Vol2 Chapter 40: Dragon
It was raining again outside.
Bai Ci sat at the computer desk, watching a pirated copy of the latest movie, Ultraman: Belial Galactic Empire. Yes, Belial wasn’t dead—he was back, building a galactic empire in a parallel universe.
Lu Mingfei once asked why she liked watching stuff like Doraemon, Crayon Shin-chan, SpongeBob, and Ultraman—cartoons for kids. Didn’t she find them childish?
Her answer was simple: “I’m a childish ghost.”
Lu Mingfei didn’t say anything more after that.
After finishing, Bai Ci stretched and yawned. Zero had left early, no idea where. With nothing else to do, she thought about calling Lu Mingfei to play some games online.
“The number you dialed is powered off, sorry…”
No answer?
She clicked on Doraemon, watched an episode, and called again.
“The number you dialed is powered off, sorry…”
Still no answer?
She watched another episode and tried again.
Still nothing?
Maybe he was busy? Or too engrossed in gaming?
Bai Ci quietly set the phone down, her soft bangs falling over her eyes. She popped a lollipop in her mouth, curled up on the chair with her feet up, staring at the phone.
Outside, thunder roared, wind howled, and torrents of rain slammed against the glass, water streaming down. The air-conditioned room felt slightly chilly.
She called Zero—no answer.
Xia Mi—no answer.
Chu Zihang—same.
Even Fingel didn’t pick up.
Bai Ci bit her lip, tossed the phone onto the bed, hugged her knees, and kept watching cartoons. Back when she was alone, she’d pass the time like this—numb, indifferent, a silent ghost in internet cafés with greasy hair and dark circles, as if her existence didn’t matter. She was used to that loneliness, so it didn’t scare her.
But now, her heart grew increasingly restless.
Because… things were different now.
Slowly, she’d gained people around her—Zero, the outwardly cold but warm-hearted roommate; Xia Mi, the mischievous little witch; the gossipy president…
They’d eat late-night snacks, cook, drink, and chat together, sharing countless moments.
She’d grown used to their presence, but that lonely feeling was creeping back, cold and frightening. You reach out, but no one responds, like you’re searching for your place in a group photo only to find no space was left for you.
The empty suite hummed with the air conditioner’s drone. Bai Ci hugged her knees, staring at the screen, seeing nothing. She desperately wished someone—anyone—would stand before her now.
“Where’d you all go…”
She sat for a bit, then stood, realizing how cold the room was. Shutting off the AC, she lay on the bed, thought for a moment, then got up, dressed, and headed out. I’ve got legs—can’t I just go find them myself?
Opening the wardrobe, she saw a heavy black case in the corner, holding an alchemical katana. Not like Chu Zihang’s “Seven Deadly Sins,” designed to slay Dragon Kings, but still a masterpiece of Cassell’s alchemy, crafted for her by the vice-principal at the principal’s request.
Strapping the blade to her back and grabbing an umbrella, Bai Ci headed out, wandering a bit before making her way to the subway station.
Maybe check the internet café?
She jogged to the station. Maybe because of the rain, it was nearly empty—no, completely empty except for her. The moment she entered, a teal mist surged toward her like a tide, obscuring everything ahead and behind.
Lu Mingfei felt like the unluckiest guy alive. He’d just gone to buy snacks for Bai Ci and Fingel when the rain hit. Worse, he was now in some bizarre situation, his face scratched with fine, shallow cuts from bone birds’ bladed claws as they grazed him. More gathered before him, hovering, their skull eye sockets gleaming gold like bears spotting honey. He suddenly realized what they were!
Caesar’s Word Spirit was named after these monstrous creatures—living Kamaitachi right in front of him. Bloodsuckers. He had no choice but to run. One bee flying at you? No big deal, crush it. A swarm? You’d run too.
But Lu Mingfei’s bad luck had no limits. A massive Kamaitachi Queen, borne aloft by countless smaller ones like a king’s bier, appeared.
Its huge skeletal frame slowly spread its wings, finding balance. It took flight, silver-masked skull glowing with golden pupils. Nine vertebrae, nine heads, each emitting a different sound—some like a girl’s soft lilt, others like a crow’s rasp or a bell’s clang. Leading the pack, the bone creatures circled him, shrieking with pre-hunt excitement, as gleeful as crows finding carrion.
He wondered if he’d destroyed the world in a past life to deserve this!
Had Zhao Menghua already been sucked dry by these things? What a tragedy—Shilan High’s two most prominent guys dying in the same place. It felt oddly epic. Thinking of Zhao’s fate, Lu Mingfei felt a pang of sorrow, but also reluctance. Zhao had kissed and slept with the girl he loved, while Lu Mingfei, nearly twenty, hadn’t even kissed a girl. What a wasted life.
The angrier he got, the clearer it became: Why the hell should I die here? You laughing at me? Believe it or not, I’ll trade my life to take you down, not leaving a scrap!
A thunderous roar shattered the Kamaitachi’s shrieks. A spotlight enveloped Lu Mingfei, the wind forcing the creatures back.
He froze. Sure, his luck was rock-bottom, and this train would crush the Kamaitachi—but wouldn’t it turn him into Mingfei paste too?
Why the hell?!
Who dragged me into this nightmare?
But he didn’t die. The blinding headlights remained, the “boom” faded, the Kamaitachi were crushed, and he wasn’t paste.
Bai Ci boarded the train, the ride uneventful, stopping smoothly at the terminus.
She stepped off like any passenger, onto a shuttle-shaped concrete platform jutting into the tracks like a pier into the sea.
Walking a bit, she silently gazed up at a creature—fierce, majestic, razor-sharp, and profoundly solemn.
No words could describe its ancient, regal form. Clearly reptilian, yet far more beautiful than any reptile. Its beauty was dark, grand, and deep, awe-inspiring. Jet-black scales rippled from front to back, clashing like metal. Its bone-spiked face bore a monarch’s dignity.
Her silence wasn’t from awe at its appearance, but because this dragon… was eating chips.
Her favorite lime-flavored Lay’s.
“You…” The dragon spoke, its voice deep and majestic, yet its gaze cautious. “Are you Sister’s friend?”
“Me…?” Bai Ci pointed at herself, confused.
“Here.” The dragon flapped its membrane wings, dropping a blue bag between them.
A bag of chips.
“Sister says to treat guests. Chips are the best thing in the world. I’m treating you.”
Bai Ci hesitated, then picked up the bag, tore it open, and popped a chip in her mouth.
Yup, fresh, crisp, unmistakably Lay’s lime flavor—not expired.
“You smell like Sister. Did she come back with you?”
Sensing no hostility, or perhaps because she accepted the gift, the dragon’s wary eyes softened into curiosity.
“No idea,” Bai Ci said, munching.
Cassell taught her to kill dragons on sight, but this one didn’t seem bad.
It gave me my favorite lime chips right off the bat!
Is this really a bad dragon?
But that cutesy tone… was it even five years old?
“Looks like Sister’s not back yet. Let’s watch TV.”
It pulled out an 18-inch old-school color TV, a bulky box clearly cherished, handled with care. It plugged it in delicately with its wingtip. The screen’s glow lit its black scales as it rested its chin on the platform, contentedly eating chips and watching.
Bai Ci fell silent, then relaxed.
How could such a mighty Dragon Race be overthrown?
Because most were like this—total dorks. No wonder their rule fell.
Like this dragon… like… Lu Mingfei…