Before my eyes lay a hell that seemed straight out of a nightmare. Cockroaches were everywhere!
“Ugh! Gross!”
“How can there be so many!”
We, the Violets, felt our sanity wavering at the shimmering wave of chitin. It was Irene who pulled us back to reality.
“We’re trapped!”
“We’ll be able to leave soon. A dungeon that connects to the outside world can never be completely sealed. Due to its design, it will eventually reopen.”
“I know that, but look over there! There are so many!”
“Soon, the gate stabilization work will begin, and the clan’s strike unit will enter. Let’s head to the refuge.”
At the end of her gesture, there was a sign with “[Refuge]” written on it and a pictogram.
Workers in work uniforms dashed in the direction indicated by the arrows.
“It’s a principle to have at least one refuge for dungeons where workers operate for extended periods.”
We followed the arrows toward a corner of the safe zone. Upon seeing the state of the refuge, we paled.
“Is that really the refuge?”
The Violets doubted the scenery reflected in their eyes. Expecting a thick concrete bunker or a steel structure, they instead saw a shabby cave hidden beneath a tattered camo net. Containers buried at a diagonal in the ground peeked out with only their doors exposed.
“Is a dungeon refuge really built like that?”
“No way! It can’t be! According to principles, what the heck is that?”
Irene reacted like a resident who learned that her apartment was actually built without any rebar. Seeing her, I realized things were going very wrong.
“Are you kidding? This is a refuge? No way!”
“Hey, Hunter! Do you think we’re mere laborers? You want us to hide in this cave? You’re trying to get us all killed!”
“Why are you yelling at me! I’m just a dispatched worker too! I didn’t hear anything about this! I swear I didn’t know!”
Seeing the reactions of the ordinary workers squabbling with the Hunters confirmed for me that this was indeed an absurd situation.
This cave could never stop monsters. With its shallow depth, it would be easy to get detected, and those flimsy metal doors would be torn apart in no time.
As the wave of bugs approached more closely, the workers gave up their arguments and dashed toward the refuge again. They looked resigned.
After pressing the button on the rectangular device attached to her outfit, Irene approached the Hunters.
“What’s that?”
“Black Box.”
She advanced to the Hunters. When the young girl spoke, the men looked back at us with suspicious expressions.
“Excuse me! I’d like to speak with the security officer here.”
“Who are you, miss…? Ah, a student on an internship, right? An intern from Helios.”
“…That’s right.”
As Irene immediately showed her student ID and Helios ID card, the five dispatched Hunters nodded slightly, as if they understood.
“Hey, but who was our officer, again?”
“The Chief? He left early, didn’t he? The personnel from headquarters all took a vacation.”
“Leaving early, huh? Sounds like a day off!”
One of the flustered Hunters stepped forward to respond to Irene’s comment.
“So, I’m technically in charge right now… Miss, do you want to ask something?”
“I’d like to know the status of the defense facilities here,”
“I don’t know. Don’t ask me! I was just assigned here the other day.”
“This is ridiculous…”
Listening to their conversation, I understood that these people were all subcontractors, clueless about everything.
The sound of flapping wings intensified nearby. The crunching of teeth and the sound of hairy brown legs striking the ground like a mosquito’s buzzing tortured my ears. It was unpleasant.
“…Irene! From the looks of those things, they’ll be here in about one to two minutes!”
I tugged at her sleeve. A dispatched Hunter, noticing my anxious demeanor, pointed toward the refuge.
“Miss, you need to get to the refuge. You’re an intern, right? To become a full-time employee, you need to survive! We’ll do our best to hold them off!”
“Is that the refuge over there?”
“There’s no other choice. Get inside. I’ll draw the bugs away.”
Finishing his words, he took a companion and headed to the helicopter. The small copter they had ridden from the forward base rose into the sky of the dungeon and headed toward the woods.
The helicopter flew precariously, almost brushing against the dense treetops.
-Boom!
Flare rounds were continuously released from the helicopter’s body. Loud music erupted from the speakers. The Krol Tide Group’s attention was diverted to the helicopter. They began to scale the trees.
-Rat-tat-tat!
“Ha! We’re alive!”
“This is easier than I thought!”
Thanks to the helicopter, the wave of cockroaches changed direction and headed the opposite way. The dispatched Hunters cheered at seeing them retreat.
The bug monsters targeted the helicopter and flapped frantically from the treetops. The mounted machine guns on the helicopter spat fire, knocking the monsters out of the sky.
“The bait strategy worked! They’re not coming this way!”
Just as I was about to speak, large white quills, reminiscent of arrows, erupted between the trees.
“Whoa!”
The helicopter’s tail rotor took a barrage of spikes and broke off.
The helicopter spun in the air like a drunken dancer. Just then, the wave of bugs, ready for an opportunity, surged up and clung to the helicopter.
-Kaboom!
The helicopter, covered in monsters, disappeared into the depths of the forest. The explosion was the last signal of the helicopter’s existence amidst the thicket.
“…It fell? We’re done for! Run!”
“Ah!”
Seeing the remaining three dispatched Hunters on guard at the entrance witnessing the helicopter’s crash, they yelled in despair.
They fled without a moment to spare.
“It’s over.”
“We have no choice but to fight now.”
The wave of bugs that had surged toward the helicopter lost interest and began moving back toward the safe zone.
Irene took out the spear attached to her outfit, and I summoned a clone.
“Violet Temporary Command Center announces: Combat readiness, combat readiness…”
It seemed like we would have to fight with everything we had.
*
Looking at the numbers, our situation seemed bleak.
On the scene were dozens of workers who wouldn’t be of any help in battle and two Awakened Female Students.
The scale of the enemy was unknown. They were all bug monsters that were stronger than humans. Moreover, we had spotted at least one intermediate large creature equipped with long-range attack capabilities.
“Violet, what’s the status of the facilities here?”
Thanks to the helicopter buying us some time, the bugs were approaching more slowly than before. Thus, we had at least a moment to roughly survey our surroundings.
The hastily created Violets scattered in all directions under Irene’s guidance.
“I’ve checked everything. There are scaffolds on the walls that we can climb. Electric barbed wire too.”
“What about other defense facilities? The map shows turrets.”
“There are five remote-controlled machine gun turrets in total. One in the center, and two on the right and left. But…”
“But?”
“One has a broken power line, and one is rusted. The others have no ammo! Only the central one is intact.”
“This is insane. Just crazy. What on earth has happened to security?”
Irene sighed and held her head in frustration. In front of her lay a map taken from the makeshift office of the safe zone. She scribbled various symbols on the map with a pencil.
“What do you think, Violet?”
“Shouldn’t we fight by the wall? We have the numbers.”
She raised her head. In her golden eyes, a dark crowd reflected back.
After setting the map down, Irene lightly slapped her cheeks a few times to regain her composure.
“Alright, if it’s like this, we stand a chance with numbers. Violet, are we all ready?”
“Yeah!”
The previously quiet safe zone suddenly became noisy. It was because the lethal Violet Temporary Squad was deploying.
Now, there were over one hundred and twenty heavily armed Awakened Female Students in this place.
“What about the refuge entrance?”
“We’ve buried it.”
After explaining the situation to the laborers cramped inside the narrow containers, we blocked the entrance with dirt and furniture.
“Krol Tide bugs are stupid, but they can sense human positions well. What were they thinking making a refuge like this? Crazy! Helios would never have let it come to this!”
These people wouldn’t help in a fight; hiding them was the best option. As dozens of Violets charged in with shovels, it took mere moments to bury the entrance with nothing but a tiny escape hole left.
“For the central passage… how should we name it?”
“Call it Squad 1 Leader and Squad 2 Leader! It’ll be easier for you than using numbers, right?”
The Squad 1 Leader and Squad 2 Leader of the Violet Squad nodded, and she scribbled symbols on the map.
“Okay, Squads 1 and 2 will handle the central entrance with me. Geographically, this passageway is the widest, so they’ll gather here. Squads 3 and 4 should intercept any enemy forces trying to evade through the surrounding walls. Got it?”
“Understood!”
“Well then, let’s move.”
We quickly took our positions. At the entrance, we rapidly collected nearby vehicles and equipment to set up barriers.
Watching ourselves positioned against the walls reminded me of a classic sci-fi movie where creatures fought against alien monsters.
We drew our weapons and raised our voices.
“Let’s go! Violets! We’re not going to last long anyway!”
“Yay!”
“What on earth does that mean, Violet…?”
Irene looked bewildered. It’s really sad that she doesn’t know such classics!
The Krol Tide Group drew closer between the trees. We could now clearly see their grotesque forms.
“They’re coming! Everyone, open fire!”
“Open fire!”
As the monsters approached the line of fire, we pulled the triggers. Over a hundred gun barrels simultaneously erupted into flames, creating holes in the bodies of the Krol Tide monsters drenched in gunfire.
“Fire everything!”
The machine gun turrets also began to unleash sustained fire. As the monsters closed in within a hundred meters, we tossed Molotov cocktails to cover their path with flames.
-Fssssh!
The monsters barely flinched despite their bodies catching fire, climbing over the barricades and scrambling up the walls. Some even took to the air. Despite being drenched in gunfire, the monsters continued to swarm forward.
-Boom! Bang!
Diving toward the barricade, the bodies of Krol Tide monsters had multiple holes punched through them.
“Get a taste of this shotgun!”
“There aren’t many bullets left! Save them!”
The brown wave surged forward regardless of their kin falling. Bug carcasses piled up around us. The Violets firing from atop the central barricade began to pull back as the Krol Tide monsters easily jumped the barricade, using the stacked bodies as stepping stones.
Now it was Irene’s turn to act.
“Squads 1 and 2! Are you ready?”
“Ready!”
She struck the ground with the tip of her spear. The sunlight’s guidance activated, enveloping the surrounding Violets in a golden glow.
The greedy wave of brown that surged through the barrage was met with our counterattack, forcing them back. Waves of shimmering golden light and a red tide followed to seal the entrance once more.
Violets equipped with spears and shields trusted the golden magical power surrounding them and barreled into the monsters.
The monsters were knocked back. The spear in her right hand was replaced with a rifle. Long range shooting opened holes in the approaching Krol Tide monsters. Despite the relentless assault of the monsters, a fierce melee ensued.
A threatening front limb attack came flying in, and Unit 121 tilted her round shield, deflecting the blow. The monster staggered back from the attack just as the red sword cut its head cleanly in two.
From the left, a Krol Tide monster attempted to bite Unit 65’s leg. With her friend’s support and increased defense and strength, Unit 65 kicked the monster’s jaw. The squished face of the monster flailed as it fell over.
At that moment, I heard dozens of flapping noises from the air. Unit 65’s face contorted.
“Watch out!”
Irene dashed through the Violets, tracing a golden line above her head. In that brief moment, golden threads appeared multiple times.
“Uwah!”
Chunks of the shattered monster fell from above, showering us.
In this critical moment, Irene saved us.
“Thank you!”
“Get up! More are coming!”
Irene grabbed my hand and lifted me up.
While the Violets maintained the frontline, Irene played the role of a firefighter. While fulfilling the shield role at the entrance, whenever she spotted the Violets in their greatest peril, she charged in like a knight, shielding the most dangerous places with her body. Thanks to her, we had multiple opportunities for counterattacks.
Behind us, the never-ending wave of bugs loomed ominously.
“I’ll use a bomb!”
“Got it. Just get out of the way!”
We adjusted the detonator of the homemade bomb and threw it in front of the monsters charging toward the central entrance. The moment the monsters surged forward, the bomb detonated.
-KABOOM!
Debris shot up into the sky. The Violet unit continued its bloody battle despite the carnage. Despite Irene’s buffs, the acrid smell of burning protein and sticky yellow fluids tormented us.
Thirty minutes passed.
“Hey, we might just win this!”
The relentless attack of the Krol Tide monsters, which seemed endless, began to slow.
“No, not yet. The intermediate creature hasn’t arrived. That one is the key to this assault.”
Irene warned us.
“Look over there!”
A monster bigger than a bus walked through the path between the giant trees.
“It’s the Krol Tide Nest! That one is the leader of this group. We have to take it down to end the assault.”
As I spotted it, I let out a short scream and ducked.
-Peeping!
White quill attacks flew in succession and pounded the walls.
*
The Krol Tide Nest serves as both the leader and the queen ant of the swarm. True to its name, the size of the monster was colossal, about the size of two double-decker buses stuck together.
Its large head uniquely had no eyes. Instead, large and small antennae that sprouted like hair waved constantly. Its belly was swollen, and various appendages grew from its back like branches, each ending in a long tube with white quills or scythe-like claws. All of this was covered in thick armor.
Thick legs, as wide as tree trunks, supported its massive body.
Other bugs crawled upon the back of the Nest like living fortifications, keeping watch around.
The Violets opened fire. The bullets ricocheted uselessly. Even with crossbows and combat rifles charged with magic, there was little effect against its enormous size.
“Those petty attacks won’t do anything. The monster’s defensive strength isn’t low. Most importantly, it doesn’t have its brain in its head. It’s located in the center of its body.”
“So what should we do?”
“If we stab deeply into the side or the lower middle of the Nest’s body, we can immobilize it. Its brain is there. Or… do you have a weapon that could blow its body away?”
I shook my head. I had explosives, but not enough to take it down.
“Looks soft; isn’t it possible to stab it? It’s so huge.”
“More robust than it looks. Plus, there are no important organs in its abdomen. Just eggs.”
Focusing my gaze, I noticed the Nest’s swollen belly trembled. It seemed like bursting it would result in a bad situation.
“We have to take it down for the sake of those eggs. Stabbing its weak points is currently our only option.”
“It’s gross, but there’s no helping it. Let’s go!”
As the wave of cockroaches continued to approach, we prepared for our final rush. Irene stood at the forefront, followed by Squads 1 and 2.
“Additional personnel deployment!”
Worried that the charge wouldn’t be effective, I fearedfully generated more personnel.
Some from the remaining squads hurriedly moved to block the central entrance while providing covering fire.
“I’m authorizing the use of Flame Blade!”
“Equipped!”
One of the Violets mixed into the formation drew out a red rapier. This wasn’t a weak opponent, so we needed to draw proper weapons.
-Pang!
Golden magical power enveloped the bodies of the Violets.
“Surely, this should get us through, right?”
“Violet, don’t let your guard down. Just follow my lead. Got it?”
With over a hundred girls preparing for the charge, we just had to follow the girl with the flowing purple hair. She would smash through everything in our way.
We became a massive spearhead, plowing through the wave of bugs as we rushed forward.
“Charge! Charge! Charge!”
Like cavalry, we smashed through the monsters. Swinging swords, hammers, and axes in unified stances, we cut through the limbs of the bugs. Like skilled rowers moving in unison, we crushed the Krol Tides like a ship cutting through waves.
-Fssssh!
Sensing the crisis, the monsters retreated and gathered near the Nest to protect their leader.
Recognizing us, the Nest turned to face us head-on.
-Peeping! Peeping!
The tube-like appendages on its back aimed at us. White quills poured forth. That was the attack that had shot down the helicopter earlier.
“Kyyaah!”
Several Violets fell, struck by the incoming quills. Realizing our losses, Irene swung her spear and deflected the incoming spikes.
-Whoosh!
We pierced through the Krol Tide monster’s defenses to reach the feet of the Nest.
The appendages on its back lashed out at us like whips.
“Watch out for those scythe-like things!”
The Nest resisted, swinging its body violently while shooting quills. The sharp appendages lashed out and knocked us down as we drew closer. Seeing this, golden magical power surged once again from Irene. She chopped through the attacking appendages.
“Ugh!”
The Nest’s massive leg kicked Irene, knocking her away despite her blocking with her spear. Just before she collided with a distant tree, she did a half-spin in mid-air. Her toes touched the tree trunk. Like a spring, she bounced back and lunged toward the Nest again.
-Kablam!
Irene stabbed the central side of the Nest. The spear pierced through its armor and sank deeply. However, even in agony, it thrashed around violently.
“Huh? Irene, why isn’t it dead?”
“The central nervous system isn’t there! We need to aim for the belly…”
“Then let’s cut its legs! Flip it over!”
We surrounded the Nest and hacked at it mercilessly. While the bugs came charging to protect their nest, we also lunged in fiercely.
“Got it!”
“Good job! I’ll hold them off; you handle the rest!”
As Irene darted around, drawing attention away, the glowing red blades swung down, severing the joints of its legs. Following that, the Violets dismantled the Nest’s limbs and appendages as though they were ants disassembling a larger insect.
“Flip it over!”
“Let’s do it! Let’s go!”
The Violets rushed in, utilizing their enhanced bodies to easily flip the bug over.
As its vulnerable belly became visible, we thrust the Flame Blade deep into its center, pressing down with all our might.
“Enjoy the fire!”
The moment I activated the magic for a finishing move, a violent blaze shot up from within. The body of the Krol Tide Nest exploded.
-Fwoosh!
“Uwaaah!”
176’s arm, which held the Flame Blade, was blown away by the force of the explosion.
“Alright! The monsters are scattering!”
Irene pointed ahead. As the Nest was shattered, the Krol Tide group that had previously moved in perfect formation suddenly halted. Slowly, they began to scatter in every direction.
“Did we win?”
“Not yet; the eggs are still left. We need to take care of those too!”
I spotted movement on the monster’s belly. In a hurry, Irene started stabbing the eggs one by one with her spear. In panic, the Violets poured oil over the monster’s corpse.
-Fwooosh!
A foul odor filled the air. Unborn bugs turned to ash. Although there were still bugs bravely attacking the Violets, their numbers had decreased significantly compared to earlier.
Finally, the squad cleaned up the remaining enemies and tended to the injured. The danger was eliminated.
“The gate has been normalized!”
A Violet who had stayed behind witnessed the gate glowing blue as it stabilized.
The surrounding monsters were fleeing rapidly. Confirming safety, the Violets looked to Irene. She nodded.
“Well, I’m off then!”
Most of the unit members vanished as they were reverted.
-Rumble!
Armored vehicles emblazoned with the insignia of an unknown clan slowly entered through the gate. The Hunters disembarked quickly.
Several armored vehicles did not stop and sped past the central passage piled with bug corpses, entering the forest. The mounted machine guns rattled off, and the Hunters unleashed fire magic and swung their swords to finish off the monsters.
“That was quick!”
“Yeah, but it’s finally over.”
Irene panted heavily, wiping her forehead. She plopped down under a nearby tree. I sat next to her, taking out two water bottles and gulping them down.
“You did great, Violet… I don’t know how it ended up like this, but I’m glad it turned out well.”
“I’m hungry! You’re buying food, right?”
“Yeah, I’ll buy you anything!”
Receiving the water bottle I handed over, Irene finally seemed relieved, downing a whole bottle.
It had been such a tiring and exhausting day.
I have to ask for dozens of pizzas later.
![[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come](https://i3.wp.com/darkmtl.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1737407792-8993-TS-The-end-of-magical-girls-has-come.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come")
