All at once, the castle came alive. Like a kicked hive. Countless flying creatures poured out of it. Like a living thing, they coalesced and honed in the fleeing magical girls. I watched, as they flew, sending bolts of magic into the oncoming swarm, only barely keeping them at bay.

  It almost looked like they’d be swallowed whole by the swarm, but before they could, the web above us came alive. Thousands of wires shifted and moved. Creaks and vibrating lines echoed through the city. Snaps and cracks followed, with whips and hisses. Like a living thing, like countless snakes, they rippled back, wrapping around.

  “It’s starting.” Grim supplied, just as the next closed in. The magical girls blast in through an opening, and like a net drawing around fish in the ocean, the web went taut. Countless creatures were eviscerated in a moment. Blood poured down by the gallon into the streets below. The lines grew tighter. Pulling towards the castle, forming into a vast net. Bats swarmed, like a living cloud, covering it all. Ripping and tearing anything that broke through.

  Then, just before the web could fully cover the castle, it went limp.

  “She ran out of magic.” Grim replied, answering the unasked question. Even then, as it fell, it dragged with it countless fliers. I could feel magic surge. The castle, now damaged, still floated above the city, but at a tilt. It jittered. Almost as if it were struggling to stay afloat.

  “They must have hit the magic reactors.” Grim continues, giving me the play by play.

  “We should be seeing the chief make a move here in a moment, and then the tiger would have to leave their fortress.”

  I listened and watched. Dots of white, streaks of silver shot into the sky. Trailing behind them were countless feathers.

  “The Justice Task Force.” Grim supplied once again. Wielding sabers, they charged in, slashing through the falling wires with ease, carving through the mass of flesh without a care. At the center of it all, I could see a figure. Her eyes glowing gold, piercing through the bloody night. As if they were the eyes of judgement, weighing the scales. Beside her, a resplendent figure covered in gold stood, looking up at the castle.

  They were drawing in. They moved and swirled around the fortress, slowly doing damage to it with bolts of light shot from pistols they wielded. Each shot, blew chunks out of the fortress, slowly whittling it away.

  “Any moment now…” Grim said, her hands tightening on the hilt of her blade. Her breath held in anticipation.

  So, it went by the book. Or… it should have. There was an odd flavor in the air. A crackle. A harsh wind emanating from behind us. Grim’s eyes were solely on the ongoing operation, but mine were looking back. At the center of the lower district. A bright green light made itself known. A ghastly energy, pulsed and throbbed from atop the highest tower inside the district. Countless streams of energy flowed from all over the district, into the tower itself.

  “Grim! What the hell is that!?” I cried out, over the growing whine of the wind. Her neck cracked with the speed her head turned. Her eyes widened.

  “Oh, shit!” She cried out, breaking composure. “We need to get inside, NOW!” Before I could even respond, she grabbed my arm, pulled me into the building. She didn’t stop until she dived into the basement, where the jail was, all the while dragging me with her. We hit the ground with a thud.

  Before I could even question what had happened, or voice out the pain of having been thrown down a flight of stairs. The world quaked. The temperature rose. I could feel the very air vibrate, like we were in a microwave.

  Instinctively, my ice made itself known. What little magic I had recovered went into cooling me down. Seconds, minutes, hours, it felt like passed before the overpowering heat dissipated. When it did, Grim didn’t even give me a look before storming up the stairs.

  I followed and gaped. The ceiling was gone. Melted away like wax. The cityscape too. The wires gone. The castle, gone. All there was, was a sun. That burned hot, above the city, bathing the world in green.

  “THAT BASTARD!” Grim shouted out into the sky. Her radio crackled, but no words came across.

  “What was that!?” I shout out. Trying to understand what had just happened.

  She growled. Her entire body emitted choking ash. Her eyes focused on the lower district, the tower ruined tower that stood above it all. Her eyes seemed focused on something, a fleck of green at the center.

  With a sharp exhale, she collected herself, but only just.

  “That… was the leader of the Wizard Gang’s magic.”

  “And what kind of magic does that?” I had to ask.

  “Explosion magic. From what I understand, it takes a lot of magical power to even use, but… his sister uses synergy type magic and can link all everyone’s magic to himself.”

  Her words sounded absurd.

  “He… nuked the city?”

  “Essentially. I have no idea why he moved, but the bastard moves at his own pace. Normally, his sister keeps him in check, but…” I could tell she wanted to keep ranting but held her tongue. “Either way, I doubt it did too much damage to the chief and the Justice Task Force. A nuke wouldn’t be enough to kill them.” She said, with some certainty.

  Certainty that proved well founded as silver figures made themselves known amidst the clouds of debris. Where the town hall was, well, it still stood surprisingly, atop it the golden figure still stood. Covering the other figure with golden eyes.

  I could hear Grim let out a breath of relief. A short lived one, since, as the sun began to dissipate, a new form came into being. Where the fortress had been, a single figure now hovered. They looked worn and tattered. Regal like an empress, only, one dragged through the mud and dirt. It was clear at a glance who it was, the tiger. The leader of this invasion.

  With a pulse of magic, the air displaced. A shout rippled out through the city. One filled with anger and frustration.

  “TORA!!!” A voice followed. “WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!?” The voice continued. Only, they never got a response. Without delay, the silver streaks shot out. Circling the tiger like birds of prey. Her voice continued to reach over the city, exclaiming in frustration, shouting out words of death as she swung and shot lances of silver light out.

  Most missed, but the few that did were met by multiple members of the task force. They came together to take the blows, their radiance combining into a shield. Only to dissipate under strikes. Forcing them out of the fight. As their numbers dwindled, as they were slowly put out of the fight, down below, the radiant figure still stood, as did the one with golden eyes.

  As the last fell, a new voice, a voice I had heard, only, this time without the interference of the radio.

  “TIGER!” A shout. “I am the Chief of the purgatory police department! Surrender now, or be branded a criminal!”

  “FUCK YOU!” The tiger yelled back, even wounded and tired as she was. Then I felt it. A shudder.

  “Very well then, with my authority, I brand you, A CRIMINAL!”

  Something shook. A golden radiance surrounded the tiger. A vast mark, a beam of light from the very heavens. Before the tiger could even comprehend, or even I could begin to understand what we were seeing, the golden figure shot forward. A large axe in hand, four sets of golden wings at her back, decked in radiant armor. The golden figure clashed, her blow struck, and was blocked… Yet…

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  The light surrounding her throbbed. The blow repeated, or so it looked. With a shout of pain, she was sent flying back, and the radiant figure followed. The two clashed, or rather, it was solely the radiant figure bashing into the tiger with impunity. Every blocked strike would still injure her, even missed strikes would invoke damage of some sort.

  “The chief uses contract type magic.” Grim supplies. “As the city police chief, she has taken certain oaths and can use her magic to further leverage her positions power. Which is why, no matter what, you should never intentionally break the law inside this city.”

  My mouth was dry. It wasn’t like I had such an intention, but… “I’ll have to keep that in mind.”

  The tiger was miserably being beaten. She cried and shouted, trying to fight back, but failing constantly. Seeing that she couldn’t make any kind of progress, she began shouting hysterically.

  “Tora! Where are you! TORA! This isn’t what I was promised!” She kept shouting. Her words echoed out, airing her grievances for all too hear. “You told me, that I was born for greatness! THAT I WAS CHOSEN FOR A REASON!” A powerful blow beat her down.

  “SO WHY! WHY AM I NOT WINNING!?” She cried out again and… there was no answer. Even as she began to cry. Even as she tried to flee. No quarter was given.

  With a final cry, “TORAA!!!” She cried out, her voice cracking with anguish and rage, she died. Cut down by a golden axe.

  The very moment she died, the air shifted. I could hear my watch begin ticking faster as time began to march forward once again. And where she died, a radiance fell. The purest of white, it pierced through the night. Making itself known to all. Its very presence could not be ignored. At the center of the pillar of light, a single coin appeared. Glinting, shining, magnifying itself in the eyes of all that witnessed it.

  “I have to go. Stay here until I get back.” Grim said and shot forward. Why she did, became apparent, for at the base of the light. A new figure stood, wearing a suit and tie, and a mask on his face. He faced off with the chief without regard. The pair locked eyes. It almost looked like they would go to blows.

  Both sides faced off as more magical girls fell in line. A palpable tension settled in the air. Their magical power clashed, making the air shift and churn, like a coming storm. I could almost feel the smug satisfaction the man with the mask radiated out. I know not what words were passed, but the clear anger in the chief’s frame, and the anger of those beside her made it clear.

  That man was likely behind what happened tonight. And he was here to contest for the coin, or rather… To test the waters. Eventually, some decision must have been reached as the two sides went back and forth. The light shifted as the chief took the coin and went towards the town hall.

  The man left, along with those behind him. And soon after, Grim came back, with colleagues in tow.

  “My apologies for leaving so quickly.” She said.

  “Don’t be. I understand that the situation was, tense.” I say back.

  “That would be an understatement, but yes. That man was Lucre, head of the Dragon Gang. He also remains one of the biggest contenders for the mayoral seat.”

  “I’m a little surprised he didn’t make a move.” I tested. Grim didn’t immediately respond. Her eyes weren’t on me but looked off into the distance.

  “We’re not so weak yet, that he could just claim the coin without a fight.” Her words carried and a part of me understood. If everyone in the police department was like Grim, well, it was unlikely Lucre could have taken the coin without severe losses. Given time, that might change. I highly doubt tonight’s events were a one-off occurrence. In the coming months, he will do more to weaken the police force. Which meant, next time, it might actually be a fight.

  That is what I suspected, and I could tell Grim thought the same.

  “Regardless, I should take you back home at the very least. Considering the state of your vehicle?” She asked, more as a question, but one look and it was obvious my truck wasn’t going anywhere.

  “That would be appreciated. Especially if you could help me bring my knight’s home.”

  “Of course, just give me a few minutes and I’ll get a truck out of lockup.”

  And so, she left me alone. Not a few minutes after, someone approached. They had long hair; they wore a similar uniform.

  “You must be the one Grim’s been so focused on lately. Prima, was it?”

  She asked, extending a hand.

  “I am, and you are?”

  “Taylor. I was the one that secured the skyline during the attack.” Our hands clasped.

  “I saw as much.”

  “I’m sure you did.” Neither of us let go. Her words were etched with a hint of wariness. Her eyes looked at me with both caution and something else. “As a warning, should you ever become an enemy of the law, you will not live long.”

  “I had no plans of doing so.”

  She huffed and let go. “Be sure you don’t.” And with that, she went inside the building. Before anyone else could arrive, a truck pulled up at the side of the road. Grim hopped out and opened the back, ushering in my knights.

  I settled into the passenger seat with my bag on my lap, hot air blew, slowly warming my freezing body. Neither of us spoke as we went. Though…

  “Could we stop at my workplace first? I owe my subordinates a ride.”

  “I can do that.”

  Another shift and soon we were back at where this night started. The entrance was a wreck. The interior of the building had been seriously affected by the explosion. A part of me was worried that they had caught the brunt of it, but… they had a bit more sense than I.

  They came out of the parking garage that sat below the building, having decided to secure themselves down there shortly after I left. On sight, the officers saluted Grim and gave her a breakdown of what had happened.

  Grim said nothing as I loaded in the still cold corpse of the magical girl I had slain, though, she did step in when it came down to the captured one. With her uniform gone, in its place wasn’t a warrior princess of sorts. No, she looked almost small. She wore a ragged shirt and shorts, both barely qualified as clothing. Her hair was dull and unkempt. She looked overall, worn and malnourished.

  She looked at me, a flicker of recognition in her eyes before shifting over to Grim. Just one look and I could see her figure huddled in slightly. As if she could sense just how much more Grim was.

  Even then, she worked her jaw. “What happens now?” She asked, her voice cracked.

  Grim and I exchanged a glance, a weary sigh.

  “You have a choice. Either, you can come with me, and you will be processed, officially making you a citizen of this city, or…”

  “I die.” She said, with little to no energy.

  “That would be correct.”

  “And what then? After I become a citizen.”

  “Afterwards, you would be sent to the women’s shelter in the city. Where you can figure out how you want to make your living. In time, you’ll properly assimilate.” Grim said but sent me a look, a look I understood all too well.

  She shifted and I stepped forward… “Or… you could join under my employ.” I said, glancing at Grim. “I can’t promise you much, but I can give you a place of stay and a purpose for the time being, along with a meagre salary.”

  The magical girl, no, just the girl looked between me and Grim. “I would get, paid?” She asked, almost confused.

  “Yes, and if you find my work not rewarding enough, or that I’m mistreating you in anyway, you can easily leave and join the shelter, right Grim?” I asked.

  “Yes. If she ever abuses you, you will have the right of leaving her employ and seeking safety with the police.”

  There was a shift in her demeanor at that.

  “I…” she started, her voice, once again cracking. “I don’t know…”

  “You don’t have to choose now. Either way, you’ll be coming with me to get you processed and that can take a few days. You have until then to make a decision.” Grim supplied.

  The girl shifted again. “You’ll feed me, right?”

  “Yes and give you a proper set of clothes.”

  She almost looked ready to cry. “I… I think… I think I’ll try.”

  “You made a good choice, just give me a few minutes and we’ll have you out of your cuffs.”

  “I… thank you.” The girl says, lapsing into silence. Grim shoots me a look before hurrying to speak with the police. Leaving me with the girl. “If, if I want to take your offer, where do I find you?” The girl asked.

  “Ask Grim and she’ll take you to me. She also has my number, so getting in contact with me shouldn’t be difficult. By the way, what’s your name?”

  “I don’t… I don’t have one. She never gave us one. Never thought any of us deserved them. We were just tools to her.”

  “I understand, then, next time, I look forward to hearing your name.”

  “That… I think I would like that too, but… what’s your name?”

  “Prima, Prima Belle.”

  “It’s a nice name…”

  “Thank you, and again, hopefully we will meet soon.” With those words I left her alone. Grim was having a conversation with the officers, on seeing me she thanked me.

  “I’m glad they survived. You have no idea how much this means to the department.”

  “I did what I could, no more, no less.”

  “Either way, thank you. As for the invader, I’ll make sure she’s processed as soon as possible.”

  “That would be great, but how long would that take?”

  “About a week, at least. With how damaged the headquarters is, along with the losses inside the department, it will take some time to work through the paperwork.”

  “I understand, now, how about getting me and mine back to my place.”

  “Sure, I can do that, and on my way back I can get the officers and the prisoner.”

  With that, we loaded up and soon enough, were back at my warehouse. Grim left without even stepping out of the vehicle. Leaving me with Liche and Joan.

  “I’m, uh, going to head back boss… Tonight was a bit too exciting for me.”

  “I agree... Really makes me want some hard liquor.” I say back.

  “I feel ya boss, but I just want to crash for tonight. Why don’t we do something tomorrow, or rather, later?” She said, still not quite looking me in the eye.

  I checked my watch. It was after midnight now.

  “Well, you have my number. I also don’t mind taking the time to drive you both home if you want.”

  Neither disagreed, and by the time I finished dropping them off, the moon had set, and the sun was beginning to rise.

  Back at the warehouse, I made a last few checks before throwing myself into bed, and immediately, I fell into slumber…

  It was already the next year. Past midnight. Marking a full six months since coming here. Slowly, but surely, memories of the past replied, but compared to then… Compared to the past, I now knew what I wanted.

  To be seen. Recognized. No matter the cost. No matter the price. I was going to be under that spotlight. And everyone was going to see me.

  That was my resolution, my goal. And with that, something at my core resonated, thrummed in anticipation.

  After all, nothing ever came easy…

  Book 3 End...