Responsibilities and obligations served as shackles, binding heroes. They were forced to adhere to societal rules, their actions and battles constrained by the need to be role models. Such stringent rules inherently made the heroic profession far more arduous than that of villains, who would stop at nothing to achieve their aims. Consequently, battles that appeared evenly matched often ended with the evildoers gaining a significant advantage.
The valiant exploits of many heroes were routinely recorded and uploaded online. Subsequently, countless [fans], [bystanders], and [experts] would dissect these videos, their opinions either elevating or tarnishing the heroes’ reputations. There were occasions when well-intentioned heroes faced more condemnation than the very criminals they fought. This often stemmed from their inability to minimize collateral damage, their adherence to numerous man-made regulations, or the unfortunate occurrence of unnecessary casualties. Such situations compelled them to offer financial compensation, extend condolences, issue private or public apologies, and endure the harsh criticism of both public opinion and various organizations.
This perceived unfairness sparked widespread discontent. Decades prior, numerous protests openly advocated for ‘leniency’ towards heroes. Online, articles and videos with titles such as [What Has Poisoned Heroism?], [Does This World Truly Need Heroes?], and [What Defines a Hero?] began to proliferate. They garnered considerable attention for a time, only to fade swiftly.
Yet, in an era where everyone had the potential to gain immense power, heroes, despite possessing the strength to save others and combat evil, found themselves powerless to shift the world’s perception. Even with the myriad injustices faced by the profession, and the apparent lack of appreciation for heroes, there remained countless individuals who, despite their best efforts, could never attain the mantle of a hero.
“Family! Good evening, it’s your beloved Sister Lan!”
“To cut a long story short, my partners and I are currently hunkered down in these ruins, bringing you real-time coverage of this sudden, colossal showdown, aiming to deliver the freshest intel.”
“As we can observe, this newly arrived Ultra Warrior has miscalculated their force, causing severe damage to the ground and surrounding structures. Even the evacuees behind us have been covered in dust, appearing utterly dishevelled.”
Amidst this perilous environment, the Heavenly Blossom Society, who had appeared in the previous episode, began their live broadcast from the mall’s ruins. They showed no fear of the two forty-meter-tall giants locked in battle, nonchalantly commencing their ‘work’.
Their presence did not go unnoticed by the newly appointed Ultra Warrior of the [Cosmic Defense Force], Gast. Realizing his rapid descent had caused distress and inconvenience to the planet’s inhabitants, he felt compelled to exercise extreme caution.
The Model Monster, too, perceived the situation. Capitalizing on its opponent’s momentary distraction, an arm shot out, extending towards Gast with a massive fist.
Swift and precise, its lightweight body granted it incredible speed. Alas, such an attack proved utterly ineffective against a Cosmic Warrior endowed with unparalleled experience and might.
“Hah!” Gast sidestepped the blow, then seized the arm and yanked with immense force, instantly pulling the colossal body towards him.
Even with its four legs providing stability, they were mere adornments in Gast’s eyes. He delivered a direct punch to its face, shattering the giant beast’s delicate, human-like features.
“Oh my goodness, what brutality! Facing a monster with a feminine appearance, this new Ultra Warrior brazenly attacked its face without a moment’s hesitation!” As if witnessing an unimaginable spectacle, Dong Shenglan couldn’t help but raise her arms and exclaim into the camera.
“This is practically like a domestic abuser insulting a woman!” his follower chimed in, egging her on.
It was a simple punch, and the opponent was not, in fact, female, but merely a monster encased in a feminine model shell. Yet, these fearless individuals brazenly aired their opinions before the camera, utterly unconcerned.
“What are they doing?” his cousin asked, looking perplexed.
“They must have too much time on their hands,” Ah Xin retorted, dismissing them outright. He had, after all, witnessed such senseless antics far too often.
However, the preceding comments had an impact on Gast. He could have continued his barrage, exploiting the monster’s shattered face to deliver another devastating punch and obliterate its disguised head, but at that moment, he felt compelled to hold back.
As a peace-keeping hero dedicated to maintaining cosmic harmony, he sometimes had to consider the societal rules of various planetary civilizations. It was, as the saying went, ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans do’. This was partly to uphold the image of his people and partly to foster friendly relations in the future.
The monster merely recoiled, its face rapidly regenerating. While its strength and defense were not exceptional, its self-healing capabilities were remarkably potent.
“If you can take one punch, how about six?!” Infuriated, the giant beast roared, launching a brutal assault. In an instant, all six of its fists flew out in a torrential barrage, mirroring its earlier attack on his cousin.
[Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!!] Tremendous roars reverberated through the heavens and earth, echoes of shattering resounding across the land. Effortlessly, Gast parried the attacks, and all six fists shattered.
“Damn it!” The immense destructive force affected the giant beast’s body, knocking it backward. It had no choice but to react, urging its body to repair itself swiftly.
But it was too late. Gast lunged forward with a powerful step, then unleashed an explosive punch, tearing straight through the monster’s abdomen.
“Yiyaaaaaahhh!!!” It was a mighty blow, leaving no room for retaliation. The punch, infused with the power of light, shook the very energy core of the giant beast.
“Oh my god! Can everyone hear that? What a painful and sorrowful cry! This female giant beast, a manifestation of a life controlled like a puppet, having never known the warmth of a family, is now truly enduring such abuse!”
Without any knowledge of the actual nature of the giant beast, they arbitrarily imposed upon it the persona of a woman formed from the hatred and suffering of domestic abuse victims.
“Did you know, everyone? In 85% of domestic abuse cases, husbands typically attack a woman’s abdomen because it’s more vulnerable! It also allows those inhumane bastards to feel the perverse pleasure of dominating the weak!”
‘So, I can’t even hit *there*?!’
Sensing he had encountered a troublesome opponent, Gast, on his first visit to Earth, felt a surge of awkwardness. Instead of pressing further, injecting power through the damaged abdomen to make the giant beast explode, he opted to withdraw his arm and reconsider his strategy.
He could feel the gaze of countless eyes upon him, and compared to the savior giant he was once perceived to be, he now felt like an actor auditioning for a reality show.
[Clack—Thump] Its four legs freely detached, followed by its six arms merging into two.
It was as if a [Battle Blade Mech] had switched from self-propelled artillery mode to infantry mode. Now possessing two arms and two legs like a human, it was significantly lighter. This transformation, however, naturally sacrificed attack frequency and reduced its body’s stability. Given that it was already incapable of defeating Gast, why would it make such a choice?
“Heh-yah!” Emitting a feminine voice, the Model Monster was the first to launch an attack. But could such a feeble assault truly be effective?
No! Gast skillfully dodged the blow with an elegant combat step, then executed a grapple, coordinating the strength in his shoulders, wrists, and hips to deliver a stunning over-the-shoulder throw, slamming his opponent to the ground.
“Whoa! Good job! Go, Ultra Warrior! *Cough, cough*…” Ah Xin couldn’t help but feel excited, but then the dust kicked up by the heavy fall filled his mouth, causing him to cough dryly.
Since he couldn’t attack its head or abdomen, and was at a loss for how to break through directly, he decided to first restrain it, then finish it with a decisive special attack.
His ideal was grand, but reality proved astounding.
“Eee-woo-woo-woo, it hurts so much… I’m in such pain! Why do you keep harming me with violence, woo-woo-woo-woo…” Feigning the appearance of an innocent woman, plastic fragments welled up from its eye sockets, resembling tears.
“The giant beast is crying…?”
“It seems so pitiful. Isn’t there a gentler way to handle this?”
“Oh my god, could it really be a monster born from the resentment of domestic abuse?”
The public, who had initially detested the monster, began to waver, and whispers started spreading through the crowd.
“No way, this thing is clearly acting! And a really terrible act at that! I mean, I got stuck with a weird persona of being heartbroken and a failure when I delivered food to his cousin, but come on. This is a monster made of *models*! How could you possibly conjure up such a backstory?!” With courage from who knows where, Ah Xin couldn’t help but turn back and complain to the crowd.
“What do you know?! Do you have any idea how serious this issue is?!”
“Exactly! Do you have a family and children?! Do you know how difficult modern families are, how hard it is to maintain relationships?!”
“That’s right! If you’re a hero, there must be a gentler solution, right?!”
Under immense pressure, Gast’s raised fist froze mid-air. Confronted by the camera and the relentless chatter of the crowd, he found himself unable to strike.
The giant beast swiftly seized the opportunity, breaking free from its restraints. It then assumed a fighting stance and launched an attack.
All its attacks were disorganized, riddled with openings, yet Gast found himself unable to retaliate, for striking anywhere seemed to be the wrong move.
Soon, in Dong Shenglan’s live stream, a group of ‘sisters’ began furiously showering her with gifts and comments. However, more than the battle itself, these fans and viewers seemed preoccupied with ‘Sister Lan’s’ attire and her ‘bravery’ in broadcasting from a dangerous zone.
The battle raged on, but where Gast had held an absolute advantage at the start, the tables had now turned, and he was the one being steadily beaten back.
He couldn’t strike the head, the torso was off-limits, then the legs were out, and the arms were forbidden. Anywhere he dared to hit seemed to be the wrong place. Dong Shenglan, emboldened by her fervent fans, grew even more outrageous and frenzied, treating the giant beast as if it were her own sister. She began giving an on-the-spot lecture on human anatomy, explaining the critical importance of the body parts Gast was targeting and the irreversible, indelible damage such attacks would inflict on humans.
“It seems this new Ultra Warrior isn’t cutting it. They don’t feel nearly as professional as that other guy from before,” a middle-aged man, stooped and adjusting his glasses, remarked.
“Don’t mind these people’s nonsense! Just smash this monster with your fists!” a passionate young man shouted.
“Stop adding fuel to the fire! What kind of hero only knows how to suppress monsters with violence?! Such a presence could have immeasurable negative effects on children and teenagers!” a middle-aged woman with a child scolded, while the child beside her remained silent, looking bewildered.
Forced to passively endure blows while strategizing, an enemy that should have been defeated in a few swift moves had now become an intractable problem. Under the relentless assault, Gast’s energy quickly dwindled.
His chest energy light flickered, signaling the unavoidable moment of decision.
–“Hoo, it looks like his energy is low! Is he going to use his final special move to decide the ultimate victor?”
This was his last stand. As a protective measure for Ultra Warriors, when their body energy reached the critical red-light state, they would explosively gain one burst of power for a final special attack as a last resort.
Blazing and pure white light energy gathered in his chest, then transmitted through his arm to his palm. A brilliant beam of light shot forth, its intense radiance causing everyone to instinctively shield their eyes at the moment of the energy burst. The powerful beam instantly paralyzed the giant beast, its energy directly impinging upon its body.
–“Can’t dodge?!”
It was the sensation of death. The power of this light was akin to the light-infused punch from before; even a single punch had been enough to inflict severe damage and weaken its strength. Without a doubt, a direct hit from this move posed an immediate, fatal threat.
A monster driven by beastly instincts would, without question, merely struggle symbolically before exploding into fragments amidst dazzling sparks. But the Model Monster was entirely different! It possessed intelligence!
Since resistance was futile, it decided to gamble on a desperate move. It threw its head back and puffed out its chest, offering no resistance, inviting the attack with its torso.
“Oh, ah~~~!!” A seductive cry escaped its lips.
‘Damn it, this wall monster really knows how to play the game, doesn’t it?’ Ah Xin couldn’t help but complain internally.
“Oh my god! What is this Ultra Warrior doing?! He actually! He actually attacked the monster’s chest in broad daylight, in front of hundreds of passersby and tens of thousands of viewers on camera!!!”
“Has the Ultra Warrior finally revealed his true nature?!” The Heavenly Blossom Society members below couldn’t help but start fanning the flames.
“Cough!” Startled, Gast immediately halted the light beam that had already struck. The potent light beam, which had consumed his last burst of power, was instantly cut short.
He had missed his final opportunity. He could have easily defeated the monster with one move and departed, but this sudden, hesitant cessation of the light beam was a mistake.
A mistake that he would… forever regret.
“Heh-yah! An opportunity!” The monster, however, seized the chance. The fierce light beam special attack had undoubtedly caused it some damage and loss of power, but it was nothing serious; a special attack not fully unleashed could not defeat it.
It lunged fiercely at Gast. His weakened body, unable to recover in time to fly away, was slammed hard to the ground. The Ultra Warrior, having just used his light beam, was now powerless to resist, a lamb awaiting slaughter before a monster still brimming with power.
Referencing the Ultra Warrior’s light beam technique, it too had learned its own light beam ability.
“Model Beam!!” It gathered power in its chest, then transferred it to its mouth cavity, firing a close-range energy cannon directly downwards at Gast!
Could he escape?! No escape!
Could he dodge?! No dodge!
Was there any room for counterattack?! Absolutely none!!
A direct hit from this strike was meant to end Gast’s life without any mercy. Terrifying light enveloped his entire body, continuously pouring out, and enduring unspeakable agony, the power within him evaporated, and his body steadily shrank under the torment of the light beam.
Finally, the once towering Ultra Warrior, who had endured hundreds, even thousands of years of training, and had arrived on Earth filled with aspirations, having heard tales of his seniors’ visits and experiences—Gast—was transformed into a motionless, soulless model doll, no larger than a palm.
“Nooo—!” Ah Xin cried out in disbelief.
“Oh-ho, what now?”
“Another hero will surely come to fix this, right? Isn’t there some combat team that can pilot a five-in-one mech?”
“That’s true. Then there’s only one thing left to do.”
“Yes, and that is… run!!!”
They scattered, a tidal wave of people surging away. Onlookers quickly put away their phones and fled, while the giant beast’s fighting spirit soared.
It possessed no knowledge beyond that of humans, and its strength among giant beasts was quite ordinary, even inferior. Yet, its ability to think was its most lethal weapon, even granting it the capacity to connect to the internet and search for strategies, allowing it to risk unscrupulous tactics to break through and counter-kill in moments of crisis.
Now, all it needed to do was follow its instincts: vengeance and destruction. The human ants could no longer impede its atrocities!
“Sister Lan, let’s go!”
“Alright, sisters, this live stream brought in a huge income! Hahaha.”
Without a trace of hesitation or remorse, the Heavenly Blossom Society members closed their live stream and fled right under the giant beast’s nose, piling into an extended limousine.
Though they were the closest targets, the giant beast did not attack them, for it was thanks to these very individuals that it had managed to defeat an Ultra Warrior it could never have beaten.
Watching the fleeing crowd, it unleashed another “Model Beam.” It lacked world-destroying power, but any human or animal enveloped by it instantly transformed into unconscious plastic dolls.
Soon, it spotted Ah Xin, a figure moving against the current of the crowd, rushing directly towards its feet.
He ran without hesitation. While everyone else tried every means to escape the Model Monster, he seemed utterly unafraid of its terrifying oppressive force, swimming against the tide. Was he planning to confront the giant beast with a mortal body?!
‘No! What I’m grasping for is hope!’
Looking at Gast, who had been turned into a doll on the ground, Ah Xin refused to give up. How could a formidable Ultra Warrior die like this? If he could just grab this body, he might be able to revive him by finding a way to transform and inject magic later!
Then came the daydreaming!
To thank him, this Earthling who had saved him, and to continue fighting, Gast would choose to coexist with Ah Xin as his human host. In the future, he wouldn’t need to rely on magical girl powers, and could instead fight boldly as an incredibly manly hero! Then, he would naturally join the Defense Force!
‘Whether it’s being chased by a jeep! Or crashing a plane every episode! It doesn’t matter! As long as I can become, as long as I can enter that place!’
“I’ll be the winner!!” Stretching out his hand, Ah Xin roared as he sprinted.
[Boom!!!] The giant beast stomped, and the intense shockwave of air sent Ah Xin flying.
It wasn’t that simple. Such a wonderful fantasy, neither this monster, once severely injured by the Ultra Warrior, nor the ill-intentioned author of this work, would allow Ah Xin to succeed! The foot stomped directly onto the ground where Gast’s doll lay, pulverizing the plastic body on the spot!
“Nooo—!!” He cried out ‘no’ for the second time, but what good was it? Lying on the ground, he didn’t even have time to react and transform.
The giant beast, already harboring hatred for Ah Xin, shot out a light beam, intending to deliver the final blow to this protagonist with an abnormal thought process!
‘Ugh! This is it, I’m done for!’
Closing his eyes, he felt enveloped by a warm glow, his body seemingly vanishing instantly from the world, ushering in a sensation of floating.
They say a person sees their life flash before their eyes before death, but Ah Xin’s mind was utterly devoid of any past memories.
Still able to feel his body, he opened his eyes to find himself in another space, a realm of pure, radiant consciousness.
“Oh, brave Earthling.” A familiar voice rang out. Focusing his gaze, Gast’s phantom stood before him.
“This… where is this…?”
“This is the realm of consciousness. Time here is stagnant, imperceptible and unaffected by the outside world. And here, I have an impolite request.”
‘Oh, oh! Could it be?!’
“I deeply apologize, but I am now powerless to fight. Only a pure soul can unleash my strength. I sense your fervent and righteous heart; would you be willing to lend your strength for the sake of this world?”
It’s here! It’s finally here!
Ah Xin had waited twenty years for this moment! This was definitely not the deceptive video from the prologue; he was truly chosen! He had waited too long, and tears of excitement streamed down his face involuntarily.
This might be the only chance in his life! His childhood dreams surged within him.
Today! This is the day! He was going to say goodbye to all his misfortunes! All his ill luck would turn around today.
‘Ha, Magical Girl? I wouldn’t mind not being one. Even if I can’t quit like that guy named Bai in the finale, I’ll be an Ultra Warrior now instead of a Magical Girl~ Today, I’ll fight monsters; tomorrow, I’ll join the Defense Force; the day after, I’ll use my high Defense Force salary to buy a belt!’
‘Haha! I’m winning big! How can I lose now?! This novel can finally end~’
At this moment, his eyes brimmed with tears, like a maiden who, after countless cycles of reincarnation, separation, and reunion, finally stood under the love tree, wearing a wedding dress and about to put on a vow ring—Ah Xin answered.
“I will (in unison),” Ah Xin and another voice replied together.
“Cousin… cousin!?” Not only Ah Xin himself, but his cousin too had been teleported in.
“Thank you, Earth maiden. I have sensed your courage. Please accept my power and protect this beautiful planet.”
“Oh, alright.” She replied calmly, closing her eyes as power surged into her chest.
“Nooo!!!” Ah Xin cried out ‘no’ for the third time, utterly bewildered.
All his dreams, all his pursuits! Victory was within his grasp, only to be instantly met with a crushing defeat. This sudden plummet brought Ah Xin his first, and perhaps only, moment of utter disgrace in this story.
“Why?! I… I also have a brave heart! I’ve never done anything unethical, I’ve always done good deeds and accumulated virtue, I never…” Before Ah Xin could finish his pathetic plea, a thought entered his mind.
It was a memory of his own, a thought.
He had coveted his cousin’s wealth, plotting to use her parents’ allowance to cover his own living expenses! He had tricked girls into playing card games! He had freeloaded meals! He had exploited price differences to buy a 400-yuan jacket he wanted!
How evil and pathetic, utterly despicable! This was no longer a pure soul, but a contemptible wretch corrupted by modern society!
‘Damn it! Don’t nitpick over such trivial matters!’
Ah Xin couldn’t worry about such things now. Amidst a powerful light, his cousin was about to complete her transformation.
“How about a two-in-one mode? Like the director of the meat processing plant… I! I…”
Pleading was useless. What had been decided could not be changed. Resentment, guilt, and sorrow filled his heart.
“Ughhh!” Ah Xin was utterly defeated at this moment!
[Swoosh!] A brilliant, intense light flared in the real world, and a new giant was born.
“Whoa, Sister Lan, look, it seems a new giant is about to appear!”
With a sudden brake and a sharp swerve, the Heavenly Blossom Society, who had just been fleeing, immediately stopped. The previous live broadcast had brought in a flood of donations and popularity, so they naturally wouldn’t miss a second opportunity.
Camera, microphone, sound mixing—everything was instantly prepared. Their joyful expressions switched to serious ones, like a京剧(Jingju) opera performer.
However, when the light faded, what they saw was an Ultra Warrior with a feminine appearance. Using Gast’s power, his cousin had transformed into a completely new being. While not as voluptuous as her original body, the exquisite, flowing patterns gave her a distinct, sensual charm.
“Big Sister? What do you say?”
“Let’s go.” With just a glance, they got back in the car and continued their escape.
Damn it, it seemed they were ‘satisfied’ now.
“What the heck is that?” Utterly bewildered, it activated its network connection ability. Previously, Ultra Warriors who came to Earth to fight were almost exclusively male, and females were a rare existence among their people.
Moreover, they were primarily support, their main function being rescue, using their powers to heal severely wounded comrades, restoring their vitality or combat capabilities.
‘Ha, I thought it was something else~’
It breathed a sigh of relief, having been startled by what it thought was a new combat force emerging.
“What? Do you want to take your comrade back? Sorry~ He’s already turned into a doll and shattered into dust! Hahahahaha!”
“So annoying, just end this quickly.”
“Eh?”
[Bang!] A single punch sent the model’s entire face caving in and shattering, its body lifting off the ground from the force. The powerful blow sent the giant beast soaring upwards, spinning like a top.
[Boom!!!] With a deafening crash, the monster slammed squarely into a building, sending debris flying. Both half of its face and half of the building were destroyed by a single strike.
Looking at his transformed cousin, her expression was blank, almost languid, devoid of passion, yet tinged with an undeniable hint of anger.
“Eeek!? It hurts so much!!” the monster shrieked.
Hurt? Good, it should hurt!
Grabbing the monster’s wig, she lifted its head and delivered a slap, instantly destroying the still-somewhat-normal half of its face.
Its defenses were too fragile, practically不堪一击 (bù kān yī jí – unable to withstand a single blow). A look of disdain involuntarily appeared on his cousin’s face.
Enraged, it scrambled to its feet to retaliate, launching both fists. If it couldn’t defeat a vanguard-level Ultra Warrior like Gast, surely it could at least take on a mere support? Its immature mind made a foolish choice.
But before its body could even fully stand, his cousin stomped directly onto its abdomen. With a [Clang] and a loud crash, it was kicked to the ground. Then, she habitually smoothed her imaginary sleeves, grabbed the two plastic arms extending from it, and planted a foot on the Model Monster’s chest.
With a powerful tug, [Snap!] like crushing a robot in an anime, she forcibly tore off the monster’s arms.
“Yaaaaaaahhhh!!!!” It screamed like a pig being slaughtered, though no blood flowed.
“How… how violent!”
“Can’t she be a bit gentler?! She’s a female hero, after all! Can’t she be more refined?!”
Carelessly discarding the severed arms, she observed the passersby who, moments ago, had run like lightning but were now gesticulating wildly. Her expression remained impassive, and she simply gave them the middle finger.
Awesome.
Proof that those who disregard everything are truly invincible. While flipping the bird, she even managed to kick the monster’s abdomen, causing more parts to spill from its mouth.
Having lost both arms, with its face and abdomen severely damaged, and no nearby place to replenish its plastic components, its repair speed was ultimately limited.
The cousin, with her calm yet incredibly ruthless expression, pressed it down and then manually dismembered its legs. At this moment, the Model Monster felt fear. Unable to resist, it was like a fish on a cutting board, at the mercy of its opponent. Playing pitiful or using the ‘domestic abuse’ card was no longer effective. Now, it only had one plan left.
Its second ability, beyond the Model Beam! A new skill that had mutated and evolved by combining its mimetic abilities with its network connection—[Mimetic Hypnosis]!
Indeed, after searching online, when it posted [How to Defeat an Arrogant and Powerful Female Combatant] in a forum, the top-voted answer was hypnotic control. That’s right, direct combat was impossible, so it had to resort to underhanded tactics to incapacitate the opponent, turning them into a puppet at its command!
It only needed to find the most emotionally resonant male voice online, imitate it, and deliver its famous lines. As long as the opponent reacted and responded, it could directly induce control and achieve a counter-kill!
What immense power! Mental abilities were always high-level ultimate moves in any work. Compared to making the opponent stare at a screen or a coin, or gradually coaxing them with words, three sentences? No! One sentence would be enough to make the opponent its dog!
This move was fast, accurate, and stable! And once unleashed, if the opponent showed even a hint of wavering, it could swiftly erode their mind and control them.
It had sacrificed defense, sacrificed strength, but in return gained an absolutely formidable skill that other monsters could only dream of! Combined with its ability to link to the network, utilizing the wisdom and data of the internet, it felt omnipotent!
‘Neural Network!! Send me the most emotionally resonant male voice that elicits an unconscious reaction!!’
[Searching… Target found, downloading shortest classic voice. “Most reactive short male voice” download complete.]
And so, filled with anticipation, the battered monster opened its mouth.
“Oh, what are you doing~~”
[Sizzle—! Bang!!]
But then a single ‘Only You’ cry was heard, and a light beam pierced through its body.
Mimicking Gast’s earlier special attack, his cousin smoothly and without hesitation finished it off with a single light beam.
Holding onto the dream that one day it could use this move to become a powerful ruler of the world, the Model Monster was thus blown into fragments, scattering down like shimmering dust.
Gradually, the people who had been turned into dolls reverted to their original forms.
A moment of silence, then thunderous applause. Compared to the voices of doubt, louder and more numerous claps, encouragement, and cheers made the entire street erupt. His cousin, who had been expressionless, now had a slight curve to her lips. She then bowed in gratitude before flying into the sky.
Of course, this was merely an illusion. Using special disguise techniques, his cousin reverted to her original appearance and returned to the damaged street.
People were cheering and celebrating, many already live-streaming on their phones, and television crews rushed in for interviews. What was a scene of ruins now buzzed like a carnival.
In stark contrast to the lively commotion, a solitary figure crouched in an alley.
It was Ah Xin, our protagonist, now listlessly slumped in a corner, unable to even hum a tune.
Compared to his professional failures, the shattering of his dreams had caused him far greater pain.
“Ah, Cousin, why are you crouching here?”
“It’s nothing… I’m just having a bit of an existential crisis.” His dream was shattered, and his heart was mostly cold.
“It’s good that it’s nothing serious, then. Let’s go, Cousin. I’m hungry; let’s go eat.” The girl smiled with innocent charm, as if nothing mattered.
“Yes, let’s go eat.” Although he only held his cousin’s clothes in his hands, the coat Ah Xin himself had wanted… had also, like a shattered dream, vanished with the wind.
“By the way, shouldn’t you buy some underwear first?”
“Ah! You’re right!”