Chapter 318 316-A Thorny Issue
Ethan grasped Lana Mokos's shoulders, giving her a gentle shake:
"Come to your senses, it was all just a dream."
Lana Mokos's lovely eyebrows knitted together in confusion:
"No, that's not right. It was definitely you, you're the one who sparked my interest in Illusion as a child."
"It led me to study Illusion later, to even specialize in it..."
Ethan's lips parted, as if he wanted to say something, but no words came out.
Never mind, he had already rescued Lana Mokos.
Let her say what she wants, however she wants to say it.
A sense of curiosity rippled through Ethan regarding Lana Mokos's childhood:
"How did you get out? I missed the final piece."
Lana Mokos's eyes shifted from confused to focused, a glimmer returning to her gaze.
She hung her head low, her expression one of profound loss.
Ethan coughed, a forced chuckle escaping him: "Of course, if you don't wish to speak of it, then don't. I don't need to know that badly."
"I killed Sheridan," Lana Mokos stated, devoid of emotion.
A twitch pulled at the corner of Ethan's eye, leaving him even more at a loss for words.
Lana Mokos sat on the ground, hugging her knees, her soft hair dancing freely.
"Actually, that incident has always been a pain in my heart. As a child, I witnessed Sheridan murder my older brother. I just hid and did nothing."
"I remember clearly, the moment Sheridan's dagger pierced my brother's chest, blood sprayed out, staining half of Sheridan's body red."
"Sheridan's face was filled with a violent satisfaction, and I, shrinking in fear, was like a little rabbit."
"After Sheridan left, I approached my brother, he was still alive..."
Tears streamed from Lana Mokos's ice-blue eyes, her facial muscles trembling.
"He reached out, trying to say something to me, but he couldn't speak, only blood poured from his mouth."
"I was terrified. I feared that after witnessing this, Sheridan would kill me next. So, disregarding my brother's life or death, I fled in panic, hiding in my own chambers."
Lana Mokos cried silently, her sobs breaking Ethan's heart.
He embraced her tightly, feeling her tears soaking his shirt.
Lana Mokos shook her head in extreme agony:
"Do you know? I watched my brother die before my eyes. His blood was still warm and flowing, yet I just watched..."
"I am so useless."
Ethan hugged Lana Mokos even tighter, whispering comfortingly:
"It's not your fault. The only one at fault is the demon Sheridan alone. You were just scared, you did nothing wrong."
Lana Mokos's soft sobs left Ethan at a loss for words.
When Lana Mokos's cries finally ceased, Ethan snapped to attention:
"Now is not the time for tears. Daphne is still trapped in the dream."
With swollen red eyes and a hoarse voice, Lana Mokos exclaimed:
"Why didn't you say so earlier? Daphne's life is more important."
The distance between them and Daphne's rainbow bubble was vast, due to Lana Mokos's own bubble having drifted far away.
Ethan quickly got to his feet and ran, with Lana Mokos close on his heels.
Indeed, busyness can make one forget sorrow.
The negativity in Lana Mokos's heart cleared as she demanded of Ethan:
"What is this place, and what are all these things?"
"This is Pochi's territory. These rainbow bubbles are the hunting weapons it spits out after sleeping," Ethan explained swiftly.
"Pochi? Isn't that the pet of the God of Night? Why would a deity's pet appear in the Deityforsaken Land?" Lana Mokos responded in surprise.
Ethan shook his head, "That, I don't know. We'll talk about it later."
Reaching Daphne, Ethan halted, anxiety washing over him as he looked upon the sleeping figure.
"Lana, I'm entrusting you with a task of utmost importance."
Without a moment's hesitation, Lana Mokos declared:
"Don't worry. I'll ensure your safety from the outside. I won't leave your side for a second."
Ethan waved his hand dismissively, his gaze lifting to the gray sky:
"Safety isn't my primary concern. These rainbow bubbles spat out by Pochi are like a spider's web: dangerous, yet an excellent shield. And Pochi, the greatest threat to us, is still slumbering. As long as we don't provoke it deliberately, we should be safe."
"You mean..." Lana Mokos furrowed her brow.
"Time," Ethan pointed to the heavens. "I remember spending a month inside your Illusion, but when I emerged, the Deityforsaken Land remained unchanged. This time, you need to keep track of the time while you're outside."
Lana Mokos nodded, "Don't worry."
Ethan nodded firmly, giving Lana Mokos a meaningful look.
His hands touched Daphne's rainbow bubble.
Under Lana Mokos's astonished gaze, a spiral pattern appeared on the bubble, and in an instant, Ethan was drawn inside.
She distinctly saw Ethan shrink and become encapsulated within the rainbow bubble.
Lana Mokos's eyes sparkled with realization as she whispered to herself:
"The Power of Space? Could it be that mastering the Power of Space is also required for Illusion? Might this be the guidance I need to further advance my Illusion?"
...
Within Daphne's dream.
Ethan transformed into a specter once more, floating in the void.
He did not act rashly but instead stood suspended in the emptiness, deep in thought.
"The obsession of Lana Mokos among myself, Lana, and Daphne, must be the deepest. If I leave even a single clue unguarded, she could forever sink into the abyss of the dream."
"My own obsessions, or rather inner demons, should rank in the middle. Moreover, my will is firm, born from the willingness to confront death. Shattering the Illusion seems perilous, yet in truth, it is the simplest task."
"Daphne has lived in the jungle since childhood, with beasts for company and Phito as both father and mentor. By all accounts, Daphne's mind should be the purest, free of demons and obsessions."
"Pochi should have no hold over Daphne, yet she remains ensnared in slumber. This perplexes me beyond measure."
At this thought, Ethan's train of contemplation abruptly shattered.
Just as Ethan pondered, Daphne's mind was untainted, never strained by the complexities of pain and suffering.
Daphne could not possibly harbor any inner demons, yet she was still dragged into Pochi's Illusion.
What could be the reason for this?
At that moment, within the Illusion, the scenery underwent a drastic change.
As if someone had hit the fast-forward button, everything within the Illusion began to whirl by at breakneck speed.
Trees grew wildly, shooting up, then aging.
Flowers bloomed with vibrant beauty, only to wither at an accelerated pace.
Even the fruits that fell to the ground rotted away into dust with astonishing rapidity.
The world's velocity hastened, until the sky was slashed by the celestial lights of auroras, freezing time in that very moment.
Ethan's eyes snapped open wide, recognizing the auroras that were all too familiar.
Wasn't this the deity-bestowed Aurora Veil?
Ethan, swaying, made his way toward the summit of Celestial Blossom Mountain in Phito Valley.
Atop Phito Valley now, the Celestial Blossom was remarkably youthful.
Beside it lay a young man, engulfed in a deep slumber.
Gazing upon the youth's visage, a tumult of emotions surged through Ethan.
"Phito," Ethan murmured, "why does Daphne's Illusion begin with you?"
The Celestial Blossom radiated a dreamlike luminescence, enveloping Phito within.
The god-given Aurora Veil became a prison, and Phito the captive beast.
Upon awakening, Phito exhibited confusion, shock...
He ran frantically to the edge of the Aurora Veil, exerting all his strength in a futile attempt to tear through it.
True to his reputation as a prodigy of the Azure Empire, Phito soon regained his composure.
He sat cross-legged within the Aurora Veil, embarking on a frenzied cultivation.
His realm ascended at a visibly rapid pace, transcending...
Until one day, a potent force burst forth from within him, and divinity swirled around him.
Phito had transcended, emerging as a Demi-god.
Now, his face obscured by a beard and hair grown wild, yet his eyes shone like twin stars, effulgent and bright.
He approached the edge of the Aurora Veil and with a casual strike, it shattered like glass.
Standing atop the summit of Celestial Blossom Mountain, familiar to Ethan, Phito stretched out his arms and took deep breaths of the natural air.
The sense of liberty invigorated his spirit.
In his hands, light flowed as beard and hair were cleanly severed.
"At last, I am free---"
Phito raised his hands, shouting towards the heavens as if to expel the solitude and hardship buried in his heart for decades, perhaps even a century.
While his voice still traveled through the clouds, Phito's expression soured with unspeakable dismay.
He found himself utterly unable to move beyond half a meter from Celestial Blossom.
The word "freedom" still echoed in the firmament, mocking Phito like a cruel joke.
Ethan watched the unfolding scene with detached eyes, still puzzled by one thing.
Why did Daphne's Illusion feature Phito?
A flicker of insight darted through Ethan's mind.
This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by (f)reew𝒆b(n)ovel.com