Ark Simulator: Don't I Have No Physical Form?

[There's blood on the knife.] Su Rui's words suddenly turned solemn. [Your blood.]

Moe Moe Xiang paused for a moment, then looked down at her finger—there was a small cut there, from when she pulled out the knife.

"So..." her voice trembled slightly, "That knife... recognized me?"

Hoshiguma's green hair gleamed coldly under the light. "Temporary."

She walked to Moe Moe Xiang's refrigerator, took out a bottle of mineral water, and tossed it to her. "Drink this, then go to sleep."

Moe Moe Xiang hurriedly caught the water bottle. "But those people..."

"I'm here." Hoshiguma's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable strength. "Go to sleep."

Moe Moe Xiang opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she obediently unscrewed the cap and took a small sip.

Hoshiguma walked to the window and looked out at the street through the gap in the curtains. The night was deep, the fog was thick, and the whole street was so quiet that it seemed to be isolated from the world.

[The men from Mifune found nothing at Naniwa House.] Su Rui's light dust sketched a distant scene before her eyes: [They were searching towards the port.]

Hoshiguma's lips curled into a slight smile, "Idiot."

Moe Moe Xiang was curled up on the sofa, her eyelids already drooping. She forced herself to look at Hoshiguma: "Oni-neechan... aren't you going to sleep?"

"I won't sleep."

"And... what about Mr. Su Rui?" Moe Moe Xiang asked sleepily, "Does he need to sleep?"

The phone screen lit up, and Su Rui's text appeared: [I don't need it.]

Moe Moe Xiang let out an "oh" and slowly closed her eyes. Her breathing gradually became steady, and her fingers were still tightly gripping Hoshiguma's clothes, as if afraid that she would leave.

Hoshiguma looked down at her sleeping idol, the silver dust in her green hair gently brushing against her cheek, wiping away the tear stains from the corners of her eyes.

[She's relying on you.] Su Rui's voice carried a hint of amusement.

Hoshiguma snorted softly, "Troublesome brat."

But she didn't shake off Moe Moe Xiang's hand; she simply stood quietly by the window, letting her idol hold onto the hem of her dress. The night breeze stirred the curtains, and starlight filtered through the gaps, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

As the morning light pierced through the thin mist of the Smithing Town, Hoshiguma stood at the window of Moe Moe Xiang's apartment, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the cracks on the edge of the Hannya Shield. The light dust of Su Rui flowed before her eyes, outlining a three-dimensional projection of the Tetsusai Workshop—an old man with white hair was hammering a piece of red metal in front of a furnace, sparks flying onto his muscular arms.

It's time to recast.

Su Rui's voice was like cold water quenching fire, washing over Hoshiguma's nerves. She looked down at the sleeping Moe Moe Xiang —the little idol curled up on the sofa, still clutching the hem of her clothes, with oden sauce on her lips.

"Now?" Hoshiguma gently pried open Moe Moe Xiang's fingers with her fingertips.

[While the people from Mifune are still searching the port.] The light dust coalesces into a 3D map of the Smithing Town, [There's a secret passage beneath the workshop leading directly to the mine.]

Hoshiguma's green hair brushed against Moe Moe Xiang's forehead, and a wisp of silver dust quietly slipped into the idol's earring, transforming into a faint protective barrier. She turned and walked towards the entrance, the Hannya Shield gleaming with an old bronze hue in the morning light—the gap slashed by Chixiao was like a scar that would never heal.

*

The workshop in Tetsusai was hotter than I remembered.

When Hoshiguma pushed open the heavy iron door, a wave of heat, carrying the smell of rust, rushed out. The old blacksmith didn't even look up; his hammer struck the red-hot blade, sparks flying like meteors across the tips of Hoshiguma's boots.

"Ten years too late." Tetsusai's voice mingled with the clanging of metal. "Give me the shield."

Hoshiguma removed the Hannya Shield, the clanging of metal startling the tabby cat lying on the tool rack. The old cat raised its tail, its amber vertical pupils mirroring Hoshiguma's.

Tetsusai finally looked up, sweat etched deep furrows on his face. His gaze swept over Hoshiguma's sword, pausing slightly when he saw the silver bell at her waist. "The Su family brat is here too?"

Light dust flowed from Hoshiguma's green hair, condensing into the outline of a Silver Wolf above the anvil, its head bowed as it gently sniffed Tetsusai's hammer handle.

"Hmph." The old blacksmith tossed the Hannya Shield into the furnace. "Go to the back and change your clothes."

On a wooden crate in the back room of the workshop sat a dusty lacquer box. When Hoshiguma lifted the lid, the dust that rose danced in the beam of light—inside was a set of dark blue swords, with wavy lines embroidered on the cuffs, the very style she most often wore before leaving the Smithing Town.

You look good in blue.

Su Rui's silvery dust swirled around her collar, smoothing out the wrinkles like an invisible hand. Hoshiguma's ears burned slightly, and she quickly brushed the dust away. "Enough nonsense."

As she finished fastening the last strap, Tetsusai's footsteps came from outside the door. The old man, carrying a long wooden box, his beard still smudged with soot, said, "Try it."

Inside the box was an unsharpened, plain katana, its scabbard as black as night, the hilt rope wrapped in Hoshiguma's unique "Oni Knot." The moment she drew the sword, the blade pattern rippled like ocean waves in the morning light—a forging style identical to that of the broken sword.

"It's made from Star Iron from the mine." Tetsusai tapped the ground with the handle of his hammer. "It was prepared ten years ago, thinking that one day some wicked disciple would come back to retrieve it."

Volume 16, Ritual 899

Hoshiguma's fingertips traced the blade, the metallic hum resonating through her entire body via her finger bones. The sword was breathing, calling out, resonating with the Oni Clan power within her bloodline.

[The knife that has recognized its master.] Su Rui's light dust enveloped the tip of the blade, [it is waiting for you.]

Tetsusai suddenly grabbed Hoshiguma's wrist and pressed her palm against the red-hot anvil. A sharp pain shot through her, but she remained motionless, letting her skin hiss and scorch under the intense heat.

"If it hurts, just cry out." The old man sneered, "Still as stubborn as ever."

Hoshiguma's pupils contracted in the heat, but the burning pain in her palm made her thoughts exceptionally clear—this was the inheritance ritual of the Oni Clan's blacksmiths, a pact between flesh and metal. When she withdrew her hand, the charred palm prints on the hilt of the sword were instantly absorbed.

Suddenly, the blade glowed with eerie blue patterns, spreading across its edge like veins. Tetsusai nodded in satisfaction, then turned and took a pair of black leather arm guards from the wall. "Su family brat."

The light dust coalesced into a physical form, and Su Rui's phantom took the arm armor. He lightly tapped the metal joint with his fingertip—the mechanism clicked open, revealing a miniature Originium circuit hidden inside.

[Improved Conductive Device.] Su Rui fastened the arm armor to Hoshiguma's right arm. [This will enhance your Oni Clan power.]

As the leather straps tightened automatically, Hoshiguma felt a strange energy flowing through her veins. She instinctively swung her sword, the blade cleaving through the iron barrel three meters away, leaving a smooth, mirror-like cut.

"The mine key." Tetsusai suddenly reached out. "It's back to its rightful owner."

Hoshiguma took out the muddy key that Moe Moe Xiang had brought from his pocket, only to find that the patina had faded and the three-scaled bloodstains had turned into dark silver starlight—traces that had been purified by Su Rui.

The old man pressed the key into the hidden slot of the anvil, and the ground suddenly shook. A downward staircase slowly cracked open behind the furnace, and the stench of decaying iron mixed with the blue light of Originium surged up.

"The Mifune dug seven mine tunnels," Tetsusai's voice echoed underground, "But the deepest door can only be opened with your blood."

Hoshiguma's green hair glowed faintly in the Originium radiation, and her new sword trembled slightly in its sheath. She glanced back at the workshop entrance, and the image of Moe Moe Xiang seemed to still be curled up on the sofa in her memory.

[She will be safe.] Su Rui's light dust coiled around the hilt of her sword. [I left my protection.]

As Hoshiguma's boots touched the first step, the Originium circuitry in her arm armor resonated with the blade, emitting a long, drawn-out hum. Tetsusai's figure blurred at the top of the stairs; only his hoarse voice remained, as piercing as it had been ten years ago:

"Remember this, kid—"

"When you hold a shield, you are the city wall."

"When you wield a sword, you are lightning."

Darkness swallowed the last rays of light. Hoshiguma's demon horns glowed with an eerie blue light in the mine tunnel, and the new sword trembled hungrily in its sheath. Su Rui's light dust swirled around her like Milky Way, illuminating the old claw marks on the rock wall—marks she had carved with her fingernails during her first mining experience in her youth.

[The Mifune are below.] Su Rui's energy swept across the vein, [and he activated the Originium Resonator.]

Hoshiguma pushed the tsuba (handguard) open by three inches with her thumb, the wavy edge reflecting her ghostly eyes. "Perfect."

"It's time to show our old friends--"

"How do ghosts kill people?"

Inside Tetsusai's workshop, the flames from the furnace cast a dark red glow on the walls. Hoshiguma stood beside the anvil, the newly forged katana gleaming with a ghostly blue blade pattern in her hand. Su Rui's aura swirled around her, like a silent guardian.

Suddenly, the workshop door was gently pushed open, and the woman in black stepped in silently—Ling's snake-shaped tattoo gleamed coldly in the firelight. Her gaze calmly swept over Hoshiguma and Tetsusai, finally settling on Su Rui's light dust.

"Mifune's orders were to kill Tetsusai and take Hannya," Ling's voice was soft, yet every word was clear, "But I have no intention of carrying them out."

Hoshiguma's thumb rested on the hilt of his sword, his eyes sharp. "Reason?"

Ling raised her wrist, the snake tattoo shimmering slightly—it was Su Rui's hacker mark, proving that she had already been turned.

"[She's mine.]" Su Rui's voice echoed in Hoshiguma's mind. "[I already knew about Mifune's plan.]"

Ling took out a miniature projector from his pocket and pressed the switch. A holographic image of Mifune appeared; he stood in the secret chamber of the Metalstone Society, sneering at a few trusted confidants, " With Tetsusai dead, the blacksmiths of Smithing Town will submit to me. As for Hoshiguma's shield—that's just a symbol; what I want is her name."

Hoshiguma's pupils contracted slightly. Mifune had never truly cared about the Hannya Shield itself; what he wanted was the reputation of the "Demon," and for the people of the Smithing Town to fear him as much as they feared Hoshiguma.

"He thought that by killing Tetsusai, he could take your place in the Smithing Town." Ling's voice carried a hint of mockery. "Foolish."

Tetsusai snorted coldly, slamming his hammer heavily on the anvil. "That kid Mifune couldn't even keep proper accounts ten years ago, and now he wants to be a warlord?"

Just then, the workshop door was pushed open again— Moe Moe Xiang rushed in, panting, her pink twin ponytails sticking up messily, and she was still clutching the silver bell earring in her hand.

"Ghost, Ghost Sister!" she gasped, "Mifune's men are coming this way!"

Hoshiguma frowned. "Why are you here?"

Moe Moe Xiang pointed to the earring. "Mr. Su Rui sent me! He said..." She suddenly saw Ling and jumped back in fright, "Ah! It's you!"

Ling glanced at her indifferently and said nothing.

[She's an ally now.] Su Rui's light dust coalesced into words before Moe Moe Xiang: [No need to be afraid.]

Moe Moe Xiang blinked and cautiously leaned closer to Hoshiguma: "So... what's going on now?"

Hoshiguma didn't answer, but looked at Rei: "How much longer until Mifune's men arrive?"

"Ten minutes," Ling said calmly. "He'll lead the team himself."

Tetsusai sneered and took a heavy forging hammer from the wall, "Perfect, saves me the trouble of going to find him."

Hoshiguma tapped her fingertips lightly on the hilt of her sword, her gaze sweeping over everyone in the workshop— Tetsusai, Rei, Moe Moe Xiang, and Su Rui's light dust surrounding her.

"Mifune wants a title?" Her voice was low and carried a hint of danger. "Then let him see for himself how a real 'demon' kills."

Moe Moe Xiang swallowed hard and asked softly, "I... is there anything I can do to help?"

Hoshiguma glanced at her, then suddenly reached out and ruffled her hair. "Stay hidden, don't cause any trouble."

Su Rui's radiant dust formed a barrier around Moe Moe Xiang: [Stay here, don't make a sound.]

Footsteps grew louder outside the workshop. Mifune's voice drifted over from afar. "Tetsusai! I know you're in there!"

Hoshiguma's green hair fluttered slightly in the firelight, her new sword unsheathed, its blade pattern flowing like ocean waves. She looked at Rei: "Are you sure you won't regret this?"

Ling's snake tattoo flickered. "I only follow the winners."

Tetsusai shouldered the forging hammer, grinned, and said, "Kid, let me see if you've regressed in the last ten years."

Hoshiguma's lips curled into a slight smile, "Old man, don't hold me back."

Outside the door, Mifune's shadow was already reflected on the window.

Battle is imminent.

The 900 bomb in Volume 16 was cancelled.

The furnace flames of the Tetsusai Workshop illuminated the four iron walls in a crimson glow. Hoshiguma's fingers traced the blade pattern of her newly forged katana, the metal surface reflecting her faintly gleaming demon horns. Su Rui's light dust wove a fine net in the air, taking in the energy fluctuations of the entire Smithing Town.

"How many men did Mifune bring?" Hoshiguma pressed his thumb against the hilt of his sword, the scabbard emitting a faint hum.

Ling's serpentine tattoo glowed with a blue light like a stream of data. "Twenty-seven, including four Originium Arts users." She paused abruptly, "But he deployed his main force at the mine entrance—this is just a feint."

Tetsusai slammed his forging hammer down on the anvil, sparks flying onto Hoshiguma's boot tips. "A diversionary tactic? That little brat's gotten clever."

Moe Moe Xiang huddled behind the tool rack when the silver bell earring in her hand suddenly began to vibrate. Startled, she looked up and saw Su Rui's light dust condensing into an arrow in her palm, pointing towards the hidden door in the back wall.

"Ghost Sister!" she exclaimed softly, "Mr. Su Rui said that over at the mine..."

Hoshiguma's green hair suddenly moved on its own without wind, the silver dust swirling around the ends of her hair standing on end like a bristling beast's tail. Su Rui's warning signal pierced her nerves directly— Mifune's real target was the "Oni's Tear," the core crystal buried deep in the mine, the one that could activate the entire Originium Vein in the Smithing Town.

"Old man," Hoshiguma's knife suddenly pointed to the back door, "Take Moe Moe Xiang through the secret passage to the shrine."

Tetsusai narrowed his one eye. "You want to take on Mifune all by yourself?"

"No." Hoshiguma's lips curled into a cold smile. "I'll make him watch his own plans crumble."

The workshop door was suddenly flung open with tremendous force, Mifune stood backlit. He wore a kimono embroidered with gold thread, but a modern gun was tucked into his waistband; this incongruous combination revealed a nouveau riche's ambition.

"Hoshiguma." He bowed exaggeratedly, "Ten years have passed, and you're still the same..."

The blade flashed like lightning, cleaving through the dimly lit workshop. Mifune staggered backward, a few strands of his severed hair slowly drifting down— Hoshiguma's katana was already pressed against his Adam's apple, the tip less than half an inch from his skin.

"Enough with the nonsense." Hoshiguma's green eyes gleamed eerily in the shadows. "The ' Oni's Tear ' in the mine are too dangerous for you to handle."

Mifune's smile froze on his face. He hadn't expected his true objective to be exposed so quickly, and he certainly hadn't expected Hoshiguma to be even faster than she had been ten years ago.

"You've misunderstood." His Adam's apple bobbed beneath the knife. "I've only come to reclaim what belongs to the Metalstone Society..."

"Belongs to the Metalstone Society?" Tetsusai's sneer came from behind. "When your father was kneeling and begging me to be the forging director, why didn't he say such things?"

Suddenly, Moe Moe Xiang peeked out from behind Tetsusai: "He... he has something glowing red at his waist!"

Mifune's expression changed drastically. His hand had just reached for his belt when Rei's kunai pierced his sleeve, pinning him firmly to the doorframe. A snake-shaped tattoo darted across Rei's wrist. "Chairman, you're too hasty."

"Traitors!" Mifune roared, pressing the button on his belt. "Die, all of you!"