according to the script she wrote.

Seeing the others' confusion, Hong Moli urged loudly, "Listen to your older sister, let's go first, then think of a solution! Perhaps in Yuuki Yukino's mind, defeating us is more important than her mastering the primordial power within Lin Jiezi."

It is indeed possible, and quite likely.

By temporarily stabilizing the Lava Lantern and preventing the magical girl group from stopping him, the other magical girls and nuns would naturally be less likely to rush in and stop Yuuki Yuuki. At that point, Yuuki Yuuki could then safely and slowly take all the power for herself.

Even the magical girl who didn't understand why Inuyama Tomoe wanted everyone to retreat before, understood a little after hearing what the two said.

On the battlefield, the outcome can be drastically different depending on whether there is a commander or not. Now, both Inuyama Tomoe and Koumori have said to retreat. Even though this is different from everyone else's opinion, it carries a lot of weight in the hearts of the girls whose adrenaline is soaring and whose minds are completely occupied by the battle.

Yuuki Yukino's subsequent actions further increased the others' approval of Tomoe.

"We've all managed to get together, why don't we stay?"

As Yuuki Yukino spoke, her magical power surged several levels, becoming far more threatening than during her previous lukewarm battles with the other girls, which had been relatively evenly matched.

As expected, Yuuki Yuki's previous restraint was merely to give the magical girls a glimmer of hope to overcome her, thus preventing them from running away due to their inability to defeat her.

After all, even for Yuuki Yukino, it's unlikely that she could control several people at the same time... right?

"Mxisha!"

Black flames stained Baqi's robe, leaving burn marks on the pure white garment that resembled ink stains. A streak of an unusual color stained Baqi's hair, making her aura even more mysterious and unpredictable.

Boom, boom, boom.

Several explosions rang out beside the magical girls who were fighting against the strange creatures summoned by Yuuki Yuuki. The dangerous magical power contained in the explosions made the girls' pupils constrict.

They couldn't possibly be unaware of what would happen if that blow landed on them.

But they—Dream? Dad—don't know where this attack came from.

Aside from Inuyama Tomoe herself.