Chapter 4: If I can’t transform, I’ll just die.

The rain outside continued to fall.

Jiang Si came down from his second-floor bedroom. His younger sister sat in the living room, staring blankly at the family portrait hanging on the wall.

It was taken before their trip.

Their mother wore a white hat and smiled faintly, but her brow was tightly furrowed as she reached to snatch the cigarette from their father's mouth.

Their father, who looked somewhat aged, wore a helpless smile while holding their excited younger sister.

Behind the three of them stood an absent-minded Jiang Si, appearing completely out of place.

"Uncle said he wants to adopt you."

Walking to the door while changing his shoes, Jiang Si spoke in an indifferent tone, "Pack your things and go. I'll watch the house. You can come back to visit anytime you want in the future."

"Brother."

"Take anything you want from the house."

Jiang Si tapped his toes in the entryway to make his shoes fit more snugly, "I have things to do."

"What exactly is so important, brother?"

His red-eyed sister's voice held only grievance, "What could possibly be so important?"

Jiang Si, who had pushed the door open, paused and pulled an umbrella from the shoe cabinet, "Many things."

"Brother!"

His sister raised her voice as if trying to stop him.

Yet Jiang Si didn't even look at her, simply stepped out and closed the door.

"Jiang Si!"

The final call sounded somewhat hoarse, carrying a sob. But Jiang Si didn't stop, merely opened his umbrella and walked into the rain.

A tiny spirit, like a stuffed toy, flew out from his pocket.

It looked like a pink flying kitten.

"Wouldn't it be better to stay and have a heart-to-heart with your sister..."

The Magical Girl's companion spirit. Jiang Si had never watched Magical Girl anime and didn't know what this thing was.

When it first appeared during his transformation, his initial reaction was that it was a juvenile Disaster Beast, so he immediately tried to eliminate it.

But in reality, he couldn't touch it.

It wasn't an actual living creature, but rather an illusion condensed from magical power after transforming into a Magical Girl.

He later learned this was the entity that guided Magical Girls.

"Unnecessary. With our parents gone, she needs to grow up quickly."

There wasn't a trace of warmth in Jiang Si's tone, as if rain falling near him would freeze, "I don't plan to take care of her."

He had many things to do himself, and wouldn't have time for her in the future.

It would be best if she obediently got adopted by relatives.

"A girl's heart is very tender, like a flower that needs care..."

Before it could finish speaking, Jiang Si grabbed the plant-like thing on its head and lifted it before his eyes, letting rainwater pour over the little spirit.

Relying on the Magical Girl's magical power, the companion spirit would gradually gain physical form. The plant on its head was the origin point of the spirit before him, and also the only weakness Jiang Si could grasp.

"I want to know about Magical Girls."

Jiang Si's tone held rare impatience, "Why can't I transform again?"

Since that day he transformed, whenever he took out the seed again, he could no longer sense magical power, nor could he transform.

This was completely unacceptable to Jiang Si.

This was also why he had no mood to care for his sister - his own path was the most important matter.

The kitten-like spirit flapped its wings behind it, struggling out of Jiang Si's grip before saying angrily:

"If you keep this up, I'll really get mad!"

"Sorry, so why can't I transform?"

Not expecting Jiang Si to apologize so directly, the spirit was momentarily stunned before mumbling, "Transformation naturally has many requirements, you can't just transform whenever you want. Though this is the first time I've seen a boy become a Magical Girl..."

"So what does transformation require?"

"Why are you in such a hurry..." the little spirit muttered, but still answered him, "First, hold the Miracle Seed. The Miracle Seed is the important medium for transformation. Only by obtaining your own Miracle Seed can you become a true Magical Girl..."

As he walked along the road, planning to buy something at the convenience store, noisy sounds came from the parking lot further ahead.

"Not good!"

The previously leisurely spirit's voice suddenly became urgent, "A Disaster Beast has appeared!"

"I still don't know how to transform."

"I'll explain quickly, hurry up and run! If the Disaster Beast eats people, they'll become stronger!"

Jiang Si didn't run, but quickened his pace.

In the pouring rain, panicked crowds surged out from the parking lot area, pushing against him, preventing Jiang Si from running.

His usual training always provided reliable support at critical moments.

Hard work never betrayed him.

Even facing such a chaotic crowd, he could still move against the flow with leisurely steps, even the umbrella in his hand remaining perfectly steady.

"Second! Feel the magical power in the seed! Resonate with the magical power! Only by resonating with magical power can you possess the power to become a Magical Girl! Close your eyes, you can feel the flowing water in the seed, that's magical power!"

Just as the little spirit said, closing his eyes indeed allowed him to feel the flowing power within the seed.

But it wasn't water - it was more like flame.

Blazing, violent!

Passing through the human torrent, Jiang Si finally reached the parking lot where the Disaster Beast was.

A terrifying monster, like some kind of enlarged insect, its mouthparts even tearing apart cars.

The entire parking lot was wrecked into complete chaos, though there were almost no people around, just vehicles smashed and emitting black smoke, with the pouring rain extinguishing the flames.

Only one little girl with a injured right leg sat in the rainwater, pressing on her bleeding leg, panicked and sobbing.

"Hurry and save her! Jiang Si!"

"I can feel the magical power, then what? Still can't transform."

Jiang Si walked unhurriedly toward the Disaster Beast.

"The final step is naturally the incantation! The final transformation incantation! You have to think of it yourself! As the trigger for magical power explosion and attire! It's common knowledge that you can transform as long as you use the incantation!"

"Whose common knowledge? Never heard of it."

The injured girl looked up, watching the strange youth walk before her, facing the Disaster Beast.

He casually tossed aside his umbrella, which landed by her feet.

"Don't get in the way."

The cold tone didn't make her feel cold. Picking up the umbrella, she saw the youth take out a seed.

A beautiful and exquisite seed that captivated her with just one glance, making her unable to look away.

Then, she heard the youth recite some incantation, covered by the rain, unclear.

Purple flames shot skyward!

Sending the charging Disaster Beast flying backward, smashing into some vehicle.

Urgent car alarms, heavy rain, the Disaster Beast's roars - all mixed together, yet the girl could see nothing, hear nothing.

Her entire being could only focus on the purple figure before her.

Fluttering ribbons swayed like flowers in the wind, the purple and gold interwoven dress making her seem like a flower blooming within flames.

And that face - the gaze held the determination and cold pride typically seen in males, yet the facial features were exceptionally beautiful and cute.

A boy, had transformed into, a Magical Girl...

"Magical Girl, Shion."

"Beginning cleanup mission."

Not knowing where the voice came from, the girl tightly gripping the umbrella deeply imprinted that figure that seemed like both flame and flower into her heart.

Never to be forgotten.