Chapter 50

We need to deal with Aquamarine as quickly as possible.

First, retreat the Captain, then support and retreat Sohee and Dusik, who are buying time, starting with the one we can handle faster.

This plan is possible, but honestly, it wouldn’t have worked without the effects of the Vesprede set.

Increased skill gauge growth rate for allies near the wearer, enhanced long-range projectile power, and increased range.

There are a few more abilities, but they’re still locked.

But what caught my eye first was the increased skill gauge growth rate for allies.

This means we can reduce Kabe’s cooldown for transformation. Kabe transforms into Shinsarang to pressure Aquamarine, I provide support fire as Vesprede, then close in and finish with a Rocket Punch.

Perfect plan.

The three magical girls were standing still in their positions, as if waiting for us.

“Kabe, how much is your transformation gauge filled…”

Wait.

Let’s check Kabe’s marker on the map. The skill gauge is visible now. It wasn’t visible in the last battle… It seems the gauge only appears when I’m aware of it.

The gauge is about 1/4 full now. Even though we just started, it’s definitely filling faster than in the last battle.

While moving in a straight line, I stopped briefly at the edge of the central park.

The wind feels oddly humid. The cold wind blowing between the buildings seeped into my body, chilling me.

Something feels off. My instincts are warning me.

The magical girls’ markers on the map started moving. Aquamarine in the center remains still, Priqu moves straight toward the 3 o’clock position, and Evangelin moves toward the 8 o’clock position.

“Dusik, Evangelin is moving. Sohee, Priqu has started moving too. Dusik, buy as much time as you can. Sohee, engage aggressively and finish quickly. Then go support Dusik immediately.”

「Understood.」

「I’ll finish it quickly, unnie.」

“Good, I trust you.”

*

“Evangelin, it’s been a while.”

“Oh, Dusik. It’s been a long time since we’ve faced each other like this.”

Evangelin, dressed in a pure white dress, bowed slightly toward Dusik. Dusik, after checking his suit buttons, also bowed politely in return.

“Have you been well?”

“Yes, I’ve been fine. You look healthy too. If you’re my opponent today… are there no other minions?”

“There is. Priqu went to deal with her.”

“I see. Priqu is definitely not a good match for you.”

A faint smile appeared on Evangelin’s face.

“Dusik… If you were sent to face me, does that mean you’ll deal with Priqu first and then come for me?”

Dusik didn’t answer.

He didn’t know what her boss, the Mother-Body, was thinking. But Dusik trusted her. No matter what plan she had, he believed she would secure victory.

“You think so highly of me, I should be grateful.”

“Come here. Show me the noble strength to protect your army.”

Dusik didn’t respond to her words and instead chanted a spell. A golden glow gathered on his right arm, and what finally appeared was—

A massive tower shield large enough to cover Dusik’s entire body. The pitch-black tower shield, absorbing even the cold moonlight, was equipped on Dusik’s right arm.

“Evangelin.”

“Yes?”

“You won’t be able to move a single step from here.”

“I see.”

Evangelin spread her hands. White lightning was already gathering in her palms, crackling incessantly.

“Dusik. Or should I call you Aias now?”

“I abandoned that name long ago.”

“The impregnable fortress, Aias. It’s been a while since we’ve faced each other. This time, I’ll definitely claim victory over you.”

“Try it. If you can.”

Dusik charged forward.

The minions also spread out, each holding their weapons and looking for an opening. Meanwhile, the lightning from Evangelin’s hands shot toward Dusik.

“Evangelin, are you underestimating me?”

Dusik didn’t even use his shield, catching the lightning barehanded. The crackling light faded in his grip and disappeared.

“You should know that this level of lightning can’t even scratch me.”

Dusik smirked. It was a bluff. In the past, he would’ve had to block with his shield. But now was different. The Mother-Body was on the battlefield, and her orders were to buy time and wait for Sohee to join.

His condition was different. The vitality and energy flowing through his body proved it.

“Shield, listen to me and block the enemy.”

Black tombstones rose around Evangelin, surrounding her. The solid tombstones blocked her movements, forming a siege around her.

“Brain War, destroy the enemy before me.”

One of the tombstones crumbled weakly. Evangelin slipped through and extended her hand toward the charging Dusik. A magic circle appeared behind her, then reflected above Dusik’s head.

Lightning shot from the magic circle, striking down at Dusik, who deflected it with his shield.

Shaking off the tingling sensation in his hand, Dusik closed in on Evangelin.

“Brain…!”

“Not a chance!”

The tower shield slammed into Evangelin. With a loud crash, Evangelin staggered as she was chanting a spell. Dusik, following her will, grabbed her collar with his arm, which had momentarily hidden the shield.

“Solar plexus!”

With the sound of impact, Evangelin’s body shook. Behind her, minions rushed in with swords drawn for a follow-up attack.

“You’ve gotten stronger. Just the Mother-Body being on the battlefield has made you this strong. Impressive.”

Evangelin, who had been grabbed by the collar, now appeared far behind, brushing off the wrinkles in her slightly crumpled dress.

“But Dusik, I can’t lose either. My honey is probably watching the broadcast.”

“You mean Prilly, the branch manager.”

Dusik smirked. Right, that’s it. Evangelin’s lover was Prilly.

“By the way, Evangelin, you might not know this.”

Evangelin, who was gathering lightning in her hands again, looked at Dusik with a puzzled expression. Dusik’s heart raced as he thought about what to say.

“Your honey, Prilly, the branch manager… has already confessed her love to my boss, the Mother-Body.”

“…What?”

The lightning she was gathering crackled and scattered.

“To put it simply.”

Dusik slammed his tower shield into the ground.

“Your honey.”

No need for chants for this skill.

“Has fallen for our boss.”

Buying time? That’s fine. But it’s also okay to defeat the enemy.

“She’s fallen for her, that’s what I mean.”

Crash!

Dusik charged forward again, shield first, toward the stunned Evangelin.

*

“Stupid girl, carrying around a useless scythe like that.”

Priqu smirked as she swung “Healthcare” around.

“Ugh.”

Sohee coughed up blood. Her legs gave out, and she staggered. It looked like she could collapse at any moment.

Priqu, watching Sohee, had no doubt about her victory. When she first saw Sohee in a black hanbok, holding a scythe as tall as herself, she had been a bit nervous.

A scythe is more of a hindrance in battle. It has reach, but the areas where it can deal致命 damage are limited, and aside from pulling or slashing sideways, there’s no real way to attack effectively.

She thought someone using such a weapon must be skilled. But facing her, it turned out Sohee was just as much of a show-off as expected, using a completely impractical weapon.

Her hanbok was torn and crumpled, and the scythe lay uselessly on the ground.

From Priqu’s perspective, Sohee, half-collapsed, was in no condition to continue fighting.

“Hey, retreat. You can’t fight like this. I need to go help Evangelin unnie.”

“Heh, hehehe.”

Laughter.

Priqu looked down at Sohee with a dumbfounded expression.

“You’re laughing?”

“It’s funny.”

Sohee, who looked like she was about to collapse from her severe injuries, smirked and stood up.

Her wounds were healing rapidly. The torn hanbok was repairing itself, returning to a pristine, wrinkle-free state.

Finally standing upright, Sohee reached out, and the scythe flew into her hand.

“Ah, this feels good.”

Priqu, with a stunned expression, silently watched her.

“Are you… into pain or something?”

“Into pain…? Not exactly, but… You’re Priqu, right?”

“Yeah.”

Sohee, holding the scythe, looked directly at Priqu.

The pale color of Sohee’s face was returning to a healthy red.

A flash of light?

No. Priqu shook her head.

Something ominous was approaching. Sweat began to form on her palms.

Swinging the scythe in her hand, Sohee looked up at the sky, not at Priqu.

“Have you ever wondered why I use such an impractical weapon like a scythe?”

“Why would I think about that, you idiot? You’re just showing off.”

“Heh, hehe…”

Sohee’s eyes began to glow purple.

“Have you heard of self-imposed limitations?”

“Yeah, I know. Like the deductible in car insurance, right?”

Sohee paused.

“…I don’t know what you’re talking about, but anyway. Using such an impractical weapon is a restriction I place on myself.”

“What are you trying to do?”

Difficult talk is annoying.

Priqu raised Healthcare again and charged at Sohee.

“I beseech the heavens, Sohee wishes to use the name of Asura. Please forgive me.”

A purple whirlwind blew in. As Priqu staggered from the strong wind, Sohee’s weapon transformed.

“I know your level. One minute, one minute is enough.”

Cold metal pierced her side. A dull impact spread from her side throughout her body, and Priqu couldn’t help but let out a low groan.

The scythe in Sohee’s hand. Unlike the large scythe, it now looked like a regular farming sickle.

Purple smoke billowed from Sohee’s entire body. The sickle also emitted purple smoke.

“What are you— Ugh?!”

The sickle grazed right past her nose. Priqu, barely dodging, felt cold sweat running down her back.

“Do you think you dodged? You should think I let you.”

Priqu swung Healthcare again.

-Clang!

The sound of metal clashing, and the sickle was caught on Healthcare. The sickle’s blade and handle held Healthcare on both sides.

With another sickle in her other hand, Sohee looked down at Priqu and smiled eerily.

“Now, die.”

“Wait—!”

-Squelch!

The sound of flesh tearing, and Priqu knelt on the ground. Blood flowed from her shoulder.

“You should be grateful that unnie said not to kill you. I barely held back from slitting your throat.”

Sohee’s voice was sticky with bloodlust. The sickle embedded in her shoulder was pulled out, and Priqu let out another pained groan.

“Retreat. Then I’ll forgive you.”

Clutching her bleeding shoulder, Priqu glared at Sohee as if she wanted to devour her. But Priqu was no longer in any condition to fight.

“…I’ll retreat.”

With a whoosh, Priqu disappeared. After glancing at where she had been, Sohee combined the two sickles in her hands back into a large scythe.

“Unnie, it’s over here. I’ll go support Dusik.”

「Already?!」

“She wasn’t much of an opponent.”

「Good, hurry to Dusik… Ah, Aquamarine…!」

Sohee’s expression changed drastically. The words she was about to say to ask for Dusik’s exact location were swallowed.

“Unnie, where are you? I’ll come now!”

No response came. Sohee started running blindly.

And the seven minions who hadn’t dared to interfere in the fight between Priqu and Sohee finally followed after her.

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