*
As it was not an actual magical girl show, there was in fact a lot of research put into exploring the magic that we conjure. It was largely due to the fact that our survival effectively hinges on it. Now that the entire world had been plunged into somewhat of an apocalypse, laws had become meaningless and properties were a free for all.
It was only due to the recent century of conditioning of the human race, that most people relied on laws to build a functioning society. One year two and a half months have passed since The Great Disaster. We've made used of our surroundings and memory to rebuild the society we once had, the community that tied us together into forming the modern life. There was only a flood of manpower and logistical issues at the start, but we've made it.
Even if it couldn't hold a candle to the past, there was some semblance of a return back to civilisation. Unfortunately there were others who took advantage of it, to take defile for their own desires. They couldn't be tracked down at the start, and who was to stop them? The previous law enforcement had either died in the disaster or became just as powerless as the rest of us. Magical girls were far too little in number to deal with it. A monarchy formed from the remnants of European countries created a formidable system that quickly saw success. They garnered too much attention and fell within a year.
Now those eyes are on us. Grundo alliance and Illnoia administration. They form relatively similar governments, the people cling to the standards of the old and hang on to it for dear life. On the other hand, Asia was taken over by an organisation that valued adaptation above all else. It boasted a very simple hierarchy that developed and built upon itself over time. Sanctuary of the Eye God, it was the only continental faction that put its ruler's name on its own. It signified the ruler's own pride and power.
Magic research saw results in magic use outside the scope of the power of magical girls. It meant that humans could become independant of the power of magical girls one day, cutting off this reliance on us and develop it into further heights.
Labyrinth-wide territory skill - [Seeping vault in activation]. With the merge of a few skills bearing significant results and a labyrinth wide power grid to fuel it, this was the one thing our labyrinth could boast. Wide booming sounds echoed simultaneously like a storm throwing debris upon a metallic roof. Orbs of fiery heat and violent lightning was sent into the fray to confuse them. It was the single most loudest alarm clock I could have experienced.
It was like a rain of accurate artillery shells, except that nothing was coming from the sky. The labyrinth-wide skill applied all over the ground, it made use of itself as a magical circle that coated the entire floor under the enemies. So they couldn't detect where the mines will come from. These explosions were the result of spontaneous mine detonation from under the magical circle.
Those that could avoid it began to fly above the magical circle as they watch their comrades fall one by one. The spell was activated in a super wide are that affected multiple of their units. At least half of the magical girls there were powerful enough to withstand the blast of the explosions, but they still had to spend some of their magical particles to defend themselves. Crippling at least 10% of their forces like this was already amazing enough.
As it required a tremendous set up before hand, its range was as its name stated, it could only activate within the labyrinth. This was only their leading force too, they had a backup of 20 units at their nearby camp instead of the 17 units that are fighting us currently. Some units were entirely composed of stronger magical girls, but on an average roughly 5 or more were taken out per unit by the mines.
Of the roughly 1000 magical girls that live in this labyrinth, not everyone was a combatant. So this eases the front by a lot. It was... Very naive to think that we can finish off the leading forces without any difficulties. But we have to try our best, or we'll be taken out by their reinforcements. As our plan had detailed, we would gang up on single strayed units with multiple of our own, while the rest do their best to put up a gradually retreating front. Our job was to take out their wings before our front retreats to the center where our research resides.
Compared to the enemy, we only have 15 units of combatants. The rest were hiding or helping with the transfer of logistics. Even though we were magical girls, bombs and weapons were still useful as they conserve our 'well' before we are forced to fight them with our skills. This was another advantage of fighting on our home field, we had the infrastructure to hold this steady chain of bomb supplies. While they had to travel a super long distance, so they could only carry minimal supplies.
The only problem was that, by the standards of an average magical girl, their average was far more powerful than ours. The bombs only manage to whittle them down to our level. While our general has been hospitalised and weakened for a week, theirs were recuperating in their camp. I suppose that is why they haven't sent all their forces yet.
While they did arrive in a basic line formation, their middle and sides began to send sub units and a couple of entire units around, allowing them to act on their own. It was simple yet effective, they had the necessary amount of forces that wouldn't get encircled and still some more to send for independant action. These would usually be the nimble or stealthy scout divisions that are weaker in direct combat. Needless to say, we manage to tear through them due to outnumbering them 2:1,while the main front didn't look so good.
A few sub units escaped under our noses, but it was a trivial task to gang up on some magical girls 2 on 1 and annihilated an entire unit. We were working on attacking the right wing of their line formation and finished 1 stray unit. The left side seemed to be doing well too, defeating 1 unit on their own and without any casualties as well. Though their pace was slightly slower, as they took their time to wait for the right opportunity to strike. I couldn't speak much about how they did it, but for our side it was a mix of an ambush and direct combat.
Hiding in tall buildings behind the windows of higher floors, we silent struck around 5 magical girls before flashily taking down 10 more with high energy magic attacks. They were down to 60% of their size, which allowed an easy 3 on 1 situation from our side. 2 girls will distract 1 enemy while the third does the finishing blow. There were a couple of ferocious ones, so we have a couple of injured, but no losses that were too severe.
We then took down around 5 more magical girls by flanking the right wing of their main formation. The left side was also approaching their wing shortly after we attacked. This sent a mix signal to their central command, who couldn't witness these reports of flanking units directly. Leaving them suspicious if they were already entirely encircled, but rendered too thin. If they were to focus on one spot right now, our entire formation would crumble, and it would be a drawn out urban war with more casualties from our side.
Our strategy was as weak as our forces, so we needed to take them out as soon as possible before they realise our shallow deception. Before the attack, the plan had been proposed to the substitute General. Well... Generals. As our only A grade magical girl had been hospitalised, the next one had to be decided on which B grade was the most suitable. As this was a time far too urgent to take our time and decided, they immediately settled on a group instead of a central figure.
Though Kanou, an S-grade was around. She was only a figure that kept the others in check. Much like a nuclear explosive in the past. As such, we couldn't rely on her right away. If all the enemy's forces get annihilated, it's only a reason that would urge them to send an S-grade at us. For now, it's only the second day, so they haven't been alerted to send an S-grade or see no need to do so.
Attacking the main formation is far harder than it was to annihilate the stray unit. For one thing, their reinforcements were right next to them. Even if it would take 10 to 20 minutes for a normal human being to run across the distance between them, it would be an instant for magical girls. Even a C-grade would take 4 seconds at most to cover that distance.
Rightfully so, Barius had a difficult look on her face, her eyebrows creased with her forehead and the ridge above her nose wrinkled. Most people would have come to the same conclusion, and she probably did too. The main units were far more stronger than the stray units were. To the point that a flank wouldn't work at all, as they were proficient at defending from surprise attacks.
Barius had probably come to the conclusion:
'Disturb their centre by sacrificing troops or sacrifice some troops right here to build a beneficial momentum for the rest of our army'
" Higher command, higher command. Do you hear me speaking? SP unit 02 commander, Barius Kleine here.
What is the plan now? We're stuck in a back and forth exchange of deadly projectiles, just like the main front. Even though it's roughly their flank, we can't take them out or we would waste lives." (Barius)
An instant of silence followed before the person on the receiving end of their magic device replied. It was a military grade magical device for communication, and it was only the commanders of each unit that get such a special tool.
"...Higher command here... It has become far too simple. We don't want to alert their backup forces so we can't attack their closely guarded supplies.
And we can't encircle them, we have far too little forces to do that. A 1:1 is not enough to encircle their straight line.
... We heard your concern. Please, continue to move at your own risk, pressure them. There's no steps left we could help with other than a direct application of our forces.
You can perhaps send a sacrificial sub unit to flank their centre and disrupt their formation, but we advise to go at your current pace. Kill them from their sides or the back of their sides. I'm sure you value to lives of your comrades too... "(Higher command officer A)
".... What do we do now. "
Curious, as I couldn't hear their conversation over the magical device, I decided to ask her. It was a decision I would regret every now and then, just for asking. She wasn't mad or anything, and it was not me who got hurt.
Barius turned to look at me with a rather pitiful face. Her face may look stern to any normal onlooker, and even our friends who were a bit of a distance away couldn't read her emotion accurately. Over here in her eyes wasn't frustration at me. Though her eyebrows were creased to point inwards and her lower eyelids make her look like she was disappointed. It looked to me more like she was about to cry. She had such a good run, taking prompt and well-informed decisions. I had thought she would be able to handle it.
Even if she was desperate for help. Why me? Why someone that she disparages for being weak willed?
I didn't feel particularly hurt then, as I respected her power and perspective. She may be hiding it, but she would only chastise me that much last time if she cared that much about me.
I do feel hurt now though. The expectations that everyone held of her was actively built upon and reminded by herself. Now that she broke them, I am disappointed.