*
One, two, three. Her speed has increased to a ridiculous extent that it took time for her mind to adjust, otherwise the increased load in perception might fry her mind. When she could do one attack previously, she could now thrust out more than three.
Gradually she increased the pressure, piercing her opponent's defences with straight forward thrusts, before she takes a wide swing and closes the distance. Arin hops back, her source of strength was unknown. How could she reach A grade in such a short span of time? Even by magical girl training standards, it would easily take 2 or more years. Right... This was A grade, not A rank. Arin surpassed a threshold that most magical girls never reach in this era... It was a concrete set of values that defined an A grade rather than Lastia's arbitrary rankings.
"... The S grades of this era are this weak...?" (Arin)
Right, someone from the previous era might find the current strength of magical girls lacking. That was because the population of humanity has tended towards 10 billion at the height of its prosperity. The only threats found are Traces, which even A ranks are city level at most.
The S grades of this era barely match up to the A grades of the previous era, a single promotion of grade might be generous. Comparing previous era grades to Lastia's ranking system was worse... The requirements for grade attainments are still exactly the same, possess a certain quantity of magic. What was different was the individual multipliers in skill.
Here's an example, an A grade of the previous era might have a skill that translates one arbitrary unit of magical energy into 1 ton of explosives. In the current era, they might have the same amount of magical energy to reach A grade, but their skill only converts 1 unit of magical energy to 0.02 tons of explosives. The conversion was drastically different, people might be inherently awakened with differing quantities of magical energy, or trained to contain more magic, but their skill efficiencies are distinctly lower.
Back then, S grades were tactical class monsters that could shake and rip apart continents. Now, they roughly affect only one residential zone even if they go full power, around the lines of a previous era A grade.
"Knowledge beyond our era... I assumed I was the only one snooping around considering how peaceful and complacent people are." (Taneda)
She pulled back her sword and took two high swings, slamming away the incoming slash attacks by Arin's gun-blade. The sounds of metal flare into the sky, reverberating the air with sharp ringing and banging. A high heat searing sound escapes as they weapons clatter and slide against each other, like a saw struggling and releasing sparks on something hard. Taneda's arm shakes with heavy vigour, as if cracking under the pressure of Arin's thin, pale arms.
"...!? How-" (Taneda)
"... I see, I thought something was strange. Your skill, it corrects your strength to match mine, doesn't it?" (Arin)
She spoke with firm confidence, she had a certainty that no one would expect from her slightly petite appearance. In her combat dress, she looked like a young researcher who skipped grades.
Taneda swings her weapon and throws Arin off balance. Instead of advancing, she took a step back readjusted her own posture. The shaking in her wrist subsided to her own surprise, something felt off and unsettled her, but it was hard to pinpoint the cause of that feeling.
"Your skill adjusts your strength to match mine... But if you can't utilise that strength you have, you won't be able to overpower me so easily." (Arin)
The shaking in her wrist was a result of Arin's influence. A [Trade] was made, did {Barter} not only give her A grade parameters, but also indirectly suppressed Taneda's skill? Arin was frighteningly accurate with her guess, it wasn't the only function but {Fated one's evanescent dream} was able to correct her strength to match any opponent. In the unlikely event that someone somehow surpasses her in ability, this skill was always at her disposal to close the gap.
For this reason, she was considered one of the strongest in this world.
"... You underestimate me. Since I know it's simply the work of a debuff, I just have to cleanse it." (Taneda)
Another core function. She raises her arm, ready to leap back into action.
"... Then it's time I retreated." (Arin)
" Just like that...? " (Taneda)
"... Yeah. If you could get rid of those shakes, and anything else in your way...
I won't be able to do anything. I humbly request that you don't pursue me too... " (Arin)
"How shameless... Fine, get out of my sight asap. I'm in no mood. " (Taneda)
She forced her opponent to retreat and beg not to be chased after, but it still felt like she was defeated. Arin essentially showed that she possessed a lot of salient knowledge as to the paradigm shifts rumbling in the world.
"Wait..." (Taneda)
"... Hmm?" (Arin)
She was surprisingly carefree for someone who was told to vacate promptly. She strolled leisurely and hadn't gotten out of Taneda's sight yet. Her head bobbed as she turned around, replying with a perplexed groan.
" Tell me... What is your goal here... What are you going to do to Eterna or her garden?" (Taneda)
"... I see... My aim..." (Arin)
Taneda halted her heart and her gait grew stiff. Depending on the answer here, the world might develop in a very different manner. The 11508 years of peace might come to an end, subconsciously her sword was wielded.
" The eye of the storm of this era... Will be Lastia. My wish... Would be to have her.
Well... That would depend on her wishes too, marriage might be too early... Staying by her side would have to suffice, fufu..." (Arin)
"... Mmhmm? " (Taneda)
Leaving the sentinel speechless, Arin retreated into the shadows.
***
"... What's up, you fallin' sick? " (Sariel)
She got oddly familiar with her.
"... You're the only person... Who knows that I'm growing resistant to the curse. And I want to keep it that way.
The day will come where you will be my secret weapon. " (Lastia)
She raises her palm, and Sariel recipocrates with a high hi-five. Her grip tightens on Lastia's hand, nearly never letting go.
"... Me.. Your weapon? Nevermind your inflated ego, how would that even work? Magic? " (Sariel)
She no longer held herself back, and that gives even more comfort to Lastia's mind. There's nothing more trustworthy, she felt. Sariel was now a foundation that could support her, even if her own body gave up on her.
" I already remember the appearances of the two of you... Vaguely enough, I think the next thing should be your names and my memories of you.
You... Are already deployed. Just the fact that I've told you this information, gives you digression to act on your own and however you see fit. " (Lastia)
"... You think too much of me. You're trusting me with even more than just your life here, y'know that? " (Sariel)
" It's fine. Only you can do it, after all. " (Lastia)