Chapter 304

Chapter 304: The Wind Rises and Clouds Surge, the New God of Calamity, a Determined Awakening

Church of the Gods.

This is the name used by outsiders for those who believe in the gods.

The breath of Tartarus, like a tide, washes over the entire Shadow Maze that rests on the surface of the planet. It draws in the tiny traces of disaster aura from the air through thousands of doors around the world, running its otherworldly space.

For seventeen years, this Giant God has been sleeping here.

The Archbishop fondly touches his staff. He remembers six years ago when Tartarus was still suppressed by the Pure White, forced to hide in the depths of dimensions with the humiliating form of the Calamity Seed, waiting for the Lord’s favor in the shadow of a half-empty hall.

Thankfully, the brief light that concealed the Supreme Lord, Khaos, finally dimmed a little at that moment, allowing this tiny mortal, as small as dust, to receive the Lord’s blessing and gain control over the Shadow Maze.

Even obtaining power equal to Tartarus.

The Archbishop breathes in deeply, feeling the pulse of his heart and blood, symbolizing the majestic and cherished darkness flowing within, slowly stirring the authority of another Supreme Disaster Beast, Erebus.

Although the tiny human body cannot fully bear this power, with the Lord’s grace, Erebus still harmonized with it, granting more strength.

And it was this power, stemming from the Calamity God, which could be associated with darkness, shadows, and hell, that allowed him to control Tartarus and expand the Shadow Maze over eleven years.

Unfortunately, that massive wall spanning the worlds still exists, radiating a bright and mighty authority that forces all the followers of the gods to remain hidden.

If it weren’t for this, the first few groups of witches would not have survived the weakest and most easily crushed stage.

But times have changed; the divine message from the holy realm has reached every archbishop, proclaiming that the darkest times have come to an end.

"The twilight of the gods is gone; purity will soon fade away."

The shadow in the archbishop’s hand writhed, swallowing the dim Lantern Gem; he chewed on the remnants of souls, listening to the haunting cries, seeing the beautiful moments experienced by that person, lost in the joy of destroying this happiness, letting out a delighted laugh.

The man’s body twisted until he lost his human shape, like a wild beast hidden under a large robe, gently stroking the Giant God beneath him, wildly reciting obscure poems, as countless shadowy tendrils danced around.

Within the Shadow Maze, all the disaster beasts also joined the wild feast.

The dome suddenly opened, and thousands of cages fell from the sky. Inside were kidnapped men, women, and children, wild beasts brought from who knows where, and distorted failures from experiments, even those who did not belong to the cult, the Calamity Seed, disaster beasts, and followers.

These chaotic creatures became the best prizes, as shadows crowded like ants, ripping through the anguished cries and screams, greedily consuming these offerings, making the entire maze just a little bigger, as if in sacrifice.

And this scene, wild as a trance, only came to an end when the archbishop, still wanting more, devoured the Lantern Gem completely.

The man, like an elegant gentleman, arranged his distorted limbs and antennae, collapsing back into human form. He looked up at the dome and faintly saw a pure white reflection, whispering:

"An enemy of the gods, what a noisy brilliance! Indeed, only chaos can bring peace."

"Witches are the best sacrifices; souls and blood are the nourishment for chaos. All of this is a gift from the Supreme Lord to those who work hard."

"The thirteen holy realms will eventually return to the human world, but only my Lord’s eternal chaos can create a garden that embraces the faithful. For this, we need more sacrifices, more witches."

The archbishop savored the taste of the soul stones, while the darkness in his hand stirred, refining the remnants into a faint glow, softly murmuring:

"Ideal State, a beautiful pure land; the shadows have obtained the key to it."

…

…

At the same time.

The dark currents like the Shadow Maze are stirring, and compared to the tragic events caused by the Calamity Seed hatching worldwide, these unexploded landmines are even more frightening.

The large-scale attack yesterday made the people, who have lived in peace for a long time, sense a stifling atmosphere of impending trouble.

Videos from around the world about disaster beasts are emerging. However, following the idea that it’s better to guide than to block, the super AI controlling the virtual world—Dream Weaver—chose not to delete everything. Esther kept the footage of the magical girls fighting disaster beasts without revealing her privacy and removed scenes that were too bloody or cruel, which could easily cause panic, directing public opinion to other aspects.

"Wow, the design and effects of the monsters are very lifelike, and the plot is tight and exciting; it makes you hold your breath, but the video is too short and blurry. Is this a new way of promotion?"

Some internet users have experienced reality or have been told the truth by friends and family. They actively share their thoughts in the comments, wanting to calm their excited emotions or simply to gain attention.

"Am I the only one who saw the monster appear? Magical girls really do exist! They are the heroes who protect peace and safeguard the city!"

The public opinion continued to grow stronger. Various posts titled "Exposing the Truth of the World" started to appear online. Ninety-nine percent of these were marketing accounts and bloggers seeking attention, but most of the hot topics were not directed at them. Instead, they were given to posts that shared some useful information.

The account of the Counter-Magic Bureau even streamed live last night at nine o’clock, selectively revealing the concepts of disaster beasts and magical girls, reigniting public interest. Now, in many places around the world, people are accusing the government of hiding the truth.

In some areas of the Sacred United Country, groups have organized thousands of people to march, claiming they want magical girls to come forward and inform the public about the disaster beasts. There are even extreme environmental organizations openly questioning whether disaster aura is the main cause of global warming.

Although most of the victims cannot surf the internet right now, thousands of disaster beast events have sunk into the ground like a nail, creating a subtle atmosphere in society. The actions of the Church of the Gods have successfully exposed magical girls, causing more and more people to begin to think, with a hesitant attitude, about what changes have happened in the world they know so well.

However, the gradually overwhelming Disaster might not give people the answers to think or the ability to adapt to the new world.

…

…

Austria. The car perfume is delicate, like iced milk tea on a summer night, mixing a refreshing coolness with a mild sweetness. The warm sunlight grows like a vine, climbing onto bare thigh skin, entering the breath, drowning nightmares.

"Liuli, do you feel unwell anywhere?"

That familiar voice seemed to travel through thick ocean water, slowly reaching my ears, like a feather that tickled my skin, bringing back memories bit by bit, until a ray of white light fell, and my consciousness surfaced.

Tang Liuli’s eyelashes trembled, her nerves awakened, feeling the sunlight glowing on her eyelids, revealing tiny red blood vessels. When she opened her eyes, she saw the warm and caring faces of her friends.

The girl was just a bit dazed, but her bright green eyes quickly became alert again. She smiled shyly and said softly:

"No, I’m fine. I just… dreamed about some things from my childhood."

She didn’t know if it was because of the message, but she suddenly remembered what Eiwas had told her about her mother, who loved freedom and hated being confined, like a bird wandering the world, yet returned to Daxia to end her journey.

Eiwas’s words stirred a deep longing for family in her heart. Even though she knew it was foolish, she couldn’t help but wonder if her mother had become that way because of the disaster aura, and if she shouldn’t, or didn’t have the right to hate her.

The disaster aura quietly affects everything; it slowly strengthens the deepest beliefs in a person’s heart, like gnawing at a building’s support beam, twisting once beautiful wishes and turning a person into an unaware monster.

If that’s the case, then her unhealthy obsession, which she thought was good for her mother, ironically might mean just how deep her mother’s love for her truly was.

Even that act of choosing to die to create her into a perfect work of art can be understood as a distorted act of love that amplifies a mother’s feelings endlessly.

Chu Yuanqing looked at Liuli, who had started to drift off again, her golden eyes sparkling. She sighed in her heart, gently brushed her bangs with her fingertips, and softly said:

"Yes, it’s good that you’re okay. You need to pay attention to resting. Even if you are a magical girl, you still haven’t ‘lit up’ yet."

Chu Wang Shu could also see that Liuli had something on her mind. She didn’t ask but held back her worries and warned gently:

"Little Qing is right, Liuli shouldn’t be staying up late playing PS5 secretly, right?"

Inside the car, the little idols were all caring for the green-eyed cat in their own ways.

Tang Liuli didn’t share her hidden troubles. When she wasn’t lost in thought, her acting was excellent, and she quickly made the atmosphere in the car return to normal.

However, beneath the surface, that knot in her heart was still not untied.

Tang Liuli understood that just by asking Dreamweaver, she could find out if this was the truth.

But she wandered, hesitated, and felt lost, as if trapped in a maze of the past, afraid to know the answer.

This is only natural.

It took her many years to accept the cruel reality that both her parents were mentally ill and terrible people, transforming from a cheerful child full of sunshine and happiness, who often smiled, into a gloomy, lonely, and sluggish figure.

"Dazzling Stage," idols, fans, Chu Yuanqing, memories of a "parallel world"…

It was these surreal strokes of luck that made her decide to rise again, to leave the past behind, to hold onto the small spark of courage, and to prepare to face the unknown future with a stronger spirit.

So, this was enough; she had already accepted this unfortunate part of her childhood. Why tear open the wounds of the past to touch the uncertain truth?

But no matter how many reasons there were,

Tang Liuli could not deceive herself, nor could she fool the silent, burning magic of "Cocoon of the Heart." She looked at the feather of the moon, melting in the sea of divine sense, transforming into a green gem, and whispered to herself:

"How cowardly, so cowardly, like another version of me."

The solution to this matter is simple: by being honest and having a chat with everyone, you can find the answer and feel relieved with the warmth and help of others.

But that would be too cowardly; it is precisely because they are trustworthy people that she is reluctant to hide in the protection they offer.

Tang Liuli remembered the version of herself in the "parallel world."

She was a coward who feared disaster, afraid of danger, and always wanted to run away. She was timid and weak; without facing countless losses, she could not gather courage and was stubborn to a hopeless extent.

—Heaven will not show you mercy a second time.

Tang Liuli suddenly realized that she was not like the other her; she did not have the chance to start over with the "Blood of Sighs," nor did she have the "Wall of Sighs" to protect her from any attack.

So, if she does not grasp the resilience and courage forged in the cycle of death, she would only repeat the tragedy of dragging others down, crying tears, and still feeling powerless while witnessing the shattering of everything she cherishes.

"I will face him."

"Whether this is the truth or a lie, I must have the courage to stand in front of Eiwas."

Tang Liuli’s thoughts were fixed, her emerald green eyes calm, as if watching distant migratory birds. She looked out the window at the majestic mountains bathed in light, gripping her phone tightly, and softly said:

"Little Qing, don’t worry, I already know what to do."

A smile appeared on Chu Yuanqing’s delicate face as she gently said:

"Yes, that’s good. Remember to speak up when you need help."

Charlotte did not take the chance to pet Liuli Cat; she rarely treated her as a child. Instead, her lips curled into a trusting smile as a comrade.

The message from Eiwas held no lies. The marriage test report, the downfall of the family castle, the mysterious high fever of the three family members, his mother’s past personality, and his own current situation were all true.

Even in the Countermeasures Bureau, there were records confirming the connection between the family’s downfall and the disaster beast.

Otherwise, the message wouldn’t have reached Liuli’s phone.

But Charlotte, Dream Weaver Rabbit, Chu Yuanqing, and even Tang Liuli herself knew that the truth at this moment was mixed with oddities, and it was hard to say there wasn’t a conspiracy involved.

Of course, it could also be a simple coincidence.

Charlotte couldn’t decide either, but she would try her best to respect Liuli’s choices under safe conditions.

Time passed, and the vehicle traveled along the nature-filled road, arriving at the small town.

Miss Saintess looked up happily at her hometown, gazing at the crystal-clear Lake Wolfgangsee, and showed a lovely smile.

This calm, blue lake surrounded the town, with layers of green mountains in the distance and the Alpine peaks looking particularly grand.

The vehicle drove in, passing through the narrow streets.

It was clean and open here, with colorful houses everywhere. Each house and every window was unique and beautiful, filled with an artistic vibe that complemented nature, with walls, balconies, and window sills adorned with well-tended flowers.

What amazed the young idols was another hidden wonder of Sankt Wolfgang.

If you could use extrasensory perception to open another layer of vision, you would see the whole town as if it were a dream, with rainbow-colored bubbles, tiny sparkling lights, ethereal notes, and swirling fireflies, nearly every corner filled with stunning sights.

The most interesting thing is that this phenomenon, which completely covers the mountains and lakes, can randomly play The Last Diva’s hum as soon as you touch it with magic.

The group got off the bus and walked to the back of the White Horse Hotel, where they saw a giant record player with a cartoon image of Charlotte on its dome, looking absurdly cute.

In fact, these things are like easter eggs; if you open your extrasensory perception, you can find countless similar treasures, just as every note hides Charlotte’s unique song.

This small town, blessed with a constant shining light, seems to be a music box made just for Charlotte, holding a strange charm beyond the surface in the eyes of the witch.

Ji Shuzhu stared blankly at the little Charlotte figure on the lady’s head, appearing as a chibi version of a singer, just like a child seeing a chocolate fountain and a candy house in a fairy tale, feeling a great shock.

If Charlotte and Chu Yuanqing are like two moving sparkling fountains when they don’t actively release their charm, then this small town is filled with the smell of cotton candy, making it a sparkling version of a golden city.

Liang Xiaoxiao, Lin Baor, and Ruan Wutong could not be seen.

Chen Yining, realizing it later, opened her extrasensory perception and fell into the same emotion as a childhood friend, murmuring:

"Is this also a kind of magic? It’s simply unbelievable."

Not only this team, but even Tang Liuli, Xie Qingxuan, Kirimi Miyuki, and Chu Wang Shu had never seen anything like it. They all opened their extrasensory perception and fell into exploration mode, feeling very excited.

Charlotte tied her hair into a stylish ponytail and put on a baseball cap. She turned back with a joyful smile, touched her lips with her fingertip to signal for silence, and grabbed Pure White Witch’s hand, pulling her daughter and teammates along.

Miss Saintess enjoyed the comforting breeze, happily singing a song as she pulled her loved one along, ignoring her fluttering dress. They passed familiar buildings and a bend where they used to play hide and seek, arriving at a church.

This was Sister Ellie’s home.