Dad, Please Let Me Be Your One-and-Only!

Otherwise, without the Holy Radiance's favor and without the Quicksilver Blood left behind by Chu Yuanqing, even with the Imperial Alchemy's blockade, she would not be able to continuously suppress the rejection reaction of the Calamity Beasts's genes.

Chen Yining didn't notice anything amiss with her teammate. Her spirits were high, and she showed no signs of being discouraged. She maintained her proud and ambitious spirit, earnestly encouraging her:

"Don't be afraid, baby, you'll definitely do it next time."

"We will eventually step onto the real battlefield. The Simulation Battlefield is just a stepping stone. There's no need to be afraid or anxious. Let's all work together."

As the team leader, Chen Yining was certainly aware of the pressure everyone was under recently.

Since the end of the Public Performance, they not only have to prepare for their debut, but also continue their training as Magical Girl. Every day, they have to enter the Simulation Battlefield of the [Celestial Instrument] through the sub-base of [Dream Weaver to engage in group battles.

The former goes without saying; the workload is mainly handled by the production team and professional teams. They only need to address the client's opinions and requests; the rest of their work is simply routine idol management.

The main pressure lies in the latter.

The Simulation Battlefield of [Planetarium] has undergone iterative upgrades after the Divine Sentient Body provided the principle structure of the Tower of Mirrors and the "source code" of the Morpheus system. Its realism is no less than that of the Tower of Mirrors, and it is even more flexible.

Even as [Void] devoured it, the data model of the Pure Emperor vanished completely, not being copied into the Simulation Battlefield to serve as the BOSS that ravaged the Little Idol.

But the Countermeasures Bureau has no shortage of BOSS template designs. The bishops who appeared in the Ideal Country, and even the disaster groups that attacked the Sea Capital last week, have all been included to form dungeon levels.

The [Ideal State Chapter] and [Sea Capital Chapter] are divided into two large worlds, each with numerous sub-worlds. Players can fight on the borders of the empire and against the Disaster Tide, or experience the life-or-death race against time when attacked by bishops and forced to escape.

Going back further, they were the prototypes for some Magical Girl documentaries.

Most of these prototypes were unaware of the plot and key missions, so they experienced a series of unexpected and perilous Calamity Beasts events from a first-person perspective.

For example, one of the tasks happened to be the one Xie Qingyu had previously carried out. In terms of difficulty, let alone [Flower Bloom], even if everyone [Lighting Up], there's a chance that everyone could complete it without any losses.

However, the prerequisite is that your teammates are not corrupted by that calamity— Beelzebub's flesh and blood. Once you enter this branch, unless you can [fully unlock] like Xiaoyu, there is a 90% chance of total annihilation.

Leaving aside Chen Yining and Ji Shuzhu, their strength is among the strongest in [Lighting Up]. Liang Xiaoxiao can compete with some hopeless Captain-Class [Flower Bloom]. As for Bao'er and Wutong, they are newbies who have just adapted to the Transformation device - the artificial lantern.

This team, when assembled, can already create battle scenes that destroy streets and collapse the spines of buildings, but stuffing them into a Simulation Battlefield instance...

It can only be said that Dream Weaver Rabbit was somewhat tempted by the idea of forcing growth.

If this team is already in such a predicament, the other Little Idol must be suffering even more.

The only "fortunate" thing is that currently only teams consisting entirely of Magical Girl need to participate in dungeons together; it's not that the whole team needs to participate individually in raids, where you can simply kill monsters and gain experience.

Lin Bao'er listlessly muttered:

"... The thought of actually having to fight those monsters in the future, doesn't it make you even more afraid?"

The spiral in Liang Xiaoxiao's eyes disappeared, and she smiled slightly:

"Don't worry, Bao'er will be very powerful by then, just like those team leaders. Besides, the core reason why Teacher Dream Weaver wants us to work as a team is actually for the sake of Shine Magic, isn't it?"

"We still can't use the Shine Magic effectively on the battlefield. Even with the Disaster Relief Force helping to contain the Calamity Beasts and not having to worry about them for a few minutes, we've still failed seven times in a row today."

Obviously, considering the core of the <Flash Dance> project, Dream Weaver Rabbit sent these Little Idol to learn in the dungeon was not how to fight enemies, but how to skillfully and stably release Shine Magic.

Therefore, even in free mode, no Calamity Beasts will cross the enemy's encirclement before their stage ends, making it essentially a beginner's game.

Even so, in this environment, it remains incredibly difficult to maintain the mindset of an idol and to create a stage that gives back to fans and elevates oneself with the same enthusiasm, joy, and focus as before. It takes a considerable amount of time to adapt.

Upon hearing this, Lin Bao'er felt even more that life was difficult.

God knows how complicated her mindset was when she first entered the dungeon and was told she had to sing and dance in front of a group of terrifying monsters. She barely managed to control her trembling legs and stumble through the performance.

This is only because she spent half a year in the ideal country, which tempered her mentality to some extent. Otherwise, it would be a miracle if she didn't burst into tears on the spot, let alone dance.

But...

The little girl felt inexplicably happy when she thought of Xiaoxiao's praise, and for a moment she forgot her fear. Only the phrase "Bao'er can be amazing too" lingered in her mind. She couldn't help but nod her chin and say earnestly:

"I'll definitely succeed next time. I'm used to entering [Flow State] in the battlefield environment. This time it'll be a success!"

Looking at the girl's adorable micro-expressions, Liang Xiaoxiao's lips curled up. She subconsciously wanted to reach out and pat Bao'er's head, but in a split second, she suppressed the urge, simply continuing to smile at the girl and affirming:

"Yes, it will definitely work."

Lin Bao'er jumped for joy. She picked up a piece of blanched vegetables from Liang Xiaoxiao's plate and immediately became full of energy, perfectly embodying the idealistic nature of Magical Girl. She then suggested:

"Are you all going to watch a movie together later?"

Ruan Wutong raised her hand in agreement, indicating that she wanted to watch "WALL-E".

Ji Shuzhu said either is fine, but "The Legend of 1900" is also good.

Liang Xiaoxiao and Chen Yining did not offer any opinions.

After a brief discussion, everyone decided to watch "Flipped," a classic romantic film.

After finishing their meal, they handed the dishes to the dishwasher, and the Little Idol squeezed onto the sofa, turned off the Lighting Up, and started watching a movie.

It's worth mentioning that Ruan Wutong sat on the far side, next to Liang Xiaoxiao, Lin Bao'er, Ji Shuzhu, and Chen Yining.

This location, which holds hidden meaning, doesn't seem particularly ambiguous today.

The reason is that Liang Xiaoxiao has been deliberately avoiding any physical contact with Lin Bao'er, and the choreographer, who likes to act recklessly, also doesn't want to make any inappropriate remarks to her childhood sweetheart because Lin Bao'er is sitting next to her.

Lin Bao'er didn't think much of it. As the [Void] devoured Qing Bao, this terrifying rival in love, her memories were missing the parts about jealousy, discovering her feelings, panic and confusion, processing it alone, and recognizing reality.

So even now, in her eyes, Xiaoxiao is still a close friend with an unbreakable bond of friendship.

Liang Xiaoxiao had a reason for avoiding Lin Bao'er: yesterday, she subconsciously touched the other's hair, causing all the Calamity Beasts genes in her body to surge intensely.

That immense malice, carrying a calamity that washes over the soul, suddenly devoured the internal organs, mutated the bones and flesh, attempting to devour and kill the person before it, thereby... breaking the calm of her breathing and shattering this cage.

Liang Xiaoxiao breathed softly, her gray eyes tinged with bloodlust. She calmly gazed at the scene in the movie where a young man was planting his beloved's favorite fig tree, and whispered to herself:

Hang in there, Xiaoxiao.

"Hold on!"

"Once the people sent by Master Dream Weaver arrive, I can... be free."

This morning, sensing that she had reached her limit, she reported her situation to Astrid, requesting that Magical Girl be dispatched to contain, capture, or even, in the most extreme case, execute her.

The reason she didn't leave immediately and has stayed until now is because leaving these familiar and important friends would cause her mental breakdown even more severely, and could potentially lead to innocent casualties.

But it's okay, everything will be over tonight.

Volume 1: 403. A Lonely Journey, Bonds.

The movie has a romantic and happy ending.

The love between the boy and girl blossomed and bore fruit under the fig tree.

Lin Bao'er glanced at the scrolling cast list, still somewhat unsatisfied. She turned to look at the light reflected in Liang Xiaoxiao's eyes, and her heart suddenly skipped a beat. As if struck by lightning, she immediately stood up from the sofa.

The young girl was in a state of turmoil. Suppressing her chaotic thoughts, she pretended to be normal and turned on the room light, asking:

"Does everyone still want to watch?"

It was already 9 p. m., and normally everyone would be asleep.

After becoming Magical Girl, she can be energetic even with only three or four hours of sleep a day. If it weren't for her subconscious habits, she could probably replace a day's rest by simply practicing Meditation Method for a while.

Of course, more importantly, Magical Girl don't experience puffiness, dark circles, skin deterioration, or weight gain. In this case, whether or not they stay up late is purely a matter of personal habit.

Ruan Wutong, with a strawberry-flavored lollipop in her mouth, held up her phone, its screen filled with anime girl illustrations, and said earnestly:

"A new game just launched today, I want to play it."

Ignoring the Young Lady's flustered expression, Ji Shuzhu's slender hand, intertwined with hers, brushed against the other's fair and rounded thigh. Pressing on the soft flesh caused it to bounce back, and she said without changing her expression:

"The captain and I need to discuss some things."

Just as Chen Yining was about to retort, the other girl's small hand was about to make a move in public. Her pupils dilated in shock, and she pursed her lips, quickly nodding in agreement to avoid the disaster. However, she was extremely ashamed and indignant, and was already planning how to punish the hateful Xiaozhu later.

Liang Xiaoxiao took out her phone, glanced down at the message from Dream Weaver Rabbit, her body stiffened, she turned off the screen, put the phone in her pocket, stood up, and quickly changed into a light sports jacket, saying:

"I need to go to the lab to check my health data. Everyone, why don't you go have some fun?"

Without even thinking, Lin Bao'er asked with concern:

Do you need someone to go with you?

Liang Xiaoxiao looked at the girl's pretty face. Her usually indifferent and calm expression suddenly transformed into a radiant and infectious smile, just like before. She stepped forward, gently hugged Lin Bao'er, and said:

"No need, it's just routine. I'll be back in a bit."

After speaking, she didn't give the other person a chance to react. She released her embrace, turned around to change her shoes, waved her hand, and left without any hesitation.

Lin Bao'er stared blankly as the door closed, her mind Xiaoxiao with the image of Xiao Xiao's departing back. She absentmindedly sat back down on the sofa. The captain and the choreographer had already returned to their room, leaving only Ruan Wutong, who was still playing a new game, beside her.

The little girl requested the movie "WALL-E," which Wutong had wanted to watch earlier. After hesitating for a long time, she asked in a low voice:

"Wutong, do you think Xiaoxiao has become more handsome lately?"

Ruan Wutong ate a lollipop, thought for a moment, and replied:

"Really? I think there might be a little."

"I didn't notice it in the ideal world, but after the group went on a mission to Simulation Battlefield, I could clearly feel that Xiaoxiao had become more reliable. Even though she's not Magical Girl, she's incredibly calm and always manages to grasp the key to the battle."

"Besides... she doesn't seem to smile much lately, and with her gray hair and heterochromatic eyes, she definitely looks cooler and more handsome."

Lin Bao'er had noticed all of this; she was already used to staying next to Xiaoxiao when entering the Simulation Battlefield.

The captain is certainly reliable, but Xiaoxiao makes her feel safer.

Because... whether in Sapporo or Utopia, it was Xiaoxiao who saved him.

The little girl reminisced about the past. She curled up on the sofa, lost in thought, hugging her legs. Her fingertips traced the grotesque, centipede-like scars on her ankles and calves, which felt smooth to the touch, like burnt tattoos.

There was a time when I longed to become Magical Girl immediately and erase these scars.

But...

Even though the abundant magical energy and evolved Life Form had completely cleansed Liang Xiaoxiao's flesh and blood, marks, and calamity, these scars still remained.

Lin Bao'er couldn't quite explain what she was really thinking. Perhaps she cared more about the story behind the scar than about the imperfections themselves.

Or perhaps, she simply didn't want to completely sever the special bond between herself and Xiaoxiao.

Without the shared calamity energy, she had lost the ability to perceive the other person's thoughts and emotions. If even the scars faded, it would be as if something unique was missing between them.

How pretentious.

Lin Bao'er told herself this in her heart. She collected her thoughts and patiently watched the movie.

This is an old movie set in the future, where humanity has turned Earth into a garbage dump, making it uninhabitable. They have no choice but to migrate en masse to other planets and hire a robotic garbage cleanup company to clean up the mess until Earth's environmental system regains its ecological balance.

After the humans left, the company sent WALL-E robots to Earth in batches and installed only one instruction on them—garbage sorting.

As time passed, the robots broke down one by one, until only one robot remained, working alone on the deserted Earth.

For hundreds of years, loneliness and solitude have been the eternal themes.

The story begins with a spaceship arriving on Earth, shattering the peace here.

Another robot, Eva, who was dedicated to search missions, found evidence of Earth's beginning to recover after her search—a green plant.

Eve reports her discovery to humanity and receives orders to remove the green plants from Earth. Meanwhile, WALL-E, who has been lonely for hundreds of years, realizes he has fallen in love with Eve and begins to chase after her, thus setting the stage for the story.

This is an old movie with an environmental theme, full of philosophical insights and healing power.

But inexplicably, as she watched WALL-E foolishly chasing EVE across the galaxy, what surfaced in her mind were the wreckage of the tram, the gray sea of fire, and the lonely, ferocious, and sorrowful monster that emerged from it.

That waltz-like blade, blooming in the summer of Sapporo, cleaved through the sticky and heavy cage, allowing her lifeless body to see the light of day again.

Xiaoxiao is her hero.

This scene, perhaps ten or twenty years from now, until the end of my life, will remain forever clear, vivid, and vibrant, as if it happened just yesterday.

Lin Bao'er's lips curled slightly as she savored the sweetness rising in her heart, a soft, clear, and feathery emotion budding within her chest.

Suddenly, intense pain shot through the muscles.

The girl's fingertips were burning hot. She looked down and, in a daze, the scars on her legs seemed like flickering flames, burning fiercely.

The underground base, the lowest level, the central laboratory.

Ji Qianju's expression was complicated. She silently looked into the distance. The person in the cage was covered in blood, like a withered cabbage white butterfly, writhing ugly on the ground. The proliferating bone and flesh swelled up, and the broken wings and blades were swallowed by the sticky tentacles.

That's... Liang Xiaoxiao.

Astrid whispered:

"The A73 type disaster relief agent isn't working either."