I Became a Spirit in Date A Live, but I Refuse to Date

Ellen came at Lingmeng again, swinging her Light Sword to deliver the final blow.

Just as the blade was about to strike, Lingmeng's body seemed to turn into a projection. She was still standing there, yet Ellen's Light Sword somehow passed right through her.

"What?!" Ellen cried in shock.

Lingmeng seized the opening and swung the Elemental Spirit hard at Ellen's abdomen.

Ellen tried to dodge, but her body moved inexplicably slowly, as though someone had cast a spell on her.

Slash!

A wound nearly eight inches long opened across Ellen's abdomen, and blood poured out.

Fortunately, Lingmeng had held back. The cut was shallow enough that immediate treatment with a Territory would heal it before long.

Clutching her wound, Ellen asked, "Was that your power too?"

"Yeah. I used the darkness element to make my body intangible. Then, when you tried to dodge, I used time to slow you down."

Lingmeng revealed her abilities without a second thought. She knew Ellen posed no threat to her now that she was in the mood for a fight.

"Haha! Isaac was right. Your Angel really is a nuisance! In all my years as the strongest Wizard, you're the first Spirit who's managed to hurt me!"

Ellen suddenly burst into wild laughter.

"Do you still want to fight? The cut I gave you isn't deep, but leaving it untreated could still cause trouble."

Lingmeng was a little concerned about Ellen's wound. She had caused it, after all. Of course, if Ellen wanted to keep fighting, Lingmeng was happy to oblige.

"Element Make, I'll spare your life this time. You're the first opponent in years to get me excited. I didn't understand your powers this time, but the next time we meet, I'll hunt you down!"

Ellen delivered her grand threat without the slightest regard for her current predicament.

"Sure, sure." Lingmeng waved dismissively, then muttered, "Just admit you can't beat me. Blaming it on not knowing my powers? What a sore loser."

With that, Lingmeng saw no reason to stay. She took flight and used the power of wind to cover several miles in an instant.

"Oh man, that scared me to death. That was the first time I've ever cut someone badly enough to draw blood. My legs nearly gave out."

Lingmeng flew at high speed, pressing a hand to her chest as she spoke.

In her previous life, Lingmeng had been a homebody. When had she ever seen anything so bloody? If Ellen hadn't been standing right in front of her, she would have lost her composure long ago.

Ellen, the world's strongest Wizard? Better avoid that woman from now on.

In theory, Lingmeng could have used her powers to thrash Ellen like a little kid. The problem was that she couldn't bring herself to hurt anyone.

So the best solution was not to meet her. No meeting, no problem.

"Lady Ellen, are you all right?"

The SSS members watched Ellen in concern. For some reason, she had suddenly dropped to her knees.

"I'm fine. This little scratch will heal soon."

Ellen spoke with difficulty. The confident woman from moments ago now looked like a gravely injured patient.

In truth, Lingmeng's relentless attacks had already pushed Ellen's body close to its limit. But with Lingmeng still there, she had forced herself to hold on.

Now that Lingmeng was gone, Ellen had no reason to keep up the act. Her strength left her, and she collapsed to her knees.

And so Ellen, our invincible, strongest Wizard, went down!

Good Grief! The Mosaic Came to Life!

"Ah, finally, some peace and quiet."

Sitting on a rock, Lingmeng wiped the sweat from her forehead.

She was in a forest, keeping clear of the SSS and Ellen in case they came after her again.

The United Kingdom really was an industrial powerhouse, with towns seemingly everywhere. Lingmeng had flown for ages before finding this forest, nearly exhausting herself in the process.

"Well, I'll stay here until I return to the neighboring world on my own."

She pulled out the phone she had bought not long ago.

She had to admit, the phone had been worth the money. She carried it around through all her clashes with the SSS, yet it still hadn't broken. That surprised her.

Lingmeng used her powers to connect to the internet, opened an app on her phone, and started browsing Bilibili.

Yes, Bilibili. It wasn't because the app existed in this world; Lingmeng had used her powers to download it.

After buying her phone with Shido Itsuka, she had discovered that she could apparently install apps from her previous life with her powers.

Lingmeng had no idea why. She simply took it as a perk of crossing into this world and didn't think much more about it.

"Hello, everyone! I'm CXK, an independent trainee with two and a half years of practice. I like singing, dancing, rap, basketball, and music! You're so beautiful..."

"Even if I, Wang Jingze, starve to death, jump from here, and die out there, I won't eat a bite of your food!... Oh man, that's delicious!"

"Private Number One LBW, ready for duty!... One-shot me? You think you can one-shot me? If you manage to one-shot me, LBW, I'll eat this computer screen right here!"

"No matter what difficulties you face, don't be afraid. Face them with a smile. The best way to overcome fear is to face it. Let's go!"

"Brothers, there's nothing you can think of that I, Lao Ba, can't do. Today I'm going to eat poop for you. Bottoms up, brothers! Let's go!... Urgh."

"Hahahaha! I'm dying! These classics never get old, no matter how many times I watch them!"

Lingmeng held her stomach as she laughed at the videos on her phone. They were some of the most popular meme edits from her previous life, and she never tired of watching them.

A little while later, Lingmeng abruptly turned off her phone. She summoned the Elemental Spirit and shouted at the seemingly empty forest around her.

"Come out! Stop hiding. I spotted you ages ago!"

"Oh? When did you notice me?"

The voice was neither clearly male nor female, with a hint of electronic distortion.

"I knew the moment you arrived. I just wanted a break, so I didn't say anything."

"What frightening powers of observation."

Footsteps sounded behind Lingmeng.

"Thanks for the compliment!" Lingmeng turned around, ready to speak, then froze.

"A... Mosaic?"

That was all she could make out. She couldn't tell the figure's build, age, or gender; a thick layer of mosaic obscured the person entirely.

What the hell is that? Did a mosaic come to life? I thought that wasn't allowed after the founding of the People's Republic!

Lingmeng stared in astonishment.

"Why do I get the feeling you're thinking something rude?"

The Mosaic sounded puzzled by her expression.

"Ahem. You're imagining things!" Lingmeng composed herself and asked sternly, "Who are you? Did the SSS send you to kill me?"

"Don't worry. I have nothing to do with the SSS. Besides, if we fought, you might not beat me. Who I am isn't important. I came to ask you one question."

The Mosaic spoke calmly, making it clear that there was no hostility toward Lingmeng.

"What question? We've never even met. What could you possibly want to ask me?"

"How did you become a Spirit? I don't have a Spirit Crystal with power like yours, and I've never given you one."

The Mosaic put the question plainly.

Lingmeng fell silent for a moment, then replied, "I don't know. I've been like this from the start. I've never seen a Spirit Crystal. I'd never even heard of one."

Lingmeng had no intention of mentioning Xier Ya, so she decided to lie to the Mosaic.

"...I see. Could you be like me?" the Mosaic murmured after a moment's thought.

"What do you mean, like you? And what exactly is a Spirit Crystal?"

"A Spirit Crystal is a Spirit's core. Put simply, it's something like a Spirit's heart. All of a Spirit's power comes from it."

Ignoring the first question, the Mosaic answered only the second.

"I see. So are you a Spirit too? And when you said you didn't have my Spirit Crystal and had never given me one, did you mean you can create Spirit Crystals and have given them to other humans?"

Lingmeng fired off another string of questions.

"You don't need to concern yourself with all that. I've been watching you for a while. Your attitude and your command of your Angel are both excellent, so I can leave you alone without worrying."

"Why do you sound like a mother talking to her child before they leave home?"

The corner of Lingmeng's mouth twitched.

"...Well, we've talked long enough. I should go. If you ever grow tired of this life, visit Tengu City. I can promise you a new life there."

Tengu City? Why does that sound so familiar? Oh, hell, I was there just a week ago! It didn't change me at all!

Remembering her visit, Lingmeng couldn't imagine why the Mosaic wanted her to go there.

"Wait! Don't leave! I still have a lot to ask you!"

Lingmeng rushed forward to grab the Mosaic, but just before she could touch the figure, the Mosaic inexplicably vanished.

"What was that? Shows up whenever they want, leaves whenever they want, and runs off halfway through a conversation. What did they even come here for?"

Lingmeng put away the Elemental Spirit and stamped her foot in frustration.

"Forget it! I'll visit Tengu City again if I get the chance. I want to see what kind of 'new life' I'm supposed to find there."

She put the encounter out of her mind, sat back down on the rock, and picked up her phone to play a game and improve her mood.

The Purple-Haired Girl, Shido, and Lingmeng

"Heh. Tengu City, I'm finally back!"

Standing on the concrete, Lingmeng folded her arms and smiled.

A month had passed since she met the strange Mosaic. That meant she had now been in this world for two months and a week.

Why did she dare return today? Over the past two months, she had gradually learned to control how long she remained in the human world.

This phenomenon was known as Manifestation Suspension.

"It's been over a month since I came here. I wonder where that kid Shido is? Since I've made the trip, I should catch up with him if I see him."

Lingmeng looked up at the sky with a smile. After all, Shido Itsuka was the only person in this city she knew at all.

"Wooo... Wooo... Wooo..."

"Ah, there's a familiar sound... Huh?!"

Hearing the familiar alarm, Lingmeng's eyes widened.

The people who had been passing by her fled at the sound. Soon, she was the only one left standing there.

"What the hell? Why is the Spacequake alarm going off? I thought I could control Spacequakes now! Did it stop working?"

Lingmeng stared at her hands in disbelief. By all rights, she shouldn't be causing a Spacequake anymore. So what was happening?

Just then, Lingmeng sensed a group of people flying toward her. She didn't need to guess who they were: the AST.

"You've got to be kidding. They're here already?"

Lingmeng grimaced as the AST approached.

"I just got back. Do I really have to fight the moment I arrive?"

She sighed and was about to summon the Elemental Spirit when she realized the AST members had flown straight past her, heading somewhere behind her.

"Wait. They're not after me?" Lingmeng tilted her head, puzzled, then a thought struck her. "If they're not here to kill me, and I didn't set off the Spacequake alarm, does that mean another Spirit has appeared in this city?"

While Lingmeng was still thinking, a sudden boom sounded behind her.

A hot gust swept over her, sending her long hair flying.

When Lingmeng turned around, she saw that a Spacequake had opened a huge crater a few hundred yards behind her.