It's Mia's 10th birthday, a day that should have been filled with joy and celebration. However, the lack of said girl put any hopes of that happening close to zero. Mia's family, in a last-ditch effort to lure her back, has gathered sweets at the central square with the hope of leaving them in the forest, a symbol of their longing for Mia's return.
But before they can take any action, a sudden change occurs. The air grows dense, and gravity seems to weigh heavily on everyone present. Huang, Mia's father, quickly realizes that a demon has appeared in the town, and the overwhelming sensation they feel is the demon's natural aura. Huang attempts to speak, but the demon materializes in the center of the square, capturing everyone's attention.
With an angry and yet amused tone, the demon asked.”Who broke my toy?” His voice reverberated all over town. A few of the guards on the square hush towards the demon as he asks his question to no avail and are soon swept by a wave of his arm. Understanding that the common guards have no chance, Huang retrieves a ring from his pocket and slips it on—a storage ring that allows him to store items in another dimension. Huang equips himself with his reserve gear from the ring and shouts at his sons. “Escort the family back home, now!” Pointing to the women of his family.
As Huang lunges forward, ready to strike the demon with his giant spear but the demon's aura intensifies, rendering non-combatants unable to move and him almost unable to talk. With just one hand, the demon effortlessly blocks Huang's attack. In that moment, Huang truly sees the demon for the first time.
The demon stands over 5 meters tall, a humanoid figure brought to life. His skin resembles gray stone, giving him a massive and imposing appearance. Although his face has human-like features—eyes, nose, and mouth—it is distorted with horns and spikes protruding from various places, making him appear far from human.
After thwarting Huang's attack, the demon addresses him. ”You have the strength to break my toy, don't you? The question is, how did you found about the little demonic dagger I left with those humans for a delivery that never reached its destination?” He said inquisitively.
The realization dawns on a few of the smart people in the town, including Huang and his family. Mia had shattered the demonic dagger when she mercilessly dispatched the caravan guards months ago. Huang, momentarily panicked, musters up the courage to taunt the demon.”I guess not all demons are smart as they say. To not know that if a demonic item was found in this city, it wouldn't be able to enter it and the fact that said item was really destroyed here, there wouldn't even be a town now anymore. I guess you are really made out of stone.”
The demon smirks, acknowledging that Huang now knows who is responsible. He increases the pressure of his aura, causing almost everyone in town to sink into the ground. Inflicting a series of kicks on Huang, the demon demonstrates his dominance.
Huang knows that he cannot reveal anything about his daughter to this monstrous being. He is prepared to die rather than betray Mia's secret, hoping that the people around him will understand his desperate attempt to protect his daughter.
The demon's relentless assault continues, with Huang refusing to utter a word. Frustrated by Huang's resilience, the demon decides that if Huang knows something, others might as well, and he will torture the entire town to extract the information he seeks.
Just as the demon is about to deliver the final blow to Huang, a girl mounted on a giant wolf charges at the demon, surprising everyone. It is Mia.
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A few minutes ago
Mia felt an intense compulsion to return to the town, and as she approaches, she senses a dreadful aura. She overhears the demon interrogating the townspeople about something he lost. As she arrives at the town square, she witnesses her father being brutally beaten while the rest of her family lies helpless on the ground. It becomes clear to her that this calamity is likely her fault as well once the demon say something about broken weapons.
“Let's go Onyx, we have to save my father.” Commanding her wolf, Mia watches as the wolf barks and lunges at the demon, sending him flying several meters away.
Present
”It was me who broke your stupid dagger. If you don't like it, you can deal with me.” Mia shouts defiantly. She avoids making eye contact with her family, knowing that their gaze is filled with hatred. While she is determined to save them because she loves them, she cannot bear to face their disdain at this moment.
The demon begins to laugh, confirming that Mia is indeed the one he sought. He attempts to grab her, but Mia fights back, launching a barrage of kicks and punches that create explosions upon impact. However, these attacks seem futile, as the demon effortlessly withstands them.
To outsiders, it may appear that Mia is winning the battle, but the truth is far from it. The demon is merely toying with her, and she realizes it. Restricted by the presence of numerous onlookers, including her family, Mia cannot unleash her most potent magical abilities. Thus, her attacks with punches and kicks prove ineffective against the demon's formidable defenses.
After enduring Mia's onslaught for a minute or two, the demon declares talks again.”I am bored.” He say as he begins to walk toward Huang, intending to kill him.”Leave my family alone!” Mia shouts and in a final act of desperation, Mia employs a spell to create a controlled explosion, aiming to push the demon away.
As the explosion strikes the demon, propelling him a few meters aside, he laughs again. Playfully, he dissipates his aura, allowing everyone to move freely. Then, he conjures a black dagger out of thin air, dropping it near Mia's feet.
With an audible voice that carries across the town, the demon begins to talk.”You amuse me little girl so let's make a bet. Stab your own heart with that dagger, everyone here lives, I leave this small town and never return. Or, if you want to live, all you have to do is something simple. Kill your family with the dagger, I will even help if you want.”
Mia hesitates for a moment, then picks up the dagger and begins walking toward her family. Witnessing this scene, her family accepts their fate. If sacrificing themselves will ensure Mia's survival, they willingly embrace it. They hope that without them to hold her back, Mia will be able to forge her own path and ascend to great heights. “Hahahaha. If you just had told me about her, I would probably had just gone after her and forgot about you ants.” The demon says, taunting Mia's family.
Looking her family in the eyes Mia begins to talk with them.”Mother, I always loved you company, you made me feel special. Lin, my second mother, your wisdom guided me like you can't imagine. God-Aunt, your food is delicious and I could feel the love you put in it. Big Sister Mei, thanks for all the sweets you gave me, I really like them. My dear brothers, thanks for always being by my side and lastly, father, thanks for all the strength you gave me.”
Deep inside, Mia reflects on her past lives. She remembers her previous existence—an apathetic family that mostly ignored him, his struggle to make friends due to her poor communication skills, and the sudden appearance of Jessica, his former girlfriend, who brought a touch of magic to his life, showing him that there was good in the world. Jessica vanished without a trace, propelling John into a relentless pursuit to uncover the truth. His quest led him to delve into journalism and explore the world, encountering unimaginable horrors before meeting an untimely demise. Then came her current life, filled with a loving family and the discovery of magic—a world full of potential. Despite her mistakes and her family's growing animosity, she believed she could mend the rift. But now, it seems impossible.
“Sorry for being a bad daughter. Farewell!” Mia says with a smile on her face as she plunges the dagger in her chest and her world becomes darkness.