Money? Money!

Within a monochrome expanse, a spacious lobby greeted the eye, meticulously clean. Rows of stark, black posters lined the walls, yet only a single film appeared to be showing.

The cinema, entirely devoid of people, was naturally silent. Xiaoxin, utterly bewildered as to his presence, cautiously glanced about before making his way to the counter.

‘I’ve heard that people come to a cinema after they die?’

Though it sounded like a line from some manga, Xiaoxin paid it little heed. He strained to recall what had transpired, yet his mind remained a blank concerning anything before this peculiar cinema.

‘I am Xiaoxin, I love money, I’m broke, I’m an otaku who dreams of becoming a hero, and I’m also a Magical Girl.’

This meager collection of memories was all he could summon, yet it felt sufficient. The next film was due to begin soon, and perhaps he ought to hasten.

But… what exactly was he supposed to do?

‘Buy a movie ticket, the seat shouldn’t be too far to the side. Ideally, it should be at a middle distance directly facing the screen; apparently, that offers the best viewing experience.’

‘Forget the popcorn, but remember to buy a drink. Too much popcorn tends to dry out your mouth. As for whether a drink will make you need the restroom, I think it’s fine to trust your bladder; besides, the sensation of holding it in will keep you more alert and focused on the film.’

Stepping into the screening room, he located his assigned seat. Despite the pervasive emptiness, it felt imperative to settle into his designated spot.

There were no advertisements, no fire safety warnings. Precisely on time, the film began to play.

“My dream is to become a hero.”

“Then what *is* a hero?”

“To uphold justice, protect the weak, strike down evil, and safeguard peace!”

“Those are all rather vague concepts, aren’t they?”

In a call-and-response, the small boy on screen, aspiring to be a hero, remained faceless, merely grinning foolishly in his makeshift ‘battle suit’—a bedsheet draped as a cape—before his mother unceremoniously hauled him home by the ear, much like a chick.

‘This might well be me. After all, I was just like that as a child, lost in unrealistic dreams, fantasizing about becoming a hero, recounting thrilling new stories to my friends, and vividly imagining the subsequent plotlines.’

The boy grew into an elementary school student, an exceptionally boisterous and mischievous imp. He would shout at the top of his lungs, and even his recitation of textbook passages was so “expressive” that his classmates instinctively covered their ears, and his teachers grew wary.

He was perpetually getting into trouble, often brawling with other students. Yet, each time, he appeared nonchalant, eloquently asserting that his actions were solely to protect the bullied. His teachers didn’t dislike him, but they often found themselves with a headache when he adamantly refused to reconcile with those he had fought, always displaying a deeply reluctant attitude.

‘Hmm? Was I truly that kind of person back then?’

As he transitioned into middle school, a burgeoning set of skills imbued him with greater confidence. Drawing upon his occasionally honed martial arts, he would fearlessly confront not only school bullies but also street thugs, invariably greeting them with a resolute punch.

‘A personality prone to significant setbacks, it seems.’

Upon reaching high school, he remained largely unchanged. Meanwhile, those around him gradually embraced realism, meticulously charting their future lives. They crafted systematic, practical tables, and countless prospective plans landed on their homeroom teacher’s desk. These documents analyzed future careers, job objectives, and company entry strategies, all based on economic trends, societal demands, and stock market fluctuations. Some even delved into researching the hobbies and interests of different company owners across various industries.

He, however, was different. His plan bore only one bold title: “I Want To Be A Hero.” It was utterly baffling. His classmates whispered amongst themselves, convinced it was a jest, and even his homeroom teacher summoned him to the office.

“You want to be a hero, but do you have any money? Do you know any corporations?”

“No.”

“Face reality. With nothing, how can you possibly become a hero?”

“With this, and this.”

He clenched his fist, then thumped his chest, his confident smile betraying no hint of falsehood.

He truly lived by his word. Even without extraordinary powers, he fearlessly confronted all manner of ‘monsters,’ be they mere thieves, formidable bandits, or even those deemed ‘death-sentence’ level. He would charge forward without hesitation to protect others.

He was brutally beaten. Human strength, after all, has its limits, and facing powerful monsters, he was left alone and utterly defenseless. With no guarantee of resurrection, he nonetheless seemed entirely unconcerned with his own fate.

“Catch! Use its power!”

[Clang] A belt was flung into his hand. His lifelong companion, a man whose face was intimately familiar, had granted him this pivotal opportunity.

Transformation. Battle. The tables had turned completely. The once-formidable enemy was now utterly vulnerable, repeatedly forced back under the relentless onslaught. Then, a sword wreathed in burning flames was summoned, and the ultimate attack unleashed.

He won. Amidst the applause and gratitude, the young man became a hero. His burning passion fueled his confidence to challenge even more foes, and soon, he was invited to appear in tokusatsu shows, TV series, and films, serving as a role model for children.

He articulated his understanding of heroism, fought ceaselessly, refused to accept defeat, and advanced without a moment’s hesitation.

Even when his performances yielded poor sales, he appeared utterly unfazed. He exuded an air of dashing nonchalance, undertaking a myriad of missions and always leading the charge as a vanguard in decisive battles against his adversaries.

Until his body began to fail him, various old injuries and a sluggish physique finally compelled him to reluctantly relinquish his post, returning to the life of an ordinary person… But could he truly revert to that?

****

The film’s style abruptly shifted, the once-stirring, passionate score now heavy with sorrow. He divorced his wife, leaving behind his grown son, only to discover that the young man harbored no interest in heroism whatsoever, instead succumbing to smoking, gambling, and associating with street thugs.

Coming and going at all hours, his son’s primary concern was demanding money from the retired old hero. The pension, gradually depleted by his son’s squandering, was dwindling fast. Watching his child finally reach adulthood, he passed on his belt, hoping his son might finally embrace a righteous path…

“Two thousand! You actually sold the belt I entrusted to you for a mere two thousand yuan!”

“It was a decent deal. The pawn shop owner was quite nice, I rather liked him.”

“You foolish, rebellious ingrate!”

Unable to stomach his son’s rebellion, seeing the most cherished treasure he’d painstakingly passed down for half a lifetime sold off like refuse, he rose, intending to strike the defiant youth.

Yet he couldn’t. Instead, he was knocked to the ground by his own flesh and blood, left bruised and swollen. Even the most vicious enemies he had faced in his lifetime had never reduced him to such a pathetic state.

“That kind of belt can’t even transform!”

“Stop clinging to the past! Even you know the truth, old man!”

“Heroes have always been nothing more than commodities!”

“Just calm down, old man.” With that, he pulled two banknotes from his wallet and tossed them onto his father’s prone body.

He struggled futilely to rise, his aged body now so utterly fragile. He began to vomit, his vision blurring, and soon, the wail of an ambulance pierced the air.

‘This isn’t my memory.’

Xiaoxin was now utterly convinced. Unbeknownst to him, another figure had settled into the seat directly behind him.

The figure was weeping. Upon recognizing the man’s face, Xiaoxin, after an initial shock, calmly accepted the sight and redirected his gaze back to the screen.

In the hospital, the old man sat on his sickbed, his face haggard, his bones fractured by his own son. A medical examination revealed numerous ailments, and after surgery, he was left with barely any strength or spirit. His former passion had vanished entirely, leaving him like a tiny goldfish in an enclosed ward, spending each day lost in the internet.

[Belt Warrior Series Works: Rating Rankings!]

[Ranking dead last is “Belt Warrior Gast,” with a dismal rating of 4.2. While an early work and not widely known today, its fundamental flaw lies not in its obscurity, but in its plot. It excessively boasts of the protagonist’s power, rendering each episode an unsatisfying viewing experience. Enemies consistently appear for only a minute or two before being swiftly overpowered and instantly defeated, followed by lengthy, repetitive monologues on the nature of justice.]

[Rumor has it that Gast himself vehemently demanded script alterations, forcing the production team into repeated compromises. The result was a complete lack of plot logic and battles that were both simple and crude. Not only did audiences find it unengaging, but the company also refused to continue funding production, leading to its premature cancellation. It is widely regarded as a truly unfortunate piece of work.]

[Comment: I recall an interview from back then, didn’t it say Gast deliberately forced them to change the script to his liking, just to promote himself?]

[Comment: While Gast certainly participated in many battles, his self-important personality was truly grating, embodying an utterly dismissive attitude towards others.]

Only in his old age did he finally comprehend how others truly perceived him. He had yearned to be a hero, admired and emulated, yet now, nothing had unfolded as he had wished.

Perhaps he was simply meant to age this way, everything utterly meaningless. Perhaps even if he had never been born, it wouldn’t have mattered, for even if he didn’t become a hero, others would still eliminate those monsters out of duty and responsibility.

“Don’t be so quick to dismiss yourself, the senior.”

It was a remarkably young woman, appearing to be a girl of merely sixteen or seventeen.

“If your former fans were to see you now, they would surely weep.”

“I have no fans. In their eyes, I’m nothing more than a self-absorbed clown.”

“One cannot be a hero without self-affirmation. If there are misunderstandings, then explain them thoroughly; they will be resolved one day. To be frank, you don’t truly wish for it to end like this, do you?”

“…What are you trying to say?”

“This is a welcome gift for you. What do you think? It’s quite similar, isn’t it? For a seasoned professional like yourself, it’s always better to use the equipment you’re most skilled with.”

It was a belt, a model he had never seen before, yet its design and weapon attachments were almost perfectly identical to those he had once used.

“Just a small favor, Gast. Help me collect the power of Magical Girls, and in return, you will gain the right and the strength to change everything.”

Emitting an eerie glow and a palpable sense of power, the old man’s pupils fixed intently on the belt as he extended his palm.

‘Is this Gast’s memory?’

Xiaoxin watched everything unfold on the screen, while the figure in the back row also rose.

“Defeat the Magical Girl, defeat the Magical Girl, defeat the Magical Girl…”

The screen and the person behind him repeated the same words, a nightmare that filled Xiaoxin with discomfort and dread, prompting him to bolt out of the screening room.

****

“Hey! Magical Girl Xiaoxin! Can you hear me! Magical Girl Xiaoxin!”

Someone was calling out to him. He sprang up in a powerful carp leap, only to be met with an audible “Ouch!” as his head collided squarely with something.

“Ow! That hurts!”

“Whoa.”

It was Huoli, who had not yet reverted from her transformed state, though she now had little magical power remaining.

His head cleared. He seemed to be lying in ruins, surrounded by abandoned vehicles. His memory flooded back: just moments ago, to protect Huoli, he had used the propulsion of his magic wand’s light cannon to snatch her away precisely as Gast’s attack descended.

However, as a magically gifted Magical Girl, Gast naturally wouldn’t let them escape. He caught up with explosive speed, but Xiaoxin had no time to prepare a second light cannon. He could only shield Huoli with his body, taking the full force of the Essence-Plucking Demonic Sword’s attack directly to his chest, sending him flying.

“Ah, are you alright, Miss Huoli?”

“Don’t ask *me*! What about *you*! You just took that demonic sword’s direct hit squarely on your chest gem, didn’t you!”

“Oh, I suppose I did.”

He checked his body. Aside from some dust, his uniform was completely undamaged, and the Magical Girl’s gem showed not the slightest scratch.

“Heh, looks like I’m pretty tough.”

“I…!” Huoli was at a loss for words. Not only was Magical Girl Xiaoxin’s body incredible, but his thought process also seemed utterly incomprehensible.

In contrast, Gast’s recent attack seemed to have momentarily stunned his brain. He shook his head, then slowly advanced, sword in hand.

“What did you… just do?” Gast demanded.

“Watched a movie? The ending was a bit rubbish, though.”

Uncomprehending, even the experienced Huoli had never witnessed such a situation. Without a doubt, the [Essence-Plucking Demonic Sword] was the strongest weapon against Magical Girls. Merely being near it would drain a body’s magic like a pump, effortlessly breaking through a Magical Girl’s defenses. To be directly struck by it meant, for even a top-tier Magical Girl, a complete depletion of magic, or worse, irreversible core damage and the permanent loss of power.

Yet, Magical Girl Xiaoxin’s core had been directly hit just now, and she was completely unharmed, not a single trace of magic drained.

‘Perhaps this child is incredibly strong?’

Huoli pondered, finding this the only plausible explanation. Though she was supposed to be the rescuer, she was now being saved herself.

Indeed, with absolute power, even the Essence-Plucking Demonic Sword would be rendered inert, like a low-grade weapon, completely ineffective.

‘So, what level of Magical Girl is Magical Girl Xiaoxin?’

She didn’t know.

‘But no matter what, to withstand a full-power strike from the Essence-Plucking Demonic Sword, wielded by a Level 5.5 belt user, and remain unharmed—her power far surpasses my own. She must be able to overcome this hateful Gast!’

With this thought, Huoli’s heart swelled with hope. It seemed she might not need to hold out for the remaining five minutes; perhaps the crisis could be averted sooner.

Perhaps?

Magical Girl Xiaoxin first raised her magic wand, then charged forward. A downward strike with the wand was caught effortlessly by Gast with one hand, followed by a kick that sent her sprawling.

Undeterred, she aimed a charged magic cannon blast at Gast with her wand, which he easily dodged with a sidestep before closing in and kicking her down.

Weak! Utterly pathetic! It was easier than bullying a child!

Before Magical Girl Xiaoxin could even rise, a barrage of black energy bullets swept towards her. One hundred and twenty-eight powerful attacks converged like a constrained downpour, aimed directly at Magical Girl Xiaoxin’s position.

“Not that move again!”

“Full Volley!”

There was no time to defend, no way to evade. Each individual shot possessed enough power to shatter Level 4 armor, and there were a staggering 128 of them! Even a Level 5 user with defensive plug-ins couldn’t withstand this! This was why Huoli hadn’t chosen to engage in a prolonged battle earlier—to prevent him from charging this attack. Now, Magical Girl Xiaoxin, like a novice, was forced to directly confront this full-power assault, which rivaled an ultimate move!

Explosion! Shattered! Dust billowed from the ground! The deafening explosion from 128 powerful attacks released overflowing energy, even spreading black lightning that tore through surrounding walls and ground, splitting even well-protected cars in two.

[Whoosh!]

A single slash cut through the smoke, a heavy strike directly aimed at Magical Girl Xiaoxin’s suppressed chest! With a crisp [Clink!] of collision, Magical Girl Xiaoxin remained completely unharmed.

“Ow! That hurt!”

“Dark Stream Sonic Slash!”

Extremely fast, continuous slashes! It was remarkably similar to Miss Huoli’s Rapid Fire Slash, but the speed of Gast’s single sword was far faster, more precise, and more potent than Huoli’s dual-wielding. Each strike was imbued with momentum and power, delivering nearly fifty rounds of slashes in just two seconds. How could the diminutive Magical Girl Xiaoxin possibly endure it! She was sent flying into the air!

“Ugh! That really hurts!” Magical Girl Xiaoxin couldn’t help but complain further.

Undoubtedly, each slash was powerful enough to easily cause a Magical Girl to permanently lose her powers, yet Magical Girl Xiaoxin’s core remained undamaged!

In less than 0.1 seconds, Gast, steadying his stance, decided that if multiple continuous attacks couldn’t break her, then only his strongest power and ultimate move would suffice!

“Oh no! Get away! Magical Girl Xiaoxin!”

She wasn’t some bond-maxed electric mouse; she couldn’t just get away on command. All the pain, despair, and hatred served as fuel. The belt’s energy was fully unleashed, pushing the technique’s power to its absolute maximum! Everything was poured into a single, decisive strike!

It’s coming! It’s coming!