The Fox Spirit

The missile streaked across the sky, blazing with destructive intent, its fiery plume leaving a trail of impending doom. This wasn't just any missile—it was one of the newest weapons developed, packed with twice the explosive power of previous models. Its solid-fuel micro-engine gave it unprecedented speed, making it almost impossible to intercept. A direct hit could easily demolish a building several stories high.

Qiao Xiaoqing stood by, her eyes widening in disbelief as she watched the missile barrel toward the building. "How did this get through customs?"

She bit her lip, cursing the incompetence of the authorities who had clearly let something so dangerous slip through their fingers. There was no way she could stop this. Her mind raced as she watched the missile grow larger, speeding toward them at an alarming rate.

Qiao Xiaoqing turned to Kaguya, who remained calm and composed. Of course—Kaguya wasn't fazed at all. This was nothing for her.

"Kaguya!" Qiao Xiaoqing's voice wavered with concern, even though deep down, she knew how powerful Kaguya truly was. There was no need to worry. Still, the sight of her friend standing there, unmoving, as a missile approached was enough to send anyone into a panic.

Kaguya, however, had already taken control of the situation. Her expression was serene as she raised her hand, a soft glow surrounding her slender fingers. With a simple grasp, the air around the missile seemed to shift. An invisible force wrapped around the missile, crumpling it like a tin can in midair.

"Boom!"

A deafening explosion followed, but it was high in the sky, far from the building. The blast lit up the night, sending shockwaves through the air, but it was harmless. The missile's remains scattered like glowing embers in the sky, leaving behind nothing but a cloud of smoke. The deadly weapon, which could have obliterated the entire area, was reduced to harmless fragments before it could even reach them.

Qiao Xiaoqing blinked in awe, her eyes fixed on Kaguya, who stood unfazed by the explosion. The wind whipped through Kaguya's silver hair, but she remained unbothered, her face glowing faintly in the aftermath of the blast.

"As expected…" Qiao Xiaoqing muttered, half in relief and half in admiration. She had always known Kaguya was strong, but witnessing her casually deflecting a missile was still something incredible.

Inside the restaurant, chaos continued to unfold. The patrons, already terrified, were now on the verge of complete hysteria after the blast. People huddled together, crying and trembling, with some even trying to escape, but any attempt to leave was quickly halted by a barrage of gunfire.

Qiao Xiaoqing surveyed the situation, knowing they were far from safe. But she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to see Kaguya gazing out of the window, calmly observing the destruction outside. Her attention was soon drawn to a small figure running toward them.

A little girl, no older than five or six, broke away from the crowd and dashed up to Kaguya with wide, curious eyes. "Sister, are you a fox fairy?" the girl asked, her tiny hands clutching Kaguya's sleeve. Her voice was innocent, full of hope amidst the chaos around them.

Kaguya blinked, surprised by the question. "Hmm… you could say that," she replied, a soft smile touching her lips.

"Yay!" the girl cheered, her face lighting up as if her wish had been granted. She clung to Kaguya's arm, completely oblivious to the danger that had just been averted. "I finally found the fox fairy sister!"

A woman—presumably the child's mother—rushed over, her face pale with fear. "I'm so sorry," she stammered, pulling the girl into her arms. "She's just a child, she didn't mean to—"

"I'm not lying!" the girl protested, her small face puffing up indignantly. "This is the fox fairy sister!"

"Fox fairy?" The mother cast a puzzled glance at Kaguya, still unsure of what was happening.

The little girl turned back to Kaguya, her eyes filled with a mix of awe and trust. "You're going to save us, aren't you? You'll save everyone, right?"

Kaguya hesitated for a moment, glancing down at the child. She had intended to stay out of this whole mess, thinking the military would handle the situation eventually. But looking into the girl's innocent eyes, something stirred in her.

"Yes," Kaguya said softly, patting the girl's head. "Do you want to come with me to stop the bad guys?"

The little girl's face scrunched up in concentration, her small hands clenching into fists. "But I'm not strong enough to fight them," she said with a pout.

Kaguya chuckled, her fingers brushing through the child's hair. "Then stay here and be good. I'll take care of the bad guys."

"Okay!" The girl's smile returned, her eyes sparkling with joy. "Be careful, fox fairy sister!"

The woman looked at Kaguya in astonishment. "Are you really going to—?"

Kaguya gave her a gentle smile. "I think you already know the answer to that."

Before the woman could say anything else, Kaguya turned and began to walk away, her silver hair flowing behind her like a cascade of moonlight.

"Wait!" The little girl called out again, holding something in her small hands. "You forgot this!"

Kaguya turned around, surprised to see the girl holding up a small, white fox mask decorated with red markings. It was simple and a bit rough around the edges, but the girl held it up with pride. "This is my favorite! Take it with you, and don't forget to give it back when you're done!"

Kaguya smiled, taking the mask and gently placing it in her hand. "I'll be sure to return it. Wait for me."

As Kaguya strode forward, Qiao Xiaoqing watched with a grin. "Well, looks like it's time to clean up this mess."