Chapter 34: Snowflake

Lucian's gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, his movements swift as lightning. With a flash of his blade, he sliced two cards into fragments, scattering them across the ground. Yet, without a moment's hesitation or pause, he immediately turned and charged toward Scar.

Because he knew full well—only by relentlessly swinging his blade could he fully unleash the devastating power of this skill.

Though Scar had primarily relied on firearms until now, close-quarters combat was not unfamiliar to him.

Instead of wielding a weapon, Scar opted to grip a card between two fingers, treating it as a razor-sharp blade, engaging in battle in a unique style.

As Lucian closed in for the attack, Scar nimbly leaped backward, effortlessly evading the strike, then swiftly hurled two crimson cards mid-air. It had to be admitted—Scar possessed vast combat experience.

Rover and Lucian narrowly dodged the assault, their movements agile and fluid.

"Will there truly no longer be distinctions between perpetrators and victims?"

Lucian laughed as he swung his blade: "Scar, you're no black sheep—you're just a self-righteous failure!"

His attacks grew fiercer, each slash carrying a ruthless momentum that left Scar struggling to keep up.

Meanwhile, Rover circled the battlefield, seizing opportunities to launch sudden strikes.

Gradually, Scar found himself at a disadvantage, yet he stubbornly held his ground.

Then, in that moment—Lucian seized the perfect opening and unleashed a decisive killing blow.

His figure flickered like a ghost, materializing behind Scar in an instant, his blade thrusting forward with lethal precision.

Scar sensed the danger.

He barely managed to evade, but the blade still grazed his shoulder, leaving a trail of blood in its wake.

Faced with the relentless storm of attacks from the duo and their three Echoes, Scar's defenses began to crumble.

Lucian hadn't even revealed his trump card yet. Throughout the battle, he sensed that Scar wasn't fighting at full strength.

Was it because he didn't want to hurt Rover?

Just then, Yangyang's voice echoed through the void: "Rover! Lucian!"

Scar suddenly dropped to one knee, letting out a cold snort. "Tch. She's really persistent."

The moment the words left his lips, the illusion shattered, and Lucian's vision swam with dizziness.

...

"Rover… Rover…"

Rover slowly stirred awake. "...Yangyang."

"Are we back in Qichi Village?"

Yangyang nodded. "Yes. I broke his illusion. He must be injured too."

Still kneeling on one knee, Scar spoke in a tone laced with frustration:

"Hah… Should I thank you for holding back?"

A red card materialized in his hand, then shot toward the trio.

But Lucian, standing protectively in front of the two women, merely raised his blade slightly—shattering the card with ease.

"We've heard the story. Let's end it here."

Scar rose to his feet with a cold laugh. "How unexpected. The most surprising one here… is actually you."

No sooner had he spoken than footsteps echoed from behind him.

The sound grew closer, each step like a weight pressing against one's heart.

Then, a woman in red appeared behind him—her figure slender, as light as a willow branch swaying in the wind.

Her long, ashen hair cascaded like a waterfall down to her waist.

Her expression was indifferent, as though nothing in the world could capture her attention.

Bandages wrapped around her head, leaving only a single eye exposed—one that was cold and enigmatic.

On her left arm, the clear markings of a Tacet Mark were visible, confirming she, too, was a Resonator.

Her presence thickened the air, as though the entire world had frozen in this moment.

Lucian's pupils constricted.

He recognized her—the very reflection he had seen in the water when he entered the illusion at Rearguard Base.

Could she be the one leading the Tacet Discord surge on the frontlines?

If she were the one inviting Rover to join Fractsidus, Lucian would've dragged Rover into agreeing without a second thought!

Who'd still be here listening to Scar's nonsense?

Ahem. Just kidding.

When it came to sinister organizations, Lucian had always kept his distance.

Scar sighed upon seeing her. "Tch. Didn't we agree before coming that you'd leave this time to me and Rover?"

The mysterious woman in red stepped forward, standing side by side with Scar.

"I hope you haven't forgotten the condition of that agreement."

"Don't improvise. Don't cause trouble for others."

Improvise?

Lucian guessed that this meeting wasn't originally meant to involve a fight with Rover—perhaps Scar had acted on his own.

The woman glanced at Rover, then scrutinized Lucian up and down.

"And more importantly… you left an unexpected variable outside."

Scar shot Lucian a displeased look and snorted.

"No need to rush out just to protect your fragile 'perfect symphony.'"

"I know my limits. What should and shouldn't be done—I don't need you to remind me."

He turned back to Rover. "It seems… our little rendezvous ends here."

"But remember what I warned you."

"I wonder… will you choose the gift that falls from the heavens, the transaction laid bare, or the gamble where all chips are pushed forward?"

"You're smart. I trust you won't make a decision lightly."

"We'll meet again soon."

A crimson portal materialized behind the two, emblazoned with the image of ram's horns.

They stepped through—and vanished.

Yangyang looked anxious but still asked, "They're escaping… Should we pursue them?"

Rover shook her head. "...No. Their strength is unclear."

Lucian sheathed his sword and turned to her with concern. "Forget them. Are you alright?"

Ever since Scar's appearance, Yangyang had been cut off from them.

"Scar's Resonance ability seems to involve spatial teleportation and creating alternate dimensions. He trapped me in a sealed space—I could only sense that it wasn't far from here."

Lucian rubbed his chin. "Just as I thought. His Resonance is space-related."

Yangyang bowed her head slightly. "It took me some time to break the illusion. Sorry for arriving late."

Lucian smiled. "As long as you're unharmed."

Just then, the Tick Tack that had been hiding in the distance suddenly floated over.

"Squeak… squeak… Bro… ther."

"Huh? Why's this little one coming over now?"

Lucian crouched down and patted its head. "Probably hid earlier because it was scared."

Yangyang watched curiously. "I've never seen a Tacet Discord display such vivid emotions before…"

"But… the 'brother' it's calling for… Could it be…?"

Lucian frowned. "Scar?"

Yangyang nodded. "He has been here before…"

"But more importantly… What happened while I was gone?"

The two recounted the clues they had uncovered and the allegorical tale to Yangyang.

After a moment of contemplation, she spoke. "It seems the truth of Qichi Village is deeply tied to that 'ritual.'"

Rover added, "And hidden within Scar's 'fable.'"

Yangyang sighed. "Using a 'fable' to embellish his beliefs and stance… That does align with his capricious, elusive nature."

"Only by finding the true site of the 'ritual' can we verify whether this is just Scar's one-sided tale."

Rover nodded. "Mm. Let's go see."

But just then—Lucian suddenly felt a gaze upon him.

He turned slightly, only to spot a single snowflake drifting down onto a bush in the distance.