Butterfly Treasure, Hugs!

The Astral Express doors slowly slid open, and a slender figure stepped out.

She was a purple-haired girl with pointed ears, so light on her feet that a breeze might have swept her away.

She wore a gorgeous dress adorned with flowers, and was as beautiful as a little sprite fluttering through a field of blossoms.

"D-Die Treasure!"

"Your Highness... We meet again."

The purple-haired girl's eyes, which had been blank and dazed, suddenly lit up the moment she saw Stelle. A tender glow quickly spread through them, and crystalline tears welled in her eyes.

She could no longer hold back. With light, quick steps, she rushed over and opened her arms.

She didn't care in the slightest about the dust Stelle had picked up rummaging through the trash. She threw herself straight into her arms.

The girl before her was Castorice, Demigod of Death, who had adventured alongside Stelle in Amphoreus and hugged her only once.

Feeling the warm body in her arms, Stelle's little heart began pounding wildly. She was so excited she nearly jumped on the spot.

She had never dreamed that her first pull would actually net her wife Castorice!

And wasn't Castorice supposed to be inside As I Have Written right now?

Had Aha shown her divine favor and specially given her this reward?

Whatever the case, Castorice felt like a living, breathing person to Stelle right now. Her touch was warm, and her breath was unmistakable.

As expected of an Aeon's power. It could even do something like this!

If that was the case, then as long as she earned more rewards, wouldn't she be able to pull over even more wives?

"Wow, that girl is gorgeous!"

"Her dress looks like she's going to a huge concert!"

"How did she suddenly appear? The Sky Screen rewarded Stelle with ten Train Tickets, but what are those, exactly?"

"That woman who just appeared gives me a really dangerous feeling..."

"She's so beautiful. If only I could..."

The crowd buzzed with discussion, their faces full of shock and curiosity.

They couldn't see Stelle's ten-pull, nor could they see the Astral Express or Pom-Pom.

All they saw was Castorice suddenly appear in front of Stelle, then throw her arms around her.

Stelle was already beautiful enough, but unfortunately, her behavior was too bizarre.

She was always rummaging through trash cans, so people often overlooked her looks.

Castorice, by contrast, wore a delicate wreath of flowers, and her moon-white skirt was covered in buds.

Her purple hair fluttered in the breeze, and her entire being radiated an elegant, noble air.

She made people want to look up at her, as if they were gazing upon their own goddess.

Of course, quite a few powerful Spirit Masters keenly sensed the faint air of danger surrounding Castorice.

They backed away again and again, their faces full of lingering fear.

Held in Castorice's arms, Stelle felt a familiar yet unfamiliar floral fragrance linger beneath her nose.

The scent was cloyingly sweet, yet carried a deadly allure. Stelle instantly forgot how to breathe.

Her vision gradually blurred. The cold reality around her gave way to a dreamlike purple ocean, and her nostrils filled with the rich scent of flowers...

Only then did Stelle finally realize what was happening.

This was Castorice's power over death!

At that moment, she felt as though she were immersed in an exceedingly sweet dream of death...

Damn it!

Why couldn't Castorice just let her have a proper hug right now?

Stelle's head grew heavier and heavier. Only then did she remember that she wasn't in a Memory form right now, but a living body of flesh and blood.

Castorice's power over death could actually affect her!

Castorice, who was holding Stelle tightly, felt the warmth of the body in her arms slowly fade. Stelle's body was gradually growing stiff, too.

She suddenly realized what was happening. Her face filled with panic, and she hurriedly let go of Stelle.

Stelle, who had been bouncing around full of life and acting as if she feared nothing under the sun,

went limp the moment she lost Castorice's embrace as support. With a loud clatter, she hit the ground and lost consciousness.

Just then, several dazzling beams of light descended from the sky and plunged straight into Stelle's body.

At the same time, a beam of pink light shot out like lightning and darted straight into Mimi, who was rushing toward Stelle in a panic!

"Partner!!"

Mimi cried out anxiously, completely unaware that she could now speak.

She hurried over to Stelle, reached out with her little hands, and gently patted Stelle's cheek, her voice choked with tears.

"Pat, pat! Pat, pat! Partner, please be okay!"

Castorice stood to one side and tried to place a hand on Stelle. Suddenly, she pulled it back again in alarm.

Her Authority of Death was incomplete.

She was now just as she had been when she first met Stelle: all she possessed was the power to bring death.

The people around them were completely dumbfounded by the scene.

They couldn't understand why Stelle, who had been full of life just moments ago, had suddenly collapsed.

Then, everyone stared fearfully at Castorice in her gorgeous dress. They took several involuntary steps back, their faces stricken with terror.

The Sky Screen had already revealed Stelle's strength. She was a Demigod, several times stronger than the Titled Douluo on their continent!

Yet someone that powerful had fallen unconscious with a gentle hug from this purple-clad girl!

Everyone who witnessed the scene couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.

This girl was breathtakingly beautiful, and her strength was terrifying. She was absolutely not someone they could afford to provoke!

"Little Butterfly, Partner... she's only fallen asleep. Don't worry about her."

Mimi lay on top of Stelle and pressed her little head to her chest to listen. She quickly figured out Stelle's condition.

Seeing Castorice looking so guilty that she was about to cry, Mimi quickly lifted her soft little head and gently comforted her.

Castorice pressed her palm to her chest, feeling her heart—which had been pounding wildly with panic—gradually settle.

She let out a long breath, her voice still trembling slightly with lingering fear.

"Mimi, thank you."

"Your Highness is all right... As long as she's all right..."

"Uh..."

Just then, Stelle's eyes twitched slightly, and a faint groan escaped her throat.

Mimi and Castorice, who had been watching her closely, immediately noticed the faint sound.

Mimi quickly reached out her little hand and gently patted Stelle's cheek, her voice urgent yet cautious.

"Pat, pat! Pat, pat!"

"Wake up, Partner!"

Only then did Stelle slowly open her heavy eyelids.

Floating in midair before her was Mimi, her bright, starry eyes wide open. Beside her crouched Castorice, staring at her without looking away, worry written all over her face.

"How are you? How do you feel?"

Mimi's voice was soft and sweet, like cotton candy.

Stelle blinked her still-dazed eyes and looked at Mimi. Then her face filled with disbelief.

"Mimi, how can you talk?"