Meanwhile, Raven, the mysterious magical girl, wandered through the quiet neighborhood, her eyes darting left and right as if searching for something — or someone.
Just then, a voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Hey, hello there~ Are you looking for that handsome guy you're destined to meet?"
"Ah!"
Startled, Raven jumped back. She had been so focused on her search that Lin Yi's sudden appearance nearly scared the soul out of her.
"Oh, my bad! I didn't mean to pop out of nowhere like that," Lin Yi said apologetically.
"…"
Seeing that it was just an ordinary young man about her age, Raven's expression darkened instantly.
"What do you want?" she asked, her tone low and slightly irritated.
"Nothing much," Lin Yi shrugged casually. "I just noticed you seemed to be looking for something, so I got curious and came over to ask."
Raven fell silent, her brows furrowing as she narrowed her eyes.
"It's none of your business," she said coldly before brushing past him in annoyance.
"Haha, come on now. Don't be like that. Let's be friendly! Maybe make a new friend out of a stranger who just happened to appear?" Lin Yi teased, following her.
"Look, I don't mean any harm. I'm just curious — why is Trigon's daughter wandering around the streets alone?"
"!!!"
Raven froze. His words hit her nerves like a bolt of lightning.
Before she could even think, four glowing purple chains of magic shot out from her body, wrapping tightly around Lin Yi's arms and legs!
"Hey, easy there, pretty girl~ I told you I come in peace," Lin Yi chuckled despite being restrained. His relaxed attitude and shameless flirting made the situation even more absurd.
But to the bystanders, it was no joke — they screamed and scattered, clearing the area in terror.
"Did my father send you?" Raven's voice was laced with hostility.
"Nope!" Lin Yi replied cheerfully. "But even if I tell you the truth, I doubt you'll believe me. So tell me, do you have a spell or some magic trinket that can tell if I'm lying? Because if you do, I suggest using it — so you don't keep misunderstanding me."
His quick thinking made Raven hesitate for a moment.
"Stop talking nonsense. Just tell me the truth."
"Alright, alright," Lin Yi said. "But don't say I didn't warn you — what I'm about to tell you is going to sound insane."
And so, Lin Yi explained everything: how he was a transmigrator, a soul who had crossed over from another world.
"You're lying," Raven said flatly once he finished.
"Hahaha~ See? Told you you wouldn't believe me, you cute little goth girl."
Raven was speechless for a moment.
"Then how do you prove what you're saying is true?" she asked finally.
"Simple," Lin Yi grinned. "If I really worked for your father, wouldn't I have just attacked you? Why would I reveal myself and get caught in your chains like an idiot?"
Raven frowned, considering his words.
"And besides," Lin Yi continued, "do you really think your dad — that cosmic-level demon overlord — would hire someone like me? Handsome, charming, and dumb enough to openly mock him?"
That did it. Raven sighed, realizing he probably wasn't lying.
With a flick of her wrist, the glowing chains dissolved into mist.
"Good! Glad we cleared that up," Lin Yi said, rubbing his wrists with a grin. "So tell me, if what I said is true, the reason I know who you are is because you're actually a comic book character in my world, right?"
"That's… what you're saying?" Raven raised an eyebrow.
"Exactly!" Lin Yi replied. "And there's nothing strange about that, really. For all we know, we might both be characters in someone else's story. You know that saying, 'You can't see the true face of Mount Lu because you're inside the mountain'? That's what it means."
"What? What does that even mean?" Raven asked, confused.
Lin Yi chuckled awkwardly and began to explain.
"It means — the reason you can't see the full mountain is because you're inside it. People outside can see it clearly. So, maybe the reason you don't realize you're in a comic is because you are a character in one."
"Oh… I see. So you mean I can't realize it because I'm part of it?"
"Exactly!" Lin Yi beamed, happy she understood.
"I get it," Raven said slowly, "but I still don't believe I'm a comic character. There's no proof."
"Haha~ That's the right attitude," Lin Yi said with a wink. "Half the time, even I don't believe what I say."
Raven stared at him, utterly baffled.
"So, what exactly are you looking for?" Lin Yi asked, lacing his hands behind his head. "You've finally escaped your father's control. Shouldn't you be enjoying life?"
"I don't have that kind of time," Raven said quietly. "If I can't stop what's coming, this world will end — just like all the others my father destroyed."
"Is that so? Sounds serious," Lin Yi said, tilting his head. "But somehow, I doubt it'll be that easy for your father to destroy this world. There might be beings here even he fears."
"Hmph. That's impossible. My father is the most evil and powerful demon in the multiverse. No being on Earth could ever surpass him."
Lin Yi chuckled and shook his head.
"Not necessarily. Ever heard of Lucifer?"
"Lucifer? You mean the so-called 'Lord of Hell' from human myths?"
"Yup. I'm guessing your dad wouldn't stand much of a chance against him — and definitely not against the Big Guy upstairs."
"Hmph! You don't understand anything," Raven said, turning away, clearly unimpressed.
"Alright, alright, no point arguing over which comic character is stronger," Lin Yi said with a laugh. "Tell me — what exactly are you looking for?"
"...Spatial rifts," Raven finally admitted.
"Wow~ You mean those rifts that let alternate versions of ourselves cross between worlds?" Lin Yi joked.
"Something like that."
"Wait—seriously?" Lin Yi blinked.
Raven nodded.
"My father plans to use these rifts to unleash his demons into this world. If that happens, everything here will be destroyed. I can't let that happen."
"That's… actually pretty heroic," Lin Yi admitted. "But you're doing this alone?"
"Do I have a choice? I don't have anyone else to help me."
Lin Yi smiled softly.
"That's not true. You've got me, don't you?"
"…You?" Raven turned to eye him skeptically. "What could you possibly do? You don't even know magic."
"True, I don't," Lin Yi said confidently. "But when it comes to fighting, I'm top-notch. Just recently, I took down a giant rhino monster."
"Rhino monsters and interdimensional demons aren't on the same level," Raven replied coldly. "You've only fought enhanced humans. The creatures I face are real monsters."
"All the better," Lin Yi grinned. "You'll see what I can do soon enough. If what you say is true, then I have to help. After all, I live here now — and I'd rather not have my new world destroyed."
Raven sighed in resignation.
"Fine. Do what you want. But don't expect me to save you when things go south."
Lin Yi smirked.
"Don't worry, Goth girl. If you get hurt, I'll be there to protect you."
Raven rolled her eyes.
"Hmph. You're insufferable."
Lin Yi just laughed.
And that was how the unlikely partnership between the transmigrator Lin Yi and the half-demon sorceress Raven began.