Transforming Succubus: Almost Doomsday

Such smiles were becoming more numerous.

As he gradually bonded with the children, the laughter on Wake Dream's erratic face became increasingly prominent.

Next was Guang Tongchen.

Unlike the other two, Guang Tongchen observed from the outside. He was supposed to go to the "Lower Realms," through the entrance in the Northern District, back into the apocalyptic world, and with four fellow Guardians, form a team of five. They would regularly clear the surrounding monsters and demons.

This was undoubtedly arduous work.

But through mission after mission filled with peril, and time after time entrusting their lives to one another in guarding and exploration, Guang Tongchen gradually came to understand some things.

This place was always shrouded in danger.

All the joy in the Land of Joy was built on the basis that some people were bearing all the dangers, pressing forward with their burdens.

On several occasions, Guang Tongchen nearly lost his life.

But each time, he was rescued by his teammates, who risked their lives to do so.

On the sixth day, Guang Tongchen fought a demon lord class of corrupted beings. As he covered the team's retreat, one teammate attracted the remaining monsters' attention by heading in the opposite direction alone.

This act completely won Guang Tongchen's respect.

But because they could not return in time, Guang Tongchen felt... that this teammate had been sacrificed.

It wasn't until the ninth day that during a mission, they accidentally discovered this teammate in a dense forest, barely alive, yet still surviving.

At that moment, Guang Tongchen smiled.

Thereafter, every day, Guang Tongchen was involved in intense battles, and the affection between him and several teammates deepened.

When Zhou Baiyu found Guang Tongchen one day, Guang Tongchen couldn't help but introduce these teammates to Zhou Baiyu.

However, strangely enough, Zhou Baiyu had never seen these teammates appear together with the Guild President.

Yet the smile on the President's face, along with his assured tone, seemed to indicate that these teammates definitely existed.

This was the first time Zhou Baiyu had seen such a smile on the President's face.

It was as if he had truly found the meaning of life.

"Do you know the story of the tower?"

"Legend has it that there is a tower, the last refuge for humanity. The world outside the tower is filled with twisted rules and monsters, utterly unfit for human habitation."

"But that's not the case inside the tower, where humans can establish a stable social order."

"Within the tower, human civilization can develop steadily."

"Yet, the security of the tower also needs people to guard it. There will be teams of daredevils who venture out of the tower regularly to gather intelligence on the outside world, clear the monsters outside the tower, and win more chances for human survival."

"Jiang Xianwu, I believe this place is that tower! Indeed, there is darkness hidden here, but this place also has indeed allowed countless people to survive... Is there anywhere in the Advanced World more suitable for humanity than here?"

"This is humanity's final refuge. Do you know why I wanted the guild to be called 'Hundred Rivers Sanctuary'? It's for the meaning of 'embracing all rivers,' but at the same time, I also believe that humanity will have its own stronghold, not like the pioneers who huddle in transit stations, but a real one... where we can avoid the suffering of the apocalypse."

"I've found such a place! It's this realm! It's this huge floating island in the sky!"

That day, as Zhou Baiyu watched the President's passionate expression, he suddenly realized... the President seemed somewhat unrecognizable.

He had also heard the story of the tower, but the version he heard was a sequel.

In the latter version, humans left the tower and established a real stronghold outside it.

In the latter version, the rulers within the tower merely used it to consolidate their evil reign.

But to the President, the Land of Joy seemed to represent only the first half of the story.

Suddenly, he realized the President seemed to be immersed in the joy brought by the very act of guarding humanity itself.

Wu Xin indulged in the joy of unveiling the fates of others for their sake.

Wake Dream indulged in the joy of finding the right path for those rebellious children.

The happiness of these individuals was and truly meaningful, in line with their human nature.

This kind of happiness was also noble. They were guides, educators, protectors.

Yet for some reason, over these days, as he watched them bustling in and out, as he saw the laughter on their faces...

As he saw them increasingly immersed in the "work" arranged by Boluke...

Zhou Baiyu felt somewhat anxious inside.

He felt that joy was corroding his teammates. Perhaps one day, they would forget their original duties.

The eleventh day.

On this day, an event gave Zhou Baiyu a breakthrough.

Zhou Baiyu noted that everyone else's jobs seemed to be in the Central District.

Whether it was receiving newcomers or maintaining community order.

It seemed everyone was gathering in the Central District. They worked there, and they partied there as well.

But the President, Brother Duan, Wu Xin, all their work was concentrated in the Northern District.

And when Zhou Baiyu asked Jiang Lu about the intelligence of the Northern District, Jiang Lu appeared clueless.

It was also on this day that Jiang Lu, with a smile and sparkling eyes, said:

"Jiang Xianwu! I'm heading to Area B! Lord Aiou told me that I've been performing well, that I've brought quite a bit of joy to everyone!"

"I can go to Area B now!"

Jiang Lu was so happy, jumping and bounding around, and as she twirled, her whole being was almost completely exposed.

Like a stripped puppet, exposed under the contemptuous gaze of the puppeteer.

The people around her were also incredibly joyful, celebrating to send off Jiang Lu.

Watching Jiang Lu slowly walking towards the north, Zhou Baiyu always felt... that thin figure looked so lonely.

As if this farewell meant they would never meet again.

It was at this moment that all the clues in his mind seemed to suddenly converge.

"I've been unable to find the clues, but perhaps... the answer lies in Area B?"

With this thought, Zhou Baiyu suddenly called out to Jiang Lu.

(PS: Regarding the Land of Joy, the pace is certainly slower than that of the Land of No Light because the setting of the Land of No Light itself starts with an extremely intense conflict. The Land of Joy is different; the conflict must be gradually built up to reach its peak. This has nothing to do with my writing ability or emotional rendering; it's due to different starting points. You shouldn't rush, the essential groundwork cannot be overlooked, and I'm already straining every nerve to keep up with updates.)