Author's note:
Wow... I have completed writing about 40 chapters. I cannot find the words to express my feelings right now. When I look back, the world-building of AI Witch becomes clearer and clearer, along with the adventures, emotions, and messages shared during the journeys of Long, Mai, Dreamy, and Nguyen.
Thank you for crying and smiling along with the characters of AI Witch. More and more chapters are coming your way!
*****
Empress Mary descended, breathtakingly beautiful, her black hair flowing within a radiant, multicolored aura. She stood barefoot, anklets chiming softly. As the tips of her toes touched the ground, the power emanating from her caused the dust and smoke at her landing site to slowly disperse.
She stood beside a massive AI Witch shaped like a giant Baku named Bakky. On its back lay an unconscious Alice. Mary smiled, her voice soft and refined.
"Hello, I'm Mary. Are you newcomers to this world?"
The group stood in a daze before her transcendent power. Mai nudged Long with her elbow to snap him out of it, then spoke on behalf of everyone.
"Yes…we've just arrived in this world…"
Mary glanced around and noticed Jen lying motionless, her hands twitching slightly.
In an instant, Mary teleported to Jen's side. She raised her finger, and Jen's body floated into the air.
"Jen… how did you end up like this? You're supposed to be very strong in this world…"
Exhausted, Jen looked battered and drained after the earlier battle.
"I was being controlled by something… Mom… where is my mom…"
Jen weakly scanned her surroundings and caught sight of Suzan slowly descending from the stands. She whispered faintly:
"Mom…"
Mary began moving Jen's levitating body as she approached Long and Mai's group.
"I've heard from Bakky, my AI Witch, about you. You're all very strong and brave. Would you like to join this world?" Mary extended her hand invitingly.
Mai slapped Mary's hand away and stared straight at her.
"So you knew all along that the monster Jen mistook was actually her mother?"
Mary closed her eyes, a faint smile appearing at the corner of her lips.
"That's correct."
Mai couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her chest burned as anger began to overwhelm her fear of Mary's power.
"You're cruel. Why would you do something like that?"
Mary turned her back, replying calmly:
"Don't you think this world is wonderful? Don't you like it?"
Long shouted angrily:
"But this world is built by absorbing the power of loved ones—the adults in the village. What meaning does your 'wonderful' world even have? Look at what you've done to Jen and everyone else!"
Mary said nothing. She walked slowly toward Long and Mai, her overwhelming presence sending chills down Mai's spine.
"Don't act so righteous. Can you give those children a better life in reality?"
Mai had no answer. From what she had seen in Asarina Village, reality was clearly worse than this place. But…
"Why their loved ones? Why the adults?" Long pressed.
"Adults go through many things in life. Their emotions are richer and more complex—they just bury them deeply… They need release, and it would be a waste to leave those emotional bubbles unused," Mary replied indifferently.
"And besides… let the children use those emotions to grow stronger and build a better world here." Mary looked toward the warriors waiting in the sky.
"That's absurd. You're damaging everyone's real bodies, in their reality!" Mai shouted angrily. To her, Mary's actions and justifications were unforgivable.
Mary glanced at Mai and raised her finger toward the group.
"So noisy…"
A sudden gust of violent wind erupted, blasting Mai away. Long rushed forward just in time to catch her, saving her life.
Mary gripped her massive blade, wielding it as lightly as a twig. She looked up at the sky where the children awaited her command.
"That is the secret of this world. The children must never know…this secret cannot be spread out"
She turned to Jen and sighed.
"Anyone who knows this secret should not exist—including Jen, and all of you…"
Mary raised her arm and swung the blade in a decisive strike toward Jen.
Long, Mai, Dreamy, and Nguyen were shocked. Everything happened too fast as they sprinted toward Jen.
It was too late…
Suddenly—
Suzan threw herself forward, shielding her daughter.
Jen's eyes fluttered open. Seeing her mother's dirt-streaked face, Jen whispered weakly:
"Mom… Mom…"
Suzan's body collapsed onto Jen. Her voice was faint:
"My Jen… I will protect you. Always remember, your dream is not your fault… I love you…"
Jen's vision blurred. She stared blankly as Suzan's head rested on her shoulder, her back soaked in blood from Mary's strike.
A memory echoed in Jen's mind…
When I grow up, I'll protect you…
WHEN I GROW UP, I'LL PROTECT YOU
"Mom… Mom…" Jen's scream tore through the group. Long clenched his fists in fury. Mai covered her face and cried. Nguyen lowered his head, arms crossed. Dreamy stood silently…
Suzan's body began to glow. From her emerged bubbles of emotion, floating into the air.
Dreamy shouted:
"Catch them, quickly! Catch those emotional bubbles—don't let anyone absorb them, or Suzan will fall into a coma in the real world!"
Dreamy then placed both his paws together, forming magical seals. The hands of Mai, Long, Jen, and Nguyen began to glow.
"Use these hands to catch the bubbles so they don't infect you!" Dreamy explained.
Mai gently touched Jen's shoulder as she sobbed.
"Stay strong, Jen… Use these hands to catch your mother's emotional bubbles!"
Jen let out a shaky breath, but her gaze sharpened. She was determined to reclaim them.
From above, Mary's forces dove down, aiming to seize and absorb the bubbles to increase their power.
Mai weaved through fierce attacks, managing to catch one bubble.
Long used all his combat skills, forming shields and blocking blows. He caught three to four bubbles.
Nguyen caught the most, using teleportation magic to reach them with ease.
Dreamy struggled to maintain the magical seal formation.
Jen caught the largest bubble. She glanced at it—it contained Suzan's love for her family.
"This bubble… it's so warm…" she whispered, tears streaming down her face.
The children behind her attacked relentlessly. After inhaling the little energy emitted from that bubble, their eyes turned wild, like addicts craving power. They charged at her frantically.
Ti Ni shouted in a strange, hypnotized voice:
"Sister Jen, let us have that bubble…"
Jen clutched the bubble tightly, dodging a storm of magic created by them as she moved toward Dreamy. She bit her lip, enduring unbearable pain, determined to save her mother. She fought with everything she had left to protect it.
Once all the bubbles were gathered, Dreamy said to Long:
"Create a barrier around Suzan's body and seal these emotional bubbles back inside her. Don't let them escape."
Without hesitation, Long used Dreamy's magic, deploying magical blue shields around Suzan's body, securing the bubbles within.
Meanwhile, Nguyen, Jen, and Mai fought against Mary's forces to protect Long and Dreamy. Everyone was exhausted—especially Jen, who was barely holding on, her body covered in blood after her earlier fight with Long.
From above, Empress Mary watched silently, then slowly raised her holy blade.
Seeing this, Nguyen pulled out a dark red sphere from the Eye of Eris.
Understanding instantly, Dreamy shouted:
"Everyone, gather around Nguyen!"
Nguyen slammed the red sphere onto the ground. A dark red portal appeared.
Long grabbed Suzan's body and jumped in, followed by Mai pulling Jen along. Dreamy and Nguyen entered last.
The portal vanished.
Mary's blade came crashing down. Everything in the arena was obliterated—even the stands protected by strong barrier spell turned to ash.
The group escaped by a hair's breadth.
They had completely escaped Mary's Dream Realm.