Purple shadows dance on the altar; dark smoky wisps flicker like flames. Mila grips Homura's hand with her chilly claws, black nails digging into the flesh, as she chants:

"Wise gatekeepers of shadowed lands,

Extend the bridge, a devil cometh-

She'll boil the hearts and hack off the hands

Of all who dare to block her path!"

The dark circle widens, and a figure slowly crawls out, covered in black oil, twisted, terrifying. All at once, the demon spreads a wide pair of wings, splattering the oil againts the walls, and a sudden, intense flame engulfs it, burning away the oil, leaving only bright pale skin and a dress of black feathers. When the flames reach the monster's head, Homura shudders, recognizing her own face staring down at her with an all-knowing, cruel expression. The demon jumps down from her altar, face-to-face with Homura.

She places a black-gloved hand on Homura's cheek, her hand burning with dark energy.

"Poor girl. You were never meant to come here." Her voice carries intense charisma, and Homura feels her emotions fluctuate wildly between fear and passionate curiosity akin to infatuation. "But fear not. I will find you a role in this mess."

In a bright flash, the demon transforms her outfit into a radiant slim black officer's uniform, hiding her magical wings. She marches past us, ascending the stairs. We fall in behind her.

"Mila- report."

"Madoka's condition is stable," replies Mila, "but the war is not. The Germans are in total retreat in the East; this place could fall in a week. Our Valkyria are getting overwhelmed by the sheer number of new Soviet magical girls across the line. It seems the incubators met their energy quota and decided to tip the balance against the Germans to end the war- "

"It's too early. We need the war in Europe to last at least three more weeks," says the demon. "By then these physicists will have their bomb- and the energy released by its detonation will be enough for those monsters beyond the Gateway to intervene."