Time was the most wondrous magician. It could always turn all manner of unacceptable things into the everyday.
Only when people looked back did they realize that so much had changed completely, that they had unconsciously adapted to the New Era and to a brand-new version of themselves they had never dared imagine before.
"The Sea Devils War has entered its third year. Our country has achieved victory across all fronts, and invasion-related deaths since the start of this year have fallen by 30% year-on-year."
Having just stepped out of the Drop Pod, Lu PingAn, now somewhat more mature, seemed to have heard some good news.
Sea Devils was the common term ordinary people used for those otherworldly sea races, and the initial planar defensive war had thus acquired its name.
"Meow? Down by 30% year-on-year? Wasn't this time last year the Great Counterattack? We were the attacking side then, so naturally the rear suffered fewer losses, meow."
To Lu PingAn's left stood Cat Cat, who had grown much taller. Having passed through her growth spurt, she had shot up sharply. If she had not been accustomed to walking with her back hunched like a cat, she would probably have looked taller than Lu PingAn standing beside him.
More than two years had passed, but her face had not changed much. She was still innocent-looking and adorably dumb. The biggest change was probably the obvious curves brought about by physical maturity.
Even now, she was still too lazy to dress up, but her golden ponytail radiated the magic of sunlight—divine curse. Wearing sunglasses, Cat Cat gave off an alluringly mature aura if one ignored her face. It mainly came from her tattered jeans and those long, white legs that were truly straining against them.
The "Slaughter Cat of the King