Chapter 131
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: Poison Apple
The Snow White Witch.
I have no idea what correlation there is between a witch's strength and her name, but anyone saddled with the title "Snow White" is clearly no ordinary foe.
Just borrowing a fraction of her power, and it's already radiating this much menace.
The sheer force emanating from it surpasses even that single tentacle the Deep Sea Witch unleashed.
Every single one of those pristine white eyes brimmed with mana and killing intent—they weren't mere eyes anymore; they were weapons of war.
Manipulating water is the nymphs' domain.
And the Snow White Witch had amplified that ability, transforming it into these white eyes.
"No way... that white lunatic... no, that crazy bitch?"
Even in this dire situation, the Red Cape stuck to her concept.
I figured if she dropped the speech pattern, her magic might fizzle out.
"If my guess is right... that's the Snow White Witch-nya."
Being a witch herself, she could recognize the power on sight.
So my hunch was spot-on—it really was the Snow White Witch.
After tumbling around this world a few times, I could pretty much predict what kind of name would pop up.
"She used to be in the same Night Witch faction as me... hmm, but she was pretty high up there-nya. Maybe on my level, or even stronger-nya..."
I stared hard at the Red Cape.
If she was really on par with the Snow White Witch, I could probably handle this solo.
Plus, this wasn't the witch herself—just someone wielding borrowed power.
Of course, there was no way the Red Cape was her equal.
Dialogue like that was standard for someone several ranks below.
"If it's just power from a contract, it shouldn't be a huge issue, but those guys have great synergy with it-nya. They're definitely pulling off more than double what a normal contractor could-nya!"
Great synergy.
Yeah, it showed.
The Snow White power had essentially transferred to water-wielding nymphs.
Shwaaaaa!
"Truly beautiful, Dabih."
"Indeed, Vega. It shines just like you do."
With their sappy exchange, the ice crystals began spinning even faster.
They'd formed a wagon-wheel shape, and the enemies seemed thrilled by it.
"Ahh, the authority of Snow White!"
I glared at the ice crystals.
They reeked of ominous power at first glance.
"Caw."
I hadn't planned to use it yet.
Night Summoning LV1
"Swung!"
At my signal, Swungswung pulled out the gems he'd snagged this time from his bosom.
There were a few officially given by the queen, but also some "relocated for the greater good."
The green gem has become your offering.
You designate your domain.
Your current domain is the heart of the Green Forest.
Look closely.
And don't tell a soul!
Twilight descends.
"Caaaaaw!"
Twilight had descended.
Twilight Feather LV3 temporarily surpasses its limits.
Twilight Feather LV10
"Ho... so this is your power?"
"Mm, that sensation from before... a power that reshapes the night. Honestly, it caught me off guard a bit. But Dabih, I don't think it'll beat us."
"You're right, my love. Impressive, but that's all it is. So what if a few feathers turn crimson...?"
Their words cut off there.
Dozens of feathers had launched straight at them.
Screeeee!
"What...!"
No one could stay calm after the first hit.
Each feather was as sharp as a honed blade.
"The authority of Snow White!"
Dabih and Vega hurriedly spun their pre-made wagon wheel.
Kagagagak!
The massive spinning ice crystals let out a roar.
They froze my Twilight Feathers on contact, then ground them to dust with their rotation.
Kagagak!
The frozen Twilight Feathers plummeted to the ground.
"Caw."
I smacked my beak lightly.
These guys' abilities could permanently damage my feathers, just like the cockatrice.
They'd regrow eventually, but losing feathers I couldn't reuse was a killer blow.
Clashing head-on with their power wasn't ideal; better to flank and exploit openings.
"Ho, to wield such ability. No wonder you dared come this far."
"Indeed. Not bad at all. Bird that devours the night."
Dabih and Vega gloated over blocking my attack.
But they'd slipped up.
They'd focused solely on defending against me, ignoring the other threats here.
Light gathered in my pumpkin-colored crest feathers.
And before they could react, it burst forth in tricolored brilliance.
Fwaaaah!
"Kugh!"
"You think a cheap trick like this will...?"
The sudden flash stole their vision.
Just for a split second, and it wouldn't deal lethal damage, obviously.
Quaaa...
I could see water pooling at the impacted spots.
They were using their ability to heal.
But the point of the flash wasn't the eyes.
It generated a massive amount of light.
And with that much light came shadows to match.
Tzztztzt.
Dabih and Vega, fixated on me and the Red Cape, overlooked one key player.
They had no choice, really.
They were hovering midair, and striking at that height was no easy feat.
They had to prioritize me with my ranged attacks or the Red Cape, mistaken for a witch.
My flash had ballooned their shadows.
And using those shadows as a medium, a big bad wolf seized their rear in an instant.
"Sloppy."
She sneered, activating Shadow Bind.
Shwaaaaa!
Dabih and Vega's shadows morphed into tentacle-like restraints, wrapping around them.
Kwagagagak!
The ice crystals spun furiously.
Shadows were normally immune to physical hits, but Shadow Bind gained substance.
Meaning their counter could shatter it.
"Caw! Caw! Caw!"
I fired off three flashes in a row.
Each burst of intense light let Black Wolf keep spawning shadows to bind them.
Even if they could strike the shadows, they couldn't fend off an endless supply.
"Urgh...!"
If it were the Snow White Witch herself or innate power, no issue.
But this was borrowed might from the witch.
Spamming it had to take a toll.
Kwaaaaak!
They kept smashing the Shadow Binds, but for one brief moment, they faltered.
A split second meaningless to most—but not to us.
"The entire history of magical girls is the history of class struggle."
The Red Cape chanted her spell at breakneck speed.
"All we've lost is our collars!"
...Hadn't that incantation changed a bit?
"Unite, nya!"
"Groooar!"
The moisture-laden cookie men charged en masse.
The Red Cape dashed toward them.
Flash!
At blinding speed, she "borrowed" their aid—by stepping on them—and launched into the air.
Thus, she rocketed straight to Dabih and Vega's position.
They nullified the Shadow Bind again, but the Red Cape was already closing in.
Kwagagagak!
The massive ice-wheel was too busy blocking Twilight Feathers.
A giant hammer and sickle.
Weapons mismatched to her tiny frame slashed diagonally.
Screeeee!
The Red Cape was a close-combat witch.
Even grazing those brutal tools would be fatal.
Kwaaaaaang!
A thunderous boom echoed.
Crack-cra-crack!
Something shattered.
Her strike had landed.
But the Red Cape's expression soured.
"Hah... hahaha..."
"Startled you, Dabih."
"Tell me about it. To push us this hard while we're channeling her power."
Dabih and Vega were unscathed.
What the Red Cape had struck had turned to ice statue mid-swing.
Snow White Witch's power again, no doubt.
Not a total loss, though.
Now I knew more about their abilities.
I hadn't expected an easy win anyway.
"Tch, tough bastards."
"What a shame-nya..."
Black Wolf and the Red Cape landed, glaring at the foes.
"Impressive! Our raw power dwarfs yours, yet your coordination nearly had us."
"A fine fight. Now I see why she wanted us to capture you."
Sweat beaded on Dabih and Vega's foreheads.
Sweating while using Snow White's power meant it strained their bodies.
So a prolonged battle favored us.
"But you can't win."
"Why would we just stand there and take it?"
Ignoring our responses, Dabih and Vega continued their banter.
"Good synergy, but you're the linchpin, right? And unfortunately, you're a feathered one."
"We've got your abilities pegged. Twilight-summoning, feather control, tricolor flash."
Just as I'd analyzed them, they'd analyzed me.
Since they could seal feathers.
Seal these powers, and no more of that combo.
No combos meant harder to land hits, lowering our odds.
"Well then..."
Dabih and Vega extended their hands.
The gesture to seal my powers.
But I wasn't worried.
Not since hearing the witch's epithet they'd contracted with.
I was certain.
They couldn't seal my abilities.
The Snow White Witch.
A twisted take on Snow White's tale, no doubt.
And like all foes so far, even twisted, core traits lingered.
What defined Snow White?
The iconic bit: biting a poisoned apple and falling into eternal slumber.
Yes, Snow White ate the poisoned apple and slept.
And what infused my feathers?
Cockatrice poison.
Now I understood why the Bird Queen coveted that poison so badly.
"Black bird that devours the night. Your powers shall now be fully plucked!"
Poison countered Snow White's power perfectly.
Light flared from their hands, but nothing changed.
Drgrrrk...
My chest feathers quivered faintly—that was it.
My abilities remained unsealed.
"Wha... what...?"
They panicked, naturally.
Birds before me had fallen to it, but not anymore.
"Impossible... must be a glitch."
"Pluck out! Pluck!"
Flailing wouldn't help.
"Caw! Cackle cackle!"
Now, counterattack time.
"Your feathers! Come to me!"
"Your feathers! Rise to the skies!"
No matter what, my traits endured.
Shoooosh.
"...Caw?"
Something felt off—empty.
I lifted a wing to touch my head.
No soft feathers; it felt like raw chicken skin.
"It's... done...!"
"Ahaha! Vega, what did I tell you? Our power is invincible!"
My traits were intact.
The chest feathers hadn't plucked, thanks to the cockatrice poison nullifying their seal.
But my traitless feathers were gone.
Especially the ones I cherished most, always kept lush and full.
My crest feathers were gone.
...
Dabih and Vega.
"CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW!"
You two are unforgivable creatures.