Chapter 958: Deterrence

Looking at the two of them acting like fighting cocks, Lingyun could not help but sigh and shake his head.

"So, have you two not fought enough yet?"

Sayaka could not help but clench her fists; that was her conviction and wish for becoming a Magical Girl, yet now it was being dismissed as worthless by Sakura Kyoko. How could she swallow this insult?

Watching Sayaka's expression, a sneer flashed in Sakura Kyoko's eyes. She had once been in a situation extremely similar to Sayaka's, but what was the final result? She had lost her family, lost everything, and even her own magic abilities had been sealed away by herself. If it weren't for her own fortitude, she didn't know what she would have turned into by now. But this little one in front of her now did not possess that same fortitude; if the cruel reality she would face in the future were placed before her, she would surely collapse.

"Fine, if you want to fight, then keep fighting, provided that you are still able to!" Lingyun's expression suddenly turned indifferent.

"Teacher?" Hearing Lingyun's words, Kaname Madoka could not help but let out an exclamation.

Even Akemi Homura looked toward Lingyun with some astonishment, not understanding what Lingyun was trying to do.

"Clang—"

With a soft chime, a Command Sword appeared in Sayaka's hand once again, pointing straight toward Sakura Kyoko.

"It seems you still haven't learned your lesson!" Sakura Kyoko chuckled, and a Spear appeared in her hand.

"No, I have to stop them!" Tomoe Mami instantly transformed into her Magical Girl state, and a Flintlock appeared in her hand.

She knew that when Magical Girls fought, the consumption of magic was extremely intense; if they continued to fight, their Soul Gems would not be able to withstand it.

"Don't worry, there's no need; they won't be able to fight," Tokisaki Kurumi jumped out from the shadows and pressed down on the Flintlock in Tomoe Mami's hand.

"Eh?" Tomoe Mami was a bit confused for a moment.

Sakura Kyoko and Sayaka both lowered their bodies, assuming a stance to charge at each other. Just at this moment, a breeze blew by, causing both of their bodies to freeze simultaneously.

An extremely terrifying and oppressive aura suddenly appeared in the area, weighing down upon the two of them. As a Magical Girl, Sakura Kyoko had not experienced what it meant to be afraid for a long time, but now, her body was defying her will, unable to move under the gaze of a great terror.

Beads of sweat emerged from Sakura Kyoko's forehead, then flowed down her cheeks, finally dripping gently onto the ground.

The way Lingyun felt to her now was like an ancient dragon opening its eyes, calmly gazing in their direction. And the two of them, in front of Lingyun the dragon, were like two weak Rabbits. Even if there was a difference between the two, Sayaka would be a domesticated little white rabbit, and Sakura Kyoko would at most be a wild rabbit with slightly higher combat power. But no matter what kind of rabbit, in the gaze of a dragon, there was simply no difference at all.

"This, this is, Teacher..." A trace of shock could not help but emerge in Tomoe Mami's eyes.

Although they were not facing Lingyun's aura head-on, even just a tiny bit of the aftermath made them feel as if their bodies had become sluggish.

One had to know that Lingyun had always existed in front of them with an extremely amiable appearance, a situation that sometimes even made them unconsciously ignore Lingyun's status. But at this moment, they truly realized that Lingyun was a genuine powerhouse, a powerhouse whose every word and action could carry terrifying suppressive force.

"Hmm, why aren't you fighting?" Lingyun looked at the two in the area, a kind expression appearing on his face.

Facing Lingyun's question, Sakura Kyoko and Sayaka both revealed a bitter smile at the same time. Under Lingyun's gaze, their bodies couldn't even move, so how could they possibly fight?

"So, do you still want to continue fighting now?" Lingyun asked with a smile.

Looking at the smile on Lingyun's face, Sakura Kyoko was the first to blink at Lingyun, clearly admitting defeat. Seeing Sakura Kyoko admit defeat, Sayaka also blinked at Lingyun, likewise indicating she was backing down.

Seeing that the two no longer had any intention of continuing to fight under his gaze, Lingyun curled his lips into a smile, then dispersed the aura on his body.

After Lingyun's aura dissipated, the bodies of Sakura Kyoko and the other trembled almost simultaneously, then they collapsed limply onto the ground and exited their Magical Girl states immediately.

"Sayaka, Kyoko..."

After the two deactivated their Magical Girl states, the red Chain sealing the sides of the alley also dissipated, and Kaname Madoka ran toward them with an anxious look on her face.

"Are you two okay?" Kaname Madoka helped Sayaka up from the ground.

"I'm, I'm fine..." Sayaka shook her head slightly; she could feel that her body was still trembling.

Akemi Homura was much less polite to Sakura Kyoko, grabbing her by the shoulders and hauling her up directly.

"Tsk, what a truly terrifying teacher. I never expected this strange teacher to actually have such a terrifying side!" Sakura Kyoko felt that her back had already been soaked with cold sweat.

"So, why did you have to start a fight with Sayaka?" Akemi Homura asked.

"For this kind of naive little girl, if you don't let her witness the cruelty of reality, how can she become a qualified Magical Girl?" Sakura Kyoko managed to stand straight and said softly.

"Teacher, why couldn't Sayaka and the others move just now?" Tomoe Mami asked Lingyun.

"It's nothing, I just let them witness the fear of death just now," Lingyun said indifferently.

"The fear of death?" Tomoe Mami was still somewhat confused.

"Did you not notice? Their battle had completely spiraled out of control later on; if they had continued to fight, it would have been a genuine life-and-death struggle. And I merely let them catch a glimpse of the fear one faces when confronted with death," Lingyun said indifferently.

"The fear when confronted with death?"

Tomoe Mami could not help but recall her previous situation when facing the Witch of Snacks; when the Witch of Snacks lunged in front of her, her own body had also been unable to move due to fear. If Lingyun hadn't appeared in time, she would have likely been decapitated long ago, and it would have been a true, literal decapitation.

"Alright, since such a big commotion was made here just now, many people must have noticed. Let's head back first!" Lingyun said to everyone present.