Chapter 3: Might

Author's Note:

Useless statistics: Chapter originally published 25 June 2015. Last revised 15 December 2017. Total word count: 846. Body word count: 632 (75%). Chapter rating: T.

Short chapter, broken off logically rather than at some length cutoff, though it was published at the same time as another chapter anyway.

Homura learns.

Walpurgisnacht was here, but Homura's mind was not any less present than the witch's matter. Her preparations in this time-line made her armaments in the 104th (1) look like an unwealthy child's small collection of action figures and plastic weapons.

She didn't transform; instead, a small remote control was removed from the time traveler's physical pocket. The small black box had a single large, red button set into its center. Homura held the device at her side and casually pressed the button.

Several things happened at once.

Hundreds of invisible drone aircraft came out of stealth and unleashed thousands of bullets and bombs upon the witch.

The ground shook, heralding the launching of dozens of stowed away missiles from the city's surrounding countryside and hidden submarines in the nearby ocean – including three small nuclear warheads.

Carefully located explosives went off, felling dozens of buildings as though they were trees directly toward Walpurgisnacht and anywhere the witch would likely be able to reach by the time the collapses finished.

Thousands of portals opened around Homura, emptying her pocket dimension's artillery at the witch in an overly timely fashion.

Sirens were heard in the distance.

All because of the expertly programmed big red button.

After a few moments, several more things happened: Thousands of bullets and bombs impacted the witch, buildings fell directly upon her, and the missiles arrived and exploded, blinding any unfortunate onlookers. In addition, the entire Central Mitakihara Fire Department arrived on the scene, and

Walpurgisnacht laughed. That was a first.

Catching the sound of the witch announcing its continued life, Homura immediately transformed and froze time. She sidestepped a lazy black-and-rainbow tendril of magic, then followed the beam toward the witch.

It was entirely unscathed.

HOW? That wiped out a large portion of the city, yet the witch is still alive and happy? Does.. D*mn. I should have seen it earlier. Way earlier. The witch can't be harmed by matter, only by magic. Bullets can't scratch her. Buildings do less. Looking back, I was never, ever able to defeat Walpurgisnacht on my own. Because my magic is all utility. Manipulating physical things. No attacks like the others have.

So maybe instead of an arsenal, I need an army? But who would trust me about Walpurgisnacht, and who would waste their efforts by attacking it?

I... I will find a way. Later. Not this time...

She flew a safe distance away from the witch, to the top of a building, and released the time stop, then rotated the shield, opening the tunnel of time behind her and beginning to step forward. But for some reason, she felt the urge not to walk through the tunnel quite yet.

"Hey. Looks like I was right," came a voice. "You are a Magical Girl, Akemi-san (2)." She whirled around in the direction of the voice to find a human figure standing on the far side of the building. It – no, he – was a thin man clad in a single black garment, holding a book and a crucifix. He's – "Gyudell Zyxas. Remember me? Demonic activity has been on the rise, so I've been watching for something big. Turns out it arrived, as did you, but that thing seems just fine. If you wish to leave, please do so, but remember, Akemi, I can help you with anything."

The man removed a Rosary from one of his pockets, holding it in his hand as he waved goodbye. At the same time, Homura felt ready to move again, so she stepped fully into the tunnel of time.

108.

Homura sat up in the hospital bed.

So explosions just don't work.

That means... I need a different mode of attack. ...People?

Author's Notes:

(1) 104th: The time loop number I have given to the original main story, in case you've forgotten.

(2) "You are a Magical Girl": He knows what a Magical Girl is. Welp. Stay tuned.

Chapter Synopsis. Homura doesn't need magic time stops in her battle, because the function is replaced. Instead of allowing herself time to launch all the weapons, she had a coolio Big Red Button that unleashes a huge arsenal upon the witch. And... nothing happens. Always seemed to me that Walpurgisnacht was impervious to non-magical attacks, seeing as she didn't care, like, at all, any time she was shown. Homura abandons the impossible battle and rewinds again after very briefly meeting up with Zyxas-shinpu again.

Changes Log:
15 December 2017 – Back to this story after continuing the long break. Lots of little touch-ups. No need to reread for changes, unless you need to reread for memory.