Infinite Journey: Dark Souls

"Don't give up on me like that, my comrades, we're not that weak!"

The magic bullet met the bullet, the black pupil met the purple pupil, and brilliant sparks bloomed before Zhi's eyes, but she choked and could not speak.

"Little Flame..."

"Witch! You've finally appeared!"

"You are a witch, yet you slander others as witches. Indeed, I am who I am, and you are still who you are!"

The broadsword appeared for a moment, and the yellow ribbon wrapped around Zhi was cut by Xiao Yan. However, she didn't have time to say anything to Zhi and immediately confronted her other self.

"Are you still going to deny it now? I am Homura Akemi, and I am standing right here. So who else could you be but the witch who created this fake Mitakihara, the one who impersonated me and had designs on Madoka?!"

The machine gun's drum magazine was thrown out, and Flame pulled a belt of ammunition from her shield, changing her target to what she believed to be the witch, which was herself.

"That's a very reasonable analysis. Indeed, the person who carries the name Homura Akemi is a witch, and unfortunately, I also carry that name. But I'm not a witch at all. However, I don't deny that I want to take Madoka away from you, so whether you know you're a witch or not is irrelevant!"

Zhi tore off the silk ribbons from her body, immediately ran to the side, picked up the katana that had fallen on the riverbank, stood next to Xiaoyan, and assumed an iaido stance for her.

"You actually dared to admit to me that you wanted to steal Madoka away. So it's because we were fooled by your altered memories for so long that we thought magical girls were so easy to fool? I did get away with it for a moment, but my regaining my memories is your biggest mistake!"

Humans always dislike things that resemble themselves. So, if one day another version of yourself stood in front of you, would you happily accept him/her? Of course not. People subconsciously protect their uniqueness because it is the guarantee that supports their independent personality. Not to mention, at this moment, Flame has enough reason to hate the guy in front of her who is just like herself.

To hell with witches! I'm all I need to stand by Madoka's side!

The trigger was pulled all the way down, and the ammunition belt was frantically pulled out of the shield. The shredder, at its maximum rate of fire, unleashed a torrent of steel at the target.

The torrent crashed into the barrier in an instant, the flaming knight's shield standing firmly in front of its master.

The shrill whistling of the machine gun tearing through the fabric, mixed with a dense cacophony of metallic hisses, instantly shattered Zhi's hearing. She only realized she was out of the line of fire before she immediately tried to rush toward the thug wielding the machine gun.

"Zhi, don't do it. This is a battle I'm fighting against myself!"

The wall, glowing with flames, moved forward step by step. Just as Zhi took her first step, amidst the chaotic noise, she caught Xiao Yan's voice.

It's almost like it's echoing in my mind.

The burns on her shoulder resonated with the fire behind the barrier, and what Zhi received went far beyond what was presented in the words.

This is indeed a battle between Homura Akemi and Homura Akemi, and it is also a battle between Homura Akemi and herself. They are both Homura Akemi, and they see in each other the traits they possess and hate. They are challenging themselves, as if as long as they defeat the person in front of them, Homura Akemi can negate those traits that she hates from herself!

Zhi stopped walking, and with her steps stopped, as did the joy that had just risen within her—the joy of fighting alongside Xiaoyan. She silently stepped back, giving this stage to the true protagonists.

"Thank you... and don't worry, I will definitely bring you back to the World of Fire in its entirety!"

The resonance of the flames was one-sided. Xiaoyan could no longer see through the complexity in Zhi's eyes. She just stared at herself, struggling to hold up the shield, going against the current in the torrent of metal!

The world flickered a few times in gray, and after confirming that the person in front of him was also unaffected by the time stop, Homura, holding a machine gun, charged towards Homura.

Even with an endless supply of ammunition, the overheated barrel of the gun would completely break down when the two men got close to each other.

Dark eyes met purple eyes. For the first time, the two looked at each other at such close range, and no matter how they looked at each other, they could only see themselves reflected in each other's eyes.

The shield, riddled with bullet holes, and the machine gun, its barrel overheated and beyond repair, were mercilessly swung away by their owners. The two overused junks were reduced to fragments and parts scattered throughout the sky in the fierce clash.

The fist was thrown, the exact same movement, the exact same force, the exact same face struck, the exact same eyes staring intently at the other, even the pain transmitted was exactly the same.

"So, we're fundamentally different now!"

After taking the same number of steps back, the two charged at each other again, both bearing the same wounds on their lips. However, it was only the magical girl with purple eyes who threw the second punch.

Ash with black eyes deftly deflected the straight punch with a standard shield parry, but her own fist struck the magical girl squarely in the abdomen.

Yan was bent over by the blow, and before the churning sensation in her stomach could subside, another heavy blow to her chin sent her flying.

"What exactly happened to these two children?"

At some point, Mami, having sorted out her memories, walked to Ori's side and watched the two identical-looking people fighting each other in the arena. Once again, she felt her head was a little fuzzy.

"They... are probably fighting with themselves."

Taking advantage of the magical girl's fall, Ash immediately pressed down on her, raising his fist to strike again.

"To be honest, I'm starting to have trouble telling myself whether I'm dreaming or actually awake."

"Is it because the scene before me is so different from what I remember?"

The fist was caught firmly, and magic began to strengthen her body. The magical girl caught Ash's fist again, and with a burst of strength, threw her away.

"Yes... I think I lamented to you before that I've always been fighting alone, with only Beibei by my side... But the reality is, there's no Beibei..."

Ash and the magical girl stood face to face again, their pupils still fixed on their own figures. The punches and kicks they threw the next moment were now imbued with Ash's skill and the magical girl's magic.

"Xiaoyan once said that this is the witch's barrier, and the witch created her ideal world. Your wish may have been taken into consideration by this witch."

They countered each other's moves with punches and kicks. Ash and the magical girl abandoned firearms and used the most primitive fighting techniques to unleash their deepest hatred on each other with each punch.

"Yes... I've always hoped to have companions to walk with... But I think I still have a chance, Ryougi-san... no, Ori, would you like to join us and become a magical girl?"

Even without weapons, the battle-hardened Ash can transform his body into a weapon of war, and even though his physical abilities are far superior to his opponent's due to the enhancement of magic, the magical girl gradually loses ground in the exchange of blows.

"I'm sorry, Mami, I was ashes from the moment I came into this world."

Having lost the contest of skills, the magical girl was unwilling to accept defeat. She abandoned her defense and, taking advantage of her ability to heal her injuries with magic, relentlessly fought back, punch after punch.

"Although I don't know what ash is, can I understand that you were indeed on the opposite side of magical girls from the very beginning?"

Beneath her tattered combat suit, bruises gradually multiplied. Ash abandoned his attacks, focusing instead on parrying with his shield until his opponent was wide open, at which point he delivered a heavy punch to her.

"No, no, no, Ash and magical girls have no connection. Just like you heard, we only wanted to take Madoka away from this world."

“Although Madoka Kaname does not exist in my true memories, since she is now a magical girl, I cannot let you take her away.”

"Actually, you've been on the opposite side of me ever since I refused to become a magical girl, haven't you?"

“That’s right. Compared to you, I’m more willing to believe Homura Akemi’s words, who is also a magical girl. At the same time, no matter if reality is as sad as I remember, at least she’s right. We magical girls have paid the price of endless battles to obtain our wishes and hopes. We shouldn’t run away from our mission and waste the rest of our lives in this false world.”

"I've emphasized this many times: we have nothing to do with witches, and this false world was not caused by us."

"I don't know anything about witches. I only know that you are anomalies in this world. So if you don't want to be my enemy, please tell me honestly what your true origins are, okay?"

"...We are ashes, that is our truest origin."

"...That's true. We're all different species, so how could I expect you to become my companion?"

"……sorry."

The conflict between the Ash and the magical girl gradually escalated. The two Homura Akemis communicated through their fists, but each time the other conveyed a determination that they could not agree with, they each had their own reasons for not giving in. No one was willing to give up the person they cared about most. So the battle had truly escalated into a bloody fight. Swords and firearms were in their hands, and the next round would be a duel to the death.

In the silence, Zhi drew her katana, while Mami, who had moved to the opposite position, also wove a musket out of ribbons.

Another group of Ash and Magical Girls is about to begin their battle.

PS: Yunxi (744486102) is earnestly asking for recommendation votes~

PS1: Thanks to reader [Yuan Shen Xin Zui - Houmura] for the monthly ticket!

Fate Twenty-Three: The So-Called Ashes

When words fail to communicate, fists are used; when fists fail, guns and swords are used. Conflicts are always escalating, but in essence, they all stem from a disagreement at the beginning. However, behind that disagreement lie conflicting demands.

Ash and the magical girl realized that the other would not back down, and both were now filled with murderous intent, determined to eliminate each other.

Swords are the fangs of ashes, and firearms are the magical girls' reliance, so once the real battle begins, it will be a one-sided situation.

Flame's most prized ability was locked down, preventing her from creating distance immediately. Irithyll's straight sword swung with icy coldness, while her broadsword spewed sharp blades. Whether it was an MP7 submachine gun or an MG-42 general-purpose machine gun, they were all cut down by ash as soon as they were drawn at close range.

She could only switch to a Colt M1911 and a GLOCK19 pistol, attempting to use gunfighting techniques to counter Ash's sword skills.

Bullets kept flying out, and she kept trying to escape from the ice and the sword blades, but her body, slowed by the ice, could not escape the sword blades' grasp.

Xiao Yan's swordplay is unpredictable, designed to force her opponent into close combat while simultaneously seeking opportunities for victory within that melee.

Several times, Xiao Da tried to break free from her shadow, but was stopped by Xiao Homura each time. Just like he had told Zhi before, this was a battle between Akemi Homura and Akemi Homura, and no one else was allowed to interfere.

However, Flame's fighting style has never relied entirely on her own strength; her weaponry is the key to victory.

Once again, he escaped from Xiaoyan's sword blade, ducking to avoid the horizontal slash of flame. At Xiaoyan's feet, he scattered several round, red-lit landmines. Then, in a frenzy, while retreating rapidly, he pulled the trigger, intending to fire and detonate them directly.

When the landmine was thrown, Xiaoyan already recognized what it was. She had no desire to experience what it felt like to have her ash body hit by modern weaponry.

Irithyll slashed with her straight sword, sending the frozen mines flying between the two. After the bullets tore through the thin ice, the mines immediately detonated, blasting ice shards into the air.

Flame was not spared from the explosion either, but just as she had calculated, the storm of the explosion blew her away. She landed in mid-air, instantly away from the ashes of the sword-wielding duo. Magic flashed across her body, and everything, from her tattered combat suit to the wounds from shrapnel, was restored to its original state by the power gained at the cost of despair.

The smoke and dust from the explosion were torn apart by the figure burning with flames, and Xiaoyan was in a much worse state. Another knight's shield was destroyed by shrapnel, and her tattered battle suit was covered with many smoke marks, but the determination in her black eyes remained unchanged.

After breaking through the smoke and dust, she immediately spotted the enemy who had created a significant distance between them. Seeing the AT4s and RPG-7 rocket launchers standing on the ground, she immediately switched to her dual pistols.

The rockets, trailing trails of flame, collided with the deep purple magic bullets in mid-air, creating dazzling fireworks. The battle escalated once again, with the magical girl's weaponry gaining the upper hand and suppressing the ash swords.

————————————————————————————————————————

The battle on the other side was also one-sided, except that in the contest between Ori and Mami, the exquisite flintlock musket had the upper hand from the very beginning.

Unlike Flame, who relies entirely on the gun's inherent capabilities, Mami's musket is a manifestation of her magic, and her magic, from the very beginning, was not simply about muskets.

Her magic is characterized by "interconnectedness" and "binding together," manifesting as yellow ribbons. From the very beginning of the battle, she understood the principle of controlling before unleashing her power. Therefore, in the first wave of attacks, Zhi faced not magic bullets, but the troublesome ribbons.

A few steps is just a matter of sliding for a killer, but when Zhi flashed in front of Mami, the katana he swung smoothly struck that pile of ribbons.

This was a substitute made by Mami using ribbons. After the sword was slashed, she immediately received the information from the feedback of the Mystic Eyes. The sword she swung continued to flash in the air, but it could only prevent the ribbons from getting close. Mami's sniping from a distance made the battle between her and the ribbons stalemate.

The Bleeding Slash, which shone brightly in the world of Fire, did nothing to help the current situation. Having lost the first move, Ash was caught up in the magical girl's battle rhythm even earlier.

Mami fired silently, one shot after another. Perhaps she was a mature warrior, but in the age of firearms, warriors wielding swords were already inevitably heading towards decline; and as ashes, she was still too inexperienced.

Cut the magic bullet, cut the ribbon, cut the magic bullet again, cut the ribbon again.

The ashes, unable to move an inch, kept repeating attacks that couldn't even touch the hem of the enemy's clothes, while the silent Mami dared not look at the dazzling demonic eyes of the oriole.

There was no confusion, no retreat, no murderous intent, only the determination to defeat the enemy; perhaps Xiaoyan and Yan were truly fighting face to face with themselves, and Zhi's true enemy was herself.

She wanted to surpass her current self; she wanted to kill the version of herself that couldn't fight alongside Xiaoyan. However, she couldn't truly face that other self and could only fight with all her might against the magic bullets and ribbons.

Mami couldn't stand it anymore. She had thought that Zhi, who had made the decision, was going to cut ties with her completely, but now it seemed that Zhi's gaze wasn't even focused on her.

That's incredibly arrogant!

She risked her life not to defeat the enemy in front of her, but with this mindset to face a powerful foe who could take her life.

The speed of switching weapons increased, and the flintlock musket began to approach the rate of fire of the machine gun. In this world where there was no stillness, the magic bullets flashed yellow trajectories, cutting through the distance between the two and frequently biting into the ashes.

If the firing speed increases, then as long as the sword swing speed keeps up, wouldn't it be possible to completely cut through the magic bullet?

The light in the Weaver Demon's eyes flashed wildly. After clearly seeing the trajectory of each magic bullet and ribbon, he forced his arm to swing a bright blade at these trajectories.