Chapter 2243 Beast

The silver figure swiftly darted through the forest. Transformed into a wolf, Fang Zheng advanced according to his intuition, pondering how to solve the world’s problem.

Based on the settings in the animations and comics, Cifilo was quite a headache. The biggest issue was the concept of “Pillar” which was quite annoying.

Actually, to put it in Fang Zheng’s words, in the end, CLAMP didn’t solve this problem. They just played a small trick, claiming “Cifilo is everyone’s Cifilo, and everyone needs to support this world together.” On the surface, this sounds reasonable. It’s just a comic, after all, not something that needs to be too strict. But now they’re not in a comic world; they are in reality.

And that poses a big problem.

Cifilo is a world of willpower, where willpower influences reality. Thus, if Princess Aimino’s will falters, the once-beautiful and peaceful world will begin to crumble. But at least one person’s will can be pure; on the contrary, if you create an “everyone’s Cifilo,” can you guarantee that everyone’s will is pure?

No one can predict the outcome of merging internal subconsciousness, especially in a world where will turns into reality. It can only get worse!

That’s practically asking everyone to be a saint!

It’s fundamentally unfeasible from a theoretical standpoint!

Such a foolish idealistic world…

At the moment, Fang Zheng has no good solution. It’s the first time he’s encountered a world where willpower shapes reality, so his current plan involves first talking with Princess Aimino as the “Pillar,” then hopefully conversing with Morgana, the god who created this world… and then finding a way to solve the problem.

But honestly, Fang Zheng doesn’t hold much hope that the God of Creation of this world can offer any advice because, in the comic, Morgana also showed a desire to change everything but had no good solution. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have let people go through the Pillar’s trial path again.

To sum it up, it’s like saying “I want change, but I don’t know how, so I’ll leave it to you newcomers to decide for yourselves.”

Princess Aimino’s castle seems to be in the air…

Fang Zheng approached the edge of the Floating Island, glanced around, and took a leap. He soared nine miles high, swiftly heading toward the horizon.

However…

“Is this sci-fi or fantasy?”

As he flew high, Fang Zheng couldn’t help but express his feelings. When he was a child watching “Magic Knight,” he didn’t think much of it, but reflecting now, there were hidden clues to many problems.

For example, why could only Magic Knights from another world defeat the Pillar?

The reason is simple: Both Princess Aimino and Shagatu are skilled in dual cultivation, familiar not only with magic and swordsmanship but also piloting mechas.

So no matter how powerful Grand Archmage Gurev’s magic is, without a mecha, he’s just a sitting duck!

This is a typical “It’s not our effort that’s lacking, but the enemy has a Gundam.”

Besides these two, only the three remaining mechas in the world can be piloted by Magic Knights, which is why it’s said only Magic Knights can kill Princess Aimino. Without a mecha, how can you face a Gundam?

Not to mention, without a mecha, you can’t even fly out of the atmosphere…

“Ah, it felt so fantastical as a child, but now it seems more like sci-fi.”

Fang Zheng leapt to the top of the clouds and looked toward the Crystal Castle in the sky — though, rather than a Crystal Castle, it seemed more like a giant crystal space station… Whatever, it doesn’t matter.

“Who goes there?!”

As Fang Zheng attempted to approach the Crystal Castle, a deep voice suddenly resonated in his ear.

“Who are you, daring to trespass here?”

“I am here at Princess Aimino’s request, to save this world.”

Without a doubt, Fang Zheng knew this had to be Cleric Shagatu — although the Chinese dubbing was more pleasant to the ear.

“I have some questions I want to discuss with Princess Aimino… if you don’t mind…”

“Leave this place!”

However, before Fang Zheng could finish speaking, Shagatu abruptly interrupted him.

“I don’t know who you are, but this place is not where you belong!”

“Alright, I just wish to offer help, and the one who summoned me wasn’t you. I just want to have a conversation with Princess Aimino.”

Fang Zheng wasn’t concerned with Shagatu’s words — he was the God of Magical Girls, his words were to be heeded, but what right did Shagatu, a man, have to speak in front of him? Go back to where you belong!

“If you don’t plan to leave, then don’t blame me for being rude!”

“Oh, I’d like to see how you plan to be rude.”

“Very well!”

Faced with Fang Zheng’s sarcastic remarks, Shagatu seemed to be angered. Fang Zheng soon saw a gigantic, pitch-black humanoid mecha emerge from the Crystal Castle, blocking his path.

“Leave here, intruder! Otherwise, it will cost you your life!”

“Interesting, seems like you won’t understand your foolishness without a lesson.”

Hearing this, Fang Zheng snorted coldly, then looked upward.

“Awoooooo ————!!”

Accompanied by a wolf howl, a dense fog suddenly exploded, enveloping the white wolf. After a moment, a massive figure abruptly emerged from the fog, walking out slowly and standing atop the clouds.

It was a giant white wolf, not at all inferior to the mecha in size, and even taller than the mecha. The giant wolf held a pitch-black greatsword in its mouth, staring intently at the black mecha before it, letting out a low growl. Meanwhile, a crimson flame appeared on the greatsword and began to burn.

“This… “

Witnessing the scene, even Shagatu stood dumbfounded. Although Cifilo wasn’t without demon beasts, with some being gigantic and terrifying creatures, this style was clearly out of place!

“ROAR ————!!”

While Shagatu was in shock, the giant wolf let out a roar, gripping the greatsword as it charged at him.

Poor Shagatu had never encountered such a combat mode in his life. He quickly refocused and gripped his sword tightly to meet the charge. However, to his surprise, just as the two were about to collide, the gigantic white wolf Fang Zheng transformed into suddenly spun around, wielding the pitch-black greatsword, spun a circle around him, and slashed at Shagatu’s legs.

“Bam!”

Before Shagatu, piloting the mecha, could swing his longsword, the giant wolf beheaded it with a single strike. Before he could stand up, the giant wolf planted its claws on his chest, and the giant sword in its mouth was pressed against the mecha’s neck — ready to decapitate it in the next moment.

“… I lost.”

Facing the inexplicable giant wolf before him, Shagatu hesitated for a moment, but ultimately could only bow his head in surrender. This wasn’t because he was afraid, but because Shagatu was amazed to find that when the giant wolf’s front paw was placed on his mecha, he couldn’t move at all!

What kind of creature is this? Even a Demon God could be easily suppressed by it?!

Of course, if it were just that, Shagatu wouldn’t have given up so easily. To protect his beloved Princess, he would even offer his life!

However, just a moment ago, Shagatu heard a request from Princess Aimino, and considering the current situation — if he didn’t surrender, he was headed for doom.

Moreover, a dead man clearly couldn’t protect his beloved Princess.

“Things would’ve been fine if you’d listened earlier.”

Seeing Shagatu admit defeat, Fang Zheng rolled his eyes, and the next moment the fog enveloped them again, quickly causing the previously enormous white wolf to disappear without a trace, replaced by a small wolf the size of a Shiba Inu, while at the same time Shagatu also put away his Demon God and returned to his human form.

“Please follow me.”

Glancing at the small white wolf, Shagatu’s expression remained unchanged, though he considered whether to find an opportunity for a sneak attack. However… since the opponent wasn’t the legendary Magic Knight (after all, there’s no way a Magic Knight could be a wolf), meeting Princess Aimino shouldn’t be a problem.

Moreover… if what it said was true, if it could really save everything…

Thinking of this, Shagatu shook his head and smiled bitterly to himself.

How could such a good thing happen?

Soon, under Shagatu’s lead, Fang Zheng met Princess Aimino, who would later transform into the final boss, leaving childhood shadows for the three female protagonists and countless children. Strictly speaking, this Princess was not in the castle but within her self-created other space, seated in the center of a blooming flower with her hands clasped tightly.

Matched with her golden hair and white robe, she looked pitiably beautiful… indeed fitting the first impression everyone has of a Princess.

“Who… are you?”

Looking at the little white wolf in front of her, Princess Aimino also asked in puzzlement. She naturally knew she had summoned Magic Knights from Another World to destroy herself, but they were supposed to be three girls, so where did this little white wolf come from?

But Fang Zheng didn’t immediately answer Princess Aimino’s question. Instead, he first circled around Princess Aimino once, then shook his head.

“This won’t do, Princess.”

“…Eh?”

“Look at where you live now.”

Fang Zheng lifted his head, gazing at the void and dark surroundings. The entire space was pitch black except for the illuminated area where Princess Aimino was, truly the worst kind of prison.

“Look here, it’s pitch black, there’s nothing. I know you summoned the Magic Knights trying to end your life, but since that’s the case, can’t you treat yourself a little better in these final moments? Even death row prisoners get a good meal before they go, so since you know you’ll die sooner or later, why not take this time to cultivate a relationship with Shagatu instead of wallowing in self-pity here?”

“…This…”

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s words, Princess Aimino was dumbfounded, then lowered her head.

“But I made a mistake, I shouldn’t have done this, I don’t have the right to enjoy this happiness…”

“You, you’re just too stuck in your own mind.”

Fang Zheng shook his head.

“No one will blame you for falling in love, nor will they punish you for anything you did…”

“But I shouldn’t have done this…”

Princess Aimino shook her head.

“I am a pillar, a pillar of this world. Even when immersed in this happiness, I still hope everyone can be happy. But I discover many times I can’t control my feelings. Even when praying for this world, I still think of Shagatu’s existence… I, I…”

Saying this, Princess Aimino extended her hand to cover her face, and started to cry softly. The white wolf then stepped forward, gently extending its tongue to lick her cheek.

“Alright, stop crying, you… you’re just stuck in your own thoughts. I’ll tell you, this thinking itself is wrong.”

“…Wrong?”

“Yes? Why do you separate Shagatu from Cifilo? Isn’t Shagatu also one of the residents of Cifilo’s world? You can totally pray for the world of Cifilo where Shagatu exists, why separate the two?”

“This…”

This time, faced with Fang Zheng’s proposal, Princess Aimino was truly speechless.

“Isn’t this the conflict you’re facing now? But is it really a conflict? The world or Shagatu? Do you have to choose one? Why not have both?”

“…”

This time, Princess Aimino was truly speechless, like a traveler trapped in a room, hesitating between the two doors before her, for her choosing either meant sacrificing something.

However, what Fang Zheng said was like a hammer, directly breaking the entire wall for Princess Aimino, indicating “Why choose one door, I’ll smash it and you can go through the middle, isn’t that better?”

“I…”

“Just try it.”

Fang Zheng realized that Her Royal Highness was truly a character akin to Lin Daiyu who didn’t leave the house, and because of this, her thinking wasn’t flexible, she liked getting stuck in her own mind, and had a bit of Lin Daiyu’s self-appreciation and Mary Sue attitude — frankly, it was a classic case of Princess Syndrome — well, it’s normal for a Princess to have Princess Syndrome.

This is the time someone needs to give a push from behind.

“What are you afraid of? You already summoned the Magic Knights, knowing you’ll die sooner or later, will you really accept dying cowardly? Now there’s a way, why not try to see if it works?”

As Fang Zheng spoke, he also nuzzled into Princess Aimino’s arms — small, soft, fragrant, truly comfortable.

Of course, he could feel Shagatu’s gaze from behind, but will Laozi really care after nuzzling and licking? I’ve turned into a beast now, cannot fall in love, might as well take advantage. This is why Fang Zheng chose to become a wolf, after becoming a wolf, everything — be it snuggling skirts, nuzzling girls’ chests, or licking — becomes normal behavior, is there a problem?

Of course not.

As a beast, I should act beastly, after all, I’m a Divine Beast, can’t be less than a beast.

“Well…”

Perhaps moved by Fang Zheng, Princess Aimino hesitated for a moment, then reached out her hand to gently stroke the white wolf before her.

“I’ll… try.”