The girl was dumbfounded by the sudden change in tack, from explaining what the school project was actually about--though she was a bit surprised, it would seem odd to have an elementary school class go out and meet the shrine maiden one by one--to calling her a magical girl. Not that such an accusation made much sense, though she'd also been compared to a princess because of the hair. Needless to say, she didn't think the pair were being at all serious about the accusation.

"Um... but this is my natural hair colour... I know it's unusual but it doesn't mean anything..."

@VitaVitaAR

---

"Round 'em up...? Yeah... Yeah, that could work! Good thinking," Nico excitedly yelled back at her foxy companion. The cat-themed girl pushed away shade that had jumped onto her barrier, then jumped backwards away from the pack. She looked over her shoulder for a moment, up to the kitsune in the trees.

"I'll run them around, just get a cage going to funnel them into!"

Nico took stock of each shade that still remained standing. It looked to be about seven of them, give or take, but they were scattered. Getting them grouped harder wasn't going to be easy, but Nico didn't have much time to think about that as two of the shades jumped her again. She rolled to the side, catching something flickering blue off in the corner of Nico's eye.

(Over there!)

Nico put herself in the middle of each of the shades, provoking them to launch an all-out attack. The girl jumped away again, but kept facing the now-grouped shades to make sure they weren't scattering. "Come on then! You've got me outnumbered," she taunted them with a smirk, then turned tail and dashed away from them, towards where Nico had seen the blue flickering. A circle of fire had formed not too far away, only a single gap as the entrance. The girl ran right up to the inner edge of it, turning as if she'd cornered herself while the shades trickled in one by one.

"Got you!" Nico triumphantly exclaimed as the trap was shut behind the shades, closing the circular arena. Nico put all her strength into her legs and jumped up in the air, over the top of the shades, and turned mid-jump.

"Felid!"

A flurry of sparkles and claw slashes tore through the clutter of monsters all at once, Nico being bathed in the blue light of the raging flames around her. A couple of the shades were thrown back into the walls of the custom-made arena, burning them, while the rest were eradicated by Nico's own attack. Once the girl was done battling the shades she managed to just about land on her hands and knees, watching the blackened mist rise up and evaporate around her.

That didn't mean she was in the clear, though. Nico clamored up to her feet and searched for the purple-haired one while the cage of fire slowly fizzled out around her.

"There, happy?"

"Hm, I see... in that case, I'm going to have to go and kick their ass," said the girl with the gauntlet, cracking her knuckles as she spoke, "Or at least give the creep a talking to, but I've got a feeling it won't be that easy, you know?"

She cocked her head towards Fuyuko. "I just got this really bad feeling when I saw them, the other girls I talked to said the same thing. There's something really wrong with whoever it is behind that mask."

She turned to leave, but then paused for a moment and turned to face Fuyuko once more.

"Oh, right, I'm Shining Fist!" declared the magical girl with a grin. It seemed like she switched between moods pretty quickly, given how fast she went from the angry to cheerful. "I know we're kinda-sorta enemies right now, but magical girls can be friends too, right?"

@LuckyBlackCat

---

"No no, I'm not talking about that," insisted Hina, waving her hand as she spoke, "You know what I'm talking about!"

She pointed squarely at Hanako. After a few moments of silence, Chise decided to step in and explain.

"... There's no point in playing dumb," she said, flatly, "Hina-chan's concept lets her smell magic, like a doggy."

"Wan!" came an enthusiastic interjection for Hina, which earned her a brief look from Chise.

"We know you're a magical girl, onee-san," Chise continued, a serious expression crossing her face, "And both of us are too. We were trying to see if the miko was one, but we found you instead."

A small smile crossed her lips.

"Are you ready to take us on? You won't win."

@Raineh Daze

---

The dust settled.

The shades were destroyed, each and every one of them torn apart. There was no risk of a single shade growing bloated on the power released by the destruction of its fellows.

Softly, slowly, the purple-haired magical girl brought her hands together and clapped. Her unfriendly grin was still worn on her lips.

"My my, you inefficiently slaughtered a swarm of garbage," she commented, her tone still considerably uncomplimentary, "However, your display was entertaining, I suppose. I shall give you the opportunity to contemplate my offer. However..."

She cocked her head.

"The outcome is the same no matter what decision you make: I will claim victory in the Hex Night, and there is nothing anyone can do to change that fact."

And with that, and a flash of purple light, the girl was gone.

@Ammokkx@RoleplayerRoxas

The plan had went of without a hitch, much to the fox-eared girl's relief. Shades usually weren't too... y'know, bright, so they were weak against the almighty power of thinking, but it still meant letting Himeko's partner get up close with several enemies. Thankfully, she was more than capable of handling herself, and deftly eliminated them all with one, magnificent strike. Himeko couldn't help but clap when the Shades were finally gone.

It was too bad Kagami couldn't just let them relish the victory a little more. At least she had chosen to part ways after declaring her victory.

Himeko let out a long groan, once she was sure Kagami wasn't still lingering around. You really got all types of magical girls, evidently. The fox had to wonder if the local deity had cursed her with the worst kind of opponent - one with infinite arrogance and way more than enough power to justify that. There was still the matter of figuring out how to survive their next encounter, but for now, she should just enjoy the win with her pink new friend. The two-tailed magical girl stepped towards her with a bright smile.

"Now that it's just the two of us, let us introduce ourselves properly! I am a divine messenger of the gods, a fluffy maiden filled with love and hope~"
She gave a cheerful twirl, poised on one foot before pointing the pipe towards Nico with a bright smile, making a V-sign with her free hand and directing them towards her right eye, "My name is classified, but you can give me the cutest name a fox can have~"

She was already pushing Kagami out of her mind. Strong as that girl was, Himeko chose to believe someone like her could be toppled with numbers against her, so she could save that concern for later.

@VitaVitaAR@Ammokkx

---

@VitaVitaAR

Fuyuko's introduction was much more sedate. She bowed, her hair hanging in her face and partially obscuring it. "It's nice to meet you, Shining Fist," she replied in that soft voice. "I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself. Yamazaki, otherwise known as... uh, Fuyuko. No snappy magical girl title I'm afraid."

For all the other girl's friendliness, her astute observations put Fuyuko on edge. Kinda-sorta enemies... Not only had Shining Fist guessed right about her magical nature, she somehow knew they were soon-to-be rivals. Mere assumptions, or were there things the warrior wasn't letting on? Was someone spying on potential opponents for her? Could this someone even be the masked watcher, secretly an ally instead of an enemy?

The breath Fuyuko drew to inquire caught in her throat. If she asked, an explanation might ease her worries to some extent, and even if there was none, it would let on that she suspected something. The problem was, she'd also confirm her participation. "How..." she began. Such a simple question - How did you know we're enemies? - but the rest of the words wouldn't form.

"How, uh, should we go about this?" she asked instead, scurrying after Shining Fist. "I mean, this person sneaks up without a sound, and they move pretty quickly... Do you have a plan?"

"Oh." the girl said, blinking a few times as she processed this new information, "But I don't really want to fight, and it might be bad if we damage the shrine... can't it wait until later?"

If she left the fighting until later, maybe they wouldn't have to fight at all... the idea of beating up little girls didn't really sit well with the teenager, even if they were super-powered magical little girls.

"..."

Shining Fist paused for a moment. Then, with a look of deep concentration, she folded her arms across her chest. For a few moments, she remained like this, as if deep in thought.

Then...

"... I have no idea!"

The girl scratched the back of her head with an awkward chuckle as she turned to face Fuyuko. For all that buildup, her actual thought processes seemed to have resulted in nothing.

"Hmmm... you said they were in the forest, right? Or they ran off there or something," she said, after a moment, "So... Maybe staring there would be good?! I dunno how to find them but some creep in a suit with a bunny mask has gotta stand out, right?"

Even if it was one of the most basic plans possible, there was at least some kind of logic. Suits and bunny masks weren't exactly some sort of high-level camouflage. But that was only the case if the strange figure was, for some reason, still lingering in the forest. It wasn't impossible, of course, but it also wasn't as if the masked figure was guaranteed to be there.

@LuckyBlackCat

---

For a few moments, both girls were silent. Then...

"Eeeeehhh?!"

Hina stepped forward immediately.

"But... but it's the first night of the Hex Night!" she cried, waving her arms frantically in the air as she did, "Magical girls are supposed to fight during the Hex Night! That's how it works! Isn't it?"

As opposed to Hina's outburst, Chise had transitioned to giving Hanako a rather notable pout. It almost seemed as if she had thought the sudden reveal of her and Hina's nature as magical girls had been cool, and that this had ruined it.

"That's not the kind of response I wanted, onee-san," she said, her pout deepening as she spoke, "Hina-chan is right... the fairy said it was how the Hex Night worked. You get a wish and everything."

@Raineh Daze

---

The ravens could observe a variety of things in the night. Of course, the chief ones among them were magical girls.

The first night of the Hex Night wasn't devoid of combat, but many magical girls were being more cautious and scouting out potential opponents. This was the case with many of the girls that the Ravens were able to spot.

A notable example included a magical girl with an unusual outfit, one that seemed to be split between a leotard and a frilled dress, a tophat on her head. Her hair was bright red, her outfit red and gold, and she had a heart marking on her left cheek. It seemed as if she had sparkling lights following her wherever she went, and her pace was rather leisurely as she made her way across the rooftops.

Another was a somewhat tan-skinned(likely due to spending a lot of time outdoors) girl with bright green hair, and a navy-colored outfit seeming to draw inspiration from the military, complete with gold epaulets. She seemed to be cheerfully making her way across the top of a short wall, though her eyes were always on her surroundings.

And then-a little blonde girl...?

But if the last one was investigated closer, the blonde girl would already be gone.

@A Lowly Wretch

---

"Honestly, what's up with her..." Nico murmured. That purple-haired one was going to be trouble, huh? Well, with the threat gone, Nico stretched out her arms in relaxation. She purred contently due to the feeling of relief washing over her. The magical girl didn't have to exert herself that much, but it still felt good to unwind after a bit of mild exercise. Then the girl heard a voice beside her.

"Now that it's just the two of us, let us introduce ourselves properly! I am a divine messenger of the gods, a fluffy maiden filled with love and hope~"

Nico turned to the other magical girl, the twin-tailed fox lady, as she hadn't yet run off like mirror lady did. Nico giggled at the theatrical display of the foxy lady.

"Hihihi... honestly! You're just as bad as someone I know..." Nico commented, one eye open while she wiped a half-formed tear out of it. Fox-lady didn't seem intent on sharing her name, but Nico could get why. It's not like she'd share hers freely, either, even if the two of them showed good teamwork just now.

"Something cute, huh... well, you remind me of an Inari, so... Nari-chan! That's what I'll call you," Nico excitedly declared, with a little spring in her step as she twirled around. "Same here though! I want an extra-cute nickname, I won't settle for anything less!" Nico winked at her fellow magical girl whilst lightly sticking her tongue out, then stared up into the trees.

"Really, though, I don't get girls like her... I know it's the Hex Night n'd all, but us magical girls should work together to combat evil! Giving a wish to someone so selfish... it just doesn't sit right with me," she complained, crossing her arms and puffing up her cheeks. It didn't last long though, because Nico pivoted on her heel and bent forward, looking up at her foxy companion. Nico's arms were behind her back and her eyes were positively sparkling. "Sooo... how about it? If we run into each-other again, let's help! I like girls like you. I want to fight you last, in a fair fight! Though I'd be content with just seeing you again later in general, ahaha..." Nico awkwardly trailed off, pulling herself straight and scratching the back of her head.

The white-haired girl looked up at the mention of the Hex Knight, frowning. It wasn't dark yet... were they really so eager to get into the dangerous stuff before it really had to be done? Sure, there was a wish, and you probably had a better chance of getting the wish if you got started as soon as possible, but... "It's not even night yet. Shouldn't you go eat dinner or something before getting tied up in all the fighting...? It's a bit early to start..."

---

@VitaVitaAR

Even without a plan, normally someone like Shining Fist would have put Fuyuko at ease. That lively, friendly demeanour reminded her of Noriko. If only she could be sure the warrior was someone she could fully trust. Then again, maybe she was letting nerves get the better of her. Such an easy thing to do with so much at stake.

"It's ok," she replied. "It wasn't so long ago that I saw them, so they could still be in there."

She lapsed into silence as she headed back along the path to the hill, deep in thought. There was a way to make the search easier. There were also many ways this could go wrong.

"I, um... I think I might have an idea," she finally admitted. "One of my abilities, Winter Mist... I could use it to float over the forest, and find out if the watcher's around. The problem is..." She paused, biting her lip. If she voiced her concern, it could become obvious she was in the Hex Night - as obvious as a strange ghostly form in the air would possibly be to rivals. Of course, Shining Fist seemed to have already guessed, and all magical girls were potential targets tonight. It wasn't just competitors who feared being such.

Taking a deep breath, Fuyuko continued. "The problem is, it could get us noticed."

Ah, this pink cat's attitude was so refreshing. It was the perfect pick-me-up after dealing with nightmarish hounds and an even worse devil in the guise of a young girl. Himeko maintained a bright smile at her comrade's reply, enjoying just how animated and friendly she was.
"Nari-chan, huh...? I can get behind that~" the bespectacled fox nodded approvingly, raising the pipe to her lips and inhaling softly. Not that there was any substance to take in, but it sure helped with the mystical imagery.

Himeko definitely shared the sentiments towards Kagami, though. As awful as it may sound, she couldn't allow someone like that to have her wish granted. Contemplating just what kind of wish she would want was a little worrisome, really. Yet her mere presence had been enough to put Himeko on edge... sure, the fox wasn't a front-liner when it came to magical combat, but in her honest estimation, even someone like the cheerful cat before her wouldn't be able to land a single scratch on Kagami.

...Well, she could worry about that later. Right now, Himeko's twitching ears caught Nico's last words, and a playful smile formed on her face. "Girls like me, hmm...? You're so forward, Nya-chan~"
Himeko stepped closer, lowering her pipe and leaning down slightly, her eyes alight with playful mischief, "Well, if your heart's so set on pairing with me, however could I refuse~? Be careful though, we foxes are known to be a little naughty sometimes~"

Without any looming super magical girls around, Himeko could focus on teasing the cutie before her, her dual tails swishing gently behind her.

@Ammokkx

The last piece fell into place and like a puzzle she knew the solution. Sonya used a shot from Apollyon to blast away the bottom portion of the debris so that she could dive under it. Once she had sprung back to her feet, Sonya fired again down the direction she had come from and then took aim again at the sky.

@Raineh Daze

Once again, Hikari soared.

Eve had seen her use the technique before, and was ready for her speed. But even so, the monstergirl barely had time to raise her arms before the hammer slammed into her, the weapon meeting toughened skin and muscle with a sharp crack, the sound of a hard slap magnified ten thousand times over. Eve shuddered, gritting her teeth, but held firm.

The ground beneath her, in contrast, immediately cratered from the impact. Even with the Archetype taking the brunt of the blow, enough force had been transmitted through her to register on the Richter scale. Several meters away, Tokiko stumbled, momentarily losing her balance as the floor seemed to tremble under her feet.

Whaaaat?! She grinned wide, even as she struggled to find her feet. That technique… it’s not bad! Even if Hikari was still lacking in experience, her raw power was definitely higher than average.

Maybe she wasn’t such a hopeless case after all?

However, Tokiko herself was no slouch when it came to power, even if her focus was different. Having blocked the heavy blow, the Archetype quickly recovered, shoving the hammer to one side and then pushing off the ruined ground with her legs, swinging a hard uppercut towards Hikari’s chin. Even if she was a bit of a crybaby, Eve’s durability was something else!

At the same time, Tokiko found her footing, and raised her Tesla Cannon device, aiming it at Hikari again. This time, though, she held off from firing. Her goal wasn’t to beat down the newbie Magical Girl, but to make her stronger. Rather than actually attacking, she wanted to see whether Hikari noticed the threat of a ranged attack, and to see how she responded.

@VitaVitaAR

---

"F-... Forward?"

Nico blinked a few times as she processed the meaning behind both the words she'd spoken and the meaning given to them by Nari. The catgirl turned red as a beet, frantically waving her arms in front of her as she tried to stammer out a reply. "N-no, wait, not like that! I-I, I didn't mean it like that, I swear!!" was the best she could muster. Nico buried her face in her hands as the tail behind her quickly tucked between her legs. "Ooooh... that's so embarrassing..." she muttered, alongside similar sentiments, to herself for a short while. Then both the young lady and the tail jumped up like they'd realised something.

"Oh my gosh I totally forgot! I was looking for my friend before I got roped into this," Nico quickly rambled off, looking around the area as if she was suddenly expecting to find someone. "She should be around this area... I have to go! I hope none of the shades got to her before they arrived here," she informed Nari. The girl quickly climbed back into a tree, but turned around in it and gave a friendly wave to her new friend.

"It's a promise, okay Nari-chan? If I ever see you in trouble, I'll jump in and help right away! So let's meet again, okay?!"

And with that, the catgirl jumped from branch to branch and, eventually, out of the whole park. She'd continue to find a safe spot and transform back, then searched for the shrine maiden around town.

Through their eyes she watched, set by set like the screens of a camera network. In the relative security of this bathroom in the generally empty hallway Sophia was able to survey the land far greater than she did earlier that day. Well secluded she saw all.

The first sight to catch her notice was a girl dressed in a semi-dress leotard of some form in a top-hat, sparkles lighting the path behind her in a dissipating trail. She did not seem too keen to obfuscate herself from observation so there was little impetus for her to maintain watch over her knowing that she could locate her at a later time with relative ease.

The second sight was another magical girl, this one dressed in military formalwear with green hair and tanned skin. This one seemed a bit more wary of her environment. Sophia contemplated the possibility that she might be looking for something or possibly someone but the more likely answer she concluded was that this was likely just the girl being concerned with running into her fellow contestants on this very contested night. Nonetheless she would need to be careful with her raven's placements lest she draw the green haired one's suspicions.

Then there was a blonde haired girl.

Wait. Something changed.

As she attempted to survey the blonde haired one this magical girl vanished from her view. In surprise she flitted to multiple different ravens all within their proximity in the hopes of catching another glimpse of the girl but the effort was in vain.

What happened?

This was an alarming development. Without being able to observe her she could not tell if the girl was even aware that she was being watched. This recent development raised a wide number of concerns.

What if she could trace them back to me? What if she's able to teleport anywhere she wants at will? Is she coming for me!?

Sophia took herself out of her summon's sights for a moment to glance around the pitch black bathroom. Her sight was well adapted to the dark as a result of her general affinity for darkness but she could see no other company in this room. She was alone... But was she?

She took to watching through her ravens but she narrowed the general area of her view to the last location of the blonde haired girl, the area surrounding the hotel she was in and of course the forest where the other mysterious figure had fled after spying on her.

So early into the competition it would be tragic to lose here. Anything less than securing the wish for herself would ultimately be a total failure for her. However the fact that she was facing such difficulties so early into this battle royale painted a grim look into the future of what the following evenings in the Hex Night held for her.

Hikari's eyes widened as she saw the impact her hammer blow had, sufficient to crater the earth beneath Eve's feet and seemingly shake the entire warehouse. Was that the kind of magical girl she was, then!? All in on the hard-hitting melee blows?! If that was what she was meant to do, how she was meant to defend others and defeat evil, then she was fine with it! ... Unless it was supposed to be some joke about her temper! There was no way she'd accept something like that!

But the middle of a fight, even if it wasn't serious, was no time to be getting caught up in her thoughts! Hikari saw the blow coming, and managed to focus her mind on the idea of projecting a barrier, a shield just as she had made before. Indeed, almost opening like the blossom of a flower, her barrier appeared once more! This time, however, it was far weaker, just strong enough to prevent a direct blow. The moment that Eve's fist struck it, it shattered like glass and the force imparted to Hikari's body sent the small girl rocketing through the air! While she didn't actually feel the blow, she certainly felt her impact against the wall. She slammed into the steel just below the roof with a yelp, the wall denting from the impact of her body.

And yet, she didn't feel much in the way of pain. Not at all. Instead, she felt a dull, brief stab. Her transformation must have greatly increased her resistance to injury and pain! It only made sense, after all, that magical girls would be so much durable, and hadn't she seen it before?!

Of course, that had to be the case! But now...!

Tokiko was taking aim.

She had to act quickly. The other two times she had used her hammer, she'd been propelled through the air by the fireworks. So if that let her move fast then...!

Hikari raised her hammer.

How could she activate it without swinging, though? If it was fireworks, only one thing came to mind!

"TAMAYA!"

There was a resounding crack, a whiff of gunpowder, and an explosion as Hikari rocketed away from the wall! She hit the ground moments later, platform geta sliding along the floor with a shower of sparks as she raised her hammer once more. It had worked!

@Anza

---

"..."

Chise's shoulders slumped slightly. It appeared like she hadn't been expecting this at all. Out of every potential outcome, one where the response to the revelation of her opponents was to tell them to go home. She couldn't justify attacking the older girl now, not when she wouldn't transform. That just wasn't what a magical girl should do. Seriously hurting someone who wasn't defending herself was just plain wrong!

But both of the little girls wanted to make progress in the Hex Night, and that meant that they had to fight all the other girls in the city. So there had to be some way to get Hanako to fight, right?

Hina chimed in now, gesturing wildly with her hands.

"But don't you want to win!? We all need to fight to win!" she declared, waving her arms wildly as she spoke.

@Raineh Daze

---

"Haah, that's true, isn't it?"

The other girl sighed after a moment, arms folded across her chest as she sank deep back into her thoughts. There was no denying that something like that could be risky, after all... but at the same time...

"All of us magical girls are going to be enemies, right?" she asked, "At least most of us, since everyone I know's going to join in on the Hex Night too."

She paused for a moment, as if thinking over what she would say next.

"But we're still magical girls. It's not like the fact that we need to fight is going to change that. So if something bad is happening, we should forget about that and handle it first, right?"

Shining Fist grinned, nodding to herself.

"If somebody notices, I'll tell them that! ... And if it doesn't work..."

She raised her arm. Her gauntlet gleamed.

"This isn't just for show."

@LuckyBlackCat

---

Any attempt to relocate the girl was indeed met with failure. But it wasn't obvious if the blonde little girl actually had noticed she was being watched, either. Indeed, as of now, it appeared to be some kind of mystery. There was simply no sign of her, anywhere...

And yet...

There was a distinct sensation of being watched.

That same cold sensation felt from the observation of the Rabbit Masked stranger.

@A Lowly Wretch

---

@VitaVitaAR

Shining Fist was right, Fuyuko acknowledged as she took in the words of reassurance. Yes, she needed to help her family, but she couldn't ignore everyone else while doing so. If there was a way she could help stop this threat, she had to do it, and deal with any consequences afterwards.

At least Shining Fist didn't seem too worried, raising her gauntlet in a display of confidence. Maybe teamwork was still possible after all... For now, anyway.

"Well, if you're ok with this," Fuyuko murmured as she reached the forest's edge, "here goes." She retreated into the shadows, snow whirling around her and dispersing. Right after she transformed, her appearance changed again. Flesh dissolved into fog, until in front of Shining Fist floated a wraithlike figure, features indistinct, wisps streaming where hair and clothes once were.

The mist girl drifted up, her movements light and easy for all her emotional burdens. Despite her lack of a body as such, she could still see and hear just as well, the woodland spreading out below her. She skimmed the treetops, cautious to avoid notice as much as possible, and watched for any sign of the masked figure.

Himeko wore quite the playful smile as Nico tried to stammer out a reply to the teasing comment, greatly enjoying her flustered antics. It was always so much fun when the girls didn't quite know how to respond! The fox would have loved to mess around a bit more, but sadly, her new playmate had to go find a friend, who was apparently nearby. It seemed unlikely, plus Himeko was positive no one had been feasted on before her arrival, but she just smiled brightly at the pink cat, twirling the pipe between her fingers idly.

"Yes, let's. I'll offer the same favour in return then, Nya-chan~" she replied, and watched her leap away amongst the trees. With that, Himeko was now alone. She cast a careful gaze around her as she began walking in the opposite direction. She'd left poor Nico alone to tend to that cute new roommate of hers. She should at least get some snacks for them as an apology, huh?

"...Seriously though, her washing machine exploded...?" Himeko shook her head, chuckling to herself. That Hanako girl sure seemed unfortunate. As she neared the park's gates, her form seemed to shimmer, before fading entirely. Mere moments later, stepping out of a small street nearby said park, Himeko emerged in her civilian guise, adjusting her glasses with a satisfied smile. She hadn't seen anyone around, but it was probably a better idea not to transform out in the open regardless. The last thing Himeko needed was for everyone in town to flock to her humble little shrine, begging for divine intervention, photoshoots and marriage. Well, maybe with select individuals, those would be perfectly acceptable requests...

With that, Himeko made her way back home, pondering what would be the best kind of apology-snack to offer.

@Ammokkx

"Maybe... we should work together? You can beat me at the end," Hanako offered, looking at the two. Sure, winning would be nice, but she didn't really want to fight them right now. If she helped them get through the majority of the Hex Night then she could feel less guilty about taking them out at the end. Or someone else might do it for her. Either way, she could put off beating up some actual children until later... and she could use her abilities as support or heavy backup, both of which they were really more suited for than one on one combat.

@VitaVitaAR

Tokiko didn’t bother trying to keep her weapon trained on Hikari. With that firework move she was flying too quickly to track, and the purpose of the exercise had been fulfilled anyway. Over the course of that last exchange, the newbie had clearly demonstrated her battlefield awareness, sharp reactions, and high mobility, all on a high enough level that Tokiko was actually kind of impressed.

Not that she was going to show it, of course.

“Hmph. I suppose that’s just about adequate,” she said, folding her arms and nodding stiffly. “You’re starting to figure it out, right? Not just the basic magical girl stuff, but your Concept and Archetype as well.”

She peered through her glasses at Hikari, as if staring at her might somehow reveal her secrets. By now, Tokiko herself was a little curious to find out the true limits of those newfound powers. With some proper battle experience, she could even be a threat to me… The thought sent a quiet chill down her spine, and a flicker of doubt flashed across her features.

Should I really be doing this? She… yeah, she definitely enjoyed being around Hikari, but they were still competitors in the Hex Night. What if, at some point in some possible future, they ended up pitted against each other? It could be that Tokiko was playing with fire right now…

But I don’t care! The moment of doubt passed, replaced by a mischievous smile. Wasn’t it the role of a mad scientist to experiment with the most dangerous things?

“All right!” she exclaimed, “Let’s turn the difficulty up a level!” With a flash of green lightning, the Tesla Cannon returned to its original taser form, and she tucked it away. Then, with a grin and a flourish, she produced a cigarette lighter, channeling her power through it. Its gleaming outer casing warped, then expanded, as the inside components were adapted to use Tokiko’s magical energy as fuel. With a flick of her finger, a huge gout of flame spurted out from the tiny machine. “This time, I’ll be using an area attack.” She gestured with her other hand, and her Archetype settled into a fighting stance.

“Hoshino Hikari, test two… begin!”



It lasted about an hour. One of the most hectic, danger-filled hours of Hikari’s life.

First Tokiko came at her with the miniature flamethrower device, unleashing attacks too wide to easily dodge. Then, after a few minutes of that, she switched to some kind of spray cannon made from a hot glue gun, which squirted scalding bursts of sticky goo that covered patches of the floor and walls, forcing Hikari to mind her footing. Then came the modified flashlight, blinding its target whenever she was caught in its beam and leaving her vulnerable to the monstergirl’s attacks. On top of that, the mad scientist had her minion switch tactics, mixing in kicks and grapples with her punches and even tearing chunks out of the floor to throw at long range. Tokiko was clearly holding back, doing her best not to actually hurt Hikari, but even so, the assault was relentless. Trick after trick, combination upon combination, each one pushing Hikari a little further past her limits.

At last, Tokiko lowered her arms. “That’s… enough… for now.” Breathing heavily, the thin girl toppled over backwards, landing on her butt with a yelp. “Damn it! I don’t have the stamina for this…”

With a small burst of green light, her white coat and black gloves vanished, leaving a pale and messy-haired girl lying on her back on the concrete floor. A moment later, her Archetype disappeared as well.

“Guuuuuh,” she groaned, staring up at the ceiling. This mentor stuff is way too much work!

@VitaVitaAR