Puella Magi Hunger Games

Chapter 18

"This is it," Oriko's calm voice reached them, "Our new camp." Homura and Madoka looked up, to view their new surroundings.

It was the ground floor of a fallen skyscraper. Wood planks and smashed computers all around the room implied that this had once been an office, before Walpurgisnacht's attack. A space had been cleared in the middle of the room, where scratches and marks lingered on the dingy, yet somewhat tidy floor.

"I've been thinking of how we could break the barrier," Oriko continued, gliding her way daintily around computers, monitors and other debris, "Your attack is not enough, and I feel that with mine, it still may not be enough. I have no idea how Kirika can strike the barrier, without getting herself blasted, but her...Abilities, may prevent this." Homura frowned at her mention of Kirika's abilities.

"What do you mean by her abilities?" Homura questioned, suspicion rising inside her. Oriko hesitated, unsure whether to reply to that. Finally she answered.

"Kirika has the ability to slow magic, almost tangling it, so she can have the upper hand of speed." Kirika glanced at Oriko, her distrust showing on her face as clearly as the full moon in the night sky. Oriko tactfully ignored the glance, and continued.
"We can either attack the barrier together, or we can attack separately and continuously. Either way, Kirika will have to jump in and slash the barrier at the last minute, without getting hit."
Homura digested this information slowly.
"I don't think we can break the barrier either way," Homura replied, "Attacking it from outside won't work. If we could find a way to send magic into the barrier then have it erupt, it might work." Oriko nodded, still not looking at Kirika, who fidgeted impatiently.

Yuuki glanced around her warily. Her uneasy feeling of being watched still hadn't gone, and she felt so vulnerable, out in the open. She couldn't try and hide anywhere, because it was so easy for her to be ambushed, and trapped. The open space was best, where she needed to see her attacker, and fight back.
Her boots scuffed the dusty ground, as she reached a small slope. That was good. If she could find somewhere to keep a lookout up high, a hill would be the best place.

Miku hid behind the wreckage of a boat, its wood planks and twisted shape hiding her. Silently, she watched Yuuki make her way up the slope, and her breathing hitched slightly. Another battle. She wanted to avoid them, but she couldn't. If she won... Miku's heart leapt at the thought of another wish, one she could use to help her family.
It seemed so easy. Just kill everyone in the arena and get the wish, but it wasn't that simple, Miku realised, these magical girls are also fighting for that, striving to get to that same goal, and they would not hesitate to kill her.

Kyubey watched the scene unfold in front of him, while Oriko and Homura discussed their plans, still standing, and still wary of each other. The events of Miku silently stalking Yuuki flashed behind him, but that wasn't important. Not yet anyway.

Miku realised it was her chance to strike. Yuuki had stopped, and was bending over to inspect the ground, her back turned. Maybe for tracks, maybe something else, Miku didn't care. All she cares about was finishing this quickly, before any of them could suffer.
Ducking silently from behind the boat, she summoned her enormous sword, and began running towards Yuuki as quietly as she could, hoping to cover the 10 metres between them before Yuuki could react.
The sword slowed her down though, and Yuuki managed to roll out of the way, as Miku's sword came crashing down, just where she was crouching.

Springing to her feet, Yuuki pulled out her scythe, facing Miku, trying to analyse her situation. Miku was slower, due to her sword, but much stronger as a result. One blow would probably injure Yuuki severely. Yuuki had the speed though. If she could tire out Miku, jus long enough to - to stop her, she could get away unharmed.
And will Miku also get away?
The small voice in the back of her mind whispered.
Or will you be heartless and destroy those who try to destroy you?
Yuuki hesitated, suddenly unsure. Miku saw this as a chance to strike again. Leaping forward and hefting her Titan sword into the air, she swung it in a wide arc, aiming for Yuuki's head, ready to bring it crashing down on the hesitant girl.
Yuuki looked up, sensing the shadow of the sword over her. Her eyes widened, as she registered Miku and her incoming weapon.
Flinging herself to the right, Yuuki managed to avoid getting crushed, but her left ankle was caught, and severely bruised, probably broken. Miku's sword had given her a major injury.
Yuuki groaned in pain, struggling to move her left leg, without aggravating it's injuries further. She rose unsteadily to her feet, favoring her left leg. She would heal, but definitely not before this battle was over.
Focusing, she reached into her magic, and enhanced her scythe, coating it with a veil of magic, which will cause much more damage if it struck. She can deflect Miku's sword somewhat better with the scythe as well. Crouching slightly, she braced herself in a defensive position, her scythe on guard.
Miku frowned. Her two attacks had been slightly tiring, nothing she couldn't cope with, but she had hoped to have finished off Yuuki by now. She had to keep trying though. She had to.

"Energy levels are rising," Kyubey reported to Juubey, "The battle between Yuuki and Miku is letting off more energy than I thought." Juubey turned to the data meter showing the energy coming out of Yuuki's and Miku's battle.
"We're still a long way from reaching the quote though," Juubey observed, "Adding another magical energy to it could increase the energy though." Kyubey looked at Juubey in surprise.
"You aren't thinking of-"
"I am, incubator, I am."

Hi everyone! It's been ages since I last gave you a personal message, and I just wanted to thank you all for reading, voting or commenting, or any combination of the three. Please comment on my story, and feel free to criticise, just be polite. You can even rant at me (but don't swear, use any rude words, etc.), and tell me my story is horrible, but at least tell me what I did wrong. I still hope you don't rant though :) Once again, thanks for reading, and I will update as soon as I can XD

~M_illy