Chapter 12: The Cutest Among a Sea of Blossoms, Part 4
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Cynthia spread her arms wide, her small frame standing resolutely between Azathoth and Mars, glaring fiercely at the terrifying figure perched upon the throne.
[Notification! Guardian Rescue Mission accomplished. Reward: +20 Cuteness Points. Host is excellent! Perfect posture! Perfect expression! Perfect tone! Bonus reward: +10 Cuteness Points! Current Cuteness Points: 197/200 (Level 1)]
Mars’s sword-wielding motion faltered slightly.
His crimson eyes dropped down, settling on the tiny figure no taller than his knee. The overwhelming destructive energy he wielded momentarily stalled due to this unexpected obstruction.
“Little one! What are you doing out here!”
“It's over, he’s walking right into a trap!”
“But... it looks like Mars stopped?”
“Is he stunned by the little one’s roar? Even the God of Destruction gets confused?”
“Cuteness is justice! Go, little one, charm him to death!”
The live chat was nearly exploding.
“Your Majesty!” Azathoth, shocked and anxious, tried to pull Cynthia behind him, but she stubbornly broke free.
“Oh?” Mars’s deep voice echoed, tinged with faint amusement. “A youngling of the Abyssal race dares to block me? Do you not fear death?”
Mars’s oppressive aura eased just slightly, but the gleam of interest in his crimson eyes shifted from Azathoth to Cynthia.
His gaze was tangible, scrutinizing and probing, sending chills down Cynthia’s spine. Yet she stood firm, unyielding.
“Do not harm him!” Cynthia repeated, her voice trembling with nervousness but still clear.
“Interesting courage,” Mars remarked.
The black blade in his hand dissolved into dark mist. Supporting his chin with a hand, he looked down at Cynthia.
“To oppose me comes at a price.”
The terrifying pressure descended again, aimed mainly at Cynthia, as if an invisible giant were pressing down on her small body.
Cynthia grunted softly; her face turned pale, her legs trembling slightly. But she clenched her teeth and forced herself to stand firm without retreat or collapse.
Behind her stood Azathoth; as king, she bore the responsibility to protect her subjects. She could not fall—absolutely not.
[Notification! Host detected under extreme threat! Cute Coquettish Outfit passive activated: Pitiful and Adorable! Greatly reduces enemy’s desire to attack, slight chance to trigger special emotional feedback!]
At the moment the skill activated, Cynthia herself noticed no change. Yet to Mars and the audience watching live, her current demeanor was utterly heart-wrenching.
Pale-faced, eyes reddened, trembling with fear yet still like a small beast provoked into protecting something precious, she bared her not-so-sharp baby teeth.
“...” The aura of destruction around Mars subtly fluctuated.
“??? Did his pressure weaken?”
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“Mars: A bit fierce, but won’t strike.”
“Even the God of Destruction has a heart made of flesh? (Nope)”
“Your Majesty!” Azathoth seized the moment to swiftly pull Cynthia behind him. His massive demonic wings unfurled, wrapping her in a tight protective embrace as he stared warily at Mars, ready to fight to the death.
Mars’s gaze swept past Azathoth and fell once more on the small figure nestled in the gap of his wings.
“The Abyssal race, famed as invincible beneath the gods, is now protected by a mere cub,” his deep voice thick with mockery, though the killing intent seemed slightly diminished. “Fine, how dull.”
His throne slowly ascended, as if losing interest.
Just as Azathoth and Cynthia both inwardly exhaled in relief, Mars’s voice rang out again, crystal clear, penetrating their ears and echoing throughout the ruin:
“The challenge continues.”
With those words, the throne transformed into a streak of black light and vanished toward the core area.
The dreadful pressure dissipated completely, leaving only the ruins and the survivors who had barely escaped death.
Azathoth immediately folded his wings, kneeled on one knee, and anxiously checked Cynthia.
“Your Majesty! Are you all right? You shouldn’t have come out! It was too dangerous!”
Cynthia shook her head; her face still pale, but she struggled to maintain the dignity of a king.
“Azathoth, from now on, if we face enemies we cannot defeat, we run. Do you hear me?”
Azathoth paused, lowering his head.
“But—”
“That’s an order!” Cynthia straightened and raised her voice.
“As you command, Your Majesty,” Azathoth bowed.
“Waaah, I’m crying!”
“Azathoth: I obey, but next time I still want to protect the king!”
“Mars just left like that? Did the little one’s cuteness really bluff him through?”
“The God of Destruction unexpectedly driven off by a cub’s words? Trending on the Path to God Forum!”
“Isn’t this supposed to be the Eternal Holy Grail contest? Why does this stream feel so off...”
The live chat buzzed with speculation, while the other surviving candidates, including Lin Yan’s team, upon confirming Mars had truly departed, surged like a tidal wave toward the core.
“Your Majesty, the Eternal Holy Grail, we—” Azathoth began, only to be cut off by Cynthia.
“No more!” Cynthia regained her composure.
“Mars spared us once; we must not gamble a second time.”
Even at her peak, Cynthia dared not provoke Mars lightly; his divinity was forged through slaughter and heaps of bones.
Azathoth nodded without hesitation.
“Yes, if you say no, we shall not go.”
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Yet at that moment, the divine oracle announcement rang out once more:
“Attention! The God of Destruction Mars acknowledges candidate Lin Yan’s bravery. Temporary holder of the Eternal Holy Grail: Lin Yan. Trial grounds closure in five minutes.”
The phrase “temporary holder” meant that before the trial ended, anyone could still claim the Grail.
At the instant the announcement sounded, an earth-shattering energy pulse and cries of battle erupted from the core area.
Mars’s low laugh cut through the chaos, filled with both delight and indifference:
“Slaughter, insects.”
Cynthia exchanged a glance with Azathoth.
“Azathoth, let’s go. Find a safe place and wait out these five minutes.” Cynthia made a decisive choice.
The Eternal Holy Grail was tempting, but only for those who survived to claim it.
Azathoth lifted Cynthia into his arms, about to leave this place of turmoil, when a figure staggered toward them, pursued by several relentless shadows.
The fleeing figure clutched a softly glowing chalice.
It was Lin Yan, and in his hands was unmistakably the Eternal Holy Grail.
Clearly injured and moving slowly, he charged straight for Cynthia and Azathoth.
Seeing them ahead, a resolute spark flashed in Lin Yan’s eyes. He suddenly hurled the Grail toward them.
“Catch it! There will be elves and dragons to support you! Cooperate!” he shouted, then turned to face his pursuers.
The Eternal Holy Grail, radiating alluring light and boundless power, arced precisely into Cynthia’s arms.
Cynthia: “!!!”
Azathoth: “!!!”
Live chat viewers: “!!!!!”
Cynthia instinctively caught the warm, heavy chalice and froze.
“Attention! Temporary holder of the Eternal Holy Grail: Cynthia. Trial grounds closure in 4 minutes 37 seconds.”
Countless greedy eyes fixed intently on Cynthia and the Grail she cradled.
Even Mars, watching from his distant throne, seemed to emit a faint murmur, his crimson gaze once again crossing the distance, intrigued by this unexpected turn.
Holding the scorching-hot Grail, Cynthia looked up at the pale-faced Azathoth, her expression tightly knitted.
They were doomed.