That familiar scent of death, I could smell it from ten meters away.
“Isn't that my unofficial disciple? Why is she here?”
After Shi Kong advanced to Bright Moon, his revenge was still not over. Finally, during a mission, he discovered the Disaster Beast from the amusement park all those years ago. Shi Kong recognized this Disaster Beast at a glance; even if it turned to ash, Shi Kong would recognize it, let alone merely changing its appearance.
After successfully completing his revenge, Shi Kong slowly began to ease his pace. It was at this time that Bai Leng brought a dark-haired girl, asking him to look after her for a while. This was the unofficial disciple Shi Kong had taught for about half a year.
After all, Shi Kong's long-standing goal had been achieved, so his true nature was exposed. In the past six months, that 'worker bee' smell of death slowly began to show itself in private.
Yes, Mo Ying was led astray by Shi Kong during this period. Shi Kong liked to stay at home, so he would share all sorts of things that otaku liked with Mo Ying. Of course, training was not neglected; Shi Kong always perfectly planned every day's schedule.
Shi Kong didn't know that his unofficial disciple had already reached Eternal Sun level, nor did he know that his unofficial disciple was the fifth-ranked member of the Tribunal, and even less did he know that she was the investigator assigned by the Tribunal this time.
A day passed quickly.
The sunset painted the sky red as Shi Kong rode his electric scooter between towering buildings.
On the scrolling screens of the high-rises, a debut preview for a new generation of Magical Girls was playing, and among them was Shi Kong's younger sister.
Shi Kong slowed down, watching the advertisement on the scrolling screen introducing his sister. His sister struck an extremely elegant pose, unlike the usual cute Magical Girls. This kind of poster highlighted his sister's unique characteristics, as in Shi Kong's eyes, his sister had always been aloof, somewhat indifferent, and cold towards him.
“I wonder how the little girl is doing now, and if she'll be back for dinner tonight.” As his sister's poster on the scrolling screen was replaced, Shi Kong sped up.
Shi Kong returned home with the groceries he had bought. Although Shi Kong delivered takeout, having managed a household from a young age, he always believed that takeout food wasn't very clean, so he consistently insisted on cooking himself.
Shi Kong put the groceries in the kitchen, took out his phone, and found his sister's messaging app.
I Don't Want to Work: Are you coming home for dinner tonight?
After sending the message, Shi Kong immediately went into the kitchen to start cooking. A simple four dishes and one soup, each one something he remembered his sister loved. Shi Kong wasn't picky and didn't have any particular favorite foods. If he had to say, it would be a can of ice-cold cola after a busy day.
The first sip after opening a can is always the best. Shi Kong took a sip of ice-cold cola, tilted his head back slightly, squinted his eyes, and let out a “Hiss~ Ah~” sound.
Yes, if he could, he would buy a pile of canned cola, drink the first sip, and then throw them away, always enjoying that most satisfying first sip.
His phone vibrated in his pocket.
Shi Kong put down the cola, took out his phone, and saw a message from a Q-version capybara avatar.
Capybara: Capybara nods.jpg
His sister's communication on the messaging app was always so concise.
Shi Kong sighed helplessly, put away his phone, and continued cooking. Perhaps Shi Kong was naturally fond of cooking; he still quite enjoyed the process.
After preparing the four dishes and one soup, Shi Kong placed them in a warming box, then sat on the sofa and began to ponder about his unofficial disciple.
He wondered what realm his unofficial disciple was in now. He really missed the half-year he spent with her.
---Divider---
After her training, Shi Yu saw the message her brother sent her and casually sent an emoji back. It wasn't because she was aloof, but because she didn't know what to say to her brother.
Shi Yu genuinely loved Magical Girls. Seven years ago, her brother started leaving early and returning late, often not coming home at all. She knew her brother was busy taking care of her, but this kind of indifference was not what a little girl needed. A little girl needed companionship more. It was at this time that she saw a Magical Girl performance on TV. She was captivated by Bai Leng in the center of the stage; that beauty was deeply etched in Shi Yu's heart.
In places Shi Kong didn't know about, Shi Yu's room actually hid many Magical Girl merchandise. Although she felt sorry for her brother's hard-earned living expenses, with careful planning, it wouldn't add to the burden of their already struggling family.
These figures and merchandise were the little girl's emotional anchors and the inspiration for her to become a Magical Girl.
Shi Yu returned home and saw her brother staring blankly on the sofa.
“I'm home.”
Shi Kong turned to his sister. “Wash your hands and get ready to eat. It's all your favorite food.”
“Okay,” Shi Yu turned and walked towards the bathroom.
It was always like this. Brother always said, “your favorite,” “what you like”... The two sat down at the dining table and began to eat.
Shi Yu's sudden outburst broke the silence of the meal. “Brother, why do you always only think about what I like? Don't you have anything you like?” This was the first time Shi Yu had said something like this to her brother.
Shi Kong stopped eating and looked at his sister in a daze.
“Me? I don't have anything I like. As long as you're well, I'm happy,” Shi Kong blurted out.
After her conversation with Senior Li Yu, Shi Yu already understood what she wanted to protect. She wanted to protect this home and her only brother, so Shi Yu decided to start by breaking the cold war with her brother.
“Brother, I'm not a child anymore. You've worked so hard all these years. This home is also partly mine, isn't it? Why can't you think about yourself?”
Brother wasn't always like this. Shi Yu remembered that four years ago, for about half a year, brother suddenly returned to the feeling she remembered from her childhood. But it didn't last long, and brother went back to being lifeless and expressionless. This lasted for four years… Shi Kong looked at his sister, a bitter smile on his face. “Yes, you've grown up. You've grown up.”
Shi Kong really wanted to confess to his sister, but when he thought about the things he still hadn't completed, he… “Just leave the dishes here after eating. I have something to do and need to go out for a bit. I'll clean up when I get back later,” Shi Kong said, putting his bowl and chopsticks in the kitchen, then walking to the entrance to prepare to leave.
“Brother, where are you going?”
“Something came up at work. I need to go put in some overtime,” Shi Kong changed his shoes and opened the door.
“Get some rest early,” Shi Kong said as he walked out the door.
“Come home early, Brother. I'll wait for you,” Shi Yu's voice was so soft that perhaps only she could hear it.
Shi Kong found an empty corner. “Transform.” As space distorted, the decadent young man transformed into an elegant, pure white girl.
The girl raised her hand and slashed downwards, tearing space. She stepped into the spatial rift.
This was where the girl sealed the Disaster Beast.
“You're here again,” a hollow voice appeared in the girl's ear. “No matter how much you reinforce the seal, you know that with your power, you cannot permanently solidify me, right? Heh heh ha ha ha.”
“Shut up. One day at a time is one day. Monsters like you should be sealed away forever in a place without light,” the girl said with a calm expression.
“I am a monster, and are you not? Is the power of time and space something humans can master?” The sealed Disaster Beast showed no movement, but its voice still emanated.
“You won't be able to hold me for much longer. You know it yourself. I can sense that you once fought with my subordinates. How long can you last? I'm really curious, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.”
Li Yu knew a lot about this World-Destroying Calamity Beast. It was merely one of the four kings of the Void Realm invading the human world, and it was the weakest. Li Yu knew that time was running out. The first Heavenly Sovereign of the Demon Court sealed the Void Realm entrance at the cost of his own life, so powerful Disaster Beasts could not appear in human time for now. However, Li Yu had a feeling that this seal might not last much longer.
Li Yu ignored its provocation, raised her hand, and began to use her magic to reinforce the power. Each reinforcement would cause Li Yu's magic to be overdrawn, which was the fundamental reason why Li Yu couldn't use magic. Her body's passive skill of 'Body Reversal' was even delayed due to the magic overdraft. Large and small cracks appeared on Li Yu's body.
“How pathetic, ha ha ha ha, look at you now. What is it about humans that is worth protecting?” it mocked Li Yu. “Even if the human world is completely destroyed, with your strength, where can you not go?”
“It's none of your business.” Body Reversal finally activated, and the cracks gradually lessened. Li Yu let out a long breath. Even though she was accustomed to pain, facing the pain of her body almost shattering made her gasp for air.
“Just stay here obediently,” Li Yu turned and slashed her hand, opening a spatial rift, and walked into it.
Li Yu returned to that deserted corner. The moment she stepped out of the rift, Li Yu felt her legs weaken. Her magic could no longer sustain her transformed state. After the transformation was dispelled, Li Yu knelt on the ground, hands supporting her body.
Shi Kong struggled to move himself to the corner, leaning against the wall, let out a long sigh, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.
In a dream.
This was a place he had never dreamed of before. He saw a scorched earth, and he saw a girl whose eyes were bloodshot from being stained with blood, her eyes vacant, numbly slaughtering Disaster Beasts. Shi Kong could feel that this girl was his transformed self, but he had never experienced this battle.
Under a gray sky, a drizzling rain mixed with blood fell from the sky, like the tears of the heavens. This dream was incredibly real; he could feel the blood-mixed raindrops falling on him, and he could smell the blood in the raindrops.
Collapsed buildings, the sound of magic incantations, the roars of Disaster Beasts.
The girl in the dream suddenly looked back and met Shi Kong's gaze. It was clear that a trace of light finally appeared in the girl's eyes, and her whole being seemed to come alive again.
The girl spoke, “Why don't you accept it? Time is running out.”
---Divider---
Heavy breathing came from the small corner, and the young man woke up, muttering.
“It's that phrase again. What exactly do I need to accept...?”
(I feel like my writing is a mess; I basically just write whatever comes to mind. Maybe I need to outline it?)