Alpha Battle

(Ceruno)

My magic can pass through barriers.

Dantai Xue was driving to reach the edge of the barrier.

The population in the North Suburbs is indeed sparse, and even in this emergency evacuation, there was no congestion or chaos on the roads.

Sitting in the passenger seat, I glanced at Dantai Zhengchu through the rearview mirror. Although she had taken on the appearance of a high school girl, she was still suffering from some kind of illness...

I then asked Dantai Xue in the driver's seat:

"Snow Sis, what happened to Grandpa Gong who took care of Uncle Dantai before?"

Asking this question in this setting seemed natural, but it was actually a way to probe the truth that Dantai Society was hiding.

Driving and looking at the road, Dantai Xue paused for a moment before replying, "Master Gong has gone back to the countryside."

"Who is taking care of Uncle Dantai?"

"A Ling, she's Grandpa Gong's granddaughter, but I don't know where she went today. I couldn't get through to her on the phone after work, and I was worried something had happened to Dad..."

Her reasons were not beyond my expectations.

"Did Miss A Ling disappear under these circumstances?"

That's why it's worrying...

Looking back now, could it be that Gong Ling's decisive departure was due to a warning she received from the Proxy, prompting her to avoid the attack?

"Those who were unable to evacuate, please gather here as soon as possible!"

Before Dantai Xue's car even reached the edge of the barrier, we heard Quanyin's shout through a megaphone.

Is that a temporary shelter?

I squinted and peered through the car window, barely managing to see Quanyin -nee waving a flag and shouting from the top of a building.

"It looks... like a primary school?"

Dantai Xue replied, "Well, Skyreach City First High School, that's where I used to study... However, Quanyin is so flamboyant, that place could easily become a target for enemy attacks."

Really.

Those who could hear the shouts were not only the surviving civilians, but also the Monster and witches who were advancing towards the outskirts.

"Let's go over there first."

The strategy of grouping and protecting them is sound. By concentrating the civilians, the magical girls are also concentrated. When the enemy has a clear numerical advantage, sticking together can prevent them from being picked off one by one. A lone magical girl would be in grave danger.

Whoosh!

Snow Sis slammed on the brakes, and I hit my head on the dashboard in front of the passenger seat.

"Ouch..."

That's not all.

The car following behind also braked suddenly, but it couldn't stop in time and crashed directly into the back of Snow Sis's sports car, causing me to bump my head again as I had just gotten up.

"... Ceruno- chan, can you fight?"

Look up.

Standing in the middle of the road was... a striking witch.

Her attire was somewhat peculiar; the dress she wore looked like a Western-style dress, or a Hanfu (traditional Han Chinese clothing), but neither was quite formal.

The neckline tilted to one side, revealing a completely white right arm and a bandaged chest wrap, with glimpses of the chest area visible.

Although she wore a fluffy, knee-length skirt, she was wrapped in a festive red sash with gold patterns, and her feet were covered with black and white striped socks.

The outfit itself is made up of patchwork fabrics in a riot of colors and patterns, as are the ornaments around the neck and on the waistband: rosary beads, crosses, dreamcatchers...

I can't quite put my finger on the style, but if I had to, it's probably the result of swallowing up all of Earth's civilization whole, picking out what I thought looked good, and then haphazardly putting it all over myself.

He's practically the "The Other Side"... a freak among Monster.

She had her hair tied in a high, dark red ponytail, with argali horns hanging on either side of her head. She didn't look particularly tall, but she was accompanied by four strong, Monster.

They're not easy to deal with.

"Tsk, they've all moved this far in the story?"

The uncles from the Dantai Society pulled out machetes, pistols, and other self-defense weapons from their trunks. They were certainly brave, but those things couldn't hurt the Monster and witches.

"Uncle, all of you get back in the car! Don't turn off the engines. If you get a chance, Past the main force!"

After giving me these instructions, I got off the car and stood face to face with the witch.

To fight multiple enemies simultaneously, including a witch... my chances of winning are quite low. If Miss Sirius were here, and could transform into "Celius," she might have a fighting chance.

Nevertheless, I drew my wand and cast a protective shield over the three vehicles. Unless there are continuous direct attacks, they should be fine...

"So that's how it is. You're the 'Star Guardian'?"

Presumably she saw my magic. While I was still thinking of a countermeasure, the strangely dressed witch spoke up.

Contrary to her flamboyant attire, she is a person with little emotion, as calm as autumn water.

But at least there is a way to communicate.

I replied, "Star Guardian, at least that's what your companions call me."

"Although I don't harbor any hatred towards you..."

She drew a long-handled straight sword from her waist, a sword that required two hands to wield, its hilt adorned with a pink bow. Holding the sword horizontally to her eyes, she said coldly:

"But your existence will hinder the arrival of the 'Great Will,' so please sacrifice yourself for our greater good."

There's no way to negotiate... should we still fight?

"I will stay, but these are just ordinary people; please let them go to the shelter."

The witch nodded.

"It's alright. Humanity's fear will become the strength we need, and you are their hope. Extinguished hope will turn into despair."

She didn't intend to stop them; she even waved her hand to make her Monster give way.

"Snow Sis, you should go first."

"... I'll call someone over, you have to hold on!"

Dantai Xue hesitated for a moment, but still led the convoy away. The uncles looked more and more tragic than the other, as if I was going to die for them.

"I have no intention of dying here."

I raised my wand again and looked at the witch.

"If you can beat me, then give it a try!"

They made a bold, defiant declaration, but they wouldn't passively take a beating.

Hardened Bubble Membrane... gravity and oxygen filtration!

He simultaneously used his usual techniques on the five people, but they only floated slightly due to weightlessness and did not show any signs of suffocation or pain...

"My name is Alpha, and I am the First Warrior of the Supreme Council."

Not only did it not suffocate, it could even identify itself.

Wait, the First Warrior? She's quite a formidable opponent!

"How could you...?"

Alpha replied.

"My subordinates and I can all circulate our internal energy; we don't need oxygen."

"Are you kidding me? Did you guys just step out of a martial arts drama?!"

"The Q&A session is over."

After saying that, she left behind a fleeting afterimage and then disappeared.

In the next instant, the solidified bubble shattered with a neat cut, and my proud defense couldn't even withstand this one blow.

Even Fomalhaut's sword energy only managed to crush the bubble.

But Alpha's blade, with its sharpness, cut through my air bubble as easily as a thin thread slicing through tofu, even while I was in a light, weightless state...

This person is very competitive.

Has the Supreme Council even committed this level of combat power?!

"Phew, harder than I expected..."

Behind them came the "praise" from Alpha.

"Don't worry, my knife is sharp; it won't cause you any pain."

She raised the knife again and took a step forward, assuming a fighting stance.

It's over...

Bang--

A colorful Flower Shield appeared before me without warning.

The straight blade, slashing down with its momentum, struck the soft yet resilient Flower Shield, but most of its force was absorbed, causing it to slide away and bounce to the side...

"That won't do, Your Excellency Alpha!"