Chapter 104: Assassinating the Witch!

Memorial Hall Annex, Security Room.

Chen Zi’ang stared intently at the surveillance screen, refusing to miss a single detail.

Most of those attending the “Commemoration of Governor Shi Jintang” were not history enthusiasts but couples with their children. Clearly, their purpose was to impart some historical knowledge to their kids, much like many parents who take their children to science museums—not out of genuine interest in science, but to nurture values and curiosity.

Judging from the recent bloody wedding incident at Thousand Islands, Miho Nishikawa was not one to kill indiscriminately, yet that did not mean she hesitated to target innocent bystanders.

Therefore, Chen Zi’ang could only keep his eyes fixed on the scene, hoping to intercept Nishikawa promptly and minimize casualties.

However…

Despite his resolve, his mind occasionally flickered with images of Lingna Tsukimiya’s hateful face and Xia Qingyu’s tear-streaked, expressionless countenance.

Calm down! You’re working!

Shaking away the chaotic images, Chen Zi’ang resumed watching the festival outside.

The security room was separated from the main hall by only a single door; stepping outside was just a push away. But since Nishikawa recognized him, he decided to stay hidden for the time being.

The most likely moment for her to strike would be the instant Tadashi Kobayashi appeared.

If she didn’t act then, predicting her next move would be impossible. All he could do was wait silently.

Finally, Tadashi Kobayashi appeared, waving to the crowd.

Chen Zi’ang held his breath, ready to rush out at any moment.

But Nishikawa did not show herself.

He exhaled slightly, a mix of relief and disappointment washing over him.

As the event wore on, fewer spectators remained; he hoped Nishikawa would delay her appearance further.

He kept watching the monitor as Kobayashi continued his speech:

“…With the advancement of technology and civilization, we no longer need to domesticate and slaughter animals for food. They deserve to form closer, companion-like bonds with humans. The prohibition of animal slaughter is now standard practice across all Federation star sectors and most neutral sectors—a reflection and requirement of intelligent civilizations throughout the universe.”

The speech was lengthy and cumbersome, causing most listeners to drift toward sleep. Yet, for the sake of exposing their children to these values, the parents persisted.

Kobayashi paused briefly before continuing:

“Mr. Shi Jintang’s signing of the ‘Ecological Protection Act’ aligned us with the mainstream values of the cosmos. But I want us to take a step further. Let us consider: is merely protecting animals from being killed enough?”

“Remember, most animals have feelings and fears. When they are violently driven from their homes, they feel helpless and suffer…”

Before he could finish, a scythe forged from black mist howled down from above, sweeping over the heads of the crowd and piercing straight through Kobayashi’s chest.

Miho Nishikawa leapt down from the rooftop, a feral smile twisting her lips as she looked upon the chaos unfolding below, laughing maniacally.

“Helpless and suffering? Then let me offer you a taste of that pain first…”

Before she finished speaking, a sniper’s bullet tore through her skull.

It seemed she only then realized something was wrong and tried to retreat.

An endless tide of black mist surged wildly from her body, shrouding her completely.

The snipers lying in ambush all lost sight of her simultaneously, while the mist spread like a living thing, rapidly engulfing the nearby blocks, making it impossible to track where Nishikawa had fled.

The crowd scattered chaotically, but Xia Qingyu stood unmoving, expressionless.

Between her right hand’s index and middle fingers, she held a small silver key. She pushed it forward as if inserting it into an invisible lock and turned it gently.

“The door is locked. You have nowhere to run,” she said coldly.

Suddenly, the expanding black mist froze.

Chen Zi’ang drew his sword and charged into the darkness, feeling as if he had plunged into a blizzard, with countless shards of ice stinging his face.

The mist’s spread was finally contained. If Nishikawa left it, the military snipers would have no trouble shooting her in the head.

So she had no choice but to remain within the black fog!

Find her!

“Senior!” Lingna Tsukimiya approached from behind. “My shadow has located her!”

Chen Zi’ang swiftly shifted direction and followed Lingna at high speed.

Visibility within the mist was near zero, as if enveloped in rolling black smoke. They turned a corner and, five or six meters away, caught a faint glimpse of Nishikawa.

She wielded a massive scythe, fiercely battling Tsukimiya’s shadow warrior.

Silently, Chen Zi’ang drew out his bulky tentacle weapon.

The tentacles expanded soundlessly and surged toward Nishikawa’s back. She seemed to sense them, spinning to slash the tendrils apart with her scythe.

Then, stomping fiercely, she charged at Chen Zi’ang, swirling layers of black fog like a venomous dragon riding the clouds.

Instinctively, Chen Zi’ang wanted to summon the Touch of the Abyss to shield himself and buy time to retreat, but Izumo Yuki’s words echoed in his mind:

“All life has an instinct for self-preservation.”

“Maintain continuous offense, force the opponent into defense, and seize control of the battle!”

With that resolve, Chen Zi’ang stood firm and thrust the Mandala Magic Sword forward, aiming straight for Nishikawa’s chest.

She laughed wildly, swinging her scythe in a furious arc to cleave sword and man in two.

Their weapons clashed in an instant of lightning-fast combat, but the larger black mist scythe shattered first.

Chen Zi’ang pressed forward; the Mandala Magic Sword, like a venomous dragon, pierced Nishikawa’s left chest.

The blow landed, but the witch did not shrivel into a husk as expected. Instead, she grasped the sword’s blade with her left hand while suddenly condensing a dagger of black mist in her right, stabbing upward toward Chen Zi’ang’s abdomen.

Tsukimiya’s shadow swiftly rose from Chen Zi’ang’s feet, entangling Nishikawa’s wrist and preventing the black dagger from advancing an inch.

Chen Zi’ang gritted his teeth, trying to pull the Mandala Magic Sword free, and locked eyes with her.

In Nishikawa’s frenzied, dark, and despair-filled gaze, there was a faint trace of sorrow, as if silently pleading…

“Kill me.”

Without hesitation, Chen Zi’ang shifted his hand from pull to push. The resistance on the blade vanished instantly, and with a combined effort from Nishikawa’s left hand, the sword pierced through her chest, shattering her heart.

The shadow released her wrist and enveloped Chen Zi’ang’s front, wary of any last-ditch attack from the dying witch.

Yet Chen Zi’ang did not retreat. He stared at her in stunned silence.

“Congratulations,” Nishikawa whispered, blood flowing down her chest and left hand, quickly pooling beneath her.

“I once said…”

“Either you kill me, or I destroy North Pole City… It seems you have won, Operator.”

Chen Zi’ang remained silent.

He did not understand why, at the last moment, she had lost all will to survive and instead helped him drive the sword through her heart.

He also did not know whether he should withdraw the magic sword and finish her with a final cut, or let her die in deserved agony, or even show a hint of pity.

But Nishikawa only looked at him sorrowfully, life rapidly fading from her face, just as the blood drained from her body.

“Operator… during those years I fought and pleaded for my family… I endured cold stares and ridicule… You were the first to try to understand me, to save me…”

Her voice weakened, issuing a hollow sob from her broken throat and chest:

“You cannot save me… but maybe… maybe you can save us…”

“…save us…”

Her voice finally faded completely. The dying Nishikawa’s lips twitched as if uttering a final plea, or calling out to her lost family.

Then, her head sagged completely.

Something seemed to unfold—a formless breeze swept outward in all directions, dispersing the cold, desolate black mist and tinting the surrounding world a dim, dusky yellow.

(End of Chapter)