"Don't overthink it. After I save the world, I'll resign again. Whoever wants this job can have it," Bai Cha shrugged. "I just remembered who I forgot. She loved this world, so I absolutely have to save it."
That glaring pink color made Bai Cha feel as if she were in another lifetime, like a thorn coated in honey—painful, yet she licked it obsessively, deepening the scars in her heart amidst the sweet agony.
Moreover, taking a step back, everyone she cared about was in this world. She didn't want to move an entire planet to another one; she found it troublesome. After much thought, rather than changing the world's branches, it would be simpler to just kill the Dragon Mother.
[...You'll make me think you're just playing around. The Dragon Mother is a demiplane, after all. Don't underestimate it.] The World Tree said helplessly. [The Dragon Mother, like me, has an outer protective shell. She doesn't need to care about the life and death of the beings within her, so her outer shell, her outer atmosphere, is tough and viscous, possibly beyond your imagination. You need to break a hole and open a path for me so I can destroy its interior.]
"Oh? You're going to act? I thought you'd just watch," Bai Cha raised an eyebrow.
[What are you saying? Listen to yourself, what kind of talk is that? Does it make sense?] The World Tree was extremely annoyed. [Don't describe me as if I were some human dandy.]
"Really? I thought you had a change of heart, seeing how pitiful I was and deciding to share the pressure," Bai Cha continued to raise her eyebrows.
The World Tree [...]
Annoyed, the World Tree went offline, not intending to deal with Bai Cha anymore. When Lucifer entered the room, he saw Bai Cha sitting by the bed, playing with a life seed in her hand, in quite a good mood.
"Lucifer, in a few days, I'll be leading the salvation team with all the leaders to prepare for the attack on the Dragon Mother. We'll officially act in about two weeks," Bai Cha looked at Lucifer, clearly noticing his body stiffen.
"The Dragon Mother is too close to Earth. If it gets any closer, it will affect Earth's magnetic field," Bai Cha explained.
This matter was indeed urgent. It was snowing in the south during winter, and even in the north, snow fell in summer. Tides were becoming more dangerous and unruly. The chaotic magnetic field had even affected Earth's electromagnetic signals.
During this period, wherever there was electricity, the signals had weakened.
"Do I need to stay behind this time too?" A gentle smile showed a hint of cracking. The shattering of dreams takes only a moment, but the helplessness of fear is perhaps like this. Lucifer didn't know what to say. He seemed accustomed to silence.
"No, this time you're coming with me."
The moment the dream shattered, the sky cleared from cloudy to sunny, and then in the next instant, it turned cloudy again before clearing. Lucifer looked at Bai Cha with surprise, completely not expecting her to say that.
"You'll come with me, and then you'll be responsible for saving me in the end," Bai Cha looked at Lucifer seriously for a long time, then suddenly stood on tiptoe and hugged his neck. "If there's an afterlife... Lucifer, I remember now. I've already resigned, so does this count as an afterlife?"
After all, I've died once already.
So, after the world's salvation is over, we'll leave. I want to live the life I desire.
"You know I can never refuse you, my master," Lucifer sighed softly, then smiled gently again. "Alright."
Two weeks later, ordinary people were hiding in their homes, and all global work units ceased operations for three days.
In reality, it was much more lenient than anticipated. Human technology was already extremely advanced. The suspension of all work units was to save resources for the year-round defense.
At this moment, global resources were being used for full defense, which Bai Cha personally tested and found to be sufficiently robust.
Bai Cha stood in the void with her arms crossed, watching the people behind her busy themselves.
The people below were arranging themselves according to the formation. With each person who took their position, Bai Cha could feel power accumulating upon her. A green seed floated in front of Bai Cha, keeping her in contact with the World Tree.
"It's done, Bai Cha." Athena flew over, her pure gold armor shining brilliantly. "The Six Paths of Reincarnation is missing one path. Is it really alright?"
Except for Bai Cha, who inherited the Asura path and became its commander, the other four were forcibly promoted by the life seeds. In reality, if they had been allowed to explore on their own, they would have eventually reached this point, but time was too short. So, the World Tree intervened to compress time.
In reality, it's not a big problem, but missing a Brahma makes things a bit difficult.
"It's okay, I'll work hard." Bai Cha winked at Athena. "I'll work hard for Brahma's share. I've already successfully merged Freya's power."
Athena: "...You remembered?"
"Yes, I remembered, which is why I want to deal with this Dragon Mother as soon as possible." Bai Cha's mood seemed to be good. With a smile, she gently touched the brilliant crystal flower on her chest. "I've lingered for too long. I need to live a good life and not let her down."
In Athena's memory, Bai Cha had always been melancholic and gloomy, seemingly indifferent to everything but with a sickly madness in her eyes.
After Freya's death, Bai Cha had engaged in frantic revenge. Athena had even worried that Bai Cha would go astray. But Bai Cha had died, which plunged Athena and the others into despair. When Bai Cha finally came back to life, Athena felt that Bai Cha was different.
Before, it was a wasteland, but now, a seed seemed to be sprouting in the desert of the wasteland, bringing life.
"Bai Cha, you've changed." Athena looked at Bai Cha with a complex gaze.
"Changed?" Bai Cha rubbed her hair, actually smiling with a bit of pride. "Was I better when I was like that?"
[Kneel now. When I create the divine realm, you will be the Divine Kings.]
The hoarse voice sounded like rusty barbell rubbing, and Bai Cha and Athena stopped talking, their expressions immediately becoming serious.
[Submit to me now, and I can grant you everything you desire.] The Dragon Mother continued to persuade the assembled people in space. [Power, authority, benefits... As long as you surrender to me, once I devour Earth, everything will be yours.]
"What a cliché temptation." Jupiter flew over, his expression one of utter disdain.
Even Y-country's divine dramas don't write such old-fashioned threats and temptations anymore; it would be very awkward.
Bai Cha shrugged, noncommittal. The temptation was indeed underwhelming, making it truly difficult to be moved. "Let's begin. My dad is waiting for me to come home for dinner."
Behind them, the Sons of Prophecy stood in staggered positions, and the formation lit up. At this moment, the power of the five surged rapidly, faintly showing signs of breaking through the divine realm.
"Holy Light Embrace."
Before the plane, Athena did not use judgment. The path of the gods opened, and divine power poured out. The golden holy light met the Dragon Mother's viscous power, which was like gray oil, like splashing a bowl of cold water into boiling oil. The powers exploded, and the five immediately dispersed their formations.
"Got you!"
Dark green chains, extending from nowhere, tightly bound the gray planet. Odmubla grabbed one end of the chain, and dark green flames instantly spread down.
However, this binding only lasted for two seconds. Two years later, the Dragon Mother broke free from its restraints and simultaneously blocked the attacks of Athena and the other three. Almost three full-strength blows had only managed to create a crack.
"Move aside." Bai Cha's voice was icy. The long spear in her hand had a black shaft and was exceptionally sharp with white ends. Blood-colored power, along with black and white power, continuously flew out of Bai Cha's body and then rotated and condensed on the spear.
At this moment, no words were needed. Athena and the other four dispersed and formed a diamond formation, their powers converging to once again stabilize the Dragon Mother.
The power erupted, and the shockwaves and dust almost obscured the sky. However, looking at the shell, which only had a crack in front of them, even Bai Cha's expression held a hint of ferocity.
The crack was too small for the World Tree to penetrate. So, it still required burning more power? Bai Cha's eyes hardened, and she pushed the spear further into the crack.
[You too are attacking me? You are also my child. You have experienced ups and downs, been betrayed, and forced to lose. What benefit is there for you in resisting me?] Even a crack was enough for the Dragon Mother to be wary; this was its strongest defense, and it had to hold. [Moving forward means loss, while submitting brings you nothing but benefits. Whatever you want, I can give you.]
"Haven't you realized your failure yet? Regardless of whether you were born from good or evil, your children have betrayed you, you fool." The spearhead had already entered the crack, and Bai Cha roared in her heart, pushing the spear deeper. "I want her to appear before me again. If you have the guts, do it."
The Dragon Mother [...]
It couldn't. For complete planes like Earth, it could at least bring the souls of its children back to reincarnation. But the Dragon Mother couldn't even do that.
At this moment, Bai Cha constantly recalled that face in her mind, her every move, her smiles and frowns. Now, she had become the vast power within her, so Bai Cha vowed to make the world the way she wanted it to be.
[You are the most foolish person. My origin is based on the attraction of good and evil. Do you really think she loved you? Foolish love, merely an illusion created by attraction.] The Dragon Mother became somewhat angry. It felt a cold wind from where Bai Cha's spear had broken through the defense. The four people around it were like flies, annoying it immensely.
Its body already had many cracks. The power of a god could not be underestimated. If it wasted any more time, even its demiplane's defense would be broken.
It shouldn't have wasted its breath; it should have just killed and reabsorbed them.
"An illusion doesn't seem so bad."
[What?]
"This kind of illusion, naming it with love, is perfectly fine!" Bai Cha smiled smugly. The suppressed youthful spirit of the girl was perfectly manifested as she grew up.
"Really, even if it's an illusion, I think this feeling is pretty good. Since she's willing to use love as its name, there's no problem with me naming it this way!"
The white light of the spear suddenly bloomed, and in an instant, the universe became as bright as day.
But Bai Cha saw it—that brilliant pink hue. It became clearer and clearer, then stopped before her.
"Hehe, Tea Tea is absolutely right. Let's name this illusion 'love'." Her pleasant voice was like a lark in the mountains, the voice Bai Cha had longed for. Now, the pink figure was by her side, holding the spear with her, staining it a brilliant pink.
"Tea Tea, you've changed."
Despite saying this, Freya was smiling very happily, and Bai Cha's mood also improved considerably.
Bai Cha: "You seem very happy."
"Of course. After all, the prerequisite for awakening me is that Tea Tea fully accepts and understands me. This is the sorceress's spell," Freya winked her left eye, looking playful and cute. "Tea Tea is also someone who's willing to move forward now."