Hero Hunt (2)
"Whyaaaaaaaaah—!"
"Citizens! You need to evacuate immediately!"
"Aaaahhh!!!"
The peaceful downtown streets of S City were suddenly filled with the wail of sirens. Dozens of Hero Alliance personnel sprinted through the roads, urging citizens to safety.
The cause was a coordinated raid by a villain organization. Roughly a dozen members had been spotted launching a group assault on the city center.
- KABOOM BOOM BOOM—! BANG—!!!
Fortunately, most citizens had already taken shelter inside subway exits or building basements.
"They're approaching from that direction…"
"Understood."
Two heroes waited in ambush, ready to intercept and subdue the villains. The rising idols of the hero world—two young girls.
Magical Girl Seraphina and Magical Girl Aquamarine crouched in a blind spot with the support staff, poised to strike.
"Seraphina… you took your medicine today, right?"
"I'm… fine. I can still manage."
Aquamarine studied Seraphina's pale face with concern, but the other girl only offered a faint, sweat-streaked smile as if nothing were wrong.
After their latest round of enhancement procedures, the side effects had grown so severe that neither girl could function without medication. In return, their abilities had become powerful enough to overwhelm dozens of villains alone—though the risk of losing control remained ever-present.
Aquamarine knew Seraphina had suffered multiple rampages before. That was why the deployment order weighed so heavily on her mind.
"Word is villains have been targeting heroes from behind lately. It's dangerous… so just hold my hand and don't worry."
She squeezed Aquamarine's hand tightly and waited for the villains to fully reveal themselves.
- KABOOM—!!!
Explosions drew closer. On the deserted road, a massive black silhouette emerged.
"Gahahahaha!! Nobody here! Not a single soul!"
The leader was a giant over three meters tall. He stomped forward, laughing uproariously.
"They must've run off scared once they heard big brother was coming! Hahaha!"
"You think so?! Gahahahahaha!!!"
The other hulking villains flattered their leader while hurling cars and explosives into the street.
The distance between the hidden heroes and the giants steadily shrank.
- SWOOSH—!!!
Hundreds of razor-sharp water droplets suddenly flew toward the laughing villains.
"Kyaaaaah!! Ambush, big brother!!"
"What—?! Heroes again?!"
Aquamarine's Magical Bubble Shower transformed mid-flight into spinning blades that sliced through flesh and bone. Thanks to repeated enhancements, the blades were now strong enough to cut diamond.
"Kyaaaaah!!!"
Deep wounds opened across the villains' black, hardened skin. Dark blood poured out, yet they kept charging forward.
"Gahahahahaha!!! Stop hiding and fight us head-on!!!"
The leader, chest torn open by the water blades, roared to rally his men.
"Ugh… my ears hurt…!"
Aquamarine and Seraphina ignored the provocation. They calmly assessed numbers and positions.
"Twelve total. Five are badly wounded."
Aquamarine relayed information through her floating droplets. Seraphina began to move.
"Five in front, six behind the leader. I'll bind the rear group with my thorns. Finish the ones in front."
"W-wait…!"
"Hm?"
Aquamarine caught Seraphina's wrist.
"Don't push yourself. Let's just make it back safely today."
"Haha! I'll be fine."
- TAP TAP TAP—!!!
Seraphina darted between cars and buildings to circle behind the villains. Aquamarine raised her wand and summoned another swarm of droplets.
"Take this! Seraphina Expert Vine!"
Dozens of thick, poisonous thorn vines erupted from the pavement, coiling around the giants' massive bodies.
"What—?! From behind this time!!"
"Big brother!! Kyaaaaah!!!"
The six villains guarding the rear were instantly immobilized. Their confident shouts turned to panicked screams. Even the leader spun around in confusion.
"That bitch… it's her!!! Attack, you idiots!!!"
The wounded subordinates, still clutching their bleeding chests, charged at Seraphina with hammers and axes.
Now's the time…!
Aquamarine launched the pre-positioned droplets at the villains' exposed backs.
- SWOOSH—!!!
"Kyaaaaah!!! More water blades!!"
The droplets carved deep wounds into backs and shoulders, severing limbs with surgical precision. The leader took several hits as well; the explosives strapped to his back detonated in a chain reaction.
- KABOOM BOOM BOOM—!!!!
In seconds, over a dozen giants lay defeated. Alliance personnel rushed in with restraint devices.
"Magical Girl Aquamarine, mission complete."
"Magical Girl Seraphina… mission complete."
"Over here! This way!"
"Got it! One more transport incoming!"
The bound villains were loaded onto a massive trailer. Personnel began clearing debris and recovering explosives.
"Seraphina!"
"I told you I'm fine! Haha."
"Please stop the cleanup for a moment!"
Aquamarine halted the personnel.
"Recently, villains have been ambushing heroes right after operations. Please don't move until we've confirmed the area is safe."
News of recent attacks had spread—seven B-rank and two A-rank heroes already injured or killed. Aquamarine refused to take chances.
"Hah…!"
She sent out another wave of droplets to scan the surroundings.
"Clear. We can move now!"
"Let's get this street reopened! Citizens shouldn't suffer any longer!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Within the hour the road was restored. The personnel leader approached the two girls and bowed deeply.
"Thank you for your hard work, Heroes. We finished much faster thanks to you."
"Not at all! This is what magical girls are supposed to do. Please tell everyone they did great too!"
The two girls smiled brightly. The man started to bow again—then suddenly clutched his chest.
"Ugh…?! W-why…?!"
"What's wrong?! Are you okay?!"
- KABOOM BOOM BOOM—!!!!!!!!