Chapter 383: Shining Magic, I Am Chu Yuanying

Sea City, Nanjing East Road.

This pedestrian street, filled with a mixture of historical charm and remnants of last century’s architecture, was being enveloped by a hurricane that stripped away everything. The former prosperity vanished in an instant, with tens of thousands of pedestrians like rising dust, screaming as they were swept away into the sky.

The bubble tea in Xu Youyue’s hand slipped and fell. The puffy sleeves of her dress rustled, and her skirt fluttered. She felt a dizzying sensation, a strong pull of centrifugal force and weightlessness clutching at her heart. Her vision was obscured by her dancing hair, and the roar of the wind mixed with the clamour flooded her ears.

A moment ago, she had been leisurely shopping and chatting with her friend about a newly released movie.

In the next moment, chairs, kiosks, information booths, billboards, sculptures, street lamps, trash bins, phone booths, and even pedestrians were all blown and tossed by the raging storm as the sky darkened like a reversed torrential rainstorm, hurtling toward the heavens.

A natural disaster? A hurricane? Magic? Or a disaster beast?

At this moment, too many thoughts swirled through her mind, yet all froze into blankness amid the fear of death, as if countless lines had tangled wildly, forming a chaotic and disorderly painting.

Before today, no one had imagined that disaster beasts would arrive so fast—so fast that most people hadn’t yet fully processed the official news; so fast that many still regarded magical girls as mere publicity stunts; so fast that… people still believed this peaceful life would last a long time.

“Am I… going to die?”

Xu Youyue’s hair was peeled back by the wind. Her body spun uncontrollably and inverted. At the moment she faced the sky, a colossal being beyond the limits of her brain registered in her sight.

It was a statue of Guanyin, but unlike the descriptions in myths, it did not emit radiant purple light, nor display auspicious phenomena, and it lacked the compassionate aura of holy dew bathing the body. Instead, it only conveyed terror.

This nameless Disaster presented a bronzed and oxidized hue. Its form was so immense that only its smiling face was clearly visible, evoking mankind’s innate fear of colossal beings.

At that moment, it slowly opened its eyes. The world brought into view lost all color, but that majestic voice, solemn and merciful, bathed the souls, causing the people swept up in the storm to momentarily forget their fear in a trance.

Including Xu Youyue, no one could understand what the statue of Guanyin was saying, but the whispers that resounded in their souls bore a mysterious power. They ravaged their selves, manipulated their emotions, and gradually bleached away their memories.

This was “alchemy.” Just as the emotions of cattle and sheep before their death affect the texture and flavor of their meat to some degree, the statue of Guanyin regarded all the myriad worldly thoughts as impurities and sought to purify everything, forging the great elixir and replenishing vital energy.

—Guanyin.

This well-known figure from the mythology of the Donghong Federation was extracted by the Disaster group into a personified and terrifying existence, descending into the world.

Behind her stood a Calamity God—bearing local Soul Changing Stage characteristics like those of the Old Testament, Tenno-Gochu, and Youmir—the Tathagata.

Meanwhile, several extremely weak Supreme Disaster Beasts/disciples nurtured disaster aura in Sea City in their own ways, replenishing themselves, awaiting the moment to join the final battle.

It was evident that the oppression of “Pure White” still held sway. These beings, who in their prime could shatter continental plates and cause global catastrophes, had been suppressed to a state as fragile as newly hatched chicks, weakened far beyond recognition.

Otherwise, the mere aftermath of their arrival would have destroyed more than half the city and caused terrifying casualties.

As tragedy continued and the entire city risked becoming a hellish land, Etheric Substance from beneath the ground, combined with long-established devices, rendered a magnificent display of light and warmth that flooded Sea City with dazzling brilliance.

Even if only for a fleeting instant, this light enveloped everyone, awakening them from boundless fear and confusion, allowing them to glimpse countless virtual screens densely covering every corner of the city.

On the screen,

A girl blinked at the camera. Her pink lips curled into a smile, still as cute and affectionate as ever. Her figure gleamed under the Magic Armor, radiating a gentle divinity that was more tender than before. One look was enough to dazzle and enchant, leaving viewers intoxicated.

“Hi, everyone! I’m Charlotte. I’ve been in Sea City for so long and haven’t had the chance to greet the local citizens yet.”

Charlotte spoke without worry or urgency, as if she had stepped onto a stage on a sunny day to interact with her fans.

And unbelievably,

Although facing peril as if death could come at any second, this captivating charm still made many forget their fear momentarily. It was as if they still lived in that peaceful era, unable to tear their eyes away from Charlotte’s face.

The girl’s eyes curved warmly, her smile passionate. She brought her lips close to the “microphone”—her magic wand—playfully blew on it to test the sound, then continued:

“So, taking this opportunity today, let me sing a song for everyone.”

“When you listen, remember, do not be afraid and do not worry, no matter when or where, my singing will meet your expectations.”

The voice fell silent.

Charlotte closed her eyes and sang softly.

The enchanting melody blossomed from the withered forget-me-nots, and the beautiful, ethereal scene in an instant ignited a powerful idol-like energy, overwhelming the heart like a flood of light that swept over Sea City.

At that moment, the deep Shining Magic, vast as the ocean, attached itself to the song, spreading through streets and parks, hovering between sky and earth, bestowing sincere blessings upon everyone.

As this happened, Xu Youyue floated in the air, surrounded by notes. The cleansing and influence from Guanyin melted within the sparkle of The Last Diva. She, along with buildings, debris, and passersby, slowly descended to the ground as if pulled by cotton.

Xu Youyue sat on the ground, gazing at the sky.

The statue of Guanyin, filling the horizon, revealed a compassionate face bathed in deep blue light, frozen like a fish struggling in the deep sea. Just as it had flailed against the disaster aura, it was overwhelmed by the dazzling glow induced by the song and remained motionless for a while.

“We are saved.”

“Is this… a magical girl?”

The girl’s inner shock was beyond words, and the surrounding people felt much the same.

Perhaps because the Guanyin statue in the sky was so enormous, so overwhelming that it made people feel lost and helpless no matter where they fled, after returning to their places, they did not immediately rush to escape. Instead, like lambs led to slaughter, they stood dazed, gazing at the miracle bestowed by Charlotte.

Fortunately, the super AI managing the entire city monitored constantly through cameras, satellites, nano-cameras, and other means, swiftly took control of the broadcast system to urge everyone to seek shelter.

At the same time, many gel balls similar to those at the performance venue raced through streets and alleys, carrying people in need for emergency transport.

Although, compared to the vast population, this evacuation effort was like a drop in the ocean, the ethereal song lingering in the air and the gentle deep blue light that dispelled the disaster aura still gave the people courage to rise above their fear.

This positive emotion deepened everyone’s resonance with Charlotte’s singing, which made the bindings placed upon the Supreme Disaster Beasts even more dreadful, creating a reinforcing cycle.

— Shining Magic.

This united humanity in an alliance, overcoming all objections, channeling resources, direction, and energy into the key project “Dazzling Stage,” transforming decay into miraculous power and briefly disrupting the rhythm of the Disaster group’s attack.

Esther coordinated all the information, like a goddess overlooking the whole city, and she was not surprised.

Even though the Disaster group attacked with overwhelming force this time, the chemistry between a “Lighthouse” and nearly a hundred million people in Sea City was not so easily suppressed.

The key was…

…

…

“How much longer can you hold on?”

“Five minutes, or ten minutes?”

Thousand Faces removed his top hat and looked at the sky, which resembled a child’s crayon drawing. The sun, drawn in crayon, fell along with clouds depicted by a few lines and a rainbow transformed into a sword, clashing with several bishops in battle.

This was the graffiti world created by Fairy Witch, governed by rules that restrained the enemy.

But Helldir’s eyes could see through barriers, gleaning and retrieving vast amounts of information from outside, constantly simulating endless possibilities to support the Disaster group in reaching the most perfect outcome.

Charlotte’s singing had briefly saved Sea City.

This blessed songstress, connected to the end, though she had lost her past powers, radiated new possibilities on this timeline.

Even in the future Helldir had foreseen, she perfectly embodied the magic girl’s miracle, almost eradicating the Supreme Disaster Beast which had not yet fully recovered.

But it did not matter.

Whether it was apostles or the Supreme Disaster Beast,

since they had arrived in Sea City, the Disaster group’s goal had already been achieved.

…

…

In the Land of Fairy Tales, at the live performance.

Pei Xiaotong watched Little Sakura, Honey Moon, Liuli, and Great Devil bow on stage, feeling lingering satisfaction. Even though Chu Yuanqing was absent and they had to change their song last minute, this most popular team from the Sea City division still did not disappoint their fans.

Xu Ling remarked,

“Honey Moon has improved so much, and her condition is excellent—she looks really energetic.”

The little girl savored the moment for a while, displaying a gratified smile as she excitedly agreed,

“Yeah, everyone is super cute! Liuli’s singing feels more mature than before. Could it be because Charlotte provoked her in Austria?”

At this point, Pei Xiaotong suddenly felt that Liuli was quite unlucky. If she worked hard for that reason, then Honey Qing’s unexpected leave had completely ruined the little cat’s subtle attempts to compete for affection.

Xu Ling did not think of these details but keenly sensed something deeper. She muttered in confusion,

“Miyuki’s stage presence has become even more effortless. Why do I get the illusion that she secretly appeared on several stages behind the scenes?”

The little girl complained,

“Please don’t put it so strangely, okay? Even if Little Sakura is from Dongliu, there’s no need to learn Dongliu culture in this regard.”

She spoke while glancing at her phone, puzzled,

“Huh? Is the signal this bad inside the venue? The WeChat message I sent to my mom half an hour ago still hasn’t gone through.”

Pei Xiaotong refreshed it several times, and after seeing it still hadn’t sent, she carelessly pushed this minor detail aside.

Each team was required to perform three dances in the three shows; Little Sakura and her team would be on stage soon, so they couldn’t miss a single moment, or it would be a huge loss.

At the same time, the team competing against Kirimi Miyuki and the others had already taken the stage.

Kirimi Miyuki, Xie Qingxuan, Chu Wang Shu, and Tang Liuli took this time to change into the stage costumes for another song in the lounge, expecting to finish just as the performance on stage ended, allowing them to seamlessly continue their appearances.

Meanwhile, in the depths concealed by multiple spells,

Chu Yuanqing sat on the sofa. Her delicate and pretty face shimmered with a faint smile, and her pink lips curved adorably, as if she felt gratified by her teammates’ performance on stage.

But as the next stage began,

the Pure White Witch lowered her brows; the golden luster in her eyes dimmed and blurred, her focus dissipated, making her look hollow and lost. The curve at her lips flattened as her mind filled with thoughts of her daughter and comrades on stage.

The little idols danced splendidly—be it their singing, rhythm, movements, coordination, emotion, or stage presence—they had perfectly delivered the best performance to their fans.

It was hard to imagine this was the result of just ten days of temporary practice.

But…

there were no emotions.

The feelings of a father’s pride, a teammate’s joy, and an observer’s experience simply did not exist. Her thoughts became thick, chaotic, and twisted; her emotions like a faded canvas, drenched on a rainy day.

Chu Yuanqing resembled a rusty machine—a puppet that needed to be wound up to “live.” Her body seemed slightly improved, but internal problems worsened.

Now, her mind was filled only with chaos and the rationality of “what should be done.”

Even as she neared abnormality, she instinctively tried to pretend to be normal, unwilling to worry those around her.

Chu Yuanqing repeatedly pondered what expression her daughter would expect her to show, what words she would hope to hear, what emotions to display, and what form of encouragement to give.

What would Liuli say? Would she act coquettishly? Would she quietly seek a kiss? When she hugged her, should she pat her head or hold her tight?

When Miyuki came to visit, would she worryingly press her forehead against Chu Yuanqing’s, or like a child, tuck paper cranes into her arms, purely hoping for a kiss on the cheek? How should she respond?

Would Little Xuan continue to clumsily comfort her, or would she look at her with innocent eyes and, without hesitation, kiss her lips, giving all her magic away like a puppy affectionately seeking warmth and love from its owner?

What should she do now to be right and not sadden everyone?

The Pure White Witch strained to think, shape, and perfect the image of [Chu Yuanying] within her heart. She was dazed, continuously rehearsing in her mind, as if trying to implant a program within herself, struggling to maintain fragile happiness.

Time flowed on, and the endless rehearsal abruptly ended amid the boisterous cheers from the broadcast.

Chu Yuanqing looked up at the little idols back on stage. She hesitated briefly, then her eyes brightened and the corners of her lips lifted into an adorable smile.