The enemy forces were utterly annihilated, the battle concluded... A count of our casualties... 9527 personnel... Misaka 10086 activated GM authority, casting the Sacred Skill: Phoenix Aura upon our side... The skill activated at 100%, and all our personnel revived on the spot at full strength. That is all.
“Oh dear, it looks like things are already over over there. What a shame… I was hoping to snag a few half-price bento boxes myself.” Yuyuko and the others were assigned to defense duties for the World Game Field—bodyguards, essentially. So, the moment the fighting inside the field ended, they received the notification.
Yuyuko felt a pang of regret; she hadn't managed to consume even a single one of those crispy, chicken-flavored Abyss Demons.
“You’ve already secured four boxes,” Shokuhou and Mugino couldn’t help but interject.
“Indeed, there are no enemies left on Earth. How about things on your end?” At that moment, a figure suddenly materialized before the three of them—it was Lin Luo. Without waiting for their reply, he glanced around with a smile, “Looks like there are no issues here either.”
“Yes, yes, we’re already nine-tenths full,” Yuyuko covered her mouth and laughed sweetly.
Hey, hey, talking so vaguely makes the reader think they missed an entire chapter!
Fine, we won't go into the detailed breakdown. The point is, a Dragon-Proud-He (Long Aotian) type character wouldn't stand a chance against Yuyuko here without plot armor. This section primarily explains how Yuyuko managed to consume the Long Aotian brothers.
As everyone knows, Long Aotian types are not ordinary people. They possess human exteriors, bestial characteristics, and the power of gods and demons. Simply put, their life forms differ from humans; all their life energy is contained within the Core Nucleus inside their [Body]... Thus, lacking the opportune timing, advantageous terrain, intelligence, and the aid of protagonist halo, the Long Aotian brothers, under the combined assault of the trio, were finally tricked by Yuyuko into revealing the Core Nucleus within their [Bodies], yielding four tender, delicious, and highly nourishing half-price bento boxes.
Stripped of their Core Nuclei, the Long Aotian brothers lost their lives. The four walking husks were then scattered into cosmic dust by Mugiho Shuri’s dispersal attack.
“What about your situation?” After the explanation, Shokuhou Misaki asked Lin Luo.
Lin Luo shrugged, displaying a look of regret, “She managed to escape.”
Lin Luo was unbeatable among his peers; defeating a Panlala was straightforward, and even killing her was possible if he intended it. However, encountering a high-ranking figure from the Abyss Demons was rare, and he naturally wouldn't let her go easily; he intended to capture her alive to extract more useful intelligence.
But unfortunately, the Abyss Demons’ racial advantage was overwhelming, especially for the highest tier among them, who possessed the most direct connection to their race’s place of origin. Realizing the situation had turned south, Panlala acted decisively, employing a 'gecko tail severance' method, paying a partial price. In that fleeting instant, faster than a shooting star, she had already fled back to her place of origin.
This method had nothing to do with mere speed or strength; it was a matter of different dimensions. Imagine someone on a screen; no matter how slowly they move, a viewer outside the screen can never physically grasp them.
Conversely, in three days, when this world fully connects with the Bright Realm, with just a single thought from Lin Luo, anyone below the Celestial Tier could be expelled from this world. Even thousands of quasi-Celestial powerhouses couldn't stir up the slightest ripple in his domain.
He might not be able to kill them, but he could absolutely drive them out.
This is the absolute prerogative of the King of the World.
Panlala's instantaneous escape to her origin point meant Lin Luo couldn't pursue her.
However, while fleeing, Panlala did leave behind some boilerplate threats: “I will definitely return,” “The Great Squid Demon King is about to awaken, you’re finished,” or “Once the Demon Race Supreme Queen awakens, no one can stop her.”
Naturally, Lin Luo chose to ignore these declarations selectively.
“Although we didn't capture the enemy leader, at least her army has been completely wiped out. Now she’s just a lone commander. And judging by her words, the strongest Abyss Demons are likely still in hibernation, so this battle was still quite meaningful for us.”
After speaking, Lin Luo made his final summation. While Yuyuko was still savoring the taste of the Core Nuclei, Shokuhou and Mugino both nodded in agreement. After all, their side suffered absolutely no losses in this war—not even a single low-ranking soldier died. Such an outcome was comparable to a blood-boiling, zero-mortality rate; there was nothing to lament.
“Then, the final outstanding issue is our hidden trump card...” Lin Luo cast his gaze toward a distant star field. As if in response to his look, an orange-yellow speck flashed in the distant expanse, then shot forward at incredible speed. In an instant, that beam of light was before them.
The light receded, and the person within was none other than Misaka Mikoto.
“I’m terribly sorry, the first mission wasn’t completed,” Misaka Mikoto said, shrugging towards the group. She admitted failure, yet there was no trace of defeat on her face.
Lin Luo hadn't been careless regarding the Abyss Demons. Besides the forces already mentioned, he had designated Mikoto as a hidden trump card, tasking her to lurk within the star field and ruthlessly annihilate any enemy reinforcements that appeared.
The result was clear: Mikoto’s failure wasn't because she couldn't stop the enemy ambush; it was because the Abyss Demons had no ambush forces at all. Therefore, her mission was considered ‘failed.’
“And the second mission?” Lin Luo inquired.
“If the second mission hadn't been completed, I wouldn't have returned,” Mikoto smiled faintly. Then, a unicorn appeared out of thin air. As the unicorn unleashed its Possibility Space, within that small circular area, a woman in white with a halo above her head stood with her eyes closed.
“What is this?” Mugino and Shokuhou were instantly startled.
Yuyuko was also stunned, though for a different reason. Tilting her head, she tapped her lips with a finger, musing as if to herself, “Angel, is it tasty?”
“That’s not for you to eat!” Lin Luo couldn't help but rap her on the head, but his gaze was fixed on the haloed woman. After a long moment, he finally spoke, “Aihwas, as the most powerful entity in this world, what are your thoughts?”
Yes, this woman resembling an angel with a halo was Aihwas. Mikoto’s second mission was to locate her.
Aihwas slowly opened her eyes, a self-mocking, bitter smile touching her lips. “The most powerful existence—that statement is more ironic than anything.”
“No, no,” Lin Luo shook his head. “People like us are not truly inhabitants of this world. Even Mikoto and the others are no longer pure residents. Therefore, in this world, you truly are the strongest.”
“Even so, someone like me is fading away.”
“That is why I ask you: what do you intend to do?” Lin Luo raised his hand, the Sword of Destruction aimed directly at Aihwas. Simultaneously, Mikoto withdrew the Possibility Space.
Aihwas’s gaze flickered between Lin Luo and the Sword of Destruction, betraying no emotion. After several minutes, she spread her arms open. “Strike me down.”
“As you wish.”
Lin Luo moved. Black light flashed, and the Sword of Destruction cleaved down through Aihwas’s brow. Her body was instantly split in half, then vanished into ash.
...
Three days later, Academy City.
The Imaginary Number District’s Five Elements Mechanism—a district widely rumored in urban legends. Its true form was an existence formed by the superimposition of the AIM Fields generated by the 2.3 million espers of Academy City, situated in a coordinate space adjacent to, yet separate from, Academy City... one could also see it as the backside of a mirror.
Kanzaki Kaori, born from the Imaginary Number District, was the linchpin of this phantom city, and intrinsically part of the entire system.
The origin and purpose behind the creation of the Imaginary Number District’s Five Elements Mechanism and Kanzaki Kaori no longer mattered. What was important was that Kanzaki Kaori had now fulfilled the role of the key. She was no longer just a part but had become the definitive sovereign of this phantom metropolis.
Residing within this city invisible and intangible to ordinary people, Kanzaki Kaori sat at a dining table. Beside her sat a girl of about seven or eight, dressed in a white gown with a halo atop her head, holding a knife and fork, staring blankly at the food before her, seemingly unsure of what these objects were for.
Kanzaki Kaori smiled as she patiently taught the girl beside her how to use cutlery and how to eat. Even after numerous mistakes, she showed no impatience.
In a corner beyond their sight, Lin Luo watched the tender scene quietly. After a brief moment, he turned sharply. “Let’s go. We are no longer needed here.”
Mikoto’s gaze withdrew, and she followed behind Lin Luo. “Are they still themselves?”
Lin Luo smiled gently. “Of course they are.”
Three days prior, the moment Lin Luo met Aihwas, he learned the complete story through his mental link with Mikoto... Aihwas’s disappearance during the Third World War wasn't accidental; it was a necessary action. This was because, before that, she had confronted the strongest Abyss Demon present in that world at the time.
Although Aihwas succeeded in killing her opponent, she herself was corrupted by abyssal power, losing her true nature and acquiring the instinctive drive of the Abyss Demons—to devour the world!
Aihwas couldn't control it; she was slowly transforming into an Abyss Demon. At that critical juncture, Kanzaki Kaori, leveraging their connection, reached Aihwas’s side. The two merged, causing Aihwas’s consciousness to fall dormant, with Kanzaki Kaori’s awareness taking the lead, successfully suppressing the demonic nature of the Abyss.
However, this suppression was temporary. Kanzaki Kaori knew that once they returned to Earth, that demonic influence would quickly reawaken. Thus, to prevent her friends on Earth from being harmed, Kanzaki Kaori decisively left the planet and journeyed into the depths of the star field.
It was smooth sailing initially, but over time, the corrupted Aihwas began to fight back, struggling with Kanzaki Kaori for control of their identity. Every time Aihwas gained the upper hand, she would return to Earth; and when Kanzaki Kaori regained dominance, she would flee Earth again.
And so, they wavered back and forth within the star field.
Until recently, Kanzaki Kaori could no longer suppress the demonic Aihwas; there were even signs of her own corruption. For instance, the message transmitted to Academy City about the "Antarctic Terrorist Organization" wasn't what Lin Luo had assumed; it was a ploy by the demonic Kanzaki Kaori.
Because this incident nearly led to a catastrophe, the genuine Kanzaki Kaori’s powerful emotions resurfaced, allowing her to reclaim dominance over Aihwas’s body once more. Together with the lucid Aihwas, they suppressed the demonic nature, barely achieving a stalemate, and concealed themselves within the star field.
They intended to self-destruct in that star field, taking the demonic nature within their [Bodies] down with them.
It can be said that it was their action and intent that saved Earth and humanity from destruction. Otherwise, Earth would have been swallowed by the demonic versions of themselves a year ago. By the time Mikoto found them, they were already withered, their self-awareness completely dormant.
But knowing they had protected their family and friends, how could Mikoto stand by and watch? She used her power of possibility to awaken their consciousness and bring them to Lin Luo.
However, even Lin Luo couldn't save them completely, because the demonic corruption had fused completely with their physical forms and was inseparable. If they tried to destroy the demonic aspect, their bodies and consciousness would be destroyed along with it.
But Lin Luo found a way to save them: the Imaginary Number District’s Five Elements Mechanism!
Completely destroying their demonic nature and bodies while preserving a small remnant of their consciousness, he brought them to the Five Elements Mechanism and used the Rule of Creation to grant them a new ‘existence.’ Simultaneously, he altered the fundamental nature of the Imaginary Number District, making them its sole masters.
But due to the severe extent of the corruption, the newly reborn Kanzaki Kaori retained her original qualities. The newborn Aihwas, however, could not; as a result... her body became that of a young girl of seven or eight, and her mind was less developed than an infant’s. Furthermore, they lost their original powers, becoming like ordinary people.
But conversely, as long as they remained within the Imaginary Number District, no one could harm them, and the District itself remained untouchable.
“Although they are slightly different from before, she is still her, and she is still her. So, their existence and fundamental natures haven't changed. At least they still recognize us, and at least they won’t feel lonely anymore, right?” Lin Luo said to Mikoto with a smile.
“But in that case, they can only stay within the Imaginary Number District...” Mikoto said, a hint of sadness in her heart. A world with only two people—perhaps they wouldn't be lonely, but it would be terribly monotonous.
Lin Luo smiled and shook his head. “You misunderstand.”
As they spoke, they had already left the Imaginary Number District. Lin Luo looked up, his gaze tracing the massive stone staircase, a hundred meters wide, slowly ascending. He followed the steps connecting to a colossal gate thousands of miles above, reaching out a hand to press forward.
The Gate of the World slowly opened.
“Once the door is opened, a brand new world lies before us... And doors are everywhere.”