Luo Zhizhou entered the Martyrs’ Cemetery, which was divided into two areas: one side was for the fallen Magical Girls, and the other for the buried soldiers.
Luo Zhizhou first went to the soldiers’ cemetery.
The graves were arranged by military unit numbers. Luo Zhizhou walked past row after row of tombstones, finally locating the Northern Field Army District’s 54th Army Group, 163rd Division.
He belonged to the Infantry 2nd Battalion, though the cemetery only subdivided to the division level.
In front of the large tombstone of the 163rd Division stood numerous individual graves of martyrs behind it.
Luo Zhizhou shook his head. After all, not every fallen soldier could be buried here; the comrades he mourned probably had no remains left.
He placed seven plastic cups neatly before the 163rd Division tombstone.
“There’s no other choice, so I just bought a bottle of cheap white liquor. Brothers, make do with this.”
Opening the bottle, Luo Zhizhou respectfully poured the liquor evenly into each cup—just enough to fill all seven.
He didn’t drink himself.
Silently, he recited the names of his comrades: “Zeng Tianle, Liu Lancheng, Ma Gaoxian, Lu Xiao, Xu Tianhao, Jiang Lianxi, Wang Zhiyi.”
“It’s been six years, hasn’t it? I still can’t forget you all. I’m the only one who survived… and ended up like this. Don’t laugh at me.” Luo Zhizhou said with a bitter smile.
“Others may forget you, but I remember. I’ll never forget. So, brothers, all of you from that infantry squad—up there in the heavens—can you bless me with a girlfriend soon?”
“Nothing fancy, just someone kind and virtuous. Hahaha…” Luo Zhizhou smiled, but tears began to fall.
Since leaving home ten years ago, these brothers had been his family, accompanying him for four years.
Unfortunately, they all died six years ago during a delaying battle.
“Hey… brothers, allow me to leave first. I’ll come back next year.”
“I’m going to pay respects to her now.”
Luo Zhizhou walked over to the Magical Girls’ cemetery.
***
Here, there were far fewer tombstones, but each grave was larger and better maintained. Every Magical Girl was buried in a stone sarcophagus—but Luo Zhizhou knew this was only the surface.
He stopped before one grave, the name on the tombstone reading Bai Lingyi.
From his backpack, Luo Zhizhou took out a bouquet of fresh flowers and placed them in front of the tombstone.
He then walked up to the sarcophagus, gently tracing its surface with his hand.
“You should have survived. Why didn’t you?”
“But then again, you’d probably say you’ve already answered that question.”
“Hahaha… why? Why did it have to be this way? It’s so strange, isn’t it? I…”
At that moment, a young girl approached, interrupting Luo Zhizhou’s soliloquy.
“Sir, do you know her?”
“Yes, we’re comrades, in a sense.”
“Oh, I’m her sister. My name is Bai Lingluo.”
The girl resembled the Bai Lingyi Luo Zhizhou remembered, though this one appeared more mature.
“Hello, I’m Luo Zhizhou.” Luo Zhizhou studied Bai Lingluo carefully. She wore a simple blue skirt—this style made him think she was probably a Magical Girl as well.
“You said you’re her sister? You two really do look alike.”
“Yes. Unfortunately, when she died, I was still too young to understand.”
“Regarding her sacrifice, Miss Bai Lingluo, please accept my condolences.”
Bai Lingluo smiled faintly. “It’s alright. I live nearby and often come here to tend the grave. I’m used to it.”
“By the way, did you become a Magical Girl too?”
“Yes. But by the time I became a Magical Girl, the war was over, so I never got to fight against the Aberrant Beasts like my sister did.”
Bai Lingluo stepped beside Luo Zhizhou and gently stroked the sarcophagus.
“She told me before that she defeated many Aberrant Beasts. I always looked up to her and wanted to protect those around me.”
“I’m an A-Class now, even stronger than her, who was B-Class.” Bai Lingluo clenched her fist and gazed into the distance. “If new Aberrant Beasts appear, I will destroy them without mercy.”
“But she never told me your story, Mr. Luo.” Bai Lingluo’s curiosity about the connection between Luo Zhizhou and her sister was evident.
“1989…” Luo Zhizhou was about to speak when Bai Lingluo’s phone suddenly rang.
She answered quickly, “Mm-hmm, got it. I’ll be there soon.”
“Mr. Luo, I have to head off on an urgent mission. Sorry to leave so suddenly. I live at Jing’an North Street 76. If you have time, please come visit. I really want to hear your stories about my sister. Goodbye!”
“Goodbye.”
Bai Lingluo jogged away.
“Bai Lingyi… so you had a sister after all, just like me.”
Bai Lingluo transformed and immediately flew toward the mission location.
“Give me the mission briefing,” she said to the coordinator.
“Three A-Class Magical Girls are trapped inside an abandoned hypermarket in Area 12 of Baiyun County. Their status is currently unknown.”
“It’s confirmed that a large Extradimensional Beast hive exists beneath this abandoned hypermarket, and there is believed to be a Kingdom-Class Aberrant Beast inside.”
“A Kingdom-Class? How many forces have been assembled so far?”
“Including you, twenty-six A-Class Magical Girls from Zhonghe Province are in position, along with over five hundred B-Class Magical Girls.”
“Reinforcements from neighboring provinces are en route. Additionally, two Type A Infantry Divisions, five J-10 Fighter Jets, and twenty Q-5 Attack Aircraft are ready.”
“Though we don’t have any S-Class Magical Girls, this setup should be more than enough.” Bai Lingluo said.
“Don’t underestimate the situation!” the coordinator warned her.
After twenty minutes, she arrived at the destination at full speed.
The abandoned town was now completely surrounded with no way in or out.
Magical Girls patrolled the skies like a net, while mechanized units were steadily arriving, rapidly establishing positions four to five kilometers out.
The surrounding villages had all been evacuated.
“Bai Lingluo!” Two A-Class Magical Girls called to her from the ground.
“Qianqi, Meijia, I’m here.” Bai Lingluo landed.
“We’re currently the strongest forces in Zhonghe Province. Command will assign us specific tasks next.” Qianqi said.
“When all preparations are complete, we’ll begin the assault in five minutes.” Meijia pulled out a paper mission brief.
“We still don’t know if that Kingdom-Class Aberrant Beast has awakened. We can’t alert it prematurely. Our primary objective is to rescue the three trapped A-Class Magical Girls inside the hypermarket.”
“Kongling Squad?” Bai Lingluo asked.
“Yes. The three of us will penetrate the mission site. Here is the detailed layout of the location.”
A small 3D projector displayed a detailed model of the hypermarket’s interior.
“During the operation, drones will provide reconnaissance and fire support. We just need to follow the Staff Department’s orders.” Meijia waved her magic wand, warming up.
“Understood.” Bai Lingluo memorized the mission points and building layout deeply.
Five minutes later, all preparations were complete. Civilians within seven to eight kilometers had been fully evacuated.
“Action begins!”