Chapter 576: Surprise

The night was like thick ink smeared on the glass, cutting the room's view into a hazy painting.

Ilya lay on the narrow platform outside the window; her silvery‑white hair was ruffled by the night wind, a few strands sticking to her cheek, which was slightly flushed from nervousness.

Through the thin pane of glass, she stared intently at the figure inside the room.

Robin sat on the dark sofa, motionless.

From Ilya's viewpoint, only Robin's side profile was visible— the face that once always bore a gentle smile now seemed frozen like a statue, the lake‑green eyes half‑open, pupils dilated, gaze fixed on some nonexistent point in the void.

She wore a purple‑black dress, its style much like Robin's usual fashion, but the color exuded an indescribable eeriness, as if it had been tainted by something.

The room had no lights on; only the faint moonlight leaking through the window spread a silvery white across the floor.

The shadows of the furniture twisted into strange shapes in the darkness, like a lurking beast.

Ilya stared at the figure for a very long time, long enough for her fingers to go numb.

Zhigengniao Jiejie remained still.

Not even an eyelash twitched.

Ilya's heart felt as if something were pulling it, hurting in waves.

She recalled Robin's singing, recalled the gentle way she stroked her hair, recalled her saying "Ilya is truly brave"—those images starkly contrasted with the cold, motionless figure before her.

"Ilya, stay calm."

A ruby voice sounded in her mind, unusually serious, "There might be a problem inside."

"I know."

Ilya whispered, her voice trembling, "But I can't just watch Zhigengniao Jiejie sit there doing nothing."

She took a deep breath, reached out, and gently pushed the window open.

The window had no Lock.

The glass door slid inward silently, revealing a narrow slit.

Ilya slipped in sideways, her toe lightly touching the floor, making no sound.

She crouched, huddling behind a low table, scanning the surroundings warily.

The room was spacious and luxuriously decorated, but in the darkness the exquisite furniture turned into vague outlines.

Moonlight poured in from the window, casting silvery patches on the floor, the edges of the light and shadow as sharp as knife cuts.

No one.

The purple‑haired woman was not here.

Ilya's gaze fell again on Robin on the sofa.

She still held that pose, motionless, as if she hadn't noticed anyone entering.

Ilya bit her lip and inched toward her.

Each step closer intensified the strange feeling in her heart.

Something about Zhigengniao Jiejie had changed.

The feeling was hard to describe—like the same photograph, but its hue completely shifted to another color.

She was still herself, yet she was no longer herself.

In the end, Ilya still walked up to Robin.

She looked at the face within arm's reach, a surge of complex emotions rising in her heart, along with an indefinable fear.

Robin's skin appeared especially pale under the moonlight, the lake‑green eyes half‑open, pupils dilated as if out of focus.

Her lips were slightly ajar but made no sound; she resembled a delicate doll whose soul had been removed.

Fortunately her chest still rose and fell, proving she was alive, though that living posture was somewhat frightening.

"Zhigengniao Jiejie…"

Ilya called softly, her voice trembling slightly.

Robin's eyelashes twitched.

Those dilated lake‑green eyes slowly turned, landing on Ilya.

Ilya's heartbeat missed a beat.

(She heard me!)

She couldn't help but reach out, carefully grasping Robin's hand.

The hand was terrifyingly cold, without a trace of warmth, feeling like holding a finely carved piece of jade.

The moment Ilya's fingers touched it, a chill spread up from her fingertips, making her shiver involuntarily.

But what frightened her more was that the hand suddenly moved.

Robin's other hand grasped hers.

The force was not strong, but tight, like a drowning person clutching the last floating log.

Ilya froze, lifted her head, and looked at Robin's face—

On that pale face, the corner of the mouth slowly curved.

It was not Robin's smile.

It was a cold, malicious grin.

The next second, Robin's face began to change—her blue hair deepened to a darker purple, the lake‑green eyes turned crimson, the delicate visage twisted into another equally delicate yet entirely different face.

Ailixiya (Corrosion version).

"Surprise——?"

The familiar yet strange voice rang out, carrying a leaping musical quality.

Ilya's pupils dilated instantly, her mind went blank!

Then a violent current surged from Robin—no, from Ailixiya's hand that held her!

"Ugh—!!!"

Ilya's body began to convulse uncontrollably!

"Ahahaha, this reaction is really amusing?"

Ailixiya sat on the sofa, crossing her legs, one hand still gripping Ilya's wrist, the other hand supporting her cheek, smiling as she watched Ilya twitch.

Her smile was sweet enough to squeeze honey from, yet those crimson eyes were filled with the delight of a prank well played.

"Ilya—!"

Ruby's startled cry exploded in her mind, but Ilya could no longer hear it clearly.

She only felt every muscle in her body spasm, able to emit only some garbled "uh‑uh‑uh" sounds.

Fortunately, Ruby reacted quickly.

A pink light burst from the staff, instantly dispersing that current!

Ilya suddenly broke free from Ailixiya's hand, stumbling backward, and instinctively raised Ruby, firing a magical projectile with a booming blast!

"Bang—!"

The projectile struck the sofa's backrest, exploding into shards and smoke.

Ilya gasped heavily, her heartbeat racing as if it would leap out of her throat.

She stared fixedly at the plume of smoke, ready to meet Ailixiya's Counterattack—

Then she collided with a person.

The sensation was soft and warm, with a faint fragrance, enveloping her completely from behind.

Ilya's body froze.

A pair of arms reached out from behind, gently encircling her waist, then tightening, pulling her whole self into a warm embrace.

"Got you, huh?"

The voice sounded right by her ear, hot breath spraying her earlobe, tingling and numbing.

Ilya spun around sharply, meeting Ailixiya's face just inches away.

The woman, whose arrival behind her was unknown, now lowered her head to look at her, those crimson eyes full of playful amusement.

Moonlight streamed in from the window, casting dappled shadows on her face, making the delicate features appear even more uncanny.

"Really cute, huh?"

Ailixiya leaned close to her face, inhaled deeply, her expression intoxicated as if she had smelled some unparalleled treasure, "Such a cute little sister, how could she sneak in alone?"

Ilya's face flushed bright red in an instant.

"Let—let go of me—!"