After returning home, the little Manjuus and Scarlet gathered around. Two sets of gazes filled with different meanings immediately fixed on Raize and Eu, who looked like lovers returning from a date.
Kirby Raize was cooking. Haruna sat on the sofa with an expressionless face, looking at Eu, who had changed into new clothes and was smiling, and at Raize, who was covered in shopping bags.
[You two had a great time today… (￣_,￣)]
Imitating Eu's way of communicating, Haruna took out a relatively large notebook and wrote down words filled with a certain special implication.
Seeing Eu and Raize return like they had been on a date, their relationship clearly closer, Sei felt a bit of regret about having helped them relax for a day earlier. Her position in the household hierarchy might be overtaken by a newcomer.
"It really was very fun. I took Eu to quite a few places today, and also brought her to the company."
Responding to Haruna, Raize took the penguin plush he had stored in his backpack space and handed it to Eu. Then, unconcerned, he carried the items upstairs.
All of these needed to be placed in Eu's room. In the future, he might be able to see more of Eu in different outfits, which would be pleasing to the eye.
Watching Raize go upstairs, then looking at Eu sitting on the sofa holding the penguin plush and smiling faintly, Haruna and Sei exchanged a glance, both with indescribable emotions in their eyes.
"Haruna, thank you for giving me a day of relaxation. Thank you very much."
After finishing dinner that evening, Eu smiled and expressed her sincere gratitude to Haruna.
Seeing the earnest gratitude on Eu's face, Haruna blushed, shy and tsundere as she turned her head away. After scribbling in her notebook, she faced Eu again.
[There's no need to thank me. This was caused by my mistake in the first place, after all, I transferred your magic away…]
Raize, who was washing dishes with Sei, smiled at the scene. Looking at Sei, who was unusually helping him wash dishes, Raize said to her as well:
"Thank you too, Sei."
"Why are you thanking me? I was just responsible for fixing the machine. I didn't really do anything…"
Sei knew very well what this thanks meant. Pretending to be tsundere and dissatisfied, she pulled her small hand out of the sink, wiped it on Raize's apron, then walked toward the living room to watch TV.
Lowering his head to look at the water stains on the apron, Raize shook his head, put the dishes away properly, waved to the three girls in the living room, and went upstairs.
Today was just right to finish clearing the game Bleach vs Naruto.
---
After Eu returned to her usual expressionless state, Haruna also reverted back. Although she suffered quite a bit this time, it was not without gains.
When Sei used the repaired magic transfer machine, she also helped Haruna retrieve some of the magic that belonged to her magical girl form. This made Haruna extremely happy.
Although she did not get all of it back, she could now fully use the magical weapon Mystletainn, the pink chainsaw, without any issues. She could also transform again.
However, the recovered magic could only sustain Haruna's transformation for a very short time.
A short time was still better than nothing. It even made Haruna want to exchange magic with Eu once more, but Sei sternly warned her not to attempt such things without confidence.
This time, she did not get blown apart by Eu's immense magic largely because of Eu's silent heartfelt wish. Otherwise, with her tiny body, did she really think she could contain magic capable of affecting the world?
When Eu got her magic back, Raize was present as well. He could sense that the girl was somewhat reluctant to give up this relaxed state, but she was not the kind of girl who would push her burdens onto others.
Standing beside Eu, Raize looked at Haruna, who maintained her cute magical girl form and was happily bouncing around. He raised his large hand and gently patted Eu's head, earning an emotionless glance from her.
"If you ever want to relax again, I can exchange with you. My constitution is very special. I can bear almost any kind of power."
Raize softly made this promise to Eu. He was not joking. If possible, he was willing to temporarily shoulder some of that heavy burden for her. If it gave Eu a chance to be happy and smile, Raize would be glad to see it.
Even though the taciturn Eu had her own quiet charm and cuteness, it still fell a little short compared to the Eu who wore that carefree smile.
In response to Raize's comfort and concern, warmth quietly seeped into Eu's lonely heart. Although she had no ability to read minds, she could clearly see the sincerity and seriousness in his expression when he spoke of bearing her burden for her.
He was not coveting her power, nor did he have any ulterior motive. He was simply caring for her and offering comfort.
[(*^▽^*) No need, but thank you, Raize.]
Eu did not want to casually push her own burden onto someone else. As for Raize saying that his constitution was special and so on, she merely took it as his way of showing concern.
The sense of loss and reluctance she had felt earlier quietly disappeared. Although she could not properly express emotions or speak normally, being in this home already felt good enough.
After being rejected, Raize did not say anything further. However, his words could be fulfilled at any time. He had little interest in the girl's power—what he wanted instead was to see Eu smile more often.
[Produced by Raiden Games—Prototype will be released at 3:00 PM. Please look forward to it!]
As time passed, events on the other side progressed just as quickly. After Prototype was officially announced as completed, it was time for it to be launched. On this day, countless people were waiting on digital game storefronts.
Prototype would go live exactly on schedule. Raiden Games developed games at astonishing speed—this heavily promoted game had taken only twenty days to complete.
An action game designed to give players pure exhilaration—this was the promise Raiden Games had made to all gamers.
Considering that Raiden Games' previous two games, Devil May Cry and Sekiro, were widely regarded as the pinnacle of action games, players were filled with anticipation for this new release.
"Raiden Games really works fast after switching genres. I just hope the quality holds up."
"I'm really looking forward to Raiden's new action game. If it's on the same level as Devil May Cry and Sekiro, then Raiden Games will have truly established itself as a brand in the action genre."
"Just the promotional video alone made me impatient. I honestly have almost no interest in other action games anymore."
"Didn't Raiden say it themselves? Devil May Cry lets you show off, Sekiro lets you flex skill and grow stronger. After raging nonstop while playing Sekiro, every other game now just feels like, 'That's it? Just that?'"
"They said the new game won't be too difficult—just focused on delivering pure satisfaction. I'm insanely excited."
Players were already in a frenzy, their anticipation for the new game steadily rising.
Many of those who obtained the game early immediately started livestreams, preparing to attract viewers and boost their popularity.
Others chose not to buy it yet, opting instead to watch someone else test the waters before deciding whether to purchase.
On this day, there were far more people watching games online than actually playing them.
In the afternoon, thanks to special access from Raiden Games' internal connections, Umaru's livestream room was already packed to the brim.
Ever since Umaru made a name for herself as a high-level gamer, her popularity in the streaming world had been anything but small.
Not many people could defeat Genichiro Ashina at the lowest state, but Umaru did.
Her elite gaming skills were acknowledged by all her fans. She was also among the first group to clear Sekiro, and the entertainment value of her streams was exceptional.
Umaru herself was extremely interested in Prototype. Her older brother had already told her that, compared to Sekiro and Devil May Cry, this game wasn't particularly difficult—just a bit bloody.
He had initially been unwilling to buy it for her, but after giving in to her whining and crying, he relented. As a result, the girl once again became one of the earliest players to get her hands on the game.
"Alright, I'm ready. Let's experience Prototype together!"
In her chibi, dried-fish-girl form, Umaru spoke enthusiastically and started the game right in front of her viewers.
"Everyone's already experienced Raiden Games' high-quality titles, right? To be blunt, Devil May Cry and Sekiro are absolute ceilings in the action game genre. Among all the games I've played, none compare."
"And Raiden Games has said this one won't be as realistic or punishing as Sekiro. As long as you play seriously, clearing it shouldn't be a problem."
"But my brother who works at Raiden told me this game is centered around violence, blood, and an anti-hero theme. I don't have any issue with that—even as a girl, I really like games like this."
While chatting with her viewers, Umaru opened the settings menu to familiarize herself with the controls.
This was her habit. When she played Sekiro, she had also checked the settings first, at least to avoid embarrassing mistakes early on.
As the game interface appeared and Umaru continued speaking, the chat filled with anticipation.
"The streamer looks really confident today. Don't get ambushed like last time."
"What's wrong with your eyes or ears? Didn't she say this game isn't like Sekiro?"
"Hahahaha, I'm looking forward to what comes next."
"Yeah, yeah, test the quality for us. If it's as solid as Devil May Cry and Sekiro, I'll definitely buy it.
"Pause the chat—opening cinematic's starting. It really feels like watching a movie again.
"Huh? This time the story's set in the modern era, overseas, and the protagonist's a foreigner.
The game began with Prototype's iconic opening cinematic.
On an abandoned taxi, black-and-red unknown organisms crept along the surface like insects. They spread like vines—or tentacles—but these were not dead matter. They were living things.
They densely attached themselves to the rearview mirror, then crawled over the hood.
As the camera pulled back, several soldiers in black combat uniforms appeared. They glanced at the spreading black-red viral tendrils, then scanned their surroundings, as if wary of danger jumping out at any moment.
"Threat neutralized."
Pressing a communicator to his chest, one soldier spoke cautiously.
The audience then saw these soldiers advancing carefully through a foreign city that looked like ruins.
The shattered roads and collapsed structures were riddled with the same creeping tendrils, making it clear that this place was anything but safe. Instead, it radiated a chilling sense of unease.
The visuals were as refined as ever, like watching a film. Umaru and the viewers watched intently. For people accustomed to admiring foreign settings, this overseas backdrop felt especially appealing.
"My name is Alex Mercer."
The viewpoint shifted again—this time to the edge of a skyscraper. A figure crouched there, overlooking everything below, as a magnetic male voice began what sounded like a self-introduction.
Alex wore a black jacket with a phoenix emblem on the back, his head covered by a white hood that made him instantly striking.
"I am the cause of everything that happened here."
"People call me a killer. A monster. A terrorist."
"All of that… is me."
Standing at the edge of the building, Alex slowly straightened up. Then, to the astonishment of Umaru and the viewers, he stepped forward and plunged straight down.
What the hell—starting off this intense? Jumping off a skyscraper right away?
Alex fell rapidly, smashing into the ground with a thunderous boom. Dust exploded outward, and even two abandoned cars nearby bounced and shifted from the impact.
Within the swirling dust, the hooded figure slowly stood up. Beneath the hood, his cold gaze flicked briefly toward the direction the soldiers had gone—then he turned and sprinted in the opposite direction.
From this alone, Umaru and the viewers knew that Alex was anything but normal. No human could fall from that height and walk away unscathed.
Caw… caw…
A black crow perched on the face of a rotting corpse. As Alex's figure sped past, the bird took off in alarm.
The hooded figure vaulted effortlessly over a police car. Facing a tall fence topped with wire mesh, he leapt onto a nearby vehicle and sprang upward.
Under the audience's stunned gaze, the car's roof caved in violently, its windows shattering.
In slow motion, the figure soared over the fence, landing hard enough to crack the ground beneath his feet. He rolled smoothly to disperse the impact and continued running.
"This guy is definitely superhuman. I'll be controlling him next—I'm really looking forward to it."
Umaru's eyes shone as she watched Alex's fluid, stylish movements in the opening cinematic. To be honest, she was already hooked.
The viewers were just as captivated. From the moment he appeared, this extraordinary man had displayed overwhelming physical power.
He casually leapt onto a truck, then grabbed a streetlamp and vaulted forward. The lamp visibly bent where he gripped it, a testament to his strength.
And that wasn't even the most shocking part.
The male narrator continued explaining as Alex completely defied gravity, sprinting straight up a glass skyscraper, shattering window after window beneath his feet.
"Three weeks ago, someone released a deadly virus at Penn Station in New York."
"I woke up in a morgue."
"Now I hunt. I kill. I consume. I become them."
"I need to find out who did this to me… and make them pay."
As the figure leapt and ran between buildings, the screen slowly faded to black.
That alone was enough to make the livestream chat explode.
Praise for the exquisite opening cinematic flooded the screen.
"Just like everyone says, Raiden Games really does have movie-level animation skills. Just like Devil May Cry and Sekiro, this opening is incredibly compelling."
Umaru sincerely admired the effort Raiden Games put into their opening cinematics. Whether it was Devil May Cry, Sekiro, or now Prototype, the opening always left players eager to explore further.
Fantasy worlds or Sengoku-era Japan—Raiden Games never cut corners. Every second of animation felt like money being burned.
Now, with a modern setting, they handled it just as masterfully. The city, reduced to a dangerous disaster zone, was vividly brought to life.
Players weren't stupid. They could tell when a game was made with care. Prototype's opening alone had already won over a massive number of fans.
Both Umaru and many viewers had a strong feeling that this hooded man would join the ranks of iconic characters like the Wolf and Isshin from Sekiro, or Dante and Vergil from Devil May Cry.
If the gameplay and story delivered, then this hooded protagonist would undoubtedly become another unforgettable figure.