Now that they had set up that part of the pn and knew how many troops they would be able to field, it was time to move to the part.

  “Okay, we will have [Lunar Shade] in defense and [Law Bringer Sentinal] ich.” Elizabeth said as Reginald wrote that on the bckboard.

  Then turning to Rossie Elizabeth tinued, “Rossie, you will be on Healing duty, you will o make sure everyone is up to form and be ready to move as needed.” That was what would be best for Rossie after all.

  “If I see an opening I will take it, a me state this first.” Rossie said turning to look at Jenna, Lexia and Luna, “My priority will be Elizabeth, Rena, myself and then whoever is hurt the worst.”

  Elizabeth wao pin of course, “I see no problem with that.” But Jenna was the first to chime up.

  “Same, I will be w in defense so if I get hurt it means that our frontliners are hurt, so this would be uhe premise that you o get them bato the fight.” Lexia said afterward.

  “I would rather you focus on the degree of wounds…But most [Magical Girls] are like this, setting their own healing priorities, so it isn’t anything new.” Luna said from the side, “So long as you go and do a round on us when needed, I will not pin.”

  ….Were they all so carefree?

  Elizabeth would have probably pined if she had been oher end of this.

  “You haven’t worked with other [Magical Girls] have you?” Jenna asked from the side.

  “No? Most of my work was with Rossie alone.” Elizabeth answered.

  She had never actually fought besides other [Magical Girls], or any other [Hero] for that matter.

  “Most [Magical Girls] have a quirk like this or two, this is oamer side. I once saw a [Magical Girl] who wouldn’t heal anyone uhey spoke in a high-pitched tone and said ‘uwu’ at the end of whatever they wanted.” Jenna sighed, “Of course in high stress sarios it made for chaos and everything, but nothing you do about it. Since she cimed her Magic worked with the power of ‘uwu’ or some bullshit like that.”

  That…souroublesome, at least Rossie didn’t asked for something so weird like that.

  “I will go to the front lines and try to subdue [Shadow Pact].” Rena said as soon as Elizabeth finished her versation with Jenna.

  This one…She didn’t have a good excuse to limit the dahat Rena would face.

  “Yes….” So Elizabeth answered, “You will go to fight him while I try to limit his [Shadow Powers].”

  “....you will attempt to do what?” Lexia asked, “You…are you mad?”

  And she stared at her as if she had said something weird.

  “Why would she be mad?” Jenna asked from the side.

  “If Elizabeth says that she will do something it should be doable.” Rossie also added.

  While Rena didn’t say anything, she also nodded her head in approval.

  “Okay, let’s… fine.” Lexia sighed, “Shadow attuned magid skills are diferent from other elements, we wield a primordial force.”

  Lexia started expining, saying that [Shadows] were a primordial force…wasn’t that overreag?

  Was her more…childish side surfag?

  “Unlike spells of othes elements Mana isn’t the main deg factor of who trols what. While two Fire Mages test trol over a Fire Ball, the oh more mana will win most of the time.” Lexia said, bringing an easy-to-uand example. “But with Shadows, there are other elements at py, [Willpower] has importance, as [Skill Mastery].”

  ….Skill mastery? The level of her [Skill]?

  Well, Elizabeth would probably be okay on both fronts since she had more [Stats] than [Shadow Pact], right?

  “That won’t be a problem. Remember, I have [S-Tier] power. At the very least, I should be able to test against him,” Elizabeth said, nodding.

  “Sure….just….prepare a backup pn or something, I don’t want to have to deal with our forces colpsing on us.” Lexia said with a sigh, “And you Monster. What are you going to do?”

  Lexia and Luna turo look at Jenna.

  “I am backup, if any of you is about to die I will rescue you, but otherwise my job is to keep the members from the [ars] at bay.” Jenna answered.

  “...You should be also a S-Tier at least, but why are we stopping the [ars] from helping? Shouldn’t we ihem over?” Lexia asked fused.

  “I o give a message to [Shadow Pact], so I ’t have the [ars] taking him away.” Elizabeth answered, “So that is why Jenna is in watchdog duty.”

  “Your funeral, if this bees dangerous we will run away you know.” Lexia said as a warning.

  “If you run away then that is yht.” Aura said with an evil smirk, “But do try to run fast, I doubt my [Brethren] will look at you running away with uanding.”

  As Aura said, the shadows behind the purple-haired Maid turned into red eyes that stared at Lexia and Luna.

  “Hmph,” Lexia said, grunting. The shadows behind her blossomed with red roses, eae seeming to radiate an oppressive Aura. You aren’t the only one who use this enviro as an advantage, [Maid].”

  “I like this one Mistress, any ces you want to rope her into your harem?” Aura smirked as she ignored Lexia and her roses, turning to Elizabeth, “I will enjoy taking pictures of her bashful face.”

  ….Aura was truly evil, and she seemed to be a masochist.

  “WAH!?!?!” Lexia couldn’t help but stutter at the words of Aura.

  “Aura, don’t bully uest,” Elizabeth said, snapping her fingers and anding the shadows to return to normal.

  She did notice that only those behind Aura answered to her call, she could feel some degree of…e to the shadows that were under Lexia’s trol, but she didn’t want to [Wrestle] the trol as Lexia had called it.

  “As you and Mistress.” Aura said with a curtsy, “Do think about what I said Lady Bloodthorn.”

  Aura said those words and turo look the map, “Our forces be mobilized like this.” And shadows sprouted from the floor in front of the bckboard, writing on it and pg figures that seemed to represent Elizabeth’s Shadow Armada. “We set up a warning system using the scouts.”

  The first image had a small shadon with a pair of goggles atop its cute head.

  Aura had set them up in smaller groups of three to five members and had them spread in a long arc at the outer area of the meadow.

  “These will rotate in scouting parties and make sure we aren’t taken by surprise, they will have unication at all times with our base of operation, so if any is taken out we will know.” Aura said, moving to the part the knights. “These are our main fighting force, and they will be set up at the front of the base camp.”

  That didn’t had too much expnation hey would form a line of defe the forefront, ready to fight.

  “Each of these will have a [Tank] and some [Mages] in their squads. We will have a ratio of 6:1:3 or so for now.” Aura said, pg the stickers: a Shadon with a Sword, another with a Shield, and a third oh a staff.

  “There are other types on the list you provided,” Lexia said from behind, pointing out those she hadn’t mentioned.

  “Well, of course, Lady Bloodthorn. I was about to mention them,” Aura said with a sweet smile, ohat Elizabeth didn’t trust at all. As for the [Royal] variant, they will move with Mistress.”

  …That was it?

  “And the [Healer] caste?” Luna said raising her hand.

  “They will move with Lady Rossaline.” Aura answered with a shrug, “We don’t need [Healing] as we are [Summons].”

  “Not even you?” Lexia pointed out with a smirk.

  “If I were on my [Body], then yes, I would require [Healing].” Aura answered with a smirk, and with that still on her face, she drew a sword from…somewhere and stabbed it into her arm. “But this isn’t my body, but one made of [Shadows].”

  No blood dripped from that wound. If anything, the wound meself back to normal. All that one could see ihe flesh wound was darkness and shadows.

  “So the cost of this is mostly [Mana], unless he mao wipe out all the shadow armada in one move, nothing will happen, and even if [Shadow Pact] mahat, we [Minions] use our oool tee in the first [Death], if we deem it a detriment to our Mistress we will not return to the bat unless called.” Aura answered with a bow to Elizabeth, “If our Mistress ands us to fight, we will fight. But if we are to be a stone in her path, we will yield.”

  That was…actually good. Elizabeth hadn’t felt the drain of mana from the wound that Aura healed, but if the 470 or so minions died in one go…And she tried to revive them…

  Yeah, perhaps if they all were the base model, or the [Sodel], but she doubted a [Royal Knight] would cost the same as a [Shadon] witouth evolution.

  “And before you ask, the maid corps, engineering corps and cook corps will not participate in the fight. What would you have a cook do?” Aura said towards Lexia.

  “...fihe bck-haired girl admitted, “So, what will you do, Elizabeth, if your crazy pn to test the authority of an S-Tier [Hero] fails?”

  Elizabeth did have a pn for that actually.

  “I do have something else I want to try, but I don’t know if it will work. So for now I want to focus on what I know I am good at.” Elizabeth answered while flexing her mana senses, “Mana Manipution and Shadoution have been what I was best at since I got these powers.”

  She had been w hard at these things after all, if she was good at something was these two things. Her senses had been sharpened by the use of her mana manipution skills, and her shadows could spread far and wide.

  “If you are fident, most [Magical Girls] had an especiality even before the advent after all.” Luna nodded, “Not like this [System] gives us any hint about that anymore.”

  “You mean the [Affinity]?” Jenna asked from the side, “I think the Gaxidae had a way to che those.”

  ….Of course they would e there.

  “They charge a leg, arm, kidney and half your brain for those things. Better to go by feel as [Odyssey] would say.” Luna said back.

  …Of course Mother would say something like that.

  “I know what mine is, and that is part of the reason why I am fident in my pn.” Elizabeth pointed out; of course, she knew what her [in] was after all.

  “Hmm….not going to ask how an Orphan got that, but that's fine. So, now that it is done, when do we move to our spots?” Luna asked, turning to look at Aura and then at Elizabeth. “Are the scouts already w?”

  “Aura?” Elizabeth asked, “Reginald?”

  “We have a small detail w och duty, but we will mobilize the rest of the armada at your call Mistress.” Reginald answered.

  “I drop them at their positions ahem start from there.” Aura added to that answer.

  “Do it.” Elizabeth didn’t want to wait too long after all. “Send any free Minion to try and bait [Shadow Pact] towards our way.”

  “It will be done Mistress.” Reginald answered and sank into the shadows.

  “I will move back to the [Shadow Haven], call me as needed Mistress, be it for any mission you wish, I will be ready.” Aura said as she started to sink into the shadows. “Except for stress-reted missions, for those you have Lady Rossaline, Lady Rena, and the new duo ~”

  ….

  “You have problems Elizabeth Starbright.” Lexia said with a weird look in her face, “Let’s go Luna, we o prepare.”

  SHE WASN’T THE OHAT WAS HORNY!

  OKAY SHE WAS ONE OF THOSE!

  BUT NOT AS AURA IMPLIED!!!

  ….Okay, maybe as she implied sometimes, but not for irls!

  “Anything else we o go over?” Jenna asked as if that iion hadn’t happened, “I know that I said I wouldn’t intervene in the bat, but at any moment you feel in danger you only o call my name. I will rescue you and do a quick evac.”

  “And for that you have my gratitude.” Rossie answered instead of Elizabeth.

  “Should it happen we will do our best to make sure no oops you on your way out.” Rena iely chimed in.

  “Wait wait, stop!” Elizabeth said raising her hands. “If that happens you two are ing with us. And if possible pull [Lunar Shade] and [Law Bringer Sentinel].”

  “Elizabeth…” Jenna sighed as a warm smile crossed her face. "I will do my best, but I am not omnipotent. If I o worry about pursuers, at best, I pull two other people with me. But they would o stie by their own effort.”

  “If it is to heal Elizabeth, I will manage,” Rossie said, determination burning in her eyes.

  “For making sure Elizabeth is safe, nothing is impossible,” Rena said too.

  This was enough to make a girl in love blush…actually Elizabeth did just that.

  “Leaving the y lines aside.” Aura said as she materialized back, “I have an update from Lady Beatrice.”

  Elizabeth took the ly folded letter and ope, “The scouts oher rim are guiding [Shadow Pact], they report he is moving the [Shadow Tide] with him….”

  This…was both good and bad.

  Elizabeth wasn’t quite sure what to think about this [Shadow Tide], it didn’t seem to be merely a [Shadow Mana] struct, si seemed to pull in people and they didn’t return to normal space. But Elizabeth couldn’t feel anything from it.

  Even with a Minion near it, she got a bnk from her sehat in itself was w, but that wasn’t the only problem.

  “Is there any indication of this affeg our minions?” Elizabeth asked. If so, she would o alter her pns.

  “None so far, all the minions that have ied with some of that mana had been isoted and quarantied,” Aura answered. “Anything else Mistress?”

  “No, that will be all…” Elizabeth said, then as if remembering something she added, “Tell Beatrice she is doing a fine job.”

  And with that Aura returned once more to the [Shadow Haven].

  It was awkward the situation they had found themselves, Elizabeth having fought with one of her most important minions wasn’t something she had wao do before a bight fight. But that couldn’t be helped!

  She uood the point of view of Beatrice, and she wao do that too, but if she even suggested to Rossie or Rena for them to leave….yeah. She was not seeing that ending in a bright toher.

  “Rossie? Rena?” Elizabeth said turning to both girls, “Time to [Shift].”

  Both girls smiled at this, “But first some ground rules.” And their smile ged into one of fussion.

  “You both should have ara shift. I don’t want you to use those unless it is a life-or-death situation,” Elizabeth said, getting fused looks from both girls. "I know…how good they must have felt.”

  Hells, Elizabeth could probably drown in the pleasure of flexing her [Sin], and hers was one of the tamer ones. She didn’t want to even imagine how Rossie felt when she eled [Lust].

  Or how much Re liberated when she was dominated by [Wrath].

  “Unless something has gone very bad, don’t use those, okay?” Even so, Elizabeth didn’t want for her girls to risk their [Soul] or [Sanity] for this.

  Worst e to happen she would ditch this attempt at giving the message to [Shadow Pact| and try it ter.

  “Okay.” Rossie answered first, “I didn’t pn to use it here iether way, that one is reserved for yhteen birthday post party.”

  “I will remember to not use it theher.” Rena said nodding, “I don’t think I trol it that well just yet, so I wasn’t pnning t it out yet, I need more meditation and to settle my mind before dealing with that one.”

  This took a heavy weight from Elizabeth’s shoulders, knowing she didn’t o worry about that was good for her heart.

  “What about you?” Jenna asked. “You also have ara one nht?”

  …..What the hell was Jenna doing here? Ruining their moment?

  “....I am tempted to test it right now actually.” Elizabeth said, remembering the absolute certainty she had about being able to defeat Jenna, “But no. I will not use that oher, not today. Not this week, probably not this year. That one is dangerous.”

  “Good.” Jenna said nodding, “I would hate for our first days of family time to be ruined because I had to spank that out of your system.”

  … Excuse me what?

  “Excuse me what?” Rossie vocalized what Elizabeth had felt.

  “That one is dangerous. I don’t know how you mao awaken it or under what circumstances, but that one is closer to a primordial [Demon]. Well, maybe a [Primordial Dragon] would be more fitting for you?” Jenna said while thinking, “Either way, unless you ba out or focus it. I don’t think you should use it, Rossaline and Rena would have an easier time returning since you are the ohat work as a bea for them. But the same ’t be said for you.”

  ….Rude.

  “So what? I o bance my [Sin]? Find someohat pull me back? Rossie and Rena should be able to do it.” Elizabeth said with fidence, getting smile from the girls ni question.

  “With what? The power of Love?” Jenna ughed, “Be real Elizabeth, if you turned into that, I easily see those two joining you instead to return you to normal.”

  ….right…Actually, Elizabeth could see that too.

  Dang it.

  “Fine, not using that oher.” Elizabeth grumbled, “Not that I nning to, my master pn was to use other stuff anyway.”

  Yes, Elizabeth wasn’t feeling lucky about that Shift. She did want to let the sleeping drago, for now she wouldn’t wake from the slumber that ohe Prideful Dragon Empress would o wait for her return.