Naturally, everything went off plan. Who would've doubted it. Lin Lin really studied this species' habits well, but she didn't account for the Red Sea Demons being local hegemons with vassals in the form of Sea Monkeys. They couldn't tolerate invaders on their territory, especially ones starting to cut them down.
So, when the girls attacked one island per Lin Lin's plan, all three panicked. The amphibians from the other two dove into the water and swam to help their comrades. No one thought of running, even though the girls were actively clearing the attacked islet and had wiped out a full third of its residents by the time reinforcements arrived.
Then real chaos broke out. Jets of boiling water under high pressure flew at the girls; they defended. Monsters rushed them, hit Jiao Jiao's "Wind Traps," and got flung straight into the pre-grown Silvergrass thickets, where they were shredded into pieces. But the monsters didn't retreat.
Even when the girl used Mid-Level third-step "Pulverization," launching a tornado of spinning wind blades at the monsters, it didn't save the situation much. There were just too many monsters. The girls even had to resort to hand-to-hand sometimes, luckily their bodies were enhanced to Pack Leader level.
TuTu used Mid-Level third-step "Bloom" to slow the monsters, creating masses of parasitic seeds that sprouted on contact, hindering movement while inflicting light to medium wounds. But the longer the fight dragged, the more they tired.
Their stars weren't soul-enhanced, so they had standard reserves for their level, enough for about three or four third-step spells depending on circumstances. And they were using others besides, plus they'd spent a lot covering the islet with Silvergrass.
The girls weren't like me, with vast experience, tons of elements with stars boosted several levels, and spatial magic to escape encirclement. They sometimes over-spent where minimal would do, or hit too weakly, forcing repeat attacks on the same monster while missing its kin.
You can't become perfect fighters in under a year of training, no matter how hard they try. But the training wasn't wasted. Compared to peers, the girls would top the food chain and crush them without breaking a sweat.
Even Mu Ning Xue would get wrecked by either, despite her Pseudo-Sphere. Well, assuming no Ice Leek, but even then her win isn't 100% guaranteed. The girls have artifacts too, not as strong but more of them. A full Lightning Blade discharge in one strike only slightly falls short of that infamous mid-level ice arrow.
Anyway, the girls switched to artifacts. Their remaining stamina was good for just one or two serious spells, so the choice was clear. Grabbing Lightning Blades, they darted between Red Sea Demons, stunning them with strikes, then finishing with Silvergrass growing everywhere from the battle's scale.
They stopped relying on it for defense, using their energy shield charges to deflect attacks instead. Sometimes it expanded enough to split monster flows for easier kills.
Seven-League Boots let them maneuver among monsters, taking hits rarely, and armor covered where the shield lagged. This shows plainly how much stronger a mage is with artifacts than without.
Before tiring, the girls cleared about 1.2 islands, with 1.8 left. After artifacts, using their charges instead of stamina, they fully wiped over two islands before the charges bottomed out. And that's not the end. In a fight to the death, they could've done 2.5. But we don't need that.
Realizing they'd be combat-ineffective soon, the girls spent their last magic on massive attacks, scattering nearby monsters, then spread artifact wings and flew to us. They might've escaped, if not for him finally showing – the Commander.
Luckily, I spotted him early with spiritual sense and flew to Jiao Jiao in time to shield her from his high-pressure boiling water jet with ice chains.
"Bul, Pikachu, the remaining monsters are yours. You can merge to boost power. Let none escape," releasing my summons, I dove at the Commander, simultaneously growing my ice octopus form.
First time fighting him in it, it took five full minutes with a castrated Pseudo-Sphere version to kill him. Now I built the ice octopus construct around me not from Mid-Level fifth-step "Ice Chains," but sixth-step ones, multiplying its power.
And it showed. This time, with the stronger construct and my better control, the fight ended in literally a minute. Diving from above straight onto him, wrapping tentacles immediately, helped spread my Mini-Sphere suppression effect right away.
Dragging the Commander's body ashore to show the mayor as proof, the girls gaped at me. Instant-killing a High-level mage who couldn't even respond is one thing. A full minute of titan battle with the Commander and emerging victorious is another. Even world-weary Lin Lin looked at me with respect.
"An astonishing waste of money on star enhancements. But ridiculously effective," she had to admit, shaking her head.
"In the future, when you awaken, I suggest finding a sugar daddy sponsor. And naturally, I nominate myself," I joked smilingly at Lin Lin, but she unexpectedly darkened and gave me deeply hurt eyes.
Even the girls shifted from admiring to judging glances, subtly shaking heads. Did they all take my joke seriously? Even then, the reaction shouldn't be this negative.
"Um, did I say something wrong? I might seem like a lolicon, but Lin Lin won't hit awakening age for four years. By then she'll be of consent age, all morally fine. Or is my candidacy that repulsive?" I directed the last question at Lin Lin. I'm no Japanese MC trope. If something bothers me, I just ask.
"How old do you think I am?" Lin Lin switched her hurt look to a strange one. Like she doubted my mental faculties.
"What strange question? Obviously twelve. Or did I miss your birthday?" The last was rhetorical; I knew it well and couldn't miss it.
Her strange look intensified post-answer, joined by my girls. What the hell did I say?
"Didn't you say you knew me, at our first meeting?" Lin Lin prompted.
"Yeah, more than. I know where your sister works, what your grandpa was, your dad's merits. I know your birthday too, August, couldn't miss it," I eyed the trio strangely now. Were they pranking me?
"…Mu Bai, I'm like sixteen," Lin Lin dropped the line that hit me like a sack of flour. Cold sweat instantly broke.
"Y-you're joking?" I didn't notice my voice tremble.
But Lin Lin's head-shake and the girls' worried looks shattered my last illusions of normalcy.
My breathing quickened; oxygen seemed to run out. My eyes fixed on Lin Lin's figure; everything felt unreal. I sweated profusely, body shaking, heart pounding like a drum. If in my right mind, I'd recognize the panic attack instantly.
One question spun in my head – "Where did I land?" In my world and canon, Lin Lin was only twelve then.