The Game Heroine's Cannon Fodder Leopard Cub - Chapter 23

Yi’an gently extended a paw, tentatively touching the rock wall. When she felt no icy chill, her heart began to race.

She pushed forward with force, and what she saw next made her disbelief surge. Her paw effortlessly pierced through the solid rock!

This really was a passage!

Yi’an leaped up in excitement. She withdrew her paw, planted her feet, and strode straight forward. Sure enough, she passed through smoothly.

As the leopard fully crossed the rock wall, the sight before her left her utterly astonished.

Unlike the dark, cramped space outside, this place was vast and open, like a palace hidden beneath the earth. Flickering candles dotted the corridor, their faint light casting dancing shadows across the spacious passage.

As she continued forward, she marveled inwardly at the grandeur.

“Yi’an—”

Suddenly, the voice that had called her earlier echoed clearly in her ears once more.

This is it!

Without hesitation, Yi’an broke into a trot, following the sound swiftly.

Before long, the scene that unfolded before her made her stop in her tracks, so astonished she almost forgot to breathe.

The figure that had appeared in her dreams stood serenely atop the high platform, golden hair cascading like a waterfall, her face gentle and serene.

“Are you… the Goddess of Life?” Yi’an tilted her head back, gazing up at the golden-haired woman above, tentatively meowing and gesturing.

The Goddess of Life’s eyes shimmered with compassionate light as she gazed down at Yi’an’s petite form. With graceful steps, she descended the stairs, approaching Yi’an until they stood at a respectful distance.

“Good child,” she murmured, leaning down slightly, her voice deep and gentle. “Has your memory returned?”

Yi’an paused, her mind momentarily blank. Aside from her parents’ memories from before she turned five, could there be other memories she had lost?

Seeing her bewildered expression, the Goddess of Life sighed softly, lowered her gaze, and extended her delicate fingers.

Instinctively, Yi’an took a step forward, lowered her head, and gently rested her forehead against the Goddess’s hand.

The Goddess of Life’s eyes widened slightly at Yi’an’s proactive gesture, the soft warmth of the touch softening her gaze.

“Would you… allow me to hold you?” she asked tentatively.

“What’s wrong with that?” Yi’an lifted her paw without hesitation and gently placed it on the Goddess of Life’s knee, her eyes shining with innocent longing.

The Goddess of Life’s lips curved into a faint smile. She carefully scooped Yi’an into her arms, turned gracefully, and began ascending the stairs.

“Come, child. I’ll introduce you to someone.”

Step by step, she climbed the stairs until they reached a transparent crystal coffin directly ahead. She set Yi’an down on a nearby chair.

Yi’an mustered her courage and crept closer to the crystal coffin, her eyes widening in astonishment.

Inside lay none other than the Beast God—the very being who had frolicked and played with her in her dreams! He lay peacefully, his hands folded across his chest. If not for his deathly pale, bloodless skin, Yi’an might have thought he was merely asleep.

What happened to him?! Yi’an turned anxiously to the Goddess of Life, meowing urgently.

The Goddess of Life’s gaze softened as she looked at the figure in the coffin, her eyes filled with boundless tenderness and sorrow. After a long silence, she spoke in a low, heavy voice: “I never underestimated Baal’s ambition, but I never imagined he could wield such immense power.”

“But after he devoured the myriad spirits of Hell, I knew I had been wrong.”

She paused, her gaze remaining fixed on the crystal coffin. “She endured three fatal attacks from Baal: one for herself, one for me, and one to protect you.”

The Goddess of Life turned her head, her gaze deepening as she stared intently at Yi’an, who looked utterly bewildered.

“You possess the combined Divine Power of both her and me. Baal, with his boundless ambition, would never let you escape. We fought with all our might to protect you, but the darkness was overwhelming. She used her Life Divine Spark to block a fatal blow and sacrificed her soul to send you to another world.”

Yi’an’s heart sank like a stone, her mind reeling. Another world? Her thoughts raced in confusion. Could it be the world she had come from before her transmigration?

“As for why you returned, I believe it was her scattered soul calling out to you.”

Calling out to her? Yi’an’s expression turned puzzled. Could it be that her transmigration wasn’t just a coincidence?

The Goddess of Life smiled gently, stroking Yi’an’s head as she spoke softly, “To send you to another dimension, her soul shattered, scattering across Westsea. For years, I’ve nourished her body with my Life Force, gradually forging a connection with her fragmented soul.”

She paused, chuckling at Yi’an’s bewildered expression. “My dear child, it’s my fault. Forgive me for rambling on so, driven by my longing for you both. Your memories haven’t fully returned yet; I shouldn’t be burdening you with all this.”

Yi’an blinked, then shook her head vigorously. Though still somewhat confused, she found herself inexplicably drawn to the Goddess of Life’s gentle explanations, which filled her with a profound sense of security and dependence.

She nudged the Goddess’s hand with her head, signaling that she wasn’t bothered at all.

The corners of the Goddess’s eyes crinkled slightly. She extended her hand, and a small, green orb of light slowly materialized in her palm, radiating a soft, warm glow. “This is the Life Divine Spark I refined. It not only replicates my full Life Force but also contains fragments of our shared memories—every precious moment we spent together.”

She gazed deeply at the fluffy Little Leopard, her eyes seeming to hold a thousand unspoken words. Finally, she gently handed the orb of light to Yi’an. “Now I entrust it to you. Whether you choose to merge with it is entirely your decision.”

Yi’an’s heart pounded wildly as she stared at the small orb of light. Its warm, serene glow captivated her attention, drawing her in with an irresistible pull.

An overwhelming impulse surged within her. She took a deep breath and accepted the orb without hesitation.

What should I do? Yi’an meowed.

The Goddess of Life watched Yi’an with gentle encouragement in her eyes. She nodded softly, her voice tender. “Close your eyes. Don’t be afraid. Don’t resist.”

Yi’an obediently closed her eyes. Guided by the Goddess of Life, the orb of light slowly floated toward Yi’an’s chest, enveloping her in a warm, comforting power.

She quietly felt the energy seeping into every inch of her skin, every drop of her bl00d. The emptiness deep within her heart began to fill, a sensation both foreign and familiar.

Suddenly, a series of hazy yet familiar images flooded her mind—

The golden-haired woman gently held her, strolling through a field of flowers. The white-haired woman watched them tenderly from the side, a gentle breeze caressing them as flower petals drifted down onto her head.

She ran alongside the Beast God, who had transformed into a snow leopard, nimbly weaving through the jungle. She laughed joyfully on the Beast God’s back before finally climbing onto her head and falling into a deep sleep.

The Goddess of Life wove exquisite little garments from flower petals, dressing her in a new outfit each morning after grooming her soft fur.

Familiar emotions surged through her like a tidal wave, instantly filling her eyes. Yi’an’s eyes snapped open, and large, glistening tears spilled forth in a torrent, wetting the downy fur on her cheeks.

She lifted her gaze to the familiar figure before her, her heart overwhelmed by an uncontrollable longing that swelled within her.

“Mom…”

She heard her own voice, choked with emotion and trembling.