Run! Xin-chan!

Just what kind of being was Magical Girl Xiaoxin?

Everything depended on her true self, Yu Wangxin—on his mindset and his actions.

Though he disliked being a magical girl, he still carried out the essential duty of eliminating the Aberrations that would occasionally appear around him.

On one hand, the job itself wasn’t half bad.

A magical girl’s exclusive mascot would tutor you in your studies, and after graduation, it would even provide recommendation letters that guaranteed you a simple interview for any company, securing your livelihood (though experience had proven that this livelihood wasn’t exactly glamorous).

On the other hand, it was simply a matter of personal interest.

After all, even low-level Aberrations could threaten people’s lives, and if they gathered in large numbers, they could form a miasma that might give rise to even more powerful ones… but that was a story for another time.

For ten years, Ah Xin’s life as a magical girl had been quite peaceful.

He had rarely participated in intense battles, mostly helping people and maintaining order out of his own interest.

While the place he lived couldn’t be called harmonious, it had never faced a major crisis.

As an unofficial magical girl, his opponents were typically small fry on the level of thieves or robbers.

Take, for instance, the Aberration from that morning who snatched a child’s trading cards, the cat-petting Aberration whose strange cries disturbed daily life, the Aberration who loved stealing toilet paper from public restrooms, and the Aberration who, despite possessing the bug-like ability to phase through objects, used it only to steal instant noodle seasoning packets from supermarkets.

Slightly more formidable foes included the Aberration who attacked customers for not adding cilantro to their noodles, the Aberration whose obsessive-compulsive disorder would trigger if the egg in a crepe wasn’t spread evenly, forcing it to beat up the stall owner, and the Aberration who farted in public swimming pools…

Thinking about it, these were basically the kind of petty thugs you’d see in everyday life—the most pathetic, spineless sort of small fry imaginable.

He had never bothered to study how a magical girl should fight and couldn’t even control the duration of his own transformation.

Aside from his ultimate charged-up particle cannon, the “Shining Ray,” he was completely out of tricks.

It was for this very reason that, despite his ten years of experience, he now found himself at a massive disadvantage against a dark warrior whose strength far surpassed that of an “Executioner-class Aberration.”

Speed, power, technique—he was utterly dominated in every aspect.

It was a battle unlike any he had ever faced, and his mind was a complete mess.

“Hey! Are you alright over there, magical girl?”

A patrolling police officer immediately started to approach upon seeing Magical Girl Xiaoxin crash down from the sky, carving out a massive crater.

But in the next moment, a roar of thunder echoed as rubble flew from behind him, and a sinister killing intent assaulted his senses.

‘Damn it!’ he thought, reacting instinctively.

The officer immediately activated his belt to transform, inserting a plugin to engage it.

“Transform!”

[HG Handgun Plugin, activated.]

His Level 3 belt and R-class armament materialized in an instant, and he spun around to fire off three quick shots.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

Despite being shot at a range of less than a meter, Gast remained completely unfazed.

With lightning speed, he caught all three bullets before taking a step forward and raising his arm.

*Flick.*

With a single finger, he flicked the officer’s forehead.

A crisp sound rang out as a crack appeared, spreading rapidly across the helmet.

The visor shattered, and the fracture continued down the officer’s body, scarring the entire suit of armor.

It was broken.

Along with the armor, the Level 3 belt shattered as well.

It was a display of power that left Magical Girl Xiaoxin utterly dumbfounded, and only then did she truly comprehend the terrifying strength of the warrior before her.

The Level 3 belt, an upgraded version of the athletic model, cost a staggering two million to upgrade!

It was high-grade equipment used by the police to maintain public order, powerful enough to easily suppress Robber-class Aberrations.

Its defensive capabilities were so robust that it could withstand a direct impact from a truck moving at eighty kilometers per hour without sustaining any damage.

Yet, it had been effortlessly shattered with a mere flick to the forehead.

The sheer disparity in power was so vast that Magical Girl Xiaoxin had no choice but to climb out of the crater and prepare to fight.

She was unscathed.

She was surprisingly durable, a realization that stunned her.

‘I never thought I’d be a magical girl with a tank’s talent,’ she mused, quite astonished.

[Warning! Warning! Threat detected! This is the Sea City Security Bureau. Your actions constitute malicious damage and personal threat. Cease your activities immediately, or we will be forced to take necessary offensive action.]

“So much nonsense.”

With three crisp flicks, he shot the captured bullets out like candies, precisely piercing through three small armed drones in the air.

The patrol officer, knowing he was outmatched and having already called for backup, began to create distance, equipping his gun plugin and opening fire on Gast.

But was it any use?

Not at all.

Gast couldn’t even be bothered to toy with them.

Shrugging off the harmless bullets, he walked straight toward Magical Girl Xiaoxin.

She had never faced such a powerful foe, let alone one who was her former idol.

To meet and fight him in such an overwhelmingly one-sided confrontation made Magical Girl Xiaoxin swallow hard.

Was she afraid?

No, more than fear, a profound sadness washed over her heart.

“Not only can you instantly transform and recover from what should be fatal wounds, but you can also fall from over six hundred meters high after taking so many hits and walk away without a scratch. You’ve far surpassed my expectations, Magical Girl Xiaoxin.”

“I’m sure that with your power, we can achieve what she requires…”

He spoke in riddles, and just as Magical Girl Xiaoxin was about to counter, an RPG rocket came screaming toward them.

*BOOM!*

The massive explosion sent a powerful shockwave that blew Magical Girl Xiaoxin’s petite frame away.

“Whoa!”

She felt something grab her.

As an optical camouflage faded, a new transformed knight appeared, pulling her back.

“Fall back! This is no longer an opponent you ordinary heroes can handle! Retreat immediately!”

The team leader shouted while the veteran special police officer next to him wordlessly hoisted Magical Girl Xiaoxin over his shoulder like a sack of rice and began to run.

“First and Second squads, begin surrounding and providing suppressive fire! Third and Fourth squads, lock down the surrounding area! Fifth squad, monitor external movements! Requesting air support! Special Ops Saber-Mech Unit, deploy immediately!”

“Yes, sir!”

She was completely bewildered, but soon, forty black-and-silver armored special police officers materialized from the darkness, appearing on the battlefield to provide rescue and form up.

Less than five minutes had passed since her battle with Gast began, and they had already arrived!

They had nearly five squads present, all equipped with Level 4 special police-grade belts, which were superior to the standard police Level 3.

Their professional anti-terrorism weaponry was several times more advanced than that of regular police, ranging from modified assault rifles to miniature electromagnetic anti-materiel sniper rifles!

Ah Xin had never witnessed such a large-scale operation before, which only served to highlight the formidable strength of Gast.

‘That’s right…’ he thought.

‘Back when he was a transformed warrior of justice, his strength was at least on par with a Level 5 belt. He defeated Executioner and even Demon-class Aberrations in numerous battles. How could he be any weaker now?’

What must it feel like for this veteran hero to now stand on the opposite side of justice?

He didn’t know, and he couldn’t possibly know.

Rocket-propelled grenades couldn’t scratch him.

He tilted his head back arrogantly, cracking his neck, before launching his counterattack.

A dense barrage of fire, as if ammunition were free, rained down upon him, the muzzle flashes brilliantly illuminating the night street.

But it was useless.

His movements were too fast to be seen.

He perfectly anticipated and dodged the trajectories of high-speed sniper rounds.

The occasional rifle bullet that managed to hit him through the suppressive fire failed to even damage his armor, let alone hinder or slow his movements.

As the red light in Gast’s eyes flickered, all opponents on the field were locked on.

Their weapon data and physical capability metrics were instantly transmitted to his brain.

In that same moment, a complete attack plan was formulated.

That’s right—a direct, two-point dash!

His target was none other than Magical Girl Xiaoxin, who was being escorted away!

The special police officers in his path were powerless to stop him.

Their firearms were sliced in two by his hand chops, their belts shattered on impact.

The intense electrical feedback and forced disconnection of the mental link instantly incapacitated the highly-trained Level 4 officers.

Even sniper bullets were caught in mid-air and redirected, imbued with dark energy, back at his opponents, shattering their armor piece by piece!

And what of the suppression and defense unit, which had switched to assault hammers and riot shields to stop his advance?

They were pierced by a single punch, the iron fist smashing into their belts with a deafening blast.

The officers were sent flying dozens of meters, their transformations disintegrating mid-air as their belts shattered.

Even with their specially trained and cybernetically enhanced bodies, they were left severely injured and unconscious.

She was shocked!

The power was overwhelming.

Each level of the belt brought a world-altering improvement in mobility, strength, defense, and equipment, far surpassing the police-issue gear.

According to the commercials, a special police officer could take on ten opponents without breaking a sweat!

Consequently, the price was terrifying.

Upgrading from a Level 3 to a Level 4 belt cost nearly eight million!

Equipping a single special police officer could cost tens of millions.

For Magical Girl Xiaoxin, this was an astronomical sum!

Yet these elites were being taken down by Gast one by one, like common thugs.

She felt helpless.

The special police officers who were trying to protect her were being defeated one after another, and even though she was uninjured, she couldn’t think of any way to win.

What about the mechanized armaments?

An attack helicopter, armed with heavy machine guns and multiple rocket launchers, unleashed a furious barrage.

But its sophisticated machinery couldn’t lock onto the target.

With a crescent-shaped wave of energy from a hand chop, Gast effortlessly tore the helicopter’s rotors apart.

The crew inside had to make an emergency escape as the aircraft spiraled out of control, crashing to the ground in a massive, fiery explosion.

And what of the advanced semi-humanoid AI mechs, the Special Ops Saber-Mech Unit?

Born for counter-terrorism, designed and developed by the Cao Group for the special police force, they were equipped with superior radar, detection, and internal processing systems.

Externally, they had jetpacks and walking machine guns, and could even switch from “Ranger” mode to a heavy-fire machine gun turret mode if needed.

But it was all for naught.

They were kicked to pieces.

Since they were mixed in with the crowd, their supposedly powerful weaponry was rendered useless by the need to avoid friendly fire, and their own defenses were far inferior to even the special police armor.

Faced with the unstoppable, charging dark warrior, their AI calculated the optimal solution.

To protect the operatives and ensure the mission’s success, they could only buy time and allow the team to regroup.

They activated their jetpacks, charged toward Gast at maximum speed, and began to self-destruct.

*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!*

In an instant, the once-bustling street erupted in blinding flames.

The towering inferno and powerful shockwaves forced Magical Girl Xiaoxin to shield her eyes.

“Waaaaaah!” she cried out, on the verge of tears as she watched the robots charge to their deaths one by one.

“It’s okay, don’t be afraid. We’ll keep you safe.”

‘Ah, that’s not what I’m worried about.’

More than the enemy, Ah Xin was concerned about the machines sacrificing themselves to protect humanity.

‘Could it be because these AI might possess a “heart”? As expected of our protagonist, so gentle~’

Indeed, in this world, artificial intelligence technology was quite advanced.

More than a decade ago, many androids had been released onto the market to serve people in their daily lives.

However, their processing power was ultimately limited.

Most machines, even those equipped with AI programs, could only analyze their owner’s behavior and physiological data to produce the best pre-programmed response.

It was said that there were exceptions—AIs that had developed emotions nearly comparable to humans, unbound by protocols, capable of independent thought and action.

Of course, to date, there had been no reports of an AI rebellion.

In fact, some robots with “hearts” were said to have helped lonely elderly people fulfill their dreams or inspired young people to bravely face the future, ultimately achieving great success and reaching the pinnacle of their lives.

‘Of course, that sounds completely fake. Those companies have to make money, after all. Hire a few romantic writers to spin some tales, and a bunch of mugs will actually believe they can become protagonists and find companionship and happiness.’

‘Ha, save your money. I, Yu Wangxin, have been a staunch free-to-play enthusiast my whole life, whether it’s watching V-tubers or gaming. I wouldn’t spend a single cent on such a fraudulent product even if it killed me. I haven’t even saved for a house, a car, or a wedding! In my situation, why would I ever think of spending millions on a useless robot when I can be self-sufficient with my own two hands!’

Ah Xin’s inner monologue was brutally honest and painfully frugal.

It seemed he wasn’t sympathizing with the potentially sentient robots after all.

As the narrator, I should probably criticize such a materialistic protagonist, but I have a feeling Ah Xin will eat his words later, so I’ll hold my tongue.

But if he’s not sympathizing with the robots… then there’s only one other possibility.

‘Money. Just think about it, a single mass-produced android costs two million. Even a second or third-hand one online is no less than a million! What does that even mean? With that money, I could buy a 20-square-meter apartment and never have to worry about rent again.’

‘And one of these Special Ops Saber-Mech Units? How much do they cost? Though they aren’t as exquisitely designed as a custom-made robot maid, their high-performance internals and processing systems give them an astonishing value—8.5 million!’

‘So, this battle has to be costing at least seven figures! If I have to pay for all this afterward, I might as well just go find the nearest rooftop and say my goodbyes.’

Alright, it’s clear now.

Ah Xin (Magical Girl Xiaoxin) is a scummy protagonist completely obsessed with money, valuing it even more than his own life, to the point of being oblivious to the danger right in front of him.

“Is that power at Level 5 or higher? This is trouble,” said the veteran officer carrying Magical Girl Xiaoxin as they fled.

“Military-grade?” Magical Girl Xiaoxin asked, puzzled.

“I’ve never seen a belt like that before. But don’t worry. If you’re his target, we won’t let him get his way.”

They finally reached the escort ambulance.

The rear doors swung open, and a man in a doctor’s uniform immediately helped Magical Girl Xiaoxin down, shouting nervously.

“How are you?! Are you injured anywhere?”

“I’m fine, perfectly fine!”

‘But… even if I’m a magical girl, can I really call myself a hero if I just run away like this?’

Watching the veteran officer rush back into the fray to face Gast, Magical Girl Xiaoxin hesitated, worry and unease blooming in her heart.

“Hey! You’re Magical Girl Xiaoxin, right? Listen to me! We won’t lose! This is Sea City, and stronger units and heroes will be here soon. Your safety is the priority right now!”

“I… understand…”

Just as she was about to step into the ambulance, a figure appeared behind the doctor as suddenly as a frame in a slideshow.

“Huh?”

“Overclock Acceleration.”