Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 171 - 149: Considerate

Chapter 171: Chapter 149: Considerate

"Yes..." Shallow Dream held her breath.

Following Lady Farosa’s teachings, Shallow Dream began to imagine a more powerful version of herself.

Time Stop, currently she could only manage 0.5 seconds, with focused preparation, she might extend it to 1 second, not particularly impressive.

But what about later? Now she was merely a fledgling, as a Lower-rank Witch, she should be able to stop time for 2 seconds, as a High-Ranking Witch, perhaps 5 seconds.

With continued progress in strength, powerful enough to control time for 10 seconds, 20 seconds, such an ample amount of time would allow Shallow Dream to execute her target or retreat—

Still not powerful enough.

A little wilder now, Shallow Dream could possibly freeze the world’s timeline forever, herself becoming the sole sovereign, the only one able to move, to do whatever she wished, commanding the entire world! Others could only be accessories, the world becoming her playground, the men and women on the streets, even when wantonly abused by her, couldn’t fight back.

Anything she disliked, she could eradicate cleanly with a pause in time.

Imagining this, Shallow Dream puffed out her chest, able to face the things in the darkness more calmly. She was a bearer of the "Time Stop" magic power, and though weak now, her potential for growth was limitless.

"Very good, you have learned," said Lady Farosa as she slowly approached Shallow Dream, extending her hand to touch her, "Stay still."

At Lady Farosa’s touch, the powerful confidence that Shallow Dream had built up shattered like glass.

She felt ashamed and nervous, yet dared not resist, the woman before her exuded a suffocating pressure, meticulously inspecting Shallow Dream’s body.

"You are a Witch, and you should join me," Lady Farosa whispered in Shallow Dream’s ear, "I will rebuild the Witch’s rule and shatter the things you cannot stand."

"Yes..." Shallow Dream gasped for air like a frightened animal, "Yes..."

"We will obliterate human glory bit by bit, and establish the authority of Witches," Lady Farosa captured every emotion of the Little Witch beside her like netting a butterfly, "Tell me, do you like that?"

"Like it..." Shallow Dream spoke in a pained, shy tone.

"Only by following me can you achieve this, so will you submit to me?"

"Yes..." Shallow Dream could no longer distinguish reality from illusion, Lady Farosa was like a mentor, a tyrant, a mistress.

"Now, kneel."

Shallow Dream, yielding to Lady Farosa’s will, bent her knees, prostrating herself before her.

"Please... command me," murmured Shallow Dream.

"Say: ’I submit to Lady Farosa, the Witch Goddess.’"

"I submit to Lady Farosa, the Witch Goddess," spoke Shallow Dream forlornly. She remembered Xu Yang’s warning—to keep herself, but that proved too difficult.

This series of acts was a test of submission designed by Lady Farosa, as long as Shallow Dream slowly accustomed herself to following every command from Lady Farosa, she would completely lose her dignity, gradually becoming a servant under Lady Farosa’s control.

"Tell me, what is your Witch power?"

"Time Stop."

Lady Farosa recoiled in fright, fortunately hidden in the darkness where Shallow Dream could not see.

Xu Yang! You scoundrel! How dare you send over a time manipulator so carelessly, what if her power activated and sliced her into pieces?

Among the Witches who wrought havoc with Lady Farosa during the Chaos Era, there was a Time Stopper, known as Charli Valenta of Lundinium, famed as an undefeated killer, with the strength of a Supreme Witch, halting time for up to 60 seconds. She was an annoying bastard, completely treating the world as her personal possession.

Finally, after a millennium, Lady Farosa saw the bearer of this power, feeling wonderful about this historical legacy, which seemed a thousand years to humans, but to Lady Farosa’s specific sense of time, she actually met Charli Valenta just a year ago.

No one dared to provoke Charli, fearing to come to their senses already stripped of clothing, bereft of their eggs.

As time passed and the Witches withered, their power returned to the stars and was projected onto a new Witch, the powerful time manipulator now took a new form as the young and tender child before her, yet the power remained potent.

An excellent seed, suitable for absorption into the New Witch Council.

Lady Farosa maintained her composure, placing her hand on the Little Witch’s crown.

A material ripe for shaping.

"You are unfamiliar with history," Lady Farosa murmured, "In the past, the Witch Council was an assembly of the most powerful Witches who controlled and managed the Witches and utterly suppressed any hope of human development. Now, I want to rebuild it."

"Yes, yes, I also think... it should be that way!" Shallow Dream’s eyes lit up.

During countless tortured and tested nights, Shallow Dream fantasized about how Witches’ future should be, and Lady Farosa’s words gave her hope to move forward.

The New Witch Council!

"You will meet your colleagues," Lady Farosa lit the candles in the room, ending the dark environment.

The moment Shallow Dream saw Lady Farosa’s true appearance, she was captivated.

So... so beautiful.

A powerful, elegant, and stunning woman, maintaining an ancient and mysterious charm, as if resurrected straight from ancient times, dressed in a classical princess-style trailing gown, precisely how Shallow Dream pictured the perfect Witch in her fantasies, with a royal-like autocratic temperament and presence.

Lady Farosa looked at Shallow Dream with an indifferent expression.

"Now, go and introduce yourself to the other Council members," Lady Farosa dismissed Shallow Dream.

Shallow Dream walked out of the secret room, Xu Yang was waiting outside.

"How do you feel?" Xu Yang asked.

"...Magical," Shallow Dream was unable to describe her feelings about Lady Farosa with simple words.

Such a ravishing, mysterious being left Shallow Dream momentarily unsure how to describe her. Initially, she was bound by a simple fascination, eager to burn herself out and offer everything to Lady Farosa, but upon coming out and seeing Xu Yang, it was like being hit squarely on the head, reminding her of the harsh realities of the outside world.

Fantasy shattered and reality reborn. She went silent momentarily, then lowered her head and hurried away, walking uncertainly, like a newborn kitten limping.

"Xu Yang?" Farosa called from the inner chamber, "Please come in."

Xu Yang walked into the dark chamber and shut the door behind him. The setting was decorated with a mystical allure, fitting for holding secret ceremonies, exactly as Farosa had desired. She smiled faintly and blew out the candle; all fell back into endless darkness.

"Come closer to me," Farosa beckoned in the darkness.

Xu Yang followed her voice and moved closer, allowing Farosa to pull him down beside her. They lay together as Farosa extended her hand to hold Xu Yang. They gazed at the dark ceiling of the chamber where, Xu Yang remembered, once were fluorescent lights now replaced by classical chandeliers, the air thick with the scent of candle smoke.

Time spent with Farosa was usually just for doing it, yet this rare occasion was different. Despite their closeness, no strange thoughts arose; instead, the atmosphere and the chamber’s set-up fostered in him a sense of reverence.

Farosa stared into the darkness above.

"You and Lila went to the beach, didn’t you?" she said.

"Of course," Xu Yang’s heart pounded.

"Congratulations, you fulfilled a long-held dream. You used to talk often of beaches, villas, yachts, and such."

"There’s nothing magical about the beach."

"You’re so annoying. You haven’t loved me all this time, after all. I thought it would be you and me strolling along the shore."

"I have a way to make it up to you," Xu Yang said.

"Hmm?"

He tightened his grip on Farosa’s hand, lifting it high.

"Let’s go star gazing together," Xu Yang suggested.

"The stars..."

"I’ve told you about them before," said Xu Yang, "I wonder if stars hold any allure for you? In the future, we’ll walk where we can see all the stars, not on the ground, but somewhere high above it."

"That must be beautiful," Farosa murmured.

"Yes... So next time, it definitely has to be with you."

"I won’t forget. It has to be with me, right?" Farosa snuggled closer to Xu Yang.

"Never forget."

A multitude of thoughts swept through Farosa’s mind.

"Have you ever thought about limiting my power?" Farosa asked.

Sending the potential danger of Shallow Dream to her side, Farosa did not believe Xu Yang was without ulterior motives.

"Breaking corporate hegemony requires you to have infinite power; I’m not interested in playing a self-harming game."

"And after it’s shattered?" Farosa felt a chill, anticipating the inevitable confrontation.

"By then we’ll be married."

How did it come to this! Weren’t they supposed to turn blades on each other? Farosa’s thoughts were in turmoil. Nevertheless, it was a pleasing thought.

Being together was so good.

"I’m wearing a robe for the Little Witch to see; don’t get it dirty," Farosa began to make a move.

"You on top is fine; when are the others coming?"

"I had Shallow Dream introduce herself to the others first. I think it will take more than two hours," she said.

"That long, you’ll be full by then."

Meanwhile, Shallow Dream tried to mingle with the other witches in the industrial park.

Everything here seemed novel to her. The witches had different temperaments, and introducing herself required considerable effort.

Witch 102 was the most approachable, greeting Shallow Dream energetically, and they even arranged to hang out next time. Her sister, Witch 101, remained silent, almost as though she monitored Shallow Dream, especially cautious when Shallow Dream spoke with 102, casting a wary gaze in their direction, making Shallow Dream feel anxious and hesitant to engage with 101.

Mizuiro Yoshioka adjusted her Ink Beasts in the industrial park’s seawater pool, nodding calmly when Shallow Dream introduced herself.

"Now that we’re all serving Lady Farosa, let us work together in the future," said Mizuiro Yoshioka, her speech reflecting her mercenary background; her attention not so much on Shallow Dream as the variously shaped Ink Beasts whirling into being and dissipating in the water.

The next witch Shallow Dream approached was Lila. Having seen Lila wielding a gun with such command, Shallow Dream had been somewhat afraid of her, but upon closer contact, she found Lila surprisingly approachable. Lila asked specifically about Shallow Dream’s needs and noted them down for the next industrial park resupply, leaving Shallow Dream flattered.

The place truly gave Shallow Dream a sense of home, aside from feeling an immense threat from Farosa herself. The other witches weren’t ill-tempered, and they lived with a high degree of freedom, superior standards of living, food and clothing without concern.

"Um, Miss 101?" Shallow Dream gathered her courage to introduce herself to 101 again.

"Just a moment."

glanced at her communicator and vanished from Shallow Dream’s sight, summoned to the secret chamber by Farosa.

The scene was chaotic, the atmosphere foreboding, and 101 suspected Xu Yang had been there.

"Help me change," Farosa commanded, "Then gather all the witches and assemble the Witch Division."

"What for?" asked 101 as she picked up the scattered jewelry, belts, and stockings.

"To kill," Farosa said coldly, "To take what we need."

The Forest Master had betrayed its Secret Ritual Group; it was time to summon the members of the New Witch Council for their first operation, to demonstrate to the city the terrifying nature of witches.

To create rivers of blood.