MHGA Chapter 348 – The Shock of a Physical-Type Magical Girl
Kairo Retsu knew exactly what Laios meant by "no casualties."
With carts available, at least members of the Gathering Hub wouldn't face true danger to their lives. But faced with the sudden appearance of the Shagaru Magala… Kairo Retsu couldn't think of a perfect plan to both repel it and prevent irreversible losses.
Let alone the fact that… this time, the Hunters' mission was to slay the source of the Frenzy Virus.
Kairo Retsu looked over at the Winged Lion beside him. The lion lazily licked its paw and shook its head at Kairo Retsu's gaze. "Granny Felyne strictly forbids me from interfering with Hunters' quests. I'm happy to help outside of official missions, but not during one."
"Then… stall the Shagaru Magala while the Felynes build a Special Arena?" Kairo Retsu muttered anxiously. "No, before the arena's even finished, Setsuna Shizaki might already be in danger… and there's no guarantee the Shagaru Magala would even enter it…"
"Hunter-san! Hunter!"
Just as Kairo Retsu was spiraling in thoughts, Kikuchihara Aki's voice came urgently through his earpiece: "Can you hear me? Mamika Kirameki and Sakura Kinomoto are missing!"
"!"
Kairo Retsu's heart skipped a beat. "How can they be missing?! Wait… what about Madoka? Is Madoka still there?"
"I'll explain," Meteora's voice followed immediately after Aki's. "After witnessing the devastation caused by the Shagaru Magala, the two of them flew toward the 'birdcage.' I'm still able to track their location… It seems they intend to join the fight."
"Also, Hunter-san, inside the birdcage right now… the Frenzy Virus you mentioned has already started leaking outward." Meteora's tone grew grim. "The 'Shagaru Magala's' influence is too great for the birdcage to contain. We've already begun evacuating civilians."
"Right now, Altair may be fighting on our side. And Sirius, who has the same ability as Altair, can also join the battle." Meteora added, "If the Frenzy Virus leaks completely, the consequences—"
Meteora's warning dealt another heavy blow to Kairo Retsu's morale.
Now… the Shagaru Magala's sudden appearance had completely backed his side into a corner.
Hunters could retreat and return later after a failed quest—but the lives lost to the Shagaru Magala would not get a second chance.
Hunter growth… was lacking. This was the first time Kairo Retsu had faced a situation where the collective strength of the Hunters was insufficient.
He knew he shouldn't hesitate—but he didn't know what to do.
Even if he rushed in now, the cart might not solve the problem. It could even waste precious time.
He needed a way to counter the Shagaru Magala—but staring at that overwhelming power, he began to doubt if he had the right to call himself the "Sapphire Star" in front of these people.
Kairo Retsu stood frozen, thinking back on the path that had brought him here.
He had been cautious. But he had still underestimated the Elder Dragons…
Perhaps it was because of the restrained power of Nergigante, or the always-weakened state of Kirin… But the first time he faced a true disaster deliberately wrought by an Elder Dragon, he was left powerless.
But… Kairo Retsu also knew—if he did nothing now, he would have failed the Hunters' duty. Let alone living up to what the title of "Sapphire Star" represented.
"At the very least… I need to start moving if I want to find a path forward."
He clenched his fist. "Even the new arrivals have moved upon seeing this situation… As Guildmaster, I must lead by example!"
Kairo Retsu calmed himself, thinking from a perspective beyond that of a Hunter.
Perhaps using the rules of conceptual recognition—or tapping into other powers…
And just as he pondered this, he suddenly noticed a very familiar voice growing closer…
"b…s…"
"bo…s…"
"bo…ss…"
"Boss!!!!!!!!!!"
Kairo Retsu jerked his head up to see a yellow figure streaking through the sky like a meteor. Riding that figure was his Silly Cat, wearing the Flame Village ninja uniform—
"Boss!!! I brought the Symphogear user to support you!!!"
Silly Cat flapped wildly while clinging to the transformed Hibiki Tachibana in midair. As they passed over Kairo Retsu's head, Silly Cat leapt off, unfurled a glider kite, and soared right into Kairo Retsu's face—diving directly into his arms.
"Silly Cat?! Wait—Hibiki's here to help?" Kairo Retsu's eyes widened as he spotted a weapon case strapped to her back. "How did you get Hibiki to come?"
"Because Granny Felyne told me Boss and the Hunters were in big trouble! Hibiki heard and rushed over to help, meow!" Silly Cat beamed, raising a shovel-shaped Felyne weapon. "Boss! I'm here to hunt with you! And I brought your weapon case—you can swap for the right gear, nya!"
"Good cat!" Kairo Retsu ruffled Silly Cat vigorously, then suddenly froze. "Wait… Hibiki went toward the Shagaru Magala? She's not in danger, is she?"
Even as he said it, in the direction where the Constructs were struggling with the Shagaru Magala, a brilliant light erupted.
With it came a chant—one that sounded sacred, if a bit awkwardly delivered…
[Gatrandis babel ziggurat edenal————]
That chant echoed through the birdcage as Hibiki's flight speed surged—and then, Hibiki Tachibana, brimming with ferocity, delivered a punch that sent the Shagaru Magala's head lurching sideways. Even the scales on its face cracked from the blow.
The Constructs who had struggled to slow the Shagaru Magala were left utterly dumbfounded.
Who was this warrior just now?! Whose general is this, so fierce and bold?!!!
"?"
Even Kairo Retsu was stunned by Hibiki's song.
Wait a damn minute—isn't that Hibiki's Final Song?! Why the hell did she go straight into a Final Song and hit the Shagaru Magala with a right hook?!
Isn't this her ultimate function!? Sure, only Kanade Amou died from using it… but still, how is that the first thing you pull out upon entering the battlefield?!
"Boss."
Silly Cat poked Kairo Retsu's cheek with a round paw. "Granny Felyne gave Hibiki lots of Secret Potions, said she and her allies should use them together, nya~"
"...?"
Kairo Retsu blinked, then something clicked in his mind.
The Final Song was a life-draining, last-resort ability. It's called a "Final Song" for a reason—those who use it may not die, but they often lose their ability to keep fighting…
But what if the injuries from a Final Song… were instantly healed?
Kairo Retsu looked down at the Secret Potion in his hand, then back up at the unrefined but full-powered Hibiki, trading punches with the Shagaru Magala—this physical-type magical girl—
"Wait a second…" Kairo Retsu's eyes lit up. "I might actually have a plan!"
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