Turbulence at the Flip Park (8)

“Y-you’re… Nikkou!?”

Violet Lightning gasped in shock upon recognizing the other girl.

“Wah! It’s a power pole!”

Seeing Violet Lightning, Nikkou recoiled just as sharply. She drew her wakizashi, holding it defensively—like facing a mortal enemy.

“You two have a history?”

Frosttail frowned. As far as she knew, Second Ring and Fourth Ring had never worked together—barely even crossed paths before.

Yet these two were radiating hostility like a battlefield. There was clearly bad blood between them.

“Well, it’s just that…”

Violet Lightning opened her mouth—then quickly shut it, as if afraid to say more.

“Captain Frosttail, Captain Violet Lightning, Miss Mieni—I’m Tsukishake, Deputy Captain of the Fourth Ring. This is our Captain, Nikkou. A pleasure to meet you,” Moonquake said with a polite bow.

Unlike her hot-headed sister, she remained calm and courteous.

“For context: Captain Violet Lightning and Captain Nikkou once participated in a [Flower Duel]—though I wouldn’t call it a ‘conflict,’ per se.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Frosttail’s expression darkened.

“C-Captain, let me explain—OW!”

Violet Lightning tried to speak—but Frosttail’s iron grip clamped down on her ear, lifting her slightly off the ground.

“Rule Seven of Second Ring: [Flower Duels] require prior approval from your captain. And you’ve broken it twice now, haven’t you?”

The incident in question? A B-rank aberration’s mana crystal had sparked a duel between Nikkou and Violet Lightning.

They’d been mid-charge, about to unleash their full power on a deserted road—when a delivery truck accidentally sideswiped Violet Lightning, ending the fight inconclusively.

(And yes—“power pole” was Nikkou’s nickname for Violet Lightning, mocking her tall, slender frame.)

“This A-rank crystal is mine. Anyone who tries to take it gets sliced,” Nikkou declared, glaring at the group.

“What my sister means,” Tsukishake added smoothly, “is that since Fourth Ring is currently assisting Fifth Ring’s security operations, we’ll handle this aberration. No need for you all to risk yourselves.”

Mieni sighed deeply.

“…Only another idiot would take Purple Lightning seriously.”

“Did you just call me an idiot, four-eyes?” Nikkou snapped.

“What does Miss Mieni suggest, then?” Tsukishake asked politely.

“You really think two of you can handle something like that?” Mieni shot back.

“Let’s be real. We’re all one step away from [Four Petals]. None of us should get cocky. To beat a monster of this scale, cooperation is the only way.”

“Of course,” she continued, adjusting her glasses, “you could use the excuse that this is Fifth Ring territory—meaning Second Ring has no priority rights to the mana crystal. But…”

She paused. Behind thick lenses, her gaze turned razor-sharp.

“If you actually do that… you might really die, you know?”

The word “die” hung in the air like poison.

Tension spiked.

All five magical girls were veterans with two or three years of combat under their belts. For them, death wasn’t abstract—it was the ever-present sword of Damocles above their heads.

Everyone coped differently.

Violet Lightning and Nikkou thrived on the adrenaline rush—the thrill of battle numbing their fear. Frosttail and Tsukishake were cautious strategists, always calculating how to minimize risk.

But no matter their approach, “death” was a taboo subject—like fishermen avoiding the word “sink” at sea. They never spoke of it directly.

Now, Mieni had shattered that unspoken rule. The veil was torn. Unease spread through the group.

“I agree with Miss Mieni,” Tsukishake said after a pause, breaking the silence.

“And as Second Ring’s captain, I have no objections,” Frosttail added, seizing the moment.

“We face a powerful enemy. Unity is essential. As for the mana crystal… we’ll discuss that after the fight.”

“So… cooperation is settled?”

Tsukishake extended her hand. Frosttail took it without hesitation.

“What? I’m the captain here!”

Nikkou pouted as her sister made decisions without her.

Tsukishake gave her a sharp look. Nikkou immediately shrank back.

“Fine.”

“But now,” Frosttail said, scanning the group before turning to the colossal octopus below, “none of us have experience fighting giant aberrations. What about your side?”

Both Nikkou and Tsukishake shook their heads.

“Then I have a plan,” Frosttail continued.

“I’ve been observing. After the SOB’s attack destroyed two tentacles, they regrew—but look closely.”

She pointed downward.

“In addition to the six original reddish-brown tentacles, the two new ones are pale white—shorter, thinner, and completely motionless. Like giant slugs lying dormant.”

“I see,” Tsukishake said. “So the goal isn’t necessarily kill, but disable.”

“If we destroy each remaining tentacle, we may not eliminate it entirely—but we can cripple its mobility and attacks, preventing further destruction.”

“Exactly,” Frosttail nodded.

“While it’s still recovering, we strike fast. I’ll take the leftmost one.”

“Then I’ll take the second on the right. Let’s race, Power Pole?” Nikkou sneered, already picturing slicing through flesh with a sadistic grin.

“Second on the left,” Mieni said, adjusting her glasses.

A brilliant white light erupted from her soul gem. Thousands of pre-charged magic arrows materialized behind her—arranged like a pair of outstretched wings.

“I’ll take the third on the left. Remember—everyone, know your limits.”

With that, Frosttail drew her weapon from the lotus-engraved metal shield on her left arm.

Unlike the short sword she used during previous missions, this time she pulled out a long, prismatic blade—over two meters long, taller than herself.

Her shield stored over a hundred specialized tools. She selected weapons based on opponent and situation—ensuring she always held the advantage.

“…Fourth on the left. May fortune favor us all.”

Tsukishake unsheathed her golden happaha guard sword, placing the hilt over her heart like a knight swearing oath, blade pointing skyward.

In response, a massive spectral knight emerged behind her—clad in silver-white armor, wielding an identical sword. Linked by magic, every movement, every twitch of the finger, mirrored perfectly between master and phantom.

All were ready.

But then—a problem arose.

“This thing has six tentacles left… but are we really six people?” Violet Lightning muttered.

“Theoretically, yes.”

Mieni scanned the group: Frosttail, Violet Lightning, Nikkou, Tsukishake… and herself.

“…It feels like someone’s missing.”

“Damn it!” Frosttail slapped her thigh. “We forgot Yubin again!”

“Not a big deal,” she added. “Her abilities work better from the shadows anyway.”

“But what about the last tentacle?” Mieni asked.

“Whoever finishes first takes it,” Nikkou shrugged.

“That easy, huh…” Mieni nodded, though worry lingered in her eyes.

Just as the briefing ended and they prepared to launch—

Two streaks—one red, one yellow—soared into view.

Recognizing them, Violet Lightning waved enthusiastically, grinning.

“Little Flame! Long time no see!”