Chapter 427: Shining City (Part 1)

Crimson Polar Realm.

This is the origin of magical girls, the foundation of EtherTech, and the place where the core of the covenant is kept, a special area closest to the stars.

So, even during the critical time when the Calamity God frequently erupted in chaos, the Countermeasures Bureau did not move away the many witches stationed here.

But strangely, this killer whale, wrapped in silver magic, entered an uncharted space, happily letting out a long cry, playing with the ice floes with its tail, joyfully carrying a silver bubble as if on a pleasant autumn outing, diving into it without being noticed by the magical girls or any monitoring devices, completely disregarding the tight defense of human civilization over the entire Crimson Polar Realm.

The shrine maiden emerged from the bubble, like a mermaid enjoying the sunlight for the first time, smiling brightly at the sea breeze, her raven-black hair flowing, cheering:

“Wow, Little Qing, everything here is really red? It’s so beautiful.”

As soon as she spoke, the person who had been sleeping in the bubble for a long time responded, her thick pure white eyelashes slightly trembling, revealing a crystal-like structure covered in cracks.

Chu Yuanqing’s left eye remained the same as always, but her right eye became increasingly desolate and ruined, like a broken mirror pieced together, reflecting thousands of images when she gazed at the world.

This was a scary and absurd pupil, but luckily the golden light inside was rich and grand, hiding the inhuman feeling and leaving behind a few strands of bright and dreamy sadness.

“Are we there yet?”

Chu Yuanqing let out a breath. Through the bubbles and seawater, she looked up at the side profile of the shrine maiden and the clear, endless world of ice and snow, feeling for a moment as if she were in another world.

A week ago, to ensure the final planning of “Dazzling Stage” went smoothly, she had used Pure White to create a three-day map for humans, which caused her to fall into a deep sleep for three whole days.

When she woke up afterward, she was still weak and confused, spending most of the 24 hours sleeping, and had even delayed the payment she promised to the orca family for a long time.

Fortunately, yesterday and the day before, she felt great. Not only did she repay the group of little animals with music, but she also slightly fulfilled the underwater adventure the shrine maiden had dreamed of, seeing many fantastic and romantic sights with the orca family in the nearby waters.

Now, they had reached the end of their journey, and it was time to get off this “bus.”

The silver bubbles slowly peeled away; they no longer clung to the orca’s smooth skin but instead emerged from the beautiful pinkish-red seawater, bathing under the cool light like moonlight, allowing the person who had rested for a long time to see the sun again.

Chu Yuanqing stepped out of the bubbles, and the orca sensed the meaning of farewell. No longer swimming joyfully in the crimson waters, its large black and white head broke the surface, as if trying to look at this person and letting out a long, reluctant call.

The Pure White Witch stood on tiptoe in the empty space, taking one step at a time towards the nearest floating ice. Then she turned around and looked at the approaching orca with a slight smile, saying:

“Alright, we have reached our destination. It’s time to say goodbye; your family is still waiting for you.”

The shrine maiden lowered her head and gently patted its head, hiding her reluctance as she tried to scare it with a serious tone:

“Little Qing is right, hurry up! Don’t play too much here. You need to leave this red sea before this silver layer runs out, or you will be caught and questioned!”

The orca swam around the floating ice where the two were standing several times, like a playful cat, until Chu Yuanqing and the shrine maiden urged it repeatedly. With a few sad calls, it reluctantly swam away to find its family waiting outside the Crimson Polar Realm, slowly disappearing from view.

The shrine maiden twirled on the floating ice, her light kimono transforming into a heavy down jacket. Her slim figure was wrapped up, looking like a clumsy penguin, with added charm and cuteness.

The girl walked lively to Chu Yuanqing’s side, gazing in the same direction and sighed:

“It has been getting smarter lately, and I feel a bit reluctant to say goodbye.”

Chu Yuanqing’s expression softened, and she simply said:

“So cute.”

The shrine maiden felt a little regret.

“It’s a pity that if Little Qing were still the Emperor, she could have created a sea area to keep them, right?”

The Emperor?

Chu Yuanqing was suddenly taken aback, remembering the pilgrimage that millions in the Empire had looked forward to but that she could not attend. Her feelings became mixed, and she softly replied:

“That was just a dream.”

“The Emperor never existed in reality.”

“And instead of being kept, Miyuki would probably prefer for them to always be free, so they can come back to play whenever there’s a chance, right?”

The shrine maiden smiled, blinking her eyes, and said:

“Of course! I even thought about having a sea celebration with this group of little animals, but only Little Qing can make them listen so well. If it were just me, I wouldn’t be so popular.”

“Yes,” Chu Yuanqing said seriously, turning her face towards the shrine maiden, “whether in the past or now, Miyuki is very beautiful and charming. She must be more popular than me.”

The shrine maiden smiled brightly and couldn’t help but laugh. Facing Honey Qing’s slightly confused gaze, she hugged the soft body from behind and gently nuzzled her slightly cool, tender cheek, saying with a smile:

“Does Little Qing think I’m charming? Did you know you’re a thousand times cuter than those little animals?”

“Even though we haven’t posted much lately, our TikTok fans have already grown to 1.64 million! Everyone loves you so much, and the piano I gifted you was bought with the money from those live streams.”

Hearing this, Chu Yuanqing sincerely and earnestly praised:

“That’s all thanks to Miyuki. You manage the account, and you take care of the filming and editing of the videos. The number of fans has nothing to do with me.”

The shrine maiden’s lips were close to Chu Yuanqing’s ear, and her breath felt like a spring breeze blowing the cherry blossoms, bringing a gentle warmth that eased the cold of the Crimson Polar Realm. Chu Yuanqing felt a slight tingling on her cheek; feeling like she had held back for a long time, she ignored the other person’s response and continued to chatter:

“Little Qing really has no awareness. I’m just a pure beginner! I completely don’t understand video editing and managing the account. The growth in fans is all thanks to your looks, okay?”

The girl confidently said:

“But this is only natural. Even if the world forgets you and you lose everything, becoming broken, weak, and incomplete, there will still be many people who like you and cannot help but want to help you, because no one wants someone like Little Qing to be sad. Everyone hopes you can be happy.”

Chu Yuanqing found it a bit funny, her eyes narrowing into a smile, her lively expression endearing. She reached out and placed her hand on the hands that were resting on her belly, and couldn’t help but softly tease:

“How strange, you make me sound like a charming leading lady from a movie. If we really have to say, Charlotte fits Miyuki’s description better, right?”

The shrine maiden noticed the indifference in the other person’s words. She puffed out her cheeks and boldly stated her opinion:

“I don’t care, there is no movie character who is cuter than Little Qing.”

The shrine maiden firmly kissed Honey Qing’s cheek and said, half-annoyed:

“And doesn’t Little Qing know that mentioning another girl in front of a girl is really unfair? Even if Charlotte is the main character, it doesn’t matter!”

Chu Yuanqing felt a bit confused about the shrine maiden’s self-identification as a “side character,” but still, under the playful tickling pressure from the other, she endured the tingles in her body and nervously tried to make peace with clumsy, sincere words to comfort the sly shrine maiden who wasn’t actually angry at all.

After playing for a while, the shrine maiden no longer hugged Honey Qing closely, but instead sat on the edge of the floating ice, gazing together at the horizon.

The red colors fell from the sky like fireworks, splashing across the glacier and the sea, glowing in shades of red and orange, racing over the currents and the ice, like an everlasting sunset, mesmerizing all who looked.

“Little Qing, I have been very happy these days.”

“If only I could always be by your side.”

The girl’s voice became soft, like a distant and gentle breeze.

Chu Yuanqing noticed something strange; she turned to look at the shrine maiden, at the smiling face that was becoming more and more transparent, with lips moving as if to say something but stopping short, eyes showing quiet, deep, and lonely sadness.

In the cold and beautiful light of dusk, the figure of this person was growing fainter, and even when she turned into the ethereal Nostalgia, she did not stop fading, like a wilting flower, about to fall to the ground, turning into dust.

Chu Yuanqing understood.

The cherry blossom tree rooted in her soul was a small miracle created by Kirimi Miyuki’s New Game Plus combined with Xie Qingxuan’s Patronus Magic; it helped her resist the invasion of the Void and also brought forth the shrine maiden’s Nostalgia, accompanying her to this day.

But as time passed, the power of the cherry blossom tree would eventually come to an end.

Whether she was a shrine maiden or not, she had understood this from the very beginning.

However, during that week, to help all of humanity tear apart the plot woven during the Calamity God’s uprising, the cherry blossom tree helped Chu Yuanqing bear some of the backlash, making this time come sooner.

Right then, in a few minutes, or even shorter, the Nostalgia that had accompanied her, talking with Xiaoxiao, traveling the world, whispering every day, dispelling loneliness and solitude, bringing much joy and happiness, would completely fade away and no longer exist.

Of course, Chu Yuanqing would feel sad.

Even knowing that the real Kirimi Miyuki still lived in some corner of the world, and that she herself would soon step into a deeper death, she would still feel regret and unwillingness.

But these feelings passed quickly, like mist melting in the sunlight.

The Pure White Witch’s eyes lifted at the corners, revealing a brilliant, sunny, gentle smile. She touched the illusionary cheek with her fingertip, as if painting a rainbow’s path, her movements gentle and careful, and softly said:

“It’s okay, Miyuki.”

“I will stay with you, and everyone will surely find happiness.”

The shrine maiden’s eyes turned red, tears fell like pearls, and she could no longer hide the sadness in her heart. Biting her lips, she spoke carefully, word by word:

“Silly, Little Qing clearly knows, that’s not what I want to hear.”

“I am an illusion, fake, non-existent, and will soon shatter. It doesn’t matter how I am, but I truly, really, really want Little Qing to live.”

“I hate nothingness, I hate the Calamity God, and I hate a world without you. This journey is so short compared to all that suffering, isn’t it?”

Chu Yuanqing lowered her pure white eyelashes. It seemed she was denying the shrine maiden’s self-deprecating words. She brushed her lips against the shrine maiden’s tear-stained mouth, like kissing petals. Finally, seriously, awkwardly, and gently, she spoke the lie:

“Yes, I know, so I will try my best to keep living.”

“Please don’t be sad, okay?”

The shrine maiden breathed in the fragrance of the flowers. Even if they couldn’t touch each other’s skin, the truth reflecting from their souls could still pass between their hearts, like soft candy melting, bringing a drowning warmth. She looked at the person’s face, paused for a moment, and softly said:

“A liar, still lying until the end, Little Qing is so bad.”

Chu Yuanqing met her gaze and asked:

“Will you hate it?”

The shrine maiden shook her head, she tightly embraced the Pure White Witch, her eyes filled with tears of sorrow and reluctance, and with all the happiness that was swallowed, she smiled through her tears and gave her final answer:

“I like it the most.”

As her words faded, the person in her arms shattered, turning into countless glowing cherry blossoms, dancing gracefully in the wind before wilting away, along with the cherry tree in her soul that withered, curled up, and disappeared.

Chu Yuanqing sat alone on the floating ice, gazing down in a daze, until the last cherry blossom fell, her gaze fixed on the ice surface reflecting the orange-red light, holding onto the loneliness in her heart, silent for a long time.

The tears that fell in her embrace faded away, the shrine maiden’s last confession still lingered in her heart; it was so light, as if it was love sent from a stack of paper, yet it was so genuine, so passionate, like a lonely sail standing firm in a tsunami, like a shout struggling to emerge from a storm.

Chu Yuanqing raised her gaze towards the distance, lost in thought.

It turned out…

A person could be so lonely.

It was really strange. A long time had passed since that performance, but only now did she suddenly feel the true sense of being forgotten by the whole world.

Suddenly, the images of the past month rushed back in her mind—whether it was under the bridge, at the subway station, in a rented room, on the street, in the square, on a snowy mountain, or in the beautiful landscapes of a foreign country, she could see the shrine maiden, holding a phone or camera, smiling brightly, just by turning her head.

“I am a fool.”

Chu Yuanqing was as slow as a koala; her eyelids drooped, and the golden light in her eyes had dimmed.

Although she inherited the memories of New Game Plus, the foundation of Nostalgia was still the shrine maiden from the first playthrough. She was born in a broken world, and her childhood was filled with terrible and bloody pain. Her temperament had been shaped to be dull, extreme, and sharp as a knife, far from sunny, chatty, and lively.

But besides the first day, she could still see the shadows from the first playthrough. After that, the shrine maiden seemed to try hard not to feel lonely and began to look less like herself. She became chatty, began to laugh more, became greedy for food, and became lively…

—”You are not alone.”

The shrine maiden appeared to always want her to understand this matter.

The loneliness in her chest was as heavy as her success was great.

Chu Yuanqing patted her cheeks; even though she arrived a little earlier than expected, she still couldn’t waste time feeling sad.

As she shifted her gaze, she suddenly noticed her phone on the side, still on the selfie stand, and it hadn’t stopped recording.

“…Did Miyuki take this?”

The Pure White Witch hesitated for a moment, picked up the phone, stopped the recording, and after looking at the finished video, saved it to the draft folder of the video app. While scrolling through, she discovered a few long videos that had been edited but not sent out, along with nearly a hundred failed clips.

Chu Yuanqing fell into thought. She felt that the shrine maiden might really have developed a liking for editing and filming videos. Perhaps Little Sakura also had a hidden passion for being a content creator?

The girl looked down at the red signal bars on her phone and the account program that wouldn’t refresh after exiting. She mumbled, feeling a bit torn:

“Should I help Miyuki send this out? But there’s no internet here; if I want to send it, I will have to use magic.”

Let’s first open it up and see what Miyuki has recorded. I feel like there will be some unexpected surprises.

The first video in the draft folder only showed the scenery of the Crimson Polar Realm. In the second one, the screen revealed an endless blue ocean, surrounded by schools of fish and orcas swimming.

This must be something Miyuki filmed while she was asleep, right?

“Hey, hey, hey, Little Qing, can you hear me?”

The camera shook a bit, and with a rustling sound, the shrine maiden’s beautiful face appeared. She blinked her thick eyelashes, seemed to be adjusting her phone, and after a moment, stepped back with a satisfied smile at the camera:

“The trip is almost over. Once I disappear, Little Qing will surely not think about the account, but only about saving the world, right?”

The shrine maiden raised her small face seriously and said solemnly:

“That won’t do! Even if our account’s persona is a super mysterious guitarist, we must say a proper goodbye before leaving, so as not to let down all the fans.”

“So, Little Qing, try making a video yourself and then use magic to send it to the account, okay?”

Chu Yuanqing hesitated a bit, just about to say something, when the shrine maiden in the video seemed to predict her thoughts and continued,

“You absolutely cannot say you won’t film! I have already prepared the outline for the last video in my phone’s notes, and Little Qing just needs to follow along.”

The shrine maiden chattered on a little longer until she realized she might be talking too much. She stopped, coughed twice, flashed a bright and cute smile, leaned closer to the camera, waved her hand, and said goodbye.

The next second, the screen went black, and the video ended.

Turning the page revealed seven pages of piano sheet music.

“You want me to play a piece I haven’t practiced before? That’s really putting me in a tough spot.”

The girl whispered softly, her left eye shimmering like melted silver, as her long-saved magic surged forth like flowing water wrapping around her, turning into a soft veil that melted away her heavy down jacket, revealing a skirt scorched by fire.

Her short hair flew about and seemed to grow as she built Magic Armor, swaying to cover her thin back, hiding the sheer fabric and lace of her dress, while her silver prosthetic arm and eye returned to their original colors, as if no longer flawed.

The strong wind blew, lifting the phone and stand to the edge, causing the guitar case to open on its own, and a beam of light spilled out, placing a piano in the center of the ice.

The palace of memories opened as concentration rose, and the seven pages of the five-line music staff in her mind split apart. The related music theory was drawn out and blended together, countless melodies bursting forth in an instant, transforming into tangible memories that flowed into her fingertips, forming a skill that had been honed through countless trials.

This person, determined to face death and forgotten by the world, sat alone on a piece of floating ice in the endless sea, touching the black and white keys of the piano with her fingertips, playing a gentle song filled with hope.

…

…

At the same time, every country that had been marked by the human alliance began its tour, day and night, without pause.

The melodies that echoed simultaneously around the world were like the sound of drums marking the beginning of a blazing spark.

Countless feelings of joy, sadness, passion, and anger… indeed, all emotions that belong to humanity, were bursting, connecting, and intertwining with countless “Heart Flow” moments, unified, controlled, and gathered into a tide, flowing into the Light Stone Pedestal beneath the stage, spreading across the land and seas.

At this moment, the whole planet seemed to be breathing, massive amounts of magic energy creating a stunning mirage. The atmosphere was refracted into brilliant rainbow lights, and illusory meteor showers passed through dusk, dawn, noon, night, and rainy days, reflecting the essence of all idol bands, pulling on the hearts of all people with a wonderful force.

At this moment, one of the thirteen forbidden zones, belonging to the “King of Salt,” was revealed.

Xie Qing Yu gazed at the sky, watching the increasingly unreal, thin, almost invisible Pure White High Wall below, a scene more splendid than the aurora, more magnificent than a shooting star, and more colorful than the galaxy, and sighed:

“What an… incredible sight.”

“Is this the magic that has been building up for over ten years worldwide?”

“This is only the beginning; humanity’s shine and glow have been washed to the ends of the earth by magic, about to dive into dimensions and reach the stars.”

A little butterfly flew back and forth, excitedly looking at the sky, happily yet worriedly said:

“The first step has succeeded; soon they will be able to reflect the shine onto the planets and all nearby dimensions, proving that Teacher Dream Weaver’s magic is correct!”

Ji Xintong held the Bass, her fingertips sparkling with magic, adjusting the dull sound like dark thunder, filled with tension and anticipation, stated seriously:

“But the real challenge is yet to come.”

The final plan of “Dazzling Stage” was divided into four steps; the first half of the year’s programs and idol training were all to prepare for the global tour in the first step, gathering all human thoughts and shines, reaching the stars.

This was the most important step.

According to speculation, the Disaster group had a reserve energy backed by boundless dimensions. This was the necessary condition for them to dominate the universe, interfere with the entire cosmos, and easily destroy civilizations. To suppress and seal off such groups, one must be as omnipresent as the light of “Pure White” and forcibly sever their connection to these dimensions.

For this, one must allow the shining light to completely dominate the world it inhabits, preventing the “Pure White” from becoming too weak while the Disaster group regains all its power and breaks free from its restraints.

Only after completing these tasks could one move on to the second step.

That is, using the magic energy and the shining light to find the disaster aura hidden deep within the dimensions and underground, exterminating what needs to be exterminated, controlling what needs to be controlled, and suppressing what needs to be suppressed.

In the third step, one must cooperate with the “Celestial Instrument” to guide the power of the stars, assisting the “Lighthouse” in leading all of humanity’s light, flowing against the tide toward the thirteen forbidden zones, responding and linking with the formations set up here to create thirteen towering prison towers.

In the fourth step, the towering prison and all areas reached by magic must be connected. With the stars and the world binding everything together, they would elevate the thoughts and emotions of all humanity into a concept, transforming them into an everlasting light that shines as a miraculous city in the sky, a wall of humanity, and a barrier of human reason.

This plan had been repeatedly simulated by the “Celestial Instrument,” “Dream Weaver,” and Stellar Will, and had been confirmed to have the possibility of being implemented.

However, how much magic energy, how much shining light, how much cleansing from the “Disaster Shell,” how much amplification of “fuel,” and how much burning of idol bands would be needed… remained a difficult unknown.

The little butterfly fluttered its wings; it was still very lively. It flew back and forth a few times, took out a phone, and looked at the idol group “pure white” on the Sky Stage. Pointing to the prettiest girl with the biggest chest, it confidently said:

“It’s okay! Among your juniors, there is an amazing magical girl like Honey Xuan! They will surely shine on stage and save the world!”

Xie Qing Yu pressed her lips together. While she was proud of Little Xuan, she also worried if she could keep up her full strength under such a heavy responsibility. As she watched the performance on the Sky Stage, her feelings were mixed, and she felt a bit envious. She joked:

“It’s a pity that if our Butterfly of the Underworld had debuted a few years later, we could have taken on such passionate and cool leading roles.”

The little butterfly wholeheartedly agreed:

“You’re right! Even though being here in the restricted area is an important job, it definitely doesn’t feel as rock and roll.”

These two fools clearly didn’t know the real situation of the “Lighthouse.” They envied Charlotte, who formed a temporary idol band called “eden” with five magical girls from the “Disaster Shell” positioning, as well as their own sister in “pure white.”

But from the world’s perspective, these two idol bands, which won the championships in both the Donghong and Sacred regions and were currently performing on the Sky Stage, truly deserved to be the main highlights, like the top-tier Carry Center found nowhere else in history.

If this “celebration” was a great success, uncovering all the buried history and truths, these two idol bands would become the brightest stars, written in future textbooks and appearing on exam papers, which was indeed enviable.

Ji Xintong smiled and looked at Xie Qing Yu’s blue eyes, softly saying:

“Don’t be envious; we are the seniors, so it’s only natural for us to pave the way for the juniors.”

At that moment, aside from a few captain-level magical girls stationed near the Sky Stage, almost all the forces from the Countermeasures Bureau were stationed in the thirteen restricted areas, aiming to cooperate with the third step of the plan.

After all, if the [Calamity God] were to escape from the corresponding restricted area before preparations were complete, the Light Stone Pedestal buried by the Countermeasures Bureau here, along with all the careful planning, would be wasted, causing the third step of the salvation plan to collapse and resulting in a very negative chain reaction.

Bai Ran sat in front of the drums, her few strands of deep blue hair swaying with the wind as she gazed at the sea near the aircraft carrier, skillfully twirling the drumsticks with style. She looked at Xie Qing Yu and raised the corner of her mouth, saying:

“Sitting on the aircraft carrier waiting for the [Calamity God] to go wild, and saying your rock band isn’t rock enough while preparing to crush the enemy with rock music? What’s this new rock joke?”

Lin Yujin was the short-haired keyboardist and, as the most serious person in Butterfly of the Underworld, her daily comments were mostly cold jokes.

Now, this person silently put on headphones, listened to a new melody she had just composed in the software, and then turned off the pre-written “electronic will,” looking at her teammates and speaking plainly:

“We are only one step away from victory; the once-in-a-lifetime [Scatterflowers] should be used here.”

Qin Yueyi looked at her teammates, and her elegant, beautiful face struggled to stay calm. She couldn’t help but protest:

“Hey, we are idols, okay? Don’t really think of yourselves as a rock band! And can we at least hold on to the thought of surviving? I really don’t want people to say I pushed myself too hard after I’m gone.”

Xie Qing Yu glanced back at her teammates, who had shared many life-and-death moments together. It seemed she remembered how innocent they looked when they first formed as a group. Her blue eyes softened, and a smile appeared on her lips as she said seriously:

“Everyone, don’t forget to keep the promise. If we absolutely need [Scatterflowers], we have to follow the order of magic power. First is me, then Xintong, Xiaoran, Yujin, and Yueyi.”

“Also, the last person from Butterfly of the Underworld who survives must fulfill our duty to the fans, finish the promised rock album, and complete the national tour that we couldn’t finish.”

“So, at the crucial moment, don’t let your passion make you lose everything.”

The others responded:

“Captain, you’re such a nag.”

“Little Yu is too serious!”

“Only a fool would rush to die; who would worry about such things?”

“How can one person go on tour? But it really fits the ‘rock spirit’ that some fools talk about.”

“Did he just laugh? Can the bassist hold a concert by himself?”

“I suggest the drummer go to C by himself.”

“The lead singer has a very good chance of surviving; please keep it up.”

These popular idols of Butterfly of the Underworld were using their magic to tune the instruments while chatting as usual, completely silencing Little Yu, who was trying to think of some cool words to say.

The little butterfly kept flying around the drummer, lead singer, bassist, and keyboardist, getting close to them. It had great relationships with the idols in the group, flapping its wings joyfully and cutely, showing no signs of nervousness.

Xie Qing Yu shifted her focus and continued to observe the sky, sometimes looking through real-time projections at the two Shining Stages that ruled the fate of all humanity.

The first step of the Dazzling Stage plan had been preliminarily established, but the following filling phase would take quite a bit of time. One single stage was far from enough; according to the Countermeasures Bureau’s estimates, this process was somewhat similar to a formal tour.

If everything went smoothly, after 3 to 4 uninterrupted hours, all the preparations would be complete, and they would officially start the engine of salvation, moving steadily towards the second step, third step, and fourth step, ultimately finishing everything in a shorter time to create the Shining City.

In other words, under the best conditions, the entire salvation plan required these little idols to perform on stage for almost 6 hours without stopping, while also facing possible attacks from the Disaster group and their followers.

For an ordinary person, this task was simply impossible to complete.

Even though being a magical girl meant not having to worry about basic physical strength, most of the little idols had not yet reached “Fully Blooming,” making it difficult to maintain a 6-hour Heart Flow state under high pressure.

If they exited Heart Flow and only relied on pure stage performance, the audience might start to feel tired after watching for several hours, making it hard to keep generating strong positive emotions continuously.

After all, unlike a normal performance, continuously providing a lot of sparkle did not threaten life safety, but it greatly drained energy.

Furthermore, without someone like Bi Xuan Su in the team, who could create a beneficial Heart Flow effect for the audience, most people’s energy would noticeably decline after the first hour, losing its vibrancy.

If the time extended close to 10 hours without any protective spells, cases of fainting, sudden death, or extreme emotions leading to heart problems could occur.

These various difficult factors were exactly why the competition rules for the Dazzling Stage were designed.

Whether it was the six months of training in the Ideal State, or having all the debut groups go on a nationwide tour, as well as the daily strict requirements on the simulated battlefield, along with the incredible performance venues in the Donghong region, all of it prepared them for today, helping them get used to the very intense stage.

However, due to the short time, these new generation magical girls had no chance to go through numerous challenges and training.

Now, the Countermeasures Bureau, Supreme Council, Esther, and the magical girls who knew the truth had no certain way to win; they could only unconditionally trust these juniors and take a risk, giving everything to gamble on the fate of all humanity.

Xie Qing Yu watched her sister on stage and suddenly froze.

The first dance came to an end, and colorful magic energy ribbons covered the scene, causing the four girls’ performance outfits to change, while the stage lighting became even more enchanting and exciting.

Tang Liuli was still the lead singer, standing in the center.

Chu Wang Shu held the bass, looking at the camera with a determined expression.

Kirimi Miyuki changed into a loose hoodie, picked up the guitar, and her pink hair turned into a single ponytail; she quickly transformed from a cute smiling idol into a relaxed and cool guitarist.

Xie Qingxuan sat behind the drums; she was the first to move. Her platinum hair shone brightly as she swung the drumsticks, her movements quick and skilled. When she looked up, her eyes conveyed a clear and pure, yet deep and strong faith.

The girl’s movements were incredibly graceful as she easily combined various notes from her hands and feet, smoothly transitioning to the drums and cymbals, striking them with a speed that produced the drum intro Xie Qing Yu knew all too well.

Bai Ran looked at the scene in surprise and said:

“This is…”

“‘Butterfly of the Underworld’?”

Xie Qing Yu felt a bit dazed.

How wonderful! It was clear that she had always been a pure idol, but in the second performance of Pure White at Sky Stage, it took the form of a rock band, even playing the song ‘Butterfly of the Underworld’, which held the most special meaning for her.

Lin Yujin nodded in agreement:

“Indeed, this kind of occasion is perfect for rock music. Although we can’t go on stage, having the captain’s sister’s band sing is just as good.”

Qin Yueyi looked over, surprised, and said:

“Captain, is your sister your fan?”

The little butterfly awkwardly hovered above the drum set in front of Bai Ran and nervously lied aloud:

“Yes, that’s right, Little Yu and Honey Xuan have a very good relationship; this shows their deep sisterly bond!”

Ji Xintong couldn’t help but laugh upon hearing this; she pressed her lips together and said:

“No, I should say, this is more like a declaration of war, right?”

“What does Little Yu think?”

Xie Qing Yu usually couldn’t understand her sister’s thoughts, but after spending those days at home with her sister and parents, she had grown a little.

Declaration of war? Provocation?

Maybe neither fit.

Xie Qing Yu only knew that this was a signal of old grievances being set aside.

At least, Little Xuan no longer hated, disliked, or loathed her like before. In the past, she would have stubbornly rejected anything related to herself, and it was impossible for her to play the song “Butterfly of the Underworld,” which was a piece by the “enemy,” in public.

“Maybe.”

After replying to her teammate’s teasing, Xie Qing Yu’s clear blue eyes sparkled with hope as she looked at the person shining on the stage. She smiled and quietly thought,

“Little Xuan, as long as you win this performance, you can proudly say that you are a better idol than I am.”

“So, you must win.”

…

…

Donghong Federation, Sky Stage.

This grand place, built of clouds and Liuli, was a high spot where no audience could reach, but the prepared magic, like a rainbow light moving through the nearby world, reflected brilliant colors in all directions, creating a three-dimensional image of reality.

The nearby performance venues of dozens or even hundreds of allied countries had been cleared in advance, and local performers had been arranged to perform in other areas, while these empty stages had been completely filled. Right now, billions of people were experiencing a sense of reality more vivid than high-tech projections through the broadcast of the magic.

On the other side, the Sky Stage in the Sacred United Country enjoyed the same treatment.

It could be said that the pressure faced by these two idol bands was completely different from that of the other teams performing in their respective areas.

Even the thinnest piece of paper, when stacked to billions, could not be held up by a single hand.

The shining light that seemed hot, warm, and harmless was just the same.

At this moment, the shining flow meant for billions of people was transmitted, gathered, and divided through the magic’s rainbow light threads from various stages, all uniting back onto the two Sky Stages, bursting like fireworks in the sky.

In this process, the Eden of the Sacred United Country and the Pure White of Donghong Federation became two tall towers releasing light; their souls, bodies, spirits, thoughts, and even Lantern Gems were constantly bearing extremely terrifying pressure.

Tang Liuli felt deeply touched; her mind seemed to be cut in half—one half was filled with emotion and self, wholeheartedly singing with her teammates, while the other half felt the heat of her bones and flesh, experiencing a mix of sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy, caught up in confused thoughts about the world.

Joy, longing, happiness, expectation, love, excitement…

The huge amount of shining energy came suddenly, bringing not just these abstract feelings but also many chaotic sounds, images, memories, and even touches.

If she were not a magical girl with a mind full of life, she would not easily be colored by things that did not belong to her. The Flower of the Soul and the Heart Flow state themselves could protect her heart, so it would have been impossible for her to continue singing normally.

And now, it was just the beginning.

The difficulties faced had already been communicated to her before going on stage. Esther had used this to persuade Pure White to redirect most of the shining energy to Charlotte, but the four quickly and firmly refused.

“We’ve tested enough; it seems we can’t just force it.”

“Everyone, let me start first.”

The girl’s eyes sparkled with emerald light. Through a mental link with her teammates, she signaled as she unleashed Divine Control for the first time, instantly anchoring the soul colors of the four and stirring a tide that swept away the colors that did not belong to them like pieces of emerald.

At this moment, the noise constantly washing over the soul seemed to be separated by a thick ocean, and the overwhelming thoughts from the shining energy faded away.

[Divine Control] could glimpse the true nature and colors of a soul and could freely alter them by using magical energy. This Patronus Magic was also one of the strategies they had discussed beforehand.

Tang Liuli’s [Divine Control] could remove shining distractions.

Kirimi Miyuki’s [Idol Domain] could perceive the side effects of shining as interference and filter them using rules.

Xie Qingxuan’s [Virtuous King] had not completely recovered yet, and its simple commands had little effect. However, [The Power of the Titan] could amplify the self and presence of the four, enhancing their resistance in this regard.

Recently, Chu Wang Shu had shared with her teammates that she had absorbed part of the truth of the [Calamity God]——[Son of Mankind], and her power had become even stronger during recent missions.

The aspect of her power that came from [Tathagata] underwent transformation after absorbing the apostle of the other side——Eighteen Bodhisattvas——. Now, [Lotus Realm] could not only halt the flow of local time and space but also reverse events and grant them reincarnation, making it applicable to the current situation.

They did not need to utilize these means now because Esther stated that this stage involved the fate of all humanity, and they must sustain themselves for at least 6 hours under these conditions. In the worst case, it might take even longer.

Therefore, the four of them discussed internally and decided to adopt a shift system to ensure everyone’s magical energy remained within a safe range.

Among them, [Divine Control] and [Idol Domain] were prioritized for use.

The reason was that the power of the Titan consumed more magic as a blessing.

Chu Wang Shu used the power of the Calamity God, and to prevent accidents, it was better to avoid using it as much as possible.

On stage, the sounds of the guitar, bass, drums, and the singer’s voice rose together in a more passionate chorus. Different colors of notes floated away from the instruments, transforming into dancing butterflies, merging with the stage lights, like magical speakers, causing the music to blaze in the ears like a fierce fire, growing hotter.

Then, indeed, a great fire burned fiercely, as if it wanted to turn the sky to ash, fearlessly swallowing the dazzling waves that rushed in. The atmosphere on stage created by the four people worked in conjunction with Divine Control, actively burning away the impurities in the shine.

…

…

At the same time, in the seats of the Supreme Council.

These powerful figures, just like all the spectators, were in a fan-like position, admiring the ongoing miracle burning on the Sky Stage.

—Everyone was fully engaged.

—The magic power index had all reached the [Sea] level.

—In the end, it was the unyielding will, the strength as solid as steel, the idol power that shone like the sun, and the incredible understanding of Shining Magic.

Without a doubt, this was a miraculous team. They had become magical girls less than a year ago and had already climbed to the highest realm, perfectly surpassing the expected limits set during the Dazzling Stage event.

Even if the [Lighthouse] was not in this idol team named after [Pure White], the four of them were capable of carrying the fate of all humanity, together igniting the brightest spark for this great cause.

Esther sat at the edge of the meeting, watching this scene. As the sacrifice officially promoting the third step of the Dazzling Stage plan, she was using her last moments to appreciate the performances of these younger generation members.

To continue maintaining the foundation of the covenant, she had officially separated from [Dream Weaver]. Now, the super AI that controlled the overall situation was merely a cold intelligence that had replicated parts of “Esther·Nizite’s” personality, memories, and thought patterns.

Functionally, the differences between the two were not significant for the time being. Only after she and [Planetarium] completely vanished would [Dream Weaver]’s terrifying computational power, surpassing time, gradually decline, no longer being all-powerful.

“According to the decline curve of the magic power index, the limit that Pure White could support was between 1149 to 1912 minutes. Eden’s limit could not be estimated for now. Charlotte’s acceptance of shining was very high, even if teammates lagged behind, it was roughly about double that of the former.”

With the super AI’s words coming to an end, the atmosphere in the meeting room became even more spirited. This set of data was undoubtedly a shot of adrenaline. The two Sky Stages were the most crucial parts of the entire Dazzling Stage plan. The better those two teams were, the more forgiving the plan became.

In 1,149 minutes, nearly 20 hours, humanity’s brilliance only needed 3 hours to reach the stars, and the remaining stages would proceed smoothly, leaving them with plenty of time.

Esther looked at the stage, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

At that moment, whether it was the witches stationed in the Thirteen Forbidden Areas, the army, or the guarding forces at the various touring stages, every plan to face unexpected situations was perfected to the utmost, and the rest… could only be left to fate.

…

…

Sea City, Longhe District, a gymnasium.

The place was not large, with about 10,000 to 20,000 people surrounding the volleyball court below, where the prepared spell perfectly “moved” the Sky Stage to the central location, making those shining figures lively and vivid, as if they were right in front of them, with even the slightest sounds clearly reaching their ears through the equipment.

Even the feeling of the [Heart Flow], which could only be experienced in person, was transmitted here, allowing the audience to feel the captivating power of the stage that captured souls.

Xu Ling sat in the crowd, immersed in Tang Liuli’s singing. She had great hearing and could occasionally catch Chu Wang Shu’s or Kirimi Miyuki’s harmonies and keenly see Xie Qingxuan skillfully playing the cymbals and bass drum, witnessing the fluid details as she waved the drumsticks.

Even without dancing, this was still a feast for the senses. Her soul seemed to hear the birds of paradise, joyfully hopping, dancing, singing on the branches, then spreading their wings and soaring into the endless blue sky, weaving through thick clouds, clearing the path again and again, feeling the boundless freedom.

Everything from the band felt like a huge echo chamber, wrapping her and everyone else inside. As the emotions grew stronger, the chamber slowly collapsed, making the sound louder and pressing into her bones and flesh, piercing her soul bit by bit, then suddenly exploding, bringing an unprecedented joy.

What disaster beasts, what crises, what responsibilities, what fates…

Those abstract and concrete thoughts, rooted in life and surreal in a way that didn’t belong to this world, all became clear, light, pure, and clean, bringing genuine happiness.

Ungraspable, unbelievable, unimaginable, beyond reality.

It was just the beginning, merely a song, but as they played it, it felt like breathing harmless opium and poison. Her brain and blood were unknowingly heating up, completely forgetting the passage of time, allowing her body and soul to operate instinctively.

After a moment of daze, the idols on stage had already changed songs and dances many times.

The girl blinked in confusion, her emotions gradually settling down. Her mind felt like it was cooling down, and she was immersed in a calm and gentle happiness. She glanced at her watch; the hands had already gone around once. She murmured:

“Wow, this energy is even stronger than last time’s tour. I didn’t even notice that over an hour passed.”

Xu Ling felt a bit tired and rubbed her eyes. She looked longingly at the idols in the center of the stage for a while. After listening to two songs, a red light on her wristband warned her, and she had to get up and leave. She walked to the medical area of the gym, underwent a check, returned her wristband, and left the venue.

This was a rule emphasized repeatedly when entering. When the audience felt tired and lacked energy, they must leave within half an hour and allow another citizen who had not watched the show to take their seat.

The way of supervision was through the wristbands given to everyone upon entry. It was said that tiny robots inside could check heart rate, breathing frequency, and other data to judge a person’s mental state.

Xu Ling walked down the street, feeling gloomy. Ever since she had become prettier, her body felt weaker, as if she had traded her energy for looks. She could hardly stay awake from staying up late, especially today, while the man next to her was full of energy, and she felt completely exhausted.

“Darn it, I can’t let myself fall any further! I must exercise well from now on, or I won’t be able to keep up with Pure White at the concert, and Honey Tong will laugh at me.”

Because there were fewer buses today and hardly any taxis, she could only pick up a shared bike from the street and struggled to ride to the subway station.

However, she hadn’t ridden very far when a wave of heat almost knocked Xu Ling and her bike over.

The deafening roar echoed in her ears. As the tires skidded, she and the bike were lucky to lean against a nearby phone booth instead of falling to the ground. Looking back in confusion, she saw a dense mass of terrifying insects blocking the sky above the gym.

These disaster insects, large like rats, were completely black with winding patterns like lava on their bodies, repeatedly crashing into the magically shielded dome. The patterns became hot and then exploded, like thousands of thermite bombs going off at once, trying to melt through the sturdy walls.

Amid the deafening noise, the soldiers responsible for guarding the site began to shoot. The magical girls protecting Longhe District descended from the sky in ten seconds, anxiously searching for the source of the insect swarm. Nearby citizens fled for their lives, and those caught in the chaos were completely lost, with blood and flesh flying everywhere, creating a scene of utter tragedy.

Xu Ling’s pupils trembled, her legs felt weak. After a few seconds of being dazed, she snapped back to reality at the shout of a nearby police officer. She quickly picked up her bicycle, ignoring the scrape on her knee and the pain in her leg, and rode forward with her mind blank.

However, just as she turned the corner, passing another scene set up in the park, she suddenly encountered a suicide bomber with buzzing sounds, red compound eyes, and an incredibly eerie appearance, the patterns on its body glowing intensely.

The girl had no time to dodge or escape. Her blank mind flashed like an old film, reflecting the trembling insect wings in her eyes. The searing light hurt her vision, and the immense heat caused an explosion, shattering the corpses of the disaster insects into countless pieces, like shrapnel from a grenade, scattering with the fire.

Time paused.

No, it was the sense of time in her brain that slowed down.

In her ears, the song “Raspberry in Late Winter,” which Pure White had just performed, began to play again.

In the next moment, a blend of green, gold, black, and cherry blossom light burst from her soul, and numerous musical notes formed an illusory city wall ahead, blocking the attack of the suicide bomber.

Xu Ling couldn’t understand the situation. She was forced to stop in front of the gradually fading wall, her gaze blank, her cute face filled with fear and confusion.

At this moment, in all of Sea City, and even across the entire Daxia, Donghong, and the Sacred United Country, numerous shining venues specially set up for the Sky Stage were experiencing similar events.

The difference was that the protection provided by Pure White and Eden near the base was much stronger, so even when the swarm attacked with a self-destructing explosion, there were no casualties in the audience.

But whether it was the magical girls quickly dealing with the disaster bugs or the commanders and leaders who learned about the situation from various sources, they both felt an immense weight on their hearts despite being relieved.

Because… countless rainbow lights surged from various areas, almost visible to the naked eye, appearing as if covered by a dark filter, their colors dimmed and mixed into chaotic darkness.

Fear, shrinking back, worry, and the blankness of being forced out of a state of immersion during a life-or-death crisis—these scattered yet overwhelming emotions inevitably merged into the shining lights soaring high, becoming a deadly poison!

The Sky Stage above Donghong.

A mark of a lotus flower flickered in Chu Wang Shu’s eyes, and with an instinctive sense of danger, she instantly activated the [Lotus Realm], freezing space-time and catching a glimpse of the now-still shining waves, realizing what the problem was.

The Disaster group had indeed taken action.

“Sister Miyuki, relying solely on [Divine Control] isn’t safe enough; it’s your turn to take action now.”

Kirimi Miyuki’s thoughts were not frozen. She glanced back at Chu Wang Shu, nodded, and opened the realm of idols. An invisible power formed a protective stage, like a giant sieve. When time and space returned to normal, it effectively blocked many impurities shining brightly, continuing to maintain the normal performance of the stage.

On the other side, above the stage in the Sacred United Country,

Charlotte did not make any unnecessary movements. She continued to sing with a smile, her ethereal voice softly touching the heart, as if an angel’s gentle holy light spread around the stage, swirling and washing away the darkness.

For The Last Diva, purifying the shining light in real-time was not difficult. The real challenge faced by the lighthouse was when all of humanity’s shining light was fully collected, radiating through all dimensions, and returning to itself, confronting the ultimate darkness.

For now, she still had the strength to help a few little idols beside her, acting as Disaster Shells, cleansing the ailments from their bodies, ensuring that these magical girls’ Lantern Gems would not risk being tainted.

The Supreme Council, countless pieces of information poured in like snowflakes:

“In Redstone Country, a total of 81 concert sites, 73 have been attacked by similar Disaster groups. Thanks to the protection of the magical girls’ Shining Magic at the sites, the total casualties did not exceed three figures, but the risk of the base being occupied remains.”

“The magical girl responsible for protecting the central base in Jidong Country fought bravely and died, taking [Scatterflowers] and the Disaster group with her. Immediate support is needed.”

“The collapse rate of [Pure White] has suddenly increased. The integrity of the space curvature has dropped below 80% for the first time, and the disaster aura index in the earth’s veins has begun to soar at a rate of 396% per second. Among the thirteen [Calamity Gods], excluding the [Son of Mankind] mentioned by Chu Wang Shu, all other [Calamity Gods] have started to riot in the forbidden zones.”

“An unusual wavelength has been detected; a captain-level witch has activated [Full Power Mode].”

“The star shift has been detected; a captain-level witch has used [Scatterflowers].”

“The highest alert has been raised; countries including Daxia, Lithuania, Yunlai Island, Georgia, and more—37 countries in total—are experiencing severe dimensional fractures, creating spatial rifts, from which an unpredictable number, types, and levels of disaster beasts are emerging.”

“Warning, warning, warning! The Ether Satellites named [Nüwa], [Kaguya-hime], and [Zeus] have been destroyed. The enemy is suspected to be an Apostle or a Supreme Disaster Beast and has now broken through the atmosphere, arriving on the planet.”

“From the northern coast of Shenzhou and the western coast of Gas, along the Asa Islands, Mirror Peninsula, and Dongliu Islands, over five hundred active volcanoes have started to erupt, suspected to be caused by the power of the [Calamity God]!”

“Report: Three Self-sustaining Cities on the ocean floor have been consumed by a Supreme Disaster Beast codenamed Leviathan. The surrounding sea is beginning to churn, and when the energy build-up is complete, it is expected to cause an unprecedented tsunami.”

The sound of a pin dropping could be heard in the conference room.

The countless disasters and dreadful news poured in from around the world like an avalanche, silently revealing the terrible consequences of the further collapse of [Pure White].

Such a terrifying chain reaction proved that if the power of the [Calamity God] were to fully awaken, even if humanity could win, the best outcome would be to abandon their home planet, activate the Fire Seed Program, or simply perish together.

The “Dazzling Stage” plan could only succeed, not fail!

The leaders who determined humanity’s fate were strong-willed; they did not show weakness, panic, confusion, or fear. They simply estimated their chances of winning and organized the big picture, like a master entering a state of “Heart Flow,” calmly controlling the entire game board, fully devoted in their pursuit of the divine move that brings hope through despair.

“Empty all reserves of the Ether Fission Bomb, leaving no way back.”

“All Self-sustaining Cities transform and enter Mech-God mode, allowing the use of ion cannons.”

“All underground bases cancel energy-saving mode, unleash the Light Art technique in the local city, and do not hold back on magic energy reserves; strive to defeat the enemy army.”

“The space defense line is now fully operational, destruction orders have been given, half of the Ether Satellites enter self-destruct countdown, targeting the Apostle and Supreme Disaster Beast, launch the Hyperion magic energy cannon.”

“God-Slayer Series · Generation One Mechanism · Machine 1, 2, and 3, perform immediate self-checks, emergency startup, cancel self-destruct locks, provide unconditional support to the battlefield, burning until steel and ether are consumed.”

“Finally… urgently announce the truth to all people around the world, revealing the full scope of the ‘Dazzling Stage’ plan; humanity’s last hope lies in those two Sky Stages!”

At this moment, there was no voting, no discussion, and no contradictions; dozens of orders were given without hesitation, like a net catching a dragon, all responding to the increasingly terrifying counterattack from the Disaster group.

Everyone knew that weakness and luck would only lead to destruction; all they could choose now was a desperate fight.

Time was passing.

One hour, two hours went by, and the battlefields around the world became more intense. The Disaster group had already brought forth seven apostles and six Supreme Disaster Beasts. Twelve forbidden areas sealed by the Calamity God were burning fiercely, with blood and flesh flying everywhere, and witches were falling one after another.

What a magical and absurd scene this was! The blood and fire were turning the city into ruins. The air was filled with war and death; panic and despair were the greatest prophecies, drowning civilization’s heights. Yet, during the performances, no one had given up singing.

Those young magical girls, many of whom were not yet adults, endured sadness, tears, pain, and confusion, trying to show a steady front. Standing under the spotlight, they shone brightly, dancing gracefully, waiting for hope to arrive.

Beneath the Sky Stage, shimmering stars wove a tapestry of everything. They carried powerful emotions born from war and tragedy, and many sparks of hope that arose from despair, flowing like a river against the current, rushing into their souls, transforming into a flickering lantern that soared to the far corners of the world, reaching the stars, beginning to spin a web of magic for the world.

The success of the first step was getting closer and closer.

In the King of Salt’s forbidden area, withered purple butterflies covered the earth and sky. The salt-covered drums were buried in the cold daytime, while the sound of the guitar still stirred the air like a proclamation from a goddess of revenge, roaring against irrational divine authority.

Xie Qing Yu’s chest was pierced by a salt crystal spear, nailed to the salt mountain turned wasteland. There were no more chattering butterflies around her, no noisy drummers, no bass player who had a crush on her, no keyboard player who loved to tell cold jokes, and no lead singer who wished to live the most.

How wonderful it was, not lonely at all, and not feeling sad at all.

“How silly, how could a fool rush to [Scatterflowers]?”

Deep in their souls, Ji Xintong, Lin Yujin, Qin Yueyi, and Bai Ran, the four of them, their Lantern Gems, had turned into countless pieces of dust, like shattered planets, swirling around that beam of violet light due to gravity.

That one-time [Full Power Mode], [Scatterflowers] stacked beyond limits, expanding to an infinite magic energy close to the boundary of [the sea], was like a cosmic storm pouring into a broken body, singing their final song with all their might.

Xie Qing Yu was still playing as if no one was there; she could hear the piano, organ, and synthesizer flowing from the keyboard, the bass booming deep and clear, the familiar song ripping through her heart, and the drum sound growing louder like a rushing torrent.

This was the final “Butterfly of the Underworld,” and also the last… [Love of Nemesis].

At this moment, the vast army of salt, as numerous as ants, the towering apostles spreading salt snowstorms, and the King of Salt slowly breaking free from its shell, without any exceptions, were all pierced and connected by the revenge melody, sucking in power and flesh, trapped in this area turned into the Land of Salt.

Time slowly passed.

The girl’s breathing grew fainter, the violet at her wounds began to wither, her sea-blue eyes faded into darkness, a final smile lingered on her lips, the guitar in her hands collapsed and vanished, and her fingertips no longer played.

But that rebellious, sorrowful, passionate, yet lonely rock music still echoed high between the sky and earth, as if it carried their wishes, making death unable to silence this song of revenge.

Even in the first playthrough, this was an incredible feat; theoretically, the “Calamity God” could bring about a great change, yet like Jesus nailed to the cross, no matter how much the disaster aura collapsed and tried to help, it was still useless.

As for the price…

In the Supreme Council, cold battle reports echoed:

“Xie Qing Yu, Ji Xintong, Lin Yujin, Qin Yueyi, Bai Ran, five members of the [Butterfly of the Underworld] died in battle.”

Esther closed her eyes; she understood long ago that most magical girls stationed in the forbidden zone would end up like this. Perhaps because humanity had not completely faded away, when she heard this bad news, her mind still filled with images of those children calling her teacher fondly.

But those warm memories could not change the raging war. On the battlefield of the twelve forbidden zones, as time passed, more bad news continued to come:

“Fairy Witch, Dorothy, fell in battle.”

“Eternal Night Witch, Florence, fell in battle.”

“Witch of Relief, Ji Qianju, died in battle.”

“Hunting Witch, Xie Yilan, died in battle.”

“Dragon Witch, Elise, died in battle.”

The cold words on the battle report represented the loss of many vibrant lives.

In the meeting, everyone looked sad and heavy-hearted.

These top-ranking captain-level witches fought together to ensure the success of the “Dazzling Stage” project, bravely walking the path to their own destruction, using the miracles brought by [Scatterflowers] to suppress one [Calamity God] after another.

The only silver lining was that their sacrifices were not in vain. Even in the forbidden area where everyone perished, the strong will of the magical girls just before their deaths continued to create miraculous spells, locking the [Calamity God] in the designated area.

At that moment, even with many distractions, the first step of the salvation project was reaching its conclusion. It was expected that in just 10 minutes, they would officially move on to the next phase, cleaning up the global Disaster group and further sealing the [Calamity God] to prevent more tragedies from occurring.

Esther retrieved the footage and took one last glance at the nun in that small town. The corners of her eyes lifted in a smile, her rosy lips moved as she seemed to say something, as if bidding farewell.

In the next moment, the girl’s slender figure faded away like a bubble, and a part of her soul fully merged into the Celestial Sphere beneath the Crimson Polar Realm, waiting for the stars.

…

…

In the Sacred United Country, above the Sky Stage, Charlotte, knowing the second step was about to arrive, willingly sent away her teammates who were struggling and let them join the disaster relief efforts in the nearby city.

At that moment, on the vast stage, only The Last Diva remained.

On the other side, in the Donghong Federation, the Sky Stage grew even larger.

To combat the world’s fear, despair, and sorrow… which mixed into shining impurities, both Divine Control and Idol Domain had to become permanent skills, continuously draining magic energy and causing a huge burden.

How much time had truly passed now?

What did it look like outside now?

Would this world-class technique be able to succeed?

Too many distracting thoughts flooded in, but with Kirimi Miyuki’s help, the focus returned to a peak level with the [Idol Domain], allowing everyone to fully engage in the endlessly rotating stage.

Suddenly, the dome trembled violently, the deep blue background peeling like rotting wallpaper, as if it had become two-dimensional, shaking off to reveal a dark and terrifying shadow underneath. The entire planet’s gravity began to distort, and the ocean and crust started to move, causing the Sky Stage to crack.

Chu Wang Shu looked up in disbelief.

At that moment, the power and status belonging to the [Son of Mankind] rose like a dragon returning to the sea, instantly lifting all things higher, continuously heading towards a revival.

The girl’s pupils shook, and in a hurry, she immediately activated the [Lotus Realm].

But it was of no use; the stasis of local time and space could at most protect the surroundings for a moment, unable to stop or hinder the spread of this phenomenon.

Because when it was born, it had already anchored the entire planet!

“How is this possible…”

“Is this the Entropy of Disorder?”

The Entropy of Disorder is like the cancer cells of the Mother Ocean (Sea of Truth); wherever it goes, it leads to the end of all things and the universe.

The Shadow of the Masses was born from this.

Therefore, theoretically, when many Shadows of the Masses gather together, meaning many Disaster groups come to one place, there is a chance of causing such a terrifying world-ending phenomenon.

Chu Wang Shu absorbed some memories of the Son of Mankind and realized that the Disaster group that arrived in her hometown was among the best of the Shadows of the Masses, and that during the peak of the thirteen Calamity Gods, they could indeed actively trigger this Great Destruction.

But it was obvious that they had been suppressed by the Pure White for 17 years, and the current world-class shining spells had cut off most connections to power, leaving the local Disaster groups unable to provoke such an attack.

So…

Even if it seemed impossible, the remaining truth was real.

That is, the other twelve Calamity Gods, upon noticing the crisis brought by the world-class spells, directly gave up on seizing her hometown and chose to call on other Shadows of the Masses to help them escape their bonds!

But why? Doesn’t the Disaster group want to claim her for themselves? In that future dream, the Disaster group would rather die than let the vessel for the Sovereign Lord suffer even a little harm.

Chu Wang Shu couldn’t understand and began to feel confused.

Now it was impossible to cut off the roots of the Disaster group. The first step of the “Dazzling Stage” project had already failed, and the following plans might not have a chance of success.

And if failure was certain, did she still have to stay on this Sky Stage, facing the end of destruction and continuing to dance?

You need to know that if they kept trying, they would face the unknown power of the Shadow of the Masses, which was at its peak stage, along with the Disaster group that hadn’t been completely suppressed yet. This was bound to be a war with a huge power gap, with no sight of victory.

It could even be said that this kind of persistence had no meaning at all; it was just a foolish moth flying into the fire.

But…

“If we all give up, what will happen to the ones who remain?”

This voice echoed in the frozen and faded world of the Lotus Realm, like a gentle spring breeze blowing into everyone’s hearts.

Kirimi Miyuki turned to look, her gentle pink eyes held no fear or regret, just a burning hope, determination, and passion. She spoke the thoughts of everyone, saying seriously:

“We have already thought about the worst case.”

“But even so, we promised to give 1000% effort and create a better stage for the whole world than ever before, right?”

“And now is the time to show that 1000%!”

Tang Liuli looked at Little Sakura, who was smiling, with a look of admiration mixed with disbelief. She reluctantly raised her small hand and placed it on Little Sakura’s hand, saying with a serious expression:

“I won’t let anyone down in this situation, and… even for the fans who have always supported me, I have to put in extra effort. So count me in.”

Xie Qingxuan was silent for a moment, as if sensing something instinctively. Her platinum eyelashes drooped as she reached out to Liuli’s small hand and softly said:

“I told… my sister that we would win today.”

“So, no matter what happens, I won’t run away.”

Chu Wang Shu looked at the reactions of her junior friends. Inspired by their determination and passion, the fog and gloom in her heart disappeared. Encouraged, she smiled and shyly raised her hand, saying with enthusiasm:

“Yes, Sister Miyuki is right. No one has decided that the stage cannot overcome the Entropy of Disorder. Even in the face of a world-ending crisis, we must sing loud until the very last moment!”

After saying this, her hand opened.

The little idols were full of spirit and quickly returned to their positions with graceful movements.

In the next moment, the Lotus Realm shattered. The Entropy of Disorder began to corrupt, like a black hole slowly tipping over the world. But as the song carried through the air, a brilliant stream of light emerged, controlled and guided, condensing into a towering beam that pierced through the thick clouds, clashing with it!

The great battle officially began.