In the tranquil corridor, an indifferent man sprinted forward, carrying a golden-haired girl on his back, his expression devoid of emotion.
A peculiar little bear plush toy floated in the air, closely trailing him, its eyes—crafted from black gemstone buttons—gleamed with an eerie light under the glow of magical candle flames.
Laxus, feeling somewhat weak, leaned against Xiao Mu Yu's back and occasionally turned her head to glance at the relentless toy bear behind them, her curiosity piqued as she asked, "What is this plush toy?"
With his cold gaze fixed ahead at the corridor, Xiao Mu Yu continued his swift pace and replied icily, "After a deity's complete fall, the remnants of their divine essence manifest as objects related to that essence. This plush toy is likely a manifestation of the Childlike Goddess's divine essence."
"Divine essence manifestation?" Furrowing her brows as she examined the strange bear, Laxus remarked, "That can't be right. The Childlike Goddess isn't a demon; how could her divine essence produce something so steeped in ominous energy?"
Sensing the chilling aura of despair that had suddenly thickened in the air since the toy bear's appearance, Laxus said, "No matter how you look at it, this seems like an evil object associated with demons."
Xiao Mu Yu replied coldly, "Demons differ from deities; they lack divine essence, so they do not manifest anything upon their demise. However, they carry a frigid malice within them, which attaches to those who slay them or to nearby living beings upon their death."
"The beings afflicted by this malice endure terrifying torment; thus, it is often referred to as the curse of demons," Xiao Mu Yu stated with a chilling tone.
"Oh, I see," Laxus nodded, a flicker of understanding crossing her face. After a brief silence, she couldn't help but ask, "Um, junior brother, may I inquire why you are running? Are you truly frightened of this toy bear? And why does it keep pursuing us?"
While perched on Xiao Mu Yu's back, Laxus glanced back at the relentless bear, unable to comprehend why she should fear this creature that seemed to possess little more than speed.
"The Childlike Goddess is renowned for her unparalleled power, said to be 'unmatched beneath the heavens and stars.' Her strength is indisputable, and the manifestations of her divine essence cannot be trivial," Xiao Mu Yu replied coldly. "As the goddess of despair and sorrow, it is clear that the beings born from such divine essence would harbor little goodwill towards the living."
The man ceased further explanation, yet Laxus grasped his meaning.
Though the toy bear appeared merely swift at present, it did not imply it lacked other abilities. To be cautious, it would be prudent to avoid direct confrontation and ideally shake it off.
However, observing the leisurely pursuing plush toy, Laxus felt that relying solely on speed to elude it was not a reliable strategy.
For it seemed that this toy bear was merely engaged in a game of chase, effortlessly keeping pace with the man's strides.
"Pop!"
The sound of a balloon bursting echoed through the air.
A sharp explosion resonated in the void.
Suddenly, the man's forward momentum halted abruptly, his figure frozen in place, leaving a lingering afterimage.
In the next moment, he hesitated slightly before gliding sideways several meters, ascending to the ceiling.
Suspended in mid-air, he frowned as he observed the ripples forming in the void below. Turning coldly, he noticed that the toy bear, which had been closely following them, had also come to a stop.
Floating in the corridor, the bear tilted its head upwards to gaze at Xiao Mu Yu, its mouth stretching into an eerie grin.
"Whoosh!"
In an instant, darkness enveloped his vision, as if struck by a heavy blow. Blood sprayed forth as his body, propelled by a terrifying force, arced backward like a kite severed from its string.
"Shh! Shh! Shh! Shh!"
The sound of sharp blades slicing through flesh echoed in the void as the man's chest was relentlessly carved by invisible razors, leaving a trail of crimson blood and shredded flesh in his wake.
"What... is happening?!" A cold voice echoed within his consciousness.
(This is the "Paradise of Humanity"! It's the "Paradise of Humanity," human boy!)
His pitch-black eyes slowly closed, surrendering to a powerful force that sent him spiraling backward. With an impassive expression, he felt the invisible blades mercilessly slicing through the flesh of his chest, ignoring the rain of blood and shredded meat, and the agonizing sensations akin to slow torture. Xiao Mu Yu's demeanor remained cold and unyielding.
In his consciousness, he coldly inquired, "What is the 'Paradise of Humanity'?"
(The "Paradise of Humanity" is a divine principle wielded by the Childlike Goddess. She can activate it through eye contact with any sentient being. Those afflicted by the "Paradise of Humanity," whether deity or mortal, will be gradually sliced apart by the blades manifested from the principle if they have ever experienced despair or sorrow within their hearts.)
"Even deities cannot be entirely devoid of compassion; it is inconceivable for a sentient being to exist without a trace of sorrow or despair. If what you say is true, then if the Childlike Goddess possesses such a principle, would it not mean that no one could stand against her?" Xiao Mu Yu questioned coldly.
(Hmm? Human boy? Are you questioning me?)
The demon's voice in his consciousness sounded irked.
(I spit on your face! Do you think the title of 'First of the Divine Realm' was won through play? Being first necessitates possessing the power to back it up, you fool! After all the effort I put into explaining this to you, you dare to question me! Spit! Human boy, you should just die!)
"I am not questioning you," Xiao Mu Yu replied coldly. "I am merely curious. If the Childlike Goddess's principle is so formidable, why was she gravely injured and near death during the battle to seal the Magic God King?"
(The Magic God King, Zelras, that old bastard, personally established the ancient magical empire. Without exceptional skills, do you think he could have built an empire that even deities and demons would envy? Human boy, I recall you were never this naive.)
In the realm of consciousness, time flowed much slower than in the outside world, yet the man continued to furrow his brows, acutely aware of the steady slicing of his chest by the sharp blades of divine principle.
Xiao Mu Yu coldly queried, "Since there is a way to counter the 'Paradise of Humanity,' there must also be a means to dispel it. What is that method?"
(Very simple. As long as your body is entirely composed of elements like that old bastard Zelras, you can be shredded to pieces repeatedly and still restore yourself in an instant.)
"Then it is indeed inescapable?" Xiao Mu Yu replied coldly.
(Hey! Human boy, your tone seems a bit impatient! Are you complaining now? I truly don't understand what you are grumbling about! You should be grateful right now.)
(Grateful that this toy bear is merely a fragment of the Childlike Goddess's divine essence and does not wield her full power; otherwise, you wouldn't have the time to whine here. A single 'Fantasy Divine Realm' could obliterate you in an instant.)
Though the passage of time in the realm of consciousness was slower than in the outside world, the sharp, invisible blades had thoroughly shredded the flesh from the man's chest, revealing glimpses of pale bone beneath.
"..." Xiao Mu Yu remained silent for several seconds before coldly stating, "At this rate, I have about ten minutes left before I meet my end."
His icy voice echoed in the realm of consciousness, carrying an overwhelming intent to kill. "And it would only take a second to crush the Night Demon Crystal."
(Uh... alright, alright, who told you to hold my life in your hands? You are the master here!)
The demon's voice in the realm of consciousness sounded somewhat disgruntled.
(Though the "Paradise of Humanity" is indeed powerful and seemingly inescapable, fortunately, it is not activated by the Childlike Goddess herself. This toy bear clearly lacks the ability to obliterate you with a single glance like the Childlike Goddess can. I suspect this toy bear must rely on maintaining eye contact to sustain the operation of the 'Paradise of Humanity'; otherwise, why would it keep leering at you? You simply need to obstruct its line of sight.)
His pitch-black eyes...
Suddenly opened wide.
"Clang!"
The dilapidated sword was suddenly drawn forth, its sharp blade erupting with a blinding white light that illuminated the corridor.
A ferocious wind surged from the sword's edge as the man, gripping the tattered longsword, coldly swung it downwards towards the void before him.
A tremendous energy detonated in the emptiness, and the fierce gust emanating from the broken blade swept through the entire passage in an instant.
With a series of explosive sounds, the ancient magical lanterns that had existed for millennia on either side of the corridor shattered, plunging the entire passage into profound darkness.
In the depths of the darkness, a girl's astonished voice faintly echoed, "Is that the **Language of the Wind Bells**?!"
However, amidst the sound of the cloak slicing through the air, her voice gradually receded.
In the obscurity, the toy bear seemed startled by the sudden darkness, its small body clumsily rolling back several meters before it shakily raised its dizzy head to stand in the void.
Its black gem-like eyes appeared to spin in circles, revealing its poor sense of balance, as it stumbled forward like a wobbly toddler navigating the void.
Eventually, sensing the departure of a certain presence, the little bear tilted its head in a daze, its dark eyes staring into the pitch-black void for a moment before extending a round, pudgy hand.
With a clang, the sound of blades clashing echoed as a sharp, elongated claw sprang forth from the bear's adorable paw.
This strange claw made a slight swipe at the emptiness before it.
A slicing sound resonated through the air, akin to fabric being torn.
In the next moment, the void split open, revealing a gaping chasm reminiscent of a monstrous maw wailing in anguish.
Clumsily extending its paw into the fissure, the toy bear awkwardly leaped several times in the void, its small body finally tumbling into the rift, disappearing into the depths of the spatial tear.