Author's wish: I know you have many options, but thanks for reading the story today
Wish you a happy day!
***
On a beautiful sunny day in the small village named Asarina, vibrant golden sunlight bathed the village, illuminating the statue of the Earth Mother goddess Asarina cradling a baby in the village square. A woman named Suzan prayed at the foot of this massive statue:
"Please, Goddess, bless Jenifer—the child in my womb—so she may be safe and healthy…"
"Waa… waa… waa…" The cry of a newborn rang out. Suzan was overwhelmed with joy: "Oh, my dear baby, I've waited so many days for you to be born. Look—your dad Thomas and your brother Robert are crying tears of happiness."
Then little Jen grew up:
"Mom, please hold my hand and walk with me…"
Suzan: "Alright, my dear. Let's go to kindergarten together—this will be your first day at school…"
"…My dear child, you look so beautiful in your school uniform. Come, let's have a meal with the family…"
"…My dear child, are you sad today? Don't worry—there are so many friends and good boys out there. You'll forget this sadness eventually. I'm here with you…"
"…My dear, you look so cool in your work outfit…"
Jen said happily: "I will earn much money and I will protect you, Mom"
"…My dear, why are you sad? Were work and life stressful today…"
Wearing her work outfit, Jen complained irritably, sometimes even crying to her mother:
"I'm so exhausted. The burden and pressure of working to make a living are too much for me, Mom. Please just leave me alone in my room!"
One day, Jen became overjoyed:
"Mom, I dreamed of meeting Empress Mary. I'm so happy. In that world, I'm becoming stronger and more successful… I don't want to work anymore… I want to live in that world…"
Suzan panicked:
"My dear daughter, don't be like this. I'll stay by your side. Whatever difficulties come, we'll overcome them together…"
One day, Thomas burst open Suzan's door in alarm:
"Dear, our daughter is in a deep sleep. We've called her over and over, but she won't wake up—and she's even smiling… What should we do?"
Suzan said firmly:
"I will enter the Dream Realm to wake her up and save our daughter. Don't worry… I'll be fine…"
…
Jen smiled brightly with the new world joiners: "Welcome to the world of Empress Mary…"
Mai: "Jen, your mother is lost in this world. Do you know that…?"
Jen replied: "I heard it from other new members. I've been searching for her in this world… I just wish a miracle would happen…"
"I WISH A MIRACLE WOULD HAPPEN SO I COULD SEE MY MOTHER AGAIN."
----
Jen's devastating magical punch was descending upon an entity that, in her eyes, she believed to be a "monster."
A deafening explosion echoed across the arena, kicking up a cloud of dust. Within the haze, Jen could be seen resolutely throwing her punch—but it seemed to be blocked by something: a blue magical shield, the familiar magic of Long and Dreamy. Meanwhile, Mai rushed forward and hugged the "monster" tightly, shielding it from Jen's attack.
Nguyen immediately teleported the "monster" and Mai to another spot, nearly three meters away. The force of Jen's punch even caused Long, who was kneeling on the ground, to slide back several centimeters. He wiped the sweat from his cheek:
"That punch of yours is seriously strong!"
Jen, confused, snapped at Long:
"Are you guys crazy? Why are you protecting that monster? Get out of the way, it's dangerous!"
Mai hurried over:
"Jen, that's not a monster—that's your mother! Don't you see?"
Jen was stunned. She turned to look at the "monster," squinting and focusing intently. She looked again and again but couldn't see any human form in it. Slightly shaken, she froze for a moment before hesitating and explaining:
"Maybe this monster is using some kind of illusion to trick you. Let me finish it off, and then you'll understand…"
With that, Jen leapt forward, rushing in to deliver a finishing blow. Long quickly slid across a slide made of magical shields, caught up to her, and raised another shield in front of her, separating her from the "monster."
"Until things are clear, we should stop. Besides, that creature can't fight anymore—it's mostly just running away from you…"
"Help me… please help me…" Long, Mai, Dreamy, and Nguyen all heard a faint voice coming from the "monster." But before their eyes was the image of Suzan, dressed in tattered clothes, disheveled, her body covered in wounds.
Mai ran over and supported her:
"Are you really human? Are you Jen's mother—and Mr. Thomas's wife?"
Her reddish-brown hair hung messily over her dirt-streaked face as the woman broke into tears:
"Thomas… Jen… where are they? I want to see them. Please help me—please get me out of here. That monster keeps chasing and attacking me."
"Monster??? There's no monster here—only us and your daughter Jen," Mai said in surprise.
At the mention of Jen's name, Suzan lost her composure. Her hands trembled as she grabbed Mai's, as if clutching onto a savior, her voice desperate:
"Jen… Jen is here? Where is she? Please let me see her… please…"
Long pointed toward Jen, who was standing nearby, watching them help the entity she believed to be a "monster."
"Jen—your daughter is right there. Can you see her?" – Long said.
Suzan squinted, trying to look carefully. But before her eyes was a "monster" with spikes on its head, muscular arms, and an oversized iron ring around its wrist. Sharp teeth and a murderous glare. Suzan panicked:
"That can't be Jen—that's a monster! It was just chasing me… Please, save me!"
Dreamy flew in circles, looking at Suzan, then gliding over to Jen. He clicked his tongue:
"Hmph, these weak illusions are really annoying!"
Mai turned to Nguyen:
"Nguyen, can you break the illusion so the two of them can reunite…please…?"
Nguyen, arms crossed, had been watching everything. He turned away indifferently:
"That's not my concern…"
Then he paused for a moment:
"But if it helps Long grow stronger for a rematch—and helps me recover the cores of the AI King Witch… then I'll lend you a hand."
Nguyen stood still, turning to look at Jen and Suzan. His Eye of Eris suddenly glowed with an eerie red light. The crimson glow transformed into tens of thousands of hands, reaching toward Jen and Suzan.
Jen felt an invisible pressure. She immediately clutched her face, breathing heavily… a dark aura began to emanate from her, similar to the energy of Mary and Alice.
The black smoke began to gather, forming into a single eye.
The eye was amber-colored, with a ruby-red pupil, slit like a cat's eye. It radiated a sinister pressure, surrounded by violently rising black fumes. It scanned Long, Mai, Dreamy, and Nguyen:
"Who dares to interfere with my 'garden'?!"
Nguyen spoke coldly:
"So you're the one behind this evil illusion!"
The eye burst into laughter:
"Evil? Hahaha—your Eye of Eris is a hundred times worse than me. And you dare judge me?"
Then it turned toward Jen, its gaze cold and devouring as it shouted:
"Jen, you useless girl—kill them all for me!"
At once, the eyes of the AI Witch Baku following Jen began to glow. Jen relaxed her body, her gaze drifting into emptiness as she murmured:
"Kill… kill them all…"
A tremendous surge of energy erupted from her body, accompanied by a strange black flame. The surrounding dust was blown away, forming a circular vacuum.
She dashed toward Mai and Suzan, preparing a devastating strike. Nguyen instantly teleported both of them to the stands ten meters away, then he teleported behind Jen and delivered a kick that sent her crashing forward.
Jen flipped through the air, spinning several times before landing. As she touched down, her fist, wrapped in a sphere of energy, came crashing down toward Nguyen.
Long raised a shield to protect Nguyen.
The battle between Jen, Nguyen, and Long began.