18
Chapter 18
Red mana gathered and condensed into a single point at the tip of her wand.
Crackle crackle-
The sound of mana burning filled the air as small spark embers formed.
And then.
Whoosh-!
The spark embers merged together, forming a massive Fireball Mass.
Yuna took a deep breath and raised her wand toward Suhyun.
"Grrr-"
Suhyun watched the burning Fireball Mass with caution.
She could feel it instinctively.
The fact that taking that Fireball Mass head-on wouldn't just end with some pain.
"Fireball!"
As Yuna shouted that.
The Fireball Mass that had been flickering at the tip of her wand surged toward Suhyun.
Hiss-!
It flew at incredible speed, instantly vaporizing the puddles on the ground.
Suhyun moved quickly the moment she saw the incoming Fireball.
Boom-!
The Fireball struck the ground where Suhyun had been standing just moments ago, creating a deep crater.
"Grrrl-."
Having dodged the Fireball, Suhyun glared at Yuna with her blue eyes gleaming.
Gulp-!
Yuna swallowed unconsciously.
Compared to Suhyun, all the monsters she had encountered in the tower so far seemed like mere child's play.
Suhyun planted her feet firmly and charged toward Yuna.
"Grraah-!"
"Guh-!"
Wearing her Bunny Headband, Yuna also quickly leaped backward.
"Fireball, Fireball-!"
She kept firing Fireballs in rapid succession, but
Boom boom boom-!
Suhyun nimbly dodged the Fireballs with her agile movements.
"Why won't they hit!"
She kept closing the distance with Yuna while dodging the Fireballs.
Eventually.
Yuna had no choice but to let Suhyun close the gap.
"Fire Circle-!"
In that moment, a Pillar of Fire erupted around Suhyun.
"Grrk-!"
With fire blocking her from all sides, Suhyun seemed flustered.
"Phew......."
Yuna wiped away the sweat pouring down like rain and caught her breath.
Once her breathing steadied somewhat, she raised her wand toward the sky and shouted.
"Fire Storm-!"
Then a storm of fire began swirling inside the Fire Circle.
She had controlled the power to avoid killing her target.
Though the firepower was weaker than when she used it in the previous tower, it was enough to neutralize her opponent.
Like that, the storm of fire swept across the ground for about five seconds.
Pssshhh-
White smoke rose up, and the Fire Circle disappeared.
"Did it work......."
Only then did the tension release and strength drain from Yuna's body.
Her exhaustion was clearly evident.
It couldn't be helped.
Having continuously leaped backward while pouring out magic, she was bound to be exhausted.
Even as a Magical Girl, her Mana Capacity wasn't infinite.
And so, the white smoke cleared.
"No way......."
Yuna couldn't hide her shock.
There.
Suhyun, whom she thought had fallen, was standing right there.
Suhyun was crouched as low as possible in a defensive guard position.
Suhyun's body was enveloped in a deep blue light.
Soon the blue light faded.
"Grrr."
Blue eyes gazed at Yuna.
At that sight, Yuna instinctively took a small step backward.
It was an instinctive reaction.
"She's unharmed?!"
Actually, she couldn't exactly be called unharmed.
Several burn marks were visible on Suhyun's body. But they were all minor scratches, nothing severe enough to immobilize her.
Still, Suhyun was just as exhausted as Yuna.
Her breathing, slightly rougher than before, served as corroboration of that.
The blue light emanating from her body was an effect of the artifact equipped on Suhyun.
The Defense Artifact operated using the magic stone energy flowing within Suhyun as its power source.
Having consumed energy, she was naturally bound to be tired.
Suhyun released her guard stance and prepared to charge at Yuna again.
In response, Yuna also aimed her wand at Suhyun once more.
And without either of them saying a word, they moved at the same time.
"Graaah-!"
"Fireball-!"
The Fireball was already something Suhyun had grown thoroughly familiar with.
She dodged the Fireball even more skillfully than before and closed in on Yuna.
And then.
Yuna allowed Suhyun to close the distance even faster than before.
"Fire Circle-!"
She used Fire Circle, but it was useless.
"Grraah-!"
Suhyun's body shimmered with blue light as she broke through the Pillar of Fire.
And her hand swung swiftly.
"Fire Shield-!"
Yuna quickly deployed her shield.
Boom-!
She blocked the attack, but there was nothing she could do about the shock from the impact.
"Guh-!"
Her hands stung as if swords had clashed together.
Yuna's hand holding the wand trembled uncontrollably.
But Suhyun didn't give Yuna time to regain her stance, leaping forward again.
Yuna aimed her wand once more at Suhyun charging toward her.
"Fire Shield-!"
Boom-!
This time too, she barely managed to hold her ground, supporting herself with her legs.
"Ugh-!"
But this was her limit.
Crackle-!
Cracks were forming in the Fire Shield blazing with flames.
Eventually.
Crash-!
The Fire Shield shattered like glass, scattering red fragments across the ground.
Seeing this, Suhyun immediately swung her other hand at Yuna.
"Guh-!"
Yuna also quickly thrust her fist in response.
Her hand began to be engulfed in flames in an instant.
"Fire Punch-!"
Yuna and Suhyun's fists collided.
As their matching forces clashed.
With a loud Shockwave Sound, both were pushed backward and rolled across the ground.
The distance between them naturally widened.
Yuna suffered some minor bruises while rolling.
Suhyun also got scratches in several places while rolling on the ground.
"Hahh- Hahh-!"
"Grr, grrr-!"
Both breathed roughly, then.
"Graaah-!"
"Yah-!"
KABOOM-!
Without either of them saying a word, they attacked each other again.
Boom boom boom-!
In the alley, four people were watching the two fight, holding their breath.
"Suhyun, snap out of it-!"
Chanhoon kept shouting like that repeatedly.
"What do I do, what should I do......."
Eunha watched the scene, pacing anxiously.
Mina just stared blankly at the two fighting.
She had been in that state ever since Yuna transformed into a Magical Girl.
"Everyone stay here. I need to go help Yuna."
It was Joohyun who broke the silence while everyone watched the fight helplessly.
The three looked at Joohyun with puzzled expressions.
"What are you saying? If you jump in there looking like that, you'll die instantly."
Chanhoon shook his head as he looked at Joohyun.
He had heard about Joohyun and Yuna's situation on the way here, but anyone could see that Joohyun in his current state couldn't possibly fight properly.
"Hey Mister, even if I look like this, I can fight too!"
Saying that, Joohyun demonstrated his skill.
The Fire Punch that Yuna had used.
Fire wrapped around Joohyun's hand.
In that state, Joohyun took a stance and shadowboxed.
Watching this, Eunha sighed and spoke.
"That just looks like a Kitty Punch to me?"
Chanhoon also nodded in agreement.
"Wh-what?!"
Joohyun looked at the two of them in disbelief.
"Can't you really tell?! Can't you tell even looking at this fire fist?!"
"If you're not careful, you could get hit by a Named Attack and end up with a hole in your stomach."
"What is that supposed to mean!"
A certain Japanese manga came to mind, but Joohyun tried his best to ignore it.
"CEO...... make me a Magical Girl like Unnie too. I'll fight."
At that moment, Eunha looked at Joohyun and spoke.
Joohyun looked troubled at those words and scratched his head.
"Hmm. I'm sorry, but Eunha can't become a Magical Girl. You don't meet the requirements."
"Huh? Why not? Anyone can see I'm a girl."
"Hmm......."
Joohyun couldn't make any excuses.
Because Eunha was right.
As Eunha said, she was currently a High School Student.
She was at an age more befitting a young girl than anyone.
"Then what about me......."
Chanhoon said, pointing a finger at himself.
For a moment, an image of Chanhoon wearing a Magical Girl outfit flashed through Joohyun's mind.
"Do you think that makes any sense......."
"Haha....... It was just a joke....... My desire to save my Daughter got ahead of me......."
Joohyun sighed as he looked at Chanhoon scratching his head.
"Then, what about me......?"
That was when.
Mina, who had been staring blankly at Yuna and Suhyun fighting, opened her mouth.
Joohyun struggled to hold back a laugh as he watched this.
'I was waiting for this answer!'
Joohyun wanted to dance around excitedly, but pretended to be nonchalant as he spoke.
"You mean you?"
"Yeah......."
Mina looked at Joohyun with a slightly expectant expression.
"Hmm, I don't know~. If you try really hard, maybe it's possible?"
Joohyun spoke in a tone as if granting a Favorable Gesture.
At those words, Eunha and Chanhoon's Pupils widened.
"Ehh? Why can't I but that Unnie can?"
"That's just how adult circumstances work. Grow up a bit more and come back."
"What does that even mean!"
While Joohyun and Eunha were squabbling like that.
"Mina......."
Chanhoon called out to Mina with a voice full of worry.
"Master......."
Mina looked at Chanhoon and nodded with a smile.
Chanhoon had once asked Mina why she was so obsessed with making artifacts.
Mina thought deeply about that question and then said.
'I wanted to become a Magical Girl when I was young. Since I couldn't become one in reality, I wanted to help others by making artifacts.'
'......A Magical Girl. That's really childish.'
'So what......! Any girl would want to become a Magical Girl at least once......!'
As the old memories passed through his mind, Chanhoon nodded.
'This is what Mina wants.'
If she was being forced to become a Magical Girl for Suhyun's sake, he would have stopped her.
But if this was what Mina wanted, there was no reason to stop her.
Becoming a Magical Girl was Mina's dream.
"......So how can I become a Magical Girl too?"
With resolve, Mina looked at Joohyun and spoke.
Mina was trying to suppress it, but her Chest was pounding like it would burst.
It would be stranger if she wasn't excited about becoming the Magical Girl she had been Yearning for since childhood.
She couldn't help the corners of her mouth lifting and her face flushing.
Seeing this, Joohyun lifted his head, gave a wicked smile once, then composed his expression and spoke.
"It's simple! Make a Magical Girl Contract with me!"
'Kekeke, I'll easily gain another Magical Girl. I'll get stronger again!'
Joohyun was laughing unpleasantly to himself, but no one knew his sinister inner thoughts.
* * *
Yuna exhaled a hot breath.
'Dizzy.'
Her head was spinning from continuously Discharging Mana.
Yuna supported herself with her wand and stood up.
Her legs were shaking, but she couldn't just sit here.
Through the hazy smoke, she saw a Silhouette slowly walking toward her.
It was Suhyun walking unsteadily.
Like Yuna, Suhyun also had no part of her body that was uninjured.
"Grrr-."
Suhyun glared at Yuna, who was barely standing with the support of her wand.
Anyone could see that Yuna's condition was worse than Suhyun's.
Suhyun still had strength left to fight more.
But Yuna was now at her limit after using just a few more skills.
No.
One more time and her Mana would surely be Depleted.
Suhyun lunged at Yuna.
Suhyun also instinctively knew that Yuna was On the Defensive.
Yuna was hurriedly raising her wand to cast a shield.
Zzzzt-!!
With a sound like a Lightning Strike, a Silhouette blocked the path between Yuna and Suhyun.
"Grr-!"
Suhyun also stopped her moving feet.
Yuna also lowered the wand she had raised.
Before them.
Purple Hair made messy by static electricity.
Eyes shimmering like blue lightning.
Subtle Electricity crackling and flowing around.
A black Latex Rider Top and a Leather Miniskirt glowing blue as if Electricity was flowing through it.
And to top it off, a Lightning-shaped Staff.
Mina, who had transformed into a Magical Girl, stood before them.
"Yuna, are you okay......?"
"Mina?!"
Yuna looked at the transformed Mina in surprise, examining her up and down.
"Let's fight together....... If we combine our strength, we can stop her......."
Saying that, Mina extended her hand to Yuna.
Yuna was flustered by the current situation and had many questions, but subduing Suhyun came first.
Yuna nodded and took Mina's hand.
The two stood up and faced off against Suhyun.
"Grrr-!"
Mina raised her Lightning-shaped Staff toward Suhyun and spoke.
"It can't be helped....... Are you ready for a electrifying shock?"
The second round had begun.