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Chapter 26: Shattered Hope
🕑 Added 2024-03-30 05:27:04 +0000 UTC"Look!" a soldier exclaimed, pointing towards the gate where four monstrous anathemas had gathered, standing beside each other as if in anticipation. Surrounding them, hundreds, if not thousands, of smaller anathemas waited patiently.
"Well, they're certainly up to something," Serene sighed. "If only an Ace were here, they'd be overjoyed at this spectacle. Why wasn't I deployed here as a B rank? With an area of effect attack, I could easily earn around 15,000 points from this situation alone."
"15 thousand?" Alice was astonished.
"At a minimum. It depends on their levels and the effectiveness of the AoE. Anathemas are as varied as Magical Girls, you know? Those quadrupedal beasts likely specialize in defense, while the bipedal one appears more vulnerable but probably harbors powerful attacks. The serpentine creature seems resistant to magic, but I suspect it has a weakness against physical attacks," Serene speculated.
"Are you sure we shouldn't intervene?" Alice inquired.
"There's nothing we can do. Engaging with an enemy above our rank is risky enough; facing anathemas two ranks higher is virtually suicide. That creature is at least Rank B, while I'm only at D. Sure, we managed to take down that Rank C Arachnomantis Empress, but only because it was at the lower end of its rank. The level gap between me and those beasts is likely over 70 or 80."
"Wow, more than double," Alice murmured.
"Even if one of those beasts were to stand still and let me attack non-stop, it could still take until tomorrow to bring it down. Do you understand?"
"I was just asking. They seem to be plotting something dangerous."
"In that case, our best option is to stay put. Ensure they don't discover the blast door, and we'll depart first thing in the morning."
"Morning is still over 16 hours away, and the refugees just evacuated a few hours ago..." Red Flame remarked.
"Well, there's nothing we can do about that now. Just ensure they don't breach the blast door," Serene responded, then returned to the cafeteria to finish her meal. However, I remained fixated on the anathemas outside. Black mist swirled around them as they stood motionless, and I noticed their bodies slowly merging as they touched, fusing into a single, indistinct mass of flesh, horns, electricity, and decay.
"Lily, let's go back inside," Alice urged, gently pulling my hand, guiding me away from the scene. I made sure to place a magical eye on the wall to keep watch over the creatures.
"Fel, can you run a diagnostic on those creatures?" I inquired.
"Okay nyaa. However, while I'm using the enemy analysis software, I won't be able to engage in conversation. Is that alright? I can pause it if necessary, but I won't initiate any discussions during the analysis," Felicia informed me.
"That's fine."
Serene and her group were quickly back to their snacks, indulging in sandwiches and cola. Alice excitedly suggested summoning a fruit salad with yogurt punch for 40 points for all of us, but I shot her a look that made her reconsider. The others simply facepalmed at her proposal.
"Those monsters fused," I stated four hours later, observing the now-unrecognizable amalgamation of flesh, horns, electricity, and necrotic tissue.
"Fel?"
"Analysis of anathema species: inconclusive. Metamorphosis detected with 10% confidence; deemed unlikely. Regeneration detected with 5% confidence; also unlikely. Bulking detected with 3% confidence; unlikely. Illusion detected with 2% confidence; unlikely. Continuing to search for possible skills. Power level remains undetermined. New engagement data required."
"Stop staring at it! Anathema can mess with your mind. They grow stronger from your fear, you know!" Alice cautioned as we peered out through the cafeteria's window. Despite the window and the walls encircling Guardian Command, the monstrous Anathema remained visible, its form expanding as it continued to merge.
"Really?" I questioned.
"Yes, that's true," Wan-chan, Alice's familiar, confirmed with a bark.
"I'm not afraid of it. We're safe here, after all," I reassured them. However, Alice got up and drew all the curtains closed, then loudly advised the refugees against gazing at the Anathema. No one was keen to look anyway; the sight had already unnerved some of the first Magical Soldiers who witnessed it, leading Serene to prohibit direct observation, recommending viewing through cameras instead.
But for me, her acts were pointless; I had already placed a mana eye on the wall for Felicia to conduct her analysis since the afternoon. As night fell, we all bedded down on the floor alongside the refugees. Serene, wanting to ensure everyone was ready to depart at a moment's notice tomorrow, had the 1700 refugees stay on the basement and first floor of Guardian Command.
"Everyone, please sleep here to avoid missing tomorrow's final departure," Serene announced. "Is everyone accounted for, or is anyone still in their room?"
"Analysis complete. Fusion Anathema possibility detected with 39% confidence; fusion likely. No additional data available. Enemy analysis software, halted." Serene words fell on my deaf ears as I paid more attention to Felicia's analysis
"A 39% confidence level is lower than expected," I murmured upon receiving Felicia's report. We grabbed our blankets and settled in a corner of the room. Many refugees chose to distract themselves with their phones rather than sleep, so we weren't the only ones ignoring instructions. Serene appeared indifferent as long as no one was left behind.
"What's this 39% about?" Alice inquired.
"I'll share the enemy analysis data with Wan-chan now," Felicia stated.
"Data received. We're dealing with a fusion type of Anathema. The 39% confidence indicates Felicia's uncertainty, as this behavior deviates from the enemy analysis model's AI training," Wan-chan relayed. "But are we sure it's not re-nesting?"
"Re-nesting was considered at 10% confidence, yet it lacks key characteristics. It hasn't spawned new Anathema nor absorbed the smaller ones nearby. It appears to merge the four monsters, incorporating their features into a new entity," Felicia explained.
"Though it showcases significant features like the armor, tusks, and horns, it doesn't fully integrate them. Fusion anathema typically retain 70 to 80% of their original form in the new body," Wan-chan added.
"So, we're facing a completely new type of anathema?" Alice deduced.
"Correct," both familiars confirmed. "And it's approaching."
The ground vibrated beneath us as the newly formed creature, rising to over 200 meters, loomed like a skyscraper. This bipedal beast, with a snout unveiling rows of sharp teeth and claws surpassing our wall's height, roamed around Guardian Command. Draped in miasma and black ichor, it presented an imposing black void, with eyes as large as vehicles scattered across its head, back, sides, and abdomen, mimicking a giant raptor's hunt for a breach in our defenses.
The creature, adorned with a giant artillery gun protruding from its head to its back, let out a roar, the gun's muzzle visibly extending into its mouth. It bore the leviathan's horns atop its head and the bipedal beast's tusks on its elbows, while its back was lined with spikes reminiscent of one of the quadrupedal monsters. Its underbelly was shielded by chitinous armor akin to another quadrupedal beast's.
Alice, wide-eyed, exclaimed, "Wow, it's like a T-Rex!"
Sapphire quickly countered, "It doesn't resemble one at all!"
"Look! It has teeth and walks on two legs!"
"Shining…. I am embarrassed here. Other MGs are looking at us."
Adding to the critique, Red Flame pointed out, "Beyond being bipedal, it shares no likeness to a T-Rex. Its arms are unlike the T-Rex's stubby ones, its body is encased in bug-like chitinous armor and hedgehog-like spikes, not to mention the bizarre artillery gun piercing its skull."
"I bet this monster will feature as a raid boss in 'Magical Girl: Sunset Rebellion,'" joked Red Flame.
Serene, with a knowing smile, added, "It's confirmed, isn't it?"
The monstrous Anathema shifted, using its formidable front limbs to support its hind legs as it revealed a gaping maw filled with razor-sharp teeth, connected to the artillery gun on its back. Mana swirled, accumulating at the gun's muzzle in a spectacular display of light and electricity.
"Looks like a powerful attack is coming," observed Red Flame. "Are we safe here?"
"Felicia."
"Roger nyaa. Enemy analytic software resumed." Felicia responded as they braced for the beast's assault.
The air vibrated with the anticipation of the creature's next move, its preparation indicating an imminent powerful attack, leaving those at Guardian Command on edge about their safety under the barrier's protection.
As a laser erupted from the artillery muzzle, it resembled a thunderbolt slicing through the eerie silence of the night. The air vibrated with the weapon's discharge, flattening buildings in its path before striking the yellow dome of our barrier. The impact caused a blinding flash, sending shockwaves through the area and devastating the surrounding district.
Then, the unthinkable happened—a crack resounded, followed by a burst of light that breached the dome, ushering in the polluted air from outside, carrying with it a wave of despair. In stunned silence, we struggled to grasp the reality unfolding before us; the dome, our bastion of hope and survival, now bore a massive breach.
A rumble echoed behind us, and we witnessed the Guardian Command, the symbol of hope and survival for humanity, marred by a massive gaping hole. The tall building cracked and the upper half of the building above the hole crumbled, sending dust and debris scattering around. All 19 of us Magical Girls stood agape at the scene.
My heart seemed to pause as I faced the monstrous behemoth once more. Its roar, laden with vengeance and sorrow, resonated through us. Smaller Anathema, drawn to this titan like moths to a flame, began a macabre fusion process. Ascending the beast's limbs, they implanted themselves into its flesh, black ichor splashing outwards. This wasn't mere fluid; it moved with intent, enveloping the smaller Anathema, integrating them into the giant's form, a testament to the horror we now faced.
"Warning! Aberrant class Anathema detected! Emergency Shelter Barrier device type A variant has been destroyed in a head-on collision attack! Power level estimated to be above level 270! Engagement is imminent! Retreat immediately! Chance of victory, 0%. I repeat, disregard any mission and retreat to safety at once! SOS data to Guardian Command in Eden has been sent successfully!" Felicia's urgent, mechanized voice snapped us out of our daze. The other Magical Girls around me suddenly turned to the side, likely receiving the same warning as I did.
Panic ensued among the newer, rank F magical girls, their screams indistinguishable from those of ordinary civilians, scattering in disarray. The rank E magical girls, more composed, quickly rallied their groups, attempting to organize a retreat. My attempts to communicate were lost in the turmoil. Serene, usually a pillar of strength, sat immobilized, overcome by despair, tears welling in her eyes.
"Serene," Alice shouted, trying to revive Serene, but she was unresponsive, lost in a sea of hopelessness.
"It's futile to run. The earliest the ferry can return is in five hours. Our chances of survival until then are noen," she muttered, resignation heavy in her voice.
"We must try, regardless of the odds!" Alice countered, her resolve unwavering.
The monstrous Anathema advanced, its immense presence dwarfing us as it effortlessly reached the compound's wall. Its gaze, filled with contempt, reminded us of our place in the natural hierarchy — not at the apex, as we had believed. Anger replaced my fear; despite knowing resistance might be futile, my spirit refused to yield. Locking eyes with the beast, I launched a javelin directly at its eye. Even a speck of dust could still hurt you if it hits your eye. The monster roared and retreated back a few steps while covering his eyes with his hands.
Seeing an opportunity amid the chaos, an idea sparked within me. As another roar shook me to my core, I knew it was now or never.
"Felicia!" I called out, ready to enact my plan.
"Roger nyaa!" Felicia responded, prepared for my command.
