Early morning. Waking up on a double bed meant for two, but occupied by only one.
Lin Yun instinctively reached out to touch the pillow beside him, only to grasp at empty space.
As always.
He always fantasized that everything was just a dream, that the person who should be lying next to him was still there.
Staring blankly at the ceiling, he took a moment to calm himself before sitting up.
The one he longed for was gone, but a new day began just the same.
Washing up, shaving, getting dressed, tidying his appearance—nothing ever changed.
Stepping out of his room, he glanced at the door next to his, the one leading to his daughter’s room. A sticky note on the door read, “Knock first.” That, too, was the same as always.
Taking a pre-prepared instant breakfast from the fridge, he heated it briefly and ate in a hurry. Then, leaving a portion for his daughter, who was probably still asleep, he left the house in silence.
The morning rush hour in Fangting City was notoriously bad—driving to work was practically a nightmare. That was why Lin Yun rarely took his car, preferring instead to squeeze onto the crowded tram.Though packed, it was fast, ensuring he arrived at the company on time.
Reaching the nearest station from his home, he waited about three minutes before a tram arrived. Pushed forward by the crowd, he squeezed into the carriage and found an empty hand strap near the window—like grabbing onto a floating board in a raging sea.
Lowering his head, he unlocked his phone and glanced at the company group chat, where the higher-ups were already assigning tasks early in the morning. He let out a long sigh.
Bored, he scrolled through the idle chatter in the group, searching for any useful information, mentally preparing himself for the pile of tedious tasks awaiting him. The more he thought about it, the more drained he felt, so he simply locked his phone, emptying his mind and enjoying the rare moment of stillness within the crowded tram.
But the peace didn’t last long.
A sudden shriek rang out in the carriage.
And as soon as the first scream was heard, more exclamations of shock followed in waves.
Following the source of the commotion, Lin Yun’s gaze swept over the crowd, then out the window in the same direction as everyone else’s. His vision moved and finally landed on the cause.
And then, he understood why they were panicking.
—Hanging from a high-rise in the distance was a massive, flesh-like creature, its grotesque form twisting and writhing menacingly.
A Ravager. That was what people called them.
These creatures often appeared suddenly in human cities, attacking indiscriminately and wreaking havoc without apparent reason. Their existence remained a mystery to this day, posing a significant threat to public safety.
Physical attacks were ineffective against them, even the most powerful conventional weapons failing to inflict any damage. That was what made them so terrifying.
That said, in recent years, Fangting City hadn’t suffered many Ravager attacks.
Over time, knowledge of these creatures had become something vague and distant, a concept blurred by years of peace. People had grown accustomed to a life without sudden Ravager invasions.
It was no surprise, then, that encountering such an event now would cause such widespread panic.
But that fear didn’t last long before it was abruptly interrupted.
A streak of pale blue light shot across the sky, striking the Ravager clinging to the building.
As if provoked, the spherical creature opened its massive, grotesque maw and let out a deafening roar.
Beyond that, whatever happened next was lost as the tram continued forward, taking Lin Yun and the rest of the passengers away from the scene.
Some in the carriage were still shaken. Others cursed under their breath. And yet, some cheered in excitement.
Because they all recognized that blue streak of light—
There was no mistaking it. That could only be a Magical Girl.
Magical Girls existed as if they were born to counter the Ravagers.
No one knew who first coined the term “Magical Girl.” Whether it was naturally adopted or inspired by the typical children’s cartoons, no one could say for sure. Regardless, over time, the title had become synonymous with “Ravager extermination.”
Some saw them as part of a grand conspiracy. Others viewed them as modern-day heroes. But one thing was certain—Magical Girls were impossible to ignore.
Lin Yun was no exception.
“A color I haven’t seen before. A new Magical Girl… they’re still appearing, huh.”
His voice carried no particular emotion, almost devoid of feeling entirely. Only the slight furrow of his brows betrayed his unsettled thoughts.
He knew this day would come sooner or later.
But in the end, Ravagers and Magical Girls existed far outside the realm of an ordinary person’s life. As long as he wasn’t dragged into the mess, they would remain parallel lines, never intersecting.
Right now, he had no reason to concern himself with any of it.
The tram rumbled on.
Following the tide of commuters, Lin Yun exited the station and, amidst the bustling city streets, arrived at his company’s office building, where he began his workday.
His company, Gaosheng, specialized in commercial elevator manufacturing and sales. As the head of the after-sales department, his job inevitably involved endless back-and-forth negotiations with clients.
Any minor issue in a large contract always seemed to end up on his desk. The never-ending stream of trivial, headache-inducing problems was enough to make anyone’s scalp tingle.
Attending detailed report meetings, repeatedly clarifying business matters, forcing himself to stay focused through task handovers, and groggily filing documents at the end of the day—such was his routine.
By the time evening rolled around, nearly seven o’clock, he declined an invitation to a dinner gathering and stepped out of the office. Facing the darkened sky, he silently began his journey home.
The dim streetlights bathed the streets in their glow, yet his face remained hidden in the shadows of towering skyscrapers. Walking through their silhouettes, Lin Yun’s expression was lost in thought.
Lately, his life felt stifling.
His rigid job responsibilities were starting to wear on him.
The stagnant social circles made his perspective feel narrower by the day.
His increasingly distant relationship with his daughter left him unsure how to communicate with her.
And his body—though still in his prime—felt weaker than before, plagued by constant aches in his shoulders and neck.
Tracing it all back, the turning point seemed to be that rainy funeral.
Standing before that rain-soaked gravestone, listening to his daughter’s muffled sobs, it felt like every piece of happiness he once believed in had been washed away.
Since his wife’s passing, it was as if life had been drained of all joy.
A sudden honk from a passing car jolted Lin Yun out of his thoughts, pulling him back to reality.
Was he too caught up in the past?
There were too many concerns, too many problems, yet no clear answers in sight.
As he made his way toward the station, his phone suddenly rang, interrupting his thoughts.
Glancing at the caller ID, he hesitated briefly before finally pressing the answer button.
The call connected. As the ringtone faded, a woman’s voice came from the other end:
“Are you off work yet? Want to grab dinner together tonight?”