Sudden Change!

"It seems weekdays are best after all. A carefree 'tourist' like me can have a much better experience here…"

Dressed in hiking gear, resembling a backpacker, Lin Wei adjusted the brim of his hiking hat, glancing up at the mountain ridges lined with dense forests on either side.

He leaned against a protruding rock by the roadside for a short rest, watching as one hiker after another overtook him, leaving him at the rear of the group.

Lin Wei chuckled indifferently, then put away an inconspicuous black feather between his fingers, gently pushed up the glasses perched on his nose, and started walking again.

After all, this was a famous scenic spot a few dozen kilometers south of Manila, usually crowded with tourists. Lin Wei had deliberately blended into a mid-sized tour group, making him even less noticeable.

Since Anna and Yuno were "playing with water," Lin Wei chose to "play with mountains," which also allowed him to overlook the valley's every move under the guise of admiring the scenery. From his vantage point, everything was within his grasp.

The jagged peaks soared into the clouds, the forests below dense and tangled, vast and boundless. Being amidst such scenery gave one a sense of being transported to another world.

"The scenery is breathtaking, but…"

Yae Sakura sighed.

The thought that the beautiful landscapes before them would eventually turn into a desolate wasteland filled her voice with regret and sorrow.

"Sakura, must you be such a downer right now?"

Lin Wei felt a bit helpless.

As a shrine maiden from the Japan, "mono no aware" [a Japanese term for the pathos of things, especially their transience] was only natural. He didn't dislike her occasionally showing such genuine emotion.

However, it was a bit unsettling when these sentiments turned into stark reality.

"What cannot be changed by human effort is pointless to dwell on. Instead of wasting energy in vain, it's better to appreciate it while we still can, and do what we can while there's still time."

Yae Sakura shook her head apologetically, falling silent.

She had indeed only been expressing her feelings. There would be plenty of time to talk with Lin Wei later. She didn't want to waste his already dwindling energy and stamina with her own emotions.

Lately, he'd been expending a great deal of energy on intense thinking and frequent, sustained use of the Divine Key. The toll was considerable.

There were simply too many people in Manila. The few she could reach were but a drop in the ocean, yet since he'd encountered them, seen them, Lin Wei felt compelled to try and help.

So, lately, Lin Wei would often lie on the hotel sofa when alone, watching the surveillance footage hijacked with the Key of Erosion, fiddling with the black feather that almost never left his hand, complaining to Yae Sakura, "I feel like I have two Divine Keys, but can only use one…"

To this, Yae Sakura would always respond with a gentle, yet helpless smile.

Looking down at the small boats drifting in the valley stream below, Lin Wei felt that even though he was on land, he was also like a small boat adrift, tossed by the wind and currents.

Then, he mocked himself,

"Tsk, look who's talking. Are you any better?"

Perhaps this so-called persistence was just a form of self-deception?

After all, everyone needed to find some meaning in life.

"Hey there, sir in the back, don't fall behind!"

The tour guide ahead turned and called out. Lin Wei snapped back to reality, withdrawing his gaze from the valley, and waved to the guide. Just as he was about to catch up, Yae Sakura's urgent voice stopped him.

"Lin Wei, there's a dangerous presence!"

Before Lin Wei could ask for details, he heard a terrified scream from the tour guide.

"What is that thing?!"

Lin Wei followed the guide's horrified gaze towards the valley.

"Is that… a Honkai beast?"

Seeing the cat-like behemoth that seemed to appear out of thin air, Lin Wei's expression changed.

"No, that shape… it's…"

.........

"Yuno, look out!"

Seeing the monstrous cat-like Honkai beast fiercely charging towards them, Anna didn't have time to think. She instinctively shoved Yuno, who had her back to the creature, out of the way. With a splash, they both fell into the water, narrowly avoiding the beast's swift attack.

"What is that thing?!"

The cat-like beast was too fast. Having protected her friend, Anna had no time to react. She could only grip the only weapon she had – an ordinary wooden paddle – and raise it in a desperate, futile attempt to block the massive claw, larger than her entire body.

Crack…

The slender paddle was no different from a toothpick to the monster. It snapped upon contact, the terrifying claw slamming into the petite girl and the frail boat beneath her, almost unimpeded.

In an instant, flesh tore, blood splattered…

The difference in strength was simply too vast. Anna only had time to let out a pained scream before falling heavily into the river, the water staining crimson.

"Roar…"

Having landed a successful blow, the beast didn't immediately attack again. Instead, it landed on the opposite riverbank, digging furiously at the sand and stones with its blood-soaked claw, letting out pained roars, as if the blood it had沾染caused it immense agony, momentarily forgetting to pursue the two who had fallen into the river.

"Anna!"

Yuno surfaced, only to see the beast thrashing madly on the opposite bank. Anna was gravely injured, floating unconscious in the water. Yuno froze for a moment, as if unable to comprehend this sudden turn of events.

Then, she extended two vines from her body, retrieving the unconscious Anna from the water. Weaving them into a makeshift stretcher, she gently placed Anna on the riverbank, far from the cat-like Honkai beast. Without stopping to check Anna's injuries, she lunged towards the monster, her movements frenzied.

The cat-like Honkai beast, startled by her sudden, crazed charge, was enraged. It intended to vent its pain on this reckless Valkyrie, and incidentally, complete its mission.

With a roar, it assumed a predatory stance, ready to pounce on Yuno.

More than a dozen ferocious vines erupted from Yuno's body, twisting and intertwining before her into a massive spear. Wielding it like a weapon, she pierced the blood-soaked claw of the cat-like Honkai beast with precision, as if cutting through butter.

"Aooo!"

The Honkai beast howled in pain, staring incredulously at its pierced claw, unable to understand how its hardened body could be penetrated so easily.

Before it could process what had happened, the restraining device around its neck blared an alarm.

Time is running out! the cat-like Honkai beast thought. It grabbed the vine spear with its other claw, surprisingly dexterous, and yanked it out with a sickening rip. Glaring fiercely at Yuno, it imprinted her appearance in its memory, then leaped into the dense forest, vanishing without a trace.

Just as it had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.

…

The entire exchange was lightning fast. From the Honkai beast's appearance to its retreat, barely ten seconds had passed. Anna's injury was so sudden that Lin Wei had no time to react.

"Sakura, follow it!"

But now that this creature had appeared, it wasn't getting away so easily!

"I want to see which rat hole its master is hiding in!"

Lin Wei activated the black feather in his hand. The tourists around him, still panicked by the Honkai beast's sudden appearance, instantly lost consciousness. Yae Sakura materialized beside him, her azure eyes fixed on the forest below, like a hunter locking onto its prey.

"Catch!"

Lin Wei tossed her the katana. She caught it deftly, securing it at her waist. Then, he handed her the black box – Pandora. She looked at him intently, her gaze heavy, before accepting it.

She was a Stigmata bound to Lin Wei. Without this special Divine Key, she couldn't stray far from him.

"What about you?"

Having lost all his support, Lin Wei would become incredibly weak. Yae Sakura was deeply worried.

"I'll be fine. Go quickly, and don't let it find you."

Lin Wei reassured her with a smile, then took off his hiking hat and gently placed it on Yae Sakura's head, concealing her conspicuous fox ears. Only then did he say,

"It's okay if you lose it. Just don't get hurt again."

Yae Sakura took a deep breath, nodded firmly, then placed her Shikigami mask over her face, swiftly pursuing her "prey."

Once Yae Sakura was gone, Lin Wei, who had been forcing himself to stay upright, finally collapsed.

"Heh, I was too impulsive…"

He gave a wry chuckle.

The weakness from having his "power" withdrawn, combined with the exhaustion from using the Divine Key, hit him all at once, almost bringing him to his knees.

Just then, a pair of hands reached out from behind, gently supporting him.

"Careful."

The voice was pleasant, belonging to a young woman.

"Thank you…"

Lin Wei thanked her weakly, struggling to turn and see his "savior."

Then, his eyes widened in disbelief, his already pale face draining of even more color. He recognized the young woman – it was Yuno.

His heart skipped a beat, his breath hitched, his scalp tingling.

How could she be here?!

Could it be…

"Sir, it seems you've seen something you shouldn't have, and it's given you quite a fright…"

As if to confirm Lin Wei's suspicions, a gentle, apologetic smile appeared on Yuno's youthful face, looking utterly incongruous.

"Would you mind telling me everything you saw, and everything you know?"

As she finished speaking, a golden feather drifted down from the void, clearly visible to Lin Wei.