Chapter 104

The Magical Girl and the Undying Orneas

“Truly, this is quite a troubling situation every time.”

M·D·W… it radiates more intimidation than last time.

However, unlike before, we don’t need to deal with skirmishes or close the distance, so it’s good that we can take it easy.

There are no civilians around to get caught up in this, and all we need to do is endure the explosions after taking her down.

I’m slightly concerned about Nightmare’s complexion, but since she’s a ranked fighter, she’ll be fine.

“Well, let’s kill each other, shall we! If you run, I’ll make this thing explode. Of course,解除 the barrier first.”

Orneas points her thumb at the towering M·D·W behind her and smirks arrogantly.

(How’s the analysis of the barrier going?)

“It seems custom-made. There’s nothing we can do in just a few minutes like last time.”

(Acknowledged. Just make sure the barrier doesn’t dissolve.)

Every time we grow stronger, our opponents become more troublesome—this cycle needs to end…

“Ms. Nightmare. Please handle that one over there. I will kill Orneas.”

“Mu… it’s impossible! There’s no way anyone could win against something like that!”

Oh? I thought someone ranked should be fine, so what’s the issue?

“Apparently, she has some kind of connection. She’s strong for a magical girl, but even if she’s S Rank, taking out an SS Rank alone might not be possible.”

…She’s useless then.

“In that case, please at least provide cover so no enemies come near. Otherwise, you will die too.”

Unfortunately, I have no obligation to save Nightmare.

If she cannot fulfill her duties as a magical girl, then that’s the end of it.

Perhaps realizing my seriousness, Nightmare nods while teary-eyed.

“Alright. But you better come help me right away!”

“Upper S-Rank to quasi-SS-Rank monsters galore. It’s getting tedious counting them all.”

M·D·W mainly casts spells and fires artillery, but the summoned monsters are the real problem.

It’s summoning higher-ranked monsters than the ones I’ve fought before, but Nightmare seems to be doing well holding them off.

“Shall we begin?”

Orneas is already in Enhanced Form.

There are more arrows deployed this time compared to last, showing how serious she is.

Her determination is commendable, but how much fun will she provide?

“Stellar System Activation”

Not only around Orneas, but also surrounding me, dome-shaped arrows appear.

Targeting from all directions… interesting.

As I prepare myself, the demons warn me about arrows coming from blind spots.

Orneas launches arrows filled with obvious malice.

I deploy barriers for the blind spots and jump forward to avoid others.

However, Orneas must’ve been aiming for me to escape into the air.

The arrows floating around her and those forming the dome converge on me all at once.

Annoyingly, their timing varies slightly, and they come from blind spots in large numbers.

While using barriers and deflecting them with my sword to close the distance, Orneas fires a powerful technique from her bow, forcing me to retreat to evade it.

This strategy wouldn’t work well against regular magical girls or monsters, but for me who can’t afford prolonged battles, it’s effective.

Then, I suppose it’s time for me to get serious.

“Fissure Sword: Hurricane Slash”

I unleash countless slashes around me, blowing away the surrounding arrows.

Creating enough time to charge, I rush toward Orneas.

“Tch. All Arrows! Meteor Shoot!”

I deflect, dodge, and shatter them.

“—Ultimate Arrow!”

A beam-like arrow is fired, blocking my vision.

Normally, I’d dodge, but not this time.

I position my sword like an arrow, step through the barriers I created in midair, and release the accumulated magic power to extend the blade.

I thrust toward Orneas, turning myself into an arrow.

It’s akin to the ultimate piercing arrow. Yes…

“Fang of Night: Nightmare Arrow”

While dispersing Orneas’ Ultimate Arrow, I continue my advance.

“Caution! Your magic power is below 30%!”

Truly, my only weakness is my magic power!

Piercing through the light, I lock eyes with Orneas, who looks shocked.

Having abandoned her bow, she spreads the floating arrows around her like a wall, blocking my view.

And then…

“You couldn’t kill me, huh?”

“How tiresome… the difference in strength really shows, doesn’t it?”

Though I severed Orneas’ left arm, she managed to cut my side. Fortunately, it didn’t reach my internal organs, but it’s quite deep.

I wanted to say that a one-armed archer isn’t scary, but magic is always unpredictable. Better to be cautious.

Blood trickles from Orneas’ mouth, changing the atmosphere.

In place of her lost arm grows an ominous battle armor-like appendage.

Two bow-like structures sprout from her back, feeling more monstrous than Blue Colette’s ever did.

The bow she held splits into two dual swords.

“It seems she had drugs hidden in her mouth…”

I wanted to take her down before she used them, but now there’s nothing to be done…

Even though her true identity will be revealed to Nightmare, if I don’t kill her, she’ll kill me.

Transforming back into a White Mage, I heal my wounds.

“With this, there’s no going back. After killing you, I’ll go on a rampage before dying, okay?”

“Unfortunately, I’m here to ensure your death. That’s my duty… Number Zero. Fool Liberation.”

My staff transforms into orbs, floating in the sky.

I lightly leap, ready to move at any moment.

Physically, I’m fine, so I can fight until the time limit, but there’s still the matter of M·D·W…

Considering its final self-destruction, it would be wise to keep some margin.

This boss battle seems to be continuous. So, Blue Colette was the mid-boss, huh?

This inflation gets ridiculous every time…

Arrows are fired from the bows on Orneas’ back.

They’re too large to be called arrows anymore, but I fend them off by swiping one orb.

I dodge the slashes from her dual swords and seize the opportunity to cast spells.

“Nothing burns forever.”

Adding the recovered magic power from the arrows, I launch a massive fireball.

For good measure, both orbs release countless spells to suppress her.

The fireball was dodged but continued onward, wiping out some of the monsters summoned by M·D·W.

All the suppression spells were deflected by her armor…

“This is all you’ve got!? Hollow Shoot!”

Countless magic circles appear, firing lasers.

Getting hit would split me in half.

I weave through the laser gaps, chanting as I fly.

“Tears of the Fool”

I sweep away countless beams of light. The magic circles struck by the beams freeze and shatter into pieces.

Orneas jumps to avoid the beams, but one grazes the bow growing on her back, encasing it in ice.

Thinking I’d crushed one bow, Orneas cuts off the frozen bow and throws it at me.

“Hmph, annoying tricks.”

It’s probably impossible to block it with the orbs.

Struggling to defend against Orneas’ slashes and the arrows from her back, recalling them would require too much distance.

Reluctantly trying to dodge, a laser comes straight for me when I lose my balance.

Twisting my body, I manage to avoid a direct hit, but one of my legs gets blown off.

Fortunately, there’s almost no pain, but calling it ‘pain division,’ she’s clearly one step ahead.

Regenerating my leg immediately, I adjust my stance and destroy the remaining magic circles while I’m at it.

Looking at Orneas, the bow I thought I’d severed has regenerated, leaving us both without damage.

But, my magic power is finally building up nicely, so let’s go for a big move.

That drug truly is incredible.

If we compare it to magical girls, it’s like going from rank 100 to rank 10.

Well, given the side effects, I wouldn’t want to use it, but as a last resort, it’s outrageously effective.

“Ho ho ho. What’s wrong? Aren’t you supposed to kill me?”

Distorting her face beyond recognition, Orneas laughs.

Are you that pleased to have landed a hit on me?

“Yes. Let’s end this soon.”

Forming circular magic circles from the two orbs.

Fully utilizing the magic power collected from Orneas and the supplied magic power, I bind her limbs and hands with magical chains.

The resistance breaks the chains, but I quickly replenish them.

It’s brute force made possible by unlimited magic power.

Using unbreakable chains would work, but creating a large number of chains that last a second each is more cost-effective.

Besides, stuffing unnecessary concepts weakens magic.

These chains rely on auxiliary magic, so if I couldn’t use unlimited magic power, I wouldn’t consider using them.

Just like during the previous mock battle, I create layers of magic circles in the air.

“Sinners who defy reason. Fools who stray from the path. Sad ones who abandon accumulation.”

Clearly realizing the situation is dire, Orneas resists even more fiercely, and arrows fly from the bow on her back.

“Under the name of the Fool, let me select thee.”

Centering on Orneas, I erect a barrier. Above it, numerous magic circles overlap, eagerly awaiting the completion of my chant.

“Wanderer of reincarnation.”

The magic circles shine brilliantly, launching a single spear of ice that pierces through the barrier.

It continues to pierce Orneas, and jagged ice blooms chaotically within the barrier.

Finally, it explodes along with the barrier, leaving only Orneas, reduced to flesh fragments impaled by the ice spear.

Cautiously waiting without getting too close.

If she transformed into a monster, she should have vanished into dust, but she remains intact.

Had she not fully transformed into a monster yet?

(What’s the reaction like?)

“There’s still some life. But how can she survive in such a state?”

(In that case, let’s burn her.)

Recalling the orbs, I attempt to set the area ablaze, but the flesh fragments start gathering, regenerating Orneas.

…This is disgusting. My chanting stopped involuntarily.

At this point, either burning everything to ashes or destroying her core is necessary.

That’s likely the case.

If all opponents were this troublesome, even with the power of Arcana, there’s a chance I could lose.

We have a time limit, but she does not.

It’s terrifying.

“Didn’t you intend to kill me?”

“I could’ve killed you if you were human.”

(How much time is left?)

“Two and a half minutes.”

Using fire-based magic without considering collateral damage could harm Nightmare as well.

Orneas keeps positioning herself so that M·D·W stays behind her.

Attacking from above isn’t a problem, but if I use overly powerful magic and damage the main body of M·D·W, it would be disastrous.

Nightmare is currently handling the monsters and attacks from M·D·W, but it would be bothersome if she came over here.

If I were alone, I could obliterate everything instantly, but…

There’s no choice; I’ll have to do that.

(Akuma.)

“—Are you really going to do it? If so, why don’t you…?”

Killing innocent magical girls with my own hands is unbearable.

I’m not willing to fall further into sin just yet.

Right now, I am not.

(We’re going with Plan B, so relax.)

Plan A involves releasing the Arcana powers of both of us.

Afterward, the backlash would undoubtedly leave us unable to move.

Plan B involves transforming into the second form while in the released state.

It’s completely unknown what will happen, but my instincts tell me it’s doable.

Since I’ll be using a sword instead of magic, there will be minimal collateral damage.

It should yield better results than releasing both Arcanas.

“…Don’t overdo it.”

Unfortunately, my emotions are extremely heightened.

I find joy in this battle.

Absolute injustice. Overwhelming disadvantage.

It’s difficult to suppress these feelings without Akuma noticing.

(I’ll handle it appropriately.)

Flames erupt from the two orbs, serving as a distraction.

“Transformation”

My heightened emotions subside, leaving me as calm as still water.

Then, darkness envelops me.