Abby, who had been flung away, hurriedly flew back, furious. "Lucian! How could you do this?!"
The Fractsidus grunt across from them burst into laughter. "So this is your secret weapon?"
Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you say you were amazing? Can't even handle a few grunts?"
Abby scowled slightly. "I'm good at dealing with Tacet Discords, not humans!"
At that moment, Changli stepped forward, her voice icy. "In that case, this is where your journey ends."
The lead Fractsidus Gunmaster sneered. "Changli, still putting up a front even now?"
"We've learned not just about the chessboard's secrets but also the price you've paid… You're already at your limit."
"Following you has saved us a lot of trouble."
Lucian glanced at Changli in confusion. Price? What price?
Changli shook her head slightly, giving him a reassuring look.
Reassured, Lucian summoned the Yamato in his hand. "Even your Lady Phrolova couldn't kill me. What hope do a bunch of small fries like you have?"
The Fractsidus Gunmaster tightened his grip on his blade, furious. "Such arrogance! Brothers, attack with me!"
A swarm of Fractsidus believers charged forward, weapons in hand.
Changli moved to assist, but Rover pulled her back. "He can handle it."
Changli: "…"
Lucian unleashed the Purification Force Field, creating a powerful wind domain that engulfed all the Fractsidus followers, lifting them off their feet and pressing them face-to-face, rendering them powerless.
With his Blood Saber technique, Lucian cut them down one after another, finishing with a resounding Echoing Orchestra.
As the battle ended swiftly, Rover stepped forward, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe the blood from Lucian's face.
From a distant peak, Phrolova watched coldly. "Useless trash."
The believer behind her paled. "The human-wave tactic failed!"
He lowered his head, not daring to meet her gaze. "Lady Phrolova, I underestimated them."
Phrolova took a deep breath. "Forget it. I should've expected this."
"In that case, I'll have to go myself."
The believer quickly protested, "No! Lady Phrolova, if anything were to happen to you… Let me redeem myself!"
Phrolova cast him a cold glance. "You?"
"Fine. If the opportunity arises, capture Lucian for me… alive."
The believer bowed repeatedly. "Understood! I won't disappoint you."
….
Below.
"Alright, the obstacles are cleared. Let's go in."
The three stepped into the mirage, and a wave of dizziness overtook them…
"Ugh…"
Rover woke groggily, surveying her surroundings. "An unfamiliar space… Lucian and Changli are gone… I need to find them quickly."
Lucian slowly opened his eyes, his head feeling as if it were buried between two warm pillows.
Everything was dark, but a sweet, milky fragrance filled the air, intoxicating him.
Confused, he lifted his head, only to see Changli's enchanting face gazing down at him with an amused smile.
Somehow, he was lying on top of her.
Lucian: "?"
He quickly composed himself, masking his embarrassment. "I get it now, Changli. This mirage must be amplifying our deepest desires. We have to be careful!"
Despite his words, his arms remained wrapped around her slender waist, unwilling to let go.
Changli chuckled softly, her fingers brushing his cheek. "Oh?"
Lucian nodded solemnly. "Yes."
Then, with a muffled groan, he added, "See? The damn mirage is triggering my desires again!"
With that, he buried his face back into her chest.
Changli laughed, gently stroking his head as if soothing a child.
"If you stayed in Jinzhou," she murmured, "I wouldn't mind your desires being stirred… even outside the mirage."
"…"
Lucian stayed silent for a moment before abruptly lifting his head and looking around. "Wait, where's Rover?"
It wasn't that he didn't want to stay in Jinzhou, he still had Shorekeeper's commission to fulfill.
But even without that, he'd never leave Rover's side. She trusted him completely, and he adored her.
As for Jinzhou… Changli probably wanted him to stay and assist Magistrate Jinhsi long-term. Maybe it was out of a teacher's concern for her student.
But Lucian believed Jinhsi could stand on her own now. She didn't need him to prop her up.
At most, he'd visit often. Besides, Chixia and the others were still here—he'd never abandon Jinzhou entirely.
A shadow flickered in Changli's eyes as she explained, "Rover vanished the moment we entered this mirage."
"The frequency disturbances are relentless. The chaotic timeflow here mirrors Mount Firmament when its barrier was breached."
"This is a mirage intertwined with temporal turbulence. If you lose your way, you may never escape."
Lucian nodded in understanding and stood, straightening his clothes. "Then let's regroup with Rover quickly. And that secret technique for immortality…"
He started forward, but Changli caught his hand.
Puzzled, he turned back.
Her eyes held something unreadable as she whispered, "We go together."
Lucian nodded. "…Alright."
As they ventured deeper, they reached an open space. Above them loomed a massive chessboard, its layout identical to the one outside the mirage.
"Is this… related to your master?" Lucian asked, squeezing her hand.
Changli tilted her head up, exposing the delicate curve of her neck, tempting enough to make Lucian want to nip at it.
"If it's tied to Master, is it meant to mislead, to test, or…?"
Before they could ponder further, a voice rang out.
"Heh. Just when I thought I'd have to search high and low…"
They turned to see a Fractsidus member in red robes and a golden cross mask approaching.
Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Him?"
Changli's expression darkened. "A straggler… You know him?"
Lucian nodded. "Remember when we first arrived at Mount Firmament?"
"After Phrolova teleported me away, this guy appeared behind her."
"Phrolova must be nearby, maybe even inside this mirage. They've been watching us."
The Fractsidus member chuckled. "Sharp. No wonder Lady Phrolova wants you so badly."
Lucian: "…Do all Fractsidus members talk in ways that invite misunderstandings?"
The believer stepped closer, sneering. "Enough chatter. Come quietly, and you won't get hurt."
Lucian smirked. "Oh? Not planning to kill me now?"
The believer scoffed. "Only because Lady Phrolova is merciful. Otherwise, for harming her, I'd execute you on the spot."
Lucian deadpanned. "'Merciful' isn't a word I'd associate with her."
Changli stepped in front of Lucian, her voice frosty. "No matter your goals or methods, Lucian isn't leaving with you."
In her hand materialized 'Blazing Brilliance'.
Lucian's eyes narrowed. He could sense Changli's frequency fluctuating rapidly, her body temperature rising. Even at a distance, he felt the heat radiating off her—her clothes seemed on the verge of burning.
Is this the side effect of her Resonance? Or… the 'price' that Fractsidus craftsman mentioned?
Gently, he placed a hand on her shoulder, enduring the scalding heat, and whispered in her ear, "Let me handle this."
Changli shook her head firmly. "Outside the mirage, you cleared the path for us. This time, it's my turn."
Lucian hesitated. This masked Fractsidus member was likely Phrolova's right hand—he'd seen him in the secret realm before. He had to be strong.
He wasn't sure how powerful Changli was, but she seemed confident.
If things go south, I'll step in. It should be fine…
"Alright."
The Fractsidus believer tsked. "How touching. But—"
Before he finished, he lunged, his metal arm aimed straight for Changli's face.
Fast. Lucian's grip tightened around 'Comrade's Hammer' in his pocket, ready to intervene.
Changli remained calm, transforming into a fiery phoenix that soared upward before diving down. Scorching flames engulfed the area, even igniting her red-and-black robes.
The believer barely dodged, then closed in again. Changli blocked with her sword, the clash of metal ringing through the space.
As the believer prepared another strike, a deafening gunshot echoed.
He reacted swiftly, raising his arm to shield his head—just as the bullet struck.
The impact shattered his metal limb, blood gushing out.
"ARGH—!"
Howling in pain, he glared at Lucian. You said you'd let her fight! Since when did you start shooting?!
Lucian smirked. "You actually thought I'd just stand here and watch?"
"Now, you've got two choices: the two of us gang up on you, or you take us both on alone."
The believer snarled, "THAT'S THE SAME THING!"
Enraged, he charged with his remaining arm.
But before Lucian could act, Changli pulled him into an embrace.
"Eternal Blaze—"
The flames consumed everything. The believer shrieked, writhing as if dancing.
Lucian pulled out his terminal, recording the spectacle.
A second later, the believer was reduced to ashes.
Lucian sighed. "Not even dust left."
The moment he spoke, Changli collapsed weakly into his arms.
He carried her to a nearby stone seat.
"Are you okay?"
Her outer robes had burned away, leaving only a white undershirt that revealed her pale, smooth arms.
Changli smiled weakly, hiding her Resonance exhaustion. "…Thank you. I'm fine."
Lucian pinched her flushed cheek. "Really? You call this 'fine'?"
Interlacing their fingers, he channeled Healing Art, a soft glow emanating from their joined hands.
Honestly, using this so much is draining me. Maybe I should save treating Jiao-Jiao for nighttime to avoid emergencies.
Once Changli's temperature normalized, he stopped.
She smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Doing this only makes me want to keep you here even more."
"But before that… thank you. For helping Jinzhou so much despite being an outsider… I owe you."
Since Lucian arrived, he'd aided Jinzhou against the Threnodians, restored Mount Firmament's timeflow…
Of course, Rover deserved thanks too—but that could wait until after Lucian stayed for good.
Changli's smile turned slightly devious.
[Ding! Option 3 Completed! Reward: Skill "Copy-Paste Technique" Acquired!]
[Copy-Paste Technique: Perfectly replicates any item or tool once. Cannot be reused on the same object.]
Lucian had almost forgotten about the system's pending rewards.
His gaze drifted to Changli's slender legs, still clad in black stockings. He coughed. "Rather than thanking me, thank yourself. Without your strategies, we wouldn't have succeeded."
Changli's eyes softened as she watched him. But he wasn't done.
"If you really want to repay me… I've actually admired you for a long time, so…"
Changli's curiosity piqued. "So…?"
Lucian declared, "Please give me your stockings!"
I'm truly shameless. Her robes are gone, and I'm trying to take her stockings too. What if she catches a cold?!
Changli: "?"
After a stunned pause, she burst into laughter. "You never fail to surprise me."
Her arms looped around his neck as she leaned in, her lips brushing his ear.
"If you want them," she whispered, "take them yourself…"