“Commander Hana, without Lieutenant Kyouma doing resupply runs, our food and water is likely to run out.”

“Ration supplies and organise a team to make periodic trips to Matsue.”

“Commander Hana, several of our spears have begun to blunt, and our shields have taken a beating too.”

“Prioritise fresh equipment for those on the front lines. We didn’t bring much in the way of replacements so damaged equipment will have to repaired.”

“Commander Hana, without Captain Saki our combat effectiveness will be lower. Shall we change our strategy to account?”

“Reorganise into a phalanx, provide our archers with more protection so we can continue to outrange our enemies.”

“Commander Hana…”

“Commander Hana…”

“Commander Hana…”

As my sisters in arms flooded me with questions of logistics and strategy, I lamented the disappearance of my right hand and my mentor.

“Dammit, Kyouma, Saki, where the hell are you?”

It had been the better part of an entire day since the Hussars disappeared into the portal. It had failed to reopen since, but I didn’t for a second believe this would be the end of the fight. The portal had opened at exactly sunset, and closed at exactly sunrise. If my instincts were right, come nightfall we’d be forced to deal with yet another wave of beasts.

I also had my doubts as to whether the other seven would survive an entire day in hell. Saki was a great leader, and they were all skilled warriors, but surviving in a hostile foreign land from sunrise to sunset? It was a tall order.

With finally a short moment’s reprieve, I looked around at the chaos in my vicinity. The previous days' rain had quelled the fires, but some of the surrounding trees and shrubbery had been burned to a crisp. The ground was utterly ruined, the muddy terrain no match for the onslaught of rain and boots from the night before. And worst of all, the police tape cutting us off from Matsue.

It had been impossible to hide our activities from the public after they resulted in explosions and forest fires, so in the early hours of the morning shortly after sunrise we were approached by a number of armed police officers. We were able to convince them that it was an off-the-books government op and that we were a secretive magical girl division, but it was clear they only half-bought that lie. With the situation as dire as it was, we could hardly afford to come into conflict with our fellow humans.

I looked out at the horizon. The sun was low in the sky. Night would soon fall, and the onslaught would continue.

“Yuigahama, take a small contingent of your troops and form a crowd control team. Keeping civvies away from the fight is priority one.”

“On it, commander Hana.”

“Hikigaya, make sure your archers stay protected by the phalanx. Expect heavy return fire and ensure arrows and magic are used sparingly.”

“As you wish, commander Hana.”

“Isshiki, your reserves are also in charge of resupply and treatment for the wounded. Keep them on their toes.”

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“I won’t let you down, commander Hana.”

Time was running short, so I barked last minute commands at my subordinates. We were at every disadvantage, I had to be on the top of my game.

“Spartans! Take up your formation! Raise your shields and ready your spears! Cut down any that encroach on your territory!”

“Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!”

With startling efficiency, the entire army of 300 girls rearranged themselves into their battle formations: 100 spearmen in the phalanx, 100 range fighters and supporters covering behind them, 80 reserves awaiting their call to arms. The remaining twenty were occupied by crowd control and resupply jobs.

I myself remained toward the centre of the pack, unable to lead from the front with my slowly healing arm. It was well enough to carry my shield, but in no condition to take any more heavy strikes.

The chanting ended and everyone assumed their position, our defensive formation even stronger than it was the night before. Slowly, we watched the sun fall below the horizon, anticipating the appearance of the same portal as the night before.

But no such portal appeared.

“Aaaargh!”

The cries of one of our comrades drew the attention of all of us simultaneously. She had been stabbed: had she moved a moment later, it would have struck a vital organ.

“They’re appearing wherever they like now?!” Yelled Hikigaya beside me.

Yes, the demon who had stabbed one of our comrades had emerged from a small portal behind the reserve lines. We watched on in horror as a dozen more appeared, encircling our entire formation and immediately hounding us with magical attacks. Our shields held strong, but our lines were suddenly in disarray.

“Shit! Reserves, fall back to the central formation! Archers and casters to the centre, spearmen to the front!”

We desperately fended off the attacks, many of my comrades taking severe wounds as they retreated. Before any of us could even tell what was going on, our entire formation was surrounded.

These were no imps nor ogres. They were bona fide demons. Some carried weapons like scythes and swords, others launched magic at us from afar.

“Barriers up! Archers, target their casters! Spearmen, do not let your shields fall!”

I continued to call orders at my army, though it was clear for all to see that the situation was as dire as they come. Our defences were holding, but not well. And worst of all, only 280 of us were accounted for.

“The crowd controllers! Shit!” Hikigaya’s thoughts followed mine: our small group of twenty, standing before the police tape separating us from Matsue, were isolated and under attack. The spears and shields protecting them would not hold long.

Still, we had some tricks up our sleeves.

“More imps, staggered line! Hana, they outnumber us 3-to-1!”

“Then it’s still an even fight. Pyrocasters, fire at will! Burn their mongrel hides!”

A flurry of fireballs set the bodies of our imp foes alight, a thousand animalistic brutes burning before our eyes. The cries of anguish and pain drowned out the angered orders of their demon superiors.

Though the imps were the least of our problems, the burning of their ranks was the cornerstone of my defensive strategy. Within less than a minute, my plan began to come into fruition.

The flames spread quickly, several of the fireballs striking the trees behind the demons. It wasn’t long before the forest was once again alight, forcing our demon foes forward and closer to us, straight into the points of our spears. We used the opportunity to sandwich many of our enemies between the flames and ourselves, turning the bad situation back on them.

Despite being far stronger and smarter than any foe we had seen before, we were able to cut down a dozen or so of the demons in the scramble, relieving the crowd control division and giving us time to reposition ourselves.

However, this was not enough to fix all of the disarray in our ranks. Our phalanx had collapsed into a circular wall of shields and spears, being attacked from every direction. Were I not taller than most of my comrades, I wouldn’t even be able to see what was happening.

“Projectiles! Raise shields!”

I called out as I saw a volley of magical projectiles get fired into the air, set to descend upon all of us with deadly speed. The Sisters were able to cover their heads fast enough to prevent any casualties, but the projectiles struck with immense force, and several shields began to splinter.

Our own archers and casters returned fire, several of the demons sustaining wounds and being forced to retreat. Both we and they began casting one-way barriers as fast as physically possible, all the while pelting each other with every ranged attack possible.

Both sides had done serious damage to the defences of the other. The barriers would have to hold, or we would be forced to fight head on. The casualties for both sides would be staggering.

“Dammit, Saki…” I muttered under my breath, “whatever it is you’re doing in there, you better get back soon…”