Black Liquid (Episode)

**Black Liquid** is the fourth story episode of Shoto Relief.

## In-Game Summary

Omnis is surprised that Hanabi can transform. Hanabi had trapped this world's Omnis in a living mold body vessel and was using him as a transformation item. Since they could only transform if they were near it, Hanabi used it to reduce the magical girls' numbers. Hanabi refuses to back down. She channels her feelings into her weapon as she challenges Lilly and Omnis.

## Plot

Having transformed into her magical girl outfit, Hanabi attacks Lilly. Lilly manages to transform quickly as well and strikes, while Omnis is confused why the girls can transform now and Aka and Ao couldn't earlier.

As Hanabi shakes off an attack, she comments to Lilly that her suspicions were right. Lilly and Omnis are initially confused, but Hanabi clarifies that Lilly is in possession of a vessel with black liquid. When Lilly holds it out, Hanabi reveals that it is the remains of the Omnis of this world.

Hanabi realised that the ability to transform would become the key to winning the battle royale between the magical girls. Since she wanted to avoid being unable to transform, and to deny the other girls the ability, she destroyed Omnis and collected his remains in a vessel of living mold - the only thing that could contain him.

Omnis is stunned at Hanabi's actions. However, despite her murder of his counterpart, Omnis finds himself not enraged, but sad at the bleakness of this Hanabi's choices and personality. He attempts to convince her to cooperate with them, but she denies him wordlessly. Just as he resolves to prevent such a tragic battle between the two girls, they begin fighting again.

## Transcript

*(Somewhere in Shibuya)*

*(Hanabi attacks Lilly)*

*(Lilly transforms and fights back)*

Hanabi
Tch...
Narration
The girls of this world had surprising physical strength. But it was clear that transforming made them much more powerful.
Still... there was something inconsistent about when they could and couldn't transform.
Omnis
(Aka and Ao couldn't transform before...)
(So why are the two of them able now...?)
(What's going on? What's the condition for them to transform in this world?)
Hanabi
So I was right after all...
Lilly
Huh?
Hanabi
I knew as soon as I tried to transform... You have it, don't you, Lilly?
Lilly
Huh? What are you talking about...?
Hanabi
Hmph, don't play dumb.
You have it, right? The vessel with the black liquid.
Lilly
...This thing?
Omnis
(Is that vessel a living mold body...? Don't tell me the contents are... )
Hanabi
That black liquid is the you of this world. It's Omnis.
Omnis
...So that's it.
Hanabi
I figured out that the ability to transform was the key to winning this fight.
I wanted to avoid not being able to transform without Omnis nearby.
And to prevent them transforming... I turned Omnis into a handheld Black Liquid.
Since Omnis couldn't pass through the living mold bodies, I thought of this.
Hanabi
As long as I had it, I could transform, and the others couldn't without me.
Everything went according to my predictions.
I used the "black liquid's" area of effect so only I could transform in a fight.
There was a risk that I'd end up fighting everyone if I screwed up.
But I pulled it off. I won the bet.
Omnis
Hanabi... You... killed this world's Omnis?
Hanabi
What do you think?
Narration
Hanabi smiled. But somehow... rage didn't fill my body.
Omnis
Hanabi... why would you do this?
Even in a fight, you weren't the type to laugh about treating lives as pawns.
Narration
The Hanabi I knew was from another world. But still... Hanabi was Hanabi.
She was sly and she loved betting and making money. But she was good at heart...
Omnis
......
Narration
"Open your eyes, Hanabi!" I yelled as loudly as I could trying to get her to do so.
However, her eyes denied me completely.
It was as if she was telling me there was no way I, an outsider from another world, could possibly understand.
And not just that. She likely had her doubts over what I was even after.
Even if she has to betray everyone, turning ally into enemy, making her completely alone...
This is the ideal possibility that Hanabi is after.
But I won't allow it. I cannot allow such a battle...
Lilly
...ngh!
Hanabi
......
Narration
Holding quietly to their own separate motives, they confronted each other. And then...
...A battle of tragedy ensued.