*
I know there will be a time when I hit another wall. Just how many applications can I find with my skills. Even versatility can run out. That is why I have to run. I have to run forward with my entire being, my will, my body, my skills, my magic and everything I have. I'll push through the situation with whatever I can muster up and achieve my goal before my limits catch up to me.
In the S grade, if someone was strong then they are strong. At that point, beyond the boundary of qualifying as an S grade is values so high and vast that it no longer mattered. If one was inferior, they would be skewered before they could react. If one was strong, they could rule the world. The only things keeping a leash on these beings are the god magical girls who have an unattainable grade of SS. The final, unquantifiable barrier that all S grade stare up at.
"GAAAH!?!! Why... Why can you use last pace too..." (Aubrey)
"... I copied you."
"... COPIED!?! That! It's a movement technique bordering on the barrier of light speed! That's why we almost leave light behind by leaving a trail of mirages. It disorientates the weak and is almost instantaneous for us mortals.
I had to use a skill to breach my movement speed into this level and countless years of practice to at least control its direction. How... Are you able to control it so well...?" (Aubrey)
His face no longer showed any emotion as a mask of scales gradually covered up his pale complexion. Sweat drips down the individual scales of his fingers, this little cues do not escape me. I've been pressuring him in this battle for a long while, and finally he lets it show. Maybe he was exhausted, maybe he no longer carried.
"You're not gonna answer?" (Aubrey)
Having been lost in my own thoughts, I nearly didn't realise I was wasting his time by not answering his queries. But after an instant of thought, I gave him a cryptid smile. Maybe this would have a larger impact. I don't have to give words to someone who will die. Only the weak gives answers. But only the weak resolves to use these underhanded tactics as well. Withholding information can be really useful, but it would slow down the exchange and make it so your opponent becomes reluctant to give you info as well.
Meaning the one that already has a sufficient amount of info, someone who is more advantageous in this situation, will be the first to hold off the conversation. Not that it was normal to talk to the enemy either way. Most people would kill first then think. His antimagic is annoying, so I'll continue using my fist. I beckon him to make the first move by waving my palm.
His anger was carried by his movements as he used last pace, blurring his silhouette and leaving a long trail of mirages. The thing was that the movement was almost instant, meaning that it looked more like a large line of silhouettes suddenly materialised at the same time, while the actual person was at the front of the trail, which was sometimes out of sight. But it wasn't a problem, I used last pace as well to dodge and turn my neck behind-
No one was there. A tinge of discomfort hit my brain, a feeling similar to the emotion of disgust welled up in my stomach. I looked down to see a grey scaly arm pierced through my abdomen.
"Game over." (Aubrey)
I grabbed his arm that was lodged through my flesh with my right arm using last pace, and swung my left backwards in a straight horizontal arc which also used last pace. It took exponentially more control for applying last pace on such small and precision heavy movements. He attempted pulled out his arm and barely dodged under my strike.
"HAGH!"
Tch, his antimagic was messing with my internal regeneration. Luckily I was already used to having no feeling of touch, so the numbness that was normally associated with such a grave injury didn't affect me much. I would be able to regenerate after he pull out his arm which he was trying to do, so before that... I'll jump against him and cut with my arm vertically.
A large gap in his chest opened up, leaking his usual blue blood. I finally let go of his arm as we both regenerated from our injuries.
"Kgh! To be able to harm me despite the mess and inexperience of your movements-" (Aubrey)
I refused to let him talk any longer, refining my movements even further. I striked with my fist barely missing it's target as he used last pace right at the last moment to dodge. It shut him up real quick so I knew he was taking me seriously, I swung my right leg and he blocks with his left. Then I swing my left fist as our legs were locking our positions.
Taking this chance, I bend my body forward to strike lower at his abdomen with my right fist. He blocked it with his left wrist which creaked terribly before flinching from the pain of a powderised wrist bone. Exploiting a gap in his reaction, I pressed my entire body forward with my right arm reaching for his neck. With great alert, he grabbed my right arm before receiving a left fist to his face. The scaly mask cracked under the pressure as I launched another hit. This time instead of receiving it, his entire right palm crumbles under the impact and slams into his face.
Full strength + F.R.M + last pace + reigning drill cross! My arm begins vibrating at ultra high speeds, pushing deeper as it protruded deeper into the cavity on his face causes by my fist.
"Tch, the demon god won't forget this. Bye." (Aubrey)
As if I had been fighting air this entire time, he vanished without another sound. But why did he take this long? A bad feeling plagued my mind, what would be the point of stalling me and risking his life for this long? I looked around only for a cruel and cold sensation to rest inside my chest. He took Gerald. She was no longer around, and with my own eyes possibly staying on Myuu the entire time... Gerald was the only ideal hostage left...
"Hnnng~" (Paridia)
With a few frustrated groans, Paridia forced her own body up. Her eyes darted around as they surveyed for her closest friend. She was knocked out cold by Aubrey earlier, so she only managed to struggle out of unconscious state now. She felt like she had been wrestling against the ocean in her sleep as fatigue set in into her bones and abundant sweat leaked down her cheeks and under her clothes. Despite all that, her mind felt oddly refreshed until she realised, Gerald was not around.
Her eyes widened in an instant, scrutinising everything in the room as if she would find the answer by looking at everything one more time. Having recovered her strength, Myuu walked up to her with jagged footsteps. Her entire body weight was supported onto one leg while the other seemed to have been sprained, so she slowly limped to Paridia's side. She then fell on her knees and gave Paridia a big hug.
"She's been taken..." (Myuu)
"T... Then... Maybe we can rescue her..." (Paridia)
"Paridia..." (Myuu)
A few drops of tears shone under the dim light at the edge of Myuu's eyelashes. Her eyelashes quivered like windy leaves as she tried her best to comfort Paridia, hugging her as tightly as possible as she didn't know what else to say. Paridia's arms begun to shake heavily as they cling to the cloth on Myuu's bag, her eyes in a mix of a frustrated glare and crying face. Her lips parted as her gritting teeth tried to hold in her regret.
As if she lost control of her shoulders, they slumped to the ground with her arms. Her agonising scream reverberated into Myuu's plain clothes as she was untransformed at the moment. Neli could only look away as she held in her own thoughts and feelings, while Barius looked on with a difficult face. Myuu craned her neck around, mustering a weak glare at me.
At first I was confused, I wondered why she would blame me for what happened.... But is it... My fault...? My fingers trembled as my heart raced further than when it was during battle. I... I was trying to ignore it... I thought no one would notice if I kept quiet... I caused her death... I... told Barius and Neli that I could handle it on my own... But I ended up losing Gerald because I couldn't finish Aubrey fast enough...
And after all my hard work... After everything I endured... After all the training with Barius and Neli... Did none of it matter? Have I jsut thrown everything away? I came back because I knew the team was too small to deal with the cult, even if I was not enough, Barius and Neli would be here. If they were still enough, then I thought it was at least good that we stuck together...
... But... If we lost Gerald... If we lose anyone else... Then wouldn't that be counterproductive? I... I wasn't close enough to Gerald... I wasn't a good ally... I wasn't there for her... I was useless, in the first place why did they take Gerald instead of me? Was it because she couldn't fight back? Then wouldn't Myuu be a better hostage? I couldn't understand their motives at all.
I could only keep my eyes on the ground, I couldn't let them meet anyone else's after what happened. Unfathomable shame had eclipsed my conscious. The frustration welled up in my tightened fist. The tears poured out like a water fountain.
Soft footsteps over the sandy rubble echoed loudly in this dim and silent place. It was uncharacteristically slow for a magical girl... So it was hard to tell from the sound and pace alone, but from context... It was likely Paridia walking closer. *pit pat pit pat* After what felt like an eternity, her shoes finally entered my line sight. Yeah... It wouldn't be a surprise if I get punched here. I closed my eyes in anticipation as I waited for the fateful blow.
*PAK!*
It wasn't a punch, but a slap. I was more worried by how red her palm would get as I was transformed and she wasn't. When I looked up from my downcast gaze, I saw her. I saw her frustration, her tears, her emotions that were cast away. It contrasted heavily with her usual stoic expressions, but her heavily furrowed nose ridge and pointed down brows made it far different than the usual. Her chest heaved heavily as she stared up at my crying face. It was as if she was about to pounce on me. I could only give her a self deprecating smile as my own tears rolled down my cheeks.
"Stop being so pathetic. If you... Blame yourself for this too... Then when are you going to get what you want?" (Paridia)
"..."
I couldn't react. For some reason she was talking about me instead of Gerald. I had assumed she would be angry on her behalf at my incompetence. After all... I let-
"YOU GOT SOMEONE KILLED WITH YOUR HUBRIS!!!!
AT LEAST STOP CRYING! YOU DON'T DESERVE TO CRY! " (Paridia)
Her righteous anger shook my entire body to my core, my fingers spasming as my head wrecked itself up to find a solution. I shift my gaze to her, an awkward smile with many emotions behind was adorned on her face. 'At least be proud of yourself' or 'stop hiding in your own regret' was what I could only guess that was the message conveyed by her expression. I... I've suffered defeat, does she think this was something I could so easily put behind me? If I lose someone like that again, it could be anyone else next... At that time... Would I be able to keep on living?
I still have not paid my 'debt' to everyone for having lost my memories... Because I exist they cannot meet the real Kaori again... And if I lose them... Would there be any point to getting my memories back?! Huh?!? This is absurd!!! If I lose every single one of them, there would be no point to continue existing!!
Walking closer, Paridia tiptoes up to my ear before whispering. "You massive idiot. You can't use us as an excuse any longer." (Paridia) I look at her face once more, it was the usual stoic Paridia. The traces of her tears on her cheeks ensured that everything that happened was real, we had really lost Gerald. Then... Then... I can...
" I... I want to find something that belongs only to me... But I also want... you guys..."