Brain bloom

"Um, thank you, Moritoki... and thank you Princess Dandelion too." She quickly explained, "I... I haven't actually known Moritoki for very long. I wasn't secretly with her, keeping it a secret from the princess..."

Dandelion gave a wry smile and waved her hand to show her understanding.

"I have some things to attend to and must leave first."

"Are you going back to the Demon Realm? Indeed, hurry up and get your father to help." Sen Shi muttered. Although he could understand that the Ancient Demon King was bound by his own ironclad rules of the deal, he still felt disappointed when he didn't see him.

Yuan shook his head.

"So, who are you going to ask for help? Fine, let's find a big shot to blast Hodge." Dandelion clenched her fist, but she herself was exhausted; using the power of nature was too taxing.

I wish to deny it again.

She tidied her disheveled long hair, picked up a few feathers from the ground and put them back in their place, before revealing where she wanted to go—

"I'm going to make a deal."

She gazed towards the sea.

“My dad taught me from a young age that if someone hits you and it hurts, you should hit them back. That’s a trade. But… it’s also the only trade that doesn’t have to be based on reciprocity. So… you can hit them as hard as you want.”

She gently stroked her face, just to hide the pain she was enduring through gritted teeth.

Her condition was terrible... The pain of the curse tormented her wounds. Taking the first blow of the divine power had also drained most of her life force... Her life force was shattered, like a candle flickering in the wind.

So, there's no point in continuing... Why not just let it all out? Give the other person a good beating. At least then, you won't have to endure the pain during the fight; you can vent your frustration by shouting.

Only then did she realize that she longed to express her pain with all her might. After so many years, she had almost forgotten that she had always been a cowardly human being.

It was just when I was a child that I deliberately forgot how to express my pain and tried to put on a smile so that the owl wouldn't sigh all day.

"You will die." Mori looked up, as if searching for something.

"It's okay... Anyway, there wasn't much left. At most, I'll suffer for a month before I die."

That method was so ugly—she thought to herself.

"Furthermore, this is also a treaty between me and you. Only when the world is at peace can the Four Seasons revive the Kingdom of Flowers and then hold the Winged Cloud... right? Although I may not have the chance to see it, I will keep my promise."

The heartbeat of primordial evil resounded every few seconds.

Like a death knell announcing a countdown, each toll can shake the soul.

The beating of his heart, along with his wish, made it difficult for Mori to find peace.

"I have to go now."

"Go ahead." The dandelion thought for a moment, then gave her a petal from its own corolla. "Eating this should make you feel better. I wish you a safe journey and that you can live the way you like.

She seemed somewhat surprised, but quickly relaxed, a relaxed smile spreading across her face. In the afterglow of the setting sun, it appeared both intense and melancholic.

"Aren't you going to stop her from going to her death?"

“That’s not called suicide, that’s called freedom. Mori, I don’t want to stop her from pursuing her freedom, I will just watch her go and wish her well.”

Dandelion's words left Mori with a lingering unease.

She questioned her own values: should she live in pain for a month and then die with regrets, or should she do something grand and earth-shattering and then disappear? In the end, she found that she could not choose the former against her conscience.

or……

Heal her pain himself

Volume 1 #324: The Awakening Monster!

Save her...

But such unrealistic ideas are just that—ideas—and cannot cause the slightest ripple in the real world.

Having witnessed the story of Yuan and the Ancient Demon King, Mori knew better than anyone that he had no means and no confidence in saving Yuan. Even the Ancient Demon King, who had lived for countless years, ruled a world, and commanded countless powerful warriors, had failed to succeed after more than ten years.

She couldn't do it either...

Now, from Yuan's body, unrestrained curses are slowly but immensely seeping out, like black lightning forming a thick fog and then draping over her. Yuan looks like a young girl dressed in a long black gauze dress, preparing to attend a banquet.

How much pain would this bring? Mori didn't dare to think about it.

She could only touch the newly flourishing leaves on her head, pondering whether the fruit of the true god was useful...

"Petals?"

"Mmm, put it in your mouth and hold it for a moment."

Yuan tried putting the dandelion petal into his mouth, and immediately his expression turned strange.

"It tastes like... Dandelion Princess? It's strange... and a little sweet."

"After all, it's part of my body."

As the petals melted on her tongue, their power slowly spread. Strangely, she did feel much better. She thought to herself, "The Four Seasons are truly wondrous." And—now that she felt better, it was time to set off.

"Goodbye, Moritoki, Dandelion Princess, it's so good to have met you! My life isn't so boring anymore..."

"Okay, goodbye."

Dandelion never explained why she helped her, but she always kept it in mind.

Long ago, due to the shooting of the Rain Wizard and the theft of the first Pope's remains, various countries and factions regarded the Four Seasons as enemies. Isolated and helpless, they could only agree to a contract, offering the right to assist them three times.

Dandelion truly loved this Dawn Princess.

"Wait, don't go—" Mori was still struggling with her thoughts, which were in complete disarray.

Naturally, he didn't want to see her disappear like this. But an indelible thought kept echoing in her mind. Mori knew very well that he should support her going to the battlefield and ending everything in the way she had chosen.

But I never wanted her to die like that.

Even though Mori didn't express these thoughts verbally, Ima understood that Mori cared about her. She smiled gratefully, walked over, and gently hugged Mori—hugging Mori who had stood up for her.

She absorbed the curse into her body as usual, so what was transmitted to Mori Toki was only the gentle softness of a young girl.

And there was the farewell whispered in my ear, accompanied by warm breath—

"Goodbye."

Then—the feeling of fulfillment from the embrace vanished. Unbeknownst to her, she had already embarked on her own path.

Mori couldn't stop her...

"Senji?"

"Princess……"

Dandelion held up two fingers and waved them in front of her eyes.

That represents two choices.

Dandelion laughed and said, "Either we go back and pretend nothing happened and continue our trip, or... you go with her to the battlefield?"

"Go with her?"

"Yes—we may not be able to stop a dying person from dying, but we don't have to watch her go helplessly; we can stay with her."

At this moment, Pu Gongying's tone was gentle, and every word he uttered resonated deeply with Sen Shi. His previously restless and wavering thoughts gradually calmed down. It wasn't some obscure truth, but it was enough to open a door for Sen Shi and guide him in the right direction.

“I’m going.” She nodded vigorously. “Helping her will at least save her some effort, and I can also be with her and witness her progress.”

"Yes, go ahead. It's a pity I just used the power of nature and don't have the strength to help. I'll wait for you to come back."

Dandelion crossed her arms and gave a helpless smile. But it only lasted a few seconds before her expression turned serious.

"But don't forget, come back alive so you can settle accounts with the Holy Coffin Kingdom. I can't save you a second time."

"……Um."

"But if you disappear from this world, don't be too sad. I will start everything over again. Although it will take a very long time... a very long time, at least we can meet again. Death is never the end, don't be sad."

Sen Shi felt these words were very unlucky, so he immediately pinched Dandelion's cheek, destroying her serious expression. Then, he forced a smile onto her lips.

"I won't die! I'll be right back!"

"Hmph, will you keep your promise this time?"

"meeting."

She was smiling even though Mori didn't need to lift a finger.

Mori took a deep breath, turned around, and faced the sea. Dandelion stood behind him, waving goodbye. However, a very serious problem abruptly stopped Mori in his tracks.

If we could use the portal to the Demon Realm, then... what about her?

How do I get to 1848?

Could she really, in this atmosphere, bite the bullet and go back to borrow a boat from Dandelion? No, no, no, that would be too embarrassing. It's a pity she didn't make a deal with the demons and can't use the portal on her own… How awkward.

"Why aren't you leaving yet? Maybe you've already arrived."

"don’t worry."

Even so, Morishita couldn't turn back, otherwise her flushed face would be ridiculed. After hesitating for a few seconds, to save face, she looked up at the sky and made an extremely dangerous decision.

do my best!

She drew her staff, inserted an ice elemental gem, and then swung it forcefully towards the sky. Half of her spiritual energy was used to create a translucent ice staircase, transparent and thin, beautifully illuminated by the afterglow of the sunset.

These steps lead directly to the sky.

The path leads to the thundercloud worm that has been chasing her.

A minute later, Mori, panting, ran onto the Thundercloud Bug. Along the way, the bug seemed to understand Mori's intention and lowered its altitude. To the dandelion on the ground, it looked like Mori was riding a mount or pet, which certainly made it look impressive.

Above the clouds, Sen was drenched in sweat.

“My cute little bug, let’s team up. Please don’t hit me later…” Sen Shi said, walking on a cloud and looking down as he walked toward the divine weapon that sealed it. “I’ll give you your freedom back. You take me to 1848 and help me keep things quiet. Then we’re even…”

The Thundercloud Insect did not answer, but regardless of whether the other party agreed or not, this was the only method Mori could think of.

The shovel, which he had once pulled out, remained stuck in its original spot, radiating the immense power of the true God.

Without hesitation, she tore off the thousand-year-old seal—and thus, the Thunderstorm Cloud Insect, which had survived for over a thousand years and was imbued with countless divine energies, slowly awoke.

Volume 1 #325: A mere disagreement can turn the world upside down

The residents of Silver Ring City were all lost in thought, wishing they could wake up tomorrow and witness the sunrise.