Chapter 244
Chu Yuanqing understood. Just as Charlotte couldn't accept her departure, she couldn't accept Charlotte's passing. No words of comfort would be meaningful now.
Chu Yuanqing held Charlotte in her arms. The falling tears were so hot, like swords, that even through the thin fabric, they could reach her heart and pierce through the void. She silently stroked Xia Ludi's blue hair, and the smile on her lips was complicated as she lowered her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Charlotte."
"I'm still as selfish as ever, just like before, I like to dump all the trouble on you."
But no matter what, these words had to be said.
Although Dreamweave didn't mention it, and the other party didn't say anything either, it's clear from last night's live stream that affected the Holy United States that the official level of attention given to Charlotte has reached an unreasonable level.
The other [beacon], as she had initially expected, was none other than the last Diva of the old era.
Whether out of personal motives or for her daughter's sake, she absolutely refused to let Charlotte become a self-sacrificing "lighthouse."
This girl sacrificed enough to win that battle.
Chu Yuanqing had witnessed Charlotte's gruesome suicide, her body shattered and sinking into the sea with the City of Doomsday, leaving no trace. Seventeen years later, was she really going to ask her lover to sacrifice her own life for the sake of world peace, thus ensuring the future of everyone?
That's not fair.
Charlotte loves children, and Xiao Shu also wants a mother, doesn't she? She's already lived long enough.
Over these 17 years, she has witnessed the growth of a little life. It is said that children are the continuation of bloodline and proof of being alive, so she has also experienced a cycle of reincarnation.
Therefore, the only lighthouse can be oneself.
This mother and daughter should have another 17 years.
Chu Yuanqing said softly:
"Charlotte, you should know that the pace of the <Flashdance> project is accelerating."
"This is because, as the erosion of the Sea of Truth intensifies, [Pure White] can no longer withstand the original expectations of the project."
Chu Yuanqing's fingertips brushed across the girl's thin back, as if offering some comfort. She didn't give a specific number, paused, and then continued:
"And after its collapse, the thirteen forbidden zones will riot, the embryo of the Disaster God will revive, and a wave of calamity will sweep the globe, repeating the tragedy of the first time around."
"At that time, countless people will die, and the foundation of the <Flash Dance> project will be shattered. Therefore, this project only has one chance left. If this world-class magic fails, the consequences will be unimaginable."
Upon hearing this, Charlotte, like a drowning person finding their last straw, rose from the Pure White Witch's embrace, her eyes red-rimmed, and with a strained, tearful voice, earnestly said:
"I guessed a bit, but that's precisely why I can't back down. Even if I have to be a bad mother, I can't let the project fail. Besides, as long as I [fully bloom] before then, becoming [the Lighthouse] doesn't necessarily mean I'll die."
"While Dreamweave is indeed Super AI combines magic and technology, its calculations ultimately lack data from the previous Worldline. I will not be defeated by the dark side of all humanity."
The Doomsday Diva smiled, her eyes, layered with color, blurred by tears, like Lake Baikal growing ever more scorching in summer. A radiance emanated from her very soul, an intensity that even a tsunami of sorrow could not suppress. She looked at the other person and spoke, word by word:
"Besides, I... I'm already a mother, aren't I?"
"Now I have an even stronger reason not to lose. Our daughter's future should be paved by me, the mother who has been absent for 17 years."
"So, no matter what Xiao Qing says, I will not agree to withdraw from the <Flash Dance> project."
Chu Yuanqing stared at Charlotte in a daze for a moment. She was like picking up a snowflake at the end of winter, lowering her head and using her lips to take away a wisp of cold air. Under the gaze of the other party's magnified and then instantly gentle eyes, she pecked at the softness stained with tears.
It was a kiss that ended in an instant.
Before Charlotte could react, she felt a soft movement away, and her mind went blank for a moment.
The Pure White Witch's face flushed crimson. She didn't explain the reason for the kiss, but simply smiled brightly at him and whispered:
"Yes, I know you won't agree easily."
"But what if I could prove that I alone can guarantee the success of the Flashdance project?"
Charlotte fell silent. She was already a bird tethered to gold. If Xiao Qing could truly guarantee this outcome, even if she was unwilling, she could not continue to be "willful" for the sake of their daughter.
The girl felt inexplicably uneasy and hesitated for a long time before asking:
"How does Xiao Qing want to prove it?"
Chu Yuanqing said softly:
"In your favorite way."
"Right now, you and I represent the Donghuang Federation and the Holy United States respectively. Directly asking you to withdraw from the <Flash Dance> project would be very troublesome."
That's the truth. Even if the "Lighthouse" requires absolute voluntariness, it still involves the safety of all humanity, so it's hard to guarantee that something unsavory might happen.
So...
"We'll settle this on stage. If by then you believe that I alone, as the [Lighthouse], am enough to unleash the Shine Magic, then you must unconditionally transfer all the diverted Shining Magic to me."
Charlotte was taken aback. She admitted that Xiao Qing was so beautiful after becoming Magical Girl that it was unfair. She was a natural-born, dazzling beauty who could stand at the top of the idol world without any effort. But she herself would not lose to Xiao Qing in this respect.
Moreover, on the stage where [Lighthouse] made its official debut, the decisive factor was ultimately the Idol Power that combined all these elements.
Chu Yuanqing improved rapidly. The lantern amplified her inherent charm, and the [Pure White Aria], which captured her past experiences and emotions, made her able to defeat 99% of the contestants worldwide.
But there are still monsters in Flash Dance. Their Flow State and stage performances stem from pure dreams and persistence. Although they are shallow compared to the obsession of Savior, they are ultimately professionally suited and may not lose to Chu Yuanqing in the idol field.
These new generation talents, who should have been killed by the Disaster Tide 17 years ago, have become the backbone of the <Flashdance> project.
The Doomsday Diva is precisely the final boss at the top of this group of monsters, so there's no reason for her to lose to Chu Yuanqing, who only met his idol a little over two months ago.
And...
The conditions offered by Chu Yuanqing were far too "favorable".
Even if she defeats herself on stage, as long as she is not truly convinced, she cannot be considered defeated, nor does she need to fulfill her obligations.
Charlotte pursed her lips, feeling uneasy and sensing something was amiss, but she had no reason to refuse, nor could she refuse. After a moment's hesitation, she could only answer:
I agree.
The words had faded.
The Doomsday Diva felt a strange magic overflowing from her soul, a moon-like radiance spreading from her limbs and bones. Clear words appeared before her, clearly a contract constructed based on their previous conversation.
The girl looked blankly at the smiling, Pure White Witch, her cheeks puffing out involuntarily. She knew Xiao Qing wouldn't kiss her for no reason; so that's how that kiss was used?
Charlotte was a little upset. Although she could still refuse the contract, how could she refuse Xiao Qing? Just thinking about the other's physical condition made her little upset disappear, turning into a tender feeling of heartache and affection.
Chu Yuanqing felt a little guilty, but she remained silent and continued to stare intently at the other person.
Charlotte pouted, took off the lantern with a huff, looked at the Pure White Witch's exquisite face, and sighed:
"Okay, okay, I'll sign it. Where did you get this kind of magic?"
The Doomsday Diva reluctantly placed her lantern on the signature line of the contract.
The next second, fluorescent blue Magic Particles surged in, transforming into ink that reflected the Soul Flower, engraving the Forget-me-not upon it and fulfilling their pact.
Charlotte finished doing all this and muttered to herself:
"Xiao Qing has degenerated into a wicked creature who manipulates young girls' hearts at will. I can't even imagine how many girls you've secretly bullied with this kind of magic!"
Chu Yuanqing pursed her lips in embarrassment. She tried to ignore Charlotte's strange words and explained with a serious expression:
"This is a spell that I adapted on the spot, based on a blessing. I've only used it on you; I haven't used it for anything bad."
Then, the Pure White Witch stamped and signed with her lantern, and a cluster of roses bloomed from it, thus truly forming the contract. In an instant, it split in two, turning into silver and blue streams of light that landed on the wrists of the two women, forming bracelets.
Charlotte curiously raised her hand to look at it. It was a bracelet combining pearls and camellias, interpreting the elements of the camellia through openwork and embellishment. It looked quite exquisite. If infused with magic, it could bloom into an illusory camellia, and faintly exude the corresponding floral fragrance.
The same was true of Chu Yuanqing's bracelet. The diamonds and sapphires on the bracelet formed Forget-me-not, which were arranged at intervals and in an asymmetrical design. As the size of the flowers changed, the color of the sapphires also varied, just like the kaleidoscope eyes of the Doomsday Diva.
Rather than a binding contract bracelet, this is more like a novel token of love.
Chu Yuanqing was also somewhat confused, but then he understood.
The Pure White Witch would wish to weave blessings into magic, with the goal of preventing the recipient from dying. When she makes her wish, her heart overflows with love and affection for Charlotte, which would naturally cause subtle changes to the magic.
In short, if the initial goal has been achieved, then there shouldn't be any major problems.
Charlotte's eyes shone with a fiery light, overflowing with joy. She felt as if she'd received a ring during a proposal, carefully touching the bracelet while inwardly grumbling, "What kind of contract magic is this? This is clearly for marriage!"
Hmm, let's change the contents of this contract.
The girl, thinking of this, suddenly looked up at the other person and asked warily:
"Xiao Qing didn't use this magic on other girls, did she? You can't just propose to anyone!"
Charlotte, hearing Chu Yuanqing repeat that it was the first time, couldn't suppress the smile on her lips, revealing a bittersweet joy. She ran her fingertips along the rose petals on her bracelet, took a deep breath, and steered the conversation back to the most somber topic, asking earnestly:
"Xiao Qing, can you tell me about your health condition?"
Chu Yuanqing wouldn't joke about something like this. This Savior, who had created countless miracles with the blessing of [immortality], saying that her life was nearing its end meant that she had truly stepped into an unsolvable predicament.
This can be gleaned from the few words the other party uttered.
--The Sea of Truth
This is an existence that appears incredibly small compared to an entire planet or an entire world. Its erosion is like a natural disaster that overturns all living beings, an inescapable death curse.
But...
Charlotte was still unwilling to give up. She believed that as long as Xiao Qing could retrieve [Immortality], there would still be hope.
That was the most overpowered blessing in the previous Worldline. Even if it was erased from the timeline and causality, it was a divine skill that allowed one to come back to life simply by believing that they would not die.
Tang Liuli returns to the timeline with the Blood of Sighs to spy on the Disaster God.
In essence, it was about working with Chu Yuanqing to defeat the Disaster God, watching this not-yet-invincible Savior forcibly exempt the other party from authority with [immortality], and forcibly propping up the situation with a large number of deaths.
The vast majority of the time, Chu Yuanqing's self-destruction caused the [Undying] blessing to fail, resulting in a tragic ending of total annihilation. The information obtained from this was the only treasure Tang Liuli could bring back.
However, this action later caused the timeline to become disordered, causing Chu Yuanqing to occasionally synchronize with his past self in the Bad Ending, leading to a rapid and complete collapse of the situation. This is why the extreme situation of Tang Liuli Charlotte perform a [Funeral Procession] for him occurred.
But that's all in the past.
The current Chu Yuanqing is no longer naive; she is Savior who has overcome the challenges of Purgatory. Even the curse of the Sea of Truth cannot theoretically interfere with the activation of [Immortality].
Chu Yuanqing understood what Charlotte was thinking, and she said softly:
"The curse of the Sea of Truth is constantly tearing my soul apart, eroding and stripping away my past memories. I can hardly remember many things from the past. Even if you tell me, I will forget them soon."
"As for blessings and authority, apart from a pendant that turned me into Magical Girl, they have all become inseparable cornerstones of [Pure White]. It's impossible to break this deadlock by relying on these."
Charlotte fell silent upon hearing this. She knew the conditions for activating the [Immortality] blessing. If Xiao Qing were to forget who she was one day, or even have her memories of the previous Worldline completely stripped away, then even if she regained [Immortality], she would not be able to activate this blessing again.
This is a loop with almost no solution.
If we want Chu Yuanqing to regain the blessing of [Immortality] while he is still conscious, it would be tantamount to forcing [Pure White] to collapse prematurely. The result would be a widespread Disaster Tide, causing the second playthrough to revert to the miserable state of the first playthrough.
But after [Pure White] collapses, given Chu Yuanqing's obsession, she might be able to take up Laevateinn once more with a death wish and charge at the gods of the thirteen forbidden zones, but she would have no time to Self-hypnosis, believe that she will not die, and activate the blessing.
Because these two things are inherently contradictory.
Charlotte noticed something else, and she frowned and asked:
"So, Xiao Qing, you're different from us. You didn't slowly transform your Life Form using lanterns made of obsidian, but rather you were directly transformed into Magical Girl through a blessing?"
"But in my memory, there shouldn't be any materialized blessings or authority. Although I might not remember, since all your power is transformed into a [pure white] foundation, there's no reason it should be an exception."
Chu Yuanqing was stunned for a moment upon hearing this. She really couldn't remember when the pendant had entered her soul. It seemed to be in the previous Worldline, or perhaps it was 17 years ago.
But this is not surprising. One's memory is already riddled with holes, and the types of blessings are all-encompassing. If one cannot remember clearly, one will naturally categorize it as a special kind of blessing.
The Pure White Witch answered honestly:
"I have no idea."
Charlotte pondered for a moment, then pinched Chu Yuanqing's thigh, looked into those beautiful, golden eyes, leaned closer, admired his lovely face for a while, his pink lips curving into a smile, and whispered:
"I think this is a gift from the Planet Consciousness, you know? Look, you worked so hard to save this world and gave Him a second chance. If He has any sense of responsibility, He'll definitely give you something in return, right?"
"Moreover, the biggest difference between the New Era and the past is the emergence of obsidian and ether, from which the Magical Girl system is a miracle born."
"But that pendant just so happens to be able to transform you into Magical Girl without needing a gemstone; there must be some special connection between them."
The Doomsday Diva remembered more about this than Chu Yuanqing. As Saintess and the [Lighthouse], she knew more about the secrets of Magical Girl. The more she spoke, the more confident she became, feeling that the pendant was probably equivalent to the hidden reward for completing the second playthrough in the game.
Chu Yuanqing suddenly realized that if it weren't for this pendant, her real death would have occurred in the next few days. She would most likely have died quietly in her rented room in Sea Capital, unaware of the truth, under the identity of Chu Yuanqing.
As for participating in "Flash Dance," it would have been impossible for me to have met Charlotte by chance during a commercial performance after only one or two public Public Performance, let alone meet her like this now.
Therefore, if it is truly a gift from the Planet Consciousness, it is not unreasonable to call it a valuable present.
On the other hand, when she kissed Charlotte, she realized that although Charlotte's potential as a [Witch] was incredibly high, she was still not perfect and was not the best Pure White Witch.
This is actually very wrong.
Chu Yuanqing did not believe that his soul was more noble, more beautiful, or more virtuous than Charlotte's. If the elements that formed the Pure White Witch, besides her saintly soul, included that pendant, it would explain his doubts.
Charlotte's eyes lit up with hope, and the curve of her lips softened, replaced by anticipation for the future. She spoke earnestly: