The sides of the conflict

And Oriko jumped backwards.

"EEEIIIAAHHH!" Revenant landed on the spot where her opponent was standing, striking the ground with one of her javelins. The weapon stuck and formed cracks in the concrete.

Oriko had a moment to smooth her skirt. "You must have realized by now that I am not interested in fighting with you. Why do you still insist?"

Revenant threw her javelin.

Oriko did not move, and the projectile passed right beside her. She was not sure if the black woman did this out of frustration or because she was trying to anticipate the direction in which she would dodge.

"IIEEEEAAHH!" Revenant grabbed a bed with one hand and threw it.

Noisy. Oriko saw the bed flying toward her. The piece of furniture was coming too high, and she had only to bend down to avoid being hit. Of course, this had only been a distraction, the black woman had charged with a new weapon in her hands, Oriko did not even need to use her magic to predict this.

Revenant applied a firm stab, but it only hit the air.

The blonde had only needed to take a long sidestep. Her opponent might be stronger, faster, and more agile, but Oriko was already used to this difference in her sparring sessions with Kirika. It was just a matter of anticipating and using the opponent's momentum against themselves. "How about you stop and start talking to me? I believe the witches of the past would not give you such an option."

"Ya ain't foolin' me!" Revenant prepared to throw her weapon.

By the time the javelin left the black woman's hand, Oriko had already jumped away, more specifically to the center of the dormitory, where it would be more difficult for her opponent to corner her.

Revenant created a new javelin in her hands. "Wait me catch ya, just wait!" And she ran toward her opponent.

Oriko sighed.

Revenant was getting closer when she felt a powerful 'punch' on one side of her rib cage. "AAHHGnn!" She stopped and bent over with the sudden pain.

Oriko opened her palm and the crystal sphere she had used against her adversary flew onto it. "You still do not understand. If I wanted to kill you, I would have already done it, but I seek peace."

Revenant slowly regained her posture, gasping, and gritting her teeth. "Huff... huff... Fina- Cough! Cough!"

"I will say it again: We did not kill Madre," Oriko said with a little frustration, "are you going to ignore the woman I described? Or do you not know anyone like that?"

Revenant cried out, in disgust, "It was cuz of ya, witches in disguise, that I killed Valkyrie!"

Oriko tried to understand what she was saying, and who this Valkyrie was, but she had no time, her opponent had already charged in her direction! Reacting immediately, she sent her sphere flying at the speed of a bullet.

The sphere hit Revenant and shattered, without injuring, much less stopping the black woman.

Oriko's eyes widened.

Revenant too, as well as cracking a grin from ear to ear. "Now ya die!"

Oriko could feel the javelin penetrating her forehead, when she then reopened her eyes.

Revenant cried out, in disgust, "It was cuz of ya, witches in disguise, that I killed Valkyrie!"

Oriko held her breath, she had no time to interpret what had happened in her vision. Soon the black woman charged, Oriko made the safest decision and jumped away. As soon as she landed, she was ready to open a greater distance from her opponent.

However, Revenant stopped and relaxed her stance.

Oriko exhaled, with relief, but with some surprise as well.

"Huuuh? Why didn't ya use yah little ball of shit?" Revenant raised an eyebrow. "And even look like ya saw a ghost."

Is she... making fun of me? Oriko raised her eyebrows, showing a smile. "That was a warning. I do not want to hurt you."

"Lyin' like a politician..." Revenant cleared the throat and spattered blood on the floor.

"Since you are insisting." With a slight gesture, Oriko commanded her sphere to attack. That should not work.

As expected, the sphere shattered when it hit Revenant, without leaving a single mark on her black skin, nor being able to make her move. It was like hitting something huge, solid and firm.

Oriko did not show any reaction, remaining silent.

Revenant's body tensed, making her muscles even more apparent. "'If I wanted ta kill ya, I'd have done it already...' Really? Bah! The future isn't yah ta decide!" Then she returned to pursue the witch.

Oriko avoided the attack, but could no longer keep a good distance from her opponent. Is she faster? More aggressive too.

"Ya're not gonna fight? Then just die!" Revenant dealt a series of blows with her javelin.

Like a deadly waltz, Oriko circled around the black woman, dodging the sharp weapon by millimeters.

Revenant's attacks continued, relentless.

But the blonde was still in control of the situation. She is opening her guard on purpose, that means... In a moment of opportunity, she slapped the woman across the face.

Revenant stopped the attack, with a dumbfounded visage.

Oriko moved away.

Revenant held her jaw, grimacing in pain, as she turned her attention back to her enemy.

Oriko gestured with her hand.

A crystal orb came flying at high speed, hitting one of Revenant's eyes, but nothing happened beyond the orb breaking. The black woman did not even blink.

"I shall assume that next time my hand should not work either," Oriko commented, "it seems that when you receive a type of attack, you become invulnerable to it."

Revenant cracked a cheeky smile. "It's moah than that."

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

Homura examined that man, specifically at the gem that was on the right clasp of his cloak. He had made a contract with Incubator, something she had never seen happen. Homura was aware that the damned creature had its reasons for making contracts only with girls in their teens. She could only conclude that she was facing an exception, a dangerous exception.

Inquisitor held his cross more tightly.

Homura felt the man's magic grow, and it was growing around her! Without a second thought, she threw herself away, rolling on the ground. She felt a flash of heat and looked back, seeing that a column of fire had formed in the position she was in before.

Inquisitor's gaze became more intense.

Feeling a new surge of magic, Homura rolled across the floor once again. She escaped being engulfed by fire, but her funereal dress had flames, which she killed by striking them with her hand.

Inquisitor started to walk towards the witch.

"INQUISITOR, WATCH OUT!"

But he stopped when he heard a certain child.

Nano claimed, "If your flames hit the rocket fuel, you will incinerate the entire floor!"

"Inquisitor!" Invader did the same, but for other reasons, "STOP!"

"Stop?" He continued looking at the witch, "I'm saving you."

"Someone set us up!" Invader stated, "we are being used as pawns!"

Nano gaped. Had she heard right?

Inquisitor remained silent.

Homura was still lying on the ground, looking at him. It seemed wise not to make any sudden movements yet.

"You need to listen to me!" Invader insisted.

"I'm listening." Inquisitor held the head of the cross with his other hand, ready to split his sacred object into two weapons.

Seeing that the situation was on the verge of a point of no return, Invader shouted, "MADRE WAS NOT A TRAITOR!"

Inquisitor stalled for a moment, before turning to her.

Invader continued, "She died at the entrance, defending the Sisterhood. You must have felt the explosion."

Inquisitor's lips quivered before asking, "So why do you want me to stop?"

"This witch claimed they didn't kill Madre," Invader replied, "it was a white-haired woman. Someone from our group, someone from the inside."

"An adult woman with white hair?" Inquisitor raised his eyebrows. "A lie, there is no one like that here."

"Why would she make up such a lie? When she could have simply killed us? You wouldn't have arrived in time to save us," the ballerina argued, "besides, someone informed this witch that we were going to destroy Mitakihara and kill everyone. She came here to stop us."

"Now you're telling me she's a hero. Another lie!" Inquisitor was indignant. "Why are you believing a witch?"

"Look!" Invader pointed at the fallen girl. "LOOK! Don't you recognize her?"

Homura felt the threat grow as the man looked at her.

However, Inquisitor's stern countenance soon broke into a state of surprise. He exchanged glances with the sister again. "She is..."

"Yes, one of our targets, Homura Akemi." It was Invader who had an inquisitive look on her face this time. "Why is she here?"

The man lowered his gaze, pondering, his breathing audible. He began to nod, as if agreeing with his own answer, "The... The traitor must have been able to contact her and given our location. They-"

"NO!"

He looked at the ballerina again.

"No!" Invader shook her head. "That's not it! Why would the traitor contact her, and wait for her to come from Japan, across the ocean, to destroy us? And not contact the witches living in this country? We should be surrounded by hundreds of them if that were the case."

Inquisitor scratched his beard, restless, not knowing where to put his gaze.

"No, Inquisitor," Invader concluded, "someone wants Homura Akemi here and we are the bait."

He smiled, succeeded by a restrained chuckle. "Huhu... huhuhuhu..."

To Invader's surprise. "Inquisitor?"

He looked at her, with a now serene expression. "It was so obvious, wasn't it?"

"W-What?" Invader blinked, fearful of his reaction.

"Who introduced and insisted that Mitakihara was the source of this crisis? Who, during the theft of the seeds, was not visible on camera and could leave and enter this base without anyone noticing or stopping her? Who let a witch into this base, then she and this same witch and two other magical girls shared a room? Who who was in that room is still alive to tell whatever story she wants?"

Invader widened her eyes.

Inquisitor returned to a semblance of seriousness. "If what you say is true, the only one capable of doing that is Generalíssima. She is the TRAITOR! Therefore, that makes me the new leader. Do you comprehend that?"

Invader nodded silently, the question had sounded very threatening.

Homura could not understand what they were saying. It seemed that the ballerina had made the man stop attacking, but now she was agreeing with him?

Inquisitor sighed. "That also implies that we may be in a reality perception control situation. I... don't know what to believe anymore. I was so convinced that a witch had stolen the seeds, that I ended up neglecting that possibility."

Invader was aghast. "So... You believe the witch now?"

"I don't know! I don't..." Inquisitor shook his head, frustrated. "These new witches seem to be a real phenomenon, but our information chain is compromised. Generalíssima may have manipulated contact with the outside world, perhaps even the situation in Washington. That's why Valkyrie had to die, Madre too."

Invader commented, "When you left the security room, Generalíssima said that you are no longer a member of the Sisterhood."

"Of course I would be the next on her list, I'm an investigator, I don't stop at the first 'truth' I find. If you think about it, it's amazing that I wasn't the first. Maybe she didn't find an opportunity..." Inquisitor gulped and sighed, before asking, "The witch was talking to you, right? We have to extract from her the information of who is behind this."

"That's what I was trying to do," Invader replied in a tone of obedience, like a soldier, "through peaceful means, by the way. I will tell her that you apologize and try to convince her that we will not destroy the city with that rocket. She is believing in that."

Homura gave up following the ballerina's discussion with the priest. They were deciding something, that was the best she could interpret. She looked at the huge rocket, ready to launch.

No matter what was happening, there was only one way to ensure Madoka's safety.

"She believes that rocket is a weapon?" Inquisitor raised his eyebrows. "Good. It will be easy to convince her, because we will destroy it."

"What?" Invader frowned.

"You said we're being used as pawns, so it's time for us to stop acting like one. This rocket has always been more of a selfish project of Generalíssima than something for the benefit of the Sisterhood. And I have... my reservations about its purpose."

Invader did not know what to say. Could Homura be right?

Inquisitor continued speaking, "We need to convince Nano about this, it shouldn't be difficult for you, however I don't believe we'll be able to do the same with Revenant and Lucky, they are both too loyal to Generalíssima. We must find and meet with Matryoshka."

"Matryoshka?" Invader was still trying to absorb the plan. "W-Why her?"

"She was right about some things. We can trus-" Conditioned by his years of training, Inquisitor was always on the lookout for any subtle manifestation of magic. Something was coming from the witch. He turned and, thanks again to his training, witnessed that she had summoned the most lethal weapon in the universe into her hand.

An hourglass!

Knowing that the difference between all the Sisterhood members present being alive or dead was a fraction of a second, Inquisitor took the only sane action in that situation.

Before she could put the magical tool in a horizontal position, Homura was surprised by a conflagration of flames engulfing her hourglass. In an instinctive act, she threw the object.

The hourglass flew and spun in the air to where Invader and Inquisitor stood. The flames that consumed it turned purple.

The man widened his eyes.

The ballerina, on the other hand, was still beginning to become aware of what had just happened, but she would have no more time.

A massive explosion. "AAHH!" Behind the barricade, Nano saw a body being hurled with great speed against the rocket and then roll over across the floor, stopping close to her position. She immediately recognized her friend's tutu. "INVADER!"

The body remained motionless, in a twisted position.

"Invader! INVADER!" Nano left the barricade and went to her. "Invader..." She turned the body.

Invader was with her eyes closed, her face blackened by soot and burning, and bleeding.

With her heart tightening, Nano pushed the body, waiting for a reaction. "Invader! Wake up, talk to me. Talk! Talk..."

On the red hair clip that held Invader's long ponytail, there was no longer a wing-shaped gem, only a few small fragments of blue crystal.

Nano shuddered and stopped breathing. She would have fainted, if an irrational force had not surged within her. "Invader, open your eyes." She pushed the fallen ballerina again, more violently. "Open your eyes! Wake up! INVADAAAH!" Tears streamed freely down her face, as she began to punch erratically against the body. "INVADAAH! INVAAAAHH! INVADAAH!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

"CAPITANO POTENZA!"

The metal door fell with Kaoru's blow, revealing to the group that the tunnel still continued ahead.

"Nice kick," Kyouko commented, not too surprised by the other magical girl announcing her attacks like a certain blonde.

"Oh, that one was pretty weak," Kaoru said proudly, "I was trying to avoid hurting someone who might be behind the door."

"Right." The redhead examined the leg that the other girl had used for the kick. It was now made of some sort of black metal and had taken on the shape of an animal leg with a hoof. "Is that a horse leg?"

"It's a bull one. It's like that because of my witch." Kaoru made her leg return to normal before turning to Kyouko. Smiling, she lifted her bangs, showing her forehead. "I can make horns grow too! Wanna see?"

"No, thanks..." Frowning, Kyouko made a new comment, "you put your witch in a positive light."

Kaoru put her hands behind her head, stretching her body. "If I think my new condition is bad, does it change anything?"

"Yeah, no," Kyouko concluded promptly, with a little regret about what she said.

Although Kaoru did not show that she was offended. "Besides, my witch form isn't even scary. It's just an overgrown bull."

"Bulls can be pretty scary," Umika intruded into the conversation.

"It's an animal! Just don't mess with them." Kaoru shrugged. "If you want to know a scary witch, Kazumi-chan's is pretty hungry."

"Ah! You didn't have to mention that!" Kazumi protested, making a pout.

Kaoru approached her friend and poked her puffed up cheek. "It was just a silly little joke, to ease the tension. Your witch doesn't scare me one bit, but the fact the food in the fridge has been mysteriously disappearing you have to admit, right?"

"Eh?" Kazumi looked away. "I-I just found out now..."

Listening to the two, Umika sighed.

"Oh no!"

But soon everyone paid attention to Sayaka.

The blue-short-haired girl said, "Now that I've realized. If we meet someone, how will we communicate without Oriko-san?"

Umika replied, "I know English."

Followed by Kaoru and Kazumi's surprised reaction, "You know?!"

"Why that question?" Umika fixed her glasses, showing a proud little smile. "Have you forgotten that I translate my own books?"

"Eeehhh..." Kaoru raised an eyebrow. "But doesn't your editor keep asking you to make corrections about that?"

"That's his job," Umika replied, "he'll find error even where it doesn't have it. No big deal."

Kazumi commented, in a low tone, "But the other day you said you're going to snap his neck..."

Umika frowned. "T-That was a figure of speech! It's no big deal, okay?"

"Girls!"

The group turned their attention back to Sayaka.

"Sorry, but... A magical girl died in front of us not long ago and I don't want that to repeat. We need to stay focused."

The Pleiades Witches nodded.

Kyouko too, already looking at the tunnel they would have to keep going. "If she knows some English, it's better than nothing. Let's go."

They followed the tunnel until they reached a large, empty room.

As the group walked cautiously to the center of the room, Kaoru made a comment, "Good thing we didn't meet any traps, huh?"

Umika said, "It's better not to speak about it lest it bring bad luck."

"I wonder what was in here?" Kazumi looked around. "They must have taken it when they escaped."

Umika shook her head. "No, it's too clean. This space wasn't being used." She lowered her gaze, pondering, "This base is so big, and to imagine that the Sisterhood must have other places like this around the world..."

Sayaka found that there were two entrances to other tunnels. "We aren't going to split up. We'll have to make a choice."

"That won't be difficult." Umika pointed to one of the entrances. "On the wall of that entrance is written 'Storage', while on the other entrance there is nothing written. Oriko-san reported that there's a data center, the way to this place must be through the tunnel that has nothing written on it."

"She also mentioned a storage room," Kaoru said, "don't you think the magical girl we are supposed to meet could be there?"

"Yeah," Kazumi agreed, "there's a desert out there. If I wanted to escape, I'd go get some food first."

"Not every storage room is for food, Kazumi-chan." Umika sighed. "Furthermore, a data center seems like a more relevant place to look."

Kaoru argued, "But if the tunnel leading to the storage room is here, it must be close by. It doesn't hurt to take a look."

Sayaka nodded, concluding, "We'll have to decide..." She looked at the redhead. "What do you think, Kyouko?"

Kyouko was quiet, looking at the tunnel that led to the storage room.

Sayaka sensed a certain tension in her companion. "Kyouko?"

The red magical girl had a good reason to ignore the call.

The mysterious woman with white hair. She was at the entrance, watching the group!

Kyouko was sure there was no one there when they entered the room. She could only conclude that the woman had suddenly appeared, just by the same way she had disappeared the other time.

The woman had a nonchalant posture, even when her pink eyes met Kyouko's red ones. In fact, it could not be even considered an exchange of glances.

Kyouko knew why. Umika was right, the woman was not aware that she was being seen.

"What's it?" Sayaka asked, "did you see anything?"

However, this was about to change.

Hearing the question, the woman looked at the redhead.

Kyouko did not expose any reaction.

Still, the woman had a puzzled countenance. She turned around, seeing if there was anything behind her, before looking back at Kyouko.

Sayaka and the other girls remained silent, not making a single movement, feeling the tension grow.

The woman frowned, and smiled, before rushing into the tunnel.

"Tch!" Without hesitation, Kyouko hurried to follow her, conjuring a spear in hand.

"Kyouko?! Wait!" Sayaka exclaimed.

As the woman disappeared around the curve in the tunnel, Kyouko was confident that she could catch up to her, as she was running faster. However, as she passed the same curve, she no longer found the woman. "Huh?!" She stopped.

"What's happening? Kyouko!"

It was Sayaka's voice, the other girls were coming. At that moment, motivated by intuition and impulse, Kyouko decided she would go to the very end of this. She put magic in her legs to run faster.

That woman's smile, the fact that she did not immediately disappear and go into that tunnel. She was not running away, she was inviting.

The tunnel was now a long curve, it looked as if it would make a circle. However, Kyouko insisted, with her weapon ready.

The curve ended, and so did the tunnel. Kyouko stopped and found herself in a room with many boxes.

In the middle of the room was the tall woman, with her back turned, showing how long and straight her white hair was, covering her buttocks. She was standing still, not making any sound.

"Hey!" Kyouko held the baton of her spear tighter. What was the plan now? That woman had an exotic and dangerous aura, like an animal of garish colors, warning of its deadly poison.

"Kyouko-san," the woman called Estér finally spoke, "among all of you, you were the one I least expected to have surprises."

"Have we met?" Wide-eyed, Kyouko did not even realize that the woman was speaking in perfect Japanese.

"You never saw me." Estér turned around, making her hair flutter, and with a certain curiosity stamped on her face. "How is this possible now? Have you released a latent power in light of the recent events? Or were you avoiding using it before..." She finally smiled. "Regardless, I felt now that you were worthy in hearing my voice before the end."

"I dunno what end you're talking about, but if you're going to play the arrogant one, I have an answer fo-" Kyouko stopped talking, as she had intended to direct the tip of her spear at that woman, but she could not, it seemed that her weapon was caught on something. She looked at the tip of her weapon and saw that there was nothing there to stop the movement, but she realized that her arm was also being held by a force, and then her whole body! Her eyes could still move and she looked back at the woman. Kyouko was startled, as only an instant had passed, but the woman was only a step away.

"Arrogant?" Estér took the oval red gem from the red magical girl's chest. "You have no idea how humble I am being."

Kyouko could not move her tongue and jaw, and her lips only quivered. Her eyes were unable to blink.

Estér brought the red gem to her corrupted gem in her tiara, to the point of touching the two stones. However, there was no reaction at all. Then she examined the gem in her hand, caressing it with her fingers. "What a beautiful fake..."

Kyouko could not express her frustration. There were supposed to be chains coming from the walls to bind that woman, spears sprouting from the ground to impale her, but nothing was happening. What was going on? Where was the magic?

Very carefully, Estér put the red gem back in its original place and slowly raised her hand until she could caress the redhead's cheek.

"Gnnmf!?" Emitting the sound she could with her shut mouth, Kyouko shuddered.

"Ah, Kyouko-san..." Estér stroked the girl's stiff arm. "I remember the nights in hotel rooms. You pretending to be distracted by food and counting seeds, but always with that wanderer look in your eyes, longing for a place to call home."

Kyouko quenched her urge to discover the truth, and regretted it. She was part of a miracle, the Law of Cycles. She had weapons, magic, she could transform into a scary monster! Yet in that situation, she was no more than a vulnerable teenager, facing a predator who knew her intimacy.

Estér squeezed the redhead's breasts.

"Gnn...!" The only protest was a slight widening of the eyes.

"In other times, I would adopt you," Estér gradually lowered her tone, "I would save you and you would have such faith in me. You would give everything for me." She looked away, murmuring, "you would give your soul to me."

With growing terror, Kyouko had almost forgotten. Sayaka and the other girls were coming! She could still do something. She had to warn them abou-

"It's too late to warn them," Estér stated.

Kyouko would have been openmouthed if she could.

"Why the surprise? I'm old enough to know how to read." Estér made a circular gesture with her finger.

Kyouko began to move, but not of her own accord. An external force was pushing her body, the soles of her shoes dragging on the floor as she slowly turned around.

Then she saw.

Sayaka, Kazumi, Kaoru, Umika... They stood there, also paralyzed, only moving their scared gazes. No words were exchanged, not even in thought. Telepathy was not working either.

Still spinning, turning back to the woman, Kyouko's eyes watered. She had made a stupid decision, so stupid.

"Hushhh... hushhh..." With her finger, Esther collected a tear from the girl and pushed it between the redhead's lips.

Kyouko felt the salty touch mixing with her saliva.

Estér removed her finger and sucked it, then she clicked her tongue, as if analyzing the taste. She raised her eyebrows. "What a situation you have put me in. What will I do with you?"

Kyouko fought with all her might against what was holding her. If this was the end that woman had mentioned, this was how she would confront it.

Estér's pink eyes sparkled and she suddenly looked at an empty spot.

These were not the only things Kyouko had noticed. The woman's visage, once that of someone who was in complete control of the situation, was now one of consternation.

When her eyes stopped glowing, Estér uttered, "Homura-chan..."

Hearing this, Kyouko was so surprised that she forgot to continue struggling.

Wrinkles of anger formed on the white-haired woman's face. "That petulant man. Even though he doesn't know anything, he's always the one closest to ruin my plans. How can he do that?" She then looked at Kyouko.

The red magical girl managed to gulp. Fear gave way to curiosity. Who was that person?

"Well, Leona can take care of you." Estér aimed the open palm of her hand at the group.

"Gnn? Hffmmp?" Kyouko struggled, this time to ask a question.

And Estér spoke, "Abjuration."

"Kyouko!"

The redhead had a fright and looked at Sayaka.

Her friend was very irritated. "Why are you staring at that tunnel like you're in a trance?"

Kyouko looked again at the tunnel entrance, which would lead to the 'storage room' according to Umika. There was nothing there.

It was Umika who then asked a question, in a very serious tone, "Did you see anything?"

Driven by an urgency, Kyouko opened her mouth to speak, but her answer was stuck on her tongue. There was only emptiness. "I... I think I heard something. I don't know..."

Umika sighed.

Sayaka was worried, remembering Madre's bloody death. The woman seemed to be religious, just like Kyouko, however much her friend did not want to admit it. You still harbor those sorrows, huh?

"Hey! Hey!" Kazumi broke the mood, drawing attention. "How about we do rock, paper and scissors to decide which tunnel we'll go through?"

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

The dormitory was already unrecognizable, with battle marks everywhere. Actually, 'battle' was not the most appropriate term.

Oriko ran to escape a volley of javelins. The weapons stuck to the floor, kicking up dust and chunks of concrete.

"IIIAAAHHH!" Whirling another javelin in her hands, Revenant landed in the blonde's path, delivering a blow.

Oriko took a side step in time, but the green metallic flash managed to make a cut in her dress. It was another one of many, her uniform was partially destroyed. Her skin was bleeding too, but they were superficial cuts.

Revenant stopped and watched her opponent retreat.

Oriko had an impassive countenance, but her breathing was tense.

The black woman relaxed her posture. "Ya can't keep dodgin' forevah."

Oriko kept backing away, opening up a good distance, until her hand slipped on the cold metal of one of the javelins stuck in the floor.

"Ya must still have a lot of attacks ta use against me." Revenant opened her arms. "C'mon, witch, do yah worst 'n kill me at once. It's the only chance ya hafta win."

"I do not want to kill you," Oriko said.

More harshly, Revenant gave her retort, "If ya've that much consideration for me, then do me the favor 'n die! We'll make good use of yah grief seed."

"I think I have a better idea," Oriko extended her arm and orbs began to appear in mid-air.

Revenant frowned. "Ya know those marbles won't work against me anymoah."

"Oh, you are wrong." Oriko kept her arm extended.

The number of orbs multiplied rapidly, forming a tall and solid wall between the two.

"Dya think that can stop me?" Revenant renewed the firm grip on her javelin.

There was no response, only silence coming from the other side of the wall.

It was then that the black woman realized that she could not see what was on the other side either. "Ah, so that's it. I hafta admit that ya're creative, but that doesn't change anythin'!" She rushed against the wall of spheres.

The spheres shattered at the mere contact with the magical girl, unable to stop her movement at all. It was as if the wall simply did not exist. Nevertheless, Revenant stopped when she reached the other side, stunned.

Oriko had not left her position, but now at her side was a floating sphere with a javelin impaled in it. They were now like a single weapon, with the sharp point pointed at the black woman. "Your first mistake was to provide me with enough ammunition."

Revenant gritted her teeth.

Oriko expressed satisfaction with her opponent's reaction. "And your third mistake was not giving proper consideration when I told you 'Your first mistake'." With her thumb, she pointed downward.

There was no more time, not even a moment.

Like a sword of Damocles, there was another sphere with a javelin attached, floating just above Revenant. Obeying Oriko's gesture, the sphere dived.

In a split second, the javelin pierced the black woman's skull and pierced her body, with the bloody tip sticking out of her crotch and into the floor. The blow was so violent that Revenant's eyeballs were pushed out of their respective holes and a stream of blood escaped from her nostrils, mouth and ears. Her body went limp and her wielding weapon fell.

All just as Oriko had predicted. Victorious, she moved closer. "By the way, your second mistake was that you paid attention to me."

There was no reply, of course. Revenant's body was descending through the javelin, leaving a trail of brain matter stuck in the grooves of the weapon. A large pool of blood was forming beneath her.

Without blinking, Oriko scrutinized that gruesome scene looking for something.

On the now bloody bone necklace that the woman was wearing, there was a cylindrical piece that was not actually made of the same material as the rest. It was a crystal that emitted a faint white glow, but there was not a single dark spot.

Oriko smiled. "How nice that you are a diehard veteran. You are aware that you are not dead." She left, leaving her opponent impaled by her own weapon. "Well, I will call your friends to help you. They will trust me when they see that I never even touched your soul gem."

In the dormitory, there was only one tunnel besides the one she came in. Oriko approached it cautiously, her focus already shifting to the new challenge. A chance for peace would depend on the future members of the Sisterhood she was to meet not being as stubborn as her last opponent.

I need to find the right words, the right approach.

Oriko made use of her magic to force a vision of the future. It was then that she stopped walking, for the future was immediate and coming from behind! She threw herself on the floor and saw and heard the wall in front of her, near the tunnel, burst. Even with the dust, it was possible to see that it had been a javelin.

Still on the floor, the blonde turned to confirm her frustration.

Revenant was standing, bathed in her own blood, but perfectly healthy.

Oriko rose quickly to her feet, at the same time commanding the sphere with a javelin that she still had at her disposal.

The sphere flew, attacking Revenant. The javelin stuck in the sphere struck it's target's forehead, but only caused the weapon to bend and break like a thin wooden stick. Meanwhile, in no hurry, Revenant stretched her neck and flexed the hypertrophied muscles in her body.

Oriko sighed and muttered to herself, "Really a nuisance..."

No anger this time, no joy, only duty and hope. With the lives of many magical girls on her shoulders, children as she once was, Revenant conjured a javelin and prepared for the continuation of the combat. "And the mountain did not move."

Next chapter: Hecatomb