"So, I'll head off first. See you tomorrow, Cute Teacher."

"Bye, Xia Bing. Yuchen. Same as usual."

Ever since Xia Bing became our household chef, 7:30 PM had become my fixed time to walk her home. It’d been nearly two weeks of this routine. A bit troublesome, sure, but it doubled as post-dinner exercise—no real downside.

"Won’t Xia Bing be alright living alone in that rental? I heard you’re all by yourself in this big city. If you run into any trouble, just tell us. I’ll do what I can to help."

"Are you trying to win me over?"

"Of course not! Just looking out for a classmate, that’s all."

The girl turned, flashing me a smile. Moonlight spilled over her sleek black hair, casting an ethereal silver glow—as if a celestial maiden had descended, untouched by mortal dust.

"Thank you for caring so much. I won’t forget it."

"It’s nothing worth remembering or forgetting. I should head back now. See you tomorrow."

Just as I was about to part ways with Xia Bing, a strange energy crackled through the air. My whole body jolted like I’d been electrocuted.

"Qiuyuchen? You okay? You look awful."

"Just a stomachache. I’ll rest a bit. Go on home—you’ve got class tomorrow." I clutched my stomach (pretending) and darted down a side alley. Only when Xia Bing was out of sight did I stop.

*What was that?* That energy wasn’t human. Close by, yet laced with danger. Should I get involved?

I pulled out my phone and called my aunt. "Auntie, I ran into some old classmates. I’ll chat outside a bit longer. Might be late tonight."

"Alright, but don’t stay out too late!"

No matter what—I’d protect this peaceful daily life. Any threat had to be erased before it grew.

Most of my past-life abilities were locked away (this human body had limits), but thirty percent? That should still work.

Relying on the Doom Dragon’s innate energy sense, I traced the source to a construction site. Likely halted for night work to avoid noise complaints, the place was pitch-black—yet the energy pulsed violently, strongest at the rooftop.

"Hey! Kid! What’re you doing here? This ain’t a playground!" A hard-hatted worker yanked my arm, scowling. "Kids these days—no sense! What if you got hurt? What’d your parents do?"

"S-sorry! It’s so dark, I got lost. Please forgive me!" I whined (faking tears), swallowing my pride.

"Don’t come back! Last month, another reckless kid—" He waved me off. "Just go!"

Sneaking in was impossible now. I needed another way.

After the scolding, I circled the iron-sheeted site, hunting for a hidden gap. Too scared to use my phone light, I relied on my Doom Dragon eyes—golden pupils piercing the dark like it was noon.

*Found it.* No iron sheets here—just flimsy wire mesh. A little force and—

*Snap!*

I tore a hole big enough to slip through.

This half-built tower was last year’s project, yet progress crawled. No lights glowed at night. An unnatural chill hung in the air.

My golden eyes spotted the stairs upward. The skeleton of the building stood complete, but damn—it was tall.

By the fourteenth floor, the last moonbeam vanished behind storm clouds. Darkness swallowed everything (for humans, at least).

The higher I climbed, the fiercer the energy surged. My first encounter with abnormal energy in this world. *If it’s another dragon who crossed over like me…* (A hopeless thought.)

"Pant… How tall *is* this thing?"

With no outer walls, I glimpsed the city below: worker dorms, Nalanmude Middle School in the distance, a supermarket… Wait. *This is the exact view from ten minutes ago.*

Impossible. Even if buildings stayed the same, the angle should’ve shifted.

I checked the stairwell wall. A giant red number painted in the corner: **14**.

*Seriously?!* I’d walked for ages just to loop back? My legs ached!

*Stupid trick. Time to leave. Am I an idiot for even trying?*

But the floor below still read **14**.

I gripped the railing, peering up—endless stairs spiraling into void. Down—another abyss, like a stairway to hell.

I burst out laughing, slapping my forehead. "Got played! Not bad!"

*Phantom loop.* A cheap neural trick. Back home, elders said sleeping through it reset your senses by dawn. But wasting time here? No thanks.

"Should I just wreck the whole place?"

…Too cruel. Someone worked hard on this building.

*Giggle… heehee…*

"Who’s there? Show yourself!"

An eerie, hollow laugh echoed through the empty tower. My skin prickled. The air turned icy.

*A girl’s laugh?* *Am I hallucinating from wanting company too much?*

A blood-soaked hand landed on my shoulder.

*My new shirt!* That red stain better wash out. You’re paying for this!

"I died so horribly… Don’t turn around~~ Hehe…"

That voice… kinda sweet. *Might as well look. Won’t kill me.*

I turned. A sailor-suited girl floated there. Pale, sickly skin. Long bare legs. Big, lively eyes…

Except she glowed blue. And her feet didn’t touch the ground.

"Hehe… I’ll take your life~~"

What nonsense? Cosplayers these days go all out. *Is she dangling from wires?*

"Take… your… life…"

"Shut up! Get a new line!"

Long hair hiding your face won’t fool me, Sadako. *Hand chop—go!*

"Ow! How’d you hit me?! Aren’t I scary?!"

Scary? That voice was soft-spoken. Just bangs covering your face? I’ve seen scarier things in horror movies.

"Stop talking nonsense! You’re beautiful. How could you be scary?"

"B-b-beautiful?… Shouldn’t I be covered in blood? Rotting skin? Crawling on the floor?"

"Are you?"

The sailor-suited girl drifted closer—then recoiled.

"Y-your eyes… What *are* you?!"

Ah. Forgot to dim my golden Doom Dragon pupils.

"Don’t fear. Just… special contacts."

I shut the golden glow. The scene shifted: a white-robed figure, drenched in blood, skin peeling, crawling on the floor. Unrecognizable. Terrifying.

"I died so horribly~~"

*Switch back to golden eyes.*

The rotting corpse vanished. Only the pretty sailor-suited girl remained.

*Got it.* She was a ghost. My golden pupils shattered illusions—her tricks meant nothing to me.

"G-go home! This place isn’t for you!"

A dismissal.

"Then goodbye."

"W-wait! Don’t you have anything to say?"

"What’s there to say? I’m just a normal guy. Gonna go home, take a bath, put on my dinosaur pajamas, and say goodnight."

"Wait! I… No one’s seen me in so long. Could you… just stay and talk?"