[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-ring-of-fate":3,"chapter-the-ring-of-fate-the-ring-of-fate-chapter-897":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Ring of Fate",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2298866,4496,"Chapter 897: Brief Battle","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-897",897,"\u003Cp>The \"Black Witch\" slightly lifted her chin and let out a shrill scream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Invisible sound waves instantly dulled the mirror to a gray-white hue, causing Clarisse’s hair to break free from its restraints, fling off her hat, and float upward—each strand thickened like stone carvings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This gray-white spread beyond the full-length mirror, freezing the white-and-blue flame snakes racing toward it into statues, preventing them from exploding the mirror as Lu Mi had anticipated and destroying the Black Witch’s interference within the \"Virtually Bottled.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clarisse’s gray-white expansion continued, like a surging tide, swiftly drowning the nearby armchairs, sofa sets, and cabinets, stripping them of luster, staining them gray-white, and making them appear far harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This gray-white \"tide\" rapidly covered the entire room, engulfing Lu Mi and Fulanka .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the constraints of the \"Virtually Bottled,\" the \"Mirror Double\" seemed ineffective against such area attacks—since even after using the double, the reappearance point remained within the petrifying zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, Lu Mi and Fulanka , coated in thick layers of dust-like powder, regressed into gray-white stone mirrors—but their figures did not appear anywhere within the \"Virtually Bottled.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"Virtually Bottled\" itself appeared to have been petrified, becoming a sealed, gray-white prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the \"Black Witch\" inside the mirror whispered to herself:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Escaped?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The current situation suggested that Lu Mi, relying on the \"Despair Witch’s\" own power, and Fulanka , using the \"Ice Talisman’s\" strength, had slipped into the mirror before petrification and then escaped through it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem now was that, with the \"Black Witch’s\" control over the mirror world, she could easily intercept them within any of the phantom dark tunnels—but she sensed no movement whatsoever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Clarisse, the \"Black Witch,\" received a spiritual warning, spun around sharply, and fixed her gaze on the dense web of phantom spiderwebs behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within one of the dark, unreal tunnels, Lu Mi—tall, draped in a black cloak—raised his exaggerated iron-black straight sword diagonally overhead and leapt downward in a descending slash toward the \"Black Witch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Escaped?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one wielding the \"Sword of Courage\" never considers that option!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one must flee, it is only to retreat and advance—to set a trap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-and-blue flames on the \"Sword of Courage\" instantly surged into blazing black, like boiling asphalt, radiating violent, insane fury capable of destroying all matter and spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, Lu Mi’s left hand, naturally hanging at his side, subtly pressed through the air toward the \"Black Witch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On his exquisitely delicate wrist, he wore a cheap-looking silver-black bracelet; his clear, pale-blue eyes now glowed silver-black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The suppressed, blazing black flames exploded midair, sending a furious shockwave of countless black flames surging toward Clarisse, the \"Black Witch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ageless \"Witch\" did not use \"Petrification\" to counter; her body rapidly thinned and shrank, flickering with faint light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She became a mirror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRACK—the mirror shattered in the explosion, her spiritual essence utterly extinguished within the black flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"Fire of Destruction\" mixed within the terrifying blast further swept across the entire rear mirror region, erasing all life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet when the \"Fire of Destruction\" faded and the explosion’s shockwaves subsided, the \"Black Witch’s\" figure gradually emerged from a corner of the dark, void-like rear mirror space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could apparently control the timing of her return to reality after using the \"Mirror Double,\" avoiding appearing within the still-burning \"Fire of Destruction.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a mirror hidden in the darkness behind the \"Black Witch\" appeared, directly reflecting Clarisse’s figure—and within the mirror, Lu Mi’s plain face, illuminated by lingering flames, glowed with a dark hue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mirror Projection\"!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment this Lu Mi appeared, he instantly transformed into quiet, sinister black flame, enveloping the \"Black Witch’s\" reflection within the mirror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did the \"Black Witch\" seemingly sense the danger and activate the \"Mirror Double.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she was still a fraction too slow—she reappeared in this corner, directly before the mirror containing Lu Mi’s \"Mirror Projection,\" not by accident, but as the meticulously engineered conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi had appeared to be launching a frontal assault with the \"Sword of Courage,\" but his true focus lay in his unoccupied left hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had donned the \"Binding Ring\" precisely to elevate his \"Pushing Fate\" ability to Sequence 4 level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had just consumed nearly one-third of his spiritual energy to make the destination of the \"Black Witch’s\" \"Mirror Double\" inevitable, turning the corresponding branch into part of the main stream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the \"Black Witch\" had \"voluntarily\" walked into the trap, standing before the mirror containing Lu Mi’s \"Mirror Projection.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, to prevent the \"Black Witch\" from sensing danger in time, Lu Mi had both performed anti-divination on the mirror before launching the attack and deliberately allowed the \"Fire of Destruction\" to blanket the entire rear mirror region, making every corner appear unhidden—even if there were ambushes, they would clearly be destroyed by the \"Fire of Destruction.\" In truth, he used his \"Precision\" ability to covertly divert part of the \"Fire of Destruction\" around the mirror he had pre-placed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under this web of deception, the \"Black Witch\" failed to activate the \"Mirror Double\" before Lu Mi’s \"Mirror Projection\" triggered the \"Witch’s\" curse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"Black Witch’s\" deep gray eyes, seemingly holding rain and mist, widened abruptly; within her body, streams of quiet, sinister black flame erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These black flames burned fiercely, rapidly igniting Clarisse’s soul, accompanied by silent explosions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Curse plus \"Harvest\"!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRACK, CRACK—the \"Black Witch’s\" figure flickered repeatedly, transforming into countless mirrors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those mirrors gradually lost their luster, turning dull—but the black flames consuming her from within and without refused to extinguish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several seconds, the weakened \"Black Witch\" Clarisse, now powerless to use the \"Mirror Double,\" saw Lu Mi’s figure step before her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This beautiful girl, draped in a black cloak that made her face appear even paler, raised a massive straight sword blazing with white-and-blue flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The iron-black great sword crashed down with a thunderous roar, severing the \"Black Witch’s\" neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pitiable woman shattered into pieces, scattering as charred, black-flame-wreathed remains around her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fulanka ’s figure returned from another dark, void-like tunnel, staring at the scattered remains, her face filled with shock:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the \"Black Witch\"—a Witch named by color!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fulanka  had merely hoped Lu Mi would briefly suppress the \"Black Witch,\" preventing Clarisse from interfering with her escape through the mirror world; if she succeeded in fleeing, Lu Mi, as a Sequence 4 half-god, would find it far easier to disengage afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Fulanka  could not help but hope for an opportunity to use the \"Sword of Destiny’s\" \"Certain Death\" effect and achieve the feat of slaying a half-god; failing that, she could still use \"Certain Hit\" with a pregnancy bullet to grant Lu Mi the chance to destroy the enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi did not sheathe the \"Sword of Courage,\" staring at the still-burning remains as he mused:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She displayed Sequence 3-level proficiency in some abilities, but overall she seemed stiff and clumsy—not at all like a seasoned 'Ageless Witch,' and even weaker than a typical 'Despair Witch.' When I hid the mirror, she didn’t notice at all...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Lu Mi finished speaking, as the \"Witch’s\" black flames ceased burning, the body fragments began to fade, gradually dissolving as if returning to nothingness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not the normal state of the 'Black Witch,'\" Fulanka  swiftly concluded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That means we have no loot,\" Lu Mi chuckled, speaking to Fulanka , whose \"Ice Talisman\" had just exhausted its final \"Mirror Transit\" ability. \"Let’s return to the real world first. I’ll come back later to check what’s left.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fulanka  understood Lu Mi feared the abnormal \"Black Witch\" might reanimate or cause other surprises; if only he came to inspect, it would be far safer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without bravado, Fulanka  pressed her hand against the mirror’s rear and departed the area, returning with Lu Mi to the living room of Room 702.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything here had turned to stone; as the \"Virtually Bottled\" dissolved, gray-white powder rained down like rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fulanka  covered her mouth and nose, muttering:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is severe contamination.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She reached into the \"Traveler’s Satchel,\" intending to retrieve the remaining Ferkyn to leave as compensation for the damaged furniture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Lu Mi suddenly sensed something—his figure vanished instantly, merging into shadow, hiding within the bedroom once occupied by Jianna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, Fulanka  also received a spiritual intuition, turning her gaze toward the glass window, previously protected by the \"Virtually Bottled\" and thus untouched by petrification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The left half of the double-pane window instantly darkened, like a water surface reflecting an image, rapidly forming a silhouette.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure wore a black, elegant court gown, her jet-black hair coiled up, topped with a hat bearing a deep veil; her face was breathtakingly beautiful, her deep gray eyes bright yet suffused with unmistakable sorrow, her red lips slightly curved, her chin elegantly arched—anyone, male or female, would feel genuine pity upon seeing her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"Black Witch\"!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"Black Witch\" Clarisse!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant, Fulanka  was momentarily stunned:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had the \"Black Witch\" reanimated?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—that should have manifested on the full-length mirror in the living room!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not reanimation, then who is this now? And who was the one before?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Fulanka ’s mind tensed instantly, the \"Black Witch\" on the glass window gave a gentle nod and asked in a soft voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What exactly happened a few days ago that kept you from returning until now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This attitude... was so kind... Fulanka , who had been ready to draw her gun and strike, was suddenly bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1581,"2026-06-20T06:22:37.987Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e1d0b4b30042833e6d5fe5c0e1b41b376c46c73d8047360f83a2864943098a88","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-898","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-896",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ring-of-fate-cover.jpg"]