A Tragedy Averted

"Jealousy can burn like a raging fire."

"Fimbul, is this some kind of new play that one of your theater's playwrights came up with?"

"..."

"My theater is running well."

"No matter how much they need a script, they wouldn't go so far as to harm their own actors."

Back at the theater, Fimbul was having a lively conversation with Somula.

Thinking of Lily's frantic state just now.

The theater owner couldn't help but shake his head in regret. "The Rainbow Dream Potion, many people think it's their life-saving medicine to break through their bottlenecks—how foolish."

Somula, however, had a smile on his face.

As a high-ranking judge in the Blue Robe, he had seen this situation countless times when he worked on the front lines. "Ha—many people just follow the crowd and are satisfied with superficial understanding."

"The same applies to a painter's painting, a writer's writing, a sculptor's sculpture, and even a fisherman's fishing."

"My research into my abilities wasn't deep enough, and seeing others indulging in the illusions they built in their dreams, I thought this was a shortcut to achieving success."

Somula drew a disdainful conclusion:

"Those who cannot maintain a clear sense of self in this torrent are ultimately nothing more than ordinary people."

Fimbul then turned to look at the Yao Xing:

"Child, did you hear that? These are golden words of wisdom."

"Even if something is modern and popular, we shouldn't let it lead us by the nose."

"..."

"I see."

Yao Xing nodded in response, but her gaze was still somewhat distant.

She thought of Selina, whom she had seen that day, and recalled the venomous curses Lily had hurled at her.

Fimbul continued:

"I know you're quite obsessed with Selina. But the pursuit of skill is the most important thing; don't go astray."

"My heart..." Yao Xing placed her right hand on her chest, feeling her own heartbeat.

There were no outsiders nearby.

She then changed how she addressed Fimbul:

"Teacher, but I'm still not satisfied."

Fimbul stepped forward and gently ruffled Yao Xing's beautiful hair.

"What a silly child."

"If you can't see through this confusing sea, then go and get closer to her."

"The more familiar you are with things, the more you may be able to see things in a more open-minded way."

"..."

Meanwhile, Linsey and the others were still inside the theater.

The other performers, living a life of debauchery, dared not provoke the man in Blue Robe; those who were even slightly conscious knew to step aside.

They then began questioning Miss Kuwait here.

"Do you remember how you left the museum?"

"Album... Impression Channel..."

"Who gave you the Rainbow Dream Potion?"

"I...don't remember. After coming out of the Impression Channel, I followed them out of the theater, and then I lost consciousness."

"So you have absolutely no idea what's going on?"

"That's right, sir."

"..."

It was midnight.

Linsey and Wala Wala took Miss Kuwait away.

The latter had just recovered from the effects of the Rainbow Dream Potion and was somewhat dazed. However, her privileged background allowed her to maintain a remarkably polite demeanor.

As she left the theater, she bowed to Linsey and the other person:

"Thank you both for your rescue."

"I am Lina Kuwait. May I ask your honorific titles?"

"Linsey." "Wala Wala."

The name is rather cryptic, and as usual, it raises some questions.

However, Lina had something on her mind, so she didn't dwell on the question and instead asked directly:

"You guys said before that Anthony was also in the City of a Thousand Sails?"

Linsey replied, "That's right."

"We came to the City of a Thousand Sails a couple of days ago, and your lover happened to be on that boat as well."

Wala Wala chimed in, adding, "And it's all thanks to the token of love you gave him."

"Otherwise, all of us on this ship will be left on Mermaid Island by those Fallen Artist!"

They mentioned tokens of love.

Lina blushed and lowered her head slightly:

"We really..."

"Wait! You've encountered Fallen Artist? Is Anthony alright?!"

Linsey waved her hand reassuringly and said, "Of course it's okay."

"Even if we were to rescue the entire ship thanks to the Red Sea Kraken, Anthony would be rewarded for it."

Lina immediately breathed a sigh of relief:

"It's alright, it's alright."

The girl continued to ask:

Where does Anthony live now?

Linsey replied, "27 Meiwen Street in the Purple District, an estate inside Painting Space."

"That's also where we're going now."

Wala Wala immediately poked her head out and said:

"By the way, Linsey and I also live there."

It seemed as if a love story was about to unfold, Wala Wala's emotions were quite excited.

She would occasionally run and jump around on the street like a happy little deer, sometimes even letting out a few silly giggles.

Or they might pause to sing harmonies for a street performer, leaving the singer bewildered.

Night was falling.

The three returned to the Painting Manor.

Linsey and Wala Wala led Lina directly to Anthony's door.

Clang clang clang—

"Anthony?"

Lina went up and knocked on the door, but there was no sound from inside.

"Anthony? It's me?"

Aren't you home?

There was still no response from inside, so Lina looked at the two people beside her.

"..."

Linsey frowned and pulled up the map, where there was a Green Marker symbolizing a friendly unit.

Anthony is inside.

Even if the other person is fast asleep, it's impossible for them to remain unresponsive like this.

"Get out of the way!"

Linsey realized that things had changed.

He stepped forward, raised his right foot, and kicked the door.

With a loud 'bang,' the hinges of the guest room door were smashed open by Linsey's incredible strength, and the door panel fell into the room.

The three rushed into the house.

A quick glance revealed Anthony's figure.

The young man, who had only perked up when they parted last night, was now lying on the ground, unconscious, with a strange aura of Essence swirling around him.

"Anthony!?"

Lina shouted.

But Linsey rushed over first, while Wala Wala instinctively hugged the girl, preventing her from getting close to her lover whose situation was unclear.

Linsey opened the [Decryption Game].

[Human—A larva of Erosion Worm has been implanted in their left hand, and they are undergoing a transformation into a beast.]

"Left hand?"

Linsey ripped open Anthony's sleeve.

On the other person's arm, a swollen, reddish-black tumor was growing upwards along the blood vessels and skin, almost reaching the shoulder!

"Wala Wala, what are these 'Erosion Worm '?"

Wala Wala immediately replied:

"A strange insect capable of invading and modifying the human body, and then taking over consciousness!"

Linsey asked:

"How do I rescue someone who has been parasitized?"

Without hesitation, Wala Wala replied, "Complete parasitism is incurable unless time and cause and effect are reversed; if it's not finished yet, cut off the parasitic part!"

Linsey no longer hesitated.

With a swift motion, he severed Anthony's left arm.

Sizzle sizzle—

The tumor that had fallen to the ground twisted and writhed, as if something inside was about to burst out of the skin.

Thump! Linsey pulled out her Wolf Tooth Club and smashed it down hard.

As the arm was smashed flat, the accompanying flames burned it to ashes.

Check it again carefully.

The Erosion Worm the pus and blood in the severed limb were completely dead.

The identification information on Anthony changed from a state of being parasitized to the words "arm missing".

The so-called parasitic crisis has at least disappeared.

Linsey administered the medication to Anthony and then breathed a sigh of relief, "He's alright, he's saved."

"Anthony!"

At that moment, Wala Wala let go.

Without thinking, Lina rushed over, embraced her lover, and began to sob uncontrollably.

"..."

Wala Wala then walked to Linsey's side, her tone serious:

"The Erosion Worm are creatures from a Hallucination Dream, and they once caused quite a stir in the City of a Thousand Sails."

Linsey asked curiously, "So this thing has existed all this time?"

"Aren't any of those talented artists in the City of a Thousand Sails going to be taken care of?"

"The city wiped them out a long time ago." Wala Wala shook her head in denial, then said her own thoughts, "The only reason this thing can still appear in the Seven Seas Alliance is that someone deliberately brought it out."

"..."

Linsey fell silent.

He turned to look at Lina and Anthony.

After his arm was severed, Anthony quickly regained consciousness and reunited with Lina. The two embraced and wept.

The couple looked on with mixed feelings of joy and sorrow, but they were finally able to see each other again.

After hardship comes joy.

But Linsey was thinking of a different picture.

If he and Wala Wala hadn't intervened, or if he had simply thrown a tantrum and coldly confronted the Blue Robe.

Anthony would then continue to be corrupted and parasitized within the manor, turning into a monster.

Lina's emotions were also stolen, and she eventually became addicted to the Rainbow Dream Potion, rotting away in a corner of the City of a Thousand Sails unknown to anyone.

At that time, let alone whether lovers could be together in the end.

The two sides could not even meet, which was a tragic reality that had sunk to the very end.

"..."

Linsey's gaze naturally fell on the Task Bar.

The only task remains unfinished; and this text remains coldly inscribed upon it.

The protagonist's life trajectory has been rewritten. Find the writer behind it all and tear her script to shreds!