Mercy’s family lived on a bustling planet called Radiant Star.
Though it was not as dreamlike as Penacony, it was still known for its magnificent natural scenery, developed commercial districts, and tourists from all across the universe.
Her father, Claude, worked in a joint department between the Interastral Peace Corporation and the Family, established on Radiant Star to coordinate corporate interests with the Harmony’s ideals, as well as handle foreign affairs related to tourism.
Ever since her father had returned that time with exhaustion and the faint smell of blood, then left again in a hurry, the atmosphere in the house seemed covered by a thin veil.
Though their mother’s smile remained gentle, a lingering worry hid deep in her eyes.
She no longer took the children to the bustling central plaza as often.
Outings were mostly limited to the quieter garden or children’s play area within the community.
The alarm bells in Mercy’s mind had long since sounded.
She did not know exactly what her father had encountered.
Was it internal corporate strife?
Conflict with the Abundance?
Or something worse, related to the Stellaron, that so-called “cancer of all worlds”?
Regardless, it meant danger could descend at any moment.
Beneath the facade of peace, undercurrents churned.
Her system shop seemed to have keenly picked up on her growing unease and sense of crisis.
The previously frequent [Delicious Lollipops], [Rainbow Bubble Water], and various toys gradually decreased in appearance, replaced by more practical items that felt somewhat out of place.
[Pure Drinking Water (24 bottles/case)] [High-Energy Canned Rations (Assorted Flavors, 12 cans/case)] [Multi-Function Survival Bracelet (Basic Edition, includes compass, whistle, LED light)] [First Aid Bandages (1 pack)] [Constitution Boost (Minor)] (still a rare item, but its appearance rate seemed to have increased ever so slightly) Mercy looked at the cases of water and canned rations accumulating in her system storage, along with the scattered survival tools, and felt a mix of emotions.
Was the system hinting that she should prepare to flee, or was it preparing her for some kind of material shortage?
She dared not take any chances.
For any supplies like these, she never wasted her three daily free claims, even if she could not use them immediately.
Stockpiling them gave her some peace of mind.
Stockpiles alone were not enough.
She needed information.
So every day after school, using the excuse of “taking a walk to digest food” or “exploring the neighborhood,” Mercy began to deliberately wander around the residential area.
Her targets were the various supermarkets, convenience stores, and even large warehouses marked as emergency supply depots.
“Sister, why do you keep looking at the storefronts and maps?” Sunday asked one time, unable to hold back.
He had noticed that his sister’s “walking” routes were far too regular, and her gaze always lingered on functional rather than recreational places.
Mercy’s heart tightened, but she kept her composure.
She casually pulled a pack of [Delicious Cookies] from her system space (which appeared to others as her small bag) and handed them to Sunday and Robin, giving a vague explanation.
“Huh?
No reason.
I’m just looking around.
See, isn’t that supermarket’s sign newer than the other one?
I’m trying to figure out which one might have better ice cream!” She tried to deflect with food.
Sunday took the cookies, his brow slightly furrowed, his amethyst-like eyes clearly showing he did not believe her.
But seeing his sister’s “sincere” fake smile, and Robin already happily nibbling on the cookies, he ultimately did not press further.
He simply filed the suspicion away in his mind.
He knew his sister had secrets.
He had known ever since she produced that strange candy that made him “sing.” That afternoon, the dismissal bell rang crisply.
As usual, Mercy held Robin’s soft little hand, while Sunday walked quietly beside them.
The three little ones made their way home along the tree-lined sidewalk.
The setting sun stretched their shadows long, and the birds of Radiant Star, which sparkled like fragments of glass, chirped in the branches.
Everything seemed peaceful and beautiful.
But that peace was shattered at a street corner.
A group of young men in flashy clothes, clearly tourists, were gathered together, making a ruckus.
Their gazes landed squarely on Robin, who was obediently following her sister and curiously examining the flowers by the roadside.
Though young, Robin had inherited their mother’s excellent genes.
Her features were delicate as a porcelain doll’s, her short blue curly hair making her fair skin look even more luminous, and the pair of pure white wing-like halos behind her head added an ethereal quality.
On this tourist planet, Halovians were not uncommon, but a child as lovely as Robin still drew attention.
“Hey there, little miss!
You’re so cute!” A young man with bright green hair and a toothpick dangling from his lips swaggered over, blocking their path.
He reeked of alcohol mixed with cheap perfume.
“Like a little angel!
Come on, I’ll give you some candy.
How about a picture with us?” Another man in a tight floral shirt also approached, reaching out as if to touch Robin’s face.
Robin was frightened by the sudden appearance of strangers and their flippant attitude.
She instinctively shrank back behind Mercy, clutching her sister’s clothes tightly with her little hands.
Her sapphire-like eyes were filled with panic and fear as she whispered, “Sister…” Sunday’s expression darkened instantly.
He stepped forward, his small body trying to shield his sisters, and shouted in his still-young but serious voice, “What do you think you’re doing?
Leave immediately!
Otherwise, I’ll call the planet’s security!” His hand was already on the emergency call button of his child communicator.
“Oh?
There’s a little man here too?” The green-haired man sneered, completely ignoring Sunday’s warning.
“Call security?
What did we do?
We just wanted to be friends with the pretty little sister.
Is that a crime?” His companions joined in with jeering laughter, their eyes still fixed on Robin with an uncomfortable scrutiny.
Mercy had remained silent the whole time.
In the moment those thugs surrounded them, her heart first clenched with anger.
But then, a cold sensation spread from the depths of her heart, quickly overpowering the rage.
It was not fear.
It was an extreme calm, a focused alertness like a hunter locking onto its prey.
She gently patted Robin’s small hand, which was gripping her clothes tightly, signaling her not to be afraid.
Then she took half a step forward, shielding her younger siblings more completely behind her.
She looked up at the young men, who were much taller than her.
Gone was her usual playful grin, replaced by a calm, almost detached gaze of assessment.
“Sunday,” she said, her voice soft but clear, “cover Robin’s eyes.” Sunday froze for a moment, then immediately understood his sister’s intention.
He did not hesitate.
He quickly turned around, using his still small but resolute back to block the thugs’ view, and raised both hands to gently but firmly cover Robin’s eyes.
“Brother?” Robin was confused.
The sudden darkness made her uneasy.
“It’s okay.
Stay calm,” Sunday whispered, though his own heart was racing.
He kept his eyes fixed on his sister’s back.
“Hey there, little miss.
You…” The man in the floral shirt, seeing Mercy step forward, flashed an even sleazier grin and reached out to pat her shoulder.
In that instant, just as his fingers were about to touch her shoulder…
She moved.
Mercy’s body exploded into action like a compressed spring.
Her movements were so fast they left only a blur.
There was no flashy technique, no wind-up.
Just the simplest, most direct, most brutal punch.
Its target: the floral shirt man’s revolting grinning face.
THUD!
A muffled, sickening sound of impact echoed through the air.
“URGH—!” The floral shirt man did not even have time to react.
He only felt an unimaginable force slam into his face.
It was as if he had been hit head-on by a speeding hover vehicle.
His feet left the ground as he flew backward, the sound of his nasal bone shattering clearly audible.
Blood sprayed from his nose and mouth like burst tomato juice.
He crashed heavily onto the pavement several meters away.
He did not even let out a groan, simply passing out cold.
A small, distinct fist print was visible on his face, which was now a bloody mess.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The green-haired man and his companions, who had been jeering moments ago, were frozen.
Their faces were locked in expressions of shock and disbelief.
They looked at the little girl, who was slowly withdrawing her fist, standing there as if nothing had happened, and then at their companion lying on the ground like a dead dog.
Their minds went blank.
What…
what kind of monster was this?
Mercy shook her small fist, which was stained with a few drops of fresh blood.
She wrinkled her delicate nose slightly and muttered under her breath, her tone filled with disgust.
“So filthy.” Her voice was soft, but in the dead silent street corner, it reached the ears of every still-conscious thug with crystal clarity.
It sounded like a demon’s whisper.
The green-haired man jolted awake from his stupor, overcome with overwhelming terror.
He looked at Mercy’s unnervingly calm eyes, then at her small, fair fist, still stained with blood, which had just delivered such devastating force.
All his wicked thoughts vanished.
Only one impulse remained.
Run!
“Monster…
monster!” he shrieked.
Together with his two remaining companions, he scrambled to his feet and fled in panic, not even glancing back at their unconscious friend.
They were terrified that if they were even a second too slow, that little fist would land on them.
In mere seconds, the thugs who had been so arrogant moments ago were scattered.
One was unconscious, three had fled in disgrace.
The street corner fell quiet once more, leaving only the faint scent of blood in the air as evidence of what had just happened.
Mercy turned around and looked at Sunday, who was still covering Robin’s eyes.
Sunday was looking back at her.
His amethyst-like eyes were filled with shock, confusion, and a trace of something hard to name.
Was it…
awe?
He had not seen the exact sequence of events, but the dull thud, the cry of pain, and the sudden scent of blood in the air told him everything.
His sister, who always wore a mischievous smile and loved to tease him and Robin, possessed such terrifying power.
Mercy gave Sunday a small, approving smile, as if she had not just unleashed a devastating blow moments ago.
“Good job, Sunday.” She was praising him for following her instructions without hesitation and protecting their sister.
Sunday opened his mouth as if to ask something, but ultimately just nodded and lowered his hands from Robin’s eyes.
“Sister…
Brother covered my eyes, and I couldn’t see anything,” Robin said, blinking in the sudden light.
Her big eyes still held a trace of lingering fear and confusion.
She looked at Mercy, then around at their surroundings.
“Where did those bad people go?” Mercy stepped forward and gently ruffled Robin’s hair with her clean hand.
Her smile returned to its usual warmth and tenderness, as if the cold ruthlessness of moments ago had never existed.
“Sister and brother chased them away.
It’s okay now, Robin.
Don’t be scared.” She paused, then pulled out a pack of [Star Candies] that had been refreshed that day and was not yet stocked away, handing them to Robin.
Her voice was light and cheerful.
“Come on, Sister will take you to buy some more tasty candy to calm your nerves.” At the mention of candy, especially her favorite star-shaped candies, Robin’s eyes lit up.
The scare from before seemed to vanish instantly.
She nodded eagerly, reached out her small hand to grasp Mercy’s fingers tightly, and replied sweetly, “Okay~” Mercy held Robin’s hand and shot Sunday a meaningful glance.
The three of them continued walking home as if nothing had happened.
But Mercy’s fist, still stained with blood, was quietly hidden in the pocket of her overalls, her fingers curled slightly inward.
Sunday walked beside her in silence, his gaze occasionally falling on his sister’s back.
The mystery surrounding her only deepened.
Her strength, her recent unusual behavior, their father’s strange return that time…
He had a vague feeling that beneath their peaceful life, some undercurrent he did not yet fully understand was stirring.
And Mercy, feeling the faint sticky residue on her fist in her pocket, had a somber look in her eyes.
This was only a minor incident, involving a few insignificant thugs.
But it was also a warning.
In this seemingly peaceful universe, danger lurked everywhere.
She had to become faster and stronger so that when any storm came, she would be able to protect this hard-won warmth.
Preparing for the storm was far from enough.
She needed more power.
Whether from the system or from within herself.
The fangs of the martial artist had been bared, and they would not be sheathed so easily again.