The Game Heroine's Cannon Fodder Leopard Cub - Chapter 24

Yi’an finally felt the warmth of sunlight after a long absence…

The Goddess of Life froze, her heart clenching painfully, and began to pound wildly. Tears streamed silently from the corners of her eyes.

“Yi’an… my child…” she whispered, struggling to suppress the tremor in her voice. Before she could finish the sentence, she was sobbing uncontrollably.

For years, she had guarded this underground realm beneath Morong, enduring endless torment from loneliness and longing. The deep-seated pain in her heart never ceased to torment her, yet she dared not hope for a true reunion.

She had fantasized countless times about their reunion, but now that the moment had finally arrived, facing the Little Leopard’s bewildered, innocent eyes, she was overwhelmed by guilt and couldn’t bear to expose the raw, tragic past.

But when Yi’an cried out “Mama!” and leaped into her arms, all her complex emotions vanished in that instant.

She caught Yi’an firmly, holding her tight, pouring all the years of loss and anguish into this embrace.

Hearts, separated by vast stretches of time and space, finally merged in this moment.

After an indeterminate amount of time, the Goddess of Life gently patted Yi’an’s head and loosened her embrace slightly. She gazed into those gray-green eyes, identical to the Beast God’s, her gaze overflowing with tenderness. Her lips trembled slightly, as if she had a thousand words to say but didn’t know where to begin.

Yi’an tilted her head back, blinked, and focused on the Goddess of Life’s face, which carried a hint of sorrow. The mother she remembered had always been gentle and radiant, her smile as warm as a spring breeze. A sharp pang shot through Yi’an’s heart, and her hatred for Baal intensified.

Clinging tightly to the Goddess of Life’s chest, Yi’an declared with unwavering conviction, “Mommy, now that I’ve regained my memories, leave everything to me. No matter what happens, I’ll handle it!”

The Goddess of Life wiped away a tear and smiled genuinely. “My dear child, your determination is all I need.”

“But you only need to take care of Mommy’s body. Don’t get involved in anything else.”

Yi’an froze, studying the Goddess of Life’s expression. Realizing she was serious, Yi’an felt utterly bewildered.

The Goddess of Life sighed. “Baal seeks endless power and dominion over the world. To him, your soul and flesh are the ultimate delicacies. Now that you possess the Life Divine Spark, you can take my place in nourishing Mommy…”

“Impossible!” Yi’an realized her tone was too harsh and quickly softened her voice. “Even when I was just a Little Leopard with no memories, Baal was already relentlessly hunting me down…”

The Goddess of Life’s expression shifted, her face filled with worry as she lifted Yi’an and carefully examined her for hidden injuries.

Yi’an pressed her paw against the Goddess’s hand. “Mommy, I’m really fine. Please put me down.”

As soon as Yi’an sat on the ground, she closed her eyes and summoned the Sacred Beast Power slumbering within her. A soft glow enveloped her as her fur gradually receded, transforming into flowing hair and a flowing robe. The Little Leopard’s body slowly grew, shifting into human form.

The Goddess of Life stared in stunned silence at the girl before her.

The child who had once barely reached her shoulder now stood shoulder to shoulder with her.

Her champagne-gold hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, reaching her waist. Her nose was high and straight, her jawline sharp, and her lips pressed into a thin line with the corners turned slightly downward—every feature a stark contrast to the childish innocence of her youth.

Yi’an reached out with her slender hands and firmly gripped the Goddess of Life’s shoulders, trying to convey her unwavering determination.

“Mom, even when I was just a Little Leopard, Baal couldn’t succeed. Now, with my Sacred Beast Power fully awakened by the Life Divine Spark, I’m even stronger than before. You have to trust me—I can protect you and defeat him!”

The Goddess of Life paused, then smiled with relief. She raised her hand and gently stroked Yi’an’s soft, abundant hair, smoothing down the slightly ruffled strands just as she had done when Yi’an was a child.

“It’s my fault. I forgot you’ve grown up.”

Yi’an’s eyes lit up, her voice filled with excitement. “Then let’s go together! I’ll protect you.”

“No.” The Goddess of Life shook her head, her gaze soft yet tinged with reluctance. “I must stay here and wait for your Mommy’s soul to return.”

Yi’an gazed at the Goddess of Life, a pang of bitterness twisting in her heart. She turned to look at the pale, lifeless figure in the crystal coffin, her eyes welling up with tears once more.

But suddenly, an idea struck her.

“Then let’s take Mommy with us, Mother. We’ll leave this place together.”

The Goddess of Life didn’t understand Yi’an’s meaning, her eyes filled with confusion.

“You said Mommy’s soul fragments are scattered across Westsea, right? Then I’ll gather them all back!” Yi’an’s eyes burned with determination. “Why wait here so hopelessly?”

“Yi’an…” The Goddess of Life’s face registered surprise.

“Besides,” Yi’an added, “when Mommy and I used to play, we’d often prank each other by turning each other into little animals. I can transform Mommy back into her Snow Leopard cub form. That way, you can take her with you wherever you go.”

The Goddess of Life fell silent for a moment, the hesitation in her eyes gradually fading. Finally, she nodded.

“Good child, I believe in you.”

Yi’an’s eyes lit up instantly.

Without further delay, she lifted the crystal coffin’s lid, took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and focused all her energy. After a long moment, she snapped her eyes open and pressed her hand against the Beast God’s chest.

As she moved, a beam of light swiftly shot from Yi’an’s palm into the Beast God’s heart. In an instant, white light erupted from the Beast God’s entire body, gradually shrinking until the Snow Leopard cub’s form solidified.

Yi’an wiped the sweat from her forehead. This was all for the sake of convincing the Goddess of Life to descend the mountain—a boast she had made. The Beast God had always been the one transforming her; she had never used this power herself.

Fortunately, it worked. Let’s hope nothing else goes wrong.

She bent down, picked up the Snow Leopard cub, and handed it to the Goddess of Life standing beside her, raising an eyebrow in feigned triumph.

The Goddess of Life carefully took the cub. Seeing her daughter’s smug expression, she couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Yi’an, your ears are showing.”

“What?!” Yi’an exclaimed in alarm, immediately reaching up to touch her head. Sure enough, she felt two large, furry triangles.

She hastily channeled her Life Force, attempting to retract them.

After struggling for what felt like an eternity, no matter how hard she tried, the two large ears remained stubbornly erect on her head.

Yi’an was on the verge of tears.

The Goddess of Life chuckled at Yi’an’s antics, gently stroking her furry ears. “Don’t worry,” she said with a smile. “They’ll revert once your Life Force stabilizes.”

That’s all I can do for now!

Yi’an forced a wry smile, resigning herself to temporarily ignoring her stubbornly independent ears.

Guided by the Goddess of Life, the pair soon emerged from the cavernous, icy underground cave, cradling the Snow Leopard cub.

To their surprise, the exit led directly to the summit of Mount Morang.

A thin mist swirled around them as the morning sun pierced through the clouds, bathing the ground in its warm glow. Yi’an finally felt the familiar warmth of sunlight after so long, and her heart settled into a peaceful calm.

As Yi’an scanned her surroundings for a path down the mountain, her gaze was suddenly drawn to a figure in the distance.

The person stood with their back to her, intently carving something into the rock. The wind tugged at her slightly disheveled hair, and the tattered hem of her robe fluttered gently, a stark contrast to the dignified, elegant image Yi’an remembered.

Yet Yi’an knew she couldn’t be mistaken.

“Nora,” she whispered.