The Game Heroine's Cannon Fodder Leopard Cub - Chapter 26

The leopard darted swiftly through the mountain valley, the wind whistling past its ears with a biting chill. Fortunately, its thick, warm fur provided a natural insulating layer, keeping the riders comfortable despite the cold.

Before long, they approached the foot of the mountain. In the distance, two figures could be faintly seen waiting.

As they drew closer, they recognized Charlotte and Ji Qi standing guard at the base.

“Mother!” Nora’s eyes lit up. Before Yi’an could come to a full stop, she leaped off the leopard’s back and raced toward Charlotte.

Seeing her daughter looking so well, Charlotte’s anxiety, which had plagued her throughout the journey, finally eased. She gently touched Nora’s slightly chapped ears, a flicker of tenderness in her eyes. “I’m just glad you’re safe.”

The others dismounted one by one. Yi’an shook her body, fluffing up her flattened fur, and with a shift of form, transformed back into her human appearance.

She tentatively touched her head. As expected, the leopard ears remained stubbornly visible. Noticing Nora and Grand Duchess Charlotte deep in conversation, completely oblivious to her predicament, Yi’an couldn’t help but pout and hum softly.

This subtle gesture didn’t escape the Goddess of Life’s notice. She rubbed her drooping beast ears, and when they perked up again, she took Yi’an’s hand and led her forward.

Ji Qi was astonished by the Goddess of Life’s appearance. She quickly tugged on Charlotte’s sleeve, urging her to look behind Nora.

Charlotte, puzzled, pulled Nora closer, then looked up. The sight filled her with overwhelming emotion.

Before the Goddess of Life could approach, Charlotte, leaning heavily on her cane, strode forward and stubbornly insisted on performing a one-knee bow, despite the Goddess’s attempts to stop her.

“Great Mother, you’ve finally returned,” Charlotte’s voice trembled slightly.

The Goddess of Life gently raised her hand, and a wisp of wind supported Charlotte’s knee. Two leaves then fluttered down, helping her rise.

“Thank you,” Charlotte said, still bowing her head slightly in a simple gesture of respect.

The Goddess of Life nodded with a smile. The atmosphere suddenly grew quiet, yet an invisible connection seemed to weave among the elders.

Nora stood to the side, watching the scene unfold. An inexplicable sense of unease stirred within her. She felt as if she were hovering on the edge of many unknown truths, yet she sensed that these truths were somehow connected to her.

Turning her head, Nora saw Yi’an looking completely unfazed. She couldn’t resist walking over and whispering, “Why is even my mother so familiar with the adults?”

Yi’an shook her head, a hint of confusion flickering in her eyes. “I have no idea either.”

Nora sighed inwardly. Am I the only one overthinking this?

Meanwhile, under the Goddess of Life’s soothing presence, Charlotte gradually calmed down. Seeing the Snow Leopard cradled in the Goddess’s arms, she asked in disbelief, “Is that Your Highness the Beast God?”

The Goddess of Life gently stroked the Snow Leopard’s head, neither nodding nor speaking, but giving Charlotte a reassuring look.

Charlotte immediately understood. She pulled Ji Qi aside and whispered, “Is there a safer place in Oasis Town?”

Ji Qi nodded, grasping her meaning instantly. She turned respectfully to the Goddess of Life and said softly, “Please follow me.”

Led by Ji Qi, the group passed through a towering forest of fir trees and arrived at the hidden entrance to an underground palace.

Parting the layers of tangled green vines, an ancient, silent stone gate stood at the entrance to the underground palace.

As they stepped into the massive palace, an ancient herbal fragrance washed over them, subtly hinting at the passage of ages.

The Goddess of Life paused, her gaze sweeping across the walls, which were carved with distinctive symbols and totems. She lowered her head to look at the oblivious Snow Leopard, a trace of nostalgia flickering across her face.

Nora and Yi’an exchanged glances, their doubts growing like a snowball rolling downhill.

The Goddess of Life didn’t linger long. With a sigh, she continued forward.

At the end of the corridor lay a vast, dimly lit hall. At its center stood a massive round table carved from crystal, directly beneath an ornate chandelier suspended from the ceiling.

Ji Qi drew her crossbow and fired a flaming arrow upward, instantly igniting the chandelier. The hall filled with a soft, radiant glow, reflecting off the crystalline table and bathing the space in a gentle light.

Under the watchful eyes of the group, the Goddess of Life stroked the Snow Leopard’s fur and slowly recounted the Beast God’s fate.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Charlotte asked, her eyes rimmed with red. “Even if it cost me everything, I would have sought out every fragment of Your Highness the Beast God’s soul.”

The Goddess of Life shook her head in disapproval. “It was precisely because of your resolve that I chose to withhold the truth.”

“With the Beast God in a coma, my power has diminished greatly. If you were to face danger, who would protect you?” Seeing Charlotte’s puzzled expression, the Goddess patiently explained.

Charlotte fell silent. The truth was undeniable: even two deities had suffered misfortune. What could a lame woman possibly accomplish?

“Don’t despair,” the Goddess of Life said, pausing before offering a faint smile. “As her physical functions recover, I can sense the scattered fragments of her soul growing stronger.”

“Does this mean Your Highness the Beast God can still be awakened?” Ji Qi’s eyes lit up with hope.

The Goddess of Life nodded. “Perhaps there is a glimmer of hope.”

“However,” she added, “though Yi’an has regained some Sacred Beast Power through the Life Divine Spark, it is still insufficient to pinpoint their exact locations.”

“If I could use a leopard fur from Your Highness the Beast God as a medium, I think I could try,” Sophia said softly, resting her chin in her hands. “But the accuracy might not be very high.”

“I was planning to ask you to predict possible locations first, then investigate each one,” Yi’an said, rubbing her leopard ears that refused to retract, her eyes shining. “I just don’t know if we can find them all before Baal recovers.”

Nora nodded in agreement. “Indeed, Baal is constantly absorbing human resentment, and his power is growing rapidly.”

“Then what if we split up?” Sophia suggested.

“Only Yi’an can bring back the Beast God’s soul,” the Goddess of Life said. “Even soul fragments have a self-preservation instinct. If they encounter anyone else, they will instinctively hide deeper and farther away.”

Yi’an couldn’t help but sigh, pressing her hand to her forehead. “If only I could awaken all of my Sacred Beast Power.”

“Nora can help you awaken all of your Sacred Beast Power,” Charlotte suddenly spoke up, her face showing a hint of struggle and solemnity.

“What?” Nora and Yi’an froze, staring at Charlotte in disbelief.

Ji Qi couldn’t help but glance at Sophia, who stood beside them with a puzzled expression, her heart sinking.

As expected, even secrets eventually come to light.