With her new power surging through her body, Lumy raised her elegant silver staff. A deep blue glow enveloped her as she activated her abilities for the first time.

"Aqua Dominion."

A large ring of water materialized around her, shimmering beautifully. With a graceful swing of her staff, the water exploded outward in the form of flowing ribbons and chains, wrapping around multiple beetle monsters at once. The water bindings were surprisingly strong, freezing the monsters in place while slowly crushing their exoskeletons.

"Tidal Restraint."

More streams of water shot out elegantly, coiling around the legs and mandibles of the swarm, immobilizing them with cold precision. Lumy’s movements were refined and controlled, completely different from Sein’s explosive style or Sarah’s flashy attacks.

Andrey immediately seized the opportunity.

He dashed forward with Phantom Step, his Ki Blade glowing brightly. With the monsters restrained by Lumy’s water control, he moved like a blur, slashing through their bodies one after another. Each strike was clean and lethal, cutting through gaps in their armor with ease.

Lumy continued supporting him flawlessly. Every time a monster tried to break free, she would bind it again with flowing water chains. Her crowd control was elegant yet ruthless, freezing joints, creating water whips to disrupt movements, and slowly drowning the monsters in pressurized spheres.

"Aqua Prison."

Several beetles were trapped inside floating spheres of water, struggling helplessly as they drowned. Andrey finished them off with precise Ki strikes.

Working together, their coordination was terrifyingly effective. Lumy’s elegant water control perfectly complemented Andrey’s close-range combat style. Within minutes, the swarm of beetle monsters that had nearly overwhelmed them was reduced to piles of broken shells and black ichor.

The last monster let out a dying screech as Andrey’s Ki Blade pierced through its core.

Silence finally returned to the dark forest.

Lumy lowered her staff, breathing slightly heavier but looking composed. The deep blue Magical Girl outfit flowed elegantly around her body, accentuating her figure with every movement. The high slits of her dress revealed her smooth thighs, still slightly stained with blood from her earlier wound.

Andrey lowered his blade and looked at her.

"...Not bad for your first time," he said, a hint of approval in his voice.

Lumy looked down at her hands, then at the staff. A complex expression crossed her face, a mix of awe, determination, and lingering sadness.

"So this... is the power of a Magical Girl," she whispered.

She then looked at Andrey, her voice steady once more. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Let’s keep moving. Felix is still waiting."

Andrey nodded at Lumy’s words.

"Agreed. Let’s keep moving."

The two of them advanced deeper into the dark, twisted forest. The purple glow from the trees cast eerie shadows around them. After walking for several minutes, a loud, heavy chittering sound echoed from ahead.

From the darkness emerged a significantly larger monster, a massive insect creature resembling a giant stag beetle, easily three times the size of the previous ones. Its glossy black exoskeleton was thicker, with sharp, spear-like horns on its head and powerful mandibles that dripped with corrosive fluid.

Andrey’s eyes narrowed as he activated his passive skill to analyze it.

"...This one’s different," he muttered. "Its weak point is the joint under its neck and the gap behind its head."

Without wasting time, Andrey dashed forward using Phantom Step. He appeared beside the giant beetle and unleashed a powerful Ki Blade strike aimed precisely at the weak joint under its neck.

Slash!

The blade cut deep, causing purple sap to spray out violently. The monster roared in pain and swung its massive horn toward him.

Lumy raised her staff, sending streams of water to restrain its legs.

"Aqua Dominion!"

Water chains wrapped around the monster’s limbs, slowing its movement. However, even with her new power, Lumy frowned.

"...It’s still so hard," she said, her voice tense. "Even my water pressure isn’t piercing its armor easily."

Andrey dodged another heavy swing and countered with a series of rapid slashes, focusing all his attacks on the weak points he had identified. Sparks flew every time his Ki Blade struck the thick exoskeleton, but he was slowly chipping away at it.

The giant beetle roared and released a cloud of corrosive mist from its back, forcing both of them to retreat temporarily.

Lumy created a water barrier to block the mist while speaking.

"Its defense is on another level compared to the smaller ones. We need to be careful."

Andrey stood ready beside her, breathing steadily as he prepared for the next exchange.

"Understood. I’ll draw its attention. Support me with your water control."

The massive stag beetle-like monster screeched and charged at them again, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground.

Andrey and Lumy moved in sync, launching a coordinated assault on the giant stag beetle monster.

Andrey dashed forward with Phantom Step, slashing at its legs with his Ki Blade while Lumy supported him from behind.

"Aqua Dominion!"

Streams of water coiled around the monster’s limbs, slowing its movements and creating openings. Andrey exploited them perfectly, landing several deep cuts on its joints.

But the monster suddenly let out a deafening screech. Its body began glowing bright red as corrosive red smoke poured out from gaps in its exoskeleton. Its movements became faster and more violent, it had entered a berserk state.

It ignored Andrey and charged straight toward Lumy with terrifying speed, its massive horn aimed at her.

"Lumy!!" Andrey shouted.

He used Phantom Step at maximum output and appeared in front of her just in time. He shoved her aside and took the full force of the charge. The monster’s horn slammed into his chest, sending him flying backward. He crashed hard into a tree, coughing up blood.

"Your opponent... is me!" Andrey growled, forcing himself back up.

He charged again, drawing the monster’s aggression. Lumy quickly recovered and raised her staff.

"Tidal Restraint!"

Thick chains of water wrapped around the monster’s body, trying to slow it down. Andrey used the opening to attack relentlessly, but even with his enhanced power, the monster’s berserk state made its defense almost impenetrable.

"It’s still not enough!" Andrey shouted.

Lumy’s eyes sharpened. She poured more mana into her staff.

"Aqua Prison – Maximum Output!"

A large sphere of highly pressurized water trapped the monster’s head and upper body, momentarily restricting its movement. In that exact moment, Andrey pulled out his pistol, infused it with concentrated Ki, and aimed at the weak joint behind the monster’s head.

Bang—!!

The Ki-infused bullet shot forward like a blue comet and struck the exact weak point. A powerful explosion erupted inside the monster’s body.

The giant stag beetle let out one final, ear-splitting screech before its massive body collapsed with a thunderous crash. Its red glow faded as it turned into black ash and scattered.

Both Andrey and Lumy breathed heavily, lowering their guards.

"...Finally," Andrey muttered, wiping blood from his mouth.

Lumy exhaled in relief, her shoulders relaxing for the first time.

But then a loud, human scream echoed from deeper within the forest.

"AAAAAAAAHH!!"

Lumy’s eyes widened instantly. Her face turned pale with recognition.

"Felix...?" she whispered, voice trembling.