Helga realized that Su was interrupted by Vi's video, and paused the video with a sheepish smile. "Whoops, it was a bit loud. But here, look at these ones, so you'll get a better idea." The two moved a bit more carefull across the city, not because Su was distracted by the phone, but because of the threat of the Ascendancy discovering them. Fortunately, they didn't see any of them. "Come on, anybody can be dangerous under the wrong circumstances," Helga retorted. "Besides, it's not like hating on Beacon is a new thing." Fortunately, Su ended up agreeing with the party, which satisfied Helga. "I promise you you wont regret this, Su!" She said exhuberantly, and stepped inside the shop.
Brittany was already catering to Alex' purchases before the two girls entered.
‘A fine choice, good sir! Awareness is perfect for navigation, ensuring you never get lost! Just use that magical coin, and the magic is yours! Oh, and that one is very versatile!‘ She held a finger up as she explained.
‘That one allows you to manifest appendages depending on your Specialization! For example, you can use them for swinging around town like Spider Man!‘ She then smiled as the tails manifested.
‘I see, so a Beast magic specialist? Those tails look so fluffy!‘ After the purchases were done, she took the coins, and waved at the other girls who just arrived.
‘Welcome, welcome! Would you be two ladies be interested in some fine wares?‘Helga gave a casual lift of her hand to Alex, a snarky look in her eyes. "Shopping, what else? At least you finally remembered my name, eh Ally-boy?" She then held back a giggle as Su went to touch one of the fluffy tails, and also grabbed one. "Oh right, Mariette. She doesn't look like much, but she's a real caster. I remember having visited her apartment once; looked real gothy and stuff. Wonder what happened to it," she kept talking absentmindedly, even as her claws continued ruffling up the tail fur in an unpleasant manner.
Helga blushed, then puffed her cheeks out, and laughed out loud at Su's joke. "Wow, Su, you have no tact!" She went closer to Su, having released the tail. "Besides, I don't need stuff like that when I have you~" She had a suggestive look in her eyes, followed by another burst of laughter. Brittany politely laughed along, though the twitch of her eyebrow told a different story. However, she returned back to her usual self as Su addressed her.
‘I can't really say,‘ Brittany then answered, a bit less peppy than before.
‘After all, I just arrived here, same as you girls. But with the Ascendancy causing trouble, I'm sure Cindy won't sit on the sidelines. She's going to make the city safe again for everyone. In case you're worried, I would recommend the Dragonscale Pendant.‘ She brought the item up, the chain dangling from her hand.
‘It can protect you from even the deadliest of attacks, and only needs a bit of time to recharge between uses, for only 1 Gold and 10 Bronze!‘ Helga hummed as she checked a shelf, and picked up two stones. "I'll buy these. It's 8 Bronze, right?" She placed the coins on the counter, and Brittany bowed as she took them. Helga then offered one to Su. "According to the description, these Friendship stones allows us to sense where the other one is. So.." She blushed. "I'd like you to hold on to it." But then, her phone rang, and Helga heard Lupa's voice. "An emergency!" She saw as Su also got the call. "Hold on, we're coming!" And so the two girls ran off, towards the source of the fighting.
"Vi-chan's so cool! I wanna go to her party!" Lily was browsing on her phone, watching video after video of the internet idol. But then, it dropped from her hand as she groaned.
"But I don't know howww..."Suddenly, Ixion spoke up: "Lily, you must go! Monsters are on the attack!" Lily sprung up fro the sofa.
"But Alex is still-ah gees, I just gotta meet him halfway!"She rushed to the balcony, and lifted her hand dramatically.
"Let my spirit gallop across the field of clouds, and strike my foes down with thunderous applause!"" And so, an even more elaborate transformation sequence ensued (as seems to happen), followed by her riding off with her bike towards Brittany's shop.
Cindy crackled with a giggle as Penny expressed her destructive urges. "I expected the vacation to loosen your gears," she added jokingly, and signalled to the crowd to quiet down on their video session. Her body glowed a bit brighter as Penny agreed to her plea for help, and offered not only information, but an alliance with Chloe's group. "How marvelous! We agree to this offer of yours." She then watched as Penny prepared to leave. "The Red Coin will be prepared by the time you return. Don't take too long, o chivalrous knight!"
Sally summoned her Shamrock Shooters and aimed them at the Ascendancy officer, causing everyone else to point their weapons at her. "We did nothing wrong, so back off! If you think you can bully us just because of your status, you've got another thing coming!" She shouted out though her arms trembled; she was scared. Sylvia also took a defiant stance, looking like she was about to summon her weapon as well, if hesitantly.
The officer scoffed.
"Sally, was it? I must say, you have been quite fortunate if your mission records are correct. But I wonder how far your luck will run..." She smiled in a wicked fashion, and began glowing purple...
Until Serenity interrupted with her own plea. Sally looked back with a hesitated face, and Sylvia's eyes widened back in surprise. The other Ascendancy members first looked at her, and then at the leading girl, who squinted her eyes. Then, as Alicia turned to look at Sylvia, she put a hand to her mouth, her irises shaky as she realized what she had done. "Alicia..." She whispered. nearly breathlessly. But, seeing the other girl's resolve despite the despairing situation, she found her spirits lifted.
Sylvia took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and in a twinkle, had also taken
human form.
After she had transformed, she opened her eyes. Snowflakes slowly descended on her cheeks, but she did not blink.
"Now, Sally, Serenity...Please."
Sally's lips curled into a look of near-crying, her bunny-ear-like bow drooping. But, she nodded, dropped her hands down, letting her weapons fall to the snow before they disappeared, leaving behind four-leaf clovers pushing out of the snow. And so, she also surrendered, having also
changed. "We reserve the right to stay silent!" She added, sticking her tongue out, followed immediately by Sylvia slapping her in the back of the head. "You make us sound like we're guilty!"
Finally, after seeing the decision of the others, even Serenity detransformed.
Violet made a disappointed duckface.
"Aww, that's it? And I was hoping to punish you heretics...Oh well. Juliana, cuff them." She pointed towards the group, and the tall silver-haired magical girl nodded. "Very well."
Sylvia and Sally held their hands out, and Juliana abruptly slapped a strange restraining device around their wrists; it was shaped like an infinity symbol, but was made of white stone, with glowing runes inscribed upon them. The stone cuffs made an audible sound, as if a stone lock was put in place, and they both sighed in defeat. "Still using these, huh?" She dryly commented as Alicia was also roughly cuffed; she felt how the cuffs sealed away her magical powers, preventing her from transforming.
"Updated for this century, but still effective," Violet spoke, and walked right up to Sylvia. She sensually touched Sylvia's chin, causing her to turn her head.
"No need to replace what ain't broke~"When it was Serenity's turn to be cuffed, Juliana was more gentle, and afterwards patted her shoulder. "Do not worry, lost lamb; you have been mislead by your sinful leader. I will ensure you will receive a fair trial."
Violet slapped her hands together.
"Alright, chit-chat's over! Ready for extraction, Colonel Cuddles!"The Beckoner again appeared, and after it disappeared for a few seconds, everyone felt the familiar feeling of teleportation magic consume them.
After Aurelio was led out of the room by Rachel, Hudie turned her head towards Dawn; though it seemed like she wouldn't be able to see through the solid mask, Dawn could tell her eyes were upon her. However, she seemed less tense than before, likely calmed by Aurelio's magical doves that spread positive emotions in the room. "That is correct," she answered, and sat back down to watch the video Elora presented to them, and did not flinch as the glass spread over the table, having only lifted her hand before a stray piece of glass embedded itself in the spot. While Elora was busy repairing the screen, Tsuki pointed her crescent staff at Dawn, having also moved on from her rage-induced fit thanks to Aurelio. "She will likely not be going anywhere. But the U-types out there have begun inciting a panic in the populace, and must be immediately dealt with." Elora nodded. "Scanners have identified three L-class targets. One is headed toward the Museum of Natural History, another is playing music on a rooftop, and a third one is driving a truck across the city. The teleporters are primed for these locations." Hudie nodded. "Leena and Fanfan are waiting for you, Dawn. Follow your orders, and may the light of beacon shine your way." The regular Beacon members all saluted the Ascendancy members in a fear-inspired fashion.
Rachel had brought Aurelio to the containment sector of the HQ, an underground floor where captured monsters and other entities where kept for purification and/or execution. During the trip, she listened to Aurelio's confession, a stern look on her face. "A Lesser Force?" When asked on details, she got various answers including their name and appearance, as well as reasons for why they were brought there. In short time, the two entered the Confessional, a more elaborate name for an interrogation room.
"So, this Lesser Force looking like a dolphin took you to another dimension, and caused a time dilation?" She asked after she closed the door.
A couple of seconds later, she grabbed Aurelio by his collar. "Do you take me for an idiot, Tanner? How could a Lesser Force not only create an entire world by themselves, but also suddenly teleport the majority of magical girls of a single city there? Only Gods have that much power, and even they rarely use it to abduct so many magical beings at once; it would paint a massive target on their back!" Her glasses glinted menacingly. "Are you trying to cover for Sylvia? Willful collaboration with a heretic is grounds for excommunication." At that moment, the two heard the familiar sound of a teleportation. Rachel groaned. "We will continue this in a moment. Follow me, Tanner."
The two left the Confessional and headed to the central lobby of the containment area where Violet, her squad, and Sylvia's group had ended up.
"The target has been captured and detained," Violet reported with a salute and a smile.
"Awaiting further orders, Inquisitor."Rachel saluted back with a nod. "Excellent work, Violet. Now, Sylvia Starshine." She turned to Sylvia, who averted her eyes. Rachel crossed her arms. "A trial will be held for you shortly. However, we are still preparing the Hall of Divine Judgement. Take them to the containment cell." Juliana and the others nodded, and brought them to their cell; it looked like a hospital waiting room and was just as huge, with clean white walls, a marble floor that reflected people like a mirror, and a ceiling sky blue in color. There were cots on the sides, and one corner was closed off by a partition for personal matters.
However, one thing made it instantly recognizable as a prison; a cage made of white stone was placed in another corner, also inscribed with runes. Kimble was in it; she was curled up and holding her tail, looking beat up; her cheeks were swollen, her eye was blackened and her jacket had slash and puncture marks. "M-Mistress...?" She asked with a whimper, and slowly sat up, holding the bars of the cage to lift herself up.
Rachel had a disdainful look. "Ugh, they should have put that savage out of its misery already. Anyway, we have a job for you, Tanner. Once you are done here, we'll return back upstairs." She turned to him, expecting him to share some words with Sylvia and the others as she waited by the sidelines.
Back at the war room, Tsuki observed via camera feed as Sylvia and the others were locked in the containment. "So she is the ringleader behind it all? Is this all the members accounted for?" Elora shook her head. "No, there's still a member missing...The monster."
Tsuki's eyes tightened. "So it is true? They actually let a monster into our ranks? Maybe..." She brought out an item from her pocket; a White Coin. "Based on the test results, they do embody the magic of the Beckoners and possess the potential for conducting purification. But there is other magic too...Witchcraft." Elora nodded. "The magical girls identified as being involved, Binky, Janet and Jenna, have been placed in containment."
Tsuki nodded, a hand on her chin as she kept looking at various feeds and data streams, the White Coin in her hand; she flicked it up on her thumb like Twoface. "But, we might be able to use this...We just need to make a definitive test. But first, check where she is currently; she is an R-type, so she should be connected to the public network.
"Checking..." Elora looked through the rapid streams of data, and then sighed. "I was about to pin it down, but she disappeared. She must have moved to another dimension again."
Tsuki groaned. "Well, focus on tracking the U-types for now. I'm sure that bucket of bolts will arrive here sooner or later. Then we can ask some questions."
The bulky lich, from hereon referred to as Mr. Bulk, was having the time of his unlife as he continued drifitng down the alleyway. "Nyeh heh heh! Now, let's see what-OW!" Rina's sword found its mark, and embedded itself in the monster's ribs, sticking out of his back like an oversized acupuncture needle. The lich turned to see another sword already fired his way, swatting it away only to get nailed by a third one; Rina had plenty of time to prepare her shots. Now with a sword sticking out of both his back and front, his jaw opened wide in anger. "Oh, a little kitten wants to play with me? Well, I'll show you some real cats!" He gained speed as he headed toward the museum, and was shrouded in drk magic that dripped down towards the building. "Yes, I can feel it...Billions of years of death, contained in bones most ancient. Now, rise once more, and answer your master!"
Suddenly, the wall of the museum was smashed, as a skeleton of a tyrannosaurus rex rampaged through it, roaring out without any observable way of doing so. Mr.Bulk aimed his golden staff at it, and rotten flesh once more encased the bones, transforming it into a dinosaur zombie. Other dinosaur zombies began storming out, including a pterodactly, a triceratops, and even a woolly mammoth. "Yes! YES! Five extinction events have harvested this world!" Rina then saw that a zombie sabertooth tiger ran out, jumping from the top of a stree light to the very rooftop she was on at alarming speed. "But I will be the sixth and final one! I will be the extinction event to end all life! HAAHAHAA!"
The sniper girl continued picking off the ogres, vanquishing two before she received a tap on the shoulder from her spotter an ducked; the ogres turned out to be mages, and conjured a swarm of small darkness spheres to spread out and hit the side of the building. The triplet that took to the melee against easily sliced through the wights with her halberd, cutting ten down. But the foul undead managed to score a couple of hits against her, causing her to visibly weaken with streaks of darkness now trailing from her back; clearly a life-draining curse was at play. Tetrad was fortunately at the scene, and using her cards, decapitated enough heads for the two of them to regroup. "Thank you, stranger," the triplet girl spoke, as another sister jumped down to cleave the horde, getting two in a single swing. "Let us work together, and banish these abominations back to resting in peace."
