The artificial intelligence of the Thunder Claw base was analyzing data from recent situations. The system evaluated the damages and available resources, and its programming computed the results with cold precision. It listed the current state of things, while deducing the next actions.

"The containment protocol in the training room has failed."

Was what the system determined after the conclusion of the long battle in the training area. The monstrous straw and hay entities had demonstrated unexpected lethality, tearing apart the robotic defense units like scrap metal.

"The theft is systematic, precise, without redundancy."

On the other hand, the system was also processing the situation on other battlefronts in its circuits, confirming through sensors how the figures dressed in black were advancing through the lower levels. However, the priority at the moment was elsewhere.

"Status of the Combat Generals: two out of three have been neutralized."

The system, with its cold logic, analyzed the cause. There were three variables in the base, three anomalies of extreme threat. Their power level exceeded all records. The AI had gathered some information on two of them, projecting multiple scenarios, all with a high probability of failure. Conventional methods were not enough.

"Evaluating options. Calculating variables. Analyzing the core of the threat."

The base's intelligence proceeded to evaluate the combat situation. The remaining options were minimal. The AI could concentrate the remaining defenses at a single point or disperse them to contain multiple threats, although both options presented a 99% failure rate. Among all the intruders, the most irregular and unpredictable variable was always the third, a silver-haired magical girl who floated unstably, whom it had been unable to triangulate or locate since her arrival, and whose actions or route it could not predict, unlike the other two.

The AI reached a final conclusion.

"The base has fallen. Certainty: 87%."

Despite all its logic and computational power, an unexpected variable had emerged: something it had not been able to triangulate or predict.

"The system activates the support protocol, redirecting the remaining resources of the base. The objective: to provide support to the last standing general to recover the valuable 'prototype'."

And that variable, which the artificial intelligence had not been able to triangulate, was indeed the magical girl.

"Analyzing. Compiling data."

From the moment the base's intelligence tried to observe her, its sensors and cameras ran into an unprecedented obstacle. The Thunder Claw database had information on magical girls; they usually faced entities of her type, so the system was prepared to use that information against her. However, it did not account for a variable that defied its logic: on every occasion it tried to gather information through observation, the magical girl would turn exactly toward the point from which it was observing her.

She would talk to it as if she knew she was being observed, and to the AI's confusion, her behavior lacked all sense or logic. On occasion, she would simply ignore the intrusion, continuing on her way without a second thought. On others, she would raise a hand and, with a single gesture, destroy the cameras and sensors that were trying to capture her. And worst of all, to the logic of the base's intelligence, was when she would simply chat cheerfully with it, asking questions that lacked any sense for its programming.

"You know, we're feeling really good right now~"

The base's intelligence didn't know how to process the expression. The magical girl, with a coquettish smile and in an enigmatic tone, spoke to the base, knowing she was being observed.

"Ufufu~"

Her smile turned flirtatious, and for a second, the system didn't know how to process the expression.

"We want to play~!!"

In an instant, the atmosphere and tone changed. Her cheeks puffed out in a childish pout.

"Everyone else is having fun and we're not~!!" she shouted, her voice now a high-pitched whine as she kicked her feet in the air with rage, complaining about how everyone seemed to be having fun behind her back, and that it wasn't fair to her.

As the girl continued to talk with her cheeks puffed out, the artificial intelligence noticed that her speech alternated between both tones. She referred to herself in the plural, one moment as if they were a group, and the next she alternated between both genders, calling herself "us" (masculine/mixed) and "us" (feminine) irregularly.

"Ufufu, but there's no one interesting to face~"

Out of nowhere, her childish voice transformed into a mature, adult, feminine voice.

"Then what do we do~?!"

...Only to return to her childlike tone without apparent reason or pattern.

After her complaint, the girl out of nowhere took the chain she had been pulling the human with, a being she had been using all night as if he were her horse or her dog.

"Now what?!"

"Ahahahahahahaha!"

...And with that, she lifted him from the ground, laughing nonsensically.

"I have an idea!"

With those words, she used him as an improvised weapon to destroy the camera. The base's data registered the collision of metal, and in a blink, the magical girl disappeared from its radar, leaving the system blind to her actions.

After losing all trace of the magical girl, the base's system focused its attention on the last general standing. It connected to its combat drones, redirecting them to her position immediately.

"General Vespira, my analysis indicates that you must retreat and escape the area as soon as possible. The containment protocols have failed."

"You're saying Tetrand failed?!"

"Affirmative."

Vespira listened to the report about Tetrand's defeat, a shiver running down her spine at the implication of such colossal power.

"I understand."

She understood instantly that retreat was the only viable option. She had already secured the main objective, the valuable prototype guarded in a container she held firmly in her hands.

(BOOM!)

"?!"

"?!"

"Aghhhhhhhh!!"

However, at that moment, Vespira felt a sudden impact on her side, a force that took her completely by surprise and sent her flying through the air. The drones had no time to react.

"Ahahahahahahaha~!"

The drones had no time to react. Out of nowhere, the magical girl appeared, floating unstably in the middle of the hallway. Her face showed a wide and bewitching smile, while small bubbles innocently came out of her mouth.

"Let's play~♪!"

"..."

"..."

"...save me."

Leo's pained groan broke the stunned silence. Vespira, who had gotten up from the floor with difficulty, froze. She couldn't believe what her eyes were seeing. The magical girl, floating with a disturbing smile, was holding the chain tied to the human's neck, who had been turned into an improvised whip. Despite the brutal force of the impact, Leo seemed intact, although the audible groan that escaped his lips showed deep pain.

"General, the 'magical girl' variable has demonstrated an irregular combat capability. My analysis indicates that the 'human' objective has been converted into a weapon. His danger level has increased unexpectedly. I suggest an immediate retreat."

"..."

Vespira didn't respond. Her gaze shifted from the man to her own hands, which were now empty. The AI continued, its voice imperturbable.

"Impact analysis: at the moment of collision, the container she was carrying slipped from her hands. The object's trajectory projected it toward the 'human' objective, who has captured it. The 'prototype' primary objective is now in the hands of the human."

"Damn it!"

Retreat, she understood, was no longer an option. Vespira reacted immediately. The prototype was her only priority. She lunged toward the human with a speed that cut through the air, trying to recover the valuable object.

(Pan smack!)

"Aaaargh!"

(Boom!!)

But at the last moment, something intercepted her. An apparently harmless pink object hit her side with an uncommon force that sent her flying against one of the metal walls.

(CRASH!)

And, in addition to that, the human was launched again as a whip, his body crashing into one of the last remaining drones of the base, tearing it apart.

"...Hic... Now... let's play~!"

The magical girl said, laughing between a small hiccup with a frying pan in one hand and a whip (human) in the other, rotating at high speed.

"Analysis and processing of the entity."

After seeing the frying pan, the AI's database finally reacted, gathering all the characteristics of the magical girl present.

"Physical attributes: silver hair, white and black dress. Unique accessory: a multi-colored shiny necklace. The analysis of all the data collected so far reveals that the subject matches the profile of the magical girl: Silver Fang."

"What...?"

Vespira, with incredulity in her eyes, looked at the magical girl who floated unstably, the shine of her necklace twinkling.

"Are you... the lunatic known as the magical girl Silver Fang?"

The magical girl Silver Fang was an entity that had recently emerged in the "veil," standing out for her completely unpredictable fighting style. She used a frying pan as her main weapon, but her abilities varied so much that the origin of her magic was an absolute mystery. Her random appearances and disappearances had confused science itself, to the point that her existence was considered unconfirmed. A ghost. A myth.

"Muuu…~!"

At that moment, the girl jumped toward Vespira with unstable movements. A melodic, soft, musical hum came from her mouth.

"Tch...!"

Vespira didn't wait. The surprise of her opponent's identity turned into cold determination. She activated her exoskeleton and her three scorpion tails emerged from her back, rising menacingly. Vespira lunged forward, a flash of fury in her eyes. Her central tail moved like a whip, unleashing a blast of dark poison that dissolved in the air, making the environment toxic.

"You missed~!"

However, the magical girl didn't react. Her body instinctively contorted in the air, moving without conscious thought to dodge the poison. Her "Crisis Evasion" made her dance among the toxic drops, as if she were a butterfly in a storm.

"Stay still!"

Vespira, furious at her opponent's lack of response, prepared a charge.

"Regulated voltage!"

But before she could execute it, the girl raised her frying pan, now enveloped in a lightning aura.

(ZAAAAP!!)

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!"

"Now, expand~!"

The frying pan extended in an instant, becoming immense.

(SHUUUM!)

"KKKGGHH!!"

(BBOOOOUUUUMMM!!)

The clash was monumental, an explosion of energy that made the hallway tremble.

"DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME!!"

However, Vespira defended herself with two of her tails, but the electrical impact made her stagger.

"I wonder how you'll react to this~?"

The girl, without thinking, threw the poor Leo at her, spinning him like a whip.

(WHOOOSH!)

"Why... me...?"

The boy's body crashed against Vespira's side with a brutal force.

"Damn it! What kind of technique is that!?"

"Come on, come on, come on, come on, entertain us more!"

"Get away!"

Vespira retreated quickly, gaining space to reorganize in combat. Blood dripped from her side, but her mind was cold. She analyzed her opponent's fighting style: pure chaos, without technique, without a logical pattern. Only brutal force used unpredictably.

"Fufufu..."

"...Argh."

At the same time, the magical girl stopped, releasing the chain in her hand and letting the human fall to the ground with a soft groan. The childish pout on her face vanished, replaced by a bewitching and strangely mature smile. Her voice changed, becoming that of a grave and seductive adult woman.

"My turn..."

After saying those words in a whisper, a halo of light, bright and multicolored, slowly began to appear behind her back.

"There are so many new things I want to try now~"

The light intensified, bathing the hallway with an aurora gleam.

"{prism of the eighth purity}"

The magical girl's voice resonated in the place, and fear took hold of everyone present.