***(Kaorin)
"Where did she go?"
"I don't know, but we're dealing with a professional here. Did you forget about those ridiculous traps?" (Myuu)
Her eyes remained alert to scan the surroundings as she spoke, not letting a single thing out of her sight. We had barely survived the explosions at the door, since I preemptively used my second skill, [The gap of impermanence is a cage] to create a protective barrier before we entered. It formed a solid wall of air that was otherwise invulnerable unless the opponent shot enough magic energy to erode my magical particles themself. Physically speaking, nothing could go past it.
Staring at the wall, it felt like there was something odd going on with the wall. As my first skill was the ability to manipulate by increasing and decreasing pressure gradients, there was the need to detect and perceive such gradients in the first place. My first magical combat dress's passive, the detection of gradients. There was an incredibly small change that occurred right behind the half destroyed wall formed by the researcher magical girl.
My air blast had crushed the wall, leaving it in U-shaped.
"Watch out for the wall, something weird is happening behind it..."
Taking a stance, Myuu prepared to move in a comfortable position as well. Her vines had already filled the hallway right outside the room, in case the enemy tried to run she would instantly feel it when her vines get stepped over. Our goal was to destroy the research being done here, but I think fighting a decades old magical girl may not be so easy...
"Are you stupid? Tell me your goals and I may spare your lives." (Shirley)
A soft and calm whisper slid from around the back of our necks and under our ears. It was practically her territory, fighting to the death here would be foolish. Perhaps some negotiation would be in our favour. Perhaps it could be solved without bloodshed. I don't have my hopes up though, I'd imagine she'd defend her materials with her life. That'd be why they were so many gruesome traps in the hallway. Walls that would block off sections by themselves, drain every gas but oxygen and combust the insides. Walls that would smash into each other so hard that they explode at the point of impact. A rain if projectiles with magic enchantments and curses applied.
"... We've been tasked to destroy your lab. You've seen the abilities of Myuu here, I believe even with someone as strong as you that we could do some damage.
But if you were to consider, we could lose less things."
"LOSE LESS THINGS?!" (Shirley)
Small black orbs flew out of holes in the wall, the holes seemed to perfectly fit the black orbs as they all slot out of the wholes with sharp wisp sounds. Like the syringes before, they detonated with large amounts of energy. The defensive walls I had formed after the chains dug into my legs collapsed like shattered glass. It was fortunate that Myuu had built up a layer of whale and elephant flesh under my own barrier. Most of it blew away, but we were practically intact from the attack.
I had practically learned from the magical particle regulating device, I was able to efficiently regulate my own particles, but only for a short amount of time. It was like one of those limiter removals that I've read in Manga. Sometimes the things I've learned manage to amaze myself, until I see people like Myuu or the researcher in front of us do even more amazing things. Whether they did it with their skills or not didn't matter. They've done something I couldn't, I can only accept that and move on.
Becoming a hero of justice, becoming a magical girl of justice is just a dream. And before all of that, comes survival.
"We can promise 0 conflict, if you allow your facility to be burned down and protect some of our friends. Usami Kirin, MiYi, Akiko, Rumi and Xin, we'll give their locations and you take them into your protection. You can take whatever you think is the most important before we detonate the bombs we've set throughout the facility. "
".... So you had bombs already set up huh. I suppose these are the troubles of one attached to their own materialism.... I don't have any of that. I don't have much that is important in here. What are you going to do if I refuse? "(Shirley)
".... Well, one of us has to go down then. "
She seemed to be quite some years older than us, her features were mature and her looks belonged in a painting. She is considerably more experienced than us, it's unlikely for us to win even if we went all out. A suicide charge would prove the most effective at this moment, the future seemed bleak. Her blank eyes seemed to reflect that as they stared deeply into mine, peering into my soul.
I stared back, blinking a bit at first to moisten my eyes. From here on, there is only forward. This abduction was no disadvantage, it was an opportunity. Shirley's support didn't fall short to anyone else's. If she were to access my resolve right now, I would barely have enough to go through with my actions. I am not walking alone anymore, Myuu, Barius, Garion and Fiel was with me. And even more after them. What I'm doing isn't fulfilling a wish, it was a necessity.
"Ye- " (Shirley) *BOOOOOMM!!!!*
One after the other, the crisp and deep sounds of explosions shook through the earth and into our ear drums. Even though we were underground in a labyrinth, the effects of the bombs were just as pronounced. The array of unique gadgets on the tables clattered against the table as they were thrown by the shockwaves, before landing all over the ground.
"You know, it really has been a long while since I go serious. I used to tussle with that thing before it became the Eye God you know?" (Shirley)
"You agreed to our conditions, please let us go." (Myuu)
"... No chance, you timed the bombs to detonate anyway, regardless of whether I agreed or not. You think I would just forgive you if you said please?" (Shirley)
[Well of worth] [Heaven's ground]
Stakes made of the ground material materialised forth, before seperating from the ground to fly at us as projectiles. Meanwhile, there was added mass on top of us. At least that was how it felt, like a flat invisible mass began to crush us. Surprisingly, it didn't cause us to black out instantly from a concussion. It was just weight...
"IMPLODE! [HOLLOW CALAMITY]"
Shielding our faces with our arms, the air in front of us combusted with an ear deafening bang. Our bodies were sent out of the lab door like rag dolls where Myuu's vines proceeded to barricade it after we flew out. Picking up my own weight with all my strength, it seems Myuu's superior stats helped her out a lot as she had the leeway to pick me up as well. Grabbing her hand, I stood up as we began to run down the one route we left untouched. Bombs had already been planted into the walls, waiting to be detonated.
These bombs were the main content of the large supply bags we carried. They were simple batteries that held magical particles and were attached to small ignition tools. We left the bag right outside the lab, with all the bombs timed to set off after we escape. It was basically a time limit that served as an obstacle to our mission. They were highly unstable so it would be more dangerous to carry them instead.
Their caps, the attachment that prevents their immediate detonation are built to be only durable enough to withstand the air pressure of our leaping speed. If we ran any faster, the person carrying the bag would turn into fire works.
I don't know if we were spared but when we returned back to the station, the names we listed to that researcher were gone. An entire group and 2/3s of a group, the fact that 1/3 or Fiel managed to return back safely meant that they knew... They knew we were infiltrating the whole time, and they let us burned down those facilities. With those 5 gone, there were 15 of us left. 2 had stayed behind to guard the base. With that the composition of those of us in this station are now 7 Illnoians and 8 Sanctuarians.
Not that the scale of such a small force mattered. If they stood in my way there would be no choice but to get rid of them, if they alert their higher ups it would only ruin my plane. I'm sure at least those that slept in the same room as me already knew of Kanou's visits and what I said to her. I'm not so foolish to position potential enemies to sleep in the same room as me, that was why I asked for a room with Myuu, Izumi and Vibell. I trust those 3 I suppose. At the least, Izumi and Vibell were likely to be on board with whatever I had in mind.
I think it's unnecessary to kill the Illnoia in my unit, or whatever this small group is called. If I were to continue with what I set out to do, having more allies would be better. Supporters are vital for it.
***
2 more months passed by in a blink of an eye, the training had gotten along just fine and 80% of the anti-magic injuries have been recovered.
Title: Kaorin
Magical girl effectiveness level: B
Perimeters:
- Physical: C
- endurance: B
- speed: C
- will: B
- well: B
There was definitely growth in my abilities, yet my stat gradings had stayed the same. The grade B in the second system meant that I had 4 000 times the ability of an average human, while C is 800. Just between these 2 grades already revealed a large disparity in physical ability. Rather than at face value, these grades are more like ranges, and magical girls at placed on the lower grade of their respective ranges. I would estimate than my C grades were actually high and closer to B than they are to C now.
As for the B grades, I can't estimate something I've never personally experienced. Supposedly, the A grade is 100 000 times the ability of an average human, without my own A grade stat it's near impossible to estimate. Rather than seeing the results in reality to gauge my ability, such as directly punching the ground to see how much destruction it could cause, grades are typically sensed with an external sense like magical particles. It's similar to feeling the air on your skin, but inside your body. Typically, one can gauge the density of the augmentations in their body. The augmentations are multiplicative, but the amount of magical particles inside the body is additive. It's sensed by comparing the density of different stats and seeing which one has more.
The magic tool used to identify these grades simply detect if ones magic crossed a certain threshold and set it as such. So if it crossed it and didn't reach the next grade, the tool will show the lower grade instead. It can't quantify the specifics between 800 and 4000 or anymore than that.
For one thing, Garion now had to use all her strength if she wanted to beat me in a spar. As a new rule to not nuke the station, we only fought physically and never used magic. There was still some devastation as the shockwaves from the punches could obliterate boulders and caused craters under our feet. Myuu and Barius had become more active in spars, since we now had better stamina. Without using magic, training could last a longer time before one goes back to the station. Izumi and Vibell also held their own training with each other, slowly improving their capabilities.
I think most of us have improved to a high C or low B grade for magical girl effectiveness. Perhaps it is now possible to continue with my next plan. I had sent Vibell to check on the other stations and spread some rumours about general Frena. Of course some rumours wouldn't have any effect, but they are just what's needed to set the field. Choosing now to do this should also be a good time, since we are working hard at training, less suspicion should be drawn to us.