She’ll be here soon. Even if Melville was invisible, if she fought with Lazuline, Clantail can easily deduce her position, forcing her into a 2-on-1.

She had to deal with Lazuline first, blocking a kick with her large bow. She had no time.

Melville focused on Clantail’s feet, changing the color of the rocky area to black all over. It wouldn’t reflect light, perfect black. Because of this, Clantail won’t be able to tell which parts of the rocks were rough or not, making it hard for her to run fast. Did she slow down? Or was she so full of anger that she continued to speed up? Was she confused, or only mildly bothered? At the very least, Melville wanted to buy some time. Using that earned time, she’ll kill Lazuline.

Melville blocked the jab, hook, uppercut, and straight combos, all blocked by Melville’s palms. Melville threw away her big bow. At this distance, it’ll only be a burden. Melville swung the harpoon on her right hand towards Lazuline’s feet, but it was stopped by Lazuline’s foot. Even against Melville and her harpoon, who were all invisible, it didn’t seem like Lazuline was at a disadvantage.

Lazuline’s sharp intuition had been trained by her predecessor. It was as if Lazuline was fighting to the death, Melville couldn’t believe it. Even if Lazuline was attacked from behind, she will dodge it. Even if Lazuline was suddenly attacked, she would sense it. After all, she was able to sense the invisible traps, so of course her stature was strong.

One second had passed.

What was the First Lazuline thinking? She was an old and vindictive woman. What was she thinking, training a Magical Girl, passing on her own name, and teaching her how to fight as if it was kill-or-be-killed? She trained, and had no care in the world, and secluded herself. Was she trying to leave a sacrificial lamb in place of herself?

Because she was fighting in a kill-or-be-killed situation, Lazuline’s fists were powerful. Accurate and no hesitation. She hit Melville’s shoulder, and punched her cheeks, her hair flailing. Melville stopped moving silently. Her motions, her clothing, her breathing, all were now free. She punched back. Kicked back. Thrusted, counterattacked, rotated, used her fists, blocked with her elbows, when she was hit in the wrists, she blocked it, but couldn’t stop the momentum, thus the blow travelled through, and punched Melville in the neck, Lazuline had no fear, so Melville thrusted her harpoon. She aimed for Lazuline’s thighs, but she stopped it with her foot, Melville stepped on Lazuline’s heels, crushing her right leg.

Two seconds have passed.

Lazuline didn’t raise her voice, she didn’t even show any signs of pain. Lazuline grasped the gem on her right hand without hesitation, cracking the gem, and spreading its fragments around the area. Before Melville could understand why she did that, Lazuline had disappeared, and Melville’s back was struck. Melville’s ribs cracked. Her kidneys were damaged too. When she waved her harpoon backwards, Lazuline wasn’t there. Melville raised her arms, trying to guard an attack to her forehead, but while she wanted to counterattack, Lazuline disappeared again. Melville’s throat was struck, her shoulder, arms, and thighs as well, and other than the first strike, Melville was able to avoid large amounts of damage by predicting and avoiding the attacks, but she still couldn’t counterattack, repeatedly being beaten up like some sort of punishment, she was beaten down. Even though Lazuline was just one, it felt like there were multiple Lazulines attacking her.

The shards of the blue gem shimmered. All of them were Lazuline’s weapons. Lazuline was able to teleport from shard to shard, so fast that afterimages began to overlap each other. There wasn’t any chance for Melville to counterattack.

Three seconds have passed.

Melville fell to the ground. It seemed like she couldn’t stand Lazuline’s repeated attacks, it seems she collapsed due to her unbalanced back… but of course it wasn’t true. Melville will never stop fighting due to pain or injury. Melville’s every movement was always aimed at her victory. Even though she was a coward, and despicable, she wasn’t ashamed at choosing a way of life like Clamberry.

Melville placed her back on the ground. With this, her blind spot in the back is gone. The rock was hard, cold, and stained with cracks.

She was sure that Lazuline would give the final blow to the weakened and fallen Melville, and that she would appear. That’s when Melville will attack. However, if she attacks now, she wouldn’t win. Lazuline’s injuries and Melville’s injuries, Lazuline’s stance and Melville’s position, Lazuline’s power and Melville’s power, and the timing selected by Lazuline, all of them had to be taken together in an instant. It would be meaningless if she waited too long. All Melville needed was victory. She aimed for victory, and just a little bit more.

Four seconds have passed.

Lazuline appeared, at the same time, Melville appeared. Her body that has been invisible this whole time now in color. Her body, image, shadow, all of them looked crazy, and Melville made a false image of herself. Lazuline thrusted her legs, ready to trample the collapsed Melville.

While she was trampling, Melville thrusted her harpoon, intersecting her. Although Melville didn’t aim the harpoon, it pierced through Lazuline’s ribs, and stabbed her through the heart. Lazuline looked down at Melville, the anger in her eyes burning, and her eyes reflecting Melville, who was crawling on the ground.

Melville, who had been invisible the whole fight and taken direct attacks, suddenly showed herself lying on her stomach, causing Lazuline to be too bold. Lazuline wanted to do a blow to end the fight, aiming at her vitals, launching an attack with a huge motion. Because of that… Melville’s harpoon was waiting the whole time, that’s when she decided to appear to Lazuline.

If she sustained a perfect visual image, Lazuline probably would catch on. However, this time, Melville just reversed the back and front of her body, she was actually there. She used herself as a decoy, succeeding in making a small opening to attack Lazuline. Lazuline, who had been pierced through the heart, still hit her original attack to Melville, Melville was somewhat weakened, Lazuline had hit her vital spot.

Five seconds have passed.

Magical Girl Raising Project: Restart, Ch. 10