Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 1108 - 858: Welcome Her Majesty the Empress

Chapter 1108: Chapter 858: Welcome Her Majesty the Empress

The shadow of the stars, radiant like stardust, ethereal like ghosts.

Farosa tried to take more spices, to glimpse the mysteries of the starry sky, but Xu Yang stopped her.

"Aren’t you afraid?" His arm encircled her waist, climbing up to her bosom, his fingertips stirring slightly, making her at a loss to either laugh or not.

"I fear other things." Farosa leaned against Xu Yang; human warmth far surpassed that of machines. She didn’t understand why people were so obsessed with D2.

Finding true love in life is such a wonderful journey.

The wind stirred the curtains, there was a chill in the air, the noise-canceling drapes absorbed the noise from outside. She looked out, drones hurriedly darting past like a swarm of bees.

"Just now, when I was inhaling spices with Aisha, I saw something strange. It was a very peculiar existence, residing in the dark void, preying on life-matter. The fragments of the Throne of God within me glowed brightly, like phosphorescence in the deep sea, enough to attract the largest abyssal creatures, which left me worried. Even just their shadows are monsters we cannot contend with," Farosa murmured.

"So we’ve returned to that primal law: humans must fight for survival," Xu Yang said, holding Farosa’s hand.

Farosa appeared dazed, envisioning distant fragments, the future where they would fight solely for survival, even the youngest children would have to go to the battlefield. Children, right, will there still be children in this world?

"It’s snowing outside," Farosa said.

"Do you want to see the snow?" Xu Yang asked.

"Let’s go."

"I have to stay here; a guest will come," Xu Yang said mysteriously.

Again with this. A hint of doubt crossed Farosa’s mind. Xu Yang always kept things vague and mysterious. A guest is coming? Who? From where? What identity? Is it related to Farosa? But turning to see Xu Yang’s calm expression, she knew that once this guy made a decision, he wouldn’t change it, and she couldn’t hope to get a word out of him.

"It better be a significant guest," Farosa warned.

"Absolutely," Xu Yang nodded.

Farosa left the Khalifa Spire. People in this region were accustomed to wearing traditional garments, so Farosa draped in embroidered robes, hood, and veil, did not seem out of place at all.

She walked quickly; before people noticed her presence, she had already traversed several blocks. Only high-speed cameras could capture Farosa’s movements. Ordinary people seeing her at one moment would find her hundreds of meters away the next second, only able to sense a rush of wind and catch a fleeting colorful silhouette in their sight.

Farosa, the deity walking the human world.

Her fingers entwined, she looked up to see the snowflakes drifting down; the spectacle of snow in June surprised her. Here was the Near Eastern desert, yet it was snowing. An ad screen aired forecasts about the extreme cold wave, saying cold winds would erupt from Mount Kuro in central Near East, spreading all around.

This so-called Mount Kuro is the hideout of the Frost Giant God and the Netherworld Giant God, also the entrance to The Uniderworld.

Farosa wrapped her robe tightly, and others on the street did the same.

There were many Modifiers, practically becoming half-mechanical people, some used gorilla arms to carry building materials, some used mechanical legs to deliver goods, running swiftly, surpassing drones. Humans striving to compete with artificial intelligence and machines for a living job.

Farosa didn’t notice the witches’ existence, reportedly because Near East witches were bought out by another company, Near East Providence, headquartered on the other side; the Spice Coast is separated by Mount Kuro, geographically cut off by the nests of the two giant gods.

She didn’t like dealing with mortals, so 101 became her emissary, running errands, bringing Farosa boxes of cakes and sweets, pleasing her taste buds with sugary delights. Safalai City had numerous long-established confectionery shops and food stalls; the locals’ love for sweets was unparalleled, suiting Farosa’s taste.

Farosa’s sweet tooth was also cultivated by Xu Yang; he gave her so much sugar that her figure became more voluptuous. Seven years ago, she weighed only 51 kilograms; now she weighed 70 kilograms, heavy both front and back, enough to make little 101 deeply awed.

Big!

Farosa ate ice cream. Within a few minutes, a sudden snowstorm arrived, a first-time experience for most people.

"...Does it snow in June at this latitude?" Farosa looked up.

"It’s so cold," 101 stood beside Farosa.

Citizens were surprised by the sudden heavy snow, mostly taking out their phones to take pictures, pointing and commenting on the flying snow.

The temperature plummeted, Farosa found it intriguing. She went to the city’s edge, watching as white piles of snow sprang up across the yellow desert dunes.

"Snow and yellow sand complement each other," Farosa started to chant but felt the howling cold wind blowing from the west. So cold! Farosa wondered how long she could endure this.

"Lady Farosa..." 101 looked at the accumulating snowflakes atop Farosa’s head.

"I hate the snow," Farosa said, word by word.

She longed for sunny weather. Just a few moments ago, it was scorching hot here. She missed the fragrance of spices and flowers, not this sudden cold weather.

If this climate persisted for some time, people would have to figure out ways to keep warm, pay extra attention to cultivate crops, or care for animals to prevent frost damage. All factories would need to reinstall cold-resistant measures, and every household would have to start studying heating methods... Farosa took a deep breath.

"I must get back to Xu Yang; where has Xu Yang gone?" Farosa turned around.

"In Safalai’s medical center," 101 checked Xu Yang’s schedule.

"Hospital?" Farosa, though puzzled, still had 101 take her there.

The ward was as cold as outside. Nurses walked briskly, delivering blankets to different rooms so people wouldn’t freeze.

Farosa arrived at the maternity ward, but instead of seeing Xu Yang, she first saw Kanako sitting in the room, draped in a white hospital gown.

"Are you sick?" Farosa asked knowingly.

"The baby..." Kanako caressed her belly. This was her second child with Xu Yang, but her fate was fraught with misfortune, and it seemed unlikely that the child would make it into the world.

"The Hollow Infant crisis will affect you," Farosa gloated.

She wanted to see Kanako’s sorrowful expression when delivering a soulless child.

"Oh..." Kanako felt uneasy.

"How do people describe the Hollow Infant crisis? You’re a mother; you understand it better than I do," Farosa questioned.

"It’s like a strange curse. The doctors have tried everything—medications, surgery, induction, gene therapy, nanobots, artificial cultivation... none of it works. Some say it’s divine punishment; others say it’s the end for humans," Kanako lowered her head.

"In fact, it’s just the Grim Reaper blocking the reincarnating souls, preventing them from being born," Farosa replied.

"Yes." Kanako said helplessly, "It’s already seeping through. In distant places, it’s still okay; like the far side of the planet, maybe there are some birthing rooms. But in Safalai City, there hasn’t been any birth in two months."

"Do you plan to escape to the other side of the planet?" Farosa asked with interest.

Kanako sensed the cold sarcasm in Farosa’s words; at least for her child’s sake, she had to be strong.

"I won’t leave, because Yang will help me solve the crisis," Kanako said calmly.

"Hah." Farosa crossed her arms, unimpressed.

"You’re jealous," Kanako smiled.

"I’m not jealous; I just think you’re naive," Farosa said.

Crying echoed from the hallway, and Farosa felt a surge of joy from within, quickly stepping out to observe.

Sure enough, a mother who had given birth to a "Hollow Infant" was wailing bitterly.

The doctors and nurses had done their best but could do nothing more, only pretending to be busy, avoiding direct confrontation with such a grieving mother as much as possible.

She wanted to save the child but was powerless; it was too late, or perhaps destined.

Two nurses supported the poor mother, leading her to a safe place to rest. Even as she went far away, her cries persisted.

The lead surgeon and other doctors discussed the surgery, and Farosa listened intently.

"...Although it was successfully delivered... this child has completely lost its soul, meaning... there’s no biological significance..." a doctor mumbled.

"We need to figure out how to convince patients; this is a ’common’ occurrence these days, but none of them... can accept it. We don’t even know what to say," another nurse said dejectedly.

"The situation is too complex; it’s not something that can be explained in a few words," the doctor sighed. "We are considered lucky; some hospitals were directly vandalized because of the Hollow Infant issue, with many families going completely mad."

"All new children becoming Hollow Infants; wouldn’t that mean humanity is facing extinction... No, no, I didn’t say that. Don’t record this, I don’t want to be on the news."

Farosa moved like a specter, silently passing through the doctors into the operating room, where she saw the so-called "Hollow Infant" the mother had birthed.

Her gaze fell on the small thing; the so-called "Hollow Infant" had already developed flesh but was just an empty little body. It lay with closed eyes on a small bed covered with a green sheet, appearing humanoid yet devoid of any consciousness, let alone emotions and thoughts, completely devoid of life signs.

Unexpectedly, Farosa felt a trace of fear towards this "Hollow Infant." Suddenly, she was less bitter towards Kanako. If Kanako were to birth such a monstrosity, Farosa would also feel sympathetic.

She returned to the opposite end of the corridor to Kanako’s hospital room.

"Did you see it?" Kanako asked.

"Yes, that child... the child without a soul. Think about the possibility that one day you might also give birth to one, an immobile..." Farosa shook her head.

"I don’t want that," Kanako said mournfully.

Farosa suddenly didn’t know what to say. She hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Don’t you find it strange? The thing about soul reincarnation. People die, their souls enter the realm of the Grim Reaper, and then randomly into the womb of the next mother. Your child’s previous life could be something entirely different."

"You are an infertile witch; how would you understand?" Kanako touched her belly, "When I was pregnant with Chishiki, I dreamed of stars falling into my belly, then gave birth to Little Witch Chishiki. Do you think a witch stole my original daughter’s soul and occupied Chishiki’s body?"

"I..." Farosa couldn’t articulate for a moment.

"Ah—Farosa, here you are!" Xu Yang approached from the distance.

"Xu Yang and his ’guest’..." Kanako murmured.

Guest? Farosa turned to see Xu Yang, her gaze swiftly shifting to the figure behind him. She suddenly raised her hand and grasped the Law of Slaughter.

It was Easter, smiling with her eyes, waving at Farosa.