"There are five Anathema in the minimarket," Felicia reported. They are fairly low-leveled: two Fomorian Ghouls, a Fomorian Hound, a Fomorian Gravedigger, and an Ichor of Words.
"Can we take them out?"
"Well, yes, but since you're without your astral shift, I'd advise against it."
"Alright. Let's take them out. Do you know about these Anathema? Can you tell me their weaknesses?" I knew I shouldn't ignore her advice, but frustration and hunger were getting the better of me. I needed that minimarket. She mentioned they were low-level monsters, so I felt confident I could handle them.
"Roger. My database on Anathema are limited, but I'm familiar with most low-level Anathema below level 50. You've already encountered a Fomorian Hound. Ghouls have sharp claws, but nothing special beyond that. A Gravedigger wields a pickaxe as their hands. And the Ichor of Words can speak, though it's the weakest among them."
Nodding, I stormed into the minimarket in the residential district. The Zeus javelin pierced through the glass and the hound effortlessly. Based on Felicia's briefing, I assessed the hound as the most formidable opponent due to its speed, bladed tail, and claws.
After my initial strike, all the Anathema turned towards me. Felicia's scouting had already informed me of their positions. As a Ghoul dashed at me, I threw my remaining javelin. It hit its mark, causing the Ghoul to fall, but unlike the Zeus javelin, it didn't kill the Anathema, which rose again with the broken javelin lodged in its shoulder and chest. The other Ghoul, displaying surprising agility, leaped from inside the supermarket through the glass window towards me. I prepared my Seraph Spear, anchoring its butt end into the pavement and aiming the pointed end at the incoming Ghoul. My Seraph Spear proved reliable once again, impaling its chest and ending its life. The creature's body split open, and black ichor spewed from its chest, overwhelming me with nausea.
Unlike the cross spear, the Seraph Spear easily slid out of the monster's carcass when I nudged it sideways. The other Ghoul did not lunge at me but emerged from the supermarket alongside the Gravedigger. The javelin had inflicted some damage, as evidenced by its slowed movements. I dashed toward it, intent on decapitating it with my spear, but a sharp pain in my left leg halted me, causing me to lose the initiative.
The Ghouls inched closer, and I swung my spear in a motion practiced with my naginata. My slash created a gush of black blood from its chest, and I leaped backward to evade its claws. As the Ghoul pursued me, it fell to the ground, dead, and the kill chime sounded.
"Help me. Please!"
I turned toward the voice, but that proved to be a grave mistake. The Anathema, its body covered in black ink and emitting black miasma from its mouth, opened its maw grotesquely wide. It repeated the plea in a voice that mimicked a girl's: "Help me!"
"Watch out!" Felicia warned, turning herself corporeal and lighted up her body with mana into the Gravedigger's eyes, causing it to stagger briefly. That moment allowed me to parry its pickaxe, stopping it just inches from my face. The Gravedigger then withdrew its hand, and the pickaxe snatched my spear away as if hooked on a fishing line. I quickly created distance between us and drew the cross-shaped spear from the javelin quiver. Ignoring the pain in my leg, I charged and stabbed the Gravedigger in the face. It fell backward, convulsing.
The Ichor of Words lunged at me, its maw bristling with yellow, repulsive fangs. I sprinted towards my Seraph Spear, leaving the cross spear embedded in the ground. As I seized the Seraph Spear, I swiftly stabbed it backward, impaling the creature directly in its mouth. The force of my swing flung the corpse aside like a ragdoll, its weight surprisingly light. And finally, the kill chime signaled the end of the battle.
"Hah...Hah..." I panted heavily, exhaustion setting in. I glanced around, though it was unnecessary—Felicia had already surveyed the area.
[Defeated: Fomorian Hound Level 3]
[Reward: 10 Points]
[Defeated: Fomorian Ghoul Level 3]
[Reward: 10 Points]
[Defeated: Fomorian Ghoul Level 5]
[Reward: 10 Points]
[Defeated: Fomorian Gravedigger Level 2]
[Reward: 10 Points]
[Defeated: Ichor of Words Level 8]
[Reward: 15 Points]
[You have leveled up to Level 3]
"I took the liberty of suppressing your notification messages until the battle concluded. These are your victories. Your points are now 176," Felicia noted as I slumped into a chair beside the supermarket, overcome by fatigue.
After resting for a while, I filled my basket with several rice balls and energy drinks before proceeding to the unattended counter. Then, I used my smartphone to pay for the items. There was no signal, but the app would tally my purchases later. Usually, a clerk would handle this, but they had all retreated to the shelter. Glancing around, I spotted a storage room, sparking an idea.
"Maybe, I'll sleep here," I mused aloud.
"Why don't we contact Guardian Command?" Felicia suggested suddenly. "I just realized I might be able to establish a connection."
"Huh? I thought phones don't work in usurpation zones," I said, looking at her incredulously.
"Well, yes. But we've been out of the usurpation zones ever since we left the residential areas."
"But there are Anathema around!"
"It's unprecedented for Anathema to venture out of usurpation zones in sanctuary cities. However, it seems they can move freely in New Mesa. Perhaps because the Reality Enforcement device only covers Guardian Command and City Hall."
"What's a Reality Enforcement device?"
"It's a device designed to inhibit Anathema's usurpation rifts. If Anathema try to force their way through, it triggers a warning." Suddenly, I understood why sanctuary cities received that convenient one-hour warning before an Anathema's arrival. Realizing we only had one such device made me wince.
"We should have more," I complained to no one.
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
"Typically, there's one device every 1-kilometer radius. The UNH's approach to constructing these frontier cities was too haphazard. It's a disaster," Felicia remarked.
"Why hasn't Zenith provided us with more of these devices?" While I acknowledged the UNH's recklessness, I believed the situation could be manageable with support from Zenith.
"Zenith intervenes only if sanctuary cities are at risk. Any additional support must be acquired through the Gate."
"Those devices are available?"
"Yes, each costs 7000 Points and is listed under defense devices [Mythic]."
"What does 'mythic' mean? I remember my spear is tagged as common, right?"
"Vaults are categorized into eight levels: Common, Rare, Masterwork, Arcane, Legendary, Mythic, Ascendant, and Divine. So far, only members of strike teams have access to mythic arsenals."
"I see." I checked my smartphone, and it still showed no signal. "You can connect to Guardian Command?"
"Yes. Human-made smartphones rely on relay antennas, which I suspect are within Anathema's usurpation zones. However, our magitech can transmit directly using interdimensional signals."
"Then, what are we waiting for?"
"Using it goes against the beginner's handbook for Magical Girls. If deployed carelessly, Anathema with detection abilities could pinpoint our location, potentially leading to a dire situation if they arrive before Magical Girls can assist us. I recommend going directly to Guardian Command and requesting aid from a Magical Girl."
"But…"
"Yes, Magical Girls and Guardians use it frequently. But you are under level 10 and lack an astral shift," Felicia explained. "I'll call them if you insist, but I must inform you of the risks involved. The decision rests with you."
"Then no. We'll camp here until my leg is a bit better, and then find somewhere safer before calling for help. I won't face any repercussions for abandoning my duty to kill Anathema, right?"
"Absolutely not. What kind of organization would recruit individuals and leave them in a warzone without proper training? We invest considerable resources to identify people with the right aptitude for soul gems. You were meant to be enrolled in the Guardian Academy and would only be authorized to hunt Anathema unsupervised after reaching level 10. What we're doing now is termed an 'emergency contract,' primarily intended to save your life, even at the expense of others. However, most Magical Girls wouldn't consider sacrificing others, so we usually keep that detail somewhat hidden for their mental well-being."
"I see. That's rather cold of you."
"I'm not permitted to lie to you. But it's important for you to know that we don't recruit Magical Girls to let them die pointlessly. They're meant to be beacons of hope, not symbols of futile resistance and meaningless death."
"The sun is beginning to set. Please clean up in the minimarket's restrooms and then reapply bandages to your calf. Before you do that, place three magic eyes outside, and I'll manage all surveillance. Also, you might want to allocate your bonus stats. You have the entire night to decide."
The minimarket had a bathroom, likely intended for staff or security personnel residing there. I was thankful for this as I assessed my appearance in the mirror—my hair was disheveled and sticky, my blazer torn, and an unfamiliar, slick oil smeared over me. Reluctantly, I removed everything and set it aside, dreading the thought of having to wear these clothes again, given the absence of alternatives in the market.
I helped myself to soap and toothbrushes from the minimarket shelves and cleaned up. The water, cold to the touch, was revitalizing. I decided to abandon the torn blazer. Returning from my bath, I noticed the black ichor from the Anathema's blood slowly fading away, leaving my shirt surprisingly cleaner, a detail for which I was immensely grateful.
Next, I headed to the storeroom. Exhausted, I simply lay down in a corner, using my arm as a makeshift pillow. As night fell, the imagery in my magic eye grew more luminous. Then suddenly, it turned white and black.
"Hmm?" Curiously, I placed another eye on my forehead and discovered that the magic eye possessed a night-vision feature.
"It's impressive, isn't it? This magic eye can also zoom up to five times. Look!" Felicia demonstrated, manipulating one of the magic eyes installed outside the minimarket to zoom in on a distant streetlamp. "Only about 3% of Magical Girls receive this type of advantage."
"Yes, yes," I acknowledged its usefulness, though it did little to alleviate my disappointment over lacking an astral shift. Settling down with a towel for a pillow, I lay back and activated my status screen.
STATUS
Name: Yuri Shirayuki
Alias: None
Level: 3
Points: 176
Shield Aura: 0%
Mana: 10/100 (10/Min)
STATISTICS
Strength: 20
Dexterity: 10
Vitality: 10
Agility: 10
Willpower: 10
Spirit: 10
Bonus Point:20
"Hm... should I invest stats in Willpower for more mana, or should I focus on Spirit for faster mana regeneration? Or perhaps I should enhance Agility and Strength?" I pondered. My maximum mana is currently only 100, which means I can summon only three eyes simultaneously. Yet, mana regeneration is equally crucial, as operating the eyes consumes mana.
"Fel, what do you recommend?"
"Increasing both your mana and mana regeneration is beneficial. However, I suggest you also consider your long-term build strategy. Do you envision yourself more as a fighter, or would you prefer to focus on magic?"
"Well, it doesn't really matter, right? You mentioned my stats should be balanced," I responded, deciding to allocate points into Agility, Dexterity, Willpower, and Spirit.
"Yes, while some opt for specialized builds, they tend to be vulnerable to specific types of Anathema, which I wouldn't advise. A balanced build allows you the flexibility to retreat when necessary, and you'll be less likely to be taken down by a surprise attack from an Anathema."
STATUS
Name: Yuri Shirayuki
Alias: None
Level: 3
Points: 176
Shield Aura: 0%
Mana: 60/150 (15/Min)
STATISTICS
Strength: 20
Dexterity: 15
Vitality: 10
Agility: 15
Willpower: 15
Spirit: 15
Bonus Point:0
"I'm concerned that I may have spread my stats too thinly. Perhaps I should have concentrated more on Strength or Agility to enhance my capabilities as a physical Magical Girl."
"Given that your abilities require mana, diversifying your stats was necessary. You can always focus more on specific areas in the future. Remember, no Magical Girl completely neglects any stat. Even those who specialize in dealing damage or engage in physical combat need to invest in Vitality to withstand encounters with Anathema. They also must maintain a minimum level of Willpower and Spirit to utilize skills and signature magic effectively. Likewise, Mages, because of their susceptibility to ambushes, require Vitality to survive unexpected attacks. They might not need Strength as much, but having some physical prowess is essential if they deplete their mana. Dexterity is crucial as well; that javelin could have been lethal to the Ghoul with a precise hit to the head," Felicia explained. "You'll delve deeper into these strategies at the Guardian Academy."
"I see." Comforted by Felicia's insights, I felt my tension ease, and my eyelids grow heavy. Despite the hard floor beneath me, sleep beckoned as Felicia continued to share knowledge about stats and the Guardian Academy.
"Good night," she whispered, her voice fading as I drifted into sleep.