Chapter 23: The Rule Singularity

The Minister’s office within the East Asia Branch of the Star Guardians’ base.

The heavy, solid wood door silently swung shut behind Ouyang Na, effectively sealing off the outside world’s clamor.

She strode directly to the expansive desk, where her brother, Ouyang Shuo, was engrossed in reviewing documents.

With a soft rustle, she laid the woefully thin assessment report on Kazami Jin before him.

Ouyang Shuo, the supreme commander of the East Asia Branch, possessed a demeanor as unshakeable as a mountain.

Setting aside his stylus, he picked up the report and swiftly scanned its contents.

When his gaze fell upon the lines that read, ‘Mana Reserves: Approximately equivalent to 1.2 standard shadow beast cubs,’ and the damning overall conclusion, ‘Threat Level: Harmless,’ a rare flicker of distinct surprise crossed his usually impassive face.

He lifted his eyes, meeting his sister’s grave expression.

“Is this truly the individual for whom Xia Yue, Lin Wan, and even the newcomer Yu Niannian were willing to defy regulations, going so far as to directly confront the ‘Dark Abyss Weaver’ in her defense?” he questioned.

“The ‘witch’ purportedly linked to Violairella?” His tone conveyed both a need for confirmation and a hint of incredulity.

“Yes, brother,” Ouyang Na affirmed with a nod, her voice tinged with confusion and a touch of frustration.

“Every single test was performed, and as you can see, the results are baffling.

She’s incredibly weak, weaker even than the lowest-tier magical beings.

I simply cannot fathom what Xia Yue and the others see in her.

Could it truly be nothing more than… this so-called ‘friendship’?”

Even as she uttered the word, it struck her as absurd, for in a world where power reigned supreme, such bonds were often pitifully fragile.

Ouyang Shuo offered no immediate reply.

Instead, his long, slender fingers tapped softly against the desktop as his gaze returned to the report, lingering particularly on the lines detailing ‘Faint Dark Attribute Tendency’ and ‘Lacks Known Witch Standard Characteristics.’

He fell into deep contemplation.

After a moment, he finally spoke, his voice low and imbued with a distinct insight.

“Nanna, you believe this matter is more complex than it appears, primarily because her profound weakness stands in stark contrast to the extraordinary attention she has garnered, correct?”

“Is it not?” Ouyang Na countered, her brow furrowed.

“An individual incapable of even stably releasing magic power, yet who can captivate the minds of three exceptional members and potentially exert a subtle influence in a high-level witch battle?

This, in itself, defies all logic.”

“Logic…” Ouyang Shuo echoed softly, a knowing, meaningful curve gracing the corner of his lips.

“Sometimes, our ingrained perceptions can blind us.

You perceive her as weak, but that judgment is predicated upon our conventional mana assessment system.

Have you, however, forgotten what a true witch truly is?”

Ouyang Na paused, taken aback.

“Witches?

They are wielders of dark and chaotic forces, existential threats to order, and entities we are tasked with monitoring and guarding against…”

“That is merely the superficial aspect, Nanna; the textbook definition,” Ouyang Shuo interjected, his gaze deepening profoundly.

“Cast your mind back to the organization’s highest classified archives, to the most ancient and obscure records.

Are the true wellsprings of a witch’s power truly confined to quantifiable energies like ‘darkness,’ ‘shadow,’ or ‘negative emotions’?”

Rising from his seat, he moved to the immense floor-to-ceiling window, his gaze sweeping over the base’s meticulously ordered landscape outside.

He seemed to be peering into something far deeper than the visible world.

“No, those are mere superficialities, the ‘attributes’ through which their power manifests,” Ouyang Shuo declared, his voice imbued with the resonance of ancient history.

“Their true essence lies in being ‘touchers’ and wielders of the fundamental rules.

Their power springs from the dark facet of the world’s inherent laws, the opposing pole to the foundational principles that govern this reality.

Chaos, shadow, darkness… these are simply the external forms that this rule-based power assumes, shaped by different individuals and their unique interpretations.”

He turned, his gaze sharp as it met Ouyang Na’s.

“Magical girls wield energies that are bright, orderly, and materialized.

Witches, on the other hand, command a power far closer to the primordial rules, an abstract ‘conceptual’ force.

This is precisely why formidable beings like Violairella, the ‘Dark Abyss Weaver,’ exist—pursuing forbidden knowledge and manipulating the very essence of shadow.

Every witch, without exception, can only connect to the source and cast spells after grasping these fundamental rules.

Kazami Jin, despite the minuscule, marble-sized manifestation of her magic, undeniably accessed this primordial source.

She is, without question, a witch.

By all logical accounts, an entity so weak should never be recognized by the rules, yet she somehow succeeded.”

Ouyang Na’s pupils contracted almost imperceptibly as she seemed to grasp a crucial insight.

“Brother, are you suggesting that Kazami Jin’s ‘weakness’ might only be apparent under our conventional mana detection standards?

That her true uniqueness doesn’t lie in the ‘quantity’ of her magic, but rather in her ability to, with an incredibly minimal ‘cost,’ invoke some form of… ‘rule’ that we are utterly incapable of directly observing?”

“This is precisely where my deepest suspicions lie,” Ouyang Shuo stated, returning to the desk and tapping a finger on the ‘harmless’ report.

“An individual with such negligible mana reserves, yet capable of provoking an ancient entity like Violairella to brand her a ‘traitor’ and ‘fire thief,’ inspiring three proud young women like Xia Yue and her companions to such fierce protection, and even, as your report suggests, potentially influencing the tide of battle in some arcane manner…”

He paused, his tone growing grave.

“If my hypothesis proves correct, then what she possesses may not be formidable destructive power, but rather a far more rare and fundamental trait: a ‘rule affinity’ or ‘interference ability.’

This capacity might typically lie dormant, perhaps even unknown to her, yet in specific circumstances, when interacting with particular subjects, or when certain unknown ‘conditions’ are met, it could manifest in ways utterly beyond our comprehension.”

Ouyang Na drew a sharp breath.

If her brother’s conjecture held true, then Kazami Jin’s intrinsic value and inherent danger could by no means be measured by that ludicrous assessment report!

An entity capable of directly or indirectly interfering with the very ‘rules’ of existence, even if only by the slightest margin, possessed a potential for immeasurable impact!

“Then… what course of action should we take?

Continue observing?” Ouyang Na inquired, her voice now imbued with an entirely different urgency.

“Indeed,” Ouyang Shuo nodded.

“Maintain the original verdict; issue her that ‘harmless’ pass for the time being.

Keeping her alongside Xia Yue and the others might better encourage her to reveal her unique attributes.

We must intensify our surveillance, focusing not merely on mana fluctuations, but meticulously documenting every anomalous incident connected to her.

This includes, but is not limited to, situations involving causality, probability, or deviations in energy trajectories—anything that defies conventional explanation.”

His gaze grew profound.

“Protect her, yes, but also… watch her closely.

Until we truly unravel the secrets she harbors, she remains both an exceptionally valuable research subject and, potentially, a ticking bomb whose trigger mechanism we have yet to discover.”

Ouyang Na nodded gravely, her understanding of her brother’s words complete.

Kazami Jin’s apparent ‘weakness,’ she realized, might well be the very core of her profound complexity.

The air within Ouyang Shuo’s office seemed to grow palpably heavier, a lingering consequence of their preceding discussion.

As Ouyang Na was still processing her brother’s startling conjecture about ‘rule interference,’ the office suddenly, and without warning, became suffused with a soft yet undeniably potent pure white radiance.

The light, far from being blinding, emanated a soul-cleansing purity and an inherent majesty, instantly dispelling the faint lingering shadows in the room that had settled during their discussion of witches.

Within this luminescence, specks of starlight slowly coalesced, seeming to possess a life of their own.

Ouyang Shuo and Ouyang Na stiffened almost simultaneously, rising swiftly to their feet and bowing slightly in a gesture of profound respect.

Only a select few within the entire Star Guardians organization possessed the capability to manifest so silently and directly within the Minister’s office, let alone emanate such a distinctive energy signature.

The shimmering starlight ultimately converged, forming a tall, slender, and graceful figure.

It was a girl, appearing to be sixteen or seventeen years old, clad in a simple yet sacred pure white battle skirt-armor.

Across its surface, runes woven from what seemed like moonlight flowed with an ethereal luminescence.

Her waist-length silver hair cascaded like a waterfall, each strand appearing to emanate a cool, clear moonlight of its own.

Her features were sculpted with a perfection that seemed otherworldly, bearing a tranquility and detachment that transcended her apparent youth.

Most captivating were her eyes—forged, it seemed, from the purest molten gold, clear and utterly translucent.

Within their depths, a slowly revolving stellar universe appeared to reside, and wherever her gaze alighted, even the very rules of space seemed to settle into a more stable and orderly state.

A natural majesty emanated from her entire being, not an intentional display, but an intrinsic emanation born from her existence resonating with a higher-order principle.

Scarcely a trace of emotion could be discerned on her face, only an ancient, unwavering adherence to the fundamental rules and powers that governed existence.

“Minister Shuo, Inspector Ouyang,” the maiden spoke, her voice ethereal and melodious, yet imbued with an innate sense of detachment, as if echoing from the distant reaches of the cosmos.

“I perceived lingering ripples of an anomalous rule disturbance here, as well as… a discussion concerning a unique individual.”

Her gaze calmly swept over Ouyang Shuo and Ouyang Na before finally settling upon the assessment report concerning Kazami Jin, which lay on the desktop.

Within those golden eyes, the celestial dance of stars seemed to accelerate by the slightest fraction.

“Your Excellency, Shen Xiyue,” Ouyang Shuo responded with profound reverence.

The being before them was none other than Shen Xiyue, a legendary figure within the Star Guardians, known by the codename ‘Scales of Judgment.’

An embodiment of light and an enforcer of the rules of order, her power was unfathomable, rumored to have long since touched the very source of all fundamental laws.

She rarely made an appearance; whenever she did, it invariably signaled an event of rule-level significance, one capable of swaying the very balance of the world.

Ouyang Na promptly began her report.

“Your Excellency, Shen Xiyue, we are currently discussing an individual named Kazami Jin.

Her mana levels are exceptionally low, leading to her being classified as ‘harmless.’

However, a series of incidents surrounding her, particularly the faint, rule-level interference she seems to have caused, has drawn our considerable attention.”

She then concisely outlined the anomalies observed during the previous battle, the unusual protectiveness displayed by Xia Yue and her companions, and Ouyang Shuo’s conjecture regarding Kazami Jin’s ‘rule affinity.’

Shen Xiyue listened in silence, her face utterly devoid of expression, as though she were merely processing a stream of data that held no personal relevance.

It was not until Ouyang Na mentioned ‘triggering rule-level changes with minimal cost’ that a ripple, infinitesimally subtle yet distinctly recognizable as ‘interest,’ finally stirred within her golden eyes, which seemed to hold entire constellations.

She extended a slender, perfectly formed finger, tapping lightly in the air.

Without any breeze, the report on the desk fluttered open to the page detailing Kazami Jin’s mana attributes and spiritual power assessment.

“Mana reserves, below baseline.

Spiritual power, mediocre,” Shen Xiyue stated, her voice still ethereal and detached, as if articulating an objective fact.

“Under conventional understanding, she lacks the foundational ‘power’ to sway rules.”

Her gaze seemed to pierce through the paper, perceiving the anxious girl currently being ‘supervised’ by three magical girls somewhere within the base.

“However,” she continued, shifting her focus, the stellar trajectories within her golden eyes beginning to trace intricate patterns, “rules do not always require brute force to be influenced.

Sometimes, a minuscule, perfectly timed ‘variable’ intervening at the correct ‘node’ can trigger a chain reaction far exceeding the accumulation of raw power.”

She lifted her eyes, looking towards Ouyang Shuo and Ouyang Na.

“Your conjecture that she possesses ‘rule affinity or interference ability’ is correct in its direction, but you may have underestimated its true essence.”

Shen Xiyue slowly walked to the window, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Ouyang Shuo, gazing out.

Her very presence caused the surrounding air to become incredibly ‘stable,’ as if all chaos were forcibly brought into the orbit of order.

“Light and darkness, order and chaos, are the foundational rules that constitute the world, like two sides of a coin,” she calmly expounded.

“Magical girls wield the power of light and order; witches touch upon the rules of darkness and chaos.

Yet beneath this macroscopic opposition lies an intricate tapestry of countless subtle, interwoven threads of rules.”

Her gaze seemed to drift towards Kazami Jin’s location, and her tone acquired a faint, almost academic, quality.

“This Kazami Jin… she may not possess immense power herself, but she might be an exceptionally rare ‘rule singularity,’ or rather, a living ‘rule loophole.’

Her very existence, her emotions, her will, and even her unconscious actions, could, under certain specific conditions, become the ‘initial variable’ that causes these rule threads to tremble.”

“Violairella called her a ‘fire thief’… ‘Fire’ can also be seen as a symbol of rule authority.

The unusual protectiveness of Xia Yue and the others… perhaps it doesn’t stem from mere emotion, but from their instinctive perception of her inherent ‘specialness’ that is intimately connected to the rules, unconsciously drawing and influencing them.”

Shen Xiyue turned, the interest in her golden eyes, which perceived the rules, now even more pronounced.

“An individual who is incredibly fragile herself, yet potentially possesses the latent ability to sway rules… how fascinating,” she uttered in that detached tone, words that would send shivers down anyone’s spine.

“She is a key, a key that might unlock the door to unknown rules.

She might also be… an ‘unstable element’ that requires stringent monitoring to prevent her from unconsciously triggering an uncontrollable rule collapse.”

She looked at Ouyang Shuo, her tone conveying an undeniable resolve.

“Everything concerning Kazami Jin is to be placed under the highest observation sequence.

I will personally oversee it.”

“Without alarming her, gather as much data as possible related to her, especially any incidents involving causality, probability, or anomalous energy trajectories.”

“As for Xia Yue, Lin Wan, and Yu Niannian…” Shen Xiyue paused briefly.

“Their ‘supervision’ assignment will continue.

Their proximity to her may, in itself, constitute an important ‘observation condition.'”

Ouyang Shuo and Ouyang Na felt a chill of awe.

Even Her Excellency Shen Xiyue was personally expressing concern, even using terms like ‘rule singularity’ and ‘unstable element.’

Kazami Jin’s importance (or rather, her danger), they realized, far surpassed their initial imaginings.

Shen Xiyue’s figure began to slowly dissipate into specks of starlight, as silently as she had arrived.

Before completely vanishing, her ethereal voice left one final instruction.

“Protect this ‘key.’

Before I fully comprehend her essence, do not let her… shatter, or fall into the wrong hands.”

The starlight completely vanished, and the office returned to its original state, but the sense of majesty, originating from the rule-level, lingered for a long time.

Ouyang Na looked at her brother, seeing Ouyang Shuo’s brow deeply furrowed, his gaze profound.