Chapter 65

Suddenly, all the Magical Girls’ eyes were drawn to the giant Monster that appeared out of nowhere.

No matter how much they attacked, it didn’t flinch, but getting hit by the Monster’s massive tentacles was enough to be considered a fatal blow.

If it weren’t for Sapphire’s defensive magic, the situation could have been serious.

“Everyone! We can do this!”

The Magical Girls, exhausted from breaking through the dark clouds and the Monsters within, focused their gaze on Emerald.

The most renowned among the Magical Girls present.

Just seeing her, just hearing her voice, was enough to evoke hope.

Swoooosh—

“Kyaa?!”

“Dodge!!”

The intermittent streams of water were adding chaos to the battle.

The overwhelming mass breaking through Sapphire’s defensive magic, which only blocked despair.

Even though their transformed bodies were stronger than ordinary humans, the impact was nothing to take lightly—it was like being hit by a truck.

In fact, some Magical Girls had already collapsed, unconscious.

“Aim for the head!!”

Emerald shouted towards the Monster’s head rising above the water.

Upon closer inspection, the head that Emerald had attacked was bleeding black blood.

Seeing the enemy they thought was invincible wounded, hope began to rise in the hearts of the Magical Girls.

Kyaaaaaaah!!!!!!!

Even as the Monster roared menacingly, they were no longer afraid.

They realized it was a scream of pain.

We can do it.

We can take it down.

The hope in everyone’s hearts united, becoming a tremendous force.

Kyaaa…

“Did it… fall?”

“We… did it!”

“I thought… I was going to die…”

The Monster, hit by the combined attacks of the Magical Girls, sank beneath the sea.

As the previously tumultuous sea grew calm, the exhausted Magical Girls began to let out sighs of relief.

The end of a life-threatening battle.

Everyone began to relax, feeling the relief of having overcome a great wall.

“Where’s Emerald?”

“Emerald must be exhausted too…”

“Ugh, that was really tough…”

For a moment, they wondered where Emerald had gone.

The Magical Girls began to settle on the island to rest.

Unaware of what was happening on the other side of the island.

***

A red blade emerged from behind Sapphire, piercing near my heart.

A sneak attack filled with the intent to kill.

Though I couldn’t see directly, I could tell which Magical Girl had made this attack.

“…Ruby!!!”

With Sapphire’s cry, the blade was pulled out.

An attack aimed at exploiting the fact that Magical Girls aren’t harmed by hope energy.

Unlike the usual infusion of hope, this was a genuine attack filled with malice.

“Cough, cough…!”

“Hand her over, Sapphire.”

A growling voice.

Sapphire quickly turned to face Ruby, but Ruby’s gaze was fixed solely on me.

Her eyes seemed to say she wouldn’t stop until I was dead.

‘Indeed, now might be the best opportunity.’

While the other Magical Girls—especially Emerald—were distracted by that squid, she could eliminate me.

And she chose the moment when I was at my weakest.

For Ruby, timing this sneak attack must have been easy.

All she had to do was wait for the despair within me to fade.

“No.”

“You heard everything. Keeping her alive puts everyone in danger.”

“…”

“So you also infused her with hope, didn’t you? Right?”

Ah, so that’s why she suddenly decided to infuse hope.

I thought the atmosphere was different from last time; it must have been because of this.

Though she wasn’t handing me over to Ruby in this messed-up state.

“Do I look dangerous to you, Akari?”

“Of course you do.”

“Even in this state?”

Admittedly, I do look sickly.

Even with my heart pierced and coughing up blood, from Sapphire’s perspective, I might not seem dangerous at all.

“Exactly. Even in that state, she’s dangerous, Sapphire.”

“…I can’t agree with your opinion.”

“Whatever.”

Ruby raised her blade, her lips curling.

It seemed like she was determined to kill me here, no matter what.

“I’m confident I can kill her even if you interfere.”

“…Kuh?!”

Indeed, the speed difference between Sapphire and Ruby was significant.

Dodging felt barely possible.

Sapphire, who could take Ruby’s attacks head-on, was desperately trying to keep the blade from reaching me.

Of course, dodging every attack was impossible.

“Look at you, Apocalypse. Being protected by the Magical Girls you once slaughtered.”

“…”

It was a pitiful sight.

Coughing up blood just from being stabbed by Ruby’s blade.

As I let out a small sigh, a clot of blood gurgled up in my throat.

‘…I might really die here.’

For the first time as a Monster, I felt a sense of crisis.

Seriously, a Magical Girl wielding a blade is just too much.

“I’m sorry, Akari. I can’t stop Ruby’s attacks—”

“Gah…”

The blade, perfectly reading Sapphire’s movements, stabbed my side.

Do Magical Girls have a hobby of putting holes in my body?

As I weakly screamed from the blade piercing my side, Sapphire’s expression hardened.

Yeah, that’s more like it.

That might make Sapphire more desperate to dodge the attacks.

“Aren’t you ashamed, Apocalypse, hiding behind the Magical Girls you once slaughtered?!”

“…”

Her emotions flaring, Ruby’s sword swings grew faster.

While ordinary humans lose rationality when excited, Ruby’s gaze was filled with nothing but coldness.

Her eyes seemed to be calculating how to kill her enemy even faster.

No matter how I looked at it, Sapphire alone couldn’t stop Ruby.

Look, the blade is flying towards my throat right now?

‘…I wonder if I can survive even if my head is cut off.’

After all, in the original story, Apocalypse was invincible to any attack.

So, even in this weakened state, could I survive a fatal wound?

As if reading my thoughts, the despair within me began to whisper.

[Are you really going to die here?]

[Not activating the Despair Circuit in such a dangerous situation.]

[All you’re doing is clinging to a Magical Girl after enduring this much.]

[I don’t get it.]

[Just kill them all.]

[You were made for that.]

[Now’s the perfect opportunity while they’re off guard.]

[Eliminate them.]

[All of them.]

When the body weakens, so does the mind. The despair I usually couldn’t hear began to tempt me.

Activate the Despair Circuit, it said.

Activate it and eliminate the Magical Girl before me.

It made sense.

To possess such unparalleled power yet be cornered like this?

“Akari…!!!”

“…!!”

For a moment, time seemed to slow down.

I felt the blade slowly cutting into my skin as it flew towards my throat, and I bit my lip.

Is there no other way?

Maybe it’s better to die like this than to do something foolish.

Clang—!!!

“Stop, Ruby!!!”

“…Emerald!”

Just before Ruby’s blade could sever my head, Emerald stepped in front of me.

It would be a lie to say I trusted her, but her appearance in this dangerous moment made me oddly happy.

Though it would’ve been better if she showed up a bit earlier.

“You’re… late…”

“I’m sorry, Akari.”

Now it was 2 against 1.

Magical Girls wouldn’t harm each other, but for now, that was enough.

To Ruby, Emerald was an impenetrable fortress.

“Now’s the chance, Emerald. The perfect opportunity to eliminate Apocalypse!”

“There is no Apocalypse. Only Akari is here!”

The two Magical Girls began to clash sharply.

A battle between one seeking to eliminate a future threat and another trying to protect a girl in the present.

If asked which side was right, I’d say the former, but if asked which side to cheer for, it was definitely the latter.

Though it felt odd for a Monster to cheer for a Magical Girl.

“Emerald…!!!”

“Ruby…!!!”

Watching the two Magical Girls fight, calling each other’s names, I couldn’t help but smirk.

Causing infighting and making them fight each other—doesn’t that make me a mastermind?

I thought I heard a sigh from somewhere, but I brushed it off as my imagination.