Libra's Lament, a Magical Girl Quest [Complete]

Omnipresent: Attack hits everything within its area of effect. If you are in there, you get hit; this can not be dodged except by not being inside the area.

---

(Benign Rogue Health: 60,000 - 6,000 = 54,000)

The sight of Rico's skin breaking under the torrent of magic coming out of her body gives you pause for a moment; just a moment, barely a split-second, yet enough to allow her to take the initiative. A small hail of Kunais comes flying your way, though not fast enough to keep you from meeting them with Moon while taking Sun to the side.

(Silver Diamonds: +150000 Base Damage, +1343 dice, +5000 Hostile Legendary Exposure Out of Balance = 151,343 Total Damage

Intercept!

Moonlight Scepter: +116915 Base Damage, +112500 Overwhelm, +58457 Superior Discipline, +146143 Godlike Strength, +403 dice, +5000 Rebalanced Exposure = 439,418 Total Damage Attack negated

151,343 Difference, Silver Diamonds win!

Silver Diamonds: +151343 Intercept Damage, +11747 dice, ++5000 Hostile Legendary Exposure Out of Balance = 163,090 Total Damage
Primordial Moon: +1050 Base Resilience, -525 holyshitwtf +197 dice, +5000 Rebalanced Exposure = 5722 Total Damage Reduction

157,368 Final End Damage

Primordial Moon Health: 1,204,745 - 157,368 = 1,044,373)

That is when another set of blades diverts your strike and makes it miss, allowing the first volley to hit Moon square in the chest. Rico moves so much faster than before, easily drawing more weapons out of nowhere while the others impact the ground; you pull the one whose tip stuck right above your belly button out with Moon, noting that your injuries healed up once again and that this hit, while leaving another set of bleeding lines, did much less damage than those before. Rico sees it too, going by how she clicks her teeth and snaps the blades around in her hands.

You act without hesitation, moving with the speed of two minds joined to meet her charge and come up from behind at the same time. A flow of Kunais diverting your attack is what you anticipated, which is the moment you start with Sun. "Super-"

You can feel it; even though all magic in Moon is stuck and moves viscously, what flows through Sun is faster than ever before. It rushes up to the surface and gathers, with more already waiting to be used. "-nova!"

(Silver Diamonds: +150000 Base Damage, -30000 Partly Caught by Supernova, +11815 dice, +5000 Hostile Legendary Exposure Out of Balance = 131,815 Total Damage

Primordial Moon: +1050 Base Resilience, +394 dice, +5000 Rebalanced Exposure = 6,444 Total Damage Reduction

125,371 Final End Damage

Primordial Moon Health: 1,044,373 - 125,371 = 919,002)

(Supernova: +58339 Base Damage, +297 dice = 58,636 Total Damage

Target is not there)

Rico, however, is not coordinating with anyone. She is by herself, notices, and vanishes before your spell completes. Another swarm of Kunais rips open Moon's sides before the Spell's power washes over you. It is everywhere in an instant, light burning and melting away everything in range. This is not just a small sphere anymore, it is huge, easily engulfing Moon, the surroundings buildings, everything nearby.

(Supernova hits Moon

Supernova: +58,636 Attack Damage, -29,318 Your Own Magic, -10000 Moon Reflects Sunlight = 19,318 Total Damage

Caught by Veil of the Lunar Goddess anyway)

Moon's defenses easily repel the magic, but your surroundings are not as fortunate. You can not help but stare at what is left after the light dies down less than a second after it rushed out. The buildings around you are mostly gone, with one high tower collapsing as its lower floors have vanished. There is a perfectly round hole in the ground around Sun, its surface not sand or stone but glass.

You look around the hissing and steaming crater with wide eyes until meeting a similarly shocked look on Rico's face; she is perched on top of the still falling tower, though quickly vanishes when you throw Scorching Sunlight at her. Next she appears opposite to where she was before, far down the street; her arm swings back and the Shuriken appears, making it clear-

(Black Star: +150000 Base Damage, +60000 Ordnance, +6308 dice, +5000 Hostile Legendary Exposure Out of Balance = 216,308 Total Damage
Primordial Moon: +1050 Base Resilience, +631 dice, +5000 Rebalanced Exposure = 6,681 Total Damage Reduction

209,627 Final End Damage

Primordial Moon Health: 919,002 - 209,627 = 709,375
Left Arm is hanging on by a few strings of muscle and skin)

-that you miscalculated again. Her weapon smashes into Moon like a freight train and almost tears off an arm, the spike of pain underlined by a roar of mortar hitting concrete when the tower finally impacts. It throws up a giant cloud of dust that hides her from your sight... and you from hers.

In this very moment, one twin alone is as fast and capable as both of you together. No, in fact, she is better than you despite all the desperate growing you went through over the last few minutes. All but a touch from you is enough to destroy her, yet that task alone is daunting.

You quickly retreat and fly low through the streets, using Sun's newfound magical aptitude to heal yourself while keeping Moon's left arm in a tight grasp.

(Two castings

Soothing Moonlight: +40939 Base Heal, +426 dice = 41,365 Damage Healed
Soothing Moonlight: +40939 Base Heal, +426 dice = 41,365 Damage Healed
Soothing Moonlight: +40939 Base Heal, +307 dice = 41,246 Damage Healed
Soothing Moonlight: +40939 Base Heal, +307 dice = 41,246 Damage Healed

165,222 Total Damage Healed

Primordial Moon Health: 709,375 + 165,222 = 874,597)

At least she does not find you immediately and your magic has time to knit the torn flesh and bone back together.

(Primordial Moon: Left Arm restored
Benign Rogue Health: 54,000 - 5,400 = 49,600)

But almost as soon as the last fibre of flesh is in place again, you spot her running on the walls at around your height; more of her skin ruptured and reveals flesh beneath, with tiny trails of blood leaking out in places. The Shuriken is nowhere in sight, though more Kunai leave her hands the moment you take sight of each other.

This time you are prepared and cast in the same moment you swing. "Supernova!"

(Silver Diamonds: +150000 Base Damage, +4534 dice, +5000 Hostile Legendary Exposure Out of Balance = 154,534 Total Damage

Intercept!

Moonlight Scepter: +116915 Base Damage, +112500 Overwhelm, +58457 Superior Discipline, +146143 Godlike Strength, +282 dice, +5000 Rebalanced Exposure = 439,297 Total Damage Attack negated

154,534 Difference, Silver Diamonds win!

Silver Diamonds: +154534 Intercept Damage, -115,901 Devoured by Supernova, +7913 dice, +5000 Hostile Legendary Exposure Out of Balance = 46,546 Total Damage
Primordial Moon: +1050 Base Resilience, +980 dice, +5000 Rebalanced Existence = 7,030 Total Damage Reduction

39,516 Final End Damage

Primordial Moon Health: 874,597 - 39,516 = 835,081)

(Supernova: +58339 Base Damage, +411 dice = 58,750 Total Damage

Target is not there.
Primordial Moon unaffected as before)

Your spell goes off fast enough to swallow and melt most Kunais before they hit after another volley pushed your scepter aside, but Rico still manages to be gone before Sun is done casting. You can see her reappering on top of a building about a hundred metres away, though she immediately clutches her eyes in visible pain. Sun once again only glassed the surroundings, but your opponent appeared facing her way this time.

(Benign Rogue is unable to see for one turn)

So you are at least making progress; Rico stops and stands where she is, waiting with her eyes pressed shut. You consider attacking right now, but this is probably a bad idea; she got you without seeing you before. That is why you move aside, out of the glowing crater and back into the city. Another building collapses a few metres away and your opponent's head inclines in that direction, which gives you an idea.

After some quick moving and reorienting, you have Sun atop a gingerbread house right next to Rico while Moon hovers behind the medieval tavern on the street's other side. She stands perfectly still, making you not even dare breathing... but the setup worked, you are now in front of her and behind her.

As one you move, Moon going loud and tearing through the tavern like paper while Sun begins to whisper-cast her spell again. "Super-"

(Black Star: +150000 Base Damage, +60000 Ordnance, +2824 dice, +5000 Hostile Legendary Exposure Out of Balance = 212,824 Total Damage
Primordial Sun: +105 Base Resilience,-10000 Wat?, +14116 dice, +5000 Rebalanced Exposure = 9,221 Total Damage Reduction

203,603 Total End Damage
Veil of the Solar Goddess (-11,300): 192,303 Total End Damage
Radiant Shine Unbroken (50%): 96,152 Total End Damage

Mistress of the Tide: Moon takes the damage

Primordial Moon Health: 835,081 - 96,152 = 738,929)

-nova!?" You only realise what she did when the Shuriken already hit Sun and vanished alongside Rico, completely ignoring Moon. Now you stand in the middle of bubbling, steaming glass once again, trying to figure out where she is and how she did it. You were so sure she did not hear it over the noise, so it should have worked.

(Benign Rogue is blinded for another two turns.
Benign Rogue Health: 49,600 - 4,960 = 44,640)

You quickly gain height to check from up above and find her kneeling on a rooftop, one hand above her eyes and the Shuriken discarded on the ground. Actinic light shimmers out of Rico's every fibre and you can see that her body broke down further.

Then she starts convulsing, no, shaking? No... she is laughing, free and happy and deranged.

It is the best opportunity you can get; even if you do not like interrupting Rico right now, this is the only way to get into her guard. So you speed up with Moon for the first strike, waiting further away but still in range with Sun. The charge does nothing just as expected, but you get a chance to smash your scepter into the roof; this impact sends tremors through the entire building and makes it crumble, which in turn makes Rico appear on top of a Kunai she just threw upward. The noise once again masks Sun's words. "Supernova."

And this time she does not see it in time. The moment you finish speaking she suddenly tenses, but it is too late. Light already engulfs you and her.

(Supernova: +58339 Base Damage, +657 dice, +5000 Rebalanced Exposure = 63,996 Total Damage
Benign Rogue: +2000 Base Resilience, -200 Can't Dodge Light, +10748 dice, +5000 Hostile Legendary Exposure Out of Balance = 12,548 Total Damage Reduction

51,448 Final End Damage

Benign Rogue Health: 44,640 - 51,448 = -6,808)

You can see how it tears away the rest of her ruptured skin, turning every bit of her body a charcoal black. You are already rushing at her corpse and push her up to meet Sun before the flash that is your spell even dissipated, your other body rushing downwards as fast as you can as well. Hands raised, you aim for Rico's burnt face where the magic outlining her every cell quickly fades. "Become Whole- -Again!"

You have to pause for an instant, so that your fingers reach on the last word. Just like before with Eva, magic concentrates within your hand before rushing out to pull on something deep within and far away from Rico, until it is back with her. The smell of charred flesh fades as her body turns back to how it was a minute ago, dissolved eyes reforming in a faintly molten skull that also resets itself. You hold on tight, carrying the reformed girl away from the excessive heat of your newest crater.

Then Rico opens her eyes to look into yours. Relief wars with disappointment and joy, but ultimately she smiles. "Good morning and thank you for the fight."

You just hug her in response.

(Rico Vescovi revived

Primordial Sun's spellcasting is blocked for 7 days)

The flight back is quiet aside from Rico reapplying her transformation. You try to get used to the fact both of your bodies are properly visible once again; reviving your other selves took the glow out of your veils, making them little more but a weak shine.

Eva already expects you with a concerned smile, the others still unconcious nearby but within one of her Guarded Fields. "What was with all those explosions? What happened?"

Rico hops out of your arms the moment you land to talk to her sister. "We played some rocket tag, you should have seen it. I mean I lost and that sucks, but it was still great."

Once they are actually close to each other however, they turn the conversation into a long hug. You give them a moment to get it out of their system, then clear your throat to remind them of where they are; both Eva and Rico turn your way with curious expression, to which you offer a gentle smile. "I hope this is enough. Something unreal could not be revived is what I think, so maybe now reality will accept you once it comes back together instead of pushing you away. I definitely hope so."

Both of them keep quiet, though you can see their lips quivering. Instead of saying any more, you join their hug with Moon. Sun you move to check on Ana, but she looks no worse for wear and neither does Ludger. In fact, magic starts to flow around them, followed by your sister's transformation beginning to reapply itself; the same happens to Nightmare Guard next to them... but the moment it takes you to realise what this means is enough for Eva to gasp and make you turn while also taking a step away from her.

Both of your alternate selves began to glow gently, their magic folding around them like a blanket and trying to do something. Their appearance fades slightly, becoming less colourful before returning to how it was before. They continue wobbling, losing shape and regaining it time and time again. Your heart almost stops from the sight, hope slowly crumbling as the process does not stop.

The twins look at each other and sigh, then shrug your way. Rico opens-


It is not words, no. It is something more, so full of power and familiarity yet unknown. Magic surges as if ordered, pulsing around Eva and Rico before settling into them. The titanic presence pushing onto the back of your minds vanishes together with the glow... and then colour reverts as you watch, the city returning to normal.

Reality was restarted.
And right there they stand, looking around in awe and at each other. Still there, still the same. Neither speaks, both too shocked and plain happy to find any words.

"Urgh... what happened?"
And there is Ana, back up and confused. You give her a tight hug in turn while smiling at Ludger as he gets up. Nightmare Guard rises at about the same time, though she quickly spins around and takes some distance before taking a look at her surroundings... and gaping. "What the everliving hell?!"

You follow her gaze... and feel a blush form on your faces. One house to the right was broken to pieces from your attack and everything is riddled with Rico's Kunais; what is more, smoke and steam rise up in the distance, with a partly fallen skyscraper sitting atop a distant city block where you fought before. Some parts of the skyline are just empty where your Supernova wreaked havoc, too.

"...whoops?"

Everyone turns to Rico, whose sheepish smile is as fake as you have ever seen; she is not sorry at all... but honestly, you can understand her. For as hard as this fight was, it was also more exhilarating than any other before it. There is still some adrenaline pumping through your veins.

However, the reminder of them being there finally gains Ana's attention. "Wait, where did you come from? Who are you?"

Rico gives her a faint shrug much to your relief, the realisation that you maybe should not talk about what just happened in front of others having come just now. Then however, your older self frowns and takes a step closer. "Wait, you're Anastasia, right?"

"Um... yes?"
Now Eva frowns as well and tenses up as if... wait. "Eva, Rico?" "Didn't you ever make friends with Ana?" "Or can't you remember anything?" "Actually, what do you remember?"

You would like to ask more, but realise this should be enough for them to get the idea. Ana is obviously confused and even pokes you with it a few times, but you respond with something you hope tells her to be patient. Eva and Rico both turned their attention to you now, shaking their heads. "I don't know for sure," Rico answers in the end, "The last thing I remember is from when I was ten... probably a day or two before you awakened?"

"It's the same for me," Eva adds once her sister finished, "I can't remember anything concrete, though I know more things about myself than I knew at ten years old."

That sounds weird, though you can guess the way their entry into existence happened is to blame. Not that you mind it, even if it does leave you with one question: "Actually, how old are you?"

""Fourteen.""

You nod at them before shrugging. Looks like you will have to explain a lot of things for them. "Don't worry then. I made Ana my friend and adopted her, so she is now your sister, too."

Aaand there goes the curiousity, only to be replaced by a mixture of surprise and displeasure while Ana frowns a little. If only you had more time to explain...

"Oh well... I'll give you the benefit of the doubt for now."
Eva nods in agreement, though Rico's statement does nothing to explain anything for Ana herself. Before she can demand actual answers however, Nightmare Guard reminds you of her presence: "Be that as it may, I believe we still have something to take care of."

Oh, right. You throw a pained look her way and wonder if maybe she changed her mind now. "Can we really not just end this peacefully?"

"I'm afraid not, orders are orders."

Of course.
You sigh and ponder what to do.

---

[] Just beat her down, she was mean and you are not in the mood to indulge her.

[] Let her continue, it will not be that bad.


[]EXP-Plan
-[] Write-in what to buy
-[] Save it


+500xp Felled Benign Rogue (Only Pris)
+100xp Revived Benign Rogue (Only Pris)
+250xp Made A Dream Become Real (Only Pris)
+150xp Met Benign Guardian (Only Ana)
+150xp Met Benign Rogue (Only Ana)
+50xp What Happened While I Was Out? (Only Ana)

EXP gained: 850 + 850 + 350 = 2,050


(Unlocked Level 4 Character Sheet: Magical Girl Benign Rogue)
(Unlocked Level 4 Character Sheet: Magical Girl Benign Guardian)
(Unlocked Level 1 Character Sheet: Magical Girl Nightmare Guard)


Primordial Moon Health: 738,929 / 1,204,745
Everyone else: Full Health