The magical girl witnesses.
Arongante flew through the sky, careful not to involve students from the novice class, and was battling their own doppelgänger—a counterfeit version of themselves.
Ideally, Arongante wanted to defeat another’s doppelgänger rather than their own, but they were all too aware of the strength of their own abilities.
While a high-ranked fighter might be able to handle such a situation, involving novices could risk killing them unintentionally.
Deciding that engaging from a distance would be better than risking that outcome, Arongante adjusted their thrusters, glanced back, and fired several railgun shots at the doppelgänger. However, these shots were nullified by the railgun fire from the doppelgänger.
(This doppelgänger… it’s either A Rank or S Rank.)
Doppelgängers vary in power depending on their classification.
At D or C Rank, they’re entirely inferior and pose no real threat. Even B Ranks are manageable if caught off-guard. But when it comes to A or S Ranks, things change drastically.
Doppelgängers are classified as special monsters; this one, in particular, falls under the category of a Special S-Rank Mimic Monster. An S-Rank doppelgänger mimics its target’s strongest state.
In Inie’s case, due to her unique nature, she was defeated instantly, though this isn’t typically the norm.
Keeping a safe distance from the novice students, Arongante paused momentarily to assess the situation.
(I’ve taken down A Ranks before, but how strong is an S Rank?…)
Arongante’s body began glowing, deploying additional armor and summoning attack bits separate from those used for reconnaissance. Their railgun grew larger, exuding an intimidating presence.
Like Inie, Arongante transitioned into Enhanced Form for swift combat, which the doppelgänger naturally mimicked. The ensuing battle became a blur of motion.
Railgun volleys were unleashed, interspersed with high-frequency blades for close-range attacks and even physical strikes using the railgun barrels.
“Set! Eliminate Ray!”
“Set, Eliminate Ray!”
Both sides fired diffused rounds, causing intense flashes of light that illuminated the surrounding area.
During the brief pause, Arongante glided beneath the doppelgänger, aiming their railgun upward.
Deploying bits around the barrel and using their scout visor to lock onto the target, Arongante unleashed their “Akatsuki Shreds Void Cannon.”
This powerful laser beam, amplified by the bits and exceeding the cannon’s usual durability limits, was Arongante’s second most potent spell—capable not only of piercing barriers but also defeating formidable foes like M·D·W.
Firing within three seconds before the overheating barrel melted, steam rose as rain hit the weapon.
(…Well, obviously it wouldn’t work.)
Ahead, the doppelgänger had deployed its frontal armor—a defensive measure Arongante uses against powerful attacks, capable of deflecting weaker assaults. While effective, this stance prevents movement and attacking, though teleportation remains possible, mitigating some drawbacks.
However, the Akatsuki Shreds Void Cannon has a significant drawback: after firing, the barrel requires cooling before another shot can be made.
Thus began a phase where the doppelgänger attacked and Arongante evaded, weaving through the rainstorm as green streaks of light illuminated the sky. Time passed, and Arongante grew anxious about the safety of the novice students, whose magical signatures remained indistinguishable amidst the chaos.
Amidst this, a peculiar magical reaction surfaced from the ground below, coinciding with Inie’s signature vanishing.
(What?! Could it be…)
Suppressing their panic, Arongante turned toward the source of the disturbance. Two magical girls stood there.
While avoiding the doppelgänger’s attacks, Arongante zoomed in on the scene with their scout visor.
One was the previously identified Shengxi, wielding the Azure Dragon Saber and a shield. The other was a girl clad in what resembled a dark kimono or dress, radiating murky magic. Believing her to be an enemy reinforcement, Arongante watched as she engaged Shengxi with blinding speed.
Even from afar, Arongante couldn’t discern the exact moment her sword swung. The newcomer’s identity remained unknown, but her connection to Inie seemed undeniable given the timing.
This battle transcended ordinary magical girl duels. Though Shengxi deflected the dark girl’s blade with precision, each clash fractured the ground and emitted shrill sounds, resonating through the rain. Despite being attacked from all angles, the dark girl hadn’t landed a single blow according to Arongante’s observation.
Whether this showcased Shengxi’s superior skill or indicated some strategy on the dark girl’s part, Arongante couldn’t determine.
“Akatsuki Shreds Void Cannon”
“Tch! Deploy defense mechanism!”
Focused on dodging the doppelgänger’s attacks, Arongante shifted into a defensive stance just in time, reversing their earlier positions.
After enduring the cannonade, Arongante disengaged the defense.
(Magic reserves are dwindling… If I keep this up, Thalagong will surely mock me later.)
Distracted by the battle below, Arongante had expended unnecessary magic. Yet, with the doppelgänger’s cannon still cooling, the advantage tipped momentarily in their favor. The rain facilitated quicker cooling than usual.
Now was the time to press the offense, Arongante decided.
Though concerned about Inie, they activated their rear boosters and closed the distance with the doppelgänger swiftly. Observing its movements calmly, they used bits to harass and seized opportunities to fire their railgun.
The doppelgänger evaded like Arongante had moments ago, retaliating with skilled use of its high-frequency blade. This pattern continued as both darted about at high speeds.
Time slipped away, and magic waned gradually. As Arongante contemplated unleashing a fatal move despite the risk, multiple ice spears suddenly rained down from below, targeting the doppelgänger.
(This must be Inie…)
Caught off-guard by the unexpected attack, the doppelgänger exposed a significant opening. Seizing the chance, Arongante fired their railgun, finally dealing damage to the doppelgänger—though far from fatal.
Inie then ascended, her black wings flapping. Her white robe bore red stains, prompting concern from Arongante. The stains didn’t appear to be blood from injuries, as the rest of the robe remained mostly clean despite the rain washing over them.
“I’ve come to help.”
“…Thank you.”
Though her eyes retained their murkiness, Arongante sensed a slight excitement in her demeanor. Disregarding her own condition, Inie’s behavior sent a chill through Arongante, but there was no time to dwell on it now. The white robe and black wings seemed symbolic of Inie’s inner conflict to Arongante.
“I’ll provide support. Please continue as before, Arongante. I’ve observed the fight and can coordinate accordingly.”
“Understood. Let’s finish this quickly.”
Pushing aside earlier thoughts, Arongante focused on the present. They had someone to protect and no room for hesitation.
Arming their high-frequency blade, Arongante charged at the doppelgänger. From behind, Inie launched a lightning-infused ice spear, distracting the doppelgänger. When the spear struck its railgun, creating an opening, Arongante capitalized, slicing through the weapon with their blade.
Attempting to bypass the doppelgänger, Arongante’s thruster was damaged mid-motion. Turning to face them, the doppelgänger inadvertently exposed its back to Inie—an ideal opportunity given its nature.
“Ascendant ice, become the cross of divine punishment.”
The initial ice spears merged mid-air, forming a massive cross that descended upon the doppelgänger, who countered with its defense mechanism. This left its back completely exposed.
With their damaged thruster smoking and parts of their armor steaming from the rain-soaked railgun, Arongante redeployed bits around the barrel.
“The finishing blow. Akatsuki Shreds Void Cannon.”
The blast consumed both the doppelgänger and Inie’s ice cross, dissipating into the sky. Smoke rose from Arongante’s damaged thruster and partially strained armor as their booster faltered, gradually lowering their altitude. Inie approached.
“Are you alright?”
“My equipment is slightly compromised… please check on the novice students first. I’ll catch up once repairs are done.”
“…Understood. I’ll go ahead. Please return once you’re able to move.”
“Agreed. It should take no more than five minutes to restore basic functionality.”
Nodding, Inie chanted a spell, her black wings turning white, before flying off toward the novice students.
(Inie and the dark magical girl…)
If Inie were indeed the dark magical girl, it would imply something extraordinary about her. While magical girls possess Enhanced Forms to amplify existing abilities, wielding a sword despite lacking prior proficiency would be unprecedented.
Moreover, the magical signature Arongante had been tracking had shifted from Inie to another entity.
Arongante debated whether to report this to Kaede or keep it to themselves, troubled by Rinne’s mention of healing magic fundamentals.
If Rinne’s words held truth, the scarcity of recovery magic among officially registered magical girls might stem from ulterior motives. Those desiring the world’s destruction wouldn’t logically fight to protect it.
Recalling Jeanne, whom Kaede had recruited, Arongante considered the possibility of her being a spy. Despite this, Jeanne’s exceptional healing talent was unmatched in the magical girl community. She had rejected direct orders from Rinne yet aided Arongante earlier.
Though her murky eyes suggested otherwise, Jeanne had healed Arongante when exhausted and willingly sacrificed herself for others. Despite causing occasional trouble, she consistently arrived promptly to offer treatment.
(Temporarily, I’ll report only about the doomsday faction.)
Having sorted their thoughts, Arongante proceeded with repairing their armor.
Despite concerns for Inie, without functional boosters, Arongante couldn’t fly. Pushing further would risk a mid-air explosion, delaying repairs further.
The rain persisted, soaking Arongante’s hair, which clung to their cheeks as water streamed down. Listening to the rain, they took a brief respite.
