Inside the convenience store, the tentacles hissed, black smoke spewing from the points that the knives struck. Thrashing, the tendrils attempted to break free and regain their full range of movement, but they could not pull away from the blades keeping them stuck to the floor and walls. At least, they couldn't pull away [i]yet[/i], there was no telling how long it would take for the tentacles to manage to yank themselves free.

Still, it was likely there would be an ample opportunity for escape.

Akane barely had time to realize just how fast the tendril was coming for her when everything around her seemed to warp, somehow, and then she found herself in another girl's arms, eyes wide. It was Copenhagen Star, she'd intervened to keep the tentacle from hitting her! For a few moments, she could only sit there, wide-eyed, as she was in the arms one one of many girls she considered herself a fan of. Indeed, she found it difficult to speak.

"... H-H-Hi!" was all she managed for a few moments, until she realized that the other magical girl had asked if she was alright. "Oh, ah, ah-hah, um, I'm fine! Fine! It's just... I... er..."

Akane shook her head. No! There were people in danger. It wasn't think time to get too nervous about speaking to a magical girl! She was a magical girl now too, wasn't she?! Swiftly, she raised her sword, watching as the tentacle she had cut thrashed about. It soon enough fell limply to the side, black smoke pouring from the severed tip. The creature shrieked and hissed... So that meant that it had to be weak to fire! Before she could even voice this, however, it became clear that Copenhagen Star had already come to the same conclusion! Just as expected of her!

"R... Right!" Akane replied, nodding firmly. Right! Now... ranged attack, ranged attack... Something really direct, like...!

Thrust her sword forward, the fire still coursing up the blade seemed to build slightly.

"Dragon Flame!" she cried, unaware of how her tail was twitching as she did. Or, for that matter, that she even had a tail. The fire erupted from her blade and surged forward, immediately catching the tree in the vacuum-tentacle alight.

The reaction was almost instantaneous. Fire burst through the dark flesh of the Negari and ate away at it, the shrieking creature immediately raising its tentacle and dropping the burning tree to the concrete below. It had really hurt it!

The blob that had been sheared off of the rest of the creature scuttled down the wall. Akane thought she caught sight of it from the corner of her eye, but then, abruptly, it was gone as if it had never been there.

There wasn't much time to think on that, however, when another tentacle came sweeping towards both Copenhagen Star and herself. This time, she was quick on the draw, and her still-burning sword cut through the tentacle like butter. But then another rose to attack, and another... and another...

The tentacle that Shooting Star had pummeled exploded backwards from the impact, spraying goo across the rooftop before fading into black smoke.

The tentacles engulfing the civilian girl were proving harder to dislodge, however. Still, it seemed as if Shooting Star was making some small progress as she yanked at them, attempting to pull them apart... but it would have to be quick, as more tendrils were flowing up the mass to grasp at the magical girl, herself.

The main body sprouted a set of stubby legs, rising up as it did, beginning to move, attempt to retreat.

It couldn't be allowed to escape with all those people inside it! Someone would have to get them all out, cut into the Negari...

But how?!