Chapter 732: Struggle

Many details Lu Mi still hadn't clarified clearly, but in battle, there was no time for extra thought; deducing possible scenarios within the brief one or two seconds of the "Mirror Double" effect was something only a "Conspirator" could achieve—Flandre and the others could at most infer from Perle's words that she was Yebusi's direct "Overseer," had avoided danger through "Black Box Deals," and been forced to confront them, but could never let their thoughts wander and return.

At this moment, Lu Mi was deeply frustrated that the residual aura of the "Blood Emperor" had been sealed by the "Death Mark" of the "Man of Mingdao," otherwise his best choice now would be to fully activate the mark on his right palm, causing Alista Tudo to "descend" again in Trier, drawing the angels of the "Eternal Sun" Church and the "God of Steam and Machinery" Church, as well as other powerful figures hidden in this great metropolis, forcing Perle to retreat.

Without the slightest hesitation, Lu Mi activated the black mark on his right shoulder.

He intended to directly "teleport" out of here—to the Saint Vief Church.

Since Perle's goal was to capture him alive, a simple deduction led to this conclusion:

She would certainly chase after him relentlessly, never staying put or abandoning the demand of the "Black Box Deal"!

In that case, Flandre, Jianna, and Anthony, though facing illusions of the Punisher, would no longer need to contend with a half-god; their chances of survival would rise dramatically—for all mid-rank adepts, even a Level 4 half-god, even merely an Emissary, filled them with genuine despair.

Moreover, the two witches had "Mirror Doubles," and Anthony had one too; they also possessed items like the "Seven Stone Bracelet," and as long as they weren't watched by the half-god, they had a real chance to use their doubles to create openings and escape to the "Fool" Church's chapel at Ravnii Wharf.

As his figure rapidly faded, Lu Mi, with clear thoughts, reached his left hand into his pocket and gripped Mr. K's finger.

This was because he wasn't sure whether Perle's claim about capturing him alive was truth or lie—whether it reflected the half-god's relaxed state toward mid-rank adepts, or merely the ingrained habit of brokers who repeatedly deceived and tricked.

So he had to prepare for the possibility that his "teleport" might be disrupted, and ready for the scenario where Perle didn't pursue him but stayed behind to deal with Flandre and the others.

That preparation was:

Summon Mr. K!

Although Mr. K, as the "Shepherd," couldn't fight a half-god, he was the "Aurora Society's" Divine Messenger, always able to hear the teachings of the "True Creator"; his arrival meant his deity would surely turn its gaze upon them, likely triggering some strange, favorable changes for themselves.

And even without divine attention, Mr. K's "Shepherded" Apprentice-path adepts seemed to have recorded abilities from half-gods, capable of holding off Perle for two or three seconds, creating an opening for Flandre and the others to flee.

As Lu Mi activated "teleport," Flandre, forced to use her "Mirror Double," appeared in a hollow corner of the quarry.

She held a compact mirror and decisively prepared to activate the "Mirror Clasp."

She already knew Perle was the "Overseer" and intended to escape through the "Mirror World."

Once hidden within the "Mirror World," she could leap to mirrors on Jianna, Lu Mi, and Anthony, reach out her hand from within, and pull her companions into the Mirror World together!

The glass-like "Mirror Clasp" glowed with a dim light, yet Flandre's figure remained rooted in place, not entering the compact mirror in her hand.

This… Flandre first froze, then formed a suspicion.

If she couldn't enter the Mirror World without other interference, it could only mean one thing:

This was the Mirror World itself!

Except for extremely rare cases, one could not enter the Mirror World again from within it—only use mirror surfaces to leap!

—The Mirror World fell into two categories: one, the conventional, universal type—not a true world, but a collective of "Gate" concepts, formed by dark, void channels connecting all mirrors; wherever there was a mirror or reflective surface, this kind of Mirror World existed, with no visible boundaries; the other, special Mirror Worlds, which relied on the conventional Mirror World, formed through certain corruptions or corresponding abilities, some permanent, some temporary, characterized by proximity to the real world as projections of its facets, yet bound by their own limitations and unique rules.

The Mirror World within Trier of the Fourth Era belonged to the latter—it contained only the projection of Trier, not other regions, and was divided into three layers.

Now, this was another special Mirror World, but smaller—only the projection of the quarry's hollow, likely created through some ability.

And Perle, as a seasoned "Shadow Merchant," had long collaborated with the "Mirror Person"; acquiring an item capable of creating temporary special Mirror Worlds was entirely normal!

Recalling the dim light that had burst from Morane Avini's mirror before Perle appeared, Flandre grew even more certain of her deduction.

She was about to warn Lu Mi and the others when she saw the Punisher projection of the "Black Witch" Clarisse seize the chance and reflect her with a mirror.

Flandre's pupils dilated instantly; she activated the "Mirror Double" herself.

She rapidly reverted into a mirror, which then ignited with black flames from within outward.

Crack!

The mirror fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.

On the other side, Lu Mi's figure reappeared in place.

His "teleport" had failed.

This was indeed a special Mirror World—only by finding the exit could they leave.

Mr. K's finger had swelled into a mass of flesh, landing on Lu Mi and forming a crimson, full-body cloak.

With a puff, Lu Mi seemed struck by invisible arrows, his body covered in one grotesque wound after another.

Only the protection of the flesh-cloak formed from Mr. K's finger had saved him—he would otherwise have been forced to activate shadows to take these lethal wounds in his stead.

Of course, he still had one "Mirror Double"—made for him by Jianna.

The "Overseer" Perle still stood beside the protruding rock deep in the quarry's hollow, smiling at Lu Mi:

"Disrespecting the Overseer, attempting to flee—punishment is inevitable."

As Flandre and Lu Mi's attempts failed, Jianna rolled and flung glowing fluorescent dust, whispering a spell to vanish rapidly before the Punisher dressed as an "Eternal Sun" clergyman.

Gold surged around the Punisher in white robes edged with gold thread, spreading outward in concentric waves.

When the gold reached an empty space, it suddenly met resistance, revealing a faint, pale-gold silhouette.

Jianna felt warmth and courage rose, yet her eyes reflected a pure, majestic pillar of blazing light.

Crack!

The pillar struck her, turning her into a mirror that shattered into fragments.

Anthony seized an opportunity and re-entered "Psychological Invisibility," yet the Trier police avatar didn't ignore him—he seemed to smell the stench of his sin.

Two bolts of lightning shot from the Punisher's eyes, piercing Anthony's soul.

Anthony's eyes bulged, his mouth opened, yet he couldn't even cry out—he froze rigidly in place.

"Death!" the Trier police avatar uttered a word in Ancient Hermes.

His right hand clenched into a fist, his entire body lunging forward like a trail of afterimages toward Anthony.

Boom!

The fist, infused with strange power, struck Anthony's head with no possibility of evasion.

Crack—Anthony shattered into countless tiny, glittering mirror fragments.

Flandre's figure in her assassin's outfit reappeared once more.

Facing the half-god's pressure, the illusionary "Black Witch," and this enclosed special Mirror World, she decisively drew something from her "Traveler's Satchel."

It was a full-body armor of silver-white, taller than herself.

"Armor of Pride!"

Flandre placed the "Armor of Pride" directly before her, her back turned toward the "Overseer" Perle.

She believed the core issue was this half-god, not the Punisher in the "Black Witch" guise—if the latter remained unaffected, killing one Punisher would only summon another, or worse, direct "Accusation."

Moreover, Flandre noticed Perle had never left the protruding rock—the fixed entrance/exit of the Mirror World.

This made her suspect that the fixed entrance/exit she'd requested from the "Primordial Witch" via the Fourth Era Trier's overflowed corruption not only allowed them to enter and exit the conventional Mirror World without relying on traits or abilities, but also served as the exit of this special Mirror World.

After all, it was a divine gift!

As soon as the "Armor of Pride"'s feet touched the ground, it spun sharply, directing its invisible gaze toward the "Overseer" Perle.

Flandre quickly leapt sideways, rolling to avoid facing the armor's back.

Thud-thud-thud!

The silver-white full-body armor sprinted toward the "Overseer" Perle, Ningju ing a blazing sword of light in its hand.

…………

Inside a church devoid of divine emblems, dark and gloomy.

A single pea instantly grew into countless thick, emerald vines, transforming the area into a garden of plants, a strange forest.

They separated the reanimated hanging corpses into different zones, preventing them from approaching the "Hermit" himself.

The silent "Judgment" extended her right palm, her eyes glowing with a copper-gold luster.

She solemnly spoke in Ancient Hermes:

"Puppets are forbidden here!"

The reanimated corpses suddenly froze, while the "Magician" tore open the air before him, staining it with brilliant starlight to form a dreamlike gate.

Beyond the gate lay the church's depths, the painted female figure, the altered "Loki."

"Loki" reached into the air and dragged out a figure.

The figure was a woman, voluptuous, clad in a black dress, wearing a golden crown set with jewels, with chestnut wavy hair, blue eyes, a high nose bridge, and thin lips—beautiful, radiating "Witch"-like charm from within and without.

(End of Chapter)