"Honestly, this kind of scenery is genuinely terrifying, isn't it?"
"But that's exactly why we have to stop it."
"Yeah, you're right. We can't exactly just stand by and watch this happen."
Two young girls walked against a howling gale, their figures small against the backdrop of a deserted, storm-wracked city.
The residents had already fled to various shelters. Only they remained on the streets, heading toward the heart of the chaos.
"I think I finally understand why she was always so high-strung and nervous."
"Facing something like this alone... it would be an almost impossible task, wouldn't it?"
Kyoko Sakura looked up at the massive, upside-down silhouette of the witch in the evening dress. Her transformation complete, she held her spear firmly, her gaze steady despite the gale.
"You should probably save your strength."
"I'd rather not have to deal with you turning into a witch right after we finish off that thing."
Sayaka Miki unsheathed her swords, offering a sharp reminder to her companion.
"Ahaha, don't worry about it."
"Even if it comes to that, you'll be there to save me, won't you?"
Kyoko's casual, devil-may-care response made Sayaka let out a long sigh, though she couldn't help but agree.
The enemy they were facing was exceptionally powerful.
If she were alone, Sayaka wasn't sure if she could maintain the confidence to stand her ground.
With Homura Akemi's whereabouts currently unknown, she and Kyoko were the only ones left who could fight.
"Besides, we made such a big promise to Madoka."
"We can't let her get dragged into Kyubey's games, can we?"
"Kyubey's been persistent lately, always trying to manipulate her. It's different from before. That stubborn obsession doesn't suit it at all."
Kyoko's hair whipped around her face as she continued her advance.
"I bet it's trying to take advantage of the fact that Homura isn't here."
As if triggered by her words, a bone-chilling laugh echoed through the air.
Ehehehe...
"Here it comes!"
The massive witch in the sky moved like a floating fortress, every rotation of its body generating waves of destructive power.
The collateral damage from its movements alone was enough to level the city.
But the two girls didn't hesitate. They lunged forward, charging toward the center of the storm.
That was the life of a magical girl.
***
"What is it? Are you worried?"
"It's only natural, I suppose. After all, there is no possible way for those two to win."
From within the relative safety of a shelter, Madoka Kaname watched the destruction through a reinforced glass window. Kyubey sat on a nearby railing, its voice a constant, relentless drone of manipulation.
"Nothing they do will make a difference."
"But despite the lack of any chance for victory, they continue to fight. Everything they do is for the sake of the promise they made to you."
"Telling a magical girl to 'Stay alive' is a meaningless sentiment. It's nothing more than an empty dream."
Kyubey's tail twitched slightly as it spoke.
Homura Akemi's disappearance suggested that its initial manipulation had been successful.
By stimulating her desire for a "Wish" and maximizing her emotional output, it had managed to push her into an unpredictable state.
Unfortunately, the Incubators couldn't trace her whereabouts.
The plan had succeeded in removing her, but it had also failed in that it created a massive variable: the extent of Homura's actions during the war she had entered.
Based on the data Kyubey had collected, Homura's ability to manipulate time ensured she would likely excel in any conflict, even if her offensive capabilities were lacking.
The probability of her victory was high.
Therefore, to prevent any potential "Backstabbing" from her side, the safest course of action was to convince Madoka to become a magical girl as soon as possible.
Doing so would resolve the majority of their current issues.
BOOM!
KABOOM!
Nearby skyscrapers were uprooted by the gale and sent crashing into the pavement, causing the ground to tremble.
Even without witnessing the battle directly, the flashes of steel and the sound of expanding spears and chains told the story of a desperate, losing struggle.
"Is there really no salvation for those who hold onto hope?"
"No. Every magical girl in history has met the same inevitable conclusion."
"But..."
Suddenly, before Kyubey could finish its sentence, a massive hand reached down and grabbed it by the head, hoisting it into the air.
"?"
The Incubator hadn't sensed anyone approaching. Its large, circular eyes dilated with confusion as it turned its head to see who had seized it.
"So this is what she called an... Incubator, huh?"
"It certainly looks like a cat on the surface."
A tall, muscular man wearing a black coat and hat stood beside Homura Akemi.
Madoka was momentarily stunned, her eyes widening as she saw Homura standing there. A wave of relief washed over her, and she lunged forward to embrace her friend.
"Homura-chan!"
"I'm sorry. I'm back."
The reunion was filled with a desperate, intense emotion.
"Yare yare daze. This world really is a disaster."
Jotaro let out a sigh, feeling a sense of gratitude for his own power. He had seen too many "Leftover Problems" in various realities to count.
It was no wonder that something on the level of the Dragon Balls was required to fix everything in one go.
"As a biological researcher, I'm tempted to observe your species for a bit, but before I do that..."
"Ehh?"
Before Kyubey could utter a single word, its perception of the world underwent a radical shift.
Meteorites floated nearby, and a massive, glowing sun and a giant blue sphere filled its entire field of vision.
"!"
Kyubey immediately realized the situation.
It... and its entire species... had been ejected from Earth.
A massive column of "Co-species" were being pulled from the planet's surface, forming a massive, orderly line in the vacuum of space.
How was this possible?
Was this the work of that man?
What was the mechanism? Was it magic or science?
Furthermore, they couldn't return. Any attempt to approach the planet resulted in being violently repelled by an invisible barrier.
A thousand questions filled the Incubators' collective consciousness, none of which had an answer.
***
"Homura-chan, that man?"
"It's alright now. Everything is settled."
Homura shook her head, offering no specific explanation to Madoka's question.
"From now on, the days will be peaceful."
"There will be no more witches."
Her gentle tone was so unlike her usual self that Madoka felt a sense of wonder.
She had never seen Homura look so... relieved.
It was as if she had finally let go of a heavy burden she had been carrying for an eternity.
"..."
At that moment, Madoka noticed that the dark, storm-filled sky had suddenly cleared.
The howling wind had died down completely.
The sounds of battle had vanished.
Warm, bright sunlight poured through the glass, and the sound of birds chirping cheerfully as they flew past the window filled the air.
Madoka looked out at the city, feeling as though she had just woken up from a terrible nightmare.
The city, which should have been in ruins after the witch's assault, was perfectly restored. It was peaceful, serene, and entirely undamaged.
She saw Sayaka and Kyoko running back toward them, waving their hands with wide, happy smiles. Madoka's eyes sparkled with tears of joy.
"Hope and miracles..."
"They really do exist."
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]