novelraw Chapter 260 The Sun Also Rises
Chapter 260 The Sun Also Rises
Chapter 260 The Sun Also Rises
The shadow that had enveloped the city was slowly receding, like a thick, suffocating curtain, gradually withdrawing inward. At first, only the edges that had spread out showed subtle changes, as if being pulled by an invisible force. The outline of the shadow was no longer as sharp as before, but became blurred.
Gradually, the shadows began to fade more quickly.
Light began to seep into the streets that had been completely swallowed by shadows, and the buildings that had been shrouded in darkness revealed their true forms.
In the dim light, Qiu Yun watched this scene with a look of surprise and doubt.
She didn't know exactly what was happening, but she could clearly feel that the energy of the shadow was fading.
It was as if something had cut off the supply of these energies at the source, and now the large area of shadow in front of us was slowly shrinking like the receding tide.
Those ordinary people who were swallowed up also returned to reality as the shadow faded.
First, there was a blurry outline, as if it were merging from another dimension. Then, the details of the body gradually became clear, and their faces and clothes slowly became real.
People were still gripped by the terror of their disappearance, but then the warm light shone on their faces.
As if waking from a deep dream, everyone was stunned and at a loss.
The shadows returned to their feet, stretching longer on the ground as the sunlight fell, as if they were a link that allowed them to reconnect with the real world.
"What happened?"
A child's question rang out from the crowd.
Then, the sound acted like a fuse, igniting people's stagnant thoughts, and the noise spread rapidly like a plague.
Everyone's face showed the joy of surviving a disaster.
"It's alright, we're saved!"
"The sun has risen!"
"Magical girl, look, it's a magical girl!"
"A magical girl saved us!"
On the street, people looked around in surprise, seemingly still wondering if it was all real. Some people hugged each other excitedly, while others spotted Qiu Yun not far away.
Watching the people emerge from the shadows one by one, Qiu Yun let out a long breath after a few seconds of hesitation.
(Qiu Yun... *sizzle*... Qiu Yun:)
Shangguan Su's voice came through the headset.
(...buzz...can you hear me...)
Qiu Yun gently raised her hand and placed it beside her ear.
"Ah, I heard it very clearly."
(Did you see that...? The shadow... really... disappeared?)
"Yes."
Qiu Yun looked up at the slowly rising sun and a smile appeared on her lips.
"Although I don't know what happened, the shadow is indeed fading."
Children played in the street, their laughter ringing out clearly.
The sun rises in the eastern sky.
Golden light spilled over every corner of the city, gilding the skyscrapers with a golden edge, and casting dappled shadows on the trees under the sunlight.
As light returned, everything returned to normal, and the entire city regained its vitality.
The headquarters of the Bureau of Demonic Investigations was in complete disarray.
Shangguan Su sat on the steps, her heart finally at ease. Beside her, a medical detective was bandaging her arm with a first-aid kit.
The surrounding agents breathed a sigh of relief, but they did not stop their work. Perhaps it was safe outside, but the damage to headquarters was real.
"It was a really long night."
"Yes, but we made it through."
A corner of the operations room.
Unlike the others, Qin Nan held her phone with a tense expression, as if waiting for something.
Little Grey seemed to know Qin Nan's worries and stood quietly on her shoulder.
After an unknown amount of time, in Qin Nan's daze, she suddenly noticed a black shadow flash by on her phone screen and nod slightly at her.
Qin Nan was startled at first, but then quickly realized what was happening.
"Yay!!"
The girl's laughter echoed in the operations room.
A sudden shout silenced the entire room—almost everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to look at her, their faces full of confusion.
After a moment of excitement, Qin Nan scratched his head somewhat awkwardly.
"Um... well... I'm a bit slow to react..."
The agents looked at each other, then simultaneously shifted their attention away from Qin Nan and resumed their work, making the operations room noisy again.
Looking at Qin Nan's embarrassed face, Shangguan Su couldn't help but shake her head with a smile.
"Finally, it's over..."
"Really? The Shadow Clan is finished?"
On the rooftop, gazing at the shadowy energy gradually receding and disappearing into the cracks of the surface world, Chang Lei slowly turned his head and looked at Tang Zijun with a strange expression.
"Although I'd like to say that too, the reality is that only the shadow corridor was damaged." Tang Zijun sat on the edge of the rooftop.
He said in a deep voice.
Chang Lei frowned slightly. "What exactly happened back then?"
"It's hard to explain... To put it simply, all of this is a plan set up by the Shadow Woman around Tan Zhixin. Whether it's corrupting ordinary people or polluting magical girls, it's just a trailer. Her real target has always been Tan Zhixin."
Tang Zijun said softly, "The shadow power that invades reality all originates from this. When I saved Tan Zhixin, the source of the shadow was cut off, and this shadow power will naturally turn into rootless duckweed."
"It's unbelievable that that little snake could unleash such power." Chang Lei clicked his tongue. "Not only domestically, but major cities around the world have been corrupted by the shadows. This kind of ability... wow."
"Perhaps the power of shadow isn't as weak as we imagine." Tang Zijun gently shook his head, then raised his palm, blocking the sunlight from his gaze. "Light or shadow, power itself is neither right nor wrong."
"You're right, but it's best not to let anyone else hear you, otherwise those magical girls will gang up on you. You really scared them this time."
Chang Lei grinned and continued.
"The commotion this time is much bigger than when the Tree of Life fell."
When the Fallen Day occurred, it was only noticed by those with extraordinary talents. But this time, the threat descended directly upon everyone, affecting not only ordinary people but also heretics and demons.
Unlike ordinary people, the heretical demons devoured by the shadows are not returned intact. Lacking a mind and born from negative energy, they vanish without a trace after being absorbed by the shadows, leaving only dark crystals.
If the previous incidents were just minor skirmishes, this disaster, which has swept across the entire world, has made everyone take the existence of magical girls and evil creatures seriously.
After today, evil creatures will no longer be just demons descending upon large cities, but a disaster that could threaten everyone at any moment.
"If those shadows really do cover reality, we probably won't be able to see through mirror reflections anymore, which would essentially cut off the path to a reversed world."
"Fortunately, the others don't know the details of this disaster. Otherwise, if they knew that this catastrophe was caused by a magical girl, the whole world would be shaken up again."
At this point, Chang Lei looked at Tang Zijun with curiosity.
"By the way, how about Tan Zhixin? Is she alright?"
"She's alright. I've taken her back to the Tree of Life. Please ask Ruosi and the other flower fairies to take care of her," Tang Zijun replied. "Although she's still unconscious, she should be out of danger."
"It's good that she's alive. However, she had already lost the power to transform, and now she's suffered this calamity. I'm afraid it will be difficult for her to use magic again in the future." Chang Lei sighed. "Not necessarily."
Upon hearing this, Chang Lei looked at Tang Zijun with some surprise.
Then Tang Zijun continued.
"It could be considered a blessing in disguise. That battle back then caused irreversible damage to Tan Zhixin's body, but the damage did not affect her shadow."
Upon hearing this, Chang Lei's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean...?"
"Ah." Tang Zijun nodded slightly. "After the Shadow Woman corrupted Tan Zhixin, she fused her body with her shadow. During this process, Tan Zhixin's scars were healed, and even the magic power within her showed signs of recovery."
"Does that mean she can transform into a magical girl again?" Chang Lei looked at Tang Zijun in surprise, but then he frowned.
"No, if I remember correctly, the Rainbow Crystal Flower cannot be defiled. She should have been corrupted during the process of merging with the shadow."
"That's how it is in theory," Tang Zijun nodded, then took out a black card and waved it in front of Chang Lei. "However, when I saved Tan Zhixin, I had already absorbed all those shadows."
"So the theory is in your hands." Chang Lei's lips twitched, and he took the card from Tang Zijun's hand and examined it curiously.
On the black card, the deep hole has disappeared, replaced by a town shrouded in torrential rain. Lightning and thunder occasionally streak across the sky, and amidst the light and shadow, a huge shadow looms over the city.
Carefully observing and sensing the card in his hand, Chang Lei could still perceive the terrifying energy contained within it, even without experiencing it firsthand.
"So, you've gained new power?"
"Using 'new power' to describe it is not accurate."
Tang Zijun stood up, supporting himself on the steps, and gazed calmly at the city. In his eyes, a golden light and a black light slowly swirled.
Two elements occupied Tang Zijun's two pupils respectively, their strange forces pulling at each other, yet remaining distinct even as they merged.
After a brief pause, Tang Zijun turned around.
"I think I've... discovered a great secret about the use of power."