Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Shattered Mirror, The Uninvited Guest

The flesh-colored cocoon wriggled in the air, contracting.

There was no doubt this was the core of the entire Reflection World. If it appeared alongside the Glorious City in the mirror, then… it had probably been hiding here, hatching for a full three hundred years.

What on earth was it hatching?

But seeing it, Edwina suddenly understood why it had sucked living beings into this place that reversed the laws of life and death, both three hundred years ago and now.

It was devouring souls, transforming them into the nutrients it needed for its gestation. Creating undead was merely a byproduct to facilitate this process.

After all, it’s easier to absorb and plunder the chaotic souls of the undead than those of rational, intact living beings.

No wonder the undead in both the Foregone and Reverse Forgotten Lands gave Edwina a sense of some sort of difference. Outside, the hierarchy was clear, and their desire to attack the living was stronger, acting purely on instinct.

Yet inside, they formed groups based on some past relationships rather than strength, displaying a degree of self-preservation and even remnants of rationality.

It appeared that the undead in the real Forgotten Land were mere byproducts discarded after their souls had been absorbed by this cocoon, whereas those inside were still unactivated reserves.

Most of her questions had been answered, and now Edwina was left with two things she couldn’t understand.

Why had this thing stayed hidden in the mirror world for three hundred years without revealing itself, yet suddenly began brazenly plundering the living at this time?

That kind of widespread disturbance clearly wasn’t targeting just one individual. Judging by the intensifying waves, it probably had already spread beyond the Forgotten Land, meaning soon strong individuals from various kingdoms would notice the anomaly and come to investigate.

Was it because the “food” was running out? Or was it about to hatch, feeling no fear?

Also, had its ability to swap the living into the Reflection World weakened?

After all, she was just a somewhat fearless knight of earth level. Though blessed and protected by a god, she couldn’t possibly match up to legendary figures.

Back then, the Glorious City had vanished overnight, taking over a hundred thousand people, even some true strong ones. Why had she struggled for dozens of attempts before finally succeeding?

Logic dictated that the longer the incubation period, the stronger the power, right?

The Holy Knight lady couldn’t comprehend, but there was only one thing she could do.

Try to injure, even kill this hatching flesh cocoon. Only by shattering the core of the Reflection World would she have a chance to escape.

Otherwise, she would only end up assimilated into the undead, lost in a haze as it claimed her soul—her only fate.

Edwina knew her chances of success were slim. Those powerful individuals that had been sucked into this place surely must have tried the same thing, yet the Reflection World still existed, and the world remained unaware of the Glorious City’s “curse.”

If she did nothing, she’d have no chance at all.

Gripping her long sword and holy shield tightly, she channeled her holy power into her palms, the blessed weapon glowing anew with a dazzling golden radiance that was out of place here.

Edwina didn’t know if the flesh cocoon had sight or hearing; she could only rely on her experience to sneak quietly close to its position, accumulating power in wait for a world-shattering strike.

The peculiar flesh cocoon remained motionless, seemingly unaware of a sly little mouse creeping close. It continued to contract and expand rhythmically; even when Edwina moved to within a dozen meters, it didn’t react.

Weird, is it this dull?

If this flesh cocoon was the one releasing the mixed mental energy, its senses ought to be very sharp. Edwina didn’t have the confidence to think it wouldn’t notice her being so close.

Could it be some sort of trap?

The ruins ahead were the end of the line; advancing further would bring her into the open, with no obstructions left to hide behind. The young Holy Knight would face the grotesque body of this evil entity head-on.

At this point, she had no choice but to give it her all; victory or defeat hinged on this…

Huh?

*Thud…*

From somewhere, a heavy, tremulous sound reverberated, like a giant striking a barrier.

Edwina, already extremely tense, reflexively pulled her raised hand back and looked up in confusion, not quite understanding the situation.

*Thud thud thud…*

The knocking grew more frantic and vigorous, the entire air resonating with the dull thuds, as if this world were resisting a devilish hand trying to reach in.

No, considering this world’s environment and origin, it would be more fitting to describe it as a hand of judgment or perhaps a hand of God.

*Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud…*

The unseen attacker outside seemed a bit impatient now, the force of the strikes suddenly increasing, causing the whole Reflection to shake violently, screaming in agony.

Ancient ruins collapsed with a thunderous roar, and Edwina, who was unstable from the violent shaking, was rendered entirely exposed.

But whether it was her or the master of the Reflection World, they had no time to worry about such things.

The former couldn’t even keep upright anymore, as the echoing thunderous strikes left her dizzy, scrambling to discern east from west.

As for the flesh cocoon, which seemed to have already detected Edwina’s presence, it was utterly preoccupied; all its attention was focused on controlling the mirror image and resisting the terrifying invader from the outside.

*Thud thud thud… crackle crackle…*

Somewhere, a weary howl sounded, overwhelmed by the strain; though Edwina couldn’t see it, from the increasingly frequent and intense sounds of shattering around her…

Having once studied the arts of spatial magic and structure, she realized the spatial barrier connecting and isolating the two worlds had likely begun to fissure, soon losing its effect.

And just as the breaking sounds reached a crescendo, like the complete collapse of a ruined Great Wall…

*Crash!!!*

In a spot that had been empty, the space shattered like a lens, creating a deep, black hole several meters wide.

A delicate hand that seemed to belong to a girl reached through, still in a fist-clenching pose.

Then, including its owner—the blonde-haired, golden-eyed girl, along with a black-haired girl and a massive golden-armored warrior, they stepped through.

“Wow, is this the world inside that mirror? It’s quite big!”

The black-haired priestess in a white robe looked around curiously.

“It stinks, like a fake, counterfeit reverse law vibe.”

The blonde girl commented as she punched through the world barrier.

The golden-armored warrior said nothing; his gaze swept over the bewildered Holy Knight lady and finally zeroed in on the pink flesh cocoon suspended between the crumbling walls.

He slowly raised his great sword.

*Swish swish swish swish swish!*

The prepared cocoon lashed out with countless tentacle-like appendages, fiercely attacking the three newcomers, treating them entirely differently than it had Edwina; the speed was so fast that the Holy Knight lady barely saw it coming.

However…

With a flash of golden light, Edwina also couldn’t see what the golden-armored warrior did. Every tentacle charging from various angles was simultaneously severed in two, losing its power and life.

He turned around, sword tip pointed forward, his deep voice resonating with undeniable authority.

“Offending my lord’s majesty is punishable by death!”

The sword light flashed again, and from the very center of the cocoon that brought Edwina profound fear, grotesque green blood erupted, as the tragic wail of an unknown creature echoed throughout the entire mirror world.

   

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