Chapter 3: A Magical Girl Learns about Honesty
"A-ka-ne? Ah, nice to meet you! My name is Saeko, and I'm going to be a magical girl one day!"
(One Month Before Saeko arrives at Kuoh Academy) [A Shiraishi warehouse in Tohoku Region, Japan]
The Gamer System is amazing: It was like a Magic Meat Grinder!
I dropped human souls in one end, turned the magic handle, and stared in wonder and amazement as delicious power came streaming out the other end. It's been barely two days since I got it and I still couldn't stop giggling about it.
Forty souls including Ise-kun's were not even remotely enough- their souls almost worthless in the grand scheme of things. But I had to admit- they were instrumental in starting up. And though I'm certain that I will never reach the point where I'm satisfied by how many souls I have fed into the Magic Meat Grinder, I certainly wanted to try reaching for it.
Still, it was more than I ever could have hoped.
When I first discovered that Ritual, I thought it would just grant me magical power. The current magical framework established by the Magician Organizations since the dawn of man was already a decent framework to amass and consolidate more power. But to think it would give me the Gamer System instead! The Gamer System was the sort of power that was stuff of fantastical fiction even in a world like this that was already a grim-dark shounen world filled with Devils, Angels, Gods and Monsters. It was easy-to-use and virtually limitless.
And said power was now in my hands to wield.
"Eeeee!" I gave a squeal of excitement and joy as I wiggled in my soft armchair- swinging my feet back and forth. I took a big bite of my strawberry shortcake and relished the moment: From the sweet fruity flavour of the cake to comfiness of the armchair to the amazing softness of my frilly pink and white magical girl costume- the same one that I wore when Issei and the rest of the class helped me get the Gamer System that night.
Everything seemed to be turning out for the better for me. An excited shiver ran down my back as the sheer need to feed it more souls became almost unbearable!
I still need more.
Obviously, the logical next step from slaughtering 40 of my classmates would be to find out how many more do I need before I can reach the peak of power in this world. Pulling out my laptop, I giggled to myself as I began checking my notes and crunching the numbers. And there could be no better way to get accurate information than to ask the Gamer System itself.
"Magical Girl Gamer Saeko-tan ❤ ... Status!" I cheered for myself like it was a magical girl spell.
== T ==
STATUS:
Saeko Shiraishi
Title: The Magical Girl of Love and Friendship
Level - 14
Class - Barbarian (Berzerker)
Race - Human
Rank - Mortal
Alignment - Chaotic Evil
HP - 1400
MP - 100
SP - 2400
Quintessence:
KHORNE (10)
N∙u∙r∙g∙l∙e (2)
TzeEntCh (2)
~Slaa'nesh~ (10)
Sacrifice Points: 0
== T ==
Glancing to and fro from the translucent screen that only I can see and then to my laptop, I checked my numbers as I went through everything twice.
So I can gain these Sacrifice Points by either murdering someone or murdering someone in a ritual sacrifice. The former method gives me one point, the latter method gives me three points. Of the forty classmates that I sacrificed that night, I needed 32 to even start the ritual, so only the last 8 actually counted towards the Sacrifice Points. And their setup was easy compared to the other 32.
I had yet to test it if Devils/Fallen/Angels gave more Sacrifice Points. But it was certainly on my to-do list.
But the Quintessences…
They were truly one of the most mysterious aspects out of all this. By the Gamer System's definition, the Quintessences were the fragments of four Gods who ruled over distinct domains: Khorne, Tzeentch, Nurgle, Slaanesh.
I pouted in mild annoyance..
When I had first found the Book that described the Ritual, I made certain to do my best to research as much as I could about the gods who I was potentially selling my soul to. I double-checked every book in the Family's expansive library months ago and they held no answers, and neither did the internet.
I didn't even know what kind of Gods they were until I asked the Gamer System directly for a description.
But what the Gamer System explained was that the act of allocating a Sacrifice Point into one of the Quintessences was to draw their power in and claim dominion over them- to acknowledge their existence and accept more of their power as my own. And that was a good thing! Now the power of evil gods was going to be put to use by the Powers of Love and Friendship!
...
KHORNE, The Blood God. The God of anger, violence, and hatred. The patron god of bloodthirsty serial murderers and crazed battle maniacs. Allocating a point to him gave me strength and toughness and SP.
Khorne was definitely my preferred God by far.
After allocating 10 points, my strength had increased to the point that I found myself breaking concrete with my bare fists, hurling a pebble so hard that it pierced deep into tree trunks, and breaking solid metal plates with my forehead!
If I used this sort of strength on victims, I could punch holes through the chests of normal humans with ease, and I could physically overpower a lower class of the Devil/Angel/Fallen race.
And the speed and dexterity that it granted me! My reflexes were so quick that wall running like those parkour athletes was within my grasp. And from my testing with rubber bullets, I was able to dodge bullets if I really pushed myself.
...
TzeEntCh, the Changer of Ways. The God of Change and Sorcery. The patron god of power-hungry mages and ruthless masterminds. Allocating a point to him gave me intelligence and magical ability.
After allocating just 2 points, I could think much clearer now. I could memorize things easier and simply be quicker with my thoughts. Putting points into this Quintessence should have boosted my magic, but due to the crippled state of my magical core, I wasn't able to gain anything magic from it.
I can only hope that with enough points into Tzeentch, I can somehow regain my magic. All in all, it was important that I placed Sacrifice Points into it, but it was not a pressing matter.
I'll gain my magic someday, then I'll be a True Magical Girl in every respect.
...
N∙u∙r∙g∙l∙e, the Plague Lord, the God of Disease and Decay. The patron god of the terminally ill and those who simply refuse to ever die. Allocating a point to him gave me HP, toughness and health regeneration.
Another 2 points allocated here. My skin was a lot tougher to pierce and my muscles harder to bruise, and when it did, it healed in seconds.
Honestly, I wasn't too keen on Nurgle, because a Magical Girl is always neat and pristine and… free of diseases unlike idol girls. Those filthy whores.
...
~Slaa'nesh~, the Perfect Prince, the God of Pleasure, Excess and Decadence. The patron god of drug-crazed perfectionists and cannibalistic hedonists. Allocating a point to him gave me speed and heightened senses and agility.
Slaanesh had to be my second favourite God out of the four.
After allocating 10 points, I found that it heightened my senses to a level I never thought would be so... liberating.
With these senses, I could distinctly hear people's whispers and muttering from a crowd. But more than just that...
I never knew the world could be so vibrant and fresh.
Every sight was so perfectly clear even from great distance, every sound so clear that I could translate pick out the notes, every scent laid out information of what it was and where it has been, every taste was a rich feast and even just the feeling of my dress' cotton on my skin was rapturously luxurious.
And the speed!
10 Points in Slaanesh made me so incredibly fast and dexterous. Also, it helped me twirl batons like all the other Magical Girls!
10 points in Slaanesh increased my speed more than 10 points in Khorne. I was now confident that I could outrun and outlast the greatest athletes in both sprint and marathons, all with the grace of a well-trained ballerina.
...
And all these amazing abilities came from just 8 sacrificed souls.
== T ==
QUINTESSENCE PERKS:
(Khorne: 10)[Fueled by Bloodshed] - As long as blood continues to spill, your murderous acts will never need to cease. Whenever you directly cause blood to spill, you regenerate SP (Stamina Points).
(Slaanesh: 10)[Desire Sense] - You can taste the desire lingering in the air. Allows you to sense beings capable of desire. Upgrades Observe.
== T ==
They were both very nice!
I gained a bonus perk on the tenth point that I placed into Khorne's Quintessence and into Slaanesh's Quintessence. I was unsure if I'll get one on every tenth, but the ones that I had at the moment are amazing.
With [Desire Sense], I never have to worry about someone hiding from me- leaving witnesses was always a big concern for me, so this is a lifesaver! Also, I could now see their desires as outlined by [Observe].
With [Fueled by Bloodshed], I can put my all into every swing and never have to worry about tiring myself out. Which complimented my class perks as well.
== T ==
CLASS PERKS:
[Berzerker Rage] - In battle, you fight with unholy ferocity. Your Physical Attacks cost more SP, but deal more damage.
[Ferocious Vengeance] - Being brought closer to death only makes you strike harder and faster. You gain bonus strength and speed as your HP lowers.
== T ==
It was a shame that I couldn't have the Magical Girl class. But Barbarian (Berzerker) fit how I fought in a straight fight too well for me to be mad about it.
That summed up my combat strategy as a Magical Girl.
Hitting hard and fast. Speed, surprise and sheer violence of action. Ending things quickly before the other side can bring whatever strength they can to bear down on me is a perfectly valid strategy as Ise-kun found out.
It wasn't very Magical Girl of a fighting style, but that didn't matter: a Magical Girl who has her magic cruelly sealed away by fate is still a True Magical Girl at heart as long as she fights on with the Powers of Love and Friendship Undivided.
== T ==
ORIGIN STORY PERKS:
[Magically Crippled] - You were born with an unresponsive magical core. You can only cast Level 0 spells and MP is locked at 100 points.
[Faint Devil Lineage] - Your great grandfather was a Pure-blooded devil- making you one-eighth Devil blooded. Slightly increased affinity to Devil magics, and slightly increased vulnerability to Holy damage.
[Yandere] - You are incapable of feeling any sexual desire or love to anyone but your obsession. And even then, you wouldn't think twice of killing them. Immunity to Charm and Sex magic.
== T ==
All true except the last part which made me pouted- bloating up my cheeks with air. It's not an obsession! It's True Love! I'm not a Yandere, I'm just a faithful, love-struck magical girl! But still, one day, I'll be a magical girl with actual magic! Maybe if I put enough points into Tzeentch Quintessence, it will jumpstart my magical core? I know that my father did all he could to jumpstart it himself when I was born.
Yet another avenue to look at!
I happily clacked away at my keyboard and…
"Boop!" I chirp out loud as I press enter one last time. My amethyst pink eyes gleamed as they glanced at the final estimates at the bottom of the spreadsheet, my happy smile threatened to split my face.
600 souls.
Man, woman or child- it didn't matter. All that mattered was that I needed to sacrifice approximately 600 souls to reach the level of the Satans or the Seraphs. I gave a fantastic grin at the happy thoughts. That number was… that was unbelievably cheap.
The Church will definitely try to hunt me down, but that wouldn't matter if I did it correctly. I just needed to ritually sacrifice 600 people or murder 1800 with my own two hands in a span of a few hours, and the Church will not have the strength to stop me. And I couldn't help but do little giddy claps as I did a little jig in my seat. That was like a Christmas Sale levels of affordability!
If I was to be brought to the cusp of ultimate power just from killing 1800 mortals… How powerful would I be with 5,000 souls? With 10,000 souls? With 100,000 souls?
I didn't know, but the Magical Girl of Love and Friendship in me wanted to find out so badly.
Leaning back in my comfy armchair, I peered out the observation deck's window and out to the warehouse that I called 'the Killhouse.' Not that I did any murdering in it lately, but this was my specially equipped facility where I could practice all the little skills a Magical Girl needs to kill, maim and burn.
My bright pink eyes peered down onto the training yard with great interest.
A figure in a plush red coat over a black button down and pants was walking to the center of the warehouse. Her long raven-black hair flowing down her back as her blood-red eyes darted from wooden target to wooden target that lined up at various places: atop a steel shipping container, along the floors, around the corners.
She stopped and looked up to where I was. Her red eyes looked at me expectantly.
QUEST - [Akane - Rebirth]
Objective: Set Akane on the path of regaining her Cryomancer powers
Sub-Objective: Akane learns offensive Ice Spells: Ice Arrow, Ice Spike, Ice Sword, Freeze Target
Sub-Objective: Akane learns defensive Ice Spells: Ice Wall, Ice Shell
Rewards: XP (Large)
I smiled back.
"Ready 'kane-chan?!" I hollered out with a cheery wave.
"Bring it!" She called out, just as I pulled up the program for managing the Killhouse, and clicked on the horn button to sound out for her to start.
"[Ice Arrow]!" Her pretty voice rang out- beautiful even when sounding fierce and determined.
Half a dozen finger thick spikes of ice materialized out of the light blue magic circle faster than any normal arrow could. They whizzed through the air before piercing through the upright wooden board target that was three inches-thick and each arrow lodging halfway through it.
"[Ice Spike]!"
A glittering blue icicle as large as my arm punctured straight through the next wooden target and punctured into the soil-filled hemp sandbags that were piled 7 feet high behind. The magical energy infused into the icicle kept it from melting as well- the white mist of condensation wafting from the icicle.
"[Ice Sword]!"
A straight-edged European broadsword appeared in her hand as she broke into a sprint. A trio of hemp dummy reinforced with wood stood in her way just before her arm swung thrice- fast enough that it left afterimages of light blue arcs hanging in the air as she went through all three in a proficient kata that she had been practicing. The broken wooden remains clattered to the concrete floor as she passed to the final section with the last target.
Giving the remains just the briefest of glances, Akane gave a smile of satisfaction as her graceful hand pointed at the remaining dummy and…
"[Freeze Target]!"
...did nothing.
"[FREEZE TARGET]!"
And still nothing.
Her pout of frustration was just too cute- her blood-red eyes narrowing at the still standing wooden dummy like it owed her a lot of money.
"Looks like you're out of steam, 'kane-chan." I couldn't help but give a toothy grin as I leaned into the microphone, "Come on up here and rest for a while."
But despite that one hiccup, Akane was making great progress- having learned everything except [Freeze Target] since we arrived a week ago. That much was to be expected though. After all, most of the universe was being consumed in the Original Akane-chan's Power, and the 'kane-chan over there that's angrily glaring at the remaining wooden board target needs only to draw from that.
Akane climbed the stairs, her footsteps sounding heavier on the steel steps as she slightly stomped in frustration. Her pink lips were drawn in a thin line as she joined me at the third floor observation deck that overlooked the entire facility from on high.
She ungracefully sat her red-and-black clad figure onto the armchair beside mine.
"Saeko, why isn't it working?" Akane groaned with more than a bit of frustration as I pushed a steaming cup of green tea to her, "It's still the same odd problem: It feels like my magic just isn't strong enough to make it happen- like a weight too heavy for me to lift."
"I keep telling you: That's what it feels like to try and cast a spell that you don't have magical strength for." I lectured to my impatient friend- my pale finger with the fresh coat of pink nail polish playfully wagging side to side. "In other words, you need to 'Level Up' a bit more, 'kane-chan."
"Just keep working at it…" I reassured her with a cheerful wink, "and with a bit more patience, you'll get that Freeze Target spell down."
"I can't help but feel impatient though." Akane muttered into her teacup of green tea, "Five spells aren't a lot."
"Muuuu~" I pouted in indignation, " 'kane-chan is so greedy. Five spells are already three more than I can ever cast, and you learned it all within a week. Any other magician usually takes weeks or a month to achieve the same proficiency that you have on a new spell, you know?"
"Recovery should take an hour or two if you do nothing but relax with me." I lectured as I pushed a plate of Hokkaido chocolate cheesecake to her- but that didn't stop her sigh of distaste at having to wait. She was really channelling all that stress into training, which was a good start.
I reached out and rubbed her back reassuringly.
"You should also try meditation- it might accelerate the mana regeneration process." I hummed, taking a bite of my own slice of shortcake, "It may work for you- depends from person to person."
"I'll give it a try." She sighed with reluctance.
With that said, it was nice to see that 'kane-chan was properly distracted from the bad stress of being newly orphaned and how our entire class was murdered (by me! ❤). Her parents were truly an unfortunate case- I happened to think that I got along with Amamiya-Ojisan and Amamiya-Obasan well enough. No regrets about murdering our class though- this power was just too good.
I nodded into the strawberry shortcake as I prayed a small prayer for Ise-kun.
'Thank you, Ise-kun, I hope you finally found that bare oppai in heaven… or in hell, if you were secretly more evil than I thought you'd be. Either way, there was a lot of good oppai to be found in either realm.'
"[Observe]!" My voice echoed throughout the warehouse/training ground as I peered through a ring I made with my thumb and index finger.
== T ==
Amamiya Akane - Lvl 3 Human
Class: Cryomancer
Alignment: Neutral Good
HP: 100%
MP: 1%
SP: 98%
Highest Stats: INT - 60, WIS, CHA, STR, CON, DEX, LCK
Current thoughts About You: Is grateful that you're teaching her magic and distracting her from those depressing thoughts.
Current Desire: To get [Freeze Target] to work
Strongest Desire: To be powerful enough to protect people she cherishes
Reputation: 100 (Best Friend)
Summary: "The unknowing clone of an ice goddess who has already left this universe for another. Cool and level-headed, she is a kind soul that honestly wishes she could help people. With her parents and most of her friends from school having recently died, she is depending on her best friend for support."
== T ==
Huhuhu… Akane likes me. That made me feel all fuzzy inside.
"Will ya stop shouting 'Observe', Saeko!?" Akane snapped back- the frustration and Kansai-accent bleeding into her voice as she fixed her flowing raven-black hair in a huff. "It's not even a real spell!"
"But it's real to me, 'kane-chan!" I responded with a grin. "You just have to believe in yourself like in those shounen anime!"
Akane was an actual goddess, a clone of one at least. There were many questions to be asked about that, but there was no one to talk to about it. My preliminary research into which Ice Goddess she was a clone of didn't yield any fruit.
But there was one thing that was of incredible interest to me...
QUEST - [In the Shadow of Her Former Self]
Objective: Help Akane gather and absorb the shards of power her original self has left behind (Collected: 0.000000001~%)
Bonus Objective: Get Akane to rule the Universe
Rewards: ?
Bonus Rewards: ?
I had received the Quest when I first cast Observe on Akane.
It was the sort of thing that many people would be divided on. Because while many people would agree that helping out a friend is a virtuous thing to do, the bonus objective of raising someone else up to Godhood would be more debatable. For after all, a normal person would balk at the thought of someone having absolute control over the Universe.
But for a Magical Girl like me?
I wasn't too bothered with someone else ruling this universe. I wasn't even too attached to it. Besides, the universe would be much better off if Akane was running it, not that any of these people deserved her rule. If it were up to me, I'd just kill them all for the Sacrifice Points- that was a much better use for people in my opinion.
Why would anyone want to be in charge of the welfare and happiness of an entire universe?
After all, I just wanted to be a Magical Girl of Love and Friendship. An all-powerful one, but a Magical Girl of Love and Friendship all the same. So, I don't really care if my childhood friend rules this universe after I have harvested my tithe of souls from it. I'll just leave for another universe. Just a harvest of a few billion should be enough… maybe.
QUEST - [To Greener Pastures]
Objective: Find a way to travel to other universes
Rewards: ?
Speaking of leaving the universe, this was another mysterious quest with incredible implications.
There were certainly a lot of anime worlds that I'd love to visit. Especially all the magical girl ones! Rubbing shoulders with the original magical girls, I can't help but wonder if they will be worth a lot more Sacrifice Points than normal humans.
An infinite number of worlds was out there somewhere, and with an infinite amount of worlds came the infinite amount of souls to kill and slaughter. It was enough to trigger a soul-deep thirst in me; and I could help but hum and wiggle excitedly in my seat.
At least, until I noticed that my best friend wasn't as happy. Her elbow resting on the table as she rested her frowning cheek on her slender palm. Blood-red eyes impassively observing her fork play with her shortcake.
"Why the frown, 'kane-chan?" I curiously asked.
And the question seemed to snap her out of it, her eyes snapping to the sincerely puzzled expression that I was making. The sight of my cute face seemed to help make her relax- leaning back into the cushion of her seat.
"I still can't believe how wrong I was about Hyoudou." She bitterly sighed.
"Don't beat yourself up over it, 'kane-chan." I reassured her, "Believing in people's better nature is generally a virtue, not a fault."
Also, she was actually right about Issei as far as I knew. Now that I know that he had the [Observe] ability back then, he likely thought that I was going to do something absurd like kill Akane along with the rest of the class and that was the reason why he insisted on following me around.
Issei's plan only really fell apart when he actually went about stopping me.
It was actually unbelievably fortuitous that Akane's father crashed his car when he did. I would have just broken Akane's tibia in a 'violent mugging by a hooded hooligan who was certainly not Saeko' to stop her from coming along with the class outing and called it a day.
"But if I had just-" She sighed once again, but was cut off as I swept her up in a warm hug. Gently pressing her face into the soft pink and white ruffles and frills of my magical girl outfit, the action seemed to make Akane freeze stiff; but she didn't pull away, so that's a relief.
" 'kane-chan, it isn't your fault." I told her with a soft smile as I gently stroked her hair, "I know for certain that none of the class would have blamed you."
Which was true, because they would definitely blame me instead: After all, I was the one who murdered them- even had a lot of fun doing it. So, why would they ever blame Akane for that? The class were the ones who elected me as their vice class representative, and they were the ones who followed everything I said including putting them all in that mountain resort.
"But how could I have been so wrong about a person?" She continued to whisper as she eventually stopped being so stiff and gently leaned into the white ruffles.
'Because I've been hiding it from you.' I thought to myself as I rubbed her back reassuringly. I'm 99% certain that she would try to stop me if I revealed that I want to kill as many people as inhumanely as possible.
"Everything is going to be okay, 'kane-chan." I said to her as I shot a brilliant smile at her. And I meant it. It's only a matter of time and bodies before everything is indeed alright.
"How can you do it, Saeko?" Akane sighed, "How can you still smile and laugh and carry on when so many people died? We've known a lot of them since Primary."
'Because it was fun killing them in the first place and just remembering it makes me giggle.' I wanted to say, but I'll just use my usual excuse as to why I'm always smiling.
"You know why, 'kane-chan~. Compared to what I've been through before, it's not so tough at all." I deliberately gave a vague reply, the less-than-happy memories already flooding my mind from the thought.
"You know that you can talk to me too, right?" She gave a small smile to reassure me and I was touched by her concern. "...That you can talk to me about Hotaru?"
I couldn't help but stop smiling after hearing that name uttered. I slowly pulled away from the hug and settled back down in my seat beside her.
"Losing track of 'taru-kun was really tough." I said putting on a brave smile as I served myself another slice of the cheesecake, "But I'll find him again, one day; and I'll get to introduce you to him!"
"Saeko…" She muttered sadly as she only looked at me weird. Her pink lips were pursed together like she was holding back from saying something. Her blood-red eyes looking at my own sapphire pink like she was pitying me.
Stop. That.
Don't look at me like that- like he's permanently gone. Because 'taru-kun CAN be revived and he can still come back to me. With my newfound power, It's only a matter of how many people I have to murder now before I do find the power to revive him: Only a matter of how high do I have to pile the bodies before I reach him, and how many souls do I need to stuff into my Magic Meat Grinder before I drag him back to me with my magic!
And when I do find him…
...I'm going to take an industrial staple gun and staple him to my bed by his skin so that he will be safe and loved and cared for forever. But not before I carve and sear the lesson of never leaving without saying anything onto every square inch of his skin, including under his eyelids, so that he'll never forget.
The Powers of Love and Friendship are relentless and undefeatable. And...
'Wait, what was I doing again?' I blinked from my daydream.
And I found that Akane was looking at me with a concerned and slightly frightened expression. Her posture was all stiff and her blood-red eyes were shifting from the knife that was deforming in my fist, to my face and to something over my shoulder.
Oops, looks like I had a scary expression on my face. But more than that...
"Ah hehehe, did I say all that out loud~?" I giggled with a silly smile- trying to act innocently as I could. But rather than calming down, Akane seemed to freeze, her eyes locked to something over my shoulder… to my open laptop with the notes and calculations on it concerning my murders and the would-be murders. Her sharp blood-red eyes narrowed into pinpricks and a look of horror settled on her paling face.
Reputation Reset with Amamiya Akane for being who she strongly suspects to be the real mass murderer (0/100 - Former? Best Friend)
" 'kane-chan… don't." I half-warned and half-pleaded while pouting sadly all the while, "Don't go down that path, please? You'll actually make me sad if you do. Just… forget that you saw anything, and we can still continue as before."
I gave her a wide hopeful smile, despite her not buying it.
"I'll help cheer you up: We'll train your magic, we'll move to a new place at Kuoh Town and try all new restaurants and bakeries." I offered with a hopeful lilt in my voice, "We'll go to Kuoh Academy together…"
I reached out to take her hand in mine and hold it reassuringly, but her look of panic only worsened as she jerked her hand out of reach of mine. And I couldn't help but wince at that, my bright pink eyes met with her blood-red ones and held that gaze.
"Akane, please." I implored once again- looking into her red eyes as I tried to convey my sincerity.
Akane's mouth opened and closed as her graceful eyebrows furrowed and she seemed to be pondering about it very deliberately, but the look of sheer uncertainty and hesitation on her face meant that she couldn't reach a firm decision.
"Saeko…" she whispered with a pained yet accusing tone, "You had something to do with the massacre, didn't you?"
It sounds like she's still partially in denial. But the way her eyes were darting everywhere- to the exit, to the nearest available cover to generally everything that you needed to keep in mind while in a fight… Akane was preparing to fight me. She had always been too smart for her own good.
QUEST FAILED! - [A Magical Girl's Secret Origins]
[X] Objective: Keep your identity as the true Kansai Butcher secret for five years
[X] Bonus Objective: Keep the secret for ten years.
[X] Bonus Objective: Keep the secret for twenty-five years.
Rewards: -
How annoying.
"[Observe]" I utter inaudibly under my sigh.
== T ==
Amamiya Akane - Lvl 3 Human
Title: The Facsimile of the Ice Goddess
Class: Cryomancer
Alignment: Neutral Good
HP: 100%
MP: 100%
SP: 100%
Highest Stats: INT - 60, WIS, CHA, STR, CON, DEX, LCK
Current thoughts About You: Thinks you're mentally unstable, and fears for her life.
Current Desire: To be powerful enough to not be made into a victim by you
Strongest Desire: To be powerful enough to not be made into a victim by you
Reputation: 0 (Best Friend?)
Summary: "The unknowing clone of an ice goddess who has already left this universe for another. Cool and level-headed, she is a kind soul that honestly wishes she could help people. She feels incredibly betrayed by how her Best Friend was the mass murderer all along."
== T ==
I never actually planned for this.
I never planned for Akane even suspecting me to be involved- I would have needed to have done something to make her doubt- she wouldn't even have snooped on my laptop if she wasn't so disturbed by my reactions.
And it's not like I will kill her- not right now without the power to revive people from the dead at least. Akane is a childhood friend almost on the same level as 'taru-kun. I don't mind keeping her safe by hurting her, because that's what Best Friends do.
Tch, this is all 'taru-kun's fault too. I'll add this to the lessons that I need to teach him.
But for now, I gave a sigh of defeat. This is really stupid, but… I'll put my faith in Akane and the Power of our Friendship. Hopefully some friendly violence will clear 'kane-chan's head.
"Fine… Ise-kun didn't really kill anyone- he was trying to save them all from me." I admitted easily enough before shooting a bright smile at Akane, "I'm the one who murdered all our classmates and then I framed him for the massacre."
Jumping out of her chair and making some distance, Akane cast [Ice Sword] in one slender hand and deftly brandished that razor-sharp broadsword of ice at me. Wait, how did she still have mana?
"Why, Saeko?" She asked as she gripped her sword tightly enough to make her knuckles go white, "Why tell me this? Why even kill them? What did they ever do to you?!"
It would seem that she wasn't expecting me to admit it outright. I suppose straight up confessing to a mass murder is surprising.
"I'm only telling you, because we're childhood friends and that title means a lot to me." I honestly reply in a calm tone of voice- hoping that it would work to calm her down, "As for why, I was born with a weak magical core, so I killed them all in a sacrificial ritual to try and jump start it- only, it didn't work as I thought it would."
-200 Reputation with Amamiya Akane for planning to betray and kill her (-200/100 - Worst Enemy/Former Best Friend)
What? Where did she even get that idea?
"And what was the plan?!" Akane accused- her red eyes narrowed into a glare, "Were you helping me cultivate my magic power so that you can sacrifice me too like I was a damn cow for you to fatten up and slaughter?! Was it all a ruse to lure me out here!?"
"No, I didn't, 'kane-chan." I pouted as I got up as well, gently closing the cake box. "All I really planned was helping you feel better and get in tune with your cryomancy powers. Like I said, you're my childhood friend, and to a Magical Girl with the Powers of Love and Friendship such as me? That really does mean something."
"I plan to kill a lot more people, that's true." I beamed enthusiastically at her, "But that list doesn't include you- has never included you."
I took a small step towards her- my arms wide open and my palms open- showing that they didn't have any weapons.
"However, if we're really going to go down this path, 'kane-chan. I'll just have to-"
"[Ice Arrow]!" Akane immediately shouted. Her plush red sleeve doing a quick sweep in the air as the light blue magic circle formed and a full dozen Ice Arrows shot out- twice as thick as regular arrows and four times as deadly.
The barrage of sharp icy arrows shot through the space that I was occupying a mere second ago.
"I'm not going down without a fight, Saeko." She growled- a determined look in her blood red eyes that I found cute despite it being over a stupid misunderstanding. Walking towards her while she was on edge, was clearly a bad move. Of course, it didn't help that her Neutral Good alignment meant that she leaned towards trying to kill me for the good of the world or something equally anime.
Quest Added - [A Love Tap between Friends]
Objective: Defeat Akane without killing or permanently maiming her
Bonus Objective: Don't get hit even once
Rewards: XP (Medium), +50 Reputation with Akane
Bonus Rewards: XP (Medium), +25 Reputation with Akane
"Looks like we're doing it that way then." I nodded to her and the window, shooting her a bright smile. I was going to do just that anyway, it was nice to see my good deeds rewarded. I knew just what to do too! I had sort of planned for something like this.
"Stay right here, 'kane-chan. I promise that I'll come back for you once I get my things." I promised to her with a smile and wink as my pink and white clad form leaped off the third floor observation deck and onto the training area.
Because, unfortunately for me, I hid my backup Magical Girl's Bag of Tricks on the other observation deck on the other side of the warehouse near the exit. So about a 150 dash through an obstacle course while my cute-angry childhood friend tries her best to kill me from afar.
"Like hell I'd let you do what you want! [Ice Arrow]!" Akane shouted from her vantage point at the third floor, and more ice arrows began to rain down after me- striking and chipping at the concrete that I had been less than a second ago. I grinned. Looks like Akane will have more time to practice her ice spells at a live target.
"Your aim is getting better, 'kane-chan!" I called out with a wave back at her.
"[Freeze Target]!" She shouted out.
There was no projectile to dodge this time, I just felt the air freeze around my body almost instantly- encasing me in a eight feet tall column of ice. Unfortunately for her, the spell wasn't strong enough to hold me; and with the proper application of Magical Girl strength, the ice just shattered around me with a sharp crack.
-200 HP
And aside from the damage that would have killed a normal human outright, I was back to running.
Quest COMPLETED - [Akane - Rebirth]
[?] Objective: Set Akane on the path of regaining her Cryomancer powers
[?] Sub-Objective: Akane learns offensive Ice Spells: Ice Arrow, Ice Spike, Ice Sword, Freeze Target
[?] Sub-Objective: Akane learns defensive Ice Spells: Ice Wall, Ice Shell
Rewards: XP (Medium), +25 Reputation with Akane
Huh, how useful.
Looks like sparing helps Akane draw from the Original's power a lot easier than on her own- that's good to know. Akane and I never had thought to spar until now, and as long as she hits me at least once…
Yes, I'll keep that in mind.
"[Ice Spike]!" I heard Akane's voice shout just as I turned around the corner behind a freight container- a spike of ice as thick as my thigh punched through the steel walls of the container and dug into the concrete.
Jumping up and running up the wall, I had made it to the other observation deck. My pink eyes spotted the non descript black satchel sitting innocently on one of the shelves, and swiped it before starting my way back to Akane.
"I got my stuff, 'kane-chan. I'll be right with you!" I shouted back with a smile as I held up the black satchel bag.
"Why are you even doing this, Saeko!" She shouted back, her blood-red eyes looking at the black bag in trepidation- likely thinking that I was going to horrifically torture and mutilate her like I did with the rest of the class, "We were friends, you maniac! Friends!"
"[Freeze Target]!" She shouted out, but the spell simply failed as I broke line of sight fast enough. I could dodge whatever instant effect that it made, but I could duck out of line of sight.
Charging out of cover, I sprinted in her general direction, running up the wall straight up to the third floor where I pulled myself up onto the walkway that led to the observation deck- a mere 25 meters away from Akane.
I shot her a wide grin. Akane should be out of mana by now- or at least low enough to be unable to cast [Freeze target].
"[Observe]" I sub-vocalized as I began dashing towards her.
== T ==
Amamiya Akane - Lvl 3-4 Human
Title: The Facsimile of the Ice Goddess
Class: Cryomancer
Alignment: Neutral Good
HP: 100%
MP: 26%
SP: 89%
Highest Stats: INT - 60, WIS, CHA, STR, CON, DEX, LCK
Current thoughts About You: Thinks you're mentally unstable, and fears for her life.
Current Desire: To avoid the same fate as her classmates
Strongest Desire: To avoid the same fate as her classmates
Reputation: -200 (Worst Enemy/ Former Best Friend)
Summary: "The unknowing clone of an ice goddess who has already left this universe for another. Cool and level-headed, she is a kind soul that honestly wishes she could help people. She's fearing for her life."
== T ==
So that's how she got her MP restored- she leveled up. Not that she's a Gamer or anything, but the 'Second Wind' phenomenon extended into one's magic too. Especially when someone is fighting for their life. Or at least, they think they were.
"[Ice Wall] [Ice Arrow]!" Akane cast one after the other- blocking off the scaffolding approach with an 8 foot high wall while also raining ice arrows on me. Not that it stopped me- my pink and white clad form just smashing through the two foot thick ice wall. My pink eyes met her worried red ones.
Just 12 meters between us now.
Her current skill set had her as a sort of "Mid-range support caster": She had long range spells like Ice Arrow, Ice Spike, Freeze Target that hit hard; and spells that offer utility like [Ice Wall] and [Ice Shell] to marginally control enemy aggression. Akane worked best at a distance- when she had the freedom to just keep casting.
My current skill set had me as a sort of "Frontline melee off tank": No ranged options for offense, but possessed the speed to close the distance and the strength to hit real hard.
In a 1v1, it would not have been such a bad matchup for me if she actually had mobility: If she had flight or the speed to keep her distance, I would have had some trouble. But she didn't, and add to the fact that I was ten levels above her?
It was a foregone conclusion.
Blood red eyes widened in surprise and slight fear as the 12 meter distance between us suddenly collapsed to just a single meter- the unholy speed granted by those 10 Khorne and 10 Slaanesh Quintessences propelling me within arms reach of her in a blink of an eye.
From less than a meter away, It was close enough for me to flash a winning smile at her. Her sword arm reacted too slowly- I simply batted it away with the sleeve of my stab-resistant white gloves.
"[Freez-"
"Meow-Meow Drop!" I called out as I gently… buried my manicured fist in her solar plexus- forcing the air out of her lungs. The force of the blow also made her double over- making it easier for me to follow up with another gentle blow: A simple slap to her cheek to send her stumbling onto her hands and knees on the steel floor as she began gasping for air.
"Hey, 'kane-chan?" I called out to her jokingly as I slipped a black velvet bag over her head and locked the opening around her neck. "Does this smell like chloroform to you?"
"SAEKO! Get this off me!" Her voice roared out in anger as her hands scrabbled blindly over the concrete and tried to remove the bag around her head while I giggled playfully and batted her hands away everytime she came close.
It wasn't really chloroform- Not that she knew it wasn't. I just needed her distracted after all.
And with her flat on her belly and her arms scrambling to both push herself up and take off the black velvet bag. I helped myself to sitting on her mid back- making her neither able to sit up nor fight back.
"DON'T DO THIS, SAEKO!" She screamed in between desperate grunts to get me off her.
"Don't be so dramatic, 'kane-chan." I reassured her as I pulled out the syringe of anesthetic that I kept just in case I needed a gentler non-lethal option of subduing someone, "It's not like I'm going to kill you or anything."
She wordlessly roared her rage, but I ignored it.
"If you had let me finish talking instead of trying to kill me…" I began conversationally as I flicked the syringe's tip with my index finger- watching the tiny squirt of clear anesthetic fly in the air, "I was going to say how I'll just beat you up and drop you off on a cozy, private island somewhere in the Mediterranean until I finish what I need to do."
Quest COMPLETED - [A Love Tap between Friends]
[?] Objective: Defeat Akane without killing or permanently maiming her
[X] Bonus Objective: Don't get hit even once
Rewards: XP (Medium), +50 Reputation with Akane
Bonus Rewards: -
+50 Reputation with Amamiya Akane for not actually planning to kill her, but you betrayed her all the same (-150/100 - Worst Enemy/Former Best Friend)
Not that the knowledge that she wasn't going to die today made her struggle any less.
"[Observe]" I whisper.
== T ==
Amamiya Akane - Lvl 4-5 Human
Class: Cryomancer
Alignment: Neutral Good
HP: 92%
MP: 94%
SP: 78%
Highest Stats: INT - 60, WIS, CHA, STR, CON, DEX, LCK
Current thoughts About You: Is appalled and hurt that you would kill all of her other friends. Wonders if you would kill her too if given enough incentive.
Current Desire: To stay awake from the chloroform bag
Strongest Desire: To be powerful enough to not be made a victim by you
Reputation: -150 (Worst Enemy/Former Best Friend)
Summary: "The unknowing clone of an ice goddess who has already left this universe for another. Cool and level-headed, she is a kind soul that honestly wishes she could help people. She feels extremely betrayed by her best friend who murdered most of her friends from school."
== T ==
I raised a pink eyebrow at just how fast she levelled up from one single spar. But I was more preoccupied with what she thought and wanted.
"That was not fair though, Akane-chan… totally not fair." I muttered with a pout as I stood up- my pink eyes looking down at the still struggling cryomancer on the floor, "I'm still your friend."
"How can you say that after you killed everyone?!" She demanded with indignation in her voice- the velvet bag did not muffle her voice in the slightest. "Did our friends of more than four years really mean nothing to you at all?!"
"I chose not to kill you- that's got to count for something." I shrugged with a casual tone of cheerfulness. "Also I helped you unlock your ice magic, and fully intend to help you go all the way to being the best Cryomancer the universe has ever seen."
"That doesn't make up for the fact that you betrayed me and murdered all our friends in class!" She snarled into the black bag- still somehow having the energy to struggle and buck under me.
"And now I'm giving you a six-month, all-expenses-paid vacation on a nice private island in the Mediterranean with a six bedroom manor, a beach, a pool and views for days." I listed with a smile before punctuating it with a playful pout- not that she could see it, "How is that even betrayal? Geez, 'kane-chan."
"[Ice Arrow]!" She managed to cast- aiming at me who sat on her back; but a quick yank on her wrist, and the razor sharp arrows of ice went shooting at one of the targets instead.
"You'll like it there. It's owned by this lovely, elderly Greek couple." I explained to her as my hand found her chin and tilted it up before jabbing the needle into her artery and depressed the plunger, nice and gently. "And the island has a staff of maids and even a personal chef. So, yes. I do care."
"If you really did care…" She groaned, sounding drowsy, "...you wouldn't have killed... our friends…"
"You're one of the only two friends that actually matter to me, 'kane-chan." I softly whisper to her ear.
Her struggling eventually slowed until I could hear her softly snoring. The black summer velvet bag around her head was very breathable, so I could leave it on if I wanted. She had nothing to worry about.
Still…
"It's a good thing that kidnapping people is one of a Magical Girl's lesser known skills!" I happily beamed at her soundly sleeping form.
I nod at Akane.
Orphan, no more friends alive aside from me, took an indefinite break from school and withdrew from the grid. Amamiya Akane could disappear off the face of the earth and few people would notice.
And that's exactly what she'll do.
I maneuver her sleeping form onto her back as I rummage through her pockets. Cellphone, wallet, handkerchief, lip balm- as expected. Next step, I removed the battery from her phone... I took off her black stud earrings, undid her belt, took off her shoes and put them aside for me to drop in a lead-lined suitcase later. I run my manicured hands up and down her- frisking her for anything else that someone could emit a signal to track and rescue her…
… and nothing there of the sort.
"Time to take a vacation in Europe, 'kane-chan!" I cheered for her as I gently picked her up- smiling and humming with a skip in my step as I was as I began carrying her off to my party van.
I'm such a good friend.
[Two weeks later] [Civilian Ferry Vessel Sisa]
It was a warm late afternoon in this southeast Asian country at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.
From my vantage point at the stern of the ship, I watched as the port disappeared into the horizon- as if the blue of the water swallowed it up. My dyed raven-black hair whipped in the sea breeze as my brown eyes looked into the distance. The sugary sweet taste of iced tea was on my tongue as I lived in the calm of the moment.
There was still some time before I could start. So, I had taken the time to enjoy the local foods and the entertainment. Taking note of the entrances and exits and refreshing my memory about the layout. Then a Gamer System window popped up.
+ 5 Reputation with Amamiya Akane for treating her nicely (-100/100 - Worst Enemy/Former Best Friend)
Akane cooled down a bit after I put her on that private island. At least I know that she's enjoying her stay there.
My bank accounts were starting to cry too.
The House of Shiraishi would have just been able to buy the entire island, but a Magician House buying an entire island that close to Vatican City would have raised some eyebrows. So, I had to rent it with my own money. It cost quite a bit of my savings renting the place for a whole six months too. I'll have to kidnap-for-ransom some rich oligarch's daughter or wife after this. After that, maybe I should just buy the island for Akane's birthday.
I had not been able to drop by to help train her, but I had requested the owners for an indoor "archery range" to be placed in the premises for Akane to practice her "arrows" on. So at least, she should be getting a steady stream of practice.
Checking my nondescript burner phone, I see a few notifications from the tech security firm that I hired. Looks like 'kane-chan had been trying her best to call for help again. When will she learn?
I paid the tech firm to ensure that Akane had internet access, but no way of actually calling for help. And that's what they did. Akane was nice and entertained, but had no one to call for help. Not that she had anyone who would listen to her- maybe the Greek authorities. Maybe.
Oh, look!
The daily PM from 'kane-chan demanding that I let her out of the island. I just mostly ignored her angry messages for the first week or so, then I started teasing her yesterday and it rapidly became a favourite pastime for me.
++ T ++
Akane-chan: Saeko! Let me out of here!
Akane-chan: It's been two weeks! You can't keep me here forever!
You: Not until you cool down and I'm finished with my Magical Girl work. Lol. XD
Akane-chan: I'm going to get out of here.
Akane-chan:Then I'll find you.
Akane-chan: And I'll stop you.
You: … If you're done with your threats, how's the authentic Greek cuisine? ❤
You: I tried to hire the best local chef around our age to keep you company.
Akane-chan: Fine… she's actually really good.
Akane-chan: Even better than the Greek restaurant we tried back in Japan.
You: That's good to hear! ❤
You: When I was interviewing her for the position, I tried out her honey baklava and it was great!
You: You should ask her to give you a sample as well!
Akane-chan: WHAT?! Did you sleep with her?!
You: Eh? I meant her baking. (ﾟ∀ﾟ?
You: I love flakey pastry in general, so I like honey baklava in extension.
Akane-chan: ...I'm not going to judge you if you did, you know?
Akane-chan: I mean Magical Girl anime are known for their yuri pairings after all…
You: That's just a common and unfair misconception!
You: 'kane-chan is a meanie! (╥︣﹏╥᷅)
Akane-chan: You're the one who kidnapped me!
You: That's your own fault for being so trigger-happy, so that makes you a double meanie.
You: But since we're talking, do you have any requests for a care package?
Akane-chan: Really? You threatened to kill me, you drugged me, you kidnapped me.
Akane-chan: Now you want to send me gifts?!
You: Answering your questions in order: Yes, really. No, I didn't threaten to kill you. Yes, I drugged you. Yes, I kidnapped you. Yes, I do want to send a gift, because I know the island is pretty lacking in things that specifically cater to you. So… what do you want? ❤
Akane-chan: … there's a couple of things actually.
You: Sure, send me your wishlist. You don't have to decide now though, I'll check back with you tomorrow.
Akane-chan: Thanks...
Akane-chan: ... This doesn't mean I'm happy about the whole kidnapping thing though.
You: I know, 'kane-chan. But I promise it's not forever.
Akane-chan: Will you really just let me go?
You: Yes.
You: You're still my best friend after all. And that still means a lot to me.
Akane-chan: You know that I'm still going to try and stop you, right?
You: You can try! Anyway, gtg. See you tomorrow. Try the honey baklava for me! ❤
++ T ++
"Boop!" I said out loud as I closed the app and ended the app before Akane could respond with anything. It's important to end conversations on a positive note after all.
+ 25 Reputation with Amamiya Akane because her friendship with you also meant something to her as well (-75/100 - Hostile/Former Best Friend)
Awwww… I knew 'kane-chan still cares! The Power of Friendship in action right there. Soon, we'll be back to being the best of besties!
Smiling, I shut down my phone, took out the battery and threw it over board. But Akane-chan was getting a bit too smug at times. Just for that, I'll have to stop by and beat her u- I mean, spar with her. However, I'll think of how to do that best later. I checked my pocket watch and found out that it was time to get down to business.
10pm, Local Time. It was time to start.
Everything was set, and the time has almost come. I got a hold of the passenger list and found no one that would be significant enough to cause waves with their death. The country's coastal radar- what little they had at least- had oh so inconveniently broken down a day earlier. My duffel bag full of a Magical Girl's Essentials hung on my back. And my high-powered cell phone signal scrambler was waiting to activate at the push of a button.
The 2000 souls wandering around onboard may scream, but no one was going to listen. Not even God.
QUEST Added - [Mass Sacrifice Quest: Touch Me Not]
Objective - Kill everyone on board the Civilian Ferry Vessel Sisa on your own
Bonus Objective: The ship must not sink until everyone is dead.
Rewards: XP (Massive x5), +250 Sacrifice Points
Bonus Rewards: XP (Massive x5)
My pink eyes blinked in surprise. This was the first quest that gave me Sacrifice Points as a reward. It was likely because it was a 'Mass Sacrifice Quest.' I better look into more opportunities for Mass Sacrifice later on.
I had an Eight-Step Plan to complete the quest. It was simple.
First step, disable ship communications.
My pink trainers made almost no noise in my steps on the wooden deck as I began making my way to the beam- the middle of the ship. I passed by many of the people enjoying the night air as I climbed the stairs up to the uppermost deck.
With a little 15 meter-high hop that was only possible with my Khorne-granted strength, I gracefully landed on the roof of the radio room where the RF antenna was. A little push and the antenna was irreparably bent.
Second step, activate the cell phone jammer.
Taking my other burner phone, I send a text to the cell phone jammer. It was going to be the last successful text or call that will be made on this ship.
Third step, sabotage the release mechanisms of the lifeboats.
Gently dropping back down onto the public decks, I jog to each of the eight life rafts and squeezed on the metal clasps with my hand- warping the metal and keeping them from functioning in any way that they were intended to.
Now, the only way off the ship was going to be jumping into the Pacific Ocean.
Fourth step, kill the captain and take his captain's hat.
I climbed the stairs up to the cockpit, cheerfully ignoring the "No Passengers beyond this point" sign. I strolled into the cockpit and found the captain and three other officers milling about- still in their white button down and black slacks uniform.
Four people total in the room, no other exits. Good. Their laughter mixed in with the chatter in their native language- It seems that they were in the middle of a friendly conversation near the helm, the steering wheel of the ship.
The first mate, judging by his uniform, an older gentleman with a beard seemed to notice my presence, gesturing to me. All four turned, three of them smiled at me, and I beamed back even bigger. The last one- the captain- seemed to be eyeing me up with his dark brown eyes. Well, at least he has unparalleled taste in women.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am." the first mate began in a sincerely apologetic tone as I approached them, "The cockpit is off-limits to passeng-"
My dainty hand shot through the air at nearly five times the fastest recorded human punch; and it landed right on his sternum- collapsing his ribcage straight into his heart and lungs.
Immediately after, both my hands lashed out to grab another two officers- holding each of them by their fragile human skulls before they could react. With a quick motion, I smashed them together by their temples where the bones were weakest- caving their skulls in.
My pink eyes locked onto the captain: It has been nearly half a second since I started moving, and the captain was just close to reacting. Grabbing him by the rear of his head, I slammed him down at the corner edge of the table- piercing the wooden corner all the way to his brain.
With everyone dead, I nodded as I received four Sacrifice Points.
It wasn't a difficult choice as to where I was going to place them. I sank all of them into Slaanesh Quintessence: I was going to need to go fast. Really fast for this one. And just for this one time, I'll be more dedicated to Slaanesh than I was to Khorne.
Then I took the Captain's hat as a souvenir.
Fifth step, veer the ship eastwards into the Pacific Ocean.
I headed over to the navigational controls of the ship. It's funny how a simple nudge on the rudder controls can drastically alter a ship's location in a few hours. What should have been a safe sail in the country's waters had now become a course that took the ship directly into the heart of a brewing hurricane.
Even if they had lifeboats in the water… Well, it'll be funny watching them try to survive the wrath of a stormy Pacific Ocean. But suffice to say, drowning in the water will be a mercy compared to what's about to happen at the Eighth step.
Sixth step, lock the cockpit.
Rummaging through the captain's pockets, I found the key to the cockpit door and locked it behind me as I walked out. No one was going to be changing the heading of the ship now. I walked to the radio room just across the cockpit and found it empty. Perfect for the seventh step.
Seventh step, change into my Magical Girl outfit.
This step was the second most important one, and possibly the most work-intensive step of the plan.
Setting down my duffel bag and unzipping it, I gave a bright grin at the reassuring sight of the neatly rolled articles of clothing nearly bursting out of it.
Tipping the entire bottle of hair dye remover over my head, I was once again grateful that my Slaanesh Quintessence kept my hair ever perfect and silky as I ran my fingers through my natural pink locks.
"I can't wait to have enough magical power to pull off a Magical Girl Transformation Sequence like everyone else." I burbled excitedly. "After all, tonight might be the night that I'll finally have such magical power."
And- for possibly the last time- I began the not-so-magical process of putting on my outfit.
Slipping off my normal clothes, I painstakingly put on all the layers of pink and white. Fluffy tulle petticoat to make my pink skirt floofier, my breathable plain white camisole, my bulletproof Dyneema undershirt, my main cotton-Dyneema pink-white frilly dress, pink Cordura ribbons around various limbs, arm length white compression gloves with Dyneema outer layer, thigh-high white stockings, my pink titanium-toed mary-janes with their bright-pink Dyneema ribbons, a pink choker/bow, a fluffy pink hat and finally, the big pink and white bow in the front with the polished brass Eight-Pointed Star at the center.
Pulling out my double-bitted platinum-plated titanium axe sharpened to a razor's edge, I gave the pink and white painted axe a twirl or two as I walked down the stairs. My heart beat fast under the brass Eight-Pointed Star in excitement, and my hands trembled around my axe's handle with anticipation as I walked to the main dining hall.
It was evening, but the stars were already blotted out by the oncoming mega storm in the distance. The growing waves began to crash fiercer against the sides of the ship battering it side to side. The howling of the wind seemingly cheered me on.
There was no going back after this. No putting the genie back into the bottle. The Church will hunt me to the ends of the earth, and a lot of people will have their eyes wide and alert after this. Everything will be harder for me- harder to move around without scrutiny, harder to kill without suspicion.
But my heart was ready.
As a True Magical Girl, I will never give up nor will I ever surrender.
"For 'Taru-kun… [Sparkle]" I whispered under my breath as I began to glow and sparkle- motes of warm light like fairy lights floated around in a gentle orbit in the air around me.
My white gloved hand pushed through the double doors and entered the main dining hall with a boom. Looking up from their food, the many dozen eyes of the unknowingly doomed patrons rested their gaze on the visage of my pink and white magical girl form as I loudly intoned with my Slaanesh-perfected voice- chiming in the air like a soft tinkling melody of brass bells.
"Anointed by the Blood God. Consecrated by the Prince of Excess. Blessed by Plague Lord. Ordained by the Changer of Ways."
"Enemies of the Powers of Love and Friendship! Long shall be your suffering. Joyous be your pain!"
My double-bitted axe expertly twirled around in my hand. The light reflecting off the gleaming polished edge of the blades as the pink and white metal handle spun in my white gloved palm.
"By the Eight-Pointed Star…"
"The Last Champion of the Powers of Love and Friendship Undivided!"
"Magical Girl Homicide-chan! ❤"
I flashed a winning smile at them all. My fingers forming a V over my glowing pink eye. And the crowd clapped politely, likely thinking I was part of the entertainment- sharing amused smiles all around.
All the while, The Powers of Love and Friendship Undivided burned within every pore and every vein. My blood boiled with the promise of impending slaughter. My muscles tensed like a coiling snake, my pink shoes dug slightly under the cracking wood and my axe already reared back for a swing as I reminded myself of the last step.
Eighth step,
Kill them all.
I charged forward at a fraction of the speed of sound- propelled as I was by the unholy union of Khorne-granted strength and Slaanesh-gifted speed. The motes of light barely kept up as they sparkled around me.
My first victims were a family of four, barely a tenth of a second since I charged. The mother's skull collapsed inwards against my shoulder. My razor-sharp axe cleaved through the faces of the two middle-school children then into the ribcage of the father. My blood screamed in ecstasy as their blood sprayed in the air at the wake of my axe.
My second victims were standing behind them, an elderly couple with their plates full of food. My axe's unstoppable momentum pushing the blade through their midsections as a twentieth of a second passed since my charge. My blood began to sing like a whistling kettle as shreds of their innards started flying in the air.
My third was a lone woman enjoying her food, my foot meeting with the edge of her table and pushing it edge-first against her solar plexus with the force of a speeding truck- the ripple of force traveling through her body as her pulped organs began to burst free from her skin.
The wooden deck cracking underneath my pink shoes with every step as I changed direction to my next victims...
… And I lost myself to the song that my blood sang: An uplifting hymn of happiness and gentleness trilled in impossible vowels- empowering every muscle in my body with unnatural strength and speed as every spark of thought in my mind focused on seemingly moving my body on its own with the sole purpose dedicated to murdering everyone and everything…
SLAUGHTER THEM! BLOOD! BLOOOOOOD! KILL THEM ALL IN THE NAME OF LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP! CHOP! HACK! SLASH! RIP THEM TO SHREDS! GOUGE THEIR EYES! REND THEIR FLESH FROM THE BONES! MAIM! KILL! BURN! MAIM! KILL! BURN! KILL THEM ALL FOR 'TARU-KUN! STOMP THEIR GUTS IN THE NAME OF LOVE! TEAR THEIR INNARDS FROM THEM! KILL THEM FOR THE SAKE OF SACRIFICE POINTS! KILL THEM FOR THE SAKE OF POWER! KILL THEM FOR THE SAKE OF KILLING! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! SLAY THEM WHERE THEY STAND! SPLIT THEM OPEN! NO MERCY! KILL! KILL! KILL! SANITY IS FOR THE WEAK AND I AM THE STRONGEST! QUEST ADDED! GORGE MY BELLY WITH THEIR CRIES FOR MERCY! PULL THEIR INNARDS OUT FROM THEIR BELLIES! SLASH THEIR WEAK BODIES ASIDE! SPLIT OPEN THEIR SKULLS! BREAK THEIR BACKS AND THEIR WILLS! TEAR THEIR SKULLS FROM THEIR BODIES! CLAIM THEIR SKULLS! GUT THEM! GUT THEM ALL! QUEST ADDED! BREAK THEIR BONES AND REND THEIR FLESH! PRY THEIR RIBCAGE OPEN! DRINK THE BLOOD FROM THEIR HEARTS! LET THEIR DEATHS SLAKE MY AXE'S THIRST! BREATHE IN THE COPPERY FRAGRANCE OF FRESHLY SPILLED BLOOD! FEEL THEIR WARM BLOOD ON MY FACE! STREAMING DOWN FROM MY CHIN! COATING THE HANDLE OF MY AXE! SEEPING INTO MY CLOTHES! PAINTING MY EVERY STEP TOWARDS MORE MASSACRE! SHRED THEIR SOULS INTO NOTHING! PLUCK OUT THEIR EYES FROM THEIR SOCKETS! DASH THEIR SKULLS AGAINST THE WALLS! TRAMPLE THEIR BODIES AND THEIR HOPES! SNUFF OUT THEIR PATHETIC LIVES! FEAST ON THEIR SCREAMS OF AGONY! TEAR OUT OF THEIR HEARTS! DRINK THE BLOOD AS IT WASHED DOWN MY FACE IN STREAMS! MUST KILL! MUST KILL! FOR THE SLAUGHTER! CRUSH THEM UNDER FOOT! KILL THEM ALL FOR THE SAKE OF LOVE!
RAPe... them?
"What?" I mutter as I blink back into sanity. "Why would I want to rape someone who isn't 'taru-kun?"
I look down to see a shapely caramel-skinned girl around my age sobbing quietly- my blood-soaked hand trapping her head in a solid, vice-like grip as it pushed her face into the pillow. A man's dismembered head sat on the other end of the pillow- leaking fresh blood onto the sheets.
My other hand still held my axe- coated from the axehead to knob with thick blood. It would seem that in the haze of raging battle-frenzy, I began violating her with the handle of my axe that was still covered in blood.
Come to think of it, so was I.
I could feel how the blood was on my everywhere: Matting my hair, covering my face, filling up shoes, under my clothes and even soaking my cotton underwear. The all encompassing stickiness made me regret not having the foresight to wear a swimsuit type underwear at least.
It was indicative of how much I rushed the planning stage if I forgot that big of a detail.
Sighing, I look around the cheap motel-like cabin with its two beds and five additional cots. Amidst the myriad of blood splatters and six corpses strewn about the room and lying in their own pools of blood- their heads rolling around as the ship tilted this way and that.
I didn't even remember how I got here. I checked my pocket watch and found that only two hours had passed.
[Desire Sense] told me that there were just two dozen more people left out of the 2,000. Cowering in a few select places as the blood of almost two thousand people ran in macabre rivers along the corridors of the ship. They were smart enough not to jump overboard and risk the stormy waves of the Pacific Ocean.
And as much as I wanted to make the most of the remaining souls and sacrifice them, I'd rather err on the side of caution and end things quickly. I retracted the knob of my axe from the girl- making her sigh in relief. I then flipped my axe to grip it normally and beheaded her in a single meaty thwack- the axe head burying itself through her slender neck, through the pillow and into the mattress underneath as fresh blood began to flow.
I winced at that. Not at the gory sight of course, but at how the edges of my axe were noticeably blunted from heavy use... from both edges at that too! I may need to find a better weapon.
QUEST Added - [A Worthy Weapon]
Objective - Obtain a weapon that can withstand the rigors of a Magical Girl's work
Rewards: ?
Nodding in acknowledgement of the very apt Quest, I continued with my hunt with my blunt axe; after all, with the Khorne-given strength that I had, even a blunt axe can kill regular humans.
As my blood-drenched form walked through the halls with squelching footsteps, I marvelled at how effective [Fueled By Bloodshed] was. Having my SP recover so long as I spilled blood. I didn't even feel winded- my breathing was as calm as it was when I was just enjoying the cruise and sipping iced tea in the afternoon before.
The remaining people were a clever lot. Hiding in boxes, playing dead with the corpses and even hiding on the roof under the pouring rain. But one by one, I hunted them down- proving that [Desire Sense] was indispensable. Until finally, I was down to the last person.
I may not have been tired, but after having to find them all while feeling sticky with blood, I was feeling impatient as I ran down to the cabins despite me having cleared them room after room. But just as I turned a corner, I suddenly spotted movement in the corner of my eye- [Desire Sense] did not even sense it so it must be-!
"A reflection?" I mutter in realisation, my axe just a bare centimeter away from my reflection's neck, "Oh, Silly Saeko-chan."
I looked at my blood-stained form. Nothing was left of my beautiful pink and white Magical Girl outfit that fluttered and waved in the breeze. In its place was a bright red dress that hung down wetly around me- heavy from how much fresh blood had soaked into the several layers of cloth. The only difference in the sea of red colour were the splotches of even darker red.
"[Observe]" I said out of curiosity.
== T ==
Shiraishi Saeko - Lvl 56 Human
Title: The Magical Girl of Love and Friendship
Class - Lvl 56 Barbarian (Berzerker)
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
HP: 100%
MP: 100%
SP: 100%
Highest Stats: STR - 60, DEX, CHA, INT, CON, WIS, LCK
Current thoughts About You: You look better in white and pink.
Current Desire: To find out what the Gamer System thinks of you
Strongest Desire: To be the one true Magical Girl to bring 'taru-kun back
Reputation: N/A
Summary: "The sole heiress of the Magician House of Shiraishi, born magically crippled and consequently emotionally neglected as a result. Bearing a cheerfully bubbly and gentle disposition, Saeko is a broken soul driven insane by the loss of her childhood friend. Her obsession with magical girls has turned her into a murderous psychopath capable of half-feigning disarming amounts of compassion, optimism and gentleness."
== T ==
"What does it mean that I'm half-feigning it?!" I pouted indignantly, "A Magical Girl like me is always sincere about her compassion, optimism and gentleness."
My pink shoes- now coated red- struck the edge of the door to the cabin and made it fall off its hinges with a wooden crash. Stepping inside, I found seven bodies strewn around the blood-splattered room: Two ravaged and bloody bodies were laying on the mattress, but I could spot the quivering lump on the blood stained blanket.
Approaching the bed and its quivering lump, I hefted my bloody axe onto my shoulders, preparing to swing it down.
"Clever," I complimented the lump in English- smiling as I did, "Trying to hide in a cabin that I already cleared. You're the last one too- congratulations on surviving this long."
"Please, I don't want to die!" The little boy, who sounded to be no older than eight year of age, begged as he curled up even more in the blankets.
I sighed as I sat down on the edge of the bed- the blood already soaking on the sheets. Reaching out, my gentle hand rested on the boy's shoulder through the blanket that he was cowering under, and he voided his bowels and bladder at the touch.
"Hey..." I hummed gently with my soft voice in English, "Do you think I'm faking all my compassion, optimism and gentleness?"
"N-no. NO!" His small voice stammered out, "I think you're gentle and a-a-always h-happy!"
"Thank you, I appreciate hearing that!" I happily crowed with sincerity as I rose from the bed. He curiously lowered the blanket from his face- revealing his black hair and brown eyes just in time to see me raise my bloody axe overhead.
"PLEAS-!" A small voice shouted before it turned into a gurgle of pain. Might have been a child, but my axe- and I- didn't care as I gave it another downward swing- the whimpers dying down by the second time. But just to be certain, I give the body under the blanket three more, "One thwack, two thwack, three thwack And…"
"Ping!" I announced cheerfully to the now empty ship devoid of life. My formerly white gloves, now soaked a splotchy red with blood, formed a heart over my chest as I posed cutely for the fresh corpse.
"And Magical Girl Homicide-Chan saves the day again!" I cheered with a sparkly jump- just as the screens popped up.
QUEST COMPLETED - [Mass Sacrifice Quest: Touch Me Not]
[?] Objective - Kill everyone on board the Civilian Ferry Vessel Sisa on your own (2,176/2,176)
[?] Bonus Objective: The ship must not sink until everyone is dead.
Rewards: XP (Massive x5), +250 Sacrifice Points
Bonus Rewards: XP (Massive x5)
QUEST COMPLETED - [The Last Anointed of Chaos]
[?] Objective - Reach Level 25
[?] Bonus Objective - Complete the Quest within 30 days
Reward: The Chaos Corruption System is awakened within you
Bonus Reward: Perk [Beacon of Chaos Corruption]
QUEST COMPLETED - [The Last Favoured of Chaos]
[?] Objective - Reach Level 50
[?] Bonus Objective - Complete the Quest within 1 year
Reward: The Unsacred Infusion System is awakened within you
Bonus Reward: Perk [Greater Altars]
I tilted my head in confusion- the blood now dripping down my head in a diagonal angle. I don't recall getting the Quests for reaching Levels 25 and 50. It must have given it when I was in my Berzer- Magical Girl Mode.
"What… are these?" I murmured in confusion and distaste at the names, but the Gamer System still popped up a window to explain.
== T ==
THE CHAOS CORRUPTION SYSTEM
The Chaos Corruption System allows you to seep Chaos Corruption into souls exposed to your energies. Willing souls who hold a high opinion of you, are regular close contact with you or willingly subservient to you are especially susceptible. The greater their Chaos Corruption, the more powerful they become, the more devoted they shall be to you, and the more benefits granted to you.
== T ==
Chaos Corruption Percentage Bonuses:
Each percent of Chaos Corruption grants +1 to All Stats
1%: the first point grants +3 to all Stats instead of +1
2%: the second point grants +5 to all Stats instead of +1
3%: they gain a +5 to a random Stat in addition to the regular +1 bonus
5%: they may choose a Chaos God to dedicate to. Stat gains from Chaos Corruption will be increased according to which Chaos God was dedicated to
8%: Grants +10 to all Stats instead of +1, and they may now claim Sacrifice Points for you.
13%: they gain a +10 to a random Stat in addition to the regular +1 bonus
21%: they gain a minor blessing pertaining to their chosen Chaos God
34%: Grants +15 to all Stats instead of +1
55%: they gain a +15 to a random Stat in addition to the regular +1 bonus
89%: they gain a minor blessing pertaining to their chosen Chaos God
100%: All the Stat gain bonuses so far are doubled, and their souls are yours for all eternity.
== T ==
== T ==
THE UNSACRED INFUSION SYSTEM
Instead of claiming Sacrifice Points, the Unsacred Infusion System gives you the option to direct Chaos Corruption into non-living objects and imbue them with unholy powers. All corrupted objects also slowly and passively corrupts nearby souls with Chaos Corruption; and they may gain fell sentience if seeped in the energy of enough Sacrifice Points.
Altars can be raised and infused to double any Sacrifice Points gained from kill/sacrifices made in their proximity.
== T ==
I pouted at that.
"The benefits sound really good, but… The Chaos Corruption System? The Unsacred Infusion System?" I muttered in a petulant complaint. "Those don't sound like things a Magical Girl of Love and Friendship like me would use. I want to call them something else."
"Hmmm…" I hummed to myself as I tried to think of a nice name. "I need some time to think of a good name."
Heading down to engineering, I jabbed my hands into the metal hull. And like a bandaid, I tore the piece off in one quick rip- immediately, a violent gush of water began pouring in as the murky blackness of the Pacific Ocean began claiming the ship.
Grinning in approval, I walked up to the deck at the stern of the ship with the torn piece of hull under my hands.
I walked out to the stormy deck, collected my axe and duffel bag as I pondered over what name would be good as I let the rain wash over my blood-soaked form- watching the stream of excess blood bleed away from my pink and white outfit.
A bolt of lightning struck the antenna of the ship- sending luminous yellow sparks falling down with the rain. And immediately, an idea came to me and I wondered if it would sound as good out loud as it did in my head.
"Okay from now on, I'm just going to call 'The Chaos Corruption System' to 'The Sparkly Friendship System' and the 'Unsacred Infusion System' to 'Glitter Enchantment System!' I excitedly gushed.
== T ==
...Committing...
CHANGE cHaNGe
C∙H∙A∙N∙G∙E ~Change~
cHaNGe
ChAngE
cHaNGe
CHANGE
…
== T ==
The Sparkly Friendship System
The Sparkly Friendship System allows you to seep Sparkly Friendship into souls exposed to your energies. Willing souls who hold high opinions of you, are regular close contact with you or willingly subservient to you are especially susceptible. The greater their Sparkly Friendship, the more powerful they become, the more devoted they shall be to you, and the more benefits granted to you.
== T ==
Sparkly Friendship Percentage Bonuses:
Each percent of Sparkly Friendship grants the user +1 to All Stats
1%: the first point grants +3 to all Stats instead of +1
2%: the second point grants +5 to all Stats instead of +1
3%: they gain a +5 to a random Stat in addition to the regular +1 bonus
5%: they may choose a Sparkle God to dedicate to. Stat gains from Sparkly Friendship will be increased according to which Sparkle God was dedicated to.
8%: Grants +10 to all Stats instead of +1
13%: they gain a +10 to a random Stat in addition to the regular +1 bonus
21%: they gain a minor blessing pertaining to their chosen Sparkle God
34%: Grants +15 to all Stats instead of +1
55%: they gain a +15 to a random Stat in addition to the regular +1 bonus
89%: they gain a minor blessing pertaining to their chosen Sparkle God
100%: All the Stat gain bonuses so far are doubled, and their souls are yours for all eternity.
== T ==
== T ==
THE GLITTER ENCHANTMENT SYSTEM
Instead of claiming Sacrifice Points, the Glitter Enchantment System gives you the option to direct Sparkly Friendship even non-living objects and imbue them with Sparkly powers. All corrupted objects also slowly and passively corrupts nearby souls with Sparkly Friendship; and they may gain fell sentience if seeped in the energy of enough Sacrifice Points.
Altars can be raised and infused to double any Sacrifice Points gained from kills/sacrifices made in their proximity.
== T ==
PERKS ADDED:
[Beacon of Sparkly Friendship] - Your mere presence is enough to bend minds into surrendering to Sparkly Friendship. All your followers gain Sparkly Friendship twice as fast.
[Greater Altars] - There is no greater honour for your victims than to die at your Altars. You gain thrice the sacrifice points when you kill/sacrifice in proximity to your altars
== T ==
Wait, I can do that? I can rename things? Amazing! Now it all sounded like things worthy of a Magical Girl!
Now I can freely use the newly-named Sparkly Friendship System to gain more power. I did an excited little dance as the storm raged above and around me. Casually throwing the piece of hull overboard, I quickly followed it up with my axe and my duffel bag to dispose of all the evidence.
"All I need to do now is to get back to land, sneak back to my hotel room and book a flight back to Japan."
My bright pink eyes looked out to the restless stormy seas stretching out in every direction. Doing some quick mental math, I estimated that it was roughly about 200km back to shore: Such a distance was close to the limit of normal people, and that was in calm seas and not in hurricane waters.
Leaning slightly over the railings, the sight of the violent blue-black waves greeted me as they crashed against the hull. A normal person would drown in less than a minute.
QUEST Added - [The Long Swim Home]
Objective - Swim 200km to shore
Bonus Objective - Complete the Quest within 24 hours
Reward: XP (Medium), Perk [Air is For Mortals]
Bonus: Reward: XP (Medium)
"It's a good thing that I'm a Magical Girl then!" I cheered as I did my stretches in the stormy downpour, "Swimming in hurricane waters is one of a Magical Girl's lesser known skills!"
"Not even the might of the Pacific Ocean can stop the beautiful power of Sparkly Friendship!" I exhaled in excitement as I sprinted across the deck, jumping off deck- my still red-soaked magical girl outfit making a graceful swan dive as I hit the water.
The tall, violent waves of blue swallowed me up as I began doing a breast-stroke in the general direction of land as my Khorne-granted strength and my Slaanesh-gifted speed worked in tandem as I set a comfortable pace of about 4 meters per second over the water.
"This magical girl will spread its power far and wide! I'm so excited to return to school now and make friends! Especially you, Gremory-san..." I promised with a happy giggle, my voice lost in the thunder and the waves. "We're going to be such great friends! I'm just going to need a haunted house, a stray devil and some sacrifices for Friendship."
"So prepare yourself, Kuoh Town! The Magical Girl of Love and Friendship Undivided will be arriving soon to bring the power of Sparkly Friendship to everyone!"
- Chapter 3 End -
Chapter 2 : A Rias Gremory Hopes for Great Change to come soon
…
AN:
The Saeko POV won't be so common. Because horrific atrocities are most terrifying when seen from the point of view of the victims after all… Also, in completely unrelated news, Rias POV is coming up next! I'm sure nothing bad will happen! ❤