*
The Observer, an eldritch being that ignored rules by existing. If not for Lastia absorbing its remains as her sustenance, perhaps it would have come back to life and wreak more havoc. Using the same energy that disregards the laws of this universe, she brought everyone back to life. In the first place, outer beings have trouble manifesting in lower worlds, just as we cannot comprehend them, they cannot perceive us at first. Usually a ritual needs to be conducted to wake them and catch their attention...
It's unlikely, but could there be a higher force protecting this world? If so, why is it back? It's weaker than before, likely ressurected by force by some unknown process or being. It's not supposed to be back so fast, at least not in our lifetimes according to Arin. In its weakened state, it is still A grade instead of S. It is mindless, like a wild animal. But even animals have urges to survive and reproduce, The Observer only destroys. Carrying Aura, I swapped to another location further away.
When I looked back, there was a massive pillar of light with a fuzzy purple outline in the distance. It was razing the park without resistance, carving a ravine with ease. When the violent gale blows back in its wake, I could feel the heat emanating from that beam tickle my skin.
"W... What's that?" (Aura)
She had transformed and climbed down, a cool teal dress wrapped around her figure. Full of transparent gauze layers and velvety white grills like a curtain, her dress is embroidered and decorated to the brim. Propped up like medieval dresses with milky white stockings and cute simple shoes, her combat dress seemed like something you would see on television on a Sunday morning.
"Right... The Traces we fight in real life might not look as scary as the monsters you see in shows, but having your life threatened in reality is far worse than anything you'll see.
That's one of the heavenly kings, The Observer. A higher form of Traces. It possesses near limitless quantities of energy that ignore the rules of this world. " (Sariel)
Honestly, it's not as scary as it sounds. Magic also ignores the rules of this world if you have the right skill. Magical energy already ignores time and space so there are ways to tap into that infinite source of energy, though magical girls' bodies can't handle more than they can already handle normally. At the same time if you don't tap into it, only a finite amount is connected to the present time and space. Put another way, magical girls are just as eldritch as The Observer is, just that we have different stats.
"How do beat that thing... Do we wait for help?" (Aura)
Normally a Heavenly King cannot be contained in an event, that's enough proof that the entity in front of her is already severely weakened. At the same time, she felt like if she tried she could tank that laser beam for a few seconds. Maybe even use those seconds to close the distance and attack The Observer. Well, it was still ideal to defeat it without getting hurt.
"No help will be coming. Okay, I told you about it last time, but let's really teach you about 'Event's this time." (Sariel)
"? Is there more to it that I haven't learnt? " (Aura)
Rather than confusion, surprise was etched over her face. Carefully, she prodded with a question. It was only natural, no one thinks about it beyond that it happens, and when the Trace is defeated all public property damage and casualties are reversed. Sometimes when an event occurs, there are still people left around, just in a monochrome palette. Sometimes, people are also whisked away and the only ones present will be the magical girls and the Trace. There's no pattern to it, perhaps it is a lesser degree of resistance from stronger Traces that can't outright deny the event from activating.
"Let's start with the 'why'? Do you know who is causing this phenomenon and why?" (Sariel)
When something occurs, it's second nature to assume that it was a work of nature, rather than pondering who would do such a thing.
"It's to protect humanity, right? As for who is causing 'Event's... Could it be you? -Oww! " (Aura)
I chopped her head lightly.
"Eterna, the goddess of garden. I believe the garden refers to earth or humanity, I'm not very sure. But if an 'Event' is occurring, you can be sure Eterna is well and alive.
As the garden's owner, she has the most authority to cause 'Event's and it's easiest for her to do it over anyone else. " (Sariel)
Aura was right, the most important point was its function to protect humanity and daily life. To preserve the ordinary, far removed from the aspects of mystics and divine.
" If you think about it carefully, it means we have the ability to properly kill it or distract it until help arrives. We were recognised by Eterna." (Sariel)
Or maybe there would be no better sacrificial lamb that could weaken it and allow others to finish the job. Of course she kept silent on this part, ultimately unless Eterna manipulated fate so that the right magical girls reach the right Traces, it's actually completely random and everything she said was hot garbage. Wait... From her perspective, it was surely random. She had fought a variety of Traces after all.
However, everytime... Out of the entire earth's worth of magical girls, Heavenly Kings always find their way to Lastia's team. What if... Eterna can choose where the Traces appear? She might not be able to stop their manifestation entirely... But this would lend credence to her theory where matches are actually selected according to ability... Then, because she's one of the strongest right now, the heavenly kings will be sent against her again, since she had killed them once.
It only made sense to pit them against someone with the exact experience of subjugating them. It was the safest way possible...
"Alright, I'll show you how to fight against a Heavenly King. You need to train hard and become as strong as me first if you want to try!" (Sariel)
Ou tog the three, Sariel could be said to have the most normal combat dress. Lastia's dress had a sort of gothic feel to it and Arin's was a lab coat with a mini skirt that felt even more at home on a racy video. It was a little peek of everyone's personality, her combat dress was still an elegant autumn theme that would fit in a ball, but looking closely the skirt wasn't long enough to entangle her legs and her armour plates made not only her feel safe but others as well. The only person that felt like she was a burden on that team was herself.