This was so stupid. Now, that was saying something when you considered everything Yumiko had been through so far, but this? This was dumb. Her stupid allies were being beset by a stupid enemy in a stupid rubber monster suit while a stupid lightshow zipped around and the stupid audience clapped along like idiots thinking they were watching a stupid show.
Was it healthy to be a hero fighting for the sake of mankind's survival when you have such a low estimation of their overall intelligence? No, no, don't think of the lower half of the bell curve. Think of the good people. There are smart, decent people out there and they would suffer tremendously, and that would be true even if the only people that were targeted by the bad guys were the bottom half of that bell curve.
"Cower before me humans!" said the monster in a cheap, flimsy rubber monster suit. The sort that would make her fire the person that hired it out for being blatantly incompetent. "Rawr!" Oh, and that performance would get her to fire whoever was in charge of the auditioning process as well. "Fear my Lightning Fury Storm!"
"Yow!" her colleague yelped as an energy blast struck her in the back. "Why you - Ow!"
The real enemy here was the lightshow. It wasn't giving her a chance to attack, at all. Though it was strange, right? The enemy wanted energy. So why were they using so much of it here? This is the benefit of experience here, hanging back and watching before rushing in to confront the enemy. Why were they doing this in this way? There had to be a tactical advantage, and - There! The audience! She caught a couple of them yawning there. They didn't even seem to notice they were doing it, but they were!
So they were draining energy from the audience and using it to launch the attack. That would explain a few things. The rubber suited monster couldn't look too real or it would scare them away. They wanted the crowd there to cheer on the hero.
"Come on, you can do it!"
"Use your special attack!"
"Hey, maybe if she trips we'll see her under-Ow!"
Yes, Yumiko. You do have to save these people. It would be a very bad thing if you let the Eternal Night Empire drain them dry, as they will use that energy to make people suffer. Do not be as stupid or petty as the people you're looking down on, be better than them and use your power to save the day. The only reason you're feeling this way is because you're stressed out and frustrated and this really is not helping matters at all.
"Sunlight - Ow! Will you stop that already! You coward! Fight properly!"
Another barrage of energy blasts swung around Sun's position, and frankly there was no way she was going to be able to dodge them. Yumiko tensed up, she'd waited a little too long, she should have jumped in sooner! Damn! She'd wanted to get a better understanding of what she was getting into first before transforming, but now -
"Have no fear, Sparkling Lover Sun!" Oh, and here comes another weirdo. Thank goodness! "Radiant Moonbeam!" She brought up some sort of silvery barrier that repelled the blasts. But... the audience was now cheering quite loudly, which could only make their draining go faster!
"That's right, heroes! You can do it!" that author chanted. "Come on, everyone! Let's give them all the support we can! Kukukuku!"
Uuuurgh! That author was obviously doing it for the promo! Probably brainwashed by the Eternal Night Empire into helping them drain energy! Or they lied to her, or whatever. Anyway, it didn't seem like they would necessarily need Yumiko for this next part, because with that barrier up Sun was able to finally - finally! Aim her attack and let out a scream of "Sunlight Radiance!"
Fire leaped out, and with obviously practised timing the barrier was dropped to allow it through. The audience oohed, the audience aaahed, but then at the last possible moment... An energy blast struck that fire, blocking it from striking the monster.
"You will have to. Try. Harder than. That." That line read was more wooden than a rainforest. "Come on, heroes. Use your. Strongest! Attack?"
Did he ask a fucking question there at the end?! Alright, that's enough of this bullshit! Those girls were plainly unable to deal with this nonsense themselves. "Sparkling Lover Unite!"
The change came over her yet again, while everyone's eyes were on the 'show'. Hrm. Alright. There was one thing that she could try, here... Maybe this would work?
<hr>
At this point the Empire's tricks were like nails on a chalkboard. Urgh! They'd thought of everything this time, hadn't they? Not only were there hostages nearby, not only were those stupid energy attacks coming in too thick and fast for them to come up with a counterattack, but they were replenishing their energy from the hostages as well! If it wasn't for Moon's barrier they would have been toast already.
"Um, maybe it wouldn't be such a great idea to toss around fire attacks in a book store?" Moon suggested. "I mean, you really like this shop, right?"
"Not exactly too fond of it right now," Sun replied, trying to think quickly about what to do here. Okay. Okay! They were prepared, the Empire had a plan, now think of a way around that plan. The trouble was, it was a really simple plan. Overwhelm them with raw firepower. Not exactly something you can deal with super easily, not unless you have a lot of firepower yourself. What the hell should they do? How were they supposed to -
"Ohohohohohoho! To think, you fell into our trap so perfectly!"
Huh? What? Sun turned around and saw... that dumb cosplayer from the other night! Come on now! It was kinda gross, honestly. She didn't even fit into the uniform properly!
"That's right, foolish heroes! I betrayed you!" said the Star cosplayer, laughing into the back of her hand like some ojou-sama type from a lousy anime. The audience started to boo the traitor. "It was all my machinations, all. Along."
Huh? What was that? It was almost like she was trying to force herself to be as unnatural as possible. And... did she just wink at them?
"Who is that?" Moon asked. "Man, she fills the uniform out well, don't you think?"
"... Your sense of taste needs work, and this is not the time!" That civilian was about to get hit by an energy attack!
"You may stand down, now, my minion! Your work here is done!" the cosplayer announced, seemingly taking no heed of the energy attacks now starting to make a bead on her.
"Uh...?" the monster grunted in genuine confusion. And then... he turned to look directly at the author and shrugged in confusion. At which point, two things happened at once which confused Sun even more: The first, was the cosplayer throwing a book really, really hard at the author. Which was caught without issue. The second was the cosplayer raising their hand and yelling "Starlight Purification Beam!" and melted all the energy in that general direction.
"No way," Sun gawped in disbelief, while the last of their trio stared down at the author, while outright ignoring the guy in the rubber suit. "No way! It can't be!"
"So. You're the one really in charge around here, are you?" Sparkling Lover Star asked the author. "Very well then. In the name of justice, etc, you're going down bitch!"
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