No matter how loudly I called out, none of them showed any sign of waking.
Their pale faces twisted in agony, as if trapped in a nightmare.
“We need to end this domain fast!”
Realizing they couldn’t be roused by ordinary means…
I had to find the source of this warped realm—and crush it.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t just stay asleep. They’d die.
Refusing to let that happen, I pulled my hand back from the nearest student.
I shoved the classroom door open and sprinted toward the third floor.
I’d already checked every room on the second floor. Only unconscious students littered the halls—nothing else of note.
That thing wouldn’t be hiding down here. It had to be higher up…
“The teachers’ office?”
I already had a strong suspicion about the girl who attacked me.
Just needed confirmation.
If I was right, the Bonesoul would be waiting in the teachers’ office.
Certain of this, I charged up to the third floor.
At Guanghai Normal University of Technology, the teachers’ office sat at the far end of the corridor—past two classrooms.
Every room I passed held more fallen students. Their ashen faces mirrored those downstairs.
I sped up.
Just as I reached the office door—*BANG!*
A gunshot echoed from inside.
Someone was in there.
Fighting something.
No one fired guns without a reason.
I grabbed the doorknob and twisted.
*Click.*
The door swung open.
“Brother?!”
Inside…
A familiar figure stood braced against the chaos.
His clothes were disheveled. Fear flickered behind his forced calm.
His hands trembled slightly as he aimed a pistol at a Bonesoul—
A creature unlike any I’d seen. It resembled Cerberus from Greek myth, yet twisted into something far fouler.
Rotting flesh peeled off dark-red tendons. Black ooze dripped from open wounds. One glance could make you retch.
Its festering heads were worse.
A single look might haunt your dreams forever.
Jaws hung slack, dripping clear slime. A pus-covered tongue, barely holding its shape, writhed between its teeth.
“You?! Get out of here!”
My brother’s focus shattered the moment he heard my voice.
His grim expression shifted to shock—then sheer dread. He yelled for me to run.
He was worried for me.
Warmth bloomed in my chest. Family concern always pierced the darkest nights like starlight.
But I couldn’t obey.
Only I could stop this monster. If I didn’t stand here, no one would survive.
“Don’t be stupid! This isn’t your fight! Run while it’s focused on me! I’d rather die than see you hurt!”
Seeing I wouldn’t leave, his voice cracked with desperation.
He’d sacrifice himself just to keep me safe.
But…
“I won’t get hurt. Because I’m—”
I pulled out my belt.
“Don’t tell me you’re a Kamen Rider! Stop fantasizing and *run*!”
Panic flooded his face as he saw the belt.
“No. I’m not Kamen Rider. I’m—”
I gave him a small smile and drew a card.
“Henshin!”
I slammed the card into the belt.
My seventh card.
After this, only three would remain.
My time was running out.
But now wasn’t the moment to dwell on that.
“Card recognized…”
“Recognition complete. Loading…”
“Loading complete…”
“Initiating character transformation!”
Cold metallic clicks filled the air.
My short black hair lengthened, turning silver.
My puffy winter coat melted into a sleek black gothic dress.
Seconds later—transformation complete.
I pushed off the floor, fist already swinging toward the Bonesoul lunging at my brother.
“Dongyu?!”
My brother stared, utterly stunned.
Watching his little brother become a silver-haired girl would break anyone’s brain.
I couldn’t blame him.
“Filthy human!”
The Bonesoul snarled, hatred burning in its eyes. It spoke—in perfect Mandarin.
“You can talk?”
Shock hit me. Every Bonesoul before had only gurgled.
This one’s clear, venomous words forced my guard up.
“You’ll pay for this!” it roared, ignoring my question. It smashed nearby chairs in fury.
The office was spacious—nearly eighty square meters.
Without the furniture, it’d be wide open.
That space saved my brother.
Distracted by me, he hadn’t seen the Bonesoul’s charge.
I intercepted it just in time.
“Yeah, I’ll pay,” I said calmly, pulling out my Ethereal Blade card. “But not to *you*. Time to exit stage left.”
“Dongyu…”
“I know you have questions, Brother. But the answer is ‘no comment.’ Stay out of my world. Your safety is all I need.”
I shook my head without turning.
If he stepped into my battles, he’d lose his safety. He might even follow my path—become a Contractor, pay the price.
I wouldn’t let him walk that road.
“This—”
“Just watch me fight. Though after today…”
*You won’t remember any of this.*
A bitter smile touched my lips. I slid the Ethereal Blade card into the belt.
Familiar mechanical tones chimed:
“Card inserted…”
“Identifying type…”
“Identification complete…”
“Loading data… Data loaded. Weapon parameters acquired…”
“Initializing ‘Titanium Grace—Ethereal Blade, Earth Shatterer’!”
“Initialization complete. Materialization sequence engaged…”
“ROAR, ETHEREAL BLADE—EARTH SHATTERER!”
I snapped into stance, arms crossed before my chest.
Silver gauntlets materialized on my fists.
My silver hair shifted to chestnut brown.
In the window’s reflection, I saw a girl—
Bun-topped head. A silver-and-gold qipao hugging a petite frame.
One point four meters tall. Perfectly fitted.
Who was this lolita?
Even a fool would know.
Pity it was me.
If it were anyone else… I’d propose on the spot.
I’ve got the three-years-to-life sentence mentality down cold.
(Though Brother would definitely stop me. Doesn’t kill the fantasy.)
“Come, monster,” I declared, striking a pose like a certain anime hero. “Confess your sins!”
“Sins? Ridiculous!”
The Bonesoul sneered, utterly dismissive.
“Ridiculous? We’ll see.”
I expected that reaction.
To them, humans were just food.
Imagine your dinner demanding you confess crimes.
Hilarious.
But this one clearly lacked… life experience.
I’d be happy to educate it.
Smiling faintly, I charged, Ethereal Blade raised.
The Bonesoul flared crimson flames across its body—trying to scare me off.
But I didn’t flinch.
I drove my fist forward.
Seeing my attack, it lashed out with a clawed left hand to block.
