Night came fast. Shadows swallowed the streets, and distant growls reminded anyone who'd forgotten that monsters roamed freely.
I had a decision to make.
Jumping through the ruined city in full Magical Girl glory… skirts, ribbons, pads, the works… would attract way too much attention. I'd practically be screaming "I AM HERE, COME GET ME." My ridiculous heightened abilities—speed, jumps, and absurd agility—while fun in theory, would make sneaking impossible.
I muttered under my breath:
"Right. Plan: don't get seen, don't die, don't look ridiculous… too late on the last one."
I took a deep breath and said the phrase.
"Mio Dim The Lights."
The pink glow vanished. My hair shrank slightly, ribbons and skirts disappeared, and the "pads" folded back into nothingness. I looked… almost normal. Just me. A white-haired loner with sharp eyes, crouching in an alley.
Perfect. Low profile. Still armed with the System-given partial abilities.
I sprinted, careful and silent, weaving between ruined buildings. My jumps weren't as insane as in full Magical Girl mode, but my reflexes and speed were still above average. I reached the outskirts of the city with no incidents. The barrier shimmered faintly ahead, glowing like a protective dome.
Finally, I stepped through the hidden entrance. Hunters at the outer gate glanced at me briefly nothing unusual about a lone system user but let me pass without question. I melted into the city streets, invisibly blending with the humans and hunters inside.
I checked into a small inn near the central plaza. Lamps glowed softly. People moved with purpose. The city wasn't flashy, but it was alive. Humanity had banded together: hunters and system users protecting those who couldn't defend themselves. Ordinary humans could rest safely here, shielded from the apocalypse outside.
I went inside the Inn I had been renting for years now.. I could barely remember.
Finally, alone in my room, I exhaled. Time to explore the System mechanics, mana, and cooldowns. Maybe figure out what I had to work with in base form—because I couldn't stay transformed all the time.
"There's got to be something, at least maybe a weapon? I can't stay transformed all the time."
I focused. Hands extended, imagining a weapon. The System responded.
[Weapon Materialized — Wand]
The wand hovered in front of me. Sleek, magical, slightly longer than my forearm. White handle, silver accents, subtle energy humming within it. Not frilly, not ridiculous—perfectly practical.
[Weapon Linked — Magical Strike now usable in base form at 50% power.]
"Fuck my life. seriously? A wand? Not even a staff?" I groaned.
Well at the very least, I Finally, had leverage. The transformation remained mandatory for full power, but now I had a way to survive low-profile.
I twirled the wand experimentally, faint sparkles trailing its tip.
"Alright… step one: survive the night. Step two: figure out how to not die as a Magical Girl wannabe."
Outside, the barrier shimmered faintly, monsters prowled, and humanity rested safely. Inside, I leaned back against the wall, skirt-free for now, wand in hand, already plotting survival.
I walked through the streets of the Barriered Refuge, blending into the flow of people. The glow of lanterns reflected off the rooftops and cobblestone streets, and faint magical wards shimmered along the alleys and gates part of the cloaking spell keeping monsters from detecting the city.
Hunters passed me by, cloaks and armor marked with sigils that pulsed faintly. Their weapons ranged from familiar swords and crossbows to strange, system-enhanced tools: blades that glowed faintly, whips that carried sparks of electricity, bows with runes etched along their limbs.
Everywhere, humans were adapting. Ordinary people ran shops, sold food, and repaired broken tech or magic artifacts. Some system users trained openly in public plazas, practicing their spells and skills. Children peeked from doorways, curious but safe. The city was alive, thriving, and orderly a stark contrast to the chaos beyond the barrier.
And yet, beneath it all, I felt the tension. Everyone here survived through vigilance and discipline. Monsters were patient. The apocalypse never stopped hunting.
I ducked into a small pub tucked behind a row of shops. Warm light, thick wood beams, the smell of stew, and the low murmur of conversation greeted me. Hunters and system users alike were here, sharing meals, exchanging information, repairing weapons, and quietly keeping watch.
I slid onto a stool at the far end of the bar. No one looked twice at me white hair, plain clothes, wand discreet at my side. Perfect.
I had one mission.
One single mission that mattered more than survival, more than power, more than any frills, skirts, or ridiculous sparkle magic: find my sister, Luna.
I hadn't seen her in four years.
When I was fourteen, our small group had been stranded outside the city, scavenging for supplies. Monsters had swarmed us. I had been given a chance by some trustworthy hunters to distract the horde my skill and sheer luck letting the others escape. Among them was Miriam, a tall swordswoman with the calm authority of a mother and the strength to back it up. She had taken Luna under her wing.
"I promise," I had said through gasping breaths, dodging claws, "take care of her… she's all I have."
Miriam had nodded, sword steady and eyes unflinching. That moment had been my only choice to survive. And now… now I was finally old enough to awaken, to gain a System, to fight.
"I will find you, Luna," I whispered to no one in particular.
I looked around the pub again. System users laughed, drank, swapped battle stories. One group recounted a run through a collapsed subway station, clearing it of monsters and claiming the loot. Another duo argued about leveling tactics, mana conservation, and skill rotation. Outside, the city was calm, but everyone knew nightfall beyond the barrier was deadly.
Magic and technology intertwined here. Wards lined streets to prevent monster infiltration. Lanterns were enchanted to repel minor creatures. Hunters' weapons often carried secondary system enhancements one sword hummed with stored lightning, another glowed faintly when monsters were nearby. Civilization had adapted to the new rules of the apocalypse. Humanity hadn't just survived. They had learned to organize, fight, and protect those who couldn't.
It was beautiful in its own harsh way.
I rubbed my temples, thinking. My Magical Girl powers completely useless for blending in were tucked away for now. Base form and wand in hand. If monsters somehow breached the city, I could use half-powered skills to survive. If I wanted to go all-out, full transformation would be necessary… but for now, discretion mattered.
I had a lead to follow. Miriam had left instructions in the refuge network for trusted users if Luna was still here, someone would know. But this wasn't about wandering aimlessly. I had to gather intel, understand the city, and maybe gain allies.
The bartender slid a mug of water in front of me. I drank, eyes scanning the room. System users trained openly, while hunters coordinated quietly. Civilians moved safely in between, protected but cautious. Life had adapted to the apocalypse. People here were united. Strong. Disciplined. Protective of each other.
And yet, all I could think of was Luna.
"Hang on, Luna… I'll find you," I muttered, tightening my grip on the wand.
The glow pulsed faintly as if the System knew. Perhaps it did. Perhaps it had plans for me far beyond skirts and sparkles.
For now, I needed information. Maybe some Allies. And a plan to navigate a city full of survivors while I tried not to draw attention to the fact that the "Magical Girl" who had just appeared in the alley would very soon be… me.