Chapter 220
Little Sakura is a smart and diligent child. She started by adding ice cubes and mint leaves to the juice, and then adding diluted soda to dilute the sweetness. She used the bubbles to increase the stimulation and improve the taste, while carefully stirring with a straw, mixing the ingredients like a cocktail to create the best flavor.
However, the natural flavor of the fruit juice is excellent enough that it is already incredibly satisfying to the taste buds even without any blending.
This led her to add no extra ingredients to her second glass of juice. She simply followed the example of the protagonist in "The Solitary Gourmet," respecting the natural flavors of the ingredients, sometimes chewing slowly and sometimes wolfing down her food, expressing her love for the food through either enjoyment or eagerness.
Yes, a true gourmet should possess such professional qualities!
Kiriwake Yayoi understood. Her sincerity and dedication to her idol should be perfectly reflected in her current homework. Only in this way could she express her purest, most ardent, and most genuine love for Xiao Qing.
So... how do we cross the wall between each other's hearts and reach the other side, which symbolizes mutual understanding?
With courage, with sincerity, and with effort!
In a daze, Little Sakura suddenly understood the profound truth. Her "Flow State" state blossomed like a flowing fire, and her surging Heart Tide surrounded the entire room, enveloping the two of them like a cocoon.
At this moment, the "Perfect Performance Method" created based on idols and the stage is no longer confined to the original way of thinking. In the rampage of "Flow State", it extends to a greater realm and creates a brand new application.
"..."
The Pure White Witch's eyes widened in confusion. Her devout and unwavering faith began to waver violently as tears welled up in her pupils, almost dragging her into the roaring tide and causing her to lose her mind.
Chu Yuanqing looked at those fluttering eyelashes and captivating pink eyes like jewels, and felt that something was wrong. The magic surging from Yayoi seemed to be mixed with subjective will, causing her body to produce strange reactions she had never experienced before during the sacred ritual.
Simply put, the other person's magic becomes more "delicious," causing an emotion similar to appetite to quickly blossom and bear fruit within the body, rapidly expanding the feeling of healing happiness, and even making the nerve endings feel soft and ethereal.
Chu Yuanqing used to be able to handle Little Sakura in 15 minutes, but now she felt like she was about to be handled by her.
If the Golden Haired Doggy represents a breakthrough in the typical relationship between couples...
Little Sakura has evolved in the realm of Magical Girl. Her magic seems to be activated according to her wishes, going even further than the feeling of soaking in a hot spring, and even enhancing the Magic Replenishment effect. It is truly a genius-level innovation.
Chu Yuanqing was greatly shocked. She began to think about serious matters to prevent anything improper from happening.
She believed that this change was probably due to the other party's successful awakening and blessing, which amplified their aptitude as a [Witch], coupled with some strange wish, which extended the definition of perfection in [Perfect Performance Method] from idols to Magical Girl.
As a result, the precision of Magic Control began to approach perfection.
This is a good thing, meaning that Yayoi will be able to use magic more efficiently in the future, unlike that idiot who would use up all his magic power with a single ultimate move.
Well, it would be better if she didn't use that kind of thing on herself.
Time passed quickly, and half an hour had gone by in the blink of an eye, not to mention the number of words omitted.
Driven by a sense of mission to save the world, the Pure White Witch thoroughly optimized the opponent's [Cocoon of the Heart].
In the process, to defend her last shred of dignity, she gritted her teeth and learned the opponent's magical micro-management techniques. Through practice, she gradually evolved to an even more terrifying level, giving the opponent a severe "lesson" and finally managing to avoid a humiliating unconsciousness, successfully defeating Little Sakura.
Splash, splash.
The bathroom lights streamed in, illuminating the texture of the glass surface.
Chu Yuanqing removed her clothes and stepped barefoot into the steaming water curtain. She looked up at the showerhead, slowly pressed the switch with her slender hand, and adjusted the temperature to icy cold. The burning heat in her golden eyes extinguished, leaving behind a clear calmness, finally suppressing all the strange feelings.
Although this innocent young widow had been taken by A countless times, she never truly succumbed to it, never released the valve in her heart, and always tried her best to restrain herself and restore propriety.
The reasons for this are related to the sense of shame arising from the interplay of gender differences, a certain subtle moral bottom line, and also to issues of personality.
Chu Yuanqing disliked indulgence. She preferred the beauty of poetry and the evening breeze, a gentle caress that could linger on her face. Desire that was too intense was like fireworks, which would be extinguished the moment they bloomed in the night sky.
Therefore, before making a real decision and before establishing a relationship, she didn't want to develop similar feelings casually in this way.
However, given the realities of the situation and the absurd effects of Magic Replenishment, she had no choice but to settle for second best, using the suppression of her desires as both punishment and a warning to herself.
Chu Yuanqing scolded herself for her lack of self-control, spent ten minutes taking a shower, changing her clothes, and sitting back on the bed. She picked up the Paper Crane Can from the cabinet, her once again cool and solemn eyes lowered, sensing the steady Heart Tide of her emotions, and whispered something subtle:
"Why has the magic inside increased?"
Chu Yuanqing seemed to be deep in thought. She snapped her fingers, and silver magic, like moonlight, surged down. It lingered and played in the room, weaving the musical score for today's lesson. Meanwhile, the Paper Crane Can on her lap emitted a hazy glow, like a small vortex of magic, drawing in some of the magic.
"Is the effect Yayoi granted with [Heart Forging] to store magic power? It's a bit like a piggy bank."
Chu Yuanqing thought for a moment, then transferred the magic power that she constantly infused into the Soul Flower to the Paper Crane Can. She was very curious about how much magic power could be stored inside.
About 90 seconds later, exactly one [lamp] of magical power surged in.
The Paper Crane Can was completely full, and the thousands of paper cranes inside, like stars linked together in the night sky, shone brightly with Rainbow Light in an instant. Along with the glass jar, it transformed into a stream of light, following the trajectory of magic, entering the depths of the soul, shrinking into a miniature form, and lying in the stamen of that bunch of roses.
"So it's not just a decorative item, it's something you can carry around with you?"
Chu Yuanqing was somewhat surprised. She originally thought that Yayoi's current [Heart Forging] would at most make this gift a little special, but who would have thought it would be so powerful.
The girl waved her small hand and placed the Paper Crane Can back on her lap, murmuring:
"Well, there's no problem taking them out. Besides, these origami cranes actually contain blessings. When I put them into my soul, I can feel Yayoi's feelings when she folded them, and it feels very warm. It's like... the pain of a broken soul is reduced a little?"
Chu Yuanqing calculated again and said with certainty:
"It will decrease by about 0.1%."
Afterward, she stopped sleeping and studied the magical Paper Crane Can for a while, discovering a bunch of amazing little functions.
Firstly, it has the effect of soothing pain, and also has the effect of slightly accelerating the recovery of the soul. It even has a little bit of a curse isolation buff, which can block about 0.1%. However, it consumes a lot of magic power. If you actually use it, the paper cranes in the jar will be ruined in just a few minutes.
Without a second thought, Chu Yuanqing turned off the passive effect.
Secondly, it can act as a small bank for storing magic power. After depositing magic power, you can gain an extra 10% magic power every day. In the game, it's an economic tool that earns interest, and you can withdraw and use it at any time. However, it can only hold a maximum of one [lamp] of magic power, so it has a limit.
Finally, she can unwrap a paper crane every day (which can be restored) and randomly grant a wish, but the wishes that can be granted are all very special.
Basically, you unfold a paper crane and you can hear Little Sakura playing guitar, hear Little Sakura telling you a bedtime story, and have Little Sakura encourage and praise you...
Chu Yuanqing's assessment of it was that although it was not very useful, it was still quite cute.
Well, Yayoi probably didn't know that the gift she gave could lead to her social demise in this way.
In summary, it's clear that this gift was indeed created unconsciously, and its effects perfectly match the recipient's wishes when giving the gift.
That is to say, I hope Chu Yuanqing's injuries will heal quickly, that he will be in good health, and that everything will go well for him.
Chu Yuanqing found it both amusing and touching. She carefully placed the Paper Crane Can back onto the rosebud, thinking to herself:
"Speaking of which, the principle behind [Heart Forging] is actually quite similar to that of Magical Girl, right? They both lean towards the idealistic type, so the reason this gift is so magical is most likely because it combines the effects of magic and blessing."
"If that's the case, then Yayoi might be able to forge even more powerful equipment than before."
Chu Yuanqing felt a little relieved and comforted. Although she did not want her former comrades to continue to shoulder the responsibility, if things really could not be done, it would be a good thing for all mankind if the other party had greater potential than in the previous Worldline.
The girl sighed inwardly, snuggled into bed, and said goodnight to the small lantern on her chest and the Paper Crane Can on the rose petal. She closed her eyes, extinguished her thoughts, and slowly drifted into sleep.
At the same time, the evening breeze from the Danube River blew towards St. Stephen's Cathedral.
In that magnificent underground base, a certain mascot is overlooking the world from the lowest level.
The Dream Weaver Rabbit sits at the core hub, with numerous information windows popping up around it constantly. It's as if a surge of data flows around it, which is integrated and monitored by massive computing power to produce corresponding results.
"The growth rate of the [Witch] trainees has generally increased by 48%, which seems to be even better than expected."
All of this data comes from the magical incantations buried within the obsidian—the man-made lantern.
The Dream Weaver Rabbit looked ahead, its scarlet pupils revealing a complex and unsettling emotion.
Virtual Projection popped up one after another, like a movie rewinding. Instead of data, they displayed photos of the Little Idol in various locations: some were photos of them visiting famous landmarks, some were photos with fans and strangers, and some were simply snapshots of their daily lives perfect for Weibo...
Without exception, all of these were filled with a joyful atmosphere.
It is obvious that due to the competition format, even the most dedicated teams will go on a trip to complete their missions, thereby gaining a sense of relaxation and positive emotions that they could not obtain in the underground base.
As the saying goes, there's a balance between tension and relaxation. Let's assume that the high-pressure policy in the early stages of "Flash Dance" was to quickly eliminate unqualified contestants and maximize their potential.
The current competition format is largely designed to help them relax and change their mindset. Otherwise, if the goal is simply to use the experience points earned from commercial performances, the organizers could come up with a better and more time-efficient method.
The Super AI whispered:
"Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy this journey to the fullest. See the beauty of the world, experience the wonders of nature and culture, and feel relaxed under the sun and blue sky."
"This may be humanity's last summer."
The entire Flashdance project has always seemed too dreamy.
Who could imagine that, at a time when human civilization is on the verge of collapse, almost every country is promoting an idol project?
Idols are merely products derived from entertainment culture, and they don't even reach the level of art that the public recognizes, yet they ridiculously become the biggest factor in determining the fate of the planet.
But that's reality.
Idols save the world, the stage ends the apocalypse.
The leaders of all humanity seemed to firmly believe that this was the path most worth risking everything for.
Only a few people, those who know the true meaning behind Flashdance, understand that Flashdance is not a casual or far-fetched project. Its core essence lies in using the shell of idols to hold a massive ceremony that has a global impact.
Once this ritual is completed, even if the Shine Magic that erupts cannot eradicate all the sources of calamity, it can, to some extent, replace the effect of [Pure White], driving anchors to lock down calamities throughout the world, thus extending humanity's life by another hundred years.
However, to ensure that everything is implemented correctly and the desired results are achieved, the rituals, or rather, the purity of the radiance, must be guaranteed.
Dream Weaver Rabbit has always had a burning desire for the brilliance of Little Idol, and this is the root of its passion.
The so-called brilliance refers to the most beautiful part of human emotions, which can be simply called the light of humanity.
On stage, the [Witch] is a vessel that only attracts those with similar qualities. The more intense and pure her own radiance, the purer and more immaculate the radiance she absorbs from the audience, thus making this large-scale magic that spans the globe even more powerful.
This is why they haven't told their Little Idol the truth yet.
If the truth is revealed, the resulting fear and hesitation could easily take root in the subconscious, affecting the performance on stage, making the absorbed brilliance less pure, and consequently impacting the entire plan.
Of course, the Flash Dance project also has a solution to this problem.
That is [fuel] and [Calamity Shell].
[Witch] are special vessels; they can absorb and unleash brilliance, becoming the pillars of magic.
[Fuel] cannot be a container, but it can assist [Witch], amplify and magnify the brilliance, and become a signal tower for every ritual.
[Calamity Shell] is a reverse container. They construct [Cocoon of the Heart] with disaster energy. They cannot absorb the audience's brilliance, but they can absorb the impure parts, ensuring the purity of magic to the greatest extent, and becoming the bottom-line filter in the ritual.
These three elements, through their functions derived from idol talent shows, together constructed the final blueprint for Flash Dance, forging a path to Stage to Save the World.
The Dream Weaver Rabbit's pupils were obscure. The biggest challenge in this plan was not the quantity of [Witch], [Calamity Shell], or [Fuel], nor was it the increasingly tight timeframe.
Instead...
On that stage where humanity's last summer is at stake, who can become the central figure of a grand magic, bearing the brilliance of all humankind?
Currently, it seems that only two people can share this position.
Charlotte of the Holy United States, and Chu Yuanqing of the Donghuang Federation.
Dream Weaver was surrounded by radiant light, and she revealed human emotions, sighing to herself:
"The fate of all mankind, the future of all civilization."
"Can you bear this weight?"
Volume 1: 211. [The Lighthouse], An Unknown Test, Social Anxiety Cat Who Can Do a Backflip. (5K)
Dream Weaver Rabbit's worries are justified.
Both Chu Yuanqing and Charlotte were just children who had not yet reached adulthood.
To take on the central role on that stage and perfectly realize the final plan of <Flash Dance>, one needs an iron will, a beautiful nature like poetry, a pure love for humanity, the world, and the stage, and even... the courage and spirit of sacrifice to not fear death.
These conditions are outrageous; it's like trying to find a saint in Talent Show.
If it weren't for the appearance of the Doomsday Diva, which gave the higher-ups a backup plan for the central command much earlier, the current progress of <Flash Dance> would only be more urgent.
Currently, in Flashdance, this role is separate from [Witch], [Fuel], and [Calamity Shell], and is called -- [Lighthouse].
The other contestants may make mistakes, may fail, or may have impure intentions.
Because they have the [Calamity Shell] as a filter to protect themselves, but the [Lighthouse], located at the center of magic, standing at the pinnacle of brilliance, and responsible for deciding the fate of humanity, cannot.
The reason is simple: that was the final step in the magic process, and the [Calamity Shell] was ineffective at that time.
But the [Lighthouse], in that instant, will bear the heavy burden of the world's light with her frail soul. She will face the lingering shadows and negativity, the pain of her soul slowly collapsing as she approaches death, and the good and evil of the whole world alone.
This is an inevitable price to pay.
Especially given the limited time available, the quantity and quality of [Witch], [Fuel], and [Calamity Shell] simply cannot reach the intended configuration to filter out all distractions from the brilliance to the greatest extent possible, which makes the burden on [Lighthouse] even heavier.
Dream Weaver Rabbit has calculated the probability of the <Flash Dance> project succeeding countless times.
Assuming that [Pure White] can give humanity another year and a half to develop in a step-by-step manner, allowing this talent show to integrate into the global entertainment culture, it would be enough to cultivate a corresponding number of idols and minimize the burden on [Lighthouse], without the need for such stringent requirements.
Under those circumstances, Flashdance even has the leeway to hold a world-class magic show, enough to push the plan's success rate to 90%.
However, there is a severe shortage of [Witch], [Fuel], and [Calamity Shell] at present. The batch produced in four months is too hasty and is likely to cause problems.
The global acceptance of Flashdance fell short of expectations, and even with an extremely saturated promotional approach, many people remained uninterested in the talent show format.