Starlight Dream

Chapter 38

"What have you done?" Seina said, reaching out to the spot Kindness once occupied. While she'd been a monster, the fairy hadn't deserved obliteration.

"Whose next in line for the slaughter?" Yuuka asked, her victim already forgotten. Much to Seina's dread, the fairy's destruction hadn't affected the mad magical girl. It hadn't stolen her powers as expected. No, Yuuka seemed as strong as ever.

The villain's statement returned Seina to the here and now, reminding her feeling sorrow for Kindness's loss wasn't a luxury she could afford right now. She gripped her wand tight, ready to put down Yuuka if required. It'd probably be a mercy.

If we survive. They were facing a fully powered Devil Princess, a truly insurmountable foe. Seina quavered, knowing what little chance they stood.

And their opponent seemed beyond reasoning, attacking like a wild animal, free of any skill or reason. Her talon-like fingers slashed towards the nearest magical girl, Miko yelping in fright as they almost clawed her face. Yuuka continued with a follow-up but slipped away as Seina's staff flew toward her chest.

"Takako!" Seina said, summoning countless bubbles around her. They flew in every which direction, confusing the Devil Princess as they blew past her.

"Right!" Takako spun around her ribbon, gathering a collection of Seina's bubbles within it. Each bubble vanished, only to appear randomly around the field.

"You!" Yuuka said, howling in pain as her back bumped into a bubble. It burst apart, the force sending the Devil Princess flying.

The others used this as an opportunity to strike, Chō sent her dwindling robot forces forward. They fell to Yuuka's claws, but some clung to the Devil Princess, pushing her into another exploding bubble. But the explosion had no effect, its flames passing over their intended target like a gentle rain.

"Stole it! Stole it!" Yuuka said, proud of herself. Ume attempted an attack from behind, but howled in pain as the Devil Princess threw a robot into her. Bone shattered into splinters as Yuuka threw a fist into her chest, Ume collapsed unmoving.

Both Emiyo and Paliah attacked from opposite directions. While futile, Miko scored some lucky hits while the Devil Princess was distracted. Annoyed, Yuuka vented her fury. Clawed fingers dug into Miko's chest, Seina watching in abject horror as the Devil Princess ripped out the girl's heart with her bare hands.

"Miko!" Emiyo said, eyes wide in horror as the Yuuka crushed it with her palm like an overripe fruit. Blood seeped into her fingers, staining them crimson.

Seina blew another exploding bubble towards their foe, only for it to have no effect again. Still, it proved the perfect distraction for her partner to slip away.

"What now?" Seina said, despairing as Yuuka kicked Miko's still body like a hacky sack before throwing it aside. It twitched, proving the girl still lived. How were they to fight this monster?

"I'm not sure," Takako said, seeing they'd already lost two of their most valuable allies.

"I'll see what I can do," Himari said, her bracelet jingling as she thrust a hand forward. But her dimensional crush had no effect. The Devil Princess already knew about that ability.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!" Yuuka said, her tone singsong. Poor Himari quavered. She wasn't a fighter, like her allies. "Tear you to shreds!"

Some robots used this distraction as an opportunity to strike, only to explode into dust before their blows even connected. Chō scribbled in her notebook, trying to create something that might change the tide. But a sudden blow to the head knocked her senseless, knocking her out from the fight.