The acidic taste of vomit lingered, souring every breath. For a brief moment, all I could feel was the shame of losing control in front of everyone. Then the memories and experiences of the past few hours came rushing back, and I steadied myself.

I stood back, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, trying to suppress the shivers that had overtaken me. The chill of the underground tunnels was palpable, and my worse-for-wear clothes didn't help. I looked around, noting the pale faces of the survivors. They too were grappling with the weight of the situation.

My glowing, orange-red aura pulsed around me, illuminating the dimly lit space, casting eerie, dancing shadows on the tunnel walls. I could feel the eyes of the survivors on me, their mix of awe and fear palpable. They whispered amongst themselves, probably discussing the unknown magical girl who had aided their escape. The wave of nausea and vertigo left as quickly as it came, and I was thankful I didn’t make a mess out of what I was wearing.

Black Star knelt beside me, handing me a bottle of water. "Here. It'll help."

Taking a sip, I tried to rinse the bitter taste from my mouth, swishing the water around my mouth.

"Thanks," I murmured, offering him a faint smile. “Where the hell were you even keeping this?”

He winked at me and held a finger to his lips, and I was about to make a biting remark when I remembered just how dire of a state we’d been left in.

I quickly focused inward and replenished my aura with a few of my saved skill points, feeling a wave of focus, relief, and relaxation wash over me.

As I stood there and breathed, a small hand suddenly tugged at my sleeve.

I looked down to see a familiar young girl with blonde pigtails staring up at me with wide green eyes. "You came back… Are… are you a real magical girl?" she asked as her voice trembled.

Bending down, I met her gaze and pat her on the head. "Yes, I am, Abby. And I'm going to do everything I can to make sure you and everyone else are safe."

She blinked back tears, then wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug. "Thank you," she whispered.

Black Star chuckled softly. "Looks like you've made a fan."

I smiled, hugging the girl back. "We all need a little hope right now."

As we exchanged smiles, a voice rang out through the chamber, cutting the brief moment of respite short. "Alright everyone, listen up!" It was a tall, stern-looking woman in military uniform, her voice carrying the authority of a seasoned leader. I recognized her as one of the soldiers that greeted me when I entered the shelter. "We're going to get organized. Form lines based on families, injured at the front. We're going to have a count and ensure everyone's here."

The crowd began to shuffle around, trying to follow her instructions. Black Star and I stood up, joining the soldiers.

The woman approached us, offering a curt nod. "Well met, Cadet. I'm Lieutenant Caroline Davis. You two...you've helped a lot back there. Thank you."

Black Star smirked, flipping a coin between his fingers. "Talk to her. I’m just here for the ride."

"And what's your plan now?" Lieutenant Davis inquired, her sharp gaze locking onto mine.

I paused for a moment. "We need to get everyone out of here safely, find a secure location. And... well. I’d guess my senior is down here somewhere. Magical Girl Twilight Aster. She’ll know what to do.”

Lt. Davis sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "We'll do our best. But it's not safe to wander these tunnels aimlessly. We need intel."

A soldier ran up to Lt. Davis, saluting hastily. "Lieutenant, we've got a rough count. There are a bit over 200 civilians and 26 soldiers, including us."

She nodded. "Good. Ensure the injured get medical attention immediately." She turned her attention back to Sienna and Black Star. "If Twilight Aster is down here, we’ll find her. And any other survivors, of course. But first, we need to set up a perimeter and get some scouts out. Make sure the tunnels are clear of any zombies and other nasties."

I quickly remembered the massive, giant moth-like monster with the stingray barb tail we’d briefly encountered when we came in through the tunnels with Jacob and Twilight Aster.

The creature’s large, feathery antennae adorned with glowing blue eyes had haunted my subconsciousness all day. Even with the strength of my ‘Guardian Ascension’ mode, I wasn’t sure I could take it on at all if it appeared.

“Lieutenant,” I said hesitantly, recalling the moth monster. “There’s something down here, much worse than the zombies. We encountered it when we were making our way here. We need to be careful.”

Davis's face darkened. "Describe it."

With a deep breath, I recounted the brief encounter with the massive moth creature, emphasizing its size and the massive stinger. Black Star, Twilight Aster, and I had got away from it by combining our skills, but the thing was incredibly agile.

Lieutenant Davis nodded, drawing her face into a tight frown. "That's a new one. But not unexpected at this point. These portals have let all sorts of monstrosities through." She turned to address the soldiers. "No one goes anywhere without a minimum group of three, then. Forget the scouting. We’ll move with caution, and prioritize the safety of the civilians."

As we spoke, I saw a small group of survivors huddled together, a few of them holding onto young children, their faces painted with dread and exhaustion. I felt a surge of determination. We had to get them to safety.

“We need to find Twilight Aster,” I said, “If we can regroup with her and the others, we’ll have a better chance of making it out.”

Lt. Davis nodded, “Alright, let’s prioritize finding Twilight Aster and other survivors. We’ll send out an advance party while maintaining a quiet, tight formation a few dozen yards behind you guys.”

Black Star tapped his foot impatiently. "Fine. But let's do it fast. Every moment we stay down here, we risk another encounter with... whatever that moth thing was, or the big meathead tumor busting through the gates behind us."

"Agreed," Lt. Davis said. “Cadet, and… I’m sorry, what were your names?”

"Umn,” I responded, straightening up slightly. I knew Magical Knights usually had code names, but I hadn’t put all that much thought into it. Should I just give her my real name?

The recent memory of a man fading out of existence came to mind. The thought raised all kinds of questions about ontology and causality for me, but I couldn’t worry about that for now.

"Sienna, but you can call me Lux," I replied, adding a bit of a wink and pose for good measure, eliciting a guffaw from Black Star. I figured that a name would make me sound more professional in a crisis.

Plus, every Magical Girl had a flashy name; it was almost a rite of passage.

Black Star leaned in, whispering dramatically, "And you can call me... Henry! But don’t say it too loud. I’ve got a reputation to uphold, unlike Sparkle Princess here."

"Alright," Lt. Davis said. "Lux, Henry, you two will lead the advance party with a few of my men. I trust your abilities. The rest of us will secure this area and tend to the injured, and follow when the path has been confirmed to be clear."

I took a deep breath, trying to quell my nerves. Abby tugged at my sleeve, her eyes filled with worry. "Please be careful."

I knelt, squeezing her hand gently. "I promise I'll be back. Stay close to Lieutenant Davis, okay? She'll keep you safe."

Abby hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Okay, but only if you promise to stay safe too."

She tilted her head, her pigtails swaying gently. Then, she took off a little pink backpack and rummaged through it, pulling out a small stuffed black cat the size of my hand. "Take Mr. Fluffles with you. He's very brave and will protect you."

I blinked, genuinely touched by the gesture.

"But what about you, Abby? I'm a Magical Girl now. I should be protecting you and Mr. Fluffles."

"Don't worry, Miss Lux. I have Mr. Binky to take care of me right now. You need Mr. Fluffles more than I do!"

Hesitating for a second, I bent down and took the stuffed kitten. Then, I I gave it a small hug before tucking it securely inside my pocket. "Thank you, Abby. I promise Mr. Fluffles and I will look out for each other."

The child beamed, wiping away a stray tear. "He loves hugs, so don't forget to give him one if you're scared."

Black Star chuckled, kneeling down to Abby's level. "Hey, do you think Mr. Fluffles could look out for me too?"

Abby giggled, her voice a small ray of hope amidst the chaos. "Silly, you have Miss Lux with you! But okay, you can borrow him sometimes if she lets you."

"Deal," Black Star grinned, giving Abby a playful wink.

Lieutenant Davis cleared her throat, reminding us of the urgency. "We should move. The longer we stay here, the more vulnerable we are."

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

With a final smile and nod to Abby, we set out. Black Star and I, along with a squad of four soldiers, ventured deeper into the tunnels. The dim lighting made it harder to see what lay ahead, but the soft glow emanating from me helped light our path. Every echo, every faint sound sent chills down my spine, but we pressed on.

Our footsteps seemed to reverberate endlessly in the damp, narrow corridor. The walls were close and uneven, scarred with ages of erosion and tool marks. The scent was a mixture of mold, stagnant water, and something else — an indescribable smell that carried a lingering sense of unease. The gentle hum of lights and the distant dripping of water became the backdrop of our journey, but the stark silence from our group amplified the tension.

The iridescent shimmered on top of the staff I held, and I felt a pull from it, guiding us. The closer we got, the brighter it glowed, offering solace and hope in these dark times.

"The crystal seems to be resonating," Black Star commented, noticing its brilliance.

“Hmm,” I answered in response. Was it guiding me to Twilight Aster? I could only hope.

Lieutenant Davis’s soldiers took their positions on our flanks seriously, sweeping their guns left and right, casting eerie, elongated shadows that danced with my glowing aura. Every so often, one of them would signal for us to stop and listen. Each time, the rest of us would hold our breath, straining our ears for any sign of danger.

Suddenly, Black Star held up his hand, signaling for everyone to stop. He tilted his head, as if listening intently. "Did you hear that?" he whispered.

I strained my ears, but all I could hear was the distant rumble of monsters above. Yet, a faint shimmer of yellow light in the distance caught my attention..

"The other survivors?" one of the soldiers, a young soldier with a buzz cut whispered.

Black Star's eyes darted about, trying to pinpoint the source. "Could be.”

Approaching cautiously, we eventually came upon a large open chamber the size of a major subway station’s mezzanine. There, huddled in the dim glow of a solitary emergency light, were several dozen civilians and soldiers.

Among them, a majestic figure, cloaked in shimmering purples and blues, stood out to me. Her regal form seemed to radiate an ethereal glow. The cascading waves of her deep purple hair shimmered with what looked like stardust, twinkling and swaying as if some invisible force played with the silvery strands in the darkness.

Her dress had a deep royal purple hue in the dim lighting of the cavern, which transitioned in a gradient down into a lighter lilac. Patterns of stars and constellations appeared and vanished at the hem of her dress... It was like watching the night sky itself.

Turning to see us enter the chamber, Twilight Aster's expression brightened. "Oh! Thank goodness. You’ve made it!"

The two of us rushed forward, joining her in the middle of the chamber. "We've been trying to find you," I said, panting slightly from the excitement.

"Sienna, Henry," she said, acknowledging us properly. Her voice was calm, yet carried a note of authority. "I’m glad to see you both safe.”

I nodded, taking a second to glance at the iridescent crystal on my staff, "We came as soon as we could. I… umn. I had a thought you might be down here."

Taking a deep breath, I hesitated before adding, "And there’s something we encountered up there. Something dangerous. A giant hulking brute that tore down the blast-proof doors like nothing."

Twilight Aster raised an eyebrow, “With blue and red eyes? A pulsing wide area attack too, perhaps?”

“Yeah,” I replied, surprised she knew about it. “You’ve encountered it?”

She grimaced, “Yesterday. A creature matching that description was what took down my team. I barely escaped with life-threatening injuries, as you might recall. I suspect it may be the same creature I encountered."

Black Star interjected, looking uneasy, "Yup, we had a run-in with it upstairs, and barely managed to fend it off. We had some...unexpected assistance. From Red Masque’s inner circle of goons, no less. Arsenal, Voltage, and Chameleon."

Twilight Aster's eyes widened, surprise evident in her gaze. "Red Masque? That is certainly unexpected."

Black Star looked uncomfortable, shifting his weight from foot to foot like he was uncertain about how to respond.

Twilight Aster studied Black Star for a moment, a speculative look in her eyes. “So, my assumption at the Fire Station was correct then, Henry.” she commented.

Black Star's eyes darkened, but he didn't look away. “Well, let’s just say on top of your guess, there was a bit of a family spat right before all this began.”

A silence lingered as Twilight Aster continued to study Black Star with an unwavering gaze. I could feel the tension in the air, thick enough to cut with a knife.

Yet, somewhere buried in the depth of her shimmering eyes, I also saw a hint of understanding, of sympathy.

“Hey look, it’s not our place to judge people for their families," I finally murmured, trying to mediate. "Especially in times like these. We can’t exactly choose who our parents are, after all."

Black Star glanced at me, gratitude evident in his eyes, but he remained silent.

Twilight Aster sighed, “True enough. The current crisis demands unity. Whatever our differences, our feuds, they must be set aside for now. The threat these monsters pose is unlike anything we’ve ever faced.”

One of Lieutenant Davis’s soldiers, a tall woman with raven-black hair, slowly approached us and spoke up. “Knight Aster, ma’am, we need to keep moving. If we're to establish that perimeter and help the other survivors, we can't linger here."

Twilight Aster nodded. "Time is of the essence. I assume you are all part of an advance party from the other group of survivors?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied, standing up straighter. “Lieutenant Davis thought it would be best to send a few of us ahead to ensure the route is safe. She’ll arrive with the other group shortly.”

Twilight Aster's gaze roved over the soldiers accompanying me, lingering for a moment longer on Black Star. "Very well," she said. "We must move quickly.”

"Sienna," Twilight Aster began, lowering her voice so only I could hear, "you’ve grown remarkably in such a short span of time. You are using your mana more efficiently now, I hope?"

I shrugged, "I guess so. It's all so new to me. But having those abilities helped save a lot of lives today. Still... there were losses," I replied, thinking of the old man who died in my arms.

She gave me a sympathetic glance, "It's never easy. But you have to focus on the ones you can save, not the ones you couldn’t."

I nodded, taking a deep breath and pushing the traumatic memory to the back of my mind.

“Where’s Jacob and his family?" I suddenly remembered, my eyes searching the chamber.

Twilight Aster motioned toward the far end of the chamber. "There," she said.

I followed her gaze and spotted Jacob, standing tall among the survivors in his firefighting gear. Next to him stood his wife. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and she clutched the hand of their son, Spencer tightly. They looked exhausted, but otherwise unharmed.

With a burst of relief, I ran toward them. "Jacob!" I called out.

He looked up, and upon seeing me, his stern face broke into a smile. "Sienna," he said with a grin. "You made it. And you’re looking positively radiant right now."

I nodded, tears of relief threatening to spill. They were safe. "Of course I would!"

Jacob chuckled, "You did. Thank you for looking after Spencer."

Jacob's wife gave me a grateful smile. "Thank you for everything," she whispered, holding onto her son tightly.

The tender moment was interrupted by the low rumble of the ground beneath us.

Black Star looked back, alarm evident in his eyes. "We need to move. Now."

Twilight Aster nodded. "Agreed. Sienna? Henry? Go gather the civilians and let us make for Shelter 1. We should be able to move everyone safely through the ring around the control center."

“Wouldn’t it be better to try to exit into the city from here?” Jacob’s wife interjected. pointing to an emergency map by the chamber’s entrance. “It’s been made pretty clear that the higher-ups of the first responders have written us off. Our best chance is to get out and head for the other sanctuaries or make it to the city outskirts.”

Twilight Aster considered the idea for a moment, "On the surface, we’d be exposed to more attacks. We’d be sitting ducks out there, especially with this many civilians to look out for. If anything, the tunnels here link up with the subway system and that would normally make for a decent way out. Unfortunately, nobody prepared for this kind of scenario. Shelter 1 has reinforced barriers, and is deeper underground. Not to mention, we don’t know the current state of the city as a whole. It's our best shot.”

Black Star, his face drawn, chimed in, "Yeah. The surface is a no-go right now. Besides, we’ve got some heavy hitter supervillains upstairs helping out for once. We should regroup with them.”

The soldiers nearby grumbled, clearly disgruntled at the idea of supervillains being on their side. One particularly burly soldier stepped forward, "With all due respect, I'd rather die than work with those bastards."

Black Star sighed, raising an eyebrow at the soldier. "Look dude, do you want to survive this or not?"

Another soldier, a woman with a sharp gaze and a scar across her cheek, chimed in, "To be perfectly frank, don't think we've forgotten who our real enemies are. We can’t trust them, even in a situation like this."

I felt a jolt of frustration at the misplaced aggression. "Seriously? Now's not the time for this!" I shot back, my aura flaring toward the ceiling with my temper. "Our priority is getting these people to safety. I don't care if you have to work with a damn unicorn. Do what needs to be done, soldier!"

Black Star chuckled at that, his eyes gleaming. "Well, if you find a unicorn, let me know. I've always wanted to ride one."

"Focus! Cool your heads! All of you!" Twilight Aster barked, the commanding tone silencing everyone.

Silence settled around us once more, only to be broken by the sound of footsteps echoing down the tunnels as the rest of the civilians entered the chamber.

The lights above suddenly flickered erratically, casting odd, dancing shadows on the walls.

Black Star's gaze darted around the chamber, and his demeanor suddenly reflected an intense focus. "Did... did anyone hear that? I just heard it again."

Twilight Aster tightened her grip on her weapon, her eyes darting around the dim chamber. "Hear what?"

"I don't know," Black Star replied, the playfulness gone from his voice, replaced with a palpable edge of anxiety.

A soft, distant chittering sound, like the claws of a hundred small animals skittering on a hard surface, echoed from the entrance of the tunnel. The flickering lights, in their unpredictable rhythm, illuminated a fast-moving, horde-like shadow stretching across the tunnel walls.

Twilight Aster and I exchanged worried glances, both of us acknowledging that ominous noise. The soldiers gripped their weapons tightly, the nervous energy tangible in the air. Even the civilians seemed to sense the impending danger.

"Stay close!" Jacob shouted to his family, pushing them behind him.

One of the soldiers, with a high-tech night vision goggle on his eyes, played with a switch to get a clearer view of the approaching threat. His face went deathly pale, and his voice quivered as he relayed what he saw. "We've got incoming! It's not just one or two... it's a swarm!"

Twilight Aster readied her staff. "Prepare yourselves," she commanded, her voice echoing in the chamber. But before anyone could react, a swarm of what looked like rats, but with grotesque and mutated features, and glowing blue ichor poured at the mouth of the chamber. Their eyes glowed eerily blue in the dim light, fixated on the group of survivors.

My heart raced, adrenaline pumping through my veins. My hand instinctively reached for the cat, Mr. Fluffles, in my pocket. With a determined breath, I shouted, “LUMINARY BARRIER!” and summoned a concave wall enveloping the entrance to the chamber, trying to prevent the wave of creatures from reaching us. The barrier shimmered with a brilliant light, holding back the monstrous vermin... for now.

Black Star's face was a mix of horror and disbelief as he watched the luminescent blockade being tested by the horde.

He gulped, stepping back, "Of all the twisted things we've seen in the last 48 hours. This? Zombie rats? Really?!"

He paused for a beat, looking squarely at the relentless onslaught.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!”