Chapter 66
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This chapter is edited by Cthulhu. Thank you for your contribution!
Chapter 66: Charlotte’s Turn, a Snowflake That Seems to Last Forever
Illusions granted by the Sea of Truth act like a powerful force that envelops the soul, affecting all senses.
Chu Yuanqing had always dealt with things by treating Chu Wang Shu on the battlefield as an illusion, forcefully separating herself from it through strong determination, and maintaining her daily life with a compartmentalized mindset so the past wouldn’t overshadow her.
Perhaps because the Sea of Truth actively invaded the Lantern, the positive emotions that were suppressed and overwhelmed within it—like a flickering flame—burned with a few rays of light before nearly extinguishing, falling into the depths of illusions.
Pure white.
It was as pure as if cleansing the heavens and earth, yet as sorrowful as thick snow, falling like a solemn salt burial.
This was the Pure White Forbidden Zone, which had stretched across the Calamity God’s domain along the southeast coast since the world plunged into apocalypse.
Calamity Gods.
They were different from natural disaster beasts, formed by abstract concepts that created various special areas through miraculous large-scale natural phenomena.
Among them, the Pure White Forbidden Zone—formed by the concept of salt—had successfully grown from the size of an island to engulfing the entire Atlantic Ocean during the 70 years when the human realm was gradually devoured, claiming even one-third of the Sacred United Country’s territory.
No one knew how many souls and spirits it had buried.
One billion? Tens of billions? Or even more? It was uncountable.
A Calamity God was simultaneously a tsunami, a storm, and an unstoppable natural disaster.
Some said that from the moment they descended, humanity had lost the right to resist.
“Congratulations, you have achieved the first feat of slaying a Calamity God.”
“With the disappearance of the Pure White Forbidden Zone, the concept of salt has been restrained, and the Final City will be safe.”
“Mr. Savior, why not smile a little brighter?”
Chu Yuanqing snapped out of her daze, suddenly seeing a familiar figure in this mix of familiar yet unfamiliar scenery. Before she could speak, she felt cool fingertips on the sides of her lips, gently pulling them into a curve of a smile.
The young girl had a gentle demeanor, fair skin, a straight nose, and stunning beauty. Standing so close that her soft cheek almost touched Chu Yuanqing’s, her eyes resembled pure phosphophyllite, shining and gentle in the light like a shimmering sea.
Just a simple gaze, a touch of the skin, a smile on the lips could offer hope that brought happiness to people, like the sun shining compassionately over the world.
She was Charlotte, also known as The Last Diva who bid farewell to the world.
Chu Yuanqing wanted to say something, but compared to the extravagant stage of secondary ratings, compared to the mere illusion of the Sea of Truth, she had a moment where she wanted to immerse herself in the warmth of the other’s fingertips and soft words…
This illusion was very different this time, not only blurring the sense of time but also maintaining astonishingly clear details, even causing her body to return to the horrendous state it was in back then, slowly and painfully mending.
Now, she seemed to have become the Chu Yuanying of the past era.
And this scene, rather than being an illusion, seemed more like the past history being replayed.
Chu Yuanqing remembered clearly that one day, she chose to engrave an epic on her soul to erase the concept of “salt,” carrying the fate and sins of ending the twilight of the gods and destroying the world. In exchange for the mythical armor—Levatin—with all its power, she successfully obliterated the Pure White Forbidden Zone with “just” five-digit death figures.
But after doing all this, her memory became fuzzy.
Whether due to Levatin’s heavy burden on the soul or the personality dissociation caused by numerous deaths, she had almost crashed and indulged in trivial thoughts, standing still in one place for a whole week without moving.
Later, she heard from Charlotte that it was Charlotte who had hurried to save her from the brink of collapse after burying the Disaster Wave outside the city.
However, when asked how she had rescued her from the dissociation, The Last Diva would blink meaningfully and smile mysteriously, saying it was a secret for her to guess slowly in the future.
Now it seemed that this possibly real or fictional scene might be related to the secret Charlotte mentioned.
Chu Yuanqing also discovered that she had no control over this body, like a ghost briefly returning from the future to the past, only able to quietly watch the cycle of history.
“■■■ and ■■■■ sacrificed.”
“■■■, ■■■■, ■■, ■■■, ■■■■ all died.”
That was a hoarse and unpleasant sound, like a cursed voice.
The boy’s voice sounded like it had been consumed and roughened by flames. Mixed with coughing whispers, there was emptiness and confusion in his words. The names he uttered sounded vague, as if they had been erased by some mysterious force.
Chu Yuanqing could guess that this was one of her forgotten belongings under a curse.
The Sea of Truth wouldn’t allow her to retrieve it. Even in historical reflections, it didn’t allow the true form to be heard.
Upon hearing this, Charlotte’s eyes filled with a mix of sadness and a hint of a smile. She softly said:
“■■■■, Little Carol, Alice, and… Sister Ellie have also sacrificed.”
“But the Final City remains, and the flame of humanity continues.”
“You are not alone in this battle, I am here, along with ■■, ■■, and ■■. One day… we will be able to defeat all Calamity Gods and reshape the world as we desire.”
“So, don’t cry, Little Qing.”
The boy stayed silent, like a statue. His handsome face was distorted by intense flames, looking hideously like a demon.
How can a demon shed tears?
But he was really crying, mourning for the departed as if repenting for his own helplessness.
The tears flowed from his eyes, evaporating from the scorching heat.
The boy’s body kept changing chaotically, like flesh constantly eroding and growing. Only the nearly fused Levatin remained unchanged in his hands, the sword still embedded in the heart of the Land of Salt, devouring the power of the Calamity God.
Charlotte looked even sadder. Her radiant yet transparent smile stepped forward as she hugged the boy, still carrying the remnants of Levatin’s fire. It was as if they both embodied the fierce flames, burying the crumbling Land of Salt together.
Charlotte understood.
At this moment, Chu Yuanying’s personality had detached to release Levatin. His words, actions, and path were stuck in a loop, repeating his obsession. Once he regained his senses, he would forget most of it.
—Including devouring the Land of Salt.
This was very normal for a savior who wanted to defeat the stronger and more powerful Calamity God. It was necessary to gather strength as a way to prepare.
However, buried in the Land of Salt were not only the authority of the Calamity God but also countless resentful souls and sins. Endless consumption would only make his soul burden heavier and might even cause it to collapse forcibly in the cycle of life and death.
So…
Charlotte’s actions were like a hug of self-destruction, with the goal of awakening the other’s reason and stopping Chu Yuanying’s craziness.
Stay away from me, Charlotte!
Chu Yuanqing felt like her mind was being pried open, with familiar yet unfamiliar emotions spreading out like sprouting in a sealed area, intense sorrow boiling like magma.
The image of Charlotte before her death seemed to overlap continuously, sprouting new scars.
“No… No… No!”
But there was no way to change it.
Chu Yuanqing was like a silent actor in the background of a play, her eyes reflecting the tragic events. Flames licked at Charlotte’s ankles, leaving scars on her fair skin that seemed to never fade, almost like a devil ready to consume everything.
Years later, regret caught up with her again. It felt like a demon gripping her heart, using fear as a net to devour impure souls, to redeem past sins.
Just when she thought this illusion was coming to an end,
Charlotte smiled, her lips brushing against the young man’s ear, her eyes half closed, as if lulling him to sleep, softly humming a lullaby:
“Edelweiss, Edelweiss…”
“Blossoms greet me in the morning…”
“Small and white, pure and bright…”
“Swing happily towards me…”
Chu Yuanqing was speechless, lost in thought.
She was left speechless because this nursery rhyme was too familiar to the children in the orphanage in the Final City.
The gentle and compassionate Sister Alice, who loved giving candies to the children and often showed a cheerful smile, used it most often to lull the children to sleep.
Therefore, this nursery rhyme originating from Austria held a special place in the hearts of the children in the orphanage.
Among them, also included witnessing her parents turning into disaster beasts from a young age… herself.
The song continued.
The lingering flames around Chu Yuanying did not die out but suddenly calmed down like flowing water. His pupils trembled, and his expression of sorrow deepened.
The Levatin in the hands of the youth twisted and writhed like a distorted and dead snake, emitting a never-ending rage, yet also resembling the wailing struggle of a dying creature with the changing will of its host.
The collapse and submergence of the Land of Salt caused a momentary pause, with vast clouds of ash rising into the sky like billions of dark birds embracing the pure white salt grains that continued to fall. It was a spectacular sight—the entire continent seemed to sway on the brink of destruction. The light and shadows of heaven and earth trembled, reflecting an epic and magnificent grandeur. Yet somehow, it brought a sense of peace.
“Snow-like flowers wish you fragrance…”
“Forever blooming and growing…”
“Edelweiss, edelweiss…”
“Forever blessing my hometown…”
Charlotte sang softly as she smiled and pulled the boy’s arm, as if they weren’t in an apocalyptic scene but rather on a flower-covered mountainside. Then, they danced. It was both a romantic and enduringly wild dance, like priests mourning the entire Pure White Forbidden Zone with love, devotion, and reverence.
Chu Yuanying knew he was a terrible dance partner, even by his own assessment. Yet in Charlotte’s hands, everything possessed a magical quality that could transform imperfection into wonder. Their dance resembled that of a clumsy but endearing boy being playfully led by a mischievous, cheeky girl, creating an atmosphere both warm and youthful, harmonious and cute, yet somehow holy and awe-inspiring.
In the face of doomsday, they embraced and danced with casual defiance of death. As their dance and song ebbed and flowed, the sinking of the Land of Salt was enveloped in a magical ambiance. Charlotte’s tremendous idol power reached its supreme realm, transforming the roar of salt blocks and volcanic ash into a symphony that alternated between passionate and gentle melodies.
“Edelweiss, edelweiss…”
“Forever bless my homeland…”
She sang devoutly while he hummed softly. The souls claimed by the Calamity God were being purified through their spontaneous dance to the “Snowflake Flower” song, dissolving into countless sparkling motes in the sky.
Meanwhile, outside, Chu Yuanqing instinctively entered a performance state as the background music and stage lights resumed. Though such an elaborate illusion should have prevented multitasking, the overwhelming faith contributions from the live stream allowed her to focus and draw energy from the Sea of Truth. The girl, lost in romantic memories, effortlessly managed the song and dance routine, even slipping into the “Heart Flow” state.
This subconscious resistance unexpectedly catalyzed a profound transformation, propelling her into a cycle of rapid learning, self-improvement, and evolution. Normally, the temporary “Heart Flow” on stage would only enhance performance within the limits of existing skills. Chu Yuanqing’s original abilities were at most level B. By coincidence, she was now dancing with a world-class idol in this reflection of the past, in a world where only song and dance could cleanse the soul.
This supernatural training state, combined with her deep subconscious understanding of Charlotte, made [Heart Flow] instinctively choose the fastest path to evolution: imitation. Though Charlotte’s spontaneous dance and casual nursery rhymes had little compatibility with the theme song, her natural charm, temperament, artistic conception, and even the resonance of her higher-level soul briefly synchronized through imitation, like donning a celestial costume, elevating the entire performance to an incredible level.
The Tutor Group fell silent. Dream Weaver Rabbit was ecstatic. The live stream was mesmerizing. Chu Yuanqing’s appearance alone was a visual feast, and her extraordinary looks and novice background had led to low expectations for her performance. Yet this person, who once dismissed idols as a dream and nearly gave up during an interview, suddenly burst forth with an incredible stage presence, like a transcendent theme song.
If Kirimi Miyuki’s stage presence was like perfectly matching the theme song with personal charm—like fizzy soda under a seaside sun—then Chu Yuanqing’s was like an endless sea of flowers blooming in frozen soil, like hope and expectations growing despite deep roots, like noble spirits dancing gracefully even in decay.
This could hardly be called mere “candy” anymore. Chu Yuanqing’s rendition of “Edelweiss” purified souls, her dance steps elegant and perfect even in improvisation. The scene mirrored The Last Diva dancing in the Land of Salt, and this idol from the past elevated the theme song “Dazzling Stage” to a different realm without altering its choreography.
As the music ended and the dancers dispersed, the audience seemed to hear whispers of gratitude from millions of departed souls within the music. This reflection, crossing time’s river, pierced hearts like a spear, blending sacredness, sadness, loneliness, heroism, and solemnity into Charlotte’s powerful presence, leaving an indelible impression.
What is “cheating”? What are the heavenly beings? For the children of the new era, the few strands of ashes reflected in the savior’s eyes were enough to count.
The live broadcast room fell silent, with only a lonely figure standing like a paper kite about to fall. Chu Yuanqing woke as if from a dream, the illusions in her eyes nearly shattering, Charlotte’s charming smile beginning to blur, and the curse of the Sea of Truth threatening to backfire. In a second or two, just a few breaths, she would part from this unknown past, collapsing like a shooting star extinguishing on stage, her pale dress trailing behind her.
Used to it, she thought hazily. It had been this way for a very long time—except for the stubborn and kind Charlotte, no one could follow her to the end or support her exhausted self. Saving the world wasn’t one person’s ambition, but pioneers were destined to shoulder the loneliness of exploring the frontier. Having no help was normal, yet there was always one fool following too closely, causing her to keep looking back, afraid of losing them.
But in the end, she did lose her.
I’m sorry, Charlotte. I am so clumsy, always forgetting all you’ve done for me.
Chu Yuanqing wearily closed her eyes, preparing to face imminent judgment. Beneath her drooping eyelids, a dazzling flow of endless light spread from all directions of Daxia, like countless stars gathering without hesitation! Hope, compassion, joy, faith, praise, celebration, and the purest form of love. These positive emotions from dancing had grown tenfold, hundredfold, thousandfold in their initial purity.
Boom boom boom!
The Lantern Gem, teetering under the Sea of Truth’s pressure, suddenly burst forth with immense power, its rebellious magic authority roaring in anger. The potential of a witch transformed by a sage’s heart, under this national embrace, found an anchor strong enough to disrupt the rules, turning into unparalleled white purity. For the first time, the rampaging curse invasion was violently suppressed.
The illusion continued, but now the abyss of the fall was filled with light. In the last corner of the collapsing Pure White Forbidden Zone, where volcanic ash and salt danced in the rain, the distant sunset rose from deep blue waves, filling eyes with sparkling golden light.
The Savior, newly conscious, gazed at this incredible beauty, feeling the soul particles gifted by billions of lost souls, and murmured in confusion: “Charlotte, did the sacrificed ones from the past help me?”
Charlotte, her ankles scarred, dipped her feet into the sparkling sea, playfully treading water like a mermaid. She smiled sideways, touching her finger to her lips, and whispered, “This is a secret.”
“Haha, for girls, mystery is very important, you know.” She added, “By the way, if one day Little Qing can snatch away my world’s number one idol throne, I’ll tell you everything openly and honestly, okay?”
As the words faded, dusk fell. The wind and waves roared, filling hearts with calm and beauty. Many years had passed, and things had changed considerably. Only now did she realize, though coming late, that in that person’s voice and smile lay a glance that had mesmerized time itself.
…
…
Charlotte, I really miss you.
Bryan Camilo
An incredible chapter. It’s the first time I’ve reread a chapter several times, but this one had something special. Magic perhaps, or the sparkles of the dance and the smile of Charlotte herself. Thank you