Chương 28: The End

"Alright, now is not the time to make a scene." Seeing Yin Xue losing ground under Liu Li's barrage of questions, Xing Shuang finally spoke up to interrupt.

"You can find out about that... Brother Yinxue anytime, but for now, let's focus on dealing with the Void Beast in front of us."

Upon hearing Xing Shuang's words, Liu Li stopped what she was doing, took a half step back with a cold smile, and said, "Senior Dwarf certainly knows how to smooth things over at the right time."

"Who are you calling a little dwarf!" Xing Shuang jumped up like a cat with its fur standing on end. She never expected that the words she used to tease Su Yuqing when they set off would now become a boomerang piercing her.

Liuli snorted lightly, "Whoever jumps in the gun is the one who gets angry." She raised her chin defiantly, but when she saw Xingshuang's expression of barely suppressed anger, a hint of regret flashed in her eyes.

"She's just a child..." Xing Shuang closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "just an ignorant child..." When she opened her eyes again, a perfect smile even appeared on her lips.

"As per the original plan, you will take the lead in the attack, and I will provide support. Those inexperienced small fry will not have a chance to disturb you."

"And then you wait until we make a complete fool of ourselves before you go up and clean up the mess?" Liuli blurted out, her expression immediately changing drastically. This sentence was more cutting than any of her previous ones, and even she herself was startled.

—What am I saying?!

Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the staff, her knuckles turning white from the excessive force. A hint of panic flashed in her deep blue eyes, and her lips trembled slightly as she tried to salvage the situation, but she stubbornly bit her lower lip.

—It's happening again... I didn't want to...

"Liuli..." Yin Xue's panicked gaze darted back and forth between the two of them. For a moment, she didn't know what to say. Her outstretched hand hovered in mid-air, as if she wanted to comfort her, but was afraid that any unnecessary action would cause an argument.

"It's alright." Xing Shuang suddenly chuckled. She raised her hand to stop Yin Xue's explanation, and then, under the astonished gazes of the two, she tiptoed and flicked her finger on Liu Li's brow.

"Idiots." Her voice was unexpectedly gentle.

"I let you take the lead because I believe in your abilities, not because I want to see you make a fool of yourselves."

This sudden act of affection completely stunned Liuli. The lingering touch on her forehead reminded her of a long time ago when her beloved grandmother would gently flick her forehead when she made a mistake.

Thinking of that afternoon that can never be returned to, a sudden wave of bitterness welled up in her nose.

"... Anyone can say nice things." She abruptly turned her face away, her voice no longer sharp, but instead tinged with a barely perceptible sob, "If we mess this up, you'll definitely be the first one—"

"No way." Xing Shuang interrupted her decisively, her deep purple eyes flashing with unwavering determination.

"I trust Yin Xue's judgment in choosing a partner."

She paused, her voice softening further: "I also believe in... you, who dared to charge at the Void Beast even when your magic was completely depleted, in order to protect your companions."

These words struck Liuli's heart like a straight punch. She turned frantically and rushed towards the virtual beast: "Whatever! If you're going to help, hurry up!"

As she rushed out, she heard Xing Shuang's cheerful reply from behind: "Yes, ma'am~" Liuli clenched her fists, suppressing the surging emotions deep within her heart. She transformed into a deep blue stream of light and rushed towards the enormous void beast. The staff in her hand shone with unprecedented brilliance, as if she wanted to unleash all her pent-up emotions onto the enemy.

—Just this once, anyway...

—In the end, you will all show your true colors.

Liuli didn't see it. When she turned around, Xingshuang looked at her back and a gentle ripple appeared in her eyes.

What a troublesome junior.

--but......

The pink-gold magic beam arrived first, precisely clearing all obstacles in the path of the glass-like charge.

—Who told me to be an 'outstanding senior'?

"Senior Xingshuang, please don't blame her..." Yinxue stepped forward, cautiously trying to defend Liuli.

"I don't know why she's like this. She treats every senior colleague the same way. I've tried to persuade her many times, but it's no use." Her voice trailed off, like a child who had done something wrong.

"Is it like this with all the seniors?" Xing Shuang keenly grasped this information, confirming her suspicions. She gently patted Yin Xue's head: "Go, your partner needs you."

Yin Xue breathed a sigh of relief, bowed solemnly to Xing Shuang, and then turned to join the battle to protect Liu Li.

The Queen of the Void Ants noticed the enemy's new movements and let out a piercing screech. Now it had to face two magical girls with full magic power and perfect teamwork, while it had basically lost its ability to move. Not only had its abdomen lost the protection of its carapace, but most of its hatching chamber had also been destroyed.

Although it could continue to put up a stubborn fight thanks to its massive body and the protection of its remaining carapace, the outcome of this battle was already predetermined—once the carapace protecting the energy core was destroyed, it would surely die.

Starfrost hovered in mid-air, and wherever her wand pointed, the nascent Void Beasts there were instantly wiped out. Her gaze followed the blue figure, lost in thought.

Such patience and attitude seem to be outside the requirements of the task.

"What?" Xing Shuang raised an eyebrow slightly, firing a precise shot that pierced through the juvenile virtual beast attempting to ambush Liu Li.

"Didn't you want me to be an 'excellent magical girl senior'?"

[I'm just curious why the host is being so lenient with her.]

"Because she deserves it." Xing Shuang watched Liu Li's fighting figure and silently responded in her heart, "How bad could a child who is willing to risk her life to protect others be at heart?"

But her attitude was clearly there—

"There is indeed a problem, but I think it stems from fear," Xing Shuang interrupted.

"Just like a child who has been scalded will instinctively avoid a kettle of hot water, she subconsciously uses this attitude to keep people around her away from her."

Based on the current situation, it is incomprehensible why the host is so certain of her true nature.

"Look," Starfrost's wand traced a graceful arc, pointing to Glass in the distance, "she could have stayed in the back, but she always rushed to the front; she could have protected herself, but she always risked danger to protect others."

Her gaze followed Liuli as she executed a beautiful spinning slash. The trajectory of the ice blade was so resolute, as if it were severing some unseen shackles.

This only proves her courage.

"No, this proves she'd rather get hurt herself than see others hurt. Why would someone like that wrap herself in thorns?"

[What the host means]

"She must have experienced deep hurt." Xing Shuang's voice lowered.

"It could be betrayal, it could be abandonment... In short, there was more than one person who made her believe that 'seniors' and 'adults' were unreliable."

So you plan to...

"Take it slow." Xing Shuang looked at Liu Li, who was panting but still stood stubbornly straight, and the pity in her eyes deepened.

"At least let her know that not all seniors will leave."

"It's not my fault that this child has become like this..." Her voice suddenly softened, "but letting her continue to hurt herself with thorns is my biggest dereliction of duty as a senior."

Under the combined attack of Liuli and Yinxue, cracks finally appeared in the queen ant's carapace. Xingshuang seized the opportunity and shattered it completely with a precise beam of magic, exposing the deep purple energy core.

Liuli seized the opportunity, her ice blade slicing through the air in a graceful arc, cleaving the ant queen in two. The ant queen let out a final hiss, her crimson compound eyes dimmed completely, and her massive body collapsed like a sand tower.

[Task Completed] [From now on, during the punishment period, the host can freely revert to their original form.] Upon hearing the system notification, Xing Shuang smiled slightly.

The illusory bubble burst with a roar, and sunlight once again shone on the three girls, gilding them with a warm golden edge.

The surroundings changed instantly, and the traces of the battle vanished without a trace—what was destroyed before was merely a replica of the real world. As long as the infiltration process was not completed, everything that happened inside the virtual bubble would not have any impact on the real world.

Liuli slowly landed on the ground, panting heavily, but still stubbornly straightened her back. Watching the gradually dissipating phantom beast, a relieved smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.

Starfrost put away her wand and gazed gently at the back of the figure that was trying to appear strong.

She knew it would take a long time to melt this frozen heart, but the sun was shining brightly right now, and they had countless tomorrows to take their time.

"In any case, let's start by getting closer to her."