Though the sun may rise
And the petals may wilt
We lived trapped
Where the Night never ends

---

At the end of a worn out dirt road, just as soon as one had gotten used to the thumping sound of travel, lied a village. It wasn't much, in fact it could be described as a village just like any other. It was almost too similar.

If one were to travel along this village, then they must take heed not to pay too much attention to it. Stare at the faces of the villagers, going about their daily lives in old and used kimonos, for too long and one may find old friends or relatives that they'd thought they'd never see again. The wooden and thatched buildings could lead the way to the streets of one's childhood. The food the impossible taste of one's parents.

Of course, if one were to chase after all of these things, they'd soon find that the village would consume them until they became just another face.

This was the village of the lost, of the things that had been forgotten.

And it was in this village that a new traveller arrived. Black hair tied up in a ponytail, dressed in bright pink robes, the only thing that separated herself from being the picture of an elegant maiden was the tense air around her and the sword on her waist.

She paid little mind to the village itself. It was just a distraction for her real goal: The only thing that distinguished the village of the lost.

Sitting at the very back of the village was a mountain that was impossibly tall. It's peak vanished into the sky above, touching the heavens themselves. It was neither made out of stone or dirt, but it was a mountain. And of course, it had a history.

Hidden in the whispers was a legend, and one the woman followed to the very letter.

First, ignore the village and walk to the end of the road and into the path leading to the mountain. The timing has to be right, between the hours of when the sun is about to be eclipsed by the mountain and when it's rays still shine bright.

Secondly, think about who you are trying to go to, take as many steps as there are syllables in their name, and then take a turn at the fork that doesn't exist.

This was after all, the final resting place for the souls who wanted to be forgotten.

Soon, as the women traveled down the path in front of her, the sound of a clanging noise could be heard on the wind. It scraped against her ears and made her heart pound with the rhythm, but she kept walking only to eventually reach a beat up old shrine at the end of the road.

With a sigh, she walked to the broken door and opened it just as the sizzle of burning metal against water reached her ears.

Swords and metal tools littered the room, but that was about all one could say was in the shrine, save for what was at it's very heart. Floating above a green spectral fire was a man with no legs, only whispers. His skin was ashen grey but the yellow robes still stood out vibrantly against the drab shrine background.

"Ahem." The women coughed.

"Huh?" The blacksmith looked up before rolling his eyes and getting back to work. "Oh, it's you."

"Indeed." She nodded, "I think you know what I'm here for."

"Same as the last dozen times I take it." He grumbled, "You've been coming here for years and I keep telling you, the answer is the same."

"My sword is incomplete." She said blandly, "And you won't fix it."

"Oh that sword's perfectly complete, ain't my fault that you can't use it properly." He paused, "Or that you can't use it at all."

"How shameful. Isn't it a blacksmith's duty to take responsibility for the things he makes?" The women grabbed it's sheath and held it out, "I've held this thing for many years, even have developed my swordsmen ship to the point of art with it, and yet it is still not complete. It doesn't even have a name."

"Ah yes, a name." He replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "How truly, vitally important."

"For all that death may have taken from you, I regret the most that it didn't take that attitude." She glared, "We both know that the sword has a spirit, for it and I are bound by an agreement, and yet how could it fully develop without even an identity?"

"In case you haven't noticed, for the umpteenth time, I live on the far side of the place where you call home." He grunted, "And not even fully at that. Even if you were to find the soul of my original ripple, he could not give you what you seek. So for what reason do you have to visit a reflection like me?"

"Answers."

"Answers!" He barked, "I'm a blacksmith! Young lady I make tools, not solutions!"

"But you're the only lead I've got." She sighed, placing the blade back on her waist and sitting down. "For me, who doesn't even have a name, I can't live in either here or the weighted world."

"...." There was a minute of silence, save for the occasional pound by the ghost's hammer before he spoke up again. "Listen, every tool has a purpose, and that sword is no exception. If you know how to use your tools, then that might lead you to the solution."

Clang. Clang. Clang.

"And I don't mean using it like with those fancy arts. You know and I both know the concepts that sword is made out of." The blacksmith continued to work, not looking up even once. "To use it is to fulfill the concepts, but how you do so is up to you. All you need to do is invoke that little agreement you have between you and it."

"...Will it answer?"

"Of course." He replied immediately. "If it didn't then you'd be free to disperse me. You on the other hand… well, will you answer?"

"Mmh…"

The blacksmith turned to the women. "Ah, looks like it's time. Please, never come back again."

"I make no promises."

"Hahaha. You cheeky-"

---

"-BRAT!" A thunderous voice boomed the young woman out of her sleep. Hastily she looked around, eyes still getting used to the fluorescent lights above her, only to sigh in relief as she realized the shouting wasn't directed at her.

A moment later she winced as, at the very front of the office was a young man, hunched over and shaking as a bigger older man's face turned redder and redder.

"YOU YOUNGER GENERATIONS ARE ALWAYS GETTING WORSE!" The old man roared, grabbing a stack of paper and jamming it into the shredder. "HOW WILL YOU ANSWER FOR THIS CRAP YOU CALL A WORK LOAD?!"

"I-I'm sorry sir."

"WHAT WAS THAT?!"

The young man instantly crumpled to the floor and pushed his forehead against the carpet. "M-MY APOLOGIES!"

"Hmph…" The older man took a deep breath before a smile that promised to steal any joy appeared on his face. "You know Satoshi, you've been a real mess here at the office huh? But, see, I'm a gentle soul. I still remember my roots as well, so rather than firing you I'll be lenient in this case. How about I let you off with a pay dock? About… thirty percent of your salary sounds good, right?"

"T-Thirty percent?!" Satoshi the poor office worker's voice shook.

"Oh?" The older man's smile faltered before he stepped on the younger employees back, driving him farther into the ground. "Do you have a problem with this?"

"N-NO SIR!" The younger man responded, "THANK YOU FOR YOUR LENIENCY SIR!"

"Good good…" With a sinister smile, the boss took his foot off the employees back and helped him off the ground. "Now, get back to then."

"Y…" Satoshi gulped, his eyes wet. "YES!"

And with that he dashed off to his cubicle, out of sight.

A moment of silence passed through the office before the employees proceeded to ignore what just happened and get back to work.

"Finally up huh?" The woman looked up to find the tired smile of her coworker. "You managed to catch some sleep for quite a while, lucky you huh Momohime?"

"Um, yes…" The black haired woman, with her long hair tied up and her gentle eyes still looking worn out tried to give a smile. "I-I'm sorry Chiika. I, I can do some of your work if you want?"

Idly she dusted off the tight, plain black cloth of her office uniform before giving an envious glance at how her much taller coworker's uniform always looked so clean and wrinkle free.

"Nah, it's fine." Chiika waved before running a hand through her short, brown hair. "Don't want to put you through any more hell. We're in overtime already after all."

"Oh, yes that's right…" Momohime looked at her computer monitor as it turned on and glanced at the clock. "...One in the morning?!"

"Yep." Chika rotated her shoulder, "And the workload is only starting to lighten up. End of the quarter is coming up so their really starting to grind our asses."

"Ahahaha…" They were supposed to get off at eight though. "Any idea when this will be done?"

"Not any time soon that's for sure." Chika quickly looked around before leaning over to Momohime. "Psst, you want to go on break and get some coffee at a new cafe down the road?"

"I don't know if we can…"

"Nah I got this." She waved dismissively, "Our boss is a real sucker for a cute face. Course I'm in uh, desperate need of skin care-"

Internally, Momohime commented that it was more like a desperate need of proper working hours.

"But if I head to the bathroom and put some makeup on, I guarantee I can get us out of here in like, twenty minutes."

"Still…" Momohime glanced in the direction of Satoshi.

"Ah. Yeah." Chika winced, "It's terrible, but it is how it is. Can't speak here though. Besides, do you really want to work through that just after you wake up?"

Momohime slowly glanced at her pile of work and- Oh. Oh my that's big.

"...Please."

"Thought so." Chika stood up, "You can time me if you want. Over twenty minutes and the coffee will be my treat."

Momohime looked around, unsure of what to say. "Good luck?"

"Heh, I won't need luck."

---

"Oh my goodness that was so lucky." Chika cried desperately as she grabbed onto Momohime's shoulder while they walked out of the office building and into the cold night.

"There there." Momohime patted her friend's shoulders.

"How was I supposed to know he was having trouble at home?!" The brown haired women shouted, "And- And then his wife called in the middle of our conversation and- and-!"

"Shh." The smaller of the pair tried to soothe her, "It's alright. At least you got that break right?"

"Yeah…" Chika's face brightened up, "Yeah! Half an hour break whooo!"

WIth a laugh, she detached herself from Momohime and did a quick skip in the street before taking a deep breath. "Ah, fresh air. I haven't been able to relax like this in forever."

"Well we still get holidays…" Momohime paused, "Officially."

"And you bet I'm going to spend those the first chance I get." A firm nod, "But seriously! I can't ever get a break! Damn that company, it's totally black!"

"Ahhh~!" Momohime cried, rushing over to her coworker. "Ssh. What if someone here's you?!"

"Pssh please! It's not like I've shouted the name out loud." Chika waved, "And every time I think I get the chance to relax it gets taken away from me! Seriously! Like, just the past month alone!"

The taller of the two wrapped an arm around Momohime's shoulder, "There's like, this park I used to walk through on the way to work! It's between the train station and the office but it's out of the way so nobody really goes through it, relaxing right?"

Chika shouted before Momohime could even respond, "NOPE! Next thing I know some weirdo shows up in the middle of the park and begins playing make believe or something! Every! Single! Day! Can you believe it?! Get a job am I right!?"

"Ah, haha…" Momohime laughed weakly, "M-Maybe he's not all that bad."

"Yeah- no. Momohime, sweatie." Chika turned to stare the mousy girl in the eyes. "He's one of those delusional heads. You know, when magic and magical girls suddenly became real and a bunch of people suddenly got it in their head that we're living in an anime or something. You can't trust those guys with anything."

The older office lady gasped, "Why they might see you as a cute, naive heroine! Think of what they might do to you?!"

"Chika…" Momohime goraned, giving her a look. "Come on."

"Why they might do- This!"

A sudden shriek sounded through the air as Chika suddenly began a fierce tickle assault against Momohime's sides.

"Ahahaha! S-Stop stop!" The poor girl cried.

"Never!" The brown haired woman cackled. "I've got you now princess!"

"I told you not to call me thaaaaaaat!" With a panicked struggle, Momohime desperately looked around trying to find a way out. Suddenly, her eyes locked on to something and she pointed in its direction. "Oh! Look! A shrine!"

"Huh?" Chika blinked, stopping her deadly assault. "Well would you look at that…"

Hidden between two buildings was a stone arch and tiny steps that lead to a small little offering box, sitting beneath the gaze of a fox monument. The air was incredibly peaceful, a gentle breeze occasionally blowing through the two women's hair as they drank in the atmosphere. It almost felt like they were the only two in the whole world, like they had wandered into a secret hidden from the very busy streets of Tokyo they were wandering before.

"It's awfully well maintained." Chika noted as the two stepped between the gates. A low rumble trembled against their skin. "Do you think someone takes care of it?"

"Well, someone has to right?" Momohime asked.

"Yeah but I don't think I've ever seen this place before…" Chika sighed, "Most of the shrines in the city have been taken down. Save for the ones that are for the traditions, nobody believes in the old shinto ways. Specially with you know, angels."

The smaller girl blinked, "Do you believe in it?"

"What? Me? Nah. I'm a firm believer of facts and the fact is that Gaea is real and christianity was the truth, or at least some very bad misinterpretation of it." She pushed a lock of her short brown hair out of her eyes, "My dad though, my dad always was a devout. Even after the war and all the chaos, he never let go. Then the old fool had to go and kick the bucket…"

"Oh." Momohime blinked, "I'm… sorry."

"Oh, you don't have to be sorry, it's got nothing to do with you." Chika shook her head frantically before sighing wistfully, "It's just how life is, you know?"

"Ah, that's…" Black eyes turned to gaze at the offering box. "Do you want to pay respects?"

"...I guess it can't hurt." She shrugged, reaching into her wallet to pull out a coin. "What about you? Got any wishes?"

"Wishes?!" Momohime stepped back before waving her hands, trying to look anywhere but at Chika, "N-No, no! I've got nothing like that!"

"Eh? Really?" The brown haired women gave a sly smile, "Not even a wish from when you were younger?"

"That's...!" Blood rushed to the smaller girl's face as she coughed. "It's, it's embarrassing…"

"Oh ho ho?" Chika laughed, "Come now, come now, we're friends aren't we? Unload your black history onto me!"

"Don't put it like that!" Momohime shouted, sweating from the heat. "Well, it's just…. Iwantedtobeamagicalgirl!"

Chika blinked, "...Huh?"

"I wanted to be a magical girl." Momohime explained, looking away from her companion. "And it wasn't just when I was a kid. When I was fourteen, when I was sixteen… I remember having the desire to be a magical girl. They seemed so cool you know? Like something out of a manga."

The black haired woman gulped, "Then one day I guess the desire just started to fade away… And of course now that wish is impossible since I'm twenty three."

"Too old to awaken." Chika nodded, placing a hand on her shoulder. "...But just young enough that you aren't a christmas cake yet."

"Eh?!" Momohime's eyes went wide. "C-Chika!"

"I'm a year older than you and neither of us have boyfriends!" The mousy girl cried, "Ah~! My time is almost up! Damn that company!"

"I-I don't think it's their fault!" A beat, "Mostly! Not Entirely! ...Maybe."

"Aw…" Chika swooned before hugging the girl, "You'll marry me if the time comes right?"

"Eh?! Chika! Chika stop laughing!"

But she didn't stop and soon Momohime found herself laughing as well.

Eventually the two settled down before pulling out coins and tossing it into the offering box. The wind blew through their hair as they clapped before bowing in silence for a few seconds.

Chika was the first to break the silence, straightening her back and beginning to walk away. "Wew! I think I'm feeling refreshed! Come on, the coffee is my treat remember?"

"Right." Momohime smiled as she straightened up as well.

There was a small rustling noise in a nearby bush that caught the young woman's attention. Her skin began to get goosebumps as she looked around the shrine before a white fox popped out of the bush and stared at her.

"Huh?" Momohime blinked, rubbing her eyes.

The fox was gone.

"That's strange…" She muttered.

"Hey~!" Chika cried from out of the shrine. "Are you coming or what?!"

"Oh! Yes!" Momohime turntailed and began to run out of the area, "Wait for me!"

From a top the shrine, amidst the moonlight, the fox appeared again. Idly, it watched the retreating figure of the girl before giving a yip of curiosity.

Truly, an interesting sight…

---

The caffeine helped, but ultimately it still took Momohime until around four for the stack of work to blissfully vanish away. By the end of it all, her eyes had once again begin to have bags under them and a look of complete exhaustion had descended upon her.

In her half-awake, dead tired brain, she thought that if a painter were to make her a portrait of herself in that moment, he would probably call it "Lady Death" or something similar.

Still, she did have enough energy to make it out of the office building alive. All she had to do now was to go home and sleep… for about three hours before she had to wake up and prepare for work again.

Daylight? Nature? What is that? It's all fluorescent lights and paperwork for her.

Man, what even is her life at this point? Why was she living like this again?

Oh, right.

The reward of money and the not-so-subtle threat that the company will ruin all future prospects she has if she were to quit.

Yep, welcome to adulthood…

Momohime stopped dead in her tracks, zoning out and staring into space as she considered the path ahead of her.

So the train station was five minutes away but if she took the path that Chika told her then it'd take a few more minutes but she'd still make her train right?

With an exhausted nod she tiredly began to walk through the city streets. Keeping an eye out for the path Chika told her about. Just had to go this way and…

Momohime blinked as she stopped walking. This was the path Chika told her about but, a group had formed in front of the walk way. About five or so people blocking the path ahead. Before she even knew what she was doing she was walking up to them and looking over their shoulders.

"Just give us a moment." A police officer held the group back. "It won't take us that long."

A man at the front of the group grunted. "It'd be faster if you just let us walk through."

"Well, new city policy." The officer groaned, "Something about a law pushed by MGs and the Counter Force guys. Have to take every incident we get called in for seriously."

"Peh, Counter Force." The man grunted, "What good are they anyways? Bunch of boot lickers if you ask me…"

The people around him didn't bother to agree or disagree but they did mutter something.

"Um," Momohime turned to one of the people next to her. "What's happening?"

"Hm?" The person, a teenage girl, took their earbud out of their ear. "Ah, yeah, so ya know. There's this creepy dude who always hangs around here so the police have to shake him off. Only now he's actually sleeping here and the police have to drag him away. Like, totally gross if you asked me."

"Ah." The black haired woman nodded. Maybe she should just go back to the main path…

Suddenly, a jolt of pain shot through Momohime's head like a bullet, causing her to grunt before placing a hand on her head. Ow ow ow...

"Oi~! Trash!" A sharp faced police man from farther in the back yelled as he pulled up a man from the ground. The guy was dirty, and he had cuts and bruises all over his body. "Wake up!"

"Huh…?" The man mumbled, "Officer Tarou?"

"Yes it's me!" The officer roared, "We meet like this, again! What have I told you about being a public nuisance?!"

"But…" The dirty man mumbled off hazily, "My power…"

"I don't care if you've got the powers of an angel, you're a disgrace to the city and my name!" The police officer threw the man back onto the dirt in a harsh thud. "Pick yourself up and walk with me to the station!"

The pain in Momohime's head began to grow more and more. Like the ringing of a gong, slamming into her brain at every second. The air she breathed began to turn foul and wrong and her eyes struggle to look at the sight in front of her.

"You know…" The man spoke from the ground beneath him. "My parents, they kicked me out of the house today. Called me a useless, good for nothing, freeloading trash. They beat me, cut me, anything to force me out. But I know that no matter how much they yell, that I have a potential power inside me."

"I don't need to hear any of this useless drivel-" The officer began only for the man to continue.

"And you do too, you know?"

Chills ran down Momohime's spine as she fought back the urge to vomit bile. Suddenly, as the man lifted his head up, she noticed. Oh she noticed. How could she not? There was a horn now, that wasn't there before. It was hard to focus on but she could see it. And his eyes.. His eyes had changed to those of an inhuman, red slitted monster, just brimming with insanity.

The man's voice continued but to Momohime's ears the words didn't belong to him alone. "Allow me to… bring it out."

The thing flourshied his head back and shouted words that weren't words. "SPIRIT POLLUTION - SAVAGE BLOODLUST!"

Cost: 150 HP

600 - 150 = 450 Remaining Health

"H-Hey!" Momohime cried through the pain. "Hey look out!"

But it was too late. From the man's wounds and mouth came a thick, red ooze that didn't look right on the world. As if someone had painted on the canvas in a different color.

"Huh?" The sharp police officer grunted, "Listen kid I don't know what you're going on about but- grk!"

He didn't even move as the ooze shot towards him, pouring into his mouth at frightening speeds. The police officer's body began to spasm as the procedure happened, and yet all Momohime could do was look on in horror.

"Oi! Tarou!" The second police officer called, "You alright?!"

"Su-Suzuki…" The man groaned as the ooze finished shoving it's way inside him. "You…"

"Hm?"

"You're a police officer right…?" Slowly, Police Officer Tarou turned around to reveal the same eyes of madness the thing on the ground had. "Then WHY THE HELL DO YOU LET YOUR DAUGHTER FOOL AROUND SO MUCH?!"

The group of people around Momohime shrieked as with a brutal war, the police officer pulled out his baton and began charging at his fellow worker. There was a solid smacking sound as Suzuki fell to the floor followed by the vicious, ear grating sounds of beating.

"HahAhAHAHAHA!!!" The thing laughed as it got off the floor. "YES! YES! UNLEASH YOUR POTENTIAL! HAHAHA!"

Fear locked inside of Momohime as she tried to move, only to find her legs were still frozen in place. The chill only grew as the thing began to look towards the group of people that included her.

"You…" It growled in both delight and anger. "DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT!!!!"

The man in front of the group went red in the face. "I don't know what you did to that officer but-!"

He didn't have time to finish as the thing jumped off the ground, dashing towards him with a maddening cackle. The sound of something tearing against flesh pierced her ears and blood soon began to drip from the man like a river.

There was a second before the girl next to her screamed. Soon everyone around her was screaming as the all began to run away backwards. It was all for not as in an impossible leap the bloody thing leaped over them, eclipsing the moon before landing on the ground just between them on the main road.

It looked back at them with a mad smile before indescribable nosies of anger escaped its mouth. It ran towards them again before it grabbed each of the group members and tossed them back into the park behind them. It didn't seem to care for Momohime however, as it just plowed into her leaving her tossed on the ground in between the roads.

For a few minutes the pain in her body was overwhelmed by the pain caused by an outside force, leaving her in agony on the ground. Struggling with all her might, she lifted her head off the ground only to see the thing hold a bloody claw up in the air as it looked over someone's body.

"Hey, hey." It sneered, "I want to test something. Just a question really, I promise I won't hurt you if you get it right."

"R-Really?" The person on the ground groaned.

"Really really." The thing flaunted it's claws. "What does this look like to you?"

"A, ack, A regular hand?"

...Huh?

"Bzzt! Wrong!" And with a maniac laugh he dug the claw into the person lying on the ground. Momohime winced as the shriek of pain sent ripples through her body. "Oh man oh man, they really can't see it huh? How can I show off my power if no one can see it huh?"

But, what? The thing…

Drip.

Another drop of blood splashed on the ground.

Slowly, Momohime looked down only to realize it was coming from her leaking nose.

"Ahh… Ah…" Her voice threatened to scream, and yet no sound would leave her lips. Slowly, painfully, she pushed herself off the ground and back on to her feet.

The thing didn't seem to care for her, she was still stuck in that alley way between the park and the main road. All she had to do was walk out that way and… what? Call for help? She already saw what happened to that police officer.

That thing wasn't human. So, a magical girl? But where would you even find a magical girl….

...She wished she had the power to do something, but she was just Momohime.

Her mind wracked and rumbled with thoughts, trying to find the solutions as more people began to fall victim to the thing. And in that haze between her thoughts, the words of someone from a dream floated into her head.

"If you know how to use your tools-"

Her body began to walk on it's own. Taking a step towards the thing without her conscious will. Blandly, the thing looked away from the police officers and towards her. "Oh, you. Well you don't look that fun to play with but if you're going to try and stop me-"

"-Then that might lead you to the solution."

"I.. I…" But Momohime didn't say something. She must be crazy, walking head first into danger like this on the words of mere dream. Yet something compelled her to move forward. The words continued, this time louder, consuming all her thoughts.

"All you need to do…"

"...Is Invoke." She finished, and the moment the word left her lips something changed. In front of her eyes, a Sword wrenched itself into existence. It's size and length hurt her eyes but it's style was unmistakably that of the old tradition.

"That…" The thing shouted, "What is that Sword?!"

Momohime didn't answer. She stared at the blade, transfixed. It called to her, compelled her to reach out and touch it's hilt. With shaking hands she began to oblige, listening to it's voice as she reached out to grab it-

And suddenly, she was no longer in control of her hands. It reached out to the blade but once it had a grip on it, it refused to let go. Momohime tried to move her body, to do something at all, but it wouldn't budge.

"Hahaha! This- This will be fun!" The thing brandished it's claws, "HAhaHAhaHA!"

"I am the one who will bear the curse." Her body intoned, closing her eyes against her will.

She could feel the thing getting closer and as it drew near-

Ripples. She felt the wind billowing against water in her very soul. Engulfing her, changing her, transforming her.

"HERE I CO-" The thing yelled, changing before it blinked. Momohime was gone. Both mentally and physically. Her body was no longer standing where she had been.

Slowly, the thing paused, before giving a yelp of shock as a cut formed on it's cheek. The blood, fresh and flowing.

"You-!" It looked around frantically, only to suddenly hear calm steps echoing through his head like a gong. It's anger boiled it's blood and it turned around to see… A women. Wearing a pink kimono and armor, with her black hair in a small ponytail held together by a bright flower hair pin.

And a small dribble of blood on her Sword.

Without even a trace of shock or confusion, she opened her eyes. "Awaken, Magical Girl Demon Blade."

The newly proclaimed Magical Girl took a deep breath before looking around and speaking with a gentle, soothing voice. "The wind in my hair, the weight on my feet… I see, so this is the world on the other side of the mirror."

A sharp click of her tongue shot through the tranquil atmosphere as she regarded the thing in front of her. "It is such a shame that it was someone with such a face that warranted my calling."

"Huh?!" The thing shouted, "You calling my face ugly?!"

"Ugly is not the word I would use for it." She simply dismissed, "Rather, I believe the more apt words would be 'The face of a filthy pig that had been defecated on by a cow'."

"YOU!" The person she just insulted roared, "I don't care if you're a MG, I'm still going to beat the crap out of you! In fact, that just makes it al the better!"

"Go ahead, you're welcome to try." Demon Blade went into a stance with her blade. "Really, such an idea is truly the height of genius."

Outwardly, the Magical Girl was the picture of calm, collected coolness.

Inwardly Momohime was freaking the fuck out.

"AHHHHH!" She uh, thought really loudly. "WHAT?! WHAT?! I'M A MAGICAL GIRL!? DID I REALLY JUST SAY THAT?! HELP! HELP! I CAN'T MOVE MY BODY!"

"It would be wise of you to keep quiet." Demon Blade growled in a whisper.

"Eh? Eh?! You can hear me?!"

"Of course I can hear you, you're in my head." Momohime's head nodded against her will. "This isn't your fight. It's mine. Just keep quiet and it'll all be over soon…"

Magical Girl Demon Blade locked eyes with her enemies. "And thus, my blade shall exorcise your demons."

With that she…

[] Charged at the thing, ready to parry it's claws at any moment
[] Swiftly tried to get behind it
[] Write in

AN: This is really just an opportunity for me to have fun, cut back, and stretch my creative muscle. Readers who are new to the system this is running on can currently just treat this as an ordinary narrative vote, with stats to help operate as a guide. If you'd like to learn more you can either ask around or look at the other quests in this setting.

For those who know me from my other quest, I'll be working on this the half a week I don't spend working that one.

Important thing to note: Under this post is your character sheet. Completely new to this quest is the Arts system. If you check the weapon tab then you'll see that your weapon has an HP bar of it's own.

Casting Arts will lower the blade's HP. If it hits zero, the blade breaks. And yes, the enemy does in fact have Arts of his own.

If you know what characters this quest is using expies of then congrats but it probably won't be relevant. Let's have fun together, okay?

Magical Girl Demon Blade

Momohime(?) Tsukigami

​

Stats

Health: 300
Base Damage: 200
Base Resilience: 225
Magic Modifier: 75

Affinity: Dream | Death | Myth

Weapon

Muramasa's Blade
Level 4
Health: 950
Attacks Per Turn: 1
Attributes: Cut | Life
Ability: False Existence | Drain

Spells

Invoke
Level N/A
Base Damage: N/A
Magic Modifier: N/A
Affinity: Dream
Ability: Summoning

Blade Arts

Misty Slash( Thousand Cranes)
Assault from the Unknown
Base Damage: 400
Magic Modifier: N/A
Cost: 250 HP
Ability: Double Hit | Teleport

Divine Moon( Wind-Driven Rains)
Linger in the Moonlight
Base Damage: 800
Magic Modifier: N/A
Cost: 500 HP
Ability: Juggernaut | Rend

Crescent Moon( Ripples On A Pond)
The Night Reaches All
Base Damage: 200
Magic Modifier: N/A
Cost: 125 HP
Ability: No-Intercept

Abilities

Emblaze The Fire
Level 3
-Boost's the candle flame. May your life burn all the brighter.

Mold the Wax
Level 2
-Lengthens the candle. May your life burn all the longer.

Weightless Mass
-The Muramasa Blade isn't visible unless seen by someone with connection to Void or has a high enough existential weight

Endless Night
-Project yourself past the edge. Walk the thousand paths. Welcome to the world that doesn't exist.

Reinforced Steel
Level 1
-Increases the Muramasa Blade's health by 150. Can Be Leveled

Barrier Smasher
-In a single slice, the walls will fall, but there's always a price to pay. Shatters the Muramasa Blade.

Shop

Spoiler: Purchased

No Wall Can Stop Me
-30 EXP
Grants the Barrier Smasher ability

Reinforced Steel
-10 EXP
Increases the Muramasa Blade's health by 150. Can be leveled.

Peony Blade
-65 EXP
-Engage in an Aerial Attack Once
Grants the Shallow Lark Blade Art

Flowering Iris
-70 EXP
-Study the elements
Grants the Dual Lightning Blade Art

Celestial Origin
-95 EXP
-Engage in a battle while surrounded on all sides
Grants the Divine Blade Blade Art

Missing Moment
-50 EXP
Grants the Phantom Time Spell

The Blade Hungers
-80 EXP
-Muramasa's Blade level 10
Grants the Hungering for Flame ability

Kai Kagami

Kei Kagami

A high school boy wearing thick winter jacket bindings that completely cover his arms both inside and around the piece of cloth. His hair is obviously dyed a peach blonde, with the black roots still visible.​

Stats

Health: 1200
Base Damage: 285
Base Resilience: 320
Magic Modifier: N/A

Attributes: Dream | Remnant

Weapon

Contract
Level 3
Attacks Per Turn: 4
Attributes: Haunting | Binding
Ability: False Existence | Shred | Pin | Autonomous Combat

Spells

Invoke
Level N/A
Base Damage: N/A
Magic Modifier: N/A
Affinity: Dream
Ability: Summoning

False Arts

Deathly Bound - Privacy Invasion
Base Damage: N/A
Magic Modifier: N/A
Cost: 100 HP
Ability: Shape Shift | Armor Pierce | Intercept

???

Abilities

Weightless Life
-The Contract isn't visible unless seen by someone with connection to Void or has a high enough existential weight.

Overlapping Ripples
Level 4
-The bond between Youkai and Contractor grows stronger.

???

Kyosuke

"Trash"

​

Stats

Health: 600
Base Damage: 50
Base Resilience: 45
Magic Modifier: N/A

Attributes: Dream | Delusion

Weapon

The Contract
Level 1
Attacks Per Turn: 1
Attributes: Anger | Blood
Ability: False Existence | Rend

False Arts

Spirit Pollution - Savage Bloodlust
Heaheahehah! Filthy humans, rampage freely!
Base Damage: N/A
Magic Modifier: N/A
Cost: 150 HP
Ability: Hate | Boost-Other

Abilities

Weightless Life
-The Contract isn't visible unless seen by someone with connection to Void or has a high enough existential weight.

Demon Who Rots Spirits
-For Every human who is afflicted with the Rage status via Arts, boost weapon Level by 1

Sahou Rokuki

Sahou Rokuki
​

Stats

Health: 400 (800)
Base Damage: 80 (160)
Base Resilience: 35
Magic Modifier: N/A

Attributes: Dream | Wither

Weapon

Contract
Level 1
Attacks Per Turn: 3
Attributes: Life | Drain
Ability: False Existence | Auto-Grapple | Bleed | Drain

Spells

Invoke
Level N/A
Base Damage: N/A
Magic Modifier: N/A
Affinity: Dream
Ability: Summoning

False Arts

Puddle of Red - Withered Bloom
Flowers blooming from death
Base Damage: N/A
Magic Modifier: N/A
Cost: 400 HP
Ability: Shapeshift | Smash

Abilities

Weightless Life
-The Contract isn't visible unless seen by someone with connection to Void or has a high enough existential weight.

Lifeblood
-For every life the contractor sucks dry, they will gain one stack. This stack increases their health and base damage by 0.5 for every stack

Sterilize
-The Contractor may sacrifice a stack of Lifeblood to heal 25% of their health.