92 COI
"We'll never guess who it is?" Lumian and Franca scoffed simultaneously, pretending to be eager to speculate.
Of course, they didn't make any direct guesses immediately. They planned to gather some information indirectly first before making a targeted guess.
Lumian noticed the change in Moran Avigny's fate tributary and realized that as a Disciplinary Paladin, the man had his own principles and mystical limitations. He wouldn't willingly reveal details about the Mirror People's leader, yet he couldn't completely suppress a desire to share–unable to resist the hypnotic influence. So, he taunted them in a boastful way.
"You mentioned Mirror People with powerful godhood can't escape through catastrophes via leakage points, not just any Mirror People with godhood," Lumian pointed out with a smile, interpreting Moran Avigny's words. "So in other words, a Mirror Person corresponding to Sequence 4 has escaped, and your leader is a Mirror Person of at least Sequence 3 demigod level?"
Moran Avigny's face instantly showed annoyance as he regretted being too detailed, realizing he had inadvertently revealed critical information.
Encouraged by Lumian's astute observation, Franca smiled and asked, "Where are the escaped Sequence 4 Mirror People now? What are they doing?"
Moran Avigny's lips trembled with clear effort, but he stayed quiet.
Just as expected from a Sequence 5 Disciplinary Paladin. They're experts at resisting interrogation and prying… I wonder if destroying his frontal lobe would make him lose that last bit of self-control… Lumian wondered to himself and switched to a less sensitive subject.
"What are the requirements for Mirror People to appear?
"Does everyone who has lived in the real Trier for a long time automatically have a corresponding Mirror Person? Or do they need exposure to certain underground corruption first?"
This question was based on inferences from the Dream Festival incident.
Phew… Moran Avigny let out a relieved sigh, having almost lost control and spilled the most critical secrets moments earlier.
The current question let him relax a little. He answered smoothly, "If not for the seal specifically targeting Fourth Epoch Trier, the mirror world there would contain a complete reflection of the real Trier, including every resident. But under this seal, only those who frequently go into the underground areas and come into contact with specific corruption will leave an imprint in our mirror realm.
"Other than that, our kind has other origins too:
"The first type are descendants of a false deity. The corresponding Mirror People manifest from the moment of their birth, regardless of location or whether they've ever been to Trier.
"The second category comes from the bloodlines of certain noble families in Fourth Epoch Trier, like descendants of the Tamara family. That's how I came to be. This isn't limited by location or environment."
Lumian and the others understood that the false deity he was talking about was Primordial Demoness Cheek. As an evil deity overseeing the mirror world, it made sense that Her descendants would have close ties to that unique realm.
"Why do descendants of the Tamara family have a special connection to your mirror world?" Lumian asked curiously. "Did your ancestors suffer the relevant corruption during the War of the Four Emperors, or even earlier?"
Moran Avigny paused for a few moments before replying, "Earlier. I'm not sure of the specifics of the corruption or how it occurred, as it was too long ago. Maybe those Tamaras who follow the Judgment pathway without being Mirror People themselves, or those of the Door pathway, have records of it."
The Door pathway was another name for the Apprentice pathway.
Lumian nodded and asked on behalf of Franca and Jenna, "Does your kind exclude Mirror People of other Demonesses?"
"They are Mirror People, but not from our world," Moran Avigny answered with a smile. "Of course, if the conditions I mentioned earlier are met, a Mirror Person corresponding to a Demoness could be born in our realm too."
I see… Franca and Jenna nodded slightly as Lumian changed the topic.
"What are the Mirror People who left the underground doing?"
His question was broad, not specifically referring to the godhood-level Mirror People. Moran Avigny struggled for a moment before responding, "Most of them stay in Trier. They either use the original's identity to advance their status in various industries and organizations, or they hide in the shadows, secretly developing their factions. The goal is to eventually fully unseal Fourth Epoch Trier and access the third, deepest level of the mirror world.
"As for the rest…"
Moran Avigny paused and grinned at Franca and Jenna.
"Some infiltrated the Demoness Sect to locate the fake deity's real-world hiding place. Others went to Lenburg to search for an item, as instructed by the leader.
"Don't ask me about the progress of those in the Demoness Sect or what exactly the ones in Lenburg are looking for. That's not my area of responsibility. No one told me the details."
"I also want to find the Primordial Demoness's real-world hiding spot. Why not tell me about the infiltrators in the Demoness Sect? Maybe we could work together," Franca suggested with a lovely smile.
Moran Avigny's expression said it all: The more beautiful the woman, the more deceptive. I won't fall for it.
"I don't know their identities either. Only the leader has all the information."
"Alright then." Franca's eyes darted around as she continued, "What did you mean by the third level of the mirror world? We've all gone into Fourth Epoch Trier and entered your special mirror realm. But what we encountered there were Mirror People of the deceased citizens from that ancient era. They were reflections of that bygone city. Where does your kind live?"
Moran Avigny explained, "Back then, you must have accessed the second level of our mirror world. It only appears under specific conditions and preserves the scene of Fourth Epoch Trier's destruction. It's quite dangerous and holds many unknown secrets. As for our daily life, we live on the first level of the mirror world–a reflection of the present-day Trier."
"The first level mirrors the current Trier?" Jenna keenly noticed a discrepancy. "Didn't you say you Mirror People live in a dark, cold, confined environment?"
Trier was now a metropolis!
Moran Avigny sneered and said, "We may seem to live in a metropolis, but in reality, we are all restricted. We can only walk fixed paths, endlessly wandering between a handful of rooms and one or two streets. Without the help of godhood- level powerhouses, we can't even talk to each other. We can only observe what our counterparts are doing in the real world through mirrors. Plus, our realm has no reflection of the sun, moon, or stars. Imagine living in such an environment."
It's similar to the living conditions of the painting world's individuals, except the Mirror People have self- awareness and a clear understanding… No wonder they are in agony… Lumian thought of a question when he realized the mirror world's first level lacked the sun, moon, and stars.
"If a Sequence 4 Unshadowed of the Sun pathway comes into contact with the specific underground corruption, will a corresponding Mirror Person be born?"
"No," Moran Avigny stated firmly.
Lumian used this chance to eliminate several more possibilities regarding the real identity of the Mirror People's leader.
Franca sighed deeply. "The Sun pathway is truly exceptional. Befitting of the pathway that governs Purification."
She then remembered her earlier unanswered question and pressed, "What exists on the third level of the mirror world?"
Once again, Moran Avigny shook his head.
"No one has entered it. We only know it exists. We know our origins, traits, and the source of our power all point to that Directly support the authors on WebNovel!
level. As for the Chaos Demoness we revere and follow, who is also the Primordial Demoness, She is trapped there for some reason, guarding the truth."
Trapped there? More like sealed there… 'Protecting reality'—a nice way to spin it… Lumian pondered briefly before asking, "What truth are you referring to?"
"Truth is truth." Moran Avigny seemed confused, as if he had never seriously considered the matter.
Seeing that he lacked an answer, Jenna brought the conversation back to the Mirror People's connection to reality.
Puzzled, she asked, "If the original person in reality dies, what happens to the Mirror Person?
"And the other way around?"
Moran Avigny's lips twisted into a warped smile.
"Normally, if the me in reality dies, I'll die along with him. But if I send my real self into the mirror world beforehand, the impact of his death on me will be minimal.
"The reverse holds true too. When I was still in the mirror world, if an invader killed me, the me in reality would merely get sick and be weakened for a time. Going forward, if he didn't come into contact with the specific underground corruption again, no corresponding Mirror Person would exist.
"If I escape to the real world and am killed there, the real me won't be affected at all."
Franca hissed and said, "So instead of killing Moran Avigny directly, you found a way to drag him into the mirror world?"
"Exactly. I waited for him to 'savor' the darkness, coldness, isolation, and loneliness before ending him," Moran Avigny confirmed with a smile.
In short, the one in the mirror loses significance and won't impact the other's survival, regardless of whether they are a Mirror Person or a real individual… If both are in the real world, the Mirror Person is naturally at a disadvantage… Lumian nodded slightly as he started to deduce the identity of the Mirror People's leader mentioned by Moran Avigny.
Someone who ventures into Trier's underground often, exposed to specific corruptions.
Formidable godhood, at least Sequence 3.
He must still be alive…
With this in mind, Lumian couldn't narrow it down further.
He had no choice but to use his Conspirer abilities to upload all relevant information onto his mental network.
The Overseer of the School of Truth had performed a ritual and interacted with the Mirror People's leader.
The School of Truth was searching for Emperor Roselle's final mausoleum.
They had obtained something significant. The vortex was on the verge of taking shape…
Suddenly, a flash of insight hit Lumian, and an incredible guess raced through his mind.
He couldn't be certain, as one premise seemed questionable.
He took two steps forward and whispered a name into Moran Avigny's ear.
Moran Avigny's expression changed drastically, a mixture of shock and panic.
Lumian withdrew and exhaled solemnly.
"Have you figured out who the Mirror People's leader is?" Franca asked.
Lumian nodded gently and surveyed the surroundings. In a deep voice, he declared, "Yes, I know who He is. He's Roselle Gustav in the mirror!"
-x-X-x-
Roselle Gustav in the mirror?
When Franca, Jenna, and Anthony heard that the name of this dazzling figure, revered by every Intisian, was connected to the Mirror People, their minds went completely blank.
They instinctively wanted to question him further, but Moran Avigny's reaction and change in expression appeared to validate Lumian's conjecture.
"But the Emperor has been dead for over a century. How can there still be a corresponding Mirror Person?" Franca asked, finally composing herself.
It made sense that Emperor Roselle would have encountered Trier's underground corruption. He had, after all, lived in Trier for an extended period after reaching adulthood, and he was not one to easily settle down. He had seized control of Intis, reformed Trier, expanded the city, and initiated the patriotic health campaign, but hadn't he already met his end?
Lumian's serious expression softened a bit.
"Initially, I hesitated to make that guess, but then I recalled something. For someone of Emperor Roselle's stature, even if they perish, they might not be completely gone. There could even be a possibility of resurrection."
It was just like Naboredisley's Abomination corpse resting in the ancient tomb of the Dream Festival.
Franca made an odd remark. "Old institutions are hard to get rid of…"
With their experience dealing with the Devil Monarch's Abomination corpse, Franca, Jenna, and Anthony quickly accepted Lumian's explanation.
Lumian looked at Moran Avigny, whose face had turned ashen, and smiled.
"I made a bold hypothesis and meticulously verified it. When I shared my guess with him, he willingly confirmed it."
Moran Avigny's lips trembled, wanting to defend himself, but he held back.
He believed that the more he tried to explain, the more he would end up helping these people.
His urge to confide led him to add, "Now, do you understand that our Mirror People are also incredibly powerful?
"If we can fully break the seal of Fourth Epoch Trier, we will be as strong as any orthodox Church!"
Franca disregarded Moran Avigny's showy remark and muttered to herself, "No wonder the Church's demigods refuse to personally go underground and resolve the various abnormalities here unless the seal of Fourth Epoch Trier is badly damaged.
"This isn't about fixing abnormalities. It's about making more of them!"
Even though the demigods of the Eternal Blazing Sun Church didn't have to fear the birth of their corresponding Mirror People, Trier's underground corruption extended beyond just the mirror world!
Isn't the underground of Trier excessively vile and horrifying?
This was assuming that Fourth Epoch Trier was relatively well-sealed. What had the four Emperors, particularly Blood Emperor Alista Tudor, done during the War of the Four Emperors? The issues they left behind more than a thousand years ago were still incredibly terrifying!
We often venture into Trier's underground and have even entered Fourth Epoch Trier and the unique mirror world. Could there be a corresponding special Mirror Person?
No, it's not a matter of whether there is one, but rather that there definitely was one. They had encountered it before!
Lumian ignored Moran Avigny's boasting and turned to Jenna.
"Our investigation into the Mirror People has yielded significant progress. Combined with the Overseer, who evidently possesses godhood, what unfolds next is beyond our ability to intervene. As soon as we acquire the coordinates of the Overseer's mirror, promptly report the entire situation."
Jenna curtly acknowledged his words and laughed self-deprecatingly.
"Actually, I'm dying to report it now."
From her viewpoint, although she was unsure why the School of Truth was searching for Emperor Roselle's final mausoleum or what their intentions were, given the strong probability that they had already obtained vital information and collaborated with the mirror Roselle, the situation had obviously become very urgent, and it was certainly not a positive development.
"You can begin writing now." Lumian gave a slight nod and shifted his gaze to Moran Avigny.
He planned to appropriate the other party's fate.
Fate Appropriation was not his objective. By seizing the chance to interact with fate, his aim was to seek essential information from past fate fragments.
This was the penultimate segment of the "interrogation."
The final segment involved spirit channeling to forcibly obtain the coordinates of the Overseer's mirror!
Furthermore, Lumian wanted to take this opportunity to observe what would happen to the target if he seized one of their fate fragments without exchanging fates or directly causing their death.
This was not mentioned in the mystical knowledge possessed by a Fate Appropriator. The only thing Lumian knew for certain was that the past would not change, and what had already transpired would remain unchanged.
Initially, Lumian had wanted to inquire further about the Mirror People who maintained contact with Moran Avigny and their positions. However, the urgency of the situation led him to postpone this matter to the spirit channeling part. In any case, it wasn't particularly crucial.
From Lumian's perspective, it was more important to know the identities of the Mirror People who had infiltrated the Demoness Sect and who had gone to Lenburg in search of an item. However, Moran Avigny clearly had no knowledge of this.
Lumian suspected that the Mirror People who had gone to Lenburg were looking for clues about 0-01. After all, based on the information, this item likely had a close connection to Blood Emperor Alista Tudor. The method of sealing it was quite similar to sealing Fourth Epoch Trier. It might be of great significance to the Mirror People from the special mirror world in Fourth Epoch Trier.
Lumian extended his right palm and pressed it against Moran Avigny from a distance.
His blue eyes rapidly turned silver-black.
Moran Avigny was perplexed by Lumian's strange behavior.
Although he possessed the strength of a Sequence 5, he had been actively involved in politics for the past decade or so. He maintained a certain distance from the mysticism domain and the emerging cults. This was particularly true after becoming the Minister of Industry. He relied entirely on the connections within the Mirror People and the Brokers of the School of Truth to acquire the knowledge, information, and items he desired. Direct contact with wild Beyonders was uncommon, so he naturally couldn't discern Lumian's intentions. He only instinctively believed that Lumian had ulterior motives and wasn't simply acting.
Lumian's right palm "touched" the mercury illusory river corresponding to Moran Avigny.
The life of the Mirror Person flashed before his eyes, and various fate fragments surged along the river.
Lumian couldn't discern them in detail. Seizing the brief span of two to three seconds, he focused on observing two fate fragments.
One fate fragment depicted how Moran Avigny remotely instructed the School of Truth's Overseer to perform a ritual through the mirror, establishing a connection with the Mirror Roselle Gustav.
The other aspect was how this Mirror Person came into being.
In the previous fate segment, Lumian witnessed Moran Avigny stuffing a classic silver mirror into his makeup mirror and lending it to the Overseer.
At the source of the mercury river of fate, the 17- or 18-year-old Mirror Moran Avigny swiftly materialized in the dark and cold room, his expression naturally sinister.
The classic silver mirror bears a striking resemblance to the one Franca found at the overflow of corruption in the mirror world. She had relied on the latter to enter Fourth Epoch Trier during Operation Hostel… Could such a mirror be closely tied to the Mirror People?
Didn't Moran Avigny say that the descendants of the Tamara family naturally have a corresponding Mirror Person? Why wasn't he a baby when he was born as a Mirror Person? The descendants of the Tamara family must reach a certain age or have done something specific to produce the corresponding Mirror People? He doesn't seem to understand what's going on either…
As these thoughts raced through his mind, Lumian didn't allow the Fate Appropriation attempt to end naturally and result in failure. He seized the moment and grasped a fate fragment in his right hand. Through the spew of his spirituality, he slowly extracted the abnormally heavy target from the mercury-
colored illusory river.
The fate fragment corresponded to the scene of Moran Avigny's lust exploding under the Symphony of Hatred.
As time passed, Franca and Jenna asked about the other Mirror People to divert Moran Avigny's attention, and the fate fragment finally left the mercury river.
Consequently, the hole that had appeared was neither filled nor rewoven. Empty chaos occupied it, emitting a thin fog.
After storing the obtained fate fragments into his Spirit Body, Lumian carefully observed Moran Avigny's transformation.
As he waited, he muttered inwardly, The fact that we caught Moran Avigny remains unchanged…
Him drinking the truth serum and being hypnotized remain unchanged…
We haven't forgotten what he just said…
Yes, this Fate Appropriation took a total of three minutes. The fate fragment depicting his eruption of lust weighs heavily in Moran Avigny's entire life. After all, it caused his fate to take a sharp turn for the worse…
Appropriation requires a distance of 15 meters. Obtaining the target's blood is unnecessary…
While stirring fate and waiting for completion, I can't attack the target, but I can stay away…
It's more convenient to kill him directly. The Appropriation can be completed in a matter of seconds…
As Lumian reviewed, Moran Avigny's weakened aura gradually filled up, and his face flushed.
The bloodstains and tears on his face vanished.
Yes, there was no eruption of lust, so no severe injuries… Lumian harrumphed as Moran Avigny's face lit up with pleasant surprise.
Two beams of white light struck Moran Avigny, knocking him unconscious.
Simultaneously, Jenna and Franca, who had been closely monitoring Lumian's movements, aimed their revolvers at the yet-to-collapse Moran Avigny's head.
Amidst the gunshots, the Disciplinary Paladin's head exploded like blood-colored fireworks.
Lumian didn't complain about Franca and Jenna not giving him a chance to cull. He didn't want to waste his spirituality on Culling. When he appeared at the last moment and used the Symphony of Hatred to shatter Moran Avigny's remaining Mirror Substitution and capture him, he felt as if the potion had digested somewhat due to the successful cull.
Thud!
Moran Avigny's lifeless body crumpled to the ground, and Franca prepared to channel the spirit.
-x-X-x-
As Franca prepared the ritual, she considered her options and said to Lumian, "The Overseer's mirror coordinates are indescribable and can only be procured through mystical means. The Magic Mirror Spirit Channeling Spell isn't capable of that. I intend to use standard spirit channeling instead."
While the Magic Mirror Spirit Channeling Spell she had developed greatly extended the duration of the channeling and the number of questions the spirit would respond to, it was constrained by relying on the mirror as a medium, forfeiting the chance for other types of interaction.
"Regular spirit channeling drastically restricts the intel we can gather…" Lumian thought briefly and said, "For the first question, we should have him provide the coordinates of the Overseer's mirror. Second, ask about the whereabouts of the classic silver mirror utilized for the ritual and leader communication. Third, inquire about the identities and locations of the Mirror People in contact with him, ranked by importance."
Once the third question was answered, the spirit channeling ritual would come to its natural conclusion. Lumian suspected Moran Avigny might not have time to "introduce" every Mirror Person under his command. Hence, he asked for them to be prioritized based on the criticality of their role and responsibilities.
"A classic silver mirror?" Franca asked, puzzled.
"Yes, Moran Avigny has a mirror akin to the classic silver one you used to own. It's vital for communicating with Mirror Roselle," Lumian explained succinctly.
While speaking, he crouched and rummaged through Moran Avigny's pockets.
Unfortunately, the Minister of Industry carried only a handful of large bills and some loose change totaling 3,212 verl d'or.
Besides the money, there was an elegant golden mechanical pocket watch, a meticulously embroidered handkerchief, and a wallet crafted by a private designer and artisan.
But not a single item imbued with Beyonder powers!
Lumian couldn't resist mimicking Franca's inner thought: "Poor slob!"
He realized that as the sitting Minister of Industry, Moran Avigny was under the watchful eye of official Beyonders. He was unlikely to carry mystical items, Beyonder weapons, or anything that might reveal his abnormality.
As a Sequence 5 Disciplinary Paladin of the Judgment pathway, disclosing this to the two Churches would raise difficult questions about how he obtained the potion formula and Beyonder characteristics at that level. When signing the contract, he would at most acknowledge being a Beyonder of a related pathway without specifying the Sequence. This cost him the chance to procure items openly, forcing him to rely on Brokers—something official Beyonders couldn't be privy to.
Moran Avigny didn't require the Overseer's assistance with the Under the Table deal to access mystical items, as Mirror People could transfer objects through mirrors. If he genuinely needed an item for a specific purpose, he could reach out to his mirror world associates and have them "send" it over, returning it promptly after use.
Lumian sighed, pocketed the cash, watch, and other belongings, and rose to his feet.
With Franca's spirit channeling preparations complete, Lumian turned to Jenna, still composing her letter, and asked, "You shot without hesitation earlier. Did it weigh on you at all? This wasn't a battle. We'd been engaged in friendly conversation with Moran Avigny for a while now. I even started to feel like we were becoming friends."
Jenna glanced up at Lumian while writing on a protruding rock of the cave wall. She laughed softly.
"Worried I'll bottle up my emotional turmoil and cause issues down the line? Planning to play psychiatrist and offer me counseling?"
Anthony Reid, who had been observing silently, living up to his role as a Spectator, scratched his nose self-consciously.
That seemed to be his job.
However, he could discern that Jenna and Franca were not in need of counseling.
Lumian didn't tackle Jenna's question head-on. With a smile, he remarked, "You haven't taken many lives yourself."
"Had we not pulled the trigger, would you have taken action? Despite feeling you had befriended Moran Avigny, I think you wouldn't have flinched at blowing his head off," Jenna retorted, a smile playing on her lips.
Lumian let out a derisive snort. "I'm not like you. I've killed more people than I can count."
Jenna met his gaze again. "Moran Avigny admitted to his crimes. He lured the real Moran Avigny into the mirror, holding him captive before ruthlessly ending his life. I felt no qualms about carrying out the execution of a guilty man."
"You've changed…" Lumian let out an exaggerated sigh and quipped, "Once upon a time, you depended on the police and authorities to punish the bad guys."
Jenna didn't have a chance to respond, as Franca had finished her spirit channeling.
In the wavering dark-green candlelight, Moran Avigny's spirit took shape above his corpse, perceptible to those who had activated their Spirit Vision.
Franca acted swiftly. Withdrawing the glass-like Mirror Cufflink from her sleeve, she addressed Moran Avigny's spirit, "Give me the coordinates of the Overseer's mirror."
Moran Avigny's indistinct, menacing face twisted in anguish.
But stripped of life, he no longer had the ironclad self-control to resist the commanding pull of the spirit channeling. He stretched out his right hand, motioning for Franca to hand over the Mirror Cufflink.
Anticipating this, Franca passed him the Mirror Cufflink.
As Moran Avigny's spirit clutched the cufflink, a shadowy light shimmered across its form, drawn into the glass-like accessory.
Franca exhaled in relief upon the Mirror Cufflink's return.
Having achieved the primary objective, it was time to reap further rewards!
Her mood buoyed, Franca inquired of Moran Avigny with piqued interest, "Is there a functional classic silver mirror in your possession… Hold on…"
Abruptly realizing this constituted a question, she hastily rephrased."Where is the classic silver mirror the Overseer used to facilitate communication with your leader?"
Lumian had already ascertained Moran Avigny didn't have it on him.
Moran Avigny's spirit responded with cold rigidity, "Griffith has it. When I require it, I have him deliver it to me through the mirror."
Franca's initial elation quickly gave way to an exasperated curse.
"Dammit!"
It dawned on her that she couldn't extract Griffith's mirror coordinates from Moran Avigny.
The spirit channeling had but one question remaining. She needed to ask Moran Avigny about the Mirror People serving as their contacts and their true identities. Requesting mirror coordinates was out of the question!
Lumian and Anthony immediately grasped the reason for Franca's self-directed frustration, but they were powerless to intervene. Certain questions hinged on preceding answers, and mirror coordinates couldn't be conveyed through the Magic Mirror Spirit Channeling Spell.
Collecting herself, Franca fixed her gaze on Moran Avigny's spirit. Marshaling her thoughts, she articulated, "Name the Mirror People in contact with you. What roles do they play in the real world? Begin with those of the highest rank and responsibility."
Moran Avigny's ghostly, blurred visage contorted once more. Despite his resistance, he responded in a clipped tone, "First, there's Griffith, who serves as my second-in-command. Originally, he was a key figure in the Moses Ascetic Order. With our assistance, he's steadily elevating his position within the Order. His aspiration is for the secret organization to eventually join the alliance to open Fourth Epoch Trier's seal…"
The Moses Ascetic Order… The very group that clashed with Element Dawn, headed by the Emperor's firstborn, Bernadette? If memory serves, they primarily consist of Mystery Pryer pathway Beyonders… I can't help but wonder if the Research Society has members from either faction. There must be others like myself with multiple secret society affiliations… Franca listened intently, not daring to disrupt Moran Avigny's account.
Moran Avigny proceeded to the second Mirror Person.
"Caratanza Tamara, part of our branch's Tamara family. He enlisted in the military and now holds the rank of colonel. He legitimized his Beyonder powers by slaying a Loen Kingdom spy, seizing their potion formula and Judgment pathway characteristics…
"Palia, a ore scholar originally. She infiltrated the Trier Cave Association to mask our attempts at uncovering a vulnerability in the seal…
"Sport, Trier's Deputy Commissioner of Police and a member of the police commission. His original self was purposely corrupted during an operation. Subsequently, Griffith and Caratanza orchestrated an ambush, dragging him into the mirror and allowing the mirror world's Sport to emerge and assume his place…"
By this point, Moran Avigny's spirit had become increasingly insubstantial, on the brink of dissipation.
At that instant, Jenna concluded her letter and pivoted to face Lumian. "I'll now summon Madam Judgment's messenger."
The words had scarcely left her mouth when an ethereal voice, seemingly originating from a great distance, reverberated in the ears of Jenna, Lumian, and the others.
"Summoning won't be necessary."
A shared premonition compelled Lumian, Franca, Jenna, and Anthony to direct their attention to the side of the quarry cave.
In the chamber's dim illumination, supplied only by carbide lamps and candles, dazzling starlight coalesced in the void, rapidly tracing the outline of an enchanting door.
Noiselessly, the door swung open, revealing an enormous pumpkin carriage drawn by a multitude of gray rats.
Three women occupied the carriage's interior. One was Magician, resplendent in a beige gown with a high collar adorned with golden embroidery. Another was Judgment, her shoulder-length flaxen hair complementing her grayish-white knight's attire, accented by brown leather armor.
The third woman was clad in a purple dress bearing a cryptic pattern. A celestial globe and sundry items dangled from her waist, and refined spectacles perched upon her nose.
Clasped in her left hand was a peculiar lamp, its surface golden like a kettle and adorned with enigmatic designs.
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Lumian, Franca, and Jenna's eyes widened as they caught sight of the strange golden lamp, making a bold conjecture.
Could it be 0-05, the Magic Wishing Lamp?
Yes, the pumpkin carriage is one of Major Arcana Ma'am Hermit's trademark symbols. She has close ties to Element Dawn's leader—Emperor Roselle's eldest daughter—and the current owner of 0-05, Bernadette. It isn't outside the realm of possibility that she might have borrowed the Magic Wishing Lamp…
As these thoughts raced through their minds, they heard Anthony's respectful greeting, "Good evening, Madam Magician, Madam Judgment."
Snapping out of their momentary trance, Lumian and the others quickly followed suit with their own greetings.
"And this is Ma'am Hermit," Magician added briefly.
Once the introductions were complete, the woman in the beige dress with a gold-embroidered high collar retrieved a bottle of dark-red wine from the void and said to Franca, "Hand over that cufflink. Once you do, you can all head home and get some rest."
Confronting the School of Truth's Overseer was clearly a battle at the demigod level. It wasn't something Lumian and company could get involved in.
Franca had no intention of forcing the issue. She handed the glass-like cufflink to Madam Magician.
In exchange, Madam Magician gave her the wine bottle containing a faint dark-red liquid.
"This is a mystical item that restores stamina and spirituality after drinking it. But remember, you can only have it once a day. Don't go turning into a drunkard."
Just one more sip and you'll become a drunkard? Franca and the others instantly understood the deeper meaning behind Madam Magician's final warning.
Seeing only a single sip of dark-red wine in the bottle, Franca turned to pass the old glass bottle to Lumian.
He had expended the most spirituality, after all.
Madam Magician rubbed the Mirror Cufflink between her fingers, a smile playing on her lips.
"Don't worry. You won't be able to finish it. It's called Bottomless Wine."
I see… Franca still wanted to give it a shot. She unscrewed the thin metal cap and downed the light dark-red wine.
As the slightly astringent and sweet alcohol slid down her throat, she felt refreshed, as if she'd just had a good night's sleep and hadn't been in a fierce battle with Moran Avigny.
At the same time, she noticed dark-red liquid seeping from the bottom of the old glass bottle, forming a thin layer of wine.
It really is bottomless… Franca sighed, handing the old glass bottle to Lumian.
But just as she reached out, a sudden sense of unease struck her.
Acting on instinct, she changed course, intending to let Jenna drink first.
Yet upon further reflection, she realized something was even more off!
Because she still had to pass it to Lumian afterward!
Never mind, never mind. No point getting caught up in trivial matters… Franca muttered in her native tongue.
Instead, she circled her finger around the bottle and managed to form a thin layer of frost.
As the frost naturally fell away, Franca passed the Bottomless Wine to Jenna.
Jenna drank the dark-red wine, mimicked Franca's actions, and then handed it to Lumian.
Franca breathed a sigh of relief.
Lumian paid no mind to the Demonesses' odd behavior. He was more concerned about the strange actions of Ma'am Hermit and Madam Magician.
Ma'am Hermit's eyes, obscured by lenses, grew dark but remained unfocused, as if staring into a vast expanse. Countless brilliant specks of light appeared around her, as if she had shrunk the universe and brought it down to the ground.
Performing divination or prophecy before tackling important matters? Lumian took the old glass bottle and drank the dark-red wine.
His spirituality rapidly recovered, as if he'd experienced six in the morning.
Of course, the portion of accumulated spirituality he had used didn't "return."
Phew, Lumian's anxiety over his spirituality deficiency had been alleviated.
After Anthony drank the Bottomless Wine and returned the mystical item to Madam Magician, the Mirror Cufflink's dark glow, mixed with starlight, flew out and landed on the Major Arcana card holder's eye.
Madam Magician sent Mirror Cufflink flying toward Franca while extending her hands, grasping the void, and pulling it apart on either side.
Without a sound, the void ripped open like a transparent membrane, revealing passageways formed by spiderwebs of emptiness and darkness.
This was a standard mirror world.
Magician had opened an illusory door to the mirror world without using a mirror!
Is this the advanced power of the Apprentice pathway? Lumian and company inwardly marveled. Madam Magician glanced at Ma'am Hermit beside her.
The Hermit, wearing a purple robe, held a vibrant, unreal ball of yarn in her right hand. She wound its thread around the peculiar golden lamp.
Then, the Major Arcana card holder tossed the vivid and illusory ball of yarn through the illusory door Magician had opened, into the mirror world's dark and ethereal tunnels.
The ball of yarn rolled into one of the passageways and quickly vanished into the depths, leaving only the thread connected to the golden lamp to mark its path.
Magician immediately led The Hermit and Judgment into the mirror world, chasing the ball of yarn.
After their figures disappeared from the mirror world, the forcibly torn void rapidly closed.
Franca muttered again, "I think I've heard the story about a yarn ball before, but I can't recall its name…"
Lumian turned his attention back to Moran Avigny's corpse.
"You want to bring him back for your godson to eat?" Franca said with contempt. "Let's not even discuss whether Ludwig should be eating humans in the first place. A Mirror Person's flesh will gradually turn back into mirror fragments. Do you really want Ludwig to be eating glass shards?"
Lumian shook his head.
"I'm considering whether I should take Moran Avigny's makeup mirror."
…
After tracking the vibrant yarn for a while, the three Major Arcana card holders reached a country villa matching the mirror's coordinates and spotted the target mirror on a desk.
It was also a makeup mirror.
They didn't pause. They followed the ball of yarn and walked through the spirit world.
In a mere two to three seconds, they returned to reality and saw the vivid and illusory ball of yarn come to a halt in a dark cathedral lacking a deity's statue.
Beneath the cathedral's dome, humans hung in the air, gently swaying in the wind.
Some were old, some were young, and some were gentlemen wearing half top hats. Some were beautiful ladies in vintage dresses, some were tall and muscular like giants, and some were covered in wet, sticky scales resembling fish…
What they all had in common was their firmly closed eyes, suspended by invisible ropes, looking like hanged corpses.
In the cathedral's depths, a man in his thirties with average facial features and dark hair sat in a wooden black armchair. His aura and soul felt both familiar and unfamiliar to Magician.
It was familiar because she recognized Loki, the head of April Fool's, who had been compelled to exhaust his resurrection times. It was unfamiliar because the other party had been stained with an odd sensation.
At that instant, a blurry female figure stood next to Loki, resembling a sketch. Her eyes were pitch-black, like a lake in the dim night.
He looked at Magician, The Hermit, and Judgment, a smile playing on his lips.
"It's all thanks to you that I found some hope of returning."
Before Loki could finish his sentence, the suspended corpses' eyes snapped open simultaneously.
Those eyes were pitch-black.
…
In the quarry cave with a fixed entrance to the mirror world.
"Taking away Moran Avigny's makeup mirror?" Jenna echoed Lumian's words before a realization struck her. "Do you want to see if any other Mirror People will try to contact Moran Avigny before news of his mysterious disappearance spreads?"
"Patience is a virtue," Lumian replied with a smile.
For a Hunter, this was an essential quality.
He stooped down and retrieved the makeup mirror from Moran Avigny's corpse's pocket.
At that moment, the makeup mirror snapped open.
It opened on its own!
Dark light surged from the palm-sized glass mirror, instantly filling the dimly lit quarry cave.
In the next instant, Lumian, Franca, and the others saw a figure quickly take shape beside the fixed entrance to the mirror world on the protruding rock.
It was a stunning woman with black hair and brown eyes. She wore a bright red dress with layers of embroidery and lace, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin on her chest despite the cold winter. A friendly smile graced her face.
Perle?
The renowned courtesan in Trier, Perle, the theater actress from the Loen Kingdom?
Lumian was shocked and at a loss. He hadn't expected to encounter this flamboyant courtesan in such a setting.
Franca, Jenna, and Anthony also found the situation surreal and hard to believe.
Almost simultaneously, Lumian recalled two key facts related to Perle.
The first time he had observed Moran Avigny, Perle had been on a date with her new lover in the hotel's annex restaurant.
All courtesans were standard, textbook brokers—political brokers!
Combining these two points, a guess formed in Lumian's mind.
Could Perle also be a member of the School of Truth?
Could she be the Overseer that Jebus directly reported to, the bestowed of an evil god at the demigod level?
If that's the case, where did Madam Magician and the others end up? Who were they tracking?
Flee! We must flee immediately!
At that moment, Perle looked at Lumian and the others, a smile forming on her lips as she uttered the Words of Order.
"Your crimes remain unpunished!"
-x-X-x-
Franca had already concealed herself by the time she recognized Perle. Her plan was to circle around and use the mirror to reflect Perle's figure, hoping to curse her.
If the curse failed, it would at least create an opening for Jenna to sneak up from the shadows and assassinate the target.
Though not as cunning as Lumian the Conspirer, both Jenna and Franca instinctively sensed that the sudden assaulting Perle was incredibly dangerous, even more so than Moran Avigny. However, they didn't go so far as to suspect her of being an Overseer or demigod.
As Perle uttered the Words of Order, Franca felt slender, snake-like entities emerge from the surrounding shadows, enveloping her despite her invisibility.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Razor-sharp icicles burst from the ground like soldiers thrusting their spears.
Franca quickly leaped up, pressing one hand against an icicle to tumble out of the area.
She narrowly avoided impalement, hanging precariously from the icicle's tip.
Before Franca could regain her footing, black flames shot out from the shadows, hurtling directly towards her. The serpentine creatures around her constricted, binding her in layers.
Wh-- With no time to react, Franca could only watch helplessly as the black flames consumed her.
At the same moment, a figure stepped out from the shadows--Clarice, wearing an elegant black court dress with her hair in a sophisticated bun. However, the Demoness of Black's face was blurry and dark, unlike a living person.
My crime is cheating, deceit, and exploiting others, mainly in reference to the Demoness Sect. Is this punishment from a manifestation of the Demoness of Black? Franca's thoughts raced.
Her body shattered like glass.
Mirror Substitution!
Jenna, while stealthily hidden, also encountered a strange foe.
It was a clergyman from the Eternal Blazing Sun Church, dressed in a white robe adorned with golden threads. Not only were his facial features hazy and unrecognizable, but his physique was also constantly shifting in subtle ways.
A blaze of sunlight descended, banishing the shadows in the area and exposing Jenna's body.
Realization dawned on Jenna.
My crime is believing in multiple deities and betraying the Eternal Blazing Sun...
So, an abstract embodiment of the Church's clergyman is punishing me...
Jenna quickly rolled to the other side of the quarry cave, dodging the clergyman's attack.
Anthony was not forgotten.
Just as he prepared to use Psychological Invisibility to approach Perle and send her into a Frenzy, a whip wreathed in silver lightning lashed out at him.
A crackling sound echoed in Anthony's mind, both illusory and real, sending a sharp pain through his soul. Every hair on his body stood on end.
If not for his incredible self-control, he would have screamed.
Before him stood a middle-aged man in a black uniform and white shirt, dressed as a Trier police officer.
My crime stems from my transgressions as an information broker, so I'm up against Trier's police? Most Trier police officers lack Beyonder powers, yet this Punisher directly wields abilities in the Arbiter domain? As Anthony conjured grayish-white dragon scales on his body, he deftly ran and rolled, seeking a chance to use Psychological Invisibility.
The already dim surroundings around Lumian suddenly darkened further, as if something was about to take shape, filling him with a profound sense of dread.
Just as the terrifying entity was about to emerge, it abruptly disintegrated. Even the surrounding gloom and fear dissipated like melting snow.
Uh... Is my crime too severe for a Punisher to manifest directly? Lumian guessed, considering Franca and the others' situations.
Behind him, spears of blazing white flame materialized and shot towards the flamboyantly dressed Perle like a volley of arrows.
The flaming spears formed a majestic and fierce forest, providing cover for Lumian's true attack.
He had already drawn his revolver, gently flicking the cylinder with his finger.
Three of the six bullets he had obtained from Jebus were loaded.
Lumian needed to use Implosion Bullets now.
Only by employing these special bullets in combination with his Cull ability did he have a sliver of hope of injuring Perle, whom he suspected to be the Overseer!
Bang!
Lumian's eyes blazed with an iron-black intensity as the starlight-shimmering bullets wove between the blazing white flame spears, speeding towards Perle's neck.
Perle stood beside the fixed entrance to the mirror world, her amiable smile unwavering.
The corners of her mouth curled up. "How dare you attack an Overseer?"
As the self-proclaimed Overseer uttered her first word, Lumian's starlight bullet abruptly changed course, hurtling towards his own neck.
Likewise, the blazing white flame spears strangely returned to Lumian's side, engulfing him.
Before Lumian could teleport, an Implosion Bullet struck him, causing his body to collapse bit by bit.
Crack!
He transformed into a mirror, shattering into countless fragments that vanished without a trace as they gathered uncontrollably.
After the battle with Jebus, Franca had provided Lumian with another Mirror Substitution!
Perle showed no surprise. She sighed and smiled. "Personally, I'd prefer you die now and release that Angel. It would greatly benefit our common cause. Unfortunately, the one who made the Under the Table transaction with me insisted on capturing you alive."
Lumian materialized in a corner of the quarry cave, catching Perle's words.
Instantly, numerous guesses flooded his mind.
Under the Table transaction?
Perle is the Overseer directly above Jebus. She evaded pursuit from the Major Arcana card holders by completing another high-level Under the Table transaction. And for this, she must capture me and take me somewhere?
When did she find out about Moran Avigny's situation? Was she monitoring his residence? Or did she receive information from other sources?
Surely the Purifiers are professional enough to keep the news under wraps, right?
Why capture me alive? Who wants me alive?
To use me as a sacrifice, like Susanna Mattise?
Or could the person engaging in Perle's Under the Table transaction be a Sufferer from the Sinners organization? Someone who doesn't want Termiboros to break free from the seal, but instead wants to control this Angel and use Him as an ingredient for advancement?
No, that's not right. If he were just a Sufferer, even if he could mislead Madam Magician and the others temporarily, he couldn't prevent them from returning to help. Yet, Perle remains calm and collected…
Could the other party in the Under the Table transaction be a faction of the Mother Tree of Desire or the Great Mother? Only they could organize a lineup in this world to deal with the Major Arcana card holders…
With his keen Conspirer's intuition, Lumian connected two problems.
First, the counter-party of Overseer Perle's Under the Table transaction. Second, how she discovered Moran Avigny's mishap so quickly and promptly convened a high-level Under the Table transaction.
As these questions intertwined, a thought struck Lumian.
In the Purifier team, a key member of April Fool's wasn't a transmigrator. Together with Loki, he single-
handedly orchestrated the loss of the humanoid Sealed Artifact. To this day, the Eternal Blazing Sun Church hasn't discovered the perpetrator!
Could a Broker also be involved?
Indeed, only if a key April Fool's member lurking within the Church appears unrelated to the Purifier who lost the humanoid Sealed Artifact, and they don't even know each other, can the Eternal Blazing Sun Church, with its numerous Sealed Artifacts and demigods, investigate for so long without finding anything!
From the Eternal Blazing Sun Church's perspective, the Purifier who lost the humanoid Sealed Artifact truly committed a momentary "mistake." He had no motive for the crime and no links to April Fool's…
Has the School of Truth expanded the Broker business into the Eternal Blazing Sun Church?
It's true; only Unshadowed won't be embroiled in gray transactions, and most Purifiers can't reach Sequence 4. Similarly, not all Cardinals are from the Sun pathway…
It seems the School of Truth has long been connected to April Fool's and is collaborating…
Damn it, it really is a broker organization. It can be associated with any faction!
Could it be that the School of Truth's collaborator within the Eternal Blazing Sun Church urgently transmitted information about Moran Avigny's mishap to Overseer Perle?
Upon receiving the news, Perle immediately convened a high-level Under the Table transaction. Was the transaction with April Fool's? No, April Fool's doesn't have that power. Could it be the Celestial Worthy backing them or other high-
ranking subordinates of the Celestial Worthy?
No wonder they want to capture me alive…
Perle might have intended to offer an item in exchange for severing her connection with Moran Avigny. However, the counter-party in the Under the Table transaction proposed a new plan, allowing her to switch from passive to active, seizing the opportunity to deceive and set a trap. How far it can go depends on her improvisation…
If it is indeed April Fool's and the Celestial Worthy's will is faintly discernible, it would explain why Madam Magician didn't sense anything amiss and walked right into the trap.
Realizing this, Lumian was alarmed.
Termiboros warned me twice about the School of Truth. Could it be that He foresaw the corresponding fate unfold and a chance for Him to break free from the seal? Is that why He was so eager, hoping to compel it into fruition?
-x-X-x-
Lumian's mind raced, unable to fully process the myriad details, but in the heat of battle, he couldn't afford to waste a single moment overthinking. Only a Conspirer could deduce a possible scenario within two seconds of Mirror Substitution taking effect. Based on Perle's words, Franca and the others would have concluded that she was the Overseer directly above Jebus. She had sidestepped danger through the Under the Table transaction but now had no choice but to confront them head-on. They couldn't let their focus waver, not even for a second.
Lumian cursed inwardly, frustrated that the Blood Emperor's residual aura had been sealed by Underworld Daoist's death mark. If not for that, his best bet would have been to activate the mark on his right palm with everything he had, allowing Alista Tudor to "descend" upon Trier once again. It would have drawn the attention of Angels from the Eternal Blazing Sun Church, the God of Steam and Machinery Church, and other powerhouses hiding in the city, pressuring Perle to retreat.
Without a second thought, Lumian triggered the black mark on his right shoulder.
His plan was to teleport out of there and into Saint Vi?¨ve Cathedral.
Since Perle's goal was to capture him alive, he obtained a conclusion through simple deduction.
She would undoubtedly chase after him with all her might. There's no way she would stay put and risk failing the Under the Table transaction!
If that happened, Franca, Jenna, and Anthony would still have to deal with the conjured Punisher, but at least they wouldn't be facing a demigod. Their odds of survival would be significantly better. For any Mid-Sequence Beyonder, even a single Sequence 4 demigod--bestowed or not--was enough to make their hearts sink with despair.
Moreover, the two Demonesses and Anthony all possessed Mirror Substitution, as well as items like the Seven-Stone Bracelet. As long as they didn't become a demigod's target, they had a real shot at using the substitutes to escape to the Church of The Fool's cathedral at Lavigny Docks.
As Lumian's form swiftly dissipated, he reached into his pocket with his left hand, his mind crystal clear, and grasped Mr. K's finger.
He couldn't be sure if Perle was telling the truth about capturing him alive or if it was a lie. Was it just a demigod's nonchalance when dealing with a Mid-Sequence Beyonder, or a habit formed from a Broker's constant deception?
He had to be prepared for the possibility that Perle might not follow him and instead stay behind to take on Franca and the others.
His contingency plan was: Summon Mr. K!
While Mr. K, as a Shepherd, couldn't directly fight a demigod, he was the Aurora Order's Oracle. He could hear the True Creator's guidance at any time. His presence meant that the deity he believed in would surely cast His gaze upon them. There was a good chance it would trigger some miraculous turn of events in their favor.
And even without divine intervention, the Beyonder of the Apprentice pathway under Mr. K's Grazing appeared to have records of demigod abilities. It should be able to hold off Perle for a few seconds, giving Franca and the others a window to escape.
As Lumian activated his teleportation, Franca, who had been compelled to use Mirror Substitution, materialized in a corner of the quarry cave.
Clutching a makeup mirror, she decisively activated the Mirror Cufflink.
She already knew Perle was the Overseer and intended to escape via the mirror world.
Once concealed within the mirror world, she could jump to the mirrors on Jenna, Lumian, and Anthony. She could extend her hand and pull her companions into the mirror world, and they could all flee together!
The glass-like Mirror Cufflink emitted a dark light, but Franca didn't budge, unable to enter the makeup mirror in her grasp.
Wh-- Franca was stunned for a moment before a realization hit her.
Failing to enter the mirror world without any interference could only mean one thing:
This was a mirror world!
Except for certain unique mirror worlds, one couldn't enter the mirror world from within the mirror world itself. The only option was to use the mirror to jump!
Mirror worlds came in two varieties. The first was conventional and universal, not a true world. It was a concept of "doors" amalgamated into a dark void passageway linking all mirrors. Wherever mirrors and their surfaces existed, such mirror worlds with no discernible boundaries could be found. The second type was special mirror worlds. They relied on the conventional mirror world and leveraged specific corruption or corresponding abilities to take shape. Some were permanent, others temporary. Their characteristics closely mirrored the real world, projections of one facet of reality, but each had its own unique limitations and rules.
The mirror world in Fourth Epoch Trier belonged to the latter category. It contained only a projection of Trier, a sprawling metropolis, and excluded other regions. Moreover, it was split into three distinct levels.
This mirror world was also special, but on a smaller scale. It was merely a projection of the quarry cave, likely generated by some ability.
As a veteran Shadow Merchant, Perle had a long-established partnership with the Mirror People. It was perfectly normal for her to trade items capable of creating temporary special mirror worlds!
Recalling the dark light emanating from Moran Avigny's mirror just before Perle's arrival, Franca's suspicion was confirmed.
Just as she was about to warn Lumian and the others, she saw the Demoness of Black's Punishment projection seize the moment to reflect herself in a mirror.
Franca's pupils dilated as she activated Mirror Substitution.
In an instant, she transformed into a mirror, engulfed by pitch-black flames from within.
Smack!
The mirror slammed into the ground, shattering into countless fragments.
At the same time, Lumian's figure rematerialized in place.
His teleportation had failed.
This was indeed a special mirror world. Finding an exit was the only way out.
Mr. K's finger had already expanded, morphing into a mass of flesh and blood that enveloped Lumian's body, forming a vibrant red cloak that covered him from head to toe.
With a sickening sound, Lumian's body was pierced by grotesque wounds, as if struck by invisible arrows.
It was only thanks to the protection of the flesh-and-blood cloak, transformed from Mr. K's finger, that he managed to survive. Otherwise, he would have been forced to animate his shadow to absorb those fatal injuries on his behalf.
Of course, he still had one more Mirror Substitution up his sleeve—courtesy of Jenna.
Overseer Perle stood firm beside the jutting rock deep within the quarry cave. She flashed Lumian a smile and said, "Those who defy supervision and try to flee shall face punishment."
As Franca and Lumian's attempts failed in quick succession, Jenna tossed out a handful of fluorescent dust, whispered an incantation, and promptly vanished from the Punisher dressed as a clergyman of the Eternal Blazing Sun Church.
A golden light surged around the Punisher, clad in a white robe adorned with golden threads, spreading outward in layers.
As the golden light reached an empty space, it abruptly encountered an obstacle, staining it a faint golden hue.
Jenna felt a surge of warmth and courage, but her eyes reflected a pure and magnificent blazing pillar of light.
Crack!
The pillar of light struck her, transforming her into a mirror and shattering her into pieces.
Anthony seized the chance to activate Psychological Invisibility once more. However, the Trier police incarnation didn't overlook him, as if it could detect the scent of sin on him.
Two bolts of lightning shot forth from the Punisher's eyes, piercing Anthony's soul.
Anthony's eyes bulged, his mouth agape, but he couldn't even muster a scream. He stood paralyzed, rooted to the spot.
"Death!" Trier's police incarnation uttered a single ancient Hermes word.
Clenching his right hand into a fist, he lunged at Anthony, leaving an afterimage in his wake.
Bang!
Imbued with a peculiar force, the fist collided with Anthony's head in an inescapable blow.
Crack! Anthony shattered into countless glimmering mirror fragments.
Franca, dressed in an assassin suit, reappeared.
Confronted by a demigod's overwhelming power, the ethereal, non-godhood-possessing Demoness of Black, and the sealed special mirror world, she decisively retrieved an item from her Traveler's Bag.
It was a silver-white full-body armor, taller than Franca herself.
Pride Armor!
Franca positioned the Pride Armor in front of her, its back facing Overseer Perle.
She was convinced that the demigod was the crux of the problem, not the Punisher taking the form of the Demoness of Black. If Perle remained unscathed, another Punisher would emerge to eliminate even after dispatching the first. She might even face a direct "accusation."
Franca noticed Perle standing beside a protruding rock with a fixed entrance to the mirror world.
It led her to believe that Perle could harness the Fourth Epoch Trier's abundant corruption to request a fixed entrance to the mirror world created by the Primordial Demoness. Not only would it allow them to enter and exit the conventional mirror world without relying on their inherent characteristics and abilities, but it would also serve as the gateway to this special mirror world.
After all, it could be considered a gift from a true god!
The instant the Pride Armor's feet touched the ground, it suddenly spun around, fixing an invisible gaze upon Overseer Perle.
Franca swiftly leaped to the side and rolled, avoiding facing the Pride Armor's back.
Thud thud thud!
The silver-white full-body armor charged towards Overseer Perle, condensing a broadsword of light in its hand.
…
In the dark cathedral bereft of a deity's Sacred Emblem, a pea rapidly grew, transforming into a multitude of thick turquoise vines that converted the area into a lush paradise of plants and an otherworldly forest.
They separated the suspended corpses, preventing them from approaching The Hermit.
Judgment, who had remained silent, extended her right palm, her eyes glowing with a copper-gold luster.
She spoke gravely in ancient Hermes, "Marionettes are prohibited here!"
The animated corpses abruptly ceased their movements, and Magician tore open the void before her, tainting it with resplendent starlight, forming an enchanting door.
Beyond the door was the portrait of a woman—Loki, who had undergone a bizarre transformation.
Loki reached into the air and pulled out a figure.
The figure was a woman with a voluptuous build, dressed in a black gown. A golden crown encrusted with jewels adorned her head. She had curly chestnut hair, blue eyes, a high nose bridge, and slightly thin lips. She exuded a Demoness-like allure from the inside out.
-x-X-x-
In the depths of the shadowy cathedral, Loki conjured a figure out of thin air. The scene unfolding beside him was vividly reflected in the eyes of the Major Arcana card holders: Magician, Judgment, and Hermit.
On the wall of aqueous-black stone bricks, a painting depicted a woman in a bright red dress adorned with intricate embroidery and lace. Her black hair was styled in an elegant high bun, and her face bore a mysterious, frozen smile. Her brown eyes seemed transfixed on the vivid, illusory ball of yarn before the Hermit and the peculiar golden lamp connected to its other end.
The woman remained within the mural, silently observing the scene.
At the same time, the mature lady with a golden crown, exuding the allure of a Demoness, was pulled from the air by Loki. She turned her piercing blue eyes towards the Hermit, who had just entered the cathedral's depths through the starlight door.
As her long, chestnut hair billowed, each strand thickening, she too seemed fixated on the Hermit.
Prophesying a grim future, the Hermit quickly shielded herself with the Magic Wishing Lamp.
Then, arching her back slightly, she sprouted pure white, illusory feathers reminiscent of a swan's.
Fairytale magic, Ugly Duckling!
Even an ugly duckling could transform into a swan!
This power allowed Saints who had not yet reached the Angel level to reveal their incomplete Mythical Creature forms.
The pristine swan feathers abruptly turned a grayish-white and hardened into falling rocks. The Hermit's exposed skin split open, revealing grotesque, sinister crevices.
Within the crevices, flesh and blood writhed, giving rise to black and white eyeballs.
The eyeballs petrified and fell away, only to be replaced by new ones. Yet, the Magic Wishing Lamp before the Hermit remained untouched.
The black-clad empress's body suddenly became ethereal, her form dissipating into a torrent of knowledge that surged towards Magician, dressed in white with golden embroidery.
Magician appeared beside Loki in an instant, but a deluge of information immediately emerged from the void behind her.
Vanishing, the Magician reappeared "simultaneously" in nine different locations throughout the cathedral, her form flickering incessantly.
Upon realizing that their target was the woman in the wall painting, she attempted to escape the shadowy cathedral by force, but each effort led her back to where she began.
The black-clad empress's incarnation continued to pour forth information from behind the Magician's nine figures, seeking to infiltrate the target's mind and denying her the time to tear through the void.
Smiling, Loki rose from the black wooden armchair and reached into the void with his right hand, as if grasping someone's arm once more.
Seizing the moment, Judgment reached the cathedral's dome and pressed down with her right palm, like chaos descending from the heavens to the earth.
In ancient Hermes, she solemnly declared, "Mystery weakens here, while reality grows stronger!"
…
As the silver Pride Armor raced towards Overseer Perle, Franca activated the Seven-Stone Bracelet on her left wrist.
The crimson, blood-like gem on the bracelet, adorned with three diamonds and four uniquely colored gems, burned with a fierce light.
In a flash, Franca appeared behind the Demoness of Black.
She refrained from joining the Pride Armor in confronting Overseer Perle, having learned from Lumian's encounter that their attacks would have no effect on the Overseer and only invite proportional punishment.
Instead, she resolved to eliminate the Demoness of Black, a Punisher lacking godhood and exhibiting rigidity. The Demoness was merely equivalent to a stronger Sequence 5 Beyonder, making it possible for Franca to deal with her.
As for Overseer Perle, the outcome depended on the changes and effects brought about by the Pride Armor, a Sealed Artifact devoid of "sin" and pragmatic intelligence.
Materializing, Franca raised her left hand, already adorned with the Ring of Punishment.
In her lake-blue eyes, two bolts of lightning suddenly ignited and shot forth.
Crack!
The Demoness of Black's figure shattered into countless fragments.
Dammit! Mirror Substitution is such a nuisance! Franca couldn't help but curse inwardly.
At that instant, Lumian had just endured the punishment for attempting to escape, the flesh cloak transformed from Mr. K's finger shattering and splattering on the ground.
He watched as the silver-white Pride Armor rushed to Overseer Perle's side, raising a broadsword forged from pure light.
Perle maintained her friendly smile, undaunted by the imposing presence of the massive, heavy armor.
An Overseer was impervious to attacks from those lacking godhood!
This was the sacred significance of overseeing.
As for daring to strike an Overseer lifeform, the consequences would be dire!
Perle could already envision the armor-like Sealed Artifact turning on the Demoness who had summoned it in the next moment.
As the Overseer contemplated this, the silver-white Pride Armor swung the Sword of Dawn in its grasp.
It remained unaffected!
Perle's pupils dilated as her figure in the bright red dress transformed into a pitch-black shadow.
The broadsword of light descended, cleaving the shadow in two.
The divided shadows took form, replicating multiple similar shadows that scattered in all directions.
The Pride Armor genuflected and drove the Sword of Dawn into the ground.
The broadsword shattered, unleashing countless sharp fragments of light that swept across the area.
The entire quarry cave was bathed in illumination. To Franca's surprise, the Demoness of Black, whose outline had been visible nearby, rapidly faded and vanished.
Likewise, Jenna and Anthony, who had been cornered by the clergyman of the Eternal Blazing Sun Church and the Trier police incarnations, found themselves no longer under attack or pursuit.
Bewildered, they observed as the Punishers, who had exerted immense pressure upon them, melted away like frost under the sun's rays.
Lumian was astonished by the Pride Armor's performance.
He had harbored little faith in the Sealed Artifact's ability to challenge Overseer Perle. Yet, to his pleasant surprise, it had exceeded his expectations!
Furthermore, he had noticed several peculiar details since Perle's arrival.
The Overseer's feet had not shifted an inch!
She stood beside a protruding rock with a fixed entrance to the mirror world, never pursuing or approaching. Instead, she exerted her influence upon them from a distance.
Could this be an inherent trait of an Overseer? Might the Pride Armor's capacity to strike her stem from the abhorrence and hatred imbued within it by a deity before His demise? Were only attacks infused with godhood or a corresponding level of corruption capable of harming an Overseer? Lumian frowned, pondering these possibilities.
Snapping out of her daze, Franca shouted to him, "Moran Avigny's makeup mirror!"
She knew that the Pride Armor could not so easily vanquish Overseer Perle. They had to seize this fleeting, uninterrupted window to escape the extraordinary mirror world.
Before Overseer Perle's appearance, the dark light emanating from Moran Avigny's makeup mirror had led Franca to suspect it might be the exit!
Franca trusted that Lumian grasped the full import of her concise words and refrained from elaborating further. The blue gem on her Seven-Stone Bracelet emitted a sea-like glow.
In an instant, she materialized beside Jenna, grasping her arm.
A diamond on the Seven-Stone Bracelet illuminated.
Teleport!
Franca and Jenna teleported to Moran Avigny's corpse and the nearby makeup mirror.
Meanwhile, Lumian readily understood Franca's message.
He activated the black mark on his right shoulder and teleported to Anthony's side. Without hesitation, he grabbed his teammate's arm and teleported once more.
Their destination: Moran Avigny's already open makeup mirror!
However, upon appearing near Moran Avigny's corpse, Franca and Lumian were stunned to discover that the makeup mirror had become illusory and unreal, as if it were a mere projection of the original item.
At that moment, they heard Overseer Perle's voice once again.
"You stand guilty! You have harmed an Overseer!"
As her voice echoed, the silver-white full-body armor ascended, and the void behind it ruptured into darkness.
Propelled by an unseen force, the Pride Armor plummeted into a centipede-like crack resembling a void scar, falling into a pitch-black abyss that extended as far as the eye could see. It vanished entirely from Lumian and his companions' sight.
Judgment: Exile!
Fragmented shadows swiftly converged beside the protruding rock with the fixed entrance to the mirror world. Overseer Perle, garbed in her red dress, reappeared.
Holding a makeup mirror in her hand, she smiled and said, "Did you believe I would leave the exit intact? I replaced it with a counterfeit long ago!"
Lumian, Franca, Jenna, and Anthony's expressions shifted slightly.
As these thoughts raced through his mind, Lumian, already grasping Anthony's arm, swiftly activated the black mark on his right shoulder.
He and Anthony vanished in an instant beside Moran Avigny's corpse.
Franca made a similar effort, causing the emerald in her Seven-Stone Bracelet to emit a transparent green light.
However, just as she Blinked with Jenna to a corner of the quarry cave, Perle's Words of Order resounded in her ears.
"You stand guilty! You attacked an Overseer!"
Franca was the one who had unleashed the Pride Armor!
As Franca prepared to use the Seven-Stone Bracelet to depart her current location, she suddenly witnessed the surrounding void freeze and transform into layers of amber, encasing her and Jenna within.
This was a "cage" from which even teleportation could not provide escape.
It encompassed the entire area, and even if Franca and Jenna attempted to employ Mirror Substitution, they would remain confined within its boundaries.
Judgment: Confinement!
Overseer Perle averted her gaze, searching for Lumian and Anthony.
She surveyed the surroundings but found no trace of the two.
-x-X-x-
Perle swiftly focused and took her Overseer position, carefully observing the different sections of the quarry cave.
The area was shrouded in darkness, with only a carbide lamp lying on its side providing a faint bluish-yellow light.
As she looked around, Perle spotted Lumian and Anthony.
They were both located at the quarry cave's exit, which marked the isolated boundary of this unique mirror world. It wasn't a viable escape route, leaving them trapped.
Lumian stood facing Perle, wearing the Flog boxing gloves with iron-black spikes. He gripped a brass revolver in his hand.
Anthony took cover behind him, their backs almost touching.
The Hypnotist, however, wasn't standing. He was down on one knee, using a blank sketchbook propped on his right thigh as a surface to quickly draw something with a short pencil.
Bottle of Fiction!
Lumian and Anthony found themselves inside a Bottle of Fiction, formed from the quarry cave's exit.
But this was pointless against Perle, who had a complete overview of the current mirror world. She could easily see where Lumian and Anthony were hiding.
As she watched the scene unfold, Overseer Perle felt a strange, unsettling aura, as if it involved a gray domain.
Lumian, as the team's leader and most powerful member, appeared to be buying the Spectator more time.
Whether he was gambling on her unwillingness to kill him, hoping to capture him alive, so he could be used as a shield, it was evident that the Spectator's actions were critical. Lumian believed it could either harm her—an Overseer—or help them evade an Overseer!
Without hesitation, Perle fixed her gaze on Lumian and Anthony within the Bottle of Fiction and declared in the Words of Order, "An Overseer sees all secrets!"
The moment she uttered those words, the Bottle of Fiction at the quarry cave's exit quietly disintegrated.
However, Perle noticed that while Lumian was no longer shielded by the Bottle of Fiction, Anthony still remained inside one. The Overseer's words had failed to dispel it!
Confirming this detail, Lumian smiled.
The Bottle of Fiction surrounding Anthony was created using him as a base.
His spread legs and the ground created a symbolic doorway.
Lumian's body arched slightly as he faced Overseer Perle. His smile twisted as he muttered under his breath, "Yes, Anthony is carrying out a crucial task under my guidance.
"But to break the Bottle of Fiction made from a living person like me, you must defeat me first. Anyone trying to harm Anthony will have to go through me!
"I am now Anthony's shield. I am the wall that protects him!"
Perle's smile diminished slightly as she regarded Lumian with a grave expression.
"You stand guilty!
"You murdered someone!"
Murder… Lumian's heart skipped a beat.
He wasn't surprised by the fact that he had killed someone, but he didn't expect Overseer Perle to charge him with such a crime.
No matter the form of the ensuing punishment, the ultimate outcome was set in stone.
A murderer met his end!
Doesn't she want to take me alive? Lumian had voluntarily become Anthony's shield, believing that Perle wouldn't risk killing him. This would limit many of her abilities. He hoped to buy time until Anthony finished the sketch on the Beyonder painting album he had gotten from Bard. The album's purpose was to bring drawings to life or manifest special effects for a period.
Unexpectedly, this plan fell apart from the start.
Of course, Lumian didn't bet everything on the possibility of the Overseer only wishing to capture him alive. It was impossible for him yo defeat a demigod, but he had some hope at buying time.
A muffled thunderclap resounded in the low ceiling of the quarry cave. Silver-white lightning serpents sprang forth, intertwining into a tree of lightning as wide as a barrel, aimed at Lumian.
Before the thunder echoed and the lightning struck, Lumian had already lifted his hand, pointing the brass revolver at the world's punishment.
His blue eyes turned iron-black, but he couldn't perceive any weakness in the terrifying lightning.
His only option was to channel blazing white flames into the revolver and the bullet about to be fired.
Bang!
As the threatening silver-white tree of lightning hurtled down, a bullet glowing with dark green flames shot from the muzzle, colliding with the immense lightning bolt.
Weakening Bullet!
This was the Weakening Bullet he had obtained from Jebus!
Instantly, the barrel-thick lightning bolt shattered the dark-green bullet and the blazing white flames encasing it. A blinding silver-white light engulfed Lumian.
Boom!
A horrifying roar assaulted Anthony's ears, causing his body to shudder involuntarily, nearly deafening him.
He remembered the night the cultists attacked the army camp. Gunfire, cannon blasts, screams, and shouts came from every direction, overwhelming him with panic and fear. It had left a profound psychological scar that took years to heal.
Now, he felt as if he had been transported back to that moment.
Anthony gathered himself and looked at the blank sketchbook before resuming his sketch. The pencil in his hand rustled as it moved.
He could still vividly recall Lumian's body language: "Unless I die and someone steps over my corpse, no one can harm you!"
Compared to the helplessness and terror of that night at the military camp, where everyone was in peril, Anthony felt the current situation wasn't as dire.
At the very least, I have a dependable companion!
At the very least, someone is willing to risk their life to protect me!
Amidst the innumerable silver lightning serpents, Lumian's body first fractured into mirror shards, then charred and crumbled into dust—the Mirror Substitution Jenna had provided him!
Lumian's figure reappeared, standing firm in his spot with his legs slightly parted.
Rumble. The thunder in the sky didn't fade with the previous punishment. A new round of execution was brewing.
Since the Overseer had prosecuted, the punishment would persist until the target was well and truly dead!
Lumian's scalp prickled, and his black hair stood on end from the lingering electricity in the air.
Seconds later, an even more magnificent and terrifying colossal lightning bolt silently descended.
Already clenching his teeth, Lumian tossed aside his revolver and raised his hands, allowing the Flog boxing gloves with iron-
black thorns to precisely meet the lightning's tip. Blazing white fireballs materialized above him.
The Flog boxing gloves could withstand an attack imbued with godhood at the cost of shattering or cracking!
Boom!
Amidst the abrupt, devastating explosion, the silver-white tree of death, composed of lightning, stopped at Lumian's fist and the Flog boxing gloves.
Rumble. Blazing white flames burst forth, driving the tiny lightning serpents back.
The lightning punishment quickly subsided, but the muffled rumble in the air lingered.
With multiple resounding cracks, Lumian's Flog boxing gloves turned charred and cracked, shattering into countless pieces that rained down.
Seeing a fresh round of lightning about to form, Lumian knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't resist urging Anthony inwardly, Why isn't it done yet? I can only hold on a little longer!
After a brief, suffocating silence, a silver-white giant lightning serpent abruptly struck from midair, illuminating the entire quarry cave and the smile on Overseer Perle's face.
Lumian only had time for one thing.
He animated his shadow and switched places with it.
Boom!
Amid the sharp and urgent thunderstorm, the giant lightning serpent consumed the shadow, instantly vaporizing it without a trace.
At last, this round of punishment concluded, and Lumian reappeared in front of Anthony. His legs were slightly apart, and his back was somewhat hunched, but no shadow remained under his feet.
Why isn't it finished yet? Lumian thought anxiously.
He considered dismantling the Bottle of Fiction and teleporting Anthony around.
However, he could tell that the Overseer's prosecuted punishment wouldn't end simply because he changed positions. With the speed of lightning, he couldn't depend on teleportation to evade it.
It wasn't a matter of teleportation being too slow, but rather the time he needed to activate the black mark on his right shoulder.
Rumbling thunder resonated in Lumian's ears, heralding the impending punishment.
Behind Lumian, sweat the size of soybeans formed on Anthony's forehead as he crouched on one knee, drawing on his right thigh, which served as a table.
The sketch's first half was successful and completed quickly, but for some reason, the final stroke suddenly became challenging.
The painting album influenced the pencil, causing it to greedily absorb Anthony's spirituality. However, even this substantial amount of spirituality could only inch the black lines forward slowly.
At the same time, the edges of the blank drawing page gradually curled, igniting with transparent flames, as if struggling to contain what Anthony was about to draw.
Anthony was well aware that this painting album was not meant to display such a thing, but he had complete faith in Lumian's judgment and persevered.
Rumble!
The muffled thunder intensified, and Anthony, within the Bottle of Fiction, could hear it clearly.
Despite being a Psychiatrist, he found himself unable to control his emotions. Nervousness, impatience, anxiety, and panic surged within him.
He composed himself and continued the final stroke.
Seeing the terrifying silver lightning on the brink of taking shape and Anthony still silent behind him, Lumian felt a wave of despair.
Am I about to die?
Very well, I'd like to see what Termiboros looks like!
Death… Suddenly, a flash of inspiration illuminated Lumian's mind.
He retrieved an item from his Traveler's Bag.
It was a golden mask adorned with several dashes of oil paint.
He had obtained this golden mask from Hisoka, and it originated from Death!
Lumian swiftly put on the golden mask, his body rapidly growing cold as his aura gradually dissipated.
The terrifying lightning punishment brewing in midair abruptly came to a standstill.
Lumian gazed up at the silver-white electric serpents that no longer converged, his lips curling beneath the golden mask.
He had become an undead creature!
One of the golden mask's purposes was to transform the wearer into an undead being while preserving their intelligence!
Since Lumian was now "dead," the punishment had fulfilled its purpose. It naturally came to an end!
Witnessing this, the Overseer was momentarily taken aback before grasping the situation.
She chuckled, but her composure remained intact.
While the punishments descended, she had not sat idle and had prepared for any unforeseen circumstances.
She used a coin bag to execute an Under the Table transaction.
Her right hand was about to withdraw.
Behind Lumian, Anthony watched as the curled-up edge and invisible flames rapidly spread to the center of the painting page, intensifying his despair.
Even if he managed to complete the final stroke, the drawing paper would be rendered useless—nothing effective would come out of it.
Anthony gritted his teeth, choosing to trust his companion and Lumian.
He recalled Lumian's instructions: "Draw Monette first before drawing Madam Magician!"
Monette, the Islander swindler Monette… The instant this thought crossed Anthony's mind, he was astonished to see the painting paper's edge halt and the invisible flames temporarily freeze.
His pencil movements became smoother.
Mustering his spirituality, he finished drawing a monocle outlined by simple lines on the right eye of the thin-faced Islander with sunken eyes, thick lips, and slightly curly black hair.