Chapter 121: Shocking Confirmation; Divine Keys

While the [Cosmic Destroyer] has illimitable power, it followed the concept of normal guns; not because it is restricted, but it's the most optimal way to bring out its power. With it being in its Handgun Form, each bullet's power is perfectly balanced. But, if its 13 skills are added into the mix...

Its destructive power can reach another level altogether.

[Quest Completed. Reward settlement...]

[+1,000,000 Soul Points]

[+1 Weapon Enhancement Card]

...

Two windows popped up, informing him of his finished quest.

"This counted, alright." He murmured as he noticed his surroundings going back to normal.

Without the Witch that serves as the Anchor, the labyrinth naturally disappeared. What replaced it is a black jewel that resembled an egg.

'Eerie.'

That's the only thought that Shiro has upon seeing it, simply because of one reason: It resembled a Magical Girl's Soul Gem. Though, its color is dark in this case.

Thanks to Madoka that kept them informed about these basic things, which is something that he learned from Mami, the group has a more complete picture on the Magical Girl System.

Tilting his head down, Shiro's [Six Eyes] went full throttle as he tried to pry more about it. The Witch's core, the so-called Grief Seed, floated in his right hand before closely examining it.

Beep-!

[Official Quest updated. "Changing Destinies, Rewriting the World (Part 2)" is now active.]

[Official Quest: Purify the Witch]

Details: Witches, whom are once Magical Girls, fell and transformed into an evil entity due to varying reasons. In this universe, there hasn't been a single case whereas Witches can return to their former form. As the one whose destiny isn't clear, influencing other's is but a simple matter.

Objective: Remove the Evil deeply-rooted into ### ####'s existence.

Reward/s: 3M Soul Points, 5 Random Ability Card, 1 Ability Upgrader (SS), 1 Buff Upgrader (SS)

"I see..."

With this, Shiro confirmed that this System of his... it follows his will. Back when he received his first mission in Terra, he would've met that convoy eventually, considering how he's in the same route as them. The mission only shortened the said meeting time and gave him a general objective.

Then there's the SAO-related things, in which it pops up every time he gets a new quest in the game. Even the healing of Konno Yuuki is already planned by him—to spice things more, of course.

Lastly is this quest. He wondered if [Hell Flames Ignition] has an effect to these Grief Seeds due to a single phrase:

[With a single contact, it burns away all the evil found in the target.]

At first, he thought that it'll continue burning the target the more evil that they has, something that brought him confidence when fighting against Heroic Spirits with Evil Affiliation. Only a bit of his mana is needed to maintain it, thus it would keep burning in proportion to their evil.

However, this all changed when he encountered corrupted things.

'If it's corrupted, would it burn the corruption instead of the entire target?' He thought at that time.

Thus, Shiro thought of a very plausible way to convert these Witches back to their human forms. Though, he never expected the revelation that came with this.

"Magical girls really are..."

[Investigation—Witches: 28/30]

[Investigation—Universal Truth: 12/40]

"While I do appreciate your help, can you tell why you're here?"

Mami suddenly interrupted his thoughts and spoke.

"Right... I found out about a spacial fold here, only to find out a couple of surprises." He replied.

"Surprises?" Mami asked.

"Mn. The Witch and another Magical Girl. Homura, is it?"

The atmosphere shifted upon hearing this. Mami became more serious, while Sayaka remembered that student.

"That transfer student? She's here?!"

"Homura-chan?" Madoka called out when she saw the familiar black-haired girl. Unlike the other two, Homura spoke to her during the first day. Along it is her advice with the lines of: "Never think about something like changing from your current self."

It sounded strange to others, but not for Shiro. Now that he knew about the secret behind Magical Girls, he understood more about her intentions.

[Investigation—Akemi Homura: 30/50]

Using the [Mental Link (5th-circle)] spell, Shiro asked Homura mentally: 'Are these Grief Seeds formed due to the 'Impurities' on the Soul Gems?'

Whilst shocked at the method of communication that he employed, she wordlessly nodded to him.

'I see. Thanks.'

Shiro cancelled the spell and said, "Since you four might talk about something, I'll excuse myself."

Though, he sent a private message to Madoka before he left.

[Private] Shiro: "Can we talk in your house later?"

[Private] Madoka: "Sure... but what is it for, Shiro-san?"

[Private] Shiro: "Something very very important to you."

[Private] Madoka: "I understand."

With an aurora curtain, he left the scene.

*****

[Private] Shiro: "It's confirmed. Witches ARE previous Magical Girls."

Closing the Chat Group panel, Roman sighed. He had the mindset of taking a vacation to see new things at first, but never had he expected that underneath this world's romanticization of Magical Girls is a cruel truth...

Just the thought of these horrendous being in front of him as a young girl in the past made him feel bitter and... mad.

While it may be hypocritical of him, with Chaldea relying on a 15-year old girl to fight for humanity's future, Roman understood humans are like this.

He further confirmed it once he felt it himself as a human.

[Private] Shiro: "I might have a way to bring them back, though."

[Private] Roman: "That's good... I'm fighting against one right now."

[Private] Shiro: "You... what?"

A golden sword is constructed in his right hand. While in mid-air, he struck it down to the caterpillar-like monster with a cartoon-ish face.

Slash-!

Flames set ablaze in a wide area, all the while it centered mostly on the caterpillar monster, burning it intensively. Roman managed to slash it off entirely, but it seemingly regenerated as another smaller caterpillar popped up from its mouth.

Unfazed by it, Roman decided to cancel the formation of [Judgement of Shamash] and chose the [Oath of Judah] instead. He held it using the chains in its center before running off.

Golden chains were summoned from the ground, entangling the monster through it. Then, he jumped on top of its head with a [Reinforcement] and a couple of 9th-circle spells.

He pointed the head of [Oath of Judah] in its head, and like a pile bunker, a dozen golden nails came out of it, piercing the monster completely. Thanks to that attack, it died off completely, leaving the small figure behind, which is also the true boss of this labyrinth.

[Private] Shiro: "You can kill of the monsters, but their drops, the Grief Seeds, must remain unharmed for my method to work."

[Private] Roman: "Alright."

The [Oath of Judah] disintegrated in his hands, in which it is replaced by [Black Abyss], a black lance. Charging straight through the small figure, he pierced it completely, making it disintegrate using this weapon's special ability.

By the time it turned into ashes, the surroundings went back to normal, and all that's left is a single Grief Seed in the floor.

*****

A/N: Turns out, I forgot to mention about those two ability's origins. [Hellflame Ignition] came from Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint. to be more exact, it came from Uriel, the fujoshi angel. On the other hand (idk if I still need to say this), [Phenex's Regeneration] came from Highschool DxD.

Fact #73: Out of all Magical Girls in Puella Magi Madoka Magica, only Mami acted out as one. Naming her attacks, changing her hairstyle, and acting as a true senpai are one of those. As for the other Magical Girls? They don't have that and fight silently (and practically).