Chapter 24: The Sickle of Metamorphosis

That single glance nearly scared the abyssal crystal out of its heart. The scythe-like arms that usually stood tall and rigid as iron behind its back went limp, sagging like a mouse spotting a cat or a starving wolf encountering a tiger.

Several minutes passed, and the flat-chested loli showed no intention of attacking. Only then did the Abyssal Shredder—a veteran warrior who had survived three Holy Wars of the Black Tide—breathe a sigh of relief. It had seen plenty of grand spectacles in its time, but it truly never wanted to witness the insane rampages of Lady Phantom Butterfly. She was a force that would slay gods and Buddhas alike; when she went mad, she didn't even spare her own kind.

The flat-chested loli withdrew her gaze, turning her attention back to the scene before her.

"Mr. Lu Xun once said: 'You may choose to remain silent in a corner, but do not disparage or mock those who are braver than you, for the light they strive for may one day shine upon you.' What right do you people have to clamor? If the magical girls weren't out there fighting for their lives, you societal parasites who bite the hand that feeds would have been devoured by disaster beasts long ago."

A dashing girl with a high ponytail stepped forward, single-handedly placing herself between the two young girls and the group of men, stopping their ugly, repulsive attempt to hand the girls over. This girl was none other than Bai Youqing, her hair tied in a single ponytail.

The men exchanged glances and surrounded her tightly. "Little girl, I suggest you get out of the way. We’re doing this for everyone’s survival." The man who spoke first was oily-faced, over six feet tall, broad-shouldered, and covered in tattoos. As he spoke, his nostrils flared with the stench of cheap liquor. When he reached for Bai Youqing’s shoulder, she effortlessly dodged to the side. His expression darkened, but after glancing at his leader, he dared not resort to brute force for fear of ruining the witch's grand plan. He could only resort to tiresome, patronizing persuasion. "You silly girl, why are you being so stubborn? We can save so many people by sacrificing just two. Isn't that worth it?"

"Disaster beasts aren't wild animals that stop once they're full. How do you know they won't come for us after finishing the magical girls? Besides, magical girls exist to protect us—there is no logic in handing over our own protectors." Bai Youqing was filled with fury; she never imagined such scum could exist among humanity.

The man with the crew cut sneered. "You'd better not refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."

"Xiao Jian, is that any way to talk? She's just a child; it's normal for her to be ignorant." The tall man in the high-end suit feigned a reprimand, then stepped forward, attempting to bypass Bai Youqing to forcibly take the two girls behind her.

Bai Youqing’s expression finally shifted. As the tall man approached, she threw a fierce punch into his stomach. He buckled backward, clutching his gut, and before he could even moan, the girl lunged forward again and kicked him in a vital spot. With a muffled groan of agony, the tall man collapsed, unconscious.

The scene unfolded in a flash. Before the other men could react, their leader was already on the ground. Without a moment's hesitation, the girl charged at the man with the crew cut. She moved with the agility of a hunting leopard, and before he could gather his wits, a heavy punch landed squarely on his nose. He howled, staggering back as his nasal cavity filled with the metallic tang of blood. A suffocating sensation washed over him; as he gasped for fresh air, the girl struck again with a hand blade to the side of his neck. His vision went black, and he instantly lost the ability to fight.

As for the remaining two, the girl took a deep breath, preparing to charge again, when a sudden wave of dizziness hit her. She looked up and realized that, at some unknown moment, a pitch-black miasma had permeated the air. It swirled like a giant black dragon, shrouding the scene in darkness and mystery. Every human who inhaled the smoke collapsed—Bai Youqing and the two girls were no exception.

Only the adult men remained standing.

"Useless trash, failing at such a trivial task." The robed figure stepped out from behind the Abyssal Shredder, eyeing the scum on the ground with disgust. The magic staff in their hand was emitting thick black smoke; clearly, this fog was their doing. The remaining two men didn't dare argue; they pulled out prepared snake-skin bags and thick ropes to bind the two magical girls.

The robed figure glanced at the unconscious girl with the ponytail, stroking their chin with growing interest. "Take that one who can fight as well. With some training, she might become a pillar of the organization."

The black-clad man looked at the unconscious Bai Youqing with pity. *Why bother?* This was meant to be a performance targeting those two magical girls. You were just supposed to be an extra, but you insisted on playing the lead. Now, congratulations, you've won the full 'protagonist' package.

Bai Yuze knew he could no longer stand by and watch. If he waited any longer, his sister would be dragged away to be 'trained'... and set on his own path.

"Violet Star!"

"Power of Violet, manifest the light of the world!"

"Song of my heart, awaken the rhythm of the stars, serve me, Guardian of the World's Magic."

"Violet—"

As the low, cryptic incantation was chanted, a blinding pale-purple five-pointed star array emerged beneath the emotionless loli’s feet, spinning and activating. The next moment, a slender scythe adorned with violet flowers appeared in her hand. With a light swing, a three-meter-tall deep-purple scythe silhouette formed in the air, wreathed in countless pale-purple butterflies.

The blade seemed to have eyes of its own, slicing toward the hideous, horrific flesh-monsters. As it made contact, a surge of potent magic erupted, sending the two men who were busy packing up flying. They coughed up blood—badly injured, though not dead. The other abyssal monsters were almost entirely wiped out, leaving only the Shredder standing there, looking remarkably well-behaved.

"Oh ho, the magical girl has arrived!" Sensing the powerful magical fluctuations, the robed figure slowly turned, noticing the indifferent girl—or rather, the indifferent loli—standing not far away. "Little girl, this isn't a place for you to interfere. Listen to your elders and go home." Despite the words, the robed figure was on high alert. *As if*, they thought—a magical girl capable of transforming inside a magic-sealing barrier was no ordinary 'little girl.'

Violet said nothing. A wave of deep-purple magical energy rippled from her, spreading outward. The robed figure tried to retreat, but it was too late. Blossoming violets enveloped the girl, the robed figure, and the Shredder, who was attempting to flee.

The next second, all three disappeared...

In a pitch-black, alien dimension, the emotionless loli stood upon a floor of crystal-clear glass. Beneath it lay a bottomless, terrifying abyss.

"Damn flat-chest, what are you trying to do this time!"

The voice appeared and vanished out of thin air, sounding as if it were both miles away and right in front of her. The loli looked in the direction of the voice and finally spotted a figure, both familiar and strange, standing nearby.

The figure wore a princess crown embedded with amethyst, had straight, deep-purple hair, and violet eyes. The familiar, revealing attire—purple stockings hugging long, beautiful legs, silver armor plates shielding the pale mounds of her chest, and profane purple patterns exposed on her abdomen—made her look like a blooming poppy, utterly repulsive.

The purple butterflies fluttering through the sky coalesced into a human form: the Abyssal Elf, Butterfly—the true appearance of the Demon Concubine Phantom Butterfly. Usually, Bai Yuze avoided this form; it was too shameful and depraved.

"Lend me your Butterfly Domain," the emotionless loli said indifferently.

"No