CIATB Chapter 568 Playing Cards Might Save the World
Chapter 568 Playing Cards Might Save the World
The idea of using a chaotic mental world to block Garuda was well-intentioned.
And it sounds quite interesting, plus I'm using my camera familiar to record what happened during this rescue for future investigation, maybe I can even edit it into some really interesting long program later.
For example, something like "Magical Girl☆Heart Battle ~Part 1~" sounds like it would have high viewership ratings.
But when she actually witnessed it with her own eyes, Su Tianqing felt that this mental image was a bit too eerie, so eerie that she was hesitant to actually reveal it to the public.
Congratulations to Hellcat for another victory! Let's cheer for her!
Amid cheers and confetti raining down from the stands, the cat paw race car stopped at the edge of the track. A catgirl racer in a fitted riding outfit stepped off the driver's seat, holding a helmet and a card box, and waved to the audience.
Su Tianqing then noticed that the engine of the race car was shaped like two abstract cats wearing dark blue hoods, and she felt like she had seen it in a famous co-op hunting game.
"...That's roughly how it is."
Back in the drivers' lounge, the girls each poured themselves a glass of water and looked at each other after Xin Yuehu explained the origin of the image.
"So, in that case, this is actually a dreamlike mental image inhabited by Garuda, rather than your actual mental world, little fox?"
The petite girl in the white racing outfit put down her paper cup, pressed her hand on the table, and slightly opened her mouth as if to say something, but then quickly pulled it back to organize her thoughts before finally speaking.
"Yes." Su Tianqing nodded, then looked slightly puzzled. "But Miss Bai Lili, you don't actually think this was something I deliberately set up, do you?"
"...No."
"Really not?" the catgirl beside her pressed.
Bai Lili didn't say anything, subconsciously shifting her gaze away from the golden fox, and then quickly looking away from the Hellcat's calm, heterochromatic eyes.
"Well... cough, I'm absolutely not doubting Miss Xinyuehu's character. Based on our understanding and time together over this period of time, plus the consistent praise people have for you..."
"Come on, I think you were just questioning this. Your ability to change the subject is as terrible as ever." Hellcat interrupted mercilessly, making a sarcastic remark.
"Hey, what are you doing...!"
These two old rivals are always most energetic when they're teasing each other.
Bai Lili's cheeks flushed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. She wasn't too embarrassed by being exposed by Hellcat, and instead looked out the window of the lounge at the futuristic cityscape.
"Since we've been captured by Garuda, why don't we take this opportunity to investigate thoroughly?"
The fox spirit made a suggestion, which everyone readily accepted; Bai Lili was quite honest when it came to serious matters.
But what puzzled Hellcat was why this Lily looked so small, almost the same height as her original self. Was it because her height remained constant after entering the Dreamscape? It was perplexing.
"But then again..."
Su Tianqing looked around, glanced at the people around the table, and wagged her tail twice in confusion.
Have you seen Miss Akashi?
……
The thing I feared most has finally happened.
When entering the Dreamscape, you will usually land not far from the victims. For example, this time I landed right next to Rabbit and was able to meet Cat and Lily after the race with her guidance.
But neither Chi Xue nor anyone else saw any trace of her presence.
"Could it be that she wandered into the wrong mental world and ended up in another one?"
Sitting in the car leaving the stadium and heading to the city, Bai Lili spoke to the three villains in the back seat and the passenger seat as she drove.
She glanced at the catgirl sitting in the back seat stroking the fox's tail through the rearview mirror and raised an eyebrow.
"Hey, Hachiman, I'm asking you a question."
"What kind of weird nickname is that?"
"It suddenly occurred to me last time, and it felt quite fitting for you. But let's not talk about that for now. Do you know how to find Chi Xue? I feel a little uneasy without her," Bai Lili answered honestly.
Nan Jiayu glanced at her expressionlessly through the rearview mirror.
"What do you have to be worried about? There are three of us here, plus you, making a total of four Star Shadows. If you include Crimson Snow, that makes five. Garuda is probably still confused by the world's rules right now."
"While what you said makes sense, I still feel that this matter..."
Bai Lili didn't continue speaking. She silently looked up at the road ahead, her peripheral vision sweeping over the futuristic city that stood in her mind.
Skyscrapers stand tall, towering buildings, and giant holographic images are projected between them, mostly showing various competitions and games. The agile figures of race car drivers come into view, accompanied by thrilling live recordings of racing games, making one marvel at the high level of completion of this mental world.
...If the combination of so many storybook and game settings can be considered a complete work.
"This city is so big, where are we going to find Chixue?"
Sitting in the driver's seat, Bai Lili couldn't help but sigh.
"Furthermore, we currently know quite little information. All we know is that racing and playing cards are important combat methods in this city. I heard that in the original story, playing cards can even save the world?"
"...If Marigold and the others referenced the trading card game from the original story when they created this world, then playing cards could indeed save the world," Cheshire Rabbit calmly replied from the passenger seat.
"Since we're new here, let's assume that the card-playing-to-save-the-world segment has been retained," the golden-haired fox said with a smile.
As the conversation progressed, it naturally led to the discussion of one of the most important elements currently identified in this world:
play cards.
Just like a certain anime or manga series that has been serialized for many years, the very popular "Yu-Gi-Oh!" is the foundation for Marigold and Sasa to create this imagined world.
In that comic, playing cards is an activity that combines a sense of ritual with practical value. The protagonist uses his invincible card-playing skills, various card-drawing and even verbal abilities to defeat the villain and save the world. In the end, he even staged a wonderful scene of "I fight myself".
If we take playing cards as the foundation and then incorporate various other story elements into this worldview that serves as the "foundation," perhaps "playing cards" can also be used as a means to fight against Garuda...?
Although she found it somewhat absurd, Su Tianqing still wrote down this possibility, just in case.
Just as the vehicle was about to turn off the overpass and enter the city road, the traffic light at the ramp ahead suddenly turned red, and a colorful light curtain rose up, completely separating the overpass.
"Look ahead, it looks like there's a roadblock."
"We need to exit the elevated highway at this ramp! Can anyone hear us? Let us off right now!"
Bai Lili instinctively slammed on the brakes to slow down, rolled down the window, and shouted loudly ahead.
However, there were no road management personnel on the overpass, and her shouting did nothing to change the fact that the ramp was closed. She could only watch helplessly as the light curtain rose.
"What the hell...?"
Helpless, with only this one ramp leading to the city on the navigation map, Bai Lili had no choice but to stop in the emergency lane. The four people in the car all looked at the closed ramp, not understanding what had happened.
Is the smart roadblock malfunctioning? If we try to force our way through, this car that we finally managed to get might be damaged, and we might not be able to drive into the city.
As everyone was puzzled, a drone flew over the roof of the car, and the sound emanating from the loudspeaker stunned everyone:
[Racing track deployment detected. All ramps along the route are immediately closed. Unrelated vehicles are requested to stop and give way immediately.]
"A racetrack? What the hell! We're in a hurry to get to the city! Just let us off the ramp already, okay?!"
Bai Lili anxiously leaned out of the car window and shouted at the drone, but the drone couldn't hear her and quickly flew away.
The four people inside the car looked at each other in bewilderment.
Before Su Tianqing could even ask, "Why are we racing and playing cards on the elevated highway?", a crimson shadow suddenly appeared in the rearview mirror—
"Whoosh!"
A motorcycle-shaped vehicle sped past, a petite figure riding a large motorcycle that seemed disproportionate to her size, roaring as it rushed into the distance.
In the instant they passed each other, thanks to their magically enhanced eyesight, all four of them clearly saw who the driver of the car was:
"Akayuki!" "I saw her!" "It's Akayuki driving!"
They spoke with different voices, but their meanings were largely the same.
But not far behind Chi Xue's motorcycle, a dark figure and a deep black racing car followed closely behind, abruptly suppressing Bai Lili's joyful voice, turning it into a soft, questioning exclamation:
"Hmm? That black one... is it chasing after Akashi?"
"If nothing unexpected happens, those are Garuda's summoned retinue. Hurry up and follow them."
Su Tianqing quickly offered an explanation and urged Bai Lili to speed up and catch up.
"Leave it to me, watch me overtake them! Buckle up!"
Bai Lili grinned, gripped the steering wheel tightly, skillfully shifted gears and started moving, then floored the accelerator.
The magically enhanced engine roared and hummed, and a strong sense of acceleration swept over the car, which reached full speed in almost three seconds, closely following the two shadowy figures, one black and one red.
A fierce car race and card game unfolds in grand style.