NOVEL NEXT Chapter 11 - First battle, a perfect ending!
“Roar?!”
Seeing the magical girl Firebird standing before it, the giant bat was stunned, not daring to take a single step closer.
It couldn’t comprehend what had just happened—how did that human girl suddenly transform into this form?
Moreover, why did she now pose a threat that warned it of death if it dared to approach further?
“…”
“Boom!”
“Screech!!!”
Before the giant bat could even finish its thoughts, the first attack from the magical girl Firebird was already launched—a giant bird engulfed in flames, screeching as it shot out from Firebird’s fist.
“Boom!”
With just a single strike, it inflicted massive damage! The flaming bird slammed the giant bat down from the sky, smashing it into the ground and creating a large crater.
After this, WuYue didn’t spare the giant bat another glance. Instead, she turned, knelt beside the unconscious YouYu, and placed her warm, glowing, red-yellow hand on his face.
“… Don’t worry,” she whispered softly.
“I will… save you.”
Though WuYue didn’t fully understand what she had done to transform into her current state, she could sense the immense power she now wielded.
This power could be used both to destroy and to protect.
Right now, she’s trying to use this power to pull YouYu back from the brink of death.
“Humm—”
Under WuYue’s control, the yellow-red light gradually spread from YouYu’s face to the rest of his body.
His expression shifted from a peaceful calm to one of furrowed brows.
“Cough! Cough!”
A minute later, perhaps due to her efforts, YouYu regained consciousness.
However, after waking up, his expression seemed more pained than before.
“YouYu?! YouYu?! Are you alright?!”
Seeing him sit up, WuYue shook his shoulders, her voice filled with excitement and relief.
“Uh… I think I’m okay now, but I’m still a bit dizzy. Could you maybe stop shaking me for a moment…”
“Ah! Sorry, sorry!”
WuYue smiled apologetically as she withdrew her hands.
Then, after a moment of silence, she looked at YouYu—whose wounds had healed but still seemed unwell—and spoke with deep guilt and regret:
“Sorry… I let you get so badly hurt just now.”
“If I had been stronger back then… this wouldn’t have happened.”
“…No, you don’t need to blame yourself like that… It’s not about being strong or not. After all, facing a monster like that, it’s understandable we couldn’t escape… it’s something beyond our control.”
“But… let’s set that aside for now. WuYue, it really is you, right? What’s going on with you… this form you’ve taken?”
Hearing YouYu’s question, WuYue shook her head and replied:
“I don’t know either… It’s just that… when you were about to die, a voice suddenly emerged from deep within me, asking about my wish.”
“And… I answered it.”
“Then, after it said I had the qualifications to become a magical girl—”
“I became like this.”
“And apparently… I’m called Magical Girl Firebird.”
“Uh… I see.”
YouYu shook his head, seemingly deep in thought, but soon, his expression reverted to one of unbearable pain.
Seeing him like this, Firebird anxiously tried to continue healing him, but he stopped her.
“…I just need a moment to catch my breath. Anyway! Uh, you should go deal with that bat! You should be able to handle it now, right?”
“If we let it escape, that would be bad.”
“But that bat can’t move for now, and your injuries…”
“…I am really thankful for your concern, WuYue.”
Seeing WuYue frown, YouYu managed a smile and held one of her hands.
He said, “But… right now, there are others—more people who need help.”
“Don’t worry… I’m not about to waste my life like this. Your healing has already taken care of most of my wounds.”
“It’s just… I need some time to regain my strength.”
“…”
“Okay.”
After a moment of silence, WuYue nodded, accepting his reasoning.
She then gently helped YouYu, who was sitting on the ground, to a spot where he could stay dry from the rain.
“Alright, you stay here.”
“I’ll go take care of that giant bat and then come back for you.”
“…Wait!”
Just before she left, YouYu called out to her.
“…Even though I know that with your current strength, dealing with that bat won’t be a problem, there’s still something I need to say.”
“Stay safe.”
“Ah…”
Hearing YouYu’s words, WuYue was momentarily stunned.
Then, she smiled and replied:
“Okay.”
With a light leap, she left.
————
“Thud.”
As she landed, she arrived at the place where the giant bat had been knocked down.
It was only now that she could calm down and start to think about everything that had happened, both now and earlier.
“What exactly is this monster?”
Why did it suddenly appear and attack humans?
Moreover… because of it, she had inexplicably turned into a “magical girl.”
What was that voice in her heart?
Why did that voice say she had the “quality” to become a magical girl?
“……”
After frowning and thinking for a while, WuYue decided not to dwell on it any longer.
She couldn’t come up with any answers right now.
It was better to deal with this monster quickly and return to YouYu’s side.
Besides… she had plenty of time to explore these questions later.
“Huff…”
Taking a deep breath and looking at the giant bat, which was on the brink of death in the pit, WuYue’s expression became resolute as she raised her right fist high.
Then, she swung her fist forward.
“Whoosh!”
Flames erupted instantly from her fist, charging towards the bat’s body.
“Roar—!”
The bat’s body was engulfed in flames, burning for over a minute until it turned into purple particles and dissipated.
After the bat vanished, the destruction it had caused was mysteriously restored…
“Oh… that’s quite convenient.”
It seemed that the monster held many more secrets.
“…Never mind, let’s not think about it too much for now!”
“Now that it’s been dealt with…”
Time to hurry back and bring YouYu home!
That’s the important thing!
With this thought, WuYue’s face brightened with a smile once more. She leapt again, heading back towards YouYu.
Seeing this, the blue-haired girl hiding in the shadows, clutching the necklace around her neck, also relaxed her grip.
“That girl… made this battle end perfectly.”
Well then.
There is no need for her to step in after all.