There were seven of them, average levels around thirty-one and above . Clyde didn't have time to fully a.n.a.lyze all of them and it wasn't like they considered him a threat . But he stood just close enough to hear the conflict .

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"You are a coward!" a girl with curly bright orange hair said . Zera . "You're the reason why your sister won't join Fireside . "

Yusuke folded his arms, glowering at the group . He was a blue-haired young man with a runner's build, dressed in the school uniform . Clyde a.n.a.lyzed him .

Yusuke .

Level: 30 .

Type: ninja .

Relations.h.i.+p: stranger .

HP: 125%

MP: 75%

He ended the a.n.a.lysis early and watched, sure that Kitome would probably kick his a.s.s for allowing her brother to bite it .

"If you won't use your powers for good, then we'll have to teach you the hard way," a slim girl named Ila said . The chocolate-skinned young woman was the only one of them that carried a weapon, a sheathed katana . A tiny red aura flowed around it .

One girl held a hand up, silencing the entire group . She was by far the most graceful of the group, her movement, her poise, calm, and cool, collected expression . Long silver hair draped to her back, piercing red eyes seeming to engage the worth of Yusuke's life . She spoke with a musical, cool voice, without anger, but expectancy . Expectance of an answer . She was definitely the leader of the Fireside magical girls . The a.n.a.lysis stated her name as Sahara .

"Why do you not fight?" she said . "You have the power to help stop the demon problem in this city, yet you do nothing . People are dying each day, going missing, losing their souls and yet you do nothing . Your sister has joined some other group right, fighting and increasing her strength . Her power level's higher than yours . She declined our invite because of you . She foolishly promised the leader of her group that she'd—"

"If I don't want to get myself killed, then it's my business," Yusuke said . "If the police, who clearly know what's going on won't do anything, why should I?"

"You have the gift," a pink-haired girl named Marin said . "You have a destiny . "

"f.u.c.k destiny," Yusuke said . "I do what I want . "

He started to walk past the group of young women by they blocked his path .

"Capture him," Sahara said . "You'll learn to put the needs of the city, the world, before your own selfishness . Even if it's the hard way . We didn't bother Kitome with anymore invitations because she's fighting . She makes us proud . When you're trained, maybe she'll leave her current group and be our eighth . "

"You b.i.t.c.hes," Yusuke said shaking his head . "You won't drag me into this s.h.i.+t . Ninja transformation!"

Transformation h.e.l.l broke loose as all of them dawned twenty-second sequences .

"Love-love, caring, transformation!"

"Peace, harmony, transformation!"

"s.e.x, futility, transformation!"

Clyde tuned out the rest of the chants as he raced toward Yusuke . The normal population was already walking on the other side of the streets, not looking at the approaching cl.u.s.ter f.u.c.k .

"Hey man, I've got your back," Clyde said to Yusuke .

"You're that…fine whatever, I hope you can fight," he said . "Sahara's dangerous . "

"Level thirty-nine," Clyde said . "Of course . "

"Ah, an uninvited guest can see us and jump to your aid," Sahara said . "No transformation? Girls, capture him too . "

Yusuke's outfit changed into full black ninja garb . He didn't cover his face like the warriors in the movies . A white aura of some sort surrounded him . It radiated a slight heat that made Clyde curious about it . Questions for later .

Sahara, Ila, Marin, Akane, Fusako, Machi, and Zera, the Fireside group faced them in their fully transformed states . The outfits reminded him of something Sailor Moon wore in the animes, orange, and red uniforms: s.h.i.+rts and s.h.i.+rt with fiery symbols on them, white scandalous boots .

Clyde wasn't sure why he found himself grinning, his eyes locked on Sahara, hers on him, uncertainty deep within . He was an unknown factor to them . Awesome .

He took a quick look at the beginning of his stats page, calculating . His extra MP could save him . He activated all of the buffs possible then cleared his mind of everything except the fight ahead .

[You have joined forces with Yusuke . Your relations.h.i.+p with Kitome has increased to Friend- Closer level 1 for defending her brother . ]

Clyde .

Level: 30

Type: Main character/ Stone . Mystic .

t.i.tle: The Man Who Shatters the Balance .

HP: 100% (+10%)

MP: 100% (+30%)

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[Party loyalty has triggered . Any companion in the area will be notified . Bonus stats will be awarded to them if they're able to provide a.s.sistance . ]

[Your party has entered a death sentence!]

Thanks for the faith in me, System, Clyde thought sarcastically .

[Sahara activated Wit of the thirteen witches!]

A giant pink magic circle of many symbols appeared underneath her feet . The magical girls donned pink auras, smirking .

"Who's first?" Clyde said . Yusuke looked at him with widened eyes .

"You have no idea, do you?"

Clyde shook his head .

"I said I have your back . It's too late to back down . And I have tricks of my own . "

"Whatever dude," Yusuke said, shaking his head doubtfully then lurched toward the nearest magical girl .

"Look who's going forward anyway," Clyde said then followed suit .

[You activated Scatter shot . ]

All the magical girls dodged, except Sahara . She simply swatted away each energy ball with a single hand . He wished he had a way to exploit their weaknesses but knew no ice magic whatsoever . All of them were weak to ice .

[Machi activated Fire spear!]

Clyde dodged the attack . Yusuke engaged in hand to hand combat with Ila, dagger in hand .

[Yusuke activated Sonic Combat . ]

Clyde couldn't pay attention to that fight, but before the three women that approached him stole his attention, he shouted,

"Heads up man, two more are coming . "

Only Sahara look as if she didn't plan to partic.i.p.ate in the battle . She observed her magical minions like a general .

[Machi activated Fire spear!]

[Fusako activated Flame strike . ]

[Zera activated Flame smite . ]

Clyde knew that if he didn't do something, he'd get cooked alive . And Roasted Clyde was no fun .

[You activated Spirit s.h.i.+eld . ]

[Your MP has dropped to 101%]

[Fire spear's piecing still delivers a small amount of damage past your s.h.i.+eld . Sahara's spell increases damage output!]

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[Your HP has dropped to 92%]

Clyde rushed forward, a little nervous now, but followed the airflow and moods . He easily dodged punches, countered with a roundhouse kick, then jumped, dodging Zera's fire punch .

[Machi's HP has dropped to 95%]

Despite utilizing the airflows, breathing, and moods, it just wasn't good enough . The women were trained fighters, outnumbered him, and knew he had limits . As he regained his bearings, dodging a flurry of kicks from Machi and Fusika, an exploding blast of fire struck his past his invisible barrier, opening the young man's chest to some heated pain . The blast propelled him backward twenty yards .

[Zera used fireball . ]

[Your HP has dropped to 45% Sahara's spell continues to increase damage output . ]

Clyde sneered as he stood . The spirit s.h.i.+eld's cooldown felt cruel, not that it would do him any good against the fire spears . And they truly were shaped like long spears . And that fireball: holy s.h.i.+t . In the games, that move was always the weakest of attacks . Here, Clyde swore it hurt like a motherf.u.c.ker and did a ton of damage .

"Give up," Sahara said, still standing in place, arms folded across her chest . The smug smile on her face infuriated Clyde . Why did he involve himself in this fight anyway? It had to be the effects of this world—making him c.o.c.ky . He wasn't always like that . h.e.l.l, if he even showed a hint of smugness at home, his momma would gift him with a fat lip .

He glanced over at Yusuke only to see him struggling as well, battered . A bleeding status accompanied him, but the wounds across his arm and chest made that obvious . The ninja's combat log had many techniques, but the magical girls were not only strong but outnumbered him . To think the crazy fool planned to face them all alone . Sahara continued as if she'd already won, a matter of fact in her tone . "You can't win . This battle was over before it began . All we wish to do is chat . And you will tell us about your gift . "

"At least take me out to dinner first," Clyde said .

Sahara sighed .

"Knock him out . Make sure you tie with the anti-magic rope . I think tonight's torture is going to be a long one . "

"That was a joke . And what's with the torture?" Clyde said . "What are you, a medieval lord lady . "

The magical girls began to charge up their spells again . Fire spells . His bane . Time to roll his luck of the dice . He thought of his Alice, Harumi, and Chika .

[You've activated Trust Bond Skill Mimic . ]

[You've invoked Alice's Raid Ender? Do you wish to use, store, or discard it? Warning even if you discard it, the cooldown rule still applies . ]

Clyde laughed, his hands glowing bright white . Everyone looked at him suspiciously .

"It's over!"

[You activated Raid Ender . ]

Light contracted then quickly expanded from his hand . And there was no way they could dodge him . He eagerly awaited the damage and incapacitated prompts . When the brightness cleared, his mouth went agape at the sight .

The magical girls were gathered around Sahara . She had a hand raised . Surrounding the women was a translucent pink semi-sphere .

"Zera, you hold Yusuke down . Everyone else, focus on that man . Capture him at all costs," Sahara said . "I want him . He'll make a fine attack dog with a skill like that . "

"That was a borrowed skill," Clyde said, raising his hands . "How about we just talk . We're all on the same team anyway—this fighting's pointless . "

"So, are you willing to let us take Yusuke?" Machi said . "Unlike you, he's not leaving without the proper training . "

"So kidnapping," Clyde said . "What are you going to tell his family and college?"

"I'll have that taken care of . People tend to submit to the government for important causes," Fusako said .

Yusuke gave him an intense look of pleading . The proud ninja, pleading .

"He's coming to my team," Clyde said, almost reluctantly . "I'd appreciate it if you let him go . "

"You have no claim on…" Sahara paused . "Wait . You're him? That changes everything . "

"No, no, it doesn't," Clyde said . Her eyes changed from its neutral cold to pure interest .

"I've heard so much about you—no wonder why you were able to so-called do the impossible and borrow someone's skill as you say . That attack you just used . Teach us . "

"Teach you?"

"Join our team," Machi said .

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"And having a guy on the team would be a needed . . . " Akane said voice trailing off, nose bleeding, eyes…full of l.u.s.t?

"You s.l.u.t," Zera said, glaring at the blonde woman .

"No," Clyde said . "I've been hoping to get him on the team for a while, but not by force . The man has a life . "

"Take him down girls," Sahara said . "We'll torture him to sunset . "

"Akane could strip for him . Get him at the bridge of climaxing then let it wilt," Marin said . Akane glared at her .

"I'm not—"

Clyde drowned out the rest of their words as he tried out his newest special ability . Skill fusion . He selected the two skills he wanted to combo .

[Clyde activated skill fusion: Flash Step + Spirit wave]

[Your MP has dropped to 64%]

He was right behind Yusuke's captors . The large beam of blue magic engulfed them all, spitting them at least twenty yards away . Unfortunately, Clyde wasn't prepared for Sahara's attack . All he saw was her hand aimed at him before being covered head to toe with an enormous wave of pink and white energy .

[Sahara used Wrath of the thirteen . ]

[Your HP has dropped to 4%]

Clyde coughed out a mouthful of blood . He had no intention of going down so easily .

[You have invoked Mystic Wrath . ]

Clyde stood up, engulfed in his transformation . Some of the women had surprised looks on their faces, others were openly intrigued . They still believed the fight was over . He aimed one hand at Sahara . Green electricity danced from his fingertips . Sahara put up her s.h.i.+eld, confident in its power, but these women had no idea of the destructive capabilities of the Mystic Wrath .

[You activated Mystic Lightning . ]

All of the women suddenly put up smaller s.h.i.+elds, working together as a team to ensure the failure of Clyde's attack .

Mystic Lightning was an unblockable ability—Clyde could tell when it simply went through their bubbles as if they didn't exist . The screams felt as if they'd shatter gla.s.s .

[Ila's HP has dropped to 1% . Ila has lost the will to fight . ]

[Marin's HP has dropped to 1% . Marin lost the will to fight . ]

[Akane's HP has dropped to 1% . Akane lost the will to fight . ]

[Fusako's HP has dropped to 1% Fusako has been inflicted with spiritual blight . Fusako is paralyzed!]

[Machi's HP has dropped to 1% Machi lost the will to fight . ]

[Zera's HP has dropped to 1% Zera has lost the will to fight . ]

[Sahara's HP has dropped to 42%]

Sahara looked horrified as she watched her friends fall one by one .

[Your MP has dropped to 31%]

The cooldown was a pest to Clyde right now—as he really needed another shot to finish off the leader . She dusted herself off as she started toward Clyde, leisurely, as if he was just another tiny pest of her busy day .

His mystic wrath flickered, threatening to snuff out . He was just too d.a.m.n tired and in pain to move much . Everywhere hurt .

"I see why this is a death sentence . f.u.c.k, you're strong . "

Sahara smiled . SMILED .

"You're cute . I want you to remember this defeat for a long time . "

[Sahara activated Eternal Pain . ]

[Harumi activated Tier 2 skill: All mighty s.h.i.+eld!]

An invisible barrier protected the exhausted young man from a torrent of black fire that looked as if it could even hurt G.o.d himself .

[Harumi activated skill fusion: Grand Heal + Refresh . ]

[Your HP and MP returned to 75% All status alignments, hunger, and thirst, and exhaustion removed . ]

Clyde wanted nothing more than to kiss Harumi . She was more than just a pleasant sight, holy s.h.i.+t did she save the day . The cooldown on that probably meant no more large-scale healing .

Sahara looked terrified . A fully healed Clyde . His Mystic wrath's aura flared up to full brightness again .

"You've got some explaining to do," Harumi said .

"I know," he said . "G.o.d, Harumi, I could hug you right now . f.u.c.k, I thought I was going to die . "

"What were you thinking, taking on this many people, by yourself?" Harumi said .

"Good question . Got a little overconfident . It was mainly to help Kitome's brother," Clyde said .

Yusuke was standing again, glaring furious daggers at Sahara .

"Not so tough now, b.i.t.c.h . Now I don't have to worry about your cronies blocking this . "

[Yusuke activated Flash Jump . ]

He teleported beside a wide-eyed Sahara .

[Yusuke activated Smash breaker . ]

Sahara ducked under the glowing punch that would've sent her to LaLland, then elbowed Yusuke in the neck . She placed a hand on his chest as he fell backward, fury in her eyes, preparing to truly mess up the young man .

[Clyde activated Binder's hand . Sahara is inflicted with Bind! Bind holds strong!]

The tendrils of magic held her in midair, nearly spread-eagle . Clyde willed them to damage her . She howled in pain .

"Surrender," Clyde said . "Or I'll make you wish I'd kill you . "

Sahara deflated but the defiance remained in her eyes .

"Fine, I give up . I surrender . "

He increased the pain and held it . She howled, HP dropping slowly . "I need you to mean it . Stop making me do this . "

The message he wanted finally appeared, confirming the truth .

[Sahara has lost the will to fight . ]

[You have ended the battle . ]

"Please, I'm sorry . I surrender . "

Clyde nodded then released his binding . Harumi healed Yusuke .

"Harumi, call Kitome . No, call everyone . Before we have our meeting, we're going to chat with some lovely magical pests . "

All of this work for no rewards, Clyde thought . He wished Alice had a freaking phone . Dammit, Demon culture . Not worth wasting his last summon over .

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