Off Work, Then I Become a Magical Girl

Book 2: Chapter 193: The Ten-Second Game

Vol 2 Chapter 193: The Ten-Second GameUsing an explosion at this moment—was this person truly seeking mutual destruction as she claimed?

Though this thought crossed Drunken Fishweed's mind, she didn't alter her course of action. In her view, explosive spells—which required extremely close proximity to be effective—weren't worth guarding against. Unless the opponent had some method to turn the explosion into a long-range attack...

Realization suddenly dawned on Drunken Fishweed.

Earlier in the smoke, she had witnessed how Xia Liang's magical equipment operated. Those mirrors could swallow her poisonous smoke and transport it elsewhere—so naturally, they could do the same with explosive spells.

Sure enough, when she scanned her surroundings again, she spotted the mirror nested in Xia Liang's palm and another mirror not far away, already aimed directly at her.

Too obvious.

She mentally evaluated this attack method, then casually mobilized her remaining magical reserves to erect several small magical barriers between herself and the approaching mirror.

While explosive spells packed tremendous power—capable of piercing multiple magical barriers in battles between equals—as long as barriers were preemptively placed near the explosion's origin, the residual waves reaching her after successive weakenings would be negligible.

Thinking this, yet out of habitual caution, Drunken Fishweed still held back 20% of her magical reserves for emergencies, deploying only about 80%.

Under her indifferent gaze, Xia Liang triggered the explosive spell in her hand.

Exactly as Drunken Fishweed predicted, the explosion didn't detonate before Xia Liang but was instead transported via mirror to a position much closer to her.

Yet in that same instant, Drunken Fishweed noticed her barriers showed no reaction to the incoming explosive spell.

What was happening?

Squinting, she rapidly analyzed the mirror's setup and suddenly realized—it was double-layered!

In other words, the mirror in that direction was merely a feint. Once the spell was transported out by one mirror, it would immediately enter another!

Then where was the real attack coming from?

Instinctively whirling around, Drunken Fishweed discovered a mirror had been placed behind her at some point, now glowing ominously.

—No time left to erect barriers.

Making this snap judgment, after confirming this mirror wasn't double-layered, she lowered her other hand—already charged with runes—and focused instead on the incense burner in her palm. Magical liquid surged from beneath her feet, forming a watery wall between herself and the mirror.

This had originally been her trump card for ambushing Xia Liang, but due to her earlier miscalculation, she now had to use it defensively.

Not bad.

Had there been time, she might have voiced this praise.

But everything happened in the blink of an eye—this rapid shift in tactics left no room for commentary. She could only channel more magic to thicken the watery barrier.

If it wasn't thick enough, the explosive spell would shatter it instantly.

As she completed this series of reactions in that fleeting moment, the explosive spell within the mirror activated again.

Only seconds had passed since Xia Liang first raised her hand, yet their duel had already reached its third phase. This time, Drunken Fishweed was certain she'd made the optimal response.

Yet when the spell finally emerged from the mirror, she realized she was wrong again.

This mirror was indeed single-layered, meaning the explosive spell would fire from it—but shockingly, it launched in the opposite direction.

Yes, the displaced explosive spell didn't shoot toward Drunken Fishweed but flew backward instead.

And waiting in that opposite direction was yet another mirror, silently poised.

When had that been set up?

The question flashed through Drunken Fishweed's mind, but before she could ponder it, she jerked her head up, searching for the next mirror's location.

No one dared underestimate an explosive spell that could detonate anywhere—even she had to take it seriously. Though it would slow her offensive momentum, she had no choice but to defend.

Fortunately, explosive spells consumed enormous magic. Combined with magical equipment usage, firing one probably drained most of Xia Liang's reserves. If Drunken Fishweed could quickly identify the real attack source and block it, she could regain the initiative...

Her thoughts shattered when she located the next mirror.

Its position was obvious—right behind Xia Liang herself, who had sidestepped slightly to reveal it.

But the mirror's location wasn't what froze Drunken Fishweed's thoughts.

The true reason was Xia Liang's action: after releasing the magic-draining explosive spell, she mustered her last wisps of magical reserves to cast one final spell—the least popular movement spell in existence.

[Tow].

A simple spell that transformed magic into retractable ropes, pulling the caster toward a designated location.

Slightly more magic-intensive than flight, with limited range and unimpressive speed, it had numerous superior alternatives, making it extremely niche.

Yet now, Xia Liang employed this obscure spell, splitting her magic rope into three strands—the other two wrapping around the twin sisters, Mountain Lily and Tiger Lily.

"Sorry about this."

Xia Liang stuck out her tongue playfully at Drunken Fishweed, her voice brimming with laughter. "You've probably got more tricks up your sleeve, but our team still needs to compete for exam rankings. Can't afford to waste time with a madwoman."

As she spoke, the ropes began retracting—just as the mirror beside her flashed with the explosive spell's glow.

Drunken Fishweed had already withdrawn her earlier wasted barriers and watery wall, but in her haste, her magic reserves hadn't fully recovered. Facing what might be the real attack, she had no choice but to squeeze out her last remaining magic to erect whatever feeble defenses she could muster.

Undoubtedly, she was no longer in control of the situation.

Yet precisely at this juncture, curiosity sparked within her: if her opponent intended to flee, how exactly would she manage it?

So she peered through her two thin, half-formed barriers, straining to see where Xia Liang's ropes led—they weren't anchored far away, clearly just standard [Tow] spell anchors.

But what Drunken Fishweed saw wasn't the corridor's ceiling as the destination, but a mirror placed there, coldly reflecting light.

"See ya."

Xia Liang waved cheerfully, then leaped backward with her two teammates in tow.

Propelled by the magic ropes, they went speeding down the corridor behind them.