hotmtlnovel Chapter 49 Cinderella
Chapter 49 Cinderella
The crystal shards at the tip of the stick were like sparks thrown into boiling oil. No, they ignited a powder keg already soaked in resentment and madness.
Seven-colored light intertwined with gray-black resentment, surging through the gap pierced by the wooden stick like a greedy venomous snake, frantically burrowing into the pink torrent of energy above. In an instant, the entire passage shook violently! Not a physical tremor, but a deeper, more intense clash and imbalance at the level of energy rules!
What was pierced above was not merely rock and vines, but a fragile energy membrane and physical barrier surrounding the castle's energy transmission channels. The pain, resentment, and most desperate curses against the essence of "happiness" contained within the crystal shards, from countless imprisoned souls, reacted directly and violently with the forcibly distorted and purified "joy" energy flowing through the channels!
laugh--!
A piercing energy shriek, like millions of fingernails scraping glass, instantly filled the entire passage, even overwhelming the raging roar of the Fairy Godmother above! The pink energy turbulence was forcibly torn apart and contaminated, transforming into massive plumes of dark red energy sparks, reeking of a foul and burnt odor, which sprayed and poured down from the breach! At the same time, an even larger, colder, and destructive pink shockwave, like an invisible tsunami, surged backward through the contaminated pipes, its target the people whose positions had just been exposed in the passage below!
"Stop!" Chu Xuan shouted sharply, his voice barely audible amidst the violent energy noise.
But without his command, Zheng Zha roared and stepped forward, his entire body's red and white energy compressing, colliding, and exploding recklessly! He stood like a giant shield burning with blood-red and pure white flames, blocking the gap directly below, his fists slamming into the surging energy turbulence and the shockwave that followed! The Overlord's heavy machine gun also opened fire instantly, a dense barrage of metal bullets, accompanied by his wild roar, shooting towards the gap above, attempting to disrupt and weaken the impact. Li Shuaixi's blade flashed like a waterfall, slashing at the scattered, dark red sparks.
Wang Lin and Zhan Lan's spiritual powers instantly converged to their maximum, with the nascent form of the Light of the Mind and the spiritual matrix operating at full power, constructing an invisible yet exceptionally resilient spiritual barrier before them, a barrier imbued with order, connection, and the will to protect. The moment the barrier collided with the shockwave, it emitted a teeth-grinding groan, as if metal were being twisted by immense force, violently fluctuating and teetering on the brink of shattering, but ultimately managing to withstand the first and most violent wave of soul impact.
Zero calmly fired, blasting apart several distorted pink energy constructs (similar to miniature Rulers) that were trying to peek out from the edge of the gap above or were thrown down by the energy turbulence. Ming Yanwei's energy arrows, however, seemed to have eyes, bypassing the chaotic energy field and accurately striking the connection points of several energy pipes gleaming with dangerous light that were faintly visible above the gap, attempting to create greater destruction and chaos. Zhao Yingkong's figure had already vanished from the spot, disappearing to an unknown location.
Cinderella released her grip the instant the stick pierced the breach. Without even glancing at the surging energy turbulence and the ensuing counterattack, her slender body unleashed an agility and strength disproportionate to her appearance. Like a nimble lynx, under the brief cover of the barrier created by Zheng Zha and the others, she used both hands and feet to leap upwards along the edge of the rapidly widening breach eroded by energy!
Her goal was clear—the energy node interface above the gap, where the energy turbulence was at its core, the pink light was most intense, and complex runes and metal pipes could be vaguely seen intertwined!
"Protect her and charge in!" Chu Xuan's voice roared within the mental matrix.
Zheng Zha withstood the shockwave, taking another half-step forward to shield Cinderella from a pink energy whip that swept from the side. The whip lashed his shoulder, instantly tearing his skin and exposing the bone, but he seemed oblivious, smashing an energy structure at the source of the whip with a backhand punch. Ba Wang and Li Shuaixi also desperately moved forward, using their bodies and weapons to clear the final path to the gap for Cinderella.
Amidst the splashing energy sparks and billowing dust, Cinderella's figure, like an arrow shooting upstream, suddenly pierced into the ever-expanding gap filled with destructive energy and vanished.
Immediately afterwards—
"Aaaaaaahh ...
A piercing, painful, yet inhuman scream, filled with boundless pleasure and determination, erupted from the core of the chaotic energy flow within the gap! It was Cinderella's voice! But the voice was distorted and deformed, a mixture of human, beast, and some other ancient, insane being.
At the same time, an indescribable, terrifying fluctuation that made everyone present (including the Fairy Godmother's will, which was attacking frantically) tremble in their souls erupted like a volcano that had been dormant for thousands of years, suddenly awakening and erupting inside the breach!
That was the ultimate, concentrated power of "pollution"—a pure, dark power that was a mixture of Cinderella's three thousand years of pain and resentment, the primal grievances from the deepest part of the forest, the spiritual madness of countless "rats," and the final cry of the soul imprisoned in the crystal shards, an absolute denial of "beauty" and "order"!
The moment this power erupted, the entire passage—no, the entire main tower of the castle—seemed to freeze for a moment.
The surging pink torrent suddenly stopped and reversed.
The Fairy Godmother's furious roar of will turned into a shriek of horror, pain, and... an unbelievable fear!
What followed was a silent, yet even more terrifying, annihilation of energy and collapse of rules.
From within the gap, an indescribable, eerie light burst forth, a mixture of gray, black, dark red, and the last vestiges of seven colors. The light wasn't bright, yet it possessed a terrifying essence that eroded, distorted, and negated everything. Wherever the light passed, solid rock melted and vaporized like snow under the scorching sun; the pink energy channels rapidly turned black, carbonized, and disintegrated as if corroded by strong acid; and the complex runes instantly lost their luster, twisting into meaningless gibberish.
An irresistible shockwave, carrying extreme chaos, pain, and madness, spread wildly in all directions from the breach as its center, like an invisible giant hammer! This impact was not pure energy, but contained "contamination" and "collapse" at the level of rules!
"Retreat! Immediately! Follow the route!" Chu Xuan roared in the mental matrix. He himself was so shocked by the impact that he spat out blood, but he still stared intently at the retreat route map that Cinderella had marked on the terminal.
The moment Cinderella detonated the "contamination source," the members of the Central Continent Team, with Zheng Zha, Ba Wang, and Li Shuaixi covering their retreat, were already running for their lives towards the fork in the tunnel that Cinderella had indicated, leading to the "abandoned drainage outlet," according to the pre-arranged plan!
Behind them lay a scene resembling the gates of hell wide open. In the area where the breach was located, space itself seemed to be distorted and collapsed under the erosion of the gray-black light, forming an ever-expanding, all-consuming dark vortex. Within the vortex, one could vaguely see pink energy struggling and disintegrating like a dying behemoth, and hear the increasingly faint yet extremely venomous screams of the Fairy Godmother, as well as... the prince's inhuman, ear-piercing metallic scraping and cracking sounds, like the complete shattering of a precision instrument.
The castle wailed. The false network of "happiness" energy upon which the entire Sweet Dream Town depended was collapsing in a chain reaction, triggered by this "pollution" that pierced straight to the heart. Everyone could feel the ground shaking more violently beneath their feet, and the ubiquitous, nauseatingly sweet floral scent and pink energy field in the air were rapidly weakening and becoming disordered. In its place, a more intense, dark gray aura of resentment and madness was rising from the depths of the earth and the direction of the forest. In the distance, one could almost hear the townspeople's bewildered, terrified, and then frantic screams and cries, their standard smiling masks shattered.
"Faster! Faster!" Zheng Zha roared, coughing up blood. He was severely injured, but the adrenaline from his "explosive" state and his tenacious will to survive sustained him. He carried the nearly exhausted Zhan Lan on his back, and held the staggering Wang Lin in his other hand. Ba Wang and Li Shuaixi, covered in blood, supported each other. Ling Dian, Ming Yanwei, and Zhao Yingkong, like three wisps of smoke, weaved through the chaotic passage, leading the way. Chu Xuan, O'Connor, and the others followed closely behind.
The passageway was collapsing. Gravel, dirt, and twisted metal pipes rained down from overhead. The ground cracked, gushing out a viscous, dark red, foul-smelling liquid. From the surrounding darkness came more and more frantic squeaks and rustles—the sounds of rats, now completely alarmed and no longer restrained by the "Law of Happiness," and perhaps something even more indescribable, possibly escaping from other cells and laboratories within the castle.
The route Cinderella pointed out was less a road and more a perilous survival crevice eroded by rats and the passage of time in the crumbling foundation of the castle. The group practically tumbled and crawled forward, relying on Zero's faint vision, Ming Yanwei's eagle eyes, and the weak spiritual guidance of Wang Lin and Zhan Lan to make their way through the darkness.
I don't know how much time passed, maybe only a few minutes, but it felt like centuries. Finally, something different appeared ahead—no longer absolute darkness and oppressive rocks, but a faint, cold air current carrying the smell of earth and decaying plants, and... the faint sound of flowing water.
"We're here! The drain!" Zhao Yingkong's clear, cool voice came from the front, carrying a hint of relief.
With renewed vigor, the group pressed on with their last ounce of strength. At the end of the passage was a sloping, circular opening sealed by a thick, rusted cast-iron fence. Beyond the opening lay even deeper darkness, but the sound of rushing water could be heard, and the air was (relatively speaking) much fresher. The fence was badly corroded, with several gaps broken in it by the rats that had previously passed through.
"Get out!" Chu Xuan shouted.
A few tenths of a shot shattered the weakest point of the fence. Zheng Zha and Ba Wang roared and used brute force to tear a larger gap in the deformed fence. Cold, filthy water, carrying a strong, fishy stench, immediately rushed in through the gap.
Without a second thought, one by one, they scrambled out of the narrow, slippery drain covered in moss and filth.
Outside, the castle's base lay a deep moat, or rather, an underground riverbed for discharging sewage and rainwater. The water was icy cold, mixed with all sorts of indescribable filth. But overhead, there was no longer the oppressive stone dome, but a real, moonless night sky shrouded in thick, dark clouds! In the distance, the castle's massive silhouette, still brightly lit but constantly punctuated by flames, black smoke, and eerie lights, resembled a giant convulsing in agony in the darkness.
They're out! They've escaped from that sweet yet terrifying cage!
"Let's go! Cross the river! Go to the other side! Enter the forest!" Chu Xuan wiped the dirty water and blood off his face and pointed to the dark forest on the other side of the river, which churned like ink in the night and exuded a chilling aura.
The river wasn't deep, but it was swift and murky. The group helped each other, struggling to wade across. The cold, dirty water stung their wounds, bringing a needle-like pain, but the will to survive overwhelmed everything.
When they finally climbed onto the other side, soaking wet and disheveled, and stepped onto the cold, soft muddy ground at the edge of the forest, covered with rotting leaves, a louder, deeper, and earth-shattering roar came from the direction of the castle behind them, as if something had completely collapsed from within!
Rumble—!!!
With a deafening roar, the pink energy vortex atop the castle's main tower, which had been slowly rotating, collapsed inward like a punctured balloon, bursting forth with a final, dazzling yet chaotic light before fading and dissipating completely. This was followed by more explosions, flashes of light, and the rumble of collapsing buildings. Large swathes of lights in Sweet Dream Town went out, plunging the town into deeper darkness and chaos. Faint screams, cries, and some kind of inhuman howl drifted on the night wind.
"It's a success... at least, a temporary success." Wang Lin slumped onto the cold, muddy ground, gazing at the collapsing "beautiful" hell in the distance, and murmured to himself. He felt the small metal box containing the rat pendant in his arms seem to have completely lost its last bit of warmth, becoming cold and lifeless.
Zhan Lan leaned against him, nodding weakly, tears mixed with mud and water streaming down her face. It was hard to tell whether she felt relieved or grieving for that resolute woman.
Zheng Zha slumped down, panting heavily, his chest heaving violently. Each breath was accompanied by excruciating pain in his ribs, but looking at the now-cold, ordinary crystal shard in his hand, he grinned, though the smile was distorted by the pain: "Damn... it was worth it..."
The others sat or lay down, panting, tending to their wounds, their gazes turning back at the town that was descending into an apocalyptic scene with complex emotions.
Chu Xuan did not rest. He struggled to his feet and quickly scanned the surrounding environment and energy readings with his portable terminal.
"The castle's core energy source has collapsed, and the 'Law of Happiness' force field is disintegrating. The concentration of 'contaminated' energy in the direction of the forest is rising sharply, and its activity is increasing. A large number of abnormal life signals have been detected, moving towards us from the depths of the forest and the direction of the castle ruins." His voice remained calm, but carried an undisguised weariness and gravity. "We are not safe yet. Cinderella was right; the forest itself is another dangerous place. Moreover, the godmother and the prince may not be completely dead; they may still have residual power, or other... backup plans that we do not know about."
He looked into the depths of the forest, at the boundless darkness that seemed capable of swallowing everything.
"Rest for five minutes. Then, we must immediately venture deep into the forest to find the 'silver oak' she mentioned, or... another way out. Staying here means certain death, whether we are caught in the collapse of the castle, found by something awakened in the forest, or by the last pursuers the Godmother might send."
Five minutes, as short as a breath.
As everyone struggled to their feet, squeezing out their last bit of willpower and strength to prepare to step into that unknown, dark forest filled with resentment and madness, the cold, punctual, and final judgment-like voice of the Supreme God resounded simultaneously in the minds of all the reincarnators:
[The core of the "Sweet Dream Town Happiness Law" has been detected to have collapsed, and the source of contamination has spread.]
[Main Quest Two: Unravel the truth behind the "Sweet Dream Town Happiness Law" and obtain at least one key relic representing the source of either "contamination" or "curse." Completed. Rating: A.]
[Received: One B-rank side quest, 5000 reward points.]
Main Quest 1: Survive in Sweet Dream Town until the end of the Prince's Ball. Completed. Rating: C.
[Received: 3000 reward points, one C-rank side quest.]
[Main Quest 3 (Optional): Stop the "Prince's" final selection ceremony, or ensure that "Cinderella's" soul is not completely devoured/corrupted by the ceremony. Completed (Partially achieved—Cinderella's soul was not completely devoured/corrupted, but she severely damaged the core of the ceremony at her own cost). Rating: A+.]
[Received: One A-rank side quest, 8000 reward points.]
[Overall Performance Rating: S (Successfully survived, deciphered the mystery, and severely damaged the world's core in an extremely distorted world, leading to a key plot twist). Bonus Rewards: The entire team receives 10000 reward points and one A-rank side quest.]
[WARNING: This world has entered an unstable state due to the collapse of its core rules. There is a risk of complete annihilation or transformation into a higher-risk, unknown realm.]
[Thirty seconds later, forcibly teleported back to the Main God Space.]
[Thirty, twenty-nine, twenty-eight...]
Forced teleportation?! And because the world is about to collapse?
The group was stunned for a moment, then erupted in an unbelievable, overwhelming joy at surviving such a catastrophe! Although the process was brutal and the losses were heavy (Cinderella's sacrifice, everyone's serious injuries), they had survived! Moreover, they had exceeded their mission expectations and received unprecedented rewards! In fact, because of the world's collapse, the supreme god ended their mission ahead of schedule, pulling them away from this perilous place that was about to be completely destroyed!
"Go! Quickly! Get away from the edge of the forest to an open area!" Chu Xuan shouted immediately. Although teleportation didn't seem to depend on a specific location, it was always better to stay away from danger.
Supporting each other, the group stumbled and staggered back out of the forest edge, arriving at a relatively open riverbank wasteland.
The countdown began silently in everyone's hearts.
In the distance, the castle's collapse intensified, flames and black smoke billowing into the sky. From the depths of the forest came eerie, resounding howls and shrieks filled with madness and hunger, growing ever closer. The dark clouds in the sky, as if stirred by an invisible hand, formed a massive, slowly rotating vortex, its interior shimmering with an ominous red light.
Ten, nine, eight...
Wang Lin took one last look at the castle ruins being swallowed by darkness and flames, then at the cold crystal shard in his hand. The image of Cinderella's clear yet resolute eyes flashed through his mind. He silently said "thank you" and "goodbye."
Three, two, one...
A pure white, warm, and familiar pillar of healing light fell without warning, completely enveloping the wounded and exhausted members of the Central Continent Team.
The next moment, their figures disappeared from the edge of this dark fairy tale world that was collapsing and being completely consumed by resentment and madness.
All that remained were the burning ruins behind them, the roaring forest, and the phantom of what appeared to be a huge, cold, assessing "eye" slowly opening in the sky, casting a final, indifferent glance against the backdrop of the collapsing world before being completely swallowed up by the endless chaos and darkness.