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>>42355815
[2/2]

She cocks the bolt and starts pumping your back of lead again, blasting upwards to try and get an angle on your head. Okay, no need to say anything you guess. Shots ping and dent off of your shield. You try climbing up further, then feel the rocks give. You’re suddenly in freefall for just a minute, but manage to make the grab on another outcropping.

Damn it, this is going nowhere! Tiny again reloads her rifle.

> Make a leap for her. It’s far, but you might be able to surprise her.
> Grab your other shield and try for a burst of speed. You might be able to sneak past her while she’s reloading.
> Yell at her, tell her to stop… for what it’s worth.
> Other

>>42355830
>Grab your other shield and try for a burst of speed. You might be able to sneak past her while she’s reloading.
Let's hope that magical leather does its job for long enough. The sooner we get out of this killzone, the better.

Happy Labor Day. I got to leave work early, and I'm glad I did.

>>42355830
> Make a leap for her. It’s far, but you might be able to surprise her.

>>42355830
>Make a leap for her. It’s far, but you might be able to surprise her.
No-one expects a blatantly suicidal maneuver!

>>42355960
It's been a while since we've followed the daring adventures of Magical Girl Liberty. Remind me: can Libby fly?

>>42355830
> Grab your other shield and try for a burst of speed. You might be able to sneak past her while she’s reloading.
Fooken midget.

>>42355977
If she could, she wouldn't need to climb.

>>42355830
>Make a leap for her. It’s far, but you might be able to surprise her.

>>42355977
Nope

>>42355977
Not yet.

>>42355830
>Make a leap for her. It’s far, but you might be able to surprise her.

>>42355985
Point taken. All the more reason that a suicide dive at our small rocketeer over a ravine sounds a little crazy.

>>42356080
it couldn't possibly fail! the dice wouldn't be that cruel.

> Make a leap for her. It’s far, but you might be able to surprise her.

Okay. Steel yourself, Liberty, steel yourself. You’ve made longer jumps. You once had to jump off of a Zeppelin, a flying one. Heights are nothing against you. Right. You can do this. You retract the spikes out of your shield, then take a look off the reflection of the metal interior. She’s reaching for a magazine now, perfect timing. Get your eye zeroed in and LEAP!

You push off the cliff wall and jump. You have to roll midflight, a little awkwardly. But you do manage to contact! You grab onto her waist, and she yells out in surprise as she drops her rifle down into the ravine. Her rocketpack starts veering off of its stable hovering path and starts blasting upwards, spinning with you still attached.

Wait, you remember this from your physics class! Centrifugal force! If she spins fast enough, nothing can help you if all you do is grab with your hands, you’ll be thrown off by the sheer force of the spinning which is… ah, you’ve lost it. But you gotta hold onto something else.

Like her neck! You grab her neck, and she hacks and punches at you as the two of you start brawling mid-air. Everything is a blur. No, strike that, blurs imply that you understand what’s in front of you. This is more like a giant wash of color! You can’t see what the hell is going on! You’re pretty sure someone in the fight either she or you punched yourself. You feel some blood pooling in your mouth right now.

Suddenly, you feel the ground dragging across your shield lying on your back. The rocks ding and ping off, saving you from some serious road rash before you finally find her Achille’s hell. A strap! You grab onto it and tear it off.

The rocket shoots right off her back as the two of you start braking to a halt on the rocky road right at the edge of the cliff. It flies up into the sky and explodes in a shower of shrapnel and fire. Alright, you’ve gotten rid of her first advantage! Now for-

[1/2]

>>42356396
[2/2]

She sinks her teeth right into your neck. You scream as you punch her in the gut, knocking her off. She rolls off into a standing position, drawing a revolver. You step back and bring up your shield. The shots ping and bounce right off. “Give up!” you yell. “You can’t just-“

She reaches up her sleeve and fires out a mini-grappling hook. It loops around your arm, and she quickly pulls her down to the ground. Dang it, so this is what the ground tastes like. She tugs on you. Fine, she wants you, she can have you! You start rushing to a running start, and tackle her headfirst.

She screams as she heads right into the ravine. Hmph. Who did she think-

Wait. You look at your wrist, still tied up, then at the cable slowly whizzing downwards with her.

Okay. You didn’t think this through.

You’re yanked towards the cliff’s edge. But you find yourself a post from the old bridge and grab on. Your wrist is crushed by the twisting of the cable. From the regular tugging of it, she’s climbing up again. Dang it! You look down, nothing but fog. The cable just stretches down into nothingness.

Well, drop someone who just tried to kill you or…

> Pull her up. She’s had enough.
> Cut the line.
> Other

>>42356419
>Pull her up. She’s had enough.

>>42356419
> pulls her down to the ground.

Typo, she pulled you down to the ground first.

>>42356419
>Cut the line.
remove Kraut

>>42356419
>Pull her up. She’s had enough.
Yes I may mostly be motivated by the cute girl, but I also kinda want to know what's going on.

>>42356419
>> Pull her up. She’s had enough.
A source of information.

>>42356419
>Pull her up. She’s had enough.

>>42356419
> Pull her up. She’s had enough.
Fffffffffine.

>>42356419
>Pull her up. She’s had enough.

If she goes for a weapon on the way up, we drop her.

>>42356452
We haven't even fully confirmed if she's a Kraut yet. She's just some crazy little girl who happens to be a rocketeer and carries a small armory on her person.

>>42356713
Suonds like a Kraut to me!

>>42356713
She had a rocket pack (nazi super science), a Broobhandle pistol (german pistol) she is supporting the IJA and she attacked us multiple times.

may not be a Krayut but she's certainly an enemy.

>>42356944
Not if we befriend her, anon.

> Pull her up. She’s had enough.

You sigh. You’re going to regret this, you’re sure of it. You grab the cable with your free hand and start pulling her upwards. Slowly but surely, you see her hold onto the cable. She stares up at you as you pull her up onto the edge of the cliff. Then you grab her by the collar and drag her up to safety. Perfect, great. You saved her life! “Alright.” You stand up, taking a deep breath, wiping your brow. “I want some answers.”

She nods. “I am aware,” she says. Thick German accent. She is a kraut. “What would you like to know?” She crosses her arms, glaring at you.

You nod. “Who are you?” You step closer, looking down on her. She motions you to step closer, and you do just a step.

“Your mother!” She headbutts you right in the chest. You collapse on your back, groaning, feeling sharp pain everywhere in your body. She hit the piece right on the head. You can barely move, let alone think! She places her boot on your stomach, then reaches into her holster and pulls out her Mauser C96. “You girls are all the same, naïve, dumb, weak!” she hisses. She racks the slide back and points it square at your head. “And I-“

She’s suddenly broadsided by your car. You watch as she flies onto the road in a heap, unconscious. Your car screeches to a stop, beaten, battered, and for whatever reason – on fire –. Bomber and Lightning step out, ready. “Liberty!” Lightning runs over to you and grabs your hand. “Where is she!? Where’d she run off to?” You stand up, dusting yourself off quickly, then point to her lying down the road. “Oh.”

[1/2]

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>>42357014
[2/2]

You look at the car. “Why is the car on fire?”

Bomber walks over. “Well, we had to find some way across, and basically what I did was have Lightning shoot us using her lightning magic on some old railroad tracks we found. We used the electricity to propel us across the ravine!” She smiles beneath her scarf, but the eyes are basically grinning too. “Did it work?”

You nod. “It worked.” You point to Tiny. “Tie her up. We’re taking her with us.”

“What?” Lightning crosses her arms. “No way! She almost killed you!” She looks over at her, then back at you, finding how roughshod you are. “Apparently twice.”

“Prisoners are prisoners. And I need answers,” you say. “Now tie her up.” Bomber nods, pulling some rope from her skirt. Lightning stares at you, skeptically. “What are you looking at?” She shrugs, mockingly walking away and shaking her hips. “Don’t give me that, I’m tired.”

“You know, Libby, I just have to ask, she doesn’t seem to have any special powers or anything…” She smirks, leaning over and rubbing the top of her head against her arm. “… are you getting soft?” She pinches your hip, and you immediately slap her hand away. “Ow! Rude.” She suckles on her finger, the one you hit hardest.

> “I don’t have time for this. Let’s go.”
> “No, I’m not getting soft. If anything you are. Softy.”
> “Shut up.”
> Other

>>42357034
Girls, please.
> “No, I’m not getting soft. If anything you are. Softy.”

>>42357034
>> “I don’t have time for this. Let’s go.”

>>42357034
>“I don’t have time for this. Let’s go.”
Told ya we should have dropped her.

>>42357034
> “Shut up.”
Poor Libby

>>42357034
>“I don’t have time for this. Let’s go.”

As we think "Darn it, am I getting soft?"

>>42357034
>“No, I’m not getting soft. If anything you are. Softy.”

>>42357034
>“I don’t have time for this. Let’s go.”

>>42357151
Libby was always soft. Especially her butt.

>>42357230
She's an athletic girl! Her butt is firm and pert!

>>42357266
Firm on the inside, but with a layer of softness for sure.

>>42357230
>>42357266
>>42357306
Christine is naturally athletic, and Sumire keeps in shape because of work. If anyone is a little "soft," it's Rana.

>>42357350
So you're saying we should pinch Rana's butt?

>>42357377
You said that, not me.

>>42357350
Rana is a good girl.

The Magisch Korps are really down the drain if they're recruiting people like Tiny.

>>42357389
As long as we're agreed.

>>42357404
She seems pretty hardcore anon, I'm not sure how she's a downgrade on their previous efforts.

>>42357404
I dunno. The Magisch Korps specialize in anti-MG tactics and armaments as it is, if Knives and her posse, the Storm Ace and other shenanigans are to be observed.

>>42357404
Pretty sure she's not Magisch Korps, what with the not being magic.

>>42357437
Neither is Knives and her compadres; they wield anti-magical girl weapons and have inhuman endurance, but they're not MGs.

>>42357034
>Other
Pinch her back

>>42357486
You sure they weren't? Even then, this girl seems to have conventional guns and grenades, no anti-magic weaponry.

>>42357562
Figured that was the softy option.

>>42357567
Unlike Annelisse, Tiny here looks to be a full-on mundane, just kitted to the gills with enough to take out any nondescript magical girl.

>>42357591
Good point

GS, was it?

> “I don’t have time for this. Let’s go.”

You gently push her away. “I don’t have time for this. We have to go now.” Sumire frowns a little bit, but allows you to move on. Hmph, who does she think she is. Thinking you’re going soft. You gently pinch your hip a little bit. You’re not soft, you’re still as hard and steely as the day you were made a Magical Girl! Sure, a piece of the Shard of the Immaterium is still stuck inside of you and sure it might’ve contributed to that one loss against Tiny, but you’re not soft!

Hmph, thinking you’re soft, who does she think she is… She’s soft! She’s so soft that she doesn’t even have anything to be soft with in the chest! Softy McSoft Soft. You’re not soft.

“Are you going to keep muttering to yourself about how you’re not soft?” Sumire walks alongside you, smirking. You push her face away, grumbling. Rana picks up Tiny over her shoulder, having bound and gagged her. She won’t be asleep for long so time is of the essence. The three of you start the long walk. But before you go, you do pat out the car fire. Can’t have it be bringing up a very noticeable smoke plume.

-

-

“How high are these guys?” asks Sumire. You’re tried, you’re hungry, and your wounds are aching. But not once have you said a word about the conditions that you’re in. The slope that you’re walking up is nearly 45 degrees, but thankfully is punctuated by what seem to be stairs.

“Very high,” you say. “I imagine they don’t suffer like altitude sickness like Rana is.”

Rana gasps for air, nearly crawling up the steps as she lags behind the two of you. Tiny is still on her back, still unconscious thankfully. “G-… go on without me.”

You shake your head, shoving your hands in your pockets. Then you blink. What was that? Sumire looks over. “See something?”

[1/3]

>>42357832
[2/3]

“I thought I saw something pass out of the corner of my eye.” You step up a bit, squinting as you look around the lonely rocky stairs up to what you hope to be some sort of monastery. Nothing.

Sumire slides over slowly, grinning. “Maybe it was a ghost!” Rana goes white, immediately standing up and walking up to the three of you as if she wasn’t suffering from altitude sickness a second ago. “You know what I said, respect the dead or they won’t respect you.”

“There are no ghosts up here,” you say. “Now come on.” You look up to see the clouds clear. You can definitely see what seem to be smooth walls. That is the monastery. Yes, you just need to keep this up a little longer. “Besides, we’ve had worse than ghosts. You know, remember the Storm Ace? Or that one sea monster that nearly ate you, Sumire?”

“He didn’t eat me.” Sumire crosses her arms, indignant. “He closed his jaws around me.”

“Eating is eating,” you mutter. “But this is serious. Ghosts or nothing, we have to find these monks, see what they know, and we’re out of here. Okay?” Sumire huffs, placing her hand on her hip as you walk along the path. “Now…”

The three of you stop as you see a figure stand in the road, in front of a wood gate. Sumire yells to him in Chinese, stepping forward so she can translate. The figure simply stands there. But you narrow your eyes.

That guy isn’t standing. He’s floating.

Rana grabs your arm, hiding behind you. “… is it a ghost?”

“Yes,” you say simply. She quickly ducks behind you.

Sumire looks back. “Really? First person we see and you assume it’s a ghost?” You point down to the legs, and she quickly sees too that the figure does not appear to have any legs at all. “Oh. Okay, yeah, that’s a good reason.”

>>42357832
>She’s so soft that she doesn’t even have anything to be soft with in the chest!
Quality logic, Libby.

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>>42357859
[3/3]

“Ask it if we can pass,” you say. Sumire nods, yelling to the figure in more Chinese. The figure shakes his head, pointing behind you. You turn around to see just the path behind you. Sumire looks back and asks again. This time, Chinese letters appear behind the figure.

“… it’s saying no outsiders are allowed,” says Sumire. “No exceptions.”

“There’s a first time for everything,” you say. “Tell him we’re Magical Girls, and tell him we’re on a special mission from the United States.” Sumire quirks her brow. “Yes, I’m letting blabber about us just this once.” Sumire grunts, talking to the figure once more in Chinese.

He stares at you, then at Rana, then at Sumire. He nods, then more Chinese characters appear. Sumire sighs. “It’s a test. He wants one of us to brave the graveyard beyond that gate, and up to the monastery.” Rana shakes, hiding behind you. “Basically, if one of us makes it, he’ll let the rest of us through. It’s a test of character and courage.”

“Only one of us?” you ask. Sumire nods, grim this time.

Okay, who to send though…

> You. You’re wounded, tired, but you’re not going to put anyone else at risk.
> Sumire. She’s fresh, hasn’t seen too much action yet. But she might get distracted with looting the dead. Again.
> Rana. She’s scared, but that guarantees she’ll get through it quickly. Right?
> Tiny. Well, first you have to wake her.
> Other

>>42357891
>Sumire. She’s fresh, hasn’t seen too much action yet. But she might get distracted with looting the dead. Again.

>>42357891
> Sumire. She’s fresh, hasn’t seen too much action yet. But she might get distracted with looting the dead. Again.
This is your chance Sumire!

>>42357891
> You. You’re wounded, tired, but you’re not going to put anyone else at risk.

>>42357891
>You. You’re wounded, tired, but you’re not going to put anyone else at risk.

We're pleasant and polite. We'll show these dead some proper respect.

>>42357891
>> You. You’re wounded, tired, but you’re not going to put anyone else at risk.
We're not soft!!1

>>42357891
> You. You’re wounded, tired, but you’re not going to put anyone else at risk.

>>42357891
>Sumire. She’s fresh, hasn’t seen too much action yet.

>>42357891
>You. You’re wounded, tired, but you’re not going to put anyone else at risk.
We totally have this, right?

>>42357978
Libby is so, so soft.

>>42357891
>You. You’re wounded, tired, but you’re not going to put anyone else at risk.
I'd say put Rana through, but she'd probably pass out at the thought.

>>42358036
Magisch Korps astroturfer detected.

>>42358133
Libby is so soft, when the other girls want to watch Netflix they prefer to lounge on her rather than the couch.

>>42358162
You mean the radio dramas, right? There was no Netflix in pulp 1930s.

>>42358226
How silly anon, a world with magic would definitely have a magical thing like on-demand television available.

>>42358162
So essentially, Knifes wants Libby as a pillow? lewd

>>42357891
>You. You’re wounded, tired, but you’re not going to put anyone else at risk.
Character and courage, we got this.

>>42358275
Eh, I like the version of people listening to Orson Welles's playthrough of XCOM on Ironman Impossible more.

>>42358353
Fine, fine.
They definitely find Libby's softness best though!

Libby is soft and huggable (and pinchable) and Sumire never lets her forget it.

>>42358528
Not the pinchable part at least.

> You. You’re wounded, tired, but you’re not going to put anyone else at risk.

You sigh. “I’ll go.” Sumire blinks, now immediately concerned. “Yeah, yeah, I know I’m banged up and everything and… look, just stay here. I’ll be back.”

Sumire steps in front of you. “It really should be me you know.”

You gently push her out of the way. “But it ain’t you.” You look back at Rana, who now cowers behind Sumire. “Rana, I’ll be back. Gate’ll be open, we can head into the monastery. Alright?” She nods, holding onto the still unconscious Tiny. “Okay. Alright.” You start towards the gate. “Open them gates, spirit! I’m going in.”

He moves to the side, and the old rotting wood gates open up for you. The fog explodes out as you step inside without another word. They immediately close, leaving you in the foggy and dark graveyard. It’s not like other graveyards you’ve seen. Instead of stone grave markers, you see bamboo marking burial spots and little shrines adorned with Buddhas. You step on the path as you watch every nook and cranny.

Already you see ghosts moving through the fog, some watching, some not. They’re barely recognizable as people anymore, only by the shape can you know that they used to be human.

You stop and then see in front of your eyes the skeleton of a Japanese Army soldier. The clothes, hat, and the rifle however are very fresh, almost brand new. Another skeleton is lying nearby, and another. So it seems you’ve figured out why there’s a guardian at the gate. The Japanese must have tried to storm the place, and ended up paying.

You hear a shout, and immediately stand to as you see a Japanese Officer run out of the fog. He bears his sword in his hands, his uniform torn up, his eyes full of fear, and his face caked with sweat and he runs away. He barely acknowledges you as he runs past, and you have to wonder how he survived for this long.

[1/2]

>>42358798
[2/2]

Suddenly, a ghostly hand pops up out of a grave and grabs him by the leg. He screams, dropping his sword as he tries desperately to crawl away. He looks at you, and screams at you, holding out his hand, apparently begging for help. You walk on over and try to reach out, but too late. The man is dragged to his doom into the grave. It immediately fills back up again with dirt, and his screams stop.

You blink. Okay. This is only the first thirty feet. You’re not even out of the ballpark. You keep on walking, and then feel a sharp sting to your shoulder. That gunshot wound again. When is your magic going to heal that?

Suddenly, out of the ground bursts a glowing green spirit. It looks down upon you, with blank black eyes. It leans down towards you, splitting its face open. You step back, gasping for air as you stand dumbstruck in its presence. This thing is going to kill you.

Or is it?

> Stand your ground. This is about fear, not power.
> Attack it, show him some real magic.
> Nope, nope, nope, you’ve had enough of ghosts for one day.
> Other

>>42358814
>Stand your ground. This is about fear, not power.
Pussy ass ghosts and jiangshi.

ZOMBIE GOASTS LEAVE THIS PLACE

>>42358814
>Close its mouth, that's not very polite.

>>42358814
>> Stand your ground. This is about fear, not power.
Steady, Libby. They won't do harm unless you provoke them to act.

>>42358814
> Nope, nope, nope, you’ve had enough of ghosts for one day.

>>42358814
>Very calmly push it back into the grave.

>>42358814
>> Other
Pay your respects to the dead.

>>42358814
>Stand your ground. This is about fear, not power.
Not yet, at least.

>>42358999
This, gotta go full Luffy.

>>42358814
>Stand your ground. This is about fear, not power.

>>42358814
>Stand your ground. This is about fear, not power.

> Stand your ground. This is about fear, not power.

You suck in your gut and gnash your teeth as you watch the spirit draw in close. Its shriek nearly splits your eardrums as it hovers over you. More ghosts surround you, looking down on you. Their sickly and frail forms send some shivers down your spine. But this is nothing. You stare up at it as its shriek stops. It continues to stare down at you, as do the others.

…

You nod, then sort of step to the side and move past it. It looks to you, as do the other ghosts. They simply watch you walk away from that encounter as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

Your heart feels like it’s going to explode.

After some more daunting encounters with other ghosts, you finally manage to make it to the monastery gates. The high walls, the ironbar-reinforced wood, and the spikes along the top of the walls certainly tell the whole story. You knock on the door.

A slot on the gate opens. A monk regards you directly behind a thick pair of smart spectacles. “… who are you?” he asks. Finally, a chinaman who knows English.

“My name’s Christine Hunter. I’m a Magical Girl working with the US.” You sigh. “I believe you have some information that’s important to me.” He tilts his head, in apparent shock. “Y-… yes, I did walk through your graveyard. You should probably get that place checked out or something. By the way, I got some friends so uh… if you could let them through too that’d be nice.”

He nods. “… you look terrible.”

“I’ve been through a lot the past few days. Can we just make things easy?”

He nods again. “Very well.” The slot closes, and the gate finally opens. A ray of light shines right through the crack. Finally.

[1/2]

>>42359893
[2/2]

The monastery is a small little enclosure of a few buildings, a bathhouse (where Sumire is currently bathing), and a watchtower. The monk walks with you and Rana and explains the situation. At least in terms of why there are a bunch of ghosts here. “We built this monastery upon a well of spirits, a hole through which the dead souls may escape into this world. We have built it and have kept oaths to remain here the rest of our lives to keep these souls from escaping into the rest of the world.”

Rana nods, still a little white in the cheeks. “So… they’re friendly.”

“If you show no visible fear to them and do not provoke them, yes. Friendly.” The monk pats Rana on the head, and she squeals a little, twiddling her fingers. “Do not worry. We will keep you safe from them. They are quite docile once you know them.”

“Okay. That’s nice but…” You cross your arms. “The Atlas. I was told you knew something about it.”

“The Atlas of Forever, yes.” He nods. “I do know of it, unlike the others.” He pushes the glasses up his nose. The monk was a bald old man, wearing orange robes that hung over his body. “I only know of a clue to its location, not the exact location, I am sorry.”

“Anything helps,” you say. “How is the Atlas related to China though?”

“In Ancient times, a nameless conqueror attempted to use the Atlas to build a landbridge between China and Japan, so he may invade the islands and claim them as part of his Empire. But my ancestors were able to… poison this man in his sleep, and also hid the Atlas from prying eyes.” He nods, thinking on it. “The Atlas’ exact location has been lost to time and forgotten memory unfortunately. But I will help you in any way I can.”

You nod.

> “Explain everything to Rana. I’m going to take a quick bath.”
> “Explain it all to me now, a history lesson sounds nice.”
> “Explain everything to Rana. I’m going to have a talk with the prisoner.”
> Other

>>42359914
>“Explain everything to Rana. I’m going to take a quick bath.”

>>42359914
> “Explain everything to Rana. I’m going to have a talk with the prisoner.”
Diligent Libby

>>42359914
>“Explain everything to Rana. I’m going to have a talk with the prisoner.”

>>42359914
> “Explain it all to me now, a history lesson sounds nice.”
The ghosts still don't sound very friendly...

>>42359914
>> “Explain it all to me now, a history lesson sounds nice.”
A bath sounds awful nice as we haven't had one in days, but duty first.

>>42359914
>“Explain everything to Rana. I’m going to take a quick bath.”
We DID kinda go through a shitstorm.

>>42359914
> “Explain it all to me now, a history lesson sounds nice.”
Time is off the essence

>>42360333
Not literally anon.

I hope.

>>42360374
We had a horrible day in the car, shot by a tiny kraut, then had ghosts starting up shit.

> “Explain it all to me now, a history lesson sounds nice.”

You sigh. “Rana, go ahead and take a break.” She smiles, quickly moving on over to the bathhouse. “You got a library?” He nods. “Explain it to me there.” He nods, taking your shoulder and leading you to the library.

-

-

The library is dark, and only the lit candles strewn about the modestly sized room give you any kind of light. You put on a pair of reading glasses and take down some notes as the Monk explains the situation to you. “My ancestors stole the Atlas from this nameless conqueror, and they decided to take it to the edge of the world, where no one could ever find it.”

“Well, how long ago was this?” you ask.

“Nearly a thousand years ago, maybe more, there is no exact date,” he says.

You nod, jotting a couple of things down. “So your nameless conqueror, would he happen to have been a Mongol?” He tilts his head. “Many attempts were made to invade the Japanese mainland, the Mongols were the most famous. They were saved by divine winds destroying the Mongol transports before they could ever set foot on the islands.”

“Most likely,” says the Monk. “Of which though, that is the question.”

“Most likely to be Temur Khan, he ordered the submission of Japan without doing much. The Atlas is not in public records or… really in public mind. The average person doesn’t know it exists, but perhaps Temur did, and may have had his hands on it.”

“But he did not know how to use it,” says the Monk. He scratches his chin, deducing things along with you. “As for where my ancestors took it, the edge of the world could mean anything!” He sighs, grumbling in frustration.

“Not necessarily.” He looks at you. “China knew of Europe existence at this point, right?” The Monk nods. “Then they wouldn’t go west. West isn’t the edge of the world. But east might be.”

“So east,” he says.

[1/3]

>>42361001
[2/3]

The Monk scratches his chin. “I’m afraid not.” You thump your head on your notepad. “My ancestors made sure to hide the Atlas in a location where no one could find it. They did not simply throw it into the sea, it is too strong to simply be washed away like that.”

“What is the Atlas like?” you ask.

“It is… magical.” He holds out his hands, as if holding a book. “It’s as if the Earth comes alive in your hands. That is what my grandfather told me when he died.” He leans towards you. “Something with that much power is not easily erased. It is somewhere, I…” He gasps. “I think I have it.”

“What?” You stand up. “Where?”

“No, no, I don’t literally have it.” He stands up, then moves on over to a bookshelf. “Th- there is… a place you can go to that may have more information.” He pulls out a book, then opens it up. “A sailor, a German sailor by the name of Markus Lerner made landfall in Japan, was one of the first Europeans to do so. He wrote…” He hands the book to you. “A brief paragraph about a peculiar book he recovered on the shores of Japan, lying within the wreck of an old ship. It is said this book was like an ancient tome, like the Koran or the Bible or other religious books. And when he opened it up, it was as if… the world opened up to him.”

You blink, reading through it. It’s written in German so it’s a useless gesture. “… does it say where he took it?”

The Monk sighs. “It doesn’t even say if he took it at all. Unfortunately Markus Lerner was killed by native Japanese samurai for um… sleeping with one of their daughters.” Figures.

“So the Atlas… is in Japan.”

The Monk nods, slightly. “That would most likely be your best bet.”

“Great.” You place your hands on your hips. “Great. I have to go into the belly of the beast and pull out my nugget of gold. Alright, well…” You offer your hand. “Thank you.” He shakes it, looking down on you.

>>42361031
[3/3]

“You are a smart girl,” he says. “Do not waste that knowledge. You are free to explore the monastery at your leisure. We will house you for as long as you need.” You nod, and away he walks out of the library. You sigh, leaving yourself alone in the library.

Great. Japan.

> Stay in the library, see if you can learn anything else. If not the Atlas, maybe about these spirits.
> Go unpack. You need a nap. You need a bath. You need to relax.
> Find Tiny. See what her deal is.
> Other

>>42361055
>Go unpack. You need a nap. You need a bath. You need to relax.
Least the Atlas is not in R'lyeh.

>>42361055
>> Find Tiny. See what her deal is.

>>42361055
> Find Tiny. See what her deal is.
More intimidating while filthy!

>>42361055
>Find Tiny. See what her deal is.

Get stuff done, then we can bathe and rest.

>>42361055
> Go unpack. You need a nap. You need a bath. You need to relax.

>>42361055
> Stay in the library, see if you can learn anything else. If not the Atlas, maybe about these spirits.
In Japan all along? Would be quite the coincidence.

>>42361055
>Go unpack. You need a nap. You need a bath. You need to relax.

>>42361055
>Find Tiny. See what her deal is.

> Find Tiny. See what her deal is.

-

-

The monks have kept Tiny locked up in a storeroom, and have her under guard by two monks armed with rifles. You grab a stool, then look up through the slot in the door and see her chewing on some rice left out for her. “Hey,” you call. She looks over at you, with a very vicious glare. “Listen. I got questions for you. And you’re going to answer them.”

“What makes you think that I will your questions?” she mutters.

“Because I can be reasonable. I know there’s some shred of deceny in you so… you got a name?”

“I do,” she says. “It’s Eva Braun.” You roll your eyes. “That not good enough? Perhaps Katherine Hepburn? Or perhaps Betty-“

“I get it.” You lean your head against the door, sighing just a little bit. “Fine, don’t give me your name. But let me understand why you attacked me. Who are you working for?”

“I work for whoever pays,” she says. She grabs a cut of meat off the shelf then shoves it into her bowl of rice. “But if it involves killing or hunting a Magical Girl like yourself?” She jabs her chopsticks into the rice. “It’s free.”

You pause. Hm. Maybe this isn’t going to end up like Anneliese. “What have you got against us?”

“None of you deserve the power you were given.” She stands up, shoving her bowl away. She walks up to the door. And you immediately lose her now due to her short height. “I-“

“I can’t see you,” you say.

[1/2]

>>42362067
[2/2]

“Hold on.” You can hear the little pitter patter of her feet as she drags a stool over. She now meets you eye to eye through the slot in the door. “Do you know what it is like to be passed over because you have a perfect sister? Everyone loves her, everyone wants to be her. And I’m just there because I was born 20 minutes after her.” She narrows her eyes. “How did you think I felt when the Messenger chose her and not me.”

You place your hands on your hips. “So you’re jealous of her, is that it?”

“No, I haven’t been jealous of her since I poisoned her food and killed her,” she says. “I’m more angry at you, and everything you girls stand for. It’s deplorable. I should’ve been a magical girl!” She pounds the door. “I should have your power! But instead I get passed aside AGAIN because my dear old sister was too perfect and too sainted for this world! Haha!” She pounds the door again, surprising the guards. “If I can’t be a Magical Girl, no one can! I have nothing more to say to you!” She shuts the slot shut.

Well. That did not go very well.

She opens the slot again. “By the way, you fight like a cripple.” She shuts the slot again.

Now that was just rude.

> Forget it, bath time, rest time.
> Try and reach out to her. If it worked for Anneliese, surely it could work for her, right?
> Whatever, explore the monastery.
> Other

>>42362109
>Forget it, bath time, rest time.

>>42362109
>Forget it, bath time, rest time.
There's no reasoning with someone like that, at least not at this juncture.

>>42362109
> Forget it, bath time, rest time.
Leave her to stew for a while

>>42362109
>> Forget it, bath time, rest time.
Maybe we'll try again after the mission is over.

>>42362109
>Forget it, bath time, rest time.
I do think she's outlived her usefulness.

>>42362109
> Forget it, bath time, rest time.
Fan service time

>>42362109
>Forget it, bath time, rest time.

She's gonna get along great with knives

>>42362109
> Forget it, bath time, rest time.

>>42362388
Doubt it anon.

>>42362388
Knives wants nothing more than to be with Liberty. Tiny wants to see the death of all magical girls because she was passed over for her twin sister. If anything, Knives would attack Tiny if Liberty were stuck in a corner.

>>42362522
>>42362680

Angry, homocidal, and frustrated. Sounds like perfect buddies. Their ultimate goal may be different, but they're both nuts.

>>42363086
Tiny will be converted into the next breed of Storm Ace. Just you watch.

> Forget it, bath time, rest time.

-

-

You don’t care if you don’t have a swimsuit, you don’t care that Sumire is already sharing the bathhouse and will inevitably tease you about something, you just want to relax, and clean up. Ugh. You dip yourself into the cool waters, and immediately moan in relief as the warm water wipes away all your stresses and worries. You look over at your shoulder, pretty much healed now. And all other cuts and bruises are looking to be gone now.

You lean back against the wood wall, shutting your eyes and placing a towel over your head. You’ll do some real cleaning in a bit. You just want to soak.

“… ooooh, Libby…” You feel a poke at your side.

“Not. Now.”

“Come on!” Sumire pokes your side again. “You want me to scrub your back?” You sigh, you throw the towel off your head, then turn over. Sumire smiles, buck naked as well as she kneels behind you and starts scrubbing. You bite your lip as Sumire thrusts her hands back and forth, up and down, scrubbing away the dirt, some blood, and the grit from yesterday.

“Where’s Rana?” you ask.

“She had a pretty quick bath,” says Sumire. “Unpacking our stuff now in the lodge the monks set up for us.” You nod, resting your head on your arms as you let Sumire clean and scrub.

“Why are you still here?”

She rests her head on your shoulder. “… can it be because I want to see your tiny little butt?” You grab your towel and slap her in the face. “Ow! Come on!”

“We’re in China, hunting a magical artifact against people who want to kill us, Sumire. Show some damn respect for it.” You tilt your head down, pressing your eyes against your arms. “And keep your hands above the waist.”

[1/2]

File: Knives.jpg (206 KB, 387x819)

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>>42363203
[2/2]

“Fine, fine.” She taps your shoulder. “Riddle me this though, what was that nightmare about?” You shudder. You actually remember the nightmare vividly. Too vividly. “I mean, I know you said I didn’t want to know but… you know, it really arouses the curiousity. What could scare Lady Liberty herself?” She scoffs. “Ha! I mean, nothing scares me.”

“Except lack of funding.”

“… well, yeah,” she mutters. “But seriously, what was it about?” You’re about to say you don’t remember when she says, “And don’t give me that thing about you not remembering. You have an amazing memory.”

> “Knives.”
> “You and Rana dying.”
> “I don’t want to talk about it.”
> Other

>>42363086
But their frustration comes from very different sources. For Knives it is sexual while Tiny clearly has a complex about her height- I mean vertical challenges.

>>42363237
>“Knives.”

>>42363237
>“You and Rana dying.”
Knives is smalltime. Knives getting at Sumire or Rana is not.

>>42363237
Hmmm...
> “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Let's leave it for a while longer.

>>42363237
>> “You and Rana dying.”

>>42363237
>“You and Rana dying.”

>>42363244
Am I the only one who thinks Knives could actually be a highly competent officer that could lead the Magisch Korps into a golden age, if only any mention of Liberty didn't turn her into a tittering idiot? I remember Knives's introduction and she was relatively competent, if a little excited for battle. After Liberty beat her, though, she became obsessed.

>>42363237
>“You and Rana dying.”

>>42363177
Chibi storm ace

So kawaii

>>42363237
> “You and Rana dying.”

>>42363323
She didn't make it to Major just because Engelhardt liked her.

>>42363323
Knives has lost it. Love does funny things to people.

File: 1412538742098.webm (2.98 MB, 1280x720)

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>>42363437
Now that Knives is top commander of the Korps (what does that leave the rest of the swordgirls?), I think she's obligated, after two whole adventures, to finally give her full name to Liberty.

>>42363487
>Love

>>42363507
Tainted love is still love!

>>42363507
I think that from Knives' POV, hers is the purest form of.

>>42363535
And now that song has an entirely new meaning to me.

>>42363777
What was the old meaning?

>Tiny
>So assblasted over not being a Magical Girl that she murdered her own sister
>Wants power for incredibly selfish reasons

Can we...can we just kill her? Or at least throw her into a deep, dark prison somewhere and let her rot forever?

>>42363918
Don't forget the "if I can't have ____, NO ONE CAN HAVE _____" gimmick.

>>42363918
She should probably be in prison, yes. Can't really risk her running around with those kinda habits.

>>42363820
Something about being dumped and longing and feelings. I usually tune it out.

Now its about crazy Nazi violent love.

>>42363972
Aye, that too.

Either way, somehow I've never been this repulsed by a villain so much in this entire quest, and this is accounting for the fucking Nazis, Knives, and the rest of the Magische Korps. Just something about Tiny's attitude rustles me jimmies something fierce.

>>42364022
Well dark interpretations aren't that unusual, the music video for Soft Cell's cover is blatantly about predatory pedophilia for example.

> “You and Rana dying.”

“You and Rana dying.” Sumire stops her scrubbing, then leans her head over, looking at you in concern. “It was her, the knife girl, the Major. She killed you and Rana and… well she didn’t kill me but… wish she had.” You sigh, looking over at her now. “Look, I didn’t want to tell you, okay? I get… nightmares like that occasionally. Sometimes they don’t involve her.”

“I see.” Sumire hugs you from behind, arms wrapped around your waist, her head resting on your shoulder. “That is some deep stuff, Libby.”

You shrug. “I try not to bring my crud with me to work. I mean, you and Rana are some of the most important people in my life. Losing either one of you would just break my heart. Okay?” Sumire nods, tilting her head slightly, resting it against yours now.

“I understand.” She gently pecks your cheek, smiling. “Hey, don’t worry about us. We’re our own people. Way I see it, if you worry about everyone at every waking moment, you’re going to drive yourself nuts. So here’s what I do.” She snaps her fingers, smirking. “I don’t worry about anyone!” You narrow your eyes, giving her a stern look. “What? It works!”

“So you don’t worry about me then?” you ask.

“Oh, you’re the only person I worry about, my witty wady.” She rubs her cheek against yours, giggling. You push her away, and she just giggles louder. “Come on! I’m joking!” She splashes water at you.

“Ah!” You slap your hand through the water. “Sumire! Stop it!” She ducks her head into the water halfway, her noses making bubbles break the surface. “Everything can’t be jokes! I-“ She spits out water at you. “You- I… AGH!”

> Splash water at her.
> Forget this, you’re going to your bedding area.
> “Stop it! I’m trying to have a moment with you!”
> Other

>>42364098
> Splash water at her.

>>42364098
> “Stop it! I’m trying to have a moment with you!”
> Splash water at her.
Fucking mercs man.

>>42364098
>“Stop it! I’m trying to have a moment with you!”

>>42364098
>“Stop it! I’m trying to have a moment with you!”
That's our golddigging, self-centered, selfish merc for you.

>>42364098
>Hug her as hard as you can
We are going to have a goddamn moment and you will like it

>>42364098
> “Stop it! I’m trying to have a moment with you!”
Libby had a hard life!

>>42364098
>Splash water at her.
> “Stop it! I’m trying to have a moment with you!”

>>42364098
I vote this >>42364208

With no lewds. Perfectly innocent. In a bath. Wet soapy innocence.

>>42364267
>Wet soapy innocence.
Pretty sure that's some kinda contradiction anon.

>>42364208
Yeah, alright. The power of the hug is not to be underestimated.

>>42364208
>Hug her as hard as you can

>>42364289
Blue board, where all non-porny things are possible.

Can you post the image without the text if you have it, OP?

File: Lady Liberty.jpg (99 KB, 1100x1600)

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>>42364881

>>42364881
*the OP image

>>42364913
Thanks.

> Other

You immediately pull her into a tight hug, surprising her. “Come here you.” Probably to Sumire’s frustration, there isn’t a lot between you and her now. “Let me have this moment, dang it. Don’t ruin it by being such a putz.”

She rolls her eyes. “Aww, Lady Liberty upset that her pet Jap is getting restless?”

“Oh, stop it you.” You pinch her cheek a bit. “I can tease you too you know. But we’re working now. When we’re not, we can tease each other all we want.”

“You really gotta learn to relax,” she says. She pulls away from your hug, giving you the warmest smile you’ve ever seen on her. “Come on, really! I mean, sure, we’re in an ancient monastery surrounded by a bunch of old guys that are guarding a graveyard full of restless spirits that want to eat people, but yeah, just relax!” You cross your arms, quirking your brow. “I mean, we’re still teenagers, Libby. We can’t grow up that fast!”

“I had to grow up fast,” you grumble. “That’s what happens when you have a dead Dad and a Mom who’s never around.” You sigh, leaning on the edge of the bath. “What are we going to do, Sumire? I mean… look, I got a bead on where the Atlas might be right now.” She tilts her head, waiting for you to say it. “But I’m not going to tell you now. We’re going to spend the night here. I’ll tell you guys before we go to sleep, alright?’

Sumire sighs. “Alright.” You stand up, rubbing down your hips. “Where are you going?” She lifts up one of her legs, and immediately you feel the heat rush to your cheeks. She grins, a little bite of her lip as well. “I scrub your back, you scrub my leg, isn’t that how the saying goes?”

…

[1/3]

>>42365337
[2/3]

-

-

“Japan, huh?” You set up with the radio in the watchtower to talk to Operator #5, and brief him on the current situation. “I guess I should’ve just sent you there from the start. I was going to send Fortress on the mission to sabotage the Super Yamato but you might be able to get it while you’re in the area.”

“I don’t think I can,” you say. You watch as the sun starts setting over the horizon. You see the mountains poke out of the clouds, like a big forest of the ancient worlds. “The issue is that while the Atlas MIGHT be in Japan, there’s no guarantee. It’s our only lead though.”

“I see.”

“Another thing, we captured a girl, won’t give us a name but she tells us she hunts Magical Girls. Killed her own sister because she got to be one.”

“I’ve heard of this. The Huntress, she’s actually wanted for several murders of our agents overseas. We heard reports she might be working with the Japs, I guess you’re our confirmation. You say you have her imprisoned?”

“Yeah.” You look down at the building where she’s locked. Nothing to report about it. “We're not equipped to hold her though."

“I'd actually like the chance to interrogate her. Kill her if you’re forced to, but if you can bring her back to the states in one piece, that’d be amazing. That girl’s design towards a man-portable rocketpack is revolutionary, a real waste if I may say so. And if she’s working with the Magisch Korps, I want to know just how much things have changed in their department.”

“Understood, sir.” You lean back in your chair.

“You sound distressed.”

“Do I?”

“Yes. Is the piece stuck in your chest giving you trouble?”

You shake your head, as if he can see you. “Wwell, she did punch me and bring down for the count just by hitting the spot where it is. But-"

“I see.”

“What?"

“Nothing. I await your next report.” The radio cuts out. You slap your head against your desk, groaning. You wish you had Kirby to talk to right now. What are they even doing anyway without you?

>>42365396
[3/3]

-

-

You step into the bedroom the monks assigned for you, and find Rana curled up beneath her blankets around, shivering with fear. “Rana, the ghosts aren’t going to get you,” you say. You reach under your nightdress’s skirt, scratching at your leg a bit as you sit on the bed with Sumire. Sumire meanwhile simply lies back, eyes shut but not asleep. Sumire meanwhile wears only the pink little nightdress that you bought for her (she called it so tacky that she decided to take it on missions where it was sure it’d get ruined. At least she’s wearing it).

“I can’t help it!” says Rana. She pokes her eyes out. “I can understand tanks, planes, cars, and guns, but ghosts I can’t understand at all!” She holds up her notebook, something she keeps for records on Nazi intelligence. “I found this one while we were raiding a Nazi base while you were still recovering! Did you know the Nazis are trying to find a way to use ghosts as weapons!?”

“Lemme see that,” says Sumire. Rana throws it across the room to her and Sumire quickly gives it a skim. “… merging the spirit body with the automaton- This is crud.” She throws the notebook back at Rana. “You can’t merge ghosts with robots. That’s ludicrous.”

“Ludicrous, that’s a big word, Sumire.”

She grunts. “Whatever.”

> “The ghosts won’t get you, Rana, we’ll protect you.”
> “Rana’s got a point. The Nazis can do a whole lot.”
> “Can we just please go to bed?”
> Other

>>42365337
>“I scrub your back, you scrub my leg, isn’t that how the saying goes?”
Where does she find the good sayings?

>>42365424
> “The ghosts won’t get you, Rana, we’ll protect you.”

>>42365424
>“The ghosts won’t get you, Rana, we’ll protect you.”

>>42365424
>“The ghosts won’t get you, Rana, we’ll protect you.”

>>42365424
> “The ghosts won’t get you, Rana, we’ll protect you.”

>>42365424
>“Can we just please go to bed?”

Followed by:

>"Maybe that automaton ghost merge thing is how they made the Storm Ace?"

>>42365424
I forget: are there any other Nazi science/paranormal divisions apart from the Magisch Korps?

>>42365424
> “Rana’s got a point. The Nazis can do a whole lot.”

>>42365689
The Korps handles a lot of things both paranormal and science. If something involves magic, ghosts, superscience, or aliens, then the Magisch Korps is on it.

How exactly do you dissect and/or interrogate a ghost?
Wait, before having ghosts do your bidding, you need to get them first. How do you harness ghosts?

If the Nazis are doing crazy paranormal superscience and the Japs are doing crazy paleonthologic dinoscience, what are the Italians and the Russians doing?

>>42365789
I imagine the Russians are helping design the next generation of mecha musume or something. Beyond that, your guess is as good as anyone's.

>>42365424
> “The ghosts won’t get you, Rana, we’ll protect you.”

> “The ghosts won’t get you, Rana, we’ll protect you.”

You smirk a little, looking at Rana. “Look, the ghosts ain’t gonna get you, Rana. We’ll keep you safe.” She nods gently, retreating further into her blanket. “Don’t you worry now, they aren’t going to bust down the door and eat your soul while we sleep.” You point to your ears. “I got ears like a fox and eyes like a hawk.”

“M’kay.” Rana smiles. “Well, good night you two. Don’t let the ghosts eat your soul or anything.”

You nod, then lean over to a candle and puff it out. The warm glow engulfing the room is replaced immediately by infinite darkness. Sumire yawns as she immediately wraps herself up in the blanket, leaving nothing for you. “… seriously?” You grab it and yank it away from her, then wrap yourself beneath it. “Good night, Rana. Night, Sumire.”

She pulls the blanket away from you and lies down underneath. “Good night, Libby. Night, Rana.” She scoots closer, rubbing arms with you. “Good night, Libby…” She kisses the back of your neck, and you quickly elbow her in the gut. “Ow!”

You sigh. Maybe with Sumire at your side you can finally get some good sleep in with a nice dream or something. She wraps her arm around you however, and immediately pulls you close, like a child with a teddy bear. “Hehehehe, my little libby bear,” she whispers.

Rana speaks up. “Could you two please go to bed?” You turn over and look Sumire directly in the eyes. She rolls her eyes, then simply rests her head and down shuts her eyes. Finally. You shut your own eyes, and wait for sleep to take you.


[1/2]

>>42366623
[2/2]

-

-

You yawn quietly, opening your eyes to find Rana missing from her bed. Must have went to get breakfast. You still feel Sumire’s arm wrapped around you, and honestly you feel just a smidge tired. Won’t hurt to sleep in another hour maybe. You curl up your leg a little and scrunch up just to make yourself cozy. You feel Sumire’s arm run up your body, then gently pat the bottom of your breast.

Your eyes go wide. “S… Sumire, could you please not?” She runs her hand teasingly along the bottom of your bosom. “Sumire… come on, stop it,” you moan. “Not now…” You turn around, meaning to glare at her.

Your eyes go even wider.

Knives grins, happily, madly, looking deeply into your eyes. She continues running her hands along your breasts, happily and gently patting them. You’re speechless. Where is Rana. Where’s Sumire. What’s happened. Why is she here. She gently kisses your nose, licking her lips.

“Good morning.” Her free hand draws a glowing anti-magical knife, and she gently picks at her teeth with the tip of it. “You want breakfast, a bath, or perhaps…” She runs her hand along her body now, leaning closer. “… Me?”

Please, God, let this be a nightmare.

File: Liberty.png (227 KB, 900x900)

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There's the conclusion of tonight's chapter of Magical Girl Liberty and the Atlas of Forever! Thanks for dropping by, always nice to see you, anon. Hope to see you again this weekend for more.

Follow at: https://twitter.com/GermanSchteel

See you next time.

>>42366687
Thanks for running, boss.

>>42366687
Thanks for running Schteel!

>>42366653
Fucking krauts, I swear...

>>42366653
Thanks for the fun, boss.