Chapter 319
"Even if she manages to survive by relying on Xiao Qing's dazzling charm, she'll eventually be disliked because she's too troublesome."
Her thoughts drifted away; like a small animal afraid of fire, she deliberately distanced herself from that warmth, for approaching the calamity would bring her the chilling, unbearable pain.
The number of circles under the girl's eyes increased, and even her ankles began to grow grayish-white scales. The sound of tiny buttons clicking was continuous, just like her heart, which was becoming increasingly pathological due to the disaster and beginning to close itself off.
And at this moment,
Lin Bao'er's heart clenched with pain. She hallucinated Liang Xiaoxiao's emotions and immediately sensed something was wrong. Her body acted before her thoughts could process it, and she grabbed the other's hand.
The girl's skin was cut by the undulating scales, from which bright red blood flowed. She was pale with pain, but only gripped her fists tighter, stubbornly and earnestly saying:
"Don't hate yourself! And don't be afraid of being hated by that person!"
"If... if Chu Yuanqing is truly someone Xiaoxiao admires, then she would definitely want Xiaoxiao to live a happy and fulfilling life."
Suppressing her feelings of shame and strange emotions, Lin Bao'er stammered:
"Besides, I also want Xiaoxiao to live on; I don't want to live without you by my side."
"Besides, Astrid also said that if something happens to Xiaoxiao, I'll be in trouble too. Even if it's just for my sake, please cheer up, okay?"
Looking at the crimson stains on her palm, Liang Xiaoxiao's confused and distant thoughts were abruptly pulled back. She immediately manipulated the scales back into the [Cocoon of the Heart], using white light to heal Lin Bao'er's cut palm, whispering apologetically:
"Yes, thank you, Bao'er."
"You're right. Xiao Qing won't hate me because of this, and I have a reason to keep living. I'll try my best not to overthink things."
Chen Yining realized the seriousness of the problem; Xiaoxiao's mental state seemed to be getting worse. She was annoyed that she had only just noticed something and immediately got up to pay the bill.
Chu Yuanqing's absurd reason is not information that should be investigated now. What she needs to do now is to immediately go to Austria and bring Liang Xiaoxiao to the other party.
While talking to Astrid, the Young Lady used her phone to call a taxi, picked up her bag, and led everyone out of the store, preparing to go straight back to the hotel to get their luggage.
Once she had set her sights on this goal, she postponed or canceled all her subsequent appointments and activities, rushed to Chitose Airport within an hour, boarded a special flight arranged by the Countermeasures Bureau, and flew directly to Salzburg.
Normally, it takes 11 hours to fly from East Flow Island to Austria.
However, the Countermeasures Bureau's aircraft not only adopted military technology, but also used more advanced technology and materials. They were also enchanted with ether technology, allowing them to arrive in just 4 hours.
Most importantly, there was a medical hibernation pod on board that could suppress the aura of disaster and monitor Life Form at any time. Liang Xiaoxiao lay down in it as soon as she boarded the plane, which minimized the possibility of an accident.
During this time, Astrid took the initiative to educate everyone on various common knowledge about Magical Girl.
The behavior of the Super AI is not one of favoritism.
At the same time, her offspring are scattered around Little Idol with [Witch] potential, playing the role of mascot for each Magical Girl anime series according to each person's different perceptions and preferences.
Well, if this were in Puella Magical Girl, everyone would probably have a Cupid to act as an encyclopedia explaining the world and answering questions.
This is a very necessary process.
A reshaping of worldviews requires a decisive stimulus, and this current media storm, coupled with the attack by the Cult of Disaster Gods, presents the best opportunity to reveal the truth.
During the reshaping phase, having a trustworthy mascot that can be applied using comic book formulas is undoubtedly very important.
To Chen Yining Astrid is the two-dimensional costume form of the [Magic Countermeasures Bureau] account, but on the other side, she might be a cute creature with a fantastical art style, and her rhetoric and personality would be completely different, making her a master of pyramid schemes.
Of course, those who are qualified to be mentored by her as a team must meet a key implicit condition.
That means each member of the team must meet at least one of the following three conditions: [Fuel], [Calamity Shell], or [Witch].
In short, Little Idol who are too inexperienced won't get to see it.
Chen Yining's team can't compare to the Pure White Witch's Galactic Battleship, but it's still considered one of the top 100 teams in the world.
Ruan Wutong's current potential is [Calamity Shell], which is one level higher than [Fuel], and she also has the potential to reach the level of [Witch]. She is in an uncertain state that requires time to develop.
Lin Bao'er's situation is similar (not counting the element of being infected with the aura of disaster), Liang Xiaoxiao is an exception among exceptions, and the remaining two childhood sweethearts are [Witch].
Therefore, in the most ideal scenario, this team has a chance that all members will be Combat Power in the future.
As for the other divisions, some Magical Girl's teammates are either all [fuel] or simply have no value in participating in the <Flash Dance> project, and even if they debut, their teams will be disbanded.
The Super AI's sub-sub-subsidiaries are busy educating the Little Idol in various regions, while the main body is still busy cleaning up the mess left behind by the attack of the Cult of Disaster Gods.
Astrid not only has to tally the number of disaster victims and casualties worldwide and formulate public relations plans for various regions, but also command the overall situation, observe fate with the [Planetarium], regulate various restricted areas, and arrange the job rotation of Magical Girl.
At the same time, this model worker also had to attend high-level meetings and undergo internal review due to the aftermath of his previous proposal.
Within the territory of Great Xia, the First People's Hospital of Sea Capital.
The girl stared blankly at the smooth, mirror-like floor, which reflected a myriad of human emotions: doctors pushing stretchers, patients' families weeping uncontrollably, nurses rushing by, and a noisy, bustling crowd.
These sounds blended together, creating echoes of varying distances in the spacious room. They settled in the heart, turning into a sour, astringent feeling that triggered panic and unease, making it hard to breathe.
Xu Ling clutched the blood-stained food bag, numbly staring at the constantly updating messages on her phone.
The WeChat interface showed a series of voice messages from my aunt and a call log showing that the call lasted half an hour.
Why did the subway collapse? Are the injuries serious?
Your aunt and uncle have already bought their plane tickets and are on their way to Sea Capital.
What did the doctor say? Is your condition improving?
[Xiaoling, please help me sign this. Even if I can't wear skirts anymore, as long as I'm alive, there's hope.]
The girl's mind went blank. The keywords that used to frequently appear in her mind, such as "Flash Dance," idols, video editing, work, and food, seemed to have been erased. Only the very close concepts of birth, aging, sickness, and death remained in her consciousness.
How strange! Just a few days ago, they were overjoyed to have won the grand prize, went out for Sichuan-style hot pot, bought lots of pretty dresses at the mall, and spent the evening snuggling on the sofa watching their favorite movie.
At that time, Pei Xiaotong was in a good mood, and with a bright smile, she pulled me along to start making travel plans.
The little girl confidently declared that she had finally escaped her mother's control and would enjoy herself during the extended summer vacation.
As she spoke, her true colors were revealed. She hugged her arms, completely forgetting the several dresses still unopened in her shopping bag, and began to whine and beg for some travel expenses.
But now these vivid images have been replaced by cruel reality.
Xu Ling lowered her eyes and stared blankly. The hospital floor began to blur and turn into yellow warning lines. She watched from more than ten meters away as the little girl, covered in blood, was carried onto a stretcher and sent to an ambulance from the dusty subway entrance.
The scene shifts, and she is seen signing the surgical consent form with trembling hands.
Tears blurred my vision, dripping onto the bag in my arms.
Xu Ling covered her face, choking back tears with regret:
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have let you go out alone."
Because she was used to writing copy and editing videos at night, she always went to bed very late. When she woke up, it was already noon. There was a message on her phone from Tong Bao when he went out, saying that he wanted to go out for a walk and would be back in a little while.
But when she woke up and still didn't see him come home, she used the parent-child GPS that her aunt had set up for her to locate Pei Xiaotong's position, intending to secretly arrest him.
When they got to the subway station, they found that yellow police tape had been put up nearby, and there were ambulances and police officers responsible for maintaining order all around.
Ultimately, that's what we saw.
The girl sniffled, her vision blurred by tears, but she still looked down at the bag of food in her arms. Inside were small cakes and cream puffs that had been squeezed out of shape, and on top of them was a birthday card stained with blood and cream, all crumpled up.
This is what the police gave her.
Today is her birthday. Pei Xiaotong went out to buy her a cake, but that's when the building collapsed, crushing one of her legs and forcing her to have it amputated.
Why does tragedy suddenly befall us?
Xu Ling didn't understand.
The dozens of people who died or were injured in the subway station today will never understand.
Calamity Beasts, Thirteen Forbidden Zones, Magical Girl, Apocalyptic Crisis...
These things, which were originally far removed from the lives of ordinary people, began to cast shadows and truly intrude into the lives of ordinary people as the [pure white] sun waned and weakened.
The prelude to war has already begun.
Salzburg.
Xie Qingxuan stared at a text message on her phone, remaining silent.
[Captain, Shuangshuang had an accident. Her family has been notified to claim her. We'll never see her again.]
[Sorry, I know you're not very familiar with me or her, and you're not my captain anymore, but I just feel like I should tell you.]
In the Sea Capital competition area, there is only one person who calls herself captain: the strategist, Miss Fan Qiuling, whom she plundered and used as a tool, who offered many suggestions along the way and even persuaded 17 teams to accept her challenge.
Although they didn't even glance at each other when they parted ways, they still exchanged contact information later.
Unexpectedly, their first conversation took place on such a heavy topic.
Xie Qingxuan is the kind of person who is usually very well-mannered and polite. She remembers all the contestants she once stole from Shining, and she also remembers the Little Idol she teamed up with.
The "Shuangshuang" that Fan Qiuling mentioned refers to another teammate from back then.
--Chu Qiushuang.
Both of these two people have the word "Autumn" in their names, and both of them were on the stage that day. After being returned to shine by themselves, they unexpectedly stepped into the field of [Flow] and had a subtle connection with their own [Cocoon of Heart].
It's like a medieval monarch who has taken in two loyal knights, who can strip the other of their sword and authority at any time.
Xie Qingxuan didn't take it seriously, but she did remember that Chu Qiushuang's chosen commercial performance location wasn't very good; it was located on the border of Great Xia, close to the desert and grasslands.
Looking back now...
If the other party had chosen a city closer to Sea Capital or Capital, would things have been safe?
A dark cross appeared in Xie Qingxuan's pupils, her expression indifferent on her cool face. There was neither anger nor sadness in her heart, but she remembered many past events.
The girl looked down at her phone and replied:
Thank you for telling me.
"If I have time on the day of the funeral, I will come to pay my respects."
"Finally, Fan Qiuling, if you don't want to be eliminated by the world, then embrace the awareness that you'll die if you fail, and make the most of your shining moments on stage."
Volume 1: 300. So-called Redemption, Chu Yuanqing's Blood, and the Vigilant Lin Bao'er. (5K)
The night was beautiful.
When the plane arrived in Salzburg, the city lights were already dimming; it was 11 p. m.
Mozart Airport, terminal building.
The Little Idol hurried past the news corner where they could buy tickets, walked straight out, boarded a special car with the Dream Weaver Rabbit logo, and headed directly to Monk Mountain in the old town.
Lin Bao'er looked worriedly at Liang Xiaoxiao, who was standing blankly beside her. She held Liang Xiaoxiao's cold, soft hands in her own, and slowly inserted her fingers between them, pressing her skin together to try to transfer her body heat.
Liang Xiaoxiao whispered:
"You'll get hurt."
"Not now, I can feel your pulse."
-- Bones, blood, calamity, even magic and longing.
These elements, derived from the dedication of her friends, created a wonderful connection between her and her newborn self.
The girl closed her eyes. She could sense that the other person's blood was becoming thicker, as if mixed with lead and iron filings. Its slow, hibernating heartbeat made the blood flow throughout the body begin to slow down, compressing every nerve.
This is a superficial form of catastrophe. It erodes the senses, constantly subverting human habits, and brutally destroying the spirit, ultimately leading to a reverse devouring and preying on the host.
Even medical hibernation pods on airplanes can only slow things down as much as possible, attempting to strip away this abnormal sensory experience and delay the mental stress it causes.
I hope Chu Yuanqing can really help Xiaoxiao.
Although she couldn't understand the strange emotions surfacing within her, she didn't have the time to deal with them. All that remained in her chest was unease, panic, and... intense resentment.
Am I destined to be nothing more than a pretty face who can only talk a good game but do nothing?
[Cocoon of the Heart], Shining, Stage, Magical Girl.
Even if she naturally becomes Magical Girl like the captain and reaches the intersection leading to miracles, she still won't be able to immediately achieve her wish.
If...
If only we could lend our strength to Xiaoxiao, just as she used her flesh and Xiaoxiao to mend her gnawed feet, she should reciprocate with something of equal value and help.
In that case, wouldn't that mean the two of them could be considered one, able to overcome difficulties together?
Lin Bao'er's eyes were unfocused, her thoughts wandering.