The four burst into the television station, only to find it in utter chaos. Innumerable low-level monsters rampaged through its halls, wreaking havoc and causing mischief, while even more creatures were sprawled along the corridors, blatantly slacking off.
“Hey, hey, hey!”
In their line of sight, at the center of a bustling corridor, a captain in a red battle suit, distinguished by a number six mask, frantically blew a whistle. He was desperately attempting to rally the slacking monsters.
“Toot-toot-toot! Stop eating, you lot! That’s your third bento box! Even my pigs don’t devour food like you do. The Magical Girls are already fighting outside, my brothers! Attack! Attack, I say!”
Incensed, Captain Six rushed forward, delivering two furious kicks to the slime monsters engrossed in their meals. The kicked slimes, pausing their feast, turned to glare menacingly at the captain, extending their tentacles in retaliation.
“Aieeee!!”
To the Magical Girls’ astonishment, the Banjao captain was hoisted into the air by a monster, helplessly spun around, and left dangling, shrieking in terror. The monsters, having dealt with the impediment to their meal, seemed delighted, resuming their feast on the floor, utterly oblivious to the highly conspicuous Magical Girls. Ignore the risks, keep eating!
“Monster purge!”
“Aba!!”
Scarlet Magical Girl, raising her halberd, swiftly annihilated every monster present that had been feasting. Captain Six plummeted to the ground as a result. The other combatants in grey uniforms cried out for their captain, wiping away tears as they scrambled to escape.
Only Captain Six remained, sprawled on the floor, looking utterly bewildered as he slowly raised his head. Despite being a burly man, he now sat with his legs curled up, trembling like a frightened girl. He stared in abject terror at the four uniquely dazzling Magical Girls approaching him, each capable of astounding feats. To make matters worse, these stunningly beautiful Magical Girls were currently regarding him with expressions akin to looking at trash.
“Th-that, can I surrender?”
“Go to hell!!”
It was Scarlet Magical Girl who acted again, bringing her halberd head down directly on Captain Six. A man’s tragic scream echoed as the floor he stood on was instantly shattered. After a long moment, Banjao patrol personnel on the floor below looked up to investigate the commotion. They then saw the four Magical Girls peering down, their eyes meeting. “Hello.”
“Aieeee…” The Banjao patrol officer below trembled, his legs giving out. “Magical Girls, how could Magical Girls be here?!”
A passing Banjao combatant, incredulous that the Magical Girls had already arrived, let out a pathetic shriek before collapsing to the ground, quietly losing control of their bladder.
The four Magical Girls, disinclined to bother with such utter fodder, simply left the scene.
****
After searching the building for a considerable time, Emerald Magical Girl successfully rescued the majority of the television station staff trapped in a large studio. A senior manager informed the Magical Girls that their current location was Studio Two, and that the Banjao’s so-called ‘evil plan’ was unfolding in the station’s largest studio, Studio Zero.
Emerald Magical Girl thanked the good citizens of C-City for the information. “There are still Banjao personnel outside who haven’t been dealt with. It would be best for you all to remain here and wait for the police.”
The senior manager, who had stepped forward to speak, nodded, explaining that the Banjao combatants had left them water and food, so survival supplies were not an issue. Just as Emerald Magical Girl nodded, preparing to leave, a non-staff member, looking rather reclusive and gloomy, suddenly darted out and spoke.
“Please, I beg of you! Those inhuman Banjao fiends have taken a liking to my idol. They dragged her and other beautiful girls to Studio Three!”
“My young lady is an idol, you see!”
“If her fans find out she’s been captured by the Banjao—”
“My money, ahem, and more importantly, my young lady’s career would be utterly ruined!”
Noticing he wasn’t wearing a staff ID, Emerald Magical Girl interrupted him. “Excuse me, but who are you?”
“I am Ailu Miao’s manager, my young lady.”
“Ah, I see.”
Emerald Magical Girl instinctively turned to Glimmering Yellow Magical Girl, who pouted her cat-like lips and shook her head.
“Splitting our forces is too dangerous, especially with the potential presence of a Magma Demon.”
“We will rescue Ailu Miao and the other victimized women.”
Emerald Magical Girl offered a reassuring smile to the manager, who expressed profound gratitude. Emerald Magical Girl, however, felt a pang of guilt in her heart as she and the four Magical Girls withdrew from the studio.
Emerald Magical Girl turned to Magical Girl Grey Moon.
“If you disagree with our approach, Grey Moon, you are free to act alone.”
“However, I believe we should prioritize the bigger picture and proceed to Studio Zero first.”
“Mm.”
Magical Girl Grey Moon hummed softly and shook her head, indicating she had no intention of taking separate action. It wasn’t that she feared any mishap if she went to rescue the victims in Studio Three. Her concern was that if she left, the Magical Girl Tri-color might be unable to defeat a Magma Demon on their own. After all, how could she put it? Were the Magical Girls themselves more important?
Magical Girl Grey Moon: “Together is best.”
Relieved, Emerald Magical Girl glanced at Magical Girl Grey Moon. Her decision to remain with the team bolstered Emerald Magical Girl’s confidence. She scanned the others, noting the determination for a swift victory etched on their faces.
“Since no one has any objections,”
“Let us strike swiftly, before the Banjao’s Magma Demon can even react.”
“We must quickly dismantle the magic array they’ve set up.”
“And then rescue the hostages on every floor as quickly as possible.”
As Emerald Magical Girl finished speaking, Scarlet Magical Girl excitedly raised her hand and let out a triumphant roar. Glimmering Yellow Magical Girl formed a cat-like pout, while Magical Girl Grey Moon, ever composed, gave a slight nod.
The irrepressible Scarlet Magical Girl led the way. The four followed the signs, ascending the stairs until they reached the highest and largest studio: Studio Zero.
****
Inside the studio, the ceiling soared to the height of five or six stories. Despite being indoors, its internal space dwarfed a football field, with countless expensive, colossal camera rigs suspended overhead. Four high-definition cameras, extending from the dome-like ceiling, filmed the corpulent monster seated on a wooden chair in the center from every conceivable angle.
In the monster’s arms, it toyed with the graceful husk of what was once a Magical Girl.
Scarlet Magical Girl’s eyes fell upon the familiar face—the senior who had once ignited her sense of justice. Now, her eyes were vacant, a trickle of clear liquid dripped from her lips, and her soulless body was being grotesquely manipulated by the corpulent monster. An inferno of boundless rage ignited within Scarlet Magical Girl’s heart.
“What in the blazes are you doing?!”
Scarlet Magical Girl’s cape spontaneously combusted behind her, erupting in a furious blaze. Blinded by rage, she charged, halberd raised, directly at the monster’s thick, fleshy neck.
Witnessing this, both Magical Girl Grey Moon and Glimmering Yellow Magical Girl inwardly cried out in alarm, speaking simultaneously. “Scarlet Magical Girl! No! (Come back)!”
Emerald Magical Girl, failing to perceive any anomaly, also intended to follow Scarlet Magical Girl to rescue the person. However, her speed wasn’t as great, and she was halted by the shouts of Magical Girl Grey Moon and Glimmering Yellow Magical Girl.
But it was too late for Scarlet Magical Girl. Midway through her charge, a black shadow, lurking on the ceiling, descended like a phantom, striking instantly. Scarlet Magical Girl let out a piercing shriek, coughing blood as she collapsed to the ground. Her gaze fell upon the twitching body of Black Iris before her, whose golden vertical pupils were now still and devoid of their former brilliance.
“Senior… Senior…”
Scarlet Magical Girl’s abdomen, unprotected by armor, had been half-gouged out. The culprit of the assault stood at Scarlet Magical Girl’s heels, a forked tongue flicking out to coil around the fresh blood staining its claws.
“Hiss.”
Its eyes, gleaming with triumphant green, flickered as it pleasurably tasted the air with its forked tongue. The monster was clad in luxurious fur, beneath which patches of vibrant green scales covered its exposed skin. Initially matte, absorbing the light upon its appearance, these scales gradually began to shimmer, becoming resplendent, like precious emerald jewels.
“How do you like it~?”
The serpent-man monster, staff in hand, viciously impaled Scarlet Magical Girl’s ankle into the ground behind her, relishing her screams. Facing the three Magical Girls who wished to slay him, he showed no fear, instead smugly elaborating on his trap.
“Not bad, eh~? My recycling of Magical Girl corpses.”
“You’re all a bunch of naive fools anyway. Using living or dead bait yields much the same results. That idiotic human doctor even told me it was best to use live bait.”
“Did he truly take me for a fool? What if you had rescued her?”
“I, Magma Demon Mo Jiashi, would never make such a rookie mistake! Unlike your inferior race!”
“Glimmering Yellow Magical Girl, Emerald Magical Girl, Magical Girl Grey Moon.”
The serpent Magma Demon, with chilling accuracy and utter confidence, called out the names of the three remaining active Magical Girls. Flicking its forked tongue, its dangerous gaze swept over them.
The oppressive aura emanating from him caused the three Magical Girls to furrow their brows in unison.
“I had long anticipated your arrival, and that human female truly believed her little tricks had gone unnoticed.”
“Hiss-heh-heh-heh~”
The Magical Girls’ expressions grew grim, and they braced themselves.
The serpent Magma Demon, utterly unconcerned, raised its haughty head.
“All of you, prepare to…”
“Die here.”