Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Duo Battle
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A massive cannon barrel dominating the top of its head.
Sharp teeth positioned right below it.
And even more enormous cannons mounted on both arms, identical to the one on its head.
Comet had already encountered this monster once before—a beast with visuals so vicious it wouldn't bow to anyone.
'Back with Clok.'
She'd been locked in battle with the Frog Monster when Clok barged in. Just before Clok left, this creature—what she assumed was his little brother—had shown up alongside him.
And then they both vanished together.
'I thought Clok had killed him.'
Monsters killing other monsters was commonplace. They grew by taking lives, and that included humans, animals, insects... and fellow monsters.
But here was the very same monster standing before her, looking perfectly fine after disappearing with Clok. There was only one explanation for this.
"Solar, that monster's teamed up with Clok."
"What?"
"He vanished with Clok and now shows up without a scratch. They must have formed a team."
"Ugh... this is insane."
As the two whispered to each other, the monster who had introduced herself as Eve slowly approached them.
Unlike the horrific cannons on her head and arms, her body and legs were those of a strikingly beautiful woman—save for the black skin—granting her an elegantly graceful stride.
"...Eve, are you on Clok's team?"
Comet posed the question warily, keeping her guard up.
Eve responded to her query with polite kindness.
"A team? No, our relationship is nothing like that."
"Then...?"
"Master and slave—that's how you'd put it. I offered my time to Lord Clok."
"Slave?!?!"
"Slavery in modern times..."
The word "slave" rattled the two magical girls.
Eve spread her arms wide toward them and continued.
"Our master is merciful and kind. He provides shelter, food... even guarantees our safety. Devoting everything to such a being is only natural."
"...Tch."
"Crazy bitch..."
As expected of a monster—Eve's mental state didn't seem entirely stable.
Even rookie magical girl Solar could sense it, not just Comet.
Exchanging glances, the two magical girls dropped into battle stances.
Eve, spotting their posture, immediately aimed both arms at them.
With cannons on her forearms, she clenched her fists to brace against the recoil and made a request toward them.
"Please, let me prove my worth."
"Magical—"
"Sunny—"
Before Comet and Solar could finish calling their techniques, a blue glow gathered at the tips of Eve's twin cannons and fired straight at them.
"Kyaaak!"
"Ack!"
Blue energy bullets struck both magical girls' arms at blinding speed.
Comet clutched her bruised left arm, while Solar tumbled backward from the impact.
"...As expected from Clok's slave. Not your average monster."
"F-Fucking hurts..."
Comet quickly regained her footing, but Solar was still reeling, struggling to even stand.
Solar spoke cautiously to Comet.
"Comet, I think I'm seriously weak if I'm not the one attacking..."
"It's okay. I'll protect you."
Solar learned more about her weaknesses today, while Comet offered a reassuring smile.
In the meantime, Eve had already gathered energy in both arms for another salvo.
Not lethal, but packing more punch than expected—Comet positioned herself in front of Solar.
Comet launched her attack straight at Eve.
Her short laser burst was nullified by a single energy shot from the monster.
Comet gritted her teeth.
'Not an easy opponent.'
She prepared her next attack immediately.
This time, it was Magical Blast.
"Useless."
As a sparkling beam erupted from Comet's staff, a blue glow rapidly spun at the tips of Eve's arm cannons, unleashing a barrage like a machine gun.
Magical Blast exploded on impact with the energy bullets.
But Eve's rapid-fire shots, though relentless, were gradually pushed back by the continuous beam-like assault.
'If it keeps this up...!'
The moment Comet let her guard down, an even denser blue glow gathered and spun at the tip of the head cannon replacing her upper skull—far more intense than her arms'.
"!! No way!"
As Comet panicked, a brilliant blue beam burst from Eve's head cannon.
In midair, Comet's indigo beam clashed against Eve's blue beam and energy bullets.
"Nngh...!"
With the added beam, Comet's side began to give ground.
Unlike Magical Blast, which drained her physical and mental stamina, Eve's beam had no visible cost—or if it did, Comet had no clue what it was.
At this rate, Comet would be at a disadvantage.
As she racked her brain for a solution—
"No civilians around, you bastard."
A harsh curse came from beside her.
Comet instinctively glanced over to see Magical Solar—eyebrows slanted at a furious 45 degrees—aiming her staff at Eve.
Comet's sparkling indigo beam merged with Solar's fiery orange one.
Indigo and orange might seem mismatched, but they blended beautifully, as if they'd always been one.
"This is...!"
Even Eve struggled to block both magical girls' attacks at once.
She was steadily pushed back.
No matter how much she groaned and poured in power, the two beams overwhelmed her alone.
Unable to do anything, the beams closed in right to her face.
"Got her!"
"We did it!"
The instant Comet and Solar were certain of victory, chaos erupted.
"Kyaaak!"
"Kyaaaak!"
Something crashed down from the sky, the sheer shockwave blasting Comet and Solar away.
Whatever it was, its size and weight were immense—dust rose like fog, obscuring their vision.
"Solar, you okay?"
"Yeah. Me? What about the monster?"
"No idea... Dust's blocking everything—"
As Comet fanned away the dirt cloud with her hand, Solar spotted a glinting blue light behind her.
"!! Dodge!"
"Kyaaak?!"
Solar lunged, tackling Comet aside as a blue bullet grazed her back.
"Aaaah!!"
For Solar, with her lower durability, it was excruciating pain.
She'd saved Comet and collapsed beside her.
"Solar!"
"Ack, fuck... shit..."
Comet knelt in alarm beside the fallen Solar, checking her condition.
"Your back..."
Even a glancing blow had left a bruise the size of a soccer ball.
The clothes over the grazed spot were long torn, exposing the welt.
"...Sorry."
Comet apologized sincerely.
But Solar grabbed her hand.
"I'm... fine! Hurry and beat that bitch's ass...!"
"Solar..."
Solar's eyes burned not with pain or despair, but hope and resolve.
Comet knew it was all for her sake.
"...Solar, you're a shining sun. You can take down Clok."
"Wh-What...?"
"Please, Solar—just live on."
Comet gently stroked Solar's hand before standing.
The dust finally cleared, restoring visibility.
Before her stood not just Eve, but another monster as well.
An anvil-shaped head atop a hulking, armored body.
"Sis, I'll protect you! I'm the Steel Monster Orea! I'll block everything!"
"You're..."
Recalling Eve's presumed little brother from before, Comet aimed her staff.
"I'll take you both down right here!"
"Uahaha! Awesome! This'll be fun!"
Orea raised his right arm—a massive hammer—and his left, fitted with a shield, cheering.
Beside him, Eve finished reloading once more.
'Eve's ranged attacker type. Orea's a defender.'
Comet finished her quick analysis and steadied her breath.
'Eve alone is a handful for me. And Orea... blocked both our attacks together. Only one option left.'
Indigo energy gathered at Comet's staff tip as she opened her mouth.
"Whoa, whoa—no can do."
"Kyak!"
As Comet tried to unleash Return of the Light, Clok appeared out of nowhere and grabbed the staff tip.
Startled, Comet let out a shrill scream. Clok backed off with a smirk.
"Man, you magical girls have such artistic reactions."
"Wh-What?!"
"Oh, nothing much. Just didn't want you making an irreversible choice."
"...What do you know?! If I don't use Return of the Light, who'll take those two down?!"
"Me, duh."
"!! Solar!"
As she snapped at Clok, Solar struggled to her feet and stood beside Comet.
Meeting Comet's worried gaze, Solar flashed a fierce grin.
"Comet, you've got me by your side now. Partner and friend."
"Solar..."
"No need to shoulder it alone. I'm not dumping this on some kid. And... honestly, how the hell do I beat this guy? You've gotta handle him."
Fearless, Solar jabbed Clok's solar plexus with her finger.
"Hey, why do you always pop up like this and scare us? You're freaking out our Comet."
"My apologies. But I couldn't just watch you throw your life away."
"Tch, smooth talker. Whatever—beat it. Gotta smash those two somehow. Or what, gonna stop us 'cause they're your slaves?"
"No, no. As long as you two don't die, I'm not interfering."
"Then scram."
"Yes, ma'am."
Clok vanished.
Left were Comet and Solar... and Eve and Orea.
Solar grasped Comet's staff-holding hand and whispered softly.
"Come on, Comet. I'm weak, sure—but no need for you to push alone. Borrow my power as much as you want."
"But..."
"Shh, no buts. Let's do this together."
"..."
"We're friends, right?"
"...Yeah."
For a fleeting moment, 'sacrifice' gave way to 'friendship' in Comet's mind.
Hand in hand, they aimed their staves at the two monsters.
"Ready?"
"Yeah. Thanks, Solar."
Feeling their bond, they prepared their attack. Unbeknownst to Comet, her technique began to evolve.
Energy gathered at their staff tips without her realizing, and she cried out.