Ariamis

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

@Majoras End By the way, you can post again with Amanda having joined Ronin's quest and having reached the shop if you want to.

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

Lily took out her smartphone as she lifted off her motorcycle; it was a yellow one, covered in girly decorations and glitter and with a keychain decorated like a stylish heart. She leaned back, ready to take a selfie with Alex and Tetrad.
”Say cheese!”

But just as the photo snapped, Alex had reacted to the noise coming from the forest, making him frown even more than usual. Lily pouted as she checked the picture.

”Hey Alex, you could smile a bit mo-Eh?” She blinked, and realized Alex spoke about pursuers.
”No way! But how? We didn’t leave any-Oh crap-piola!” She looked behind the motorcycle, and saw the tire mark.
”This is bad! We need to leave!”
She then looked up, and yelped; Silhouette was looking back towards the forest, her weapon drawn, and eyes burning with anticipation; Lily figured that though the stoic girl tried to hide it, she looked forward to fighting their pursuers.

But Lily didn’t have time to remark on it, as Mika made a dive off her nimbus cloud back in the forest, and hit what looked like a mound of mossy rocks with her turtle shell body.
”Mika!” She yelled, and took off at high speed on her motorcycle back to the forest, where the forest troll roared in fury after being rudely woken up. After it managed to rise up to sit, it saw the shell laying at its feet. Instead of picking it up, the troll instead growled and kicked it, causing Mika’s shell to be cracked and her to be struck with a heavy blow as she flew back out of the forest. It was then that more voices of the Ascendancy picked up, now shouting orders to each other.

“Hostile T-type spotted!”
“Careful, don’t share eye contact!”
“Why did it wake up?”

The forest troll now stood up, and, being dumb as a boot, thought that the Ascendancy caused the disturbance. “RUIN BEJUTEH SLEPP! SMASH!”
It then charged right at them, distracting the agents.

“Incoming!”
“Engaging!”
“Watch out! It has a venomous bite!”

”Oh wow, Mika managed to pull it off!” Lily shouted as she made a sharp turn, the motorcycle nearly hugging the dirt as she scooped up Mika’s battered body, hoisting her over her shoulder before turning. She now sped back towards the Crystal Curtain, speeding next to the mountainous structure. She looked back, and saw that the nimbus cloud was dragging behind.

”Faster, faster! You gotta -Oh, maybe this works!”
She pulled out her bow, took aim, and shot an arrow at the cloud; it accelerated, zipping through the sky at great speed, forcing Sil and Katarina to brace themselves lest they fall off.
”It worked! I can enchant my arrows with Time magic! Yay!”

---

Not long after, the group had reached the great gates of the Overcity. As before with Valkyrie and Ronin, the guards crossed their weapons, a hand raised.

“Halt! State your business.”

”Oh geez, can’t you see she’s hurt?” She now held Mika in her arms; she looked roughed up, and unable to stand up on her own from the pain.

”She needs special healing, or she might die! Please, you gotta let us through!”

The guards sighed. “Very well, you may pass. But you are responsible for this group’s actions.”
They opened the gates, and let the group witness the wonders of the Overcity proper.
“There is a hospital at the Overcity’s Central district, but depending on your friend’s condition, you may want to seek out emergency care at the Magical Services district, as it is a shorter distance there. We have spoken.”
Lily nodded as she stared out at the bustling metropolis, her jaw open in awe.
”Wowie wow-wow...” She vocally expressed her surprise at the sight, and looked back at the guards.
”This place is incredible!”

---

As the Ascendancy group came closer, the victors saw how individual members stood out;
At the lead was Violet, now looking upset more than smug as she hopped over the snow, her oversized jacket trailing behind her. She was followed by the priestess girl and the girl dressed in blue. These three have previously been seen by Alicia and Serenity back at the ice rink. However, Juliana was not in this group. Instead, an angelic-looking girl with a black sword, an elegantly dressed fencer girl in glasses, and a girl with a large metal fist were following Violet’s lead.

As the girls came within viewing distance, both Nuncio and Mariette had fled, the former drifting down the river, and the latter disappearing in one of her trademark portals.
”Geez, here you were!” Violet greeted the remaining girls with an exasperated tone.
“Thanks to the local branch, we were left with outdated intelligence, so we had to run all over Penrose to find you!”
“Wait, one of them left,” the fencer girl noted, adjusting her red glasses. “They used a variant of Space magic.” The blue girl next to her gasped. “No way, could it be...The Reflective Witch?”
Violet smirked as she spotted the lich’s remains, and signalled for the angelic girl; she in turn summoned a Beckoner resembling a military doll.
”Well, that explains how we’re late; she must have helped you. Still, this is embarrassing,” she muttered with a finger to her forehead, before she got her smile back.
”Anyway, thank you for your assistance, but we now have another problem.”
She pointed at Hilaria.
”You have been corrupted by dark forces. But fret not, for we can purify you. Now, assume human form and surrender, or we will be forced to put you down.”
She looked at the others.
”And if any of you jump in to defend her, you will be dealt the same fate.”

The priestess girl stared at Hilaria, but then blinked. “Wait, Violet...Isn’t she the one?”
”Huh?” Violet glanced aside with a raised eyebrow. ”What do you mean, Delphi?”
The priestess bit her lip.
“She matches the description we were given. The one the Cardinal gave when we arrived in Penrose.” The rest of the Ascendancy’s eyes opened, and held their weapons firmly, whispering among one another. Violet herself scoffed.

”That’s impossible. The Eternal is said to have wandered the earth for over a thousand years. But no corrupted girl could survive that long.” She looked back at Hilaria, a gaze of contempt in her eyes.
”But if it is true, then by Cardinal Isthar’s orders we request you to come along with us to meet with her; she wants to personally see you for some reason.”

---

In a dark room, only lit by numerous screens that showed various parts of Penrose, a certain girl was munching on a snack as she fiddled with a smartphone. On the desk before her were other smartphones as well. One of them suddenly rang, and she picked it up. She knew who it was before she heard her voice.

“A lot more than you’d think, Mariette.” The girl pressed a couple of keys on the keyboard, and the screens shifted to recordings. “While we were gone, a power vacuum formed. Some magical girls attempted filling it, but soon monsters came in. These liches seemed like the worst ones though; they managed to cause considerable damage before the Ascendancy came in two weeks ago. The dark magical girls and monster girls have in turn banded together, using the sewers as their way to move around unseen. Glimmr has also exploded in activity thanks to a local internet celebrity with plans for a concert. My hunch is that it’s an attempt to stage a war on Beacon, but I’ll need more information to confirm it.” She sighed. “That’s all you’re gonna get for now. Try to find out more from the local girls. And whatever you do, stay hidden from the Ascendancy; you’re on their hit list thanks to Alicia, and won’t stop hunting you down if they see you.”

---

FanFan graciously accepted the Soul Gem Celia gave to her, and made a curtsy, her ladylike mannerisms visibly contrasting the metallic arms extending above her that carried Anaya. “Oh, thank you ever so much~”

While Dawn conversed with Celia and the Djinn twins, Leena had called in a Beckoner called “Sergeant Snuggles,” and requested an extraction. The Beckoner nodded, and the magical girl turned her attention back to the new arrivals. She nodded at Dawn’s suggestion.
“That’s fine; we could ask a few questions over a cup of coffee.”
FanFan pouted. “But you promised me we’d have a tea party!”
Leena rolled her eyes. “Fine, we’ll grab a cake on our way. But I need my drinks black and bitter.”

It was then that the Djinn twins hinted more about their history with Beacon, causing FanFan to squee. “Really? Oh, we are grateful for the assistance you have provided to the local branch. They seem to be doing really poorly.” Leena on the other hand wasn’t as enthused. “Djinn sisters...” She crossed her arms and closed her eyes, as if thinking deeply. “That sounds familiar, but why? Eh, can’t remember.”
FanFan looked around, looking sad. “You said we could grab a cake, but...All the shops are closed. Waaah!” She cried. “I wish I had a cute cake for my tea party!”

---

Rachel acknowledged Alicia’s retort with an aside glance, bu did not reply back, having made her intent clear for the newly named branch head. However, when she sentenced Serenity to community service, she gave a single, slow nod. “That is...adequate. Personally, I would have had her clean the dining hall with a toothbrush, but that will suffice.” Elora nodded, and the screen opened up to a map with red circles on a few spots; one of them lit up. “These are the areas with confirmed cases of anti-Beacon vandalism. Serenity can handle the K1-B0 area. And yes, if Aurelio joins her, then there will be no problems.” Tsuki now approached Alicia, giving her a salute. “We are counting on you to bring Penny back to the fold, Paladin Seraph. May the light of Beacon guide you.”

---

The Overcity guards acknowledged Amanda’s directions with a brisk nod. “Understood. Hank you for your co-operation, citizen.” “Stop, criminal scum!” They dashed into the alleyway, but Amanda would notice that they turned left, as Ronin had told them. However, before she could correct them, they had already disappeared down the busy streets.

Valkyrie held her head, still a bit dazed from the effects of the hypnotic spell, but made her weapon disappear, greeting Amanda with a quick wave of her hand.
“I’m fine. Thank you for your help, Amanda.“ She offered a handshake to the Illusion specialist.
“My name is Valkyrie. We are seeking a way to Penrose, and were told that a person named Jill is capable of taking us there. The box you saved from the clutches of those thieves is to be delivered to her.“ She noticed that Ronin had already began continuing on her way.
“I would like to repay you for your assistance. Unfortunately, we must be off, for time is of the essence. Goodbye.“ The angelic magical girl then joined up with Ronin, as the went on their way through the Entertainment district without further issue. If Amanda wanted, she could join the two without objections.

Following the directions given by the strange shopkeeper, Ronin and Valkyrie found themselves at the start of a literal highway that floated up without supports, snaking and curving it’s way between buildings like Rainbow Road from Mario Kart. The road was marked with glowing runes, and as they stepped on one, they found themselves moving much faster, accelerating into a speed not unlike a racing car. Thus, they fulfilled the “zoom zoom” part of the directions.

Finally, descending down to street level after an intersection straight ahead, Ronin and Valkyrie had finally reached the Magical Services district; it was also a large and busy collection of streets, though more conventional in it’s appearance compared to the glitzy avenues from before. There was a small clinic that primarily dealt with the removing of curses and hexes, though they also took in regular patients. There was a workshop specializing in the repair and maintenance of magical artifacts, and shops that sold enchantments too irregular to be sold as potions and elixirs. It didn’t take long before they found what they were looking for: a cute little house resembling an atelier, with a bed of blue roses growing on a windowsill, and a modest flower garden growing behind the fence. It’s idyllic appearance contrasted with the more modern and flashier buildings around it, and had a simple wooden sign with a rose decoration. On the sign was written in red cursive: “Jill’s Instant Deliveries.”

When the two entered the shop, a cute ring of a bell attached to the door could be softly heard. Ronin then saw that the simple yet elegant aesthetic was further emphasized in the interior decor; flowery designs were the norm, with sprinkles of cute imagery, but not to an exhaustive or obsessive degree. One might even claim the design was old-fashioned and boring by magical girl standards, but it served its purpose without being distracting. The entrance room was split into a small waiting area with simple yet pleasant wooden chairs, followed by a reception room of sorts, with a wooden front desk currently unattended.

”Just a minute~” The two heard the voice of a girl from the back.

And then, after a short moment, the door to the back opened, and a girl stepped behind the counter.

”Please excuse me for making you wait. How may I help you?” She asked politely.

---

Valerie found an abandoned bicycle that was hit by one of the attacks during the battle, mangling it useless; Valerie could use the metal as material for repairing her sword. Penny on the other hand had begun her “feast”, resulting in Sirkkeli’s broken body disappearing until not a single part remained. Her ShineSpark burned in her chest, warning her a couple of times more that she was consuming corrupted material, before it ended, the magic now recognizing that she was corrupting herself on purpose. The vile magic seeped into her veins like an entire bottle of bubbling coke as it corrupted her, causing a tingling feeling Penny recognized from her time as the Destruction Deity’s chosen one, fulfilling her destiny of remaking with her fists. However, instead of developing an obsession or urge, it instead changed something in her very core, causing her to manifest a Black Soul Mutation.

But there were also positives to consuming an entire body of corrupted metal; Penny’s gut feeling was right: it would take some time for her Metal magic to adjust, but soon, she can turn her armor plates more reactive, turning into small spikes, shells, and even interlocked scales in response to attacks (+1 VIT). She could also form blades below the shoulder, with in-built injection mechanisms that connect to tiny vials she can access via small hatches in her elbows. These vials are slowly filled with a special mold from semi-organic glands located in her shoulders; the mold, while not as durable or deadly as with Sirkkeli, is still capable of rusting and slowly corroding metallic material, spreading over a short period of time. And in her gullet, another gland formed, allowing her to spit a glue-like formula that can immobilize weak targets. These abilities require considerable mana due to their unnatural origins, but provide new tools for the monster girl.

---

Helga graciously accepted the coin Eliza gave her, and happily wrote down her information to the guest register. She then quickly gave a choice of rooms for Eliza to pick from; the witchy monster girl would notice that there were a lot of vacant rooms. Then, once the room was chosen, Helga gave the room key to Eliza. “Thank you very much. We will be having beans and bacon for breakfast.” She bowed. “We hope you have a pleasant stay here.”
Helga then waited to see if Eliza had any more questions as Emily joined them. The ghosts, having regained their composure, floated down to the lobby, also greeting Eliza.
“Hello there,” Jillian first spoke, followed by a shy wave of a hand from Julia, staying close to Jillian.
“Things have turned pretty bad here in Penrose, huh?” The former continued. “Apparently the three days we spent at the beach turned into months here. Isn’t that crazy or what?”

Meanwhile, Helga spoke to Emily. “Will you be staying the night here as well?” She asked, now looking concerned. ”I've waited long enough. Let’s see if this works.“ She took out her friendship Stone, and used it to contact Su. “Su, are you there?” She asked, hoping she answered.

---

…
…
...

“I never yield.”

— Vermin Killer

Even with most of Penrose put out of commission, there were still places where life seemed to thrive, or at least had the appearance of such. One of these false bastions of life was the Pit Stop, which had long been a hideout for various Mint agents and their leaders. Though on the surface, it just looked like a business struggling to light up a corner of this dark city.

Vermin Killer wandered in, fully transformed. He didn’t walk far before one of the waitresses approached him and wordlessly gave him a look. “What the frick are you doing here looking like that?” was practically written across her face.

“This place has got to be the worst kept secret in Penrose.” His words didn’t give her much reassurance. With a snort, he continued. “I care not for your attitude, I’d like to see the manager.” The waitress gave a small nod in response before storming off. Vermin Killer adjusted his hat before taking a seat at a nearby table. While he waited, he picked up a salt shaker and examined it. Fairly standard, just a glass vial with a metal cap and an “S” on the front.

When Vermin Killer lifted his eyes up from the salt shaker, a figure was sitting across from him, an expensive cigar precariously hanging off the corner of his lip; even with his skills of perception, he couldn’t tell when he had exactly appeared on that spot. The Coin Broker of Ebon Mint looked irritated, and cast his gaze up at him with a look of scorn.
“Ay, V,” Al Scarpe grunted, and lifted the cigar between his index and middle finger. He took a lighter with a ruby embedded in it from his pocket, and one click later smoke poured out from the rolled bundle. “Took your sweet time. Playing around, huh?”

Vermin Slayer placed the salt shaker down ”I encountered Shion not long ago and decided to test her abilities.” He pulled back his collar to reveal several scrapes on his neck.

He took in a lungful of the foul, tarry substance, and blew out a black ring of smoke. “I was right.” He leaned back on his seat, and made a beckoning gesture to one of the waitresses, who went to retrieve a drink from the kitchen. “You better have a good reason for calling me. I got enough shit to deal with the medieval morons making a ruckus.”

”That’s precisely why I’ve decided to show myself.” He let go of his collar and folded his hands together. ”A large quantity of Penrose’s magical girl population was swept away to an alternate dimension, myself included. I wrote up a report to save you the trouble of debriefing me.” Vermin Killer pulled an unmarked manila envelope out of his coat and placed it in front of Al. ”The short version is that some djinn girls granted a wish for a vacation, and it was hijacked by a lesser force.”

Al put the cigar back in his mouth, and picked up the envelope. “Really now? I do remember having received word that some wish magic was spread around. I thought they were con artists selling snakeskin tonics for impressionable girls.” With a single, smooth shake of his hand, the paper dropped from the envelope, and held aloft by black smoke that pushed it up. He took the paper in his hand and skimmed through it as he took a sip of his drink

”It must have been powerful magic, as Cindy Ford and Veronica were present there as well.” He adjusted his hat while Al looked through Vermin Killer’s notes… But Al froze when Vermin Killer mentioned a certain name.

He laughed as he checked the pics of her out. “Hah...So that’s where you were hiding, on some tropical paradise. And now you’re back.” For the briefest moment, as he looked upon the pics of Veronica, seeing her smile, his eyes seemed to turn softer.

”I’ve only been here a few hours, so you’ll have to pardon any typos. Hopefully the pictures make up for it.”

Al’s gaze turned sharp as he remembered the situation. “They did,” he responded coldly, taking his lighter and burning the paper right in front of Vermin Killer’s face, letting the cinders fall on the table. He gnashed his teeth. “And I thought I got rid of her. Phah. But if what you’re saying is true, those wishmakers might be just the solution the Mint would want. Don’t you agree, V?”

Vermin Killer gave a single nod. ”Eliminated or put in our custody. I was able to get a glimpse of them and they are protected by a powerful array of magics. Breaching them will be difficult, but better we get them before anyone else does.” V sat upright and folded his arms. ”I could pursue them, but I’ll need help. A plan at the very least. Something you or those higher up the chain can orchestrate in a more secure location.”

Al puffed out a smoke. “Perhaps. But if there’s a resurgence of magic in Penrose, that’s going to stir the pot. And we’re going to kick it over.”

”What would you like me to do?” He leaned forward, crushing the embers under his elbow. ”You had some problems with medieval morons?”

He made a sweep of his arm, and a newspaper appeared on the table. The news article on it morphed into a black and white map of Penrose, complete with colored pins sticking out of it. ”First off, this Cindy broad. She’s back, which means she’s going to make her move, and rally most of the runners in the city.” It was a term used exclusively by Mint, and referred to people indebted to Mint who have refused to pay. “All we gotta do is make sure the nun squad and Cindy get right at each other’s throats. When the dust settles, we’ll have two birds killed with one stone. But, that’s not all.”
He paused as he placed his finger on the red pin. “Veronica can’t ignore the bait. When she sends her Crimson Crap to meddle, we’ll catch e’m hook, line and sinker.” He then pressed on it with enough strength to bend it.

V looked over the map. ”Cindy and Beacon fighting each other is practically a given. Their fall is practically ensured, as well as anyone who joins them. Ensuring they keep fighting shouldn’t be hard.” He fret his brow. ”Your trap lacks bait.” He waved his hand over the table. ”Veronica is a former coin broker. She’s likely looking at this entire situation the same way you are. Beacon is just as much our enemy as they are hers, and Cindy was one of the few people I never saw her try to get in contact with. The key difference is that unlike her, we have vastly more resources.” Crows started to climb out from his sleeves, and they didn’t stop coming. ”I’m aware you don’t care for her Al, but Mint is still the third biggest organization in Penrose. Let Beacon and Cindy sow discord, let the Cradle and the hundred or so other entities bide their time in the shadows. We’ll use the unrest to sign some contracts, get our numbers up, spread like a murder of crows…” Before long, the entire map was covered in crows. ”…And devour the carrion wherever it hides.” He chuckled. ”Well, that’s what I’d do anyway. But if you think we can remove Veronica from play early, I will assist however you deem fit.” V placed a hand on his shoulder and bowed forward. The crows were quick to race into his coat while he was bent over like this.

Al tapped his cigar, causing black soot to fall down and scattering the crows off the map. “Nah, too early to call a whack in.” He paused for a moment, twirling his cigar.
“We’ll need jobbers. Send Chloe a crow, and Eliza too if you see her on your way.” He smiled menacingly, and produced a letter from the floating smoke, letting it glide to Vermin Killer. “If my gut is right, they’re both planning to jump to the C-team after botching their jobs. But I’ll give them one more chance to redeem themselves...After all, sometimes people need to be reminded of the chips they’ve thrown in after the cards are dealt.” He handed V a couple of mysterious items, hidden in shadow as it passed in a handshake. “And if need be...give them the Ace of Diamonds.”

”Such a thing can be arranged.” V stood up from the table.

Al nodded. “Bene. I also managed to hook a new contract with one of the local awakened ones. That broad was real perceptive; managed to spot me the moment I appeared. I think she’ll be very useful to us...”

”If you have no additional requests, I will return to my previous assignments. Do contact me should something come up.” He was about to back away from the table when he stopped. ”Right.” He turned back towards Al. ”The plucky detective. Where are her current whereabouts? She was useful for spying on the Penrose Outer Alliance.”

Al put a hand to his chin, a realization having hit him. “Oh yeah, the nosy sleuth? Was caught snooping around some hot coals, see? The girls brought her in before she burned herself.” He rubbed his cigar down on the map, putting it out and causing the map to burn up into a quickly-fading puff of smoke. “So now she’s holed up in one of our hideouts, but it’s a real crack in the caboose. Somebody was supposed to interrogate her, but every agent kept throwing it to the next one. Seemed nobody wanted to deal with the loud twerp. Phah! No sense of accountability.”

In the Ebon Mint, one was supposed to complete the job assigned to them. However, because of the indirect and subtle ways of communication the organization uses, certain jobs are passed on, from operative to operative. Usually coin brokers catch these skippers early into the process, but because of the Ascendancy, this particular job has been passed forward long enough for it’s original receiver to have made the run.

He crushed the cigar in his hand. “Viper was the latest one to get it. Send a crow, and tell her she is going to do it, and nobody else: I’m not going to read a report on it from anyone but her. Capische?” Vermin Killer left with a nod, and Al emptied his drink with a single swig. “Things are about to get a whole lot more interesting around these parts soon,” he mused to himself, leaning an arm back on his seat. In that quiet moment, Al turned still.

“...”

“...”

“...Hah. How amusing.”

Then, without saying another word, he disappeared into the shadows.

A couple of seconds later, a cry of fear could be heard, as a certain girl with a pale face remained, shaking even as she pressed against the outer wall of the diner, her legs barely able to keep her steady.

‘No way...Sammy!?‘

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

Cindy smiled, pleased with the asnwer. “Ah, excellent. I look forward to meeting with Divina then. Send her my way, and we shall see if she is up to the task, hm hm~” With that, she waved goodbye to Chloe as she left.

---

Lily smiled widely upon hearing about Mika’s discovery, and giggled as Tetrad was placed on Alex’ lap, finding her quip funny. She also found Silhouette’s exchange with Mika interesting; she expected Sil to refuse entirely, but it seems even her pride had its limits.
”Alright then, let’s go to this Overcity!” She hollered, and off they went, with Lily following the nimbus cloud.
There were a few more wondrous sights to see during the trip, such as ent-like walking trees, fairies that were dancing around a mushroom circle, and even a green dragon with bloodshot red eyes puffing white smoke out of a fat blunt. The unicorn stopped by a clear blue pond to have a drink, while goblins lurked from the shadows, watching its every move. One threw a spear at it; the unicorn immediately turned and deflected the crude weapon with its golden horn, shattering it to pieces and causing the goblins to flee.

Lily did not seem to care too much however, as she was caught up in the conversation.
”I know, right? It’s so unfair! I bet Dan screwed up the magic somehow. He’s a big dummy.” She made a wheelie as she passed by a rocky patch, causing the motorcycle to shake. She seemed to realize this, as she then slowed down, strolling past a rocky cliff from which a waterfall swept down, splitting into two mid-air. She looked at the environment as well upon hearing Alex comment about it; a smile formed on her lips.
”It is really pretty here...” She turned back to look at Alex; she looked excited.
”Alright, once Penrose is safe again we’ll go here on a...a...a date!”
She smiled widely with a big blush, and then returned her attention back on the road, making a swerve to avoid a sleeping forest troll resembling a mossy boulder.
”A date! Yeah!” For the rest of the trip through the forest, she swayed from side to side, humming a little song.

Soon enough, thanks to their speedy transports, the group had reached the edge of the forest that opened up to a grassy plain. Of course, what most drew everyone’s eyes was the vividly colored structure that stretched far and wide; the Crystal Curtain. The blue wall was not far from the forest, but the group’s real goal, the gate, was a bit further ahead along the side of the curtain.

”WOW It’s so beautiful!” Lily exclaimed, and took out her phone to snatch some shots.
”It’s like mountains made from crystal! Come here Alex, let’s take a group photo!”

However, as she was about to pull her photo out, Mika heard something, coming from deep within the forest. It was faint, but she recognized the shouting voices to belong to the Ascendancy:

“...D-types...area...”

“...keep loo...can’t...far...”

“...tire mark...after...”

---

Leena walked briskly past Dawn, her sword lifted to her side. She seemed to ignore Celia’s plea as she approached Anaya, her eyes cold like the bitter winds of winter that howled around them.
Once she was over the barely-living dark magical girl, she lifted her blade, and without any hesitation, swung the blade down.

>BOOM<

The musical instrument that once served as Endsinger’s phylactery made a reverberating blast of sound as it was split vertically in half, right in the gap between the two central strings. Foul magics seeped out, and fizzled into the dark sky, leaving a haunting song that travelled on the wings, and spread to Penrose.

Leena lifted her blade, and then glanced at Celia, as if she only then recognized her existence. “Don’t you worry. We got this.” She lowered herself down to one knee, and ripped her gasmask off; Dawn saw that her face had been restored to normal, with no trace of blood from the earlier battle. The gasmask let out a small puff of what looked like green gas as she cast a spell on it and then placed it over anaya’s face, the straps binding themselves to her head like with the Ascendancy girl. Then, she stood up, and turned to look at Dawn as FanFan now approached Anaya. “You hesitated, Rookie. Next time you do that, someone might actually get killed.” She then put a hand on her shoulder; she smiled. “But for your first time, you did better than expected. Good job, rookie.”

Celia saw that after Anaya was made to wear the gasmask, her condition turned visibly better; she started to breathe better, and her burns began receding, turning unblemished. However, she also saw how FanFan gently lifted the dark magical girl up using one of her robotic arms.
“Now where did I put them...Ah, here.” She pulled out an artifact resembling an infinity symbol, and bound Anaya’s hands with them. The runes on the white stone shimmered, and Anaya transformed back to human form, her magic sealed away. FanFan then lifted the girl up, carrying her in her metallic arms with surprising delicacy.

Then, as Leena turned and was about to address Celia, they were approached by a strange set of twins. FanFan smiled, and made a curtsy, her robot arms still carrying Anaya. “Oh, hello there! My, aren’t you two simply fabulous!” Leena on the other hand raised an eyebrow, and looked back at Dawn. “Yeah, it didn’t,” she answered, and followed the two with her gaze, her hands crossed before her. She seemed to be deep in thought. “Hmm...”
“Oh, aren’t you girls the ones needing help?” FanFan asked, looking them over. “It’s at least minus twenty degrees Celsius. You must be freezing.”

---

Rachel still faced away from the victors of the trial when they spoke to her, only glancing back as Aurelio brought the bracelet out. The stern look on her was unabated, but she did nod at his reassuring words. “That is good to hear. The command center will keep their ears and eyes open 24/7, so we are prepared to receive intel ASAP.” She averted her eyes as Alicia spoke, her hands balled up into fists at her sides. “Paladin Seraph...to combat a virus outbreak, one must act accordingly to save the most people, correct? Not with platitudes.” She took in a deep breath. “I pray that the Cardinal has not made a mistake. Dismissed.” With that, she walked away to mind her own business, and the group was left to discuss amongst themselves.

The other Ascendancy members, while hesitant, weren’t as aloof. “Excuse me. You mentioned Penny, correct?” Elora was intrigued by Aurelio’s mention of Penny, and the cybermancer approached the group, her machines slowly rotating around her. “I finally managed to track her signal.” She tapped fast on her keyboard, and one of the monitors surrounding her showed a block of data including a t-posing spinning 3d-model of Penny. “She seemed to have been in a fight down at Wall street; her mana reserves are currently running at low capacity. I’ll prime the teleporters to the location.”

She soon had a look of surprise as Serenity handled the table projector. “Oh, what’s this?” Hudie turned, and looked at what Serenity was doing. The entire Ascendancy was now listening closely as Serenity explained of the possible risks involved. “Chloe...She was the D-type from the incident records...” Elora mumbled, while Tsuki brought out a book ”Yeah, she caused a Class-3 in the downtown area. Noted ‘extremely dangerous’ by Sylvia, and has resisted Beacon before. If what Serenity speaks is true and someone like her is involved with Penny...”

“Cindy Ford is the bigger threat.” Now even Rachel joined in. “She is gathering an underground guerrilla force of corrupted girls.” She bit on the nail of her thumb in frustration. “If only we could find out where they’re hiding...Probably at the residential districts, where they would have most access to prey. Or maybe the docks...Or maybe we could use Penny, and find-”

Suddenly, Hudie screamed. Rachel and the other members turned around, expecting trouble. One second later, an ominous image appeared on the projector, and the rest also exclaimed in surprise. “A HORROR!? Are you seriously suggesting to summon a horror?” Rachel pointed her finger at Alicia; her eyes seemed to burn with hate.
“Serenity needs to be punished for such heretical thoughts! Paladin Seraph, I expect immediate retribution! Give her penance!” Everyone else now looked at the Light girl, waiting to hear how she will punish her.

---

Hood grunted as the box she held was shot right out of her claws, and ended up in Amanda’s possession. “No! That’s mine!” She screamed, her fangs bared as she turned, her paws now extended with sharp claws. Selene then spotted as Ronin cast her spell. “Wait, Hood-!”

“Give it back!” She hissed, and pounced...Only to smack right into the barrier, destroying it. Selene summoned her weapon and blocked Ronin’s sword swing while Hood staggered, causing sparks to fly.
“The spell broke, Hood! We need to get out of here!”

A passing magical girl happened to see the commotion. “Guards! Over here!”
Hood’s eye twitched. “Well, shit.” The two thieves had nervous looks as Valkyrie now brandished her spear, having recovered from the hypnotic suggestion. Faced three against two, the red-hooded girl bit on her lower lip. “Alright...Time for the Hood Secret Technique!” Selene nodded, and caused a cloud of illusionary purple smoke to billow forth, enveloping the two.

When the smoke cleared, the two were last seen running into a side alley. “Run awayyyy!”
Hood screamed with her furry arms flailing behind her, while Selene looked pissed. “You said she was an easy mark, idiot!” Looking back one last time, Selene scoffed.
“You saw nothing!” Hood showed her tongue. “Snitches get stitches!”
And with that, they turned the corner and disappeared. Soon enough, two guards, dressed similarly to those at the gates though with slightly different colors, arrived. “Which way did they go?” They asked.

---

Penny felt that her mana made a slight recovery upon eating one of Sirkkeli’s pieces, though her Shine Spark seemed disturbed by the nugget of corruption that entered her, warning her with a slight, warm glow from within. By dismantling the pieces, she learned that the gynoid was indeed alien in design; her working mechanisms were a mix of technology and organic matter, with sometimes more and sometimes less definite borders between the two. Her high sensory ability came from special lenses that reflected light at a much higher intensity than the human eye could. Her blades mimicked the functionality of venomous fangs, able to pump out liquid from microscopic holes set into the sharp edge.

The sticky mucus was made by mixing her saliva with a chemical compound that sent the liquid’s viscosity and tensile strength to incredible extremes. The gynoid’s reactive armor, capable of autonomous defenses against simple attacks. Formed by metallic muscle tissue, and topped off with plates with sensory ability, the user doesn’t have to be aware of attacks for them to be repelled. The most impressive part of the gynoid was it’s metal-eating mold; it seemed to be a symbiotic organism that lingered in special chambers in her blades. It fed on her magical reserves via a psychic connection, and able to regenerate at the atomic level at an astounding speed.

Penny learned that she could safely modify herself by externally grafting pieces of the other android to her body, and gain lesser forms of the leaking blades and reactive armor. However, she had a feeling that she could get more if she were to consume Sirkkeli’s entire body, and assimilate the gynoid’s corrupted materials.

---

Helga nodded at Emily’s question, looking dreamily into the distance. “Y-Yeah. She’s a very dear friend to me. I hope so too. I do have this Friendship Stone I could use…” She mumbled, lost in thought. ”The ghosts looked happy when Emily greeted them, and they twirled around her. But they immediately retreated up into the ceiling when Eliza arrived; ironically, they seemed spooked.

Helga was surprised by the mention of Cindy Ford. “Oh, are you a magical girl? Me too!”
Her disguise disappeared with an echo of her words, and she assumed her monstrous appearance. “Don’t think I’ve seen you before, though,” she spoke with a hand to her hip and a friendly smile. “What kind of business does Cindy have?” She asked, genuinely curious.

When Eliza handed over the letter, she blinked. “Oh, the party? Well, I am the owner, so let’s see...” With a careful claw, she slit the envelope open, and read the letter inside. As her eyes moved from side to side, they slowly opened wide. “WOO HOO! It’s happened! Yahoo!” She bounced in place from sheer excitement, holding the letter up. “Par-ty! Par-ty! Invitation to the par-ty!” She briefly ran to the back room. “Look Emily! It’s the address to the concert! Whoo!” She returned back to behind the counter, having remembered she is supposed to be serving a potential client. “Oh, thank you so much! And please forgive me for my burst of emotions. You can let Cindy know that we will definitely attend the concert. How could I repay you? Oh, I know!” She checked the rooms from the computer. “We do have a vacant room you could stay in for tonight. For just one bronze coin, we’ll even throw in a breakfast for you. How about it?”

---

At the place where the battle with Billy was fought, sounds could be heard in the distance. It was that of shouting, clacking heels, and crushed snow. And there, Sophia and Amaryllis could see in the distance as a group of magical girls were making their way towards them. Based on their number, they could guess it was a squad of the Ascendancy, sent to deal with the lich and anyone involved with their destruction. The group of magical girls had the chance to scatter and flee before they showed up. Or, if they felt brave, they could try and settle things with a threat of six magical girls.

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

@redbaron1234

Hi there!
Character creation can be semi random or fully self-chosen via the "Smug" origin story, located at the first few pages of the CYOA module link. If you're interested to join, there is a recently vacant spot.

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

Cindy smiled at Eliza’s answer, her cheeks glowing yellow with joy. “Thank you. May you be fortunate on your quest,” she spoke, and waved goodbye as the angelic with girl and her familiar exited the shelter. She then nodded at Aurora’s statement about Vi-chan. “She is a symbol of hope to us, so it would make sense for her to cause such a reaction.” She was pleased by Chloe’s offer of assistance. “Ah, that would be marvelous. Sometimes my subjects can act rowdy if left unchecked. If Divina can assert her will and ensure harmony within the shelter, then as queen of Penrose I shall name her peacekeeper.” A thought then occurred to her. “Oh, by the way, will you be joining us for Vi-chan’s concert? We would welcome your presence there.”

---

Lily turned less alarmed as she realized it was Tetrad who had relocated them away from the Beacon extremists. She smiled warmly at the old-looking magical girl touching her shoulder, and placed her hand over hers.
”Oh, I see! Thanks, Grandma Tetrad!” She cheerfully showed her gratitude, and afterwards giggled at her suggestion.
”Kind of, yeah! She did say she was a looker back in the 50s!” She answered in a ditzy manner, unaware of the implications it would have towards Tetrad’s appearance.

However, her smile soon faded into a worried one as she met the gaze of a distant girl, her eyes like two red marbles, as beautiful as they were intense: Silhouette.
”U-um...” She attempted speaking up, knowing the other girl was not the most sociable type.
Was it something I said? I thought she gave a compliment to Tetrad! She thought, her mind scrambling for answers..
No, I’m sure she was like that ever since we shifted...Maybe she wants to ask something.
Before Lily could confirm with the assassin, she frowned upon hearing Alex express his frustration, and leaned down with her hands on her knees.
”Well, it’s not like we could have expected this to happen...But still, no matter how many Beacon bad guys are there, you’re gonna beat them all up! I’m sure of it..”

She nodded at Tetrad’s suggestion for their next move, and offered a hand in lifting Alex up.
”You do? How lucky! I’ll follow your lead then, Grandma Tetrad! Thanks a lot for the help, Rina, Su and Mika!” She waved to the girls as they quickly disappeared up into the canopy.
”Come on Alex, hop aboard. I’ll get us out of this thicket.” With a pedal to the medal, Lily then sped through the woods, deftly turning and weaving past the trees in her way. She occasionally had to lift up into a wheelie when the terrain proved difficult, and it was a bumpy ride, but for the most part she managed to traverse through the woods at a respectable speed.

Su was the first to reach the treetops, and was met with a beautiful sight of the world of the Sprawl; having previously been covered in the dark of the night, the sun now shone like a bright mango and revealed much to the eagle-eyed dark magical girl; valleys with giant flowers, a quarry with flames rising from the depths, a bushy maze that spread like a kudzu, and much more. Fantastic creatures also lived here, from pretty unicorns galloping over a field, to dumpty goblins chasing after them with crude spears. It looked like the kind of world an Isekai protagonist would be sent to after an unfortunate encounter with a truck.
Mika and Rina followed soon after, and they also saw the wonders of the magical realm. However, all three girls had their attention grabbed by a massive formation of crystals, right next to the forest, that encircled a gargantuan metropolis soaring high into the sky; the titular Overcity. They saw that the forest extended a mile or so before they would be out in the open, from which the gates wouldn’t be too far.

---

Leena looked disgusted upon seeing the fawning looks of Viva, familiar with the demented fascination dark magical girls often had for the macabre. However, she didn’t have time to feel revulsed for long; she fended off the Feral clone that swiped at her, performing a cartwheel as she parried a blow. In the process of doing so, she deftly nabbed her gas mask from the floor, putting it on. She took in a deep breath, seemingly rejuvenated again; Dawn could see how the mask’s straps magically extended and closed around her head, and her eyes returned back to looking sharp and focused. The veteran gave an appreciative nod to her presence, glad that the rookie hadn’t been hurt.

As if on cue, she made a twirling dodge to evade Viva’s motorcycle and posed with her sword like a scorpion’s stinger, having expected her to shoot at either her or Dawn who immediately pursued her. But instead, the nurse-like DMG drove past, causing the veteran to grunt from her taunts; she went for the corpse after all. Trusting Dawn to handle it, she looked back at the guitar to see if the corrupted girl grabbed that too, only to be shocked; a third party even she hadn’t noticed had intervened, and grabbed it. “No!” She yelled at Anaya, just as FanFan had arrived to punch the clone attacking Leena and Dawn came rushing back.

But it was too late.

The two experienced Ascendancy girls knew that liches store their souls inside select items, turning them to phylacteries. And Leena could tell based from experience that the item always reflected the lich’ personality; for a sports lover, it could be a football, or a weapon for the martially inclined. But for the Endsinger, a musician, there was only one choice. And if anybody was so foolish as to attempt to draw power from the cursed artifacts, doom would follow.

The moment the black trails came over Anaya and the guitar began glowing, Leena grabbed Dawn’s wrist, and violently threw the both of them towards FanFan, who cast a spell; her metal arms detached from her body, and transformed into a dome that covered the three Ascendancy girls. Utilizing the conductive property of the barrier, it worked as a Faraday cage that distributed the electric charge caused by the lightning storm, canceling its effect on the interior of the dome and grounding the electricity to the frozen soil. The two girls kept quiet, Leena having put a hand on FanFan’s shoulder as she concentrated on holding the cage. Finally, as the storm ended, the shield morphed back to robot arms, and the three looked upon the devastated remains of the battlefield.

---

Sally ran over to Aurelio with tears in her eyes, graciously accepting the hug the dapper magician gave to her.
“Aurelio! I’m so glad you’re here!” After the display of affection, she took the handkerchief, and loudly blew her nose on it. Sylvia and Kimble also graciously accepted the handkerchiefs, and dried their tears using them.
“Thanks for the hanky,” Sally afterwards spoke, and took Aurelio’s hand.
“And for being here; it means a lot to me, you know. You're like my lucky charm~”
Kimble looked at all the others, and made a cute cat smile. “Everyone looks prettier after the White Coinnya!”

As the Beacon people left the courtroom, Sylvia sighed in response to Alicia’s apology, slowly shaking her head. “It’s fine. I was the idiot trying to take responsibility.” She put a hand on Alicia’s shoulder, a bittersweet smile on her lips. “Ever since I saw what you did at Justine’s castle..the look in your eyes...I was sure that I could pass the torch to you. You have the will to go further than I ever did.” She then took a step back, and chuckled. “At least now I can take things a bit easier, heh. I’ll go ahead and prepare stuff so you can move into my office after your meeting.”

While Alicia and Sylvia conversed, Serenity approached Juliana, who blinked in surprise. Her cheeks then developed a shade of red as the maid girl complimented her. “Oh, umm, thank you.” The tall Ascendancy girl averted her eyes. “In my line of work, it is difficult to develop relations of genuine friendship. However, I would like to try. From my understanding, friends enjoy spending time in recreational activities, yes? To prepare for such meetings, here is my phone number for communication.” She took out her cell phone to show her number to Serenity, and engaged in casual chat the best the socially inexperienced amazon could.

Afterwards, the group headed off to the Hall of Luminous Valor. There, they were met by the gazes of the Ascendancy officers, now more mixed in their feelings as when Aurelio first arrived. Rachel’s feelings of scorn were still apparent, but the others had mellowed out, and felt respect for Alicia.
“Alright, I’m not going to repeat myself, so you’re going to listen carefully,” Rachel addressed the group, signalling for Elora to change the projection on the table.
“While we are bound by duty to tolerate each other and come to each other’s aid in the case of an emergency,, that doesn’t mean we have to work together. I have far too much at stake here to let a rookie Paladin ruin it.”

The display changed an organizational chart showing Beacon and Ascendancy as two different groups, and then to a map highlighting parts of the city..
Elora chimed in, without expressing any strong feelings one way or the other.
“Over the past two weeks we have confirmed to have successfully reduced monster activity down by 60%. According to my calculations, we will reach full purification by the end of the month.” Rachel adjusted her glasses menacingly. “You may do as you like with the local branch; it is under your jurisdiction, not mine. However, the Ascendancy will continue purging Penrose of corruptive elements.” She crossed her arms.
“If you do wish to help us, I could use some help in tracking down a concert run by corrupted girls. Aurelio can fill you in on the details.” She turned away. “That is all.”

---

The beastly magical girl’s fur stood up on end as she was startled by Amanda. “Hey, that’s rude!” She snarled and showed her teeth. “We’re just having a...friendly chat. Ain’t that right, Selene?”
The dark magical girl nodded, and now looked at Deni and Valkyrie. “Hood is right. We are your friends. You came here to give us that package,” she spoke to them in a hypnotic voice. Deni and Valkyrie couldn’t help but look deep into her spiralling eyes, and found themselves falling into a trance, believing her words completely. Before she realized it, Deni found herself offering the box up to Hood, who snatched it.
“Thanks a million!” She glanced at Amanda. “Eh, you’re still here? Broom off, why don’t ya?”

---

“This is the end,Stagnation! Face the glorious end-AAAHHH!” Sirkkeli rushed forward, aiming to scissor chop Penny in half with her blades when she was struck by the intense light of Penny’s ShineSpark. Paralyzed thanks to her extrasensory vision being overwhelmed, she was bound by Penny’s chains as she jumped over her. “NOO! IT CAN’T BEEEE!” She screamed. “You’re not Light, so how-” At that moment, Valerie came in for the fatal blow, her sword of thunder flashing as it pierced the monstrous gynoid. Though her reactive armor attempted deflecting it, it proved futile before a weapon of pure energy. It was a risky use of mana, but it proved its worth as electricity coursed through in an impressive display.
“So...This is it…” She groaned, blackened by the lightning attack, as Penny thrust with her arm-mounted spike.

“Lord Laat...I offer you...the greatest tribute...My...destruction...”

After one last, inhuman flinch, the monster slumped, turned into junk by the two cyborgs. Then, the molds and liquids that covered the two of them faded away, freeing Penny from her viscous wrappings. It was then that Penny realized her mana had dropped considerably, now to a third of her potential might. But victory was theirs.

---

Helga dismissed Emily’s gratitude with a humble wave of her hand. “Don’t mention it. My fault anyway that you got mauled.” She spoke while the two were on their way, hopping across the city. She bit her lip upon hearing the question, rolling her eyes so the other girl couldn’t see.
“You see, I’m only bringing you over cause I don’t want to feel like I owe you anything, got it?” She half-yelled back, a bit more volume than she wanted, before returning back to normal voice.
“Actually, just forget I said that. Anyway, here we are.”

The two reached the Golden Trove, a hotel with a yellow sign and asian-influenced style. Helga walked in, and rung the bell on the counter before passing behind it and placing Lupa on a bed situated on the break room in the back. The, she transformed back to human, her clothes having turned into a maid uniform.
“Hey, ghost twins!” Helga yelled, looking up at the ceiling. Soon after, two girls peeked their heads upside down.
“Did ya call us?” Jillian asked, and glanced at Emily.
“Oh, I remember you! You were at the beach party, right? I’m Jillian.” She threw an arm around Julia’s shoulder, bringing the pouting girl close.
“This is Julia. Nice to meet ya!”
“Can you two help us?” Helga pointed at Emily.
“Do you have a Healing Artifact I could borrow? Emily here got wounded.” Julia nodded.
“Yes.” She brought out a star-shaped amulet, giving it to Helga.
“Alright thanks. Emily, could you sit down over there?” She pointed towards a black sofa to the back of the room. In the case she complied, Helga would use the artifact to tend to Emily’s injuries, closing the wounds with healing magic.
“Those two are staying here for the moment being, along with some other magical girls, weird or not,” she happened to mention. Then, she sighed. “I hope Su’s okay. Come back safe, please.”

A bit later, the two heard the front door open, and Helga’s eyes widened. “Su! You’re ba-”
However, as she returned from the back room, she stopped in her tracks upon seeing who arrived; it was Eliza and her familiar. The two had successfully traversed the city without drawing attention from the Ascendancy patrolling the rooftops, and reached the hotel without incident. “Oh, welcome to the Golden Trove,” Helga greeted the two, having assumed a polite demeanor. “Do you have a reservation?”

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

When you least expect it.

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

Anaya got it easy; if I wrote Endsinger I'd have turned the guitar's toucher possessed by the lich lol

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

@FamishedPants
Inb4 Sam forms a band with her as vocals, Emily as lead guitar, Helga on bass and Hilaria on drums. And just in time for the Penrose tourney.

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

Lily gasped as the Ascendancy girls turned their weapons on the dark magical girls, confused and upset by the sudden turn of events.
”Yeah, what’s the big deal? Why are you doing this?” She asked, joining in on Alex’ questions. She blurted out a giggle at his hypothesis, only to scrunch her face.
Aah, he’s being cute again, but don’t be distracted! Focus, Lily! She thought to herself, and puffed her cheeks as she attempted catching up with the tense conversation taking place.

The Ascendancy girls kept grim faces as they nodded at Su’s suggestion.
“An acute observation, but only half-right,” Kai spoke, her eyes sweeping over the crowd. “The Ascendancy is sworn to saving those lost to the darkness. We want to cleanse you of the black magic that has taken control of you, and purify you of your corruption. But if you refuse our gift, we have no choice but to put you down.”
They looked disinterested in Mika’s pleads, even as Lily joined her, though the green-haired girl did blush at the example the cat-eared girl gave of Tetrad.
”A-And we just fought together! Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

She looked at Silhouette as she made her comment, looking concerned by the attitude the other girl showed, and continued attempting to defuse the conflict.
”I mean, if they were actually bad people, they wouldn’t have helped, you know. They would have just looked on from a rooftop and gloated about how foolish we were for trying to save people, with an ominous pose and everything!”

One of the triplets shook her head. “They most likely fought to satisfy their twisted desires. But in the end, it matters not, ” she stated, looking at Silhouette in particular, and took a stance with her halberd. “They are witches,” Another triplet continued. “Having sold their souls for power. They won’t escape justice. And if you try to defend these sinners, neither will you.” She glared at Lily, causing her to gulp.

Lily then heard an older woman speak and turned her head, not having recognized the voice. However, she immediately knew who it was upon seeing her.
”Tetrad! You’ve become old!” She exclaimed, and ran to her, her hands held out as if prepared to catch her falling.
”You look just like my grandma, except without the fishnet stockings...And everything else, actually.”

The third triplet squinted her eyes at Tetrad’s question, as if she was examining her. “That curse only lasts for an hour,” she answered. “We can wait for it to end.”

“Enough talk!” Kai lifted her rifle up at Su, followed by the triplets also brandishing their polearms. “Surrender by the count of three, or die! One...Two...”

Lily panicked, and summoned her bow.
”It doesn’t have to end like this! Stop!”

At that moment, one of the triplets saw Tetrad make her move; without any hesitation, she threw her halberd at them, aiming right for her hands.

”STOP!” Lily yelled, and made a shot with her bow. An arrow hit the halberd, and the weapon was frozen in midair. A careful eye would see the projectile was colored gray, shaped like the hand of a clock, with a tiny cog spinning around it. Lily looked as surprised at the result as anybody else. Kai scoffed, and pulled the trigger, aiming at Su. However, Su didn’t feel a bullet piercing her, shifting at just the right moment with everybody else; Tetrad managed to shift the courtyard of the museum, excluding the piece of the road where the lich fell and where the Ascendancy was gathered.

The entire group had arrived at the Overcity. Like before, the ground they stood on was patterned like a checkerboard, and the air was pure and refreshing. However, unlike the last time Alex and Su had seen it, they were not on an open field, but instead in the small clearing of a forest. It was clearly daytime, as sunlight could be seen seeping in past the shade provided by the tall trees, casting everything into moderate shadow.

”...Where am I?” Lily looked flabbergasted as she looked around herself, and then at her bow. Her eyes lighted up in hesitant realization.
”Did somebody shift everyone?”

---

Helga bit the bottom of her lip as Emily pleaded to the beastly Lupa, and decided to wait instead of joining; after all, there was a risk Lupa would feel intimidated by her arrival, ruining Emily’s chances. To her great relief, it seemed to work, as Lupa changed back to her usual self.
“Lupa!” She yelled, and dove to catch her, holding her in her arms. “It’s okay, Lupa...It seems to be over.” She looked over at the stage, having seen how the ghostly audience scattered after Endsinger’s head was removed from her shoulders. However, the lingering presence of the Feral clones distressed Helga as they chased after the head, and she hoisted Lupa over her shoulder, just like Emily before.
“Hey Emily, follow me. I’ll take you to my place.” She turned, only to grit her teeth in a flustered expression. “Not like that! To heal your wounds, I meant.” She hopped up to the roof of a nearby abandoned truck, followed by jumping up to a balcony and then the rooftop of a nearby building, occasionally looking back to make sure Emily would follow. “Hurry, before they come after us!”
If it looked like Emily wouldn’t be able to move fast enough, she would carry her on her other shoulder.

---

Leena released the grip on her swords as Endsinger’s headless body slumped over her, letting it drop down with a dull thud at her side; the sharp blades pointed upwards in the shape of an X out of the lich’s back. Then, the pain hit her; with a groan of agony, she dropped to one knee, holding her hand to her mouth as she coughed out her teeth, clutching them into a fist and looking down at them.
“Rghhh...It worked...Now I wish it didn’t. But it’s...done. The U-type’s...” She slightly lifted her face up to look at Viva, her face shrouded in shadow as her eyes glared at her. “You...”
Unlike FanFan, who was distracted by the wolves attacking her, Leena was aware of
Viva the entire time. Back then, she didn’t care about her participation, putting the mission before any distractions. But now, her focus was wholly on her, especially after she wiped her mouth in an attempt to present herself better.

“Heh...” She groaned a half-laugh, and lifted her face. Viva would see that not only was her nose smashed in and red from blood, her cheeks had nasty red wounds running across them, the corner of her lip dripping red. Though she kept her mouth shut, Viva would see a couple of teeth dropping from her hand, clacking on the ground. Yet, despite the great pain she was going through, the magical girl kept menacingly staring right at her, her lips curled into disturbing Joker-esque grin thanks to “makeup” she received; years of endless battle were reflected in those cold eyes.

“Why so...cereal?”

Then, she flinched as she coughed blood. At that moment, her concentration lapsed, and the Nullification Field dropped.
“Leena!” FanFan screamed, and activated the adamantium spikes in the knuckles of her robot arms as she opened her hands and slapped the wolves before she punched them with the spikes, causing them to disappear. She then ran towards Leena, punching a wolf right in the back of the head as she rushed to protect her from the ravenous pack. Leena’s eyes shot wide, having realized her mistake. Then, she summoned a sword to her free hand as she moved by instinct to block the first wolf, her eyes having snapped to an innocuous item lying on the ground: the guitar.

“DAWN!” She screamed, hoping the rookie wouldn’t be too late.

---

"Ohohohoo!"
Cindy laughed courteously as she witnessed Aurora being aggressively snuggled, before she clapped her hands together. “Now now, easy on the guest, girls~” she spoke in an amused voice. The monster girls snapped back to attention, and gave Aurora room to breathe, brustling Aurora’s hair. “Oh, excuse me! I was so caught up in the moment~” “I got a bit too excited there, hah~” The two apologised, while Cindy resumed her attention back to Eliza.
“Back to the matter at hand, may I request thine aid ona quest?” She asked, and realized she slipped into an older dialect. “Mm, excuse me. What I meant to ask was: could you help us? As you may have seen on Glimmr, Vi-chan is planning on holding a concert.” She then frowned. “However, not everyone has access to Glimmr, or are unsure if it is actually going to be held in the first place.” She gave a sealed letter to Eliza. “I need you to send this letter.”

Before Eliza could ask, Cindy was given a smartphone by a monster girl. She sent a beam of electricity from it to the projector using her magic. By creating a temporary link between the two machines, she made an image manifest on the projector: it was the front of the Golden Trove hotel. “Please go to this location, and give the invitation to the owner. I would do this myself, but my time is taken by managing the shelter. Also, since you were also gone from Penrose for a while, I believe you’ll have a better chance making there undetected compared to my other subjects.” She then clasped her fingers together. “Your queen would be very grateful.”

---

The audience of Beacon girls were dazzled as Alicia transformed in the courtroom, taking on a new, more brilliant path in her life as a magical girl. Even the Ascendancy members showed signs of respect, if not even slight awe, upon seeing the display of the White Coin’s power. Isthar kept smiling, her arms having slowly opened to address the crowd.
”What you see is the truth of the White Coin, only possible thanks to Alicia Hayden’s courage to save her friend. Alicia Hayden, I declare you innocent of your charges.” She smiled, and waited for the reactions of joy from Kimble and the others. “Seraph of Penrose, you have now received my blessing. May it serve you well in the trials to come.”

At that moment, Serenity spoke up, and delivered a shocking speech, delivered straight from the heart. As expected, there were some in the audience who were appalled by the reveal of her former existence, including Rachel. But the rest were moved by the story’s conclusion and the brilliance of her Soul Gem. This included Tsuki of the Ascendancy, who now wept tears for the very first time in the trial, while Hudie kept her head turned away, and Elora kept typing, as if purposefully distracting herself. Isthar herself kept smiling gently.

”Yes, it is friendship that transcends the borders between us. It allows us to reach out to another, gives us strength and purpose, but most of all, is the gift that keeps giving. For ages untold, you have been one with the void, without passion or purpose. An existence that begets nothing. But now, as you have reached this epiphany, you have gained a priceless treasure that can never be lost.”
She first looked upon Serenity, and then turned her eyes to the Ascendancy after Serenity’s request. ”Serenity Gates, your prayer has been heard. I hereby sentence you to embracing the White Coin, and letting it guide you to the true path. And to honor your prayer, you may be granted one as well, Aurelio.” Juliana unlocked the white cuffs from Serenity’s wrists, letting them hit the marble floor of the courtroom with a rumble of stone.
Then, like Alicia, she was also granted a White Coin, as was Aurelio.

“Um...” A hesitant voice next to Serenity made its presence known; it belonged to Sylvia.

“Cardinal Isthar, I...” She lowered herself down to a kneeling position, hands clasped together. “I...It’s been a long time since I’ve begged like this, but...Please, allow me to have a White Coin as well.” Tears went down her cheeks, softly hitting the podium. “I...I know I messed up, lying to everyone, trying to take responsibility in such a selfish way...But, I want another chance, another shot at making things right again.” She lowered her head, and Sally, with trembling lips, nodded rapidly; she attempted to speak, but only indistinct blubbering came about. However, the intent was clear as day.

“N-Nyah, please...”

Kimble pleaded, having raised her hands up like a kitten that wanted to be picked up, her eyes also teary. Up until this point, she had kept quiet, keeping close to Alicia. But as she took the White Coin, Kimble took solace in Sally, looking on in wonder as the White Coin blessed Alicia.

“I...It’s scary, but...I want to be purified,” she slowly stated, every word weighted with conviction. “I want to be...A nyaw me. A stronger me...One that can stand by Mistress’ side.” Sally and Sylvia looked at her with shock, but Kimble smiled back. “It’s okay, nya. This is my choice. For the sake of Mistress, my friends, everyonnyah...I’ll do it.”

Isthar once again nodded. ”Sally Shamrock, Kimble. Both of you have faced great hardship in the past. Betrayed and used by others, you were abandoned in the night that is cruelty. Nonetheless, you never abandoned the hope that one day you may find yourselves on a new road that leads to dawn. Kimble, you especially have had to fight against your corruption, your fangs always at risk of finding blood. But now, your love has given you new light. May you cherish it.” The two were freed from their shackles while Isthar addressed Sylvia.

“Sylvia Starshine...For five years, you have served as the branch leader of the Beacon of Penrose. During those years, you have dedicated yourself to upholding the tenets of our order, and working towards peace. However,” she spoke with neutral tone of voice, her smile now gone.
“You have been unable to let go of the weakness in your heart. And unlike Alicia, you have accepted the natural order of this world, having lacked the will to truly change it for the better. Such qualities do not befit one with the duty of giving example to those under them, one whose destiny is to guide others.”
She pressed her palms together.
”You lied to the courtroom, attempting to claim responsibility for all sins presented. Though it was an act of deceit, breaking the vow of honesty you made here, I can forgive it; it was made with a noble intention of sacrificing yourself for the sake of your friends. Regardless, I can not overlook the grave sin you have committed; that of not trusting in your friends. You did not believe in them, and selfishly attempted to take justice in your own hands. By doing so, you attempted to rob them of choice.” Sylvia’s legs shook, afraid of what comes next.

“It’s all over...Please, make it quick and painless...” Sylvia quietly mumbled, as despair slowly crept on her face.

”Sylvia Starshine, I shall hereby sentence you...To be demoted to the rank Ophanim, stripped of the title of branch leader of Penrose, and to embrace the White Coin on your path of redemption.”

Sylvia’s eyes widened, and she took in a deep breath of relief, having collapsed to sitting on the floor from sheer catharsis. “O-Oh...Th-Thank you for you mercy, Cardinal.” She lowered her head, showing respect to Isthar. “I shall do my best to make up for my faults.”

Isthar nodded. ”Juliana, release her, and give them all the White Coin.”

Juliana did as ordered, and soon enough the rest were also granted their White Coins.
Sylvia, Sally, and Kimble concentrated, and let the power of the Coin wash over them.
Like Alicia, they were swept up in a great, brilliant warmth as the magic enveloped them, like bathed in a river of starlight. Their very essence was bolstered, the ShineSpark coursing through them like magma running underground, spreading life to the earth.

Once it was over, Sylvia and Sally had transformed back to magical girls, their uniforms looking slightly cleaner than before. But the biggest change was with Kimble, as was apparent from but a glance at her; she reached up to touch the top of her head, confirming that her cat ears were gone. She then looked behind her; sure enough, the tails had disappeared as well.

“They’re gone, nyah...Wait, NYAH?!” She put her hands to her mouth, looking surprised, while Sally and Sylvia lightly laughed. “Some things never change, huh?” Sally joked, and hugged Kimble. “Ahh, but I’m gonna miss those adorable ears, and how they tickled me~”
Sylvia scratched her cheek. “Well, I could always make a cat-ear hairband and cat-tailed belt...You know, just to make the transition easier.”
Kimble giggled, looking happy. “That sounds like fun, Sylvia. But more importantly, now I can start all new, with no regrets, nyah!”

Isthar once again smiled, and clasped her hands together. Alicia saw that her bright eyes seemed to glimmer a bit.

“Yes...I am now sure, without any doubt.”
Rachel looked at the Cardinal with a lifted eyebrow. “Um, Cardinal Isthar, what do you mean?”
Isthar’s eyes looked upon Alicia.

“To replace Sylvia Starshine, I hereby grant Alicia Hayden the rank of Seraph Paladin, as well as the title of branch leader of Penrose. Sylvia may assist you in an advisory role, but from now on you will take responsibility for the branch’ operation and well-being.” Everyone, including the Ascendancy, gasped. “Objection!” Rachel lifted her hand, looking upset. “Alicia Hayden is inexperienced! She is not worthy-”
”She has proven her worth,” Isthar spoke back with a neutral, strict tone, and looked at Rachel. ”I honor her prayer of becoming an example to all. I believe in her, as should you, Inquisitor.”
Rachel sighed, and adjusted her glasses. “Very well. I have no further objections. But I would like to remind you that it is by the Grand Ecclesiarch’s degree that the Ascendancy pacifies Penrose, using any means necessary. We will be continuing our operation as planned.”

Isthar sighed, looking saddened.
“I have not forgotten, Inquisitor Rachel. Now, I shall resume my prayers.”
With that, she closed her eyes, and returned back to being as quiet as when the trial started. Rachel nodded, and then addressed the audience.
“The trial has now ended. Spectators, leave the courtroom in an orderly fashion.” The Ascendnacy began leaving their posts, following after the audience who left with murmurs and whispers ranging from awed to tearful. However, before they could leave, Rachel stepped u to the podium. “Alicia, Serenity, Aurelio, come to the Hall of Luminous Valor. We have matters to discuss.”

---

The shopkeeper seemed pleased by Deni’s positive answer, and waved goodbye to her and Valkyire as they left the Bazaar District. Following the outlandish merchant’s directions and turning two times, the two found themselves in the Entertainment District; a more colorful locale than elsewhere, with casinos, bars, cafes, and even arcades, advertised by signs reminiscent of the type seen in Las Vegas. There were plenty of advertisers on the streets; for example, there was a large, fluffy creature with a spherical body and tall ears spinning a sign for a “Smorple Cafe” on a street corner among others. However, it was also a seedier district; a place for the more unscrupulous type who did “business” to make their lair. This was apparent as they saw magical boys in fancy suits giving out fliers before some shop entrances, advertising to passing magical girls with smooth voices and dreamy looks. There was even a side alley marked by red lights, leading to a shadowed part of the district.

It is also here where Amanda happened to wander to after her visit to one of many libraries in the Overcity. However, as she was searching for an exit, she happened to see Ronin and Valkyrie; they turned into a quieter street where game parlors set up shop, the customers absorbed by the newest fad of Magical Reality helmets.
“Oh, hi there!” A young girl’s voice called out to the two.
Amanda, on the other side of the street, saw as a suspicious-looking monster girl approached the girls holding the wooden box, an easy smile on her lips. She was accompanied by a stoic-looking dark magical girl. “Thanks for delivering the package. We’ll take it from here,” she then said, reaching out with her beastly clawed arm while the other girl nodded; Amanda saw her casting a spell of some kind with a hand behind her back. Ronin knew that they haven’t fully followed the shopkeep’s directions yet...

---

Penny continued on the offensive with new limbs, battering Sirkkeli with not only her arms, now completely covered by the metal-eating mold, but also by her additional appendages. Sirkkeli’s armor deflected the blows to her sides and back, while the alien gynoid pressed on, having managed a couple of slices to Penny’s midsection, coating her further with the acidic compound and speeding up her mana consumption: she was now at 60% mana capacity, nearing 50%.
In return, Sirkkeli received more heavy blows as she further failed to match Penny’s punches with her sword, her own armor now showing cracks that revealed grey tubes.
“Rrrgh! You’re blind to Laat’s great plan, Penny! You know nothing!!” She screamed, and cut off one of the spider limbs in a whirling slash, coating the stump’s tip with the mold and preventing it from being reattached without serious consequences. She continued the spinning slashes, aiming to cut the rest.

“Take th-th-th-th-!”
She was hit by the lightning beam that Valerie shot out; her metallic body easily conducted the powerful blast, and caused internal damage of some kind to the foe while also stunning her. She was then subsequently hit by Penny’s fearsome gauss shot, knocking her back against a wall, cracking it; she held her stomach, the armor of it pierced and bleeding blue blood, clearly pained by the combination of attacks. “Urgh! You…”

She saw as Penny rushed in for the finishing blow, as the Beacon girl planned.
”...You really are blind!”
Penny’s vision suddenly darkened; she was hit by a blast of sticky saliva that covered her eyes, revealing that Sirkkeli also had the Bile ability. The liquid was not corrosive like the mold compound on her blades, but instead acted like incredibly elastic glue as it hardened upon exposure to cool air, sticking Penny’s hands to her face as she attempted removing it by instinct. While it could be ripped away by sheer strength, she lacked the necessary agility to avoid entangling herself further into the mess unless she calmed herself down.
“See what I mean? Hahahahaaa!”
Sirkkeli cackled as she lifted herself up, holding one hand to the wall to prevent herself from falling. “You fool...I’ll tear you, piece by piece.”
She then drew a blade, intending to attack Penny while she couldn’t fully defend herself.