Chapter 78: Duel in the Rainy Night64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75wDbjOAUe
"Excuse me... Kouya, are you actually a magician?" Raphiel’s reply came almost instantly, accompanied by a trembling cat emoji clutching a fish as if for dear life.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdZBTrugt5
Kouya blinked, staring at the screen. "What magician?"64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hZPu1A3PH
"You know, the ones from the internet legends — those mysterious beings who, after being single for thirty years, awaken unparalleled power in their right hand? Their bodies filled with forbidden energy!" Raphiel’s message sparkled with mock curiosity.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHmE4iUMgi
You’ve got to be kidding me.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx56Xgu8Fnk
Of course, nothing decent ever comes out of your mouth!64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iZdoI25Jx
"I’m warning you, one more word and you’ll regret it," Kouya replied flatly.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3JCk3XT6o
"If it’s by you, Kouya, I don’t mind..." came her reply, with a blushing face emoji. "After all, I must monitor you for the sake of world peace until I’m sure you’re not a danger."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EnuFkWizf
"You’re not some kind of divine envoy!" Kouya snapped, typing furiously. "You angels are supposed to be higher beings — even if humanity vanished tomorrow, you wouldn’t care!"64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPypQoi7Zu
"Oh my, Kouya, you really do understand me so well."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7vLb4S1Q0
Kouya: "..."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzUB0QAbbG
He tossed his phone onto the table and sighed.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvs57Yj2AzT
...64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbMIr10tqw
When he finally got back to his apartment, the rhythmic sound of keyboard typing echoed faintly from Gabriel’s room next door. That lazy angel was clearly still glued to her computer, ‘cultivating’ her so-called online enlightenment.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4LsjMfMmd
Kouya showered, changed into casual clothes, and made a quick dinner — instant curry, his usual. The room smelled faintly of spices. After finishing, he leaned back on the sofa, scrolling through his phone, browsing bizarre articles about UFO sightings and doomsday prophecies. By the time he realized it, night had fallen completely.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡha5WUv5kfS
Then, out of nowhere, his phone rang.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVGTApNLOR
He frowned. The caller ID flashed: Takanashi Rikka.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxXLMzwubD
The ahoge girl from today?64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgPCrP41xU
He hesitated for a few seconds before answering.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdPgfbW4ug
"Hero! Hero, you have to come save me!" came Rikka’s voice, breathless and full of panic. "I was exploring the park to locate the Invisible Boundary Line, but I was ambushed by the Bureau’s Chief Regulator!"64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjx1KT1K3aC
Kouya froze, staring into space. He waited until she finished her entire delusional declaration before replying in a deadpan voice:64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYo3QxTD8ap
"Speak. Human. Language."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwXShnFTj4
"You’re so cruel, Kouya!" she pouted through the phone, sounding both hurt and dramatic. "Anyway, hurry and come save me, or you’ll lose me forever!"64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqLfDnz6zn
Lose you? I never had you to begin with.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsPkikWSLj
"Th-The Final Regulator is coming closer!" Rikka’s voice grew urgent, mixed with the sound of hurried footsteps and rain. "If she catches me, I’ll break apart!"64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwGz2PeQ4T
What the hell?! That sounds like a crime scene, not a fantasy battle!64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsLwregbjd
Then, a sharp scream echoed through the phone — and silence.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoT0P7fVco2
Kouya frowned. "...Did that idiot really get herself into trouble?"64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZproOlHqX
It was probably just another one of her dramatics. Still, he had promised Vigne he’d look out for her.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuOM3cNShy
He groaned, grabbed his jacket, and stepped outside.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsRDtOLzt0
The cool night air hit him immediately. Raindrops pattered gently on the street.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DDyyJSSt0
Spring was ending, and the rainy season was beginning. The sky hung low and gray, and the faint drizzle made the asphalt glisten under the dim streetlights.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3VYTBaDDm
"She mentioned the park..." Kouya muttered. The rain wasn’t heavy enough for an umbrella, so he stuffed his hands in his pockets and started walking.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8ZJjkuRJM
The streets were quiet. The sound of the rain against rooftops and puddles echoed softly in the distance. His shoes splashed lightly as he crossed the empty intersection and entered the small park.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyW9T9s41b
It was the same one where he had met Raphiel the week before — an old park, almost forgotten by time. The playground equipment was rusted and creaked in the wind. The lamps buzzed faintly, casting uneven yellow halos through the drizzle. Thin sheets of rain shimmered like silk threads beneath the dim light.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvH6WXAtIMt
The air was cold, sharp with the scent of wet earth. The wind whispered through the trees. It was the kind of place that felt like a ghost story waiting to happen.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHz5wLAoKIc
He followed the faint sound of movement deeper into the park — and soon spotted two figures in the gazebo.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMUOPc68nG
...64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEZ482MtoR
Rikka stood on one side, clutching a black umbrella like a knight gripping her sword. Her stance was absurdly serious; her eyes burned with misplaced determination.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zS7j4b1gz
Facing her was a woman with long, glossy black hair and wine-red eyes that glowed faintly under the streetlight. She looked to be in her twenties — mature, beautiful, and undeniably intimidating. Her denim shorts revealed long, smooth legs, and her fitted black shirt clung to her body, highlighting curves that could make a model jealous.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOT8Rmul2c
"Come home," the woman said quietly. Her voice was calm, but the chill in it made the temperature drop a few degrees.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Bjw2VuzIb
"No!" Rikka shouted back, her grip tightening on the umbrella. "I still have to find the Invisible Boundary Line with my Hero! We were so close tonight!"64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUhlcm74GB
The woman exhaled softly — not quite a sigh, not quite a laugh. "In that case... I’ll have to teach you a lesson."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFwmLqPzQd
Kouya leaned against a tree, watching in disbelief as the woman reached into her bag and drew her weapon.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgq1cCv4Bf
A spoon.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklEpxBpCSQ
A simple, stainless steel cooking spoon.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydcSaNdQHF
You’ve got to be kidding me.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45iCarFAsZ
This was supposed to be a showdown, and she’s pulling out kitchenware? Where’s the drama? The atmosphere just died on impact!64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFjw5cPimZ
"Y-You dare bring out the Judgment Spear of the Breaking Dawn again?!" Rikka cried, stepping back, eyes wide in horror.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fR4rwvziG
What? The Judgment Spear of what now? That thing isn’t even sharp!64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEezO7wRHs
Rikka’s imagination was clearly working overtime.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSNSwBExmR
The woman tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHZuDjTind
Rikka braced herself, her voice dropping to a deep tone as if narrating her own epic battle. "If that’s how it must be... then I’ll fight with all my might!"64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LGe0CHhxB
With a dramatic flick, she snapped open her umbrella. The sound echoed through the rain like thunder. "Defend, Dark Shield! Summon, Night Barrier!"64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKYFxIaAk4
The wind picked up as she charged, the rain swirling violently around her. For a second, Kouya had to admit — if you ignored reality, it actually looked kind of cool.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysUVHnZqkq
"Eternal Spear — Avalon Break!"64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcKRwCRzFY
Her shout rang through the night — right before a metallic thwack! silenced it.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JnzkXTCAX
The spoon connected squarely with the top of her head.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKqkKZNctO
So much for her ‘battle of destiny.’ One second of glory, instant defeat.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlcK3cH0a8
Rikka crouched, clutching her head. "Oww! That hurts! Sis, why are you hitting me again?!"64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJECstQcJj
Wait, sis?64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61WzcKqmoo
Kouya squinted through the rain. Now that he looked closer, the resemblance was obvious — same eyes, same stubborn expression. Definitely siblings.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFhLMS6X45
The woman sighed, tapping the spoon against her palm. "You’re out here in the rain again, aren’t you? Did you even finish your homework? How about your review assignments?"64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWh3PIn2a1X
Rikka sniffled. "I was waiting for my Hero! We were going to find the Boundary Line together!"64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLJddPhCm8
The woman’s brow twitched. "Your ‘Hero’? You mean that boy you just met? A male classmate? In the middle of the night? In a park? In the rain?" She exhaled deeply. "You’re coming home. Now."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZt1hixFZW
Rikka pouted fiercely. "I object!"64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY34YztgNs6
"Objection denied," her sister said coldly. "What kind of girl meets a strange boy in a park at night? Absolutely not."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvtk3h5XSV
She pointed at the rain dripping off the gazebo roof. "And besides, he’s probably not coming. Smart boys stay home."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhcQsGjk9L
"He’ll come!" Rikka shouted, eyes bright with conviction. "We’re bound by destiny! We’ve already formed a contract!"64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1RlfoCjiB
Kouya exhaled, rubbing his temple. That was his cue to leave.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhb1NVFdBz
He turned away, stepping back into the drizzle.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vrEHLgTL2
Contracts, heroes, destinies — all just words to fill the void.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJT2fFNint
He had taken only two steps when his phone buzzed again in his pocket, its ringtone echoing eerily through the quiet, rain-soaked park.64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5z9OZB8K5
Kouya: "..."64Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSksb8gTSnH
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1234 copyright protection60ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcSrI6liPh 尼

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