[X] Run in and Save her, get her away from the Witch fast.
Moving before your own brain could catch up, you dashed towards Reika. There were a lot of thoughts that ran through your mind. What made this Witch? Who was the Assassin? How can she do this and why would she? Was Reika okay? Why was there another you rooted inside the Witch?
These were all valid questions but none of them asked the most important one. How can you stay alive in this state? Will you make it? You didn't know but you will have to. There were still questions you wanted answered. You just wanted to know things, was that too much to ask?
Grabbing Reika by her shoulder, you tackled her out of the way of the falling blade, "Watch it!"
You and Reika hit the ground hard as the sword cleave through the shrine grounds. The Witch screamed at her prey escaping but you could tell from what you were seeing. This wasn't an illusion or anything. Looking at the twisted storm of grief and corruption, the Witch was very much real.
It was dangerous and it could kill even you in your weakened state. But how... How did the Assassin do it? The psychological damage and emotional damage to magical girls upon seeing these monsters would last if they weren't killed by the physical strikes. It was genius, a genius way of defeating magical girls.
Just the sight of the monster they would eventually become would've been enough. First things first, you had to keep Reika from becoming a real witch. You didn't know the extent of the Witch's existence but you'll separate it until Reika becomes one for real.
You grabbed her by the waist as you kicked off the ground to avoid being cut. You both landed on top of the torii hate overlooking a burning town.
"Listen to me," you ordered as you held her shoulders, "You haven't turned yet. But you're close and you must get ahold of yourself or else that thing will become a reality."
"But it's me. I know it, I can feel it. That's-" Reika replied in a shellshocked state.
"It's as real as it can be but it's not you. It's the work of the Assassin. I don't know how she does it but she channeled not just the image of your witch but it's capabilities," you said as the Witch dragged itself towards you two, "It's how she kills magical girls like us! If she's done this then we must be on then cusp of defeating her!"
Reika stared at you as light returned to her eyes. She was trembling as the two of you turned to the howling Witch as the sound of the shamisen echoed.
She clenched her fist as she grit her teeth, "You..."
"We have to go. But we learned a lot. She can be beaten," you said as you let her go. You held out your hand to her, "We need to work together to survive."
Reika glared at you just as a blade fell between you two. You pulled your hand back an inch to avoid the blade which split the red gate before extending it again.
"I'll follow your lead," Reika decided before slapping your hand away, "But this changes nothing."
You nodded as the two of you faced the crying Witch as it slashed horizontally. You both jumped up high as you grabbed Reika by the hand to throw her downwards at her Witch. The girl drew her blade and cut with it, clashing with her witch as she had her soul burn bright through the darkness of her gem.
Her gem that was shining by her choker, the same you saw break before and summoned the Witch. Was that just an illusion conjured by the Assassin before to make it convincing? Had you not been here to calm her down, would Reika suffered death without knowing?
Nonetheless her soul burned deep blue while you summoned a gear behind you. Placing your foot on it, you manipulated gravity beneath your feet as you launched yourself past the blade towards the Witch's shoulder.
Right where the Assassin watched you.
You twisted in the air and turned to deliver a vicious kick at her. The Assassin moved and blocked your strike with her forearms. Using this moment, you jumped off her to raise your hand summon a gear above her head.
The Assassin jumped away as the Gear spun extremely fast and fell down. She wasn't your target but the monster she stood on. The gear loosened the Witch's arm and allowed Reika to break it's guard.
She had sheathed her sword as you flew her way. Grabbing her hand, you then turned together with you throwing her towards the Witch's head. Reika drew her sword and slashed, a flash of blue erupted and sent the giant witch flying. It cried out in agony before crashing back to where it started.
You and Reika landed on the ground as she cut all around her fast enough you couldn't follow her. You just saw blue streaks criss cross around you as the false barrier broke. The Assassin looked at you and Reika as you both ran to the hole that was created.
The inferno greeted you both as you ran to the nearest window and jumped. You fell as you had your strength fail you for that entire moment as the cold winds of dusk blew past you.
Luckily you were caught by someone, having snatched you from the air. Sai landed into a slide while Reika landed in a crouch nearby.
Sai looked down on you and managed a smirk. She seemed none too worse for wear, "Looks like you made it."
"Yuri... Where is..?" You asked in a panic.
"She's fine," Sai assure you with a nod, "She made it out. I was just about to go pull you out when she told me our friend is up there.".
"She still is, you have to-" you began but Sai turned around and shook her head.
"I don't think that's necessary," Sai said as you looked.
Three magical girls walked by you to approach the building. You didn't know what to think at first but the first thought you had upon seeing them was... That they were radiant. Their gems did not have a single stain of corruption in them as you beheld them in your sight.
Powerful and dauntless.
The girl that led them spared you a look. A girl with gray and black hair as she kept her face hidden beneath her gray cloak. You knew she was looking at you and that the expression she had was unmistakable. Her lips were curled into a warm smile as she led her companions forward.
One was a short girl with light green hair holding a wooden staff with a bear on it while the other was a short haired tall tanned girl with a gladiator motif. They moved to the building where the Assassin laid waiting. They just passed by Reika gasping for breath nearby and ignored her.
"Who are they?" You asked with a frown as Sai let you kneel down. You couldn't feel your legs.
"The Named. Leaders of the North, East and Western territories under our organization," Sai replied with a nod, "If anyone can beat that killer, it's them."
You watched the Named enter the building as it burned. They didn't even seem to care about the flames. You turned to see groups of girls walk up to Reika and pull her up. Cuffs were placed on her hands as she grit her teeth. You glanced past her to see some girls being tended to nearby.
All of them had gunshot wounds on their limbs.
"Reika's going to be put on trial for her stunt. Then she'll be punished accordingly," Sai said as the girls pushed Reika into a car.
"I don't suppose that the girls over there was your doing?" You asked with a pointed look.
"It took me longer because I wasn't going to kill them. Had I been, it would have been faster but..." Sai sighed as she shook her head.
You blinked before you looked around, only to see Yuri being led away by a few girls too. She was also bound once more. You got up before Sai grabbed your shoulder.
"We have rules, Yukina," Sai grimaced as she kept looking at the building, "Now that North, East and West are in the know, the Boss's protection holds little weight. Those three will want Yuri to be dealt with..."
"They're taking her away," you replied in a sharp tone.
"Yukina... Don't do anything rash," Sai said as she watched the other magical girls shoot you looks, "You don't want to give people reason to put you down."
You tensed up as you turned to look at Yuri. She met your gaze and mouthed something.
"I'm sorry."
She was then pushed into the car as it's engine started. You held your ground as you lowered your head. Sai loosened her grip and patted your shoulder.
And then the building exploded.
BOOM
You looked to see something flying out before turning into static. The Assassin vanished as she fizzled out of existence. You blinked as you and Sai watched from below just as three girls fell down from the top. The girl from before and her two companions were covered in soot and the smell of fire.
"Daaamn. She got away again," the gladiator girl groaned as she scratched her head.
"That's because you didn't set up to have her Immobilized. This is the fifth time, Ume!" The short girl with the green hair griped.
"Sorry, Chise! My bad!" Ume chuckled as she placed her hands together.
The girl from before, the one with the gray hair and cloak approached Sai instead, "Miss Sai. I apologize. She got away again."
"She's always been a slippery one," Sai said as she crossed her arms, "And here I thought you'd get her this time."
You kept silent as you listened in on the conversation. The fifth time? Then this won't be the first encounter these Named have with the Assassin. Still, to think they would have no problem sending an opponent you and Reika had trouble fighting together, it spoke of their strength.
The cloaked girl cleared her throat and said, "Well, I'd like to thank you for sending us the message. If it weren't for the Assassin, I'd say you had the situation under control."
"I'd be lying if I said I did," Sai said as she crossed her arms.
The cloaked girl cracked a smile then, "I'd say you did a good job. You and the girl with you."
"It's almost like I'm seeing ghost," Ume chimed in as she hooked an arm around the cloaked girl.
Chise looked from beneath her brimmed hat to grimace your way, "Though as unsightly as it is, no doubt you're happy, Ayana."
Sai chewed on her cheek before slowly nodding, "Yeah, Miss North. Alas, I think we should cut this short. This girl did a lot today."
"I have no doubts she had, Aoyama Sai," the cloaked girl named Ayana smiled. Sai froze at the mention of her full name.
Sai had glanced at you as if telling you to run away but she didn't dare. Instead the two of you stood as the cloaked girl revealed her face to you. She gave you a bright smile as her yellow eyes twinkled.
"Though I'm sure you would know why the three leaders of the Organization were all sent here, right?" Ayana said as she walked towards you. You held your ground as she raised her hands to touch your face.
Sai hesitated before letting out a shaky breath, "Whatever do you mean, North?"
Ayana ran her thumb across your cheek, "So pretty... Even in death. We're sent here not for the Assassin or Reika. We're here to pick up the GriefBorne you've been harboring. Please don't resist. We'll be taking in you for questioning."
There was a clicking sound and you found yourself cuffed to Ayana. You blinked and held up the cuff with a frown, also raising up the wrist of the North's leader. You frowned as Ayana simply purred while you glanced at Sai as she shook her head.
"In short, you're both coming with us," Ayana smiled as you met her gaze, seeing the cruel light in them.
Aftermath
[] "Do I get a lawyer? Can I get Kyubey as my lawyer?"
[] "Where's my warrant? Can I at least get that?"
[] Break free and run for it. You had confidence in your ability to run from the Law."
[] Just pass out. Your batteries are out. You need a stretcher.
[] Write in...
