Chapter 1: The Anniversary Convention and a Sudden Monster Attack

On the morning of his girlfriend’s one-year death anniversary, Lu Chen, still in his rented apartment, pulled on an ‘ita-T’ emblazoned with the city’s magical girl. He was preparing to head to the anime convention to buy merchandise when he discovered his ticket was nowhere to be found.

This was hardly surprising, given the chaotic state of his room. Ever since his girlfriend, Xia Shi, died—or rather, went missing—Lu Chen had neglected the rented apartment, knowing no one would ever visit.

The room wasn’t particularly cramped, but clothes, blankets, old books, newspapers, manuscript paper, and snack wrappers were strewn haphazardly across the bed, floor, and chairs. It resembled a veritable labyrinth, so disheveled that even emptiness itself would struggle to find its way through.

Lu Chen rummaged through the clutter for a long time, eventually locating the ticket wedged between the computer desk and the floorboards. Beside it, he unexpectedly found the fruit knife he had discarded after his failed suicide attempt.

Waving away the cockroaches scuttling nearby, Lu Chen retrieved his ticket. He then reached for an off-white storage box, taking it down from the top of the bookshelf. After brushing off the dust, he opened the lid.

He had spent a considerable sum on the box, which was both moisture-proof and dust-proof, effectively shielding its contents from the ravages of time.

Inside, neatly arranged, were several small bear plushies and a bracelet, gifts from Xia Shi, alongside a well-worn copy of “Introduction to Magic Theory.” There was also an A4 sheet of paper covered in dense handwriting.

The A4 paper was a to-do list he and Xia Shi had compiled before the anime convention exactly one year ago. It detailed the items they planned to buy and the activities they intended to do at the event. Half of the items had been checked off, but the other half remained pending.

Lu Chen carefully placed the A4 paper into a folder, then slipped the folder into his backpack. Afterward, he shaved his beard, put on the bracelet, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and left the rented apartment, stepping into the bright sunlight of early spring.

****

By four in the afternoon, the anime convention was bustling with activity. Girls in vibrant outfits performed ‘otaku dances’ on the main stage, myriad stalls offered fan-made doujinshi, and excited otaku, laden with large bags, moved about like treasure hunters. The clamorous, joyful chatter flowed through the humid air.

Linshi City was home to several popular magical girls. They wielded powerful magic, repelling countless malevolent ‘monsters’ that sought to harm the city, and possessed incredibly cute appearances. Naturally, the convention featured numerous stalls selling their merchandise.

By this time, Lu Chen had finished waiting in a nearly twenty-minute-long queue and finally reached the stall.

He glanced over the table overflowing with merchandise, immediately pinpointing his targets.

“I’d like this ‘Morning Star’ acrylic standee, and that ‘Starlight’ magic wand.”

“That’ll be 129.9 yuan total. Thank you for your support~”

He paid, then departed from the stall, satisfied with his two purchases. After wandering through the exhibition hall for a good while, he had successfully completed most of the items, checking them off his to-do list.

Next, all that remained was to find a cosplayer dressed as “Morning Star” for a photo. “Morning Star” was Xia Shi’s most beloved and respected magical girl.

Lu Chen adjusted his heavily laden backpack, then exited the exhibition hall into the brightly lit, spacious outdoor plaza.

A larger stage had been erected in the center of the plaza. Several radiant, lively girls in homemade magical girl cosplay costumes danced to the music, while a large crowd of otaku stood below, waving glow sticks, cheering, and shouting encouragement. Their enthusiastic and joyful laughter echoed continuously.

Lu Chen gazed at the girls from afar, finding himself unconsciously superimposing their figures with Xia Shi’s. He felt certain Xia Shi could dance better, more beautifully, and more nimbly than any of them.

After all, she had been a genuine magical girl.

However, precisely because she was a genuine magical girl, she had been forced to leave him behind last year to confront a powerful monster that had suddenly appeared in the exhibition hall. She had never returned.

Magical girls left no corpses upon death, and no one had witnessed the moment Xia Shi was killed by the monster.

However, the police had collected copious amounts of her blood and extremely potent magical residue at the scene, providing ample evidence to conclude that her survival was impossible.

The afternoon sun was warm and hazy, and Lu Chen felt a momentary daze.

He suddenly thought that perhaps no monster had attacked, perhaps Xia Shi hadn’t died, and that everything was just a nightmare he’d had after collapsing from heatstroke at the convention.

Perhaps in the next moment, he would awaken and once again see Xia Shi’s beautiful, firework-like red eyes.

“Boom—”

As if in response to Lu Chen’s thoughts, an enormous, building-sized black shadow plummeted from the sky, shattering the plaza ground and carving out a terrifying crater.

Lu Chen instantly snapped back to reality. He shielded his eyes from the sun and stared intently at the spot.

Lying within the crater was a monster, undeniably shaped like an immense camera.

Under Lu Chen’s gaze, the “camera” sprouted dozens of slender, pale human hands, which slowly pushed its massive body upright in a manner defying the laws of physics.

Innumerable giant, black-and-white eyes and sharp-toothed maws erupted from its protruding lens, opening wide to gaze down upon the vulnerable young men and women in the plaza.

It was the embodiment of negative emotions, an entity that indiscriminately attacked all humans and was collectively known as a “monster.”

The air hung heavy, silent for several seconds. Then, heart-rending screams erupted instantaneously, and the people who had just moments ago been immersed in joy scattered in panic.

The monster’s power defied all reason. Only magical girls and a small number of sorcerers who had acquired magic later in life could hope to contend with it. For ordinary people, immediate flight was the only rational choice.

Lu Chen was, for the most part, an ordinary person, yet he did not flee.

He was a reporter for the “New Light Group,” an organization that managed magical girls. He was also Xia Shi’s lover. Neither identity permitted him to turn and run immediately.

He took a deep breath, pulled out his phone, and rapidly pressed the shutter, capturing several clear photos of the “camera.” He then jogged to hide in a narrow alley between the exhibition hall buildings, placed his merchandise-filled backpack against a wall, and dialed his superior.

The “camera’s” massive body continued to inch closer. The call connected after a few cheerful rings. Amidst the screams and wails of the crowd, a languid female voice emerged from the speaker.

“–Little Lu, do you know it’s a holiday today? Don’t be such a workaholic, alright? I was just about to head to the beach to take some scenic photos.–”

“–Sorry, but I’m currently being hunted by a camera. It appeared about two minutes ago at the International Exhibition Center’s Anime Carnival. I’ve already sent you the photos.–”

“–When can the nearest magical girl arrive?–”

“–Tsk. Let me see… Lily of the Valley was hospitalized for overwork two days ago, so she’s out of commission. Starlight is currently tied up with another monster in the East District, wallowing in angst while simultaneously beating up the enemy. It’ll take at least fifteen minutes for her to get here.–”

“–Alright, I’ll record some footage and then leave.–”

“–Be careful not to act recklessly again. In the end, I’ll be the one paying the compensation and consoling your family. It’s super expensive and troublesome, okay?–”

Lu Chen was about to reply, ‘I’ll try my best,’ but the monster suddenly let out a sharp, mournful wail that pierced his eardrums.

Not only that, but its lens began to twist and spin rapidly, crushing the glass to smithereens. The shattered fragments shot out in all directions like machine gun bullets, piercing the inflatable models and giant posters erected in the plaza.

Lu Chen dared not look further, quickly retreating into the alley and crouching low to take cover. Simultaneously, he cautiously extended his phone outward, its camera peering out.

Although unable to directly defeat a monster, ordinary people possessed methods to support the battle.

By recording the monster’s attack patterns and identifying its weaknesses, they could reduce the difficulty for magical girls to overcome it, thereby lowering their chances of falling in battle.

After what felt like an eternity of several seconds, Lu Chen’s forehead was drenched in sweat, and the hand clutching his phone began to tremble slightly. However, the monster’s howling and movements had also slowed considerably.

Lu Chen retrieved his phone, finding it had miraculously avoided the barrage of lens fragments, bearing only a few insignificant scratches on its protective case. After briefly reviewing the video, he was about to bolt through the alley, eager to escape the monster’s rampage.

“…Help… help me…”

A weak plea for help drifted into the alley, arresting Lu Chen’s steps. He turned to glance at the ravaged plaza, only then noticing a boy lying on the ground, his left foot missing, with blood gushing from the severed limb.

At the same time, the monster’s colossal body had distortedly writhed its way to the alley’s entrance, its massive shadow falling over the boy’s back.

Lu Chen’s actions outpaced his thoughts. He placed his phone on the ground, pushed off, and sprinted forward, reaching the boy’s side amidst a flurry of rapid heartbeats.

He scooped the boy up by the waist. At that very moment, the monster unleashed another volley of sharp lens fragments, which pierced his calf and shoulder.

Lu Chen gritted his teeth, stumbling towards the alley entrance. Before he could rush inside, fragments sliced through the air, embedding themselves in his back.

Lu Chen cried out in pain, his legs giving way. He mustered all his strength to push the boy into the alley, then collapsed heavily to the ground.

The bracelet shattered into several pieces, and he found himself unable to rise. The monster behind him let out a piercing wail, its enormous shadow enveloping him.

Lu Chen lifted his head, glanced at the backpack lying in the corner, and then resignedly closed his eyes.

However, the anticipated agony never erupted.

Instead, a voice he knew all too well echoed in his ears.

“Sorry, I’m a little late.”

The intense pain that had wracked his body instantly became insignificant. Lu Chen struggled to his feet, eyes wide as he stared ahead.

A tall, slender girl stood between him and the monster, her fiery red hair fluttering in the wind and sunlight, as if blazing in the air. The monster trembled as if encountering its natural enemy, screaming as it unleashed a torrent of attacks, intent on piercing and tearing the girl to shreds.

The girl did not spare the monster a glance, merely snapping her fingers with a crisp sound. Brilliant flames surged forth in response, engulfing the monster and its attacks entirely, reducing them to ashes.

She lowered her beautiful red eyes, which were filled with concern.

The sunlight was dazzlingly bright, casting a thin golden veil over Xia Shi’s fair face, making her appear as ethereal and beautiful as a mirage. Lu Chen instinctively raised his hand to touch her, but his strength failed him halfway.

However, the girl immediately bent down and clasped his hand tightly.

“Stay awake, don’t sleep! Can you hear me? Do you still recognize me?”

The urgent yet melodious voice was clearly audible, and a warm, real sensation spread through his palm.

Lu Chen meticulously examined the girl—Xia Shi’s features—and took a deep breath.

“How could I not recognize you!”

After roaring out his surging emotions, Lu Chen felt a wave of exhaustion. He listened to the girl’s anxious calls, his consciousness sinking into darkness with a sense of peace.

****

The girl cradled Lu Chen’s face, urgently calling his name several more times, but the young man remained unresponsive, his spilled blood pooling crimson on the ground.

Undoubtedly, he was severely wounded. If left unattended, his life would be in danger within fifteen minutes.

Yet, Lu Chen’s face showed little pain or fear; instead, he looked as peaceful as a wanderer resting after returning home.

“…Ha.”

The girl looked at Lu Chen and let out a soft laugh. She quickly looked left and right, noticing that no one else had yet arrived at the plaza.

Thus, the smile quickly morphed into silent laughter, which then rapidly escalated into uncontrollable, wild laughter.

In the end, she had to keep pounding the ground, yet still couldn’t stop laughing.

The plan had gone incredibly smoothly, so smoothly that even she found it laughable.

Not even Xia Shi’s closest, most trusted boyfriend had harbored the slightest suspicion about her true identity.

She—or rather, *he* after being magically disguised and transformed—did not bear such a gentle, soft, and laughable name as Xia Shi. Her name was Ling Wei.

She was not an ally of magical girls; instead, she was the common enemy of all magical girls.

She was one of the seven most powerful monsters.