Versatile Mage : Reborn As Mo Fan

Upon arriving in Tokyo, with the pressure of high-level resources, the group didn't stay long and directly headed for Sea Battle City.

Sea Battle City is a unique place steeped in war culture. The Sakura Tokyo's East Sea Fortress has been world-renowned for years, and with blood and limbs, it has painted a vivid picture of the real war between humans and sea demons on the Pacific Ocean—this battle has continued for over a century without cease.

In the direction that Sakura Tokyo stretches toward the ocean, a huge fortress city built by the sea stands, which is the East Sea Battle City.

From an aerial view, this East Sea Fortress City forms a crescent shape. The towering steel walls can no longer simply be called "walls"—they serve as a majestic barrier that completely protects the bustling Tokyo City. This grand structure not only shields against massive waves but also halts the endless armies of sea demons. It's known by the Sakura people as the "Shield of Tokyo."

The Shield of Tokyo has two layers. The first steel barrier is lower and does not offer much resistance on its own.

The second wall is much higher—even a hundred-meter-tall sea beast may struggle to cross this steel defense.

Both the inner and outer steel barriers curve inward and gradually converge at both ends, framing the crescent-shaped East Sea Fortress City.

However, Mo Fan didn't arrive here with the main group. Instead, he went with Mochizuki Chiyou to the place designated by the Mochizuki Elder.

In simpler terms, they were just taking a detour.

But since they were already here, Mo Fan figured he might as well take a walk. If he had stayed with the main team, he wouldn't have figured out how to deepen his connection with Mochizuki Chiyou.

The two of them ended up at Seven Wings Mountain, north of Tokyo.

Seven Wings Mountain is a scenic spot on the outskirts of Tokyo, featuring serene waters, lush temples, and rivers perfect for camping. In season, the surrounding maple trees turn a fiery red, creating a beautiful landscape.

After their fruitless trip, Mo Fan grumbled with some dissatisfaction, "Your old man is really unreliable. He's supposed to be a good friend, but he didn't even get any notification about the funeral three days ago?"

"My grandfather is a recluse. He doesn't use any modern communication devices, and he doesn't let others know about his situation either. If it weren't for this trip to deliver the evil gem, we might not have known he was buried until months later," Mochizuki Chiyou explained helplessly.

Hearing this explanation, Mo Fan didn't dwell on it further.

"Well, why don't you take this thing back yourself?" Mo Fan teased with a mischievous smile, extending the orb toward Mochizuki Chiyou.

Startled, she quickly backed away and said, "Just hold onto it for now. I'll contact my grandfather once we get down the mountain."

"You don't need to contact that old man. It's useless. He probably doesn't even know how to deal with it himself," Mo Fan said with a dismissive wave.

"This…"

Mochizuki Chiyou actually agreed. If her grandfather could have dealt with it, they wouldn't have needed Mo Fan to bring it here in the first place.

"But… how are we supposed to deal with this?" she asked anxiously.

"We'll take it one step at a time. If things get out of hand, I'll just keep it. What else can we do?" Mo Fan said.

Mochizuki Chiyou sighed and accepted that this was their only option for now.

"What… What are you doing!?"

As they descended the mountain, Mochizuki Chiyou suddenly jumped in shock. Mo Fan, who had been walking alongside her, unexpectedly wrapped his arm around her waist.

"What's the matter? Don't you know your place when you're fully clothed?" Mo Fan stopped, grabbed her chin, and gave her a teasing look.

Mochizuki Chiyou looked at him with a mix of grievance and confusion. "Didn't you say… when we're outside, I should behave like my old self?"

This brat was talking back!

Mo Fan figured it was time to enjoy the pleasures of an impromptu adventure.

"Baka!" Down by the woods at the foot of the mountain, Mochizuki Chiyou tidied her slightly wrinkled clothes, glaring at Mo Fan as she spat out a few choice Japanese words.

"Smack!"

Mo Fan turned around and smacked her playfully on her rear.

I have to say, the bounce was just perfect!

"You dare hit me!" Mochizuki Chiyou looked at Mo Fan angrily.

"I've already done everything. What are you still pretending for?" Mo Fan said indifferently.

With those words, the fiery attitude Mochizuki Chiyou had just displayed disappeared instantly. She turned into a meek, submissive figure.

After an entire afternoon of sneaking around, Mochizuki Chiyou realized she could do many things she once found shameful. No matter how much Mo Fan humiliated her, she felt no hatred toward him.

In fact, at this moment, Mochizuki Chiyou felt that whatever orders Mo Fan gave her, she would obey without question. Even the games he wanted to play, she would reluctantly but willingly join in.

The next morning…

Compared to their time in the Twin Guard Pavilion, Mochizuki Chiyou found that Mo Fan had become much more wicked.

Yet, she had to admit, she was now utterly in his grasp.

Every word Mo Fan uttered, she would follow without hesitation.

Even though a part of her heart told her this wasn't her true self, she also feared Mo Fan would leave the orb in the Twin Guard Pavilion.

Between the high and low sea walls were rows of grayish-white stone buildings. As the orange sunrise appeared on the horizon, its light spread across the entire East Sea Fortress City. But even the sunlight couldn't add any color to the city—it remained a dreary gray, as lifeless as ever.

When the Sakura people built this battle fortress, they hadn't intended it to look beautiful. Even though it was a half-reclaimed city built on the sea, and despite the stunning blue ocean just outside, the ever-present wars were brutal. The city's tone was meant to be somber—gray, for the constant sadness, and white, for the mourning.

A sliver of light streamed through a window without glass, slipping through the gap in a black curtain. It illuminated a pale but beautiful face, the silver hair beside it suddenly shimmering in the light.

"Mmm…"

Mu Ningxue felt the warmth and opened her eyes. The light beam hit her directly, so she instinctively raised her right hand to block it. As soon as she did, she realized her hand was covered in frost—the cold had even reached her cheeks.

Startled, she quickly hid her hand under the blanket. She didn't know if it was to avoid seeing it or to use the blanket's warmth to try to thaw it out, but soon the whole bed became icy cold.

When they arrived here, they encountered a commanding sea demon. To save Jiang Shaoxu, she had used the Ice Crystal Bow. Though the arrow's power was immense and helped save Jiang, the strain of using that much power in such a short time had left Mu Ningxue deeply exhausted.

"Will there come a day when I won't even be able to wake up?" Mu Ningxue curled up slightly, her tall figure suddenly shrinking, becoming delicate and petite.

In that moment, she felt especially vulnerable. In that moment, she no longer had her usual cold demeanor.

Or perhaps, she had never truly been that cold. Her appearance gave off that impression, and with the cold magic inside her constantly pushing her, she only focused on training, on becoming stronger. She didn't care about anything else.

She didn't know when it started, but as soon as she fell asleep, it felt like she was plunging into an endless, dark ice pit. No matter how many blankets she piled on, no matter how many fires she lit, she couldn't feel any warmth. Her skin was cold, her bones were ice, and even her blood seemed frozen. After overexerting her powers, this cold sensation became even more intense.

To others, she was the perfect embodiment of a cold, talented mage—an Ice Saintess.

But she knew better. Her powers weren't just a gift—they were a relentless curse. If she didn't push herself to keep training, she would have to endure the feeling of being trapped in an icy abyss.

(End of Chapter)