Luo Tianchen’s body suddenly felt light. He tried to push away the black mist, only to find it parted effortlessly, dissipating into tiny fragments. Glancing around, he noticed the tendrils of black mist reaching for Bingying were also frozen mid-air. Bingying herself remained in a deep slumber, seemingly undisturbed by anything. Even Li Qiqiao, the source of the black mist, had ceased all movement.
It was as if time itself had come to a standstill.
‘What is happening?’
“We meet again, Big Sister.” Luo Tianchen turned towards the voice, his gaze falling upon a silver-haired little girl seated at a dining table, cheerfully waving at him.
“You’re… ah, the nun loli!” Luo Tianchen exclaimed in sudden realization. “Where’s your nun’s habit?” Unlike their previous encounter, she now wore a Gothic black dress, making her resemble an enlarged SD doll.
“Even nuns get holidays, you know,” she chirped, lightly swinging her legs. “So I decided to come visit Big Sister.”
“Why are you here? No, wait, did you do all of this?” Luo Tianchen asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
The little girl merely smiled, offering no words. This silence only deepened Luo Tianchen’s suspicions about her identity. ‘Who exactly are you?’ he wondered. ‘A witch hunter? A dark wizard? Or perhaps… a witch herself?’
“I’m merely a servant of God,” she replied, “and I came to help after hearing someone cry out for aid. What a surprise to find it was you, Big Sister. However, it seems you haven’t quite reached the point of despair yet, so it looks like my trip was for naught. A promise is a promise; there’s no going back on it. Well then, goodbye, Big Sister.”
She hopped off the table, waving a small hand as if intending to depart immediately.
“Wait!” Luo Tianchen called out urgently, stopping her. “Didn’t you say you came to help me? Is it really alright to just leave like this?”
‘What kind of joke is this?’ he thought. ‘Even if I don’t know who she is, any fool would understand that I absolutely cannot let her go now. Otherwise, how am I supposed to deal with that boss-like entity?’
“Even if I don’t know your true identity, since you can stop time, couldn’t you just put in a little more effort and get rid of that thing?” Luo Tianchen pleaded. “I promise I’ll go to church tomorrow and offer incense… no, pray and praise God!”
“I’m sorry, I can’t do that,” she stated nonchalantly.
“Huh? You can stop her dead in her tracks but can’t finish her off? Are you serious?”
“No matter how weak it may seem, it is still a vessel imbued with a witch’s power,” she explained. “I cannot resolve this with my current abilities alone. In reality, the place we are in right now is not the actual world. In the real world, you are still bound and immobile by her, and you’ll die in a short while. Naturally, there are other methods.”
“What methods?” Luo Tianchen asked anxiously, deliberately ignoring the fact that she knew the word “witch.”
The loli revealed a cunning smirk, holding up two slender, white fingers. “There are two methods. The first is for you to acknowledge that the contract between us is formed. If you do, I can lend you my power. With it, you could easily crush a hundred incomplete beings like that one.”
“That powerful? What would I have to pay?”
“Well, you’ll find out about that when the time comes,” she said with a meaningful smile.
Luo Tianchen shivered, instinctively sensing a threat. “Then, what’s the second method?”
She then pointed a finger directly at Luo Tianchen. “You defeat her.”
“Me? EXM?” Luo Tianchen’s expression clearly conveyed, ‘Are you f***ing kidding me?’
“Don’t be so quick to deny it. You possess this power; you’ve merely forgotten its existence. If I recall correctly, you should have used it once before, shouldn’t you?”
“Are you talking about… my right eye?” Luo Tianchen instinctively touched their right eye. Aside from transforming into a girl, the only other strange thing that had happened to them was the sudden mutation of their right eye on the night at the nightclub. It was because of that eye that they had managed to dodge Yao Xinchang’s countless throwing knives. However, since then, they hadn’t been able to see those scenes again, as if everything that happened then had merely been a dream.
“What you possess is an existence known as the ‘Void Eye,'” she revealed. “It holds the power to see through everything, transforming all things into informational existence. Essentially, no disguise can hide from you. While your senses might deceive you, information never will. And beyond that…”
“Beyond that, what?” Luo Tianchen asked, looking at her with immense anticipation.
The loli paused, then gave Luo Tianchen an exasperated look. “Perhaps you should focus on the present instead. While the Void Eye possesses formidable abilities, it also comes with corresponding flaws.”
“Flaws? What kind? Like, it consumes a huge amount of energy when activated?”
“No, in gaming terms, it’s actually a passive skill,” she clarified. “It’s innate, something you were born with, impossible for anyone to imitate, and always active. The flaw I speak of lies precisely in its ability to see through everything. As a human, your body ultimately has its limits. As a protective measure, your brain forcibly restricts the information it receives, compressing and blurring it. In truth, what ultimately registers in your mind is far less than a fraction of what you actually see, hear, and perceive. However, once the Void Eye is fully unleashed, these protections vanish. Your brain will be forced to accept thousands, even tens of thousands of times more data than usual.”
“So, my brain might just crash?” Luo Tianchen asked cautiously. ‘Was that why I couldn’t move at all after using it before?’ they wondered.
“Far more than that,” she countered. “I’ve already mentioned that the Void Eye is an eye that sees through everything. Even conceptual things that ordinary people cannot grasp—like threads of fate, time, or space—it can perceive all of them, presenting them to you in an incomprehensible form. Should you attempt to interpret any of it, given the processing capacity of a human brain, it would likely explode in an instant.”
“Holy crap! So it’s a friggin’ landmine!” Luo Tianchen burst out, unable to hold back a curse. ‘It hurts others a thousand times, but damages myself ten thousand times? Wouldn’t I just kick the bucket before I could even take down my opponent?’
“Don’t worry, aren’t I here?” The little loli patted Luo Tianchen’s shoulder with surprising force. “I’ll do my best to unleash its power within your limits. Besides, you might not have noticed, but your current body has been modified by a witch’s power. You won’t die so easily.”
“You’d be that kind?” Luo Tianchen asked, looking at her with extreme skepticism.
“Consider it payment for inviting me to dinner,” she replied. “And personally, I wouldn’t want you to die before our agreement is fulfilled. So, have you decided which option to choose?”
“Then, I’ll go with the second method,” Luo Tianchen said after a moment of hesitation.
“Oh? But this method isn’t foolproof, you know,” she remarked. “Ultimately, the ‘Void Eye’ is merely an auxiliary tool for your current self; the final outcome still depends on your own abilities. Frankly, I personally recommend the first method, which guarantees a hundred percent win rate.”
“You also said I haven’t reached the point of despair yet,” Luo Tianchen countered. “Worst case, I’ll fight first, and if I can’t win, I’ll summon you then. Besides, I’m still somewhat confident in my own skills. It’s just that due to the lingering effects of a past injury, my body never fully recovered. If it’s my current self, being able to see the opponent’s true nature will be enough.”
“Hmph, how shameless of you,” she chuckled. “But fine, let’s do it.” She extended a small hand, and like a saint in a painting, gently stroked Luo Tianchen’s forehead. “May God bless you.”
“That’s it?” Luo Tianchen asked, somewhat doubtfully, touching the spot where her hand had just been.
“It’s only a partial liberation, so there’s no need for it to be overly complicated. Now then… go, Luo Tianchen! Fight to protect the woman you love!” the loli shouted, giving him a push.
“Wait…” ‘What do you mean, “the woman you love,” hey!’ Luo Tianchen thought. ‘And did I even tell her my name?’
As if traversing a dimensional barrier, Luo Tianchen awoke to find himself still bound by the black mist. He felt himself on the verge of succumbing to unconsciousness and death at any moment.
‘Was it a dream? No, it was real.’
The data stream from his right eye and the reality perceived by his left eye overlapped, forming a “true world” visible only to him.
“Do not try to interpret them. Abandon thought, surrender everything to your body’s instincts,” the loli’s voice echoed directly in his mind. “Go forth and plunder, kill, tear apart your enemy!”
‘So that’s it, abandon thought?’ Though the pain persisted, Luo Tianchen’s face was devoid of panic. He raised his right hand, striking out in the direction his instincts dictated.
The data stream fractured. Simultaneously, the black mist that enveloped him in reality dispersed, and Luo Tianchen fell to the ground, greedily gasping for air.
“Roar!” The black giant, seemingly unaware of what had just happened, roared and extended the black mist towards him once more.
“Shut up!” Luo Tianchen roared back, severing the black mist again.
Perhaps finally noticing that Luo Tianchen was completely different from before, the black giant refrained from another reckless direct attack. Instead, it began to meticulously observe him.
‘So that’s it,’ Luo Tianchen thought. ‘It seems some consciousness still remains. A bit troublesome.’
‘But only “troublesome,” nothing more.’
“Hey, you know what?” Luo Tianchen began. “These past few days have been utterly miserable for me. All I wanted was a normal life, but then people like you kept popping up, one after another, disrupting my plans. How do you intend to compensate me?”
“Hmph…” The shadowy figure remained unmoved, letting out a low growl.
“No matter what, I was once known as a ‘monster’ back in the day,” Luo Tianchen declared, opening and closing their hands, feeling the power surge within. “If it weren’t for the lingering effects of severe past injuries that prevented strenuous activity, and then suddenly becoming a girl without having fully adjusted, I would have rushed in and given you a piece of my mind long ago. But now, all those concerns are gone.”
‘This must be the ability of the Void Eye,’ Luo Tianchen realized. ‘By observing myself and the information I gain, I can perfectly control this body, which has been transformed by a witch’s power.’
“You should be careful, you know? The current me… is a little strong.”
“Let’s begin the feast!” Luo Tianchen laughed loudly, charging forward first.
No words could adequately describe the ferocity of their battle. Their battlefield shifted from the main hall to the kitchen, then through the shattered ceiling to the second floor, the third, and finally the rooftop. Li Qiqiao wielded intangible hands of black mist, while Luo Tianchen relied on the Void Eye, which could see through everything. They clashed and separated repeatedly, their mere aftershocks demolishing eighty percent of the house.
“Aiyah!” Li Qiqiao shrieked, using her black mist to send Luo Tianchen flying from the first floor directly to the third. Seizing this momentary respite, Luo Tianchen glanced at their reflection in a nearby shattered mirror, taking in their current appearance. Their hat was long gone, black hair cascaded over their shoulders, and their clothes were half-shredded, revealing the white binding around their chest beneath. Their pants were similarly tattered and full of holes. The black in their right eye had completely vanished, replaced by a deep, blood-red hue. ‘Seriously, which light novel’s fan-service heroine is this?’ Luo Tianchen mused.
Their opponent, however, was in no better state. Ninety percent of the black mist that enveloped Li Qiqiao’s entire body had been dispelled, revealing her true form beneath. She glared up at Luo Tianchen with a look of pure hatred.
‘What a beastly gaze,’ Luo Tianchen thought. ‘But then again, the current me isn’t much different from her.’
‘Then, let’s end this with the next strike.’
‘Because I’ve found it—your fatal weakness.’
Li Qiqiao, sensing Luo Tianchen’s intention, also let out a roar, clearly intending to unleash her final burst of strength.
Luo Tianchen strode onto the staircase, then leaped down.
“Aaaaaah!”
“Rooooooar!”
The two rapidly moving figures collided.
The entire villa could no longer withstand such force. With a mournful groan, it collapsed into rubble.
****
“Cough, cough.” After a while, Luo Tianchen climbed out of the architectural debris, still cradling the deeply sleeping Bingying in their arms. ‘Seriously,’ they mused, ‘which country’s Sleeping Beauty are you? Making such a huge ruckus and still not waking up.’
‘But I accidentally demolished her villa…’ Luo Tianchen thought. ‘It’s probably best if she doesn’t wake up immediately.’
As Luo Tianchen thought this, Bingying in their arms slowly opened her eyes. “Is it… resolved?”
“Yes, it’s all over now,” Luo Tianchen replied with a smile.
Luo Tianchen had already checked their surroundings. Li Qiqiao’s life signs should have completely vanished.
‘For her, this should be the best possible end.’
“Is that so? That’s good.” With a relieved smile, Bingying drifted back to sleep.
‘So, what do I do next?’ Luo Tianchen sighed, gazing at the widespread ruins.
Luo Tianchen wondered if Xia Luohua had managed to escape. After such an intense battle, both their body and mind were utterly exhausted; merely standing felt like a monumental effort.
‘Still, it seems things have finally come to an end.’
“As expected, a forcibly nurtured witch seed still isn’t enough, is it?”
‘Who is that!’ Luo Tianchen’s head snapped up.
At some unknown point, a shadowy figure had appeared atop the ruins. In their hands, they idly toyed with two gem-like objects.
‘Those are… Witch Seeds!’
“Hmm? To have survived even that, you are quite impressive,” The Man remarked indifferently.
‘Danger. Extreme danger!’ Not even the usual Xia Luohua or the recent Li Qiqiao had given Luo Tianchen this sensation. The data stream representing The Man in Luo Tianchen’s right eye rapidly expanded, and blood gushed uncontrollably from their nose. Their brain turned a bloody red, signaling that its data processing capacity had reached its absolute limit.
‘No, absolutely do not try to interpret him!’
‘No, I must escape quickly, as far away as possible! That guy is definitely not someone I can defeat in my current state!’
“Oh? There’s another witch seed here,” The Man said. “I might as well collect it.” His voice was light, yet to Luo Tianchen, it sounded incredibly heavy.
‘This is bad!’ Risking a complete brain crash, Luo Tianchen endured the agony and looked directly at him. In an instant, they understood his intention, and with their last ounce of strength, they threw Bingying away.
“Oh? Interesting, that eye…” he murmured, a soft query in his voice.
‘Thank goodness,’ Luo Tianchen thought. ‘I finally protected her.’ They wanted to sigh in relief, but a large mouthful of blood surged from their throat.
It was almost like an equivalent exchange; Luo Tianchen had saved Bingying, but his own abdomen was completely pierced by The Man’s hand. Nevertheless, he had no regrets.
“…Never mind. Although it’s not the one I wanted, it wasn’t a wasted trip. It seems that guy is coming soon, so I’ll let you off the hook this time,” The Man said, withdrawing his hand from Luo Tianchen’s abdomen. Luo Tianchen could no longer support their body, staggering back a few steps before collapsing to the ground.
‘Damn it,’ Luo Tianchen thought. Blood flowed out ceaselessly, and their body temperature dropped little by little. ‘At this rate, in another minute—no, half a minute—I’ll die from excessive blood loss, won’t I?’
‘Seriously, what kind of karma did I accrue to encounter so many life-threatening events in just a few days?’
“Hey, Luo Tianchen, are you okay~~~”
From far away, Luo Tianchen heard Xia Luohua’s call.
‘Ah, you really jinxed it, you chatterbox. It seems you’ve arrived just in time to collect my corpse.’
‘But, it doesn’t matter anymore.’
‘Because this time, I protected the person I wanted to protect.’
“Sorry, sorry, I’m late! Holy crap! How did you get like this, hey! You’ve lost so much blood! We need to get you to a hospital fast! Hey, hang in there!”
‘Ah, you’re so noisy.’
‘I just want to sleep.’
…
‘The starry sky tonight is truly beautiful.’
This was Luo Tianchen’s last thought before losing consciousness.
Volume One: The Witch’s Game (Part One) Concluded