The One Being Protected [Magical Girl Urban Fantasy]

Alex was there when Vascovitch and Ben made a big deal about fighting. They came out of the tent that was designated for strategic planning activities before battle. Those who usually surrounded the hot-headed commander were all capable and rotational.

It seemed their boss didn't get influenced by them.

He wasn't sure what was happening or why. Only that the girl he'd been keeping tabs on was looking at them with worry. Samantha was holding back her good friend, Rina, from interfering. It was only out of worry that the pink-haired girl was being calm.

If she went into a rage and casually struck someone at full force, their face would collapse inwards. This was not a joke. When her personal space was being crossed, she had to be careful about how much strength she put into each and every action taken.

Alex narrowed his eyes before walking closer.

"Is that your friend?" He held the girl's shoulder while speaking to stop her from accidentally hurting his close friend. Samantha looked at him. There was clear astonishment on her face when she realised he was holding back what was equivalent to a truck.

Rina was not at all gentle when it came to him.

"My friend is in danger." She glared at him.

"From the looks of it: They're both agreeing to whatever is happening. Even if that woman is in danger, you can't help her." Alex was not going to bend the rules for her. All militaristic organisations were built on strict discipline and strong beliefs.

He touched his green military cap to remind her.

This was not something she could boldly protect or go against without proper protocols. The one who was in-charge and had highest priority was undoubtedly Commander Vascovitch. Even if she was a Special Agent, she couldn't overrule him.

"Help her." Samantha grabbed his hand intimately.

Alex immediately turned red for a moment before controlling himself. Coughing while letting go of Rina's shoulder. He couldn't make clear eye-contact with her initially, but quickly changed his attitude and returned back to his very orderly conduct.

"…I'll jump in if it gets dangerous." He coughed.

With such an obvious reaction, Rina knew exactly what Samantha was relying on. Not knowing if she should praise her or call her out for being such a cunning girl. The blue-haired Magical Girl merely flipped her wings and turned her eyes away slowly.

Pretending not to notice that gaze from her friend.

She knew well that Alex had a crush on her.

So what?

It was a useful situation. He wasn't her type anyway.

Turning her head to take a look at the two fighters.

It seemed like Ben was underestimating the sheer power of their commander. She could see it from the way the blonde woman focused seriously while stretching her arms. Warming up before they fought so she could quickly do rapid and strenuous moves.

This simply wouldn't be enough.

CQC wasn't 'Martial Arts'. It translated to Close Quarter Combat for a reason. Those who were taught this as a soldier weren't meant to use it unless forced to. Most soldiers of an army were armed and ready to fight, so why would they bother teaching this?

It was because it was an extension of their knives.

What they'd use when their gun had no bullets left.

Sticking in a bayonet into the enemy, elbows, kicks, neck breaks, and killing moves designed solely on killing rather than subduing. The average soldier in any place among the military did not know what it meant to 'spar'. They were taught through battles.

Before going into the battlefield, they'd learn the theory of killing and cultivate a mindset to run into gunfire for patriotism. Expecting the commander that had been once a soldier of the lower ranks to know what 'going easy' was… just a mere illusion.

A misunderstanding that could be deadly to her.

Vascovitch wasn't playing around.

She could see from his stance, with a tightened fist and lowered posture, that he'd charge at Ben. The result after that could be predicted. She readied herself to intervene with Alex in order to share the blame. Making sure she didn't outright betray him.

He was still her friend, after all.

"I can't let him take the pressure alone." Samantha thought while looking at the guy who always stayed close, but never said anything. He seemed scared to speak his feelings… The kind of cowardly guy that wasn't boyfriend material. They'd only be friends.

That was her judgement.

When it seemed like they were ready to fight, it felt like only she noticed the drastic change Ben's eyes had undergone. As someone who was sensitive to social atmospheres and emotions, she could sense the toughness in that gaze had grown more solid.

What was this feeling?

Ben did not outwardly change. He somehow learned to use his own hair to tie a ponytail. Then had tucked it under her shirt. She was still wearing her prisoner outfit. A clear outcast in this forest of greenery. The orange of her overalls and black and white shirt-

"What is she doing?" Samantha had felt interrupted.

She started to unbutton her orange jumpsuit.

There was confusion in the gazes of the male soldiers that made up the majority of Strength Ops. They had the same rage within them initially when they saw her for the first time. Knowing who she was as many had her under surveillance for quite some years.

The impact of Ben's beauty wore off after a bit.

However, when he unbuttoned his shirt and showed the t-shirt and pants underneath, their instincts as men made it hard to feel that anger intensely. Some of them outright showing pity in their eyes… mixed with the blushing looks similar to what Alex showed.

"Men." Samantha rolled her eyes on the inside.

Though she could not truly blame their actions.

Even she, a girl, could see that the woman before them was a sculpted masterpiece. Her every facial expression was cute and endearing, while her body wasn't simply enticing to look at. There was this sense of beauty like care was put into its every curve.

As if a god was more attentive to her than others.

Those of the Strength Ops certainly weren't lookers.

Average at best and gorillas at worst.

They were captivated by her.

Only the commander still looked at her like dead meat ready to undergo a beating. It seemed he too had noticed a shift in the atmosphere when they were silently ready to fight. Watching her without interfering when she exposed more weak points.

Samantha didn't know if she was seeing it right.

Her friend standing beside noticed it too.

"Those eyes…" Perhaps it was only someone like himself who could truly perceive the resolution in Ben's eyes. The conviction that neither was insane or delusional. Realism of the situation, yet having the guts to face insurmountable odds with a firm heart.

It was a dazzling sight.

For a brief moment, everyone saw her differently.

Some could see a battle goddess of war. Others saw a majestic and composed Valkyrie. Some saw the women they knew in their lives that they believed to be similarly 'tough'… whether that he their relatives or fictional characters that had stuck with them.

A phenomenon caused when awakening those eyes.

Was he about to see the birth of someone like him?

Alex became more immersed. A tinge of silver in his excited eyes when watching the woman. She kicked the bodysuit away and raised her fists. Only the man directly opposite her rejected the idea of seeing her as 'strong' or 'majestic'. Attitude was not everything.

He saw her life when she walked into the tent.

Some would feel attracted to a flawless body with no scars or rough skin… but Vascovitch only saw a fool that had wasted away her life. While he and his team were out fighting Apparitions, she was peacefully living her life like she had no responsibility to help.

Those hands had no calluses.

She had probably never punched someone in her entire life. Even if she did, the thing she hit would have needed to be softer than her knuckles. Making sure that there would be no lasting tear in her skin or blemish. God forbid she actually put any effort.

Her skin was pale and muscles were lean.

She never underwent intense training to make her body stronger. Wasting time. Never having to look for water under the desert-like sun or be drenched in the rain. There was never a time when she truly felt any adversity. The fate of the city never mattering.

He'd teach her true hardship.

Teach her that this world was not forgiving.

Eyes blinded by rage. Unable to think or even speak when seeing someone that contradicted his ideal of honour. He shared no words. Raising his fist to exchange violence with her instead. He held back nothing. Viciously aiming at her face in a rush.

No one, not even Vascovitch himself, was truly aware of what happened next. It was a total of five brief exchanges between them. The time he'd taught his soldiers was the maximum number with an enemy before it was better to retreat. It was a flash.

Everything happening in mere moments.

The only person seeing it clearly was Alex.

"As expected…" He thought with bland eyes. 

The commander had initiated with a lethal strike.

Probably aiming to break her nose and disfigure that face he so despised. Being driven by the desires and bottled up feelings of anguish. Alex was aware that this wasn't good. If he landed that punch with all his strength, then his opponent wouldn't be left unhurt.

They'd be sent to the hospital as soon as possible.

How would the woman react?

It seemed like her eyes were following the path of her opponent's fist in Alex's current time-distorted viewpoint. This was not a feature of her eyes. This was proof that she had great reflexes… but there was something 'off' about that initial assumption made.

"Why is she so slow?" Alex noticed her speed.

If he was to make an educated guess, then it was likely because she predicted his attack rather than reacted to it. Was that even possible? There wasn't that big of a timeframe between them deciding to fight and actually throwing hands. Moreover…

"She seems too familiar with his tactics." Alex felt like her stance was not proper MMA form. It was more like she was bracing herself and readying her body to act first. Doing a defensive move that should be rare or even impossible even for a young fighter.

She intercepted his forearm and pushed it aside.

Completely turning away the force directed at her.

The first exchange was over.

She had survived the most overreaching move.

It was true that Vascovitch was briefly taken off-guard and unbalanced, but he wouldn't exactly lose based on that alone. When his punch swerved away from the intended target, the large man effortlessly switched from striking to setting up a takedown.

This was the worst outcome.

Alex could see that there was no solution here.

No right answer for her.

Not one he, a real martial artist, knew of.

The difference in their stature made it easier for Vascovitch to topple over and catch her. Unless she was faster physically, there wasn't any use in knowing what would happen next. This second move would likely decide her fate faster than the first.

But at least it meant that he could intervene.

"Good." Alex lowered his posture and was about to take off. He could definitely stop the commander from brutally hurting her if too much. At least she wouldn't end up in hospital like what the first move would have done. Happy that this ended early.

His heart couldn't take watching this tense battle…

…until she reacted in a way outside his expectations.

"What…?" He couldn't fathom what he just saw.

Vascovitch lost his footing again.

Looking closer, it seemed like the orange jumpsuit she'd discarded earlier was tugged with her foot. The sudden slip from that quick movement made Vascovitch's foot continue to slip. Lowering his upper body as his legs were forced to do the splits.

The third exchange happened immediately.

It wasn't anything special.

Vascovitch aimed to grab her hair as leverage or any part of her body. Bringing it down with him. He was surprised to see in that brief moment, the eyes of the woman was unchanged… even as he was pulling on her body. Getting ready to throw her down with him.

"This is a bluff." The large man was certain of it.

CQC did not exclude grappling.

He wouldn't lose to her when it came to technique.

Tightening his grip on her forearm while pulling.

"Straighten up." She spoke for the first time. It was at that moment he saw the illusion of his former instructor in her eyes. This was followed by a sudden surge of pain. Agonising pain. The sound of her first strike in this entire battle made all he saw shiver.

BOOM!

She punched him under the belt so hard that he somehow managed to straighten his body. It was by pure reflex that he twisted his body to throw a very swift corkscrew. Trying to should his precious place while also retaliating against the heartless woman.

The soldiers watching also felt his pain.

Right down to their core…

The fourth exchange was faster than the others.

His reach making it impossible for him to miss.

Especially at this distance.

CLASH!

His fist was intercepted again.

This time, she did not parry him. Her own fist had made contact with his own. This was a mistake. He grinned while 'gracefully' twisting his punch going in a straight line. At the moment of impact, his superior body showed that her meagre power was nothing.

Alex was also confused.

"No, wait…" He recognised the technique she was about to use, but how did she learn it? Seeing her use the loss in their clash of power to twist their body. She threw an uppercut upwards. Her strike rocking the whole world of the great commander.

Being struck again made him calm down.

The fifth exchange was about to commence.

"It's over." Alex closed his eyes emotionally.

No longer watching the fight.

Vascovitch reached out towards her head and was about to twist it ruthlessly in one instant. Perhaps it was too lethal, but he'd already succumbed to the killing reflexes he'd conditioned. This move was done without him even really deciding the option.

Ben sighed while looking at Vascovitch's action.

Those hands Vascovitch extended reached past his head, his shoulders, and were about to hit the floor behind his shorter body. He saw the white of the large man's eyes. His brain having been shook heavily after being struck on the chin so cleanly.

Finally, Ben had escaped the endless time loop.

There was no notice of his skills improving or any other message. In fact, he could feel the strength in his body fading once he relaxed his mind. His body was fine, but the mental strain that'd accumulated from those countless retires finally struck at once.

There silver glow in his eyes had vanished.

[Negative Trait is reapplied.]

[Congratulations for beating your first MiniBoss.]

[You will no longer be given this privilege again.]

[You may select your reward…]

Ben couldn't read any further. Those who were just about to intervene quickly held both sides. Alex held his commander while Samantha held Ben. Both had looked into each other's eyes and understood what they should do next. It was better to do this fast.

"The commander will rest before deciding what to do next." Alex, just a regular soldier, was the first person to speak. His voice was loud enough that the entire camp could hear him. There was a strong yet irresistible force endowed into each and every word.

A feeling of authority despite being on their level.

They couldn't refuse his pressuring.

"Everyone should clear until then." Samantha, who was a Special Agent, didn't seem to have a voice as impactful as the former. However, she had more real authority that wasn't simply in feeling. Above the regular soldiers. Her words had some weight.

Consequences that were easy to figure out.

BOOM!

They suddenly saw a much more intimidating figure that looked at the blonde woman. These experienced soldiers felt the chaos in Rina's emotions and the lack of control she had over her strength. One stomp was enough to cause an earthquake in the camp.

They silently looked at her.

There was fury in the pink catgirl's eyes.

"Yeah, right." "Totally." "I think someone is calling."

They made their excuses before taking their leave.

Alex and Samantha couldn't understand what she was thinking. Why she was so livid. It was to the point it felt like they were seeing a mirror of their commander earlier. They quickly handed over Ben to her before she decided to lunge at them mindlessly.

She calmed down when everyone had left. Unable to comprehend what her childhood friend had become.

Holding him with a dangerous look in her eyes.