Linsley's lips curled into a sneer, a dark glint flashing in his purple eyes. "Defeat them? These lackeys are nothing but pests. I've already killed their comrades, and they'll meet the same fate."
The confidence in his voice sent a chill down Magia Fleur's spine, but it also reassured her. There was something about Linsley that made her feel safe, even in the midst of this nightmare.
As the lackeys drew closer, their twisted forms emerging from the shadows, one of them started to cackle, his voice dripping with malice. "Look at this! Another magical girl and her little boyfriend, trying to play hero. Do you really think you can—"
Before the lackey could finish his sentence, his body convulsed, his eyes widening in shock. The other lackeys barely had time to react before they too were seized by an invisible force, their bodies writhing as they were lifted off the ground.
Linsley's purple-colored tentacles, invisible to the eye, had already done their work. The lackeys' mockery was cut short, their words choked off as the tentacles crushed their throats and snapped their spines with a sickening crunch.
Within moments, the lackeys were nothing more than lifeless husks, their bodies crumpling to the ground in a heap.
Linsley didn't even break a sweat. He turned to Magia Fleur, his sneer fading into a confident smile. "As I said, they're nothing but pests."
Magia Fleur watched in awe, her heart racing. Linsley's power was beyond anything she had ever seen, and the ease with which he dispatched their enemies left her both impressed and relieved. There was no doubt in her mind now—Linsley was someone she could rely on in this chaotic, unforgiving world.
"Thank you," she whispered, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "I've never seen anyone take them down so easily."
Linsley shrugged, his tone casual. "They're just the beginning. If more of them come, I'll kill them too. They don't stand a chance against me."
Magia Fleur nodded, her resolve hardening. With Linsley by her side, she felt a renewed sense of hope. Together, they could take on the Outer God's forces and, perhaps, even find a way to defeat the Outer God itself.
However, Magia Fleur knew that was nothing more than wishful thinking. Since becoming a magical girl, she had come to understand just how desperate humanity's situation truly was.
Even if the magical girls and mecha drivers managed to eliminate all of the Outer God's lackeys, the World Will of Terra alone couldn't contend with the Outer God. At best, eradicating the lackeys would only delay the inevitable—the Outer God's complete devouring of Terra.
Magia Fleur was painfully aware that no matter how hard she and the other blessed people trained, they could only hope to stand against the lackeys. The Outer God itself was an entirely different entity, far beyond their reach.
The only hope for Terra would be if a foreign god, one from the side of righteousness, were to take Terra under their protection. Such a god might be able to challenge the Outer God and prevent its complete takeover.
In other words, unless the vacant position of World God was inherited by another benevolent deity, Terra's chances of fending off the Outer God's corruption were slim to none.
Magia Fleur's thoughts weighed heavily on her as she considered the bleak reality of their situation. The flicker of hope she felt standing beside Linsley was almost immediately overshadowed by the enormity of the challenge they faced.
Linsley, sensing her unease, sighed softly. "As much as I'd like to stay and take out more of these lackeys, I can't linger in the battlefield dimension for much longer. I've got something important to prepare for tomorrow."
Magia Fleur, curious, tilted her head slightly. "Something important? What could be more pressing than fighting these lackeys?"
Linsley gave a half-hearted chuckle, though his eyes held a hint of bitterness. "The Outer God Association is arranging for me to meet my assigned fiancée tomorrow."
Magia Fleur's eyes widened in surprise. "Assigned fiancée? By the Outer God Association?"
"Yeah," Linsley replied, his tone heavy with resignation. "It's not like I have a choice in the matter. The Outer God dictates everything—our futures, our marriages, even our deaths if we step out of line."
Magia Fleur's heart sank as Linsley mentioned his upcoming meeting with his assigned fiancée. The excitement and connection she had just felt were swiftly overshadowed by the harsh reality of their world.
Her first love, so quickly and unexpectedly kindled, was slipping away just as she had begun to realize it.
She sighed, a mixture of frustration and helplessness filling her. "It's ironic," she murmured, her voice tinged with sadness. "The Outer God Association has also arranged for me to meet my assigned fiancé tomorrow."
Linsley looked at her, surprised but not entirely shocked. A bitter smile formed on his lips. "So we're both trapped in the same twisted game."
Magia Fleur nodded, feeling the weight of their shared burden. "I just found you, and now it feels like I'm losing you before I even had the chance to know you."
Linsley's expression softened, his frustration mirrored in her eyes. "Yeah… It's like the moment we try to find something good, this world reminds us just how fucked up it really is."
For a moment, they both stood there, lost in their thoughts. The reality of their situation was suffocating.
The Outer God Association, managed by the lackeys of the Outer God, controlled every aspect of their lives. Although the Outer God was mostly in slumber, it had left a clone behind to oversee and manage the affairs of Terra World.
The clone's will was enforced by the Association, ensuring that every decision, every fate, was dictated according to the Outer God's whims.
"I hate this world," Magia Fleur whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "It's cruel and merciless. We don't even get to choose who we love."
Linsley nodded, feeling the same despair gnawing at him. "But we have to keep going, don't we? As long as we're alive, there's a chance we can change things. We just have to survive long enough to make that happen."
Magia Fleur sighed again, but this time with a hint of resolve. "You're right. We have to keep fighting, no matter how hopeless it seems."