Dark-colored Fairy Tale: Seven Magicians - Chapter 73: The Strain of Vigilance

Chapter 73: The Strain of Vigilance

Time ticked by slowly. The passing days wore down Li Qiuyu and filled Chloe with an increasing sense of anxiety. All Chloe could do was repeatedly reinforce the defensive barriers around Liu Menglu. Five days passed without a single demonic sighting. Yang Shishi seemed to have vanished into thin air. Chloe had visited the Yang family’s Taoist temple during this time, finding it completely normal. Their talismans were harmless and infused with protective magic by elderly magical girls. After a thorough investigation, Chloe was forced to resume her routine of patrolling the neighborhoods, schools, and homes.

“Nothing yet?” Li Qiuyu rubbed her throbbing temples. Her mind was a hazy mess. She and her deputy, Li Shu, were the only ones on her team who met the demon’s criteria of being under 18 and having excellent grades. The burden of protecting the potential victims fell squarely on their shoulders. Since they couldn’t be in multiple places at once, they had arranged for experienced magical girls to stand guard, while they traveled between the students’ locations, fearing they might miss the demon’s attempt to lure a victim. This constant vigilance had left them both utterly exhausted.

“Captain, you should rest,” Li Shu urged. “You haven’t slept properly in days. In our state, we might not have the energy to fight the demon even if we find it.” But Li Qiuyu was stubborn. Her greatest belief was to never let a demon harm ordinary people. She couldn’t rest as long as this monster was still on the loose.

A Sudden Attack

Just as they were talking, a powerful demonic aura suddenly erupted. Li Qiuyu was instantly on high alert. Without hesitation, she launched her Flaming Wheel and catapulted toward the source of the aura.

Li Shu, who didn’t have a flying talisman, could only jump on her motorcycle and follow close behind. She sped down the streets, but as she passed an alleyway, an intense pain shot from her brain to her limbs. In an instant, she became rigid, unable to move, and fell heavily off her bike. The loud crash drew the attention of passersby, and someone immediately called for an ambulance. Amidst the chaos, no one noticed a tall, cloaked figure pull its hood over its face and slip away.

Li Qiuyu, unaware of what had happened, arrived at her destination. She found one of the girls they were monitoring, her face pale with terror, as a three-meter-tall demon, resembling a terrifying baby doll, advanced toward her. The other magical girls who had been assigned to protect the girl were nowhere to be found.

…

The Sinister Doll

With time of the essence, Li Qiuyu drew her White Emperor Sword and charged at the demon. The demon, taken by surprise, tilted its head in confusion. Li Qiuyu took the opportunity to get a good look at it. The demon looked like a chubby New Year’s baby doll, with two round buns on its head and bright red cheeks. But its sinister grin sent a shiver down Li Qiuyu’s spine.

The girl on the ground was too terrified to even scream, paralyzed with fear. Li Qiuyu wouldn’t allow a demon to harm a person in her presence. After confirming there were no other demons nearby, she swung her sword in a graceful arc, aiming for the demon’s neck. Her speed was immense, and the sword hit its mark before the demon could react. But instead of the satisfying cut she expected, the White Emperor Sword let out a pained shriek, and a powerful shockwave reverberated through Li Qiuyu’s hand. She immediately jumped back. It was like striking a solid block of titanium. She had only created a spark, and there wasn’t a single scratch on the demon’s neck.

…

The Final Strike

Despite her surprise at the demon’s durability, Li Qiuyu didn’t hesitate. She shifted her target to the demon’s core, located in its chest. She knew that if she could destroy it, she would win.

The doll demon laughed menacingly and swatted at her sword, knocking it away. It then reached out to grab her, but Li Qiuyu was too nimble. The Flaming Wheel on her feet flared up, scorching the demon’s arm as she dodged. The demon shrieked, a piercing cry that sounded like a baby wailing. The cry briefly scattered Li Qiuyu’s concentration, and in that instant, the demon grabbed her ankle and slammed her against a nearby wall.

“Cough, cough,” Li Qiuyu said, wiping bl00d from the corner of her mouth as she got up. She looked at the demon with a grim expression. She finally realized what was wrong: her powers were weaker. A normal demon would have been charred by her flames, but this one’s arm was completely unharmed.

Before she could process what was happening, the demon was already charging at her. Li Qiuyu didn’t run. Instead, she put her sword in front of her chest and charged head-on, fearless. She was a magical girl of Huaxia, and she feared nothing. As the demon swung its arm to crush her, Li Qiuyu suddenly vanished and reappeared behind it. Her long sword was a flash of lightning as she thrust it directly into the doll’s back. She felt the tip of her sword hit something solid—the demon’s core. She knew she was so close to victory.

Without hesitation, Li Qiuyu thrust her sword with all her might.

CRACK.