MTL - If You Are a Dodder Flower - Chapter 40

Japan – National News BroadcastThe polished news anchor sat upright, her gaze sharp as she adjusted the stack of papers before her. The newsroom behind her hummed with quiet urgency, the weight of the moment settling over the broadcast.“Authorities are baffled by a sudden and unexplained surge in sleep-related deaths across Japan,” she began, her voice steady yet tense. “More and more citizens are passing away in their sleep without any prior health concerns. Experts are working tirelessly to determine the cause, but no clear explanation has emerged. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and report any unusual symptoms before bedtime.”A graphic appeared, displaying the spike in fatalities over the past month. Behind her, unsettling photographs flickered across the screen—blurred images of individuals found in their beds, their faces frozen in expressions of terror.The anchor’s tone shifted. “Health officials recommend citizens avoid excessive fatigue and maintain healthy sleep habits. More updates will follow as investigations continue.”---United States – Paranormal PodcastIn a dimly lit podcast studio, the host leaned forward, his eyes wide with curiosity. Across from him, a rugged man in a worn flannel shirt, gripping a faded photograph in one hand and a beer can in the other, leaned back in his chair.“So, you're telling me you saw this creature firsthand?” the host asked, clearly intrigued.The man scoffed, shaking his head. “Damn right, I did. Ugly thing had wings bigger than my body—slow but sneaky. Thought it could steal my pigs again, but I was ready this time—camera in one hand, shotgun in the other.”He slammed the table for emphasis, then shoved the blurry image toward the host. The photograph depicted a small, red-skinned humanoid figure with large, bat-like wings, its eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.“Spit, the thing didn’t know what hit it when I fired!” the man chuckled, his voice full of excitement.The host held up the picture to the live chat. “Alright, what do you think? Mothman? Demon? Or is our friend here just seeing things?”The chat exploded with theories—some skeptical, others eager for the investigation to continue.---China – Liangyuan Street MarketSurveillance footage from a bustling night market in China captured a chilling scene. A woman in a red qipao walked gracefully through the crowd, her figure striking in the soft glow of lanterns.Suddenly, she paused. Her body flickered—like a glitch in a video—before vanishing completely, as though she had never existed.The footage zoomed in, replaying in slow motion. In the final frame before she disappeared, her face distorted unnaturally, her eyes hollow and empty.The screen cut abruptly to black.

Xu Niannian was reborn in the 1980s and became the most beautiful flower in ten miles around.With three younger brothers at home, her sharp-tongued mother loved her as her life; daughters were golden lumps while sons were just a waste of money.She had thought she would encounter a host of troublemakers, but although there were many, they ended up spoiling her rotten.The stingy grandmother, upon meeting her, would always dig out the best things for her.The acerbic mother, who was scolding her sons just a second ago, would instantly change her expression to a blooming chrysanthemum upon seeing her daughter.Thus, Xu Niannian's goal became to work hard to earn money and keep her quirky family well-fed and chubby.Having obtained the Spiritual Spring by chance, Xu Niannian grew more beautiful every day.When Jin Yu first met Xu Niannian, he only felt that the girl was charming and bewitching, beautiful enough to dazzle him.He had another girl in mind, yet was inexplicably captivated by Xu Niannian's allure, unaware that the one he wished to take responsibility for and the one he liked were the same person.

In the previous life, she was a swindling charlatan who had neither learning nor skills and was beaten to death.

Upon opening her eyes again, she had returned to when she was five years old. An impact from a clay Buddha opened her divine eyes, gave her photographic memory, astonishing talent, ability to view another’s past, able to sever the ties of disaster and fortune of life and death, a heaven defying rejuvenation technique, and a technique to recognize treasures.

In the last life, her family became ruined and she ended up a homeless wanderer.

In this life, she will defy heaven to change her fate and take back her happiness.

In the last life, she had nothing, had no education nor skills, was despised by others, and was looked at with indifference.

In this life, she exerts herself to become a real master of metaphysics, stands in the summit of the world, became a legend in the business world, sought after in the political circle, and a VIP of the underworld……

Those who owe her, all will be given one’s due!

He, like a deity who shows disdain for the world not only treats her with familiarity but also guards her like a loyal dog.

Her life became an unprecedented and unique existence.

- Description from Novelupdates

First, this isn’t a story about how to seek survival during Doomsday! It’s rather about how to bring about the end of of times, to bring down the curtain on the world. It’s about how to set off a Zombie frenzy, how to lead the Devil into invasion, and how to guide the descent of Zerg! In this game of doom, I’m the source of everything!

Second, I need to thank those brethren who accompanied me until now. My thanks go to the Lich Monarch, Arthas Menethil (game: World of Warcraft), bringer of endless winter and death; to Alex Mercer (game: Prototype), who created life by consuming viruses; to the Worst Spirit Tokisaki Kurumi (Light Novel: Date a Live), controller of time; to the Magus Ascendant Xerath (Game: League of Legends), imprisoned by runes.

Ladies and Gentlemen, lets bring about a carnival of doom!

- Description from Novelupdates