Halna Midi Meren
The Cranberry copy made an explosion of sound, and in response, five or six times the lightning strike shot out. Halna’s projectile-response spell rebounded to the caster, but unfortunately, Princess Lightning was unaffected when struck by lightning.
Halna checked on the situation from the small window of the storage shed as she supported the others with her magic. In addition to the strengthening techniques from the magic system that she had established beforehand, she also used other spells. She wouldn’t hit magical girls with direct attacks like fire bullets; healing her allies or strengthening them improved output considerably.
The students were fighting against the robbers, but there were too many enemies.
I guess I’ll add a little more.
Halna twisted the valve that went to an invisible pipe that connected with the relic. Increasing the magic invested in the system, she raised the level of the students’ enhancement.
Another explosion. And then thunder. If she weren’t right in the middle of a battle right now, she would want to plug her ears. In actuality, not being a magical girl, Halna may have taken some damage just from this.
The damage to the students protecting the courtyard was also severe. Though they’d all been fused into new bodies, these fusions weren’t invincible. She had given them stronger bodies by fusing homunculus bodies with the body and mind of a magical girl. But they were just stronger, and that was it. If they fought, they would be wounded, and if their wounds were severe, they wouldn’t be able to move. From the window of the storage shed, she used healing magic on Mephis Pheles and Tetty Goodgripp, healing their burns and cuts and sending them out to the front lines again.
Thunder rang out. She felt like she was going to lose it, just from the lights and sounds.
Cranberry kicked one of the Lightnings and sent her flying, pushing her back from the entrance of the courtyard. She caused a detonation toward the group, and the magical girls flew in every direction.
One of the Lightnings that was blasted rolled away to be stopped by a wall. Drawn on her exposed neck was a club, and the number six.
Halna clicked her tongue bitterly.
She’d been right to assume that Shufflin technology was being used here. Either there was someone on the inside that had caused this or the Osk Faction technology had been stolen. Considering who had recommended Princess Lightning, it was either the Puk Faction, a powerful aristocrat, the R&D Department, or some organization working with them.
Trash.
If they followed the same rules as the Shufflins, then there would be an Ace of Spades. That was not good. With their current defenses, it would be a little dangerous.
Since distance attacks weren’t getting them anywhere, next the Lightnings came forward with swords raised. Diko, moving in the blink of an eye, kicked one, Tetty stopped another, and Kumi-Kumi covered them, but there still weren’t enough people, and Cranberry wielded her fists directly.
Cranberry starting to fight with bare fists reduced the pressure from her sound magic. The Lightnings in the rear came forward. Then a fluid was showered on them from the rear. The Lightnings’ beautiful faces twisted in pain, making a hissing sound as they rolled around on the spot. In a blink, Cranberry routed them.
A figure slid in, weaving through the group.
Diko stuck up her thumb at the figure. The figure stuck up her thumb in the same way, thrusting her clasped left fist at Diko. Blood flowed from her eyes, nose, and mouth, but she never let go of the water gun that she held in her right hand, firing fluid at the enemies. It was the last one of the students Halna had fused, Pshuke Prains.
The unexpected opposition pushed the Lightnings back once more. But it wasn’t as if they had let up in their attack. Even now, they were irritating Halna with their loud noises and bright lights as they fought.
I’ll strengthen them a bit more.
Halna operated the magic circle by her hands, loosening the valve even further, increasing the energy that she was borrowing from the ruins. Now the students protecting the ruins would be stronger.
The storage shed in the courtyard was Halna’s research facility, her main base. It was packed with rare magic items, a barrel full of magic gems, documents, bases for fusion, and lots of other things she couldn’t have other people seeing. The principal’s office that Calkoro frequented was just an office.
The Princess Lightnings chattered away, smiling meaninglessly as they attacked without fear of death. And if the Shufflin system had been applied, then they would have spade face cards, an Ace, and maybe even a Joker.
It seems like I could still do it… I suppose I’ll get ready.
She had no choice but to hold nothing back. If she were to talk about “looking to the future” as if she had all the time in the world, then there would be no future. While it was different from its original purpose, now was the time to use it. She would throw the remark “What a waste” into the gutter.
Halna closed the window and turned back. Lined up in transparent cylinders against the wall were unused homunculi, pre-fusion. Skipping past Adelheid, Sally, and Rappy, she put her hand on the fourth cylinder.